The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-18 00:00:00

REWARD OF FIFTY POUNDS.

One of the most atrocious and diabolical acts of wil-
ful fire-raising that ever disgraced a country, took place
at Greenbank, in the parish of Pettinain, on the morning
of Monday se'ennight. Greenbank is a small farm on
the estate of Carmichael, occupied by a young man of
the name of Girdwood, and it appears that on the
morning in question, about four, the maid servant awoke
and was alarmed by the smell of fire. She called her
master, and, on going out, they ascertained that the
offices were on fire. With the assistance of some
neighbours, the fire was got under, but not until
after a byre, and six cows, a barn and milk-house,
were entirely consumed. The poor animals had
been literally roasted to death, and their remains pre-
sented the appearance of an unctions smoking mass.
We .could not have believed that a wretch so savagely
cruel was to be found in this quarter, who would set
fire to a house containing cattle tied up in their stalls,
thus leaving them no possibility of escape ; but such
seems to have been the case. We do not know a
circumstance better fitted to engage the sympathies of a
right-thinking person than the heavy loss sustained by the
occupant of this farm. Acting upon this view, a number of
benevolent persons have set a subscription on foot for the
purpose:of aiding the unfortunate young man. There were
also eleven or twelve stacks standing in two rows in a
park about a mile and a half from Greenbank • these
stacks were the property of different individuals, and
two of them—one in each row—were set on fire, as if
with a design to destroy the whole. The weather tended
to frost, and the morning was beautifully calm, and for-
tunately only the two set on fire were burned to the
ground, without communicating a spark to kindle those
around. Fifty pounds as a reward has been offered to
any person who will give information that will lead to
the convicton of the incendiary, yet it is much to be
feared the thing will remain a mystery. Glasgow
Chronicle.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO THE ISLE OF WIGKT.—The
contemplated visit of Prince Albert to the Isle of Wight, for
the purpose of inspecting Osborne-house, is not expected to
take place before Tuesday or Wednesday next, when it is
generally believed that the Queen will accompany her Royal
consort. The Directors of the South Western Railway have
had everything in readiness for the accommodation of the
royal party for some days past ; and as the Court is now
sojourning at Claremont, it has been arranged to take the
rail at the Esher station, and proceed direct from thence to
Gosport, where the Black Eagle is lying in readiness to
convey them across the Solent. Several members of the
Household left Buckingham Palace on Friday, and proceeded
by the two o'clock train to Esher, in order to be in attend-
ance on the Court during its sojourn at Claremont. The
Queen's favourite ponies and phaeton were also conveyed by
the same train to Esher for the use of her Majesty at Claremont.
ANNOYANCE JURIES.—For the purpose of taking
into consideration the means of bringing about an alteration in
the mode of carrying into effect the objects of the Act of Parlia-
ment relating to " weights and measures,'' a preliminary meeting
was held on Wednesday night at the Windsor Castle Tavern,
Long-acre, Mr.' Marshall, grocer and tea.dealer, 20, Strand, in the
chair. He said that during the 25 years he had been in business
hey had
the closely observed the prejudicial effects to trade produced
h
adopted of inspecting weights and measures under
b systemclose
the Act of Parliament. He had experienced the inconvenience
and delay occasioned to his business by the manner in which the
visits of this jury were conducted, and had been fined and held up
to public obloquy for having one 41b. weight out of the many
used by him in his daily trade, not more than one drachm short.
Mr. Knight, the secretary, and several other persons, addressed
the meeting, and urged the necessity of a speedy reformation in
the system adopted by the above jury, and it was at length deter-
mined on consulting their Members of Parliament on so important
a subject. For this purpose a deputation of 18 gentlemen was
then chosen ; and thanke having been voted to the Chairman, the
meeting adjourned,