The Sun.
London, England, 1828-01-09 00:00:00

WINTER ASSIZES.

HOME CIRCUIT.—MAIDSTONE, TUF.SDAY NIGHT.
Ann Hood, aged 52, an extremely infirm and
knives
woman, Was indicted for stealing one dozen
'lives and forks, the property of Mr. Pearse, cutler,
bartford.
, et prisoner and her daughter have been twice
uefore ried for the like offence at the present As-
sizes? but were acquitted.
This case was clearly proved against her. It ap-
peared that the daughter of the prisoner, who lived
servant with the prosecutor, stole the gods and the
Old woman sold them.—The Jury found her guilty.
Mr. Baron VAUGHAN, in sentencing her, obser-
?td that lie had no doubt but the prisoner had in-
duced her daughter to become a thief; had she been
lkjounger woman, he would have sent her out of
the country.
She was ordered to be imprisoned in the House
of Correction for the term of two years.
There were several other cases tried which were
not of the least interest, and with them the Assizes
terminated.

Sir FRANCIS DARWIN, of Lydnope, near
itlatic'ek, gave a supper on Christmas Eve, with true Eng-
lish hospitality, to a number of old respectable neighbours.
There was a famous baron of beef, and a prodigious large
Pie--part of its contents were, one roasting pig, two
turkeys, two geese, two hares, two rabbits, a, couple of
pheasants, and many smaller birds.
During the small rain that fell on Saturday
night last, a watchman was seen at the top of Hatfield-
street, Lambeth New Cut, parading his beat, and crying the
hour of past eleven, with an umbrella mounted over his head !

In consequence of the late heavy rains, the
ewer, in this and adjoining counties have inundated the
roads to inch a depth as greatly to impede travelling. Some
of the inside passengers by the
coaches, on Wednesday,
Were obliged to move a story higher,
to escape a cold bath.
....Exeter Alfred.

THE SINKING FUND.
~.,_ —ln the quarter which
has just terminated, the uummissioners for the reduction
of the National Debt invested on each transfer day
.2,797/. 2s. 4d., which in the quarter amounted to
1,279,091/. 9s. Id. The amount laid out in the first
i.
quarter of the last year was 828,490 k A."- 11d. . in the
second quarter to 1,257,106/. 18s. 2d.: in thethird
quarter to 1,164,530/. 39. 3d. The total amount there-
fore invested in the whole year, in aid of, the Sinking
Pond, will amount to 4,229,219/. 9s. sd. Thets purcham_
41a usually made in Consols and the Si when
per
the former are shut, preparatory to the payment of the di_
Cen. ee
vidends, as is the case at present, Reduced Annuities are
bought
in theirstead.
THE QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS.---".This
koriaing the dividends which become due on the sth inst.
on the 3 per cent. Consols, the new 4 per cents., and other
zuvernment Annuities, commenced paying at the Bank of
f Vend. The amount of the interest to be paid to the
!14dholders for the last quarter exceeds nine millions ster-
tN, being much greater than the sum required to liquidate
interest on that portion of the, debt •the dividends on
Zuieh become due at Michaelmas. The attendance on the
Of the public at the dividend offices this morning was
7t nearly so great as on the last three or four previous oc•
dons,
from which an inference may be drawn that money
1140 t quite so much in demand as formerly. Those who
are to visit the Bank should be careful of their pockets, as
; 3/4
ickivithstanding the vigilance of the police employed on
"Vicinity a few gentlemen pickpockets, as usual in
of the Bank, were on the look out for plunder.