The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-28 00:00:00

HORSE-RACING BILL.

(From the Times.)
Everybody has read the travels of Lemuel Gulliver, and
everybody must recollect the account which he gives of his
sojourn among the race of the Houyhnhums, and the con-
versation which he held with a class of beings who partook
more of the equine than of human nature. But no one, that
we are aware of, has turned the satirical lesson of Jonathan
Swift to the same account that our modern legislators have,
They are imbued deeply with its spirit—at least with its bet-
ter spirit ; for they do not suffer their feelings to be warped
by a detestation of the Yahoos into an acrimonious misan-
thropy, but combine their affection for horses with a love to
their fellow-creatures ; and even when they seem to be most
intent upon a race, are most earnestly prosecuting the great
work of benevolence. They sat with admirable patience
through a ten nights' debate upon Ireland and the Irish.
Every topic the most irrelevant that fancy could provoke—
every grievance the most anomalous that querulousness
could speak out—every remedy the most impossible that
quackery could suggest—was listened to, argued, refuted, re-
peated, cheered, groaned, repeated again, until even the juvenile
Members of the House spoke by anticipation whole sentences
of reproductive harangues. The virtues of the Whigs
in general, and of Lord Normanby in particular—the merits
of the Appropriation Act—the propriety of enriching May-
nooth, and the expediency of pillaging the EstablishinFm,—
nav, the whole of the jury-list and the names of the missing
members—were before Saturday morning household words
in the mouths of beardless law-makers. But, patient, at-
tentive, and animated as the House was throughout this
tedious debate, it must be admitted that it did not evince
that thorough and heartless zeal which is manifested on mat-
ters of near interest. Ireland was a good theme for Parlia-
mentary oratory, but it was not a subject which came home
to the bosoms and business of the orators; it was a capital
peg whereon to hang stalactites of imagery and antitheses,
but it had to be "got up"—men were obliged to " cram"
something about Strongbow and the Irish invasion, the
pale, penal laws, Catholic conspiracies, Protestant mas-
sacres, incorruptible Parliaments, Orange magistrates, and
Repeal policemen. Consequently there is an air of effort about
the most successful of the speeches. There is wanting that
freshness of thought and freedom of language which
characterises the essays of men speaking On a sub-
ject which they understand, and the importance of which
they deeply feel. How different was the tone and the feeling
of the speakers on the Horse-racing Bill! There was a
freedom—an abandon—which declared at once the genuine-
ness of their sentiments, and justified the warmth of the
language in which they were expressed. There all the
constraint, all the uneasiness, all the stiffness, which are
the signs of men speaking on things about which they
either know or care nothing, were lost. Each man spoke
from the fulness of his heart, if not with all the graces, at
least with all the force, of which the vernacular is suscep-
tible. And it must be allowed that the cause was a noble
one, and worthy not only of the enthusiasm which was
kindled, but also of the logic which was arrayed, in its de-
fence. " Horses and wagers"—" the manly sport" of betting
more than 101. at • a time—the lofty object of maintaining
the blood of English horses unimpaired, and transmitting
the purity of their breed through distant generations by the
simple process of stopping qui tam actions, this was the prin-
ciple in support of which the Imperial Parliament of Great
Britain was inspirited to fulfil its duties with a celerity
which, but for the vast importance of the subject, might
have been termed indecent. But, high and momentous as
these considerations are—generous as is the nature of the
horse, wonderful his love of praise, admirable his energy in
earning it, super-brutal as is his appetency for Queen's Plates
and handicaps, superhuman as is his sympathy with the
ambition of his master, and worthy encouragement as are
all his other virtues—still there was another motive co-equal
with, if not superior to this, which impelled the collective
wisdom of the nation to take this summary but laudable
method of legislating. It was not for horses alone—albeit
they appreciate the virtues of the horse—that the Duke of
Richmond and Mr. Wortley spoke. No ; it was for their
own species also, and especially the poorer portion of them.
The benefits of the proposed measure to the poorer classes
have been as logically deduced from the premises as their
salutary operation on the breed of horses. If noblemen and
gentlemen are to be subjected to heavy penalties for betting
on horse-races, they will not bet ; if they do not bet, half the
excitement of racing will be lost ; take away the excite-
ment, and what becomes of the race? Racing will thus be
destroyed, and with racing the equine race and all its virtues
will vanish from the earth. Again, if races are discouraged,
or rendered hazardous to their patrons, and the said pa-
trons desert them, the race-course will lose all its healthy
moral influence on the rural population ; the grand stand
will be empty—the course will be unfrequented—the
booths will be unknown in the scenes of their former splen-
dour—gingerbread will cease to glisten, and ginger beer to
pop—rouge et noir will no longer attract the speculative
cockney—roulette will no longer congregate its assemblage of
lords and Jockeys, real ladies and equivocal women—finally,
the pea will no more wriggle under the unconscious thimble.
Ascot and Epsom will pass without their great moral lessons,
and the virtue of the agriculturists will have received a fatal
blow. Those, then, who pretend that the intention of Mr.
Wortley's Bill is simply to indemnify certain gentlemen for
breaking laws which they ought to have studied, argue as
rashly as those who affirm that it is intended to legalize
gambling in the higher classes. Its clear and obvious pur-
pose is—first, to maintain the breed of generous horses; se-
condly, to promote the virtue of a moral ; and, lastly, to
serve the great ends of civil justice. And we firmly believe
that the cause which induced Mr. Wortley to bring on last
night the consideration of the report, was simply a determi-
nation to pave the way for the repeal of all laws which at
present restrict the gaming and other innocent diversions of
the lower orders.

DEATH OF BARON WALLACE.—Lord Wallace died
on the 23d inst., at his seat, Featherstone Castle, Northum-
berland, in the 77th year of his age. The late Baron mar-
ried the widow of Henry, Viscount Melville, and daughter of
the second Earl of Hopetoun, by whom he has left no issue.
Lord Wallace was Master of the Mint, and Vice-President of
the Board of Trade under the Wellington Administration, and
was raised to the Peerage, in 1828, by the title of BaroniWal-
lace of Knaresdale. Before his elevation to the Upper House,
his Lordship sat for Penryn and Weymouth. His Lordship
dying without issue, the title becomes extinct.
SUDDEN DEATH IN A PUBLIC-HOUSE.--On Mon-
day Mr. Payne held an inquest, at the Crown, Lambeth-
road, on the body of Mr. -William Barrowes, aged fifty-
six, a gentleman of independent property, residing in
South Lambeth. It appeared in evidence, that at about
one o'clock on Friday deceased called on a widow named
Pepper, ,of King's-row, Snow's-fields, with whom he had
formed latterly an acquaintance, and she accompanied him
to the above public-house. They entered the parlour, and
he ordered a glass of grog and biscuits, and then com-
menced reading a morning newspaper, and whilst doing so it
dropped from his hand, and he fell forward on the table. Two
persons came to his assistance, and finding that he did not
recover, they called Mr. Coulthred, a surgeon, who pronounced
him dead, and considered that he died of disease of the heart.
Deceased on the forenoon-of the. fatal occurrence had left in
perfect health the house of his brother-in-law, Mr. J. Bar-
nard, of the Belvidere-load, Lambeth, promising to return
to dinner at four in the afternoon.—Verdict, " Natural
death." - . _

--
MERCHANT. SEAMEN'S ORPHAN ASYLUM.--Yester-
day a general meeting, and the spring election of children
into this asylum, took place at the London Tavern. The
election was presided over by Captain Henry Nelson, the
Treasurer of the Institution. The children of the asylum
were present at the meeting, and had a very neat appear-
ance, and much interest seemed to be taken in the result of
the election, some of the applications being made under the
most distressing circumstances. It appears that there are
now seventy boys and thirty-six girls in this asylum. No
report, or statement of accounts, was read at this meeting,
it being reserved for the August meeting ; but it appeared
from the circular of the Committee, that they regretted the
funds would not admit of a greater number than four boys
and two girls being elected on this occasion, and most
earnestly appealed to the generosity of the public with a view
to carry out the intentions of the charity, by doubling the
number of admissions at the August election. The poll closed
at three o'clock, when, soon after, the names were announced,
and the business of the day terminated.
Northumberland House is undergoing a course of
re-embellishment, preparatory to the arrival of the Duke and
Duchess from Alnwick Castle,- for the season.

The gales of wind which blew heavily during the whole of
Friday night and Saturday morning from S.S.W., were, we
regret to state, productive of the most melancholy results
aloe; the coast, several valuable vessels having been wrecked
and twenty lives lost. At Scarborough; in Yorkshire, it was
severely felt, and the calamity that was witnessed at the en-
trance of the harbour will long be borne in recollection by the
inhabitants. It having been reported that several fishing
yawls had been out all night in the storm, and that fears were
apprehended_ that they had been wrecked, at an early hour a
great concourse of persons assembled along the shore, in-
quiring into the truth of the rumours. Shortly before nine
o'clock a cry was raised that there were three of the missing
boats standing in for the harbour, which, as may be easily
imagined, produced no little degree of satisfaction, and
amongst the eager crowds could be seen the wives and fami-
lies of those on board of the approaching boats, in a state of
ecstacy at their apparent safe delivery. The scene, in a few
seconds, however, changed to one of a most painful and heart-
rending description. The yawls (fishing boats of about 50 tons
burden) were the Willing Maid, of Scarborough, the Jerome,
and the Emulous. They Avere all apparently beating into
the haven, the sales tightly hauled in, and although the
weather had not abated,- the wind still blowing heavy squalls,
with skowers of snow. and sleet, it was fully expected they
would reach the harbour in safety. Suddenly the wind in-
creased, and in the next moment a terrible sea capsized the
whole three vessels, and they instantly sank, carrying with
them the greater part of their crews, with the exception of
those belonging to the Willing Maid, who managed to reach
the beach near the Spa. The sensation which this catas-
trophe occasioned amongst the assembled throng was most
intense. Some of the ill-fated crews being observed strug-
gling amidst the waves, several boats put off to render them
assistance, but owing to the terrific fury of the gale, the
boats were unable to gain the spot until the whole of the
poor fellows (fourteen in number) belonging to the Jerome,
Mr. Cammish master, and the Emulous, Mr. Wyall master,
had sunk to rise no more. Unfortunately, most of them have
left families to deplore their fate, and none :of the bodies
have as yet been recovered. At about three o'clock in the
morning a vessel called the Gillmerton, belonging to Mont-
rose, whilst on her passage to London, was totally lost by
striking on the Navestone=rocks, on the Fern Island. It
was within two miles of the spot where the Pegasus steamer
was wrecked a short time since. 'Fortunately, the vessel re-
mained fast on the rock after she struck, which enabled the
crew to get their boats out and escape ; soon afterwards,
however, she slid off, and went down ►n deep water. The
crew were quickly picked up, and landed safely at Sunder-
land. During the height of the storm a brig was seen by
the Coast-guard Service near Cromer in distress. She was
about three miles from shore, and in about ten minutes she
sank headforemost ; the entire of the unfortunate crew, con-
sisting of six persons, perishing with her. Between the en-
trance of the Humber and Grimsby the gale was severely
felt. At nine o'clock on Friday night a vessel was run down
in Grimsby-roads by a brig called the Prince Regent, of Sun-
derland. She proved to be a sloop named the John and
Hannah's Endeavour, belonging to Wakefield, and the mas-
ter and crew had a narrow escape of being drawn down by
her. They- all luckily reached the brig in safety, as also did
the captain's wife, who was on board, and in the course of
Saturday morning
,they were all landed at Grimsby, and
forwarded to Hull. A vessel was lost near Hartlepool, and
another off Shoreham, on the Sussex coast; but whether any
lives fell a sacrifice we are unable to state The shipping in
the Downs suffered considerable damage, although most of
them had both anchors down during the gales.

THE CORN-LAW.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—The possession of power does not contribute strength,
unless that power is attained and held by the assistance of
justice ; for true strength is not physical, but moral, and until
the possessor can show that he has obtained his appearance
of strength by no infringement of that law, his strength is
but weakness ; not all the pointing to the possession, not all
the acclamation of interested followers can satisfy, for there
will be a craving after, if it is but a shadow, of his being sus-
tained by the moral law ; and although, to the superficial ob-
server, he may prove by external appearances that he is
strong, still his conscience will stand against him, silently
but sternly condemning—even-banded justice commending
the poisoned chalice to his own lips.
The corn-law, setting aside its manifest evils, removing
the benefit to commerce that will arise from its abolition, con-
demned itself by the manner in which it was passed, and not
all the sophistry of men, or the violent logic, of monopolists,
can remove the knowledge of its having been obtained phy-
sically, the moral power being trampled on. But that
power, although it may be tyrannised over, cannot be de-
stroyed—it will assert its sovereignty, and the fact of its
operating gradually on the mind proves its integrity. Injus-
tice, not capable of bearing the light of reason, seeks the
aid of force to enforce its demands. This was the case in
1815—such is the case now. That law, passed by the gleam
of the bayonet, and the threatened roar of artillery (ever
the companions of moral weakness), will be abolished by no
such means as these, but by the innate strength of justice.
I have been led to the above remarks by observing the
Anti-League's proceedings. These men have the possession,
have the majority in the House to keep it; yet they bend.
Does not this prove that there is a power above the purchase
of man, before which injustice quails, and is compelled in
abject submission to crouch? It goes 1_ For— _ _

"'Thrice is he arni'd that hath his quarrel just,
And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel,
'Whose conscience with injustice is attainted."
Yours, &c. OBSERVER.
Devonport, Feb. 27, 1844.

THE CASE of SUPPOSED TRANCE

AT DEPTFORD.

The deep interest excited in Deptford respecting the sup-
posed case of trance continues increasing daily, and it is
deemed one of the most extraordinary which has ever come
before the faculty. It is necessary to observe, that two re-
ports which have appeared in some of the papers are wholly
without foundation, and Rave caused great pain to the
relatives. The first was that decomposition was apparent
at the early part of last week, and subsequently another re-
port was made, that the bod 7 had actually been buried.
Even up to Monday not the slightest appearance of decom-
position ,had taken place. This assertion is made on the
authority of the medical gentlemen who have from time to
time, up to yesterday, watched the progress of the case. The
following are facts which have not been generally pub-
lished :—On Friday, the 2d of February, Mr. Francis, Jun.,
the son of Mr. Francis, the landlord of the Oxford Arms, in
Church-street, Deptford, was sitting in the tap-room of
his brother's house, the Marquis of Granby, at the Lower
Water-gate, Deptford, when he fell down apparently in
a fit, and a medical gentleman pronounced him to be
dead, and took no means to restore what has since been
declared by competent authorities to have been only
suspended animation. Mr. Taylor, surgeon of High-
street, afterwards went to the house, and made several skil-
ful experiments ; and although an hour after the young man
had been pronounced to be dead, succeeded in bleeding him,
but not to restore animation. On the jury being empannelled
one of the jurymen was also taken in a fit, whether from the
sight of the body or not can only be imagined, but for a few
moments a fatal result was expected. The jury generally
were not satisfied with the general evidence, and requested
the atttendance of the medical gentleman who attended at
the time, or that a post mortem examination might be made,
but the dictum of the Coroner, that the deceased died from an
enlargement of the heart, was submitted to by the jury, who
appeared, however, not quite satisfied, but returned a verdict
that the deceased died from natural causes. Almost imme-
diately afterwards a brother of the deceased was seized with
a fit intermittently for three hours. The surgeon then called
in, on hearing the probable cause of excitement, at once pro-
nounced the verdict to be premature, and that the Coroner
was exceedingly wrong in directing the jury in such a case,
and lie himself doubted whether death had been so instanta-
neous. The brother was bled and recovered, and subse-
quently Mr. Atkins, the surgeon spoken of, afterwards saw the
body, which then exhibited all the freshness and bloom of
health. Several medical and:surgical:men in the vicinity of the
place, and from the London hospitals, also visited the place;
from their vague expressions there appeared no doubt that
life was not extinct, at least for nine or ten days after the
holding of the inquest. On Friday Messrs. Downing (the
surgeons to the police force) and Mr. Taylor, the surgeon
before alluded to, again visited the house, and gave a most
'unqualified contradiction to decomposition having taken
place. Mr. Halse, a professor of galvanism, recommended
galvanism, but it was not deemed expedient to employ it.
On Monday Mr. Hope,: surgeon, of Deptford, attended, pre-
pared with a galvanic battery, but, on viewing the body, con-
sidered it advisable not to make the experiment; he, how-
ever, recommended that the head should be raised more, so
that if any life did remain, the blood should not flow to the
head. lie also strongly recommended, that as no decompo-
sition had taken place, no interment should be made until
decomposition was unequivocal, and then, for the satisfaction
of the relatives and justice to the medical prof&sion, a post
mortcm examination should be made. He observed that the
limbs were not stiff and the sides were almost warm, and not
like death. The relatives still entertain hopes, and the body
is frequently washed. It is, however, in the coffin. The
limbs are up to the present time perfectly supple. Mr.
Arthur, the surgeon whose name and opinions have been
freely used in some of the reports, never saw the body after
the inquest, but, on the contrary, was on Monday, on apply-
ing, refused admission ; 24days have elapsed since the inquest.

LIEUT.-COL. NAPIER'S " WILD SPORIS."—Lieut.
Col. Napier, the author of " Scenes and Sporfs in Foreign
Lands," and other popular productions, has just published a
new work, entitled " Wild Sports in Europe, Asia, and
Africa," which *ill not only be received with a hearty wel-
come by every sportsman, but be found not less attractive to
the general reader. The scenes of the gallant author's ex-
ploits,. as-may be imagined from the title of his work, are
sufficiently diversified. He takes us from Madras to the
Mauritius, the Cape, St. Helena, Gibraltar, Tarifa, Tangiers,
Malta, Gam), Syria , Grand Cairo, Alexandria, the Desart,
&c. ; and the list of sports described is equally comprehen-
sive ; in shooting, from the wild pigeon and quail, to the
hawk and eagle; in hunting, from the fox to the wild boar
and bull ; besides numerous piscatorial adventures. Inde-
pendently, hoWever, of the sporting details, the many amus-
ing personal anecdotes and sketches of the Colonel's brother
officers and associates give extraordinary vivacity to his
pages. The work is illustrated with some capital en-
gravings.
The Lord Bishop of St. Asaph has appointed
Frederick Bolingbroke Ribbans, Esq., of Corpus Christi
College, Cambridge, one of the masters of the Birmingham
and Ldgbaston Proprietary School, to the Head Mastership
of the Wrexham Grammar School.

" Two OF A TukDE."—ln our marriage notices is
one which records the nuptials of Mr. Carter, "the lion
king," on Sunday last, to Miss Chapman, of Manchester.
The old adage that "two of a trade never agree," was for once
disproved by the fact thatAr„Carter's celebrated rival, Mr.
Van Amburgh, officiated agroopfs-man on the occasion.
We understand that the tweintrepid brute-tamers are inti-
mate friends ; and perhaps as thoy,are the only two in their
perilous trade, they are above all petty jealousies, and their
only rivalry is as to who shall Most- fearless " mock the lion
when he roars for prey;" or, as" Shakspere elsewhere says,
" make leopards tame."—Leeds Intelligencer.

PROM TEE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
STANDARD.—Mr. Sharman Crawford last night
divided the House of Commons upon a motion to post-
pone the consideration of the navy estimates until after
Easter. This is, we believe, in part fulfilment of a
factious and vexatious opposition, threatened by the
Member for Rochdale at the commencement of the
session. The motion was, of course, rejected by a great
majority-10; to 11; but Mr. Sharman Crawford's Ob-
ject, the only object he could propose to himself by
such a proceeding, was gained—the" public time
was wasted,- and Mr. Sharman Crawford's name
appears in the newspapers before a speech and
at the head of the debate. The occasion was also
convenient to Colonel Rawdon and Mr. E. Roche, who
were safely delivered of two superfetations upon` Lord
John Russell's motion. Now, all this is very well in
February, but surely such proceedings ought to be re-
membered in August next (that is, if Parliament can be
adjourned so soon), when complaints will be made of the
small amount of business transacted during the session.
How can the session's really useful business be otherwise
than small, when every, say every Mr. Sharman Crawford,
feels no scruple in obtruding himself and his crotchets upon
the public time ? It would be a delicate and difficult,
but a very useful analysis, to separate the number of the
Members of the House of Commons into the several
classes of those who go there to serve their personal
interests, those who go to serve a faction, those who
go to gratify their personal vanity, and those who
enter the House with the honest and sober purpose
of serving their country. The last class would, we
fear, be found a very small minority: and yet all the
public business is really transacted by this class, not
merely without. help from, but in defiance of, the most
pertinacious opposition of the other classes of all politi-
cal parties, for they pervade all parties, though happily
the Conservative party numbers but few Borth-
wicks, D'lsraelis, and Monckton Milneses. In
proportion, however, to the number and activity
of the really honest and intelligent men of business on
one side, and the factionists, fops, crazy dotards, &c., on
the other, must be the amount of useful work done in the
course of a session. We have only to look back for
proof to so much of the present session as has already
passed. Nearly a month has been consumed, and,what
is the result of that period's labour ? Why, we have
had a long Irish debate of nine nights, in whicth
three-fourths of the speeches have been one tissue of
fallacy and nonsense—not less nonsense than it was in-
flammatory and mischievous nonsense—while the other
fourth was extorted from reluctant speakers, by the ne-
cessity that falsehood should not pass unanswered and
unexposed; these nine nights, wasted in speeches, making
a lull half of the sitting nights since the opening of the ses-
sion. Well, at the end of the long debate, the servants of
the Crown come forward to try if the House of Com-
mons will at length engage with the public burthens, and
forth comes Mr. Sharman Crawford deliberately to un-
buckle his budget of treasured grievances, modestly
requiring that the public business shall not be entered
upon until after Easter (say the 15th of April as
the earliest day), that is, until about eleven weeks
of the session shall have elapsed, and Colonel Rawdon
and Mr. Roche follow with their superfetations.
Mr. Sharman Crawford's request is, indeed, ridicu-
lous, but it is characteristic. What are we to think of
the patriotism—we say nothing of the sense—of a gen-
tleman who professes to exclude all public business from
the first half (according to old practice, more than the
first half) of the Parliamentary session ? We entreat
our readers not to forget last night's proceedings when
they shall, about August next, hear solemn speeches in
Parliament, and read grave Edinburgh Reviews, com-
plaining that little or nothing has been done during the
session.

GLOBE.—When we hear of a New Zealander making
a feast of his enemy—when we read of the purer can-
nibals of old making their daily food on the flesh of
their fellow-men—thee horror which we feel at the act
is greatly softened, perhaps too easily removed, by re-
flecting how wide is the difference, in race, colour, and in
habits, between the actors and ourselves. But when we
hear, as we did but yesterday, that among a people
sprung from the same race that we are, speaking the
same language that we do, and looking to the outward
eye even as we look, • whose religion is one with ours,
whose laws are derived from the same source, whose
justice (so to call it) is clothed in the same forms, a
man has been doomed to die for assisting in the escape
of a female slave—who had, too, that claim upon
him which springs even from an unlawful passion—
in the midst of our indignation and disgust, we tremble
to think how small may be the interval which divides
even ourselves from the savageness of the brute !
This is not the occasion nor the theme for indulging
in any thoughts of our own superiority; and still less
is it the time to utter them in the shape of taunts, or by
the suggestion of any threat to give to the pride of a
susceptible nation a pretext for throwing its shield around
the crime which it contemplates. Rather ddes it be-
hove us to reflect how far our own bad example,
our own bloody laws, not so long disused, may
have paved the way among a people sprung from
our stock, for the perpetration even of such atro-
cities as this. True we have been reclaimed at
last, and by slow degrees, from the guilt of' a
ferocious legislation ; but it is still with a deep
sense of shame at the remembrance of our own past
enormities that we would adjure our transatlantic kins-
men that they should not still further disgrace the
Saxon name by a deed from which, all legal
as it is, even our Bullers and our Garrows
would have • recoiled in horror, and which, if
it be really done, will open between America and
England a gulf of moral separation far wider
and more impassable than the ocean which now divides
them. That ocean seemed yesterday but as a strait,
on the further side of which there abode among a
' kindred people the spirit of Christian love, the feel-
ings of civilised hiimanity. To that spirit and
to those feelings, and to the many there who own
their sway, we still confidently appeal—not as assum-
ing to originate or to prompt the indignant protest
which ere this they must have put forth, but as ready
to rejoice in their indignation, and to cheer them
on, if we may do so, to the rescue of their country's
honour. Soon, no doubt, will the sound, the welcome
sound, of their remonstrance be wafted to our shores.
We wish but to return it hence with increased and
more wide-spread urgency, and to mingle with the plead-
ings of American humanity the cry of applauding sym-
pathy with which the universal heart of England is pre-
pared to re-echo its voice !

CURIOUS CASE OF SWINDLING.

A stranger in the garb of a female, about three weeks
ago, walked into the bar of the Dog and Duck Inn, Co-
ventry. Her cheerful conversation, insinuating mariner,
and clever address, so won upon the landlady (Mrs.
'Hales), that instead of proceeding by the Banbury coach,
which she particularly wished, she was induced to con-
tinue all night, being unprepared with clothing to en-
counter the inclemency of the season. The worthy
hostess becoming more and more charmed with the in-
teresting stranger, several days elapsed in the mutual
interchanges of affection and confidence, when her friend
remarked that it might appear strange to Mrs. Hales
that she offered no money. " The fact is," says she, " I
have a remittance of 6001. I expect to receive at the Bir-
mingham Branch Bank of England, but bow to get there
Ido not know, Would you have the kindness to accom-
pany me in your gig? I have always consulted you
during my stay here, and intend to make you my confi-
dant." Mrs. Hales readily complied, and with her
friend proceeded to Birmingham the following morning.
On arriving at the bank inquiry was made for the ma-
nager, of whom the stranger wished to know if 6001.
had been paid to the account of Miss Watts, to which a
negative was given. Great surprise was manifested by Miss
Watts, and the manager was requested to fill up a cheque
for Mrs. Hales to receive the amount, provided she did
not present it herself. On their way home Miss Watts
appeared much concerned at her disappointment, and
suggested to Mrs. Hales that, as her present exigencies
required a little more ready money, she would place the
cheque in Mrs. Hales's hands for a loan of 60/, and
would give her 40/. for the accommodation. This bait
was easily swallowed by Mrs. Hales, who forthwith pro-
duced fifty-five sovereigns and a 5!. note. Mrs. Hales,
proud in the company of Miss Watts, and Miss Watts,
highly delighted with Mrs. Hales, spent several agree-
able days, during which she once paid a visit to the seat
of Lord Craven at Coombe Abbey, with Mrs. Hales's
horse and gig. On being informed by the housekeeper,
Mrs. Robinson, that her Ladyship was not at home, Miss
Watts refused to leave her card or name, saying she was
well known to her Ladyship, and expected soon to be
Lady Montague. On Monday, the sth, a request was
again made for the horse and gig to convey her to
Market Harborough, where Miss Watts had an aunt,
who she had learnt was not likely to live. No objection,
of course, was offered, and Miss Watts, anticipating the
want of mourning, borrowed the habiliments of Mrs.
Hales, very generously offered for her convenience, to-
gether with a valuable 'watch. Thus equipped, she
arrived at Harborough, and -alighted opposite to Mrs.
Saunt's, observing she was afraid her aunt was dead, as
the blinds were down. The man was desired to go to
the Swans Hotel, and wait for her. Miss W. walked
forward to the Union inn, where she took some brandy
and water, with a biscuit, and after staying about two
hours, went to the Swans to inform John that her aunt
was very ill, and wished her to stay a few days at Har-
borough ; he must therefore return without her, and
bring the gig for her en Tuesday, the 13th, discharging
the expense of John and the horse, with a promise,
also, of 10s. for his journeys, and 4s. for what he had
paid on the road. On the return of John, Mr, and Mrs.
Hales became somewhat concerned respecting their fair
friend, and on the following morning dispatched John
with a policeman to Market Harborough to take proper
care of Miss Watts. This, however, was found to be
unnecessary, as the clever and interesting visitor had
taken care of herself, by procuring a seat in the om-
nibus for London the previous evening, where she is no
d‘iubt enjoying the fruits of her tour. We might add,
the dress and under garments obtained of Mrs. Hales,
with the watch, are considered worth 151 to 301., while
those left behind are estimated at 2s. 6d. We have
since been informed, that instead of proceeding to
London, Miss Watts took a seat for Oxford by the Ox-
ford coach from Northampton.—Banbury Guardian.

THE NEW ROYAL Excaanon.—On Monday at one
o'clock, Mr. Pullen commenced the sale by auction of the
second portion of Bank-buildings, which will comprise this
Sun Fire-office, the secretary's residence, and two other
houses. The disposal of the materials took place in the large
room of the Sun Fire-office, and it was crowded throughout
the entire proceedings. The competition was very animated,
the lots put up being principally purchased by private indi-
viduals, and not by the trade, as manywonfbethseolard.ticll:es:oto3-nui
sisted of excellent mahogany counters, desks, &c.
sale produced about 300/., making 1,600/. for what has already
day's
been disposed of. The auction will laswtht:iveoomitouree
ewighhicthdtalyale imutillerbeioraiainodwedexttoerreionrifimt.teinthges
materials.