The Sun.
London, England, 1829-11-05 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING NOVEMBER 5, 18129.

MIDDLESEX WATER-IVORKS COMPANY.

The hall-yearly genera! assembly of the Proprie-
tors of this Company was hell on uesday at their
House in I3erners•street, Oxford-street, for the pur-
pose (amongst other matters) of receiving a report
from the Directors of the proceedings which took
place in consequence of the appointment of Com-
missioners to inquire into the supply of water to the
metropolis.

The meeting was numerous and highly respectable.
At twelve o'clock, T. A. GREEN, 'Esq. (Chair-
man of the Company,) took the chair. After which,
Mr. KNIGHT, the Secretary (having first read the
advertisement for calling the meeting,) proceeded
to read the report of the Directors.

After adverting to the proceedings of the last
meeting, the report went on to say, that—
" Though no complaint was found to exist in any
part of the district supplied by the West Middlesex
Company, either as to the quantity or quality of tl4e
water, or the management of the trinirtiliY, and it
had been clearly probed that the part of the Thames
from which the supply of this company was obtained
was considerably beyond the limits denominated by
the Commissioners `The London District,' and even
beyond the reach of the reflux of the tide water,
those distinguishing features were, nevertheless en-
tirely overlooked in the reports made on the occa-
sion by the Commissioners and the Select Commit-
tee, and also in the observations which were shortly
afterwards made in the House of Commons relative
to the water companies."
The Report then went on to observe, that the
Directors, on the 12th of May, called the attention
of the Right Hon. Secretary to these matters, and
also to a previous letter on the same subject dated
the 17th of March, of which no notice had been
taken. (This letter was read at a former meeting.)
To these letters no answer was received till the
23d of June, when the following communication
was addressed to the Directors:—
" Whitehall, June 22, 1829.
" Gentlemen,—On the termination of Parlia-
mentary business my attention has been recalled to
those important questions connected with the supply
of water to the metropolis, which have recently un-
dergone consideration in the House of Commons,
which have been the subject of the reports of a
commission appointed by the Crown and a Com-
mittee of the House of Commons, and which, I
have no doubt, wiil again form a topic of serious dis-
cussion so soon as Parliament shall resume its
labours in another session. A reference to what has
already passed upon this subject, and a deep con-
viction of its importance to the health and comfort
of the inhabitants of the metropolis, have induced
me to make the following communication to each
of the three Companies which are concerned in the
supply of that district of the metropolis which lies
to the north of the Thames and the west of Totten-
ham Court-road.

" I am desirouß, in the first instance, of cAlling
your attention to the Report of the commission ap-
pointed by the Crown, consisting of three gentlemen
of very high eminence in their respective professional
avocations—Dr. Roget, Mr. Braude, and Mr.
Telford.

" That Report states, that in the opinion of the
Commissioners, the supply of water to the metro-
polis is susceptible of, and requires, improvement ;
that many of the complaints respecting the quality
of the water are well founded ; and that it ought
to be derived from other sources than those now
resorted to, and guarded by such restrictions as shall
at all times insure its cleanliness and purity.
" The Report enutnerates the chief canes to
which the impurity of the water at present
supplied may be attributed ; among which are the
following,—the increase of certain manufactures,
among which those of coal-gas are most prominent,
polluting the river by their refuse ; the constant
passage of steam-boats, by which the mud is stirred
up ; the position of the suction-pipes of the engines;
belonging to some of the companies, in regard to the
mouths of the sewers; the quantity of dead animals
thrown into the river in and about London, and the
contamination of the river by the offal of slaughter-
houses.

" The Report of the Commissioners adds, that if
the general quality of the river water be objection-
able, within the whole of the district whence the
supplies for the metropolis are drawn, remedies for
local evils become comparatively unimportant, and
although these diminish as we ascenl the river,
their influence, with that of the other contaminating
causes, will be more or less felt, nearly to the ex-
tent to which the tide reaches.

" It appears to me that this report of the Com-
missioners is calculated to confirm and increase the
apprehensions of the public with regard to the
impure and possibly the insalubrious quality of the
water at present supplied, and that it constitutes a
strong ground for immed'ate and serious inquiry,
whether a purer supply may not be obtained at a
reasonable expence.

" In the result of that inquiry the existing water-
companies have a deep interest. If it shall esta-
blish the fact that no better supply from new sources
can be procured than the present, except at a cost
which would render the attempt useless, the public
companies will be relieved from unjust complaints
and odium, and will be enabled to consider the best
.mode of improving the present supply by filtration,
or other means of purification.
" lf, on the other hand, it shall warrant a strong
presumption that at a moderate cost water of a
purer quality than the present can be drawn from
new sources of supply, the existing companies will
have a great advantage over any new establishments
which can be formed, in distributing such water to
the metropolis, and would have a fair claim to a
preference in being the instruments of distributing
it at a reasonable charge.
" With reference to the supply of water, the me-
tropolis tnay be considered as divided into three dis-
tricts,—the north of the Thames and west of Tot-
tenham-court-road, the north of the Thames and
east of Tottenham•court-road, and the district south
of the Thames, including Lambeth, Southwark, and
the adjoining parishes.
" The first of these districts derives its supply
from the three companies to which the present com•
munication is addressed, and I apprehend that each
of these companies would be enabled, by an ar-
rangement made among themselves, to deliver to
the inhabitants of each portion .of the district which
they respectively supply at present, the water that
might be derived from any new source, supposing
such to be discoverable, and to be available within
reasonable limits of expense.
" For the purpose of determining whether an im-
proved supply of water can be furnished at a mode-
rate charge, I propose that a competent engineer
should be selected by the Government to make the
necessary surveys, and to report whether a sufficient
quantity of water for the use of the north-western
part of the metropolis can be taken, either from the
Thames above Richmond, or from the river Goitre,
and what would be the probable cost of taking it
from either of those sources. And that the expense
of making such surveys and estimates should be
borne by the Companies which now supply the
district of the metropolis above referred to, either
by equal contributions towards the expense, or by
such proportionate contributions as may be agreed
on by the Companies. '
" A copy of this letter has been addressed by me
to the Chairman and Directors of the Chelsea Water
Work sCompany,and the Grand Junction water works

Company, and I beg to surest the exped'e icy of
an early conference On the part of the three Water
Companies upon the subject.
" I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your most
obedient humble servant,

(Signed) " ROBERT PEEL.
" The Chairman and Directors of the West Middlesex
Water Works Company."
To this letter the Directors sent the following reply:
Olhee of West Middlesex Water Works,
13erners-street, July 9, 1829.
" The Board of Directors of the West Middlesex
Water Works Company, in reply to the letter, dated
the 22d ult., which the Right Hon. the Secretary of
State did them the honour to address to them on
the subject of the supply of • water to the western
part of the metropolis, beg leave to state, that al-
thoiigh no complaints were found to exist in any
part of the populous districts which they supplied,
either as to their management of their works, or to
quitttity or quality of .the .water, yet they had
nevertheless attentively watched the pr )ceedinp
consequent on the late complaints made against
other Water Companies, and had also read and fully
considered the evidence obtained, and the reports
made by the Commis,ioners appointed by the
Crown, and the Committee of the House of Com-
mons relative thereto; and they were gratified to
find that their customers were fully satisfied with
the supply they received, and that the analysis of
the men of science to whom the subject had been
referred, had proved the water supplied by the West
Middlesex Company to be equally pure with the
water taken at any higher part of the Thames, the
impurities of the London drainage not flowing within
one and a half or two miles of that river.

" Long experience had taught the Company that
the health and comfort of the public required that
water used for doMestic purposes should be soft and
pure,—quali:ies rarely found in the water derived
from springs or small rivers ; and it is manifest that
water collected, after heavy rains, in large reser-
voirs, similar to that at Ruislip, near Watford,
though clear, becomes stagnant and impure, and
therefore unfit for culinary purposes.
" The Board of Directors, hating a due regard to
the health and comfort of the great number of per-
sons who take water of the West Middlesex Com-
pany, and to the interest of the large body of Pro-
prietors whom they represent, do not feel justified
in incurring the risk or expense of seeking any other
source of supply than the Thames, being confident
that though the source may be changed, it cannot be
improved.
" It being obvious, however, that the waters of
all rivers in times of heavy rains and floods must be-
come discoloured, the Directors of the West Mid-
dlesex Company, desiring to anticipate rather than
to follow the wishes of the public, have lately, at a
great expense, placed the Company in a situation
entirely to remove even this defect : they have pur-
chased a large Itract of land, containing filtering
matter, at Barnes, on the southern bank of the
Thames, immediately opposite their works, which,
converted into reservoirs and aqueducts, will afford
the means of supplying the whole of the western
parts of the metropolis with bright and pure Ivatcr
at all times; and they have given notice to all the
other water companies that this source of supply is
open to any one or all of them, either on the north
or south side of the river.
"' The 'Westtliddlesex Company riot teing com-
plained of, and having already done so much, dots
not consider itself in the same circumstan►•e as the
companies who take their supplies near public sewers
or within the reach of the London drainage ; and
the Directors cannot, therefore, with propriety, rip-
ply the funds of the West Middlesex Company in
speculative attempts to remedy the defects of other
Companies, more especially as they have offered, and
are still willing, to give every reasonable facility to
any Company desirous of availing itself of the ad-
vantages possessed by the West Middlesex Company.
" The Directors, therefore, again respectfully beg
to call the attention of the Right Hon. Secretary of
State to the plan submitted to him in their letter of
the 17th of March last, to which no reference ap-
pears in his letter of the 22d ult. to have been made,
being fully confident that they at present possess
the means of giving a supply of water to any extent
of a quality in every respect unexceptionable, and
their plan is equally applicable should it at any future
period be thought desirable to draw a supply either
from Richmond or Teddington; but the Directors
feel persuaded the facts before stated, and the result
of Dr. Bostock's analysis, p. 82, of the Report of
the Commissioners appointed by the Crown, will
supersede the necessity of any measures of the kind
being had recourse to, exclusive of the known fact
that even in times of hcay rains and floods the water
is much less turpid at Barnes than either at Rich-
mondor Teddington.

The Directors in conclusion beg to repeat, that
a deputation of Directors would be happy to wait
on the Right Hon. Secretary, should any verbal or
other information be required.
" By order of the Board of Directors,
(Signed) THOMAS A. GREEN, Chairman.
" To the Right Hon. Robert Peel, his Majesty's
Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c."

The Report added, that the Directors had not
since been fivourcd with any further communication
on this subject from the Home-oflice.
The Report went on to state, that after this a
conference was requested with the Directors by those
of the Grand Junction Water Company, which (for
the reasons stated in the letter to Mr. Peel) was
declined by the former.
Some letters were then read, which passed be-
tween the two companies on this subject, but they
were not of any importance,
The Report added—

"It being now generally known that several
water companies have it in contemplation to deliver
at all times bright water, and to remove all ground
of complaint its their several districts, and that steps
have actually been taken at great expence by some
of them for that purpose, the Directors of this
Company have had also under consideration preli-
minary measures for securing from the Barn Elms'
estate a supply of clear water in times of heavy rains
and flOOds, the only time in which complaint can
with propriety be made against the water which it
delivers. The details of these further works are not
yet sufficiently matured to lay before the Court; but
the Proprietors may rely upon their prudence in
not engaging in any great outlay of capital without
the certainty of its effecting the object contemplated."
In conclusion the Report referred the Proprietors
to the half-yearly statement of finance and to the
auditors' reports, and recommended a dividend of
30s. per share payable in January.
The finance statement and the auditors' reports
were then real, and some short discussion arose out
of them, but as they related solely to the private
affairs of the company, and had no bearing on that
part of the question in which the public is interested,
we omit them.

It Was observed with reference to the contem-
plated plan of the company taking its water as high
up the river as Barn Elms, that if they went up
higher, they would be exposed to the refuse of the
gas works at Brentford.
The SECRETARY here remarked, that it was a very
great, and he feared a general mistake, to suppose•
that the refuse of any gas works was discharged
into the Thames. It might have been so at first;
but there was now a penalty of 200/. against the
owners of such works for every time they should
permit their refuse to be discharged into the

PRICE 7n.

Thames. A great deal of what was at first throwr
%way was now converted into tar, and the rest was
old for other useful purposes, so that no part of it
s%vem into the river.

Mr. WARE expressed a hope, that as no:fault was
found with the supply of water given by the com-
pany, and as it was proved by experiment to be as
pure as the water taken up at Richmond or Ted-
dington, they (the Proprietors) would resist any at-
tempt, no matter from what quarter, to interfere wit►
their property, by compelling them to take water
from any company which should take its water
higher up. It was admitted that the water was,
in times of heavy rains and consequent floods, tur-
bid—an objection which would lie against water
taken from any part of the river at such seasons;
but the company had dotie,and were still doing, all
in their power to correct that, by the erection of a
large reservoir at Barrow-hill, which would always
be filled with a supply of pure and clear water.
Under these circumstances, he traated that-no in
terference would take place, unless it could be clearly
proved (which he much doubted) that the public
would be greatly benefitted by it.
Another PROPRIETOR observed, that even if a com-
pa►.y should be formed to take water from the river
Colne, he could not see how they could escape from
having occasionally turbid water, and when they
had, they considered it only by such means as this
company had already adopted. A new company
could not be formed for the purposes alluded to at
less than a quarter of a million of money expense.
The CHAIRMAN.-It would cost a million.

PROPRIETOR.—Then the objection ►would be
greater, for the expense would come at last upon the
public, ►who will not bc benelitted by it any thing
like that proportion.
Mr. WALKER observed, that if the Legislature
interfered, and insisted on another mode of supply-
ing the public with pure water, it would be useless
to resist. He would therefore suggest, that no great
expense should be gone to by the company in its
experiments at Barn Elms, until the intentions of
the Legislature should be known.
The CHAIRMAN said, that as Mr. Peel had de-
clared that the Government was not disposed to ad-
vance any money for the suggested company, it
►would be extremely diaictilt to get capitalists to
subscribe the sum necessary. However, the Pro-
prietors might rest assured, that the experiments at
Barn Elms were not conducted on any expensive
scale, and that no expensive outlay should take
place until the intentions of Government ►were
known, and then not ►without the sanction of the
Proprietors. In the mean time, nothing would be
omitted to make the supply of water from their pre-
sent sources as pure as possible.
Mr. WARE, alluding to a subject which he ob-
served had been frequently mentioned in some of
the public papers,—namely, that ►when the new
London•bridge should be completed, and the old
one removed, the reflinc of the London drainage
►would go up much higher than it does at present—
mentioned some experiments that had been made,
the result of ►which showed that the reflux London
tide did not go up within a mile and a half of the
spot from which the Company takes its ►water.

The SECRETARY then .read some extracts from
the evidence taken before the Committee of the
House of Commons, in proof of what was. stated
by Mr. Ware; and it appeared further, that the re-
flux London tide does not flow to within two miles
and a half of the place from which the Company
proposes to take its water, should their intended
arrangement be carried into effect.

After some farther discussion on the subject, the
report was agreed to and ordered to be entered on
the minutes.
Thanks were then voted to the Directors for their
zeal and diligence in managing the affairs of the
Company, after which the meeting broke up.
[ln the course of the day some short conversation
arose as to the propriety of allowing reporters to re-
main in the room; but it seemed to be the general
opinion of the opinion of the meeting, that as there
was nothing in their proceedings which they desired
to conceal, they could have no objection to an ac-
count of them going before the public.]

THE SPANISH REFUGEES.

(From the Times.)

We have inserted a curious, and, to us, a
highly interesting letter from an individual who
signs himself " Juan de Vega ;" and who, un-
der that fictitious name, has, by dint of inge-
nuity and unwearied benevolence, amassed, as
we must term it, a sum of 581., which he has
handed over to the Committee of Spanish Offi-
cers for the relief of the unhappy men who have
lately arrived from Portugal. There is a spirit
of adventure and a display of talent connected
with this extraordinary contribution, which will
recommend, we trust, the cause so powerfully
succoured by Signor Juan. de Vega to the tastes
of those among our countrymen on whose hearts
it has hitherto not had the good fortune to make
more than a slight impression. The letter is
addressed to the Committee of Spanish Gen-
tlemen :-

" Gentlemen,—Without the slightest feelings of
disrespect for you and your brave compatriots, I
personated a Spanish minstrel with the name of
Senor Juan de Vega, and also assumed the very
honourable distinction of an entigrado of Spain, dur-
ing the late much-lamented recent political disturb-
ances in that quarter.
" To my wanderings throligh Great Britain and
Ireland, I collected about .584, which (as I ori-
ginally intended to dispose of the gains attending
this trip for the benefit of your fallen countrymen)
I conceive would be most usefully employed in the
relief of those unfortunate emigrados for 11'hom you
have so becomingly made yourselves a Committee;
and I beg leave to transmit this sun to your charge
for this particular purpose.
" In the name of my assumed character, I must
beg leave respectfully to subscribe myself,
" Gentlemen, your obedient humble servant,
" Oct: '3l. • " JUAN DE VEGA.
" To the Gentlemen of the Committee for the Benefit
of the recent Emigrants from Portugal."

RETIREMENT OF THE GRAND DUKE
CONSTANTINE...-..The correspondent of Hamburg states
that the report is spread at 1%-layence that a foreign Prince
is about to purchase a large-estate in the Rhenish pro-
vinces, and establish there- his future residence. It is
added that the climate of the northern countries, which
he has inhabited until now, is little favourable to the deli-
cate health of his wife, and that this consideration has de-
cided the Prince to renounce the active functions he has
hitherto exercised (as Viceroy of Poland), in order that
he may enjoy all the sweetness of a private life in the
bosom of his family.

INQUEST.—CHILD MURDER.—On Sunday
an inquest was held by Mr. PAISLEY, senior coroner of
the county, at Clinken, near Bray, on the body of a
male infant, about three weeks old. One witness de-
posed, that on the preceding morning- while she was in
bed, she heard a woman cry out " murder, murder," at
the same time clapping Ler hands. The witness, how-
ever, did not then get out of bed. Some time afterwards
the child was found dead in a field. Part of a grinder
handkerchief was stuffed into the child's mouth, and the
remainder of it tightly twisted round his neck, by which
means he was choaked or strangled. Verdict—" %if&
Murder by some person or pexsons unknown."—DurAtt
Morning Regiiter.

ST. PETERSISURCM, 0:17T. I-:.--Extract a ~ Iv t ter
from the camp before'. 61mmla :—" The itrrny ::as
just lost a general officer celebrated for his brilliant
valour. Lieutenant-General Prince Madaiolf 43e,1
on the 4th (16th) August, of no anfifirism hi,-1)
formed tact winter. He has been interred in f'.llinrnlit,
in the Church a the Assumption of the Virlin,
where the fUneral service was performed, aceoiding
to the rights of the Greek Church, by the Bulgarian
Clergy. This ceremony was accotopanipd by a cir-
cumstance that did honour to Prince Madatoff. The
Grand Vizier, who had had in him so formbhible au
adversary, was pleased to pay in person, with his
troops, the last military honours to this intrepid
warrior."

oCTorEg 16.
ORDER OF3TDE DAY OF HIS IUAJESTY THE EMPERoa
TO TIIE TROOPS OF THE SECOND ARMY, TO THOSE
OF THE CORPS OF THE CAUCASUS, AND TO THE
SQUADRONS OP TFIE FLEETS OF THE BALTIC AND
THE BLACK SEA, WHICH TOOK PART IN THE TWO
LAST CAMPAIGNS.

Brave Soldiers arid Stilors 1-e-The all-powerful
benedictions of Divine Providence I.gre put an end to
rhis war, in which you hare gained imperishable -
glory; and, thanks to your efforte,-.Russia celebrates
a glorious peace.
Two quarters of the world have cons'antly re-
sounded with your victories; the numerous forces
of an enemy who made an obsibette resistance have
been annihilated at all points, and before yon has
vanished the ancient renown of these impicgnAle
ramparts, which, before you, never knew.,a cow
queror. Boldly passing chains of almost impervi-
ous mountains, and striking the enemy even in his
most inaccessible retreats, you have constrained
him, at the very gates of Constantinople, solemnly
to acknowledge his inability to oppose your valour.
You have equally distinguished yourselves by your
moderation towards the vanquished ; by your cona
duct to the peaceable inhabitants of the countries
subdued by your arms, in offering them protection
and friendship; by the strict observance tsf tire moat
exemplary order and the strictest discipline; lastly,
by the scrupulous fulfilment of all your duties. It.
is thus that you have shown yourselves worthy of
the name of Russian soldiers.

Desiring to recompense so many eminent services
rendered by you to the throne and the country, I
order all those who have taken part in the military
operations against the Turks in the campaign of
1828 and 1829, to wear, suspended to the riband
of the Order of St. George, the medal which I have
just instituted for the war in Turkey.
May this mark of honour be for ever a refytii-
meat of your glory and of my gratitude : may it
for the future a new pledge of the fidelity of yott
services!

St. Petersburg'', Ist (13th) Oct. 18/9.
(Signed) NICHOLAg:
. __

. _
From the official account of the last operations of
the army in Asia, it appears that General Paske-
lile body
tchi
of troops, it necessary to disperse a comider-
troops, which had assembled in tha
environs of Gmnisch-Khane, eent Colonel Signor:-
witsch with a detachment for that purpose, who,
after a most difficult march, found the enemy en the
12th (2:th) August, on a fortified mountain, awl
entirely defeated and dispersed his troops. Th,
next day he reached Gumisch-Khane, which 't,t:*s
abandoned by the Turkish troops ; the inhabitants,
chiefly Greeks, came out with their Bishop at their
head, and with the holy images, to meet the Colo-
nel, to whom they delivered the keys. Count
Paskewitsch himself afterwards marebel towards
Trebisond, but, on account of the extraordinary dif-
ficulties of the road, could get no nearer than with-
in forty wersts of Trebisond. On his march he
received the news of a brilliant victory gained by
Major-General Hesse over the Turks near Moukha
Estate.

It is to be presumed that no farther hovilitici
have taken place in Asia, where the news of that
peace must have soon arrived.
Exchange on London, Oct. 16, 1023-32. -
ODESSA, OCT. 10.-Our Journal of to-day con-
tains a rescript from the Emperor to Count Woron-
zow, with the news of the peace.
Our roads begin to be covered with ships; new
life animates the town and the harbour, and ev4ry
countenance looks cheerful. Since the Gth,
ships have arrived, of which 22 were from Constan-
tinople. Eleven ships, laden with cern, have sailed
since the 3d, when exportation was again permitted.
BERLIN, OCT. 27.—Prussian-English Loan of
1818, Fire per Cent., 101 ft; Prussian-English Luau
of 1522, Five per Cent., 104—Exchange on Lon-
don, Three Months, 6281.—Prustian State Ga-
zette, 28th Oct.

When we lately took occasion to put our
readers in posstssion of some particulars of the Ktuolt
health, we stated that the probability then was that his
MAJESTY'S expected visit to Brighton would not take
place, but that circumstances might occur to change the
deterthination on that point. We now learn that the in•.
tended excursion will certainly take place, anti that al.
Most immediately. This arrangement was definitively
adopted during the last visit of Sir HENRY TIALFogia itt
Windsor, which, as we already stated, took place on
Saturday last. The KING leaves Windsor fur Brighton
with as little delay as circumstances will admit, as his
visit to the sea coast is not intended to exceed the duration
of a month. His MAJESTY is fixed in his resolution of
spending his Christmas at Windsor Castle, which is ex-
pected to exhibit all the Royal magnificence during that
period of general festivity. The acconnnudatiwis to he
prepared for the illustrious and Noble Guests who will be
honoured by the Royal commands, are to be on the most
extensive and sumptuous seale.—Morniv chronicle.
When Mr. S. was on the Continent with
Lord M., to whom he was travelling tutor, his Lordship
fell desperately in love with a young lady, the daughter of
au English physician. Mr. S. upon this wrote home to
state what had occurred, in order that measures might be
adopted to prevent so unequal a match. The Marchioness
of C. wrote to express her gratitude for the communication
which she had received; at the same time she conjured
Mr. S. to use every means in his power to break off the
acquaintance, and recommended as the most effectual step
of all, that he himself should marry the lady, promising
at the same time to remember and requite the important
service in after life. The request was attended to, and
Mr. S. became the husband of the young lady. The
Marchioness did not prove ungrateful, and in the fulness of
time Mr. S. became a Bishop.—Sunday

A gang of sheep-stealers have lately been de-
tected at A:nport, near this town, whose depredations
have so far exceeded any thing of the kind ever done be-
fore in that neighbourhood as to excite the most intense
interest amongst the gentry and farmers, who are more
particularly concerned. Sir Luctus Cums, Batt. and
HENRY GAWLER, Esq. hare, in the moat praiseworthy
manner; exerted themselves to the utmost in bringing
this matter to light, and have fortunately (with the aid of
the confessions of some of the parties implicated) succeed-
ed in committing fire of the offenders to the county gaol
for trial at the next Assizes. It is a fact worthy of re-
mark, that no less thin eight sheep's heads were found in
a well adjoining the house of one of the prisoners.—Hunts
Chronicle.

The astrological almanacks, which so long
disgraced the country, by the ignorance, profaneness, and
indecency that abounded in them, have nearly run their
course. An order from the Treasury 118. been received by
the publisher of the almanack which first appeared two
years ago, under the superintendence of thy Society for the
Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, for a large number of
copies (1,500) of the abnanack for the ensuing year ; and
the Society's almanack will in future he used in all the
publi. offices. In 177 the Minister (Lord Noe.m), who
wanted prophecies as well as taxes to support the American
war, exerted his infinenco to perpetuate the monopoly
which condethned the public to the trash of Merlin, Poor
Robin, 11100 as—el hoc penns crane. ,‘ The schoolmaster"
was not then anroad, or, at any rate, the Minister gave
him no eneouragement to enter. the dwellings of,the people
It is but Justice, however, to the Stations'' CrinipanY;
who once p6sessed the monopoly, to observe, th:.t a good
example has not been throivn away' upon thrift, and that
since the appearance of the Society's alminack, they ha o
puldished one, in every respect greatly sokrior !ho•te
which used W be compiled under their Globe.