The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-25 00:00:00

ATTEMPT AT HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

As 'two of Mr. George Robins's men, belonging
to the Royal Filter Manufactory, were on their re-
turn on Thursday evening from Woodford, where
they had been fitting up filters in a cistern, at 'Mr.
Brice Pearce's house, between Edmonton and Stam-
ford-hill, at about eleven o'clock they were suddenly
surrounded by five ruffians, who seizing one of them
by the legs, dragged him to the grouted, and most
wantonly kicked him; .two of them endeavoured to
rifle his pockets, when the other three rushed upon
the driver of the caravan, who in return gave the
first that approached him a tremendous blow on the
face with the end of his whip, put him instantly
hors de combat, and jumping from his cart, seized
the other two, forced one to the earth, and drew a
knife from his pocket to act in self-defence, when
the five cowardly villains took to their heels, but
not before the two champions had punished them
for their attempt to rob them of their earnings; the
one that was suddenly drugged to the ground being
a powerful man, soon got out of his perilous situa-
tion, and gave the villains a good dressing, and both
men, we are happy to state, are without injury, ex-
cept a few bruises. The inhabitants of Edmonton
may well complain of so many daring attempts at
robbery in their vicinity, for not a horse patrol or
watchman was seen for more than the distance of
five miles.

The crop of apples this year will equal and
perhaps exceed any within the last thirty years. In all
the orchards around and below Taunton, &e., the branches
are so loaded as to require propping. The crop of wal-
nuts is also prodigiously great.—Bath Herald.

THE CHURCH MILITANT.--AS two reve.
rend canons were walking a few days since along the High-
street of Oxford, a poor countrywoman, on bearing a gen-
tleman exclaim, " the canons are coming," cried out,
" the cannons are coming, where shall I fly for shelter?
I hope they wont go off, for I was nearly killed by one
when I was a little girl '!"-.—Cheltenham Journal.

ANECDOTE OF COOKE, THE MISER.--This
avaricious character, finding himself near his end, sent for
a lawyer to draw up his Will. When the man of parch-
ment had concluded be inquired his charge. The attorney
named the sum ; On which COOKE observed, " That is a
great deal of money ;- I cannot spare it now, hut you may
add a codicil that I bequeath you the amount Of the bill."
To which the other agreed, • with a proviso that interest
Should be paid to the day of COOKE'S death. This event
took place within a week afterwards; on which Latitat
observed--" Ile was sure he died so soon on purpose to
house him out of the, interest !" and, from the habits of
improbable,
the man, the supposition is by no means

PARIS, JULY 18.—On last Tuesday, at the
close of the sittings of the Chamber of Deputies,
the President read two letters of similar import,
one containing the resignation of M. Le Voyer
d'Argenson, Deputy of the Department de
L'Eure, and the other that of M. de Chauvelin
Deputy for the Cote d'Or. This unexpected
annunciation excited a lively surprise, and
created a considerable sensation. Nobody could
comprehend the meaning of this sudden retire-
ment of men whose established character did not
make us apprehend such a resolution. Conjec •
ture has been busy ever since. One class of in-
dividuals is anxious to discover in this proceed-
ing profound second thoughts. Another at-
tributes to no.other motives than wounded self-
love an abdication so singular, especially on the
part of M. de Chauvelin. You are aware that
this latter individual, born a great noble, Master
of the Wardrobe under Louis XVI., his Am-
bassador at London at an age when most men
are only entering upon public life, the Am-
bassador for the Republic, Member of the
Tribuneship, Councillor of State under the
Empire, Prefect at Bruges, intendant in Cats-
logne, then returned as deputy without any con-
stitutional opposition, has played during all these
vicissitudes a part which flattered his self-love,
and which acquired him popularity.
It was not, however, without some difficulty
that he succeeded in obtaining, at the last elec-
tions, the votes of his constituents. lie N.Vas
elected by an arrondissement different from that
which had given him support on two former oc-
casions. This caused him great chagrin. Re-
turned again to the Chamber, he neither ex-
erted his former talent, nor obtained his former
success. On one question, upon which he dif-
fered from a part of his colleagues, the journals
treated him with some severity. He could not
stand up against this last attack, and he there-
fore took the resolution which has just been an-
nounced.

As to M. le Voyer d'Argenson, born a Mar-
quis, like M. de Chauvelin, and not less of a
great Noble than that individual, he is a charac-
ter difficult to understand, and has always been
dissatisfied and a prey to melancholy. His cou-
rageous denunciation of the assassins of the Pro-
testants at Nismes in 1816 and 1817, had de-
servedly gained him great favour with the public.
His speeches were not frequent ; and yet the
Chamber was not deprived either of an orator or
of a statesman. It appears that his notions of
improvement and of perfectionability go beyond
the limits laid down by the Charter, and that in
his disappointment, despairing of seeing his
wishes realized, he has determined to quit a
career, which no longer had any charm for !Mu.
It is also said that his time is fully occupied in
his attempts to restore the derangement of his
finances.

Dissatisfied people, and especially our young
authors, make the resolution of these two Hon.
Deputies a groundwork for directing their attacks
upon the Elective Chamber. Their ardour is
not easily reconciled to a peaceful and regular
order of things. Every thing still bears a mark
of the great agitations of our revolution, which
raised so many individuals on a sudden to repu-
tation and to fortune. Their young ambition
views with indignation the obstacles which are
opposed to it by the delay of forms and by the
experience of their elders. Their elders have
learnt at their expense that wise combinations
and moderate measures can alone produce any
rational result ; that it would be criminal in the
country to reject defined modes of action for the
barren efforts of an opposition acting without
concert ; that the victory of the majority under
the representative Government, is a prize of such
value as ought not to be compromised by hazar-
dous attempts and unacceptable propositions ;
in short, that it is not by alarming every interest,
and by compromising every existing institution,
that a durable power and a legitimate popularity
is acquired.

Violent speeches, an animated contest, an ob-
stinacy of purpose quite devoid of every thing
like reason—these are the seductions which de-
hide the imaginations of the young, always too
ready to mistake noise for effect, and words for
results.

The Session which has just closed will give
rise to another busy Session ; and people are be-
ginning to be convinced that time is an ally
more p&werful than imprudent precipitation,
which is oftentimes fatal. I did not think that
the example of M. l'Abbe de Pradt would be
contagious, nor that it would tempt men like M.
de Chauvelin and d'Argenson.
Reports are always abroad respecting changes
in the Ministry. M. Hamann has had a pri-
vate interview with the King. That is sufficient
to give rise to new conjectures. I continue to
believe that things will remain for some time in
their present situation.

Tlie rain comes down in heavy showers and
does great mischief. The harvest will be ruined
if this lamentable weather continues. The Pari.
sians are quite alarmed, and have no source of
consolation except the theatres. The Marino
Faliero of Casimir Lavigne, and the elephant of
Francsin, console them for the loss of thefctes of
Tivoli, and their other rural amusements. This
elephant is a wonder, and a very distinguished
actor in a melo-drame, where the usurper
is dethroned by the power of the sacred ani-
mal which protects the legitimate prince. This
skilful animal never makes any failure on his
entry on the stage; and no prince had ever more
dignity in his greatest ban quet than the elephant
taking his repast amid the great Officers of . the
Court, The squires of Francsin know how to
give spirit to beasts, but are wise enough to keep
the receipts to themselves.-Tirnes.

An old sailor, who i 2 well known in the north
as a beggar, called at a minister's door in Arbroath. Tie
servant who answered the door, on seeing the well-known
customer, said, " You can't get any thing to.day." "
not seeking any thing," replied the old boy; "is the mi-
nister within ?" "I believe he is," said the girl. " Would
you. tell him that I would like to speak with him ?" The
minister, on being informed
.that some person wanted to
see him nt the door, came out, and asked what was wanted.
" Well, Sir, I find that I am getting older every day, and
old age does not come by itself; I am beginning to think
now about another world, and I have just come to get
some instruction from you, Sir, about it," The minister
brought hint ip,to the kitchen, and asked what profession
he had followed in his younger years. "0! why, Sir, I
have been on board a man.of-war the most of my life."
" Can you pray any ?" "0 ! no, Sir, I have just come
to get instruction from you." " Can't you say the Lord's
Prayer ?" " No, Sir, but I'll follow you, if you please."
4, Well, say Our Father, which art in Heaven."' " Our
Father, which art ia Heaven—but, by the by, is he all our
father ?" 44 Yes," replied the :minister, "he is all our
father." " Well, then, you ato my brother, •ifhe be all
our father, and you have a good shirt on your back'
(holding- the mittii4r by the wrist of his shirt), " and I
have none, and if Goo be all all our father, and you my
brother, you should give me one of your shirts." The
minister left him in the kitchen, drawing inferences front
the prayer, and sent the servant girl with a shirr, am.r
very seriously retnoultrAtin with him.—Saikr.s MaY*.

DESTRUCIION OF MR. GREEN'S BAL.-

LOON.

We stated in our last paper, upon the autho-
rity of Mr. Green himself, that his balloon was
thoroughly repaired, and that, from the arrange-
ments he had made at the Gas-works, he would
be enabled to ascend within a few minutes of the
appointed time. The crowd was, in consequence,
so great by about three o'clock, that it was with
difficulty admission could be gained to the gas-
yard. About five o'clock the car was attached
to the balloon, the fastenings were loosened, and
every one was in momentary expectation of be-
holding the promised ascent. It was soon
ascertained, however, that the balloon did not
contain a sufficient quantity of gas to sustain the
car, to say nothing of " the celebrated eronaut!"
In answer to a question from a gentleman pre-
sent, Mr. Green said he thought he should be
enabled to procure enough gas within three
hours, and that he would then ascend. This was
announced to the company, who, notwithstand-
ing they had already been kept two hours beyond
the appointed time, appeared willing to grant
every indulgence to the xronaut. The greater
portion immediately left the yard, but by seven
o'clock it was again filled. The balloon in
appearance was now less inflated than it was two
hours previously ; there is no doubt but that
there had been a great escape of gas ; and it was
evident there would be no ascent. Murmurs of
discontent became general, and threats of " duck-
ing" Green were publicly made. Mr. Picker-
ing (Green's partner) becoming alarmed for the
fate of the balloon, was about, we have been in-
formed, to free it, and allow it to ascend alone,
risking the chance of afterwards recovering it.
A stone, or a piece of coke, was at this moment
thrown against it, making a large hole. This
was the signal for fifty more being thrown, and
the balloon was in an instant on the ground.
The scene which followed is beyond description.
A general rush was made—hundreds of knives
were at work, and in a minute or two the im-
mense machine, containing, we understand,
1,500 yards of silk, was cut to pieces ; after
which the populace tore the pieces from each
other, and by eight o'clock scarcely a shred or a
particle was left in the yard. Immense cheers,
which might be heard at a considerable dis-
ance, succeeded this scene of demolition.
Now for Green ! now for Green !" re-
sounded from one end of the yard to the
other. A simultaneous rush was made to-
wards the house of Mr. Goldney, the superin-
tendant of the gas works, where it was thought
Green was secreted. With a promptitude which
reflects on him infinite credit, Mr. Thomas Est-
court, one of the county Magistrates, fixed him-
self at the door of the house, and was soon
surrounded by a number of respectable gentle-
men, to whose united activity the preservation
of the house and works may be attributed. Had
Green been discovered, in all probability mur-
der would have been the result. It will be a
Jong time indeed before it will be safe for him to
exhibit himself in any part of Wilts.
Pairing the scene we hare above alluded to,
Mr. Green, with his wife and Mr. Pickering,
were secreted in a dark hole under the condenser.
They made their escape about eleven o'clock in
the night.—Devizes Gazette.