Star.
London, England, 1808-10-31 00:00:00

DOVFR, OC l'ol3Eit so.

Mr. SHAW, the Messenger, sailed yesterday in a
flag of truce for Calais ; the vessel has since returned,
Mr. SHAW having proceeded for Paris.

DEAL, OCTOBER 49.

Arrived the TuANtra frigate and SKYLARK sloop,
from Portsmouth ; the THAMES passed through to
the Northward.—Saikd the Burrann sloop of war,
for th,e Nore ; CROCUS and PODARGUS sloops, on a
cruize.—Passed through from Portsmouth for the
River the Supply naval transport.
OCTOBER 10.—Arrived the Plymouth naval. trans-
port and Findon hired sloop from the River ; CHERO-
KEE sloop, from a crulze.—Sailed the Quankr, ENDY.•
MION, and Aezrmusw frigates, to the Westward;
ROLLA sloop, on a cruize.—The GOSHAWK sloop of
war has recaptured and sent into the Downs the
American brig Eliza, from Leghorn, with a cargo
of rags, &c.; she had been previously captured by a
French lugger privateer.—Remain in the Downs his
Majesty's ships with the outward-bound, &c. as per
last.—Wind W. calm.
ORAVESIND, OCTOBER SO.—Passed by the Margaret, Moore,
from Rio Janeiro.—Sail:d the Britannia, Morrison, for Cadiz ;
and the Rosins, Ptarley, for the Cape of Good Hope.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.

4, MOFFAT, OCTOBER IV.

We had yesterday a most dreadful storm of wind
and rain, and the rivers in the neighbourhood came
down in such torrents as were never seen before by
the oldest• people here. Amongst the damage occa-
sioned by it, we are sorry to state a distressing acci-
dent which happened to the mail coach from Glas-
gow to Carlisle, which passes this way, at the bridge
over the river Evon, about nine miles from hence, at
a place called Howcleugh, betwixt nineand ten o'clock
last night.

41 The coach had just got about half way over
when the bridge gave way in the middle of the arch,
and the coach, passengers, horses, &c. were instantly
precipitated into the river, down a fall of 35 or 40 feet.
There were four inside and two outside passengers ;
the two latter and two of the horses were killed-upon
the spot, and the other passengers had a most mira-
culous escape with their lives, though we are tarry to
say, they are all very considerably hurt ' • the coach-
man and guard were also much hurt, the former had
his arm broken, and was otherwise much bruised, and
the guard got a severe contusion on the head.
" The other coach from Carlisle to Glasgow nar-
rowly escaped sharing the same fate : it arrived at,
the bridge just at the time the accident happened, and
from the darkness of the night, and the rate the coach
necessarily travels, must inevitably have gone into
the river at the same breach in the arch, had not the
cries of one of the sufferers alarmed the coachman, and
induced him to stop.

gc By the exertions of the coachman and guard of
the other coach, the passengers who survived (a lady
and three gentlemen) with the coachman and guard
that had fallen into the abyss, were extricated, and
conducted to a placeof safety,until other assistancewas
afforded them. Much praise is due to Mr. Rae, the pro.
prietor at Moffat, for his exertion and assistance on
this occasion : immediately on hearing of the acci-
dent, he set out in the middle of the night with seve-
•ral of his servants and surgical assistance, and gave
everal possible relief to the passengers, and by this
means, we are happy to say, the London mail and
many valuable articles in the coach have been saved.
Mr. Clapperton, the surgeon, is also entitled to much
praise for his ready assistance upon the occasion ; and
the exertions of John Giddes, one of the proprietor's
servants, is particularly deserving of notice: at the risk
of his life, he went down the precipice suspended by a
rope, and saved the life of the lady (one of the pas•
sengers), and recovered the mail bags, which 'Must
otherwise have been carried down the stream. The
bodies of the two passengers have been found and con.
veyed to Moffat, and notwithstanding the detention
occasioned by this calamity, the mail was yesterday
delivered in town in its regular course.

" The coach and harness are completely destroyed.
Mr. Rae has lost two valuable horses by the accident,
and the other two are severely hurt and bruised.

" The bodies of the two passengers who were killed,
have been found, and have been brought here this
morning; they are Mr. Wm. Brand, merchant in
Ecclefechan. and Mr. Lund, of the house of Lund and
Toulmin, of Bond-street, London."

It

OLD BAILEY

Sattilday T. Waddle was indicted for obstructint,
George Clarke in the execution of his duty, and for
severely woanding.llim. The transaction took place
in the year 1751, when the prosecutor was stationed
near Maidstone. One night, being out upon duty,
he observed a cart with smuggled goods, and called
.p the driver, demanding at the same time 'what he
had. got in the cart? I'he prisoner, who followed
the cart on *horseback, rode up, observing to the pro-
secutor, that •it did not concern him, and bade the
man drive on. Upon this the prosecutor fired at the
horse, and immediately went to search the cart, which
by this he found to be filled with tobacco. The man
in the cart cried out to the prisoner, “ Now at him,"
aad the prosecutor was immediately assailed by a
shower of blows upon his head from the two men.—
He discharged a second pistol without effect, his
euthtss was taken from him, and he was, in the end,
ccunpletely overpowered. The.cart drove off, and he
was left on the ground with four deep. cuts on the
head, and otherwise much hurt. As he was endea-
vouring to get to a house, a short distance from the
spot, the prisoner returned and assisted hint. He also
gave him back his fire arms, and accompanied him to
the house, where his wounds were dressed. Mr. Jones,'
a farmer, came in and asked the prisoner how he
could use the man so ill t He replied, that he had
taken him for a robber. The prosecutor, however,
told a different story, and Mr. Jones insisted upon the
prisoner's giving his address. The prisoner seem-
ingly complied, but gave a false description. He was
never heard of again till 1801, when the prosecutor
saw him at Hythe fair, and caused him to be appre-
hended. He gave bail for his appearance, but he
combined at large, and his recognizance was estreat-
ed. A proclamation, however, for pardoning smugg-
lers, having been lately issued by his Majesty, the
prisoner, under that proclamation, surrendered him-
self. Jones, the farmer, and all the other witnesses,
being dead, prosecutor's story was unsupported
by other testimony than his own. He swore posi-
tively to the prisoner's identity, and indeed the priso-
ner did not deny the transaction, but defended him-
self by saying that he believed the prosecutor meant
to rob the cart, and that the moment he found hire ; to
be a revenue officer, he did all in his power to repair
the injury he had done. The reason he had abscon-
ded was, that being a smuggler, he feared things,
would go hard with him.
The Judge recapitulated the evidence, and the Jury
found him -Guilty.
The following wore convicted of felony, viz.
Elizabeth Dale, for stealing a washing tub, the property of J.
Hutson.
.r. J. Daetett, for stealing two pounds and a half of coffee, the
property of the West India Dock Company.
R. J. Harris, for stealing a piece of copper, the property of J.
Frost, sen
Mary Higner, for stealing a cotton shirt, the property ef B.
O'Hara.
J. Pupktt, and R. Brown, alias Briggs, for stealing a bcd, bol-
ster, Ac. the property of R. Lindo.
Hannah Lawless, for stealing two pewter pots, the property at
T. Erswell.
Catherine Jackson, for stealing two shirts, two handkerchiefs,
Etc. the property of E. Williams.
R. Perry, for stealing a boot, the property of W. Elwell.
I . Proctor, alias Wilson, for stealing a copper, the property of,
R. H. Gedge.
Frances Shears, for stealing a gown and a pair of stockings, the
property of W. Curet.
J. Stock, for smaling a me, the property of T. Blockley.
Margaret Stephenson, for stealing three shirts, the property of
A. Jackson; and
S. %Veils, for stealing five fowls, the property of W. Jordan.
And one was acquitted, viz.
William Bembridge, indicted for stealing, on the 20th'
of September, a deal box, containing six yards of
cotton, a pair of shoes, a handkerchief, three petti-
coats, a pocket-book containing a miniature picture,
together with a few other articles of wearing apparel,
and eight shillings in silver—the goods and monies
of William Pritchard.
Susannah, the wife of William Pritchard, stated,
that at the time of the conflagration, she lived as ser-
vant in the house of Mr. Salter, who keeps the Russell
Coffee-house at the entrance of the Great Piazza,
Covent-garden. Between four and tive o'clock in the
morning, they were alarmed in consequence of the
great fire at the Theatre and the adjoining houses.— I
Mr. S..lter's family, and others in the neighbourhood, I
were endeavouring to save and get away their things,
kit the fire should reach to their houses. She had
got together the articles which were laid in the in-
dictment, and which were locked up in the box, and
it was placed ready for taking away. She went to.
St. Martin's-court, where she now lodges, and on
her return she found that her box had- been taken I
away. She had not given directions to any person to
take it. When she saw it next, it was at the Mary-
la-bonne Watch-house. One end of the box was
broke or stove in. There were eight shillings in sil-
ver and some halfpence in it : all the silver was taken
out. Every article that remained in the box (which
was nearly the whole) was her property. She was
ready to identify them, but the Court declined giving
her the trouble.
John Hinehlitte, awatchman of the parish of Mary-
la-bonne, said, that about half past five o'clock he
• met the prisoner with a box on his shoulder and a
'bundle under his arm. The Witness told the Prisoner
he should take him to the watch-house. On this the
prisoner said something which he did not recollect ;
and, throwing down the box, added—" Then you'll
carry it." 'look the prisoner by the collar, and con-
veyed him to Mary-la-Lonne Watch-house, whither
the box was also taken. The prisoner, and the pro-
perty found upon Lim, were given up to the constable
of the night. On his cross-examination, the witness
acknowledged, that the prisoner told him, when he
was first asked, that he had brought the things from
the tire at Covent-garden, where they were given to
him to fetch away ; and-this, it appeared the witness
had stated at his examination before the Magistrate.
He also admitted that the prisoner did nut appear to
be sober when he accosted him.
Chester, the Keeper of Mary-la-bonne watch-
hove, stated the circumstance of the prisoner having
been brought to the watch-house with the. property
found on him; and added, that the prisoner was sen-
sible of what passed, though he was evidently rather
in liquor.
The evidence for the prosecution being closed, the
prisoner was called upon for his defence ; when he
said he had :seen drinking a great deal the night be-
fore, and afterwards was drinking some gin and
water in a house. He fell into a doze, a person (who

_
•

, . .
and put diem en the table on tie was tea,...
the bo:,,was put so near the glass it threw it down.
1 Hi eke- of Graham m-

it was he enult,rtof WO brought he box and
- ich hi

.Ac then awote and heard thename
tinned, and that he was to take the box and bun.
for the servants. He was so drunk he took them
away, with an intent to take as much care of them as
he could.
Several witnesses were callol on behalf of the pri-
soner, who lave hini an excellent character for in-
tegrity.
-111 r. Comm Synaziorr said, in cases such as the
present, which- admitted of considerable doubt, cha-
ractethad suturally much weight ; the Jury would
have t 6 take Into their consideration, therefore, that
excellent one the prisoner had received. After as hurt
eonference the prisoner was pronounced Not Guilty.