Star.
London, England, 1824-02-13 00:00:00

PRICE OF COALS.

The Court proceeded to consider the Report of the
Coal and Corn Committee, on the result of their in-
quiries into the mode of delivering coal ships, and the
price of that necessary article, in which they recom-
mended the present •acancies of Deputy Coal Meters
being three) to be filled up, and twelve additional Me-
ters to be elected, which was introduced by Mr. SOUTH
GATE, the Chairman of the Committee, who concluded
by moving the Court to agree to the Report.
Mr. Deputy ROUTH opposed the Report, and moved
a long series of Resolutions, by way of amendment,
which finished with declaring that 40 additional Meters
should be forthwith appointed.
The Report was supported by Mr. HURCOMBE and
Mr. S. DIXON, and opposed by Mr. JAMES, Mr. FAVELL,
Aldermen WOOD and LUCAS, arid other Members ; and
on the shew of hands being taken, the amendment was
carried by a considerable majority, and the Committee
directed to proceed to the election immediately.

The Court, on the motion of Mr. Alderman WooD,
agreed to a Petition to Parliament for a reduction on
the Duty on Coals brought into the Port of London ;
which was ordered to be presented by the Sheriffs in the
usual manner.

ATTACKS ON AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY.

lIALESWORTH (SUFFOLK), FEBRUARY O.
Some months ago, the farmers hereabout came to the
praiseworthy resolution not to use agricultural ma-
chinery so lung as there were agricultural labourers out
of employ; and notices to that effect were stuck upon
the church-doors, &c. This promise the labourers are
of opinion has not been kept. Although there has
been a considerable advance in the price of almost
every article of farming produce, I grieve to be com-
pelled to say, that there are still many agricultural la-
bourers who cannot get work ; while, on the other baud,
I am concerned to have to state that there are many far-
mers who, notwithstanding remonstrances to the con-
trary, continue to use machinery. The consequence has
been restlessness amongst some of the labourers.
Monday last, for instance, a draining plough, stand-
ing ready for work in a field belonging to Mr. George
Robinson, of Chedistone, near Halesworth, was totally
destroyed, by being cut to pieces with a saw in all the
principal parts of it ; and bundles of matches were left
on the top of the remains of such draining plough, to
intimate what further mischief might be expected, if the
use of agricultural machinery were persevered in. It
was on this farm that corn-stacks, &c. were fired some
months ago. On Friday last this same Gentleman com-
menced thrashing with a thrashing machine—a piece of
machinery, however powerful and decided may be its me-
rits, that has excited so many heart-bui rings between the
farmers and their labourers. As soon as it became known
amongst the labourers that such mai hir.ery was at wai k,
and such news flies fast enough, they collected together
on the following morning to the number of fifty or sixty,
armed with mattocks, axes, bill-hooks, crow-bars, blud-
geons, Etc. and then proceeded in a body to Mr. Robinson's
house, to the terror and alarm of the neighbourhood.—
They immediately took the horses from the machine.
By this time the churchwarden, overseer, and several
respectable inhabitants of Chedistone and elsewhere,
arrived at Mr. Robinson's farm, and they remonstrated
freely and firmly with all the parties—with Mr. R. as
well as with the men. They eventually succeeded in
persuading the men to depart in a peaceful manner ; but
not till they " loaded up" the machine, set their
shoulders to the wheels, and drove it into the road, lead-
ing to Mr. R.'s house. They did not injure the ma-
chine ; but they gave intimation that if it should be per-
mitted to return, its destruction would be the conse-
quence. The same party of labourers proceeded to the
farm of Mr. Thomas Bishop, also a respectable farmer
in the same parish, who was performing sonic operation
upon trefoil, with a machine of horse power, and they
contented themselves with expressing the hope that Mr.
Bishop would abstain from the use of the machine. As
Mr. B. was also understood to have behaved with kind-
ness to the labourers, this forbearance may be accounted
for. Ile gave up the use of the machine.

The Select Vestry of Chippenham have determined
not to relieve a pauper that keeps a dog.
Woodcocks are now, and have been all this winter,
unusually scarce in Devonshire.
In the Court of King's Bench, Dublin, on Saturday
last, Mr. O'CormEm, obtained a conditional order for a
mandamus against the Corporation of Dublin, on the
part of Richard Grace, a Catholic, who required to be
admitted to his Freedom of the Corporation, having
served seven years' apprenticeship to a Free Printer.
CURIOUS COINCIDENCE.—In Doctors' Commons on
Tuesday last, Probate (of a will) was actuAly granted
to two executors, named J. Thurtell and Joseph Hunt,
individuals not at all connected with the parties con-
cerned in the late infamous murder of Mr. Weare.

A gentleman groaning under the pangs cf the gout
was asked by a sympathising friend, " Have you ever
tried the Eau Medicinalel" "I have tried every kind of
Oh (he exclaimed with the true accent of pain) but
,They don't relieve me."