Star.
London, England, 1831-07-06 00:00:00

SCIENCE.

The Bristol Journal announces in its columns a
sale of West India sugar, " the bona fide property
of negroes in the island of Barbadnes; the produce
of their own grounds, and manufactured for them
by their nosters !"
FRENCH NEWSPAPERS.—There is no better
criterion of the influence of public opinion than the
number and size of newspapers. Two newspapers,
we believe, supply the kingdom of Naples; Por-
tugal has as many ; and the Spanish monarchy,
we believe, about four; France possesses from 150
to 200 ; the British Isles about 400 ; and the United
States 1,000. Ten years ago, the Constitutionnel
was about as large as two leaves, or one-fourth
part of the Examiner, and badly printed on coarse
paper ; but since that time all the French journals
have been extending their dimensions. In July
next, the Temps Paris paper is to be enlarged to a
size exceeding that of the English Times. The
present price is only 80 francs, or 645. per ann.
or twopence and half a farthing for each number.
Such is the consequence of the absence of news-
paper taxes.
MENTAL OCCUPATION.—How many men of
independence and leisure are there tow horn life is a
btirthen ; on whom time hangs like a weight of
lead, and who ate eager to plunge into any amuse-
ment that may make them forget themselves, and
kill the passing time that is fleeting so rapidly to
a close! How many poisons have committed sui-
cide from want of mental occcpation ! bow many
have gone mad by dreaming away their hours in
revelries and foolish conceits ! But what are these
men to whom time is a but then ? Are they geolo-
gists, astronomers, or chemists ? Are they botan-
ists or landscape painters ? Are they butterfly hunt-
ers—to use the term often spoken in derision? Are
they naturalists or philosophers of any kind ? We
•
may safely, I believe, answer in the negative. No
one who pursues science is likely to complain of
tedium vita, the ennui of modern times.—Drum-
mond's Letter to a Young Naturalist.
STATISTICS OF AUSTRlA.—TheEmpireof Aus-
tria is an assemblage of nations absolutely diffe-
rent, having their origin, government, language,
and national assemblies distinct. Its population,
of about 30 millions of souls, is composed nearly
as follows: 5..500,000 Germans, of which two
along are under Austria itself: 13,000,000 Scla-
vonians of different races; 4,500,000 Hungarians,
1,500,000 Wallacbians, 500,000 Jews, and
4,900,000 Italians. The Austrian army is com-
posed, in time of peace, of about 270,000 men.
A mos.r INGENIOUS INVENTION.— A very cu-
ricus piece of mechanism has been lately invented
by a young Italian gentlemen of the name of Galli,
now in this country. One of its objects is to ena-
ble us to write faster than any system of short-
hand hitherto known, or than any orator can speak.
But this is not all. Many copies of a discourse,
legibly written, may be taken at the same time
while it is rehearsing. It is played upon by the
fingers, like a musical instrument, and the mann-
; script is rolled off a cylinder during the course of
the writing. By employing it, a book may be
copied while the reader is perusing it, and as fast
as it can be lead. The Judge on the Bench may,
, by its means, take down the deposition of wib-
j nesses while his mind is intent upon the bearing of
' the eviCenee. By a little habit, even the blind
may be made to use an instrument which will ena-
I ble them to copy faster than any short-hand
writer. This ingenious machine has many other
advantages which, if realized according to its in-
ventor's expectations, will produce great changes
in our present system of written or telegraphic
communication.— Times.

We copy the following remarkable instance of
longevity and increase from an American Paper :
" John Howard Smith and Elizabeth Ireland, both

of Huntingdon Suffolk county, L. I. were married
in the year 1765, They are still living in the en-
joyment of health, at a ripe old age, the former
being in the 87th, and the latter in her 83d year.
Their descendants are as follow, viz.-17 children,
97 grand children, 135 great grand children, one
great great grand child.—Total 250, of whom 210
are now living. As a proof of the good example and
the sage counsels of the aged pair, in all the 210
descendants yet living, not one of them is known
to be dissipated or intemperate.
FUTURE TRI U PHs CuLlaisTny.—Should
el:palms, in consequence of the knowledge acquired
by future investigations, ever arrive at the know-
ledge of forminfr these (the components of all ani-
mal and vegetable substances) principles from their
elements at a cheap rate, the prodigious change
which such a discovery would make upon the state
of society must be at once evident. Mankind
would be in some measure independent of cli-
mate and situation ; everything could be pro-
duced at pleasure, in every part of the earth ; and
the inhabitants of the warmer regions would no
longer be the exclusive possessors of comforts and
conveniences to which those in less favoured re-
gions of the earth are strangers. Let the science
advance for another century with the same rapidity
that it has done during the last fifty years, and it
will produce effects upon society, of which the
present race can form no adequate idea. Even
' already some of these effects are beginning to de_
velope themselves ; our streets are now illuminate
with gas drawn from the bowels of the earth; and

the failure of the Greenland fishery, during an un-
fortunate season like the last, no longer fills us
with dismay. What a change has been produced
in the country by the introduction of steam-boats;
and what a still greater improvement is at present
In progress, when steam-carriages and rail-roads are
gradually taking the place of horses and common
roads. Distances will soon be reduced to one-
half of what they are at present; while the dimi-
nished fares and increased speed of conveyance
will contribute essentially to lower the price of our
manufactures, and enable us to enter into a success-
ful competition with other nations.—History of
Chemistry.

PANORAMA OF THE BRITISH

EMPIRE.

BIRMINGHAM JOURNAL, July 2.

MURDER AND SUICIDE.—On Saturday night last,
about half past ten o'clock, the inhabitants of Bull-street,
and the neighbourhood for a considerable distance round,
were alarmed by the discharge of two pistols. A shriek of
alarm was immediately heard in the Minories ; and a gene-
ral rush took place to ascertain its cause. On arriving
at the spot, a young man was in the act of raising a girl
from the street, while another man stood at a short distance,
as if anxiously ascertaining the result of his deadly attempt.
—On the night in question, a young woman named Hannah
Blythe (the daughter of a porter) residing with her parents,
obtained permission of her mother to go and purchase some
ribbands, in Bull.street. For this purpose she left home in
company with her acknowledge suitor, named Fellows, a
carpenter. On proceeding up the Minories, the young wo-
man was accosted by a man, who inquired " is that you,
Hannah ;" and on her replying in the affirmative, be imme-
diately fired a pistol, the contents of which lodged in the
legs of her companion. Fellows and his associate darted
across the street to escape, but by the time they
had reached the opposite pavement, another pistol
was discharged, the contents of which passed through
the back part of the young woman's neck.—The poor
girl lay weltering in her blood on the pavement, and
on lifting her from the 'ground, she exclaimed " Moseley
has done it ;" and on Fellows turning round, he perceived a
young man of that name standing at a short distance. The
public, alarmed by the two discharges, rushed to the spot,
and supposing Fellows who was in the act of raiding the fe.
male from the ground, to be the assassin, notwithstanding
Ma protestations, conveyed him to die watchhouse • and
Aloseley was allowed to escape. The young woman becom-
ing sensible, they were unable, in the absence of Fellows,
to ascertain who she was, or by whom, or under what cir.
cumstances the deed was committed. On examination it was
found that three slugs had entered the left side of the back
part of her neck, and gone completely through the
opposite side. Fortunately a young girl, compa-
nion of Blythe's, drawn to the spot by the report that
" Moseley had shot a young woman," entered the
house, and identified her. On examining the street, the
remnants of both pistols were found scattered, such had been
the power of the charges, that the barrels as well as stocks of
both pistols were blown into pieces. The police being satis-
fied of the innocence of Fellows, he was liberated at four
o'clock the following morning, and every possible exertion
made to discover the retreat of the real offender. Nothing,
however, was heard of him until Monday night, when Mr.
Redfern, of the Public Office, received a communication
from Darlaston, stating, that a young man answering to the
description of Bloreley, had been found dead (evidently shot)
in that neighbourhood, and then lay at the workhouse.—
Bloseley's sister, in company with a friend, immediately pro.
ceeded to Darlaston,and identified the body as that of her bro.
ther. Such arc the circumstances of this lamen table affair, origi-
nating in infatuated jealousy. For many months past
Moseley had, as the girl and her friends now state, annoyed
her with his addresses ; and in Sep.ember last, he caused
the banns of marriage to be proclaimed at Aston Church, and
purchased the wedding ring, but without her knowledge,
which gave such offence to her friends that on presenting
himself at the house, he was summarily ejected. There
is no doubt that Alosley was devotedly attached to the vic-
tim of his jealousy; and driven to madness by her repeated
rej,ctions, and the success of a hated rival. Blythe possesses
the highest character as a virtuous and prudent young
woman. Site is in the twenty.third year of her age.
Cc:swami's Intaucar.—On Wednesday an inquest was
held at Darleston, on view of the body of Charles Bloseley,
who was found dead on the banks of the Birmingham canal.
Mr. John Sheldon, bookbinder, stated that lie knew the de.
ceased, with whom he had been upon the most intimate terms
for 13 or 14 years. He also knew a young woman named
Hannah Blythe; she resided in Lichfield-street, with her
father and mother. He knew that she and the deceased were
intimate, as he had seen them frequently walking together,
indeed lie considered there was a sincere attachment on his
part. It had been the habit of the deceased to spend his
Saturday evenings at his house. On Saturday night last he
came as usual at half-past eight, and left about
half-past ten. On Monday morning he received a let.
ter from him bearing the Elston Post-mark, in which
he wished to know how Hannah Blythe was. He
added he had much injured his hand, and was fearful it
would be useless to him ; meaning, no doubt, the bursting
of the pistol on Saturday night. For the last month the de-
ceased had very much changed, getting thin, and looking
pale, and appeared as if something was on his mind, altho'
he never divulged any cause. On Saturday night he ap.
peered very low. About two months ago he showed him a
ring wrapped up in paper. At the last Birmingham fair,
the deceased told him that be did not now go with Hannah,
and therefore he concluded there had been some differences be.
tweenthem.—Wm. Lowe stated that he kept a beer shop at
Cock Heath, near Darleston. The deceased came to his house a
little before six o'clock on Sunday morning last. He was
very wet, and appeared to have been out all night. Be
drew near to the fire, and piecing his head upon his right
hand, which was tied in an handkerchief, he remained in
that position nearly an hour. He unbound his hand to
show the landlord. During the whole of the day, Moseley
occupied one scat, where he took his breakfast and dinner,
occasionally replying to questions put to liim by the company.
Occasionally he appeared much agitated and singular in his
behaviour. About 6 o'clock he ordered tea, but before it was
ready, he left the house and proceeded in the direction of
Bilston, and the witness saw no more of him until the fol.
lowing morning, a corpse, at the workhouse. Daniel De.
well, a boatman, stated, that he found the body of the de-
ceased partly in the Itirmingham Canal. His head was un-
der water to his shoulder, with one of his arms, and his lep
resting on the bank : on raising him from the water his bead
appeared to be much covered with blood.
Mr. Thomas Partridge, constable of Dulaston, stated that
he took the body front the canal. In consequence of the re■
port of fire arms having teen heard on the previous night, ht
the direction of where the body was fond, it was ruassessd
that the man had been murdered. He therefore proceeded
again to the spot where the deceased was found, and bola
thence trued the footsteps coming in the direction of the
canal, for upwards of 300 yards into a field, when he found
a pair of pocket pistols. One of the pistols had been fired
off' and the other was charged with ball. On the spot when
three arileles were found, was a great quantity of coagulated
blood. Mr. Charles Thornhill, surgeon, of Darleston, in.
'peeled the body. In the skull be round a circular hole, as
if it had been drilled, and the inner table of the skull was
fractured to a great extent. The wound was in an obligee
direction downwards. On examining the brain, several
fragments of the skull were found to have penetrated the
substance to the depth of an inch, and blood to the depth of
an inch and a half was found upon the brain. The wound
was the cause of the deceased's death, and certainly the event
was not caused by drowning, but from the loss of b100d...,
The jury returned a verdict of Lunacy.
FATAL AIAIL COACH ACCIDENT..4t, will be recollect.
ed that a few weeks ago the horses of the mail between this
town and Manchester ran away with the coach at Wolver-
hampton, on their arrival at the inn, and that a Fronds
gentleman, in consequence of his jumping off, received very
serious injury. It appears that he died on Sunday last, and
on Tuesday an inquest was held before Mr. Smith, when the
following particulars were elicted :—Charles Hippolyte
count de Secqueville, of the kingdom of France, knew the
deceased, who was formerly Commissary in the French
army, but had retired from the year 1816. On the 3d
of June, the deceased, accompanied by himself and another
friend, were coming from Birmingham to Wolverhampton
as outside passengers upon the Blanchester mail, in their
way to Liverpool and Ireland, and they arrrived at the
New Hotel, in Wolverhampton, about half-past seven'
o'clock that morning. On their arriving at the hotel, the'
coachman pulled up his horses, and then, as is usual, be tan.
buckled his reins and threw them upon the backs of the wheel.
horses. Immediately the horses ran away at full speed up
Cock.street, round the pump, and down North-street
increasing their speed down the lance street on ac'

count of the descent or declivity At the time the
coach began to move the coachman was in the act
of
citlnsiedown an n from theifil attemptand, altolgsehtingtae thueptrtenintler
nground,eo
the horee.keepers ran after the coach and attempted to seize
the reins, but could not, and the result was the horses
were at full liberty. When the horses came to Craddock's.
walk, a very narrow passage leading to St. Peter's Church,
with a projecting wall fronting North.street, the two
leaders became a little restive, and attempted to go opposite
ways ; the consequence was, the near leader ran with its head
against the wall, and was killed on the spot, and one of the
wheel horses was also very much hurt ; the pole of the coach
ran against the wall, and the coach was then stopped ; but
as they were going down North.stzeet, they were apprehen-
sive that the coach would be drawn over some steps, and:the
deceased in his alarm said he would jump off. He tried all
in his power, both by words, and by holding his arm, to pre-
vent him. He at length did jump off and tell to the ground,
and was kicked by the horses, amongst which he fell ; the
further consequence was, that he received a most dreadful
compound fracture on the small of Lis left leg, of which he
was confined to his bed until Sunday afternoon last, the 26th
ult. when he died.
BIRMINGHAM Fart GRAMMAR SCHOOL BILL.—The
town will be gratified to learn that the differences with the
Governors of the Free Grammar School, are now in a fair
way of being finally arranged. We are given to under]
stand that, with the privilege of the Committee for the
town, the Bill has again been introduced into the House
of Lords, in its original shape, and that it will pass
through all the stages in that House without alteration;
but that when it reaches the Committee of the House of
Commons, the carioca modifications decided upon during
the last Session of Parliament, will be made, and that
the Bill will then be returned to the Lords in its altered shape,
for their approbation. As it may perhaps excite some sur.
prise, that the Bill should be introduced into the Lords in
the first instance without the alterations, it may be as well
to state, that for this course there arc two reasons ; first,
to avoid the heavy fees which would otherwise be payable
upon the bill, as a new and not a revived Bill; and se.
condly, In order that when the alterations are 'proposed to
the Lords, they may come recommended with the powerful
sanction of the Commons.
CLOTHING Balta.—We perceive that what are called
clothing banks have been established in different parts of the
country. There is one at Saffron Walden, where the num.
of depositors is nearly 300; and the humbler classes embrace
ice promised advantages with much anxiety. The whole of
the receipts, it is understood, will be laid out with the trades.
rople of the town in linen, Linnet, and useful clothing.—
The nobility and gentry of the town and neighbourhood,
cordially join in the establishment of this insti,ution, which
Is calculated to encourage habits of industry and comfort.
STEAM ENGINES.—We understand that a memorial to
the Commissioners under the Sireet Act is In course of signs.

tore, praying that they would be plemed to enforce that
clause in their Act which subjects all proprietors of steam.
engines within the town to a heavy penalty who do not con.
some their own smoke. The nuisance, in some parts, is
certainly intolerable, and deserves, in our opinion, the im.
mediate attention of the Commissioners.

DEATH BY STARVATION.— Monday evening, an inquest
was held at Dothlabia, on the body of a man unknown,
aged about GO. The deceased was found about seven o'clock
on the sante morning, quite dead, in the ditch of a field be.
longing to John Tolley, Esq. of the Ford, near Droitwitr.h.
He had been in the habit of begging about the country.—
From the evidence of Mr. Kitsell, surgeon, Droitwich, it
appeared the deceased must have been dead some time, and
that hits death was caused by starvation The Jiiry returned
a verdict accordingly.
The iron trade in Staffordshire is very depressed.

EXTENSIVE 1101111ERY.—At Bromsgrove, on Friday,
(being fair-day,) a robbery to a serious amount was com-
mitted at the house of 3lr. Irish, Hop Pole Inn. In the
bustle of the day, some villains went into a bed-chamber,
where they broke open a bureau, and succeeded in carrying
off Bromsgrove and Coventry bank.notes, and sovereigns, to
the amount of 200 L
COACH ACCIDENT.—.On Monday night, as the Emerald
night-coach was .procecding towards London, when near
Bleken, about seven miles from Birmingham, the hind.
dicky, with the luggage, gave way, and swinging over the
wheel, unfortunately overturned the coach. line gentleman
had his arm broken, and two or three passengers, with the
guard and coachman, were slightly bruised. Upon the in.
formation arriving at the Nelson Hotel, Mr. Radenhurst, the
Proprietor, immediately took horse, and, accompanied by
two medical gentlemen, rode off to the scene of accident, and
spared no exertion or expense in rendering every assistance
to the sufferers. Another coach immediately proceeded with
the passengers, with the exception of the gentleman and a
woman. _ _

THE NEW BEER TRADE—The persons engaged in the
new beer trade held a meeting on Friday, to petition par-
liament to grant them the same protection as the licensed
victualler, in allowing them the valve hours of keeping
their houses open. it was stated that the number engaged
in this trade amounted to 30,000. A petition was agrto.
SENTENCES OF THE PRISONERS AT TIM WARWICK.