Star.
London, England, 1825-12-26 00:00:00

FONTHILL ABBEY.

We cannot but regret having to announce the demo-
lition, in great part, of this most magnificent fabric,
which has been sn universally and deset veJly admired.
On Wednesday afternoon, about half-rest three o'clock,
the tower, which rose to the height of 270 feet from the
centre of the building, fell with a most tremendous
crash, breakieg through a great portion of the roof of
the Abbey, and instantaneously presenting an immense
mass of ruins. Most fortunately no lives were lost.
The tower, it appears, was of too slight a construction ;
and from certain indications, its fall bad been expected
for sevetardays previoui to its actual occurrence. It
declined in its descent a little to the south-west, and fell
into the fountain court, destroy'ng the hall, the whole
of the octagon; and great part of the galleries, north
and south, t'gether a ith the first crimson roan, leaving
the grand entrance standing, with the organ in it, and
the statue of the late Alderman Beckford. Mr. Far-
quhar was in the large east wing of the building at the
time of the disaster, and it is said that he was not much
alarmed, as he had expected it. Seven Servants were
also at the time engaged, by his orders, in taking •out
the painted windows of St. Michael's gallery, and they
all escaped unhurt: one servant boy, however, was
considerably injured. A great quantity of plate is
still* buried in the mass of ruins.—Salisbury Journal.

DUNDEE, Deo. 22.

We have this week toareand the murder of a wife
by her litt•band. The husband'a name is David. Rigour,
a mar iner, lately ip the service of the bandee and
Perth Shipping Company. It appears that they had
been married about the early age of siveen, and had
lived together most happily for a number of years.—
Some time afterwards he was impressed, and served on
board a man of war for eleven years. Being at last
discharged from the navy, he returned to his h inse,
and lived with his wife for some time.; but her chastity
had by this time become liable to suspicion. and' peace
and happiness had fled the house. Balfour, who appears
to have been sincerely attached to his wife, bore with
her failings for a long time in hope of amendment;
but she herself became tired. of the connexion, and
wished to get rid of him. On his return from Greenock,
on Monday last, she retthed to allow him to sleep with
'her, and &sired him to leave the house, otherwise she
would send for the police. The poor man w.is com-
pelled to resort to an eating-heuse for his victuals
Overwhelmed with grief and despair, be began to me-
41iinste acts of violence. Yesterday morning, about
eight o'clock, the father of his wife, in who.e house she
lived, and a saddler of the name of Anderson, who
lodged in the same Louse. heard, when in the adjoin;ng
apartments, a loud shriek from the kitchen ; and, on
rushing to the spot, they found the unhappy woman on
her knees, with a large wound, inflicted by her hus-
band, in her left breast, from which a torrent of b'ood
was flowing. She expired in about three minutes after-
wards. The instrument of death was a butcher's knire,
which Balfour had recently borrowed, alleging that he
wanted to kill a lamb with it. On committing the
fatal act, he proceeded directly to the gaol, stated at
the grating of the door that he had murdered a r.om .n,
and wished to be put in confinement. The gaoler Eeing
absent at the time, he waited about an hour at the dcor
'till he made his appearance. Not having any wart ant
for his committal, the gaoler conducted him to the
Police Office. He was immediately examined belo e
Bailie Gray, and having again conftssed his crime, hie
was commtted to prison to await his punishment. lie
is about thirty-eight years of age, of a good appearance,
and., so far as we have been able to learn, has hitherto
borne a very good character. He appears to be deeply
affected by his unhappy situation, but at the same time
manifests a degree of firmness and composure that is
truly remarkable. His mind seems quite made up to
meet the fate which, he evidently contemplates as in-
evitable.—Dundee Vourier.

Dispatches were received on Saturday, at the Fo-
reign Office, from Sir CIIARLIGI BAGOT, at the Hague.
CORN EXCHANGE, MARK-LANE, Damns& 26.
The arrivals of all sorts of Grain last week wire tolerably rod,
and there was a large supply of Flour : this morning the fresh ar-
rivals are not considerable. Wheat, boles* euperflne, meets with
scarcely any buyers, and the general quality may be quoted full 24.
per quarter lower than last Monday. Barley that is St for malting
is scarce, and rather dearer ; but all other sorts are excessively dull.
Beans and Peas sell heavily, but there is-no alterative in Prices.-
There is little doing in the Oat trade, and last Monday's prices are
hardly supported. 'lle Flour trade is in a state of great uncestaloty.
Wheat, Red, new. 565. 655. Rye, old, 365. 40s.
-- old, 565. 665. Beans, Small, new, 425. 48s.
White, new, 60s. 68s. - old, 461. 525.
-- old 60s. '72s. Tick, new, 365. 425.
Barley, 28s. 345. - old, 386.• 445.
Malting, 58s. 425. Oats, Feed, new, 235. 931.
Peas, Grey, 1825, 465. 475. -- old, 255. 275..
----.- Old, 40s. 445. Poland, pew, 265. fras.
Map's, 1825, 461.485. - old, f6s. 501..
- old, 445. 465. : Potatoe, new, 265. SI..
..--.
White, new, 40s. 465. .olit, 266. 316,
........-- old, 40s. 455. -- SEotch;32l. 345.
Boilers, 1825, 525. 555. Foreign Oats nos i 00s:
---.- old, 465. 525. . Flour, per Sack, 501. 601.,
~. , ARRIVALS LAST wear.
Wheat, British, qrs. _ - .
ey
5,001 I Peas, qra. '1 ;114
Bari . • - 5,933 Irish Oats - - 12,455
Milt - - • 6,990 Foreign Oats 4575
Oats - , 6459. Foreign Barley - 10,2f0
Beans ' 1,836 English Flour, sacks 11,7e1
• ' SMITIVIELD MARKET, DlCT.liiißil 26.
In our matkeulthe supply of Cache is short, the but Meat,
however, obtains only last Monday's quotations, the finest Oxen
'tieing 55. to 55. 2d: per stone; and the beat Dolsuts sa. to Is. 4d.
Iperarrip, jp tiro Veal trade there is not the slightest alteration ;
and Pork remains as on last nilrket-s;lsy.-Beasts, 1,1044 Seep,
..
9,870 ; eigs, in ; Calves, 62.
• Beef. 4v • Id: w '56- 2(1. l'or Pone.; Muttons is. tole. 4d. Veal,
511. to 6s. thl. Pork, ss. 6d. to 65.--Hay per load, £3 71.6 d. to £4
1,175. 6d. Clover, £4 to 45 7s. ed. Straw, ,61 184.-to Xt.

o I)

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ON THE DEATH OF AN INFANT.

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Sleep in the green earth's bosom! Happy child/
Thy truest mother watches now thy rest ;
Thou too bast dreamt of life, but unbeguiled
Bait tu,ted agair. to sleep on Nature's breast :
And what though hopes on thy horizon signed,
Foretelling noon-day splendours to our eyes,—
When thuds of death their dusky mandate show's!,
And shut thee ou: into thy proper skies ;
Better thy sleep, without a dream or breath,
Than dreams of woe, and breath that fans woe's Same.
No enemy rejoices in thy death,
No slanderous tongue stabs thy defenceless (ante,
And if on earth few tears for thee are given,
More smiles will welcome thy return to Heav'n. E. 0. B.