Star.
London, England, 1824-12-29 00:00:00

I--THE CLOSING YEAR.

Oh. why should I attempt to riog
The knell of Time in sorrowing tone,
Or sadly tune my lyre to sing
A requiem o'er the Year that's gone ?
It bat not been to me so bright
That I should mourn its timely end;
Or sit me down in grief to write—
Farewell, to a departing friendi
And if %would tarry now with me,
I should, in sooth, be apt to say,
" Pass on ! I've had too much of thee
To thank thee for an hour's delay!"
Thy course was mark'd, dark closing year,
13y many a sigh and bitter tear,
Ily promised joys too long delay'd,
By hopes that only blooml to fade,
Ily all that steals the cheek's warm glow,
And wrings the heart with silent woe,
Damps the gay plumes of Fancy's wing,
And nips her blossoms ere they spring;
And turns the lightsome lay of gladness
Ke'n in its now, to strains of sadness;
And shades with clouds of care and fear
The promise of another Year

A GENERAL BILL OF CHRISTENINGS
.AND BURIALS.

WITHIN THE CITY OF LONDON AND SILLS OF MORTALITY,
FROM DRC. 17, 1829, TO DEC. 14, 1824.

Christened in the 97 parishes within the walls, 909; buried,'
1,127. Christened in the 17 parishes without the walls, 5,176.;
buried, 3,917. Christened in the 24 out-parishes in Middlesex
and Surrey, 15,132; buried, 10;667. Christened in the 10 parishes
in the city and liberties of Westminster, 4,641 ; burled, 4,526.
Christened C Mal" - - 12,976 1
In all 26,758
Females - - 12,780
Burled . i Males - - 10,565 ln all 20,257
1 Females - - 9,672
Whereof have died,
_ _

I

Under Two Years of Age 6,476
Between Two and Five 2,103
Five and Ten • - 798
Ten and Twenty - 764
Twenty and Thirty - 1,996
Thirty and Forty - 1,444
Forty and Fifty - 1,609
Decreased in the h

Fifty ini'd Sixty • 1,742
Sixty and Seventy • 1,715
Seventy and Eighty • 1,411
Eighty and Ninety 593
Ninety and a Hundred • 84
A Hundred and Three •
A Hundred and Seven •
trials this year, $5O.

Monday se'nniglit an explosion of fire-damp took
place at Foxhole colliery, near Swansea, by which four
men were dreadfully scorched, but are in a fair way of
recovery. On the following morning a second explo-
sion occurred in the same colliery. Six men, proceed-
ing to their labour, the foremost carrying a lighted
candle in his hand, came in contact with the noxious
gas, and the consequence was more fatal than in the
former instance ; the man carrying the candle was so
dreadfully burnt that he expired shortly after being cat-
ried.-to his house; another has since died, and the other
four remain in a deplorable condition.
The Carlisle mail, due at ten o'clock on Wednesday
night, did not reach the Post Office, Edinbtirgh, till
past ten o'clock on Thursday forenoon. The snow was
drifted so deep between Havvick and Selki: k, that the
coach could not he got through, and was left behind,
the guard with great difficulty proceeding with the mail
on horseback.
The landholders in the vicinity of Petersfield, having
intimated an intention of turning the Portsmouth and
London road through Farnham, instead of Guildford,
has prompted the trustees of the present road to the im-
mediate alteration of the road over Hindhead. It is
intended, instead of continuing up the narrow, hollow.
and extremely dangerous track, called Road-lane, to
form a hold road of forty feet wide, on the west side
thereof, upon a level with the surface of the country.
The improvement is now in active progress, upwards of
150 men being employed in carrying it into effect.
ADVANTAGE OF SENDING LETTERS SY A PRIVATE
BAND.—A venerable and most respected Clergyman
in Fife, had• occasion some weeks ago, to visit Edin-
burgh, and to employ a deputy to officiate during
Sabbath in his absence. The individual, however,
whose sets ices, in Iris own apprehension, he had secured,
happened to be taken ill soon after his engagement,
and judging that in all probability he might be unable
to officiate at the time appointed, he deemed it proper
and expedient, to give his employer timely notice of
his situation, that the services of some other preacher
might he secured before Sabbath. The post did not
pass oithin a mile of the manse to which his letter was
addressed, and the nearest post town was fully four
miles off; so, upon mature deliberation, he judged it
preferable to commit his letter to a farmer of the parish
where the supply was needed, who was going home
that very evening, and who promised faithfully to see
the letter home to its destination, by nine o'clock next
morning. The farmer pot the letter in his pocket, in
the pocket of his market or Sabbath coat ; and return-
ing home, and giving his wile the news of the day, and
going quietly to bed, fill fast asleep, and dreamed, but
not of the Minister's letter. Sunday comes but once
every seven days, and accordingly the bells rung once
and again on the following Sabbath morning, and our
farmer got himself shaved and made decent, and his'
best coat on, and away he went to church. The beadle
by this time was in some alarm respecting sermon, but'
as his orders were to ring at the hour, he proceeded to j
convene in the usual manner, the congregation.—
At last everybody was seated, and the Elders had I
made the great flourish of removing the collection from
the plate, and had united themselves with the expectant
congregation, when again and again the doorway was
darkened, and an excitement took place. But all in
vain. The laziest, and the latest, and the most fashion-
able, had all taken their seats and pews ; whispers had
passed from seat to seat, snuff--mulls had circulated,
some hats bad been replaced, against open doors, upon
tender heads, when our farmer beginning, as well as his
neighbours, to weary for the Minister, had recourse for
relief to his coat pocket for his snuff-box—when, and
where, to his inexpressible horror, he discovered the
aforesaid letter, snugly lodged and carefully sealed.
Tire effect was not less sudden than violent. he started
to his feet as if be had discovered a serpent lurking and
lying coiled in his pocket, and rushing with unusual
rapidity along the passage to the door, is said to have
exclaimed in a voice from agitation scarcely articulate,
. . _ . _

WINTER HOME CIRCUIT.

SUBSET' ASSIZES.-KINGSTON, DECEMBER 2s.

Yesterday morning the two Courts were opened for
the dispatch of business.
Mr: Justice BURROUGH remarked, after the names of
the' Magistrates had been called over, that the names of
the Constables had not been called, and asked of the
Under Sheathe reason, as by law they wete bound to
give their attendance at the Assizes?
The Under Shetirreplied, that it was not wog to summon them.
Mr. Justice Butotomot—.But they ought to be summoned; the
law requires their attendance) and upon the present occasion I
wanted particularly to see the Oot3stables of Moulsey; all the Coo-
stables must be summoned at the next Assizes.
Mr. Under Sherif bowed assent to the request of the Learned
Judge.
Mr. Justice Bunaotion, in a tone of voice so low,
that it was impossible hi.should be heard by any not
immediately addressed, observed, as we understood
him, that there was hut one case in the Calendar to
which he should call the attention of the Grand Jury;
he alluded to the alleged murder of a child by its pa-
rent; to the evidence on this subject they would pay
every attention; the crime charged was so horrid, that
the bare contemplation of it was painful in the extreme.
His Lordship then made a few observations, which were
entirely inaudible; but at length, by an appatent exer-
tion, he raised his voice; and, as well as we could col-
lect, gave the following important charge to the Grand
Jury, relative to Prize kighting:
"In the early part of this Circuit I had to .call the
attention of the Grand Jury of another county to a case
of manslaughter, occasioned by a man having been
tilled in consequence of a pugilistic encounter. That
case; however, was not one of an aggravated nature,
and:from the evidence which appeared before us, it was
a fair fight, arising out of a quarrel. For the purpose
of accommodating all pat tics, and asiuting the observ-
ance of that day which ought to be especially devoted
to the service of Apattortrit OOD, and celebrating the
:birth of our Saviour Omit., we arranged that ample
time should be givers for the return of all parties to their
respective homes. In that interim, it was with great
grief that we learnt from the public prints, that that
time had been devoted to purposes totally different from
that which we had contemplated, by persons in the
county in which we now are, and within a very short
distance of this Court. I allude to the circumstance of
a pitched battle having been said to have been fought
at a place called Moulsey, and which lasted, as is stated,
for one hour and a quarter. Gentlemen, after what had
previously passed, is this to be endured? Is such con.
duct to be tolerated ? It is well known to be contrary
to the laws of the country, and must be put an end to.
We are all aware that these fights are made up fur the
purposes of indulging the propensities of the vicious,
and encouraging the betting of gamblers. Even the
men themselves fight for money, and sorry I am to per-
ceive, that even those who hays some pretensions to the
rank of Gentlemen, are found to encourage them. Vs ill
this be endured by the Grand Jury of the county, in
whose hands the power of putting a stop to these dis-
graceful scenes is vested ? I say the power is in your
hands, Gentlemen, for it is one portion of your duties to
inquire into all unlaw furl assemblies. That those as-
semblies to which I am now alluding, arts unlawful,
cannot be questioned. That those of whom they are
composed have set public justice at defiance, is equally
evident. These fights al e frequented, it is well known,
by all the rabble of London; who, instead of worship-
;MT their Gun, and rejoicing in the birth of a SAVIOUR,
40 recently assembled, on a day devoted to holiness, for
the indulgence of vice al the stifiversioa of order. It
is notorious that these pitched b Riles are generally, if
not always, made up at public-houses, and far the en-
couragement of publicans—who, on their part, are ever
ready to promote such uolawful assemblies. Here, then,
it is evident you have a strong power, by refusing to
renew the license of any publican who has allowed
suck a ttansaction to take place in his house. You have
a right to say to these publicans—• You have done
wrong, and shall not have your licenses again."l'aete
is also another course which you may and might to pur-
sue. The combatants assault each other ; you have the
power of indicting each of theta for such assault upon
each other. I would also advise indictments against
the seconds, or any colter parties of whom it can be as•
certained that they wete aiding and assisting in the
breach of the peace. The names of the principals and
seconds ore, at least in the present case, within your
reach. lam alluding to the fight, which, as I learn
from the Public Paper}, is said to have taken place be-
tween Jem Burn and alaleale, and in which, ac-
cording to report, persons called " Uncle Ben" and
" Torn Oliver, were the second and backer of one of the
combatants ; and " Harry Holt" and " Tibbutt" the
second and backer of the other. If you should have
one witness before you who shall prove to your satis•
faction that the par ties were present, you will be justi-
fied in finding a true bill. That true bill will bring the
parties before us, and ee shall then see whether their
arms, or the arm of the law is strongest?" His Lord-hip
then observed upon the immoral tendency of fights
upon the Public at large, and concluded by urging the
Grand Jury to active and immediate proceedings in re-
gard to the subject upon which he had addressed them.l
The Learned Judge, after the conclusion of his Charge,
recalled the Grand Jury, and stated to them that it
would be well-to send for the Constables of Moulsey,
ho might probably be able to speak to the fact oUhe
recent combat, and the parties concerned in it.

3lr. Hours Samere, as tie Foreman of the Grand Jury, re-
plied, that a message should be instantly sent, and he had no doubt
but that the constables would be very shortly before the Court.

It is in contemplation to establish a rail-road from
Manchester to Stockport ; also one to Oldham.
CONSPIRACY 01 GENERAL BERroN.—The French
papers state that Colonel Gauchius has been found
guilty, a'nd sentenced to death. He has appealed against
the sentence, and the Jury recommended him to mercy.
COURT or ASSIER AT PARlS.—After a trial, which
lasted several days, M. MASSART' who was accused of
having committed a fraudulent bankruptcy, was ac.;
quitted on the 19th. He was a stockbroker, and the
sums for which he failed were very large. The Jury de-
liberated three-quarters of an hour, and then acquitted
count in the indictment.
Am FOR ENGRAYINOO.—III Germany at
irtists have begun to substitute zinc plates
-.upper plates, and also instead of steno for
The artist draws on the zinc as on stone,
:pense engraving is thus saved. A large
collection of monuments of architecture,
sates, has already appeared at Darmstadt,
spoken of. The process is said to unite
of lithography with the clearness of cop-

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