Star.
London, England, 1824-12-08 00:00:00

NEGOTIATION WIIH THIEVES.

Some months ago, a respectable stationer, who re•
sides near one of the Inns of Coon, was robbed of
stamps to a very large amount, and of the halves of
Bank-notes for the sum of 1,1001. He has a shop de-
tached from his dwelling, and, indeed, not at all com-
municating with it. In an iron safe in his shop he kept
stamps, amounting in value to between 2,0001. and
3,0001. and in other places of sectrity in the shop he
kept the halves of eleven 1001. notes of the Bank of
England. The other halves he kept at his. house lot
the greater security. The locks of the shop-door, and
the safe and drawers, were all of the best description,
but they proved of no avail against the ingenuity of the
thieves. The stamps and the halves of the notes dis-
appeared one night—at least they were missed one
morning. The safe and drawers were found lucked,
but the door of the shop was open. Skeleton keys had
been used, for there was no mark of violence whatever
upon'the locks ; and the smith who examined t e pre-
mises declared that the thieves must have made several
visits to the shop before they could have succeeded in
ransacking it so effectually. The usual measures were
resorted .to to accomFlish the recovery of the property,
by information to the Police, and offer of reward. No
one, however, seemed tc be tempted by the reward. At
length the stationer received information, that it was
possible for him to get back his stamps, if he would ex-
ercise a certain degree of liberality towards those into
whose hands they had chanced to fall. He expressed
his readiness to give 1001. for the restoration of his pro-
perty ;. but this offer was laughed at. The fellows who
were in possession of the property, were not to be satis-
fied without the other halves of the notes for 1,1001. as
a remuneration for their trouble in taking care of the
stamps. This monstrous proposition startled the sta•
tioner, who, however, gave no positive refusal, but ap-
pointed a negociator. The negotiation occupied a con-
siderable length of time, and of course, without one of
the solicitors regularly employed on occasions of this
kind, nothing could be done. The thieves we'e be-
sought to be merciful. They would not abate a tittle of
their demand ; and determined, if the halves of the
notes were not forthcoming within a certain time, the
stamps should be disposed of for 1,8001. This threat
had the desired effect. It was ascertained that the
stamps were, along with an immense quantity of other
stamps, in a sort of 4. hell," or receiver's den, neat
Houndselitch ; but this fact was not known until the
halves were given up by the stationer, who was desired
to take no notice of anything that might occur the
next evening, but to attend to his business as usual.
The stationer accordingly waited patiently in his shop
the whole of the day, but nobody appeared. On going
over to his desk, however, he stumbled over a large
bundle of something on the ground ; and on examining
it, he found that he had in his possession every stamp
he had lost. The thieves expressed themselves satisfied
at the result of the negotiation, as, although they were
not paid the usual per centage for their trouble, they got
the 1,1001. without being obliged to degrade them-
selves by employing Police Officers on the occasion.

ANCIENT RELIC.-At a late festive meeting in Ar-
gyleshire, a circumstance of a novel and very interest-
ing character occurred. General CAMPBELL, of Loch-
nell, rose, aud addressing himself to Captain M'Dou
GALL, of M'Dongall, said that he held in his hand a
brooch, known by the name of " Brooch of Lorne,"
which had at one time belonged to King ROBERT
BRUCE. It was taken born the person of that Monarch
by his ancestors, M.DoutiaLL, of Lorne, in battle, on a
held near Tyndrum. The fortunes of war— if the actions
of rival clans can be so called—had placed that brooch
in the possession of a relation of the Lochnell family,
CAMPBELL, of Bragleen, whose descendants had pre-
served it for two centuries. It was his (Gen.CmaPßELL's)
good fortune lately to obtain possession of it, and he
now had the satisfaction of restoring it toic..the descen-
dant of him who had so gloriously won so proud a
trophy. Captain M‘Doucau. made a suitable reply al
thanks and acknowledgments. The brooch was of
silver, and, of a circular form, the diameter about
three inches. In the centre is a rock crystal, of an oval
shape ; the setting being raised about an inch, round
which rise eight tubes, to the same height, in each of
which is a pearl ; between these is some embosses
work.—lnverness Courier.

Saturday last, an inquest was held, at Birmingham,
on view of the body of the wife of a respectable
victualler of that town, whose death was occasioneJ by
eating the root of the arcnsiluni commonly known by
the name of wolf's-bane, or monk's-hood. The Jury
' returned a verdict—Died by poison.
The various villages surrounding Windsor are com-
pletely inundated, owing to the heavy rains that lately
fell, and the inhabitants of the various houses are com•
pelled to live in the upper stories and have their provi-
siQns conveyed to them by boats. The town of Eton
is suffering much in this respect, and we are sorry to
state that the water still continues to rise.

At the siege of Valenciennes it was impossible to
make the Duke of YORK cautious. He had once come
round to look at the works carrying on, so far as to be
within reach of a gun of the enemy. Count .TARMAC
perceiving this, went up to him, and said, " Your• Royal
Highness s coat has attracted attention. Let me advise
you not to continue -your walk this way." He then
pointed out a path by which be might retreat in safety.
The Duke took the warning very good humouredly, but
said, " I came with an intention to go this way round.
and I cannot go back from fear of a cannon-ball." He
had passed the point of danger but a moment, when
the ball reached the sentinel within a few yards of him.

• ,
! ! f • 1•31:1T. 3 T' V!!!!
NAPAL I#ITELLIGENCE.
• • • - • •7' ! 14
Faixottris, Doe. 6.—Wind S. W. Two; P. at. Several result
outsidt• are bearing up for the harbour, supposed to be the outward
bound from litirtsmouth and Plymouth. No arrivals. •• .:1
PLYMOUTH, Dee. 6.—Wind N. E. and W.—During the whole of
yeA.-t day it blew strong front the till towards noon to•day,-whell
it got round again to the West,%ntl is now blowing very hard front
that (inane% All the onward bound put to sea yesterday, except
the (.'ompetitor, the crew of which vessel refused to proceed on the
voyage. The Colonist is expected to he got off to.morrow orWed-
resd iy. Attempts have beeti*made to float off the Ruth, •withuut
dr.. et. The Percival must remain till next :wrings, exertions are
made to lighten her; her principal injury appears to be in her keel
and plat ter•StrtNikg ; her copper is but little injured, and her upper.
works appear firm ; with proper means she TII:y be got off next
spring tides; much va!ttAble goods is perishing here. for want of
immediate attention. The Louisa, 13uLaza, for Porto. Rico, has pet
hack. The George the Third, Poret.xweLL, for Janioica ; and the
Bristol, CLniA, have put it:, trout the Downs.
*.
trowism„uni, lac. 7.—Wind W. blowing .fresh.—Arrived from
the Downs and remain, the following outward bo Ind, viz.—Re-
newal, et:tins:wit ; John Shand, Rees ; Alexander, Albino
SHADFORI II Orwell, BRSAVT ; Emerald,-; Comet, MI PH/LB.
)N ; and Irene, GRAY. The Shipley transport was got off the
Beach this morning. Several of the outward bound have put back,
among which are the following,,vix.—Eweretta, Volusia, Delaford,
A:ia, Marlborough, Alfred, Elizabeth, St. Aim's Cecrops, Merlin,
Prince Regent, Simon Taylor, Westbrooke, Louisa, Whim, and
Adamant.-- No foreign arrivals. •
Deor., Dec. 7. Wind W. Arrived from the' River and 1:1•!
main, the Palmyra, Loanyfor Bengal. Arrived the Burden, —,
from the Westward.