Star.
London, England, 1830-12-28 00:00:00

TAR THEATRAS.

DRUKY-LANE.

After the tragedy of Jane Shore, the new CluisUnas pantomime,
under the title of Davy loses, or Harlequin and Mother Caroy'el
Chickens, was last night produced. The opening scenes, in which the
mischievous tricks of Mother Corey and her winged brood are pour.
trayed, contain a laughable burlesque on the nautical drama of Btaele.l
ey d Satan, which is ridiculed in a pleasant and good.humoured
manner. Captain Creeetree (Mr. T. BLANCMAILD), who has
persecuted Blaok-ey'd tam, se called from a hideous discolours.
don of one of her eyes, is by Mother Carey transformed into Pan-
taloon; while Stout William (Mr. goyim.), who is any thing
but the beau ideal of a sailor, Is translated by the Genius of the
Polar Star into Harlequin, and supplied with a pair of Colombian,
in the persons of Misses ILintrwr and Basin. Two odd fish, John
Dory (Mr. /Wormer), and Mellor fiturgeets (Mr. B. J. PaasLos, the
watery friends of Mother Carey.) are converted into elownajand these
magic changes having been affected, the harlequins& begins. The
pantomime is very unequal in its attractions; part of it is sufficiently
lively and spirited, but no inconsiderable portion of it must be condemn.
ed as dull and tiresome...a ground of complaint which the audience did
not fail to notice. The tricks and transformations are neither numerous
nor curious ; but whatever was attempted was managed with skill and
adroitness. The dancing, by Mr. HowILL, as Harlopes, and the rival
Columbines, was extremely animated. Some of the figures weirs pace.
restigniets
liarly light, airy, and pieta ue. BLANIRAILD'II POWS/4M may
challenge comparison with any of the kind which the stage has
possessed for many years. It is rep with fanciful frail& 5017TRZY
makes a tolerably good Clown, but PaisLox is a fliers posturamaster,
sufficiently active. but possessing not a single grain of comic humour.
The music, by Mr. It. thrones, is, in the highest degree, common.
place. There is one movement in the overture, which, had it not been
Christmas time, would infallibly have sent the audience to sleep. Some
of the scenery, especially that which is painted by Mr. AWDIZWII, is
pretty ; but the great attraction, and that which, in our opinion, has
saved the Pantomime, ill Mr. STANIIIILD'S admirable Diorama. It
mains of a series of views, descriptive of the pts of the Simplon, corn.
niencing with the town of Sion in the Valals, and terminating with I
Il Lego Maggiore. It is difficult to conceive, but such is the fact, how
it was poseible for Mr. Stanfield, in the course of nine days, to produce
so extensive and delightful a work. Every part of It bears the vigorous
impress of a master.hand. Scenes of sunshine and of storm—of rural
and of architectural beauty—are treated with equal skill. The valley of
the Rhone is admirably painted ; but the concluding scene, 11 Lago
Maggiore, transcends, for splendour of effect, any effort in dla branch
of art that we have ever seen. It is, indeed, a most lovely picture.
The diorama, as it passed in review Wore the audience, was most
warmly applauded.

COVENT-GARDEN.
The approved good rule which has made pantomimes as indispensa-
ble as puddings at Christmas, was observed at this theatre; and a new
pantomime, called Harlequin Pal and Harkquin Bat, or the Giant's
Causeway, was produced. It is impossible not to feel a certain mis-
giving when we are called upon to pronounce a critical opinion
upon pantomimes. The time was, when such a performance, how.
ever bad, had no fault in our eyes ; artl we are induced sometimes
to distrust our judgment, and to refer the disappointment which we
feel at the modern versions of hariequinades, to the change that
stealing years will bring about on all of us, rather than to any
falling off in the exhibitions themselves. Unless, however, time has
beguiled us of our power of discriminating in a matter at once so nice
and so important, we must bear testimony to that which was brought
out at this Theatre last night, being one of the least meritorious that
we have lately seen. The announcement of it had raised our expecta-
tions somewhat higher than usual. The advertisements in the play
bills, that there was to he " a speaking opening." and the emphatic
large letters in which that advertisement was printed, had led us to be-
lieve that some attempt was to be made which would revive those
entertainments which have,rot former periods, been so deservedly
attractive, and which this species of Drama is still as capable
as it ever was known to be, of making worthy of the public
patronage. In France, for a long series of years, a succession of far-
cical representations, ac:ted by the dramatis persona of the old panto.
mimes—the Arlequin, Plerat, Mesorelin, Searamouehe, ac. were not
only highly popular, but achieved one of the most important and use-
ful purposes of the drama, in correcting, by the wholsome castigation
of irresistible ridicule, the prevailing follies in morals, taste, literature,
and fashion. At a later period, the persecutions which the monopolist
theatres of Paris exercised against their active and enterprising
but unprivileged rivals, gave rise to similar productions, in which
the efforts to which the authors and actors were driven, in ceder to evade
the strict letter of the ordinances against them, were so inge.
nious and novel, that they utterly defeated the tyrannical designs of the
favoured patentees, with all the aid of a despotk °Government to bac'
them. The Arkguta Deucalion of Piton, is one among many sp
nuns of this kind of writing a hich have outlived the day for which —ley
were created, and the history of the French stage, with reference to them
generally, would form an amusing, and, as matters now stand between
our patent and minor theatres, not an unprofitable, chapter. AU this,
however, we confess, doss not immediately belong to the question of the
merits of Hartaynin Pat, excepting to show that the latter might hue
been made much better than it is, if the eminent authors the
task of writing (!) pantomimes is intrusted, befog co, •
own lack of invention, would exercise the
..,se--the
only one that can excuse dulness such as theirs; ^ .
ilty
whichcannot
give anything of their own, at least purloin dir m that -
has been done by their betters. We are ;) able to tell of what the
story of this pantomime consists Th• teed to be a laudable custom.
of printing little books, container ;•,tritind of shadowy outline of the
business of pantomimes, by wh'egoise was enabled sometimes to guess
at the " no-meaning" of 1,0.10,„,ame. practice has been dis-
used, and the or n+ women and ourselves are greatly lasers by the
omission. Th.' us of these books went, upon a recent occasion, far
beyond thstiffe which they were designed, and enabled a manager
of Jew:Mooring theatre to avail himself of the benevolent pro-
.stone; of the Bankrupt Act, under the name of a bookseller, he
proving, to the satisfaction of the Lord Chancellor, that he was a
trader,in these wares, when, without it, he must have resorted to sonic
other, perhaps less convenient, method of dealing with his cre-
ditors.) In the absence then, of these useful manuals, all that we
can tell of the plot of the pantomime is, that it relates to the troubled
woes of the renowned Brian Bereinke, and of his squire,Rhadennisthus
Mailingar (Mr. Poiret), for Nona and Kathken, the first of whom
is abducted, according to the manner of Ireland, by O'Roirk, King of
Ulster, and the latter is assailed by an unworthy bag. piper, one Mr.
M'Drone. With the assistance of St. Patrick and of the cudgel of
0%1(W/begat, and of the spells of the Queen of the Fairies, the
faithful lovers are preserved from the persecution of their foes, and
to reward them for their virtues, O'Mtalingar is transformed to !far-
kquin, Ms Kathleen to Coluntbine, O'Roirk to Pantaloon, and The
Piper to Clown. The ordinary round of changes of scenes and deluge
then commences, the Clown commits a number of larcenies and other
indictable offences, in which he is abetted by the Pantaloon, and by
the time they are perfectly exhausted, the intervention of the Fai-
ries puts an end to their whirligig pastimes. There was not much
novelty, DOT mom ingenuity, in the tricks and transformations,
and, with the exception of the Pantaloon's body being perforated
by a red-hot poker, and his back rubbed with cabbage laves, titer
which he dearn he never felt so well in all his life before, we
do not remember any allusion to the lying follies of the day. The
greater part of the scenery le very well executed. These of the
Giant's Causeway, and O'Rak's Castle, by Mr. Grieve, and the
Banshee's Ravine, hi' Murroogies Keep, and the Lakes of Killarney,
by Mr. Roberts, were the best. The moving panorama, consisting of
Windsor..parl, Portsmouth-harbour, and Brighton. seen by night
Winds
the sea, is by no means so good as most of the late exhibitions of
a similar kind. The Introduction of a ship in full sail is, however,
enough to save this part of the representation from very heavy censure,
and is an extremely clever thing et the kind. Upon the whole, we do
not think the Pentomhne is a sucessefol one; Mr. Power did all he
could to make the early part of it amusing, and succeeded as far as the
materials he bad to deal with pentium' him. The Columbine was a
Mimi Joinrevortn, a debutante, as active as any Columbine could
be, but not so graceful as a Columbine ought to be. The Penslaloon
is the best that les perhaps ever been seen; and as fee tbe Clown, Mr.
PauLo, is as good as the rest,—better than most of his com ;
but, alas ! the real Clown departed with poor Grimaldi, and we fear
the spirit of pantomime is departed along with him.

ADICLPHI THEATRE.
However prevalent may be the feeling that the else of the large
theatres the intellectual enjoyment of tragedy and comedy,
their sr-- area and magnificent decorations are to themselves a sit.
perb sight, and they add to the enjoyment of operas, whilst tbey soften
the extravagance of the nrelo-druns, and are almost iodispeuntUe to the
effect of pantomimes. In a small theatre the pesteborard face, the stuffed
limbs, the prepense fall, the sbmnbling gait, and mincing step. of pan.
tomime are too palpable to admit of delusions, whilst the tricks are anti-
cipated, and the machinery of the changes is detected. Pantomime,
therefore, labours under great disadvantages in a small theatre, but these
like the inherent defects of French tragedy, quicken the invention
of the authors, and stimulate the exertions those who have to per. I
form. It is for this reason peobably that the Adeiphi Theatre has, on
severe' ocensions, produced pantomimes more full of satire and humour
than those brought out by its larger rivals. The entertainment got up
for the holyday children of the present Christmas, and for the children
of a larger growth, is scarcely of equal merit to mai elite procarems.
It hacks the intellect, and is &kiwi of the inessmat Made and novelty
of incident which are the soul of •pantomime. Them are, however;
several good hits at passing events. The scene with a view
of a great monee-trap.makees fie, with of the cab
to destroy hie traps or sesehinery they put them oat of
eon Pk*. NU; %Wolk* the Ling at the Cats, Alba his
eauthige in marring* to whoever will cure him of his Wad.
Rees, and when the eamestal doctor converts hie closed eyes
into two most reeplerabb green goggles, be lotuses him the re.
ward, dedialog that as a Um be is absolute and omalpotent, and he
asks, what Is equivalent to, i• Nayl not do what I like with my own r
A Adry, homiest, is the raffia' reformer, who converts Grimalkin,

the rat-catcher, the eye-curer. and Grintalkin's daughter, to Cola..
Use, Harlequin, the Clown and Pallidloom, after whit!' they go
through the usual scenes of pantomimes, utittl magic closes the -.ay
with the union of Harfevuin and Columbine. The piece i. d, fi, is -lit
of novelty, but sevens' of the changes are good, and at.at,y ut .I.e
scenes for so small a theatre are excellent. The postures and feats
strength and agility were deservedly rewarded with applause, and the
Harlequin, Clown, and Peistaloon, acquitted themselves with dex-
terity. It was the Columbine's Brat ormanee in that character.
The biped cats, or lords in waiting, of honour, and grooms of
the chamber of Grimm/kiss / Court, showed much of humour in their
feline faces. There seat= change of a barrel of oysters into a
bowl of punch with glasses, and a good figure of a fat
woman without a bead, with another made up of musical instruments,
and one composed of pots and pans, all the three being locomotive, if
not /Animate. We cannot, however, cite the pantomime as one of the
moat successful of its elms.

SURREY l traTTlt E.
This Theatre opened for the winter season last night. In the short
period which has elapsed since it was closed the interior of the house
has been newly decorated, and presents a very pretty appearance. With
the exception of a pantomimes thing not to be dispensed with at this
season—the pieces represented last night were not novelties, and there-
fore call for no observations, a chcumstance which relieves us from a
difficulty, for the audience were so uproariously impatient to behold
their favourite entertainment, that we should be extremely puzzled to
give an account of what It. The pantomime was called the
New Year's Gift, or preceded
Juck of Newbury. It' we re.
member rightly, the individual who has furnished a Title for this
Pantomime, was a journeyman Clothier residing at Newbury, in
the time of Queen Elisabeth, whom: good behat iour, assisted
by his good loots, recommended him to the netiee of a rich young wi-
dow in that town. Jock married the widow, and became one of the
t manufacturers in the place. Be did some service to the state
greatest
by being
mainly instrumental in putting down an insurrection in the
neighbourhood, and on the occasion of Elizabeth visiting Newbury he
evinced his respect and loyalty by covering the street through which tht!
Queen passed with broad-cloth. Some of these incidents are introduce,:
into the pantomime ; at all events the most important of them are._..
namely, Jack's courtship of the widow, and their ultimate union. The
first part of the entertainment, before Jack and his wife are transformed
into Harlequin and Colsunbine, is very amusing. The latter part re-
sembles all other pantomimes. The performers knock themselves about
and commit all kinds of mischief for the amusement of the lookers on,
And the gratification ct the audience is always proportionate to the de-
gree of apparent wickedness which is perpetratt.ti before them. It is
curious, but one feels it to be true, that a single trait of kindness, an act
of benevolence on the part of the Clown, would thetitably ruin the best
pantomime that ever was written. The audience could be as much
startled at it as to tee Richard the Third die quietly in bed with a
prayer-book in his hand. So well satisfied are pantomime writers on
this bead, that no one of them, within our recollection, has ever heralded
the experiment. If the hero of pantomime feeds a child, it is with
scalding oil; if he applies a plaster to a broken head, it is compos:d of
Cayenne pepper and caustic ; and if he undertakes to draw a tooth, he
breaks the jaw of his patient with a pair of red hot tongs. Some of the
tricks in Jack of Newbury were ingenious and laughable. Many others
faded to produce effect, owing to the machinery being out of order, or
rather to its not having yet been got into order. The audience ex-
pressed their disapprobation at this in the course of the piece, but at
the conclusion that applause was hearty and unanimous. The action of
the pantomime was materially assisted by some pretty and spir.ted
music by Mr Blewitt.

COBURG THEATRE.
The pantomime produced at this theatre last night was entitled
Harlequin Silver Penny ; and is tounded on the well-known nursery
tale describing the difficulties an obi womao has to encounter in taking
home he pig, the purchase of a silver penny. The pantomime is got
up with a great deal of spirit, and exhibits 140111 C very clever tricks. To.
wards the dose a splendid panoramic tour is represented ; in which the
spectators are treated with views of Bruges, Ghent, Alalicea, and Ant-
werp, with the late conflagration of the latter city. The scenic portion
of this pantomime deserves particular praise. The curtain fell amidst
applause and disapprobation, of which the former, however, greatly pre-
ponderated, and the pantomime was announced for fepeution. We
think it, however, right to mention, that this disapprobation was the
consequence of the Clown', declining to sing some song which was loudly
called for durir ; •• - r .presentation of the entertainment.

- -
BA DI. LThilliTLL&
The a,. -t this Ultima Thule of the theatrical world was yes-
terday c% , presented with a nautical and rather warlike entertain.
meat . known to posterity by the captivating title of Tice Skimmer
o .• ; or, the Water Witch. To detail the plot of this
we suspect would have puzzled Pascal himself, notwithstanding
his extraordinary powers of memory, and certainly requires a degree
al analytical acumen to which we by no means pretend. Let it
then be taken for granted, that it was not deficient in any of the
'admix melodramatic requisites, front the first flourish of
Nn Portant to the final sulphureous combustion of red and blue
biases, and that a commendable regard to poetical justice win.,
as usual, observed in the conduct of the catastrophe. The diffi-
culty of adequately distinguishing between the supernatural or demo.
niac agents, and the absolute matter-of-fact dramatis persona of sot It
pieces, also constitutes no inconsiderable obstacle to the proper dissec-
tion of the story. The formidable display of weapons of all dimensions,
together with the corresponding military paraphernalia, would induce
the inference that the arsenal of this establishment is far from being the
least important of its scenic departments. It is but fair to add, that the
management cannot be considered at all parsimonious of conflagrations,
doubtless presuming on their peculiar resources against any undue en-
croachment of what has been once or twice poetically designated " the
devouring element." An interlude was produced, for the special
purpose of gratifying the rising generation with an exhibition of that
primitive, but on the stage somewhat novel, pastime, entitled,
" Blindman's Buff;" and it seemed abundantly to fulfil its design,
for not a few of the little folk appeared nothing loth to participate
In the business of the scene. After the custon'ary complement of
hornpipes, reels, &c. had contributed to the amusement of an audi-
ence not very fastidious in their taste, the patriarchal pantomime of
Mother Goose was brought forward with all the pomp and circum-
stance to be expected from the ad cc:Flimflam grandiloquent* of
the announcement. The reputation of the " public cha-
racter" is, however, so widely diffused and so as
to admit of our dispensing with a statement all their itolLyblitielt
has rendered her an object of so much enviable celebrity. Ms OUP
tainments, we have no doubt, will be more successfully represented
hereafter than they could have been Testerday evening, in ss
they were by the obstreperous hilarity of the season, whiel4wOated
more than one downright pugilistic melee during what was apparently
intended to be the most touching part of the performance.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Id*ua Awns This Day.--Dvblin; 1; Waterford, 1 ; Holland, 1 i

France, 1.

DEAL. Dac. 117.—Wind 8.8. E. steady Wen.
DOVER. Dec. O.—Arrived the Anna Johanna, Hale bock, Iran
Tenerife.

Pool.; Dec. 27.—Arrived the Jane, Brown, from Newfoundland.
C..tooter. Dec. 26 —Arrived the Fawcett, Pratt, (root Itlebeboeto.
POITSUOVIII• Dec. 27.—Wind B. to 8.9. W.

-
1.1,1117001., ilsc. e6.—Arrived the Industry, Lodge, trust Mn.i
slick'.

Oacwar, Dec. CS.—Arrived the ',nutters, Simpson, and Concord,Gregory, from Quebec.
The Henry, Holland, from Goole to Leaden, was wrecked near
Wintertoo oo Friday. The mate and three of the crew saved.
The Anna, from Newcastle to Hamburgb, was driven on shore near
Munddey on Saturday night. waterlogged. Crew saved.
The Unica, Honig, from &. Thomas's to Hamburgh, was totally
lost in the Elbe 19th Met. Crew and part of the cargo saved.
RAMAT, Les OF MAP, Dec. IL—Part of the larboard quarter of
a vessel, from IS to SO feet In length, copper bolted, sod apparently
that of a steamer, was driven in yesterday, a link to the southward of
Ms town • and many small pieces of wreck have washed on chore for
some miles to the northward.

Tun LATE ROYAL FAMILY OF FRANCE.--.-Le Temps
says, " Whilst the numerous creditors of Charles the Tenth
(menace that monarch in England with arrest, judicial pro-
ceedings have been taken in France against his son, the ex-
Dauphin, for debts which be owes there. In 1827 the Dai-
phin rented a large estate of M. Lombard, at Montgeron, near
the forest of Senart, where the former used 'employ himself in
shooting. There were 15 years of the lease unexpired when the
events of July took place. The Dauphin having been driven
from France, a sale of his furniture and estates was about to
take plate, to which M. Lombard opposed legal objections.
in order to insure the payment of his rent. 111. Lombard
also cited to appear before the first Chamber of the Tribunal
" Louis Antoine, Duke of Angouletne, now without domicile
or known residence in France, or, in default, to pay the sum
of 80,0001." A similar step was taken by the proprietor of
another estate with respect to the Dachas de Berri, but she
put a stop to the proceedings by
_paying the son demanded."
Mn. MARTIN'S Am—The officers of the Society against
Cruelty to Animals last week charged three drovers. Nos.
270, 361, and 498, and two hackney coachmen, Nos. 970
and 366, with various acts of aggravated cruelty ; some of
whom were lined ; but the drovers 270 and 361, we are
sorry to observe, have escaped, owing to the reality, oe, to
what is still more common, the pretence of having woes fable
badges.

DESTRI crtn.v CHURCH BY FIRE.

--e
Smiley morning, about three o'clock, great alarm and
confusion prevailed in the town of Lewisham. Kent, by a
discovery that the parish church had taken fire, and the
flames, at the time it was detected. had gained such power-
ful poseession of the fabric, that all attempts to preserve
it from the conflagration were useless. .Messengers were
despatched to Greenwich and Deptford for the engines,
whilst expresses were sent off to London for those of the
Fire Insurance-Office, and in a very quick time they ar-
rived, and were actively set to work upon the tlames,which
had obtained total possession of the interior of the sacred
edifice, together with the organ, the Communion-table, &c.
in consequence of the late disturbances, upwards of three
hundred of the householders had a fortnight ago enrolled
themselves as special constables, and the moment the alarm
tvas given they proceeded to the scene of devastation, and,
with the aid of a party of tho new police, kept the ground
for the firemen, and all interruption was thereby prevented.
The firemen placed their engines in the church yard, as close
as po:sible to the church, but having at first but a scanty
supply of water, owing to the canal and other places being
frozen, their efforts were of little or no avail, and the
flames raged with overwhelming fury. By the prompt
exertions of the inhabitants, aided by the firemen, a supply
of water was obtained, and immense quantities were
thrown within the building, which had the appearance of
a furnace, and after much exertions the flames were pre-
vented from destroying the roof, but with the exception of
the roof and the outward walls, all was destroyed. About
seven o'clock the flames were entirely subdued. We were in-
formed that, notwithstanding every attempt was made to
preserve the communion plate, and other valuable articles,
they were all destroyed. The conflagration is said to have
arisen in consequence of the bursting of the heater by which
the church was warmed, and which had been in MO on the
evening of Christmas Day. This church was only a few years
ago beautifully embellished and re-decorated throughout.
Yesterday vast crowds of persons arrived in the town from
the adjoining villages to witness the destructive effects of the
fire, which at first was attributed to the act of incendiaries,
but there are no grounds whatever for that suspicion, as there
can be no doubt but the disaster arose from accident.

Another account says it has been clearly ascertained that
the tire originated in mere accident. It appears that, at the
early hour above mentioned, a fire was lighted in the stoves
of the vestry-room, to which several of the flues were at
Cached, for the purpose of warming the sacred structure.-1
From some carelessness the fire was not properly guarded,
and, the pipes becoming red-hot, communicated to the
wooden wainscotting of the room of the vestry and parish
registry, which was entirely destroyed. The flames extended
with great rapidity to the adjacent galleries and pews, and
raged with such fury that the venerable edifice was for some
time in the most imminent danger of being completely de-
stroyed. The ornamental work of the ceiling, and the fine
oak carvings, were very much burnt and injured; as was the
organ, lately repaired, the pipes and metal works of which
were entirely melted by the intense heat. The organ-loft
and the western galleries are wholly destroyed, and every
indow of the church is broken to pieces. The frame-work
is partly consumed. The interior of the edifice,/the altar and
the chancel, have sustained considerable injury by the great
discharge of water, and the exertions made by the pa-
rishioners to extinguish the flames. Fortunately water wis
early obtained from the Ravensbourne river, which flows
through the village, and, engines arriving in quick succes-
sion from Greenwich, Deptford, and London, the fire was
got under by nine o'clock.
The assembled multitude and the new police rendered t
most praiseworthy assistance, and every person present did
his utmost to preserve the church from total destruction,
whicb at one time appeared inevitable. We are sorry to add
that a collision took place between some of the persons col-
lected together and the officers of the R division of police,
many of whom inflicted severe blows with their truncheons
in attempting to clear the body of the church after the
flames were extinguished. One youth, an attendant, or
cad," to Watson's Deptford stages, had his head broken
by a blow from a police-constable's staff, and was removed
to a surgeon's. The police, on leaving the village, were
greeted with loud hisses and groans. The parish records in
the Vestry-room were preserved. Soon after tbe commence-
ment of the fire a policeman was seriously hurt by the fal-
lintr of one of the burning timbers.

PALACE COURT.

Before W. BRENT BRENT, Esq.
HAMPTON V. DALTON.

Mr. CHAMBERS and Mr. BELDAM appeared for the
plaintiff, and Mr. Ev ANS for the defendant.
Mr. CH AMBERS stated this to be an action to recover a
balance due to the plaintiff, who was a coal-merchant, upon
a promissory note for 71. 65., which was given by the de-
fendant jointly, with a person named Miller, for coals sup-
plied to Miller.
The promissory note was produced, and the defendant's
handwriting, and his frequent promise to pay, proved by
wit noises.
Mr. Ey A NS, for the defendant, caused considerable merri-'
inent in Court, in stating the nature of the defence. He
stated that he should, no doubt, excite some surprise in the
minds of the jury by detailing the answer which the de-
fendant had to give to this action. He observed in the
onset that he should be able to prove that the demand now
sought to be established against the defendant had been fully
and clearly satisfied long ago, and that there was now no
pretence for setting up this claim. The plaintiff was a
person who, it would seem, was exceedingly fond of litiga-
tion ; and the jury would be surprised to learn, that al-
though it was generally supposed that lawyers made a
pretty good thiug of an action, still the lawyers' profits
bore no comparibon whatever to the profits of this litigat-
ing coal-merchant. If a person got into his debt, and was
unable to pay him, he put the case into the hands of his at-
torney, and before the action could be set down for trial, he
would call on the defendant, expostulate with him on the
expense to which they would both be put, and, without suf-
fering the defendant to go to the attorney, effect a compro-
mise, by taking a large sum for costs, and a note of band for
the debt, with another person's name to it as a further
security ; he would then go to his attorney, and desire him
to discontinue the action, telling him the defendant was
so poor it would be useless to go to further expense;
lie would also state his own inability to pay his costs,
and prevail on the attorney to aocept of a children
of coals for the costs. so that by this cunning artifice'
he profited ' very considerably. In this cue he got be-1
tween 61. and 71. of Miller (to whom the coals were sap-
plied) as the amount of costs, when, in fact, the costs only
amounted to 41. 18s. and then, by pleading poverty, end
stating that he had lost his debt and costs by the defendant,
his attorney consented to receive a chaldron of coals, which
cost him about 40s. in discharge of that amount. The
plaintiff bad therefore pocketed nearly 61. in respect of the
costs; he had sinee then been paid the whole of the debt
by Miller, and now he attempted to get something mote
out of the defendant, who had joined Miller in the promis-
sory nets.
William Miller stated that he was a hatter. He bad
had three chaldrons of coals of the plaintiff, who sued him

for the amount, 71. 6s. Before the action could be tried,
the plaintiff came to him, and wished him to compromise the
action by hie (the witness's) paying the costa, and prevent
tho necessity of further expenses. He wished to go to the
plaintiff's attorney, Mr. Willoughby, to ascertain the amount
of the costa, but the plaintiff prevented him, by saying that
the costs were about /1. and that if he went to Mr. Wil-
loughby, he, the plaintiff, would break off all negotiation.
The witness then agreed to the compromise, and he paid
the plaintiff at two different times 11. ss. and 51. making
61. ss. on account of the costs. A note of hand to pay the
debt at 11. a week was then given, in which the witness got
the defendant, Mr. Dalton, to join. In pursuance of that
arrangement he paid three instalments. Some time after-
wards a lhdy came to him and ordered several hats,
amounting to 41. 6s, to be sentito Camberwell, where she stated
she kept a school ; he took the hats home, expecting to get
the cash for them, when, to his astonishment he found the
plaintiff there, and then he learnt that the lady who had
ordered the hats was the plaintiff's sister ; the plaintiff then
said the hats were for him, and that they could be placed
against the outstanding debt. The witness, though somewhat
astonished, did not object to this arrangement, and it was then
mentioned by the plaintiff that he and the witness were
straight, as the 31. paid before, and the price of the hats,
made up the amount of the promissory note. The witness
then asked him for the note, and the plaintiff said it was at
his house, but promised to send it to the witness. He had,
however, never done so. When the action was pending
against the witness, ho received some letters as from the
plaintiff's attorney, sisned " R. Green, for Mr. Willoughby;"
and witness knew that tray could not come from Mr. Wil-
loughby, for they were in the plaintiff's handwriting.
Mr. Robson stated that he was clerk to Mr. Willoughby,
who was the attorney for the plaintiff, in th 3 action against
the preceding witness. Pending the action, platatiif
called and desired him to discontinue it, stating that Miller
was so poor, that he should lose both the debt and costs.
Mr. Willoughby's costs amounted to 41. 18a. (not 71. as
charged by the plaintiff to Miller), and for that amount, by
pleading his own poverty, Mr. Willoughby was prevailed
upon to accept a chaldron of coals. The letters that were
sent to Miller, signed " R. Green, for Mr. Willoughby,"
never were sent from Mr. Willoughby's office, there being
no clerk named Green there.

The Jury stopped the cue, expressing themselves satis-
fied, and immediately found a verdict for the defendant.

7_ :POLICE REPORTS.

Mairstow-sonss...-Christmas has commenced very unfavourably in 1
the City amongst the working and pauper classes, for very desperate
violence has shown itself in bevcral instances, and the most appalling
wretchedness in others, during the last few days.
A poor Irish sailor was brought, yesterday, before the LORD MAYOR.
He bad been found, along with four other poor wretches, under one of
the land arches of London Bridge on Christmas night. They had ga-
thered together a little straw, and made a sort of chamber for themselves
under the arch, by placing some loose bricks, and they were all huddled
together, the sailor more exposed than any of the rest, es he was the
only hardy one of the set. Had they been left in their chamber till
morning, there would, the officer said, have been no occasion to trouble
his Lordship on the subject, as the grave-digger would do their business.
Mr. Teague, the Governor of the Compter, said, that when the poor
men were brought to him, be found it necessary to send off two of them
immediately to the hospital, as he feared they were dying. The third
was in a very bad state, now in the Comptes. The sailor came to very
well, and did all be possibly could to assist the unfortunate companions
amongst whom he had fallen, but the condition of the other three vas
dreadful in the extreme. They appeared to be in the last stage of
human misery.
Thasallor said, two of his comrades under the bridge had told him
that they had been in 'wising* in r parish to which they did not be-
long, but that the overseer I.as ing ascertained that they were in a bad
state of health, and likely to perish,
shell; 'titled their landlord to put
talent out of doors. for fear the parish be at the expense of bury-
ing dram.
The Ice' ,j_ti•mt*. said that the circumstance should certainly be
inquired into, sr wiled the pilot what he intended to do.
The unfoetunati Ceiow said he had gone to Bristol from Liverpool in
expectation of getting eivloyment as a sailor, but had been disappointed.
He wished to go to sea, ato-7as fit for sharp work.
The Loan Maros said it iiisiew probable that some benevolent
Captain, who should hear of the safiew's humanity as well as of his
ability to work, would give him immetrat. • „employment.
Several paupers, cold and hungry, were brotigfA up. They mostly
belonged to the west-end of the town, but had beenNtaund begging in
the City, and actually so strongly resembled the genius Vg.fiunine, that
no one who had a heart a bit softer than a stone could look upon te•aa
without grief.
- -

The LSD mans inquired particularly into their cams, and sail.
Watered to each relieL

The greater number told his Lordship that the overseers of the
pariah upon which they had claims, turned them away, after having
refused to take them into the workhouse, to get them employment, or
to give them any thing to keep them from starving.
- - - - -

The Lord Mays believed there was some exaggeration in what bad
been stated, but knew that there was many a hard heart amongst the
gentlemen who dispensed the parish bounty, and that he feared the
principle of economy and retrenchment was extending itself beyond
the polidal reformers.
Mr. Holger said, that in some parishes the economy was carried to
emus as regarded the expenditure of the poor, but those who had
claims were net without the means of enforcing them.
The Loan MAT014..163i, I advise all poor persons who have
claims, to go to the overseen or churchwardens, and if relief is refined
to them at this bitter season to hit down at the doors of the gentlemen,
whose duty it is to sec that the poor shall be provided for, until relief
is given. The parish officers will, in such case, be compelled either to
give the support required, or to take the claimant before a Magistrate.
In either ass relief must be obtained.

Several paupers went off aocceding to this direction.
Dirersaass Assaus.T.--A tierce looking fellow named Manley,
was charged with having broken the arm of Mr. William Louis, the
owner of the Blue Pig public.house, in St. Warp Axe, and with having
threatened to break his other arm.
The complainant slated, that Stanley and a comrade were in his
house on Friday night, and bad a very noisy quarrel about their wages.
The waiter interfered to prevent murder, but Stanley soon dashed him
to the ground. Witness then begged that no more violence might be
done, but did not address an angry word to the defendant, who, how.
ever, dew at him and knocked him.dovnt, and broke his arm by throwing
himself upon his bodwith all his force. Witness with diEculty got
up, but be kw some time was without sesistance, as be had been no
MOW than these weeks in the hone; and was not acquainted with the
neighbows. At length a person entered, but nothing checked the fury
of tits defendant, who swore, upon seeing that the seen was broken, that
be would break the other b—y arm, and wield probably have accom-
plished it if he bad not been prevented with violence.
The Loan. INlewou asked whether the defendant had lately escaped
from the mad-bewas !
The eemplehmen mid, the man was drunk at the time, and acted
like a login, andiesa, for note single word of once had been spoken;
but he (the complainant) did not wish to' do him injury, as he was
poor, and had a wife and children. To be we the wife was not my
kind, for she called and abused him (complainant) that morning.
The defendant said, he was sorry fo what be had dons, but be was
really so drunk that he was not master of himself.
Mr. Nobler- Well, have you get See hundred pounds to give for
this broken arm _ .

The defendant said, he would give recompence as far as was in his
power.
The cemplainant, who was the most extraordinary butanes Of for.
bearanca and maelmess that ever received a broken arm, Bald, be for.
gave the man on account of his family; and expressed himself satisfied '
of the expenses incurred were defrayed.
The LOILD MAlroa.—Your gnat kindness and humanity do you in-
enee trait. I know 'no man Capable of ow+ an act ; but I amine'
DHOW' so dreadful an injury to be billeted upon you with impunity..
This madman mht have murdered you, Ind you and the public must
si
bed amni. iu defendant roast ,fisd unexceptionable bail to appear
le lieselan . .
/* defendant wit tionimlued 4 default of Wt.
ma* mamas immoseged with having beaten a licensed victualler
fa a dope", manner, but they were remanded, the prosecutor being
;amble to move from his bed.
gtainuALL,—A journeyman butcher, named George =we
hrouOt_ before Mr. Alderman Kelly, recede', • by H Ale
' to account for the possession of two pieces sr dint",
Coloured halibut* and eve parcels of muslin itandkamb•useb--44:
borders and sowed figura% worth-sbout let
Ilerdafteld stated, that in passing through Bst&h.atrast, Barbican,
about seven o'clock on Friday evening, he saw the prisoner hurrying

r along with a bag full of property, and he asked him what be bad got
Mere. Prisoner said be did not know, but be was carrying it fora per.
son ahead, whom he pointed to. Witness called after this man, who
turned round sad bawled out, " It's all right--that's mine." Witness
asked bim to step back, as he had doubts whether it was all tight;
upon which the man ran off. Witness hallooed stop thief; but no
one chose to assist, and the man escaped. From the nature of the marks
it seemed probable that the goods had been stolen
.from a wholesale
warehouse, and the prisoner described the man who employed him as
having the appearance of a porter.
Prisoner said that as he was going through Smithfield, the man who
ran away hired him as a porter to carry the goods for him.
The Alderman remanded the prisoner till Thursday, that the officer
might have an opportunity to trace the owner.
- - - - •

BOWATREIT.—Sarah Harris, aged sixty, was charged by John
Tennison, a market gardener, with having violently assaulted him, de.
mended money from him, and threatened to take his life.
The complainant stated, that about fifteen years ago he was sitting at
home, ananging some accounts, when Miss Sarah Harris tapped at his
door. On being desired to come in,' she obeyed and took a seat.
He asked her what her business was with hint, she replied, that ho was
constantly looking at her, and that it had been observed by every body,
particularly by the minister of the pariah, during divine service. Mr.
Tennison told her he had never seen her before, and went down stairs
and desired a boy to go and turn that mad woman out. " From that
time to the present, your worship," said Mr. Tennison, " I have
been teased by her, and when she cannot come herself, she sends let-
ters. The last I received from her she signed your affectionate wife.
I am a married man, Sir, and desire protection from her."
The lady in her defence stated, that Mr. Tennison was bound to pro-
vide for her and protect her; and as to his being married, that made
no difference, she had determined upon having him fur her husband,
and she would have him ; he had promised in the Church of England
to be her's until death did them part, and she would never leave him
again. The love-sick lady suited the action to the word, and seized
the complainant so firmly by the arm, that it required two of the
officers to make her relinquish her intended victim.
She was locked up till she could find bail to keep the peace.
Mary Turner, an interesting young woman, was brought up by a
police constable, who had taken her in the act of swallowing some lau-
danum. She said that she was much attached to a young man ; she
went to see him, and his mother told her that he had left London for a
long time, which site knew to be false. She felt much diatreszed at
this and drank two glasses of brandy, which had affected her senses,
and she admitted mat she had bought the laudanum for the purpose
of destroying herself.
An of was sent to take her to her lodgings, and make inquiries
respecting her connections.
IxTaiTrctnrs.—Oa Friday last, Masters, a constable of East Cowes,
Isle cat art;ireti at thi Offirr: with a warrant, issued by the coro-
ner of that district, against Susan Hatchet. anti J.r.epit Proctor who
were charged with being principal and accessory after the fact, In Cie
murder of a male child, of which the former had been delivered on the
28th of November last, in the house of Mrs. Dennison, a lady of re-
spectability, who resides at White House, East Cowes, and with whom
the accused persons lived in the capacities of housemaid and footman.
The warrant was backed by Sir R. Birnie, and placed in the hands of
Birchen, an old and active officer, who succeeded In executing it in the
course of Saturday and Sunday. The female prisoner was taken' into
custody at the house of a baker, at the corner of George.aireet,
Portman-square, and the male prisoner was soon apprehended at
Hexton House, in Hertfordshire. It appears that the prisoners, while
in the service of Mrs. Dennison, carried on an illicit intercourse, and
that Susan Burchelt finally became pregnant ; but whether her situa.
tion was knoan or not, either to her fellow.eervants or to her mistress,',
does not appear ; although it might be concluded that it was not,
inasmuch as the fact of her being in labour was not known to a
fellow-servant, with whom she slept on the night the child was born.
According to her own account, she was seized with the pangs of child
birth in the middle of the night, while her fellow-servant was asleep,
and exerted all the firmness she possessed to suppress even the slight-
est indication of the agony she endured. The child was born without
the sleep of her bedfellow being disturbed, and at an early hour the
sante morning the unfortunate mother was observed by her bedfellow
stretched on the floor In a state of complete insensibility. The truth
suddenly developed itself, and on examining the chamber utensil
a male child was found contained within it. The infant was dead,'
and Its skull was fractured, and one of its eyes was knocked
out. The body was afterwards fiunsf by the mother into the privy, but
removed from thence at the desire of the butler and hits. Dennison's
maid, by Proctor, who cast it into the fish-pond, where it was die.
covered floating some time after by a constable, who suspecting that it'
had been murdered, caused notice of the circumstance to be sent to
the Coroner. An inquest was accordingly held upon the body, and
the facts before stated having:transpired, the Jury returned a verdict
of wilful murder against the mother, and implicated the father and
other individuals (as we were informed) as accessaries after the fact.
The prisoners, it appeared, were discharged from Mrs. Dennison's ace.
vice after the transaction, but nothing would probably have ever been
said of the matter, if the constable had not discovered the body of the
infant in the manner described. The mother denies that the child came
by ha death in consequence of any violence used by her, and attributes
that ammo. to Ilse eirrismatallPfl under which the infant was born.
The prisoners were, by order of the Magistrates, transferred by
Burchell into the custody of the constable Masters, who undertook to
convey them safely to the Isle of Wight, where they are to undergo an
examination:on the charge before the local authorities.,
Yesterday John Hurley, an Irish coal-whipper, who has been re.
poatedly fined and imprisoned, and Mary, his sister, were charged with
assaults on various persons, but MOM particularly with seriously
wounding and assaulting a poor old man named Cornish Beilcock, a
block-maker, aged 70 years. The male defendant knocked him down
with his fist, and then kicked him in a cruel manner. His wife was
also beaten and cruelly maltreated by the Hurleys, and rendered
tenseness.

ktt E-sreghton fined John Hurley IL, or two months' Imprisonment.
His alma %Li Encd 201., and in default of payment, to 14 days am.
finement.

Qies2X-e4th6rti...-An Interesting young female, of rather superior
manners, who gave he name Caroline Worthington, apparently not
more than eighteen years of age, and Catherine CaMay, the keeper of
an infamous house, No. 7, Canterburyameet, Lambeth, were charged
with robbing a drunken man of six sovereigns and some silver.
A pollee constable searched the place, and oily found 20e. Worthing.
ton, in reply, said that the prosecutor was very drunk, and threatened
to cut her throat, which made ha leave him in bed.
Mr. Maastrovr said that, however infamous the character of the
elder prisoner might be, there was no evidence against her; with re.
gard to the younger an, he should remand her. After she was re.
moved from the bar, Mr. MARRIOTT ordered her to be brought back,
and asked her if she had a father living? The prisoner, who appeared
rather surprised at the question, said that she had. Mr. MARRIOTT:
Where do you live ? Prisoner; In Portman-square.
Mr. MARRIOTT put several other questions to her, which she de-
clined to answer. She was then removed.

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

LAMENTABLE OCCIMBEICE.— Yesterday afternoon, an
Inquest was holden at the Coopers' Arms public-house, Rose-
ma: y-lane, before WM. BAKER, Esq. on view of the remains
of John Williams, aged about 36 years, who was found dead
in his bed on Christmas morning. From the testimony of se-
veral witnesses, it appeared that the deceased at one time
held a respectable situation in his Majesty's Customs, but for
some reason, of which the witnesses were ignorant, he
was discharged, and was latterly reduced to the greatest,
state of wretchedness. On Christmas-eve he entered a com-
mon lodging-house in Rosemary-lane, where he was latterly
frequently in the habit of sleeping, and paid three halfpence
for his night's lodging. He retired to bed shortly after ten
o'clock, and during the night he was frequently heard to ex-
claim, by the persona who slept in the same room with him,
" Good Gon, how cold it is, I shall be famished." At four
o'clock in the morning be was alive, but at seven he was dis-
covered 11
to be quite dead and stiff.
The jury were unanimously of opinion that the death of
the wretched man was acceleiated by the Want of the proper
necessaries of life—a fact which his emaciated form clearly
indicated—and the extreme coldness of the weather, but
ultimately they returned a verdict of " Died by the visitation
of God."
DZATH IN A STATION-110VSZ.—Yesterday afternoon
an inquest was held at the Cornwall Arms, Cornwall-road,
Lambeth, before Richard Carter, Esq. on the body of Ann
Place, aged 55, who died in the Station-house in the Water-
loo-road, on Priday evening last.
The deceased, it appeared, had 'for 'some years been a
pauper in Lambeth parish. On Thursday she was taken to
ike station-Winne Ter being very drunk in the shieii, et*
Was set it liberty *hen she got sober. She, however, like
many ocher fools, considered that she must still keep sip
ge!,ti!tg beastlY drunk; and was again.found in
the streets4a polievinui, who took her to the station-house,
tear' • way unable to take care of herself. She was
pla in a Char by the fire, and although medical assistance
was sent for with the greatest promptitude, she expired in al
few minutes. Verdict, " Died by the Visitation of God."

SCINTILLA.

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS. T CEREMONIES, AND FESTI.
VI I RS.
This being the period at which those of our religion celebrate OIL r
great annual festival, a brief notice of some of the forms, ecremoni,..
and superstitions indulged in by our ancestors, may not be unacceptable
to our readers.

ANCIENT CUSTOMS.
A HoooFx.—At Ramsgate, even up to the present time, they calm
mence their Christmas festivities by the following ridiculous, and, as ia
appears to us, unmeaning ceremony. A party of the youthful pas,
tion of the community having procured the had of a horse, it
of
is axed to a pole, about four feet in length ; a string is at.
wised to the lower jaw; a horse.cloth Is tied round the es,
treme part of the head, beneath which one of the party is concealed,
who, by repeated pulling and loosening the string, causes the jaw to
rise and fall, and thus produces, by bringing the teeth in contact,
snapping note, as he moves along, the rest of the party following in
procession, g tesquely habited, and ringing luustl.bells. In this order
they from house to house, singing carols and ringing their belle,
and are generally remunerated for the amusement they occasion by a
largess of money, or beer and cake. The ceremony prevails in ra,2cy
parts of the Isle of Thanet, and may probably be traced as the relic et
son.e religious ceremony practised in the early ages by our Baron
anscstont.

THE BOAR'S Hxon.—At Hornchurch in Essex, the
following custom is still kept up at this festive season. On Christmas.
day, the lessee of the tithe, which belongs to New College, Oxford, sup.
plies a boar's head dressed and garnished with bay-leaves. Ls the at'.
ternoon It is carried in grand procession into the Mill-field, a field ad.
joining the church-yard, where it is wrestled for, and the conqueror
and his .friends adjourn to one of the village public-houses, to which
also the prize is conveyed, and a rustic feast follows, at which is in.
traduced the merriment and sports peculiar to the season,
TILE KING Of CHRISTMAS.—In the records of Nor-
wich we find an account of a pageant which took place at this wawa,
A.D. 1440, when one John Hadman, a wealthy citizen, made dials*
with his neighbours and friends, and was crowned King of Christmas.
He rode in state through the city, dressed forth in silks and tinsel, and
preceded by twelve persons habited as the twelve months of the year,
their costumes varying to represent the different seasons of the yew...-
After King Christmas followed Lent, clothed in white
.
trimmed with herring skins, on horseback, the horse belinefsrewiteraZi
with tappings of oyster-shells, being Indicative that and a
holy time should follow Christmas revelling. In this way they
rode through the city, accompanied by numbers in various gre.
taupe dresses, making disport and merriment, some clothed in
armour, carrying staves, and occasionally engaging in martial combat;
others dressed as devils, chased the people, and sorely affrighted the
women and children; others wearing skin dresses and counterfeiting
bears, wolves, lions, and other animals, and endeavouring to imitate the
animals they represented, in mating and raving, alarming the cowardly,
and appalling the stoutest hearts.