Star.
London, England, 1824-11-25 00:00:00

ST. BRIDES CHURCH, FLEET-STREEr.

In consequence of the numerous suggestions through
the medium of the public press, recommending the
taking advantage of the opening occasioned by the late
conflagration in Fleet-street, to preserve to the Public
the view of that noble edifice, the parish church of St.
B ide, which is one of the finest works of Sir Christo-
pher Wren, a meeting of between twenty and thirty of
the principal inhabitants of the parish was held yester-
day morning, at the Vestry-room, for the purpose of
taking the subject into consideration: the Rev. Mr.
CLARE, the Vicar, in the Chair.
Mr. DYKES, the surveyor, exhibited two or three
plans for the proposed opening ; and a long conversa-
tion ensued, in which Mr. SPOTTISWOODE, the King's
Printer, who is exceedingly zealous for the improve-
ment, took a prominent part. The Meeting, indeed,
was unanimous that it would be highly desirable to
prevent the building from being again obscured, and,
the only question appeared to be upon the practicabi-
lity of carrying the improvement into effect.
Mr. NIARRIOTT, who was one of the sufferers at'
the late fire, expressed his conviction that if any plan
for preserving the opening in front of the Church should
be determined upon, subscriptions for the purpose of
effecting it would be forwarded from persons of taste
entirely unconnected with the parish. He had autho-
tity to say, that a respectable inhabitant of the parish
was already in possession of a list of names of indivi-
duals, with offers for that purpose, to the amount of
801. which had been transmitted in consequence of the
recommendations of the public press upon the subject.
A Committee of seven Gentlemen was then appointed
to make the necessary inquiries of the ground-landlords
and others having interests upon the spot, how far
they might be disposed to enter into negotiations for the
sale of their interests, and to ascertain m hat in that case
would be the expense likely to be incurred to complete
this desirable improvement, and to report thereon.

BLACKPRIA RS BRIDGE.—A Correspondent, who ob-
serves, that a little regulation prevents much mischief,
suggests, that till the present very inconvenient state of
Blackfriars Bridge can be remedied, all those who cross
it should always go on the right baud side of the buidge.
For example, all the people going over to the Surrey
side of the water should keep on the side of the bridge
next Westminster, while all those corning into the City,
should keep on the side of the bridge next Southwark
Bridge. By this means there will be no jostling, and
the danger from the present state of the bridge dimi-
nished. He remarks, as an additional recommenda-
tion to this practice, that it is adopted at Dresden, and
other cities of the Continent.

AWIRIL CATASTROPHE.—The ship Maria, Captain
M. L. Behn, from London to Ilamburgh; was totally
lost off Heligoland during the late gales ; six passen-
gers and all the crew were drowned. The. Captain was
on the eve of being married to a young Lady, who ex-
pected his return at Hamburgh, where she went, accom-
panied by his mother, aged 68 ; the other passengers
consisted of three Ladies and three German merchants;
a large inheritance awaited one of them, had he safely
reached his native shores; the brother of the Captain,
who but a short time since lost the most affectionate of
wives, leaves four children uneducated and not provided
for. Subscriptions have been immediately entered into
at Harnburgir by the numerous friends of the deceased,
for the education of his children, whose loss is regretted
by every one to whom his excellent character was
known—an example most readily followed by his libe-
ral countrymen in England.
In the early part of.Gaanica's career at Drury-lane
Theatre, a tragedy was produced, in which the Roscius
sustained the character of a King. -Though there was
nothing relbarkably brilliant in the play, it met with no
opposition till the fifth act, when GARRICK, as the dying
Monarch, divided his empire between his two sons in
the following line:
" Jointly 'twixt you my crown I do bequeath."
When a quaint man getting up in the pit, rejoined,
" Then, gods! they've just got half a crown a-piece."
This threw the whole house into such a comic convul-
sion, that not another word of the tragedy was uttered
on the stage.

POPULATION OF THE CITIES AND TOWNS-

OF InEL AND.

Dublin (within the Canals and Circular-road), 224,314 inhabitants,
12,116 houses.
IThe parts of three parishes beyond the Canals, but within the
City's jurisdiction, raise the population to 227,335 ; the houses to
18,567.]
Cork (county of the city)
Limerick (county of the city)
Belfast --
Waterford
Kilkenny
Drogheda

Galiay (county of the town) -

100,6.58 s •
59,045
31,2•27
28.679
23,2'50
18,118
27,775'

Saturday, the Medusa steam vessel sailed from Dover,
with passengers, at eight A.m. and after a tedious and
ineffectual attempt to get to Boulogne, was compelled
to run for Ranisgate, where she arrived at eleven P.M.
Sunday morning, about two o'clock. a dreadful storm
of thunder and lightning passed in a N.E. direction over
Cheltenham, accompanied by torrents of rain and hail,
which we understand has done considerable injury in
the neighbourhood.
The excessive heavy rains have carried away a
bridge South of Ecclefechan, on the load between
Glasgow and Carlisle, by which accident the London
mail was, for two days, compelled to take a circuitous
route of five miles and 'consequently it has been
-nearly forty-nine minutes beyond time in reaching
the latter city, both on Thursday and Friday evenings.
Monday, it was finally determined upon by the Com-
mittee of Management, at their meeting, to proceed
with the Water WOl ks through Canterbury. They have
had several tenders of plans and specifications from ex-
perienced Engineers, to commence immediately.
The Dover Mail Coach, on its journey from London;
was upset near Greenstreet, on Sunday night, owing to
the darkness of the night, the horses having missed the
road, and dragged the coach partly on the footpath.—
There were three passengers, besides the coachn►an and
guard, who all escaped unhurt.
Friday night, the shop of Mr. FISHER, watchmaker,
Abbey Church-yard, Bath, was broken into, and about
23 watches of various descriptions, seven gold chains,
50 gold chased Seals, 35 gold keys, 8 musical boxes, a
number of watch movements, and various other arti-
cles, were stolen therefrom, forming a total salue, it is
said of 5001.

Dr. Geitner, a skilful chemist at Schneeberg, in
Saxony, has invented a new metallic cempound, the
qualities of which very much resemble those of silver.
It is malleable, and is not subject to rust or tarnish.—
Candlesticks, spurs, &s. have already been fabric,ted
with this composition; and it is highly probable that
the discovery will lead to great alterations in the manu-
faeture of plated goods.
Sunday afternoon, between five and six .o'clock, a
robbery to a considerable amount was committed in
the house of Mrs. Voss, a Lady residing at 21, Dean-
street, Canterbury-square, Southwark, during her
absence at the afternoon service, who, upon her return
home, found her drawers and trunks broken open, and*
1041. in 201. 101. and 51. notes of the Bank of England,
and silver, besides a great quantity of valuable wear-
ing-apparel, taken away. The maid-servant, a genteel-
looking girl, whom Mrs. Voss had taken into her ser-
vice a short time before film sheer humanity, without a
character, and who was known only by the name of
Peggy, is also missing.
Mr. EseAus, surgeon, of Chepstow, has saved another
human life by the stomach syringe. Ile thus relates
the case in a letter, dated the 7th of October, addressed
to the editors of the Medical Repository :-••••" A Lady
took by mistake an ounce of laudanum. The circum•
stance was immediately. discovered, and my attendance
requested. Having in my possession one of the stomach.
pumps introduced by Mr. Jukes, 1 resolved on its imme-
diate application. Half an hour had elapsed from the
time when the poison was swallowed till that in which
reached the patient. Having introduced the tube of
the instrument into the stomach, I injected about three
pints of warm water; and by gently moving the piston
of the syringe, withdrew the whole contents of the
organ, having a strong smell of laudanum. The patient
perfectly recovered.
Wednesday afternoon last, two little girls, children of
labouring people at Ware, went to Hertford. In crossing
the plank bridge over the river Lee, leading from Ford-
ham's Mill towards Hertford, they both fell into the
water, closely linked together, and were drifted down
the stream for many yards. Providentially, very shortly
after the accident occurred, a neighbour passing by
. .

observed a human face floating on the water, and im-
mediately gave the alarm, which brought several men
to the spot. Whilst they were debating what to do
(for the water was deep), a spirited young man threw
off his coat, plunged into the water, swam to the body,
and with considerable difficulty succeeded in tescuing
the dear children from a watery wave. We under-
stand that a respectable Medical Gentleman of Ware
has engaged to apply to the Humane Society for the re•
munetation usually granted in such cases. Both the
children are happily now doing well.
The great•grand-daughter of Daniel de Foe, the
author of Robinson Criaoe, is a supplicant of the Na•

tional Benevolent Institution, in Ureat Russell-street.

Though afflicted with rheumatic gout, she supported
herself with industry ; but owing to the loss of her lit-
tle property by fire in 1816, her advanced age, being
nearly 70, and increasing infirmities, she has been 'e-
duced to the greatest distress. Daniel de Foe's father
was by trade a butcher, but the son exhibited an early
taste for literature, and his works are well known to
the world. In 1702, he was convicte.l of a libel, and
sentenced to a fine, implisonment, and the pillory. But
far from being ashamed of his fate, he wrote " A
Hymn to the Pillory." The Earl of Oxford's influence
liberated him before the expiration of his sentence. He
died OR the 16th April, 1731, in the parish of St. Giles,
Cripplegate, leaving behind him a widow and. seve-
ral children.
ACCIDENT AND SINGULAR PR EsEavAnoN.---Lately,
as a Gentleman Was driving.his gig past the Arcade, at
Cheltenham, his attention being suddenly directed to an
object on the foot-path, his horse threw down a very
interesting girl, the daughter of General DARLING, and
before the driver was aware of any accident, the wheel
had passed over the child's back. The gig immediately
stopped, and Mr. SPINNEY, director of the Gas Works,
who was passing at the moment, caught the child in
his arms, and carried her to the shop of Mr. Moss,
chymist, by whom the promptest means were adopted
for affording relief to the sufferer, and it was imam-
diately ascertained that no material injury was sus-
tained. The child, although exceedingly alarmed, on
being raised from the ground, did not afterwards com-
plain of much pain, except in the head, which the
horse must have struck with violence.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,

MANSION-HOUSE.
Coaxes or Folam.—Yesterday, a young man named J.Pennat,
was brought before the Loan Mason, charged with having uttered
a forged cheque on Sir John Perring and Co. for 2611. les.
The prisoner is the same person who, about six weeks ago, was
brought•before Alderman Walthman, on suspicion of having forged
a cheque for 2001. in the name of his former master, Mr. Williams,
tea-broker, of Jewry-street, upon the house of Mr. Williams, of
Birchin-lane. In that case the cheque was regularly uttered, and
the money obtained; but the prisoner was discharged, there being
nobody in the banking-house who could identify him.
Mr. Oliver Vine, one of the clerks to the firm of Peering and Co.
stated, that on Saturday afternoon, about three o'clock, the prisoner
came into the banking-house and presented a cheque for 261/. 18s.
signed with the names of Messrs. Capper and Stephens. Witness
had some doubt of the genuineness of the signature; but as the firm
was one of great respectability, he hesitated in questioning it, and
entered the cheque for the purpose of going through the process of
cashing it. lie sheared it,however, to another clerk for his opinion,
and was told by him that it was all right. Witness then gave the
prisoner 2601. but before he gave him the odd money, the clerk
who had just given a favourable opinion as to the cheque, suggested
that it would be prudent to inquire into its correctness. Witness
then asked the prisoner, whether he had received' the cheque
from Messrs. Capper? He replied that he had not; but that he had
received it from Mr. Purdie, of the Commercial Sale Rooms. Wit-
new requested that one of the other clerks would go to Messrs.
Capper, to make the necessary inquiries on the subject. In a Few
minutes after the cheque had been taken off to Messrs. Capper's
house, the prisoner, whom the witness permitted to remain by the
counter with the money in his hand from a feeling of delicacy, ob-
served that there was something odd about the cheque, and that
he was out of employment. He proceeded to make some further
observations, but the witness did not now remember them accu-
rately. However, he told the prisoner that be might as well give
back the money and step into a private room. This the prisoner
immediately did. When in the room, apparently as if in continua-
tion of-the previous conversation, he said that he was out of place,
and had given the porter of the Royal Exchange a shilling to stick
up a notice for him for a place; that whilst he was superintending
this operation, a person of very respectable appearance came up to
him, and asked him whether he wanted employment? that he re-
plied in the affirmative, and was then taken to the New York Cof-
tee-house by the Gentleman, who gave him the cheque, and ap-
pointed to wait there until he should return. When the prisoner
was asked by witness where he had lived? he replied that he had
been in the service of Mr. Williams, of Jewry-street, where some-
thing very unpleasant had taken place respecting a cheque for two
hundred pounds, which had been improperly paid by Messrs.Wil.
Hams, of Birchit-line: Witness said he remembered the circum-
stance. At this Moment the clerk who had been sent to Messrs.
Capper, returned, with one of the partners of the firm, who, in the
prisoner's presence, declared the signature to be a forgery. The pri-
soner then urged the necessity of sending somebody to the New York
Coffee-house, as the person tvho had given hint the cheque would
entertain sorfte suspicions, front the lapse of tithe that had taken
place, and probably leave the place. Ile added, that a person who
was sitting in the box at the same time could probably corroborate
his statement if he were sought for in time. The witness did not
send any one, or pay immediate attention to this request, but
klerdsfield, the officer, was sent for, and he went with the prisdnek
to the New York Coffee-house, but no one was found there of the
description mentioned by the prisoner.
One of the firm of Capper and Co. came forward to prove the
signature to be a forgery, but—
Mr. Humphries, who attended on behalf of the prisoner, objected
to his evidence on this point, and the objection.is held good.
The prisoner was remanded until legal proof of the forgery
shall be given.
lir. Humphries said, he expected to atcount satisfactorily for the
prisoner's posseash.n of the cheque.