Star.
London, England, 1824-05-31 00:00:00

CONDEMNED SERMON.

Yesterday morning, Juhn hill Wagstaff; William
Hill, and John Easterby, were conducted from their soli-
tary apartments to the Chapel of Newgate, in order to
perform their last public act of devotion.
' A little after ten o'clock, the Sheriffs arrived, and
proceeded to the Chapel, the body of which, and the
south gallery, which is appropriated for the females,
were crowded by the unfortunate inmates of the prison,
among, whom were those who were respited last Tues:
day, when their several cases were laid before the King
in Council. The strangers were then admitted, and in
an instant every space and avenue were crowded almo,t
to suffocation.

Everything being arranged, the unhappy trio who
are so shortly to suffer an ignominious death, we'c
ushered to the condemned pew, accompanied by W.
Baker, Esq. who paid particular attention to them (Jur=
ing the service. They were all attired in mourning,
and appeared very collected; indeed their behaviour
throughout was such as became their unhappy situa-
tion. The Morning Hymn having been sung, the Re-
verend Ordinary read the Church Service in an impres-
sive manner, and the unhappy men joined in the re-
sponses with apparent fervour. When that part of the
Liturgy was read which is termed the General Thanks-
giving, those prisoners who have been respited fell on
their knees to return thanks for the mercy extended to
them : several wept, particularly the three Thompsons.
The Reverend Ordinary delivered an impressive dis-
course from Ezekiel, chap. xxx. verse 11—" As I live,
saith the LORD Gon, I have no pleasure in the death of
the wicked ; but that the wicked should turn from his
ways and live."
The Reverend Divine, in the exordium, observed on
the mercy of the SUPREME BEING in ctintradistinction to
the feeling and disposition of mankind, who often it
would appear seemed to have pleasure in the death of
the wicked, if their conduct on such melancholy occa-
sions was a safe criterion to judge by. Alter dilating
on the forbearance of Got), who did not speedily execute
his sentence, he drew the natural inference from the
text, viz. that unless there was a turning [ruin evil
whereby life eternal would be aunt ed, everlasting death
would certainly result from a course of vice al: d profli-
gacy. The Reverend Ordinary th:n alluded to the of-
' fences of which his unhappy charge had been convicted ;
this, he said, was a painful but necessary duty. One
had been convicted of burglary, a clime of peculiar
atrocity and a growing evil. The other two were per-
sons of education superior to most who had precede.l
them on similar occasions; they had been found guilty
of uttering forged and fabricated securities. Until
lately one of them had been a respectable tradesman,
inferior to none, perhaps, who then witnessed his degra-
dation. Embarrassed in his circumstances, and desirous
of retrieving them, he had commived an act by which
his life was forfeited; for which offence lie was extremely
repentant, and hoped for that mercy at a Iligh Tribunal
which earthly justice had refused. Tire Reverend Gen-
tleman concluded his discourse by a forcible admonition
addressed to the congregation, imploring them to learn
wisdom by the awful spectacle before them. The service
concluded, the unhappy men were taken to their cells.

The courier who left Bogota the 29th of February,
passed the British Commissioners on their road to that
capital, between it and Honda. The latter is not three
days journey from Bogota. The Commissioners had
been received at the towns through which they passed
in the most enthusiastic manner.

It is a curious fact, that the building materials con-
tained in the mansion late the residence of the Post-
master of Leeds, sold last week for more money than
the house cost building a hundred and twenty years ago.
Many of the valuables lost at the late Drawing-room
have not been recovered. Several diamond ornaments
have been advertised. It is not improbable that some
of these were trodden to fragments, and thus their ori-
ginal form could not be distinguished. The sweeping
of the }Ciao's Drawing-room after a Court-day was al.
ways considered a rich perquisite.

CORONERS' WeVESTS.
An intrisition was taken at the North Country Cat
Tavern, in High-street, Wapping, before John Wright
Unwin, Esq. on the body 'Of Nathaniel Thwaits, Clerk to
Mr. Lloyd, wharfinger.
Mr. Lloyd being sworn, deposed that the deceased
had been clerk to him for many years, and that he had
ever placed implicit confidence in him ; that on the morn•
ing of Wednesday last, about ten o'clock, he saw the
ceased standing upon a craft lying near to his wharf,
and in a few minutes after an alarm was given by a Mr,
Barrel, Who was also near the spot, that the deceased
bad fallen overboard. Mr. Barrel told the witness that
he saw the deceased in the act of shoving a craft on to
the ways, and from the hitcher slipping he fell into the
river, and before any assistance could be rendered, the
deceased was drawn' under the craft from which he had
fallen. The witness gave directions instantly for drags
to be used, and in about three hours after the body was
picked up ; it was then, at the suggestion of a person
standing by, deposited in some heated dung for a con-
siderable time. Two Medical Gentlemen attended, who
instantly pronounced the vital spark had fled. The wit-
ness passed the highest encomiums on the conduct of
the deceased, and said it was his intention to have settled
him in business with an amiable young woman, to whom
he was to have been mar:ied in about three weeks, and
who was inconsolable at the sad catastrophe.
The Coroner observed to the Jury, that in his opinion
there could be no doubt but the unfortunate event had
been quite accidental; and the Jury, without hesitation,
returned a verdict accordingly.
Saturday, two Inquisitions were taken at the Black
Horse, York-strow, Westminster, on the bodies of two
persons who had, although in apparent health, dropped
down dead that morning. One of them was a man of
the name of Jones, who had for many years past earned
a scanty subsistence by the sale of cakes, ttc. at the
corner cf Parliament-street, and who fell down dead
while standing at that spot. The other was a soldier,
of the Ileiale Of GOtZ, who fell down lifeless while po-
cceding towal ds the Horse Guards. The Jury in both
I cases retort:ea a verdict—Died by the visitation of GOD.

•
I'OLICi; INTELLIGENCE.

M.l NSION-110USF..

A merdiant, residing in the City, appeared before the Loao
Matron, on a charge preferred against him by a female for an as-
sault. The complainant was apparently about thirty years of age,
and her dress and appearance were highly respectable. She stated
that she had some rime been married to a Lieuteuant of the Navy,
with whom she now lived and had a family. But about ten years
ago, before she was flurried, she was so unfortunate as to fall in the
way of the defendant, and to permit an intercourse, the fruit of
which was a son, whom she had ever since maintained. and had re-
ceives! altogether little snore than GO!. from the defendant. On her
applying to him for pecuniary aid for the support of the child, heal-
ways treated her with rudeness; but on the last occaskin he tokl her
he would go to his attorney, and settle the business. On her fol-
lowing him fur that purpose, he pushed her with such violence
against a post as to do her serious injury, and of this assault she now
complained. The defendant di nied the assault, and stated that the
complainant had conducted herself very improperly, annoying him
in various ways, and going to his private house to raise a diiturb-
mice. The husband of the woman said, that whatever might have
been her frailty before, her conduct since her marriage, as_a wife
and a mother, had been exemplary. It was ultimately resolved that
she should swear the child to the defendant in the usual way.
I; I LI)I•IA Lt.

Saturday, Mr. Prier Criss*l4, a bill-broker, was hroneht up on a
warrant, to answer the complaint of Mr. John Wm. Birmingham,
f.,r unlawfully detaining a bill given him by the complainant to get
discounted. Mr. IliAttp!ii..)s, the Solicitor, attended for •the de.,
tendaut, and Mr. Newman, the City Solicitor, attended 29 assessor
to Mr. Alderman Cox, the sitting Magistrate. Mr. Bitmingham
stated, that he had been a Lieutenant in the titith Regiment ; and that
Mr. Nlartin, the Member fur Gaiveay, was a friend of his; and, on
the 17th of April, be ga-ic the defendant a bill for tetti7l7 drawn by
him ( Birmingham; on Me, Martin, and accepted by Mr. Martin,
which the defendant undertook to get discounted, and to give the
cash to complainant, but he had never since given him any ifioney
or other value on acconnt of the said bill, and had refused to de.
liver it up, alleging that he had given it to another person to get it
discounted, aittt promising to get it back and return it.
The defendant being called on for Ms defence, said the com-
plainant had applied to hint to obtain cash for a draft on Mr. Mar-
tin, which be undertook to do, supposing Dlr. Martin's acceptance
would be negotiable. The complainant accordingly brought the
bill, but when he attempted to pass it, he found it would not be
looked at in the market ; he was, in consequence, unable to obtain
cash for it. The Alderman enquired why he did not return it?
The defendant replied, he had given the complainant three pounds
on account of the bill, at the time he received it, and was now wil-
ling to return the bill on being repaid that sum.
Mr. Iltmettacvs produced the bill, to :hew the defendant was in
a condition to perform what he had proposed. It appeared the bill
had been indorsed by two names, which were erased. The de-
fendant said the names were his own and that of a friend, and the
indor.tements were made fcr the purpose of obtaining cash for the
complainant ; not of converting the bill to his own use. The cons-
plair.ant positively denied that he had ever received a shilling from
the defendant, either in money or any kind of value.
The Magistrate, after some deliberation, said he would dismiss
the criminal charge; but would retain the bill in his possession
till the Court of Requests should decide on the defendant's claim of
debt against the complainant, to whom be would deliver the bill
when that claim was satisfied.

110 W-STREET.
J. Ednzunds %%FAA charged with embezzling Xe 2 15s. the property
of his employer, Mr. livrry, blind-maker, in Lung Acre. He of-
fered to refund the money, but it being his third offence, he W 23
committed for triaL