Star.
London, England, 1825-09-29 00:00:00

CHESTER AAD THE VAIGHBOURHGOD.

Chester is a town full of tit bits for an antiquation
palate, but exceedingly ill provided with the aAreea-
bilities of the presant day. Its character of virtu it
can never lose ; but many of the outward signs are fast
going to decay, and what between the pulling down of
old houses, and the blocking up of the rows, none but
the antiquarian of the true Church will soon be able to
recognize it. So ably is the hand of time seconded by
the work of man, that the Board of Ordnance have new
cased with fine cut stone Cam's Tower, as it was
called, one of the most perfect and prominent objects in
the town. The country in the neighbourhood, almost
to the very walls, is beautiful in the extreme, but the
first step within the gates gives the
.appearance of a
doleful contrast, which increases at every turn, and is
maintained with due propriety and equal pleasure to
every sense until the last moment. The only place
which appears to have been intended to unite the agree-
able with the useful, is the common jail. The inhabi-
tants of that security are well clad, clean, and comfort-
able, with well-flagged yards, while the streets are
rudely paved with pointed stones, and every ward has
a snug flower-garden before it. There is no place of
public amusement, but there is a capital bridge, with a
'rapid stream under it. The great body Of the people
are strangely Mixed up of native English. stray Welsh,
and imported Irish ; and their voices, persons, and lac-
guages bear evident marks of the ill-assorted com-
pound. The Welsh is the most decided caste, but
Paddy has not been deficient; and if one may judge by
that most distinctive attribute, a heavy heel, the fair
sex are stamped with the mark of Mile.ian manufac-
ture. Jaunting cars, those most Irish and most con-
venient of one-horse vehicles, are numerous, and very
genteel moreover. But the most Irish concerns in
Chester are the lovi common public-houses--the win-
dow stuck fell of red bolls, tbe doors wide open to the
street, and a crowd of ragged fellows dram drinking
at the counters. When Chester was a garrison town,
it was a gay and lively place, but politics have com-
pletely upset it.
The coach proprietors of Chester, aware of the dis-
agreeabilities, afford strangers every facility for quitting
it. A steam boat goes to the mouth of the Do, and
lands you on the Welch coast for nine-pence—a coach
from Liverpool to Oswestry, through Chester, takes
you the whole way, forty-six miles for 3s. 6.1. and
coaches from Chester to Liverpool, including the steam
boat passage, 2s. Beware of the Inns. Tea for one
" nothing with it," • 2s. breakfast, ore chop or one
egg. 2s. tid.
Thecelebrated scholar, Dr. Blomfield, is &shop of
Chester. Sir Eiward Spuley., Woman Catholic of
large fortune, has a splendid mansion in the neigh-
bourhood. His income is said to be £30,000 a year.

The country about Chester is in a high state of cold-
vatinn, and contains some of the finest Noble's en and
Gentlemen's mansions in thelcingdOm. The Earl of
Grosvenor's splendid seat, at Eaton-hall, deserves par.
ticular attention; and strangers will find no difficulty in
obtaining access to the Abbey, Tire,Hell is a mode n,
structure, and with the grounds, is stated to have cost.
the monstrous sum of £700,00. The gardens are laid
out with the best taste, and an artificial river has been!
introduced through them at considerable expense, which
has a fine piabvesque effect, from different points, and
from several rooms in the house. So much care has
been taken to make everything perfect, that the Earl
purchased a track of land merely to obtain a peculiarly
fine gravel for his garden walks ; and the gravel is so
well rolled, tkac it presents a surface as smnoth almost
as glass, producing at certain points to the eye, an ef-
fect similar to that of the Ali: ant of the desert. The
Hall was built by Porden, and is a magnificent speci-
men of the modern florid Gothic. Grandnrss and com-
fort' ate united in an extreme degree in the principal
apartments, and even the largest and most stately seem
calculated fur the uses of every-day domestic life. The
remark made at St. Peter's, that the fine proportions
reduce the size to the eye, may be also applied to Ea-
ton, and not in the doubtful sense It is given to St. Pe-
ter's, for it is a positive beauty to these apartments, and
the subject of general remark. The library f 4 exceeds
all others for its richness. The terrace before the Hall
is a magnificent conception, and heightens the general
effect. It resembles the terrace at Versailles and the
orangerie. Lord Belgtave and his beati.iful young
wife, the pride of the (lowers, and the sweetest flower
of English Nobility; occupy apartments in one wing of
the Abbey. There are few private people who lead a
more amiable or retired domestic life than these Noble
families. So strict are they in setting a good example
to their servants, that they attend D Vine Service every
night at ten o'clock in the Chapel. The property or
Lord Grosvenor is immense, and it accumulates every
day, under his able management. His income, at pre-
sent. exceeds £2150,000 a year, and leases falling in in a
short time will give it a vast increase. The very nomi-
nation of lives in leases, for the accommodation of te-
nants, produces £lO,OOO a year.
The place next best worth a stranger's attention is
Wynnstay, the property of Sir W. W. Wynn. The
situation of Wynnstay is bolder and more romantic
than that of Eaton, and has the great superiority of. a
park of magnificent oaks, which have spread their
branches beyond the memory of man. A. column, 60
feet high, surmounted with a funeral urn, erected to the
memory of the late Baronet, is a fine object in the
park, and it answers the double purpose of command.
ing a view of the Whole country, as well as commemo-,


P

laths the tidies pf the deceased. Tire prevent B 4
ninet is a great prornoter•nf genuine national.cust,,ms
and does all witlin. hiS power to keep alive the fad.ng
spirit of Welsh Minstrelsy, and ever y harper in tle
principality gives an extra twang in honour of his
name. He is also a hearty encourager of Archery
Meetings, and has put a bow into every young lady's
hand in the neighbourhond, and he is never more
haply than in ',teaching their younßikleashow to shoot."
rexham Cathedral is one of the selen wonders of
Wales, and its tower is not interior to any other in
Great B itain. The church contains a monunientity
Roubilliac, which is by many deemed to be his maser-
piece. At least that beautiful triumph cf his genius
to the memory of Mrs. Nightingale, in Westminster
Abbey, can only come in competition with it; it is in-
deed a treasure. Mrs. 111.rry Mid li. ton (to whose
honour it is erected) is represented bursting the lid of
her coffin, and awaking to eternal life at t: e trump of
the angt lon the last day. The expression of the face
is almost beatific, and the bosom, arms, and foot,
which are the only parts of the figure disengaged from
the shroud, are touched with a delicacy and taste of
the finest order. The foot is peculiarly beautiful. The
drapery is also happily imagined. -This Mistress Mary
Middleton was an old maid of 63, and when she died
was a withered branch of unprofitable humanity; but
the sc-rlutor seems to have been of opinion that old
women on the road to Heaven get young by the way,
for he has represented her with a countenance fresh as
the mm :ring, and -beautiful as the day. The great con-
tributor to the church, a Mr. Yale, lies near at hand)
with the following inscription on his tomb :

" Born in America—in Europe bred,
In Aisle travelrd, and in Asia_wed,"
Where long he lived and thrived—sat London died.
Much good—some ill he did; so hope all's even,
And that his soul to mercy's gone to IlicavEs."
Talking of epitaphs, the sexton of Wrexham Church
told me that the yard was famaus for rare compositions
ih that way, which have been effaced by time. lie
gave
me the two following, but I find one of them in
Pennant, and both are rather apoct yphic in zeal:
" Here lief John Shore,
I say no more ;
Who was alive In silty-five."
Here I lies with my three children dear,
Two are at Oswestry, and one is here."

A visit to Iliwarden, the seat of Lady Glynne, will
repay the stranger's curiosity. There are the remains
of a very fine old castle, which was battered and be-
battered during the It ; but those who are not
fond of antiquities will find a magnificent park full of
rich deer, and a noble mansion, abounding in all the
gricid things of life—if they only have the courage to
knock at the door.
Before you leave this district go to Worthop, to see
a publican's daughter read her Bible on the Sunday,
and hear a psalm•singing club quaker in Welch from
eleven to three. One old woman hobbles most bar-
barously in the tune; but there is a sweet black-eyed
girl, with cherry lips, who discourseth most excellent
music, and whose presence, perhaps, accounts for the
crowd of great bumpkins, screaming like the oils in
Der Freirchatte, to the great discredit of all Cambrian
psalmody, and to the discomfort of our venerable friend
the palish clerk, whose antiquated nasal treble is quite
overpowered by their roarings.
Go to Flint county and shire town. Two streets and
number/eu houses—more old castles—only three names,

Jones, Williams, and Lloyd, for all its population—the
grocers, the drapers, and the doctors, united in one
shop—excellent bed for one shilling, and your passage
to Chester beck again for ninepence.

THE. LATE HON. HEAR I LESKINE.

1 Among the first briefs Mr. Henry Erskine was entrusted with
at the Scutch bar, was one of a defendant in a case of criminal con-
versation. After opening the proceedings in the defence for a con.
siderable time, In his usual eloquent and easy style, to a Court cyan-
posed of one liquorish old Sessional Lord, he suddenly dropped into
the following curious appeal, as a winding up :
" bly Lord, we are amorous, vigorous, and young; we bad re-
tired to bed, and were dreaming of dear love's delights ; the bee-
chamber door, my Lord, beingvadocked as is usual with us: in the
midst of our sweet and pleasing reverie. between awake and asleep,
as if by enchantment, we beheld a spirit—a woman, as an angel
fair—trip up with a fairy step to our bed.side. Grace was In het
steps, heaven in her eye, in all her gestures dignity and love.' This
lovely creature, my Lord, o'er whom twenty springs had not yet
shed their vernal bloom, standing before us, my Lard, in all the
luxuriant aptness of voluptuous youth. We must have late° more
or less than man—if we could, my Lord, have sat up in our bed at
such a trying moment, and only stared at so sweet a portion of
nature's frailty. My Lord, consider—could vigorous youth—nay
(with a peculiar turn of his eye towards the bench) could healthy
old age—could flesh and blood withstand so great a temptation?"
Here he paused ; on which his Lordship said, with a good-
natured smile, A Mr. Erskine, to on." Erskine gravely replied,
"Se we did, my Lord, and here we now wait your Lordship's
favourable judgment for having done so."

Within these three or four years a considerable change
has taken place in the trade in corn carried on betweea
the east and west of Scotland. Formerly Glasgow drew
large surplies from Falkirk and Lialitbgow markets,
and from the country eastward as far as Berwick. But
latterly. the grain of Ireland has not only supplanted
that of Fife and the Lothians in Glasgow, but is gra-
dually finding its way into the east of Scotland. An'
agent now appears regularly in the Falkirk market for
the sale of Irish corn, which is used partially by the
brewers and distillers as far east as Linlithgow. Of
course the trade in corn up the canal from Grange-
, mouth has greatly diminished. Hitherto, four-fifths of
the grain imported from Ireland consisted of oats, but
the change of the distillery laws is like to produce an
increased demand for barley. The average imports
from Ireland into Scotland for 1823, and some years
previous, was about 200,000 quarters ; but in 1821,
when the prices were rather high, the quantity was dou-
bled. The English imports from Ireland average about
800,000 quarters, of which two-thirds consist of oats,
and nearly one-third of wheat and wheat flour. The
wheat and barley brought from Ireland to Scotland
previous to 1824., was quite trifling in quantity.
MuNoun was inquiring the other day at Brighton,
after his old piny-fellow of former days, Mrs. CooTirs;
the person of- whom he inquired told him that she was
coming shortly to Byham-house, for which she had
agreed to give eight or ten thousand pounds—" Buy
a mouse," said Murmur, " what, and give ten thousand
pounds for it; bless my precious eyes, what will the
woman do next r

The butter made in Constantinople is nothing but
milk or cream, first heated at the fire, and then churned
fur not more than ten minutes; it is indeed not unlike
clotted cream. At Aleppo, they tie a jar, filled with
cream, to two trees, with supple twigs, and swing it
about long enough to make very good butter.
When the Turks see a European woman riding on
a side-saddle, they always pity her, supposing she has
but one leg.

I.
n

BARBAROUS OUT'RAGt
Akvander Mulkey, a decent reepeetabie mat, about
years of age, belonging to the pariah of Farr, in Simageisad,Cr
had been in the south country, in 'the way of hb businss, lei::
was that of a cattle drover; and in retaining neettnearas, •
alue.Williasi Anon, who resides at Continual'', in akberdeema:."l,
they travelled together over the Cairn &Monet ; and op NZ'
last had gone as hr.as Kiektown of Davies Mackay having
pressed an iotention of soma's( Tastes market on Tuesday, Anal
made Kim an insidious Aftr of accommodation at his house se
Cuminastown, until the market took places.- and for that perpo,4
they set out from Davie* on Satordly morn bine lie bad_ preview',
excited some autpleasaot suipiciosas in the mind of Mackay,
urging him to take a bye road, where, watching a favourable op.
portuaity, Jae levelled.a blow, with the Mau end of lids whip, t tbs
head of the unfortonete man, which laid him prostrate at his tett:
and whet, down, struck him repeated blows on the head, face, :1
other parts of the body, by which his skull was dreadfully fr:-..
tured, and ease of his ribs broken. In this pitiable conditluu
it:ft him, having previously rifled his pockets of about 30s. and
-doubt conceiving him dead.
H. Was most providentially, however, enabled to crawl drew.;
feeble and bleeding as be was, to Lewis of Fyvie, where medics!
assistance was immediately procured. Ills skull bad to uaderga
the operation of the trepan, in the course of which large pot Von% :4
the hrain were brought away ; and although rill alive by the lay!
accounts, very faint hopes are entertained of his recovery. The
presence of a Magistrate having been procured, he dig:Lieu),
and Minutely, although in a state of great suffering, rade,'
all the pai&uisrs of the assault which had been made upo.t
him, and his perfect recollection, that the person who connnined
the barbarous deed had called himself W;illiatti Allan, and had rum.
tioned that he was a witness in a case Of forgery to be tried at the
ensuing Aberdeen amok. immediate search was made fur the
culprit by the Sheriff officers in the neighbourhood ; and infortua.
Lion at the same time sent to Aberdeen, from whence Mr. „Nils,
Fyfe, messenger, set off, and succeeded, along with Mr. Ur quhart,
messenger, Fyvie, in apprehending him within a short distance of
his own house. Being carried to Lewes of Fyvie, he was fully
identified by the unfortunate sufferer, who was able at the Salt:
time to speak positively to the fatal whip with which be was as.
saulted by the prisoner, who has since been committed to Aber-
deen jail. lie is a young matt, apparently not more than mem?
5-ears of age, and has been recently married.

POLICE INI•ELLIGENC.

MANSION.HOUSE.

Ms Davis was brought up on the following charge :—Rolen
Taylor, a Yorkshirentan, recently arrived in London, stated, that
yesterday morning be was walking across Tower-hill, when tie
prisoner, wko was a short distance before him, dropped a weak-
case, which was picked up by a man behind him, who opeuedc,
and 'hewed the complainant that there were -sumo needles& k.
The man then, in his presence, took the needles out, sad pa,
some pins in their place, after which be ran after the prismer, and
asked him if he bad lost anything? to which he replied, yes, a
needle-rase, with some needles in it. The man then said thete were
no needles in it, upon which the prisoner offered to bet a sovereign
that there were. Ills companion then persuaded witness to accept
the bet, saying, " Yon saw me pot the pins in ; you are sure to
win." Witness accordingly bet a sovereign, and the money was
placed in the hands of the prisoner's companion; but on opening 4e
case, it was found to contain needles. The Yorkshircman thee
found that he had been outwitted, and demanded his money back;
and on his threatening to call an officer, the prisoner's companion
put a sovereign in his hand, and walked away. Witness thought
himself extremely fortunate in getting his money back ; but on ex-
amining the sovereign, to his great surprise he discovered that it
was a bad one. lie accordingly pursued and overtook the prisoner,
whom he gave in charge to an officer.
The LORD Mavis said, the complainant's conduct in the busi-
ness did him no credit, as at the time he laid the wager he believed
be was taking in the prisoner, although in the end he was taken is
himself.—Tbe prisoner was remanded until Saturday.
There is a gang of fellows constantly prowling about
who play similar tricks upon sailors and others.