Star.
London, England, 1824-11-13 00:00:00

'sword, Cromwell entered the town on hors back, at the
head of his troops, and, as his merciless soldiers were
about to execute hit savage command, an incident occur-
red which deserves to be related. A woman, whose name
was Nagle, advanced boldly to him as he was passing
along, took his horse by the bridle, and, with a flagon
of beer in her hand, drank to the bealth of the con-
queror. This spirited conduct immediately struck
Cromwell, who was not insensible to a daring and ge-
nerous act: he took the cup and drank, and was so
pleased with the conduct of the femile,:that he revoked
his former order, and not only spared the lives of the
inhabitants, but also saved the town from being pion
dered by his troops—the castle and church excepted.'
From these extracts our teaders will see how interest-
ing the historical part of the work is, nor are the topo-
graphical descriptions less so.
The Philontathic Journal and Literary Review. Con-
ducted by the Members of the Philomathic Institution.
Part I. Bvo. pp. 244, London, 1824.
It is highly creditable to the Philomathic Institution,
that though its proceedings are so modest, that perhaps
many of our Readers never heard of the Society, yet
that its members possess talents to produce such a work
as the one before us. It consists of reviews, original
essays, poetry, &c. well written; and the Philomathic
Journal is entitled to a place among the leading Pe-
riodicals of the day.

Rothetan. A Romance of the English Histories. By the
Author of Annals of the Parish, Ringo n Gilhaixe, the
Spaewifeotc. S vols. 12mo. Edinburgh and London.
Popular as the preceding works of the Author of
Rothelan are, we suspect his new Romance will rank asl
high in public favour as any of them. It displays the
same vigour of description, the same originality of
thought, and quaintness of style, that distinguish his
other productions. The story is interesting, and the
characters admirably drawn, particularly those of a be-
eevolent Jew, at artful and ambitious Knight, and a
villainous serving-man.
It is an observation in one of Tom Dibdin's pieces,
that a Manager must not let out the plot of a piece
until the half-price come in ; so we, following so good an
example, shall not forestall our Readers by detailing the
story of liothelan, but briefly observe, that it relates to
the period of Edward 111. and that some of the events
of that reign are interwoven with the story. The fol-
lowing extract contains the most vivid description of
the plague we ever read, and would alone establish the
reputation of the Author,were it not established already :
"In its malignancy," he says, "it engrossed the ill
MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, NOVEMBER 12.
of all other maladies, and made doctors despicable. Of
—or-
a potency equal to death, it possessed itself of all his Elizabeth Dickson, a little girl, about 12 or 13 years
armouries, and was itself the death of every other mor- of age, was indicted for stealing a loaf of bread, value
tat distemper. The touch, yea, the very sight of the 4d. the property of &hunter.
infected was deadly ; and its signs were so sudden, that Schunter stated, that he was a baker, and kept a
families seated in happiness at their meals have seen shop in Mansfield-place, Kentish-town. He discovered
the plague-spot begin to redden, and have wildly that he was occasionally robbed of bread, and suspect-
scattered themselves for ever. The cement of society ing a boy in his service, be discharged him. His
was dissolved by it. Mothers, when they saw the sign losses, hoWever, did not cease with the absedce of the
of the infection on the babes of their bosom, cast them boy, and he determined to set about discovering the
from them with abhorrence. Wild places were sought thief. For this purpose he bored a hole through his
for shelter;—some went into ships, and anchored them- parlour-door' at the back of the shop, through which he
selves afar off on the waters. But the angel that was could see what was going on in the shop without being
pouring the vial had a foot on the sea as well as on the seen himself. On the morning of the 23d r f October,
dry land. No place was so wild that the plague did between eight and nine o'clock, he saw the prisoaer come
not eisie—none so secret that the quick-sighted pesti- into the shop, take np a 41b.loaf, and walk away with it.
lence did not discover,—none could fly that it did not He followed and seized her, and she dropped the loaf
overtake. from under her pinafore. -
"It was as if Heaven had repented the making of Cross-examined by Mr. Amer.—He knew the prisoner. She
mankind, and was shovelling them all into the sepul- lived with her aunt, who was a Lady of property, and resided
chre Justice was forgotten, and her courts deserted. nearly opposite to his house. He once served the prisoner's aunt
The terrified gaolers fled from the felons that were in weothutborfead, but
their hereg niudlairscnuitanuneud to
reinso from
which
thepahyinis own
wWsh on
eire,
made.adace:
letters;—the Innocent and the viilty if agued themselves The prisoner's aunt never complained to hint of the badness of his
together, and kept within their prisons for safety ;—the bread, nor did she ever accuse him of having taken a part of a pud.
grass grew in the market-places ;—the cattle went moan. sling which she had sent to him to be baked. He did4mt state to a
ing up and down - person na
son med
oto•medHkant son, that be had any doubt with resp;:ct to the
come of their keepers ;—the rooks and the ravens came Per_ Gilpin dephe
rised, that between eight and nine
into the towns, and built their nests in the mute bet- o'clock on the morning of the 25c1 of October, he was
friei;—silence was universal, save when some infected passing the prosecutor's house, and saw the prisoner go
wretch was seen clamouring at a window. into the shop. He shortly after had occasion to turn
6' For a time all commerce was in coffins and
back, when he saw the prisoner retitir from the shop,
shrouds ; but even that ended. Shrift there was none; saw the prosecutor following her. The prosecutor
churches and chapels were open, but neither priest.nor stiteJ her, and a loaf fell from beneath her pinafore.
penitent entered ; all went to the charhel4touse. The ea A boy also stated that he saw the prisoner edter the
sexton and the physician were cast into the same deep pr
ph shop.
and aide grave; the testator and his heirs and execu- The prisoner being called on for her defence, handed
tors were hurled from the same cart into the same hole to the Chairman a paper, in which she stated that the
together. Ft; e became extinguished, as if its element loaf was given to her by a boy, a stranger to her, at her
too had expired ; the seams of the sailorless ships yawned annt's door, and that she had never entered the pro-
to the sun. Tho' doors weie open, and coffers unwatched, se.cutur's shop.
there was no theft sosall offences ceased, and no crime Mrs. Shout, the prisoner's aunt, stated, that the prise-
but the universal woe of the pestilence was heard of nor lived with her. Her conduct had always been cor-
amosg men. The wells overflowed, and the conduits rece and she wanted for nothing. She once sent a rice-
ram to waste ;—the dogs banded themselves together., pudding to the prosecutor to be baked. When it came
having lost their masters, and ran bowling over all the home the pudding was not half so large as when it 1
land ;—horses perished of famine in their stalls;—old went. She discontinued to deal with the prosecutor be-1
friends but looked at one another when they met, keep- cause of the badness of his bread.
ing themselves far aloof;—ct editors claimed no debts, Lonsdale, a hosier, in Regent-street, stated, that he
and courtiers pet formed their promises ;—little children hod known the prisoner's aunt for the last sixteen years;
went wandering up and down, and numbers were seen she was a most respectable Lady. The prisoner was
dead in all cornets. Nor was it only in England that well educated,' and wanted for nothing.
the plague so ragtd ;it navelled over a third part of Hanson, a builder, at Highgate, stated, that in
the whole earth, like the shadow of an eclipse, as if the course of some conversation which he had with the
some dreadful thing had been interposed between the prosecutor in Coast yesterday, he (the prosecutor) said
world and the sun-source of tile." that he "had his doubts, but would not mention names,
Three interesting tales are added to the story of as it would make a great disturbance." The witness
Rothelon. supposed the prosecutor meant that lie entertained
The History, Topography, and Antiquities ofthe County doubts with respect to the person who took the loaf.
mod City of Waterfurd,With an Account of the Present The CM A 1 RMA N, in adds essing the Jury,: observed,
State gl the Peasantry in that part of the South of Ire- that they were called upon to perform- a very painful
• tined. By the Rev. R. H. RYLAND. Sue. London, 1824. duty, but he trusted that they would perform it im-
'Although we cannot go so far as an old poet, and say partialty. It would be wrong to suppose that a child
of Waterford that it, in Ireland, " deservest to be peer- brought up in the way in which the prisoner was de-
lesee," yet we are sure that Mr. Ryland's history of it scribed to have been reared, and living with her aunt, a
has few equals in point of interest. Avoiding those dry Lay of great respectability, could not commit such an
and dull details which please the antiquary only, Mr act as that with which she was charged; for it was well
R. gives us a well-written and connected history of the known that the crime of shop-lifting was frequently
County and City, with an account of its Inhabitants, committed by persons whose station in life was of the
and several lust reflections on the state of the Peasantry. first respectability. The character of the prosecutor
Non-residence Seems in alleges to have been the bane was as much at stake as that of the prisoner, and the
of Ireland. Mr. Ryland says, "In the statutes of Ed- Jury were bound to do justice between them.—The
var.! IV. there ace many curious enactment% illustia- Jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty.
rive of the manners and opinions of the times, which The prosecutor said, that he had norprosecated the prisoner from
assist in filling up the chasms occasioned by the scanti- vindictive Motives, and-begged to recommend' her to mtrcy.
NESS of our historical records. The Ministers and No- The CHiA IRMA N observed, that the prosecutor's con-
bles were strictly prohibited leaving the country; it was duct, after the manner in which he had been treated in
even d Jubted whether they might go coastwise horn his cross-examinatiun, did him great credit. The best
one part of the kingdom to another; and though the thing e hick could be done with the i risoner, would be
latter restriction was abolished by a subsequent statute, to place her under the care of her friends. He then
yet we may perceive with what anxiety the evils of non- directed that the prisoner should be delivered to her
residence were guarded against." . aunt, on her entering into recognizances of 201. to bring
Waterford has generally been distinguished for its her up for judgment when called for.
loyalty. The family of Fitzgeralds, or Geraldines, holy- John Mitchell and Alexander Ramsay, two soldiers,
ever, were in ancient times rather restless, and it would were indicted for assaulting Mary Clarke.
appear, often suspected. Of this family, a singular. Mary Clarke depomd, that about six o'clock on the
anecdote is related : evening of the 22d of October, the prisoners, in com-
a It happened that five brothers of the name were ar- pany with another soldier, passed her shop, in Wych-
rested, by order of Henry the Eighth, and conveyed on street, St. Clements, and one df them broke a window.
board ship to be transmitted to England. She went to the door and said to Mitchell, " You have
"During the voyage, as they endeavoured to cheer and broken a window, and must pay for it." He made use
comfort each other, one of the brothers, who is repre- of shocking language, and she beginning to be alarmed,
seated as more learned than the rest, inquired of the told him that if he did not choose to pay for the win-
owner what was the name of the ship? Being told it dow, he might' go away quietly. Mitchell, however,
wasealled the Cow, hethus expressed himself ;---iNiaw, exclaimed,, " You b—y old b—h, I'll pay you," and'
good brethren, I-am in utter despair of our return to struck her in the face. The blow drove the back of
Ireland, for I bear herein(' an old prophecy, that five her head with such violence against the wall, that she
Earn brethren should be carried in a cow's belly to became senseless for some time. When she recovered,
she found her shop full of people, and Mitchell fighting
England,. andliom thence never return.' The prophecy
in the middle of them. Several windows were broken,
was fulfilled, and the fame-of it immediately reported,
• not only in England and Ireland, but even in foreign and her property was injured. Mitchell at length was
lands: Dominick POwer,
secured. lie put his hand in his pocket, said he had
been robbed, and sat down and cried.
of these brothers, to the i who was sent, bua nephew
mperer Charles V. to crave
his aid towards the conquest of Ireland, presenting the. Sophia Clarke, the datsghter of the last witness, stated,
that when Mitchell attacked her mother, she screamed
Emperor with twelve great hawks and fourteen fair for
assistance and severit Gentlemen came up, whom
hobbies, was informed by his Majesty that he came too
the soldiers knocked down. Wben Mitchell came into
late, for that his master and his five uncles had been
executed at London." the shop, he told the witness that he would smash her,
An interesting anecdote is related of'Oliver Cromwell. and was about to strike her when some person laidhold
when he entered the town of Dungarvon:-- of his arm. When he found be was overpowered, he tat
'_4 Having ordered the inhabitants to be put to the abWil and cried.

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