Star.
London, England, 1811-12-25 00:00:00

PORTSMOU CH, DECEMBER 24.

Arrived his Majesty's ships HAKE, ZEPHYR, and
Rtitica,- from. a cruize t COURAGEUX, GRAMPUS, GJIL
NYMEDE, and NIOBE, from the Downs.—His Ma-
jesty's sh;p HAVANNA!! takes convoy for Cadiz.

LOVER, DECEMBER 24.
Arrived the Bell, ALLISON, from Btsenos Ayres.
DEAN DECEMBER 44.

Five o'clock.—Wind North. The wind appears
to be getting round its the Eastward; consequently
the ccnvoy has made a signal for pfeparing to sail.—
Arrived the -PINCHER gun-brig, from Heligoland.

FOLKSTONE, DEC. '22.
About 11 o'clock on Thursday night lad; so loud and inceisant
vas the firing off at sea by this place/ that many of the
inliabi-
tants could rot rest in their beds until they had ascertained the
cause but from the darkness of the night notbirg could be dis-
tinctly seen, though not more than a mile from the shore, but
repeated Itastes frem the musketry of the contending parties.—
Conjecture, however, says, that there eppeared to he bur of the
enemy's priva, ter,. The firing was kept up on both sides for
nearly three hours; but bow the affair terminated is not satisfac-
torily known, though it Is reported that the assailed immediately
availed themselves of a faiv.prable breeze which sprang up, and
made the best of their way for the Downs.

41,

THE ARMY.

The CoststAimert IN CHIEF lesterday held a Mili-
tary Levee, at his Office, in :he Horse Guards. It
was not numerously attended; but among the per-

sons of diitinguished r.►nk who were present, were
the following :

Viscount RA m ccan it.
Lieinenant-Gcoei al Sir 1-i.
Licutenant-Gent nd Sir .I*. Tit,our.
Lieutenant-General Fdrucs, Exc.
Major-General OSWALD is appointed to the coni-
man(' of the Severn District, in the room of Majora •
General Hoeri who is going upon actual service.
The followina, extract of a letter freirti a Serjeant
of the 92.1 Regiment, to another Serjeant in Canter-
bury, u ill be loutid to contain some intermit* parti-
culars relative to General Hiuls surprize of the
French, on the 28th of October last :

" We took the meta front this town (Portalegre) about the
Std of October, by Albuquerque, and so on without any thing

material happening, until we got to Antiparticle, where *e were

joined by a body of Spanish troops cavalry and infantry, aboLt

six thousand i■ number : we thought to burp rise the French itl

the village, but owing to the wet, and the long rmach all night,
we were rather late : the French went off at three o'clock In the
morning, and we did not arrive until six, so that they got off
clear; but we were not to be put off thu4, we halted pud drew
rations; tookid and then marched again, in goad spirits, wishing
to gt t up with them; we continued our march all that day and the
ensuing night, in the most rainy weather you ever raw, our bti-
gale in front, until day-brook on the lolluwirg morning, whet•'w•e
came within a quarter of an English mile o; th. nr, cantoned in
Rio Malinos, a small village, aboht 7000 inraatry and 4000 ca-
valry, and you may think what was their surprise. We farmed
itr mass of columns, in rear of a email hill on the road ka•ling to
the town; when we bad got every thing ready, we moved off;the 71st leading in double quick thue,and we (the 92d) following
anti the 50th at common ttme.

" 'I here was a small grove of olives a little to the Id:, and a
section of the 71st was ordered to reconnoi re it, and, strange
to tell, the French dragoons knew no;hirg abOut ft, until the
71st wrie in the act of taking their horses by the bridle. By this
time we had pushed on to the town, and en:ered it in such stile
as made the French wonder, some were at their tea, others at
their coffee, but we soon made ourselves welcome to a share bf
it, they never stirred, *nil our Highland bagpipefs played
' Jeknay amp, are ye :reale yet I' We took their General in his
chin. We cha:Eed up and down the streets, killing every one
we met with, and that etas a good many, for they fired out of
windows, doors, and of the house-tops, at us : bat some of
them, and the cavalry, took to the fields, and our regiment and
the 71st after them, and never dhl the ind shine ieftrh Arch lustre
as on this occasion. We formed up with each prc'cision, Ulf we '
had been at a common field-day, and as cool and prepared to
charge. When the French got into companies, then vial tire
Itime our cavalry and artillery played their part. We had only
three guru, but well served; every shot toidtas the French were
so confused. Our cavalry under General Es SKIN a charged( and
went through their lines, just like herrings through a net: They
took to the mountains, but that Would not do; we shelled them
that we could climb hills as well as they, for we toil a whole
regiment (the 40th). Ilse 'kit took the 34th just atthey stood
on parade•-:=E6ionels, Field Officers, drums, and every person,
siith the whole of their cannon and baggage; nothing escaped,
for I took a big drum for my share:**
We have been favorrreid with the inspection of the
Journal of a distinguished officer in command of a
brigade at the late gallant attack on the Isle Of Jastar
Willa is said of the cliinate will be highly gratifying
to those who may have relations and friends there, it
being in direct contradiction to the received opinion
of the climate of that lslsurd. The' writer observes
A We have not so many sick as I think we should hate had in
"a
similar Campaign in any part of Bengal proper,br in many other
parts of India. The nights are cool, sod. if one is sheltered from
the dew, they ate fefreshing. 'fhe sun is certainly hot, but the
ground Is covered veldt veteluro, and there are floe breezes every
ttru
• day. Ibe country is Itiously rich, and the penes begin to
bring us every thing, thus IldiPire our hard Mousy much more
than the Dutch Paper vak ' Cad, to Web that Will sive tio'
' credit at all." '4nd under the data of ale silt., Anput froth
General lansen's bows at Cornelis (5 miles fain Betatio)isri
' adds, ,' ors airtime's of do climate, t sag no ramie to irigi so
Igo away from it. It is as rich s =rosy as Bong* mosis min
bcsatifulAsul as CO a I we Judy es loot fliosb Mc 41ps"."

• .. _~.~

-

iitiitbkita AT iiiADwiii:

The eigthinitiode of person: apptehended, ion
stispiekin of having perpetrated tie inhuman murders
Which hate of late excited so much horror, were con-
tinued yesterday,, with renovated vigour by the Mi-
gistrates of this district. ,
Three Seafaring men, unfilled Michael karr;ngtoi!,
William "tails, and Wan* Ewe, the first a tall
man, sit feet in height}} with a long dark cbat, in
some respects corresponding .with the description
given by Turner, (the lodger) and one of the others
lame, Were first examined. They Were apprehended
on the preceding night, by Woodnife, a Wilitechapel
officer, from the appearance of Harrington.
On being asked where they ha: been on the night
of the murder of Mr. Williamson...his wife, and ser-
vant, Harrington and Emery said, they had slept on
board the Aston East Indianian, at Gravesend, the
whole of the la4t week; and Austin said he had only
been discharged from the King's Ber:cli prison on
Satilrday, where he had been confined for a week: •
Upon a further interrogation of Harrington, he
said he Slept on Sunday night at No. 25, Angel-'
street, St. Martin's-le-Grand, with a person of the
name of Smith. This fact was afterwards indirectly
confirmed; brit in order to ascertain their innocence
beyond doubt, they were committed until inquiries I
can be made on board the Indiaman at Gravesend.
Two Irishmen, both named Dennis Mahoney, were i
next examined, but they gave so clear and, satisfac-
tory an account of the manner in which they had
patsed the night of the murder, that the Magis.rates
acquitted them of the slightest suspicion, and warmly
applauded the readiness with which they met the
most scrutinotts interrogation.
Several gentlemen, inhabitants of Poplar and
Shadwell, took that opportunity of bearing testimony
in the most forcible and favourable terms to the
peaceable and friendly demeanour of the Irishmen
resident in their neighbourhood, a vast number of
whom they examined in their lodgings and clseiehere
that they had visited.
William Mitchell, of Burbtidge•stive., Lambeth,
was afterwards examined ; he was apprehended by
Goff and Wortley, on Sunday night, from his ap-
, pearatice gefierally tallying with that uf the man
whom Turner saw standing over the body of Mrs.
Willi:4lmm'; His account of himself was se con ect,
however, that he was also discharged.

IMPORTANT EXAMINATION BEFORE MR. MAREI.AND,
MII: CA Pita, AND MR. KIN NAIRD, AT THE SH.ADWELL
POLICE °Fete&
The eSamittation of John Williams took place at
this Office late last night, when the facts and eircum-
stances disclosed weft found to be uf a very extraor-'
dietary nature.
On Sunday lest, from private information obtain-
ed by Hewitt and Hope, two cl the Police Officers'
at Slerdwell, they went in search of Williams, and
appraiended him in Wapping. On his person were
found a duplicate for two pair of shoes pledged for
Elsi and tel. 14.5. in silver, with a Jel now. On Mon-
dAy the prisoner was fist examined, and the fact of
his having little money in his pocket on the night of
the fatal masracre of Mr. Wiliiamson's family had
been proied, from his borrowing six-pence of the
landlady of the Pt!.-.tree public-house; stating sus-
, pickers, however, arose yesterday morning, in con-
sequence of the Magistrates haying received a tom•
municatiott from an unto:mem:de person confined in
• Newgate for debt. lmmediamly Mr. Capper pro-
ceeded to the prison, and held an official examination,
when it appeared that he was the landlord of the
Pe.tr-tree public-house, Wapping, and that the pri-
son( r in custody was his lodger, and that he had a
maul in his hotise, answering the description in every
respect of that found in the late Mr. Mate's house.
Every vigilance was immediately adopted, on re-
Ceivin7 this account, to obtain the attendance of per.'
sons likely to bring the mysterious bus:tress t an
issue. About seven o'clock yesterday evening the
prisoner was brought into the Police-Office, which
was completely crowded.
Mary Rice was examined. She washed for the
prisoner for more than three years: Knew his stock
of linen perfeetiy well ; bat had not washed for him
the last fortnight.
The Magistrate here rigidly examined the wit-
ness :
Q. Have you not seen blood on his shirts ? A. Yes, I have—
; on one of therm—Q. Have you seen any blood on his shorts since
last Saturday week? A. Yes, I have; one of his shirts was
bloody about the collar, like the mark of two fingers.—Q. Was
there no other part stained ? A I took no particular notice;
the shirt was torn in the breast.—Q. Did you not take notice of
the 6lart being torn ? A. Yes ; hit judged the prisoner had been
quarrelling—and so might have had the sh ft turn. Q When
was it you had this shirt without being torn? A. I.ast '1 hursday
week.—Q. Will you swear there were no other marks of blood en
the shirt ? 'there was a little blood on the arms, and several
spits on other parts of the body ; bit, tilting no particular nc-
tice at the time, I washed it, and kept the shirt, in order to
mend it.—Q. Have you washed out all 'the stains ?A. t think
1 must, for I balled It wettin hot water.—Q. What linen have
yotl generally washed for time prisoner ? A. Four linen ihirts
and some stockings; but never any white handkerchiefs—the'
prisoner used to wear Neck handkerchiefs.
Mrs. VeasiteLlow, the landlady of the Pear-tree,
Was next examined :
Q: ts your husband In confinement ? A. Yes ; tie Is in prior! I
tot a debt of Aito, and has been for seven weeks —Q. is there a
cant of toots in yobs' house ? A. Yes ;it belonged to a peewits
now gone abroad; *Se had never locket intu it ; knew it con-
tained two or three mauls; one of them her husband sometimes
used, and It lay in the yard.—Q. Did you never notice the markt
on Hill mauls ? Yes; en one or two: they were marked 1. P.
and belonged to one of her badgers, who had gone abroad since
February last ; his name was .t. Pease.—Q. Dtd you never know
the mauls were missing ? A. Not till Monday, when there *ere
inquiries made.—Q. Could you identity the maul, if yen so* it ?
A. t don't know.
The MagistrateX here' ordered tilt fatal maul to be
produced: The witness was extremely agitated, and
burst into tears After some pause, and a chair being
handed for her iteeomniodationi she recovered het
fright.
Q On your oath,. wile you awls &is not the nista ? A.
I don. 't know.—Q. Wlll yeou swear it is tta nututt A. cannot

my.
The prisoner attempted to accotlnt fot hit shirt
being torn and bloody ; and said he had been in com:
pany with some men, who prevailed on him to play
at cards ; he had played one game, and was going!
home, when he was seized by The collar, and had his
mduth cut. He related a anweisation he had with
his landlady : but she denied his telling her the story
as now related y and it appeared the from was ante:
cedent 100 *area murder.
Hama and CIPTESURIt the prisoner's fellow-lod:
girt* she Pear-tree, stet E, that the pritneier came

...

V

••• , •
.„ , • •
hoini on the iiiirshig tit the midis ibeet osis o'clock;
ditfilitirs was in bed, but .not asleep ; the erstebnies;
was calling past ope O'clock I be was positive that thp
plisoner said,
.“ for Goo's sake, put out the light! as
else something will happen but was not. antes
whether it was the same morning be beard of Irtairli
inurder. Harris went to bed about lf, arid *wok*
When the prisoner came home, but did not take nodes
of the prisoner; they all slept is the same room hi
had seen the chest of tools; it was left open; he DOW
examined the whole of its contents, but had observed
the maul—it was like a ship Wisdom, and he belirred
it had a sharp. point.

. .
[Tee maul *as again piodui.
Harris thought it was like one he had seen the chiU
dren. play with in the yard. The hhildren here anti-
ded to were the nephews of Mrs VerMlllll4l4
. The Magistrates ordered the ildeit to be rent for.
As soon as tl.c boy appeared i i Critirt, Mrs. Vermil-
lion wai exceedini:ly affected; And reared. The little
boy excited much interest. The first piestion was,
Q. Huw old are you ? A. b liven years. —Q. Did you.ever
play at your ? A. Ye.; I have many time., with my bro-
ther.—Q. Did jou ever play with a large hammer? A. Yea, I
have, when I wanted a hammer to do my work.—Q. Wheas!
you see the hammer bit ? A. I am sure. I dom't knout.—Q.
Shoull you know it again, if you was to see it? A. I think I
should ; it was broke in the point.
[The maul was shewn to the little boy • he care-
lessly took it up, and tried to carry it, and looked on
it with the most composed innocence.]
QDo you think that tqls i 4 the Lune hammer? A. I think It
is.—Q. Do you know when rim last sass It I A. 011! I think I
recollect; it was about a mouth Once.
The Magistrates, on account of the ln:eness of the
houf, postponed the turiher invecigation.
The Priiiiner attempted to speak ; but the ink
qUestion he a?.ked was of such a tendency that he win
desired to.desist. He was ordered fur a fintlai cu-
naination.

,~,

«ea. j

IDENTIFICATION OF THE MiCl rouni hi TR' LAM
ARM'S }told:
In the' Odic, of the morning M. Capper, a moat
active Magistrate of tlis Office, stated, that..in con.
sircpience f sow, suspicious circumstances attending
the examination of tae man named John Williams,
whom we yesterday mentioned as being in custody;
he was induced to go t.t the Jail of Newgairii where
Mr. Vermillion, the landlord of the Pear tree pahFc-
house, was a prisoner fcr delft. It may be in the,
recollection of our readers that SCilliants was a
lodger at this public-house, and that, on the night an
Mr. Williamstm's murder, he &A not retain until
after twelve o'cloct. He took wi,h Lim an cfncer.
and the' maul which was found in Mr. Mart's house,
;ind with which there is doubt the murder r.f
that tinhtmoy family was eT•cted. shewiiig this
maul to Vermilli,m, he almost immediately retogr
nised it to be the property of a num startled 1.1:u
Pearse, who bad lo.!ged in his houso, and who left
that institiment, together with other tools, in hilt
care: The m4Ol in question he (Vermillion) was in'
the habit of using to break woost, and he -recollected-
having ft:icon-ea 'lto p in such an r.perationt
From his general iectitect'on, as well as fr,ni thi
letters .1. P. being. punctured upon the head of its he
WAS almost positive it was that which had been left
in 11;5 house.

Mr. Holdsworth, the City. Marshal, gwe sow
private inf traction to the Magistrates respeLtingthif
mast during the dcy.
APPREHENSiON AND IMATIi OF A MAN TAkIN
CUSTODY AT CUESHUNT, IN ENTPORDSIIIRC:
A Magtstrite of the Ctrinty of Hertfotd; nimbd
Cooke, attended at the Office, and stated, that ist!
the Wier end of last week a bricklajer'i labeneferi
named John Bailey, wr, s brought before Jim ort-stri.*
picina tf theft, at Cheqrant. On srarching.bias apt
veral articles of silver plate were found in his rhs.
session, and his shirt was disvovered to bc &Med
with blood. He was must interrOg4ted ass
to his knowleds,l of any mur,:er; brit be denied
all participation in snch an offence, and said he should .
be sorry to impeach inn-cent persons; he s.:il he ivaf
a Norfolk man. The M tgistrAte thought pi opei to
commit hint as. t suspicions charact, r, ai d on the en.
suing morning he was found suspended by the reek!
completely 1 feless!

-.1011

Mr. 14llis!r, who we yesterday stared to 1.1 tro.hregi
severely wounded by the discharge of a p;rel in hii
face, remains in a daegerous state.
Seven then are in custody, who were apprehended
in a hottse opposite Williamson's. In tii r apari.
ment were found a shirt and waistcoat, sraii!e.l very
much with red spots. One, of the turn cht ms the
articles, and says the stains were got in hrls.pickinr
during the last season. A chymist has beetssapplir
to, for the purpose of astertainnig A hailer the stains
are not in truth those of blood:
FernintAL OF TUB WlLLimdscx FA MYLY.—:At twelve
o'clock yesterday, the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Wil-
liamson, and the servant-maid, were broright nut for
interment. The body cf Mr. W. wes brought out
first, immediately after the body of Mrs. W. .The
chief-Moaners were Mr. Stroud, n son of Mrs. W.
by a former husband, and his wife ; then followed a
long train of mourners, consisting of the whole of
the male and female part of both families. Then
came out the body of the servant maid, followed by
three couple of mourners.. To convey any idea of
the melancholy scene would be impossible. The glsoni
of the morning added much to the solemnity of the
scene. The shops near Shadwell Church were close'
shut up dusting the time the procession passed. When
they arrived at the (hutch-yard,. the Magistrates very
prudently had placed a numbee of officers inside to
keep the multitude from rushing, and when the prsi-
cession had got inside, the gates were immediately
shut. The bodies were then taken into the Church,
where the Rev. Mr. Davis read the church* service in
a most impressive manner—in the course of which his
feelings became so oterpowcred;as to prevent his pro-
ceeding
.for ionic time: when at the grave, in reachng
the sertree, he was again overpowerad in silence.

~:

Mtlanzu..--Soine circumsiancevl,ave te4mspired
specling the woman of the name of Matp:tret Fagg.,
who was. lately found with her throat cut in a wool
near Bishopsbourni Kent, which setm to indi,:a.;
that her death was not occasioned by her owrt
It appears, that the razor found besidt, belongt-J
and.wai marked with the name of a person by
Whom slie was pregnant—other suspicb,us entente.:
dances hare die appealed.; which; as an invesliffe-
-1 time is saint on, it wonlet be impropet to meittims: