Star.
London, England, 1826-01-02 00:00:00

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PORTSUOUTF,-Penalsmta. 31..
FROM THE HAMPIHIRR TELEGRAPH.
The report -which has prevailed on the Steck Ex-
change, that fonr sail of the line and smaller vessels are
to be sent immediately to the Mediterranean, to watch
the motions of the Emperor Constantine, d, es not appear
founded-on fact. There are five sail of the line in our
harbour, which could, if it should be deemed necessary,
he speedily equipped for any active service; but not the
least intimation has been given that such a ne:essity is
likely to occur. •
The wind having changed to the eastward s:nce Mon-
day, the ships of war under orders for foreign service,
and the outward•bound merchantmen which put into
this port, have all proceeded on their respective voyages,
viz.---On Tuesday, the Glasgow frigate, Hon. Captain
Maude, for Lisbon, to relieve the Tribune ; and conva-
lescent ship Magnificent,Lieut. Mundell, for Port Royal,
Jamaica ; on Wednesday the Dromedary, Mr. Skinner,
Master, with 400 convicts for Bermuda, to be employed
nin improving the port; on Thursday the convalescent
ship Royal Oak, Lieut. Allison, for 8.-rmuda, taking
Governor Sir Hilgtove Turner, K.C.B. family, and
many other passengers; and this day, the Mastiff, Cap-
tain Copeland, to survey in the Mediterranean, leaving
the Tweed only at Spithead.
This morning sailed the Aurora, Jackson, for Hydra,
having on board 40 of the crew of the Greek brig of
war Cimoni, lately wrecked on the i,le of Alderney,
floor whence they we. e,taken to Guernsey, where they
received the greatest kindness and attention from the
Lieut. Governor, Sir Jolin Colborne, and the inhabitants;
Who, in addition to having providei them with food,
clothing, and lodging, whilst on the island, raised for
them a most liberal subscription, and gave five pounds
_to each of the crew on their leaving Guernsey, who say
" The people of Guernsey behaved to us like angels,
not like men."'
The Espiegle wait paid off this morning, when the
crew presented Lieutenant R. J. Marsh with a hand-
some sword, belt, and epaulette, as a token of their
gratitude for the kindness with which he discharged his
public duties whilst he filled the situation of the
First Lieutenant.

This afternoon, the collier brig Arctic, of Sunderland,
which got on sht)re and sunk on the Horse bank, (oppo-
site Lumps Fart) on the ht instant, was weighed- by
four dock yard lighters, and a sailing craft; and the
whole were afterwards towed together, the collier
having still her cargo en board, into the harbour, by his
Majesty's steam veisel the Lightning—affording a
str king instance of the great utility and powe&s of
steam, when applied to nautical purposes.

Lady &MIA WHICHCOTE, of Glaston, gave a din-
ner, as usual, on Christmas-day, at the Horse Shoes
,Inn, consisting of roast beef, plum-pudding, and ale, to
upwards of 70 pour people of that place. Her Ladyship
also distributed a large quantity of wearing apparel.
The number of bides imported last week into Liver-
pool, was 14,562. Some years since South American
hides were only 4d. a pound; of late they have been as
high as one shilling. The high price, however, is bring.
ing them in large quantities.
A circumstance of the most horrid nature that ever
marked the annAls of crimes octurred on Tuesday
night last, on the Gloucester-road, a shoit distance
from the Plough public-bOuse. An old man, named
Brint, was found yesterday (Wednesday) morning,
murdered, and the perpetrator is supposed to be his
own son, who is in confinement now at the above house.
The son-in-law of the deceased is suspected of being
accessary to the deed, but has as yet contrived to secrete
himself.—Both Herald.

A shocking instance of cruelty was exhibited on
Tuesday, in Old-street-road, by a horse-dealer in the
neighbourhood, who, with a small mare, and two heavy
fellows, in a chaise or break, was driving the. poor
animal to its utmost exertions, twisting it round with
great force from one side of the road to the other, in
the form of a figuie of eight, applying the whip with
all his power, without intermission, on the off shoulder,
till it was cut through and through, nor did the cruelty
cease till the savage inflictor was quite exhausted, and
the animal unable to move, panting for breath. Such
was the ferociousness of the savage, that the spectators
were deterred from interfering, dreading the vengeance
of such a monster.

The following ludicrous and singular scene presented
itself to the congregation assembled for Divine Worship
on Sunday se'nnight, at the parish church of Peni. tone,
York:—lmmediately on the conclusion of the sermon,
a man, who during its delivery had paid great atten-
tion, rose up. and after taking off his great coat, deli
berately walked up into the teasing-desk, and, being
thus conspicuously placed between the Minister and
clerk, the latter of whom betrayed evident emotions of
astonishment and alarm, the intruder instantly began
to unrobe himself; and having thrown off coat, waist-
coat, and neckcloth, proceeded amongst reiterated cries
of ,4 Churchwardens do your duty," « Pull him dowr,"
I " Turn him out," &c. to divest himself of his shirt, ex-
hibiting an under one of no very delicate texture ;
whereupon a simultaneous movement was observable
amongst the fair sex; who, impelled by disgust at what
they had already witnessed, or by fear of further ex-
posure, with ot:e acc, rd turned their b cks towards the
object of annoyance, by whom the sanctuary and their
modesty would most assuredly have been more grossly
violated and insulted, had not the panic, which at the
outset seized the stout-hearted Churchwardens, some.
what subsided, and enabled them to muster sumcient
courage to embold n them to undertake, vi d arnris,
the ejection of the offending party from his elevated,
but unenviable station. It appears that this unfortunate
person holds a large number of notes of the Yorkshire
Banks that have recently failed, which had such an
effect' upon him, as to completely unsettle his reason.
Monday night some villains eff,cted an entrance into
the Lord Keith public-house, in Yat k-street, Portman-
square, and plutVered the cellars of about 1001. worth
or liquors, with which they got off. They also wantonly
staved a puncheon of rum, thus mischievously Wasting
that which they could not carry away.
In February, 1528, the Londoners were amused by
a battle L•etweea a Dutch and French vessel, fought
close to London-bridge, to which the former had actu-
ally pursued the later. Walsingharn, Lieutena.a ul
the Tower, hoarded and seized both the combatants, and
the matter was left to the Council to determine,
Dr. Oliver says, that in Holland an Engl sh Gentle
man once shelled bins a cherry-stone with 124 cad,
carved on it, and. all so perfect, that the naked eye
might distinguish those of Kings, Popes, Cirdinal., Ste. I
by their clout's and mitres. '1 his great curio it), wa•
bought in Prussia for 3004 and is said to have teed ..1:e
workmanship of a pour prisoner at D..ntaic.