Star.
London, England, 1826-12-15 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, DEC. 14.

.Isha Law and Mary Maria Ibits stood indicted for violently
beating and imprisoning two children belonging to the male pri-
soner, and keeping them without a sufficient supply of clothes and
food. The prosecution was at the instance of the Magistrates of
the Worship-street Police Office. It appeared the male prisoner
had parted from his wife, by whom be had these two children, one
of whom was six, and the other seven years old, and was living with
the female prisoner. It did not appear that he had ever personally
ill-used them, but it was proved that the woman was in the con-
stant habit of beating them in a most brutal manner. They were
nearly starved, and were kept, almost in a state of nudity, in a corner
of a room. When examined at Worship-street, they were mere
skeletons, and covered all over with bruiies ; food was given them,
which they devoured with the greatest avidity ; after having ate
more than sufficient for four hearty persons, they were clamorous
for more; but the Magistrates, fearing it might injure them, would
not allow them to have it.—The Jury acquitted the man, but found
the woman Guitty,and the CHAIRMAN sentenced her to six months'
amusement at the Tread Mill.

The duty on hops of the growth of 1826, is
£461,401 16s. 2d. viz, old duty at ld. 12-20 per lb. 4268,332 91d.
4.2o.—New duty at 4 8-20 per lb. £191,070 15s. 41d. 16-20.
Of this sum, Rochester stands for £166,688 13s. Bd. Canterbury,
£96,858 51. Sussex. £112,029 Is.

Messrs. STOKES and SMITH ate contesting the Corr
nership of the County of Worcester the former Gentleman
heads the poll.
Last week, the Church of Little Ilford, Essex, was
stripped of its pulpit furniture and books.
STAFFORD ELECTION, WEDNESDAY.—BEAUSIONT 53,
Stoma 56.

The Canal Gas Engine Company met yesterday, and
adjourned, after some of the Directors had expressed a desire to
dissolve the Company.
The number of Petitions presented to the House of
Commons, against Election Returns, is thirty-four.
The amount of dividends due, and not demanded, on
the 10th of October, 1826, was 41,186,143 9s. sd. and the
amount of lottery prizes not claimed, £4,608 Is. of tbis there has
been advanced to Government by the Bank, pursuant to Act of
Parliament, 4956,287 3s. 7d. _ _

BANK ON ENGLAND.—A General Quarterly Court
of the Proprietors was held at the Bank yesterday, for
the purpose of declaring a half.yearly dividend fiom
Michaelmas to Christmas next. At twelve o'clock
precisely, the Governor, JOHN B. RICHARDS, Esq. ac-
companied by the Directors, entered the Hall. Having
stated the object of the Meeting, the Secretary read the
minutes of the last Court, which were confirmed pro
forma. A dividend of 4 per cent. on the half year was
then declared payable at Christmas.

COLOMBIANAURICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.--.A GO'
neral Meeting of the Shareholders of thss Company
was held yesterday, at their Office, No. 32, Bucklers-
bury : Sir J. MACKINTOSH, in the Chair. After consi-
derable delay, occasioned by waiting for some of the
principal Shareholders of the concern, who were too
busily engaged at the Stock Exchange, to attend, and
in whose absence the Chairman declared his unwilling.
tress to proceed with the business, an adjournment to au
early day was moved and carried.
Some exaggerated statements have appeared respect.
ing the amount of military force at present kept up in
Spain, by France. We learn, upon good authority,
that the whole number of French troops actually distri-
buted in the following places does not exceed 11,000
men, viz.—Cadiz, Yola, Chiclana, Port Royal, Port St.
Mary, Xerxes, San Lucar, and other small towns.
Yesterday *morning, a youth named Andrew Dennis-
ton was travelling to town from Bath, and on crossing
Hounslow-heath, about three o'clock in the morning,
he met two men, one dressed in a smockfrock, and the
other in a velveteen jacket. They had a dog with them,
which seized him by the arm, and tore it in a dreadful
manner. They afterwards knocked him down, and rob-
bed him of his bundle, containing wearing apparel, and
7s. in silver. The police are on the alert.