Star.
London, England, 1829-10-22 00:00:00

THE QUEEN'S HEAD, ISLINGTON.

The exertions of a posse of labourers have in part ac-
complished that which for the last threat centuries has withstood
the encroachments of " Old Father Time."

At the dawn of Monday, the work of demolition was com-
menced; it is calculated that by the end of the week the workmen
will have razed the Old Queens Head to the srouod—

“ And, like the Weston fabric of a vision,

Leave not a wreck behind,"
To denote the existenceot a house Which history has • failed to re-
cord, and with respect to the original inhabitants of which only
traditionl reports can be found. •
On stripping the roof, the flooring of a range of rooms was dis-
covereds as aIW part of a flight of stairs. This fact has induced
several antiquarians to believe that in " by-gdoe- days"- the house
itself was a story higher than at the pre.enttime.—The gutters
are of the most spacious description ; they are composed of lead
at least a quarter of an-inch-thick, that on the roof alone is said to
weigh a ton and a half-a quantity sufficient for three or four mo-
dern houses of the same class. The flue of the parlour chimney
was found to be nine feet square throughout. In its construction
fifteen thousand bricks were used. The stone-work of the parlour
mandepiece is eight inches in thickness. The girders, joists, floor-
ing, and other timbers, are principally oak, but there are several
fine pieces of cheanut. The girders of the third floor are formed
from the latter material ; they are crooked, and rudely hewn from
one tree. The building materisfs were sold by auction on Saturday,
when some of our most celebrated antiquarians became purchasers
of the best relics. The oaken porch at the front of the house sold
fur ten pounds. The mandepiece in the parlour, on which is
carved the story of " Diana and Actson," with the oak panelling
over it, were bought in by the proprietor, Mr. Mir& late of the
Yorkshire Wino in the New-road. The lot created great in-
terest, and the bona fide bidding exceeded 601. After being re-
touched, restored, and polished, it is designed to form one of the
ornaments of the new house, which will be built on a grand scale.
The other lots realized exceedingly good prices, and those suited
to the purpose of antiquarian research were sought after with great
avidity. The ornamental casts and carved work of the parlour
ceiling have been carefully cut out, and are still preserved to pos-
terity. Underneath the flooring of each of the zooms there was
a considerable quantity of sand, which has been sifted, and one
gold piece, in excellent preservation, has been found. It is sup-
posed tobe a coin of the joint reign of King William and Queen
Mary, the heads of whom are displayed one on each side. Those
who have seen it declare it to be a Ss. 4d. piece, issued at the early
part of their reign. It is now in the possession of Mr. Goodall,
the landlord of the house.

Reckoning five bottles to the Imperial gallon, the con-
sumer pays to the Re for every bottle of Cape wine 6d. port,
Madeira, sherry, &c. 10d. French wines Is. 6d. rum Is. Bd. brandy
and Holland. 4.. 6d. producing altogether, annually, about five
millions. Of this England pays more than four millions, or 20
times as much as Ireland, and 17 times as much as Scotland (Ire-
land, with its seven millions, producing considerably less revenue
than Scotland with two millions.)
" lf," (says Mr. Mitford, the celebrated author of the
History of Greece"), " here, Alfred's shire, and hundred, and
tithing Government should be overthrown, and salaried officers,
as for the busineu of the FACise should supersede throughout the
country, its unpaid native administrators, legislation by Parliament
will not longsorvive." _ _

The decision of a wager entered into between two
members of the Stock Exchange has, within the last two or three
days, been the subject of much conversation. One of the Stock
Exqbange gentlemen and an M.P. betted too/. with a Mr. S. that
'the United Mexican Mining Company would pay a dividend be-
fore thefcalled for the whole amount subscribed on each share ;
404 The Company called for 391. 104 and then issued Sub-
scription Shares for Yl. more. This was considered equal to call.
Ins the whole 401. had Mr. S. claimed the 2001. laid. The M.P.
wrangled, and umpires were appointed, each of whom decided in
favour of the party whose interest he (the umpire) represented.—
. An extensive merchant and M. P. for tits City was elio.g.a tense,
and decided against the M.P. first referred to, giving it as his opi-
nion that the calling for money to the mint of 104 in any way was
the same as if shares had been paid up in full.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, OCT. 21.
Adjourned Sitting at Guildhall.

WILCOX IN /WON.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff to recover the sum of
W. the ezpenseis of repairing a gig, which was broken by the de-
fendant, a stage-coach driver and proprietor, negligently and care-
lessly driving against it.
Mr. Mammon called the following witnesses to prove the cue :
John Bridger summed—Stated that he was a licensed vic-
tualler at Paddington ; remembered being at the Green Man,
Brownswell, near Finehley, in August, 1828. The road there was
about 25 yards wide; saw the plaintiff and another gentleman
coming to town in a gig ; they were on their wrong aide, but crossed
to the right close to the footpath; the stage coach was coming very
fast, the leaders were galloping ; the coach struck the gig, and the
shaft hung on the kind wheel of the coach; the plaintiff jumped
out of the gig, bat the gentleman who was with him was unfor-
tunately killed; the coachman did not stop ; always attributed the
accident to the coachman. _

Cross-examined—There was a cart near the inn, and the coach
was obliged to go into the middle of the road to pus, but the road
was quite wide enough for three coaches to pass at the same time•
The gentleman driving died about three quarters of an hour after
the accident. _ _ _

Mrs. Bridger examined—Was with my husband, the last witness,
at the door of the inn ; the gig was coming down the bill; there
was plenty of room for the coach to pass. After the accident hap-
pened the coach did not stop.
J. Beene examined—Deposed that the coach did not stop, but
thu he ran after it, when the gentleman on the box said he should
not
-stop.

proved that the amount of the repairs of the gig

was 81.

Mr. PLATT for the defence, said he had to oppose this ease ;
the only question for consideration was, whether the coachman or
the unfortunate gentleman who was kilted was most in fault? It
was well known that the splinter bar of a coach was the widest
part, and if that passed, every other part of the coach would fol-
low ; front this he (Mr. Platt) drew an inference that the gentle-
man who drove the gig was in fault. He would also call wit-
nesses to prove the reverse of the case stated by the plaintiff's
witnesses. The fact was, the stage coach was going very slow,
and the coachman was not aware of the accident until the witness
Beene hallooed to him to stop, when he immediately drew up and
returned to the inn, and, in proof of his humanity, immediately
sent a post-chaise at his own expense for a surgeon to attend the
gentleman, who afterwards died.
Mr. Andrews, an Attorney, residing at Barnet, stated that he
was on the box of the coach the day the accident happened.
Three of the horses were changed about a mile from the Green
Man. The coachman was driving at the rate of about five or
six miles an hour. Heard a man call after the coach had passed
the gig, but was not then aware that any accident had occurred.
When the coach had passed the cart, the coachman drew off to his
proper side. Don't recollect the distance we passed the cart.
Thinks the accident must have been occasioned by the fault of the
driver of the gig. When the coachman discoVered the accident,
be sent a post-chaise for a surgeon.
Roe, a publican, stated that he was sitting behind the coach
with his face towards the horses. Did not see the gig come
down the hill; the first thing that attracted his attention to it
was the shock. After the accident be measured the road, and
found fourteen feet between the place where the coach was and
the footpath, so that there was sufficient room for the gig to pass.
The coach was going slow. Only one shaft of the gig was broken.
Cross-examined—Would not positively swear that both shafts of
the gig were not broken.
Lord TINTIADIN recalled the coachmaker, who swore that both
shafts were broken'. His Lordship then summed up, and the Jury
returned a verdict for the Plaintiff—Damages W.