Star.
London, England, 1820-04-08 00:00:00

CHESTER, APRIL 1".

...

The Spring Assizes for the
this morning before the Hon. CNARLIGI L.W01,11/tEN
and Mr. Justice MARSHALL, wheat, after live usual
farms had been disposed ef, the following Gentle-
men were sworn of the Grand Jury
Lord Vise. Beigrave, lisruman John Basket-vine Clegg, Esq.
Sir' Rd. Brook, Bart. Jos. Green, Esq. %
Richard Congreve, Esq, John Hoskin Harper, Esq.
Ed. Corbett, Esq. • Bell Into, Esq.
W. Wilson Currey, Esq. John Marshall, Esq.
George Eaton, Req. Joe. Parker, sq.
John Fielden, Esq. Traffred Trafford, Eq..
Booth Grey, Esq. Ed. Venahles Tewasheed,Ese.
John Ford, Req. Thoa. Wm. Titton, Esq.
Randal Wilbraham' Ea+ Jos. Wylde, Esq.
Birkenhead Clegg. Esq.
At a quarter plst one o'clock, Mr. Justice MAR..
SHALL addressed the Jury in a speech, of which the
following is the substance :—He began by lamenting
the extremely crowded state of the Calendar, which
contained the names of no less than ninety-seven pri-
sone: s ; and this influx of crime he attributed to the
consequences arising from the system of delusion
which had been so long practised over the country
by mob orators and itinerant vagabonds. A number
of desperate adventurers, sacrificing the pursuits of
honest industry, had suddenly started from obscurity
to subveit the Institutions of this mighty empire ;
'and at a period; too, whea its career of glory had at-
tained its highest splendour. They supposed, in the
depraved vanity of their hearts, that they could sub-
stitute a better form •of Goi,ernment than at present
existed ; and this delusion they practised on the un-
thinking and unwary. Their design, it was clear,
was to effect a sanguinary revolution, and write the
new Constitution in characters of blood. Reform in
Parliament was their watch-word—it was their ma-
gical nostruin for curing all the diseases of the State
—to convert thieves into honourable men—to make
the rich poor, and, of course, the poor rich. It could
not be denied but what some degree of irregularity
had crept into the system of our representation; but
then the very principles of the Constitution were
such, that they purged away their own impurit:es ;
and at no period whatever in our national annals'
did there exist more rational freedom in this country
than it could boast at present. Our Constitution was
the envy of Europe, as it was the pride and glory of
Great Britain ; and let it be understood, that if once
impaired—if once gone—it is gone for ever I and, af-
ter our best blood had been shed in its defence, it
would be succeeded by a reign of democratical ty-
rants and military despotism. A Court of Justice,
perhaps, was not the bestiplace for political subjects ;
but he might be permitted to say, that from the first
dawn of our Parliamentary privileges, in the reign
of Henry the Third, or rather in that of his son,
Edward the First, the constitutional rights of the
people had been gradually improving, in proportion
to the extension of intellectual knowledge ; and some
of the wisest and best men that ever adorned the
country were of opinion that the Constitution at pre-
sent in existence was sufficiently democratical. The..
Learned Judge then took an eloquent survey of the
triumphs achieved by our invincible fleet and armies,
and adverted to the right which the People possessed
to meet and petition their Representatives ; they were
expressly supported in it by the law of the land ; but
how was this right used, or rather abused ? Why,
the dissatisfied and discontented began to organize
the crowds which they had collected to their own
vile purposes, and speedily their real objects were '
developed, which were to overthrow the Government,
and root up all that was good and venerable in the
country. Such Meetings, therefore, were incom.
patible with the safety of the country and the well-
being
of the community. Such Meetings were not
like those which the law protected ; they were in
terrorem poruli, and therefore illegal. On an occa.
sion which occurred some time age, the Magistrates
of a neighbouring County (Lancaster), executed a
painful duty with a promptitude which does them in-
finite credit, characterfited by temper and modera-
tion! His L3rdship paid a high compliment to the
Magistrates and Gentlemen of Cheshire, for the pa-
triotism and public spirit they had evinced in forming
corps of Yeomanry to meet the exigencies of the
times ; and slightly adverted to the charges against
M'lnnis and ethers for shooting at Birch, and the in-
dictment against Harrison and Sir Charles Wolseley
for sedition, stating the law as it -affected their re-
spective cases.
Several sums were recovered against the HUndred,
by persons residing in Macclesield, for the injury
they sustained in their property during the late sedi-
tious excesses in that town.

Jane Hesketh was convicted for having in her pos.
session forged Bank of England notes, and sentenced
to fourteen years transportation.
Josiah Nowa was convicted of robbing the Liver.
pool mail coach of a box containing gold and silver-
of the value of £1,400. His trial, which rested en.
tirely on circumstances, bit those of a very strong
description, commented about half-past ten o'clock,
and did not terminate till four, when the prisoner
was found Guilty.—Seven years transportation.
Though the city is full of strangers, few persons
were in the Court, and during the deliveiy sof -the
charge several left it. -
The trial of Sir Charles Wolseley win not come-on
before Monday, and that of Mr. Harrison on Weil.
nesday next. •
The Egerton party preferred a Bill yesterday
against General Grosvenor,- for a riot and assault,
during the Election, which was thrown out by. the
Grand Jury of the City Sessions' Court.

•
Sir CHARLES Woi.szury has taken private apart.
inents during his stay in Cbesteh
Bullock and Johnnn, two of the principal witnesses
against Sic CHARLES WOLSELEY, at Chester, were, on
Wednesday last, taken up, and are-actually in the
New Bailey, for robbing a poor man of lOs. in cop.
per ! This circumstance has given great joy to the
people of Stockport. .
esterday -Mr. MAI:QV/AIRING, late Magistrate of
Worship-street, took his seat as Magistrate at Marl-
borough-street Office, in the room of Mr. BAKER,
now Chief Magistrate at Bow•street.
As a cart ♦was going through the Borough this
morning, about seven u clock, near King-street, with
some long bars of iron in it, the-rattling noise of the
iron frightened the horse of Mr. Bonn, of the Maze,
who was dismounted, and falling on his head, re.
ceived so much injury, as to be carried home in 4
senseless state.

1

4N:

..„ ' VERSES,
NOI7B2,ACCIDiNTALLY
Anst yie,-eovering, donde Mouse,
How soon thy lee-fang day is o'er! •
teat's, exult my lowly house,
Ye grahkt ;Ad' played, free door to door;
And ;debt the crumbs o' barley-cake
That frae thy Mistrew'•table fell,
Then frolickit for pinball's sake,.
ynacaed by flunky's sounding bell.
Thy life; though short, was full enjoy.d.
Not had I; ohy cares to clog ye, .
Nor feaed ye, while wi' her ye soy d,
The slaiightering tread o' primsie Moggie!
Ah! were mine ain nae harder lot!
to breathe the weary air a day,
Aonyrralcion at Fortune's foot,
. To cringe and fawn my life away!
Right wetting a' the ruefu' pain
The chequer'd life o' man attending,
To me ilk flowret blaws in vain,
On youth its balmy fragrance spending!
Then let me drown my cares in wine,
And let me, while I live, carouse,
And be my deed-thraw short as thine,
My life as simple, luckless Mouse!

LITERAtURE, 4c.

POOR ON THE CONTINENT.

PROM THE LETTERS OF THE REV. DM RAFFLES.

" The farm-houses reminded us, from the peculiarity
of their structure, being composed simply of planks
of fir, with vast projecting roofs of the same mate-
rials, that we were approaching Switzerland, the
cradle of freedom, and the retreat of Protestantism ;
while the general character of the cottages, and their
romantic situations, naturally brought to my mind
the many happy hours I have passed amid the moun-
tains of Wales. The only unpleasant circumstance
in crossing the Jura, and which bespoke the deep
poverty of the people was the great increase ff beg-
gars. They were chiefly children, and their num-
bers and their importunities were truly astonishing.,
from the very slow rate at which we travelled, they
were frequently" enabled to follow us for a consider-
able distance, and this they did, entreating in the
most piteous accents, and repeating the sane words, 1
with a sort of measured intonation, Monsieur,
your plait, donnez tuoi charitj. These were the sounds
that perpetually assailed us, and we were glad when
a little level toad allowed us to go on at a quick rate,
and thus 10-e, for a while, the distressing din."
" We dined at Cauh, a village on the right bank of
the Rhine. While we were at dinner, x po'r half-
starved dog came to take what chance or compassion
might throw in its way. Our pity soon became his
ad. mate, and a plate, plentiinliy supplied with bones
and bread, was the tesult. of its pleading in his be-
half. The door of the room was open, and in the
course of the meal, turning that way, I observed a
poor meagre ragged boy looking wistfully at the
bones which the dog was rapidly devouring. I never
saw the intense anxiety of hunger so depicted in a
I:;inian countenance before—or met with such an il-
lustration of the feelings of the prodigal, who would
fain have filled his belly with the husks that the
swine did eat.

" The look was eaquent—who could resist its
power ? I beckoned him into the room, and put
into his eager band a lump of bread and a mutton
chop. He was leaving the room, when an old man,
who had witnessed our bounty to the lad, rushed in:
at his appearance I put out my arm to repel his soli-
cit-ation, crying out, we shall have all the town, if we
go on at this rate. The poor man immedia!rly
ned away—be made no complaint, be uttered no
exclamation, but I could see the pangs of hunger in
11'.s :countenance, and the tear started in his eye. This
was jnore than I could bear,--and, touched to the,
veri heart, I tasted an exquisite luxury in seeing
this poor wretch deFart with the smile of gratitude •
upon his lips."

TIM DIVINING ROD.
FROM THE VARTEIILT REVIEW.

The employment of the divining rod, when em-
plpyed to discover ore or metal, was associated with 'I
many superkitious observances. The fact, however,
of the discovery of water being affected by it when
held in the hands of certain persons, seems indubi-
table. The following narrative, which has been lately
communicated to us by a friend residing in Norfoik,
puts the subject in the clearest point of view. And
we shall simply state that the parties, whose names
are well known to many of our readers, are utterly
incapable either of deceiving others or being deceived
themselves.
" JANUARY 21, 1818.—It is just fifty years since
Lady N—'s attention was first called to this subject;
she was then sixteen years old, and was on a visit
with her family at a chateau in Provence, the owner
of which wanted to find a spring to supply his house,
and. for that purpose had sent for a peasant, who
could do so with a twig. The English pan), ridi-
culed the idea, but still agreed to accompany the
man, who, after walking some way, pronounced that
he had arrived at the object of his search, and they,
accordingly dug, and found him correct. He was
quite an uneducated man, and .could give no ac-
count of the faculty in him, or of the means which
he employed, but many others; he said, could do
the same.
" The English party now tried for themselves, but
all in vain, till it came to the turn of Lady N—,
when, to her amazement and alarm, she found that the
same faculty was in her as in the peasant, and on her
return to England she often exerted it, though in stu-
dious concealment. She was afraid lest she should
be ridiculed, or should, perhaps, get the name of a
witch, and in either case she thought that she should
certainly never get a husband.
" Of late years her scruples began to wear away,
and when Dr. Hutton published Ozonant's Researches,
in 1803, where the effect c f the divining rod is treated
as ahsurd (vol. iv. p. 260-7), she wrote a long letter
to him, signed X. Y. Z. stating the facts which she
knew. The Doctor answered it, begging further in-
formation; Lady N— wrote again, and he, in his
second letter, requested the name of his correspond-
ent; that Lady N— also gave.
" A few days afterwards she went, at Dr. Hut.
ton's particular request, to see him at Woolwich, and
she then slimed him the experiment, and discovered

a spring in a field which be bad lately. bought near
the New College, then building. The same field he
has since sold to the College, and for a larger price,
in consequence of the spring.
U Lady N. this morning :hewed the experiment 65
Lord G. Mr. S. and me, in the park at W. She took
a thin, forked hazel twig, about sixteen inches
long, and held it by the end, the joint pointing down-
wards. When she came to a place where water was
under the ground, the twig immediately bent, and
the motion was more or less rapid as she approached
or withdrew from the spring. When just over it,
the twig turned so rick as to snap, breaking near her
gers, which by pressing it were indented, and
heated, and almost blistered; a degree of agitation
was also visible in her floe. When she first made
this experiment, she says this agitation was great, and
to this hour she cannot wholly divest herself of it,
though it gradually decreases. She repeated the
trial several times in different parts of the park, and
her statements were always accurate. Among those
msons.in England who have the same faculty, she
says she never knew it so.strong in any as in Sir C.
H. and Miss T. It is extraordinary that no effect is
produced at a well or ditch, or where earth does not
interpose between the twig and the water. The ex-
ercise of this faculty is independent of any volition."
So far our narrator, in whom, we. repeat, the most
implicit confidence may be placed. The faculty so
inherent in certain persons is evidently the same with
that of the Spanish Zahariefit•though the latter do.
riot employ the hazel twig.