The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-23 00:00:00

GENERAL MISCELLANY.

The Great League Fund already exceeds £60,000, and
he metropolis has yet to begin its subscription.
It is said that Sir Gregory Lewin is to be the first Re-
'order for Sheffield.
A child was killed in Manchester the other day by swal-
owing a horse bean.
A writer in the Globe of Saturday contends that
1,000,000 quarters of foreign grain will be required before
►arvest.
The Edinburgh Review suggests the creation of a new
itock, yielding £320,000 annually, for the payment of the
Catholic clergy in Ireland.
There are already above twenty water establishments on
he principle of the water cure in different parts of the
kingdom, and they are rapidly increasing in number.
The Scotch are now gathering guano from the rocks and
cliffs of the Orkney Isles, and supplies of it are also being
collected on parts of the Devonshire coast.
A litter of young foxes was discovered a few days ago
near Sedgefield,—a circumstance of most unusual occur-
rence at this season of the year.
Mr. Pakenham, the newly-appointed British Envoy to
the United States, carries out with him, it is confidently
stated, full instructions to negotiate a settlement of the
Oregon territory dispute.
The deer in Chillingham Park, Northumberland, be-
longing to the Earl of Tankerville, are advertised to be
sold under a writ of execution. The herd consists of 46
red deer, and 234 fallow deer.
We understand that in the House of Commons, Vis-
count Clive, the member for North Shropshire, will move
the address in answer to her Majesty's speech ; and Mr.
Cardwell, member for Clitheroe, will be the seconder.
James Bryce, accused of the murder of his brother-in-
law,at West Calder, near Glasgow, detailed in our columns
a fortnight since, has been arrested but denies that he is
guilty of the charge.
Lord Brougham has arrived in Gratton-street from
Paris, where his lordship remained two or three days, en
route from his Chateau at Cannes, to pay his respects to
the King of the French, with whom he dined.
FEMALE PEDESTRIANISM.—The extraordinary and
astonishing feat of walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours, has
been completed by a Mrs. Harrison, 40 years of age, upon
the Leeds and Whitehall road.
THE REGISTER.—The Leviathan Register of Voters
for the West Riding of Yorkshire is just completed. It
contains the names of the extraordinary number of thirty-
four thousand six hundred and twenty-two electors.
The latest accounts from Howick convey the gratifying
intelligence that the venerable Earl Grey is going on as
favourably as can be expected at his advanced period of
life, and daily recovering from the effects of his recent
severe illness.
The fable of the industrious and idle apprentices if fa-
miliarly exemplified in the account of a trial at Salisbury
Sessions last week. The Recorder was under the painful
necessity of passing sentence of imprisonment on an old
schoolfellow and companion of former years.
THE TEA TRADE, Jan. 15.—There has not been any
particular feature in the tea trade since our last ; but the
consumption goes on steadily. To-morrow public sales
of above 50,000 packages will commence. Last week the
deliveries were 520,0801 b., being an increase.

STATE OF TRADE IN NEWCASTLE.—The duties re-
ceived at the Newcastle Custom-house during the last year
have amounted to the unusually large sum of £494,524,
being an actual increase of £61,737 above the receipt of
1842.

CONSUMPTION OF SHERRY.—It appears, from a par-
liamentary paper, that there is an increase in the impor-
tation of sherry last year of 4,217 butts, the importation
being, in 1842, 25,096 butts, and in the year just ended,
29,313.

On Friday week, Mr. Jeremiah Garnett, of the Man-
chester Guardian, was elected a member of the Manches-
ter Town Council for St. Ann's Ward, in the room of his
late partner, Mr. John Edward Taylor. There was no
other candidate.

ESCAPE OF PRISONERS FROM TIVERTON GAOL.—On
Thursday night last, two men, named Thomas Easter-
brook and Benjamin Collard, the former under sentence
of transportation, and the latter waiting his trial upon a
charge of felony, escaped from Tiverton gaol.
The petition against the return of John Bright for the
city of Durham, on the ground of corrupt practices, will
be prosecuted with vigour on the assembling of the House
of Commons. The case against the " honest" leaguer is
understood to be so strong that there is little doubt he
will be removed from the seat.
THE FAILURE OF A LARGE HOSIERY HOUSE.—
Messrs. Nevil, Son, Rossal, and Co., of Cary-lane, Lon-
don, this week has produced a great sensation in this
market, and some houses are large creditors, but from the
last report it appears probable that there will not ulti-
mately be any loss.
FRIGHTFUL AFFAIR,"A man named Andrews, i❑
Birmingham, has been committed on a charge of wilful
murder, for actually roasting his child, a little girl of
fourteen years of age, alive. The brute exhibited a de-
gree of apathy only a little less revolting than the crime
of which he stands charged.
IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN CATTLE.—This branch of
the import trade at Hull has fallen off considerably—up-
wards of one-half for last year, as compared with 1842.
IgeleBp4,3wbeir:lVlt,VB?-Pcr.Nr,°Antgg),34l379 °stele pa,ntlia
253 pigs, were imported.

RETIREMENT OF SIR HENRY POTTINGER.—Mr. Da-
vis, who formerly acted for a chart time as successor to
the late Lord Napier in China, has been selected by the
government to relieve Sir Henry Pottinger as the Queen's
Representative and Governor of the new British colony of
Hong Kong.
ELM BARK POISONOUS TO ITORSES.—LateIy, at Sut-
ton-hall, Mr. Hasland's valuable brood mare Whisker
died from having nipped the bark of some elms that had
been felled ; and, on post mortem examination, it was
found that the substance had produced violent inflamma-
tion of the intestines.

LIEUTENANT MUNRO.—In the Gazelle of Friday last,
the following memorandum appears :—" Lieutenant and
Adjutant A. T. Munro, of the Royal Regiment of Horse
Guards, (Blue,) is superseded, being absent without
leave. January 11." It is evident from this, that Lieu.
tenant Munro has no intention of undergoing the chances
of a trial at the Central Criminal Court.
A SALT-WATER BOA.—Last week a fisherman, who
was engaged in his avocation to the southward of the Is-
land of Guernsey, caught the largest conger eel ever
known to have been taken in the British Channel. It
measured seven feet six inches in length, and was two
feet nine inches in circumference. It weighed one hun-
dred pounds.

COAL PIT EXPLOSION.—On the morning of the sth
instant, an explosion of fire damp took place at the Vic-
toria Colliery, Lofthouse Gate, near Wakefield, whereby
several workmen were severely injured. Two have since
died, one on the following day, and another, named
George Frost, on the afternoon of the 10th instant. Two
other boys were much burnt, and still lie in a precarious
state.

DENSE FOG.—FATAL OCCURRENCE.—So dense was
the fog in this town and neighbourhood on Tuesday, that
several accidents, more or less serious, were the conse-
quence. At Newton Heath, so great was the inconveni-
ence, that parties driving horses or vehicles could with
difficulty get on at all ; and one poor man came to his
death by falling into the Rochdale canal, in all probability
from not being able to find his way.—Manchester Courier.

BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, JAN. 19.—1 n West India
sugars the sales since our last report reach about 250
hogsheads, without alteration in prices. In Mauritius
and Bengals, about 750 mats of the former have been dis-
posed of at from 575. to 605., and 500 bags of the latter, a
badly conditioned parcel, at about 605., and which rates
were not previously attainable. In rum no transactions
are reported. Average price of sugar, Jan. 15, is 355. 2d.
per cwt.

THE DUKE DE BORDEAUK.—This Prince has suddenly
left England. After his visit to Woolwich, on the 11th,
he was about to continue his tour when letters reached
him from Germany, announcing the severe indisposition
of the Duc d'Angouleme, whom the Prince has always
looked upon as a father. His Royal Highness immedi-
ately decided upon abandoning his tour in England, and
embarking on Friday evening, for Ostend, on his way to
Goritz.

A YOUNG MAN STABBED BY HIS OWN BROTHER.—
On Friday last, a family named Glaves, who reside in
Birmingham, were at dinner, when words arose between
tthhee el
al dt
teesrt
vs rune.
gaezde da
k 2 2e.i fan da
tao
tbrothe er Im7
e yn
ofa thel df
rwmh
near the navel; the young man's intestines instantly pro-
truded from the wound, and he was conveyed in a car
with all speed to the General Hospital, where the poor
fellow died at five o'clock the next morning.
CAUTION TO NURSES.—On Saturday last, an inquest
was held before one of the Coroners of Middlesex, at
Bethnal Green, on the body of an infant child about five
hours old, which had died in convulsions in consequence
of the nurse having given it about a quarter of a tea
spoonful of gin mixed with moist sugar, to soothe its
moaning. The child died within a quarter of an hour
afterwards. The nurse had a narrow escape from being
sent to prison for trial.

" DRUMMING OUT" A SOLDIER.—On Tuesday, Tho-
mas Quail, a private is the 70th Infantry, was drummed
out of that regiment at the Infantry barracks in Wood-
house-lane, Leeds, where the regiment is now stationed.
We understand that Quail had been about twelve years in
the 70th, during which he had frequently broken through,
military discipline, and had in consequence been the sub-
ject of many Courts-Martial, and suffered various kinds
and degrees of punishment for his offences.
•

A Goon Sul:Yr.—The Earl of Stradbroke, who is enter-
taining a party of sporting noblemen and gentlemen at
Henham Hall, backed himself on Thursday last for a
wager of .t. 50 with Captain Burne to kill and bag three
brace of pheasants, flying shots, in the day, with single
ball, which his lordship did with ease, killing 7 birds out
of 27 shots, the law. two being right and left. No restric-
tion was made, whether rifle, double, or single gun, and
his lordship preferred the double gun he usually shoots
with.

DARING HIGHWAY ROBBERY, NEAR CARNARYON.—
OR Saturday week three men and a woman were com-
mitted by S:H. Evans. Esq., at Carnarvon, charged with
a highway robbery of a most daring nature, and ac:!orn-
panied with considerable violence, on the person of a car-
man in the employ of 111 r. Humphreys, of the Menai-
bridge, who was returning with his car from Carnarvon.
Their names are George Roderick and Anne, his wife,
Robert Roberts, and William Jones, all noted characters
and long known as a terror to Carnarvon.

ITHE STEYNING MEETING.—We understand that the
Duke of Norfolk, together with some other leading and
influential whigs, have signified their con urrence in the
views of the parties who have called the meeting at Stey-
ning on the 29th inst., and will manifest, by their attend-
ance on that day, their disapprobation of the Anti-Crrn
Law League. This may serve as a set-off to the letter of
the Marquis of Westminster.—Brighton Gazette.
THE COLLIERS.—The Bowling colliers are still on
strike. A meeting was held on Tuesday, on the vacant
piece of ground known as Peckover's Walk, Bradford, and
was well attended. Several speeches were made by
colliers, which contained some plain statements of their
grievances and their claims, with encouragement to their
brethren to be united, in the hope that in the end they
should obtain their object.
ACTIVITY OF THE LONDON PRESS.—The speech of
the King of the French, which was delivered on the 27th
of December, arrived at Boulogne at midnight ; was
thence sent by the packet to Folkestone, and from thence
by the Dover Railway to London, where it arrived at ten
o'clock on the morning of the 28th. It was printed in the
London journals, and copies of them were received in
Boulogne a long time before the Paris journals which con-
tained the speech arrived at that place.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.—A very curious pheno-
menon has been observed at the gas-works in Bury St.
Edmund's. In consequence of some small coal of a dif-
ferent sort being laid over the larger, which had been be-
fore provided, spontaneous ignition has on two occasions
taken place in the heap, and burst out in a narrow pas-
sage. To the peculiar quality of these coals may probably
be attributed the oppressive sulphurous smell and yellow
flame of the gas, which has of late been often observed.—
Bury Post.
ATTEMPT TO BURN A FREE CHURCH.—Last week, at
a late hour at night, as some women were passing the new
Free Church at Criech, in Sutherlandshire, they were
startled by seeing a light inside. They hastened into the
church, and found a pile of boards ignited by shavings
placed below. In a few minutes the fire would have
reached the wooden gallery above, and then the roof just
over, and the destruction of the whole pile was inevitable
from the state of the weather and dryness of the timber.
They, after some exertion, extinguished the smouldering
mass, and thus providentially saved the building.
DEATH OF A SURGEON FROM A WOUND IN DISSEC-
TION.—The Warspite, 54, Captain Wallis, at Lisbon, has
lost her surgeon under the following lamentable circum-
stances :—When in perfect health he was dissecting a
corpse, at the hospital of St. Joseph, in the city of Lisbon,
when in the operation he accidentally cut hisfinger. Little
was thought of it at the time; but the wound festered and
became inflamed, mortification soon struck, and in less
than a week from the time of the cut he died. Dr. Bell,
of Plymouth-yard, about 15 years since, lost his life from
a similar cause.
LONDON JOINT STOCK BANK.—The half-yearly meet-
ing of the shareholders of this undertaking was held on
the 10th instant. The secretary read the report of the di-
rectors, which was of a very satisfactory nature, and
showed that the half-year's profit, after all deductions,
was £16,470 16s. Sd., which sum was applicable to a di-
vidend after the rate of six per cent. per annum. The
balance sheet was read, and laid on the table for the in-
spection of the proprietors. The total amount on both
sides of the account was £2,768,996 10s.

WINES.—The official returns of the shipment of wines
from Oporto, in 1843, show the following results, viz..
that the total shipments were 26,400 pipes, of which
21,296 pipes were destined for Great Britain, 2,541 pipes
for Brazil, 879 pipes for Ilamburgh, 547 pipes for the
United States, and 6 pipes to France, while other locali-
ties figure for 1,131. The principal shippers were George
Sandeman and Co., 2,092 pipes; Hunt, Roope, and Co.,
1,305 pipes; Martinez, Gassiot, and Co., 1,256 pipes;
T. G. Smith, 1,112 pipes; Fonseca and Co., 1,062 pipes'
and Quarles Harris and Co., 1,016 pipes.
PRIZE FroHT.—On Thursday, the 11th instant, a pu-
gilistic encounter took place on Lindrick-common, near
Worksop, Nottinghamshire, which was nearly attended
with fatal consequences. The combatants were, a small
farmer, named Miller, who resides at Cresswell, and has
a family of seven children, and a fellow named Webster,
who lives at Whitwell, and has likewise a wife and eight
children. The stakes were £lO. The fight, which con-
sisted of fifty-three rounds, and lasted nearly two hours,
was won by Webster, who so severely beat his opponent
that it is doubtful whether he will survive, although he
has been attended by two medical gentlemen.
ISLAND OF LEWIS.—Mr. James Matheson, M.P., has
purchased from the family of Seaforth the princely pro-
perty of the Lewis, one of the largest islands of the Ile-
brides, with a population of about 15,000, and included in
the county of Ross. The purchase money was £190,000.
Mr. Matheson and his lady are at present on a tour in
Italy ; but improvements will soon be commenced, for the
new proprietor intends, we understand, to devote a fur-

. .
ther sum of £40,000 or £50,000 towards establishing a
regular steam communication with the island, forming
roads, and otherwise improving his extensive territory.—
Inverness Courier.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE.—A man named Maloney, an
auctioneer, formerly residing in Bellurteel, has been sen-
tenced to transportation for seven years, for forging a draft
of about £132. After he committed this crime, he went
to America, and while there learned that he was the heir
to £50,000 in dispute in Ireland. He returned and speed-
ily made good his claim, but immediately after he was
arrested, tried at the present commission, and convicted.
This treasure is, of course, confiscated to the Crown.
Baron Lefroy, in passing sentence, intimated that if a❑
application were mane to the proper quarter, this property
might be granted to the children of the unfortunate felon.
—lrish paper.

SUSPECTED MURDER AT SFIEFFIELD.—On Friday
night week, a young woman named Harriet Holmes, came
to her death under such circumstances as to lead to a
strong suspicion that she was murdered by her paramour,
a man named Henry Jackson. She was apparently in
good health, but tipsy, at ten o'clock at night, and at half-
past eleven, the same night, Jackson called a neighbour
into the house, and she found Holmes lying dead on the
floor. Jackson, under pretence of going to fetch the mo-
ther of the deceased went away, and has not since been
seen in Sheffield. Several bruises were found on the
person of the deceased, and a poker was, found in the
house very much bent. The inquest has not yet closed.
COALS.—The official returns of the quantity of coals
imported into London during the month of December,
exhibit the following results :—From Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, 140,082 tons, in 420 vessels; Sunderland 80 335
tons, in 265 vessels; Stockton (including Hartleiniol)
54,295 tons, in 193 vessels ; Blyth, 9,703 tons, in 33 Yes:
sels ; Yorkshire, 6,105 tons, in 69 vessels; Scotch, 787
tons, in 8 vessels; and Wales, 3,015 tons, in 10 vessels.
The returns also include a cargo of small coals and four
cargoes of cinders. The total number of tons is 295,700,
carried in 1,003 vessels. In comparing the return of the
month in question with the corresponding month of 1842,
we find an increase of 6,779 tons, but on the whole year
there is a decrease of 94,680 tons.
MURDER.—Peter Campbell, who kept a school for
some years in Locbgilphead, near Glasgow, but resigned
int
al
ta.s,t
asbunron mt
teiri
r,
ekei lnl
ncll
nhni
ks
interposition of a neighbour from destroying his nrther's
,a ua
nn
dt own
atah
only
rpnirenvge
i
life also. Campbell lived with his mother and his aunt,
notfedthbeyl3utihe
both frail old women. The attention of one of the county
police and Mr. M`Millan of the Stag Inn was attracted to
the house by hearing the females crying for help. On
forcing open the door, they found the aunt with her head
nearly separated from the body, and Campbell, in parox-
ysm of insanity, cutting at his mother's neck with a razor.
The maniac was disarmed and secured in time to save the
poor old woman's life, although she received so many
wounds on the face, neck, and arms, as to 1) dangerously
j
ill. The murderer was taken to Inverary ail.
WASTE LANDS—ENCLOSURE ACT.—On the motion
of Lord Worsley, a very long return was made in June
last " of the true or estimated quantity in statute measure
of all common or waste lands not being held in severalty
in every parish or tithe commutation district. The sum-
mary of England shows that in the 40 counties the total
quantity of land amounts to 6,718,523 acres, of which the
quantity of common or waste land is stated to be 1,358,419
acres. In Middlesex alone there are 1321 acres of waste
land. The largest quantity of waste land is in the north
riding of Yorkshire, there being no less thon 132,815 acres
of common or woste land out of a total of 1,897,592 acres,
moking a total of waste land in England and Wales of
1,860,232 out of the total of 8,616,115. By the return it
appears that from 1800 to 1810 the number of enclosure
acts passed was 905, from 1810 to 1820 the number was
741, from 1820 to 1830 the number was 192, and from
1830 to 1840 the number of enclosure acts was 125.

Ex:oE,celtrocTki o
onN OsFatAurPdaAyß,RlCoslDepEh.—DßoebtLene,n
wthwoe lwve.
_was 25
one
years of age; was executed behind the Castle at York, for
the wilful murder of his father, by shooting him, at Mount
Tabor, near Halifax, on the 4th of July last. For several
days after his trial the convict maintained considerable
diffidence of demeanour, and when spoken to respecting
his impending fate, was slow to admit the justice of his
condemnation, and would cling to the morbid palliative
that the dispute between him and his father could not
but have terminated with blood, and had he not killed his
father the old man would certainly have killed him. This
pernicious delusion, however, subsided before the advances
of religious admonition, and a marked change was wrought
in his mind, and he was brought to look upon his condi-
tion with becoming concern. The sermon to the con-
demned was preached on Friday by the Rev. J. Shackley,
who, after his discourse, addressed the other prisoners
present, and said, that he was requested by Dobson to
state to them, that it was after a long course of sin he had
committed the dire offence for which he was about to
suffer, never having been in a place of worship in his life
previous to his committal to prison, and urging them to
conversion and repentance. The culprit, after his con-
demnation, continued in the enjoyment of excellent
health, and at his own request his daily rations were
doubled. The fatal drop was erected in the usual place
at an early hour in the morning. At half-past ten o'clock
the convict received the holy sacrament from the hands
of the acting chaplain, and front the termination of that
ceremony to 12 o'clock both were engaged in earnest
prayer. Precisely at mid-day, the Under-Sheriff de-
manded the body in the ordinary way, and the devoted
man was then pinioned. The usual procession accom-
panied him to the scaflold, the burial service being read
in an impressive manner. Dobson was evidently quite
resigned to his fate, and met an ignominious death with
fortitude. On the termination of the funeral prayers,
Mr. Salvin shook hands with the culprit, saying, " Good
by—God bless you, Dobson ;" to which he distinctly re-
plied, " I sin in His arms now." His lips continued
moving in prayer until the executioner placed the cap
upon his head, and after adjusting the rope with much
minuteness, the bolt was drawn, and the pour fellow
launched into eternity. His struggles were scarcely per-
ceptibJe, and the work of destruction was soon accom-
plished.

Jan. 23, 1844

THE PoLv cuitoNiecosT.—We have lately had our at-
•ention called to a very ingenious invention, which will be
frond useful for reporters and members of Parliament
.vho may wish to take notes of any particular speech.
Ihe objection to the use of the ever-pointed pencil has
keen the having to replenish the points ; for as no indica-
tion denoted how much lead still remained in the point,
'he supply was found to he generally exhausted at the
most inconvenient time. These objections are entirely ob-
viated by this invention, as the case contains lead through-
out its length, which is propelled forward as required until
the whole is used ; this is effected by an external screw
and travelling propeller, indicating from its position the
length of lead at any time remaining for use.
THE WEATHER AND VEGETATION.—For the last few
market-days, Covent-garden, and the other fruit and ve-
getable markets, have been very abundantly supplied with
nearly every description of autumnal and spring vegeta-
tion, whilst what is more properly the winter supply, as
savoys and kales, has been but small and of inferior qua-
lity. In fact, the quantity as well as the character of the
supply was more like that ordinarily seen in March or
April than so near after Christmas—a circumstance to be
attributed to the continued mildness of the weather, there
having been as yet no frosts to impede in the slightest
manner the out-door labours of the gardener. Every
description of supply, as greens, cabbages, carrots, turnip-
tops, turnips, parsley, celery, small salad, &.c, was unu-
sually cheap. The show of flowers, consisting of camellias,
tulips, hyacinths, narcissuses, violets, primroses, crocuses,
Leaths, roses, &c., gave to this portion of the market the
gay appearance of a very advanced period of spring.
THE REBECCA RIOTERS.—Shoni Scybor Fawr and
Dai-y-Cantwr. the persons who, at the late winter assizes,
were convicted for Rebecca riots, and were severally sen-
tenced, the former to transportation for life, and the
other for twenty years, have made confessions. Shoni
confessed that he was present at the burning of Mr.
Chamber's two farms, namely, Mansant and Tynywern.
He also mentioned several nightly meetings which he had
attended, where measures were taken to avoid the mili-
tary, who at that time patrolled the country. He admit-
ted that he was one of a party who pulled down a dozen
gates, which he named, and the several nights on which
they were demolished. He further gave the names of
several farmers who were present with him in his destruc-
tive acts. It appeared from his statement that he and his
wicked companions were to be paid a certain sum a day
for breaking down gates and other misdeeds, and that he
and many others were paid ss. each for setting fire to
Mansant, from a publican, who acted as treasurer. He
further states, that the old woman at Hendry-gate was
shot by a boy unintentionally—in fact, that her death was
purely accidental.
DEATH FROM HAVING SWALLOWED A FISH-BONE.—
On Friday Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an inquest on the
body of Eliza Davies, servant to Mrs. Solomon, of 14,
Lisson-grove, London. From the evidence of Mrs. Solo-
mon it appeared that, on the evening of Monday week
deceased was supping off a plaice, when she rose from
table, with her mouth full of fish and bread, to fetch a
spoon. She was talking at the time, and on her return
to table she was seized with a severe fit of coughing, and
said a fish bone had stuck in her throat. Efforts were
made, without avail, to force the bone up or down the
throat. On the Wednesday following, deceased getting
worse, Mr. Robins, a surgeon, of Southwick-street. was
consulted, and, not being able to extract the bone, he
forced it downwards with a probang. After this opera-
tion deceased appeared better, until Sunday last, when
severe coughing and spitting of blood set in, and then
deceased rapidly sank, and died early on Wednesday last,
in consequence, Mr. Robins said, of the bone having
penetrated the lungs. Mr. Wakley said, that persons
partaking of fish should be particularly cautious, and re-
frain from talking or doing anything else, whilst masti-
cating such food, rendered dangerous by the many small
bones it contained. Verdict, " Death from having acci-
dentally swallowed a fish. bone."
ROWLAND HILL REDIVIVUS.—A Dissenting preacher
in the neighbourhood of London lately introduced in his
sermon the following stringent remarks on the am-
bition too generally observable in places of worship in the
choice of pews ;—ln illustration of the text, " who love
the chief seats in the synagogue," &c., he said—Brethren
I consider myself your spiritual omnibus driver ; as much
so in a spiritual sense as that man who has just drove past
Zion Chapel in a `city' sense. lam the driver, and Saul
Lanks, the pew opener, is my cad. He shows you into
my bus, and I undertake to carry you where you want to
go. I books you for the eternal city. Now, tell me,
arn't that man there next the door, him in the red neck-
cloth and pale face, just as likely to be set down safe as
Mrs. Clamberton, who refuses to sit under me any longer
because Mr. Growler has got a bigger pew ? Again :
instead of this here comfortable, sociable conveyance, I
was the driver of the Newgate wan, and was carrying of
ye all to perdition, I s'pose you'd most of ye have some-
thin' else to think of than whether you was for'ard
or back'ard in the wehicle ! My brethren, where har you
goin'?—where are you goin' ? In either case, the seat
you will fill is of very little consequence. The Question
for you to consider is, where will you be, when, at the
end of the journey, Death, the big booking-office-keeper,
opens the door, and I sets you down ?"—West of En-
gland Conservative.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.—A commission of lunacy
was opened on Monday last, before Mr. Commissioner
Barlow, at the Canonbury Tavern, in Islington, to inquire
into the mental condition of the Princess Catharine
Louisa Maria Frances Bariatinski, daughter of the late
Prince Bariatinski, a Russian nobleman. Her mother,
the Honourable Frances Neville Dutton, sister of the
present Lord Sherborne, died at Alton, in 1807, in giving
birth to the present Princess Catherine. The commission
was opposed by the present Prince Bariatinski, half-bro-
ther to the Princess; it was watched by Lord Sherborne,
uncler whose care she has principally resided, and by Lord
Ducie and the Earl of Carnarvon, who arc related to her.
Several witnesses, the medical advisers, and chief perso-
nal attendants of the princess were examined. Her con-
duct first attracted notice in 1829, and, since that, her
mind has undergone a gradual decay. Her language was
frivolous and incoherent, she destroyed valuable clothes
and other property ; some letters were read in which she
spoke with a childish levity about wishing to be married ;
she would pull up her clothes in the streets and shops to
tie her garters, making faces at people at church, smile at
gentlemen in the theatre ; and, altogether, her behaviour
was so improper that her governess was obliged to keep
her apart from other ladies. The Commissioner and the
Jury visited the Princess at her residence in the High,.
bury-grove. They found her crouched down before a fire,
which was guarded by a fire-screen ; and her idle answers
fully betrayed the state of her mind. In person she is
tall, and of rather prepossessing appearance. The Jury
pronounced her mind to have been unsound since August,
1830.

THE GIPSIES.—The anniversary Gipsy festivals were
held during the first week after Christmas, at the house
and grounds of the Rev. Mr. Crabbe, near Southampton,
and numbers of the swarthy tribe come from very distant
parts of the country to this re-union of their race. The
grounds at Spring-hill-house have a very picturesque ap-
pearance on these occasions. Gipsy carts, shaggy ponies,
and the roughest of donkies, are on the outskirts of the
grounds ; gipsies of all grades are lounging about, the
faces of the greater part unequivocally showing their
identity—the English climate for centuries not having
bleached the brown complexions and raven hair of the
Gitana. The majority are tidily dressed, having put on
their best, to please " The Gipsies' Friend," as they all
affectionately call Mr. Crabbe; a few of the women are
tawdrily attired in red stuff gowns, with black bonnets
and showy ribands—these are principally denizens of the
few are in wretched plight—one woman
had ten
children living out of twelve, all without shoes,
• naked. These are visiters not under the spe-
New Forest ; a
c
and near )
ial care of
haste the institution. There are several young per-
sons who h been apprenticed, and follow trades, or are
domestic servants, through the agency of the institution.
There used to be a goodly number of aged reformed
Gipsies who were pensioners on the institution ; a great
portion of them have died. The number of children
present is always very great in proportion to the adults.
An aged dame, named Carter, has 56 grandchildren, most
of whom met her on the occasion. These anniversaries
have generally been well attended by the principal inhabi-
tants of the neighbourhood ; at the anniversary on Wed-
nesday last the number of visiters was much less than
usual, owing to the state of the roads, which were in a
frightful state, and the heaviness of the atmosphere,
which betokened rain. There was, nevertheless, a good
attendance, and on this occasion the Marquis Conynghans
and his family were present.—Hampehire Telegraph.
DREADFUL DESTITUTION.—On Friday an inquest was
held before Mr. Wakley, the London coroner, on the
body of Maria Dillaway and her infant child. The jury
on proceeding to view the body, were conducted through
a number of broken-down fences to a cabin
. about the
size. or perhaps rather less than
indiscriminately tvaroyo•
dsubllnf,r"
house, and composed c
bt
and mud. In this place lay the bodies of the mother and
child. The interior of the cabin was 5 feet 6 inches wide,
and 12 feet long. It consisted of an apartment with a
fire-place of bricks at one end, and a dirty looking mat-
tress was resting against the wall. The bodies of the
woman and child were in an advanced state of decompo-
sition, and presented all the appearances of having been
literally starved to death. In the place resided the father
and four children, who had actually slept on their wretched
bed within two feet of the body •
of their relative. The
jury expressed the most unmingled horror and disgust that
dwieodiribaenfore the arrival of the doctor,
such a scene could take place in any civilized country.
had been confined the day
before the
that the poor "creature
had died from want of food. The husband had applied
wbl
before
aoo pr
ape t a
andt
ed t
tthhhaaat
tt
hst
ehh
she died
a d
for relief but was refused unless they would all enter the
workhouse. The husband was a hard-working man, but
inquest was held at St. James's Workhouse, Poland-street,
ounnatbhlee
htoodfin_dofeArni
Pari7limea:
the deceased had re tl
cen y got 'her living by needlework.
ierthlagethde6ss.amlet
adpapyeaarendotthheart
Her residence was unknown, but on Saturday night last
she engaged half a bed from a woman named Margaret
Parker, at No. 7, Husband-street, and agreed to pay
Is. hd. a week for it. Deceased went to bed immediately,
and on the followin morning 4d all the money she had,
g •,
was spent to get her some tea. She bad nothing whatever
to eat but a halfpenny bun, but owing to weakness and
great bodily debility, sbe was unable to swallow a mouth-
ful. She remained in the room without food until the fol-
lowing Tuesday, when an order for her removal to the
workhouse was procured, and she was admitted on the
same day. Her death took place the next evening, and
it was the opinion of Mr. French, the parish surgeon,
that she died from apoplexy. The surgeon thought she
was in want of food, and the witness Parker said she was
totally destitute, and in a starving condition. The room
in which the deceased engaged the lodging was in size 8
feet by 10, and much to the astonishment of the coroner
and jury it was stated that five persons, four women and
lad of 16, slept in it. Verdict—" Died from apoplexy."
It was stated that deceased had been housekee per to many
families of the highest respectAbilit y.