The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-11-29 00:00:00

alniitA

SHIPPR C 1 iTELLIGartt.

DLit.' 'November 28.—Wind S.W., blowing strong.—Came
down from the River yesterday and remain--New Albioo,
Powel. Cambridge, Mason, Sontersetshire, Parent, Heart of
Oak, Robertson. Hunter, Hodgson, and Commerce, Harvey,
outward hound vessels.—Several other vessels from the River
are now coming in, flames not yet known.
Powrswourn, November `36.--Wind S.W.— Arrived the
Olatton, Gordon, from the Downs for Honduras; His Majesty's
ship Snap, —, from Newfoundland, and Eugene. Bruen,
from Boston.

PLI ',form, November 27.—Wind S.S.W. to S.—Arrived
Hie Majesty's ship Falcon, from Gibraltar in nine days;
Apollo, Eckston, from Longsound.—Off the Port the ,Magnet,
from New York.

LITZRPOOL, November 27.—Arrived the Hero, Morrison,
Belton', Anderson, and Regent, Boston, from Miramichi ;
Friends, Clark, from St. Andrews, New Brunswick ; Fame,
Jackson, from the Bay of Fundy ; Cesar, Fisher, from Que-
bec ; and the Hope, —, from Alexandria.
The Britannia, Martin. from Kunda to London, was driven
on shore near Revel, sth inst. but got off with loss of a rudder
and en anchor and cable, and intended to put into Revel to
repair.

The trial of Thurtell4Hunt, and Probert, will take place
it is generally expected on Friday next at Hertford. Mr.
Gurney conducts the prosecution, Mr. Andrews and Mr.
Chitty are Counsel for Thurtell. Mr. Chas. Phillips has
been specially retained for the defence of Probert.
We have not heard to whom Hunt's defence hes been en•
trusted.
Perrsitorn4, Soy. 27.—The Court Martial on Captain
Harris will sit le-morrow morning at nine o'clock.—Presi-
dent—Admiral Sir James Hawkins Whitshed. Captain
Hon. T. B. sC apel, Captain James Nash, Captain Sir W.
Hoste, Captain H. E. P. Start, Captain B. C. Doyle, Captain
H. Stewart. Moses Greetham, Esq., Deputy Judge Ad•
I vacate._ . . . .

- Mr. Croker arrived last evening to attend the Court. It
is understood here that Mr. Canning has sent a sworn depu.
sition of the frets, as far as his evidence goes ; stating, at
the same time, the impossibility of personal attendance
from a press of public business in London. The opinions
of naval men are various as to the reception of inch a docu-
ment. In addition to the evidence offered at Plymouth,
that of Mr. Turner, of the suite of Sir E. Thornton, will
be heard before the nett Court. Mr. Turner did not arrive
in sufficient time for the former Court.

This afternoon the Dutch brig Courier Captain Lucas,
belohgiog to the navy of the King of the Netherlands,
arrived at this port from Flushing, on her wog to the
Mediterranean. It being customary with this particular
nation to coutinne the old and friendly custom of saluting
the Hag of the Port Admirtl, coo lowering her anchor she
commenced bring her guns, when, unfortunately, the
wadding of one of them struck the head of a waterinan,
who was close alongside, which caused his death almost
immediately. Of course the greatest concern was exhibited
by Captain Lucas and the crew, and the deceased Wil sent
on shore, in order that a Coroner's Jury might hold an
inquest on him. His name is hlarshall, of Gosportl; he was
a widower, with a son and daughter, of sufficient age to take
care of themselves.

Sirtleorge Martin is named as the successor of oar Port
Admire!, Sir J. H. Whitshell, with Mr. Triphook as his
Secretary.

DEEPENING roe CLTDIL—Mr. Telford has, we learn, ex
pressed a favourable opinion of the plan adopted for deepen
dog the river, below the city, by dredging; but has, a
the same time, recommended for that purpose. the applies
tints of a machine to be worked by • greater power—
namely, a 12 horse power engine, instead of an 8, and
under the direction of a person at Inverness, whom he
employed on the Caledoolao Canal. This recommenoatioo
bas, we learn, bees promptly attended. to by the proper
anthorities, and measures taken to esti", it into effect.
With the larger power stated, alr. Telford says they raised,
in the manner mentioned, 800 tons of earth from the bottom
of that Canal, in the space of 2U hours, This would soon
deepen the Clyde, at the same time find stuff to close op
the dykes aed hanks raised to confine the river. The tide,
as formerly noticed, rises, we think, sixteen feet at
Greenock —at the Bromnielay, seven feet—to the extent of
this difference, nine feet, the river may be deepened, and
I which, with the depth of water already in the river, would
admit vessels of the largest tonnage to come np to this city
without the smallest difficulty or danger. The advantages
would be incalculable, and the index of trade in this port
exceedingly great. The expense of constructing docks
would, we learn, amount to at least 70,0001. a serious sum,l
and which might, it is supposed, front the heavy charges
'atilt an outlay would render it necessary to impose, deter,
vessels from corning up to this place. But if the vessels
could only get cargoes upon condition of their bringing
these up to (ilasgow, there is no danger but they will
come up to the Broomielaw. It is, however, we hear, in
contemplation, in order to afford more accommodation to
I the shipping here (rendered imperiously necessary from the
!great and increased tonnage arriving at our port) to
construct another quay on the south side of the river, on
the grounds belonging to the Tralle'a House and the city.
'This may obviate some of the difficulties in the way of trade
1 at this moment, but sill we conceive that ducks are indis•
pensabiy necessary before the port can be accounted
complete, or be rendered that emporium of trade for %%Lich
it seems calculated.—Glasgote Courier.
AYR AULD STEEPLE.—Ihe frail and tottering state of
our old neighbour—the steeple, and an apparent accumit•
lation of all "the ills that wait on age," In the person of
this faithful servant of the public, has awakened serious
!apprehensions in tire minds of a number of our respectable
deniaens, for the safety of the lieges during she bitter
blasts of the approaching winter. A petition has, in coa-
-1 sequence, been presented to the magistrates, praying that
such measures might be adopted as would render the lives
and dwellings of the inhabitants less liable to be termed
(as the Insurance office has it) " hazardous property." In
compliance with this petition, the magistrates have ordered
a reduction of its altitude, and on Tuesday the workmen
commenced to take down the columns and other (area.
mented parts of the spire which surmount the dome.
This decapitation, by reducing the top weight, will render
' the rest of the building more stable, although it will
impart rather a singular appearance to it. Considerable
progress has been made in the operations—the exterior
covering is partially stripped, and " the cock diet never
crew," though highly elevated, is now reduced to a level
with the, humblest of its kind. We understand the final
demolition of this edifice, which has so long furnished •
I theme for essayists, prosers and rhyansters, " of high and
low degree," will take place early in spring.—(.4yr
Courier.)
TROTTING MATCR.—The match to trot a galloway, known
in the sporting world by the appellation of the Smithfield
Roarer, from his having been purchased publicly at that market
for I/. las. took place yesterday from Stratfori, to trot one
hundred miles in twelve hours. The galloway, at tire years
old, not only a roarer, but with two knees broken, got into
careful hands, and was sold to a gentleman of the name of
Glartbshore for 131.., from his figure and action. The ground
picked was on the Newmarket road to Epping, from thence
turning to the right, throughEpping Town, into the Bury road.
The start took place at two o'clock in the morning, and in the
first two hours the horse trotted twenty-four miles, was put up
and fed, and commenced re-action at the expiration of three
quarters of an hour. The galloway carrying eight stone the
first fifty miles, accomplished that distance within half an hour
of the given time, (resit, and not on his speed. He was kept at
work steadily with a second jockey, and did thirty miles in 3
hours within two minutes, end was fed again and left to do the
other 21) miles in something more than two hou s and a half,
and the match was won by ten minutes, but not rxeetly easy.—
It is an extraordinary performance, when the galloway broke
twice into a gallop, and felt none of the effects of a former
rash master,

w~,.b--~ •ig..,.

..I.IIIVII
rim.. t

THE MURDER OF MR. W. WEARE.
• --"
HERTFORD, FRID4T' Noir. Lt.—At half past two• this
day, Mr. Clatterbuck and Mr. Mason, the Watford Magis- '
trates, asriveil at the gaol, for the purpose of introducing,
the witnesses, who were down here on Saturday last, to
the presence of Hunt and Thurtell, with, the view of
ascertaining whether they could reeogoisenheili persons... 7 •
Hunt was placed in a room with other individuals, his irons •
fraying been taken off, and the witnesses were brought in
separately—but none of them could speak with any certainty
to his identity, with the exception of Probitt, of the Golden
Cross Yard, from whom he burrowed the horse and chalet,
and who, in fact, had been tome time before, personally
acquainted with him. The man from whom the spade had
been purchased, about the time of the murder, in Long
Acre, had no recollection .of him whatever—onor do we
believe that the spade purchased of him was the same
which-was taken down to Prohert's Cottage.—Hunt seemed
s good deal agitated, and his manners have undergone a,
visible change. He is very low spirited, and his appetite
has greatly failed him.
In the course of the morning, Thurtell was reentered
from the cell, which he Visit occupied since Mr. Pearsou's
visit to the Gaol, situated in the yead immediately within
the outer gate, to the apartroent in which Probert has been
confined from the first, and Prohert has been removed to
another part of the Prison. For this no caw hey been
assigned, save the discretion of the MagistratX7liatsome
augur, rather favourably, in conseq nce, for Probeit It
was in the yard in which ProberT was in the habit of
taking exercise, that Thurtell was submitted to the view of
the witnesses. Hewes without his irons, as in Hunt's case
and was walking with the Magistrates and other
individual,. The imactinian who drove Mr. Weare from
Lyon's Inn to Cumberland Street, New Road, was desired
to look at the group, and say if lie could select the man
who had assisted the deceased in removing his things
from the coach to a house in Cumberland Street, bat tie
was unable to point oat any body in particular. Thurtell
during the inspection maintained his customary firmness.
The course to he adopted in conducting the prosecution
will, of course. remain a secret till the day of trial.
The following is a copy of a letter which Mr. Williams,
the solicitor for Mr. Prohert, has addressed to the several
editors of the daily papers, on the subject of the hardships
to which his client has been subject :
To THE EDITOR.
Sot—When will the press be satisfied that it has done
enough towerils shedding the b'e id of the wretched
prisoners et Hertford? I have patiently but in vain
waited for the time of rest or of reaction, when the public
mind thus over heated with tiles of horror, would be left to
cool, and when common sense would he suffered to dispel
ebe clouds of prejudice by which truth has been hi idrn ;
gross isiis.stateinent, however, has been followed only by
'ids-statement eroeser still, and every succeeding day bee
brought its aililitionel weight of calumny.
When before in the annals of this kingdom was a prisoner
nntried, mid therefore in the eye of our laws innocent,
shut out from all intercourse with his relatives and ;riends ?
A prisoner, connected by blond and marriage with nuns.
rous persons of great wealth and respectability, all
believing him incapable of the crime laid to his charge— •
left destitute—almost suffered to starve in his cell, nee .vise
not one of these relatives or friends could in any way
correspond with him without the certainty of being hehd
to the public as an accomplice, and the prohabili•y even
of being imprisoned on suspicion. On behalf of the un. .
fortunate prisoner, Prohert, who has been thus siteated. I
feel it my duty most solemnly to protest against the con-
duct of the press towards him. To collect and repeat litre
one twentieth part of the idle and false rumours which have
been industriowsly disseminated concerning my unfortunate
client, would occupy more time than I could spare, without
detriment to the necessary arrangements for his defence;
bat let it suffice to say, that from my own personal
knowledge, as well as from the best Information I can
obtain, there is not one circumstance which has been
been stated to his prejudice that is not either wholly false,
or very melt and very maliciously mis-stated.
It has been generally reported and believed, that Probert
is a gambler, and an uld and intimate associate of Thurtell
and Hunt's ; but it can be clearly proved that he has
known neither of them more than a very few months—
that lie became acquainted with John Thurtell merely
through serving his brother's house (the Cock in the
Haymarket) with wine and spirit.; and as to his gambling,
it is notorious that lie is nut a gambler. and never entered a
gambling house in his life.
A great deal has been said about the wretchedness of his
cottage and the poverty of his living—the latter exemplified
by his buying meat in London to carry bowie to his family;
it may theretore be as well to apprise the public, that all
the highly respectable individuals who have at different
times occupied this " desolate cottage" (as the newspapers
and play hills term it.) have invariably purchased their
provisions in London, there being no butcher's shop within
3 tulles of it.
Something has been said of Proberes having been desir
ons to employ some other professional man, and that my
employment was at the instance of his friends, and not at
his own wish. 1 11:laU only observe upon this, teat I had
good reason to know that the unfortunate man would be
more satisfied with the defence of his life being in my hands
than in those of any other person in the kingdoms;
and it was this !iron ledge, added to a thororgli conviction
of his innocence and total previous ignorance of the
murder, &which lettered me at length, though, Goo
knows. relate intly, to consent to accept the arduous sad
unpleasant tack.
It has been said, that at the time of my introduction to
Mrs. Prober% she recognised me as an old friend—far from
shrinking front the avowal of the fact, if it were so, I
should see nothing which would not do me honour in a
friendship with the daughter of the iste highly respected
and wealthy brewer, Mr. Noyes, with the sister of the
amiable Misses Noyes, and of that respected, quiet, arid
inoffensive being, Mr. Thomas Noyes, who, though now
mast singularly (and I think illegally) confined in the
prison at Alban's, will, lam sure, come from thence
pure and unspotted. lint it is not so-1 never saw Mrs.
Probert, except en one occasion, and that was when. in
the Net summer, the farm upon which Gill's ILA Cottage
stand:, evas advertised for public sale, end I then called to
view thielead. I found—cot the desolate cottage, note ee
much spoken of. but a compact, neat, I might also say,
elegant little residence. where every thiag bespoke comfort.
1 found net the wildernris I have suer seen there, het
grounds in the highest state of cultivation. and displaying
the most elegant taste: I found more-1 found within
true English hospitality—l found, unasked, unfesited-for,
entertainment for myself and my horse-1 spent an hour io '
the society of tire brother and sisters, and the utost opulent
farmer in the reighbourhoud.
Another of the recent mis statemeets, and perhaps the
most mischievous of all, was contained in a paper of yes-
terday. It was there said, that Mr. Probert teas desirous
of m 'king an important communication to Mr. George
Nicholson, the agent for the prosecution, and that at my
request he had consented toattend him, and receive it.—
This is wholly untrue. The fact is, that in a coo-
venation with Mr. Nicholson, at St. Alban's,
I stated my firm conviction of my poet. eh-
ent's innocence of the murder, or of the planning
or previous knowledge of it, and that whatever imprudea-
ries his fears for his own life, or his wish to save the lives
of others, or both feelings combined, might have led him •
into, that it wouid be impossible for any unprejudiced mind
to heat his account of the previous transactions, wittout
reeling that it carried with it marks f °Wile
euised genuine truth. Mr. Nicholson regretted that he
had never seen Prohert, sod expressed a wish to have been
able to judge for himself—an interview with the prisoner
was proposed and agreed to, and without my having aftehe