The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-11-26 00:00:00

the Field, mud SYD4VRT died oil t4e Scaffold!"

EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER.
—emonse-
- (rams TM itoTTintigaln Cavity/4
On Monday, Thomas Wright, Gent. coroner, held an Inquest
at the house of Mrs. Marsh, Bion-hill, New Radford, on the
body of Edward Briers, who had on the preceding day, fellers
down in a fit of apoplexy, at the house of Mr. Coope, whey;
shout lo sit down to dinner,.and instantly expired. The Jury,
brought in their verdict, " Died by the visitation of Ood."
Edward Briers was such an extraordinary character, enrlso
well known in this town, that we cannot suffer Win to pass to.
that bourne from whence to traveller returns—to lierautongst
the forgo ten dead, without presenting our *readers with a few
particulars of this eccentric individual, which may be referral
to another day. lie was only thirty seven years of age. and
yet had seen some strange varieties of fickle fortune. • In hi%
Flirt!), lie was of humble circumstances, and by the intluence ni
friends, became one of the blue-cost scholars of this town ;
and during the time of his being in this school, when he was,
nearly fourteen years of ego, an event occurred, ',high of-eted
titglibbsturejseirste through life. sees going up the lug
Dale, in coronae-o'lth three of his school fellows, seeking i.l
the hedges fur birds' nests, when his ettenttou was sutide.:' r
attracted by something, which he was led to Wink valuable,
and he hastily smitched it up, and put': into his pocket. Oius
of his blue-coated brethren saw the melon, and cried balv.,,
and Ned who was always a ready fellow, to satisfy them pu:lint
an old pocket book out'of his pocket, wilco its had found 'e
day or two before, and showed them that as his prize; and :t
was actuahy sold for twopence, which was divided am hies:
them ! The important fad, he toolf an early opportunity of
exatuicing in private, and without saying one w.,rd to his p
rents, or any other person, sought a convenient place in t
fields, and there deposited his prize. where it remained lur
many years ; he only occasionally visiting, and drawing ve
small portions from it! At the age Of fourteen, in ISJI, rtes
was bottorl apprentice to a framework knitter, and served h•li
time, nothing distinguished from those that were around him ;
and for eight years the treasure lay hidden in a field! lihus
undoubtedly appears an extraordinary Isle ; but one thin; ,a
certain, that when he was about twenty-two, he suddenly ars
peered to be possessed of very considerehleproperty, and theta •
we have related above is his own account, true or fa,se, wh:vs
he has given at a very recent period, of the manner in wit.uls
he became possommlof it. At the time, when possessed of
the property, he was very Incommurricetive as to the manner .0
which he came by it, and also as to the amount. At the agei.t
2 years. he seemed resolved to begin to enjoy his wealth.--
Poor " Ned Refers" now became " Mr. Edward Briers
he fancied no doubt, that his newly found treasure was inex-
haustible ; the frame was deserted, his former acquaintacce
forsaken, and with money at command, he had no ditticJity 111
finding new friends. He gave himself up to a life of extra-•
vagance and dissipation, became " a buc; of the OM hater."
a perfect sandy," his linen was of the very finest poesin;."
fabric, and his clothes of the most fashionable cut.--Nara
these exterior advantages, and backed by that powerful wow-
mendetion, a pocket well lined with "ready rhino," be fo,c
no difficulty hi gaining admission to the company of those at.,
moved in a more superior way of life than net to which held:l
been accustomed. He was possessed of stentorian lunge. an:l
his voice was supposed to he more powerful' thau lust of ahc
other man in the town, and we are assured, that he has :evert
times, for a wager, stood upon the trent Bridge, where Vita
tumultuous waters have been running w th great ouisethrougra
the arches, and wheelie has put font. Ids voice with strengtti,
be has been distinctly heard at Colwick . but no doubt
stream materiallv assisted in carrying the sonsul so far. T',.e
powerful voice was very serviceable in keeping order is Uri; t
companies, and hence he was every
-evening, regatarie to u
found, at so'ne one of the numerous free hod 'reale*, whiera
were and are still h-Id at (literati poblig houses. regetatlag taw
proceedines, and frequently officiating as chairmaii.
Here, when he spoke—with muttering jaws,
The wondering circle grimed epplaose.
.And they counted it a high treat, to hear him sing-, or
rather shout, for he hail bo music in Rut, a noted sole,
called " Turpia Hero." It was then he gave fill rent td
the powers of his extraordinary voice, and made the neigh_
bourhood re-echo with his song. in this conrse of life, his
expences were necessarily great, and he has lately declared,
that during the year of his
.greatest extravagance, bet
spent no less than 5001. at one horse at Lenten' at the
same time lie threw out an hint, that the whole amount
of his found treasure was between 2 and 3000!. Another
person informs us, that within the last three months. he
was talking to Brieri about it,, who stated the enteutit to
be about 5001. On inch a sehject, he probably though;
it was most prudent to be silent ; whatever might be thin
amount, in a few year, he spent it all, and then, sad
reverse! he resorted to the public houses, not to spina.
lint to seek subsistence and tbetneans of intoxication, front
those who had known him, in his few and fleeting days
of prosperity. His name once more became plain WA
Briers, er more frequently Turpfn Hero, ant aunt',
good qualities which he possessed, recommended hint tr.
the notice of his quondam friends. He lied the reputatioet
of being s'rictly nonfat, dad very trustworthy. A *cern
ATTEMPT AT Poisoraterc.—(torow a Cotemporary.)_ or a projeet might be Most safely conamitt-d to him,
On Saturday last, the family of a distinguished prelate, withont any fear 'of being betrayed, and hence he
residing occasionally in the metropolis, were thrown into became a useful servant to his former associates.
He bad cations other moan of procuring his favourite'
the greatest consternation by the apparent and somewhat
singular death of an only daughter. The young lady, drink ;frequently for a wager, be has hopped up and down
it appears, haul been to a rout the preceding evening, the Long Stairs, leading from Malin Hill to Narrow-
Mansh, and would with the greatest please re; for a reining•
deuced almost mita morning, and returned home iu health
w
and spirits. Notwithstanding loss of rest, and the fatigue wager, drink or rather suck, a quart or three pints of ale
occasioned by so much dancing, she rose on Saturday through a straw, and has been known td fuck in this saute
morning at her accustomed hoar, but on entering the manner the brandy out of a common black bottle, holding-
breakfast parlour, was observed to be much dejected, aad nearly a quart, in sixty seconds, by a stop watch! This,
looked pale and ill. Of course those symptoms could though we should hive thought it impossible, has, we are
sot escape the ever anxious solicitude of a doating mo' assured by several creditable persons, been performed.
whet, who inquired into the cause ; the young lady offered several times. We have heard a variety of anecdotes re-
'erne evasive excuse, and said she should be better after specting this singular man. but we are aware that the
a little rest, and immediately retired to her own apartnient. pre ant notice has been protracted beyond its due lenge!).
Having been put to bed by her maid; site was suffered le tn process of time, the greater part of his assecistes, no
remain, 'apparently in a sound sleep, for four hours ; at longer repaired to their nine' places of resort, and N eel be-
a
the expiration of which time, her mother entered the came more and more neglected, until about a year and
half ago, he was obliged to get in coals, to prolongroom, thinking she must have sleep sufficient, and re-
existence. in May last, a gentleman who knew something
gassed Other refreshment. On withdrawing the curtain,
of his history, rescued him from the state of degradetioa
what was the mother's consternation to find- her danghtee
cold, pale, and breathless; respiration had apparently into which his follies had plunged him; he ties reapectal4.-
ceased ; the pulse was mute; and the heart no longer clothed, and taken into the service of Mr. Coops., in MAO
house at New Radford, when about to sit dodo to dinner,
throbbed: The first medical assistance was quickly pro-
Cored, and on emote minuteexatuination it was ascertained death suddenly arrested, and took him to his great account.
—We understand that his father and his grontlfstherdied
that the vital principle was 'not totally extinct, though,
in similar way, by the sudden stroke of the fang of
from the symptoms, there was every reason to suppose that
terrors. One thing we have neglected to mention; during
death must have ensued in a few minute.. Restorative.
`were administered for some time without effect, until one the days of his prosperity, lie was ,kirtd to his allowed
of the medical attendants suggested an emetic, on the mother, and during the last few months. he behaved himself
with great propriety, and did what be could, to relieve his
possibility of the patient having. swallowed tome deleteri-
.oes drag. This recommendation was adopted, and attend- aged parent's wants. ,
iesseteoewitee*.
ed with the best results, for the stomach was no sooner
relieved, than re-animation followed. On a subsequent So lash does the late reduction id the amount of duties
elimination, it was evident that this surmise was correct— of Bseisa appear to have been to tlse 'practice of illicit die-
eeveral small phials of perfume and asesliciue were deposited tillation, that smuggled' whigiy his become, in many
in a little secretary that lay on the toilet, amongst which meet; a very scarce commodity, ladeod. The Highland
was one marked opium,' and which bore evidence of glens, Whiala coca flowed with the delectable nectare are
having been recently emptied of its contents. The young now parched and arid. Theist are no more midnight malt-
lady subtaitted having, swalso red some latender &tips• ings—n dire eacour teri between shiilelahs and ganeers'
before getting into bed, but aerated all knowledge of the sword sticks. Sobristy,• however uncomfortable is .virthe
opium bottle foetid on her toilet. An attachment is, how- for Hight girl It maths; has note become a mater tirrieces.
ever; linown •to have existed between the fair lady and a situ; for the legal spirit •Itas not yet travelled into Chi
young officer, whose only patrimony is it accord • the mote districts( and the native' liquor is no longer to
lady's father has
.always been averse to the union, an'sl to 1 foand. An • letelligent ro•rrespondent informs us, that,
this cads, if ht all, tat he'aftributell this rasb and hippilv , more than-one ease, scouts have been acme out its the fit
frustrated attempt. The-gallant olecer embarked ltir.lndiii• 1.54 eeireb; fat wittriaroUrid, and have fives Compelled
only last week, and it is presumed that some intelligence of tra Its, hoine with welancbo'y faces and empty cam.•
that event had reached her on the nuruini;ef her illness. 11(Ed:r:‘ Om -cat.)

PRICE SEVEN PENCE

John Randolph once said. that It Is as difSeult to make a Re-
public out of Spanish material., as to construct a 74 an ship
oat of ehesnut saplings. This remark seems to base been of
the spirit of prophecy.

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Jk..35.5r

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