The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-08-14 00:00:00

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..• THE STREETS
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Sone curiosity having been excited by Mr. Id'
plan for convertieg the pavement of streets into a same*
surface, We have extracted from .the minutes of evildoing
takes before a Committee of ibe Home of Contmoos, tido
passages tending to show Low far . the piss has bead nand
on, and in what degree it is practicable.
Mr. JAMS MADAM examined. , . ,
Has airy tuggestion been muds to you Of eettertinfogg
pavement of any part of the streets of Londe, into
—I have been ordered by the Parliamentary Commits
ere having charge of Westminster Bridge, to prepare as
Estimate and Report, with a view is conVert that paventesit
into a broken stone road, which docannents I hare furnish-
ed ; and I bay' reason to believe that the same will be lies
by mediate)y carried into effect. I have been also directed
e trustees and proprietors of StJamee's-eqsate,to prepare
(which I have done) the same document', with a view to
anbstittve a broken stone road in StJames'saquare, in 1k
of the present pavement.
What is your opinion of the effect that would be found
from its bring carried into execution in all the streets of
London, as to the redaction of expense, and benefit gene-
rally to the public ?—1 consider that the expense would be
most materially reduced ; the convenience of passing over
the surface, there could be no doubt, would be generally
facilitated. and made more convenient, particularly in the
great leading streets such as Piccadilly, Pall Mall, Podia
anent-street,
anent-street, and Whitehall, and others of that description;
thee expense of the same Weight of stone now put upon
those streets as pavements would be obtained at Wl-
nitely less expense, is a different form, for the pupae, of
rose-making.
Is it your plan to raise the present pavement, and convert
that pavement into materials for making the road, or to
bring new materials and dispose of. the pavement ?—Por
Westminster Bridge I recommended to the Trnatees to sell
the present pertinent, beamse as long at pavements conti-
nue to be generally used, stone in that shape and sive will
41ways be valuable, and the same weight of granite I could
obtain for the formation of the road over the bridge at Ifs.
61 per ton, the present pavement being worth a guinea par
ton ; bat were the streets of London generally taken up,
up, pavement would of course become of less value, and It
might be broken for the formation of the roads.
Is this pstemcatofa quality calculated to make goad roads?
—The hest material in the kingdom.
What portion would the pavement now used in the streets of
London bear to the materials necessary to the formation of the
roads T—Tnere would be sufficient for the formation of a strong
durable road In the first instance; and I estimate that a supply
of materials for the future care of the road, for a considerable
time, would be left.
Would that answer in all the small streets of the metropolis
as well as for the large and open streets?—l think not so well
is the very narrow streets, which are liable to water, and where,
from the width of the street, the thoroughfare must necessarily
be upon one given spot. I beg, however, to observe, that the
thoroughfare in those streets is extremely small.
Would the dust be increased or diminished by this alteration?
—I consider, that upon a well made stone road, with the same
cure of cleansing and watering that is given to the streets, that
the annoyance from dust would he infinitely less ; sad a road
is more susceptible of retaining the water than pavement.
What world be the proportion of the annual expense be-
tween the paved street and the roadl—Taken seven years, dur-
ing which time I calculate that the pavement gets worn out, I
should think the annual expense of the road would not be one
fifth part, because in that seven years the whole value of the
pavement is nearly lost,
What would be the effect produced upon the necessity of
raising the road for the purpose of alteration of the pipes and
White works ander the street 2—At present, when this operation
is necessary, a peeler, whose wages are from Ave to six shil-
Ungs a day, is required. Were the streets converted into
Wee roads, a labourer at e'ghteen•pence a day would perform
net same service ; sad by due ears in laying the materials
el one side, and the earth on the other, the injury to the road
would be extremely small, and the spot weeld very soon be-
come obliterated ; whereas in raising a part of a paved street
it is quite impossible ever to unite the piece so raised with the
rest of the pavement.
Supposing the pavement to be converted into a road, In that
case, would' it be necessary. when any pipe was repairing, to
atop up the way to prevent can-leers and horses passing ?
Certainly not more so than at present, as that circumstance
must always depend upon the width of the street. In vary
narrow streets, where the pipe lies in the centre, a large open-
ing is necessary; it would follow as a matter of course that
ti.e strata most he stopped ; .but upon large streets one side
would he left free.
Would not a repair be more rapidly executed, supposing the
way to be a road instead of a street 2—Were the streets con-
verted into roads, the repair of the roads would be almost un
known to the public, and no stoppage whatever wonid take
place; the repair of such roads would be limited to a one-lasi'
coat at a time, which would searctiy be known to persons pant
ing in carriages, end the great inconvenience at present con-
stantly felt in every part of this large metropolis by the owes-
idle of repaving the streets would cease.
You assume that the roads for the streets in Loudon must be
made with graalte?—!: tat assuredly, I should never recom-
mend any other material to be made use of for the roads in the
town.

Mr. WY. lld'Anam, further examined.
Have you, in the course of your practice. converted any
paved street into a road 2—Yes. I have ; Fore-street-hill, in
Exeter, forms part of that turnpike-trust; it is very step, and
was exceedingly slippery, so much so, that I never rode on
horseback down it myself till it was converted into a stone
road; it has been so for a year or two ; it has answered every
purpose. and stood remarkably well, and by being watered a
little in very dry weather, I believe there isles. inconvenience
found from dust than when it was paved. I have heard .oine
gentlemen say, that in coming up that hill with their carriages,
it not being above a furlong end a half, or two furlongs in
length, they have saved from five to ten minutes time since It
was made road : and I have heard coachmen say, that when
they brought their horses quite cool to the bottom of that hill,
ti-share been quite in alather by the time they got to the top
of it, from the terror of the horses in slipping about.
That was when it is paved":—Yes.
What kind of stone do you use for making that road?—
The pebble of the country. picked from the gravel pits.
Have you converted any other part of Exeter front pave-
ment into road ?—There is no other part of Exeter under
the care of the trust; but in consequence of the effect which
the Chamber of Exeter saw in Fore-street, they have broken
up a great many of the streets in Exeter, and, I believe, are
proceediog gradually to do them all. In the town of New-
ton Abbot there is a county bridge; the county have broken
up the bridge bands, and converted it in a statilar manner.
John Loudon M'Adatn, Esq. farther examined.
Have you, in any inst wire, made the alterations stated by
your sons ?—Yes, 1 have: I found the suburbs of Bristol
were entirely paved when I to uk charge of the roads of the
district; those sobnrbs are within the jurisdiction of the
commissioners for the care of turnpike road's; and I found
the expense of piling was eery heavy, and the effect very
bad, and I at once took the whole pavement up, and broke
the stone that I found there into a stone road, up to the ju-
risdiction of the magistrates.
Was that granite stone?—No, a kind of stone called the
blue pennet in that county, and part of a light stone called
Brandon-hill stone, both tolerably good stones; the blue
rnnet is certainly no. so good as granite; the Brandon-
bill stone, when broken, is pretty nearly as good as granite.
But those suburbs having been taken up, and given treat
satisfaction the year before list, the magistrates took up
balf of the street, called Sto k-'s Croft. which is the great
entrance of the town from Glocestershire. The inhabitants
were very mach afraid of dust; and therefore they request
rd the magistrates not to take up the whole of the street,
bat to make an experiment on one half of it, and after a
year's experiment they consented to the whole being taken
up. Worn I left Bristol, which Is now three months ago,
they Wets busy taking up the remainder of the street; and
I understoorbit was the intention of the magistrates to pro-
ceed gradually to take up a great number of other streets
in the town.
Do you know what dill:re:ice it has made in the expers •:


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—That part of the sebeiips' that Was lineld, 'lid Tald itele
with the same stone broken, cost sd. a grub yard for
doiagtook op the stone I theatre nothing to purchase,
the stone that came oat of ets folly shade the
road, and we bed a little remaining for repair afterwards.
and that operation cost sd, a square yard ; paving. in the
city of Bristol, costs 56. 6d. a square yard when stone is
fiend by the pavier, and I believe they reckon the laying
down to be eighteen peace of that.
What would be the difference of expense annually be-
tween a paved street and a road ?--I think that road re-
quired no repair for the first three years after it was done.
A pared street would require no strair for seven years
afterit was done ?—I think we repaired it for about a fifth
part of the money, when it required repair, that a pave.
meet would have cost. We seldom find our streets in
Bristol last above three years; the pavements heroine
rugged, and full of holes, and so on ; they are obliged to
be taken np, and they relay them generally oece in three
years. There is another street in Bristol which has been
taken up. but I cannot recollect the name of it ; it goes
from Stoke's Croft to Kingston; it has been taken up by
the magistrates, not under my direction.
Has any objection been taken by any person to the alter-
ation that has been made at Bristol?—No, except the alarm
that the inhabitants of Stoke's Croft bad when it was be-
gun to be done, and thy got the magistrates to delay doing
more than half of it till they were satisfied that it would
not inconvenience them ; and the circumstance of their
sending a request to the magistrates to finish it induces me.
to believe that the/ were very mach satisfied with the ex-
periment. Park Street, in Bristol, has been done in that
way for, I think, 17 years; I was then a commissioner for
watching and paving the streets of Bristol.
Who did it?—it was done at the expense of the commis-
sioners for watching and paving, at my wish ; and
tainly did superintend it, though I hadliotbing to do with
more than any other commissioner had. It is a street ninny
gentlemen know very well; it is a public road from Bristol
to the Park, and very steep ; I believe it is a rise of three
inches in a yard, and when paved was so very dangerous
and slippery, that many accidents arose from it, and now it
is a very good road, indeed, and 180 not believe that it
cost upon an average, since that alteration, more than one
fourth of what it need to do.
What stone was it paved with before ?—Black rock-stone,
a species of limestone.

COURT OF CHANCERY, WILDNUDAY, Atig.l3.
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SIR O. lint/MONT V. A LLNI."I"r.
Mr. SUGDEN obtained an order for transferring the pic-
ture of Macbeth, painted by Mr. Haydon, to the plaintiff,
by whom it was claimed, on paying into Court 1001.; that
being the earn for which it was sold, in the disposal of Mr.
Heyclon's effects.

POLICE.

Mangos; Hesse.—blocs AUCTIONS.—A gentleman
attended before the LARD Maros to complain of frauds pros.
used upon the public, and by which he had suffered, at a
Mock A nctioa in Lime-street.
The gentleman stated, that being unacquainted with the
character of the place' he was led by a public advertisement
to a public auction in Lime-street. The description given of
the sale in the advertisements and the catalogue was, that
the whole of the property was of the very first rate, and be-
longed to a person of high rank. He purchased a large
quantity of property to the amount of upwards of 1301., aed
the whole turned out to be of the vilest kind, completely at
variance with the description, and certainly not of one-fourth
of the value it professed to be. Without troubling his
Lordship with a description of the whole of the articles he
had purchased, he would state that a considerable part of
the things purchased consisted of plated ware, which the
auctioneer, a respectable looking matt, warranted to be of
the strongest kind of plated goods, and to have silver
edges. Instead of being such articles, they proved to be,
nut plated, but washed, and without silver edges. The
auctioneer disappeared .immediately after. He (the com-
plainant) had been at the Excise office, where he couclisded,
as a matter of course, that the name of the auctioneer would
be found registered, but he could tears nothing of the fellow
there. Under these circumstances, he requested that the
Lord Mayor would grant a warrant for the apprehension
of the man who, in the character of an auctioneer, had
defrauded.
The LORD MAYOR asked the complainant whether he
knew the name of the auctioneer. The reply was in Aril
negative.
The Loan MAToR expressed his surprise at the incautious
manner in which the complainant had ventured upon such
purchases, especially as there was such opportunity for com-
mitting fraud.
The complainant said, lie presumed that all auctioneers
being sworn, and to a degree responsible persons, were
therefore respectable. Besides, from the manner in which
the site was conducted, no stranger could have suspected
it. There was no opportunity for the examination of the
articles.
It was then stated to the Lord Mayor that the system of
fraud, by means of mock auctions, had at present reached
to a serious height. Sometimes a coons Was hired at the
west end, and a sale of " eatable" plate was nude in the
name of " &gentleman going to. Spain," or " on going to
give up his town residence and sell his stock of wines," and
by this means the worst trash was palmed upon the unsus•
pecting.
The LoRD MAYOR regretted that the anctioneer could not
he found, as a warrant could not be issued for his apprehen-
sion except the name was known. His Lordship then advised
that every possible means should be resorted to for the im-
pose of ascertaining the nurse of the mock auctioneer, whom
the law would certainly treat with mach rigour.
GUILDHALL.—John Homer, the driver of the hackney.
coach, No. 170, was brought up for re-examination before
the sitting Magistrate, Mr. Alderman Cox, on a charge of
f.dony, under the following circumstances:—lt appeared
that on Thursday last the prisoner had a fare of two ladies
and a gentleman, who had desired him to wait while they
went into Mr. Maynard's, Ludgate-hill, to make some pur-
chases; one of the ladies, after agreeing for the goods she
wanted, on putting her band into her pocket for her purse
missed it, and imniediately recollected she had left it on the
seat of the coach. She went back directly for it, but it
was gone; and the coachman when questioned denied all
knowledge whatever of it, declaring positively that he bad
never seen it. Snow, the beadle of St. Martin's, Ludgate,
was sent for, and searched the coach, but no purse was to
be found. Previously on searching the coachman, lie
questioned the lady as to the contents of the purse, who
stated them to be five sovereigns, and 11. 15s. in silver; the
purse was of green silk; and finding upon the coachman
five sovereigns in gold, and 21. 4s. in silver, he took him to
the Comptty. The purse was found shortly afterwards in
the gutter close to where the prisoner's horses had stood.—
The lady, Snow said, had identified the purse, and bad also
given her name and address, Mrs. Braves, Parade, St.
James's park; but on calling at her house. lie could not get
sight of her, and was toll she was gone out of town, atul
would out attend.
Mr. HUSiplialaS, who attended for the prisoner, said he
understood he was a respectable moo, and drove his own
number, but as no evidence appeared against him, it was
not necessary for him to go into his defence.
Snots' asked what he was to do with the money be hail
taken from the prisoner; to which Mr. Humphries imme-
diately replied it had been taken from his client; there was
nobody else to claim it, and it most therefore be restored to
him as his.
The'Magistrate unfortunately had no authority to direct
otherwise, and the prisoner was dist:bark:lA pocketing the.
dl. 15s. leaving Muow in unincl, sled possession of the empty
purse.

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' How STaarr.—MaLANCHOLI Cass.—A omit taim
of Interesting appearance was brought before Mr. hha,
under the following circumstances:—lt appeared that she'
wet seen wandering about Sr. Martin's Lane, in a stale of
great distress, and on inquiring into the cause of her sito-
ation, she stated that she had lived in service-at North
Shields with one master for vie years and a half; that un-
fortunately, while there, a man who represented himself to
he a roach spring maker. paid his addresses to her, and be-
lieving him to be respectable, she entertained his proposals
of marriage, and ultimately was married to him; het oar
our, from her previous good• character, giving her rosy.'
Oa the ceremony being concluded, her little fortune, which,'l
with her own savings and the contributions of her friend
• amounted to 100 sovereigns was handed to ber hush 4
For some time he treated bet kindly, and ultimately brought
her up to Windsor, under pretence of seeking work. Here'
he remained till' last week, when he suddenly deserted
her, without a farthing in her pocket. She found her
way from Windsor to town, and was now completely des-
titute.
Mr. HAu.n, with great humanity, promised to writedown
to her late master at North Shields. and if her story proved
true, to have be; conveyed to her friends. Jo the interim.
be gave directions for Ler comfortable accommodation in
St. Martin's uorkhonse. He has also directed that search
shoeld be made for her husband.
The mine of the unfortunate girl previous to marriage
was Isabella Lindsay ; that of her husband William Lewis.
She was living with Mr. Luiscale, in Dockwray Square,
When site was married. •
FaAvo:faanes Roger:, alias Brown, who was brought
up on a former day,. charged with attempting to defraud
Mr. Scott, a tailor in Pall Mall, of a suit of clothes, was
again put to the Isar yesterday, when a new charge was pie.
ferred against him by Mr. Coward, tailor,. in. Hanover
Street, Hanover Square. Mr. Coward stated, that on the
20th January, ISIS, the prisoner went to his hoes* and be-
spoke a suit of clothes, and a morning frock coat. He
represented himself to be Major Hepburn, of the 4th Polish
Lancers, in the Russian service. On the Saturday even-
ing they were sent home to the prisoner, according to his
order, at the Oxford Coffee House. The Foreman who
carried them had strict injnnctions not to leave them with-
out the money.' The prisoner, on finding that the foreman
would not diptart from his instructions, was a good deal
mortified, and talked of some misunderstanding with the
banker,. He agreed, however, to accompany the man to a
friend of his who would satisfy him as to his respectabi-
lity. The foreman and he then went together to Mr. Copt
land, a surgeon, in Golden Square; anti the prisoner be-
I ng shown into Mr. Copriand's parlour remained with him
for some time. On coming out Mr. Copeland took leave
of him with apparent cordiality. The prisoner then said
Mr. Copeland was an old friend of his; but baring lost
sight of him for some time, he did not much like to be-
come responsible for his debt. He finally said be would
proceed to Mr. 'Coward's, and reached his house between
nine and ten o'clock. He sew Mr. Coward, to whom he read
a note, which, be said, lie had received from Messrs Stephen
Thornton& Co. that morning. It was to the following ef-
fect :—" Messrs. Stephen Tborntoo and Co. present their
compliments to Major Hepburn, and have no im-
mediate recollection of any letter of credit in his favour
from Messrs. Thornton, diary. and Co. of Petersburg,-
They will, however, he glad to see him on Monday; and
in the mean time they will behappy to honour his draught."
On hearing. this letter read, an: also being informed that
the primmer was acquainted with so respectable a man, as
Mr. Copeland, Mr. Coward was thrown off his guard ; and
he ineaolionsiv agreed to take Isis draught on Thornton
and Co. for .£l6 tis., which was the amount of his bill. The
prisoner then wrote a formal char on the house in question.
which lie signed with the name of Hepburn, and enclosed
it in a letter revesting that airy would accept and pay it.—
This done. Mr. CuWild sent for a hackney-coach, the doilies
were delivered to the Major, and he drove off. Scarcely had
he quitted the house, however, when it was discovered
that lie had left the note which be read as from Messrs.
Thornton and Co.; this being read by Mr. Coward, be at
once found that he had been duped, for instead of con-
cluding with the words which had been repeated by tho
prisoner as part of the contents—" They will, however, he
glad to see him on Monday, and in the meantiine will be
happy to honour his draught," the conclusion wa't this—
" They will be glad to see him on Monday tuorning, with
any letter of which lie may be the bearer from their Peters-
burg friends." This was so palpable a misrepresentation,
that Mr. Coward lost no time in proceeding to the Oxford
Coffee-house, to have some further conversation with his
customer. He soon reached his destination, but his fears
of being cheat(' were completely realized. The Major did
not return, and on his portmanteau being inspected, it was
found a pefect void. From that time to the present he had
in vain sought for the prisoner, and now discovered him
from the report of the proceedings at this office in the daily
papers. On subsequent inquiry of Mr. Copeland, he ascer-
tained that the real name of the prisoner was Rogers. and
that be had been for some time one of his assistants. He
had also been with Mr. Brooks, of Blenheim-street, the
lecturer.
•The prisoner was remanded to Monday next. There are
several other charges against him of a similar nature.
MARI.BoROUGU-STREKT.—Yesterday, Mr. Vickers, of the ,
Robin Hood, in Windmill-street, Golden-square, and Mr. •
Bevan, a licensed victualler, of South Moulton-street, were
each fined in the penalty of 2tls. charged with serving their
customers after 12 o'clock at night.
QUEEN-SQUARlL—Yesterday, John Wells, alias Turpia
was brought to this office, charged with having committed
a most outrageous assault upon Mary Turpin, his own
mother.
The prosecutrix stated, that she is a widow, and keeps a
marine store shop, at No. 24, Dartmouth-street, Westmin-
ster; the prisoner is her own son, and lodges in her house;
since the death of her husband, his conduct towards her
Las been most violent, and he has repeatedly threatened to
murder her. On Tuesday night last. she went out about
ten o'clock, after the shop was shut, and returned home
again a few minutes before eleven, when the prisoner, her
son; met her at the door, and asked her in a violent tone,
where she had been to? she made him no reply, but treat
into the house, where the prisoner followed her into the
back parlour behind the shop he seized hold of her
and forced her into a chair, he then took up a ponder
ous hammer, and swore he would knock her brains
oat ; and with this murderous weapon lie struck her several
times over the head and various parts of her face. She
screamed out, `• Lotto have mercy upon me! for Hou's sake
do not murder me, and 1 will tell you where I have been
to." Instead of becoming more calm, he took op a naked
sword, which he held to her throat, and threatened to sever
her head from her body. She repeatedly cried out for mercy.
and begged that he would spare her lite, but he still cont-
need holding her down, and threatening her for at least a
quarter of an hour, when her screams at length brought a
watchman to the door, who rang the bell, and witness em-
braced the opportunity of and escaped from the prisonn's
grasp. The sword and hammer were here produced ; the
former appeared very sharp and about a yard In length,
and the latter nearly the size of a sledge hummer.
The prisoner did not attempt to contradict what had
been asserted against him, trot attempted to justify his con-,
duct by stating, that his mother had lately become ac-1
painted with a man of bad character, who he was afraid
would rain her. 1
The sitting Magistrate (Mr. Wuiva,) informed Ma,tatl
nothing could justify his committing such a growl attack mill
his own mother, and he must call upon hint to add the,
most unexceptionable bail, and give 21 hours notice of ;be;

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