The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-12-25 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN:

Eveni»g Poxt
As,:s.ssen TAxes.—Fly the Act of let and 21 Geo.
IV. Cap 113, persons who have entered into composi-
tion for their Assessed Taxes under former Acts, and
whose Contracts expire on the sth April, 1622, may
renew the same in respect of House and Window Du-
Ces, for the term of 5 years, on payment of 4 per cent.
additional on the latter duties only.—Persons who
have not before compoundsd, are allowed to enter into
composition for any of the above-mentioned duties on
payment of five per cent. on the present year's assess-
ment (Articles in Trade or kept for Hire excepted.)
Eoltantrauti, DEC. 21.—Monday the West end of
Fountain-bridge was laid under water for a consider-
able space, in consequence of the Union Canal break-
ing onknear to the boat-building-yard behind Gilmour-
place. It was so far fortunate that the accident hap-
pened jtast upon the dinner hour, and befor the work-
men were gone. as all their efforts were requisite to
stop th s deluge ; and, had they not been on the spot,
there is every probability that seven miles of the lines
(the d ist.,nce to the next stop-gate), would have emp-
tied itself at this place. This is the third accident of
the kind in that neighbourhood ; on one occasion it
happened during the night, and the people whose
honses were flooded were called out of bed by the
police watchmen.
l'cliester liaol has a second time narrowly escaped
toe Aagration. On Thursday night, the 13th, the
persons entrusted with the management of the laun-
dry itnprodently made a large fire under the boiler,
which was Idled with linen belonging to the governor's
family ; early on Irriday morning it was discovered
that most of the water in the boiler bad either evapo-
rated in steam from the heat, or had escaped by leak-
age. The greater part of the contents of the boiler
was entirely consumed, and the remainder nearly de-
stroyed, the copper being so extremely heated as to
threaten a speedy ignition to the wood-work attached
—a circumstance which (but for the timely discovery)
would probably have spread the devastating element
to such an extent as to cause the entire destruction
of that portion of the building which comprises the
washhouse, brewery, drying and ironing room, and
the store-room fur manufactured goods, models,
stores, &c.
A Ilenairr.—Last week, two men at work in the
grounds of St. Pierre, Col. lowis's, were surprised at
the appearance of a column of smoke arising from the
middle of some very thick coppice, almost impervious
to human approach. Upon farther scrutiny, they
were alarmed by the discovery of an aperture, which,
upon examivation, conducted them into an excavation,
%here they discovered a being scarcely of this world,
in appearance at least. His body was scarcely covered
with the remnant! of former habiliments, and a beard
almost patriarchal. On being questioned, nothing
satisfactory was gathered ; and, except stating that
be had not been a resident of this cave more than
three mouths, no answer could be obtained. His first
discoverers made a penny of their hermit, as they
termed him, by exhibiting him at two-pence a-piece at
a pubtie-house in Chepstow for some days. until his
commitment to Monmouth Ciao' for three months by
Col. Lewis, as a rogue and a vagabond. Whether an
escaped felon or fraudulent debtor. his beard bespoke
his cause of retirement of no recent date. although it
is conjectured that when shaved and humanized he will
prove more juvenile than his present aspect bespeak*.
No means of subsistence appeared, saving a few rem-
nants of potatoes, stolen from the neighbouring fields,
and a quantity of bun shells.—(Brietolblevenry.)

CITY ELECTIONS.
LAST DAY.
ALTIZRSOATE.—(Eight Mensterit.)—Mr. Rolls, 185—
Mr. Matthews, 185—Mr. Fisher, 184—Mr. Diggeos,6
183—Mr. Forest, 169—Mr. Paxton, 173—Mr. Larkin.
I62—MrWalton, 151—Mr. Corboold,* 74.—The first

-- -
eight were returned.
BREAD-STRERT.-4Tteeke Afembers.)—Mr. Hayward,
Dep. 69—Mr. Mashie, 63—Mr. Coleman, 63—Mr. Dib-
din, 63—Mr. Gibson, 62 —Mr. Burrs, 62—Mr. Blake'.
ley, 60—Mr. Crocker,s9—Mr. Bridge, 59—Mr. Hallam,
59—Mr. Biden.• 53—Mr. De Grave.* 52—Mr. Webb,*
27—Mr. Bruckfiehl,' B—Mr. Thomas,* S—Mr. Hatch,'
7—Mr. Fulton,* 7—Mr. Wiwi,* 7—Mr. Corbett,* 7—.
The first twelve were returned.
BASSISHAW.----The Poll for this Ward closed on Satur-
day by agreement, there being only one vote unpolled,
when the four first Candidates were duly elected. Mr.
Weguelin relinguished.
DOWGATE.—( Right Meinhere.)—Mr. James Saun-
ders, 63-51 r. Saunders, Deputy. 59—Mr. D. Price, 52
—Mr. Bennett,' 51--Mr. E. l'Anson,' 11--Mr.
Mortimer,* 53—Ma. Nesbitt,* 49—Mr. Forster, 46—
Mr. W. C. Wryghte, 46—Mr. .1. H. Coombs,* 45
—Mr. W. Wright,* 42—Mr. Vandercona, 30.—The
first eight were returned.
FARRINGDON WlTHlN.—(Serexteen Members )—Mr.
Crowder, Deputy, 284--Mr. Plummer, 282—Mr.
Dunnett, 277—Mr. Pritchard, Neweate-street; 277
Mr. Winter, 274—Mr. Westwood, 274—Mr. Hogard,
272—Mr. Howell. 271—Mr. Murcott, 271—Mr. Old-
ham, 271—Mr. Prichard, Blackfriars, 270—Mr. Daw,
270—Mr. Hayward, 267—Mr. Hartley, 267—Mr. Gil-
bertson, 262—Mr. Scatcherd, 261—Mr. Eagleton,' 167
—Mr. Woodward,' 139.—The first seventeen were re-
turned.
LIME-STREET.—(Four Members.)—Mr. Price,* 52
Mr. Prince,* 46—Mr. Dvster, 45—Mr. Shearman, 40—
Mr. Jones, 30.—The first four were returned.
LANGBOURN.—(Tea Members.)—Mr. Elliott, 174—
Mr. Gibson, 174—Mr. Milroy, 173—Mr. Carter, 170—
Mr. Dixon, 166—Mr. Wiltsbtre,l64—Mr. Stubbing, 162
—Mr. Ayres, 160—Mr. Joyce, 134—Mr. Rice,' 122,'
Mr. r. Haswell,* 101—Mr. Wright,* 87—Mr. ddome,*
26—The first ten were returned.
Po RTSOKEN.—( Pine Members.)—Mr. Colebach, 211
—Mr. Carter, 200—Mr. Perry, 190—Mr. Smith, 187—
Mr. Parker, I7B—Mr. Cundell,' 91.—The first five
were returned.
WA Lationx.-kEigAt Members.)—Mr. Williams, De-
puty, 72—Mr. Pearce, 70—Mr. Cope, 70—Mr. Richard-
son, 70—Mr. Gibbs, 67—Mr. Woodward, 61—Mr.
Hale, 58—Mr. Watkins,' 49—Mr. T. N. Williams, 41.
—The first eight were returned.—Mr. T. N. Williams
has demanded a scrutiny, and the Wardmote adjourned
till the 4th of January.
Those marked thus (5) are new Candidates.

Sunday night, soon after twelve o'clock, the whole
of the gas lamps in St. James's-park and Constitution-
hill, amounting to upwards of 500. were lighted for
the first time, to try the effect. The operation was
performed by 30 lamplighters, who accomplished the
lighting in less than five minutes. They only conti-
nued burning for about half an hour. The works were
found to be complete, and they will be lighted, every
evening. Last night they were completely lighted,
the oil lamps baring been entirely withdrawn, and the
exhibition was really beautiful, while it promises to be
extremely useful. There is a double row of lamps all
round the great Canal, including, of course, the Bird-
cage-walk, where there were none before, and an addi-
tional row on the side from Spring-garden to Bucking-
gate, which so brilliantly illuminates the whole of the
space between the green plot and the boundaries of
the Park, that there is no longer any refuge or rendez-
vous for the profligate women and skulking thieves
who have lung rendered this every dangerous passage.
Nothing now remains necessary to rout this abomina-
ble herd from that much-frequented part of the town
but the erection of two gas-lights at the back of the
Queen's Guard-house, and in front of the coach stand
which leads into St. James's-street.
MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK.—On Saturday week, a
fisherman, residing at Portwilliam, in Galloway, de-
scried a boat at a considerable distance, which from the
irregularity of its movements appeared to be wholly
freed from the guidance of human agency. Suspecting,
therefore, that all was not right, the honest fisherman,
in company with his son, immediately put to sea, with
the hope of rendering assistance, and by strength of
pulling soon came up with the supposed wreck. And
here, to use his own words, such a scene presented it
self " he had never seen before, and hopes never to see
again." In the boat there were four men, and two
boys, one of whom was still alive, but so completely ex-
hausted by cold, hunger, and fatigue, as to be totally
unable to lift an oar, or even direct the tiny helm. The
boat was half filled with water, and the bodies of the
three men and two boys (the latter of whom looked
most interesting even in death) were lashed to the spars ;
from an apprehension that they would lean overboard.
At this time the survivor was too weak to give a proper
account of himself; hut on being brought ashore, he
received the most humane attention from the family of
Sir Wm. Maxwell, of Monreith, and afterwards el-
plained that he belonged to the brig Stanton, Banks, sit
Whitehaven, burden 250 tons, whose loss is noticed in a
preceding. column. This unfortunate vessel had struck
on the point of Ayr, and of her crew consisting of nine
men and two boys, five had been washed overboard be-
fore the boat could be entered. As it was totally ins.
possible, from the direction of the wind, and fearful sloe',
of the breakers, to effect a landing on the Isle of Mae,',
the boat drifted about from the sth to the Bth December,
during all which time, the crew had been without oars,
eater, or food of any kind. In this state the boat drifted
into Glenlnce Bay, when the survivor was miraculous-I,
ly preserved by the exertions of the individual already
alluded to.
SINGULAR OCCURRENCE...4G the COWS! of last AM.
SON a lady of Liverpool, intending a visit to her friends
In Manchester, sent a piece of very valuable lace to her
dress-maker, to be prepared for her wear on that oces-
pion. The lace was clear starched, and put to bleach on
a grass plat in the out-skirts of the town, at the back of
a respectable dwelling-house, well fenced with high
walls ; notwithstanding which, it disappeared in the
course of the day. The only occupiers of the premises
were a lady and a female servant. The most painful
suspicions were excited, and all search and inquiry
proved fruitless. The lady made her visit to Man-
chester without the ornamental appendage, and the
other parties thought of nothing less than indemnifica-
tion for the loss, on the lady's return. It so happened,
some time after, that the bed-room window bad become
so bespattered, on account of a bird's nest over is, that
the lady engaged a workman to remove it, when, to her
astonishment as well as joy, the lace, which was of con-
siderable length, was found 'neatly rolled round the in-
side of the nest, and, although a little soiled, was not in

the least injured.

Prime Beef in London last week sold for 4id. per
lb. Mottos for 4d.; inferior joints, 244. to 3d. Best
Kent, Essex, and Norfolk Wheats scarcely averaged
445. the quarter, or ss. 6d. per bushel. At Hereford
market, one of the great markets from which the ex-
tensive Mining districts of Monmouthshire and South
Wales draw their supplies, an immense quantity of
Grain was offered for sale, but there were no buyers on
any terms. Cattle of all sorts experienced a further
depression ; fat beasts, which would a year or fifteen
months back have fetched twenty pounds, now not
being worth twelve pounds. Several thousand bushels
of excellent barley were offered by one farmer to a
great dealer at any price, with ao earnest request that
he would name some price, as be must sell to pay taxes
and rent, but he could obtain no bidding. Several
intelligent dealers declared it to be their belief that
any person who Lad been in the market with a consi-
derable sum of money, might have laid it all out at
the rate of ten shillings for the potted, even a present
prices. Thus are things rapidly getting worse for
the farmer; and however those landlords may hug
themselves in fancied security who yet receive their
rents (who, however, we believe to be very few in
to aber, particularly in the eastern counties), they
may rest assured their turn is coming. It is utterly
impossible that rents can be paid at the present prices
of farm produce whilst the present charges of taxes,
tithes, he. remain on production.--(Bristolllereerg.)
Onr fair, on Monday last, usually considered the
hest throughout the year, afforded another deplorable
instance of the distress which at present unfortunately
prevails in the agricultural class of the community.—
The show of every description of cattle was unpre-
cedently great, and prime fat beasts scarcely averaged
44d. per lb. whilst inferior beasts were almost unsale-
able, although offered at • considerable reduction.—
In stores and milkers, notwithstanding the low prices,
and the abundance of feed, but little business was
done. In fact, farmers have at present so many urgent
claims upon their funds, that instead of purchasing
stuck, they are endeavouring to convert what they
already have into money, and thus almost every fair is
crowded to an excess scarcely ever known before. The
supply of fat sod store sheep was also very large, and
the greatest proportion was driven away unsold.—
Prices may be quoted at from 4d. to 44d. for prime
qualities ; and for inferior 3d. to 34d.—{f
Advertiser)
Extract of a letter from Warwick, 24th of Nov.
I 821.—" Farmers are agoing to ruin in tl.is neigh-
bourhood very fast ; no less than three sales (for rent)
took place within six miles of here last week, and the
market on Saturday, for best new Wheat, engaged to
weigh 60Ibs. per bushel, 455.; inferior 56Ibs. 335.;
old Wheat (fine) 80s. Mutton and Beef, 34d. to 44d.
Wool, 58s. per tod of 281bs. and no trade; bat the
Millers will scarcely buy new Wheat at all. Old
Barley was as high as 485.; best new Ditto, 325.;
inferior, 245. 225. 205., lac. &c.

CHEAP Ttuas.—The diary of a deceased gentleman,
in a village about eight miles from this town presents
the following items, incurred by his journey to Lewes,
is lyros,--
Dinner

Half pint of Wine •
Three pots of beer
Shoeing the Horse
Horse and Ostler
Oates - -

6J.

2 Se
The dinner consisted of boiled beef and the necessary
vegetables, a plain, and an apple pudding.
Four fat sheep fatted by Wi!.iain Watson, Esq. of
Rye, and killed by Mr. James Holland, of that town,
butcher, weighed as under :
No. I - list. 41b. Loose fat 171 b.
2 - - 16 6 20i
3 barren 16 2 2SI
4 ditto 19 5 24f
EASTBOURNB.—On Saturday last, some paupers
employed in lowering a rise, or small hill, on the
road leading to Eastbourne Irons Killingdon, dug up
some human bones. When the skull appeared, the
men were induced to proceed with caution ; they soon
discovered more, and from care succeeded in uncover-
ing a perfect skeleton, with the arms folded across the
breast, lying from east to west. There were teeth in
the jaw; two of them were taken out, which were
sound, and as white as snow. Many of the inhabitants
of Eastbourne went to see it. Since writing the
above we have bees informed that another skeleton
was found on Monday morning.
On Saturday evening last, a corn stack, the pro-
perty of Mr. Ben. Pery, of Rothbury, Northumber-
land, was set on fire by incendiaries, and totally con-
sumed, and it required the utmost exertions of the as-
sembled neighbours to preserve a hay stack closely
adjoining. Two persons were apprehended on suspi-
cion, but have been proved innocent by the subsequent
confession of one of the actual perpetrators of this
nefarious crime, who is committed to Morpeth gaol
fur trial. His name is Win. Leighton, alias Huge° ;
and be accuses Wm. Peerage, jun. as inciting him and
assisting in the act. Peerage has absconded; bat the
police officers are after him.
On Wednesday last, James Richardson, James Las-
ted, Jonathan Lusted, Jesse Pattenden, Reuben Gold-
smith, John Lavender, John Stephens, Samuel Stephens.
and Win. King Lambert, labourers, and all paupers of
Helliugly, within a few miles of this town, were com-
mitted by the Bench of Magistrates at Hailsham, to our
House of Correction, to take their trial at the ensuing
General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, for having, in
consequence of a preconcerted conspiracy, violently and
tumultuously rushed into the parish vestry in the even-
ing of the 10th inst. some of them armed with cudgels,
and making a great riot and disturbance there, with the
intention of intimidating the vestry into greater allow-
ances for relief. One of the party aimed a blow with
his cudgel at the head of Mr. Oorringe, a farmer pre-
sent, the effect of which was fortunately prevented by
pushing aside the arm of the assailant.—(Lewes paper).
CARLIsLaPoucz-ovrzcz.--Itax v. MaxwaLL—The
defendant bad gone about the country selling tea in
quarters of a pound, and was seised at Daimon by the
exciseman, and brought before the Rev. Mr. Fletcher,
who condemned the tea and committed the man. It
appears that be travelled for a Mr. Brown, of New-
castle, without a permit, which, by the way, under the
Act, would have been of no use to him. Not being
able to find bail, as be was a stranger in Carlisle, be
was committed. It was a bard case union fellow was
Oidently unconscious that be was using illegally.