Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-08
n~IosIrY utrNTERs

noses at as worthless rubbish. But though the
tribe Of e6r,osity hunters be extremely numerous,
Nature, bfNwise provision, has bestowed on them
various appetites, that, IN the pursuit Of their
prey, they arc led by different instincts, and what
ono seizes with avidy, another rejects altogeth
or unworthyso notice.
Thevar,ety Of the species are interminable; some
ofthem are we'll known, and need no description -
such as the book WORM the bird stuffer, the coin
taster the picture scrubber, SC but there others
whose tastes are sirgularly eccentric; OF these
may mention the snad boz collector the canefancier,
the ring taker, the play bill gatherer, to say moth
ing Of one illusuous parsonage, whose passion Tor
collecting a library Of Bibles is generally known.
But there is Another individual Of the species that
have not We, mentioned, whose morbid pleasure IN
collecting relics and memorials OF the most revolving
deeds OF blood and crime, too we'll authenticated
10 be dscredited. believe that this variety, which
term The Criminal Curiosity Hunter is unknown
TO every country in the world, except England.
How such horrible taste should Rave been en-
~endered here, is a question not easily solved.
Psychologists inclined to attribute It TO our hea
Wv atmosphere, which induces gloomy thoughts
.ansuinary spirit OF our laws, our brutal exhibi
tions of hanging, drawing and quartering, OF GLIB
betinss whppings brandings, and toriurings, which
degrade mems natures, and give them fe1ish Tor
scenes Of blood and cruelty.
Ii happened that had occasion TO call on one Of
those Criminal Curiosity Hunters lately. DE re-
ceived me with extreme uroanity, and pointing 10
on old.fashioned- looking armchair requested me to
Le seated.-l did so.
81 suppose. tn said he with an air OF suppressed
triumph. THAT you have no idea that you are now
sitting in a remarkable chair.
/ assured him | was totally unconscious oil the
fact.
,h., chair that Fauntleroy the banker who was hang
ed for forgery, was sitting when he was arrested
"Indecdt
"Fact, sri ! gave ten guineas Tor 1t; l thought
also 10 have obtained the night cap IN which he slept
the NIGHT beCore his execution, but another collector
was beforehand with me, and bFioed the turnkey TO
steal il Tor him." r.
al had no idea there could be any comPeuuo" 'o'
such an article" observed.
aAbi sir,n said he with a deep sigh, you don't
know the value Of these interesting relics have
been for upwards Of thirty years collector OF them,
and have now as pretty a museum OF CUmihai
Curiesities ns you could desire to see.
aIt seems YOU have been indefatigabls in your
pursuit." said |. ,... L..
self TO great object he must go TO heart ana SOUL
have spared neither time nor money IN my pur-
,ni, and since became a collector, have attend
ed the execution OF every noted maeiactor through
out the kingdom"
Perceiyins that my attention was drawn 10 a COM
mon rope which served us a bell pull he said
al see you are remarklng my bell-corc-that IS
the identical rope, sir, which hanged Bellinsham,
who shot MIR Percyal in the House oil Commons,
offered any sum for the one IN when lnlste
wood ended his life, 10 match II but was uniortu-
SO dissracefuliy l,n.n that fear shall never have
An opportunity OF procuring respectable compan-
ion rome Tor tue oi!er side oil the mantle piece
And It's all owing 10 the rascaliy wings sr-they
have swept away all our good old English Gus
toms and deprived US OF our national recreatons. l
remember sir, when Monday was called Hanging
day" at the Old Baily: on that mornng man
might be certain Of seeing three or four CRIMINALS
swung off before his breakfast. IT'S curious stu
dy, sir, that of hanging. have seen great many
people suffer in my time; some 90 oil as quiet as
lambs, while others die very reluctantly. have
remarked SIR that tits very difficult 10 hang Jew
pedar or a hackare.coach man-theFe's something
obstinate in their nature that won't let them die
like other men. But, as | said before, the Wings
and Reformers have knocked up the hanging pro-
fession; and IL II was not Tor the SUICIDES which
am happy 10 say, are as abundant as ever, cont
know what should do.
After my friends indignation against the anti
hanging principles of Reform had Subsided little,
he invited me TO examine his curioslties, which ne
had arranged in and adjoining room.
81 have not" said he, as We were proceeding
thither, confined my collection to objects connec-
ted with capital offenders onyi 1t eomprehends re-
lets of every grade of crime, from murder TO petty
larceny. Ia that respect am liberal, SIR"
We had now reached the door OF the apartment,
when nv conductor seizing my arm suddenly,
pointed to the door mat upon which had just set
my foot and said, "Observe that mat sir, II is COM
posed Of oakum picked by the fair fingers OF
the late Lady Barrymore, while conhned IN the
Pententiary."
cast a glance at this humble memorial Of her late
ladyshp's industry, and passed INTO the museum.
In doing so, happened TO stumble over stable
bucket, which my friend affirmed was the one from
which Thurtell watered his horse on his way TO
Probert,s cottage. Opening drawer, he produced
pair OF dirty looking slippers, the authentic pro-
perry of the celebrated | key Solomons; and along
with them pair OF cotton hose, winch he assured me
he had mangled with his own hands 10 Sarah uaie 5
mansle. In another drawer he directed my at
tention to a clay pipe, once IN the possession Of
Burke; and n tobacco stopper belonging TO Hare,
the notorious murderer. He had also preserved
with great care Corder's advertisement tor a wife,
written in his hand, as appeared IN the week
ly papers, and small fragment of a ule from the
Red Barn, where Maria Martin was murdered ny
the same Corjer. He also possessed the FORK be-
longing to the knife with which some German,
whose name forget cut his we's and children's
throots. and pewter hall. quartern measure, used
at the black Lion, in Wych street, by Sixteen
string Jack.
There were likewise, in the collection several
interesting relics OF humorous felonYi such as the
snuff box of the Cock-ane ghOst--Ihe stone thrown
by Collins at William the Fourth's head copy
of Sir Francis Burdetrs speech for which he was
committed to the tower-an old black silk glove,
worn by Mr. Cotton, the late ordinary Of Newgate
--Barnngton'S silver tooth pIck-and stay lace OF
Miss Julia Newman.
These were but a small portion Of the contents
OF the museum; but had seen enough 20 make me
sick the exhibition, and Withdrew with the firm
resolution never again, curing my I've, 10 tnel inc
house OF a Criminal Curiosity Hunter
AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN WHEAT CULTURE.
10 the Phaange, Fourier paper pubsoed IN
Paris Sept. S,h, a discovery Of a new method Of
1,owi,r wheat is described which promises 20 be
oC Great iue in this imporiBnt branch Of agricu-
ture. The process IS communicated 20 the Paris
print by Charles Pollard md VI. Bernard, who date
their letter at Bresi, August, lS4l.
We have not space for ue details Of the process,
and the many scientific AID interesting remarks
made IN the Communication Of the gentlemen above
named and must content ourselves witB an epltome.
Wheatis sown on hard dry land, without any TIL
lage OF the plough, harrow or other insii umenr,
and simply covered with wheat straw one inch |
thick. According To the theory Of hsssrs. Pollard
and Bernard the wheat plant derives is rourlsh- !
ment almost entirely, Il not exclusively, from air,
water, heat, light and electric influence; and not
from the soil in which il is grown. They say:
"In order TO make doubt impossible concerning
the mere secondary function Of mineral earth IN veg.
eAblo reproduction. twenty grains Of wheat were,
soun upon the surface ola pane Of glass and cover
ed With some straw alone, IN the other case"
Notwithstanding the excessive and prolonged
drought the past season, the above novel experiment
has proved entirely successful, having "pToduced
wheat Of the finest quality" They say:
1.-THE straw was more than six feet high, and IN
the ears were so, so and even 80 grains OF wheat
Of full development, the admiration Of all who saw
them and particularly those which grew upon n,
name OF glass, and which were quite as healthy nnc
az large as those which grew upon the common
earth II must be observed, also that there wa,
not the smallest particle Of earth upon the glass, ant