The Sun. — 1822-09-24 (London, England)

FALMOUTH, SEPT. 22.—Wind N.E.—Arrived the French ketch L'Augusta, from Havre, for Nantz, blown off the coast in the late gales. Sailed the Princess Elizabeth Packet, for the Islands.  DREADFUL AssAtlLT.—Monday week, at a little before 0 o'clock, p.m. a desperate assault was committed on the person of Mr. R. Copland, grieve to a respectable family in this neighbourhood, and others, by two Irishmen, of the names of Charles M‘Pike and John Hall. When about to retire to rest, Mr. Copland heard tho voices of two men, apparently engaged in a keen altercation very near his own house. By and by the parties approached and knocked at his door; and, on his demanding what they wanted, they requested permission to enter and light their pipes. In broad day-light this would have been a small favour, but the case was somewhat different under the cloud of night ; and although the men insisted a great deal, Mr. Copland very pnufently refused to admit them. At last they went away ; but, before doing so, they imprudently dashed their hands through two panes of glass in one of the windows. On this the occupant of the cottage bolted to the door, and, following the men, demanded what they meant. To this query they only replied by theossest abuse, and, not contented with vituperation, they both fellupon the de.'enceless man, who for some time had to struggle with two ruffians, both superior to himself in size and strength. At this moment a servant girl, of the name of Agnes Johnstone, residing at Belford (a short distance from Mr. Copland's house), come up, and by her courage and presence of mind in all probability saved the life of her neighbour. By this time the whole of the three were struggling in a ditch, when the courageous girl seized one of the villains by the neck, and dragging him off her friend, lent him several lusty blows with a stable key, which she happened to have in her hand. By and by other females as.embled, and among the rest Mr. Copland's wife, who, although in a very critical state, received several severe blows with a stick across the neck and shoulders. In fact the cowardly rascals cared not whom they struck ; but seeing that the alarm was given, one of them made off, followed by Mr. Copland, while the other was held in check by the courageous maiden already alluded to. While pursuing the fugitive, Mr. Copland met Mr. Bogie, the Terraughtie gardener, who was hastening to his assistance, and, before they could exchange words, the cry was raised, that one of the Irishmen was murdering Mrs. Copland, and so in facthe was; but Mr. Bogie immediately rushed to the spot, and with one blow felled the coward to the earth, where he lay " as quiet as pussie," till his companion was brought in a prisoner. Both the culprits were then huddled into a cart, and under a proper escort driven into Maxsvelltown, and safely lodged in the gaol of that burgh. A precognition of the circumstanceshas since been taken, and, we presume, the men will be brought to trial at the ensuing circuit. Before accompanying the prisoners to town,' Mr. Copland discovered that he had been stabbed in two places. One of the wounds, when examined by Dr. Laing, was found to be two and a half inches deep, and, had not the knife entered in a slanting direction, the stab might have proved fatal. The haft of a knife was found on the spot next day, although both the Irishmen deny that they carried such an instrument. Mr. Copland has been confined to the house ever since, and some time elapsed before the surgeon could pronounce him to be out of danger.—( Dumfries Courier.)