Star. — 1826-12-21 (London, England)

UNION.IIALL  A Cstorr.—A Gentlem..it, named Irwin, residing at Claremont Cottage, •oi the Wandsworth Road, attended at this Office for the pure. se of entreating the Magistrate's advice and assistance under the following curious circumstances: He commenced his application by stating, that he came down to the Office at the request of a very decent woman, a faundreo, named Beekington. who lives near the Nag's Head, at Clapham. About a month or five weeks ago the laundress called urn him, and declared that she could not rest at home, in con-equencr of the frightful noises occasioned, she ltd the weakness to suppose, by tf ghost. She described to him, that when night approached it was almost impossible to remain in the house ; for as woo as darkness set in, dismal howling% together with the clattering of all the win. Bows and the bells in the house, were heard, and someibmi to such an extent as to endanger the whole fabric, which was built of rather slight materials. She represented' to him that when the unusual noises were first heard in her house, she sent fur her three sons, young men, who remained in the house for some nights, in order to discover whether they could ascertain how or by whom such nightly disturbances were caused; but, strange to say, notwithstanding their presence, as tO3ll as night came the hubbub commenced—every bell in tife house rung with violence, although no hand was to he seen near the wires—the windows shook as if agitated by a storm—and loud thumps were heard against the partition that divided the passage from the front and back sitting rooms with a force almost sufficient to stave in the whole of the wood. work ; and yet no creature was to be seen, although her sons and applicant bad watched most assiduously, and, indeed, left nothing undone to solve the mystery. Mr. Irwin further stated, that tits. Beekington informed him, that about six weeks ago she discharged a female servant. who expressed great sorrow on leaving the house, and appeared very loth to go away. When, however, she was about to quit the house, she in a very emphatic manner told her mistress, that as she was not permitted to remain, her ghost should visit the allude nightly. Ever since her departure, it seems the inmates have been ansioyjed by the disturbances above mentioned. Mr. in compliance with the request of Mr. Irwin, directed one of the officers to proceed to Mrs. Beekington's house, and endeavour, if possible, to get hold of the parties concerned in the disturbances. •  It is generally understood at Edinburgh that the " King's Royal Body Guard" intend, next month, giving a ball in the George-street Assembly Rooms there, which is to rival in magnificence any thing of the kind which has yet been given. The scenery of Edinburgh and its vicinity is likely to lose one of its finest features, by the disappearance of the beautiful sheet of water at Lochend. It has been gradually subsiding fur many months, and is already reduced to half its natural dimensions ; and if artificial means are not used to preserve it, there is a strong pro. bability, that in a season or two more, the plough will be passing over its bottom. It is supposed that this change is the consequence of opening up a quarry in a whinstone vein in the neighbourhood, from which the water swells up copiously, and which is supposed either to drain off the water of the loch, or to divert the springs that feed it. The original extent of the loch was about eight acres. The premises of Mr. Wilson, watchmaker and jewel. ler, Appleby, were lately entered, during the night, by breaking through a wall under the back window, and a large quantity of gold and silver watches, jewellery, plate, and other property, amounting in value to several hundred pounds, were carried off. A most dreadful murder was committed on Monday evening, between St. Albans and Colney, upon a Smithfield salesman, named Battams. It is supposed that he was watched receiving money in Smithfield market, on the morning of that day, and overtaken at the above place. His body was discovered by the early coachmen.