The Statesman. — 1821-10-30 (London, England)

LAW CIIANG.4I6—We have heard it reported, that the following changes are about to take plate in our Law Courts ;—Sir John Stuart, Bart. retires in consequence of bad health, and is to be succeeded by the Lord Advocate, whom Henry Bone Drummond, Esq. M.P. is to succeed ; and that Lord Bannatyne retires, and will be succeeded by the Solicitor-General, who, again, is to be succeeded by John Hope, Esq. son of the Lord President.—(Ediabergh Paper.) We understand, that George Thom, now lying in Aberdeen Jail, under sentence of death, for murder, has, with deep contrition, confessed his guilt, and cleared his wife of having had any share in the crime for which he is condemned to die.—(Ediahurgli Star.) In the garden of R isebank, in the neighbourhood of 'Aberdeen, the Strawberry-beds at present are covered with a profusion of blossom ; and ripe fruit, of a large slue, and delicious flavour, were gathered last week in considerable quantities. This is a more remarksble' p.oof of the mildness of the present weather than 'any thing we have yet heard of. Several apple-trees are again in blossom; but this circumstance is Lot so rare. —(lbid.) On the 6th instant, as Mr. Lowry, a farmer of the. Barton of Place, In the parish of St. Anthony, near "St Dfiiirks, Was digging fur manure on the beach near low water mark, he found a human skeleton, !which 14 under some sand and rubbish, with the face Bownwaids, and the arm turned tinder the body :—a large stone was placed on the shoulders. From the sitnation in which it was found, it is supposed to be the remains of a person who was murdered. From the appearance of the remains, they are supposed to have been those of a tall man. On the above circumstances being known, a woman resident al St. Mawr., stated, that about twenty years since, when she was is the service of Admiral Spry, she had at one time occasion to pass the above spot about midnight, when she saw four sailors digging; on seeing her they immediately ran off. Being much alarmed at their appearance, she hastened back to the house ; but the occurrence was passed over. The flowing of the tide soon obliterated all vestiges of the spot that had been disturbed. The woman has often mentioned the cir• cumstance, and expressed a wish that she could learn why the s Mors were digging at that time and place. The remains have been carefully collected and placed in a coffin, which has been deposited in the Church. yard of St. Anthony, and the large stone found on the shoulders placed at the head. On Monday night, about eight o'clock, as Mr. Henry Clark, who lives near the Dog and Stile, Borough-road, was returning home with his family, he saw several persons hastily run away as they approached the street door. The house basin& been left without any person in it, be naturally felt alarm, and a light having been procured from a neighbour's, a skeleton key was discovered in the lock of the street door. Thus, Mr. Clark coming home at the very mom •nt the thieves were about to enter his house, providentially saved his property from plunderers. Several su4pidoss characters had been seen lurking about the spot during the afternoon. Descriptions of them bare been given to the proper persons, which, it is hoped, may lead to the detection of the numerous gangs that infest that neighbourhood.