The Lancaster Herald, and Town and County Advertiser. — 1831-02-26 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

DEATIL—On Wednesday morning last, a vv. man of the name of Knowles, who resided in Ann-street, whilst standing at her own door and in the act of calling to her children who were in the street, ruptured a blood vessel, and died within a few hourx. POLICE REPORT, Saturday A.—Richard DickinBun was committed as a vagrant to the House of Correction, at Preston, for the space of one month. William Carless, for the same space of time, to the same place, as a vagrant. Ten other vagrants were discharged on the condition that they would immediately quit the town. Thursday 24th.—Aan Jackson, was committed to the House of Correction, at Preston, until the next Borough Session, charged with having stolen two drinking glasses, the property of Abraham Mouncey, of the Greyhound public house, in Bridge Lane. She is further charged with having stolen two brass candle-sticks, the property of Robert Bainbridge, of the Wheat Sheaf public house, in this town.  Thomas Jackson, husband of the above, Ann Jackson, was committed to the Castle, for want of sureties, on • charge of having assaulted the above Abraham Mouncey. We are furnished with the following account of the number of debtors committed to the County Gaol for the ronpayment of sums of money not exceeding five pounds, and costs thereon, on processes issued by the Courts of Requests at Manchester, Ashton-under-Line, and Poulton-in-theFylde, from January Ist, 1890, to January Ist, 1831.-Number committed, 144.—average term of their imprisonment, 84 days. Total amount of debts £453 6 6  Costa an the ranter), thereof Conveyance to Gaol 394 3 0  483 18 4  Costs and conveyance exceed the original debts £3O 11 10 The debts on an average equal 3 2 114 The average costs in- each case  The averaie sum for conveying each defaulter  . to gaol 215 2 The cost of maintenance whilst in prison, paid by the County Probably some of our readers may be able to point out the benefit resulting from this expensive mode of incarcerating the very lowest class of debtors; for our part we can only observe, according to the old adage, it is like "throwing the handle after the axe."  MURDER or Ma. Astrrox.—Malcolm M'Donald, the man who, it will be remembered, was, in consequenee of his own confession, examined respecting the murder of Ashton, and subsequently remanded for further examination, was discharged on Saturday last from the Castle, an alibi having been most fully and satisfactorily proved. Who the perpetrators of this horrible and merciless act are, remains therefore, as complete a secret as ever; and we begin to fear that the mystery is not likely soon to be removed. That the murderer is known to some, there can be little doubt; but, in the present day, when the people are rising up in open defiance of the laws of their country, and seem to take a glory in laughing to scorn their superiors, we can scarcely marvel if a crime now and then be concealed from erroneous impressions of Honour ! ! WµEcK.—A few pieces of Timber have been cast on shore, and secured by different persons within the district , of Ulverstone, supposed to be part of the Cargo of the Brig Commerce, of Workington, Wrecked on the Horse Bank, at the entrance of the River Ribble, on the 4th int. on her passage from St. Johns, New Brunswick, to Liverpool.  KENDAL MECHANICS' lasrrrtrrx.—On Wednesday last, Mr. Marshall and Mr. Marriott concluded their highly interesting and instructive course of Lectures on Chemistry, at the above Institution; after which a vote of thanks, emanating from the Working Members, was passed, expressive of the gratification they had experienced from the Lectures, and of the hope that the valuable instruction thereby imparted, would be made available in their different pursuits and occupations. Such a proof of the due appreciation of talents exerted for their benefit, does, credit at once, to the heads and hearts of the operative Mechanics, and shews that as knowledge is untblded to them, they can, and do, estimate its value and importance. A course of Lectures on Optics was this evening promised, to be commenced in the course of three weeks, by a member of the medical profession "not unknown to fame." _  [A correspondent has favored us with the above, and sincerely do we wish that it may soon be in our power to furnish him with similar information, in reference to Lancaster.]