Star. — 1825-12-26 (London, England)

FONTHILL ABBEY.  We cannot but regret having to announce the demolition, in great part, of this most magnificent fabric, which has been sn universally and deset veJly admired. On Wednesday afternoon, about half-rest three o'clock, the tower, which rose to the height of 270 feet from the centre of the building, fell with a most tremendous crash, breakieg through a great portion of the roof of the Abbey, and instantaneously presenting an immense mass of ruins. Most fortunately no lives were lost. The tower, it appears, was of too slight a construction ; and from certain indications, its fall bad been expected for sevetardays previoui to its actual occurrence. It declined in its descent a little to the south-west, and fell into the fountain court, destroy'ng the hall, the whole of the octagon; and great part of the galleries, north and south, t'gether a ith the first crimson roan, leaving the grand entrance standing, with the organ in it, and the statue of the late Alderman Beckford. Mr. Farquhar was in the large east wing of the building at the time of the disaster, and it is said that he was not much alarmed, as he had expected it. Seven Servants were also at the time engaged, by his orders, in taking •out the painted windows of St. Michael's gallery, and they all escaped unhurt: one servant boy, however, was considerably injured. A great quantity of plate is still* buried in the mass of ruins.—Salisbury Journal.  DUNDEE, Deo. 22.  We have this week toareand the murder of a wife by her litt•band. The husband'a name is David. Rigour, a mar iner, lately ip the service of the bandee and Perth Shipping Company. It appears that they had been married about the early age of siveen, and had lived together most happily for a number of years.— Some time afterwards he was impressed, and served on board a man of war for eleven years. Being at last discharged from the navy, he returned to his h inse, and lived with his wife for some time.; but her chastity had by this time become liable to suspicion. and' peace and happiness had fled the house. Balfour, who appears to have been sincerely attached to his wife, bore with her failings for a long time in hope of amendment; but she herself became tired. of the connexion, and wished to get rid of him. On his return from Greenock, on Monday last, she retthed to allow him to sleep with 'her, and &sired him to leave the house, otherwise she would send for the police. The poor man w.is compelled to resort to an eating-heuse for his victuals Overwhelmed with grief and despair, be began to me41iinste acts of violence. Yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, the father of his wife, in who.e house she lived, and a saddler of the name of Anderson, who lodged in the same Louse. heard, when in the adjoin;ng apartments, a loud shriek from the kitchen ; and, on rushing to the spot, they found the unhappy woman on her knees, with a large wound, inflicted by her husband, in her left breast, from which a torrent of b'ood was flowing. She expired in about three minutes afterwards. The instrument of death was a butcher's knire, which Balfour had recently borrowed, alleging that he wanted to kill a lamb with it. On committing the fatal act, he proceeded directly to the gaol, stated at the grating of the door that he had murdered a r.om .n, and wished to be put in confinement. The gaoler Eeing absent at the time, he waited about an hour at the dcor 'till he made his appearance. Not having any wart ant for his committal, the gaoler conducted him to the Police Office. He was immediately examined belo e Bailie Gray, and having again conftssed his crime, hie was commtted to prison to await his punishment. lie is about thirty-eight years of age, of a good appearance, and., so far as we have been able to learn, has hitherto borne a very good character. He appears to be deeply affected by his unhappy situation, but at the same time manifests a degree of firmness and composure that is truly remarkable. His mind seems quite made up to meet the fate which, he evidently contemplates as inevitable.—Dundee Vourier.  Dispatches were received on Saturday, at the Foreign Office, from Sir CIIARLIGI BAGOT, at the Hague.