The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-04-04 (London, England)

STOCIADEL—The Burmese stockades, of which drawings and plans have been sent to this country, seem to be formidable fortifications of the kind. For a considerable space round the first incloaure the ground is thickly set with bamboo stakes, bending outwards, extremely sharp, and lying hid in the jungle grass. In their effect upon a person attempting to make his way through them, they arc not unlike dog-spikes. Next comes a high palisado of stout bamboos, firmly set in the ground, and bound close together. Then another space thickly set with spikes ; then another palisado, which one might call a counterscarp ; when this is surmounted, a broad ditch or space, also set with spikes ; and, within, a third palisatio, which we might term the scarpment, through the interstices of which the Burmese level their muskets at the assailants. In the body of this kind of fortress is a large shed, under which the garrison live. The Burmese soldiers always carry several bamboos for the purposes of fortification, and make a stockade in a night. The utmost uncertainty still prevails as to the numbers of the Burmese. They are variously estimated from three to twelve millions. A French Paper relates the following fact, and guarantees its authenticity : By a letter from Aigre (Charente) dated 25th March, we learn that on the preceding day a young man named Magne, 23 years of age, living at home, after having fiery peaceably breakfasted with his family, consisting of his father, mother, and an elder brother, went to M. Besnard's a schoolmaster, and asked him how much it would cost him per month to learn to read, write, and cast accounts. To this Besnard replied, " Three francs." Upon which Magne begird to know if he could begin directly. " When you please, ' said the schoolmaster. Magne had, during this colloquy, his hand in 'his waistcoat pocket, but all at once he drew out his right hand, armed with a knife fresh sharpened, and plunged it into the breast of the unhappy Besnard, crying out, " Well, then, I begin!now." Magne then went out, and Besnard bad strength enough left to follow him into the street, and cried out " Murder;" but as it was a solitary street, Magne, in spite of his cries, and without altering his pace, went into his own house, sharpened his knife, and went out again immediately. Ile soon met M. Andre, a notary, and struck Lim a blow with the knife, which would have killed him, had not the double waistcoats he wore deadened the blow. M. Andre immediately pursued the assassin, who took refuge in the house of M. Datnont, a merchant. After having wandered through several rooms, where he found nobody, h,.! jumped out of window, and entered into a neighbourging house belonging to a M. Bouteland, a lawyer. At the moment he entered, a servant maid was leaning over a window with her nose bleeding. Magne, at first, went up to her ; but perceiving Madame Bouteland, he addressed that lady, and asked her where her husband was? to which sbe answered that he was gone out. Magne rejoined, and said he absolutely wanted him. " But," said the lady, " have I not told you he is absent ?" " Well, then," said the enraged man, " here's for you," striking her at the same time a blow with the.knife on the head. This young lady was pregnant, and received a deep wound in her jaw, and fell, bathed in her own blood. The cries of murder had, however, by this time collected several groups about the murderer, but who dared not approach him. Magne perceiving the police approaching, rushed through the crowd, jumped over a garden wall, and before he could be overtaken, gave himself two cuts in the neck with the knife. He was then seized, and conducted to prison. His wounds are not mortal, but it is not thought that the unfortunate Bernard can be ss' d.