The Statesman. — 1823-08-27 (London, England)

THE ARMY. The etd tor Wiltshire) Regiment of F,mt, having been relieved at Halifax by the 52d (orOtfordshire) Light Infantry, is ordered to embark on board the Cato and Vibiba transports for England. A detachment belonging to the 55th (or Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot has been ordered to embark on board the Borodino transport for the Cape of Good Hope. Detachments and invalids belonging to the Regiments stationed in the Leeward Islands have arrived at Ports mouth, and are ordered to Chatham.  On Wednesday a trial was made, at the bottom of Weststreet, of a cradle, or cot, intended to bring to shore persons from shipwreck. It was found, from the wei&lit of iron, not to be sufficiently buoyant ; and the opinion of those using it, was, that more cork must he applied, The cot is intended to pass from the ship to the shore by means of ropes, on which it is to he slung. It is also designed to be used, in cases of necessity, in drawing p•tsons up high cliffs, &c. The invention is by Capt. Manhy. On Thurs day afternoon, the mortars (kept for a similar purpose, in the case of shipwrecks) were fired twice, with shot, to carry a line over the dolphin at the pier ; the first shot fellehort ; the other succeeded very well. The cot was again tried by passing it on a rope, with a man sitting in it, from the first cluster of piles to the dolphin (about 100 yards) bet, from some cause, it did not work freely. The Rev. Air. Everard and Mr. Bass, were both very attentive to the experiments. His Royal Highness the Duke of York, was present part of the time.—(Brigkoi Herald.) DISCOVIIRT or AN ANCIINT PAINTING IN THE CHURCH AT WOOTTON BASSIST, WILTS,-10 cleaning the south wall, which is a more ancient part of this Church than the rest of the structure to which it is now united, the workman accidentally brought to light a very curious painting, executed in the rudest style, but evidently illustrating the subject which it represented. In brushing, a piece of the plaster fell off, and the armed foot of a man with a spur was discovered underneath. Gradually removing the plaster around, the workmen found a painting, in water colours, of the murder of Archbishop Beckett. 'The four Knights in complete armour are in the act of assaulting the Archbishop, The figures of the Knights are nearly perfect ; the two latter In the act of drawing.TheArchbishop is leaning before the altar ; between his haods,which are raised in a pious attitude,is the wafer; the cup and the book are placed on the table before him; the crosier and mitre are by his side. His Cardinal's red robe with golden bands is distinct. His features are a good ilea] obliterated; but there is sufficient to distingnish that his head is tut ned roved in sudden sorprise. This painting is evidently very curious, both from the subject and rudeness of the execution. It was done, in all probability, at an age when Beckett's character as a saint stood high, as a holy decoration for the church, and at no great distance from the event. He was murdered AD. 1170. It is not so easy to deterutior when the picture was covered over; very likely at the Reformation, to efkeo a Catholic memorial of a persona';- to whom such miraculoss celebrity was ascribed. It miebt, however, have been covered up in the time of Cromwell ; for on the opposite wall the plaster was also removed, and a painting of the royal arms in Charles's time discovered. These were also royered over, and the seal of the Partisans in those days might lave caused both the picture and the King's arms to be effaced together. The picture is evidently painted on the first coating, as the bare sthne is immediately underneath. The eivrance by the folding doors iss also rudely represented, and below is sketched what seems intended to sia nify ,be cathedral itself. The picture is highly worthy the inspection of the curious.  MONMOUTH 1 nom