The Statesman. — 1823-10-11 (London, England)

PLACE HUNTIERS.  An Relive canvass has hei-777—ir some days going forward for a place ender the Corporation, which is ;lei t her vacant, nor, we are glad to say, not likely to become vacant t and a ludicrous scene took place. the other day, at the Mansion house, between the Lord Mayor anti a few of the candidates. Mr. Howell, the Water Bailiff, having been, for anion time, confined bv illness, to his imam, the utmost anxiety was expressed by some of his most partierlar friends,allout the state of his health. Hewes even advised by them to expose hiusselfno more to the performance of his rigosons winter duties, but to abandon the situation altogether. By accident, the shutters of the parlour windows were closed one morning, in that fashion which indicates that the king of terrors is within. Two of the warmest Mende of poor Howell, seeing, one after another, that the " flag" was raised, ran away in grief to inform the Lord Mayor that the time was at last arrived when his Lordship would ,114•11 an opportunity of proving his friendship ; that the IVater Bailiff had departed this life, awl that his Lordship's intim. ence would secure the place to any person who should offer himself as a candidate. Those gentlemen enumerated their claims in the most impressive manner. They even circulated a printed form among the members of the Court of Common Council, soliciting their votes and interests for the disposal of the place made vacant by the lamented death of Mr. Howell, and it appeared that their printed letters had actnatly been in their own possession betone they supposed he hisi drawn his last breath. The Lord Mayor, who did not relish those rapid applications, told the candidates that lie would inquire into the truth of the report, for lie hall heard that the Water Bailiff was recovering. " Yon may depend upon it," said one of the place-limiters, " that hers dead, and those who say otherwise are interested in suppressing the troth, in order to prevent me from pursuing my canvass."—The Lord Mayor immediately sent to the Too n Clerk's office to ascertain the facts, and was in formed. that Jlr. Hoeell aasounClllntprored in his health, and expected to be able to attend a Committee then abort to sit. But the rendidates had fixed their hopes so strongly on the place, thar the authority of the Lord Mayor and of Alderman Wood was not credited by them, and they were at last only convinced by the sight of the• Water Bailiff signing his accounts. In alluding to this, the Lord ' Mayor yesterday said, lee never heard of so shameful a ' practice, and he should take care to keep by I • he printed applications of those very delicate gentlemen, th.t hr might refuse his vote to every one of them on any future occasion.  w.emeeetweweeeee Pointe NUTSAnces.—The Pariah of St. Dunstan in the West have recently rooted the frail sisterhood, by placing a watchmen wits. candle and lantern at the door of each suspected hoqse, bearing a large placard with the inseription--'4 Beware of had houses," ringing a hell 'at the entrance of welt suspected visitor, !ill at:rowel was convened to witness the departure; this had the desired effect.—To get rid of another nuisance in this parish, against a conspi• coons part of the church yesterday was painted in large characters—" Public decency forbids;" this was not so 'successful, as decorum was not only again violated, hut some wag had the audacity to chalk under it—" Private necessity compels." Feoat a CoRREspoN DENT AT STRATHELANc—Ahout six o'clock on Friday morning, the 26th September, the body of a young woman was found at the bottom of a crag in the parish of Stratlehlane. The crag is about :35 fret high. On examination it was found that the integmisenea of the head werb eat in several places, the skull was much fractdred, and one of the cervical vertebrte was broken or dis• idtated. She left her master's house early on Thursday night, About eight o'clock she called upon the plougl;Petah; when she merely opened the door, asked what lee was doing, and what o'clock it was, and upon being talel that it ikas about eight, she went away, saying that she most go Mime, fur she would he expected to milk thee cows. She appeared to be in good spirits, but did not go home, nor wee she In leer lodgings any part of that night. When she was found she was quite warm, and perhaps met with her death only about an hour and a half before. If she fell over the rock accidentally, it is very strange, for it was a beautiful muonlight morning ; she had no itlticrinept to go there, and She knew the place all ammo!' uncommonly well, and vont,' not wander. If she threw herself over it is very strange, for there is nothing in heel history which couitl lead any one to think that she eventid.l annuli' suicide. If she intended this, it is not prob that she would have taken her umbrella with leer in order to protect that body from the rain which she wis so soon to destroy ; and it is presumed that the small basket which I was found in her band would nut have been of any service in accomplishing her purpose. As it was very heavy rain during part of the night, and as the body was almost dry when it was found, it is evident that she was in company with some person, and under a roof. Nor can we suppose that a young woman would leave tlee place of leer abode to ramble the whole night alone on the roads and iu the plantations of a country place. We are happy to kern that the Justices of the Peace here, and others, are doing all they can to find out the perpetrator of the horrid deed.--(Seotch paper.)