Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 001.djvu/113

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1817]
Register—British Chronicle.
109

6—This being the Princess Charlotte's birth-day, when her Royal Highness completed her 21st year, the day was celebrated at Claremont, and in London, by her Royal Highness's tradesmen illuminating their houses, and by other rejoicings.

7.—The gazette of last night contains an address from the corporation of Dublin to the Prince Regent, thanking, in the warmest terms, his Royal Highness for his munificent contribution of £2000, in aid of the fund for the relief of the labouring classes of that city.

8.—The committee for distributing relief to the labouring classes in the city of Edinburgh have now on their list above 1600 persons. The men are employed in working on Leith Walk, at the head of the Links, on the ground at the east side of the Mound, and on the Calton Hill. The subscription amounts to upwards of £6000.

East India House.—A special meeting of proprietors of East India stock was held in Leadenhall Street, to take into further consideration the question of appointing an additional European professor of the oriental languages in their college at Hertford, at a salary of £400, and a further allowance of £100 per annum; when, after a long and animated discussion respecting the character of this establishment, the resolution was put to the vote, and carried in the affirmative.

8.—For several hours this morning, the fog throughout the whole of the metropolis was so intense, that candles were used in every shop and counting-house. About twelve o'clock, however, the sun burst out again in all its glory, and a fine summer-like day succeeded.

8.—The body of William Pinkerton, smuggler, was found in the Great Canal, at the Plash, near Rockvilla distillery. This man has been missing since the beginning of last month, and when found had a flask of whisky tied to his back.

Singular Occurrence.—On Thursday the 2d instant, the body of a woman was found tied to a boat, near the landing-place of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, on which an inquest was held before one of the coroners of Kent, when an old man came forward, and swore that the deceased was his daughter, and that she was the wife of Israel Friday, an out-pensioner of Greenwich College. He then went into a long account of a quarrel which took place between Friday and his wife the day before the body was found. Other witnesses also swore to the deceased being the daughter of the old man. The coroner thereupon directed diligent search to be made after Friday, the husband. The jury met again on the 10th instant, when the constables reported that they had not been able to find Friday, but that they had found his wife alive and hearty. The coroner reprimanded the witnesses severely for want of discrimination; but every one allowed that the great likeness there was between the living woman and the deceased might have deceived better judges, particularly as both the women had similar private marks on their arms.

Hawkers.—Yesterday John Barlow was examined under the hawker's act, charged with going from house to house, and offering for sale Cobbett's Political Register, price twopence, the same being unstamped, and he not having a hawker's license. He was convicted in the penalty of £10, and in default to be committed for three months to the house of correction.

9.—Inverness.—Died at Ardersier, in this vicinity, a gander, well known to have been full grown when the foundation of Fort George was laid, in the year 1748. His helpmate died only two years ago.

Ireland.—The Marquis of Londonderry, in addition to his liberal donation to the poor on his Lordship's Derry estate, has advanced £1000 for the purpose of purchasing fuel and provisions, which are to be delivered out to them at very low prices.

10.—Shocking Story.—A melancholy catastrophe took place at Bolsover, in the county of Derby, a few days ago. It appears that a poor woman of the name of Wylde, took the horrid resolution of destroying herself and her four children by poison. The deadly preparation was procured, and the children called up at an early hour in the morning, under the pretence of giving them a medicine for the worms. She administered it to them, and also a considerable quantity to herself, in the presence of her husband. Its deadly effects were soon visible, and terminated in their death, leaving the agonized husband in a state of mind which it would be vain to attempt to describe.

13.—Ely.—It is with extreme regret we state that a tremendous breach has taken place in the Burnt Fen Bank, near Mr Seaber's, on the river Lark, by which near 15,000 acres of land are inundated.

Melancholy Accident.—A letter from Lochgoilhead, dated the 3d January 1817, to a gentleman in Glasgow, says "On Monday last a boat left this, in order to go to Greenock; when sailing down Lochgoil, they were hailed by a person that wanted to cross; they condescended, and, being upon the lee shore, gave the boat the two sails, which before had but one. Half way over opposite the Waininan, came on a squall, and run the boat down by not relieving the sheets. Eight persons were on board, of which five were drowned, and a sixth died after being got on shore.