crossing the Leven in a boat, the chain, which is fastened on each bank, became entangled with the bow, and the boat shipped water and sunk. Mr Perry seized his children, and for some minutes supported them in his arms. He was, however, compelled to quit them, and make for the shore; but he became exhausted, and shared the melancholy fate of his children.
7.—Extraordinary Mendicant.—A man of the name of Brookes, who had for many years subsisted by begging in the borough of Southwark, lately died, worth upwards of £4000 in land and houses. Several years ago, he purchased, in another person's name, a landed estate in the neighbourhood of Woolwich,—fearing, that if he had it conveyed to himself, it might take wind, and altogether destroy his favourite pursuit of mendicity. At the time of his demise, there were four new houses, but not nearly finished, in the Borough-road, which were built with his money, but were prevented from being finished by any accident of a very serious result, and produced entirely by his original attachment to deception. The builder over-reached him in the contract; and, after obtaining £1200 of his money, refused to finish them, which preyed so strongly on his mind, that, in a fit of despair, he put an end to his life by firing a pistol into his mouth.
Employment of the Poor.—The Board of Agriculture, considering the public benefit which would result from increasing the employment of the agricultural poor at this juncture, and being desirous that as much information as possible should be collected and made known to the public, have resolved to give the following premiums:
To the person who shall draw up, and produce to the Board, the best essay on the means of employing the unoccupied and industrious poor,—the gold medal, or one hundred pounds: to be produced on or before the 1st March 1818.
To the person who shall, during the spring of 1817, cause to be dug by hand, for the production of any crop of corn or pulse, turnips or cabbages, the greatest number of acres, not less than ten, never dug before, the gold medal, or fifty pounds.
For the next greatest number, not less than five,—twenty-five pounds.
Certificates of the space of land dug, sort of soil, and depth, and for what crop, and the produce thereof, to be produced on or before the 1st day of March 1818.
10.—Commitments at Glasgow.—After a long and patient examination before the Sheriff, fourteen persons have been committed for trial, on the charge of conspiring against the government, and taking an unlawful oath. Of those formerly in custody, two have been liberated on bail; namely, an auctioneer's porter and a weaver. Another bookseller has been examined, on a charge of publishing; seditious pamphlets, and admitted to bail. Orders have been given to fit up proper apartments in Edinburgh castle for their reception, to which place they are to be removed.
Gas-light Company.—Arrangements have been made for the establishment of a gaslight company in this city, and we have to congratulate our fellow-citizens on the near prospect of a great improvement being made in the lighting of the streets. Political economists are not, however, agreed, whether or not the advantages arising from the general use of gas-lights are sufficient to counterbalance the evil that will arise from the corresponding diminution of maritime employment in the whale fishery.
10—Meeting at Manchester.—On Monday the 3d instant, a meeting was held at Manchester, previous to which it was intimated, that the numbers to be collected on that day would proceed to London, to present a petition to the Prince Regent, for the purpose of "undeceiving him." Placards were stuck up, and handbills distributed. The people of Stockport were invited to join those of Manchester on Lancashire Hill. It was insinuated, that 25,000 stand of arms at Birmingham might be secured. The arrivals in the course of the day could not be less than from 60 to 70,000. Early in the morning, the streets of Manchester were crowded by thousands, of whom a great part were prepared with blankets and bundles for the march to London. A temporary stage was erected upon a cart at the place of assembly, and the instigators of the meeting appeared upon it about nine o'clock, and delivered harangues of the most inflammatory kind. Members poured in in shoals every minute, when it was deemed necessary to call in the civil and military power, as had been previously arranged by the magistrates, in conjunction with Sir John Byng, the commander of the district; and by a quick movement, the cart was completely surrounded, and all who were upon the stage were conveyed to prison. About 200 have been apprehended; and after the judicious and compassionate permission of the magistrates, in suffering these poor deluded people to procure lodgings for the night, they quietly returned to their homes next morning, without further alarm to the country or peril to themselves.
Meeting of Catholics.—At an aggregate meeting of Roman Catholics, held in Clarendon Street chapel, on 6th March, resolutions were passed, declaring their decided and conscientious conviction, that any power granted to the Crown of Great Britain, of interfering, directly or indirectly, in the appointment of bishops for the Roman Catholic church in Ireland, must essentially injure, and may eventually subvert, the Roman Catholic religion in this country. That they should not receive as a boon any portion of civil liberty, accompanied by that which the Catholic prelates and people of Ireland have condemned as essentially injurous, and probably destructive, to their
