1821.] Foreign News.-Domestic Occurrences. amicable termination, and stated to them the force with which he was resolved to prevent their further hostilities; but they thought lightly of our preparations, defied our power, and called in the aid of their neighbouring allies, and they stopped all commercial intercourse with the British Government. The affair now assumed a serious complexion. The Sindians can muster a force of between 30 and 40,000 men, chiefly borse; and they threaten us with an invasion by the Balonches, whose country lies to the West of the Indus, and who are a terror to their neighbours. Lord Hastings is most anxious to preserve peace. The whole of the British territory under his command bad assumed the most tranquil and flourishing appearance. The sense of security which the natives enjoy had every where given a spur to industry, and cultivation was making rapid strides. The Company's paper was at a premium, and every thing promised a continuance of prosperity and happiness before unknown to the Peninsula. Mr. Elphinstone cordially concurred with the Governor General in the desire of conciliating all ranks of the new countries of which we bad gained possession, and it was gratifying to see the Pindarees and retired soldiers employing themselves in cultivating the fields. But it became impossible tamely to submit to this wanton aggression; and accordingly an army of 14,000 men is forthwith to be assembled, and by the month of October is expected to be in Kutch. The Commander in Chief is to be Sir Charles Colville, G. C. B. and the second in command Major General Lionel Smith, two most gallant officers, who possess the entire confidence of the Bombay army. 79 with the undertakings of the antient Kings of Egypt. LOSS OF THE ABEONA TRANSPORT.-It is with the most poignant regret that we communicate the melancholy fate of the Abeona transport of 328 tons, under the charge of Lieutenant Mudge, of the Royal Navy, which sailed from Greenock, in October last, with settlers for the Cape of Good Hope.-On the 25th of November, about noon, in latitude 4 deg. 30 min. North, and longitude 25 deg. 30 min. West, the Abeona unfortunately caught fire, and was burnt, under circumstances of the most awful and distressing nature. Out of a crew of twenty-one persons, and one hundred and forty-one emigrants, men, women, and children, making a total of one hundred and sixty-one persons, only forty-nine were saved. These are happily all safely landed at Lisbon, and have subsequently sailed in the Royal Charlotte, merchant brig, for Grenock, except ten orphan boys, whom the gentlemen of the British Factory, at Lisbon, have taken under their kind protection. The fire broke out in the after store-room, whilst the chief mate was occupied in some necessary business there; and such was the awful progress of the flames, that only three small boats could be got over-board, before the flames consumed the tackles, &c. necessary for hoisting out the longboat. In these three small boats fortynine persons were received on board with so scanty a supply of provisions, that the consequences must have been almost equally dreadful with the untimely fate of those left on board, had not a Portuguese ship from Bahia, bound to Lisbon, most providentially fallen in with them at daylight next morning, and received them on board, in which they were safely and hospitably conveyed to Lisbon, after cruizing about the fatal spot till noon, in hopes of descrying some of the miserable sufferers who might have clung to part of the wreck, but without success. Of a crew consisting of 21 persons, 14 are saved, including Lieut. Mudge, the agent; Mr. Fisher, the surgeon; the Master of the ship; and Second Mate; the First Mate, in the most feeling manner, refusing to go into the boats, saying that he would abide the fate of those left on board. Of the emigrants, consisting in all of 31 men, 24 women, 55 boys, and 30 girls,-only 10 men, 3 women, 16 boys, and 6 girls are saved. OCCURRENCES. PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. One of the churchwardens and the ringers of Charlton Mackrell, Somerset, having denied the right of the Rector (the 80 Occurrences in London and its Vicinity. to him by the Rector:-" That the consent of the Minister (whether incumbent or curate) is necessary to authorize the ringing of bells in the church; and that the consent of either or both Churchwardens, without the Minister's consent, is not sufficient. That the Minister's consent to the ringing of the bells must always be had; if the two Churchwardens differ, the consent of the Minister and one Churchwarden would be sufficient; but the consent of the Minister against both Churchwardens would not justify the ringing, nor would the consent of both Churchwardens against the Minister authorize it. That the Minister has authority to limit the time of ringing, and that the ringers are bound to obey him. And that no person has a right, without the consent of the Minister (whether incumbent or curate) to place flags, garlands, or any thing else, either in or upon the church, or in the church-yard." Letters from Ireland, of a very recent date, represent the state of that country as in a most melancholy point of view. Most of the farmers are ruined in consequence of their land being held at the war-rents; which, from the extremely low price of provisions, they are wholly unable to pay. The Hawk, next to the Parrot, is said to be the longest-lived bird that flies; one of the former birds, of the buzzard kind, died lately, which had been in the gardens at Blickling, in Norfolk, upwards of 50 years, and was an old bird when taken and placed there. A Goose, the property of Mr. Hird, sen. of Heapham, Lincolnshire, laid the astonishing number of ten eggs on the 1st of November last. A tenant of the Rev. M. Cottie, of Warwick, has just presented to him a part of the solid butt of an ash tree, containing within it the skull of some animal (unknown). It was in the part of the tree nine feet above the ground, and was perfectly enclosed in solid timber. Jan. 4. At Prickwillow, near Ely, Mr. Gittam of Nordelph, Norfolk, undertook to skait a mile on the ice in three minutes, for a wager of one huudred guineas. An amazing assemblage of persons attended to witness the undertaking, and were agreeably surprised to see it accomplished with great apparent ease in fifteen seconds less than the given time. Jan. 10. The severity of the frost was so extreme this night, that as Mr. Felwick, of Tangier Mill, Eton, was returning from Maidenhead Market, he was perfectly benumbed as he arrived near Dorney Common, and, falling from his horse, lay in the road quite insensible. signs of life were perceived for three hours; after which time Mr. Felwick be No [Jan. came gradually aware of his situation. He describes, that he felt a violent and sudden chill seize his whole body as he was riding along, and he became almost instantly powerless, and fell from his horse. He had dined with some farmers at Maidenhead, but took no liquor whatMr. Felwick is still very ill. ever. Jan. 15. A destructive fire broke out at Thorpe Hall, in Hertfordshire, the residence of Mr. Campbell Bowen, which burnt it to the ground in two hours, together with coach-house and stabling contiguous, and a rick of hay. It was occasioned by the negligence of a servant setting fire to the curtains in going to bed. OCCURRENCES IN LONDON Thursday, Dec. 21. At Bow-street, Mr. Frederick Accum, the well-known lecturer on practical chemistry, was brought to the office by Bishop and Nicholls, the officers, from his house in Compton-street, Soho, where he has resided for about thirty years, charged with robbing the Royal Institution in Albemarle-street; to which the prisoner was a subscriber, and had been so for a number of years. He underwent an examination before R. Birnie, esq. the sitting Magistrate; from which it appeared, that the valuable library of the Royal Institution had been considerably deteriorated for some years past, ou account of the books having been mutilated by some person who had torn out part of their leaves. This disgraceful practice increased so much, that Mr. John Stert, the assistant librarian, laid in watch to detect the offenders; and on the 20th, suspecting the prisoner had torn five leaves out of "Nicholson's Journal," which he had been reading, he obtained a search-warrant, and in Mr. Accum's house found a number of leaves, that corresponded with books which had been mutilated. It was supposed that Mr. Accum's object was, to assist him in his scientific publications, and save him the expence of purchasing books; the leaves taken out of the different books being the most interesting and important part of the works. The prisoner, in his defence, said, the leaves seized by the officers at his house, and produced before the Magistrate, belonged to books which he had at home.-The Magistrate, after hearing the whole of the case, observed, that, however valuable the books might be from which the leaves found in the prisoner's house had been taken, yet the leaves separated from them were only waste paper. If they had weighed a pound, he would bave committed him for the value of a pound of waste paper; 1821.] Occurrences in London and its Vicinity. paper; but as that was not the case, he discharged him. His Majesty has ordered a full-length statue in bronze of George III. to be erected on the top of Snow Hill, Windsor Park, with his hand pointing towards his favourite residence, Windsor Castle. A Society has been formed under the title of "The Constitutional Association, for opposing the progress of disloyal and seditious principles." The Society held a meeting on Friday, Dec. 22, at the King's Head, Poultry, Sir J. Sewell, knt. LL.D. in the Chair; when a public Address was agreed on, and several Resolutions adopted by the members. Monday, Jan. 1. This morning, between the hours of twelve and one, the following catastrophe took place at the house of Dr. Uwins, No. 13, Bedford-row, Red Lion-square. Mrs. Leathes, au elderly lady (in consequence of indisposition) was lately sent up to London from the country, and placed in the house of Dr. Uwins, where she occupied apartments; together with her daughter, Miss Leathes, in order that she might be under the immediate attention of the Doctor.-On the above morning (while Mrs. Leathes was lying in bed, and her daughter reading by the bed-side), the female servant, who was in the habit of attending on the sick, entered the apartment with some medicine, which was intended for her; and, having placed the candle in rather an awkward situation, the bed-curtains caught fire; when the blaze reached to an alarming height, so that the parties could not possibly get to the door. Miss Leathes was so much alarmed, that she immediately rose, opened the back window, whence she precipitated herself to the area, pitched upon her head, and fractured her skull in a dreadful manner. The servant, perceiving no chance of escape from the immense body of flames, followed the example of her mistress by throwing herself from the same window, which belongs to the second floor back apartment: she broke both her legs and her back in the force of the fall. By this time the flames were NORTH-WEST The Expedition for further discoveries within the Arctic circle towards the Polar sea, is, as we have already stated, to be under the direction of Capt. Parry, who is appointed to command the Fury, of 18 guns, now fitting at Deptford. Lieutenants Read and Nias, who served in the late voyage to those inhospitable regions, are also appointed to the same ship. The GENT. MAG. January, 1821. 81 increasing, which, together with the groans of the unfortunate females in the yard, attracted the attention of the persons adjacent, and assistance was procured. Miss Leathes, who was no more than eighteen or nineteen years of age, died the same evening. The servant is since dead. Tuesday, Jan. 2. At night, Mr. Hunter, of Hatton-garden, was attacked near the Small Pox Hospital, St. Pancras, by a single footpad, who presented a pistol at him, and robbed him of four one pound notes and some silver. A man in a loose great coat coming up shortly afterwards, Mr. Hunter told him of the robbery, aud that he had fortunately saved his watch; upon which the man presented a pistol at him, and made him deliver it. Friday, Jan. 12. The extensive sugar-house and premises of Messrs. Smith and Donalson, Deal-street, Mile-end New Town, were burnt down at night. Sunday, Jan. 14. The Church of St. Dunstan in the East, which has of late been entirely rebuilt, with the exception of the spire, was opened for Divine Service. Our Readers will see a very accurate and descriptive account of this edifice in p. 36. THEATRICAL REGISTER. DRURY LANE THEATRE. Jan. 8. Montalto, a Tragedy. The story was not without interest; but the details were tedious; and the Piece was performed only three times. COVENT GARDEN THEATRE. Jan. 9. Mirandola, a Tragedy, by [Mr. B. Waller Proctor, under the assumed name of] Barry Cornwall. It is founded on a melancholy tale in Lord Byron's Poems, and has also a strong resemblance to the well-known story of Don Carlos. It is well written, and has been very successful. EXPEDITION. second in the command is Lieut. Lyon, promoted to the rank of Commander, and to the Hecla. Capt. Lyon is the gentleman who, at Malta, volunteered his services to accompany the late Mr. Ritchie, in his attempt to reach the Niger and Timbuctoo by the way of Tripoli; and after his death penetrated a considerable distance into the interior of Africa, in the disguise 82 The North-West Expedition. disguise of a true Mussulman, and has greatly added to the geographical knowledge of that country. Lieut. Hoppner, the son of the Artist of that name, is also appointed to the Hecla, and is, with Captain Lyon, perfectly adequate to take accurate views of such places as the Expedition may visit. Nearly all the seamen who served in the late enterprise have again volunteered their services for this one; and Messrs. Beverley and Fisher are appointed surgeons of the Fury and Hecla. As yet no precise point for exploring is named, and it is considered as not likely to be until the arrival of some information from Lieut. Franklin, now employed in the Land Expedition from Hudson's Bay to Copper Mine River. The natural curiosities from the Polar Sea have been deposited in the British Museum, and are arranging for the inspection of the Public. Several entire heads of the musk-ox, sea-horse, and seaunicorn, with a horn projecting nearly five feet, have been sent to the Royal College of Surgeons. Several skins of the white bear, musk-ox, sea-horse, and dogs, with other curious articles, have been sent to the Museum at Edinburgh. The Parliamentary Grant of 5000%. has been distributed as follows:-Capt. Parry, 1000; Lieut. Liddon, of the Griper, 5001.; Lieuts. Beachy and Hoppner, Capt. Sabine, and the two Masters, 2007.; superior Midshipmen, 55l.; other ditto, 304; Seamen, 20%. each. In the last Expedition the officers suffered from the cold, particularly when changing their clothes for the performance of the Play, being obliged to go into another cabin, the warm one being fitted up as the Theatre. This Play was performed once a fortnight, and the time of its repetition was looked forward to by the men with the utmost delight and impatience. The subject of the Drama related to the Expedition, and exhibited the numerous dangers they were to encounter in the voyage. Among others was displayed a desperate battle with the ferocious white bears, which of course ended in the destruction of those animals. Then succeeded an encounter with an enormous sea-borse, which, after giving ample scope to the palpitations of hope and fear, terminated in a similar manner. The successful passage of the ships into the Pacific Ocean was represented, and after that the acquirement of the 20,000. in London. There was also a sort of afteract, which turned upon the different ways of getting rid of the money in that great city. By the above, and other judicious means, Lieutenant Parry and his officers succeeded in their highly meritorious en [Jarr. deavours to keep the men in excellent spirits during their very long confinement, It has been mentioned in many of the public journals, that a newspaper was printed on board the discovery ships in the late Northern Expedition. This is partly erroneous; no printing materials were on board. The fact was, each officer contributed some article (generally either an ingenious pleasantry, or else upon the subject of the Expedition) unknown at the time to the rest of the crew. The whole being collected, were fairly copied out by a clerk, and thus was produced a newspaper in writing once a fortnight, to the great amusement of the crews. A natural phænomenon occurred on board, which may be of peculiar interest to the admirers of Newton's principles of colours, of the truth of which it appears to be a remarkable confirmation. Near the stove was grown a considerable quantity of mustard and cress, which was highly useful on account of its anti-scorbutic qualities. In consequence of the privation of light during the winter, this vegetable, as it grew, was perfectly white, but when the summer returned, and the light was admitted to it through an aperture, it immediately bent in the direction of the light, and the tips became green, which colour gradually spread itself down the stalks. The The crews used every means, as may be supposed, to escape the cold. cabins were kept at a moderate and comfortable warmth, which was always regulated by a thermometer. They were also air-tight, but whenever the exterior air gained admission, the intensity of the cold was so violently opposed to even the moderate warmth of that within, that it produced an effect which had the appearance of a fall of small snow which covered the floors. The sailors generally wore masks, warmly lined, when upon deck. Upon their return below they were examined by their messmates, for fear there should be any white spots upon their faces. These white spots are the effects of the intense cold in congealing the blood, and if not attended to, are the forerunners of mortification; they were therefore immediately rubbed with snow until the free circulation returned. Although their situation, in regard to climate, was of itself thus difficult to be sustained, other disheartening troubles were added-for a long period previous to their return they laboured under a scarcity of provision. Four pounds, only, of meat weekly were allowed to each man, and a very small glass of rum each day. The former was weighed, and the latter measured with the most scrupulous exactness. The conduct of the men under these circumstances was highly deserving of praise. PRO PROMOTIONS AND PREFERMENTS. GAZETTE PROMOTIONS, &c. Jan. 6. 16th. Foot-Brevet Lieut. Col. Shaw to be Major. 20th.-Lieut. Col. Ogilvie to be Lieut. Colonel. 22.-Brevet Major Hewett, and Major Broomfield, to be Majors. 29th-Brevet Lieut. Col. Hodge to be Lieut. Col. and Brevet Major Gell to be Major. Jan. 13. [This Gazette notifies the issuing of a new Commission for the Board of Control, in which Mr. C. B. Bathurst is substituted for Mr. Canning. And his Majesty's approval of the 45th Regiment of Foot being permitted to bear on its colours and appointments the words "Fuentes d'Honor," "and the Rifle Brigade the words "Roleia," "Vimiera," ""Busaco," "Barrosa," "Fuentes d'Honor," "Ciudad Rodrigo," "Badajoz," "Salamanca," Vittoria," "Nivelle," "Nive," "Orthes," and "Toulouse."] Garrisons.-Capt. R. Simpson, of the 6th Royal Veteran Battalion, to be Town Major of Portsmouth, vice Ashhurst. Jan. 20. 55th Foot-Major Mill, from the half-pay of the 27th Foot, to be Major. 65th Major Dumas, from the half-pay of the York Chasseurs, to be Major. MEMBERS RETURNED TO PARLIAMENT. Jan. 23. County of Roscommon-Arthur French, of Frenchpark-house, esq. vice Arthur French, esq. deceased. Borough of Yarmouth, Hants-Theodore Henry Lavington Broadhead, of Berkeleysquare, Middlesex, esq. vice Theodore Henry Broadhead, esq. deceased. ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS. Rev. James Coles, Chaplain to the Earl of Tankerville, Michaelstone Viddw R. Monmouthshire. Hon. and Rev. Charles George Perceval, Calverton R. Bucks. Rev. Wm. Stocking, Tuddenham St. Mary R. Suffolk. BIRTH S. Jan. 2. The Marchioness of Blandford, a daughter-6. At Harrington-house, the Duchess of Leinster, a son.-14. In Gower-street, Bedford-square, the wife of William Hanmer, esq. a daughter.-15. In Brook-street, Viscountess Curzon, a son and heir.-At Hatton-house, Middle sex, the wife of Captain Langslow (Benga Establishment), of a daughter, her fifth child. The eldest was born in Africa, the second in Asia, and the third in North America. At Upton House, Old Alresford, the lady of Hon. Col. Onslow, a son.-22. Mrs. T. C. Hansard, of Salisbury-sq, a son. MARRIAGES. June 3. At Agra, in the East Indies, Lieut. Edmund C. Sneyd, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Halhed, esq. of Yatelyhouse, Hants. Oct. 11. At Hatfield Pen, Savannah le Mer, Jamaica, Lieut. Frederick Jelly, R.N. to Mary Isabella, relict of the late James Browne, esq. Collector of his Majesty's Customs at that port. Nov. 23. At Hornsey, Henry Mitchison, esq. of Canonbury-place, to Maria, second daughter of George Buckton, esq. of Hornsey. Noo. At Madeira, on board his Britannic Majesty's ship Esk, John Telling, esq. to Lady Donna Juliana Leonora da Cuba Tello. Dec. 20. Lieut.-col. James Shaw, late of the 43d regiment, to Miss Mary Primrose Kennedy. 22. AtGreenhall, Mr. ArnottElphinstone, to Agnes, dau. of Peter Handyside, esq. 25. Captain George Stirling, of the Army, son of the late Sir John Stirling, bart. to Anne-Henrietta, daughter of William Gray, esq. of Oxgang. 26. Mr. George Darby, of Bath, miniature painter, to Mary-Anne, daughter of Mr. William Secombe, of Tywardreath, near Fowey, Cornwall. Charles Calveley, esq. of Stapleford, Cheshire, to Jane, daughter of the late Rev. Edward Evans, vicar of Bethos, and rector of Llandulas, Denbighshire. 27. At Frome, Somerset, Rev. Stephen Hyde Cassan, M. A. curate of Frome, to Fanny, third daughter of the late Rev. William Ireland, vicar of Frome. 28. At Llangollen, Mr. Frank Frances, timber merchant, aged 29, to Mrs. Roberts, aged 85, a widow of large property. 30. Charles Abraham, eldest son of Sir John Leslie, bart. of Wardeshousie Findrassic, |