ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

PRINCIPAL OCCURRENCES

In the Year 1825.

JANUARY.

GREAT BRITAIN.

A MEETING of deputies from all the parishes affected by the claim of 2s. 9d. in the pound, was held at Guildhall, for the purpose of reporting to the tithe committee of the corporation the sentiments of the inhabitants of their several parishes as to the proposed united application to parliament for the repeal of the act of the 37th Henry VIII. and the settlement of all disputes with the clergy. Amongst others present, there were deputies from the parishes of St. Botolph Aldgate, St. Olave Hart-street, St. Giles Cripplegate, St. Gregory by St. Paul, Allhallows Barking, Allhallows the Less, St. Helen's Bishopsgate, St. Alphage, and St. Botolph Bishopsgate. There were nearly one hundred deputies present.

A meeting of catholics was held at St. Patrick's school, Dean-street, Soho, at which about 400 attended, for forwarding the purposes of the Catholic Association, and rent was individually collected from the auditory.

[merged small][ocr errors]

Lanyan Cromlech, near PenThis celebrated stone, which weighs about thirteen tons, and which fell from its station on the 19th of October, 1815, during a violent and destructive storm of wind, has been replaced by the united and indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant Goldsmith and Cap

tain Giddy, with the aid of the
materials and machinery employed
about the Logan rock.

A large mass of earth was de-
tached from a part of the hills
near Cromer, called Lighthouse
Hills, which at that place are about
250 feet in height. It fell with
great force on the beach, extend-
ing itself beyond low water mark
about 300 yards from the cliff: it
is calculated that it now covers
upwards of twelve acres, and that
it must contain not less than half
a million of cubic yards, equal to
As the fall
as many cart loads.
of this enormous body was sudden,
it is fortunate no person was near
it, as the officers and men on the
preventive service were in the
course of their duty obliged to
pass in the night immediately
where it fell. It makes a grand
and imposing appearance, and is
much resorted to by the curious;
several fossil bones and other cu-
rious things have been taken up
and noticed; a large and rapid
stream of water immediately after
its fall issued from the bank, dis-
charging itself on the beach with
great noise and violence.

Thirteen men were employed in digging and filling the corves on both sides of the principal passage to the shaft of a coal pit at Middleton, three miles from Leeds. The excavations were going on in two separate compartments of the pit, in one of which were eight foul men, and in the other five. The

x x 2

foul air, or, as it is usually termed, fire-damp, was driven forward to the spot on which they were occupied. This would have proved of little importance had none of the lights been exposed, as Sir Humphrey Davy's safety lamp indicates the presence of the noxious gas without explosion.-But, most unfortunately, the catastrophes which already have been caused by similar inadvertencies, do not seem to have impressed this class of people with a proper sense of caution: one of the men working on the north side of the centre passage, is supposed to have taken off the top of his lamp for some purpose, and the hydrogen gas became immediately ignited, when a tremendous explosion took place. Nearly the whole of the colliers engaged in the northern division were killed upon the spot. All the hurriers and thrusters who attempted to make their escape by the principal passage, were destroyed, some by the suffocating nature of the blast, and others by the violence with which they were driven by it against the corves by which this outlet was obstructed. The bodies of these poor men were for the most part mangled and disfigured in the most shocking manner. Five colliers, who were working in the neighbouring compartment to the other eight, were suffocated, having no possible outlet by which to escape but the principal passage, already blocked up with the corves and dead bodies of their comrades.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

ous gales of wind, extraordinarily high tides, and tempestuous weather, have not been experienced by the oldest inhabitants. The inundations have been dreadful also in the Netherlands, and subscriptions have been opened for the sufferers. In cattle alone, 10,000 oxen and 100,000 sheep have perished.

FEBRUARY.

GREAT BRITAIN.

The Levant company resigned its charter to government. It was one of the oldest companies, and formed in 1579.

The long-room of the new custom-house fell in.

In consequence of the overflow of students at both universities, it is in contemplation to found a third university in the neighbourhood of York, towards which the venerable Earl Fitzwilliam, has promised to subscribe fifty thousand pounds.

One of the richest veins of lead ore perhaps ever dicovered, has been lately broken into near Matlock, in what is called a pipe work, or an opening or communication of caverns, similar to those which are shown to visitors at Matlock Bath. The roof, sides, and bottom are covered with the richest galena. It is visited by all the miners in the county, and one professional gentleman offered 10,000 guineas for the ore in sight.

The dean and chapter of Rochester have determined to restore the interior of Rochester cathedral to its primitive state; the Corinthian altar-piece, put up at the time of the Reformation, is taken down, and has brought to view

the

the whole of the original composition of the east end of the choir, consisting of three gothic arched recesses and windows, in the purest style of the 13th century, and on scraping off the whitewash, the decorations of the high altar appeared, consisting of birds and beasts, fleurs-de-lis, lilies, crescents, stars, scroll foliage, fleury-crosses, lace-work borders, &c. arranged in the most beautiful order, and finely contrasted in the colours, which consist of the brightest crimsons, purples, azures, greens, &c. Another antiquarian treasure has been discovered of equal curiosity. This is a monument, with the effigies of one of the early bishops of Rochester, in his pontifical robes, judged to be of that period when the arts of sculpture and architecture were at the zenith of splendour, the reign of Edward the Third. The crosier, mitre, and robes, are tastefully disposed and gorgeously enriched; the crosier, with gilded foliage, and the mitre in diamonded compartments of jewellery work, the execution of which is in the highest degree elaborate. The outer robe is crimson, with gold embroidery and jewels; and the under robe purple, relieved by a vest of a pink colour and gold fringe. The gloves have jewels, and the shoes are embroidered.

A very fine specimen of the rough-legged falcon (falco lagopus of Linnæus) was taken alive at Wreay, near Carlisle, after having been shot at and wounded in the wing. It measures two feet two inches in length, four feet two inches in breadth, and is feathered down to the toes. This rare bird is a native of Denmark and Siberia, and has seldom

or never before been seen in Cumberland.

HOLLAND.

The new canal of Amsterdam, forming a communication from the ocean to that city, exceeds in depth and dimensions any similar work in Great Britain. A fortyfour gun frigate has already made the passage, and there is sufficient capacity for a ship even of 80 guns.

ICELAND.

Letters state, that the eruption of the volcanoes Kotlugjan and Orfildsjokelen has ceased, but that another element had since occa

sioned the greatest ravages. Kotlugjan had been throwing up with so much force immense masses of water, that the neighbouring country was inundated, and three men became the victims of the phe

nomenon.

MARCH.

GREAT BRITAIN.

The 42d anniversary dinner of the subscribers to the Eastern Dispensary, which has for its object the affording medical aid to the indigent of that extensive district of the eastern part of the metropolis, was celebrated at the London Tavern, T. Wilson, Esq. M.P. in the chair. In the course of the evening the report was read by the secretary, by which it appeared that the Dispensary was first instituted in 1782; since which period there had been admitted 70,389 individuals.

Cured and relieved. 61,739
Discharged for non-at-

tendance

Died. . . .

Women delivered at their

652

1226

own habitations. . . 6613 Now under cure. ... 159

70,389

of

of whom 15,214 were visited at their own habitations.

The Hon. F. Ashley Cooper, son of the Earl of Shaftesbury, aged 15, and Mr. Wood, son of Colonel Wood, aged 14, collegians at Eton, had a few words and blows in the play-ground of the college, but were separated. They however fought pugilistically afterwards, by agreement, and the contest continued near two hours, during which the "backers" poured brandy down young Cooper's throat; and at the end of the 60th round he fell in a fit, was carried off the ground insensible, and died in four hours! The coroner's jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Mr. Wood the principal, and Mr. Leith the second.

FRANCE.

The Egyptian sarcophagus exhibited at Marseilles, has been purchased by the French government, and is now on its way to the capital. This tomb weighs 19,000lbs., and its lid 11,000lbs. It is 8 feet long, 4 feet broad, and 4 feet high, and is marked both on the inside and the outside with hieroglyphic characters.

On a report made to the King of France by the Duke de Doudeauville, minister of the household, his Majesty has granted a pension of 2000 francs in favour of the descendants of the great Corneille.

AMERICA.

The Bunker's-hill monument, contemplated at Boston, will be one of the most noble and interesting edifices in that country. It is to be a column of granite 250 feet in height, which is higher than the monument of London, or any steeple in America: to be

ascended by a circular stairway to the top, from which a most beautiful and extensive prospect will be presented to the spectator. The cost is estimated at 75,000 dollars.

EAST INDIES.

Rangpoor surrendered with the following stores :—

Brass guns-1 Danish fourteenpounder, 21 from three-pounders downwards. Iron guns-1 fortypounder, 1 English nine-pounder, 941 from three-pounders to swivels; total 965.-332 musquets, 226 swords, 228 spears.-Seven thousand iron balls, and a great quantity of gunpowder.

Only two officers were wounded, 2 privates killed, and 46 wounded. APRIL.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Newgate, April 5.-At this date the returns of the prison contained 447 prisoners, either convicted of or charged with crime. Of this aggregate 303 awaited their trials at the sessions. There was only one charge of forgery, whereas at a corresponding session (after the Lent vacation) a few years ago, there were 33 charged with this offence. A summary statement, descriptive of the various offences with which the prisoners severally stand charged, is as follows:-burglary, 8-house-breaking, 2-highwayrobbery, 2-stealing in a dwelling-house, 16-forgery, 1-cutting and maiming, 4-horsestealing, 2-embezzling, 5-sending a threatening letter to extort money, 2-bigamy, 1-stealing from the person, 34-receiving stolen goods, 3-fraud, 2-attempting to commit a burglary, 1

selling counterfeit coin, 6-larcenies, 214-total, 303-Of

[ocr errors]

which number 236 are charged
with crime committed in Middlesex,
and 67 in the city of London.

Prisoners under sentence of
death, 1-respited during plea-
sure, 25-transportation for life,
32-for fourteen years, 8-for
seven years, 51-for felonies and
misdemeanors, 11-whose judg-
ments are respited, 8-remanded,
1 insane, 2-committed under
the bankrupt laws, 5-for removal
to the house of correction, 1-for
trial at the sessions, 303-total,
447-males, 317-females, 130.

1

Bills in Parliament.-The bills before parliament in this single session amount to 383; while those in 1793, 1794, 1795 and 1796, together made only 449. Of these, the road bills are 122; bills for railways, 30; canals, 5; bridges, 10; navigations, 9; docks, 10; harbours, piers, quays, and wharfs, 16. Improvement of towns, 44; paving, 8: gas and lighting, 12: water-works, 11; churches, &c., 13; gaols, 3; markets, 4; streets and building, 3; and other circumstances connected with towns, 5. For the advancement of agriculture, for inclosures, 37; embankments, 2; and drainage, 5. Add to these 24 bills for the regulation of poor rates, tithes, tolls, town dues, and statute labour; and two or three bills for objects of minor concern; and, last of all, no less than 50 trading and speculating companies which have come before parliament for legislative sanction in one shape or other.

Oxford, April 20.-In convocation, the University Seal was affixed to an instrument for the establishment of four University scholarships, the benefaction of the Very Rev. the Dean of Westminster, "For the Promotion of

[ocr errors]

Classical Learning and Taste."
The candidates are to be Under-
graduate Members of the Univer-
sity, "without regard to place of
birth, school, parentage, or pecu-
who shall
niary circumstances,'
not have exceeded their sixteenth
term from their matriculation. The
election of the first scholar to take
place in the first term after the
completion of the foundation.

On the 26th, the first chain of the Menai bridge was thrown over the Straits of Menai. When the blocks were made secure to the chain, (comprising twenty-five tons weight of iron) two capstans, and also two preventive capstans commenced working, each moved by At this critical twenty-four men.

and interesting moment, the attention of the numberless spectators, assembled on the occasion, seemed rivetted to the novel spectacle ; the chain rose majestically, and the gratifying sight was enthusiastically enjoyed by each individual present. At fifty minutes after four o'clock, the final bolt was fixed, which completed the whole line of chain, and the event was hailed by the hearty acclamations of the numerous spectators, joined by the vociferations of the workmen, which had a beautiful effect from the reiteration of sound, caused by the height of the opposite banks of the strait.

Not the least accident, delay, or failure in any department took place during the whole operation. The masterly manner in which the various concomitant parts of this magnificent bridge have been executed, will remain an indelible proof of the superior abilities of the resident engineer, and others concerned. Upon the completion of the chain, three of the workmen had the temerity to

pass

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »