quadrangular building of fine brick and stone, extending from Billingsgate Dock to the Old Custom-house stairs. The front towards the river is adorned with architecture, which affords a noble appearance. The wings, east and west, are distinguished by beautiful columns, pilastres, and entablature of the Ionic order, surmounted by a stone balustrade. The space nearest the river forms a spacious quay for landing goods. The numerous apartments intended for offices are large and commodious, and the building altogether is constructed to suit the multifarious duties relating to the exports and imports. It is roofed with lead and slate, and is expected to be completed in the course of a few months. New Law relative to Parish Apprentices. From and after the 1st of October, 1816, before any child be bound apprentice by the overseers of the poor of any parish, such child shall be carried before two Justices of the Peace in the county, who shall inquire into the propriety of binding such child to the person or persons to whom it shall be proposed by such Overseers to bind such child; and if such Justices shall, upon examination, think it proper that such child should be bound to such person or persons, such Justices shall make an order, which order shall be delivered to such Overseer. No settlement shall be gained by any child by reason of such apprenticeship, unless such order shall have been made. In case any Overseer shall bind any parish apprentice without such order having been first obtained, the said Overseer and the said person shall each respectively forfeit the sum of 101. No child shall be bound a parish apprentice until such child shall have obtained the age of nine years. The following dreadful accident happened at Inverary:-A shopkeeper, after selling a girl some gunpowder, had just put it into a flask, while he most imprudently smoked a pipe of tobacco, when a spark from it communicated with the powder, which instantly exploded, carrying up two of the joists from the floor above, where a barrel of powder was placed, which also blew up, carrying off the roof of the house. The poor man and the girl are both so much injured, that they are not expected to recover. : 2. A fire broke out about halfpast eight o'clock, at the shop of Mr. Falconer, carpenter and joiner, Turk's Head-yard, Oxford-market it communicated, it is supposed, from a chimney to a quantity of timber, which spread with great rapidity; and in a short time it had also communicated to the back part of the following premises: Mr. Lewis, linen-draper, corner of Marketstreet, Oxford-road; Mr. Stewart, grocer, next door; Mr. Shankster, poulterer, next door to Stewart's; and Mr. Hawkins, an undertaker. In about a quarter of an hour after the commencement of the fire several engines arrived, and but for the very prompt exertions of the firemen the whole premises would have been destroyed about half-past nine the flames were happily subdued. The back part of the premises of Mr. Wm. Marshall, wine and spirit : merchant, merchant, also caught fire, and were considerably damaged. 5. Lisbon. Yesterday the beautiful church of St. Julian, in this city, in which was performing the funeral ceremony of the old Queen, by some accident caught fire, and in the course of two hours was completely destroyed. You may easily judge of the dreadful confusion that ensued, in consequence of there being a numerous congregation present, but I am happy to say no lives were lost. A most melancholy accident took place on this morning, between 12 and 1 o'clock, at the works for the intended Southwark Bridge. The men had been working late in the foundation for the Middlesex pier, and had just left off, when a party, about 15 in number, who were returning to the opposite shore, hailed one of the boats in attendance; a boat came, with two watermen in it, alongside the dam: the whole party, in spite of the watermen's endeavours to prevent them, immediately entered it and pushed off; but the tide, which was running up very strong, carried it against a barge, when, in the act of clearing themselves from the barge, the boat upset, and precipitated the whole into the stream. A police boat, which was at hand, hastened quickly to their assistance, and succeeded in rescuing two of them from destruction: the two watermen with difficulty escaped by swiming. The remainder, including 13, were drowned. Watermen were immediately employed to drag for the dead bodies. The only ones found, as far as we have heard, were those of Cummins, Baker, and Armstrong. Mr. Rennie, the engineer, sent to an evening paper the following letter on the subject of the accident : Sir, I beg leave to acquaint you, for the information of the public, with the details of a most melancholy accident which took place this morning, between twelve and one o'clock, at the works for the intended Southwark-bridge :-The men had been working late in the foundation for the Middlesex pier, and had just left off, when a party, about 15 in number, who were returning to the opposite shore, hailed one of the boats in attendance: a boat came, with two watermen in it, alongside the dam: the whole party, in spite of the watermen's endeavours to prevent them, immediately entered it and pushed off; but the tide, which was running up very strong, carried it against a barge; when, in the act of clearing themselves from the barge, the boat upset, and precipitated the whole into the stream. A police-boat, which was at hand, hastened quickly to their assistance, and succeeded in rescuing two of them from destruction. The two watermen with difficulty escaped by swimming. The remainder, The remainder, including 13, notwithstanding every endeavour was made to save them, sidering the lateness of the hour and the deficiency of means at hand, have not yet been found. The men have been repeatedly cautioned before about rushing into the boats, but to no purpose. -I am, &c. Stamford-street, Oot. 5. con R. Lyster, Esq. M. P. of Rowton-castle, Shropshire, who with his family has resided some time on the continent, very narrowly escaped assassination lately. In crossing the Simplon, part of the Alps, with his family, on their way to Genoa, the carriage was attacked by a gang of banditti, who plundered them of almost every article, even the seats of the carriage. While the robbers were engaged in their plunder, Mr. Lyster, seeing another carriage at a distance behind, directed the courier which accompanied -him to gallop off and forewarn the party; but no sooner had the man departed than he was fired at, and wounded by 10 or 12 bullets. The Marchioness of Waterford had been plundered by the same gang just before Mr. Lyster's family arrived at the spot. 7. Notice has been given officially of an intention to apply to Parliament next Session for the accomplishment of the following projects in the neighbourhood of the metropolis:-A new Tontine Patent Iron Bridge across the Thames, from New Gravel-lane, Ratcliffe, to Hanover-street, Rotherhithe; the bridge to be of sufficient height for shipping to pass beneath it. A new Fishmarket on the bank of the Thames, Billingsgate having become insufficient; the new market to be at or near Old Hungerford Market. A new road along the left bank of the Thames, from Westminster Abbey to the end of Vauxhall Bridge." 8. Orders have been issued from the War-Office, that in future all insane officers and men shall undergo a year of probationary medical treatment in their own regimental hospital, instead of being sent, as heretofore, to Bethlem Hospital, on the first appearance of such malady. : Yarmouth. A very melancholy accident happened at Gorleston on Tuesday last, by the upsetting of a salvage boat, in coming for the harbour, by which six out of eight persons were drowned. The boat had gone into the roads for the purpose of looking out for ships the wind was east, blowing a fresh gale, which occasioned a great surf on the bar and beach: they went alongside a brig, Capt. Slipper, who was lying wind-bound in the roads, and who agreed to come on shore with them, and took a boy with him. On their approaching the bar, a man on the pier, considering it dangerous for them to run for the harbour at that time, owing to the surf, waved them off: they then got the boat's head to sea, and were endeavouring to get clear of the surf, when a sea struck them and upset the boat. One man was saved near the north pier by a gentleman who happened to be near the spot, who ran into the sea and caught him; another was saved by a pilot, who got down the steps near the pier-end and threw a rope over him. The following were drowned:-Captain Slipper, and a boy belonging to the vessel, Robert King, Stephen King, Charles Legett, jun., and Richard Gurwood, jun. pilots, be longing to the boat. 9. The following narrative of the recent sufferings of our countrymen at Algiers is stated in an evening evening paper to be derived from a source which entitles it to implicit credit : Captain Dashwood, and Mr. M'Manus, the surgeon of the Prometheus, and some more Englishmen who assisted in effecting the escape of the English Consul's family at Algiers, and who were unfortunately detected in consequence of the child's crying, were in great danger of losing their heads, and would certainly have suffered if it had not been for the interposition of the American Consul. They were put into a large vault filled with vermin and filth, where they remained all night. They had mats to rest on, upon a damp floor, and had nothing to refresh themselves but bad bread and water. They were tantalized with a promise that they should be permitted to go on board ship, but were marched from one prison to another. They were well treated by some Sicilian slaves. The Minister refused them when they applied for more bread; but the Captain of the port showed some compassion, and ordered refreshments for them, directing the guards to treat them well. The slaves then gave them fruit, &c. They were afterwards moved to what is called the King's Prison, under an escort of soldiers, and marched through the town, insulted on the way by Moors, Jews, and Turks, who even spat in their faces. The Dey thought proper to send the Consul's child on board. The American Consul continued his kindness, and the Swedish Consul also was very attentive, and supplied them with books, pens, and paper. The English were soon after put into irons, and in that state were marched about 12 miles across the country; and halting a short time in a place where cattle were confined, were obliged to resume their journey. Their refreshment was boiled corn and water. They were then placed in another prison, but soon heard that they were to be marched back to Algiers, to which place, after having encamped on the bank of a river which had recently been overflown, they were afterwards brought. Then they were confined in a large building on the south side of the town, where they remained in doubt, anxiety, and apprehension as to what would be their future fate. At length the English were relieved from their irons and marched down to the Marina, and put into possession of their own boats. Their situation would have been deplorable indeed, if it had not been for the persevering kind offices of the American Consul. The country over which these unfortunate travellers were passed appeared to be in a desolate condition, covered chiefly with underwood. They crossed an extensive plain, stated to be, according to report, about 2000 miles in length, and 50 in breadth. The soil seemed to be fertile in many parts, and with good pasturage. It may easily be conceived that our poor countrymen were in a melancholy condition, with the prospect of death before them, as they were often by signs threatened that their heads would be cut off, or had reason to fear that they should be punished as the slaves in general are-a pu nishment run. nishment which they had the the courageous mother was demisery of witnessing, and which livered from the fear of having is in the following manner:— her child devoured, she paid the They are placed on the ground debt of nature, falling into a kind with their backs uppermost, a of delirium, which was not of stick is put across their legs long duration, and during which which is held by two men, an- she spoke incessantly of her son, other man kneels at the head of and of the danger which he had the victim and stretches his hand across the back, and two Turks then strike him alternately on the fleshy part below with large sticks, often to the number of three or four hundred blows, and afterwards make them return to work even in that lamentable state of suffering. The poor wretches are allowed nothing but bread and water, and are provided with a new suit of miserable attire every year by the munificence of the Dey." The Moniteur mentions the following incident which took place at Aubusson, in the department of the Creuse :-On the 9th of October, about 5 in the afternoon, the wife of Pierre Martineau, a labourer, was diging potatoes in a field at a very short distance from the suburb of St. Jean, having beside her her son about six years old. Two wolves made their appearance, and attacked the boy; but the courage of a mother knew no danger, and she defended him with so much presence of mind as to succeed in felling to the ground one of these terrible animals with a stone which she threw at him; the other took to flight at the sight of the husband who came to her assistance, and who with a mattock, which he held in his hand, gave the finishing blow to the one which was still struggling. Almost the moment after 10. At a late meeting in the manufacturing and populous village of Airdrie, called in consequence of a long list of petitioners for relief, it was found that many names had been officiously if not mischievously inserted without the knowledge or consent of the parties, and that numbers had been induced to put down their names by conceiving that they were soliciting employment, not charity. One old soldier wished to withdraw his, as he had now obtained work; and two brothers attended to express their indignation at having been included in such a list, and to declare that so far from requiring aid, they were able to lend it. Of 50 names in the original petition, scarcely five remained concerning whose situation it was deemed requisite to make inquiry. Every one who considers independence of spirit as one of the finest traits of national character will rejoice that so much of it remains amongst us that it struggles with, and is likely to survive, our present difficulties. -Greenock Advertiser. Brazil.-(From a German paper.)-As every thing that relates to the other hemisphere of our globe is now of the greatest interest, we therefore communicate to our readers the following extract of a letter from Rio Ja |