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Scotland at Stirling, and of the Commercial Bank at Crieff, and amounting in all to about £10,000, had been abstracted. It is next to self-evident, that the robbery was contrived and executed by the abovementioned passenger and the two persons in the gig in conjunction; and it is about as certain, that, after its commission, they met by appointment on the road leading from Kirkliston to Queensferry, and arrived together on foot at Newhalls. Three men, answering the description of the robbers, did arrive that night at Newhalls, whence two of them proceeded to Edinburgh in a post-chaise, and the other went westward. It remains to be noticed, that early on Saturday, a man of the name of Murray, who has been hanging loose upon the town for some time, and whose history is unknown, hired a gig from Mr Smith's livery-stables, Rose-Street, and this person, late on Saturday evening,

called, along with a companion, upon Mr Smith, and after communicating to him that the horse and gig had been upset in a ditch at the side of the road from Kirkliston to Queensferry, desired to know what it would cost to repair the damage. Mr Smith estimated the damage at £40, which Murray paid him in ten pound notes of the Bank of Scotland. The horse and gig were actually found in the ditch, and from the marks of feet about the place, it was evident that three men had been engaged in endeavouring to extricate them. The most active search is making by the police to discover the robbers; and yesterday Captain Brown, late Superintendant of Police, was dispatched to London in pursuit of them. The guard of the coach is in custody. The loss of the Bank of Scotland, we understand, does not exceed £3000.

No. IV.

BIOGRAPHICAL CHRONICLE;

OR,

ACCOUNT OF EMINENT PERSONS DECEASED DURING THE YEAR.

Mr G. BELZONI.

Dec. 31, 1823.-It is with sincere grief we record the death of Belzoni, the celebrated traveller. This event occurred at Gato in Africa, when he was attempting to reach Houssa and Timbuctoo by way of Benin. He had been a considerable time a very welcome guest on board the brig Castor, waiting for the time when a Mr J. Houston could accompany him to Benin, whose interest with the king of that place he considered would be serviceable to him. On the night of the 24th of November, he left the brig with Mr Houston for Gato. On parting, he seemed a little agitated, particularly when the crew, to each of whom he had made a present, gave him three loud cheers on leaving the vessel. "God bless you, my fine fellows, and send you a happy sight of your country and friends!" was his answer. On the 3d of December, the gentleman who communicated the ac

count of Belzoni's death to a friend in this country, received a letter from Mr Houston, requesting him to come to Benin, as Mr Belzoni was lying dangerously ill, and, in case of death, he wished a second person to be present. He was prevented from going, not only by business, but a severe fever, which had then hold of him. On the 5th, he had a second letter from Mr H. with the particulars of Mr Belzoni's end, and one from himself, almost illegible, dated Dec. 2, requesting him to assist in the disposal of his effects, and to remit the proceeds home to his agents, Messrs Briggs Brothers and Co. America-Square, London, together with a beautiful amethyst ring he wore, which he seemed particularly anxious should be delivered to his wife, with the assurance he died in the fullest affection for her, as he found himself too weak to write his last wishes and adieus. He was interred at Gato next day, with all the respect possible; and this gentle

man furnished a large board with the
following inscription, and which was
placed over his grave:

"Here lie the remains of
G. BELZONI,

who was attacked with dysentery at
Benin

(on his way to Houssa and
Timbuctoo)

on 26 Nov., and died at this place,
Dec. 3, 1823.

The gentlemen who placed this inscription over the grave of this intrepid and enterprising traveller, hope that every European visiting this spot will cause the ground to be cleared and the fence round the grave repaired, if necessary."

At the time of Belzoni's death, Mr Houston had everything arranged with the king of Benin for his departure, and, had his health continued, there is no doubt he would have succeeded. Mr Belzoni passed at Benin as an inhabitant, or rather native of the interior, who had come to England when a youth, and was now trying to return to his country. The King and Emegrands (or nobles) gave credit to this, Mr Belzoni being in a Moorish dress, with his beard nearly a foot in length. There was, however, some little jealousy amongst them, which was removed by a present or two well applied; and the King of Benin's messenger was to accompany Mr Belzoni with the King's cane, and as many men as were considered necessary for a guard, and baggage carriers. The King's name is respected as far as Houssa, and he has a Messenger or Ambassador stationary there. On Mr Belzoni's arrival at Houssa, he was to leave his guard there, and proceed to Timbuctoo, the King not guaranteeing his safety farther than Houssa, and Timbuctoo not being known at Benin. On his return to Houssa he

VOL. XVII. PART II.

was to have made the necessary preparations for going down the Niger, and dispatch his messenger and guard back with letters to his agents and to Mr John Houston; the messenger to be rewarded according to the account the letters gave of his behaviour, and the King to receive a valuable stated present.

The distance from Benin to Houssa is not so great. The King gave the following account of the route :From Benin to Jaboo, six days' journey; Jaboo to Eyoo, three; Eyoo to Tappa, nine; Tappa to Nyffoo, four; and Nyffoo to Houssa, three. Between Nyffoo and Houssa, the " Big Water" is to be crossed, considerably above Tangara, at which place it is tremendously rapid and wide; farther down the natives of Benin know nothing of it, except that it runs to the Southward. Mr Belzoni began to waver in his opinion of the Niger being a branch of the Nile, after having seen one or two of these rivers in the bight of Benin.

In 1821 Mr Belzoni published a "Narrative of the Operations and recent Discoveries within the Pyramids, Temples, Tombs, and Excavations, in Egypt and Nubia, and of a Journey to the Coast of the Red Sea, in search of the Ancient Berenice; and another to the Oasis of Jupiter Ammon."

JOSEPH MARRYAT, ESQ.

Jan. 12.-Aged 67, Joseph Marryat, Esq. of Wimbledon House, in the county of Surrey, M. P. for the borough of Sandwich, Chairman of the Committee at Lloyd's, chief in the banking-house of Marryat, Kaye, Price, and Co. and Colonial Agent for the islands of Grenada and Trinidad.

The subject of the present me

R

moir was descended from a highly respectable family at East Bergholt, in Suffolk. His father was an eminent but eccentric physician, who practised in Lothbury and at Bristol. Inheriting considerable natural parts, he gave very early promise of that superior capacity which so particularly distinguished him. Having received the groundwork of a good and liberal education, he was at great pains, even in maturer life, to cultivate and improve it. Being intended for the general profession of a merchant, he was sent out at an early age to the island of Grenada; where he laid the foundation of that intimate local knowledge of the whole West Indian Archipelago, and of its comprehensive relations both with Europe and America, which not only led to his subsequent success in life, but which gave to all his opinions connected with the concerns of those important colonies, that weight and that value which they afterwards acquired.

Mr Marryat may truly be said to have been the founder of his own fortune; for he inherited little or no patrimonial property or estate; and it may be instructive for younger men, who are venturing on their career of commerce, to know, from the example of this highly-gifted individual, that they should never be dispirited at the first results of unsuccessful enterprise; for the very first five hundred pounds in the world which he had to embark in the pursuits of industry, he lost.

He was early introduced to Lloyd's, where his pen, during a long period of war, judiciously and fortunately used, raised him (as he more than once acknowledged) to affluence. He then became agent to Grenada; then returned member for Sandwich; afterwards agent for Trinidad. In Parliament, he became the chief representative of the West India interest,

and the constant opposer of schemes of negro emancipation, which he represented as wild, speculative, and fraught with the utmost danger.

In the question respecting the equalization of duties on the East and West India sugars, Mr Marryat greatly distinguished himself, both by his speeches and his writings; and it is not perhaps going too far, mainly to attribute the failure of that very important measure to the very able opposition it met with from him in every stage of its progress. The most lasting monument of his usefulness will perhaps be left at Lloyd's; and that respectable body, equally with the West India proprietors, will ever owe to him the deepest obligations. The admirable regulations he established for managing their extensive concerns, and the unceasing care with which he watched over everything which could tend to the promotion of their interests, will not soon be forgotten. Lord Liverpool, with a feeling which does him the highest honour, has written to one of the committee of Lloyd's, to express his strongest regret at the "loss of a man of so much excellence and worth.”

In the general style of his eloquence, whether in or out of Parliament, Mr Marryat was not an elegant speaker, but he was a very powerful, energetic, argumentative, and persuasive one. He never gave his opinions on any topic which he had not calmly and dispassionately weighed, so that when he spoke they carried very great weight.

Thus prosperous, active, and diligent, he was proceeding in his career with a happy family, several of whom are eminent in the navy, the law, and the church, when he was in a moment, "in the twinkling of an eye," arrested by the hand of death.

He has left one brother, Samuel Marryat, Esq. King's counsel, equally eminent in his station of life.

He published some anonymous tracts of merit, and with his name"Speech in the House of Commons, on Mr Manning's motion respecting Marine Insurances," 8vo. 1810. "Observations on the Report of the Committee on Marine Insurance," 8vo. 1810.-" Thoughts on the Expediency of establishing a new chartered Bank," 8vo. 1811.

RIGHT HON. SIR THOMAS MAITLAND.

Jan. 17.-At Malta, of apoplexy, the Right Hon. Sir Thomas Maitland, G. C. B., Lieutenant-General in the army, Colonel of the 10th foot, a Privy Counsellor, Governor of Malta, Commander of the Forces in the Mediterranean, Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands, and Knight Grand Cross of the Ionian Order.

He was the third son of James, seventh Earl of Lauderdale, by Mary, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas Lomb, who died July 10, 1789, but one month before the death of his father.

He was appointed Captain in the 78th foot, the 14th of January 1778; Lieutenant-colonel in the army, the 1st of March 1794; Lieutenant-colonel in the 62d foot, the 6th of August following; Colonel in the army, the 1st of January 1798; Brigadier-general at St Domingo, the 18th of April 1797; Brigadier-general in the West Indies, the 1st of January 1798; Colonel of the 10th West India regiment, the 6th of September 1798; Major-general on a particular service, the coast of France, the 14th of September 1799; Major-general in the army, the 1st of January 1805; Colonel in the 3d garrison battalion, the 25th of February 1805; local rank as Lieutenant-general in Ceylon, the 31st of July 1806; Colonel of the

4th West India regiment, the 19th of July 1807; Lieutenant-general, the 4th July 1811; and Colonel of the 10th foot, the 19th of July following. He was appointed Governor and Commander-in-chief, in and over the Island of Malta and its dependencies, the 15th of July 1813; and subsequently Governor and Commanderin-chief of the Forces in the Mediterranean.

This officer conducted the negotiations and proceedings of the surrender of Parga to the Turks.

The return of Sir Thomas Maitland to the Ionian Islands, in 1816, was welcomed by several very flattering addresses.

A triumphal arch of marble of the Ionic order, with an appropriate inscription, was erected on the Esplanade, facing the gate of the citadel; and the bronze statue of his Excellency occupies the site upon which stood that of the famous Count Schulembourg, erected by the Senate of Venice, to commemorate his glorious and intrepid defence of this fortress, and the complete defeat of the Turkish army, in 1716, by which he so effectually checked the progress of Mahometanism in Europe. The statue of the English Lord High Commissioner, which is of large dimensions, is the work of Signor Proserlendi, a native of that place, and an artist of merit, who studied under Canova.

We understand that his remains were buried in the same bastion at Malta which contains the ashes of the memorable Sir Ralph Abercromby. When his death was known by the Ionians, it was received with the utmost sorrow and regret, for they loved and respected him. In the Greek churches a katafalco was raised to his honour, and regular funeral ceremonies performed, amongst which the orations were most deserving of notice.

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