Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

In London and Middlesex it is otherwise, except on convictions for murder, and then the order of the court is sufficient warrant for the sheriff to execute. At a certain period after the termination of the Old Bailey Sessions, it is the duty of the Recorder of London to submit to the Lord Chancellor a report of those who are condemned to death, which is afterwards laid before the King in Council, and there all the cases are discussed and decided upon; the result is communicated immediately to the Sheriffs, in an order signed by the Recorder, and sealed with black, setting forth the names of all the prisoners, and ordering the execution of certain indiyiduals, and expressing that the rest are respited during his Majesty's pleasure. Thus, in truth, the report is made for the benevolent purpose of affording the Sovereign an opportunity of ascertaining how many of the lives of the wretched convicts can be saved consistently with the duty which he owes to the welfare of society.-St. James's Chronicle.

Death by Fighting.-Hawkins, a coachman, and Rathay, a bricklayer, having quarrelled at a public-house at Newington, they agreed to decide their dispute the next morning, by fighting, and they each staked a sovereigu. They both appeared at the appointed time. Hawkins, during the course of the battle, seemed to have the best of it, but he fell at last, by a blow on the side of the head, and was a corpse in half an hour!-The Same.

Two lovers in Scotland lately agreed to meet together one evening; and, that they might not be interrupted, they chose a retired gloomy spot which had such a character for being haunted by ghosts and apparitions, that few people in the neighbourhood ventured to approach it. The female arrived first, and sat herself down on a stone, waiting for the arrival of her lover. After sitting a short time she began to feel chill, and she was drawing her cloak round her, when she felt that she caught hold of a hand deadly cold, as of a corpse. She sprang up, and tried to make her escape, and she found that a person was following her. She ran on, till in her haste and fright she fell over a heap of stones, and cut her face severely. The creature that followed her raised her up; and, after her fright had a little subsided, she found that it was her lover. Ghost stories, when explained, turn out to be nothing. The death-cold hand was the girl's own, which had become chill, and lost its feeling from the cold: and thus when the other hand grasped it, there was no sensation in the benumbed hand, and it appeared to belong to another person. As soon as the girl began to run away, her lover came to the spot, and he was the spectre that followed her.-Scotch Paper.

Wash for Fruit Trees.-Mr. Braddick, a member of the Horticultural Society, has discovered that the water through which coal gas has passed, proves a most effectual wash for fruit trees. Its foetid smell keeps off insects, and it does no injury even to the most delicate fruit trees. Mr. B. recommends mixing one pound of flour of brimstone in three gallons of gas water, adding soft soap enough to make it adhere to the buds and branches when laid on with a painter's brush.

To Destroy Bugs.-We are informed that a celebrated chemist recommends the following as an effectual method of destroying bugs:-Take a table spoonful of red lead, mixed with two ounces of the spirits of salt. Put it into a cup, and place the cup in a bason of warm water, to float. This is to be put in the middle of the room, which should be kept shut up for twenty-four hours: the smell proves destructive. We should think that the room ought to be well aired before it is again inhabited, as the mixture might prove injurious to those who should come soon after its application.

Weights and Measures.-It is perhaps not generally known, that by an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, a total alteration will take place on the first of May next, in the legal weights and measures of the kingdom.The object of the Act is to establish a uniform system, to enforce which penalties are enacted against those who sell goods by any other standard. -St. James's Chronicle.

So great is the perfection to which watch-making has arrived, that the chronometer which is now sent out with Captain Parry, did not, in twelve months, whilst in the Observatory at Greenwich, in its greatest variation, exceed in its mean daily rate of going, one second and eleven hundredths of a second.

Much alarm having prevailed of late respecting hydrophobia (the disease occasioned by the bite of mad dogs), it may be useful to state, that Sir Astley Cooper, in one of his lectures, says, "the best plan is decidedly to cut away the part bitten; and where this has been done directly after the injury, it has, I believe, in every instance succeeded in preventing the disease."

In Kensington parish the following notice is put up:"Take notice, that, by order of the magistrates, no drove of cattle will be allowed to pass through this parish on the Sabbath-day." This is well worthy of imitation.

Apple Bread.-A very light pleasant bread is made in France, by a mixture of apples and flour, in the proportion of one of the former to two of the latter. The same quantity of yeast is employed as in making common bread, and is beaten with the flour and the pulp of the apple. The apple must

be put in warm, having been boiled; the dough is then considered as set: it is then to be kept warm, to rise, from eight to twelve hours, and then baked in long loaves. In general no water is required. If the apples are not fresh, perhaps a little may be wanted. Potatoe bread is made in the same way.-London Paper.

A parody made on the view of the Henbury cottages near Clifton :

[ocr errors]

The call of the church-going bell
Distinctly these cottagers hear;
They grieve at the sound of a knell,
And rejoice as the Sabbaths appear.
To mark with decorum the day,
They quit, for a while, their abode,
Themselves in their best they array,
And repair to the temple of God.
The service performed, they return,
Yet not their devotion they cease,
Their bosoms with gratitude burn,
As they enter the mansions of peace.

Bath and Cheltenham Paper.

A newspaper tells us that, if garlick be stamped in a stone mortar, the juice is the finest and strongest cement to mend broken glass. We never tried it, and do not therefore vouch for its truth.

A carriage has been seen for the last six months at Munich, drawn by two enormous wolves, muzzled, which M. W. K—, formerly a merchant at Petersburgh, found very young, in a wood near Wilnar, and has so well tamed, that they have all the docility of horses.

Shocking Accident.-Lately a horse and chaise had been left for a few minutes, standing in the road, near Islington: the horse took fright at something which passed, and ran off at full speed along the road, keeping the foot pavement. In his course he ran over several fruit-stalls, whilst their owners had scarcely time to save themselves, by jumping on the road. A poor blind man, well known in the neighbourhood, who was walking along, led by his faithful dog, not knowing which way to turn, was knocked down by the animal, and dashed with violence against the ground; the horse and chaise passed over him, and killed him on the spot. The enraged dog seized the horse by the nose, and forcibly held him, till some persons came and secured him.- We cannot help admiring the noble attachment and boldness of the faithful dog. Such dreadful accidents should shew us the

great danger of leaving a horse to stand with its carriage without a person to hold it. The very same paper, from which we have extracted this account, also contains another account of a young gentleman at Margate, being killed by a carriage, the horses of which had ran away, the coachman having left them standing by themselves.

Bull Baiting. Not less than four convictions for bull-baiting have lately taken place in the neighbourhood of Wednesbury, under the "Act to prevent cruel and improper treatment of cattle." The first was that of a carter, who was convicted in the full penalty of five pounds, for baiting a bull at Wednesbury wake, and in default of payment he was committed to the county gaol: and a labourer was convicted in the mitigated penalty of 10s. and costs, for being concerned in the same offence. The other two cases were nearly similar, and the delinquents were fined three pounds each.Bath and Cheltenham Paper.

Lately a quantity of butter, short of weight, was seized in Hereford market, and, by order of the mayor, given to the Infirmary.-The Same.

Fatal Accident.-A boy, of twelve years old, found a powder flask, with some powder in it. In endeavouring to set fire to some of the powder for his amusement, the whole contents of the flask took fire, and burst the flask; part of which struck the poor boy on the head, and killed him.-The Same.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received T—a.; Adolescens; Lady S. G.; D. D.; N. C. T.; Plain Maxims; E. W. B.; I. S. E.; and an article on Sweetbriar Hedges.

The question on which " Lector" asks our opinion, is difficult to be answered; we certainly do not like the practice; but something may be said in its defence.

The extract to which I. S-e. alludes, was long ago put on our approved bundle; but other matter has taken precedence of it.

us.

The article on rain is good, but rather too philosophical for

P. S.-J. W. B.; M. C. L.; R. B.; Thomas ; and Mrs. Steel's verses have just reached us.

ERRATUM IN OUR LAST.-For Kendal, read Preston, page 508,

line 23.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« ПредишнаНапред »