ers in the stable at the bottom of the garden of David Sillers, Esq. These were part of the troops of the county cavalry, assembled for a week's exercise. The stable was not injured.

Jail-breaking. On the morning of Sunday, the 9th instant, four men escaped from the new jail, Perth, by cutting an aperture through the roof of the water-closet. They had been incarcerated for non-payment of fines imposed upon them for the offence of snuggling whisky.

Only two regiments of infantry are now quartered in all Scotland, viz. the 88th, head-quarters at Edinburgh, and the 40th at Glasgow. The whole of the Highland corps not on service are in Ireland, viz. the 42d, 78th, 92d, and 93d.

Canine Thief-Lately, in Dysart, Fifeshire, a bitch and cat, in the same family, brought forth young within a few days of each other. The former being deprived of her pups, attacked poor puss, and, after several fierce encounters, drove her from her kittens, and carried them away in triumph to her kennel, where she has brought them The bitch is of the water spaniel kind, and seemed equally fond of her stolen charge as of her own progeny, and they no less happy in the bosom of their rough nurse than under the protection of their natural mother.

up.

Life Boats. Lieutenant Thrackston, on Monday, the 10th instant, made a trial of his life boat in the Bristol Channel. The day was not so stormy as he could have wished, but there was a very rapid tide, the wind at W. N. W. and at half ebb, off the Black-nose Point. Lieutenant Thrackston was himself in the boat, with eleven men, who laid her in the trough of the swell, from Portishead to Walton Bay; she was then pulled up again to Portishead, and filled with water to her gunwales! The Racer revenue cutter now took her in tow, run her into the strength of the sea and tide, (which was exceedingly rapid,) and then cast her adrift. Every sea rolled over her, yet she lifted to its rise, and never, in the least degree, was her stability shaken. In this situation did her crew take to their oars, and pull for the shore. She was upwards of half an hour in this situation, every moment of which gave increasing confidence. In every respect this important invention answered the most sanguine expectation; and there is little doubt, but that, if the William and Mary packet had been in possession of a boat on this construction, (only 17 feet long,) every life might have been preserved.

18.-Appeal for Murder.-At the last Warwick Assizes, Abraham Thornton, a small farmer in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, was tried, and acquitted, on a charge of murdering a young woman,

named Mary Ashford, whom the prisoner was supposed to have first violated, and then thrown into a pool of water. The acquittal of this man having produced great dissatisfaction, the relatives have again prosecuted him by appeal, at the suit of William Ashford, the deceased's brother. When brought into the Court of King's Bench yesterday morning, the defendant pleaded" Not guilty," adding, "And I am ready to defend the same by my body," and throwing down, at the same time, one of a pair of new gloves he had on his hands, according to the ancient mode of challenge. The validity of this plea remains yet to be decided: but, in the mean time, it has excited an extraordinary degree of interest, on account of its novelty, and more particularly from the disparity of strength between the appellant and defendant, the former being a slender lad about 17, while the latter is a strong built man of the age of 30. The counsel for the appellant have argued, That the right of challenge only remains with the accused party, when there is nothing else to support the charge but the assertion of the accuser, whereas, in this case, they contend that there are strong presumptive proofs of the defendant's guilt. Should this counterplea, which is to be argued next term, not be sustained, either the appellant must give up his charge against the defendant, and be liable to him in damages, or a day of battle must be appointed, in which the parties, armed with batons, must fight cach other in the presence of the Court. If the defendant kill the appellant, or can maintain the fight till the stars appear in the evening, he is acquitted; if he give up before that time, he is to be hanged immediately; and if he be killed in the fight, it is considered the justice of Providence upon him. If the appellant give up, and cry "craven," he is declared infamous. (See Blackstone, Vol. IV. p. 312.) There has been no wager of battle in this country for several centuries. The last awarded was in the time of Charles I. and then the commission was revoked. In the present case, Ashford has declared, that, should the Court award the combat, he will fight to the death in revenge for his murdered sister.

22.-Funeral of the Princess Charlotte of Wales.-The body of this lamented Princess, with that of her infant son, were embalmed on the 7th, according to ancient custom; and lay in state at Claremont till the evening of the 18th, when they were removed, in a private manner, to Windsor, attended by the afflicted Prince Leopold, and escorted by a party of the 10th regi

ment.

Wednesday, the 19th, was the day appointed for the funeral, and by a spontaneous feeling of deep and sincere grief fer

of the Household.

Treasurer

of the Household.

Equerries and Gentlemen Ushers.
Ladies of her Majesty's Bed-chamber.
Women of her Majesty's Bed-chamber.
Ladies Attendants on their Royal Highnesses the
Princesses.

Attendants on her late Royal Highness the
Princess Charlotte.

Attendants on her Majesty and the Princesses. The procession was conducted with the utmost solemnity. The choristers, as soon as it made its appearance in the chapel, began to chaunt the solemn service of " I know that my redeemer liveth." The canopy, which was of an immense length, followed the choristers, moving at a very slow pace; and, being borne high in the air, had a most imposing effect. Prince Leopold followed the coffin, as chief mourner, and his appearance created deep interest. Though he made evident efforts to preserve calmness, yet he every now and then burst into a flood of tears. He walked along with unsteady steps, and took the seat provided for him at the head of the coffin, between the Dukes of York and ClaDuring the service, his Serene Highness preserved a fixed but downcast look towards the coffin of his beloved wife, never once raising his eyes to the assemblage. His distress, however, was tolerably subdued, till the awful moment when the coffin was gradually lowered into the vault, when he was alarmingly moved, but by a strong effort seemed also to conquer this emotion. The usual anthems were then chaunted with due solemnity; and, the office of burial being concluded, Sir Isaac Heard, Garter Principal King at Arms, after a short pause, proclaimed, as follows, the style of her late Royal Highness:

rence.

"Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this transitory life, unto his Divine Mercy, the late Most Illustrious Princess Charlotte Augusta, daughter of his Royal Highness George Prince of Wales, Regent of this United Kingdom, Consort of his Serene Highness Leopold George Frederick, Duke of Saxe, Margrave of Misnia, Landgrave of Thuringia, Prince of Cobourg of Saalfeld, and grand-daughter of his Most Excellent Majesty George the Third, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, whom God

bless and preserve with long life, health, and honour, and all worldly happiness."

The funeral service had closed about eleven, and before twelve the chapel was cleared. The Prince Leopold returned to Claremont, almost immediately after the mournful ceremonial. During the illness of the Princess, his Serene Highness was unremitting in his personal attentions, and has continued inconsolable since her death. He is now about to leave this country on a short visit to his paternal residence in Germany; after which, he has declared it to be his determination to return to Claremont, and reside there till death again The joins him to his lamented consort. accoucheur of the Princess was Sir Richard Croft, who was attended by Dr Baillie, and the protracted labour of her Royal Highness occasioned Dr Sims to be sent for, but it is understood that he did not. conceive it necessary to interfere in the treatment the other gentlemen had adopted. The Regent and Prince Leopold have both testified their sense of the merits of Dr Croft; it is supposed, however, that anxiety for a living child caused a delay in the means frequently used to accelerate births, till the strength of the mother was so much exhausted, that no human means could have availed to save her.

On the 7th, the Deputy Earl Marshal issued an order for a general mourning, as mentioned in our last number, to commence on Sunday the 9th.

Never, we are sure, was mourning more general or sincere than that evinced on this most distressing occasion. There was something, indeed, in the tragical event itself, whether considered as a public or as a doit required not the aid of adventitious cirmestic affliction, so extremely affecting, that cumstances to strike the imagination, or to touch the heart. The mother and the child -the heirs of England's crown-lie buried in one grave, and the expected root of a glorious succession is blasted and cut off for ever. The general sorrow, also, which these considerations excite, is greatly heightened by the personal character of the Princess, who appears to have given up her mind entirely to the virtues of domestic life, preferring the retirement of her own happy abode to all the senseless dissipation of fashion.-Domestic virtue is the true spring of public honour; and, in this view, the character of the Princess was a sort of pledge for the tranquil and happy administration

of these realmis.

Herring-Fishing.-There were cured last season, at Helmsdale, in the county of Sutherland, 7300 barrels of herrings, all of which were entitled to the bounty. This is only the fourth season of fishing at this port, which possesses superior advantages: these will be still further increased in consequence of the Honourable the Board of

Customs having appointed an officer with powers to grant clearances direct from this port, and in consequence of the Marquis of Stafford having determined to construct a pier, and otherwise improve the harbour. Inundation. In the end of last week, the heavy rains increased the North and South Esk rivers, in the neighbourhood of Montrose, to an extent not equalled for six years past. On Saturday the 15th, the North Esk rose upwards of twelve feet, overflowing all the low lands on its banks, and sweeping every thing before it-corn, potatoes, &c. In one instance, a field of wheat entirely disappeared, and now exhibits the appearance of a rough shingly beach, the vegetable mould being completely swept off. The mound that forms the approach to Marykirk Bridge was at one time overflowed, and rendered impassable; and the torrent was so powerful, that even the fish were compelled to yield to it, and hurried to the sea. Although a good deal of grain was observed floating in the estuary of the South Esk, we have heard of no particular damage on that river.

24.-Edinburgh Police Court.--A messenger at arms was sentenced to a fine of £10, or imprisonment in Bridewell, for insulting a gentleman in the New Town, by following him from street to street, insisting to know his name, and alleging that he was a person against whom he had a caption; to whom, upon investigation, it appeared, the gentleman bore no other resemblance than that he wore his arm in a sling. The messenger chose to go to Bridewell rather than pay the fine, and he has since brought an appeal before the Court of Session, which their Lordships dismissed without hearing more than the appellant's counsel; and on this occasion their Lordships expressed the greatest indignation at the conduct of the law officer.

26. Curious Seizure.-The walls of the new gaol building at Bristol, have, it is said, (owing, doubtless, to some mistake,) been seized by the custom-house officers of that port, for the duty on the stones, which were conveyed by water from the Black Rock hotwells.

Monopoly of Whale Oil.In the Court of King's Bench this morning, Mr Scarlett moved a writ of criminal information against Herman Gerard Hilbers and Stephen Cleasby, for an attempt to raise, by illegal means, the price of whale oil. By the affidavits it appeared, that in the course of three months they had engrossed about nine-tenths of all the whale oil in the kingdom.-A rule was granted, to shew cause for criminal prosecution.

27.--Ramsgate.A most calamitous event took place this morning, about six o'clock, by the falling of an immense quantity of the cliff, between this place and Broadstairs. Four marines, belonging to

a party who were upon the look-out for smugglers, were unhappily buried under the falling mass; three others narrowly escaped.

Fire.-On Tuesday morning, the 25th, about nine o'clock, a fire broke out in the top storey of the north-west corner of the new College buildings, Edinburgh, which was occasioned, it is supposed, by the negligence of the workmen, and had at first a very a larming appearance; but, by the prompt attendance of the fire-engines, and the exertions of the firemen, the flames were got under in the course of two hours; not, however, till considerable damage was done in the quarter where it originated.

Royal Bank of Scotland.-On Tuesday, at a general meeting of the proprietors of the Royal Bank stock, it was agreed to add £500,000, part of the undivided profits of the Bank, to their capital. This they are enabled to do without any new subscription. By this resolution, £100 stock will, after Christmas, be augmented to £150.

DECEMBER.

1.-A soldier, named Barber, of the 28th regiment, now at Gosport, under orders for the Mediterranean, is said to have become possessed of £130,000 by the decease of a gentleman in the West Indies, who had realised property amounting to £400,000, which is directed to be divided among three persons, who are thus unexpectedly advanced from a state of indigence to the means of passing the remainder of their days in affluence and splendour. Barber has been about five years in the 28th regiment, where he has conducted himself much to the satisfaction of those officers who have had opportunities of observing his general conduct.

The other two fortunate individuals are Barber's brother and his grandfather, who are natives of Frome, in Somersetshire.

4.-Post-Horse Duty.-Yesterday, at the Crown and Anchor tavern, London, the letting of the post-horse districts, for the ensuing three years, took place before the Honourable Commissioners of his Majesty's Stamps, when the several districts were let as under :

1. North Britain, ...............£14,100 2. Northumberland, Cumberland,

Westmoreland, and Durham, 9,520 3. Yorkshire,

4. Lancashire, Cheshire, Derby,
and Stafford,........

5. Lincoln, Leicester, and Not-
tingham,

6. Northampton, Rutland, War-
wick, and Oxford,

7. Wilts, Worcester, and Glou-
cester,

15,790

17,900

...

8,980

15,000

16,060

£240,360

The Fever in Ireland has not, we regret to find by the last accounts, abated in that degree which was lately anticipated from the stirring change in the weather. From Derry, Limerick, and other parts, the accounts are still very distressing.-The Irish Board of Excise have issued an order to the inspecting officers, directing them to allow the re-opening of such hearths and windows, closed on account of the taxes, as may be necessary for the recovery of patients afflicted with the fever.

British Linen Company.-At a meeting of a Court of Proprietors of this bank in Edinburgh, on Tuesday, the Court confirmed a resolution of last meeting, to give a bonus of 25 per cent. in the Company's stock, and farther to increase the annual dividend from nine to ten per cent. The Court also voted the sum of one thousand guineas, and a piece of plate of five hundred guineas value, to Mr Gilchrist, the manager-one thousand guineas to Mr Henderson, the secretary-and five hundred guineas to Mr Fleming, the senior teller, and eldest officer in the Company's employment, who has been 44 years in its service.

Buildings on the North Bridge of Edinburgh.-On Tuesday, a general meeting of the inhabitants of Edinburgh was held in Freemasons' Hall, convened by public advertisement, to consider what measures it would be proper to take in regard to the buildings now erecting, and proposed to be erected, on the North Bridge, in violation of the original plan of the New Town; Professor Playfair in the chair. Mr James Stuart opened the business of the meeting by a very long speech. After referring to the ulterior proceedings of the Council, he moved a string of resolutions, on which the meeting came to the following decision: "That they having obtained the opinion of eminent counsel that the magistrates had no legal powers, in virtue of the foresaid act, or otherwise, to authorize the erection of such buildings, as are now in progress on the west side of the North Bridge; resolved to take immediate legal steps to prevent their being farther proceeded with, it being the understanding of this meeting, that no buildings higher than what may be necessary for a row of shops can be permitted to be erected on the North Bridge, without serious injury to the city; and that the committee appointed be authorized to take such steps as may

8.-Adventurers to South America.The Gazette of the 29th ult. contains a proclamation of the Prince Regent, forbidding British officers from engaging in the contest in South America, either on the side of the Patriots, or that of the King of Spain.

Scottish Burgh Reform.—Our last number contained a summary of the proceedings which had taken place in various parts of Scotland on this subject, which seeras to become every day more generally interesting. On Monday the 17th November, the motion which had lain over for a month on the table of the Merchant Company, was taken into consideration in a very numerous meeting of that body; when Mr Adam Black, after a very temperate and ahle speech, proposed the following resolutions:

1. That this Company views, with great satisfaction, the exertions now making to introduce into the Scottish burghs a more rational and liberal system of town polity: and considers the sound and enlightened principles displayed in the set of Mons trose, so congenial to the spirit of the British constitution, as reflecting the highest honour on the Lord Advocate of Scotland, and his Majesty's Privy Council, and eminently conducive to the welfare of the community, and the respectability of the ma gistracy.

2. That this Company, being deeply inte rested in every thing connected with the good of the city, and being the only chartered body of Merchant. Burgesses, consider themselves particularly called upon to use every exertion to procure for the burgesses that influence in the administration of their own affairs to which they are entitled, and to promote such improvements in the set of the city as will be conducive to its prospe rity.

These resolutions were met by a counter-set, proposed by Mr Pattison, the Mas ter of the Company, which gave rise to some discussion; and, upon a division, there voted-for Mr Black's motion, 176for Mr Pattison's, 87.-Majority, 89.

Several other public bodies have since held meetings, and passed resolutions in fa vour of a change in the town polity; and the committees appointed by these bodies, anticipating no favourable result from a