Goodwin and Co.

Elliot and Co.
Taylor and Co.

Singular Discovery.-A curious circum stance took place at Shadwell-Office on Saturday. Sarah Ann Brown, alias William Brown, was charged with an assault, and, during the examination, (being dressed in sailor's clothes,) confessed she was a woman, and had served 14 years in the royal navy, in the Queen Charlotte, had a pension, and had but lately returned from a voyage to the West Indies. She is a native of New-York, and said nothing would have induced her to discover her sex but the unpleasant situation in which she was placed. After making satisfaction, she was discharged.

23.-Fire-Damp Explosion.-On Monday night last, a partial explosion took place in Sheriff-Hill colliery at Newcastle, by which John Tempest, one of the hew ers, was so dreadfully burnt, that he died the following day. The accident was owing solely to the obstinacy of the deceased, who would persist in going into a part of the mine with a lighted candle, against the express orders of the overman. He has left

a widow and three children.

Diving-Bell.-On the 19th, as three men, employed on the new works carrying on at Sheerness dock-yard, were descending in the diving-bell, some accident occurred, and the signal to be drawn up not being understood by the person above, two out of the three were unfortunately drowned; the one who was saved made his escape from under the bell, which the others were unable to effect. As soon as recovered, the bodies were taken to the surgery, and means used to restore animation, but, unhappily, without effect.

24. Mr Sadler's Balloon.-Crossing St George's Channel.--Mr Sadler, junior, ascended from the Cavalry Barrack, near Dublin, on the 22d inst. as forty minutes past one P. M., and landed at about a mile and a half from Holyhead, at half-past seven P. M., having crossed the Irish Channel in about six hours. Mr Sadler effected his descent, in perfect safety, in a corn field, being six hours and five minutes from the time of his ascent. He experienced various contrary currents of air, and perfect calms, with the extremes of heat and cold. Mr. Sadler returned to Dublin this morning. Thus, for the first time, has the perilous attempt. of crossing the

Grand Naval Entertainment.--This day Captain Forrest, of the Ister frigate, entertained nearly 300 ladies and gentlemen of the first fashion on board that ship in Leith Roads. The entertainment consisted of a déjeuné on the quarter deck, where ices of every description, and the finest fruits, pine-apples, grapes, cakes, noycau, and other liqueurs, orgeat, lemonade, &c. were in the greatest profusion. The gun-deck was fitted up as a diningroom, and the table splendidly ornamented with naval and military trophies, festoons of flowers, &c. At five o'clock the company sat down to an elegant hot dinner and desert, during which the choicest wines flowed liberally. After dinner, the company went to the ball-room, where country dances and waltzes were kept up with great spirit, during which the company were entertained with all kinds of ices and fruits till two o'clock, when they returned to the gun-deck to supper, which was served up in the same elegant style. After which the dancing recommenced, and did not leave off till five o'clock on Friday morning, Gow's band and the ship's band played alternately; and the band of the sixth dragoon guards was stationed on the beach when the company came off.

25.-Inverness.-The excise-officers of this district, having had information that a considerable quantity of smuggled salt was to be conveyed from the west coast, set out with a party on the 31st, with the view of intercepting it. At the west end of the wood of Spittal, Ross-shire, they fell in with five men driving four horses laden with salt, which they seized without much opposition. In a short time thereafter, three other parties of smugglers successively came up, and the horses and salt they escorted were seized, making in all twenty horses, with a bag of salt each. In the resistance made by one party of the smugglers, one of their number was severely wounded by the officers' swords; one of the horses was killed by the same means; the others were sold at Inverness, next day, by public auction.

Archery. On the 19th, the silver arrow, given by the town of Musselburgh, was shot for on the race-course there, by the Royal Company of Archers, and gained by Sir Patrick Walker.

28.-Explosion at the New Customhouse, Thames Street, London.-About ten o'clock this mo. ning, the foundation of the stair-case at the public entrance was blow n

up, by the bursting of one of the principal pipes for conducting the gas. The explosion was tremendous, and the stones were scattered with great force in every direction. We did not hear that any person was hurt.

Trial of Luddites, &c.--The trials of the Luddites, and those concerned in the late riots at Huddersfield, took place last week at the York Assizes, when the prisoners were all acquitted; for, although it appeared in evidence, that the riots were of an alarming description, the guilt could not be fixed on any of the persons indicted. The Judge exhorted the prisoners, before discharging them, to beware of engaging in such courses in future; to which one of them immediately replied for the rest," We will indeed, my Lord."

30-Lord Castlereagh.-On Sunday the 27th, as Lord Castlereagh was walking in his grounds, at Footscray, in Kent, accompanied by a Wirtemberg dog of his lady's, a large Spanish dog fell upon the animal, and his Lordship immediately pulled it off. The smaller dog flew at his antagonist, as the latter was taken from him, and in doing so fastened upon his Lordship's fingers, which he grasped so strongly, that Lord Castlereagh was obliged to employ his other hand in opening the dog's mouth. His Lordship's hand was, in consequence, considerably lacerated, the sinews of the first and second fingers being separated, and the nail of one being nearly torn off. Bankhead was immediately sent for to London, who ordered his Lordship to bed; and it was some time before he could again attend to his important duties.

Dr

31.-Improvements in Edinburgh,-On Monday last, stances for seven houses, four on the north side, and three on the south side of the Regent's Bridge, between Prince's Street and the arch, were sold to a builder for L.25,000. By the contract, the buildings must all be finished by Martinmas 1818.

Railway. A subscription has been commenced for a railway to convey the county coal to Edinburgh and Leith. The carriage of coals to Edinburgh is reckoned to cost about L. 60,000 Sterling yearly, falling, of course, in a great degree, upon the poorer and more numerous class of the inhabitants. By the railway, it is expected, after paying 10 per cent, to the subscribers, that the carriage will be performed at onehalf of the present cost, and a saving arise to the public of about L. 30,000 per un

num.

A remarkably fine fat buck was killed, some time ago, in Bradley Park, Yorkshire. On opening the animal it was discovered, that at some distant time, it had been shot in the heart, for a ball was contained in a cyst in the substance of that viscus, about two inches from the apex, which was beaten quite flat.

1.-State Trials.-Yesterday about 80 persons dined at the Crown and Anchor, London, to celebrate the acquittal of Watson, Thistlewood, &c. Mr Hunt was in the chair, and spoke several times in the course of the evening. Messrs Watson, Thistlewood, and Preston, also addressed the meeting on their healths being given. Hooper was absent from indisposition.

British Navy.An important official document has just appeared, in the shape of proposals and regulations relative to the navy, made by the Board of Admiralty, and sanctioned by an order of Council. After elucidating the accidental causes which have introduced the existing anomaly of rating ships at a certain number of guns, while their real complement exceeded that nominal amount, the Board, with a just and patriotic feeling, make the following observations :-"We trust we shall be excused for observing to your Royal Highness, that is wholly unworthy the character of the royal navy of this kingdom, to maintain this system, which, though introduced without any design of deception, yet may give occasion to foreign nations to accuse us of misrepresentation, when we state that a British frigate of 38 guns has taken a foreign frigate of 44,

when, in fact, the British frigate was of equal, if not superior force.' It is then stated, that the American ship President had 55 guns mounted on the day of her capture, though she was rated at only 44. In the British navy this practice will no longer continue, for it is now ordered, that the rule which prevailed prior to 1793 shall be revived, and in future all his Majesty's ships will be rated at the number of guns and carronades which they actually carry on their decks, quarterdecks, and forecastles.

Swindling. On the 29th ult. a swindler contrived to carry off a considerable sum from the Glasgow Bank, by using the name of Adamson and Logan, manufacturers; whose proceeds of bills discounted he audaciously called for and received from one of the tellers. The amount was L. 1314; but this being a larger sum than the swindler wanted, or was able to utter, he next day returned L. 900, inclosed in a letter, in which he promised to repay the remainder on his arrival in America.

2.-University of Edinburgh.--Yesterday the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh conferred the degree of Doctor in Medicine on 92 gentlemen, after the usual public and private trials-namely, 37 of Scotland, 18 from England, 32 from Ireland, three from Jamaica, one from Hamburgh, and one from Barbadoes.

An old Egg-About a fortnight ago, when pulling down the wall of an old house in Annan, a hen's egg was discovered in the middle of the wall, which was composed of stone and clay, and was built in the year 1648; consequently, the egg must have continued there for the long space of 169 years. When found, the shell was completely whole. This relique of antiquity is now in the possession of Mr Bryce Downie, mathematician in Annan.

4.-The King--Yesterday the following bulletin was exhibited at St James's Palace" Windsor Castle, August 2. His Majesty has been generally in good health and tranquil spirits during this last month, though, perhaps, less uniformly than for some months preceding. His Majesty's disorder has suffered no alteration." -It has been reported, and partially believed, that his Majesty had lost his hearing as well as his eye-sight; but we are happy to state that there is no truth in the report. Indeed, as if Providence kindly intended to compensate for the loss of vision, his Majesty's sense of hearing is not merely quick, but it has become, if we may be allowed to use the term, discriminative. When his Majesty is in a composed state of mind, he can readily distinguish, and tell, by their footsteps, the name of any one who is approaching or

passing him. As but few are allowed to see him, he generally amuses himself as they pass, by calling to them by name. His Majesty's habits have not, in consequence of infirmity or old age, undergone material change. His Majesty, as usual, rises early-breakfasts at eight o'clock, or soon after-dines at one-continues partial to mutton and beef, and when in a tranquil state, he orders what his dinner table shall be furnished with.

Launch of a Frigate.-The Arethusa, a very fine frigate of 46 guns, was launched on the 29th ult. from the new dock-yard, Pembroke. Her dimensions and tonnage are as under:

Feet. In. Length of keel for tonnage 126 1 Breadth 40 1 Tonnage 1,934 69-94ths. This vessel is a sister ship to the Thetis frigate, launched from the same yard in February last.

Water Spout. On the 1st inst. between two and three in the afternoon, Cupar, Fife, was visited by a thunder-storm of about an hour's continuance. It was attended by the singular phenomenon of a water-spout, which discharged itself on Tarvit Hill, over the north side of which it descended in a torrent on the adjacent fields; and these, to a considerable extent, were entirely flooded. The violence of the torrent was such, that large stones were rolled along; deep trenches were formed; and from the ground over which it passed, every trace of vegetation has fled.

Thunder Storms.-On Tuesday the 22d ult. about two o'clock, while Mr D. Smith, farmer at Denside, in the parish of Monikie, was sitting in his parlour at dinner, along with Mrs Smith, he suddenly heard an explosion and a shriek from the kitchen, in which were Miss Smith, two servant girls, and a servant man. On hurrying to the kitchen, he found it filled with smoke, which soon cleared away, and disclosed his daughter and three servants in a state of stupor-several pieces of the pavement of the floor torn up and shattered-that on which stood the chair, where two of the servants were sitting, together with the chair, shivered to atoms, all the panes dashed out of the kitchen window--and the ceiling perforated to the extent of six feet by three. Two large holes were also made in the inner wall of the chimney, and the chimney-stalk was rent in pieces. The rustics, (two of whom were sitting on one chair,) though struck to the ground, escaped with very little injury from that tremendous power by which the solid earth under them was rent, and their seat literally annihilated.

During a very heavy thunder-storm on Wednesday 23d ult. a shepherd got into a small shed on Seven Oaks common, accompanied by his dog, for shelter, where

they were joined by another person, and in the course of the storm the shepherd began to relate the circumstance of his brother having been killed by lightning about thirty years ago, when the narrator received a shock which instantly deprived him of his life. His dog was also killed by his side; -his companion received a shock, but was merely stunned. The watch of the deceased was melted in his fob, the steel chain shivered to pieces, and the glass shattered into a sort of sand.

On Thursday the 31st ult. soon after ten o'clock, Manchester and its neighbourhood were visited by a very serious and violent thunder-storm, accompanied with a descent of hailstones of an amazing size. The electric fluid has left awful impressions of its destructive power: At Pendleton, two men, of the names of John Armitage and John Hoyle, were struck dead whilst making hay, and several others were much stunned, and narrowly escaped; Mr Gorton, bleacher, was knocked down in the same direction. 7.-Chain Bridge.-A chain bridge is just finished at Dryburgh, which has been erected at the expence of the Earl of Buchan, for the convenience of foot passengers, across the river Tweed. The appearance of this bridge is uncommonly light and elegant, and, connected with the fine scenery of Dryburgh, it is beautiful and interesting. It consists of a platform of wood, supported by chains suspended from pillars on each side of the river, at the height of eighteen feet above low water, and has no support under it. The passage is easy and level, and has very little vibration.-The span between the points of suspension is two hundred and sixty-one feet, being the greatest span of any bridge in the kingdom.

&-Roger O'Connor, Esq.-This gentleman, so well known in the political history of Ireland, was apprehended in the end of April last, on a charge of having been concerned in the robbery of the Galway mail-coach, in 1812, at Cuppagh Hill, county of Kildare, where it was attacked and robbed of a considerable sum in bank bills, &c. This not being a bailable offence, Mr O'Connor was kept in prison in Dublin till removed to Trim, county of Meath, where his trial came on on the 5th instant, and ended in a most triumphant acquittal. The prosecution was carried on at the instance of the Post-office, Dublin; but their principal witnesses, Michael Owens and Daniel Waring, seemingly two of the most infamous characters that ever disgraced society, prevaricated so in their testimony, that no doubt remained on the minds of the Court and Jury, that they had conspired against the life of the gentleman at the bar. Owens was recently under sentence of death for robbery, and obtained his pardon by swearing informations against Mr O'Connor, and Waring's brother was

hanged for the robbery in question. Owens stated in his cross-examination, that proposals had been made to him for saving his life, if he gave information against Mr O'Connor; and a Dublin paper states, that the conspiracy has been traced to a Magistrate in the county of Cork, against whom Mr O'Connor has instituted an action. Sir F. Burdett was summoned as a witness for the defence, and gave a high character of Mr O'Connor for honour and integrity. The verdict of acquittal was hailed with loud acclamations by those within and without the Court, and the people were with difficulty prevented from carrying Sir Francis and Mr O'Connor in triumph through the town, which was illuminated with bonfires in the evening.

Canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The first general meeting of proprietors of the Union Canal, which is to extend from Edinburgh to the Forth and Clyde Canal at Falkirk, took place in the Royal Exchange Coffee-house, Edinburgh, on Tuesday the 5th, when the following gentlemen were unanimously chosen members of the Committee of Management, viz.. Right Hon. William Arbuthnot, Lord Provost of Edinburgh--Sir John Marjoribanks, Bart. of Lees, M. P.--Colonel Robert Anstruther Mr John Wigham, jun.- Mr Robert Morton-Watkin William Massie, Esq.-John Kid, Esq. Glasgow-James M. M'Culloch, Esq. of Ardwell-Robert Graham, Esq. of Whitehill

General William Maxwell—Alexander Munro, Esq. and Robert Downie, Esq., of Appin.-The meeting afterwards appointed Mr G. Moncreiff to be clerk to the Company, and Mr Hugh Baird to be their engineer. It appeared, on examining the subscription papers, that there was a deficiency of nearly L. 27,000, which required to be filled up before the work can commence. Since the meeting, however, that sum is reduced by new subscriptions to a little more than L. 15,000, which there is every reason to believe will be made up in a few days.

9.-Edinburgh High School. The annual examination of this school took place yesterday; when the gold medal, the gift of the late Colonel P. Murray, was adjudged to Master William Glover, son of Mr W. Glover, merchant, Leith.-Another beautiful gold medal was presented to Master George Napier, son of G. Napier, Esq. of Dales, the same young gentleman who won the Greek medal last year. An elegant gold medal, given by Mr Pillans, the Rector, to the best scholar in his geography class, was gained by Master Henry Dundas Drummond.-The writing class, taught by Mr M'Kean, was examined on Thursday. Two elegant medals, the gifts of Walter Brown, Esq. College Bailie, and Mr M'Kean, were adjudged by the exami

nators, and presented, the one to Master Gavin Milroy, son of Andrew Milroy, Esq. jeweller, Edinburgh, and the other to Master David Scott, son of William Scott, Esq. Leith Links.

12.-Shocking Barbarity-The assizes at Trim, Ireland, terminated on Saturday last. One of the convicts, named Martin, has been executed for a barbarous murder, committed on the persons of a young woman and her infant child, of which child he was the father. He had promised the young creature marriage, and prevailed on her to cross the country with him, in order to go to a priest, by whom to be married; in a field upon the way the diabolical villain murdered his unsuspecting victim and her infant, and put the bodies into a hole. Providence sleepeth not: a heavy rain washing away the earth, the hand of the murdered woman was observed by a passenger, and this led to the discovery of this horrible transaction-one at which human nature shudders. The circumstances were so strong, the Jury had no hesitation in finding the wretch guilty. After his conviction he acknowledged the crime. 13.-Horrid Depravity. At the late Mullingar assizes, in Ireland, Thomas Clarke and Henry Burke were found guilty of the murder of Patrick Mahon, by beating out his brains with an iron crow. The villains, after their conviction, evinced a hardened depravity, which deeply shocked Lord Norbury, and a crowded Court; they declared aloud, that on the night of the day they would be executed, their associates would have the lives of all concerned in their prosecution; and the brother of the prisoner, Clarke, had the audacity to call to him from

the gallery of the Court, in terms of apparent approbation.

15.-Riot in the Isle of Man.--A new code of criminal laws for the Isle of Man, including an act for regulating the sale of herrings, and an act for abolishing all paper money for the payment of sums under twenty shillings, both passed in the last session of Parliament, were lately proclaimed, according to ancient usage, before the inhabitants of the island, in presence of the constituted authorities.-During the recital of the latter act, there appeared a manifest disposition to tumult, amongst a part of the assembled crowd, which increased in such a degree as to require the assistance of the military. Only one of the mob was slightly wounded in the arm by a sabre. It appears that this tumult was occasioned by a false report, industriously propagated, that the new laws had for their object the levying a heavy tribute upon herrings, to support the bishop and clergy.

New Steam Vessel.-A fine new steamboat, called the Tug, arrived at Leith yes- · terday morning from Glasgow. From the large dimensions of this vessel, she could not pass through the Forth and Clyde Canal, but came north about through the Pentland Frith, and although she encountered most boisterous weather off Cape Wrath, and in the Murray Frith, has arrived in perfect safety. In the hard gale of yesterday, she came up the Frith against wind and tide, with a degree of velocity that astonished the numerous spectators. The Tug is the property of the Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Leith Shipping Company, and is intended for towing their vessels from Leith to Grangemouth.

JOHN RAFFIELD, of Edward Street, Portman Square, architect, for certain improvements on, and additions to, his former patent, for an apparatus to be attached to fire-stores of all descriptions for rooms, for the removal of cinders and ashes, and for the better prevention of dust arising therefrom which said additions may be used jointly or separately. January 10, 1817.

To JOSEPH de CAVILLON, Sambrook Court, London, gentleman, for improvements in the preparing, clarifying, and refining of sugar, and other vegetable, animal, and mineral substances, and in the machinery and utensils used therein. Jan. 23. ROBERT DICKINSON, Great Queen Street, Esq. for a method or methods of preparing or pav ing streets and roads for horses and carriages, so as to render the parts or pavements, when so done, more durable, and ultimately less expensive, than those in common use, and presenting other important advantages. Jan. 23.

DANIEL WILSON, Dublin, gentleman, for improvements in the process of boiling and refin ing sugar. January 23.

GEORGE MONTAGUE HIGGINSON, of Bovey, Tracy, Devon, lieutenant in the navy, for improvements in locks. February 1.

WILLIAM WALL, Wandsworth, watchmaker, for a horizontal escapement for watches. Feb. 1. ISAAC ROBERT MOTT, Brighton, composer and teacher of music, for a method of producing,

from vibrating substances, a tone or musical sound, the peculiar powers in the management whereof are entirely new, and which musical instrument he denominates The Sostinente Piano Forte.' February 1.

WILLIAM BUNDY, Pratt Place, Camden Town, mathematical instrument-maker, for ma chinery for breaking and preparing flax and hemp. February 1.

JAMES ATKINSON WEST, Crane Court,. Fleet Street, brass-worker and lamp-manufacturer, for improvements in or on lustres, chandeliers, and lamps, of various descriptions, and in the manner of conveying gas to the same. February 6.

WILLIAM CLARK, Bath, Esq. for a contriv ance called a safeguard to locks, applicable to locks in general, by which they may be so secured as to defy the attempts of plunderers using pick-locks or false keys. February 8.

ROBERT HARDY, Worcester, iron-founder, for improvements in the manufacturing of cast iron bushes or pipe boxes for chaise, coach, waggon, and all other sorts of carriage-wheels. February:0. RICHARD LITHERLAND, Liverpool, watchmaker, for improvements in or on the escapement of watches. February 20.

RICHARD HOLDEN, Stafford Street, St Mary-le-bonne, gentleman, for machines for produc ing rotatory and pendulous motion in a new marr ner. February 20.