13 JUNE 1829, Page 5

Frnes.—There were three fires in different quarters of the metropolis

on Saturday. On Sunday morning, the premises of Mr. Walthers, bookseller, Charles-street, Mary-la-bonne, were discovered to be in flames ; and a good deal of valuable property was destroyed. Two out-houses, attached to the Duke of Hamilton public-house at Hampstead, were consumed on Tuesday morning. Six houses in the village of lloath, near Canterbury, were on Saturday de- stroyed by fire, and the inmates left homeless and without a vestige of property— all being consumed.

The out-houses of James Fortune, a farmer at Churchtown, Came, were on Monday week burnt to the ground. His brother's son, a boy about eleven years of age, perished in the flames. Fortune's sister, who slept in another house, coming to the spot, and "seeing her brother safe, but missing her nephew, rushed'," says the Wexford Evening Post, "with frantic desperation, into the blazing house. She sought him in the bed—he had left it. All around, above, and below her was on fire—still she continued to search for him. It was in vain ; and when she came forth, the unhappy martyr to her humane affections was a burning mass. Clothes she had none; yet she came forth actually burning, and lived for the space of two hours after ; when the cold and desirable hand of death relieved her from the burning torture she must have suffered."

A destructive fire broke out a few days ago at Clermont, in the department of the Meuse, which in a short time consumed thirty houses. This was occasioned wilfully by a woman, who, after she had set a building on fire, hanged herself. A horse which a young man was exercising in Park-lane, a few days since, ran off; and dashed its rider so violently against the wall of Hood's Mews, that he was killed on the spot. On Saturday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett of Seymour-place, Bryanstone- square, were thrown from their pony chaise on the Vauxhall-road,—their son, who drove, having lost all control over the horse. They were both most seriously hurt ; but their sun, having leaped from the chaise, escaped unhurt. A girl, three years of age, was killed on Saturday in Aldermanbury, by a coacn passing over her. On Wednesday morning, a girl three years of age, stumbled and fell before a cart at the corner of Cromer-street, Brunswick-square the wheel passed over her head, and crushed her to death. On Wednesday morning, two men were killed by the exploding of a corning. mill, at the gunpowder manufactory of Messrs. Curtis and Harvey, Hounslow- heath.

On Tuesday night, the driver of the Tunbridge waggon was overcome by sleep : he fell from the shaft, and was crushed to death by the wheel. The dead body was found by one of the horse patrol at some distance from the waggon. On the evening of the 31st May, two young ladies were drowned at Scremere ston, near Berwick. The sufferers, along with another lady and two gentlemen, had gone on board a boat for the purpose of sailing to Berwick ; but scarcely had they cleared the creek, when the boat was upset by a wave. One of the ladies sunk immediately. A boatman twice gained a rock with the other, but they were as often washed off, and she too perished. The others of the party were saved with difficulty A shocking accident occurred last week at Medemblik, on board the Coral of Ipswich. As the vessel was getting under weigh, the captain, Mr. Thomas Bird, was caught in a coil of rope, one end of which was made fast to the pier ; and the tide running very strong caused the vessel to sheer off, which drew the rope so tight as almost to cut the poor man in two. The body was drawn overboard, and was not again seen.

During the gale on Thursday week, a vessel was driven on the beach at Lydd. No boats could get off to the assistance of the crew ; who were, however, all saved and brought ashore, through the activity of a Newfoundland dog. The surf was rolling furiously, and eight poor fellows were crying for aid, which the spectators could not afford them, when a man directed the attention of his dog to the vessel. The intelligent animal swam towards it, and the crew joyfully made fast a rope to a piece of wood, with which the dog returned to his master on shore. A line of communication was thus formed, and eight mariners rescued from a watery grave.—Sussex Advertiser. On Thursday, a young man, about twenty years of age, employed at Messrs. Parkes and Otway's ironworks, Deepfields, put his head through one of the cog- wheels while it was in motion, and was decapitated! This freak was performed with the view of exhibiting the fearlessness of his disposition to his companions. —Manchester Herald.

Last week, Mrs. Stewart, residing at Lonend, having been suddenly alarmedby a report that a grandchild of hers had fallen into the Clyde, rushed in a much agitated state to the spot. It turned out to be correct, that a boy belonging to some other person had fallen into the river, who was instantly got out. In crossing the street, on the way to her own house, she complained that she was getting blind, and instantly dropped down dead.—Greenock Paper.

Last week, a father and his daughter lost their lives in the Union Canal, near Port Hopetoun. It would seem that the young woman had fallen in while at- tempting to wheel some grass across the plank which served as a bridge ; and the father having leaped in to her rescue, both perished. They were found locked in each others' arms.

An accident occurred on Saturday week to the Aberdeen mail-coach, at a toll- bar near Perth, by which one of the horses was killed and the others were hurt. A strange sort of theft ensued. On Sunday morning, the dead animal was found to be denuded of the hair both of the mane and tail. Some one suggested to the proprietor that it might be well to save the shoes, at least, by taking them off be- fore another night. He said there was no fear, and would defer doing any thing till Monday morning. On that morning the horse was found not only without the shoes, but also the skin.

A SAUCY DEBTOR.—There is a Captain Gouch, whom Mr. Sheriff Copeland has allowed to get too deep in his debt ; and although the Captain had promised over and over again to redeem his engagements, he has broken all these pro- mises. The Sheriff met the Captain on Wednesday, on 'Change, and asked him if he proposed paying his debts ? The Captain became abusive, and, turning on his heel, in a contemptuous manner, said, " Pooh ! what a pretty fellow you are for a sheriff, to be coming boring people after this fashion for money." He then walked off; and next morning the Sheriff received a most vituperative letter front the Captain, which he laid before Sir Richard Birnie, as his being a magistrate of

the city prevented him from noticing it otherwise than by an appeal to the laws. Sir Richard Birnie said—" Upon my word, things have come to a fine pass. when creditors are to be abused in this sort of way by their debtors, simply for asking for their own. I can only say, Mr. Sheriff; that your method of meeting such conduct is very praiseworthy." A warrant for the Captain's apprehension was signed. and committed to the care of Salmon for execution.

OFFICIAL Cet-stev.—On Wednesday, Nelson, a beadle belonging to the parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, brought a female, between twenty and thirty years of age,

in a coach, to Queen-square, in order that she might he immediately passed by the Magistrates to the parish of Marylebone, to which she belonged. The poor creature was carried from the coach into the office, groaning with agony. She was in labour, and had been in that state for some time; but at the risk of her life, the parish-officers of St. Luke's, Chelsea, had caused her to be conveyed be- fore the Magistrates, to be passed to her own parish. Mr. Gregory refused to pass the woman ; ordered a surgeon to attend her, and under his care had her taken back to Chelsea Workhouse.

MURDER.—Some five weeks ago, a quarrel arose in a public-house in Lambeth, between two men, Browning and South, when the former gave the latter a slight

slap on the side of the head. South in a rage, snatched up the poker and pros- trated his companion by a blow on the temple, which he repeated while the other was lying in a state of insensibility; and Browning was carried to the hospital, where he died on Wednesday from the effects of the wounds. The case was men- tioned at Union Hall, when the Magistrates issued a warrant for the apprehension of South. It was ascertained, however, that he had shipped himself on board a vessel for South America; but as she had not sailed from the Thames, it was else petted he would yet be apprehended.

ATTEMPTED CHILD MURDER: On Monday, Ann Chapman was committed from Mary-la-bonne office, on the charge of having abandoned her child. The babe was discovered in convulsions in a ditch in the parish of Acton. A riband was tied tightly round its neck, seemingly with the intention of strangling it; and but for the timely aid which was afforded, it could not have long survived. The child was about a month old. The wretched mother admitted that she left it in the ditch asleep.

Ass...tem.—Henry Bryant was brought to the Thames Police-office, on Satur- day, charged with a cruel and wanton assault. The prisoner lives in Shadwell- court, and the prosecutrix, a widow with two children, lives beside him. The children had annoyed him by playing near his door. He seized one of them by

the throat, and jammed the other between the wall and his knee till it fainted; and it will, in the opinion of two medical men, be a cripple for life. After the child was taken away, the prisoner was heard to exclaim, "I have done for one young —; I'll cripple them every one, that make a noise at my door." While the mother was telling the distressing state of her child, the brute was observed to smile ; and when he saw that matters were likely to go against him, he cried out, Well, I'll give her a pound to make it up." The mother shook her head, and answered, "If my babe dies, I hope you'll be brought to the gallows. My poor baby, should it please the Lord to take him, would be better off than live in the state he is in." The Magistrate could do no more than fine him 5/.; but as they considered this punishment inadequate to his deserts, he was committed for trial.

Captain Locke, of the Guerds, has been held to bail at Bow-street office, for as- saulting a person named Last. The Captain had taken a box at the French Theatre ; but through some mistake it was found occupied by another party. Last was ordered to provide him with another box : some words arose between them, which ended in the Captain striking him two blows on the head which blackened his eyes.

THEPTS.—On Thursday a lad aged seventeen stole a 50/. note and thirty-five sovereigns from his father, a respectable tradesman, and disappeared. On Mon- day he was brought to Union-hall police-office. The note he had given to some person to get cashed, and of the sovereigns he had given fifteen to a female to 4' keep for hies" and the remainder he had spent in debauchery. This hopeful yohth was remanded till the other parties are in custody.

Three fellows were brought before the Lord Mayor on Monday, for stealing three loaves of bread. When taken into custody, they exclaimed, "they would be damned if they would die of hunger for any one ; and if they could not get work they would get bread wherever they could." They behaved in an impudent manner before the Lord Mayor; and as they turned out tu be dissolute vagabonds, they were sent to Newgate for trial,—greatly against their will, as they prayed to be convicted under the Vagrant Act.

A boy about twelve years of age was committed on Friday from Bow-street, for picking a handkerchief from a gentleman's pocket. About an hour before, he bad been discharged at the Westminster Sessions, because no accuser appeared against him.

Strreines.---On Saturday, the sequestered village of Charlton, in Kent, was the scene of a self-murder, the discovery of which threw the villagers into a state of great excitement. As a labouring man was on Sunday morning employed in driving birds from a field of young oats, his attention was drawn to a corner over which a great number of (bent hovered. He there discovered the dead body of a man, front which the head had been almost completely blown off; and the fragments of a pistol were found scattered near the body. On examination, the body was found to be that of Mr. Gustavus W. Peipers, a merchant of Cologne, in Germany, who carried on the business of a wine-merchant in the City. On the inquest, no evidence was adduced to show what cause had induced hint to commit suicide, as he was not in embarrassed circumstances. The following paper was found upon his person.

" This is the body of Gustavus relpers, from Coto:rime. in Germany, aged twenty-six years. Misfortune has brought him to the extremity of killing himself. Living without honour is worse than death. He dies near some friendly soul, and hopes to be regretted by those who have known him.-6th of June, 1829."

The Jury found a verdict of " lunacy."

On Thursday morning, John East, a compositor, at Clerkenwell, aged twenty- four, whilst sitting at breakfast, infused a quantity of arsenic in his tea, and drank it off. His wife observed him introduce the drug, and, though unconscious of its being poison, attempted to seize the cup ; but before she could do so he had swallowed the contents. The consequences soon became apparent, and medical aid was vain. This suicide is attributed to distress from waut of employment.

Last week, a pauper at Helpringham, near Boston, conceived himself harshly treated by the parish-officers. In revenge he announced that he was to commit suicide in the church, under the impression that if such a deed were done in it, the edifice must remain closed for a year and a day. The parish-officers in conse- quence ordered the gates of the church to be kept locked. The pauper was not to be ehus baffled: on Friday night, he climbed over the gates, and hanged him- self in the porch.

A young gentleman, who resides with his uncle, in Euston-place, New Road, attempted to destroy himself on Saturday, by swallowing laudanum. A mutual attachment existed between hint and his niece. Her father was decidedly opposed to their marriage ; and the young lady was sent to the country, in consequence of a plan for the elopement of the lovers having been discovered. The youth became frantic at the disappointment ; and had not the stomach-pump relieved hint of the narcotic poison, he must have become the victim of his passion.

On the morning of Tuesday week, Mr. Bliss, who resided at Watchfield, near Faringdon, was found murdered on the road-side ; and Henry Pocock, a labourer, has been committed for the crime. It appears that on the previous evening, the deceased was sitting in a hedge, whets Pocock and another man passed. Pocock sung a large stone at Bliss, and knocked him down. His companion then ex- claimed, " You have killed old Bliss !" to which the fellow who flung the stone replied, " If I have not, I will do it," and immediately went back and finished the bloody deed ! The police of Ennis are in search of a woman charged with having poisoned her husband. She first mixed arsenic among his butter, and then among spirits which she advised him to take as a medicine. The supposed motive is a criminal attachment to another man.

A man named Colliane has been murdered in Kiltoghard, county of Leitrim, by his wife and daughter ; who have been committed to await their trial. They strangled him while in bed, with a piece of twisted cloth; and the wife, to com- plete the murder, afterwards leaped upon his chest. It has been proved, by ano- ther daughter, who witnessed the deed. that the wretches had two days before purchased the shroud they intended for him.

' Assevers.—The cowardly and barbarous practice of throwing vitriol is become jog common in Manchester. Two individuals were last week much burnt, by having quantities of this liquid thrown at them.

A serious affray occurred last week, at Harpurhey, near Manchester. A cor- poral and three men of the 24th Foot, who were proceeding to Rochdale with two deserters, went into a public-house to obtain refreshment. The mob endeavoured to effect a rescue. Several persons were wounded in the scuffle ; and one lad, who was not concerned in it, received a ball in the arm. The assailants, who are said to have been chiefly thieves, were with difficulty put to t3ight.

ROBBEEms.—The premises of Mr. Leith, Cannon-street Road, were entered by thieves on Monday morning, and robbed of 4001. worth of property, chiefly in teghorn bonnets and straw plat.

On Saturday morning, a housebreaker was shot in the shoulder while attempt. ing to break into the premises of Mr. Newcome, in Webber Street, Lambeth. He was not so much hurt as to hinder him from making his escape.

On the last day of Epsom Races, the French General Baubrand was robbed of his purse, containing nineteen sovereigns. Lord Jermyn was robbed of his gold watch.

A gentleman who held a respectable situation in the Bank of Ireland has been arrested on the charge of embezzling a 500/. note of the Bank.