he had received a .number of letters, complaining t hat the

public were ex-

posed to great plunder from a gang of swindlers, who were in the habit of sending circulars about to merchants, manufacturers, tradesmen; and others, stating that they were able to accommodate them with money, on unexception- able bills, for a commission of five per cent. His lordship understood that there had been many victims to this mode of doing business ; but he thought those who were taken in by it must be inexperienced and credulous indeed. Mr. Hobler mentioned, that one party of these swindlers had lately been routed from the neighbourhood of Soho-square, and it was understood they had taken up their residence in Commercial-road.

TRAFFIC IN DEAD BODIES.—Elizabeth Shearing was charged at Guildhall, on Monday, with having sold the dead body of her father to the anatomists; and her husband was charged with having aided and abetted her in the crime. On Tuesday week, an old man, an inmate of the Grub-street Asylum for the Houseless Poor; died in the Asylum, and was sent to Cripplegate workhouse for interment. The woman came and claimed the body as her father's ; and the truth of her story being assumed, it was delivered up to her by the Com- mittee. Suspicion, however, was excited by the manner in which the body was driven away ; bht the parish officers could not overtake the cart. Nei- ther of the prisoners would say what they had done with the corpse ; and they were discharged, on the ground that as it had been delivered up, they could not be indicted for stealing it.

An elderly and respectable-looking man, came before Sir Peter Laurie, at Guildhall, on Thursday, and stated that he had occasion to put his daughter into Guy's Hospital, where she expired on Tuesday last. The body was de- posited in the dead-house ; but when he came to fetch it away, it was disco- vered that the dead-house had been visited by the living, and the body carried off. It was afterwards traced to Bartholomew's, where the father found it already prepared for the knife, and the teeth extracted. He demanded its restoration ; but was told they paid fifteen guineas for the corpse, and should let him have it on the same terms. He now applied to the Alderman for a warrant to enable him to take it by force. Sir Peter Laurie said he could not grant a warrant; but he sent two officers with him to the Hospital to demand the body. The presence of the officers had the desired effect, and the old man recovered his daughter without pay. The officer stated, on his return, that it was "A Rowland for an Oliver," as the Guy-men had before stolen a body from Bartholomew's.

PIRACY.—Forty pirates, who were captured in August last, on the coast of Africa, by a British brig of war, were examined at Horsernonger-lane, on Saturday. They were all identified, and an act of piracy having been proved against them, by Mr. Lister, the commander of a 'vessel which they had plundered, they were committed for trial.

THEFT AND EMBEZZLEMENT.—A young man, named O'Connor, was charged at the Mansiohhouse, on Tuesday, by Mr. Gandolfe, his employer, with having robbed him. The prisoner confessed that he had long been- engaged in plundering his master. Among his spoil were a 20/. note, twenty sove- reigns, a diamond ring, a watch, and many other things. He was committed for trial. John Bolton was charged, at Marlborough-street office, on Tuesday, with having robbed his employer, Mr. Rent, brush-maker, Great Marlborough- street, of property to the amount of 2001. When the prisoner's lodgings were searched, upwards of two thousand ivory-handled and other brushes were found. The dead body of a child, in a rapid state of decomposition, and enclosed in a coffin, was found concealed behind some rubbish in the apartment. The prisoner said it was the corpse of one of his own children, which died about a fortnight before, and was to have been buried this week. He was remanded. The prisoner had been for fourteen years in Mr. Rent's service.

ASSAULT.—The infamous Harriette Wilson was on Thursday held to bail from Marlborough-street-office for an assault upon a young French girl, whom she had inveigled to London as a companion, at a trifling salary, pro- mising to obtain a desirable situation for her.

PROVISION FOR MONKEYS.A miserable-looking foreign lad, and his mon- key, were on Monday brought to Marlborough-street office, by Webb, the in- spector of nuisances, charged with begging in St. James's parish. Sir George Farrant--" I do not know what is to be done with him, for it is very probable he is not aware of having committed any offence." Webb—" Oh yes he is, for he is an old hand at it." Sir George Farrant-..." If he is committed, what is to become of his monkey ? for it is no use to send him to the House of Correction ; but you must getan act of Parliament to authorize these animals and birds to be sent to the Zoological gardens." Cheddle (one of the constables of the Mendicity Society)—"Oh, your worship, the Zoological Society are very happy in accepting them." Sir George Farrant—" What ! have they had any presents of this description sent them ?" Cheddle—" Yes, they have had several monkeys and a porcupine sent them from Hatton-garden, by the Magistrates : and the Society has expressed their thanks for the present.' Sir George Farrant—" Certainly, that is one way to get rid of them, and for them to fill their gardens." Cheddle—" After the porcupine was sent there, one of our men saw an Italian begging for upwards of five weeks." Sir George Tarrant—"Then I suppose you intended making the Zoological gar- dens a house of correction for monkeys ?" Cheddle—"It is the intention to send all there in future." Sir George Farrant (to Webb)—" Are you certain that he was asking for money ?" Webb—" I certainly did not see him re- ceive any." Sir George Farrant—"Aye, the Zoological gentlemen will not get the monkey this time then." The prisoner was given to understand that he must not beg again, and was discharged.

RORBERIES.—A party of six or eight robbers, on Saturday night, broke into Horstead Hall, a lone farm-house, at Stixwould in Lincolnshire, pos- sessed by Mr. Elsey, and while some of them secured Mrs. Elsey and the servants, the others compelled the owner to accompany them over his pre- raises, which they stripped of 2001. worth of property.

The shop of a silversmith, at Chatham, was on the same evening robbed of forty watches, besides jewellery and plate to a large amount. Elizabeth Warner, head-chambermaid at the King's Arms, Dorchester, having been of economical habits, had amassed 2001. in gold, which she kept in a small box in her bed-room. On Sunday last, she went to her hoard for the purpose of changing a 101. note, when, to her great consternation, she found that the whole of her money had disappeared. It had been taken by a young woman who had formerly lived in the same house, but had since mar- ried a soldier. The greater part was found in her trunk. They have been committed for trial.

INFANTICIDE.—Jane Baty, servant at Mr. Watson's, of Westwark Park, was on Friday last found guilty, by a Coroner's inquest, of the wilful murder of her own child, by stuffing hay into its mouth.—Carlisle Paper. BURKE AND HARE.—The formal confession of Burke the murderer, regularly taken down by the Sheriff-Substitute of Edinburgh, and signed by Burke, five days before his execution, has been published in the Edinburgh papers. It possesses a sort of horrid interest, from the cool and complacent circumstantiality of the narrative; but the facts it discloses were for the most part already before the public in another shape. According to the confes- sion, the number murdered by the wretches from the spring of 1828, till the murder of the woman Docherty, was sixteen—nine in Hare's house, four in Broggan's, two in Hare's stable, and one in Burke's brother's house. After Hare was liberated, he made his way to Dumfries in the mail-coach ; but being discovered, it was only by the activity of the peace-officers that his life was saved from the fury of the mob. His wife appeared in Glasgow ; and she too only owed her escape from the popular vengeance, to the police.

EXPORTATION OF DEAD Boonts.—On Thursday, a large hogshead was brought by a carman to a sailing vessel, bound for Glasgow, to be shipped for that port, as containing hams. A strong smell, however, which proceeded from the cask,excited the suspicion of the Captain as to the contents : exami- nation followed ; when it was discovered, that instead of hams, the hogshead contained the bodies of seven individuals—four males, two females, and a small boy. After remaining for some time in the Custom-house-yard, they received burial in St. Thomas's church-yard.—Saunders's News Letter.

RESURRECTIONISTS.—A man and his wife who had lived for some weeks' in Barnsley, without any visible occupation, have been arrested. The man had taken a box to the Edinburgh coach, but was too late : on carrying back the box, suspicion was excited; it was found to contain the body of a child ; and the belief is, that he has sent several " subjects" to Edinburgh. He was committed for trial.

Smeverion.—An inquest was held on Tuesday, at the Cannon public house, Hungerford, on the body of Wm. Cummings, aged 29, whose death was caused by want of necessary food, and the shock he sustained by his landlord distraining his furniture for rent, and turning him out of his dwelling. Verdict—Died by the visitation of God.

Rror.—There was a serious riot at Nantwich on Monday ; in consequence of an attempt to rescue twenty-five poachers. The mob attacked and demo- lished the Round-house, in which some of them were confined, and set them at large. The whole neighborhood was up in support of the offenders against the game-laws; and the Magistrates found it necessary to send ex- press to Chester for the military to subdue them and restore the peace.

TAKE CARE OP YOUR SOVEREIGNS.—AS many of the sovereigns and half- sovereigns have been some years in circulation, they have considerably de- creased in weight, and in numerous instances have been liable to be clipped and returned to the person making the tender ; who has no remedy but to sell them as bullion at the market-price. Every person in business should be provided with a balance and weight, so that he may avoid taking gold coin thus depreciated. The following hints may prove useful to those who were not previously acquainted with the laws. Sovereigns are issued from the Bank, weighing 5 dwts. 3TWars., and half-sovereigns 2 dwts. 13/ Mgrs. ; which pass current until they are reduced by wear to 5 dwts. 2i grs. the sovereign, and the half-sovereign to 2 dwts. 134 grs. : after this they are no longer coin (unless by a proclamation of the King), but bullion, and may be cut by any individual to whom they are tendered. The Bank of England regularly acts upon the law ; and the example is now followed by many of the country bankers. ONE HUNDRED YEARS AUG.—This little anecdote, copied from a paper published in LondOn in 1723, will illustrate the difference between the present times and a century past—" Tuesday, Jan. 1st 1723. On Sunday, a woman was seized near London Wall for wearing a gown faced with calico ; and being carried before a magistrate, and refusing to pay the penalty in- flicted by the statute, she was committed to the Compter." The importation of cotton Wool last year exceeded twenty-nine millions of pounds. What would the good lady say to the magistrate if she could return and see the cot- ton articles now in use ? What was Manchester in those days ?

Da. Wom,AsToN.—The will of this eminent person has been proved in the Prerogative Court in Doctor's Commons ; and probate granted for fifty thou- sand pounds personal property, which he has left among his brothers and sisters. His real estate in Suflialk he has devised to his brother Henry, and he has appointed his brother George executor to his will.

INDIA AND CHINA TRADE.—Mr. Buckingham has been repeating his lec- tures on this subject at Manchester. The Manchester Guardian recommends a subscription to return the lecturer whom it styles the "Apostle of England," to the House of Commons, as the fittest man in the empire to represent the free trade to India and China before Parliament !!

Scream—The Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians had a Conner- sazione at the College on Monday. It was attended by the greater part of the eminent medical men of the metropolis, and by several private gentlemen, who had been honoured with cards of invitation by the Council. Dr. Mahn' presided. An able paper, by the late Dr. Baillie, on a peculiar kind of palsy, which was read by Dr. Macmichael, excited much interest. At its conclu- sion, the company partook, as usual, of tea and coffee. The future meetings will be on the 23d inst.; March 9, 23; April 6, 27; May 4, 18; June 1,25.

WIT OF THE DISSECTING-ROOM:At a late examination at the College of Surgeons a candidate was asked by Abernethy what he would do if a man were blown up by gunpowder ? " Why," coolly answered the tyro " wait till he came down again." "True," said Abernethy; " and suppose I kicked you a posteriori for such an impertinent reply, what muscles should I put in motion ?"—" Why," said the young man, " the flexors and extensors of my right arm, for I should floor you directly."

FINE ARTS.—A premium of one hundred guineas is said to be awarded to the best specimens in painting and sculpture, or design, at the ensuing Liver- pool Exhibition. The vote of last year was for sixty guineas only.

The diabolical pitch plasters, as they are called, are stated to be composed of terrebenthine or Venice turpentine, an extremely adhesive substance. Druggists ought to be as cautious in the sale of it as of poison.

Some speculative herring-owners at Yarmouth last week sent a barrel of their finest to the Pope, as a sample, expecting an order from his Holiness against Lent !

Ten tradesmen in Newcastle were last week convicted in the mitigated penalty of 12/. 10s. each, for selling pepper without a licence !

A clergyman at Abingdon refused last week to marry a tradesman to his first wife's sister, the laws of consanguinity forbidding the solemnization. A female named Orman, residing at Cheltenham, is now cutting three new teeth, though in her seventy-fifth year!

So great is the depression in the cutlery trade, that good razors may be bought at Os. 6d. and 6s. 6d. per dozen ; a commoner sort (made to sell, not to shave,) as low as 4s.

Quica TRAVELLING:A gentleman recently went to Russia by steam, and breakfasted in Moscow on the thirteenth morning after he left London. There is now, he says, a road as good as that to Brighton over three parts of the distance between St. Petersburg and Moscow. What a change since 1812 !

Great numbers of the inhabitants of Verdun (Meuse) have fallen victims to hydrophobia. It spreads general consternation.

Baron Humboldt is preparing for a journey to the Caucasus. He is in- vited by the Russian Government to visit the mountains of the Ural, and com- municate his views on the working of the mines in that country.