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WINTER comes on, yet the aspect of London lacks the wonted cheer- fulness of winter. There is much distress, we apprehend, among all who buy and sell for a livelihood. Whoever has looked at the terrible lists of bankrupts with which the Gazette has been crowded for some weeks past, may form an estimate of its extent ; but these lists are meagre compared with the number of partial insolvencies and private compositions, of which none are cognizant but the creditors. Since the panic of 1825, we believe credit has not been more shaken than it is at this present moment.
• A numerous and highly respectable meeting of shipowners, and others interested in British shipping, was held on Tuesday at the City of London Tavern, for the purpose Of receiving the report of a Provi- sional Committee appointed some months since to watch over the in- terests of the British shipowners, for the appointment of a regular Com- mittee of the Shipowners Society, and on other important matters connected with the commerce of the country. Resolutions respecting the depressed state of the trade were unanimously agreed to ; as was an address to the King, setting forth the fact of the depression, and its alleged causes.
A meeting of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge was held at the Society's house on Tuesday, on the subject of increasing the number of Bishops in India. The Archbishop of Canterbury was in the chair. The Bishop of London moved a resolution, expressive of the regret of the Society at the death of Dr. Turner. The Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry moved, that since the death of the first Bishop, and allowing for the tune that must elapse before a successor to Dr. Turner could arrive in India, that country would have been deprived for six years of the care of a Bishop. Other resolutions were moved, to the effect that more Bishops than one should be in future appointed, and that a memorial on that subject should be presented to the Ettst In- dia Company and to his Majesty's Government. Mr. Tract observed, that three governors could not manage the civil affairs of India, and how could one Bishop manage its ecclesiastical affairs ? One thousand nine hundred persons were summoned on Saturday to Hatton Garden, for non-payment of poor-rates, due at Michaelmas, to St. Pancras parish.
LIVING CARICATURES.—Mr. George Cruikshank, the well-known artist, was astounded, some days ago, while reclining in his easy chair at Myddelton Terrace, by the receipt of a note, dated Burlington Ho- tel, to the following effect :- " Mr. Welby presents his compliments to Mr. Cmikshank, and feels somewhat sir- prised that Mr. Cruikshank has not sent the books for which Mr. W. paid him in Mr: Cliolmondeley's room."
As he knew as little of Mr. Welby or Mr. Cholmondeley as he did of the other particulars of the note, Mr. Cruikshank immediately set
out for the Burlington Hotel, to request some explanation ; and there he learned that Mr. Welby, while chatting with Mr. Cholmondeley, a friend of his, living in the same house, had received a message, which stated that "Mr. George Cruikshank was below, for the purpose of ex- hibiting to Mr. Welby sonic of his recent publications, and waited his kind orders." Mr. Welby had desired that " Mr. Cruikshank" should be shown up stairs ; and an elderly man, wearing an old cloak and spectacles, was introduced, and showed copies of several works con- taining illustrations by the real George. Some of them were approved. Mr. Welby ordered copies, and paid the money, requesting that they • might be sent on the following day; and after several days had elapsed, Mr. Welby wrote the note in question, addressing it according to the direction given. The ingenious double, whose exploits have not been limited to Mr. Welby nor to Mr. Cholmondeley's room, has very much annoyed the artist, in addition to the substantial injury which he may have occasioned both to his fame and his character. Mr. Cruikshank is very naturally anxious to suppress him as spurious—but the task is not an easy one. He has written letters of caution to the newspapers ; but many gentlemen besides the Chancellor of the Exchequer have not time to read newspapers, and more, especially the correspondence of news- papers, which, it must be confessed, is for the most part meant to serve the printer rather than the public. Mr. Cruikshank has also had re- course to the pis aller of a Police Magistrate ; and on Wednesday was figuring where many of his subjects figure, but where we should hardly have looked for himself—at Bow Street. The application, it appears, was an unsuccessful one. Mr. Halls asked if Mr. Cruikshank had ever seen his double ?
Mr. Cruikshank—" 0 yes, Sir, he has been pointed out to me."
Mr. Halls—" And is he at all like you?" Mr. Cruikshank—" As I to Hercules, Sir, much about. I have got him here, and you can judge for yourself." [Mr. Cruikshank produced a card, on which he had sketched a likeness of the man, mantle and spectacles included.) Mr. Halls asked if the double bad obtained money in any other way, than by the sale of books? Mr. Cruikshank—" I am not aware that he has."
Mr. Halls—" Then I am afraid I cannot interfere. There is no obtaining money under false prstences within the meaning of the sta- tute, because it seems lie has given goods at prices agreed upon." So poor George is without a remedy, unless his attorney can ferret out one for him. We do not know whether the Chancellor can grant an injunction, prohibiting the double from walking abroad in his mantle and green glasses, to the manifrst injury of his Majesty's liege subject Mr. George Cruikshank, of 3Iyddelton Terrace, Pentonville, in the county of Middlesex : we fear he cannot.
POST-OFFICE ROBBERIES. —John Barrett, and a boy named Kay, have been examined at Marlborough Street Office, charged with open- ing a number of money letters and abstracting their contents. Kay and Barrett are brothers-m-law. They were apprehended on Thursday last week, when the officer found on their persons, and in their lodg- ings, several bank post bills and bills of exchange. On Tuesday, a Dunderdale was examined with respect to two bills of 431. and 24/. which he had put into the Post-office, to be transmitted to Manches- ter, on the 17th ult. They never arrived. A Mr. Todd identified a letter which he had addressed to Axminster on the 22d ult. in which was an order for 10/. This letter had been found in Barrett's pocket. Barrett, it was also proved, was one of the three sorters of franked and paid letters employed in the Inland department; and he was present on the 22d. A clerk of the Imperial Life Office identified two post-bills, one for 300/. and another for 504 found, along with the letter in which they were enclosed, in Barrett's office-coat, when he was arrested. An- other bill of 100/. was identified by Mr. Smith, of Bezel' and Co's., of Old Broad Street. The prisoners were fully committed. The Inspec- tor, Clements, was highly complimented by the Post-office Solicitor and by the Magistrate for his activity and intelligence.
ROBBERY.—Two fellows, named White and Robinson, were charged at Union Hall, on Tuesday, with robbing a farmer at East Grinstead fair, of 80/. Mr. John Wickins, the farmer in question, had gone to East Grinstead to buy a horse; where, from certain traits in his physiog- nomy, which such knowing ones are exceedingly sharp in observing and interpreting, he was almost immediately accosted by Mr. Robinson, who had one to sell. When the parties got, however, to the horse fair, the pony was, most unluckily, disposed of; and, to allay the farmer's chagrin as well as Mr. Robinson's, the former was invited by the latter to enter a neighbouring public-house. The remainder of the story might do for a chapter in Fielding or Smollett.
A glass of hot gin and water was called for ; and while they were discussing its ut walked White, the other prisoner, and sat down near them. He called for some- thing to drink ; and pretending to be a stranger in that part of the country, said that he had rode over to the fair, in order to purchase a good hunter, if he could meet with one. He went on to tell the company, that a law-suit had been recently decided in his favour, and that he had come into the possession of an independent fortune. The far- mer stared with astonishment on meeting with such respectable company, and was in no hurry to depart, especially when White produced a pocket-book, from which he took a roil or notes, and commenced placing the Mies, twenties, and tens, in order. Robinson, as well as the farmer, was struck with amazement at the riches ' of the stranger ; and athIressing White, the former said, Really, Sir, you are wrong in ex- hibiting so much money in a public room. You appear to be a very young man—you ought to take care of your money; and if you'll be persuaded by me, you will let me put it into your watch-pocket; White assented; and giving the roll of notes to Robin- son, the latter took out some brown paper, and wrapping them up in it, he then with great caution placed them in the owner's pocket. Farmer Wickins highly approved of the advice given to a young man, who had so much money in his pocket ; upon which White said,' perceive you are both poor men; and it you will produce a sovereign each, I shall give you both a shilling. Robinson did produce a sovereign; and the in farmer, to show that he was not so pour as had been insinuated, forthwith drew out his pocket-book, and opening it, displayed a roll of country bank-notes amounting to 801. -White, upon seeing the treasure, exclaimed, that he was glad to find people were not so pour as he imagined; and as a proof of his kiuduess of heart, he called for two bumper glasses more of hot spirits and water. Robinson now proceeded to give Farmer Wickins the same advice as he had previously given White, respecting the money he had about him ; and the farmer confiding in it, handed him over his roll of genuine notes. The worthy immediately commenced wrapping up the notes in brown paper ; and when he had finished, he desired the farmer to stand up while he deposited the money in his fob pocket. The roll of notes being placed in his fob, Robinson took the farmer by the arm, and led him to the door of public-house, saying, that he wanted to speak to him. When they got there, Robinson said, ' Go back into the room, and stay with the gentleman till I come.' l'oor Farmer Wiekins, acting upon the directions, stalked back into the parlour; but the gentleman' had bolted out the back way. The farmer ran to the front door, and Sliding Robinson had made off also, it occurred to him that they 'had robbed him ; and his suspicions were verified, on finding that, instead of his 801. in notes being placed in his pocket, the fellows had conveyed. nothing into it but a small parcel of brown paper, and Is. within it. No time was lost in giving pursuit to the thieves, who had started for London in a horse and chaise. The farmer, aecompa. nied by a constable, got into a postchaise and four, and followed them in the direction • of Westerham, the last place they heard any tidings of them ; and at the inn there, it was ascertained that two men, answering the description of the prisoners, had been there a short time previously, and that their horse was nearly knocked up. The far- mer and constable continued the pursuit ; but the thieves giving them the slip, the larmer immediately proceeded to Union Hall, and officers were despatched to the toll- gates at the entrance into town. The officers having stationed theinselves at the Green . Man gate, they had not been long there, when the two prisoners drove up; and, after a re- sistance, they were both taken into custody, and the whole of the farmer's money, with the exception of a few pounds, in their possession."
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