nearly opposite the Custom-house, and narrowly escaped being run over by a loaded cart, which pas. sed close by his head as it was, his left leg was broke so dreadfully that he was taken to the hospital with a certainty that amputation would be necessary.

30th. Lady Blount, widow of sir Walter Blount, bart. of Mawleyhall, in Shropshire, and daughter and co-heiress of James lord Aston, was burnt to death. This dreadful accident happened in the diningparlour, at Basford, in Staffordshire, immediately after the cloth had been laid for dinner, and was occasioned, we understand, by a spark flying from the fire upon her Ladyship's muslin dress. Before the servants could arrive to assist her, she was enveloped in flames; and the curtains of one of the windows, with which she endeavoured to extinguish them, had taken fire, so as to endanger the safety of the house. After lingering about five hours in excruciating agony, which she bore with fortitude and resiguation, her ladyship expired, in the 70th year of her age.

31st The fall of snow through out Shropshire has been so great, that the mails have not arrived there for many hours after their time, during the last three days: on the high ground between Oxford and Cheltenham it was drifted to the height of ten feet.

A girl, about fifteen years of age, lately eloped from her friends in the country, and assuming boy's clothes, offered her service to the master of a South-Sea whaler; but being rejected, engaged as an apprentice to a waterman. A few days since, going on board the sir Hyde Parker, West Indiaman, cap

1st. The earl of Abergavenney East Indiaman sailed from Portsmouth this day in company with the outward-bound ships; when, the weather proving adverse, the commodore made signal on Tuesday for them to put into Portland Roads. The Abergavenny having a pilot on board who did not seem well.acquainted with the coast, she struck on the shambles of the Bill of Portland, about two miles from the shore. Captain Wordsworth and his officers were of opinion that the ship might be got off without sustaining material damage; and accordingly no guns of distress were fired for upwards of an hour and half, when 20 were discharged. All this time the people were free from alarm, and no idea prevailed that it would be necessary to hoist out the boats. About five P. M. things bore a more unfavourable aspect; the carpenter announced that a considerable leak was discovered near the bottom of the chain-pumps, which it was not in his power to stop. The pumps were set a-going, and part of the

crew

crew endeavoured to bail her at the fore-hatch, but all attempts to keep the water under were in vain. At six P. M. the inevitable loss of the ship became apparent; other leaks were discovered; the wind had in creased to a gale; and the severe beating of the vessel upon the rocks threatened immediate destruction. As the night advanced, the situation of all on board became more terrible. At seven, the company was nearly exhausted; and the purser, Mr. Mortimer, was sent in one of the ship's boats with the papers and dispatches. The third mate, a consin of the captain, accompanied the purser, with about six seamen. One boat came off from the shore, which took on board the Misses Evans, Miss Jackson, Mr. Rutledge, and Mr. Taylor, a cadet, all passengers. About 9 o'clock, the dreadful crisis approached; the passengers were informed of their situation, and every man was aware of his fate. The sailors, in a state of desperation, insisted on more liquor; but the officers guarded the spirit-room, and remained there even while the ship was sinking. Just before she went down, Mr. Bagget, the chief mate, went to captain Wordsworth, and said, "We have done all we can, sir; she will sink in a moment." The captain replied, "It cannot be helped-God's will be done." At 11, the sea gave her a sudden shock, and she sunk in 12 fathoms water; at which time between 80 and 90 persons were clinging to the tops of the masts, and were afterwards taken off. When the ship sunk, she did not go down in the usual way, by falling first upon her beam-ends: this deviation is supposed to have arisen from her being laden with

She

treasure and porcelain ware. had 70,000l. in speice on board, and nearly 400 persons. The crew consisted of 160 men, and there were between 50 and 60 passengers; the rest were recruits: about 30 Chinamen were also on board. The total number of the drowned is estimated at 300, and the whole value of the cargo at 200,000l. Nothing was saved except the dispatches and some valuable prints, which had been sent out for general Lake. Captain Wordsworth, at the moment the ship was going down, was scen clinging to the ropes. Mr. Gilpin, one of the mates, used every persuasion to induce him to save his life, but all in vaiu.-The names of the persons said to have been saved are, Messrs. G. W. E. Stenart, 2d mate; J. Wordsworth, 3d ditto; T. Gilpin, 4th; J. Clark, 5th; H. Mortimer, 6th; Davie, surgeon; Stenart, purser; Abbot, gunner; Addwater, carpenter; White midshipman and cockswain; Pitcher, Rason, Yates, and Barnet, midshipmen; Akers, ship's steward; Ivers, boatswain's 2d mate; Dunn and Williams, gunner's mates; Barrett, Boyd, Palmer, Thompson, and J. Thompson,quarter-masters; Lundie, baker; Parsons, Swinie, and Bonge, seamen, and J. Thompson, Chinese servant. Passengers, T. Evans, esq. senior, merchant; Misses Evans and Jackson; Mr. Routledge; cornet Burgoyne, 8th light-dragoons; Dr. Maxwell; Mr. Evans's black servant; Messrs. Baillie, Gramshaw,C.Taylor, Thwaits, and Johnson, cadets. Exclusive of the above persons, about 20 soldiers, and from 40 to 50 of the petty-officers, and others of the ship's company, were saved, whose names have not yet been ascertained, The total number saved is

reckoned

reckoned at from 90 to 100 per

sons.

Captain Forbes and three privates, taken from the wreck in a benumbed state, and put into the hold of a small fishing vessel, with as many as she could safely stow, to be conveyed to Weymouth, died in gaining the shore, though a distance of not more than 2 miles; all of whom, together with sergeant Hart, who died the same day, were buried on Friday with military honours. The spar-deck of the ship is come up, and with it many trunks and light goods; amongst others, the writing-case of cornet Burgoyne; it was found by some peasants near Osmington, who not knowing the nature or consequence of some papers therein (as a will and other documents, with a considerable sum of money), took it to Mr. Coates, the vicar of the parish, who received the whole, and sent to inform Mr. Burgoyne thereof, who is come down to take possession of his property. Since this, many boxes have been found empty. The ship has been surveyed, and the company intend making an attempt to weigh her; and every hope is entertained of their succeeding in it, as she lies in not more than 10 fathoms of water. Her yards, masts, &c. have been brought into Weymouth.

5th. This night, as two Trinity lighters were taking ballast between Woolwich and Barking Creek, a squall of wind coming on, they sunk. All the men saved themselves by taking to their boats, except one of the name of Bulger, of Shadwell, who was drowned. He has left a wife and a large family.

6th. This night a fire broke out at the shop of Mr. Pepy's, a cutler, in the Poultry, which raged furious

1

ly for some time; but, by the early arrival of the engines, was got under, after consuming the interior and back part of the premises. The whole was subdued by 11 o'clock.

7th. This morning, at 7 o'clock, the servant maid of Mr. Nields, No. 2, Paradise-row, Chelsea, near the college, got up, as usual, to light the fire: in a quarter of an hour after, the family were alarmed by the cry of fire from some of the neighbours. On getting up and going into the kitchen, a most melancholy spectacle presented itselfthe servant maid lying on the floor with her clothes burnt off, and herself burnt in such a shocking manner, that she survived but a few minutes.

9th. The gazette of this day contains the following letters:-one from captain Nourse, of the Barbadoes, to commodore Hood, dated in November, announcing the capture of L'Heureux French privateer, of 10 six pounders and SO men, nine days from Guadaloupe.-Another from captain Cadogan, of the Cyane, dated off Antigua, Dec. 12, mentioning the capture, off Mariga. laute, of the Buonaparte privateer brig, of 18 long French 8-pounders, and 150 men. There were no men killed or wounded by the enemy's fire on board the Cyane, though some were hurt by the accidental explosion of a cartridge.-A third letter from Lord M. Kerr, of the Fisgard, dated Dec. 22, (a duplicate of one addressed to lord Nelson), states the capture of the French privateer Le Tigre, formerly the Angola of Liverpool, from Cayenne to Cadiz, mounting 12 18 pound carronades, and two brass 4 pounders, with 40 meu. She had cap

tured

tured an English brig from London to St. Michael's, the master and crew of which were on board. The gazette also contained a proclamation, cautioning the inhabitants of the coast against any intercourse with vessels from the Mediterranean, and ordering increased vigilance in cases of quarantine, observing that, "whereas from the season of the year in which the yellow fever has continued its ravages in those places where it has already appeared, there is no ground of confidence or hope that the comparative coldness, and the temperature of this climate, can afford any obstacle to its introduction and progress in our kingdom." As a measure of further precaution, a board of health is to be established.

John Steward was examined at Bow-street, on a charge of throwing a quart bottle from the gallery of Drury-lane theatre into the pit, on the preceding evening; by which one woman was much wounded in the head, and another slightly hurt: Mr. Graham required 2001. bail; which being unable to procure, he was committed to prison for trial.

A decision, lately, in Westminsterhall, has established the point, that parish officers receiving a particular um, previous to the birth, from the father of an illegitimate child, to free him from future claims on account of such child, act illegally; and that the officers cannot, according to law, do more than acrept a security to indemnify the parish.

11th. By noon, the hill behind the goal at Hertford was covered with the concourse of innumerable voters, not less than 2500, out of 3000, which is the whole number in the county. The friends of Mr.

Baker filled the road in procession, with music and colours, from Hoddesdon to Hertford, and were met by those on the Ware side of the county at the end of the town; while those in the interest of Mr. Brand thronged, but not in such numbers, from the Hatfield and Welwyn side. Mr. Baker was proposed in an appropriate speech by Sir John Sebright, bart. seconded by Sir Abraham Hume, bart.; and Mr. Brand by Mr. Whitbread and Mr. Hale. The two candidates then addressed the assembly in terms highly creditable to each other, expressing no difference but in politics. About 3 o'clock the poll began; and by 4 Mr. Baker was 278 a head. It was resumed next day, when, it being 1556 for Mr. Baker, and 1076 for Mr. Brand (total 2632), the latter declining the unequal contest in the handsomest manner, Mr. Baker was declared duly elected, and immediately chaired. In the prodigious crowd and press of people and carriages no accident happened; except that Mr. Jackson of Buckland died during dinner at one of the inns. Mr. serjeant Runnington assisted Mr. sheriff Garrow, for which he received 501. Mr. Baker took his seat in the house of commons on the Friday following. Thus terminated a contest which threatened the peace of the county, but has happily established it on the firmest basis, by the temperate conduct of the candidates, and has, we trust, established in the minds of the electors a just discernment of their true interests and those of the constitution, not in the vehemence of a party contending for a shadow, but in the sober reflection of Enghishmen.

12th. The new bridge at Widford,

near

near Chelmsford, received so much damage by the great swell of water during the last week, that this morning, about 4 o'clock, as the mailcoach was passing over it, it suddenly gave way, and the passengers escaped only by the velocity with which the carriage was going, as, a few moments afterwards, a great part of it fell in. The coachiman and guard, much to their credit, immediately took the necessary precautions to prevent other carriages from passing; and the coaches now take the circuitous route of Baddow or Writtle.

Messrs. Heriot, Taylor, M Millan, and others, the proprietors, printers, and publishers of the Sun and True Briton newspapers, were brought into the court of King's Bench to receive sentence for a libel inserted in those papers against lord St. Vincent; when Mr. Heriot was sentenced to six months imprisonment, Mr. Taylor to pay a fine of 100 marks, and the printers and publishers to one months imprison

ment.

A gang of robbers, who have Jately committed great depredations in the neighbourhood of Bristol and the Hot Wells, were some days since taken in a rock, called giant's hole. Four of them were at the time frying eggs and bacon, having sent two women, belonging to the gang, for beer. They had furnished the cavern in a very comfortable manner, with chairs, tables, beds, &c.

A few days ago, the extraordinary number of five lambs was taken alive from a ewe belonging to Mr. Holmwood of Pilstie, in Cuck field, Sussex, which had been killed on account of a disorder called the

staggers, with which she was sad. denly affected.

15th. A few days ago two respect. able young men, of the names of Rippon and Smith, having set out from Stamford to visit some friends at Baston, proposed to skait thither along the river, when, before they had proceeded far, the ice gave way, and they were both drowned.

The female servant of a farmer at Fundenhall, Norfolk, having lighted a fire in a heater stove, in which her master had incautiously placed a cannister of gunpowder to dry, an explosion took place, which killed the poor woman on the spot, and did considerable damage to the house.

As a person of the name of Carter was returning, with his wife and another person named Burridge, in

Icart, from Wisbech to Emneth, the horse, on leaving the town, got out of the road, and overturned the cart into the new canal, by which Messrs. Carter and Burridge were drowned.

A poor man, 75 years of age, re siding in Castle-Cary, lately strang. led himself in his apartment. He was so determined on the commis. sion of suicide, that, sitting on the bedstead, and fixing the cord round his neck, he forcibly bent himself forward, and so continued till he expired. His wife, who has for many years been coufined to her bed, was in the room, and knew nothing of the transaction till he was dead.

Lately, a fine youth, aged 17, son of Mr. A. Staffurth, a maltster, near Ramsey, Huntingdon, on turning round the malt, had his head forced between the mill yoke and the wall, by which it was crushed to picccs.