Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
Saturday, January 18th, 1840.
THE QUEEN'S MARRIAGE.- The necessary preparations for this auspicious event at St.James's Palace, and in the Chapel Royal have commenced; a number of workmen during the week having been actively engaged in their different labours. The ceremonial it is expected will be very similar to that of the marriage of George the Third and Queen Charlotte, and immediately after the ceremony the royal pair will return to Windsor Castle. There will be a grand dinner at St.James's palace after the marriage ceremony, and all the Ministers will give official dinners in celebration of the happy event. It is expected also, that all the foreign ambassadors will make a similar display on the occasion, as will many of our principal nobility. A general illumination will take place in London, attended with other rejoicings, and in most other parts of the country we have no doubt the people will testify their loyalty and attachment to their sovereign by similar displays. As yet we have no authority for stating the precise day on which the interesting ceremony will take place, but it will no doubt be about the middle of next month, in the course of a few days after the termination of the court mourning, which expires on Sunday the 9th of February. The time however of the event taking place, is certainly sufficiently at hand to require that meetings should be held in those towns where it is intended that rejoicings beyond the mere ringing of bells and illuminations should take place, in order to make the necessary arrangements. Dependant as this town is so much upon the patronage of royalty, although some persons there are who would vainly attempt to deny the fact, we trust the inhabitants will not allow those of any other town to be before them in making the necessary arrangements to join the general rejoicing.
DISTRIBUTION OF HER MAJESTY'S GIFT TO THE POOR.- On Thursday last, poor deserving women to the number of eighty, principally widows or mothers of large families, were supplied with cloathing - such as flannel, calico, or blankets, according to their wishes, to the value of ten shillings each. Although the greatest possible care was taken by the Vicar and Curate to distribute the bounty to none but deserving persons, they have since ascertained that one or two persons imposed upon them, and obtained that to which they were not entitled. That the actual amount, however, of the royal gift should be properly given away, the Rev. Mr. Cotton, the curate has, we are informed, relieved poor women from his own purse, equal to the number he ascertained had imposed on the charity. The gift of Queen Adelaide to the poor will be distributed on Tuesday next.
The attempts to wholly put a stop to Sunday trading in this borough have, as was expected, totally failed; indeed, situated as Windsor is, it is quite impossible that they should have succeeded for any length of time, because the succession of visitors alone, to say nothing of the wants of other parties, would bid defiance to them all, unless the various purveyors of the good and necessary things of this world were determined to starve all comers here, whether to private houses or public hotels, for the inconvenience would be felt in all quarters. Fancy, for instance, a moderate sized family having an unexpected visit (which by the bye is now of no uncommon occurrence) of some half dozen hungry London friends, who arriving, say at ten o'clock, make a hearty luncheon to begin with, then after going to St.George's Chapel, &c. returning to dinner, &c., and finding your friends compelled to sit down to a meal, not ample enough for them to satisfy their appetites, the family being wholly unable to obtain an additional supply. Then come tea time and no milk ! excepting that taken in in the morning, which by that time has turned sour. And as for the hotel keepers, how is it possible for them to know to what extent to provide on the Saturday for the forthcoming visitors on the Sunday; for parties do not only arrive at those places in half dozens - but by scores; in fact, totally to put an end to Sunday trading here is not only impracticable but impossible. Already many persons of all classes, particularly the poor, the whole of whom cannot nor ever will be enabled to provide themselves with their Sunday wants on the night of Saturday.
The late high winds during the week have caused the downfall of tiles, chimney pots, branches of trees, &c. in abundance, but we have not heard of any serious damage being caused by them in this immediate neighbourhood; however, on Tuesday a barge belonging to Messrs. Parker and Co., of Oxford, was blown across the Weir at Bells Lock, near Staines, and immediately sank, but, fortunately, the bargemen escaped unhurt. On Thursday, three dray horses and a man in the employ of Messrs. Farnell, of Isleworth, were drowned between Waltonbridge and Weybridge. It appears the team was proceeding by the side of the Thames, and as the water was over the roads, one man rode the first horse, while the other rode in the dray; the horses from the splashing of the water were frightened, and became unmanageable, got too near the bank of the river and fell in, at a spot where the depth was a full sixteen feet, consequently there was no chance of extricating them from their dangerous situation, and only the man riding the horse was saved. The same day, a barge in proceeding down stream, ran foul of Walton-bridge, the concussion broke it in two, and it sank immediately, but no lives were lost. The papers abound with accounts of disasters from the storm, but, fortunately, the serious accidents appear to be but very few.
MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.- On Thursday evening, Mr. Albert Smith, of Chertsey, gave the first of a course of two lectures, in the Town Hall, for the benefit of this society, on "The Ancient Sports and Pastimes of the People of England." It was well attended, and Mr. Smith, delivered a clear and comprehensive address, which exhibited great accuracy and knowledge of the subject, or rather subjects, much to the gratification of his audience. The lecture was illustrated by an extensive collection of diagrams.
ALTERATION OF RAILWAY TRAINS.- By an advertisement in another column, it will be seen, that in consequence of the Great Western Railway Company having undertaken to convey the mails on their railway, some alterations in the running of the trains will take place on Tuesday week, on which day the mail coaches will cease running on the Bath road to Twyford.
PIGEON MATCH.- On Wednesday last, a match for �10 aside, at 21 birds, twenty-one yards from the trap, came off in a field at the back of the Hope Inn, Frogmore, between two well known excellent shots, one being Mr. Dodd, of Slough, and the other known by his sporting cognomen of Wynyard. The day was, however, exceedingly stormy and unfavourable, which materially affected the shooting, by Mr. Wynyard won by one bird, he killing 13, and his opponent 12. As the conclusion of this, and a minor match or two, the parties and their friends adjourned to the Hope Inn, where an excellent dinner was provided for them by the worthy host.
ROBBERY.- During the night of Wednesday last some person or persons broke into the house of Mrs. Hall, who keeps a beer-shop at Clewer-green, by forcing open the shutters of the back room, taking a pane of glass out of the casement, and opening it. They then stole some cheese, together with what money was in the till, the amount of which was not known, and decamped. No clue has been obtained of the robbers.
LEAD STOLEN.- On Wednesday last it was discovered that a quantity of lead (nearly half a ton), had been stolen from the roof of the Gardener's Tool House, in the Eton College Garden. The thief has not yet been discovered. About a year ago a similar robbery took place, when the whole of the lead was stolen from the roof of the same building.
A young man who gave his name George Allen was this morning detained by Mr. Byles, constable of Eton, while offering for sale a fowl to Mr. Grove, fishmonger, in that town, on suspicion of its being stolen, he having given several different accounts of where he came from. It has since been ascertained that before coming to Eton he had sold a hen at Burnham, and on coming to Eton, before he was detained, he sold a cock and hen. The fowls had evidently been strangled instead of their necks being broken. He was taken before the Rev. Mr. Carter, and remanded for further examination.
On Tuesday night last, or early on the following morning, a brown mare was stolen from the premises of Mr. Dean of Park-lane, near West Wycombe. A reward has been offered for the apprehension of the thief. Last week also, a black cart mare was stolen from the stable of Mr. David Smith of Baughurst, Hants.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY - Yesterday week, about five o'clock in the afternoon, as Mr. Benjamin Finch a farmer residing at Aston Tyrrold near Wallingford, Berks, was returning home from Wallingford market, he was stopped by two men and robbed of a �10 note and three �5 notes of the Wallingford bank, his watch, and some silver. Then pushing him into a ditch they ran away. The men were subsequently traced to Bracknell, where on Saturday morning, they changed one of the �5 notes at the shop of Mr. Fouch, a grocer and draper, in payment of silk handkerchief, and the same evening one of them made some purchases at the shop of Mr. Driver, of Peascod-street, Windsor, paying for the goods the �10 note. The men remained in Windsor (it has since been ascertained) until Sunday morning, when they departed. Shortly after which the Windsor police had information of the robbery, but too late to apprehend them here. They were however followed and secured on Monday morning (together with a third man) at the Cannon public-house, where they had slept on Sunday night. There names were Henry Greenway, with several aliases, John Ebsworth, and John James. They were conveyed for examination before the Brentford magistrates on Thursday, and Greenway and Ebsworth fully committed for trial. James was discharged.
MISS R. PENLEY.- This well known and much respected actress who has successfully performed the principal female characters at our Theatre Royal, as well as most of the principal provincial theatres in the kingdom, for some years, made her first appearance before a London audience on Monday night, at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden. The part assigned to her was the Queen, in Shakspeare's tragedy of Hamlet, a character, which although not a heavy one, requires on the part of the performer much discernment, discretion, and experience, combined with no little talent. The many friends and admirers of this lady's public and private character in this neighbourhood, will be glad to learn that her first appearance on the metropolitan boards was as successful as they could have possibly wished it. Mr. Moore made his second appearance the same evening, and truly represented the Hamlet of the piece. The house was well filled, and the performances of the evening went off remarkably well.
NEWLY-INVENTED INKSTAND.- A very useful and ornamental Inkstand has lately been invented by Messrs. Perry and Co., the eminent steel pen manufacturers. The principal advantages derived by its use are, the purifying and preservation of the ink for an indefinite period of time. The invention is a generous and highly useful one.
WINDSOR POLICE - MONDAY.
[Before W. Berridge, Esq., (Mayor), and Edward Bovingdon, Esq.]
Charles Sumner alias Beale was charged with having stolen a horse, the property of Thomas Thorp, of Sturgiss, near Hartley, Hants.
The prisoner was apprehended at the Leather Bottle public-house, Clewer, in consequence of the description given of him in a letter addressed to the Windsor authorities by the high constable of Basingstoke, who had obtained information that he intended to come to Windsor. The prisoner admitted himself to be the person named, but denied he had stolen the horse.
The magistrates remanded the prisoner until the high constable of Basingstoke had been communicated with. He has since been conveyed to that place in custody.
Sarah Eliza Sorrell, a young woman only 19 years of age, was charged by Edward Ernest Wheeler, a boot closer, in Bier-lane, with robbing him of �23.
It appeared from the statement of Wheeler that he and the prisoner had cohabited together as man and wife for three or four years, and that the fruit of that union was a child, now only about seven months old. On Saturday night last the prisoner left his house, and could not be found, and leaving the child behind her; not returning his suspicions were aroused, and on going to a box in which he kept his money he missed �28. On the following day a lad in his employ found in the room near the box a �5 note, being one of those that he had put in his box. On Sunday night the prisoner returned in a state of intoxication, and was given into custody for the robbery. On being searched no money of any kind was found on her, nor had anything been heard of the missing �23.
The prisoner denied all knowledge of the money. She said she left home because Wheeler had threatened if he found her there when he came back, he would kick her and her "bastard" out of doors. They had had quarrels repeatedly, and all he wanted was to get rid of the child.
The magistrates, after hearing a great deal of crimination and recrimination, could not upon such meagre evidence commit the prisoner, but to afford time for further enquiry they bound her in her own recognizances to appear again on Thursday. They also at the request of the prisoner ordered Wheeler to let her have her child, observing, however, neither party had exhibited much regard for it.
THURSDAY
The young woman Sorrell appeared to-day in pursuance of her recognizance, but no fresh evidence being obtained she was discharged, the magistrates strongly reprobated the conduct of the complainant Wheeler for living in adultery.
Matilda Tarsey was charged with detaining an old and valueless washing-tub,, belonging to George Bateman. Both parties claimed an ownership in the tub, but no witnesses being able to swear to its identity, the case was dismissed, and the tub ordered to be detained at the station house.
ETON POLICE.
George Beasley was charged on Saturday last, before C. Clowes, Esq., with having on the night of the 17th inst., broken open the house of T. Birch, a labourer, and stolen a pinafore, his property; and a pair of breeches, six shirts, two silk handkerchiefs, three cotton ditto, a smock-frock, a pair of leather gaiters, a waistcoat, a hat, four sovereigns, two five shilling pieces, and two half crowns, the property of William Knight, a lodger in Birch's house.
The prisoner was fully committed for trial.
On Tuesday Edward Winter was brought before the Hon. and Rev. S.G. Osborne, charged with having ran away and left his children chargeable to the Eton Union. It appeared he deserted his children at Upton-cum-Chalvey on the 5th of August last. He was committed to Aylesbury Gaol to two months hard labour.
On Thursday, Eliza Wilkinson, was committed by Mr. Osborne, for three months, for absconding and leaving her children, chargeable to the Union.
John Riley was committed for one month, for begging.
EGHAM, SATURDAY, January 25.
CHURCH RATES.- A meeting of the rate-payers was holden in the vestry-room of this parish, on Thursday week, pursuant to a notice issued by the churchwardens, "to determine as to the proceedings to be taken in respect of Col. Salway, refusing to pay his church-rate." The Vicar having assumed the chair, he briefly explained the objects of the meeting and solicited the opinions of the parishioners upon the subject; a long discussion ensued, in which Sir W. Freemantle took a prominent part. He disclaimed all personal hostility towards Col.S. but in a speech, characterised by great warmth of temper, he advised that full power should be granted to the churchwardens to enforce their suit. Col.S. replied in an able speech, in which he fully exposed the flagitious jobbing perpetrated in the repairs of the church. He then referred to the severity of the local taxation, and assuming the average rate of wages to be ten shillings per week, he pointed out the injustice and cruelty of curtailing the hard earning of the poor in the shape of church-rates, and concluded by avowing his fixed determination to resist to utmost a claim which he believed to be in itself illegal, pernicious in principle, and generally oppressive in operation. Mr. Ward then made, and Mr. M. Gilbertson seconded a motion, "That the churchwardens do proceed, as they may be legally advised, for the recovery of the rate made the 13th day of June last, and due from Henry Salway, Esq." Upon which an amendment was made by Mr. James Oades, and seconded by Mr. H Wapshott, "That the consideration of this question be adjourned to this day twelve-months," and which amendment was declared by the chairman to be carried. The defeated party then demanded a poll of the whole parish, a course which we do not remember to have seen pursued in any case upon a question of adjournment. This proceeding was adopted in deference to the opinion of Mr. Ward. The opponents of the rate however refused to take any part in it, believing the amendment carried to be such as to preclude all further steps in the matter, until the expiration of the time specified. It was suggested that Col.S. had assumed a low average state of wages, and an individual present stated as a fact, upon which we dwell with peculiar pleasure, that but one individual present, Mr. R. Torin, a member of the board of guardians, paid his labourers so little; Nevertheless, we think the rate assumed a fair one. Before the amendment was put, Mr. Matthias Gilbertson addressed a few remarks to the meeting, which were most unfavourably received. The meeting afterwards broke up. The poll was, however, proceeded with in the usual way, but the dissentions declined to interfere, while the advocates for church-rates used every exertion to swell the list in favour of the rate; the result in consequence may be readily guessed, but the majority must not pride themselves on an imaginary triumph at the result of the polling. Another correspondent, one of the fair sex, observes in reference to this subject :- "The church-rate question in this parish appears to have created a degree of excitement, corresponding with that of a general election, but I confess that I can discover no sufficient reason for such unjustifiable turbulence, which has 'frightened from their propriety' some of our sex, since the opponents of the rate, as I am informed, refused to take part in the poll, from a conviction of its illegality. It would seem as if the advocates of the rate were determined to make a powerful demonstration of their strength, and to effect this, liveried officials, unwilling tools in the hands of tyrannical masters, were directed to canvass the parish, in search of the more humble and dependant voters, but I do not think that the result realized the success anticipated from such means, I trust that I shall not be thought deserving of reproof in thus stepping beyond my legitimate province; it is a duty which I would gladly elude, but it is incumbent upon every well-wisher of the Establishment, to interpose a check to those unseemly feuds; and the claim becomes more urgent, when I reflect upon the meagre attendance at church, a result which I ascribe to those irreligious collisions."
[Our correspondent must excuse us for here omitting to insert in the unmeasured terms, the remarks which she has used with reference to the conduct of certain other parties.]
STAINES, SATURDAY, January 25.
LITERARY INSTITUTION.- On Tuesday last Mr. A. Smith gave a lecture at this Institution on the "Air we breathe," which was in substance the same as that lately delivered by him at Windsor on the same subject. The various experiments designed to show the density, weight, and pressure of the atmosphere, as also those which exhibited the properties of the gases which compose it, were eminently successful. The nature and uses of the air pump were familiarly described, and many interesting phenomena exhibited by its means; among the rest, the freezing of water, a delicate experiment which not infrequently fails in the most expert hands, was very satisfactorily accomplished. The lecturer was warmly applauded throughout by a very numerous and respectable audience.
GREAT MARLOW, SATURDAY, January 25.
At our petty Sessions held on Saturday last, Wm. Neighbour for drunkenness, and using abusive and insulting language to Miss Lee, was fined 5s and 10s costs, which if not paid within a fortnight, he is to be committed to Aylesbury gaol for a month.
Since the conviction of Clarke and Colesill, for breaking into and robbing Miss Lee's house, as mentioned in our paper a short time since, Miss Lee has been annoyed by various acts calculated to intimidate her and others from giving evidence against those of a numerous gang of depredators still at large, for which reason our active constable B<>Stallwood lost no opportunity in adopting the most likely means of putting a stop to such nefarious practices.
John Perry was also convicted of wilful damage in shooting at the sign of the Fighting Cocks near this town. Sentence deferred.
Philip Ayres of Ipstone, was committed to Aylesbury gaol for two months, for wilful trespass, and killing a hare.
On Tuesday last, James Lomax, apprehended by Stallwood, was committed to Aylesbury gaol for trial at the next assizes for this county, charged with robbing a little girl, Sarah Elizabeth Good, under twelve years of age, in Sir George Nugent's Park, on the preceding Saturday. He is also charged with being concerned with Thomas Rose, not yet in custody, in robbing the shop of Jason Povey a butcher of Marlow, of pork, &c. a few days since.
On the Death of Miss Kitty Sneath of Great Marlow,
which took place at an advanced age, on Monday last.
Neglected Kitty never knew
The comforts of a marriage bed;
Yet friends she had sincere and true,
Who all bewail'd their Kitty dead.
Her mien was courteous, meek and bland,
Her manners were serene and mild;
With gen'rous heart and lib'ral hand.
Through life she ev'y station fill'd.
Peace to her relics - and may all,
Who've liv'd a life as good as she,
Rise at the final trumpet's call
To glorious immortality.
Marlow, Jan. 23rd, 1840.
FARNHAM, SATURDAY, January 25.
MELANCHOLY DEATH OF AN EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUAL.- On the morning of Tuesday week, a workman in the employ of Mr. R. Varndell Waverley, near Farnham, was on his way to work, he discovered a man lying in the road in a most emaciated and exhausted state, near what is called Mother Ludham's Cave, in Moor-park, near the above town. He immediately went and informed his master of the circumstance, who repaired to the spot, and with some assistance conveyed him to the nearest cottage, when the best means which could be thought of for his restoration were resorted to, but, we are sorry to say, with but little effect, as he died the same evening, after having been removed to the parish workhouse. The deceased has been identified as a person of considerable property of the name of Foot, but we are unable to state exactly where he came from. It appears he was lodging in the month of October last, at the Seven Stars, Farnham, and when he left there, which was in the same month he directed the ostler to follow him with his luggage, which he did; when he arrived near the above cave, which is about a mile and a half from the town, he ordered him to set it down saying somebody was coming there to meet him, when he paid him, and the ostler returned. At a short distance from the cave, there was a large hole dug some time ago, on the supposition that a fox had burrowed there. In this hole it is supposed he has ever since that time lived, unknown to every one, coming out only occasionally for bread, which he bought at a baker's in the town, depositing it in a carpet bag that he had with him, and without exciting the least suspicion. When they were removing him from where he was found to the cottage, he motioned towards the hole and muttered something that was not clearly understood; but after some time, from the broken sentences which he uttered, those who were with him could hear him say something about the hole, luggage, &c.; search was immediately made, and after some time a great deal of valuable wearing apparel and other articles, with part of a candle, were found at the extremity of the hole, upwards of thirty feet in the earth. From the circumstance of his being found near the stream of water which issues from Mother Ludham's Cave, it is supposed he was going for water, and was unable from his exhausted state by starvation, to get any farther. An inquest was held on the body yesterday week at the workhouse, before H. Woods, Esq. and a respectable jury, when the following evidence was given:-
Mrs. Mary Bromley deposed that she saw a gentlemanly looking man staying at her son's house (Seven Stars, East-street, Farnham), for several days, and conversed with him at different times; he said he had not read or learnt much, it came to him naturally.- Edward Bromley stated the deceased came to his house at the latter end of September, and enquired where Mother Ludham's Cave was; he directed him to the spot and then he left the house; returned about the 10th of October, and remained eight or nine days, lived regularly every day, and paid well; took his daily walks, and conversed at times with E. Bromley and wife, and said he had found the place he had been looking for, for several years. William Tilbury stated he was employed to convey the deceased's luggage to Mother Ludham's Cave, for which he received 1s. 6d. The deceased told him there was some one coming to fetch him from thence. Recognizes the luggage to be the same he carried there.- Several other witnesses were examined who corroborated the above. After a few minutes deliberation the jury returned the following verdict:- "That the deceased came to his death by starvation and exposure to the inclemency of the weather."
FURTHER PARTICULARS.- Since writing the foregoing, the following particulars have come to hand. That the deceased's name is William Foot, a native of Ashburton, in Devonshire, and was once a tailor in Oxford-street, London, and afterwards an ale brewer, but on his wife's death, which is reported to have taken place about 12 years ago, he declined business, and disposed of his property, which was considerable, and has ever since been wandering from place to place in a most dejected state of mind. On searching the fox's earth stated above, the following articles were discovered, viz, a portmanteau, two carpet bags, all full of wearing apparel, &c. a leather hat case and hat, walking stick, blue cloth coat and cloak, sheep-skin mat, and two small heath brooms, supposed to have been used by him to erase his footmarks after he retired into the hole, and which were all taken possession of by the parish officers.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have discontinued their dinner parties at Cambridge House. Until the termination of the court mourning for the late Landgravine of Hesse Hombourg.
KINMEL PARK.- We are happy to state that his Royal High ness the Duke Sussex has recovered from his indisposition so far as to be able to take an airing in the carriage; and should the weather permit, he hopes to resume the sports of the field in a few days. The party at present at Kimnel Park, besides his Royal Highness and Lady Cecilia Underwood, consists of Lady Gardner, Colonel Hughes, Sir Richard Bulkeley, Colonel Grant, Captain Fainley, R. Crofts, Esq, the Rev. Mr. Roberts, the Rev. J. Jones, Mrs. Jones, &c. - Denbigh Herald.
MARRIED.
On the 9th inst., at Bath, the Rev. William Addington Taylor, rector of Litchborough, Northamptonshire, to Anne Catherine, eldest daughter of the late Rev. William Church, of Hampton, Middlesex.
On the 22nd inst., by the Rev. R. a'Court Beadon, the Rev. Hyde Wyndham Beadon, vicar of Latton Wilts, to Frances Isabella, youngest daughter of the late Major-General the Hon. Sir William Ponsonby, K.C.B.
DIED.
On the 15th inst., at Colnbrook, Stephen Shingleton, upwards of 25 years penny-post messenger from Colnbrook to Stoke, and of which time he lost only five days, then he was attacked by inflammation in his hip. He was much respected by all the inhabitants of the district. He has left a wife and four small children to deplore his loss. Aged 45.
On the 19th inst., at his residence, Burfords, Hoddesdon, Herts, Edward Waller, Esq., in the 78th year of his age.
On the 20th inst., at Hayes, Mr. Robert Savage, aged 62 years.
On the 21st inst., at the same place, Mrs. Ann Wilshin, wife of Mr. Daniel Wilshin, aged 55 years.
Lately, at Croydon, Mr. William Parnham, well known to the East Surrey Hunt, aged 82, he was formerly coachman to George III.