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The Windsor and Eton Express.
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Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express



15th January 1842

The Christening of the Prince of Wales

As we before intimated, the christening of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is positively fixed for the 25th inst., for which day invitations have been already forwarded to the numerous distinguished personages who have been invited. The Lord Chamberlain has issued his tickets to the noble and distinguished individuals who are expected to take a part in this interesting and important ceremony, and the Lord Steward of the Household has also issued the invitations of her Majesty to the royal and noble guests for the dejeune, which will take place immediately after the christening, and also for the grand banquet in St.George's Hall in the evening. To the dejeune, independent of the distinguished visitors, there have been invited the Canons of St.George's Chapel, and Naval and Military Knights, who will form part of the procession at the christening. The Hon and Rev the Dean of Windsor (Dr.Hobart), and Rev the Provost of Eton (Dr.Hodgson) are invited to the dejeune, and also to the royal banquet. The banquet in St.George's Hall will be upon a most magnificent scale, for which the most active preparations are being made.

During this week the workmen, under the judicious directions of Mr.Saunders, have been incessantly employed in preparing for the grand ceremony, and in fitting up apartments for the royal and distinguished visitors to her Majesty and Prince Albert in the castle and its precincts as well as at Frogmore Lodge, the late residence of the lamented Princess Augusta; at which latter place about 25 of her Majesty's expected guests will be accommodated for sleeping. The remainder of the guests, about 100, will be provided with apartments within and in the precincts of the Castle.

Stoves have this week been placed in St.George's Chapel for the purpose of warming that edifice for the occasion of the christening, and it is fully expected that the temperature by that period will be fully equal to what is desired. The other preparations in the Royal Chapel are actively progressing towards completion.

The anxiety of many of the nobility and others to be present at the ceremony is very great, but we understand that no persons, excepting those specially invited to take part in the ceremony, will be admitted inside the chapel. Indeed the smallness of the place would preclude all possibility of the public generally being gratified with a view of this interesting scene. The procession from the Castle to the Chapel will, however, be exceedingly interesting. It will consist of six carriages, each drawn by a pair of horses; that of her Majesty and Prince Albert by a pair of the cream coloured Hanoverian state horses; that of the Master of the Horse by a pair of Hanoverian black state horses; and the remainder by her Majesty's usual bay carriage horses. The King of Prussia's carriage, which will not form part of the procession, will be drawn, like her Majesty's and Prince Albert's carriage, by a pair of cream coloured horses.

That the proceedings will be nationally interesting, there can be no question, but the public expectation in regard to it will fall considerably short of being realised, if reliance is placed in the various accounts which daily appear in some of the London journals. One statement , professing to give an account of the preparations , alludes to the new Riding-school having "three large Gothic Bronze Chandeliers to be lighted with gas," which "are immediately to be supplied from the lofty ceiling, and upwards of sixty additional gas burners" &c., which would appear to the general reader as connected with the approaching ceremony, has in reality, nothing whatever to do with it; and the "Gothic Chandeliers" will be nothing more than the most simply constructed tubes with two gas burners to each, which tubes are necessary to prevent the dangerous use of double stepsin lighting and extinguishing the gas when the horses are exercised there in bad weather. With regard to the sixty gas burners, there may be sixty or twice sixty, according to the number required in the respective stables and other places, as the whole of the New Mews will be lit by gas instead of oil, as the best, cheapest, and most cleanly light. This fitting of gas is merely a part of the necessary appendages to the mews, to which, in a short time, water will be laid on also; then , perhaps , we shall hear of large "Gothic Cocks and Fountains, &c."

Her Majesty's Guard of Honour at Claremont

On Monday a guard of honour, consisting of Captain Robinson, Lieutenant the Hon.C.Pakenham, Ensign Sandford Pakenham, six serjeants, the piper-major and two pipers, two buglers, and 60 rank and file of the light company of the 72nd Highlanders, left the infantry barracks at Windsor, for Claremont, as a guard of honour to the court.

The King of Prussia's Visit

His Majesty the King of Prussia, who is to be one of the sponsors at the christening of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, is expected to arrive at the Castle on the 22nd instant, accompanied by his suite. His Serene Highness Prince Ferdinand of Saxe Coburg and his Serene Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, will also accompany his Majesty to England. A distinguished party will be invited to dinner to greet the illustrious foreigners on their arrival. The Earl of Harkwicke, R.N, Captain Meynell, R.N, and the Hon.Col.Arbuthnot, having been appointed by the Queen to attend upon the King of Prussia during his Majesty's visit to this country, will, on Monday next, take their departure from Woolwich on board the vessel of war appointed to receive his Majesty on the French shore.




Funeral of the Governor of the Military Knights of Windsor

On Thursday at noon, the remains of Colonel Basset, who had for a period of nearly 20 years held the appointment of Governor of the Military Knights of Windsor, were conveyed to their last resting place in a vault in the Dean's Cloisters of St.George's Chapel. The funeral was not attended by any of the military garrison at Windsor. The body was first taken into the choir of the chapel, where a portion of the burial service was read by the Rev.Mr.Canning, the canon in residence, assisted by the Rev.Messrs. Gore and Knyvett, minor canons of St.George's. The pall was borne by the following military knights, a portion of the remainder following in the procession as mourners:- Lieut.Sicker, Captain Fernyhough, Captain Cochrane, Lieut Mc.Dermott, Major Anderson, and Lieut.Ragg. The mourners were Captain Basset (the eldest son of the deceased), Major Bruce, Colonel King, Major.W.King, Mr.H.King, Mr.Jerro (executor), and Dr.Stanford, Dr.Fergusson, and Mr.W.Fowler, the medical assistants of the deceased.

The New Governor of the Military Knights

Captain Cummings, who has acted as Governor of the order of the Military Knights of Windsor for the last three years, in consequence of the illness of Colonel Basset, has now been appointed by her Majesty to succeed that gentleman, who died yesterday week. Captain Cummings cannot be regularly installed as Governor until after the christening of the Prince of Wales, in consequence of St.George's Chapel being closed, to enable the preparations to be made for that national event. Captain Cummings has served many years in the army, chiefly in the West Indies, where he commanded a company in the 8th West India Regiment. He distinguished himself at the capture of Guadeloupe and other islands in that hemisphere during the last war, and for several years acted as quarter-master general on that service.

Theatre Royal

The performances of the Theatre on Monday were patronised by her Majesty, and the house was consequently well filled. The excellent band of the 72nd Highlanders attended on the occasion, and the performances went off to the gratification of the audience. During the evening "God save the Queen" was sung by the company, and a "loyal and patriotic song" also entitled "Victoria is Queen of the Free" was sung by Mr.E.Taylor. During the week the performances have been also patronised by the officers of the Royal Horse Guards, and the 72nd Highlanders, and the manager Mr.Dodd has taken his benefit. On the latter occasion the repeatedly announced new piece called "The City Merchant" was brought out, but neither its announcement , as well as the managers benefit, drew a good house. On Monday next we perceive by the theatrical announcement in another page that Mr.Vale takes his benefit and his leave of a Windsor audience. The theatre is announced also to finally close for the season next week.

Literary and Scientific Institution

Yesterday evening week Professor Henderson delivered his first of a series of lectures on the science of astronomy. The discourse was instructive and interesting, and illustrated by dissolving views of the phantasmagoria, &c. On Wednesday the Professor delivered a second. On both occasions the hall was very respectably and numerously attended.

The Proposed NewChurch

On Tuesday last the New Church Building Committee met at the Free Schools for the purpose of finally deciding on the offers submitted to them for the erection of a new church in this borough. The contract of Messrs. Bedborough and Jenner was accepted, and they will commence operations immediately. The sum of money already in hand will only enable the committee to pay the contractors for the completion of the carcass, the chancel and the tower, which will cost �4,500, and the committee hope that further subscriptions will fall rapidly in, so as enable them to proceed without any delay in finally completing the edifice, and opening it to the public as speedily as possible. We understand that between three and four thousand pounds are still required for that purpose.

Baptist Chapel

The first meeting of the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society was held in this place of worship on Monday evening last, when the Rev.Eustace Carey, and the Rev.Joshua Tinson, as a deputation from the parent society, addressed the numerous congregation then assembled, on the great subject of missionary enterprise, with the most powerful effect; and were well supported by the ministers of the neighbouring churches. Mr.Carey preached an introductory sermon the preceding evening, which, with the services of the public meeting, have left an impression in favour of christian missions that will not be easily erased.

The Clewer Club Box Robbery

It appears that the parties, some members of the committee of the club, who suspected that their box had been robbed, had the papers supposed to have been taken in their own possession at the same time, and in consequence of their moving the box away, without just cause or authority, from the house of the landlord of the Swan, Mr.Stevens, the club has had a meeting, and decided by a majority, that the said members of the committee, seven in number, be fined five shillings each for their mis-conduct, and also ordered that the box be again deposited in its original place.




New Windsor Epiphany Sessions
On Monday last the General Quarter Sessions for this Borough were held at the Town-hall, before the Hon.John.C.Talbot, recorder.

The calendar was unusually large, there being twelve prisoners for trial. The grand jury having been sworn,

The Recorder addressed them as follows; he said he felt confident that the grand jury would regret with him the number of cases that were in the calendar, for they would have to dispose of no less than twelve cases - a number which was greater than he had usually had to submit to the grand jury at previous quarter sessions of this borough. But it was the more to be regretted that this number of offences were not the results of this particular season of the year, and that the prisoners were not driven to the commission of crime by want, but that it rather exhibited a course of systematic thieving. This was very much to be regretted. Still the grand jury's task would be very light, for all the cases were exceedingly simple, and required no particular observations from him. But he would just like to point their attention to numbers four and five in the calendar (James Hawkins and William Thomas), in which the prisoners were charged with uttering false and counterfeit coin well knowing it to be so. He had read the depositions, and he found that they embraced several distinct cases of uttering, if the facts stated therein should be supported by the evidence. He apprehended that it would be necessary therefore that there should be a separate indictment for each offence, but at the same time it was competent to the grand jury in considering one case to consider also the conduct of the parties in the other cases. In cases of felony it was not so, for in those cases where a party stole from one person, for instance, a hat, and from another a watch; but in order to prove the deliberate uttering of base coin, it was necessary for them to look at all the circumstances and to judge from them whether they thought there was not a guilty knowledge. There were also two cases of stealing lead affixed to buildings. These were not every day cases - indeed, he did not know that he had before tried any of that description in this court. There had formerly been very great difficulty in fixing parties with this offence so as to make it larceny, for it was necessary in order to do so that it should be under the description of goods and chattels. It was not at common law a larceny, therefore a statute was passed to remove that difficulty. At length an act was introduced by Sir Robert Peel, the 7th and 8th Geo.IV, chap.29, by the 44th section of which it was enacted "That if any person shall steal or rip, cut or break, with intent to steal, any glass or woodwork belonging to any building whatsoever, or any lead, iron, copper, brass, or other metal, or other utensil or fixture, whether made of metal or other material respectively , fixed in or to any building whatsoever, or any thing made of metal fixed in any land being private property, or for a fence to any dwelling house, garden, or area, or in any square, street, or other place dedicated to public use or ornament, every such offender shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof , shall be liable to be punished in the same manner as in the case of simple larceny." The whole of the cases, as he had said before, were exceedingly simple, and the grand jury would have no difficulty in sending in a bill to be disposed of before the petty jury.

The grand jury then retired, and very soon returned with a bill.

The Mayor (John Clode, Esq.), John Banister, Esq, and Messrs.Clarke, Burtt, J.Clode,jun., and Rae[?], Town Councillors, took the oaths of allegiance and supremacy.

John Flowers, aged 38, was indicted for having on the 26th of December, at the parish of Clewer, stolen six pounds weight of lead affixed to a certain building, the property of Mr.James Thomas Bedborough. A second count alleged the lead to be the property of George Vincent and others.

Wm.Silver, a policeman, deposed that on Sunday afternoon the 26th of December, while on duty in Peascod-street, at about a quarter past six o'clock, he saw the prisoner with a bag under his arm; he asked him what he had got, and he replied nothing but a bag. Witness however felt there was something in it, and was about to take him into custody, when the prisoner threw down the bag and ran away. Witness ran a short distance after him, but he escaped. He took the bag into the station-house on finding there was a large piece of sheet lead (now produced) in it, and then went after the prisoner, whom he apprehended in Clewer-lane. He subsequently found that the lead had been taken from a washhouse at the back of a house of South-place, belonging to Mr.Bedborough. The lead and the nail holes exactly fitted in the wood from which it had been taken.

Mr.George Jenner, in partnership with Mr.Thomas Bedborough, and agent for Mr.Bedborough, sen., stated that the lead exactly fitted to the place from which it had been taken. He had not seen it safe within three or four weeks of the apprehension of the prisoner. The prisoner was one of Mr.Bedborough's tenants in the same row of houses. Several other houses in that row had been robbed in a similar way.

The prisoner in his defence said he did not steal the lead, but found it under a hedge in Clewer-lane.

The recorder summed up the evidence, after which the jury found the prisoner guilty.

The recorder then addressing the prisoner, observed that the verdict had his entire approval. Although the value of the property was not great, yet the prisoners position was aggravated by the fact that he was a tenant of one of the same row of houses, and therefore should have been in some degree responsible for its care and protection. The sentence of the court was, that he be imprisoned and kept to hard labour, in the House of Correction at Reading, for six months.

Andrew Carey, aged 50, was indicted for having, on the 3rd of December, stolen ten pounds weight of lead, affixed to a building in Thames-street, belonging to Mrs.Susannah Battiscombe. A second count alleged the lead to be the property of Mr.Robertson, schoolmaster.

Mr.Williams appeared as counsel for the prisoner.

Thomas Clarke, a policeman, stated that shortly before three o'clock on the afternoon of the 3rd of December, while on duty, he saw the prisoner go with something into the shop of Charles Ewer, a marine store dealer. He followed him into the shop, and found the prisoner had the lead now produced. The prisoner, to a question put to him, said it was a piece of lead that had slipped from the side of a house, but he did not say where. Clarke, suspecting he had stolen it, lodged the prisoner in the station house; and on making enquiry found the lead had been taken from a house belonging to Mrs.Battiscombe, that was tenanted by Mr.Robinson. It had formed part of the flashing of the lead gutter, and completely fitted to the place. There was a ladder against the house.

Cross-examined - It was in broad daylight. Witness went up the ladder and fitted the lead directly he had locked up the prisoner.

James Loxten, a servant to Mrs.Battiscombe, stated that on the day in question, a bricklayer and the prisoner, who was a labourer, were at work repairing the roof of Mr.Chapman's house, adjoining Mrs.Battiscombe's, and they had a ladder against the house for that purpose. Thinking it a good opportunity for repairing anything else that might be required on the roof of his mistress's house, he went up the ladder to examine and he had every reason to believe that the gutter was all safe then - least, had the piece of lead produced been gone, he must have missed it. The witness then identified the lead as fitting the place where it was taken from.

Mr.Williams having submitted an objection to the Recorder, which was overruled, addressed the jury on behalf of his client, and called.

John Simms, the gaoler, who said he had known the prisoner 13 or 14 years, and had never known anything bad of him before this time.

Mr.Banister, who was on the bench, was also called to depose to the prisoners character, and that gentleman said he had casually known the prisoner for some time, and had never heard anything against him. His knowledge of the prisoner was only from seeing him about the town, and he knew nothing more of him.

The Recorder summed up the evidence, after which the jury consulted for a long time, and as they could not agree on their verdict, they were locked up, and a fresh jury sworn to try the succeeding cases. When they came into court again they returned a verdict of Guilty.

The Recorder, addressing the prisoner, said he had been found guilty on the clearest evidence. There could not be the slightest doubt of the guilt of the prisoner, because he was found with the property in his possession. Even if the lead had slipped from the side of the house, he must have known he had no right to offer it for sale. He has, however, received a good character, and Mr.Lawrence, his former employer, who was too unwell to be able to attend, had sent a letter stating that up to the present time he had behaved himself well. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, the sentence of the court was, that the prisoner be imprisoned in the borough gaol for three months, and there kept to such hard labour as could be found for him.

William Hawkins, aged 40, and William Thomas, aged 39, were indicted for having on the 5th Nov., passed counterfeit coin in this borough.

There were three charges against the prisoners, viz., for passing two bad shillings to Mr.Goddard, of the Bull Inn, Peascod-street; for passing a bad shilling at the shop of Mr.Lovegrove, the high constable and fruiterer, in Thames-street; and for passing a bad sixpence at the shop of Mr.Darling, a grocer, also in Thames-street.

Mr.Williams attended as counsel for the prosecution. Mr.Powell, solicitor to Her Majesty's Mint, also attended to prosecute.

The case, as applicable to Mr.Goddard, was not insisted upon, as he could not swear positively to either of the prisoners. The facts appeared to be these:- The two prisoners, who were strangers in Windsor, came to this town together on the 5th of November, and applied for lodgings at Wheeler's beer-shop, in George-street. On that day a person, who was believed to be Hawkins, but could not be sworn to, went to the Bull Inn, and had a pint of beer, for which he paid a shilling, received the change, and left. Subsequently the same man, as was believed, called and had a glass of gin, for which he paid another shilling, and received the change. On the same afternoon Thomas went into the shop of Mr.Lovegrove, and asked for a pennyworth of onions, with which he was served by Miss Lovegrove, and tendered a shilling in payment. Miss Lovegrove went into the parlour to her father for change, when the father saw the shilling was a bad one, but gave Thomas the change, intending to watch his conduct. He then saw Thomas cross the road and join Hawkins, and the two prisoners went down Thames-street together. Hawkins then went into Mr.Darling's the grocers shop, and Lovegrove went through the shop into the parlour, when he saw Thomas purchase a quarter of an ounce of tobacco, and tender a sixpence, which, like all the rest, proved to be bad. Lovegrove then desired Mr.Darling to detain Thomas while he went across the road and took Thomas, in doing which he perceived Thomas swallowing something white, which was doubtless a piece of base coin. On his person was found a three-edged file, which had a white appearance, as if it had been used in filing base coin.

Mr.Powell, the solicitor of the Mint, proved that all the coin was base, and that the shillings were all cast from one mould. They were made of what is termed Britannia metal.

The prisoners were found guilty, and the Recorder sentenced them to the longest term allowed by the Act, viz., to two years hard labour in the House of Correction at Reading.

John McLeod, aged 42, was indicted for having, on the 2nd of January, stolen from the person of Thomas Barklay, one of the drummers in the band of the 72nd Highlanders, a bonnet or cap, and a pair of half boots.

John Guthrie, a policeman, stated that at about half-past nine o'clock in the morning of the 2nd inst., he was on duty in Park-street, and saw the prosecutor lying down in the road drunk, and the prisoner beside him. He went to the Infantry Barracks to get a guard of soldiers to take the complainant away. On returning with a corporal and a file of men they met the prisoner coming from the direction where Barkley lay, with a cap in his hand, which the corporal took from him and let him go. On going to Barkley it was found that his boots had been taken from his feet, and witness went after the prisoner, whom he succeeded in apprehending, and found Barkley's boots in his (the prisoner's) pocket. He at first denied having them. The prisoner said he had been requested by Barkley to take his boots and his cap to raise money upon them for the purpose of getting liquor, of which he (the prisoner) was to have a share; and it appeared also that the prisoner was going in the direction of the barracks, as he said to give the cap to the serjeant of the guard. Barkley could give no account of the affair, and consequently the prosecution failed.

The jury acquitted the prisoner.

The recorder said the jury had taken the safer course. The prisoner best knew whether the charge was well founded or not, and he would recommend him in future to be careful how he dealt with other people's property.

Mary Smallbone, aged 19, was indicted for stealing a gown-piece, value 12s, the property of Mr.George Robert Everard Hinkford, linen-draper, &c., of Thames-street.

Mr.Williams appeared as counsel for the prisoner, who was very respectably dressed.

Mr.Hickford stated that on Saturday evening, the 6th of November, the prisoner came into his shop and asked to look at some dresses that were hanging up in the window. He requested his brother to wait upon her, and a short time afterwards from what his brother had told him, he followed the prisoner into the street, desiring her to step back as there was something (as he said) wrong with the change she had received. In coming back the prisoner dropped a dress on the pavement. The prisoner said she had intended to take it home to her friends and would bring the money back on Monday morning. She refused to give her name, and witness told her she had better be candid as it would be better for her. The prisoner said she came from Bagshot, but would decline to say anything more, except that she wanted lodgings. She was afterwards given into the custody of Mr.Gillman, the superintendent of police. Witness admitted that the prisoner had offered to pay for the dress, but would not receive the money unless she gave a satisfactory account of herself.

Cross-examined by Mr.Williams - Even had the prisoner given an account of herself he would not have taken the money, but would have taken the dress back and have let her off.

James John Hickford, brother and shopman to the prosecutor, deposed that when the prisoner came into the shop and asked to see some mousselin de laine dresses, he showed her the one produced among others. She afterwards said she would like to see some prints, and witness went to the window to get some. He then saw, peeping under her shawl one of the dresses, but he did not charge her with the theft. He swept off the remaining dresses, and as he thought gave her an opportunity of replacing the dress on the counter. She eventually purchased a print dress and some lining which she paid for, amounting to 6s 7 1/2d , and left the shop. He then told his brother of the robbery who followed her.

Cross-examined - The prisoner was about a quarter of an hour in the shop. The dress she stole was placed under her shawl, but a considerable part of it was visible. Witness was not his brothers partner, and had no share in the concern. He was paid 15 per cent upon the sales, as his salary, and he had his board and lodging.

Mr.Gillman, superintendent of police, proved merely receiving the prisoner into his custody.

Mr.Williams addressed the jury for the prisoner, contending that there must have been some understanding between the shopman and the prisoner that she was to take the dress upon approval or return. He called to give her a good character

Mr.John Lane, who said he was a farmer at Waltham St Lawrence. He had known the prisoner for many years, and she had always borne a good character. She had lived with witness's mother at Wokingham, and afterwards with his sister. He had also seen her at different times at her fathers house at Binfield.

Mr.Charles Butler, landlord of the New Inn, at Warfield, also gave the prisoner a good character, which she had borne for the last ten years. She had been his bar-maid, and was in the habit of receiving his money.

By the Recorder - Witness said he had married the prisoner's sister.

The Recorder having summed up the evidence, the jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended her to mercy on account of her previous good character.

The prisoner was next indicted for having on the same day stolen a fur tippet or cape from the shop of Mr.John Bryant, of Thames-street.

In this case it appeared that the prisoner, before she went to Mr.Hickford's went into Mr.Bryant's shop, and asked to look at some fur tippets. She was shown by Richard Perry, the shopman, in the bonnet room, and some tippets exhibited to her. She, however, disapproved of them , and requested to see some darker ones. The shopman left her in the room while he went to the shop to obtain others, one of which she selected, and requested it to be put by for her, leaving 1s as a deposit, saying that the tippet was for a friend, and if her friend did not approve of it by the Monday following, she would lay the shilling out on something else. She then left. Some time afterwards, Mr.Hickford, the prosecutor in the first case, who had found under her shawl a fur tippet, which from having neither strings nor a clasp, he suspected had been stolen, came to Mr.Bryant's shop with it, when in looking over the stock of tippets which had been shown to the prisoner the one found upon her was missing and Mr.Gillman the superintendent of police, found in her reticule the ticket with Mr.Bryant's private mark on it, which had been on the tippet. The article was valued at a guinea.

Mr.Williams cross examined the witness, but nothing material to the prisoner was elicited.

The jury found the prisoner guilty of this offence also.

The Recorder, addressing the prisoner, said the jury had very properly found her guilty of the two offences with which she had been charged, and he was very much mistaken if the merciful consideration of the jury would lead them now to repeat their recommendation, because it was manifest to him, and it must be also to every one who had listened to the evidence, that her course was that of a deliberate system of plundering other persons. Evan had the recommendation to mercy been repeated, it would be his duty not to attend to it, because the crimes did not appear to have been caused by the distress which is usually prevalent at this season of the year, and the case was not that of a person being driven by any temporary necessity to commit crime. The sentence of the court was, that the prisoner be transported for the term of seven years.

The prisoner left the bar in the most unconcerned manner.

William Harper, aged 30, was indicted for stealing a fowling piece, the property of Mr.John Powell, brazier, of Thames-street. A second count charged the gun as being the property of Edward Easeley.

It appeared that Mr.William Henry Wood, who belongs to the Windsor Gas Works, had entrusted to him a gun by Mr.Easeley to get repaired, and that he had left it in Mr.Powell's charge until he should call or send for it. Mr.Powell placed it in his shop. On the 17th of December, the prisoner, who had occasionally worked for Mr.Powell, was in the shop, and had an opportunity of seeing the gun, which was then safe in its place. Subsequently the gun was missed, and suspicion falling on the prisoner, he was apprehended at his own residence by Grass, a policeman. On being locked up and told what the charge against him was, he said he had taken the gun from Mr.Powell's shop, and that it then on his stairs, where Green afterwards found it. He said he intended to go with it to a pigeon match the following Monday and then to return it.

Mr.Williams for the defence, contended that the prisoner had no intention of stealing the gun, but had merely taken it - improperly he would admit, because he had no permission to do so - but intending to return it.

The Recorder summed up the evidence, leaving it to the jury to say whether the prisoner's intention was merely to borrow the gun or steal it.

The jury acquitted the prisoner, who was advised by the learned Recorder, that the next time he went to a pigeon shooting match to go with his own gun, instead of taking that of another person.

Richard Blackall, aged 23, Charles Smith, aged 19, and Jane Maynard, aged 19, were indicted for assaulting Hiram Terry on the highway and robbing him of a shilling, two pence, and a metal pencil case.

The prosecutor deposed he was a tailor. At about half-past 12 o'clock on the night of the 7th of Dec., or rather on the morning of the 8th, he was on his way home, and going down Sheet-street road he picked up a woman's apron. While he was looking at it the prisoner Blackall came up to him and said the apron was his. After some words the prosecutor threw the apron down and ran away, being alarmed. Blackall ran after him, and caught him by the arms, when the other prisoners came up and they held his arms behind him, and took from his trousers pocket a shilling, two pence, and a pencil case. They then left him and he afterwards gave information to the police. He saw Blackall the next morning, and asked him "to be so kind as give him what he took from him the night before," on which Blackall said, "you be d__d, and do what you like."

In Cross-examination by Mr.Williams, the prosecutor admitted he had been several hours drinking at two public houses on the night in question, but he denied he was drunk. He did not call out for the police when the prisoners were robbing him.

The Recorder doubted whether the case was sufficiently strong against the prisoners on the prosecutor's own evidence, and the jury being of that opinion they returned a verdict of Not Guilty, the Recorder telling the prisoners to beware of their future conduct.

The prosecutor then complained that Blackall had been heard to say he would "serve him out" if he got acquitted, and he wished that prisoner to be held to bail to keep the peace.

The Recorder - I would advise him not to do anything of the sort. However if you are afraid of personal violence you can complain to the magistrates.

Mr.Williams - I would advise Blackall by all means not to carry on such a threat into execution.

Frederick Nixey, aged 26 (who had been liberated on bail), and David Hebbes, aged 29, were indicted for having on the night of the 8th of November, stolen a hat and a black silk hatband, the property of Thomas Sevenoaks.

It appeared in evidence that on the night of the 8th Nov., the prosecutor, who had been to a funeral on that day, went into the Barley Mow beer-shop, in Sheet street, kept by a person named Hill, where he fell asleep. The prisoners were also there, and the prosecutor's hat falling off, in which was the black silk hatband he had worn that day, they took it and the hatband away, Nixey putting the hat on Hebbes head. Nixey went out first, and afterwards returned, and beckoning Hebbes out, they both left. All this was seen by one Alfred Cooper, formerly a supernumerary of the police, but now a soldier, who went after the prisoners, and found Hebbes at the corner of Peascod-street, with the prosecutor's hat on his head. Nixey was shortly afterwards apprehended by Sexton, a policeman, at the corner of Goswell-lane, and behind a post in that lane the black silk hatband was found secreted there by Clarke, another policeman.

Mr.Williams, on behalf of the prisoners, submitted to the jury that the taking of the hat and hatband was a mere frolic of the prisoners, and that it was done by way of a joke upon the "fuddled undertaker," but not with the intention of stealing.

The prisoners were found guilty. As Hebbes had been in gaol already more than two months, the sentence of the court was, that he be further imprisoned in the borough gaol one week. Nixey , who had been bailed out, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment in the borough gaol.

The court did not break up until seven o'clock in the evening.




Egham, Saturday, January 15.
Prince of Wales Birth Fund

At a meeting held in the vestry-room of the parish of Egham, for the purpose of adopting an address of congratulation to her Majesty, and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, on the birth of an heir to the throne of these realms, it was resolved in commemoration of this suspicious event, "That a committee be formed for supplying blankets, clothing, &c., to the deserving poor of the parish, and to be distributed as the committee shall think fit," and "That the following gentlemen form a committee for the purpose above mentioned, with power, if requisite, to add to their number;" the Rev.J.T.Ludlow, curate of the parish, the Rev.T.Page, Mr.J.T.Bailey, Mr.T.Long, Mr.Gardiner, Mr.G.P.Hayward, Mr.Mills, and Mr.Clode, churchwardens. A fund has been raised by the committee amounting to �59 13s which has been distributed in bedding, clothing, &c., to nearly 400 poor families and individuals.




Uxbridge, Saturday, January 15.

On Saturday afternoon last an inquest was held at the Sun public house in the Market-place of this town by T.Wakley, Esq., coroner, on the body of Mrs.Maria Kember, wife of Mr.Richard Kember, watchmaker, and a respectable tradesman in Uxbridge during the greater portion of the last century. The deceased having retired the evening previous in good health, was taken ill about 12 o'clock, and died about three in the morning. The jury having received the evidence produced, returned a verdict that - the deceased died by the visitation of God.

Anniversary of the Uxbridge Anti-Corn-Law Association

The second anniversary of the Uxbridge Anti-Corn-law Association was held on Wednesday evening, in the Town-hall in this town, for the purpose of receiving the second annual address of the committee, the present state and prospects of the association, &c. In connection with the business of the meeting, there was also a grand anti-corn-law soiree held in the hall, which presented a showy and tasteful appearance. On the banners were exhibited the mottoes, "The Profit of the Earth is for all;" "Open they Mouth, judge righteously, and plead the Cause of the Poor and Needy;" "By reason of the Multitude of Oppressors, they make the Oppressed to cry;" "Justice;" "He that oppresseth the Poor, reproacheth his Maker;" "Give us this Day our Daily Bread," &c.

The Rev.Mr.Newlyn, of Chalfont was called to the chair.

The Rev.Mr.Walsh, a Baptist minister, then rose and made a very feeling appeal to the sense of the meeting in behalf of the poor and of the country, on whom and which those unjust corn-laws had brought such a lamentable state of suffering.

James Wilson, Esq., of the Anti-Corn-law League, who passing through Uxbridge on a visit into a neighbouring county, was induced by the committee, who had heard of his arrival in town, to delay his journey for the purpose, delivered an address to the meeting, which was received with loud cheers.

Mr.Taylor, secretary of the association read the second annual address of the committee, which set out a frightful amount of distress in the district, notwithstanding it said that that district was an agricultural one, and that the farmers had then had four years of high prices [hear, hear]. So great indeed was the distress, that they need not travel into the manufacturing towns of Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, &c., in quest of human misery, which was at every turn to be met with the wretched abodes of their own poor. Those miseries and sufferings were of a nature to shock the hard of heart. The misery was not to be attributed to the mismanagement and improvident habits of the poor, as great numbers of those thus situated are amongst the most sober and industrious of the population of the district. The condition of the little tradesmen was deplorable. A few years ago, when food was cheap, there was not a shop to be obtained in the main streets of Uxbridge; whereas now, when the farmers had had four years of high prices, there were several shops empty in the best situations, and shops can with facility be obtained any where.

The report concluded by stating, that if, at the formation of the association (two years ago) the committee were convinced of the necessity of taking active measures for the purpose of directing the attention of the Legislature to the evils resulting from the operation of the corn-laws, they were infinitely more so at the present time; and by earnestly hoping that the religious portion of the community, who have never exerted their influence without commanding success, would come forth at once to put an end to them and the provision laws generally.

The report was unanimously carried.

Mr.Taylor then moved, and Mr.Price seconded, the following resolution:- "That the members of the Uxbridge Anti-Corn-law Association, fully convinced of the justice of their cause, are encouraged to prosecute a continued warfare against the unholy monopoly in the corn and provision laws generally, and not to relax in their exertions until those laws shall have been erased from the statute of the land."

The resolution was carried unanimously, amid loud cheers.

After an eloquent address from the Rev.Mr.Newlyn.

Thanks were voted to Mr.Wilson and the Chairman. An announcement was made that the Rev.Mr.Stamford had given in his adhesion to the association, and that numerous signatures had been obtained to the petition and memorial; and the business of the evening having terminated, the meeting separated.