Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
17th November 1827
Windsor and Eton
On Monday last, his Majesty's stag hounds met at the Dolphin, Slough, where a fine deer was turned out in the presence of a large number of sportsmen. After a severe run of an hour and five minutes, without receiving a single check, the stag was caught at Rickmansworth. On account of the wet state of the weather, the meeting was at Fulmar Common to-day instead of yesterday.
An unfortunate accident occurred to Mr.Chas.Barron [?] of Eton, on Thursday morning. The day before he had obtained a brace of pistols from a friend, one of which was loaded, and whilst in the act of looking to the lock of the loaded one, which was very stiff, the muzzle being pressed against the first finger of his left hand, by some accident the pistol went off. The ball entered the finger between the second and third joint, struck against the bone, and was quite flattened by the contact. Surgical aid was immediately procured, and the ball extracted; but it is feared that the finger must be amputated at the knuckle.
A lilach tree is now in full blossom in the garden of Lord William Fitzroy , at Hambledon, Bucks.
Aylesbury
The inhabitants of Buckingham having been informed that the Duke of Wellington is to pass through the town on the 15th of December, held a meeting on Monday to determine on the best method of testifying their opinion of His Grace's high character and splendid military achievements, and it was resolved to manifest their respect by presenting him an address expressive of their sentiments, and by inviting him to partake of a collation at the Cobham Arms inn.
A man named Priest , who was committed last week from Union-hall, for stealing a watch, we learn, never joined Mr.Jackman's company. Probably he thought it more pleasant as well as lucrative to play Filch in the streets of London, than to enact the part of an honest man on the stage of a theatre.
Ten young persons were placed as apprentices at Aylesbury on Wednesday, by the Trustees of Harding's charity, with a premium of �15 each.
Sir Thomas Mostyn's hounds were turned off a short distance from Aylesbury on the Bicester road on Thursday and found a fox at Twividale. After an indifferent chase reynard was killed in the gardens of the Hartwell estate. There was a very numerous field of sportsmen.
On Wednesday night or Thursday morning last, an ewe sheep, the property of Mr.Thomas Weedon was killed in a meadow at Upper Winchendon. The thieves, as usual, took away the carcass, and left the skin, head, and entrails on the spot. A reward of 10 guineas has been offered for the conviction of the offenders.
An alarming fire broke out at the Crooked Billet public-house, Winslow, on Tuesday, occasioned by a foul flue. The parish engine was promptly brought to the spot, and the greatest activity displayed in extinguishing the flames, which were subdued without having done damage to a very great extent. The premises , we hear , are insured.
A most distressing suicide was committed in the parish of Swanbourne, near Winslow, on Monday. Mr.Williamson, the son of a respectable farmer, took a gun and left his father's house, saying he was going to shoot rabbits. He was found soon afterwards in a field near the house quite dead, and in a situation that makes it barely possible that his death could be the result of an accident; the muzzle of the gun had been placed in his mouth, and then discharged, making the corpse a most dreadful spectacle. The young man had drawn on him the censure of his father by endangering the life of his sister on the preceding evening, owing to his getting intoxicated, when driving her in a gig; in consequence of which he fell out, and the horse found its way home without him. It is supposed that the well-merited reproof he met with, and a deep feeling of his own misconduct, affected his reason. The Jury, who were summoned on the inquest, evinced that such was their opinion by returning their verdict , that he committed the fatal act whilst in a state of mental derangement.