Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
1st April 1837
The African hostages, nephews of the present King of the Ashantees, attended by their tutor, arrived in Windsor on Saturday last, accompanied by Mr.Nicholls, for the purpose of viewing the Castle. They were much gratified at the magnificence of the state apartments and St.George's Chapel. After partaking of a dejeune at the Castle Inn, they left for Hampton Court.
High Wycombe, March 31.
Wycombe Union - On Thursday, the 23rd inst., being the last day of meeting of the Guardians of this Union until after the new election, about 40 of its members dined together at the White Hart Inn here, the Chairman of the Board J.G.Tatem, Esq., presided. No ex officio members honored them with their company, which is not surprising , considering they but seldom attend the weekly meetings of the Board in the Town Hall.
Messrs.J.G.Tatem and A.Lane have been, without opposition, elected Guardians for this borough, and Messrs.S.L.Kent and W.H.Williams, for the parish of Wycombe.
The Poor Law Commissioners have approved of the increase of the Clerk's salary , and also of the appointment of John Parker, Esq., as Auditor of this Union.
Mr.White, A.M., has this week been giving lectures in out Town Hall, on Phrenology, to very respectable audiences.
Mr.Giles and Mr.Joseph White have been elected Churchwardens for this borough, and Mr.Shackel and Mr.W.H.Williams, for the parish of Wycombe.
Great Marlow, March 31.
Our highly respected and efficient representative, Sir.W.R.Clayton, has this week published an address to his constituents upon the subject of the measure proposed by his Majesty's Minister for the Abolition of Church-rates, and stating his reasons for supporting it. Those reasons are of the most conclusive kind, and such as ought to satisfy not only every conscientious Dissenter, but also every well-wisher to the Established Church. Of the principles and main features of the measures Sir Robert is a warm advocate, but of course he reserves to himself the option of opposing in Committee, if necessary, any of the details which he may conceive to be objectionable.
On Thursday last, as Wm.Buckridge was driving a waggon from Wycombe to Gerrard's Cross, he, by some means fell out of the vehicle, was run over by it, and killed upon the spot.
On Monday last a fire broke out in the house of a poor man named Bradshaw, situated in Duck-lane, in this town, which entirely consumed the same, damaging two adjoining cottages, and destroyed all the poor family's clothes and effects; in rescuing his children, Bradshaw himself was much burnt, and it left in the greatest distress from the accident. How it was occasioned cannot be ascertained.
Aylesbury, March 31.
Execution of Bates for Murder
Thomas Bates, who was tried at the late Buckinghamshire assizes, for the murder of James Giltrow [?], Colonel Hammer's gamekeeper, at Heath and Reach, last August, was executed this morning in front of the Town-hall, Aylesbury.The spot opposite the place of execution was filled with persons anxious to witness the awful scene. When the order for the execution was communicated to the prisoner, he did not appear to evince any surprise, as it was an event he had long expected to take place. He addressed a letter to his family, warning his brothers to go poaching no more, lest it brought them into trouble like his. Mr.Sherriffe, the governor of the gaol, and the chaplain (the Reverend Mr.Cox) have shown the wretched man every kindness and attention that his awful situation admitted of. He never indulged in a hope of his sentence being mitigated. Generally speaking, his conduct and behaviour were firm and collected; he took leave of his wife on Wednesday; the parting caused great pain to both of them;
he told her that his mind was greatly eased by the spiritual consolation he had received from the chaplain. During the greater part of Thursday he was attended by the chaplain, who read such prayers and portions of the Scriptures as held out a chance of pardon for the dreadful crime of which he had been guilty. About seven o'clock this morning the officers of justice proceeded to the cell of the convict; they found him quite resigned to his fate. He shook hands with all present, and thanked Mr.Sherriffe and the chaplain for their kindness to him. The hangman then commenced the melancholy task of pinioning, during which time he maintained his firmness; the procession then moved on to the fatal scaffold, which he mounted without assistance. In a few minutes the drop fell, and he appeared to die instantly. After the body had hung the usual time it was cut down and placed in a shell preparatory to its internment in the yard of the gaol infirmary; this last part of the ceremony was performed this evening.
Egham, March 31
Attempted Burglary
On Thursday morning between two and three o'clock Mr.Douglas, a watch-maker and jeweller in this town was awoke by a noise which appeared to proceed from his shop. He got up, and looking out of a window saw a man dressed apparently like a g[r]oom, at his shop shutters evidently attempting to break in. He demanded to know what the fellow wanted; the reply was "nothing, Sir;" however Mr.Douglas called to his wife to bring his gun, which being heard by the robber he made off before the gun could be brought, otherwise as Mr.D always keeps his gun loaded, in all probability the fellow would have paid dearly for his attempt. On going down the stairs and examining the shop window Mr.Douglas discovered that several pieces of one of the shutters had been forced off opposite to a square cut in one of the panes of glass, which cur it had been observed had been made some previous evening, when the shop was closed, - doubtless by the same thief, in anticipation of having the less trouble in inserting his hand into the shop window, as the piece of glass could with more ease, be knocked in, after the difficulty as to the shutter had been overcome.
The fellow appeared to have been very clumsy in his dangerous avocation from the manner in which the pieces had been broken from the shutter, which had been done, not by a regular housebreaking implement , such as a centre bit of a "jemmy," but by what is called by carpenters, a spike bit; however from the progress he had made it was clear that a very few more minutes would have sufficed to enable him to grope about inside the window, where however he would have met with no reward for all his labour, as it is invariable practice of Mr.Douglas, to take all his valuable property from thence every night, and put it in a place of security. The robber can be identified by Mr.Douglas, who had a perfect view of him.
From the various robberies that have lately been committed in this neighbourhood, it is evident that a gang of fellows are forming for the purpose of carrying on their depredations. A few days ago a robbery was committed in the day-time, in a house in Englefield Green. A woman having charge of two houses in the absence of their usual occupiers , and living in one of them, went, as is her daily practice, to open a window of the other, for the purpose of airing the rooms, and on her return discovered that some thieves had entered the one she lived in, and stolen several articles. The fellows for the present have escaped detection.
We think the attention of this parish ought to be directed to the necessity of organising a small police force, which is sadly wanted to protect their property. When the situation of the town is considered - it being on the Great Western road, and no great distance from the metropolis, branching off also in so many directions - it is surprising that property has no protection whatever from any police.
Staines, March 31
On Tuesday last a lecture was delivered by Richard Smith, Esq., of Chertsey, "On Insect Architecture and Transformation." The lecture embraced the most remarkable phenomena of this interesting subject; it was illustrated by a very valuable collection of insects, &c., and also be models and diagrams ingeniously constructed. The institution has ever found in Mr.Smith a zealous and efficient friend; and we rejoiced to see so large an auditory testifying, warmly and unanimously , approbation so well deserved. We could wish the most bigoted enemies of literary institutions no severer or juster punishment, than to be present at such a delightful meeting as this. For two or three hundred people (all neighbours, most of them acquaintances) collect to hear a lecture on natural history from a resident professional gentleman. They are instructed and delighted; they return home, not only with fuller minds but kinder hearts; they have met their friends - aye, and in time they will forget they have enemies. After Mr.Smith's lecture, the Secretary announced the donation of a magnificent coralline, by Mr.Byng, of Dover.
Chertsey, March 31
A vestry was held on Saturday last, Mr.Gaff was appointed Surveyor for the parish of Chertsey, at a salary.
Board of Guardians
The following gentlemen have been elected as Guardians for Chertsey parish, for the ensuing year; Mr.Sparrow, Addlestone; Mr.Cowderoy, Mr.Knight, mason, and Mr.Lipscomb.
Churchwardens Dinner
The annual Churchwardens dinner was held at the Crown Inn, Chertsey, on Tuesday last, the Rev.J.H.Stephenson in the chair; the company was highly respectable and numerous; and for the getting up of the dinner, too much praise cannot be given to the worthy host, Mr.Randle.
Chobham, March 31
Samuel Thornton, Esq., who is about to leave this neighbourhood, presented a handsome silver cup to the parish on Monday last. Mr.Thornton, who is 85 years of age, took up his residence at Chobham-place, upwards of 20 years since, when he was returned as one of the representatives in Parliament for this county.