Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
23rd December 1839
Mutual Improvement Society - Dr.Epps gave his ninth and concluding Lecture last night at the Town Hall, to a more crowded audience, if possible, than some of the preceding
evenings, and the company, without a dissentient voice, were highly delighted.
Dinner at Slough - Mrs. Luff's dinner, at the White Hart Inn, on Tuesday last, was not so numerously attended as we could have wished, but it passed off very well,
and the company, about thirty in number, expressed themselves highly satisfied with the dinner, &c, which were as usual excellent.
The Wandering Piper. - The "Wandering Piper" performed at the Town Hall, Windsor, on Monday last. We have been favored with the following curious extract by a gentleman who has
perused the Wandering Piper's book of receipts, disbursements, &c. Since he commenced his tour in the United States and British America, he has travelled 9,256 miles by water, 4,015 by stages, 758 by railroads, 8,769 with a horse and carriage; making
in all 22,798 miles - besides crossing the Atlantic, and short drives of pleasure, which must amount to a very considerable distance, during a period of nearly four years.
Wherever the Piper performed, he always employed an inhabitant of the place as door-keeper, who in all cases certified to the sums received by the Piper, in a book kept for that purpose.
His hotel and all other bills of expenditure have been written by the landlord and the different tradesmen into another book, which forms a most amusing record of learning and ignorance.
The books, containing receipts for money given to charitable institutions, have been written and signed by many of the first ladies and gentlemen, both in Great Britain and America,
and the numerous complimentary letters sent him by Members of Congress and several State Legislatures, as also by the Magistrates and Clergy residing in the towns through which
he has passed, show that the most unprecedented kindness has on all cases been conferred upon him. His receipts and disbursements in America stood thus:- Money received at
performances, 27,000 dollars; given to charitable institutions in the United States and British Provinces, 12,000 dollars; travelling expenses, printing, attendance, &c, 15,600 dollars:- making in all,
27,600 dollars; leaving the piper a loser of 600 dollars from his own private funds; but which loss was afterwards made up to him by a party of gentlemen belonging to Baltimore and New York.
The English and Scotch have long been famed for performing extraordinary feats in walking, wrestling, and other athletic sports.- and many of their first noblemen have begged,
sung ballads, and sold pies for large wagers, - but the piper it seems, bound himself to perform a task which should stand unrivalled in the annals of sporting, and it would appear
that he is pretty confident of success, as he now publicly offers ten thousand guineas to any gentleman possessed of a similar sum, who will perform the feat over again.
Windsor Police - Two men who go by the names of Robert Roak and "Brick" Saunders were apprehended by the police on Sunday morning, Saunders having in his possession
three fowls, and in the house of Roak were found three geese, a turkey, and two fowls. The prisoners were taken before the county magistrates,
when it was proved where the fowls &c were stolen from, and they were committed for trial.