Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
3rd March 1827
Windsor Ball
There will be a Ball, at the Town Hall on Monday, March 12, 1827, under the patronage of the Colonels and Officers of the Royal Horse Guards.
Stewards
J.Ramsbottom, Esq., M.P., - Sir R.H.Vivian, M.P.
The London Band will attend. Admittance 7s.
Windsor and Eton
This day (Saturday) their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Clarence visited her Royal Highness the Princess Augusta, at Frogmore; at four o'clock they returned to Bushy Park.
On Thursday last Miss Rogers was appointed organist of the parish church of New Windsor, in the place of her deceased father.
In pursuance of a requisition from our worthy Mayor to the inhabitants of this borough, a meeting was held at the Townhall, on Thursday last, to consider the propriety of lighting the town of Windsor with gas.
J.Voules, Esq., Mayor, having been called to the chair, briefly stated the object for which they had been assembled, and called upon W.J.Voules, Esq., clerk to the Commissioners of the Pavement, to explain the proceedings which had transpired before the committee formed previous to the meeting.
Mr.Voules having read the correspondence received from Mr.Wyatville, conveying the expression of his Majesty's wish for the introduction of gas into the town as well as into the castle, and the minutes both of the committee and the Commissioners of the Pavement consequent upon this correspondence.
The Rev.I.Gosset addressed the meeting. He felt assured that any wish expressed by his Majesty would be met with the cordial concurrence of the inhabitants generally; - upon a point so susceptible of improvement as the present mode of lighting the town, they would be most willing to adopt a suggestion which would substitute light for darkness. The proposed plan he himself fully approved of, and he trusted that the meeting would concur in the following resolution , which he accordingly moved:-
Resolved, That he inhabitants, ever anxious to promote the views of their royal benefactor, to cheerfully acquiesce in the substitution of gas lights, for those of all now used and with a view of carrying this object into immediate effect they do earnestly recommend the commissioners appointed for paving and lighting the town, to adopt such measures as to them shall seem best adapted for insuring a permanent and adequate supply of gas for the purpose, provided it can be effected.
Mr.Banister seconded this resolution.
The Rev.Mr.Thorpe apologised for his intrusion in addressing the meeting, being a stranger in the town. He sincerely trusted, that before any definitive arrangement was made the meeting would take into their most serious consideration the probable estimate of the expenses which they would incur in the undertaking. This he should advise before they adopted the resolution, which left them entirely in the dark as to the expense, and the manner of defraying it.
Mr.W.J.Voules, in reply, from what had fallen from the Rev. gentleman, requested permission to explain the acts of parliament under which the commissioners were empowered to treat for the lighting of the town. It was manifest that the Reverend gentleman was unacquainted with the extent of those powers, which are confined by the acts alluded to within very proscribed limits, and which he proceeded to point out at some length; showing that only two rates of ninepence each are chargeable upon the inhabitants, and that of these rates a comparatively small portion is applicable to the lighting of the town. He further referred to several acts of parliament for the incorporation of gas companies, in all of which is contained a clause, making it imperative upon parties supplying light from gas, to do so at a cheaper and better rate than can be done from oil, thus showing so far as regarded public lamps, that no increased expenditure need be apprehended. With respect to private lamps, presuming that the board of commissioners, comprising as it does some of the most respectable inhabitants, could be so far unmindful of the interests of their fellow townsmen, as not to tie down any persons with whom they might contract for the public lamps, to supply the private at a moderate rate, - that exorbitant charge would speedily and effectually work its own ruin, by diminishing the number of individuals who would take private lights; under these circumstances there could be no objection to the addition of such words to the resolution, as would meet the reverend gentleman's wishes.
Dr.Thorpe expressed himself satisfied with the explanation thus given.
Mr.Secker the proposed the words "without adding any additional expense to the inhabitants," to be subjoined to the resolution, and that the thanks of the meeting be given to the chairman, for his impartial conduct in the chair.
These propositions were agreed to and the meeting broke up.
His Majesty's stag hounds met on Wednesday last at the Race Course, Ascot Heath, when a fine deer was turned out to a numerous field of sportsmen. The deer made for the neighbourhood of Windsor, took to the Brocas meadows, and crossed the Thames. At Boveney, near the seat of Sir Charles Palmer, Bart., the hounds came up to him, and he was taken, after an excellent run of nearly two hours.
On Monday night, between ten and eleven o'clock, a fire broke out in a barn, adjoining Norfolk Farm, in the Great Park. The parish engine was immediately sent, on the alarm being given in Windsor, but, unfortunately, the premises were completely destroyed before any assistance could be afforded. The fire is supposed to have originated from the sparks of a cottage, attached to the barn, falling upon the thatch, which ignited, and caused the destruction both of the cottage and barn.
On Thursday last, Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Usher, and her son Thomas, both of Henley-on-Thames, were fully committed for trial at the next Oxford Assizes, charged with stealing two iron wheels, the property of Mr.Moss, machine maker of that town.
On Tuesday next the commission for the trial of the prisoners of Oxford gaol will be opened by Mr.Baron Garrow, and the new judge, Mr.Baron Vaughan.
The Assizes for this county commenced yesterday at Reading. Thomas Duffield, Esq. High Sheriff, arrived at the Bear Inn, on Thursday afternoon, from his seat at Marcham, and yesterday morning, at about half past eight, preceeded, escorted by his halberdiers, on the Maidenhead-road, to meet Baron Garrow and Baron Vaughan, his Majesty's Judges of the circuit. A long train of carriages and upwards of 400 horsemen escorted their lordships and the Sheriff into the town. About ten o'clock the cavalcade with the judges, returned, and their lordships immediately proceeded to the Town-hall, where the ceremony of opening the commission took place. The Judges, with their legal officers, and the officers of the county, heard divine service in St.Lawrence's church, where as appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev.G.Evans. - A sumptuous public breakfast was given by the Sheriff, at the Bear, the George, the Angel, and the Upper and Lower Ships, and the Black Horse inns. Immediately after leaving church, the business of the court was entered into. After the gentlemen of the grand inquest had been sworn on, Mr.Justice Vaughan delivered the charge to the grand jury. There were no cases of the least importance tried in the Crown Court on Friday. The trials of Giles and Burr, for uttering forged notes in this town, will take place on Monday.
Aylesbury
On Monday, the 26th ult. , a pony race took place between a pony belonging to Mr.Badrick, of Bierton, and one belonging to Mr.Seabrook, of Betlow, for �10, from the White Lion, Long Marston, to the White Lion, Paddington, and back again, being a distance of 70 miles. The race was won by Mr.Badrick's pony arriving back again five hours before the other.
At a village near Buckingham the inhabitants have lately had their sympathy excited by a supposed martyr to the dropsy in the person of a young woman, who in consequence left her place some months since. The breath of slander (busy as it generally is) had not injured her fair fame, and the parish officers had, therefore, allowed her 3s a week in consideration of the dreadful malady with which she was afflicted, and pious persons fearing her latter end approaching from her increasing size, administered the consolation of religion, and sagely pronounced that death would be "a happy release." On Saturday week, however, to the surprise of all, including even the mother and sister, a fine little girl came to light, and the lady is thus effectually cured of her complaint, and the good matrons of the place do not scruple to substitute "nasty hussey" for their former more feeling appellatives.
On Saturday afternoon last, five waggon loads of coals were distributed to the families of the poor at Amersham, provided for them by the donations of the charitable inhabitants of the town.