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The Windsor and Eton Express.
Bucks Chronicle and Reading Journal

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Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express



3rd November 1827



We are happy to congratulate our townsmen on the removal of the obstacles which have hitherto presented the Windsor Royal Gas Company from carrying their views into effect. At a meeting of the shareholders on Thursday at the Town Hall, there was a very full attendance, and Mr.Jenner, the mayor, having been called to the chair, shortly stated the objects of the meeting, which were amply developed in the report read by Mr.W.J.Voules, the secretary. It stated that having obtained the sanction of his Majesty, the company had decided upon the adoption of resin gas, being considered less pernicious than that extracted from coal or oil; - and that they had purchased a piece of ground in the Goswells, for the erection of the works, which they considered a more eligible site than that formerly fixed upon at Old Windsor. The report, which was voluminous, was received with general approbation, and ordered to be adopted. Mr.Wyatville reported his Majesty's favourable wishes towards the completion of the work; and it was mentioned by a Shareholder that it was the intention of the Dean and Canons of Windsor to light the Cathedral and Cloisters with gas. A vote of thanks having been passed to the mayor, the company separated. - In order to dispel any unfavourable impression which may be made by persons resident in the vicinity of the works, or by those opposed to its introduction in private or other houses, we shall copy from an evening paper an account of the properties and quality of this newly invented gas : -

"Mr.Daniell, the managing director of the Continental Gas Company, has lately invested a method of making gas from resinous substances, which leaves nothing to be desired. The product of this new process is perfectly pure, and free from sulphur, ammonia, and other corrosive substances, which render coal gas objectionable in confined apartments. It is even of richer quality than oil gas, and as the cubic-foot of it will give a more brilliant light than three of common gas, it does not deteriorate the atmosphere of a room, or produce that oppressive closeness which is at once unpleasant to the feelings, and injurious to health. Its smell is resinous, and not nearly so unpleasant as that of oil gas, and totally distinct from the intolerable odour of coal gas. In the manufacture, none of those nuisances are produced which render the neighbourhood of other gas works insupportable, and there are no effuvia but that of burnt resin, which, to most people, is rather agreeable than otherwise. We understand that it is not more expensive than coal gas, in most situations; and as the outlay in constructing new works would be reduced by one half, it may readily be adopted in towns which would not afford the capital for a coal gas establishment. The supply of the materials from which it is made, is absolutely unlimited, and the price is less fluctuating than that of coal."

At a sitting of the magistrates on Monday, Thomas Allen, charged with stealing apples from the orchard of W.Voules, Esq., on the 18th ult., was convicted in the value of the fruit, 1s, and the mitigated penalty of 20s. It appeared that a quantity of apples and pears were missed by Mr.Voule's gardener, on the above day; on passing the prisoner's house, in Clewer-fields, he observed some apples of a similar description to those stolen, exposed for sale at the window, and having obtained a search warrant, the apples and pears produced in court were found. The prisoner said he had bought them in the market, but was unable to bring forward the parties of whom he purchased them. The gardener swore to the identity of the apples, as they were a very scarce sort, there being but one similar tree in the neighbourhood. He could not speak positively as to the pears.

On Saturday night or Sunday morning, the turkey house on Mr.R.Warrington's farm, at East Burnham, was broken into, and a cock turkey and six young ones stolen. The offenders have not yet been apprehended.

We understand that a woman has been going about, in some neighbouring parishes, inoculating children with the small-pox, by which means this infectious disorder has spread considerably. One of the children so inoculated died last week at Winkfield, and several have been in great danger. It is extraordinary that people should be so thoughtless as to trust the lives of their children to an ignorant woman, when many respectable surgeons are ready to vaccinate them gratis, which, whatever may be the doubt as to its invariably securing against the infection of the small-pox, it is fully ascertained will, without any risk, secure against an immediate infection, and certainly mitigate the disease in the few cases where it does not prove an absolute preventative.

The elevation of Dr.Murray to the Episcopal Bench, vacated by the Bishopric of Sodor and Man, to which the Rev. John Bird Sumner, prebendary of Durham, is appointed. He is the elder brother of the bishop of Llandaff, and, it is understood, vacates the valuable living of Mapledurham, in Berkshire; and either from some informality , or from the peculiarity of the case, the patronage of it does not devolve to the crown, but will be exercised by its proper patron, the Provost and Fellows of Eton College.




Aylesbury

Mr.Jackman's company of performers have arrived at Aylesbury. Since his last visit, nearly the whole of the corps dramatique has been changed for others. Mr.Jackman's own family and Mr. and Mrs.Bullen are all that remain in the company of those who were with it two years ago. The building that was used for a theatre at his last visit, is fitting up for the same purpose. The performances, we hear, commence next week.

The second Aylesbury concert was given on Wednesday evening. Mr.Richards, from the English Opera-house and Mr.Bull, from the King's Head Inn, Holborn, added, by the exercise of their vocal powers, considerably to the entertainments of the evening. The performance generally drew forth frequent plaudits from the company.

A man of the name McCullan[should this be McMullan], on Monday last, undertook to walk 100 miles in 24 successive hours, on half a mile of ground measured from Mr.Rickford's bank to a spot near Mr.Barker's premises, on the Bierton road. He accomplished his task with ease in two hours less than the given time. He performed this feat for such trifling donations as those who witnessed it chose to bestow.

McCullan's [should this be McMullan] mother, an old woman of 66[?], exhibited her pedestrian abilities on Wednesday, by walking twenty miles in four successive hours. She also performed the task she had assigned herself, and without appearing to be greatly fatigued.

On Thursday the constables of Haversham and Stony-Stratford arrived at Aylesbury in quest of two men and a woman, who had endeavoured to pass base half sovereigns at Haversham, Stony Stratford, Fenny Stratford, and other places; in which they were in on instance successful. They found the party the next morning at the Harrow public-house, in this town, and having secured them, took them back to Stony Stratford to be examined. It appears that while they were at Stony Stratford one of the men prevailed upon the landlord of a public house to exchange some silver for notes, which he enclosed in a letter and sent off. Subsequently a parcel arrived for him by one of the Birmingham coaches. From what we have heard, evidence can at present be brought of their having passed one base sovereign, but this fact, coupled with the evidence of their repeated attempts to pass counterfeit coin, will probably be sufficient to cause their commitment.




On the 26th ult an inquisition was taken by J.Charsley, Esq., at the hamlet of Botley, Bucks, on view of the body of John Grover, a labouring man, who was found on the preceding day suspended in the orchard of Mr.Jas Pope, by a cord which the deceased had fastened to a cherry tree and round his own neck in a noose, so as completely to effect self destruction. The poor man bore a good character, and had lived in the service of his master above thirty years, by whom he had been kindly treated, but the loss of his wife had gradually borne down his spirits, insomuch that latterly he was in a desponding state. Verdict - That he destroyed himself when in a state of mental derangement.