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all reputed thieves, disorderly characters, and prostitutes, who might be found about after a prescribed hour. About 12 o'clock, the whole of the Officers, aided by a strong detachment of Special and Parish Constables, the whole under the direction of the Chief Clerk, set out on their mission. They first traversed Dover-street, where they found all the night-houses open, and heard musick and dancing. They entered the first, and found it full of women, some of whom were full dressed, and others had only their under garments on; there were no men, or if there had been any, they had found means of escape. Having apprehended the whole of this wretched assembly, and lodged them in the watch-house, the Constables returned, and succeeded in securing another house-full of similar company, with the addition of a number of men, whom they found carousing, and dancing on the tables, many of the females being absolutely but half dressed. In the whole, they apprehended sixty individuals of both sexes, who were yesterday morning placed at the bar of this Office. Mr. Allen, the Sitting Magistrate, assisted by Mr. Harrison (Chairman of the Quarter Sessions), examined the delinquents most minutely, and from their various statements, it would seem that the Borough is the general receptacle or head-quarters of all that is bad. Many of the women said they lived in Pyestreet, and the Almonry, Westminster, but had gone to the ball in Dover-street; others had gone there for a similar purpose from Whitechapel, Horsleydown, and other parts. The Officers assured the Magistrates that this was not their first appearance in the neighbourhood, the whole of them being old offenders. They then went into a review of all the misdeeds they had known the prisoners guilty of during the last few years; but to follow them through their calculation (which was certainly curious) would take more room than our limits will admit of. They however drew such a picture of Dover-street, and the other haunts of those miserable beings, that many of our Readers will be apt to view them as inhabitants of another region. It would appear from this account, that in summer the girls entertain themselves in the morning, by turning out in the streets to play shuttle-cock, trap-ball, &c. and it is no uncommon thing to see from two to three hundred of them engaged in these kind of amusements, their hair dishevelled, and wearing nothing above their waists, save and except their night-clothes! whilst every alley and corner is filled with skulking ruffians, ready to pounce on all whose

curiosity or imprudence might draw them to the disgusting scene. At night. they are fancifully dressed (if being half naked can be called so); they sit in the lower rooms on sofas, and the windows are all open; if a stranger passes, he is instantly recognised, marked out, and plundered-for in this little colony it is a matter of course that "his oaks must be felled" for the common good. The Magistrates expressed thenselves deter. mined by every means in their power to eradicate this evil, and they immediately committed the whole of the prisoners to gaol, to be fed on bread and water, and kept to hard labour.

Friday, Dec. 22.

Mr. J. Monro, a musician, applied to the Sitting Magistrate at Bow-street, for instructions under the following circumstances:-Mr. M. said, the Magistrate was, of course, aware of the custom of bands of musicians who were called Waits, going about serenading during Christmas; but it was not, perhaps, generally known, that in Westminster there was a society of persons who were designated the "Ancient Society of Waits," and were regularly sworn and licensed under the authority of the "Court Burgesses." The number of Waits was limited, and each had a separate district allotted to him by general agreement. The expence of obtaining this privilege amounted to nearly 201. for each person, and when admitted he was sworn, in the same manner that Constables are, to keep the peace, &c. He (Mr. Monro,) was one of that body, and had a warrant which he now produced. The warrant was upon parchment, sealed with the Seal of Westminster, and signed by Mr. Finley, Clerk to the Court of Burgesses. It sets forth that Mr. Munro was one of the "Ancient Waits of the City and Liberty of Westminster, duly authorized to serenade the good Inhabitants of the said City!" It also enjoined him to procure a silver badge stamped with the arms of Westminster," to be worn in order that he might be known as one of the Ancient Waits."-He was under the necessity of providing several musicians at the rate of two guineas a-week per man, and with this band he serenaded the inhabitants of his district, every second night, during a limited term, viz. from the 29th of November until the close of the Christmas holidays, his chance of remuneration depended entirely upon the liberality of those to whom he paid his nocturnal visits. Of late years the privilege which was purchased at such considerable expence had been encroached upon by itinerant musicians, who went.

about

about on the Waits "rest nights," and at the close of the season, by means of sham badges, of "baser metal," which they shewed to the inhabitants, they obtained the donations which properly belonged to the "regulars."-The object of this application was to learn if some measures could not be adopted to prevent this encroachment. The Society had existed when Westminster was a mere village; and the warrants were originally issued under the authority of then High Steward. Sir R. Baker said, he had no hesitation in declaring that persons playing in the streets after midnight, were liable to apprehension under the Vagrant Act, unless they had some sort of licence. Mr. Munro then asked, if the obtaining of money, in the character of a sworn Wait, could be punished? and the Magistrate said, it could; by a prosecution for obtaining money under false pretences.

Saturday, Dec. 23.

THE HOUSELESS POOR.-At a Meeting of the General Committee for affording shelter to the Houseless, pursuant to the Resolutions passed at the Mansionhouse, it was resolved that a Committee of 18 members be chosen to carry into effect that part of the Report which relates to the preparation of a proper place for the reception of the Destitute, if the weather should prove severe, when Mr. Hick stated, that in furtherance of the object, he had moved in the Common Council that it be referred to a Committee, and that until the Report were made, it would be desirable that the London Workhouse should be lent to the Houseless Committee as a place of temporary refuge.

Sunday, Dec. 31.

His

A confidential servant of the French Ambassador, whose name is Grenier, and who is employed by his Excellency to carry dispatches to and from London to Harrow, was about seven o'clock this evening, most violently attacked, about seven miles from town. horse appeared suddenly to be stopped by two foot passengers, who stood in his way, and said something to him in a low tone of voice, which, from his very imperfect knowledge of the language, he could not understand. As he was endeavouring to clear his way, three men on horseback suddenly rushed up to him and surrounded him, at the same time commencing an attack upon him. They were armed with sabres or cutlasses, and the foremost of them was very expert in the use of his weapon. Mr. Grenier, to escape the brutal fury of his assailants, put spurs to his horse and galloped away; they followed him with all their speed, and continued to GENT. MAG. Suppl. XC. PART II.

H

cut him whenever they were near enough to reach him, and inflicted several severe wounds. Seeing now no means of escape, as his assailants were nearly as well mounted as himself, Mr. Grenier took the precaution of suddenly darting aside into a bye-road; he thus got a-head of his outrageous assailants, who, however, still pursued, but luckily did not overtake him till he arrived at an inhabited house and called for succour; his pursuers then made off. The inhabitants of the house, seeing the alarming condition of Mr. Grenier, his clothes being cut in several places, and blood flowing from different parts of his person, immediately gave him shelter, and dressed his wounds. He has since been removed to Portland-place, and though he has been most severely injured, there is hope that he will recover. His Excellency the French Ambassador sent an account of the outrage to Lord Sidmouth, as the head of the Home Department, and his Lordship immediately ordered the amplest and speediest means of inquiry to be resorted to. Mr. Birnie, the Magistrate, after an interview with his Lordship, repaired to Portland-place, and took Mr. Grenier's deposition. Owing to the darkness of the night, when he was attacked, he could give no description of the persons who attacked him, any further than that the two men on foot seemed to be labouring men, and the three on horseback had cutlasses and cloaks. A Proclamation has been issued, offering a reward of 2001. for the detection and apprehension of the offenders.

THEATRICAL REGISTER.
New Pieces.

DRURY LANE THEATRE.

Dec. 26. The North-West Passage; or, Harlequin Esquimaux, a Comic Pantomime, The scenery, including views of the Frozen Sea and icebergs, with the Discovery ships, the crimson snows, and the Prince Regent's Straits, presents a lively picture of those grand, but desolate regions. The Pantomimic part was lively and successful.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE. Dec. 26. Harlequin and Friar Bacon; or, The Brazen Head, a Pantomime. It is founded on the old story of the Monkish Legends, which represents the celebrated philosopher and mechanist, Roger Bacon, as a person of necromantic skill and powers, which enable him to command the spirits of darkness. The harlequinade abounds in burlesque incident and ingenious transformation.

PRO

PROMOTIONS AND PREFERMENTS.

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MARRIAGES.

Nov. 29. At Vevey, Switzerland, M. Antoine S. Polegieux de Falconnet, of Vevey, to Sophie, daughter of the late W. Faerholme, esq. of Chapel.

Lately. The Rev. H. Salmon, Rector of Culworth, Northamptonshire, to Miss Oakley, of Severn Stoke, Worcestershire. -The Rev. bridegroom is in his 89th year, and the lady considerably less than one-third of that age.

Dec. 2. Fred. Green, esq. of Parkstreet, Grosvenor square, to the Hon. Mrs. Sloane.

12. Lieut. col. Robert Torrens, to Esther, daughter of the late Ambrose Serle, esq. Commissioner of the Board of Trade.

19. Robert Tindal, esq. to Miss Robinson, both of Chelmsford,

21. R. Aubrey, esq. of Hunter-street, Brunswick-square, to Frances, only dau. of the late John Lewis, esq. of Monmouth.

Mr. Wm. Bailey, of Chiswell street, Finsbury-square, to Elizabeth, only dau. of the late J. Swallow, esq. Berks.

Fred. Shore Nodin, esq. of Crutched Friars, to Lynnia, daughter of William Atkinson, esq. of Grove End, St. John's Wood.

23. Mr. Frederick Wilkinson, of Wandsworth, to Miss Frances Lotham Plaistow, of Warwick-street, Pall Mall.

26. Mr. John Cruddas, of High Holborn, timber merchant, to Miss Sophia Leverton, niece of Wm. Leverton, esq. of Forest Gate, West Ham, Essex.

Rev. George Carter, Minor Canon of the Cathedral of Norwich, and Vicar of Trowse with Lakenham, Norwich, to Anne Murray, daughter of Capt. R. Browne, of Norwich.

Mr. C. Chawner, of Lichfield, to Miss Pinckney, of Brixton Hill,

Broad-street, to Susan, daughter of the 27. James Cazenove, jun. esq. of Old late Edward Knapp, jun. esq. of Winchester.

Wm. Fullarton Lindsay Carnegie, esq. Right Hon. Lady Jane Christian Carnegie, of Spynie and Boysack (Angus), to the daughter of the Earl of Northesk.

Rev. Stephen Hyde Cassan, Curate of don, to Fanny, daughter of the late Rev. Frome, and Chaplain to the Earl of CaleWm. Ireland, Vicar of Frome.

28. Wm. Gibney, M.D. of Cheltenham, to Frances, daughter of the late Wm. Dwarris, esq. of Great Stanmore, Middlesex.

J. Stevens, esq. of Bear Hill Cottage, Berks, to Mrs. Bennett, of Turnham-green. Holroyd, to Caroline, daughter of the late Edward, son of the Hon. Mr. Justice C. Pugsley, esq. of Ilfracombe, Devonshire.

Anthony Errington, son of the late Capt. A. Hunt, R. N. to Sophia, daughter of the late Capt. Wm, White, R.N.

Mr. Hudson, of North House, Epsom, to Miss Kearsley, of Langley Hall, Newbury, Berks.

29. Richard Runcorn, esq. of Manchester, to Henrietta Anne, daughter of John Bradock, esq. of Clapton, Middlesex.

The Hon. Miles John Stapleton, son of Lord Le Despencer, to Anne Byam, dau. of the Hon. T. Norbury Kerby, deceased, Byam, deceased, both late of the island and grand-daughter of the Hon. Edward of Antigua.

jesty's Customs, to Elizabeth, daughter of
30. Mr. Edward T. Clark, of his Ma-
Mr. Dickeson, of Eastcheap.

Mr. Rich. Smith, of the Strand, to Han-
nah, widow of the late J. T. Laycock, esq.

OBITUARY.

REV. JOHN ASHBRIDGE.

In our Number for February, p. 186, we mentioned the death of the Rev. John Ashbridge, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. We have since that time received the following Biographical notice of him from a Correspondent in that University.

John Ashbridge was born at Heath, in the year 1788. He received the rudiments of his education from his father, the Rev. Joseph Ashbridge, Vicar of Hault Hucknall, in the county of Derby. At the age of 14 he was, through the interest of Sir Henry Crewe, placed on the foundation at Repton School, where he remained until the year 1806, when he was admitted a member of Trinity College, Cambridge.-Under the very able instruction of the Rev. Dr. W. B. Sleath, he had acquired a sound and extensive acquaintance with the best parts of classical literature and being gifted with great acuteness, and unwearied industry, he did not fail to turn the advantages of his education to a good account in the the enlarged competition of the University.

At the first annual examination in the Hall of Trinity College, he obtained a distinguished place in the first class. During the following year he exhibited the same devotedness, and the same original powers in his mathematical studies, which he had before done in his application to scholastic learning; and at the next public examination of the College, when the highest honours were awarded to the best proficients in mathematical investigations, connected with some of the branches of Philosophy, he was declared inferior to no man of his year. The life of a student, spent in the bosom of the University, cannot be expected to abound with incidents fit to be recorded in this place. Many anecdotes of private worth, and of successful application in the severest departments of abstract science, might indeed be mentioned; but it is not now considered necessary to intrude them on the public.

In the year 1810, he proceeded to the degree of B. A. and on that occasion gained the Mathematical honour of Sixth Wrangler: a very high distinction, especially in the estimation of those who knew with what ardour he bad cultivated many departments of antient learning.

While Mr. Ashbridge continued to reside in Trinity College, almost all the ordinary subjects of literature and science in turn occupied his attention. Philolo

He

gical researches, connected more especially with the older Latin Classics, had long supplied him with the materials for severe and successful investigation. proved his intimate knowledge of that language, by gaining on two successive years one of the prizes which are given by the Representatives of the University for the best prose Latin Essays on some specified subject.

In the year 1812 he was elected a Fellow of Trinity College, at a time when there were only two vacancies, and many powerful competitors. Having arrived at that standing in the University when most men terminate their academical career, he did not, as is too generally the case, relax his exertions; but continued to study the best authors of antiquity, and at the same time to familiarize himself with all the refiuements of modern analysis. Nor did his labours terminate in mere idle speculation. For he entered into active correspondence with some of the first mathematicians of the country, accumulated materials for an introduction to the more difficult parts of the higher calculus, and contributed many papers to our Philosophical Journals. Among his Essays of this kind, may be mentioned an anonimous treatise on the figure of the Earth, which appeared in Leybourn's Mathematical Repository. Amidst these investigations, he acquired an intimate acquaintance with the German language, which he justly considered as a key to all Philological inquiries connected with our own literature. It is proper here to mention his great progress in many departments of Biblical Criticism; his ardent admiration of the works of many of our older Divines, whose lives and writings were the constant subjects of his panegyrick.

In the year 1818 he was appointed Senior Moderator of the University. No one was better qualified for undertaking the arduous duty of determining the res spective merits of those who were candidates for the public honours of the Senate House. Unfortunately, however, a declining state of health, probably brought on by long-continued intemperate study, induced him to relinquish the appointment, and commence a tour on the Continent. Until his strength was worn down by sickness, he did not for a moment lose sight of the objects to which he had devoted himself; continuing to accumulate materials for a philological work on the early history of the Latin Language, and to make himself acquainted with the Teutonic dialects of modern Europe. He ar

rived at Naples in the month of June 1819. Though in a state which indicated a great exhaustion of body and of spirits, he was still able to join in social intercourse with a small circle of friends, among whom he was fortunate in being able to count the names of two distinguished scholars of his own country, Mr. Elmsly and Mr. Matthias. From these Gentlemen he received the most kind and unremitted attentions at a time when the offices of friendship were most wanted. The unfavourable symptoms, to which we have before alluded, were, after some time, succeeded by a low fever, against which he was never able completely to rally, and by which he was in a few weeks brought down to the lowest state of debility. Not long before his dissolution, a slight change in the symptoms of his illness gave a momentary gleam of hope to his friends. He attempted, during that interval, to write a letter to his sister; but his strength failed him before he could complete it. A short time afterwards, the hand of Death put an end to the kind hopes of those who were about him, and shut out his earthly prospects for ever.

It is unnecessary now to enlarge on the premature loss which the public has sustained; a loss which those only can ap

preciate who were formerly acquainted with the subject of this short memoir. In contemplating their irreparable loss, there are many topics of consolation to which his nearest friends will long be happy to turn their thoughts. During his lingering illness he received the most unbounded proofs of kindness from those by whom he was attended. Nor were the consolations of religion withheld from him. They were daily and affectionately administered by the Rev. Mr. Turner, the English Chaplain at Naples, to whom the relations of Mr. Ashbridge owe a deep and lasting debt of gratitude.

JEAN LAMBERT TALLIEN.

The most memorable event in the life of Tallien (whose death was noticed in p. 447) which will record his name with honour, even to the latest ages, was his being the immediate cause of the downfall of Robespierre, who, by a series of political intrigue, had obtained the reins of power, and preserved them by the most outrageous cruelty. Tallien observed the wanton violence of the Government; and determined to relieve his country from the tyranny which disgraced it. He wished to accomplish his object in the ordinary course of political change; but the following accident impelled him to a more decided conduct; evinced the ardour of

his character, and showed the error of an opinion, that he was without personal courage. - He eminently possessed the power of engaging female affection; and had formed a tender friendship with the frail, but beautiful Madame Cabarus, so celebrated in the Revolutionary History; but, at the period in question, mutual jealousy had interrupted their attachment. She was thrown into a dungeon by order of Robespierre; and, when it was conceived she had been sufficiently terrified by imprisonment, and the prospect of the guillotine, she was offered life and liberty if she would betray the councils of Tallien, and enable his enemies to ruin him. Although her lover had been faithless, and had deserted her, she refused the offer with indignation: and, with great difficulty, had the following letter conveyed to him:

"The Minister of Police has announced to me that to-morrow I am to appear at the Tribunal, that is to say, I am to ascend the scaffold. I dreamt last night that Robespierre was no more; and that my prison doors were opened. A brave man might have realized my dream; but, thanks to your notorious cowardice, no one remains who is capable of its accomplishment."

dent, as I shall prove brave; and, above Tallien answered merely-"Be pruall, be tranquil."

The next day he hurried to the Tribunal, and, regardless of danger, accused the miscreant Robespierre in his own presence. The eloquence of Tallien had always been commanding and impressive; but on this occasion, it was compared to the impetuous flowing of a river, whose course had been prematurely stopped. He pourtrayed the vices of Robespierre and his companions: the cruelty and the other excesses of their Government, which had deprived France of her most illustrious citizens. Then, taking a dagger from his bosom, he rushed towards the statue of Brutus, his own immortal prototype; and swore, that he himself would stab the tyrant to the heart, if his countrymen did not deliver themselves from their disgraceful bondage. His language, his action, and his animated eye, were irresistible; for they recalled the Roman hero to the minds of all the auditors. Robespierre was astounded, and attempted to defend himself. The moment was critical; the life of Tallien hung upon a thread; but his eloquence prevailed, and the tribunal regained its lost character. The tyrant was sent to the scaffold; Madame Cabarus and other intended victims were saved, and the reign of terror was abolished.

DEATHS.

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