IRISH AND SCOTCH NEWS.

Feb. 7. A most indecent outrage was committed at St. Mary's chapel, Limerick. While the Rev. Mr. Herbert, a gentleman well known for his polite demeanour and benevolent character, was engaged in the celebration of divine worship, an infuriated ruffian, named Martin Shehan, actuated by revenge and the most diabolical intention, rushed through the congregation, and, advancing towards the rails that surround the altar, with an iron holdfast recently sharpened, made an attempt at the life of the officiating clergyman: the stroke was luckily averted by the interposition of Mr. Edy Lacy, and an active 'tradesman, James Phegin, who received the blow, while in a praiseworthy act of zeal for the defence of his pastor, whose person has happily not been hurt, though Mr. Lacy has been slightly wounded. The wretch was secured, and committed to prison.

Feb. 26. A soap-boiler in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh was last week scalded to death, by falling into a cauldron of boiling soap. On the same evening two lime-burners were killed, and two others shockingly burnt, by a quarry shooting upon them.

March 5. A man named Monro, and his sister, were lately found dead in a small hut at Lockflass, where they were carrying on illegal distillation. Their death has been imputed to lightning; but more probably it was occasioned by the exclusion of the atmospheric air, and the exhalation of carbonic acid gas from several casks of wash and pot-ale found in the place in a state of fermentation.

March 15. A girl employed in the spinning-mill at Glammis some days since got entangled in the wheels, and was crushed to pieces.

COUNTRY NEWS.

Feb. 25. This morning a dreadful fire broke out in the Manor-house of Lilly, near Luton, the seat of John Sowerby, esq.; which entirely consumed the same, with the greater part of the furniture. The particulars are nearly as follows :-Mr. Sowerby the younger, with MI. Keene, a friend of his, had but just come down for a few days sporting, and had been sitting in the library by a wood fire, from whence they retired to bed about twelve, leaving only a few embers in the grate. Between 4 and 5 in the morning, one of the men servants being obliged to awake early and go out on duty, was first alarmed by a noise like that of persons breaking into the house, and, rousing a companion, went with him down to the spot whence it proceeded. On opening the library door, the volume of fire and

smoke burst out, and cut off the retreat of one, while the other escaped through the passage. The former, in his terror and despair, by his cries, and by discharging a pistol he had taken with him, first alarmed the two gentlemen, who were fast asleep. Mr. Sowerby's room was fortunately just over the leads of the portico, upon which he let himself down, and was saved by the servant, who had escaped by the means of a ladder, together with the other man servant. Mr. Keane, on rushing to his room door, was almost suffocated by the flame and smoke rolling towards his chamber; and as the stair-case was on fire, he had barely time to force open the window-shutter, and, without any alternative, to leap out: neither received any injury. Three maid-servants, who had escaped from the attics on the parapet, were saved by ladders likewise; and as the family were luckily in town, there were no other persons in the house. As the house was old and dry, and all the rooms wainscoted, the rapidity of the flames was so great that the whole was consumed in less than three hours, and the gentlemen who slept on the first floor had scarcely saved themselves before the floors of their chambers fell in. No kind of assistance arrived till some labourers going to work first alarmed the village, which is about a mile off. Little could then be saved, as it was too late; owing, however, to the exertions of Mr. Killerman, a neighbouring gentleman, all that could possibly be rescued was saved. In this terrible calamity it is the greatest consolation that all the lives were so miraculously saved; for, had it happened when no one was awake to give the alarm, the consequences might have been dreadful, as the whole of the ground-floor, or nearly, must have long been in flames before it was discovered.

Feb. 27. A singular circumstance happened lately on his Grace the Duke of Hamilton's exercise-ground, at Ashton, near Lancaster. As one of his Grace's grooms was exercising the bay mare, Crazy, in her sweating cloaths, she had gone three miles of her sweat, when she appeared to the rider as if she were going to kick; he just checked up her head to prevent her, whên she turned half round with him, fell down, and instantly died without a struggle. She was apparently in perfect health, and had been named by Mr. Aspinwall to run for the Union Cup at Preston this year.

Feb. 27. A fire happened, early this morning, in the Conservatory at Cuffnells, Flants, which entirely destroyed that part of the building; but no one was hurt, and the fire, by most extraordmary exertions of the neighbours of all descriptions, was fortunately got under, before the house, or

any

any part of the furniture, received the slightest injury, although the library opens into the conservatory. As many of the books, composing the large and very valuable, collection left to Mr. Rose by the late Earl of Marchmont, as could be moved, while the fire was raging, were carried out of the house; but none were damaged.

March 7. T. Simmons was on the 4th inst. convicted at Hertford of the murder of Sarah Hummerstone at Hoddesdon; and executed this day. He heard the sentence without the least emotion, and walked very carelessly from the bar. The principal evidence against Simmons was Sarah Har ris, who had lived three years together with him in Mr. Boreham's service. He wished to marry her; but she declined his proposals, under the recommendation of her mistress; and his resentment in consequence had urged him repeatedly to declare he would murder them all. The witness was so agitated during her evidence, that it was necessary to support her in Court. When Simmons had murdered Mrs. Hummerstone and Mrs. Warner, he threw Sarah Harris on the body of the latter, and twice attempted to cut her throat; but she succeeded in wresting the knife from him, although her hand was much out. He afterwards confessed to the gaoler that he would have killed her; but at the instant he heard something fluttering over his shoulder, which made him get up and run away..

March 9. The long-depending cause, in which Sir H. St. John Mildmay claimed the exclusive right of the oyster fishery in Crouch river, was tried at the Essex assizes. The records of trials in the reigns of Charles I. and II. were produced, which clearly proved this right to be vested in the family of the Earl of Sussex, ancestors of the Mildmay family. The same was also proved by other documents; and the jury found a verdict for the baronet, against those persons who had maintained that the river in question, being an arm of the sea, could not belong to the manor of Burnham. INTERESTING TITHE CAUSE. Newman Harding, esq. v. Morgan.-This was an action against the proprietor of tithes of the parish of Hornchurch in Essex, for not taking away the tithes of grass after it was set out, but suffering it to remain and incumber the plaintiff's land. Mr. Garrow stated, that this parish was at present in a ferment on the subject of tithes. plaintiff was a gentleman of considerable property, and had set out his tenth cock of grass when it was mowed; and it became the duty of the defendant to take it away. Mr. Justice Heath here interfered, and said he took the law to be clearly otherwise. The farmer, by common law, was obliged to ted the grass for the parson, and

The

not put it in a green state into the cock; and that the parson was not obliged to take it away before it was turned into swarth. Mr. Garrow cited a case from the Court of Chancery, where the contrary had been held; but the learned Judge being clear in his opinion, and Mr. Garrow admitting that it was cocked as soon as mown, the plaintiff was nonsuited.

March 19. This morning a dreadful fire, broke out, about three o'clock, at Mrs. Smith's, milliner, in Middle-row, Chelmsford. The inhabitants of the house, consisting altogether of females, seven in number, were in a most perilous situation. They appeared at the windows of the second floor (for the first was on fire), as they had risen from their beds, uttering the most piercing shrieks. As the most likely means of rescuing them, two ladders were procured, and raised against the burning front of the house; but, such was the danger of ascending to their relief, from the violence of the flames, that a momentary irresolution ehsued among the spectators of their tremendously awful situation; till, agonized by their screams, and actuated by the feelings of humanity to a contempt. of personal safety, a young man, Mr. Henry Guy, and Mr. Sorrel, a near neighbour, made an attempt to preserve them. The former succeeded in rescuing a little girl, about nine years old, niece to Mrs. Smith. The maid-servant, who had got out of the garret-window, and climbed to the roof of the house, was brought down by the latter. Robinson, a waggoner, who first discovered the fire, ascended a ladder, with the intent of bringing down Mrs.. Smith; but so extreme was her trepidation, that she was incapable of using any exertion, and it became necessary to drag her from the window by force; in doing which, owing to her convulsive struggles, she fell upon the pavement below, but miraculously without having any bones broken. Almost at the same instant, two young ladies, Miss Williams and Miss Wilkinson, rendered frantic by terror, precipitated themselves from the windows into. the street, and were so severely bruised, that much doubt is entertained of their recovery, as well as of that of Mrs. Smith. Two amiable young ladies, Miss Woolmer, aged 19, whose parents reside at Hornchurch, and Miss Eve, daughter of Mr. C. Eve, of Barnish-hall, became victims to the devouring element.-Notwithstanding the most strenuous exertions of the populace, and the soldiers from the garrison, by six o'clock the houses of Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Peck, druggist, and Mr. Hill, shoemaker, adjoining, were totally destroyed; and those of Mr. Rood, plasterer, and Mr. Nash, hair-dresser, were so greatly, damaged, that they must be re-built.

March

March 22. About six this evening, an alarming fire broke out in the newly-erected flour mill, at Sturry, near Canterbury, bebelonging to Mr. Sampson Kingsford, which, from the wind being high, and the nature of the materials of which it was constructed, burnt so rapidly, that in the space of three hours it was wholly destroyed, together with a large quantity of wheat and flour.

March 24. A dreadful fire broke out this evening at Clenton Range, Surrey, at the house of Mrs. Lacey, which destroyed the same in less than two hours. The servant maid, who was up stairs, had no opportunity of descending; and, in jumping from the window to the leads of an adjoining house, she broke her thigh. An infant, the grand-daughter of Mrs. Lacey, who was sleeping in the room where the fire broke out, perished in the flames.

Whitstable, March 25 A smack belonging to Queenborough, bound to Faversham, laden with King's stores, was yesterday driven on shore on the Pollard. The crew and passengers consisted of four men, two boys, and one woman, the Captain's wife. They got the boat out; and the Captain, his wife, and boy, got into it, and put off for the shore. At a small distance from the vessel, the boat stove, and the Captain regained the smack; but his wife and the boy perished. He remained onboard with the rest of the crew until morning. The vessel being nearly dry, they left her, and walked ashore, with the exception of the owner, who perished through the extreme cold. The woman and boy have been picked up. The distress of the Captain has been great: he was only married a week, and was bringing his bride to Faversham, to introduce her to his friends.

A labouring man, named Willet, some time since fell, together with his dog, into a coal-pit at Stoke in Buckinghamshire: he ' was discovered a fortnight after, having been compelled by hunger to kill his dog, a leg of which he was eating at the time of his rescue.

A shocking accident happened on board the Beagle sloop of war, the other day, in the Downs. Having her guns loaded and shotted, on her return from a cruise, and. ranged along deck, one of them unfortunately went off, the explosion of which communicated to the second, which also went off, and killed three valuable seamen, and wounded two others. The accident was occasioned by the lock springing halfcocked while inspecting by the armourer.

DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES.
Sunday, Feb. 28.

A man of decent appearance was found suspended to a tree in the Park this morning by a nursery-maid, in the service of Mrs. Anstey of Half-moon-street, who gave

Friday, March 11.

A child about three months old was some nights since left at the door of a gentleman's chambers in Gray's Inn-square. It was sent to St. Andrew's workhouse, but the parish refused to receive it, the Inns of Court not having any parish settlement; and the Society has in consequence been obliged to provide for it.

Monday, March 14.

Five houses, occupied by numerous poor families, in Cinnamon-lane, Old Gravellane, were this day destroyed by fire.

Saturday, March 19.

Early this morning, a daring robbery was committed in several offices over the Royal Exchange. Amongst those broken open were, the Merchant Seamen's, the River Dee Company, and the Pepper-offices, and the counting-houses of Messrs. Angerstein and Co.; of Mr. B. Smith; of Mr. F. Secretan; of Mr. Chapman; of Mr. Hodges; of Mr. Peppin; and of Messrs. Woodbine, Parish, and Co. In each the desks, iron-chests, &c. were forced open, and money and notes to a considerable amount carried off-the papers of no value were strewed over the floors. The Royal Exchange Office and Lloyd's escaped.

This evening, the infant daughter of the Chancellor of the Exoquer was baptised, at his house in Downing-street. The ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The sponsors were, the Princess of Wales, the Duke of Cumberland, and Mr. Perceval. The Princess was accompanied by her mother, the Duchess of Brunswick.

GAZETTE PROMOTIONS. Whitehall, REV. Edward Otter, M.A. preJan. 30. fented to the canonry or prebend of Ullifkelfe, in York cathedral, vice Drummond, dec.-Rev. Michael Marlow, D.D. appointed a canon or prebend of Canterbury cathedral, vice King, refigned, Queen's Palace, Feb. 24. Robert Barnford, of Upton, efq. appointed sheriff of the county of Chefter, vice Charles Trelawny Brereton, of Shotwick park, efq.; Marmaduke Middleton Middleton, of Lean, efq. to be fheriff of the county of Derby; William Cary, of Cannock, efq. to be sheriff of the county of Stafford; John Fullarton, of Barton on the Heath, efq. to be fheriff of the county of Warwick; John Nathaniel Miers, of Cadoxtone juxta Neath, efq. to be sheriff of the county of Glamorgan, vice the Hon. William Booth Grey, of Duffrin; Rees Williams, of Gwainclawth, efq. to be sheriff of the county of Brecon; and John Jones, of Penrhofe Brodwen, efq. to be theriff of the county of Anglefey, vice Edward Jones, of Cromleck, efq.

War-office, Feb. 27. General William Viscount Howe, K. B. governor of Berwick, appointed governor of Plymouth, vice Lord Lake, dec.; and Lieutenant-general Banaftre Tarleton, to be governor of Berwick, vice Lord Howe.

Queen's Palace, March 2. Hon. William Afheton Harbord, fworn lieutenant of the county of Norfolk, and city of Norwich, and county of the fame, vice Marquis Townshend, dec.-Francis Lloyd, of Domgay, efq. appointed fheriff of the county of Montgomery, vice Robert Knight, of Gwernygoe, efq.

War-office, March 8. Colonel William Dickfon, of the 42d Foot, appointed lieutenant-governor of Cork, vice General Leland, dec.

Queen's Palace, March 9. Right Hon. Richard Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe, fworn of his Majefty's moft hon. Privy Council.

Whitehall, March 15. Rev. William Beaumont Busby, D.D. appointed dean of the cathedral church of Rochefter, vice Rev. Dr. Samuel Goodenough, promoted to the bishoprick of Carlisle.

Queen's Palace, March 16. Right Hon. George Earl of Aberdeen, invefted with the enfigns of the order of the Thistle.Right Hon. Percy Viscount Strangford, created a Knight of the Bath, and fworn of his Majefty's moft honourable Privy Council-Right Hon. Edward Earl of Digby, (worn lord lieutenant of the county of Dorfet, and the town of Poole, and county of the faid town, vice the Earl of Dorchefter, dec.-William Egerton, of Tatton park, efq. appointed theriff of the county of Chelter, vice Robert Bampton, of Upton, efq.

GENT. MAG. March, 1808:

Whitehall, March 19. Hon. and Rev. Henry Ryder, M.A. appointed a prebendary of the Free Chapel of St. George, in the Caftle of Windfor, vice Bufby, refigned.-Rev. William Cooper, B.D. prefented to the rectory of Wadingham St. Mary's and St. Peter's, with the chapel of Smitterby, co. Lincoln, vice Barker, dec.

Whitehall, March 22. Brigadier-general Charles Shipley, of the Corps of Royal Engineers, knighted.

CIVIL PROMOTIONS.

REV. Michael Marlow, D. D. prefident

of St. John's college, and fenior provice-chancellor of Oxford, elected one of the curators of the Theatre at Oxford, vice Richards, dec.

Rev. Thomas Lee, B.D. rector of Barton, co. Warwick, elected prefident of Trinity college, Oxford, vice Chapman, dec.

Meffieurs William Rhodes, M. A. of Worcester college, Oxford, and George Valentine Cox, B. D. of New college, elected coroners, according to the terms of the Charter granted to the University of Oxford by King Charles the First.

Rev. Thomas Brown, elected mafter of Chrift's coll. Cambridge, vice Barker, dec.

Rev. Edward Pearfon, rector of Remptone, Notts, and formerly tutor of Sidney college, Cambridge, elected mafter thereof, vice Ellifton, dec.

Rev. William Henry Neale, M. A. curate of St. James's church in Leeds, elected head mafter of the Free Grammar School at Beverley, co.York, vice Jackfon, refigned.

Mr. Richard Yeoward, elected junior bridge-mafter of the City of London, vice Wells, dec.

Mr. Philip Wyatt Crowther, admitted fecondary of the Poultry compter, London, vice Peale, refigned.

G. W. Gunning, efq. appointed a verdurer of Salcey foreft, vice Hanbury, dec.

ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS. REV. Charles Phillott, curate of St. Michael's, Bath, Kingston - Deverill R. Wilts, vice Jackson, dec.

Rev. William Pugh, M. A. Darfield V. co. York, vice Lonfdale, dec.

Rev. W. Jenkinson, M. A. Fulford perpetual curacy, near York, vice Willan, dec.

Rev. J. Radcliffe, minor canon of Canterbury cathedral, and chaplain of New college, Oxford, St. Andrew and St. Mary Bredman united RR. Canterbury.

Rev. Duke Yonge, M. A. vicar of Cornwood, Sheviock R.Cornwall, viceJeans,dec.

Hon. and Rev. Hugh Percy, M. A. Bifhopsbourn R. with Barham chapelry annexed, co. Kent, vice Davis, dec.

Rev. Eric Rudd, mafter of the Free Grammar-school at Thorne, Appleby V. eo. Lincoln, vice Moore, dec.

Rev.