his arm.

when he came as far as Knightsbridge foot-path, he came up with the prisoner Coates, who had linen under He shortly after that produced the handkerchiefs, but said that two boys had promised him halfa-crown for carrying the articles to the White Horse Cellar, Piccadilly. Mr Doward seeing two boys at a short distance before them, begged of Mr Hill, who happened to be passing at the time, to take them into custody. One, however, ran off and got clear; the other was the prisoner Badger, who had one of his hands cut, and bleeding severely. When they were taken before a magistrate, Coates said in the presence of Badger, that he had been in company with him and Lacey (the boy who escaped) all the evening. This the other did not then deny, nor did at the trial when the same assertion was repeated.

Mr Justice Lawrence, who tried the case, observed that Badger's hand being bleeding at the time of his apprehension, the window-frame having some blood upon it, together with their being nearly in company together when Coates was seen carrying the property, and the assertion of Coates uncontradicted by Badger that they were in company all the evening together, appeared to him to be very strong circumstances against the prisoners. However, it was the province of the Jury to decide how far they thought the prisoners were either or both of them innocent or guilty.

The Jury immediately pronounced both the prisoners Guilty-Death.

John Little tried for a burglary, was found guilty of grand larceny only; Sarah Ward was convicted of stealing in the dwelling-house of Alexander Bruce, Esq. No. 5, Pall

mall Court, 24 silver forks, a dozen and a half of silver-hafted knives and forks, 15 silver desert spoons, and other articles, amounting in value to 121. The prosecutor most earnestly recommended the prisoner to mercy, both on account of her having no bad connections, and of her extreme penitence. Of this the Judge took a minute.

John Mathews, aged 18, was capitally convicted for stealing various articles of plate. George Rudd, a master butcher, at Pimlico, and Thomas Donovan, a drover, were capitally convicted of stealing 25 sheep. The sheep were stolen from a reservoir field, near Bagnigge Wells, and found on the premises of Rudd, at Pimlico.

DEAL. Yesterday the wind having shifted suddenly from about S.S.W. to N.W. it began to blow violently, and during the night increased to a perfect huricane. The morning light presented a most distressing spectacle-ships parting from their anchors, others drifting; some with the loss of top-masts and bowsprits, and some standing out of the Downs without either anchor or cable left; but providentially none have drove on shore, nor have any been lost. This day the wind continued with increased violence, and brought in a most tremendous sea, which, at one time, even threatened the destructionofthe town. The foundations of a great number of houses next the sea have been undermined, store-houses have been swept away with their contents, and the ground tier of the dwellinghouses, filled with water. The sea, during the tempest, made a considerable breach between Sandown Castle and the battery No. 1, which has inundated the chambers, and forced such a torrent of water into

the lower streets of Deal, that the cellars have been completely filled, and property to a large amount totally destroyed. In a row of houses adjoining to Alfred-square, the torrent was so deep, that boats were obliged to be got down, and the miserable inhabitants taken out of their houses from the chamber windows. Several quays in the Beach-street, which had braved the fury of the elements for a series of years, have been totally destroyed, and the timber washed out to sea.

At Dover, the Beauford victualling hoy sunk at the pier-head. Three other vessels are also sunk, and many others lying to in the roads, without anchors or cables. The north pier-head, the harbour, and different parts of the town near the beach, are much damaged.

At Yarmouth, the gale was accompanied with a very heavy fall of snow; but no particular damage was done to the town, though the jetty and piers were much injured. The Calliope, which was building at Winterton beach, was entirely dashed to pieces; and two other ships belonging to Leith, were driven on shore, and the rest put out to sea.

At Margate, the gale produced the most dreadful effects. The storehouses on the pier, the harbourmaster's house, the three heaps of cannon-balls, the short cannon, and upwards of 45 feet of the north-side of the pier, are completely washed away, so that scarcely any thing is left in that part but the remains of the bare walls, except the jetty-head, beyond the store-houses, where the crane was fixed, which is undamaged. The King's warehouse, at the bottom of the pier, was nearly filled with water; and several casks of spirits,

which were deposited in the cellar, were washed to sea. The cellars of the Foy-boat public-house, kept by Mr Stanuard, a very worthy young man, were filled with water, in consequence of which seven butts of porter burst, which blew up the whole of the flooring of the tap-room, bar, and parlour, besides considerably damaging the house. The large fishing-boats in the harbour belonging to Messrs Palmer, J. Pound, and Saltenbank, as well as the Good Intent packet, were stove to pieces.Two collier brigs and two yawls were carried over the wall on the parade, close under the windows of the hotel kept by the late Mr Mitchener; the last are mere wrecks, and the brigs have received considerable damage. The water overflowed King-street, as high as the Fountain inn. The strength of the waves may be conceived, when an anchor, which was picked up at sea, weighing upwards of 16 cwt. lying on the pier-walk, was washed behind the king's warehouse.

A little before twelve o'clock, that part of the High-street, leading from Mr Hobart's bathing-rooms to the King's Head inn, including Garner's library and dwelling-house, gave way with a most tremendous crash, and was instantly washed out to sea. The back part of the King's Head inn, kept by Mrs Cricket, was blown up by the force of the waves. The ground under the houses in Hazardous-row, to the depth of nearly twenty feet, is washed away, and they are at present supporte d by the back only. It is expecte d to give way, as the road leading to Westbrook, before these houses, is completely washed away. The sea has forced its passage (in consequence of the banks, which kept.

it from overflowing the works) up the valley, as far as Shotten Dean, being nearly one mile in length. The shock was so sudden and unexpected, that numbers of women were carried by men out of the houses, or they must inevitably have perished, The new road to Dandelion, which was made over the brooks, at a considerable expence, has been nearly destroyed. The houses of Mr Osborne and Mr Hurst, in the High-street, are expected to fall every moment, as the earth, up to the very threshold of their doors, is carried away. The cliffs on the west side of Margate, lost more ground on that night, than they have ever been known to do in the course of twelve years. In short, the damage done is unknown, and the consternation and misery of the inhabitants beggar all description.

Extract of a letter from Whitstable, dated Saturday, the 16th inst."The greatest storm, and highest tide, in the memory of the oldest inhabitant, visited this place last night, and caused a scene of distress and desolation not to be described. Houses, workshops, every thing that came within reach of the tide, became its prey. A man, his wife, and six children, were with the greatest difficulty taken out of their house by a boat. One woman had her children placed on a chest of drawers, and was standing on her bed with the water up to her knees, when she was relieved from her perilous situation. The men were swimming through the streets to try whom they could assist. A large vessel drove against the house of a poor woman, on the beach, and beat it down; she was taken out naked by a boat. The men on board the ships were nearly frozen, but are all saved by our boats.

VOL. I. PART II.

The oyster-bed watch-boat broke its cable, and was carried to Hearn Bay. The coal-yard in this place is washed away, and 500l. worth of coals are gone. At Swateclift and Hearn Bay, the bathing-rooms and several houses are carried away.

Accounts have been received from Holland, respecting the effects of this dreadful storm, which state, that at one o'clock in the morning of the 15th, the tide ran over the quays, and, being driven by a violent wind, poured its torrents through all the streets of the lower town; the inundation was so rapid, as to have attained great height before it was perceived, and many had scarcely time to remove their children out of bed to a place of greater safety. In less than half an hour, the water in many places was nine feet deep, and, in the lower streets, more than fourteen, so that in some low houses the inhabitants could only save themselves on the roofs.

Twenty-nine persons, who lost their lives on this occasion, have been buried at the expence of the town; and subscriptions have been opened for the relief of the sufferers.

A letter from Antwerp, says, that in the memory of man, such a swell of water has not been known, not did the Scheldt ever rise to such a height, as it did from the 14th to the 15th of January, between the hours of three and four in the morning.

18th. This day being the anniversary of her Majesty's birth-day (her Majesty having completed the 63d year of her age) was celebrated at St James's, and throughout the metropolis, with every demonstration of joy and respect. Her Majesty's tradesmen dined together, and various feasts and entertainments were

B

1

given upon the occasion. At an early hour the ringing of the bells of the different churches ushered in the morning; the flags of the Imperial kingdom were displayed from the steeples, the Tower, and various other public buildings. The guards of the day were dressed in new cloaths, and the band, in an elegant state dress, richly embroidered with silver lace, played occasionally during the whole of the day. At one o'clock the Park and Tower guns were fired.

Her Majesty's approach to the Grand Council Chamber being announced, the centre door was thrown open. Her Majesty entered the room about twenty minutes past two o'clock, with Earl Morton on her right hand, and Colonel Desbrow on her left; the former holding her train. Her Majesty then took her station with her back to a looking-glass, between the second and third window: Earl Morton placed her Majesty's train on a marble slab behind her. The Princesses followed, and arranged themselves on her Majesty's left hand, according to their ages. Their attendants stood nearly under the throne.

Her Majesty having taken her station to receive the congratulations of the company, Earl Dartmouth, the Lord Chamberlain, waved his wand of office to Sir William Parsons, who was attending in an anteroom, on the left of the throne, with his Majesty's band, to perform the New Year's Ode.

The three doors of the room having been thrown open, the room was in a few minutes filled with the company. Soon after the Duke of Portland approached her Majesty, and conversed with her for some time. His Grace was followed by several

ladies, General Bertie, Colonel Howard, and Viscount Hood; a number of foreigners was then introduced by Sir Stephen Cotterell, the Master of the Ceremonies. The Prince of Wales entered the Drawing-room about ten minutes after her Majesty, and appeared in excellent spirits; his Royal Highness conversed very affably with a number of friends; he shook hands with the Marquis of Stafford, appeared much pleased to see him, and conducted the Marquis's son, the Earl of Gower, to her Majesty, upon his return from his travels.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales proceeded through St. James's Park to the private door of the Palace, attended, in two carriages, by Lords Lake and Keith, General Hulse, Colonels M'Mahon, Lee, and Bloomfield, and Baron Eben.

The Princess of Wales arrived about twelve o'clock, at Lord Sheffield's house in Privy Gardens, from Blackheath; where her Royal Highness dressed for Court, and was accompanied to St. James's Palace by Lady Sheffield.

There were present besides a most numerous assemblage of persons of the first rank and distinction.

20th. An American gentleman is arrived from France, who was at Bourdeaux on the 26th ultimo. This Gentleman states, that there was at the time of his departure a force of between 30 and 40,000 men in that vicinity, understood to be destined for Spain. The rigour of the police at Bourdeaux, and the other French towns which he has visited, he describes to be of the most severe character. Any housekeeper is liable to penalty and imprisonment who neglects to make a return at the

Police-office of the arrival of a stranger within six hours at farthest after such arrival. Upon such return being made, the stranger is summoned instantaneously to appear before the superintendants of the police, who, in the first instance, examine the passport, which, if not satisfactory, condemns the bearer to immediate imprisonment. But even if the passport be satisfactory, the bearer undergoes a long interrogatory, as to the object which induced him to travel in that direction, and as to the place from whence he came, nay, even as to his birth-place, connexions, &c. If to any of these questions an answer should be made not quite satisfactory to the police officers, the stranger is imprisoned, until the case be fully investigated, and the determination of that until is in general to be procured only by a bribe. But the stranger's host is interrogated also as to the means which introduced the prisoner to his house, and if any thing appear suspicious in the replies of the host, he too is condemned to a prison.

21st. About three o'clock the Lords Commissioners, consisting of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, Earls Camden, Aylesford and Dartmouth, having taken their places, Mr Quarme, the Deputy Usher of the Black Rod, was sent to desire the attendance of the Commons, to hear his Majesty's Commission for opening the Parlia

ment read.

The Speaker, attended by the Members of the House, immediately came to the bar, attended by the Deputy Usher, and their own officers, when the Lord Chancellor read his Majesty's most gracious speech.

The Paris papers lately recei

ved, contain a new decree, issued by Buonaparte on the 11th, for the purpose of rendering more effectual the decrees of the 23d of November, and 17th of December, against English commerce. By this regulation, any person on board entering a port of France, or of a country occupied by the French armies, who shall declare to the proper officer, that such ship comes from England or her colonies, or countries occupied by English troops, or has been searched by any English vessel, shall, on his declaration being verified, receive a third part of the produce of the net sale of the vessel and cargo. The crew and passengers may be separately interrogated in the form prescribed by the decree of the 23d of December. Any agent of government conniving at a contravention of these decrees is to be deemed guilty of high treason.

The King of Spain has also published a decree, dated the 3d inst. which, after enumerating a variety of charges against this country, concludes by declaring that the measures adopted by his ally the Emperor of the French against English commerce, shall be in force in every respect in the Spanish dominions.

Loss OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP FLORA.-Extract of a letter from an officer. "Liewvarden, in Friesland, January 26th, 1808. I am sorry to inform you, that the Flora struck upon a Schelling Reef, last Monday, the 18th; and about nine o'clock that night succeeded in getting her off, but lost our rudder in the attempt, and after getting her to sea, we could hardly keep her free with all the pumps, therefore was obliged the next day to run her on shore again, about four o'clock that after