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a trespass in partially injuring her cottage. She had resided at East Sheen, in the cottage in question, upwards of 12 years; and though extremely poor, had supported herself without being a burthen to any one. Mr. Burgoyne, who a few years since had taken up his residence at East Sheen,wished to obtain considerable property in the neighbourhood, and became possessed of a reversionary interest in the widow Oates's cottage, but possession was not to be taken for a certain time, and that time had not elapsed when the trespass was committed. Mr. Burgoyne, however, wished to ́anticipate the period, and the poor woman was more than once threatened; and in consequence, about the middle of August last, she repaired to London, to obtain the advice of her son-in-law, having first secured the windows and doors. During her stay in the metropolis, she received a letter from a neighbour, informing her that the cottage was being pulled down. On receiving this intelligence, she immediately returned, and found the tiles of the roof of the house were taken off, her garden trodden down, and the workmen busily employed in making alterations. She ordered the men to desist, and called her neighbours to view the waste of her property. Her bed was so much injured by exposure to the weather, that she was unable to sleep in it. Application was subsequently made to Mr. Burgoyne on the subject; his reply was, "Let her go to law. I have 500l. to spend !" A letter was afterwards sent to her son-in-law in Mr. Burgoyne's hand-writing, enumerating the injuries done to the house, and observing, that, if the widow would allow him to repair the house, he would give her three guineas, and

she might quit it at Michaelmas. Enclosed in the letter was a curious document, in which the bricklayer stated, that he was ready to swear no injury had been done to the goods. After this, there was a proposition to refer the matter to the solicitor of Mr. Burgoyne, but the poor woman had brought her case before a jury; and to show them there was no vindictive feeling, she merely claimed the sum of 141. 19s.

The case being proved, the jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict-Damages 14. 19s., and costs; and the Foreman observed, "We are extremely sorry we can not give a great deal more."

NOVEMBER.

EXTRAORDINARY NARRATIVE. -The following statement was lately made before some members of the Seamen's Friend's Society, who have scrupulously inquired into the facts. On the 9th of May, 1820, the smack Princess of Wales sailed from London to Prince Edward's Island, in the Indian sea, for the purpose of catching seals, which sea they reached on the 17th of March, 1821. At midnight she struck on the rocks of the island of Crozette; the crew got out the long-boat, and reached shore, having saved nothing from the wreck but a tinderbox, a frying-pan, a gridiron, a lance, and a few knives. Before this occurrence, eight of the crew had left the smack in a boat, with the intent to fish close to another island, on which they were obliged to go ashore, and next morning each party thought the other lost. Those, who had landed in the island of Crozette, were seven in number.

The night was extremely dark, and the sufferers had no other means of protection than the boat, which they turned over themselves as a security against the sea-elephants, which were in great abundance in the neighbourhood. In the morning they saw the vessel on her beam-ends, with a large hole in the bottom, and a heavy sea washing over her. They succeeded, after several attempts, in getting possession of a few chests of spoiled bread, a part of one of the sails, some rigging; and at last they got hold of the mast, which was soon separated by the storm from the vessel. For three weeks their only shelter was under the boat, being prevented from building a hut, by the inclemency of the weather. They lived upon birds and the tongues and hearts of the sea-elephants. The former they caught with ease; the latter they killed with the lance which they saved from the wreck. In the course of a month, they raised a hut with the materials saved from the wreck, covered the roof with the skins of the sea-elephants, and made beds of grass. Their

winter, in consequence of the island being in about 47 degrees South latitude and 47 degrees East longitude, took place at the period of our summer season; but, indeed, so inclement was the weather during their abode there, that the summer might be said to be limited to one month. Their clothes lasted until December, when they were obliged to use seal skins, which they sewed to gether with the sinews of the sea elephant, by means of an old nail. Their whole time was occupied between eating, lying in wait for the sea-elephants and birds, and reading a Bible, which had VOL. LXV.

been saved from the wreck, and co-operated with the sufferings they had undergone in reforming the most dissolute amongst them. The month of December had not ended, when they were astonished and delighted at seeing a boat row up to the beach, and their eight shipmates, who they feared had been lost, land upon the island. It happened that the very plans, adopted by the one party, had been acted upon by the other. They were dressed in the same manner, and had lived in the same way; but those who had left their island had not been able to raise a hut, and had ventured again upon the water, in search of a more comfortable abode, which they found amongst their friends, after a search of about 15 miles. The two islands were distant from each other upwards of 3 leagues. The inhabitants being thus collected, and having remained together 3 weeks, the means of living began to become more scanty, and it was agreed that five of the number should go back to the neighbouring island to live upon the produce there, while those who remained should build a vessel of the materials of the hut and of the planks of some houses formerly erected by the Americans, which were buried in the sand. In about five months, a lugger of about 12 tons was completed. They launched her, and intended to depart the day after, but to their dismay, on the very night of the launch, she was blown amongst the rocks, and her stern was, beaten in. Scarcely, however, had this calamity occurred, when an old fellow, who was constantly employed on the look out, cried out, A sail." They all looked in the same direction, but the general

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once decent and moral, in abstaining from actions which are alike repugnant to the laws of honour and morality. In making known these sentiments to the army, I must add, that it is afflicting to myself to find so compromised a name justly venerated.”

opinion was, that the sail was no
other than a large bird, which had
often led them into errors of the
same sort. They, however, light-
ed a fire with the blubber of the
sea-elephant, their only fuel, on
the most elevated part of the
island, to attract the attention of
the vessel, if there should be one
in sight. They soon saw a schoo--A
ner, which sent a boat ashore.
The shipwrecked seamen ran
towards this delightful object, but
as their seal-skin trowsers retarded
their progress they threw them
off, and the crew of the schooner
actually took them for a new race
of inhabitants. So great was the
desire of the unfortunate men to
get on board, that they ran into
the water, and swam towards the
vessel, where they were provided
with every thing they were in
want of. The schooner was the
Philo, of Boston, captain Percival.
They were taken to the Isle of
France, and two of them, named
Veale and Petherbridge, came home
in the Lord Exmouth, captain
Evans.

BERLIN. The grandson of the late Marshal Blucher is a lieutenant of Hussars, and was lately arrested for wounding with a poniard, an actor, who had beaten him on finding him alone with his wife. The young count was subsequently adjudged to undergo three months' imprisonment in a fortress. His majesty the king of Prussia confirmed the finding of the Court by an Order of the Day, in which is the following passage:-"I desire that the officers of my army should not endeavour to support their dignity by vindictive and sanguinary outrages, which they draw upon themselves. I require of them, that they should preserve their dignity by conduct at

10. NAVAL COURT-MARTIAL. Court-martial was held on board the Queen Charlotte, to inquire into the conduct of lieutenant William Price Hamilton, late of his majesty's ship Topaze, as connected with the affray which took place in the month of December, 1821, between a party of seamen belonging to that ship, and some of the natives of Lintin, in China. Lieutenant Hamilton's statement of the circumstances, as reported to captain C. Richardson, (who was absent at some distance from the ship at the time, during which lieutenant Hamilton was commanding officer), was read to the Court; by which it appeared, that on Saturday, the 15th of December, 1821, be sent the barge on shore with a division of seamen, at Lintin, to get the daily allowance of water, and to wash and scrub their clothes on the beach. Two midshipmen were sent in the boat to take care to preserve peace; notwithstanding which precaution, an affray ensued between the party sent to get water, and the natives; the latter, from some unknown cause, having come down in great numbers, and attacked the seamen. Upon this being observed on board the Topaze, lieutenant Hamilton immediately caused a fire to be opened on the shore, by which some of the natives were killed. Boats were despatched from the ship at the same time to bring off the party of seamen, which was effected without the

provide for the deficit of the obligations contracted by the late Cortes.

This article, in which are amalgamated all the absurdities which have been circulated for some time respecting the finances of Spain, must not remain unanswered by me. It not only involves my credit and reputation, which in other respects are happily unassailable in this way, but it is also necessary to enlighten the public with respect to a system of falsehood and deception, of which many honest families have already become the victims, since they have had the imprudence to specu→ late on the futile promises of a vanquished party, who are still desirous to be indemnified for the advances they have made to their Spanish brethren.

loss of any lives on their part, although several of them were severely wounded. A large mass of documentary evidence was also read, consisting of correspondence between captain Richardson and the Chinese authorities, &c. on the subject. Several witnesses were then examined, and the Court having completed the inquiry, pronounced as follows:-"The Court is of opinion, that the death of the said natives arose from an unprovoked and barbarous attack made by them on an unarmed part of the crew of his majesty's ship Topaze, who were peaceably employed on shore on the occasion above stated; and that the measures, so promptly adopted by lieutenant Hamilton, were absolutely necessary to save the lives of the above-mentioned men, and that he did not continue the fire from the ship after that object was obtained; and that the conduct of lieutenant W. P. Hamilton was that of a zealous and meritorious officer, anxious to preserve the lives of the crew under his charge, and to support the honour of the British flag, in repelling a wanton insult on it, and doth adjudge him to be honourably acquitted."-ral of the Finances has himself Captain E. Brace, C. B., of the Ganges, President.

SPANISH LOANS.

Copy of a letter from M. Guebhard to the editor of the Journal de Commerce.

Paris, Nov. 10, 1823. Sir,-Your Journal of the 8th inst. contains a long article, which is evidently directed against the loan I had contracted with the Spanish Government; though, by the commencement of the article in question, it might appear to have for its principal object to

I contracted on the 16th of July last, a loan with the Regency of Spain. The conditions were finally settled at Madrid by myself, on the 20th of September following. His Catholic majesty has confirmed them since his deliverance; and the act, which contains this august confirmation, is dated October 20. The Treasurer-gene

been charged to transmit this confirmation to Paris, which accordingly was officially transmitted to me on the 5th of this month. M. Carassi was also directed to do away all obstacles which interfered with the operation of the loan. This business has been executed: the definitive terms of the Spanish government are in my possession, and may be had every day at my bureau, by such subscribers as, being desirous to enjoy the bonus of 5l. per cent., pay the amount of their subscriptions into my bank.

All the authentic documents once insufficient and indefinite. concerning the loan, its conditions, and its securities, which I verified, may be inspected at any time, being deposited in my bureau.

Such, Sir, is my simple and final answer to the calumniators of an operation which has for its object the establishment of the legitimate throne of Spain, and to consolidate, by the monarchical system, the repose of all Europe.

With respect to obligations of the Spanish Revolutionists, I shall only say, that I know nothing of their invalidation; since this measure had been decreed by the Regency, and made public both at Paris and London, ever since the month of June last, a period at which I myself had not conceived the idea of consecrating my services to the Government of Spain; but as a party guaranteeing the royal loan, which had been contracted during the revolution, while loans were making by the Cortes, I do not think it useless to remove the errors and misrepresentations contained in your article of the 8th instant.

It is not true, Sir, that the property, which his Catholic majesty is about to restore to the clergy of Spain, affects the guarantee of the loans contracted by the Cortes. The question at present is, as to the propriety of restoring lands sold in consequence of the spoilation of the Cortes during the captivity of the king, and which his majesty has returned to their legitimate possessors, on the mple ground, that being free upon his throne, he desires that justice should be placed upon its ancient footing.

The loans of the Cortes have no other guarantee than the entire revenue of Spain-a guarantee at

Their surest guarantee rested on the success of the revolution in Spain, and the effect of these loans has, properly speaking, been, to identify the lenders with the views and opinions of the revolutionists. Since the prospect of success has entirely vanished, the spirit of party-ignorance still persists in misguiding public opinion, by endeavouring to persuade the Spanish people, that they are obliged to fulfil the engagements contracted by their oppressors, and to reimburse those depredations which were employed to enrich the gaolers of the king.

Any one who knows the situation of Spain, and possesses good sense, must be convinced that the admission of such claims would be unanimously reprobated by the Spanish nation, and could not be

carried into effect. His Catholic majesty, in definitively annulling these Loans, has followed the counsels of wisdom, justice, and necessity; for the king of Spain, whose reputation will sooner or later come out purified from the calumnies of faction, is desirous of reigning with Spain-and not against Spain!

I conceive, Sir, that I ought to avail myself of this opportunity to answer mis-statements, and communicate the truth, respecting the loans of the Cortes, with the single view of informing the public. I may add, that the instructions given to the Treasury-general, in the decree which ratifies my loan, concludes in these words'He (Mr. Guebhard) is at liberty to make such arrangements as he may judge necessary with respect to the Royal loan; under the express condition, that he will take no step leading to a recognition of

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