Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 001.djvu/115

1817.] taken before Mr Stirling, coroner for Middlesex, upon the body of Mary Ann Golding, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Golding, of No 30, Molineux Street, Mary-le-bone, whose death was occasioned by the barbarous treatment of her parents. The deceased was only five years of age. The jury viewed the body; its appearance was shocking, being covered with marks of violence from the neck downwards to the thigh. The back had several old wounds upon it; the legs were bruised; and the whole frame was emaciated. The evidence taken before the jury disclosed a repetition of acts of brutality on the part of the child's parents, which left no doubt on the minds of the jury, that they had been the cause of her death. After an hour's consultation, the jury returned the following verdict: "The deceased died in convulsions, caused by the cruel treatment of her unnatural parents."

25.—Johanna Southcote.—The delusion at this time practised upon the believers in the predictions and doctrine of the late prophetess, is matter of great astonishment. An interdict arrived at Newark on Sunday, the 19th instant, from a disciple of the conclave at Leeds, inhibiting those of the faith, amongst other things, from attending to their ordinary business during the ensuing eight or nine days; and a manufacturer's shop in that place is at this time entirely deserted, and the business of many small dealers suspended in consequence.

The following letter has been sent by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Leicester, and, we believe, to the Lords Lieutenants of several other counties.Whitehall, Jan. 11, 1817. My Lord,—It being deemed expedient under present circumstances, that the civil power should he strengthened in the county under your Grace's charge, I have to request that you will recommend to the magistrates in the principal towns within the same (in which the measure is not already adopted), to encourage the enrolment of respectable householders, to act, as occasion may require, as special constables for a fixed period of time, not less than three months; and I have farther to request that your Grace will communicate to the commanding officers of the several yeomanry corps within the county of Leicester, the wish of his Majesty's government, that they will hold themselves, and the corps under their respective commands, in a state of preparation to afford prompt assistance to the civil authorities in case of necessity. I have, &c. The Lord Lieutenant of the County of Liecester.

One of the Leith smacks arrived from London on the 26th instant, having on board nearly forty tons of the new silver coinage. This valuable cargo, amounting to £300,000, was insured at Lloyd's at the low rate of 10s. 6d. per £100,—a strong proof of the confidence placed in the superior class of Leith smacks.

On Saturday, the 11th January, the inhabitants of New Lanark met in the New Institution, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of presenting an address to Robert Owen, Esq. expressive of their high satisfaction with his conduct, and that of the other proprietors, in introducing various ameliorations in the condition of their community; and more particularly in reducing the time of working in their mills an hour a-day; which regulation took place the first Jan. 1815, the time of labour being from six to seven previously to that date; since which it has been from six to six only. This proposition being unanimously agreed to, a committee was appointed to prepare and present the same. It was then resolved, that the village should be illuminated on the Tuesday evening following, in testimony of their regard for his disinterested conduct in the management of the establishment, and also in commemoration of the purchase of the mills by the present proprietors.

28.—Yesterday a third meeting of the reform delegates was held at the King's Arms Tavern, Palace Yard. There were upwards of thirty delegates present, who affected to represent one hundred and ninety towns throughout the kingdom. After some discussion, which brought out nothing new or interesting, it was agreed that those delegates, having petitions to present to Parliament, should assemble this day at three o'clock, in Palace Yard, to put them into the hands of Sir F. Burdett and Lord Cochrane.—The meeting was then finally dissolved.

This being the day fixed for the meeting of Parliament, the Prince Regent left Carlton House at half-past one, and repaired to St James's palace.—His Royal Highness took his seat in the state carriage accompanied by the Duke of Montrose, master of the horse, and Lord James Murray, a lord in waiting; the other royal attendants followed in other carriages.—The procession to the House was not seriously disturbed; some discontented voices mixed their murmurs with the applause of the more loyal, yet there was no such expression of disapprobation as to excite alarm.—On the return of the royal procession, the discontent broke out into the most outrageous abuse, and even into acts of violence.—The life guards were insulted, and gravel-stones and other missiles were thrown at the royal carriage: between Carlton-house gardens and the stable-yard, one glass of the state coach was struck three times and broken. It appears from the evidence of Lord James