Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/418

 344 NOTES AND QUERIES. rss. vi. N<»-.s.1wo. and powers of vocalization made for her- self a considerable name-Maria Theresa Bland. She was the daughter of an_Ital1an Jew named Romanzini, and was born in 1769. At a very early age she _gave evidence of her talent for music and singing; and when only four was engaged at Hug es’s Riding School. She subsequently went to Dublin, and was engaged to succeed Mrs. Wrighten at Drury Lane, where she first appeared on 24 October, 1786, three years afterwards “singing in Liverpool wit much success.” On 21 October, 1790, she was married to Bland, a brother of Mrs. Jordan of Drury Lane Theatre, and “an actor of no great distinction.” At Drury Lane Mrs. Bland remained for the greater part of her life, but she also sang at the Haymarket under Colman’s mana ement, and for several seasons at Vauxhall. Symptoms came on, in 1824, of imbecility, which ultimately became a con- firmed melancholy madness. A benefit at Drury Lane produced a sum of over 800l., and Lord Egremont, to whom the money was entrusted, allowed her a sum of 891. per annum. For the rest of her life she lived in Westminster in the Broadway, 8�:)OlI`lIIlg Tothill Street, with a family named esterp. Here she died on 15 January, 1838, in a fit of apoplexy, and on the 25th was buried" at St. Margaret’s-to quote again Mr. Poole-“ in the middle of the churchyard, the funeral bein very largely attended.” Her voice was elf a very sweet quality, a pure mezzo-soprano, but hermpowers were not great, and it was as a ball singer that she shone greatly. She had two sons, who had a considerable vogue as singers; and it is stated that “a Capt. Bland of the Navy, who was abroad at the time of her death, came subsequently to Eng- land, after a long voyage, and had the stone, with inscription, placed over her grave,” which may have been done by Mr. Poole himself, as his place of business was very near. This Capt. Bland is said to have been her son but this is rather doubtful. Another notable interment, and the last at which I shall glance, was that of Richard Smithers, the Bow Street police ofiicer murdered by Thistlewood at the arrest of the Cato Street conspirators. This event is one that readers can find detailed in various publications, so it will only be dealt with in so far as it concerns Smithers. The account of this tragic occurrence which follows is taken from the ‘Annual Register’ of 1820 Z- » “The conspirators had taken the precaution to place a sentinel below, and the only approach to them in the loft was up a ladder not wide enough for more than one to ascend at a time. Ruthvcn gleorge Thomas Joseph) went first, followed by `llis (James), Smithers (Richard), and Salmon §--). Thistlewood was nearest the door of the oft, armed with a_drawn sword ; the whole number of conspiirators in the room was twenty~five. Before t e officers ascended the loft the secured the sentinel placed at the foot of the ladder, but we suspect he contrived by some means to give those in the loft notice of the approach of the ollicers. The whole party in the loft were hastily arming, some with be ts and pistols stuck in them, others were loading hand-grenades and muskets. There was a large quantity of ammunition in the room, and a sac full of combustibles. Ruthven, the officer, was the first to burst into the loft. Thistlewood was nearest the door, with a drawn sword; he made some attempt at But-hven, but failed. Ellis, Smithers, Salmon, and others followed close, with the magistrate, Mr. Birnie. The conslpirators were ordered to lay down their arms an surrender themselves, warrants being issued for their apprehension. While Ruthven was trying to secure the door, so as to prevent escape that way, Smithers advanced to secure Thistlewood; the latter made a lunge at the officer, which, unfortunately, took fatal effect. The sword went through his body, and Smithers fell back instantly into Ruthvens arms, crying out, ‘Oh, God! I am done.’ He spoke no more, but died instantly.” In the ‘Annual Register’ of 1 March, 1820, we read that “the funeral of the late Richard Smithers, the Bow Street oiiieer who was murdered by Arthur Thistlewood, took place this day. He was to be buried at the expense of the Government, and his remains were fol owed to the grave by his brother otiicers.” And Mr. Poole, from whose notes I am privi- leged to quote, says that “it attracted from all parts of London very many thousands of people to the churchyard, and it became so densely crowded that the neighbourhood was in consternation.” A hundred s. year was settled on the widow, and, says the ‘Annual Register,’ “a public subscription has been entered into for the pur- pose of rewarding the otiicers and patrols who exerted themselves in the apprehension of the criminals.” There are more recollections of this spot to be dealt with as opportunity maiy serve. W. E. HARLAND-OXLEY. l, Artillery Buildings, Victoria Street, S. W. HORACE WALPOLE AND HIS EDITORS. (Continued from p. 203.) LETTER 1 .767 (Cunningham’s edition, vol. vii. p. 138), addressed to Earl Harcourt, is at pre- sent placed among letters of October, 1778. It appears, however, that it was written at the beginning of February in that 'ear. Horace Walpole mentions Lord Pigot: “Poor Lord Pigot. He has dined with a Scotch-