24.

LA

ANDSLIP IN DORSETSHIRE.-On Christmaseve, about six o'clock, the residents in the houses and cottages along the coast between Lyme and Seaton were alarmed by a convulsion of the earth, attended with fearful sounds. This astounding occurrence was succeeded by reiterations of the phenomena, and it was soon ascertained that a course of mischief was in serious operation. On arriving at a part of the coast called Dowlands, a quarter of a mile from the sea, it was found that a large portion of land, on which there were several cottages, orchards, and a coppice, had been separated from their sites, leaving huge chasms in a lateral direction along the coast between Sidmouth and Seaton to the extent of upwards of four miles. The convulsions of the earth continued at various intervals from the night of Tuesday the 24th, to Friday evening, the 27th, having within that interval occasioned the prostration and subsidence of buildings of various descriptions, and the displacement of large tracts of soil, a loss of property to a considerable extent, among the sufferers by which is Mrs. Inman, a respectable resident of Bishop's Hull, near this town, whose loss is esti VOL. LXXXII.

mated at upwards of 2,000l. Mr. Hallett, of Axmouth, and Mrs. Dare also suffered heavily by the event. A huge rock fifty feet high appears in the sea off Culverhole, nearly a quarter of a mile from the spot where the principal scene of mischief presents itself. The soundings were being taken around the newly-formed rock on Saturday. No lives were lost by this event, although several of the occupants of cottages, who had left home to spend their Christmaseve, found to their great astonishment, on their return, no other vestiges of their dwellings but those presented by the roofs and chimnies discernible above the chasms in which their habitations were ingulfed. The new road from Charmouth to Lyme is utterly destroyed. Whether the

occurrence above stated be attributable to an earthquake, or considered as the result of the slowworking processes of nature, which, as foreseen by naturalists, and asserted by Mr. Buckingham in his lectures in the town of Lyme a few years ago, will gradually encroach upon the shores of the Channel, as has already unquestionably taken place elsewhere on the British coast, is at present problematical. The visitation, to

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whatever cause it may be referred, beside the destruction of property, has occasioned great alarm and anxiety among the owners of buildings and estates in the vicinity. Multitudes of persons from all parts have been for several days past rushing into Lyme, Seaton, and Charmouth, eager to ascertain the nature and extent of the catastrophe. The total loss of property is estimated at 6,000l. Mr. Chappel, the renter of the estate called Gowlands, upon which four of the destroyed cottages stood, succeeded by great exertions on Wednesday in saving the lives of twenty-eight of the poor occupiers, and having employed nine carts, secured most of their furniture. On the following morning the cottages had sunk up to their roofs. The cliffs on the coast do. not appear to have suffered any disruption, all the mischief being inland.

1840. JANUARY.

6. EFFECTS OF CHARTISM.An inquest was held on Monday, the 6th inst., before Mr. W. Morgan, of Bridgend, coroner, on the body of Mary Davis, the wife of a highly respectable farmer in the neighbourhood of Langenior, who had committed suicide in the following extraordinary manner, according to the evidence adduced:It appeared, that about a month previous to the late Newport riots, a strange man had called at the farmhouse, which is situate amongst the hills, in a retired si tuation, with a paper, in which he stated, unless she and all her family would sign to become Chartists, they would rise in a

month and take her and all away, and murder them. The man soon left, and on the husband's return he and his sons were informed of the circumstance, and the deceased appeared to suffer considerably in her mind, and after the breaking out of the Newport riots she frequently exclaimed that the man's words had become true, and often urged her husband to leave all and quit the place lest the Chartists should come and carry him and her sons away. She continued to be flighty and wild till Thursday last, the 2nd inst., when her husband, who was engaged with a butcher in killing a pig, was called to by one of his daughters, stating that she could not get her mother to come from her bed-room, although she had been down and breakfasted. The husband went up and found the deceased on her knees in the act of praying by her bedside. He observed some blood near her, but knowing that she had been naturally afflicted with hæmorrhage, he thought it was from that cause, and induced her to go to bed, leaving his daughter with her, who shortly afterwards came to him, and stated that she had found a knife near where the deceased had been kneeling covered with blood, when he told her that he was afraid she had been using a knife against herself, but she returned no answer. A medical man was sent for, when it was found that she had inflicted a wound on her abdomen extending five inches in length, so that the intestines protruded. She lingered till twelve o'clock on Friday, when she died, and about half an hour before her death she stated that her mind had been bewildered about the Chartists, and that she was tired of the world, and wanted

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to go to God out of the way. Verdict-" Suicide whilst in state of insanity." No clue could be had to the villain who had called upon the woman.

8. MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT ON THE ICE IN ST. JAMES'S PARK.In St. James's Park, an accident of a most melancholy nature, in which four lives have been lost, occurred to-day shortly before dark. About four o'clock, at a time when the ornamental water was much crowded by skaters and youths sliding, a loud outcry was heard proceeding from the part adjacent to the large island nearly facing the Horse Guards, whither the icemen belonging to the Royal Humane Society instantly proceeded, and on their reaching it they found that two youths had by a breakage in the ice become immersed, and that two other youths, seeing their perilous situation, had rushed to their assistance, one having first thrown off his jacket, and that the whole had sunk. There is no doubt that, if not the whole, some of the unfortunate sufferers might have been saved, had the gate of the bridge leading to the island not been locked, but some minutes elapsed before Whitlock, the iceman nearest the spot, could get the key, and the attempt to run the iceboat there was found to be fruitless, the ice being too fragile in many parts to bear its weight. In the interim, Bishop, No. 17, of the society's men, who was stationed on the south side, courageously plunged through the ice, having his life-preserver on, as did also Harris, No. 4, both of whom, assisted by the other icemen on ladders, &c., succeeded, in a few minutes, in getting up two of the bodies, which were instantly conveyed to a marquee belonging

to the Royal Humane Society, which had been fixed nearly opposite the Stable-yard gate, where they were received by DeputySuperintendent Winnott, and

placed in blankets until the arrival of surgeons, for whom messengers had been despatched. The first that arrived came from Lower Grosvenorplace, who used the stomach-pump, and adopted the other usual means of resuscitation, but unhappily without avail. In the meantime, Bishop succeeded in getting up another of the bodies, and the fourth was about the same time got out by the police of the A division on duty in the park, who rendered most efficient aid. The former was conveyed to the marquee, and the latter to the Westminster Hospital. Both were quite dead. The melancholy occurrence, as may be supposed, created a great sensation, and the gates of the enclosure were until a late hour last evening surrounded by hundreds of persons, anxious to learn the particulars. On the body of the youth who so courageously threw off his jacket and rushed in to the rescue of the two lads under whom the ice broke, was found a letter dated from No. 45, St. James's place, and signed "Crawford Patterson," to which address a messenger was sent, who shortly returned with Mr. Patterson, who on seeing the body, recognized it as that of his son, aged about sixteen years. The body of the other lad, who also jumped in to the rescue, has been identified, as the son of respectable persons residing near St. Martin's. lane, whose names have not transpired. The third body has been identified by Mrs. Knott, of 61, Marsham-street, Westminster, as that of her nephew, named Braith

waite, and the body at the Westminster Hospital she likewise iden tified as that of her son. The feelings of the different parties on recognizing the bodies of their relatives may be better conceived than described. About eight o'clock the three bodies were removed from the marquee in shells to St. Martin's workhouse, where they await a coroner's inquest.

8. SINGULAR CHARGE OF ROBBERY.-MARYLEBONE.-Mr. Thos. Theed, a gentleman of independent property residing at 13, Man. chester-street, Manchester-square, was brought before the sitting magistrate, Mr. Codd, on the charge of having stolen forty-two sovereigns, and a union pin set with a diamond and an emerald, the property of Mr. John Warren, surgeon-dentist, 32, George-street, Hanover-square.

The prosecutor, on being sworn, said Yesterday I had a few friends to dine with me, and amongst them was Mr. Theed, who had made me a present of a haunch of venison. After the cloth was removed, or just before, I produced a drab net purse, containing at each end twenty-one sovereigns, and at the same time a union pin. The pin was in a red morocco case, and it was handed round to the party, as was also the purse, as a trophy, both having been presented to me by a lady for professional services. After they had been inspected they were returned to me, and I wrapped them (the case and purse) in some tissue paper, from which I had in the first instance taken them, and placed the packet before me rather on my left side, but presently removed it more to my right, saying, at the same time to a gentleman, on my left, "I must take

care of this as a trophy." The party consisted of seven or eight, and Mr. Theed sat next to me on my right. I had occasion to leave the head of the table twice or three times after the articles had been produced and placed by me on the table, but I did not quit the room, having merely gone to the cellaret. About half-past eight or nine we left the dinnertable and went up stairs into the drawing-room. We dined about seven o'clock. I did not then see the purse or case, nor do I recollect seeing them at all after I went to the cellaret for the first bottle of Port. There was some dancing above, and card-playing. Mr. Theed played at cards, and I did also, but at a different table. At about three o'clock, Mr. Theed and another gentleman left, and by four the remainder of the party had quitted. I then went to my bed-room, and, while undressing, it occurred to me that the purse and case had been left on the dinner-table. I went down stairs, and being unable, after a diligent search, to find them, I repaired to the house of Mr. Gear, one of the party, in Albany-street, and there found another of my friends, who was about to take a bed at his (Mr. Gear's) dwelling. I informed them of my loss, and we all three proceeded to Mr. Theed's residence. After knocking for some time at the door, Mr. Theed opened the window, saying, "Who's there!" and I told him it was Warren. This was about half-past four. In the course of a quarter of an hour Mr. Theed came down, carelessly dressed, when I told him I had lost my purse and pin, when he made the reply, "It's curious," and laughed. I remarked it was no laughing matter, and that such

things could not go without hands; and he asked me if I suspected he had stolen the things. I said, he perhaps might have taken them by way of a joke, and, if he had, that he had better give them to me, but, if he did not do so, I should consider he had taken them in earnest, He told me it was a thundering lie; but I said it was no such thing, and if he'd give them to me I'd say no more about it. He remarked that I might search his house, and on my telling him I should go for a policeman, he said he wished me to do so. I went to the Marylebone-lane station-house, leaving Mr. Theed and my two friends in the passage, Mr. Theed saying he would remain where he was till I returned. I soon afterwards went back with a serjeant and a constable, and found Mr. Theed still in the passage. On my expressing a wish that his house should be searched, he acquiesced in it, and he proceeded to his bed-room, taking the drawing-room in our way. In both apartments we made a slight search; but it was discontinued in consequence of its being candle-light, and there being but little chance of discovering any thing that might be lost. I, my friends, and the police officers, came away. I afterwards went round to all the other gentlemen who had dined with me, and acquainted them with my loss, but without obtaining any information. I then considered it best to give Mr. Theed into custody, which I accordingly did at his own house.

Mr. Codd, to the prisoner.What answer have you to make to this charge?

Prisoner. I had a haunch of venison sent to me by lord Har

borough, with whom I am intimate, and, in consequence of some civility I have received from Mr. Warren, I made him a present of it.

He requested me to dine with him, which I did, and met these two gentlemen (Mr. Curtis and Mr. Gear), and three others whose names I don't know. After dinner Mr. Warren produced the pin and purse: they were handed about the table, and after various comments and joking they were wrapped up in the silver paper they were produced in, and placed before Mr. Warren on the table. There was very little wine drank after dinner, and on coffee being announced we went up stairs, and none of us stirred out of the room till I went away at past three o'clock. I and my friend, Mr. Harley, walked together, as we were going the same way, and I left him (Mr Harley) at the corner of Davies-street. On reaching home I went to bed, and was soon after awoke by a violent knocking at the door. I slipped on my clothes, and, opening the door, let Mr. Warren, Mr. Gear, and Mr. Curtis in. Mr. Warren said to me, "I have come upon an unpleasant business. I've lost my purse, which was handed about." I

naturally exclaimed, “Oh, nonsense!" when he said it was no laughing matter, and that I might have taken it in a joke. I told him I detested practical jokes, especially of this kind, although Mr. Warren and I had blacked Mr. Gear's face with a cork while he was asleep on the sofa. The prisoner concluded a long statement relative to the transaction, the purport of which was, that he denied fully any knowledge whatever of the abstraction of the property, and that on his being called