History

MARCH. DURING the first half

of this month the weather was mild, and the operations of agriculture and horticulture were carried on with advantage. By the 16th apricot blossom had appeared in some places, and even peach blossom were beginning to shew.

17 A Goosander (Mergus Merganser) and a Dunlin (Tringa alpina) were shot on the Esk and its banks, within the Duke of Buccleuch's grounds. Neither of these birds are common in the vicinity of Edinburgh. All uncommon birds shot by His Grace's game-keepers are, we understand, henceforth to be preserved and placed in glass cases, in Dalkeith House.

Uncommon Storm of Frost and Snow.-Early on the morning of the 19th, a sudden and heavy fall of snow took place. In about three hours it lay near a foot thick all around Edinburgh. All kinds of country labour were therefore completely stopt.

21. A strong gale from N. E. with continued snow, has render ed most of the roads in this neigh bourhood impassable. In many places, the snow, where drifted, lies eight feet deep on the roads, hiding hedges and walls from the view. The mail-coaches could no longer make their way, even with six hor ses. In the valleys about Arthur's Seat hills, thesnow, in some hollows, is from 15 to 20 feet deep.

22. The London Mail cam into and left town this day on horse back, the roads being so blocked up by snow as to be totally impassable to coaches.

23. The snow ceased; but this evening an intense frost set in; the mercury in Fahrenheit's ther mometer falling to 23° or 9 degrees

mentioned; and, what is of more

general importance, it must prove exceedingly pernicious to newly dropped lambs. The check given to vegetation in general, will not, it is believed, be attended with any bad effects.

26. The severe frost still continues, the mercury at 8 this morning standing at 24°; and having been observed, more early, as low as 21°, or 11 degrees below freezing.

According to the best accounts which have yet reached us, this heavy snow-storm has been only local. The weather in London is represented as comparatively genial and pleasant; and agricultural operations have continued to go on in Dumfries-shire and Galloway, no snow having fallen in that direction beyond the range of Lead-hills. In the West, the fall does not appear to have been nearly so great as about Edinburgh. How far North it had extended is not correctly known; but some had fallen beyond Aberdeen. In a southerly direction, it reached Berwick on the 21st, and extended to Durham and Carlisle, beyond which last place it is said little had fallen.

It has seldom, we presume, happened that so great a fall of snow and cold of such intensity, have ta ken place so late in the season,— after the sun has been some time in Aries, and his rays have acquired great influence.

Even now (27th March) all the lakes and pools are thickly frozen over; and to see boys skating on the North Loch ditches, on Good Friday, is perhaps rather a novelty.

N.

Memoirs

Trial of John Skelton for robberies on the morning of the New Year's day.

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY.

M

ONDAY the 2d of March came on before this Court, the trial of John Skelton, apprentice gunsmith, accused of committing the three following robberies, on the night of the 31st of December last, or morning of the 1st of January 1812-viz, 1st, Knocking down and robbing George Edmonston, clerk to Mr David Ramsay, printer, of a black watch ribbon, and a watch-key of gold, which also formed a seal, having a Cornelian stone set therein: 2d, For robbing Mr Walter Robertson, stoneware merchant, West Bow, on the South Bridge, of a silk twist watchchain, with a brass seal, and brass key: and 3d, For robbing Mr Wil liam Jolly, student of divinity, on the South Bridge, of a green silk purse, mounted with steel, containing a written line from Dr William Ritchie, to Professor Jameson, in favour of the said Mr Jolly.

George Edmonston, clerk to Mr David Ramsay, printer of the Edinburgh Evening Courant, stated, that he was on the High Street on the 31st; and, about eleven o'clock at night, when crossing from the south side to the Fleshmarket Close, where his sister lived, he was followed by several people, who demanded money of him, but, without giving him time to deliver it, knocked him down, and left him lying in a stair, all wet with blood; that, when he recovered his senses, he found that an attempt had been made to rob him of his watch; but, the swivel breaking, he only lost the ribbon and seal. Was shewn a seal and ribbon, and said they were his property. Being particularly examined as to the place where he was attacked, he stated that it was March 1812.

within the head of the Fleshmarket Close; that he was never spoken to on the High Street by any per son, till he was within the head of the Fleshmarket Close.

It being stated in the indictment, that the robbery of Mr Edmonston was committed on the High Street, when it appeared from the evidence to have been committed within the Fleshmarket Close, the Solicitor General, on the part of the Crown, waved this part of the charge against the prisoner.

stoneware

Walter Robertson, merchant, West Bow, being next examined, stated, that, about twelve o'clock, he left his house, in company with another gentleman, to go to Nicolson Street, and, when turning past Mr Blackwood's shop, on the South Bridge, he saw a man knocked down, who fell between the other gentleman and him, and he was immediately assaulted by the rioters, and forced against the wall, when he was robbed of his pocket book, containing fourteen guinea notes, and seventeen onepound-notes, and his watch-chain. He was attacked by between forty and fifty lads, who were all young men, none of them in his opinion more than twenty years of age. The witness identified his watchchain, seal, and key. When he was first attacked, he intreated them not to use him ill, on a new year's morning, and said he would give them some money to drink his health; but, while putting his hand into his pocket, to give them money, his coat was tore open, and his pocket-book taken away. He received a stroke with a stick, that struck off his hat, which he lost; and he just got off while another blow was aiming at him.

William Jolly, student of divinity, stated, that between twelve and one o'clock, of the 1st January, he came along the South Bridge,

and

and was attacked by a party of about three dozen, between the Cowgate Arch and Tron Church, who demanded a shilling to drink his health; but he told them he had no money. On this, two of the stoutest of them held his arms, while a smaller one searched his pockets. Several of them cried out to knock him down, but two objected to that, as he was a country lad. To convince them he had no money, he took out a small green purse, and shook it; but it was immediately snatched violently from him. The purse contained a line from the Rev. Dr Ritchie to Professor Jameson. The witness identified both the purse and the line it contained; said he was twice struck, but he did not fall farther than his knee.

Walter Alexander, apprentice to James Brown, shoemaker, Caltonstreet, deponed, that he knows the pannel, and saw him on the last night of the year at the head of Woodsworth's lane, Calton, along with James Johnstone, mason, K. M'Kenzie, the two Clerks, Ellis, and Campbell, apprentices to a carver and gilder. Johnstone desired him to bring out a stick, and the witness brought out two, but did not know for what purpose the sticks were got; that Johnstone was a leader, and the witness supposed himself and the others were to assist him; that there was a conversation among the party about taking gentlemen's hats, both before and after Skelton joined them, but he did not understand that the

sticks were to be used against gentlemen; that there was a plan to attack the police, but does not know by whom it was proposed;thinks he saw Skelton lift a lemon box from Mr Nimmo's door, at Greenside Place, and it was thrown at a policeman, but is not quite certain whether it was the pannel

or not that they attacked the policeman at Greenside Place; that the party went down a lane into Mr Allan's ground, and some of them climbed the trees and broke sticks, and thinks Skelton and Gun were among those who climbed the trees, as they had no sticks at first; that he saw Skelton with a small branch of tree that was made into a stick; that they were all provided with sticks, and then all proceeded up Johnthe lane to Leith-street; stone proposed to take stones to throw at the police, but none of them were thrown; that some time after they met about a dozen of the police, on which the party dispersed, after which he did not see Skelton. Some time after he heard Skelton's name called out on the South Bridge, but did not see him ; that he saw several gentlemen attacked on the Bridges and High Street, but is not sure whether it was before or after he heard Skelton's name called; that he saw a person knocked down near Mr Blackwood's shop, South Bridge, but does not recollect the time; that he saw a gentleman knocked down at the head of North Bridge, a policeman was also knocked down near the Fountain Well, and another policeman at the head of the Fleshmarket Close, but this was before what happened at Mr Blackwood's shop, South Bridge.-Before quitting the witness box, he received a very suitable exhortation from the Lord Justice Clerk as to his future conduct.

Kenneth McKenzie, apprentice to Mr Donaldson, confectioner, Leith Street, deponed, that he does not know the pannel, and did not see him on the last night of the year; that he was in company with Johnstone, the two Clerks, Walker, Gun, Grant, Alexander, and some others, that evening, several of whom he did not know; that all the party

party went down to Mr Allan's ground, and two of them went up the trees, and broke off sticks, but does not know who they were; met Johnstone at nine o'clock, and at his desire he went for his stick; that he did not notice John Skelton have a stick

(Here the Court desired the question by the Depute-Advocate, with the answer, to be written down by the clerk of Court, which was done accordingly.) They were -"Had the whole of the party sticks? Witness-Did not notice John Skelton have a stick.

Court-You said you did not know Skelton; what did you mean by saying he had no stick, if you did not know him?-Meant to say he was one of the three persons, who, as I was afterwards told, joined us at the head of Leith Walk; I never saw him in my life till this day; never heard his name till I did it in the Council-chamber.

How did you know his name? Mr Ponton asked me if I would know the lad who helped me to lift the orange box to throw at the policeman? I said I would not know him if I saw him. Mr Ponton told me, John Skelton helped me.

Was it Mr Ponton who told you that? No, not Mr Ponton, it was another gentleman; I was examined three times; it was the second time I got the information from the gentleman.

Did you not know who helped you to lift the box? No, I did not take any particular notice, he was about the same size as the prisoner; had no conversation with the person who lifted the box along with me; I did not speak to him."

(The Court observed that it was by no means credible that such a transaction could have taken place without some conversation; nobody could believe that he would lift a box with a man he did not know,

without exchanging almost a word with him.)

The witness then said, that he, and another lad, who he did not know, took an orange box from Mr Nimmo's door in Greenside Street, and threw it at a policeman; saw Walker strike a policeman; when coming from Mr Allan's, some person called out to get stones, which was done, but the witness did not carry his stone; about a month, or three weeks before, Johnstone proposed they should take gentlemen's hats that night, and thinks it was understood by the whole party that it was to be done; that when the box was thrown, he never spoke to the person who assisted him; either the witness, or the person who assisted him, said, "Take the one side, and I will take the other." Knows the former witness, Alexander, but while under examination in the Council-chamber, he never spoke to him; that he was at one time about an hour together with Alexander, but said nothing to him, only he remarked to the boy Thomson, that he, (Alexander) had told the whole story, and had little to do for his pains.-This witness was committed to prison for prevarication.

Reverend Dr Ritchie, deponed, that he knows Mr William Jolly, a student of Divinity, and remembers writing a line for him to Professor Jameson, which line he read and identified in Court.

John Grant, aged 14 years, residing in Greenside Place, deponed, he was in Leith Street on the last night of the year, where he met Johnstone, the two Clerks, Mackenzie, Gun, Alexander, and others; that Johnstone wished the witness rather to go away; that some time after, they were joined by two others, and Johnstone asked them to assist in giving the police a kneitting (i. e. beating) and to

stand