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which was calculated for a greater distance, the consequence was, that they went over the inner harbour, and fell on the town, where they must have done considerable mischief, as several conflagrations were seen.

"These pyrotechnic arrows will fly nearly two miles and a half, and are capable of communicating their fire for nearly ten minutes after having reached their point. They are prodigiously large, and have an iron-pointed socket at the end, which sticks in whatever it may be aimed at. This socket has likewise a tube, for the purpose of containing the inflammable matter, with six holes, through which it issues in a state of liquefaction. The stick attached to the rocket is nearly twenty feet long.The ingredients of this destructive composition are said to be of so powerful and inflammable a nature, as almost to defy the counteracting effect of water, which for some time seems rather to increase than extinguish the violence of its fury. The fuse with which they are provided continues to burn for seven or eight minutes after they are shot off, when some of the rockets explode, and act in the new capacity of shells. They are capable, we understand, of being thrown with almost as much accuracy and precision as a shell, or carcass from a mortar, and with equal effect."

The expedition under General Craufurd has been unfortunate in the outset. One of the transports, returned to Falmouth, reports that they had experienced much foul weather, that several vessels were damaged, and that the whole fleet had probably steered for Ireland.

The Ariadne frigate, having on board the Marquis of Douglas, our Ambassador to the Court of St Petersburgh, and Count Strogonoff, the Russian Ambassador, sailed from Yarmouth on Saturday, Dec. 6. for St Petersburgh.

The Asturias frigate, having on board Lord Hutchinson, and suite, has also sailed from Yarmouth for the Baltic.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. Quick Travelling Artillery.-An interesting experiment has recently been made in the Artillery. Lieut.-Col. Crichton, with two six-pounders, mounted on a new construction of his invention, together with the artillerymen at tached to them, was ordered to set out from Edinburgh for Woolwich, taking

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post-horses at the ordinary stages. One of the axle-trees broke on the road, which occasioned a considerable stop, and some other delays occurred; yet the party reached Woolwich (a distance of 400 miles) in 77 hours, the men arriving in perfect condition for service. So great journey was chosen, in order that sufficient observation might be made of the different effects from length of stages, or quality of road. In consequence of the accident which had happened, a second experiment was directed. The party went from Woolwich to Southampton, and returned to Woolwich in 24 hours without fatigue, the distance travelled being 160 miles. The experiment has proved that powder may be thus carried without danger from the friction, which has hitherto been apprehended from any great velocity of movement. The object of these trials has been to ascertain, whether, in case of an enemy's landing at any distant point, where few or no guns might be stationed, a powerful force of artillery could not be transported to the spot, before the invader should have made any progress. The result has been satisfactory, not only on this head, but promises the means of considerable saving; for, if artillery can be thus forwarded, by securing a certain number of horses in the neighbourhood, at given points, in case of invasion, a material diminution might probably be made in the number constantly kept at the great ordnance depots. We understand that the alteration of the carriages is a very trifling expence.

The Middlesex Election closed on the 28th Nov. when the numbers were for Mr Mellish 3218, Mr Byng, 2304, Sir F. Burdett, 1197 ;-the two first were, of course, declared duly elected. In consequence of some language used on the hustings by Sir Francis, a duel was likely to have taken place between him and Mr Redhead Yorke, but the Magistrates having information of it, the parties were bound over to keep the peace.

The election of Members for Westminster commenced on Monday Nov. 3, and exhibited the usual scene of tumult and disorder. The candidates were Sir Sam. Hood, Bart. Captain in the Navy, R. B. Sheridan, Esq. and Jas. Paul, Esq. formerly Member for Newtown, Hants,

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proposed by Sir Francis Burdett. For the first eight days the latter candidate was considerably a-head of Mr Sheridan. But an union having taken place between the Baronet and Mr S. by which it was agreed that the friends of each should vote for the other, Mr Sheridan was at length successful, and at the final close of the poll on the 15th day, the numbers stood as follow:-For Sir Samuel Hood 5478, Mr Sheridan 4753, Mr Paul 4481. Whereupon the High Bailiff declared the two former duly elected. Mr Paul demanded a scrutiny, which the Bailiff refused, as the time fixed for making the return would not permit it. On this occasion, the speeches from the hustings abounded in violence, personality, and invective. The expence to some of the candidates amounts to an enormous sum, to defray which, their friends have opened subscriptions.

The Duke of Queensberry has sent a draft on his banker for a thousand pounds to Mr Sheridan's Committee, in aid of the fund opened to defray the expence of that gentleman's election.

On Monday morning, Aug. 11. two gentlemen met at Chalk Farm, near London, with an intention to fight a duel, when they were immediately seized by three Bow-street officers, disarmed, and carried before Justice Read, at the Police office, who admitted them to bail to keep the peace, themselves in 400l. each, and two sureties in 200l. each. The parties were Francis Jeffrey Esq. Advocate, of Edinburgh, and Thos. Moore, Esq. known by the appellation of Anacreon Moore-The cause of the meeting is stated to be as follows:

The Edinburgh Review, in its number for July last, devoted its eighteenth article to a volume 4to. of Epistles, Odes, and other Poems, published by Thomas Moore, Esq.. Among the numerous observations upon this new work of the author, we find the follow. ing:

"There is nothing, it will be allowed, more indefensible, than a cold-blood. ed attempt to corrupt the purity of an innocent heart; and we can scarcely conceive any being more truly despicable than he who, without the apology of unruly passion, or tumultuous desires, sits down to ransack the impure place of his memory for inflammatory images and expressions, and commits them la

boriously to writing, for the purpose of insinuating pollution into the minds of unknown and unsuspecting readers. It seems to be his (Mr Moore's) aim, to impose corruption upon his readers, by concealing it under the mask of refinement. It is doubly necessary to put the law in force against this delinquent, since he has not only indicated a disposition to do mischief, but seems unfor tunately to have found an opportunity." The Reviewer concludes, "Such are the demerits of this work, that we wish to see it consigned to universal reprobation."

Mr Moore took offence at this critique. He accordingly sought the author; and Mr Jeffrey, then in London, came forward boldly, and avowed himself the writer of the article-A challenge was the consequence; and the parties agreed to meet at Chalk Farm, a place not less famous for duels, than Parnassus for poetry, when they were apprehended.

On Sunday, Oct. 12. a duel was fought at Mount Edgecumbe by Mr Armstrong, midshipman of the Prince of Wales, and Mr Long, midshipman of the Resistance frigate, in which the latter was killed on the spot. His antagonist and the seconds left him immedi. ately after the fatal shot was fired, but they have all been apprehended.

On Thursday, Nov. 13. a duel was fought near Limerick, between Captain Beeves, of the 69th regiment, and Capt. B. of the 6th West India regiment.The former, at the first fire, received a mortal wound, and died on the Tuesday following.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19. a duel took place near Gosport, between Mess. Ottley and Connell, first and second Lieutenants of his Majesty's ship Chichester, now repairing at said place; when the former was shot through the head at the first fire, and expired on the spot. Connell and the seconds have decamped.

Mr

On Tuesday night, the house of Col, John Bannerman, in Gloucester place, London, was broken open, and robbed of jewels and plate to the amount of between Two and Three Thousand Pounds. The robbery being very mysterious, all the servants were examined by Justice Bond, when the circumstances against the under butler were so strong, that he was detained in custody,

TRIAL of the Hon. ROBERT JOHNSON, one of the fudges of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland, for a Libel, before the COURT of KING'S BENCH, and a Special Jury, on Saturday, November 23. 1805.* MR ABBOT opened the pleadings, by stat

ing, that this was an indictment against the Hon. Judge, charging, that he wickedly contriving to bring his Majesty's Government in Ireland into contempt and disrepute, and to cause it to be believed by all the King's subjects, that Lord Hardwicke was an unfit person to govern that part of the United Kingdom-the Lord Chancellor Redesdale corrupt in his office-Mr Justice Osborne ready to second every act of injustice on the part of the Irish Governmentand Mr Marsden, the Under Secretary of State, a person equally venal-did publish in a certain publication, called "Cobbett's Weekly Register," a libel signed Yuverna.

It was ushered in by a quotation from Laocoon's address to the Trojans, in the Æneid of Virgil," Equo ne credita teneri,” and by referring to the wooden horse introduced by the Grecians into the city of Troy; comparing that wooden machine with the head of Lord Hardwicke, which, though apparently innoxious, contained secret mischief, and the means of destruction to the people. It then went on to revile his Lordship as a breeder of sheep in Cambridgeshire as well as the Lord ChancelTor, whom it styled a stout built Chancery Pleader. It also accused his Lordship of transferring the fees of the office of the Master of the Rolls to his own; it drew an invidious comparison between the late Lord Kenyon and Judge Osborne, to the prejudice of the latter, whom it charged with having first corrupted the heart of the late Mr Emmett, and lashed with a speech to evidence the dying son of his friend, who had made no defence. It also accused Mr Marsden of participating in all the peculations of the Government of Ireland.

The Attorney-General then addressed the Jury in a speech of great length. He set out with observing, that it was with un

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common pain he had to disclose to their attention, a case of the most singular and hideous description. He had to bring before them this day a Judge of the Empire, one of his Majesty's Judges, charged with an offence of the most mean species, that of being the concealed and anonymous author of a libel against the Government of his country. He should have thought that a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland would have regarded his high rank and station more; that he would have been more sensible of, and more alive to, all the dignity of his exalted station, than meanly to dip his hands in the vile gall, of which the libel he charged him with was so remarkably characteristic. He then proceeded with much force and ability to enlarge upon the extreme impropriety of a man in the situation of a Judge, reviling, by the foulest libel, that Government it was his duty and interest to have supported. He paid the highest compliments to the character of Lord Hardwicke and the Lord Chancellor Redesdale, both of whom he described to be as superior to his eulogy as they were to the malice of the defendant. Of the publication itself, he thought it unnecessary to argue on its libellous tendency; it was so obvious, that he was persuaded his Learned Friend, who had the defence of the Learned Judge, would not attempt to justify it. The only question then would he, whether it had been published by the defendant? This would be proved by the evidence of the manuscript itself, which had been given up by Mr Cobbett, upon his conviction as the publisher.-The moment the original writing was in the hands of the officers of the Crown, they set about endeavouring to discover whose it was, and it had been ascertained by the uniform and positive opinion of four gentlemen, that the style and character of it was that of the defendant. One of these persons, Mr Waller, was the Solicitor to a Board of Revenue in Ireland, at which the defendant, Mr Johnson, had for many years acted as an Assistant Barrister; in this capacity, he of course became intimately acquainted with his hand-writing, continually being in the habit of seeing his written opinions, as well as his notes and letters, which, as a Member of the Irish Parliament, he franked. The other witnesses, three in number, were, from their official situations, equally able to speak with certainty to the fact. If this was made out, the province of the Jury would be at an end, as they would have no alternative but that of finding such a verdict as would transfer to the Court the power of punishing the libel as it justly merited.

Mr White, the Solicitor for the Treasury, pro

produced the two letters given up by Mr Cobbet. One was dated the 29th of October, and the other the 28th of November, 1803, and they were both signed Juverna. Mr Cobbett was then examined: he stated, that in 1803 he received a letter, with the Irish post-mark on it, from Mr Budd, of Pall Mall, where at that time all communications for his Weekly Register were addressed, enquiring whether it would be agreeable to him to receive from Ireland some useful and true information respecting public affairs there; and if so, he was desired in his next number to state where such communications were to be sent, and Mr C. accordingly intimated that they should be addressed to Mr Budd, No. 100, Pall Mall. The letters, the subject of the present indictment, soon arrived, and were accordingly published soon thereafter. The libel, signed Juverna, was one of them.-The manuscripts he preserved, but the envelopes in which they were sent, he believed, were destroyed, at least he had never been able to find them. He admittted that he had never sent to the printer for them, and upon that omission a point I was saved to be hereafter determined.

Mr Richard Waller stated, that he had frequent and repeated meetings with the defendant; he often received writings from him, and had seen him write; he knew his hand-writing perfectly, at least as well as that of any other man, and, to the best of his belief, he swore to the two letters shown him as the hand-writing of Mr Justice 'Johnson.

Mr Charles Ormsby, who had known 'the defendant 20 years, stated, that he had many opportunities of seeing the defendant's writing on franks, in opinions and amended pleadings, when he was Counsel for the Revenue Board. He had seen the libels twelve months ago, and believed they were the writing of the defendant.

Mr Joshua Nunn, Deputy to Lord Donoughmore, and one of the Secondaries in the Remembrancer's office, in Ireland, who had known the defendant since 1792, deponed that the letters were the hand-writing of Mr Justice Johnson. A gentle man, named Edwards, who knew Mr Johnson's hand-writing, gave a similar testi

mony.

The allusions of Cambridgeshire Earl and Stout Chancery Pleader, contained in the libel, were then proved by Mr Charles Crowe, as applicable to Earl Hardwicke, and Lord Redesdale.

Mr Adam then commenced a most able defence for the accused Judge, whom he 'described as a gentleman, who had passed a long life in the honourable exercise of those important duties demanded by the

high situation of public trust and confidence he had held. Afflictive indeed would it be to such a man, whose whole time and attention had been devoted to the support of the Government and Constitution of the country, and the laws, in the administration of which he had been so materially con cerned, to have it recorded of him that he had been guilty of so malevolent an act, as that of sending into the world an anonymous libel, to destroy the fame of the immediate representative of the King, vilify the first Law Officer of the country, reflect upon the honour and character of a brother Judge, and by the general scope and tendency of the publication, to excite a spirit of discontent and disaffection to his Majesty's Government, and the eminent persons entrusted by him with the higher functions of the State. If the Crown had produced four witnesses, who, speaking only of their know. ledge of the defendant's hand-writing, five or six years ago, conceived that the manuscript was written by him, he should, in opposition to their testimony, produce more than an equal number of witnesses, who had been the intimate friends of the defendant during the whole of his life up to the present moment, who were as well acquainted with the character of his hand-writing as with his features. These persons would state that the libel, instead of being the production of the defender's pen, had not the least resemblance to his manner of writting.

The first witness for the defendant was Sir Richard Jeb, a medical gentleman, who said he had been intimately acquainted with him for upwards of thirty years. He look ed at the manuscripts of the libel in question, and declared they were totally unlike the hand-writing of the defendant-there was not the least similitude. On the crossexamination of this witness, it appeared, that some experiments had been tried at his house for the purpose of shewing that it was easy to imitate the defendant's handwriting, and that in fact, there was a person of the name of Carr, who had written the libel, but would not avow it, for fear of his father being dismissed from a place he held under government. Four other witnesses deposed nearly in the same terms, positively denying the least resemblance between the libel and the defendant's ordinary writing.

Lord Ellenborough went over the whole of the case, and recapitulated all the evidence. He remarked upon several incongruities in the evidence of the defendant's witnesses, particularly the utter improbability of the defendant's knowing the real author. The Jury, in five minutes, returned a verdict of Guilty.

SCOT

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Northesk,

Elibank, Belhaven, Rollo,

Kellie

Haddington 34

Balcarras,

Kinnaird. 36

Semple 22 Napier 36

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UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES.

Earl of Strathmore 32 | Earl of Aboyne 38

3.5 Lord Saltoun

Dalhousie 37

5

Those marked thus are new, in room of the Earls of Eglintoun, Cassillis, and Breadalbane, lately created British Peers; and the Earls of Strathmore, Kellie, Dalhousie, and Aboyne, and Lord Napier.

This was one of the keenest contests that ever took place on any similar occasion. All those having right voted, except the Duke of Hamilton, Marquis of Lothian, Earls of Buchan, Wemyss, and Findlater, Lords Gray, Saltoun, Fairfax, and Ruthven, some of whom are at present abroad. The Marquis of Tweedale, Earl of Dumfries, and Lord Cranston, are minors.

The election was not over till half past five o'clock. The place in the gallery allotted for the admission of Peers' tickets was filled early in the forenoon. A number of Ladies of the first distinction were present, and many could not obtain admission. Owing to the great attention paid by the official people present, every thing was conducted in a proper manner.

The title of Earl of Marchmont is claimed by Lieut. Alexander Home, of the royal navy, who also voted under protest.

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