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the Sheriff's officer met them from Train. Many were prevented by sickness from coming. The Sheriff's of. ficer went to their houses and executed their summonses, and returned at night to Ardgay, after experiencing the greatest hospitality. The reverend gentleman says he shall go bound for the peace of the parish, and that no obstruction shall be given to the execution of the laws; at the same time he makes the following feeling appeal on behalf of his parishioners:

"Of all the human race,' he says, there is not a more grateful or affectionate being than the Highlander, to the man who feels for his case and sympathizes with him; but, alas! few of the present day know his value; if they did, the system of extermination would not continue. I trust Mr Monro will still avert, from the first days of his possession of the estate, so dreadful a judgment as the expulsion of nearly 600 persons, able and willing to pay their rents, who are not one penny in arrears, and who have hitherto paid a higher rent than the tacksman who is to succeed them." Of these six hundred souls there are more than 100 bed-ridden and aged persons, whose locks have grown hoary on the soil, under the fostering kindness of their late excellent landlord, Sir Hector Monro, and whom no earthly power can remove till death come to their relief.""

3. At half past two this morning, a dreadful fire broke out in the town of Chatham. It commenced at the house of Mr Hill, a baker, residing at 69, High-street. Before any assistance could be afforded, it had gained such strength as to put an end to all hopes of saving Mr Hill's house, or that next to it, with which the flames had almost immediately com. municated. The attention of those who first came to the spot was then directed to the adjoining houses, and to those opposite, towards which the

flames were driven by a violent northwesterly wind, which continued to blow strongly until a late hour in the morning. From Hill's house, and from those of Mr Watson a linendraper, of Mr Cohen a pawnbroker, and two or three others which intervened, the devouring element reached the Sun-tavern, a very extensive pile of building, and the principal inn of Chatham. When this house caught fire the scene was most awful, for the flames had now been driven by the violence of the wind to the opposite side of the street, which then presented to the eye a pile of burning buildings, between which, from the narrowness the place, the passage was in some places impossible, and in all extremely dangerous. About half past four or five, the roof of the Suntavern fell in with a tremendous crash, and shortly after only a very small part of the walls were seen standing. At one time the brewery of Mr Best was thought to be in such danger that its utter ruin was looked upon as inevitable; providentially, however, by the prompt assistance of great numbers of the town's-people, aided by the active exertions of the military, it escaped with comparatively trifling damage. Mr Best was not so fortunate with respect to his dwelling-house, which, with several adjoining houses, also his property, were entirely consumed. The walls of Mr Best's house were, from their great solidity, the only parts which were not levelled with the earth. At four, and between that and six o'clock, the confusion which reigned in the town was beyond description. From the appearance of the flames at the latter hour, it was thought that all the houses south-east of that where the fire began would fall a sacrifice to its rage. So strong was this impression, that many families, considerably removed from the immediate scene of danger, had taken down their beds and other

articles of furniture, and had removed a large part of them to a still greater distance.

About 11 o'clock the fury of the flames was checked by the partial destruction of some houses on the same side of the street where it began, and by the total demolition of one or two on the opposite side, which the flames had not then reached, but which it was judged proper to take down, to prevent a further spread of the conflagration. The whole number of houses destroyed in High-street is 38; but there were several small buildings destroyed in the rear of each. The vio lence of the wind was such, that large flakes of burning matter were conveyed to some hundred yards' distance. One of those flakes fell upon a large stack of hay, about 150 yards from High-street, which consumed that, and two others which were close by. There was a considerable quantity of hay between these stacks, which fortunately escaped. From the extraordinary rapidity with which the flames spread, and the danger which threatened in a narrow street, both sides of which for a great part on fire, an immensity of property was destroyed, which, had the weather been more mild, might have been saved. Several houses, and those, we understand, principally belonging to persons whose ruin must be the consequence, were wholly uninsured. it is, however, a satisfaction, in relating this melancholy accident, to be able to state that no life was lost on the occasion. One or two persons were, we understand, hurt by the falling of a wall, but not dangerously. At an early hour of the day the news of the fire reached London, from which some engines were dispatched; but before their arrival the flames had been nearly subdued. The engines from Rochester and Maidstone were on the spot as soon as possible after the account had reached those

places. The Sun fire-engine, drawn by 6 horses, reached Chatham at 6 in the afternoon. Great inconvenience was experienced from the want of a plentiful supply of water. In some places it was conveyed in casks to the spot where the engines were at work, and there emptied into the streets.

This is, we understand, the third severe visitation by fire which Chatham has experienced within the last half-century. About 20 years ago, a fire broke out nearly in the same place as the present one, which consumed nearly 70 houses; and about 21 or 22 years before that period, a fire happened in the same street, by which 80 or 90 houses fell a prey.

4. A murder has been committed in the town of Woolwich, Kent, not exceeded in point of atrocity by any which stain the calendar of crimes in this country. The persons murdered were Mr Thomas Parker, a venerable old gentleman, upwards of 70 years of age, and Sarah Brown, his housekeeper.

He was an inoffensive gentlemanly man, very much respected by the whole neighbourhood. His only servant was Sarah Brown, a steady woman of about 40 years of age, who had lived with him three years. She too was well known by the neighbours, and was generally respected. On Friday evening nothing particular was observed about the premises. Mr Parker was occasionally seen at the bow window of the parlour in which he usually sat, and his servant was seen engaged in her ordinary avocations. We should here state, that while the front of the house looks into Red Lion-street, at the back there is a small garden, terminated by a high paling, which divides it from a narrow lane, which is a common thoroughfare. The day closed without any suspicion being excited; but at one in the morning, the sentinel on duty

at the north arch of the artillery barracks observed a dense smoke rising from Mr Parker's house. He instantly gave an alarm, and several of the artillerymen rushed forth to give assistance. They soon reached the spot which had attracted notice, and there found the flames bursting from the parlour window. The men rapped at the door with great violence to awaken the inmates, who, it was supposed, were asleep, and insensible of their danger. To their humane efforts no answer was returned; a death-like silence prevailed within. The cry of "fire" soon spread, and two engines arrived on the spot, and commenced playing into the window. Corporal Anderson and Corporal Poutis, who were present with their men, now resolved to force the street door, and, if possible, to rescue Mr Parker and his servant from their impending fate. The resolution was no sooner formed than carried into effect, and these brave men, followed by others, rushed into the passage. From thence they went up stairs into the front room on the first floor; here the ravages of the fire were perceptible; the furniture of a bed, which was of maroon (a woollen manufacture), had been partly consumed, and the embers still smoked. In the bed itself there was no vestige of a human being. The men then ran into the bed-room on the second floor, which was found in flames; but the devouring element was soon extinguished. The search which was made for Mr Parker here was also fruitless, as it was also in a back room in the first floor; neither he nor his servant could be found. Every exertion was now turned toward suppressing the flames in the parlour, which were gradually extending, by means of the window-frame, to the room above. A hole was cut in the floor of the bed chamber, through which water was poured; and by this

means, added to the incessant playing of the engines without, the danger was subdued. In a short time the parlour door was thrown open, and Lyons, a man belonging to the artillery band, entered. He looked eagerly round in search of the hapless tenants; he perceived a heap of something lying behind the door, and approached and attempted to lift it up, when he found it to be part of a human body. The man called to his companions, who now joined him, and a second body, which proved to be that of a female, was found stretched in the same place, although not so much burnt. All hope of restoring life had filed, and the bodies were left in this situation for some time, no doubt being entertained that they were those of the unfortunate Mr Parker and his servant. A further investigation of the premises now took place, when it was perceived that blankets had been nailed up against every window, as if to conceal from those without the appearance of the flames within. This led to a more minute examination, and it was ascertained that fire had been communicated in three different and distinct places, no one place having the slightest connexion with the other; that is to say, in the parlour on the ground floor, in the bed-chamber on the first floor, and in the bed-chamber on the second floor. From this it was concluded that there had been some foul play, but by whom yet remained a mystery. Sentinels were placed round the house, and at break of day the investigation was renewed. The dreadful truth then burst upon the horror-struck spectators. The bodies of Mr Parker and his servant were examined. The former was burnt nearly to a cinder; the left leg and foot, on which there was a black silk stocking and a shoe, only remained entire. The skull, however, although the flesh was burnt off, remained whole, and afforded convin

cing testimony of the commission of a most foul and detestable murder: on the left side, towards the back, there was a terrific fracture.

The body of the woman was next examined, and here, if doubt existed before, it was completely removed. The unfortunate creature lay stretched upon her face; her apparel was partly consumed, and her hair, which was long, was spread in dishevelled locks about her. She was lifted upon a table, and the cause of her death became at once perceptible. A horrible wound, inflicted apparently with a blunt instrument, appeared over her eye, and at the back of her head were three deep fractures, which some imagined might have been produced by a bayonet, or some such weapon.

ELECTIONS.

At no former election for the City of London were there greater exertions made, nor was party spirit more warmly manifested; though public feeling was indifferent, and the poll slow for several days.

The following is the state of each day's poll, during this severe contest.

Wed. Th. Frid. Sat. Mon. Tues. Wood.......... 1553|1260|2062|2990|446215370 Wilson......... 6661397 2207 3200 46565358 Curtis........ 617 1295 2062 29614339 4908 Lord Mayor.... 521 1140 1802 2596|3769 4259 Waithman...... 423 918 1550 2208 3324 4119 Thorpe... 463 1019 1584 22153273|3921

Westminster was contested warmly, though not with the same fury and violence, as on the last occasion. Sir

Francis Burdett and Mr Hobhouse, the popular candidates, were opposed by Mr Lamb, who, though a moderate whig, was on this occasion supported by ministry. At the close of the poll, the numbers were,

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At Chester election four candidates

offered themselves, Lord Belgrave and General Grosvenor, the late members, Sir John Gray Egerton, and Mr Townshend. For some elections this city has been noted for the severe struggles of the popular party to obtain the ascendancy; the Grosvenor interest, notwithstanding the patriotism of the head, the Earl Grosvenor, lost considerably in the public opinion in the late election. The General was in imminent personal danger; his carriage was thrown over the Dee bridge, and himself escaped with difficulty, covered with wounds and bruises.

The severest contest ever remem

Rolleston

This poll proves the firmness and consistency of the voters. There was no splitting of votes, and no compromising.

The election for Coventry was a severe struggle between the partizans of the contending candidates; considerable ebullition of anger took place, and the city was several times thrown into confusion; none of the candidates lent their assistance to promote it. Mr Cobbett's high expectations, which be had been led into, were not realized, though he had the majority of the popular feeling.

The following is the state of the poll at the close:

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1525

1467

518

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