The Cambrian

SWANSEA, FRIDAV, DEC. 23. Extract of a Letterfrom London, dated. Eight Clock Wednesday Evening last. Four French mads arrived this afternoon at the post-omce. The packets which Wring the mails from the other side are French, and they will only sail when the wind is moderate. It is nut sur- prising then that the late tempestuous weather should have kept. them in harbour. The letters aod papers from France, it is st-ated, will not he delivered till late this evening, hut we trust in [sufficient good time to he enabled to notice their r contents by this evening's post., "Tins morning the arrival of the Hannah was announced from Quebec she left that place on the iOth ultimo, and brings a Gazette of the 17th, containing an official account, frum Kingston, of the evacuation of Fort Erie by the Americ.m tioops an the 3th of November, they having previously olowlI up the works of the fortress, and reduced it to ruins. The Americaii troops immediately passed over to ttieir- 'own side of the Lake, Gen. Drum mond couLJ mIke ird use whatever of the lortrcss. for winter quarters. It was stated at Quebec, that a resolution had passed the Senate for the raising i0,000 additional t'rOojiS. I' Soollaftcr the above intelligence had tfans- pired, we learned the arrival of the William Neiison, Hogarth,> from Quebec; she sailed as late as the ,25th tilt, in company with the Alexander and another vessel, fur England; she is the bearer of no particular intelligence relative to military ope- rations, the campaign being completely at an end. A passenger on board the William Neilson states, that on their passage, off Cape Clear, they fell in with the Harpy American privateer, of 14 guns and ISO men, by whom they were captured; after being 'n possession of the enemy several hotirs, the Cap- tain of the Harpy, in consideration of being greatly encumbered with prisoners, and of the entreaty of two ladies on board the prize, consented to the William Neilson being made a cartel. She Was first plundered of the greateist part of her Stores, and then 28 prisoners were put on hoard, taken out of the prizes Jane and Garland, the tormer -and the latter from the West Indies; one of these vessels (it is not stated which) was sent into port, and the oiher but-nt, when the cartel parted from the privateer, about twelve days ago; 0 since which time they experienced the most violent gales of wind, and expected to founder every moment, We do not hear of the arrival of a messenger or any frcsli intelligence from Ghent. It puzzles some of the peace speculators to find that all the contracts connected with supplies for British Ame- rica are continued; by Government. The flour contracts are renewed, and we also learn that by an arrival from Halifax abont a fortnight ago, Go. vernmeut was earnestly entreated to send out large quantities of fire hearths, boilers, &c. &c. for the shipping in that quarter notwithstanding it was deemed expedient at the time not to comply with above one third of the order, within these few days, however, Government have thought tt neces. sary to send out the stores to the full extent re- qtiirod. "The Walsingham packet is arrived at Falmouth from Gibraltar, from whence she saifed on the 7th inst. and brings accounts of the flowing vessels having received instructions from his Majesty's ship Curacoa, bound to England, viz. Fly, Davies; Cumberland, Shuttle worth Crown Prince, Waluer; Stanhope, Johnson; Violet, House; Montagu, Browning; Sisters, Providence; Whiting, Marshal; Grace,Btrtlet; Faith, Barker; Charles, Richards; No. 91 transport,-and 177 transport*—The fleet to sail first fair wind. Clean bills of health are now received from Gibraltar. His Mijesty's si)ip I:iligle sailed from Aigesiras, with a convoy, for the West Indies on the 19th ult. and his Majesty's ship Wanderer, with a fleet for England, arrived there on the 24th. Stocks.—Three p-or Cent. Reduced, 65t |— Consols for opening, 6616i G6|.—Omnium, It. "Since,writing the above we find that letters hive been received in town from Ghent, which sjsite that the negociations between the Commissioners are proceeding with the greatest activity, and that .notwithstanding the secrecy which is observed re- specting the important conferences which took t, place on the 10th, it is.generaliy understood that the proceedings are in a state very favourable to the wished for pacific resulf." The New Independent Meeting-Ilouss in Castle- street, Swansea, will be opened on Wednesday next tor Divine Service, which will be continued /on Thursday; on both day* very large congrega- tions are expected,—See Advertisement The Duke of Beaufort has been pleased to cause the name of Joseph Austin, Esq. Gamekeeper to the King, lo tie inserted m the Commission of the ..Peace, lor the county of Monmouth. The Lord Bishop of Sr. David's has been pleased to license the Key. Jonathan Williams, A. M. Mas- ter of the GranilTi Ir School at Leominster, to the Lectureship founded in the church of liiiayader, in theeofinty of Radnor. At a Turnpike Meeting of the Trustees of the district of Newport, in the eodrity of Monmouth, held on Saturday the 17th instant, a contracL was entered into for making a new line of rotd from the' bottom of Oak-Hill, on the road leading from Newport to the Passage to a place on the same road called the Unicorn, being in length near five miles, by which Fair Oak and Catsash Hills, which now so much impbde the progress of tra- vellers, will be avoided. This work will be of great. advantage to the public, and to the southern part cf the Principatity of Wales in parncular, and has been effected by the praiseworthy and public spirited exertions of Sir Charles Morgan, Bart, of Tredegar, who has liberally contributed one thou- sand pounds; towards it. The recent Act prohibiting, the circulation of Tokens after the 19th instant, does not apply to Copper Tokens, which may therefore be circulated .as usual, The convenience afforded to the trading part of the community by.the issue of Tokens is acknow- ledged by all; and we trust that the holders of them will not press too hard upon the gentlemen bywhorn they were isstled, but by giving them time, enable them to withdraw then-Tokens gra- dually from circulation. On Wednesday uight last, between ten and eleven o'clock, as V lii un Davios, of Foxhole, near Swansea, was returning home from Neath, he was stopped near Drnmma. Wood, by three fellows • he of whom held a pistol to his breast, ind robbed him of a. silver watch, one ten-pound and two five- pound Bank of England Hotes; with which they made off tbrough the wood. Extract of a letter from Milford, Dec. 41.—u The Admiral Cockbournej Dyer, arrived at this port. sailed from Halifax on the 2*2 1 November, under convoy of the Loire frigate, Capt. Nash, with nine y 1. 1. other vessels, principally transports, from whom she parted on the 9th inst. m iat. 49. 30. long. 13.; she brings no news. She has lost her Cables and anchors, and the whole of her sails. It has blown a violent gale of wind, with little intermission, since Thursday last. On Friday morning the brig Active, of Cardigan, Davies, master, was driven on the rorks in this harbour, and remained there until the iiexi; nioruing; when through the exertions of the officers and crews of the Diligence and Fox Customs cutters she was got off without sustaining any Very serious injury. We hope the parties who exerted themselves will be handsomely rewarded on this occasion, as had not the means been used which they afforded, the vessel would, there is little doubt, have gone to pieces. The Government vessel Cook, master, from Bristol bound to Cork, was this day driven on shore in the lo wer part of the harbour, and it is supposed she most become a total wreck. The .passengers are safely arrived at this place without having received any injury. As it now blows a perfect gale, I fear my next will convey )nuch more unfavourable' information to the shipping interest than the present; hut his Majesty's ships and the other vessels, which are now become very numerous, and many of large burthen, appear to ride in perfect safety." The George of Swansea, from Youghall to South-, ampton, run on shore on the Warden Ledge, hie of \Vigb r, but has been got off, and is discharging her cargo at Yarun uth. On Tuesday morning, the sloop Medina, Robert May, master, bound from Liverpool to Topsham, was towed into BeaUmètriS" by the Success revenue cutter, wi'h the loss of bowsprit, boom, &c.—She had repeatedly struck on the banks, and must in- evitably have been ldst, had it not been for the above fortunate assistance. The following affecting accident happened at Moughtre, near Newtown, Montgomeryshire, on Saturday night. By the siKl len slipping of a quah- ti'y of earth, loosened by heavy rains that had fallen during the day, a poor cottager's house, built under a steep bank, had its walls beaten in, and himself, his wife, and fiVe small children, were instantly overwhelmed by a torrent of mud: two ot the children were suffocated; one of them was an infant at the breast of its mother, who suffered the indiscribable agony of feeling its last siroggles without the possibility of affording it the least relief: She herself was forced upon the fire, by which her legs were Severely burnt, and her hus- band was driven outside the hotlse, and there fixed in the surrounding ruin, a distressed spectator of the sufferings of his family, without being able to st'1r to their assistance. The most prompt exertions were made by the neighbours, but they were unable to remove the sufferers from their perilous situation in less than two hours. These-unfortunate people are in the greatest distress, being, by their bruises, rendered unable to do any thing for the support of themselves and children. Melancholy Accident.On Tuesday, two lads about IS years of age, twio-sons of Mr. Hd. Lloyd, a respectable barge-owner of Stourport, were drowned in the river Avon, at Evesham. They had solicited their father's permission to go oil the water in his own boat, -which he peremptorily re. fused; but they rashly got into another, and were carried by the rapidity of the stream .towards the bridge, where, the river being tod high to: admit their going through the arch with the mast stand- ing, the boat was upset, and they both perished within sigtit of their distracted parent !-w\ third boy (apprentice to their father) who was with them, was fortunately saved. What contributes to render this melancholy circumstance still more distressing is, that the two unhappy youths were the only children of their parents, unusually attached to each other, and boys of more than ordinary capa* city. They had formed a predilection for their father's employment, and had designated the ves. set, of which he was owner, with the title of" The William and Joseph," names correspondin<r with their own. o On Wednesday night, a dreadful fire broke out in the extensive clothing works of ;vjr_ Jackson, of Uley, in the county of Glocester, and so rapid waS the progress of the destructive element, that the whole of the .machinery, together with a lar^e stock of wool and manufactured goods, were en- tirely consumed, nothing remaining hilt theshell of the building. This melancholy accident is sup- posed to have been occasioned by one of tiie shearmen carelessly throwing the snuff ui: a caniiie among some cunibustible materials. # The house of Mr. Edward Meredith, in the ps-' rish of Llanbister, Radnorshire, was broken open on Saturday night last, and a, very considerable sum in cash notes stolen thereout, besides various s'e curiiies for monies. f welve cattle belonging to Richard Owen, tenant of a farm belonging'to C. W. W: Wynn, Esq. M. P. atMyfod, Montgomeryshire, broke from their pasture, and strayed into a neighbouring farm, where some branches of a yew tree had been cut on the 3 1 instant. On che 6th, in the evening, j they were safe in their pasture and early on the fth, six of th em were found dead near the place where the branches lay. Early on Monday morning last, the person who attends the gasometer at the Factory ot Messrs. Benyous and Bage, in Shrewsbury, imprudently en- tered it with a lighted candle: the gas was imme- cli:itely ignited, and blew up the apparatus, toge- ther with rhe rouf of the erection in which it was contained; but, happily-, the communication thus made with the 'atmosphere had the effect of extin- guishing the flame, without injury to the extensive premises attached. The building and apparatus will speedily be replaced.-We are sorry to add, the incautious author of this misfortune was very much burnt, and WAS conveyed to the Infirmary another man, Rho was with him at the time of the explo- sion, escaped unhurt, by instantly laying himself at full lengtfi, with his faceatowards the ground. Thursday C. Weller, late a Mail-coach guard, and Jane Hickman, were charged with robbing the coach which runs from Newport, Monmouthshire, of upwards of SiSOOl. in cash, Bank-notes, and bills. [t appeared, that in October, 1313, a parcel con- taining the above amount, w;is sent from the New- port bank of lornian, Fothergiil, am! Co. directed to Messrs. Down, Thornton, and Cd. in Bartho- lomew-lane, London, and the box which contained the parcel was directed to Mr. Fothergill, at Messrs. Slice's, merchants, in Lawrence Pountney-lane, Cannon-street; and to give the appearance of a parcel, and that it might not be Suspected to be a Banker's parcel, it was covered over with canvass. The box was secured by two screws, and tied with a rope. The box reached Lawrence Pountney-lane, in due time, but on opening it, it only contained a letter. A witness stated, "that the prisoner had confessed being concerned in the robbery, and that he was instigated to it by an old woman. After the robbery had been committed, he endeavoured -o get the parcel back, when there was only 20l. taken out of it, but Hickman would not let him. The prisoners have lately been taken into custody, in consequence of some of the notes having been pased at linen-drapers, in London, for goods, which notes were produced and identified, They were committed for further examination. A Caution to Labourers.—Edward Nash, of the parish ol Kuelston, in Gower, was last week con- victed before the Llev. James Edwards, and fined one guinea, for not threshing wheat clean for his employer, Mr. D. Hoskin, of Henlis. Waste Lands.—By the report of the Committee of Agriculture, it appears that the total amount of Waste Lands in the DUlled kingdom, is as tot- lows :-Eiigiati(l, above (j millions of Acres; Wales, 2; Scotland, about 14. Post-Horse'Duties.—The following are the sums for which the different districts were taken, at the letting last week;— i\onn urit.uii 13,510 WVrthuin lerland, Cumberland, Westmor- kllld, Ulld Durham 9.040 Yorkshire 16 420 Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire J7.760 Northamptonshire, RlItJandshire, War- wicksliire, and Oxfordshire 15.6M Wiltshire, W urcclitersilire, and GlouceS- tersiiire 17,520 Norfolk, SufFoik, Estix, and Cambridge- shire J. 15,700 Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire (>i40 Hertfordshire aud Huntingdonshire 10,000 Surrey 12,7^0 Middlesex, London, and Westminster 24,ltiO Kent and Sussex » 2S,0id Hampshire and Berkshire 10,000 Dorsetshire, Devonshire* Cornwall, and Somersetshire 2!,220 Nortii Wales ti.7{.O South vVales 5.340 They Jet at about 10,00(51. per annum less than the last three years. At Ross Clir. on Monday, there was but a mid- dling shew of cattle, excejit of the small Welsh sort. and which, being in considerable demand,, sold briskly at improved prices. There were few horses, and in no request. The sheep-fa;r, was also thinly supplied, although fat. ones-sold.at high prices. Best rh ,e-e averaged from 78s to 84s. and two-meal from 66s to 72s. per cwt. Bath and West of England Agricultural Society.- The great Annual Meeting oi this renowned Es- tablishment took piace last week, at Iletling-house. Bath, under the auspices of the very able Presi- dent., Sir Benj. Hobhmise, Bart. The appearance of the Member" w .s more than usually numerous, and niany of them were highly distinguished for rankand talent. The variety of business that was transacted fully occupied the whole time of the President and Committees, not only during the above principal day, bat on the days"immediately previous and subsequent. Sir Benjamin was re- elected to the chuir amidst the loudest acclama- tions. A Petition to Parliament for a further regu- lation of the Importation of Corn, was -amongst the most prominent features of the transactions of the Meeting: it drew forth a furcibic, argumen- tative, and ingenious strain of oratory from several eloquent Members; and was carried almost una- nimously, Dr. Wilkinson was elected Chemical profcssuvr in the place of Mr. Buyd, who has leil the kingdom.—A -Silver Bed.fordeau Medal was voted to Dr. Cogan, as a testimony of high respect; and a similar honour was voted to Mr. sta- tuary, Walcot, for presenting the Society wTth an admirable model ot the late Vice-President, John Billingsley, Esq, John Bennett, Esq, of Py t-'llause. was highly distinguished for obtaining 0ve pre- miums, for pre-eminence under as many distinct heads. To Sir J. Cox Hippisley was awarded 20 guineas, the premium for the successful cultivation of Fiorin Grass. Thinks were voted to\V, Clark, Esq. for an excellent Essay on the nr-inageincnt ot the Poor; also to an anonymous Writer, for an Essay on th« Same subject. A-premium of five- guineas was given to the inventor of a Wind-mill, of ingenious construction. The show of live stock, in the Society's yard, claimed the admiration of ail ,judges of superior animals. We: mLJst. refer our readers to the Secretary's usual Report for the lull particulars. His Grace the Duke of Beaufort gained a pnae tor an extraordinary large Hereford Ox, and a bounty was given to- Mr. Brooke, ot the Albion Brewery, for a Heifer of superior merit, fed by him the usual premium would have.been awarded him but his having obtained a similar honour last year! rendered him mehglbleon the present occasion Chas. Gordon Gray, Esq. received a prize dor three j Heifers, small, but ot admirable symmetry. Mr. I Kenn had a prize for a, fat sheep. Mr:Tinker, or Laving ton, had two several prizes tor fine Fleeces; and another for a pen of superior Merino Sheep! Mr. Hughes a prize for a fine Ox. The dinners a: the VVhitc-Hart,. on the three (lavs, were well a;- j tended Nothing, we are told, could be more:e ;i- j tying to the young agriculturist than'theniscussions which took place on; hese occasions, i-esuh in-4 the mature experience, scientific researc h, .an- j stores of the besi.auJ highly im«res:i'n- t maiien, | The fire at the Catren Manufactory, Llangollen, (mentioned in our last paper) consumed the whoia machinery, and th« interior of the building. We are happy to learn that the property was fully iilsured, and that no lives were lost;, but still fh6 calamity must be severely (felt at. the approaching season by the numerous families to whom this i s to establishment has hitherto afforded emplovmenC and the means of a comfortable subs-istence. — The .external wails being but lit; it* injured, it is expected that a very short time will be sufficient to enable some part at least of these works to he resumed, to dfect WhICh, we betr the are already making every possible exertion. Mr. EDITOR, 1 am much disappointed in ce f observe itTYoor very useful publication a sinuliir nieelm-r ad-apted in Swansea, and its environs to that in Loud. and- other places, to pe- tiiion Parliament against the renewal of (he Property Tax, which legally ceases on the 5th ot A put next, particularly so, as this tHX is bitterly felt in She PiineipaiHv of Wales; where. I trust, the spirit of Ancient Brhoifs is not yet wholly extinct. Lat a box e all woeld it be a proud day to ob- serve the whole Principality petition Parliament against ot aj.-ricultuie, especially as this system is ri^idiv enforced. in this very ancient, very valuable, and Crry" charumig country. As I am interested as well as m.tnv others, ui% will oblige me by giving this imniedinte puoi.citv. Pudding-lane, Dec. 19, !8i-l. A' C'aManias. To the EDLTOn of tUE CAMBRIA. Sta, Most of yoor readers must be acquainted with the fnccm- venience occasioned by the suppression of local silver tokens, which have lately constituted so laroe a poition the small change in circulation not only do those of Ills. indigent and labouring classes, who happen to posses*- these tokens, suffer by their retioal but the course oi'trade, particularly among retail dealeis, is impeded, and in some- cases, neai ly blocked up. I o remedy this crvnixr evil Government certainly ought imaiediaiely tu i<sue a sapply of legal coin equal to the public exigence, and ihis act jutttce will undoubtedly be speedily perlbrnjed. But mv present object, Sir, in arldressillg you, is to expose V-e dis- honourable conduct exhibited by some issuers of tokens, who refuse to exchange thell) at ihei\r fuii nominal vaaiel now they are no longer legally current. I have beeo » witness of real distress occasioned to poor persons bv tha; possession of tokens issued in their own neighbourhood, fop. which, on presenting them lo the issuers, they have- been offered eightpenct each, or wholly rciusefLany other return than goods ill which the issuer happened tu deal. Some of these pooi creatures, uniiappily ignorant of the law provided in this case, and wanting an immediate supply of food neces- sary to their subsistence, liave submitted to this nil j u- om- miitation, by which the issuer ot' tins base mniirv Jherail.y swindles then! of fourpence in every shilling. "Hie nietr est. For the honour of trade and of mv c-unVrvm-eii) I must hope that very few will be found capable of such meanness and injustice; but the public interest require* thai it jhtrnld he generally known, th-a ail issuers o'l^cai tokens may be compelled"to pay, in lawful currency,Vha full amount of the .nominal value at which they Hired soctv tokens, and that on refusal an action'lies against them tor recovery, although it be for only a single token. T1Ho). may be seen by a reierence to th "local token act. I. I cannot conclude .without reln1!;k.illg that my indignatir?i is roused n> the mean refusal of issuers to "receive back; their ti.kens, as the law directs anxJ obliges them to do and 1 think it is llie duly of every liberal- m.n to esjn>cs« the cause of ins poor and industriyuyieighbours who arc injured by the stopp.iee of tokens oripuwilly issued in thair vicinity, and enlorce the payment by legal methods, where- it has been refused on demand, and atier due exposnilation It is no grearer hardship for an issuer of tokens" to nay. their nwiiliiial and asserted value in legal money, tjian'for an issuer of bank bills or promWsorv notes; and in eiiher case the refuser merits no better character thin that of a delrau.ier ot the public, and should accordingly be spumed ¡rolll the aSSUClù[[Oi1 of fair un.! h.):\onrablc tradt".IH>IJ. whilst the course of our just and iiuairiable laws should b% residiiiely and effectively directed against him. Giaiaorganshire, Dec. 21, 181-I. CARADOC.