Cumbria Family History Society

 Saturday 18 Nov 1815   (p. 2, col. 5 + p. 3, col. 1-2 + 5)
 
[A significant portion (about a quarter) of the right edge of column 5 on page 2 has not been filmed. Square brackets indicate the gaps. Anything in square brackets is the transcriber’s educated guess at the missing words.]
 
TITHE CAUSE.—We lament that [we are this] week necessitated to state that, in th[e great tithe] cause, "WARWICK against COLLINS," [tried at our] last Assizes, when a verdict was given [for the de]fendant, the Court of King's Bench b[rought in] a Rule Nisi, for the defendant to she[w cause why] there should not be a third trial u[pon this im]portant subject. What more cause [                    ] to be shewn to unbiassed minds, not [                    ] technical chicanery of legal subtleti[es       when] twenty four upright men, upon their oa[ths, have de]termined that the land in question w[as exempted] by the statute of Edward VI. from th[e payment of] tithes, for seven years, immediately a[fter             ]sure? In the name of God, what c[ould the mem]bers of the church desire more than [what they already] possess. Have they not dignity, ea[                    ] and are they not in the enjoyment of [                    ] and domestic happiness? Why then [do they have] to debar the yeoman, the farmer, hi[                    ] mechanic, and the labouring poor, of  [                    ]tive petty enjoyments and trifling plea[sures           ] envy them of eating a cheap loaf of [bread? Be]cause it must be allowed that the farm[er will be able] to sell his produce cheaper if his lan[d is free] from the payment of tithe. For ou[r                  ] we have read the Act in question. [We have] no hesitation in saying, that nine t[enths of the] British nation, unwarped by prejudi[ce before] reading it, say that the legislature [by this act] meant to hold out a boon to agriculture, knowing that as agriculture encreased, the nation flourished. This being our view of the subject, we confess we read with surprise in the London prints, that Mr. PARK should have stated to the Court, on his application for a new trial, that the Jury had given a verdict, not supported by one tittle of legal evidence. This harsh insinuation against the integrity of the last Jury on this trial carries with it, to every person who knows that Jury, its own refutation. Are the characters of such men as Mr. CURWEN, Mr. WYBERG, Mr. LOWRY, Mr. CHRISTIAN, Mr. FAWCETT, and others whose names we could mention, to be thus wantonly traduced? Are they men who are so regardless of their oaths, as to return a verdict unsupported by one tittle of legal evidence? These gentlemen's integrity of character cannot be sullied by the aspersions of any one—they are proud specimens of English worth; and we hope that this county may long boast of possessing such men as will, in the discharge of that sacred duty, "the trial by Jury," manifest sufficient fortitude to act as a barrier between the people and absolute despotism.
 
LAVATER, in his fanciful system of physiognomy, speaks in rapture of what he calls the crooked lines of beauty; but we trust our readers will allow, however just this observation may be when applied to animated nature, that it is totally irrelevant, if applied to the approach and formation of a bridge.—This anomaly, however singular, may be seen in full perfection by any person desirous of examining the structure of our costly new bridges. The acute curve along the connecting causeway between the two bridges has been universally condemned by every observing person, and it was hoped that the engineer would have avoided a similar blunder in laying out the approach to the north bridge.—Let our readers look at the curved road now making from Stanwix, and say whether a large sum of money would not have been saved to the public, if SEWELL's house, and the small strip of land left between the old and new road, had been removed. We venture to assert, that the road would, according to our plan, have been to the public more commodious and elegant, and have saved at least £300.—Was this merry-go-round road planned by a contractor or engineer? We should like to have this question answered, for the satisfaction of our very numerous readers and the public.
 
THE WEATHER.—During the whole of the last week, the weather was exceedingly broken, there not being a day in which rain was not experienced. The waters in the neighbourhood were in consequence much enlarged, but not so as to overflow their banks; until after a heavy rain all Sunday, the Eden and Caldew on Monday deluged all the low ground. In Rickergate, the water penetrated as far as to the Three Crowns Inn, which is further than it has been known to extend in that quarter for a great number of years. The element, on this occasion, was not a very welcome visitant, and many persons were astonished to find, on arising in the morning, that their cellars were filled, and their lower apartments inundated. The scene from the new bridge was truly grand: on all sides a great expanse of water, covering a tract of ground as far as the eye could see, bounded only in some parts by eminences, and in the midst of which arose numerous little elevations that gave the whole the appearance of a vast lake, studded with islands. The Caldew was never remembered to be higher, except on the memorable 26th September, 1809, when such devastation was occasioned. Caldewgate was partially inundated, and the progress of passengers considerably impeded. In many instances the cattle were in great danger, by being surrounded by the water, but by great exertions were extricated. We do not hear of any having been lost in the neighbourhood: a sheep, however, was observed floating with the current through the arches of the Caldewgate bridge; and it is not improbable that many more may have been lost in lonely places, where the rapidity with which the stream always descends might not afford time to the distant owners to come to their assistance.
 
Wednesday night might with propriety enough be termed the first day of winter, the frost being very severe, though on Thursday and yesterday much more so; it being as cold as is generally felt in the midst of the hibernal season; the ponds being glazed over, and ice to be met with of half an inch in thickness. On Thursday night a considerable quantity of snow fell, which yet bleaches the ground. The venerable fronts of all the distant mountains, sympathizing with the declining year, are silvered over with snow; and the whole appearance of nature furnishes a strong contrast with what it was a few days ago.



[to be continued]

 
 
Reproduced with kind permission of British Newspaper Archives
 

 
We are happy to learn that the Duke of Norfolk, to whom Melfell has been allotted, as right of common, containing about 400 acres, is now planting that romantic spot—there being nearly 300 hands employed, and the work will take between one and two millions of plants. The greatest credit is due to his Grace for his public spirit and patriotism, in effecting what will in time prove one of the most beautiful objects in the county, at the same time that the national benefit is consulted, by preventing the growth of forest trees from becoming extinct. This local improvement and national benefit will be effected without putting the county to the expence entailed upon it by many of the objects so lately intended for its ornament.
 
We congratulate the lovers of music on the arrival of the celebrated Musical Phenomena, the three Misses SMITHs, who commenced their performances yesterday evening at Mrs. IRVING's Assembly Rooms; and we have every reason to believe that their merits will be amply rewarded by a Carlisle audience.—We further observe, that Mr. SMITH intends to give another Concert at the above Room on Monday, Nov 20; and on his way to Leeds, we are informed he will give a Concert at each of the following towns; viz. on Wednesday, Nov, 22. at Penrith; Friday, Nov. 24, at Appleby; Monday, Nov. 27, at Kendal.
 
NEW SHERIFFS.—The following have been nominated for the northern counties:
 
CUMBERLAND—W. BROWN, of Tallentire-Hall; T. WYBERG, of Brayton-House, Esq.; and Sir P. MUSGRAVE, of Eden-Hall, Baronet.
 
NORTHUMBERLAND—Sir T. J. CLAVERING, of Harewood Skeels, Bart.; M. BELL, of Woolsington; and W. ORD, of Nunnery Kirk, Esquires.
 
YORKSHIRE—Sir W. Mordaunt MILNER, of Nun-Appleton, Bart.; R. O. GASCOIGNE, of Parlington, Esq.; and Sir W. INGLEBY, of Ripley, Baronet.
 
Mr. GRISDALE's ball, held at Penrith on Thursday se'nnight, was numerously attended, and the performance of the pupils sufficiently shewed the great improvement they had made during the period of his teaching there.
 
On Tuesday last, a woman of the name of Mary GRAHAM was apprehended on a charge of stealing a piece of cotton from Mr. Samuel RIGG, of Wigton, draper, and committed to our gaol by the Rev. Mr. MATTHEWS.
 
Last week, a person of suspicious character, was taken up at Wigton, for passing base coin, and was examined before the Rev. Mr. MATTHEWS; but as no person would come forward to be bound for his appearance at the Sessions, he left £50 worth of goods behind him for his appearance.
 
Mr. Joseph WILKINSON, of Scar-side, near Brampton, in Westmorland, had this season a cabbage, which, independently of the outside leaves, measured 21 inches over, and weighed 55lbs.
 
On Monday last, as Mary MONKHOUSE, of Kendal, aged 46, was returning from the country, she was found dead on the road towards Mealbank, about three and a half miles from Kendal.
 
The Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (the Duke of Norfolk President), have presented J. C. CURWEN, of Workington, with the gold medal, for cultivating 400 acres of waste land.
 
The Earl of Lonsdale has presented the inhabitants of Grayrigg, Westmorland, with a plot of ground for the erection of a school,—as also a donation of 10gs. to promote the undertaking.
 
John SOFTLEY, of Dunston, county of Durham, has been committed to the county gaol, charged with intent to commit a rape upon a child aged 5 years.
 
CAUTION.—The public are requested to be on their guard against a genteel looking man, apparently about 25 years of age, and in height about 5 ft. 10in. high, who has swindled several persons in Northumberland and Durham of goods:—and another swindler, about 50 years of age, stout made, nearly 6 feet high, speaking the Barnard Castle dialect, has swindled several poor people in S. Shields, principally of the Methodist Society, out of various sums of money.
 
The Lightfoot, M'INTOSH, of Whitehaven, from Petersburgh, was off Whitehaven harbour on the 16th, and expected to get in next tide.
 
On Saturday last, the smack Waterloo, Joseph STITT, master, of and for Kirkcudbright, from Whitehaven with coals and goods, upset in consequence of having shipped a sea in a gale, when about half-way across the channel. The sloop Delight, which with others left Whitehaven in company with her in the morning, observing her critical situation, put round to her assistance, and two of her men went out in the long-boat in order to save the crew, who were seen clinging fast to the rigging. Before the boat could, however, reach them, the smack unfortunately went down, and Thomas NELSON, seaman (who with the master formed the crew), along with her; but STITT, the master, being an expert swimmer, had previously left her, and though the sea was running high, succeeded in keeping himself above water till picked up by the boat.
 
 
Reproduced with kind permission of British Newspaper Archives