Saturday 16 Dec 1815 (p. 3, col. 1-3 + 5)
After the notable improvements that have been evinced in the erection of the Carlisle new bridges, it will not astonish the public, that the plan (such as it is) is every day gaining fresh ac[ ]ions of ingenuity, of which men of ordinary capacity could have no idea. We have heard of building castles in the air, but we never knew any thing like a practical illustration of this aphorism until lately: it is an absolute fact, that workmen are only now laying down foundation stones for the "mouse-trap-looking concern" (as a correspondent facetiously enough designated it) which adjoins Rickergate, though the super-structure has been erected some months! "Oh! wise Solomons."
We have often heard remarks (not very gentle ones either) of the shameful state in which the road from Rickergate to Botchergate now is, but have hitherto forborne making any public observations, in the belief that the Corporate Body, as the public guardians of the city, would put it into a passable state. This road, which skirts the scite of the east walk, is in so shocking a condition, from the irregularity of its surface, owing to an immense accumulation of rubbish which was never [ ]red away whilst the stone-work of the old walls was removing for building the court-houses, that it is remarkably some serious accidents have not already occurred. The waste ground on which stood the ancient walls, was granted by Government for the improvement of this city; but if this be an improvement, we wonder what are [ ]tes.
A meeting will be held here, on the 29th inst. by the Commissioners of the Property Tax for Eskdale and Cumberland Wards, for the purpose of giving relief to those landlords who have reduced their rents since the last assessment.—See adv.
The next Cumberland Quarter Sessions will be held at Cockermouth on the 9th of next month.—See Adv.
DARING ATTEMPTS AT HOUSE ROBBERY.—On Saturday morning, about one o'clock, the house of Mr. G. THOMPSON, Commercial Teacher, Scotch-streel, was entered by thieves, by the cellar grating, the staple of which was completely wrenched out of the wall; and, by this means, the [ ] fastened on the inside was easily unloosed. As the family were upon the alert, having been warned by the neighbours that three men of suspicious appearance, with large sticks, were lurking about, they had very prudently secured, with a rope, the door leading to the cellar, thereby rendering access to the other part of the house very difficult without making considerable noise. The villains advanced to this door as appeared evident from some articles which were placed near it being removed into the cellar, where various articles were thrown about in different directions. It seems the rogues had been alarmed, as they decamped without taking any thing of value.—On Saturday afternoon the premises were made more secure by strong bolts and bars, and although a candle was kept burning during the night, yet the attempt was renewed early on Sunday morning. Mr. and Mrs. T. being still upon the watch, gave the alarm, when the depredators instantly fled.—Upon examining the place when the second attempt was made, it appeared that an instrument had been employed to remove a new iron bar across the grating, by breaking the bricks. A man in clogs was heard passing about the time: he walked very heavily, as if to divert the attention of the family from the noise occasioned by the attack, and to drown its sound.—A third attack at the same part of the house was slightly attempted on Wednesday night about twelve o'clock. Mr. T. got up, when the noise immediately ceased.
We have been thus minute that others may be more effectually upon their guard; since none can calculate who may next receive a nocturnal visit. This is certainly a novel mode of robbing: for who would ever suspect this house was on the point of being broken into, when almost at the same moment a foot could be so distinctly heard. Many ingenious methods will, no doubt, be resorted to during the present winter; therefore it would be well were all prepared to meet dangers of this nature in every shape they may assume.
The shoemaker's shop of Mr. W. BELL, of Beckfoot, Abbey-Holm, was robbed on Sunday night of shoes, &c.—A reward of 20gs. is offered for the discovery of the perpetrators of the robbery.—See Adv.
It is said that the notorious NAILOR has been seen in these parts of the kingdom. The public will do well to be aware of this character, whose industry in his peculiar line of business is well known in the northern counties.
The Lancashire, Yorkshire, and other Papers, teem with accounts of daring burglaries, highway robberies, and other depredations, which are really so very numerous as almost to defy recapitulation.—One species of robbery, however, committed at Pontefract, on Saturday, we would mention for the purpose of putting shopkeepers upon their guard. Two shopkeepers in that town lost silk handkerchiefs and silks, by wires being introduced through the bolt holes in the windows, by which means they twisted the silk, and drew it through the holes: this is supposed to be done by children instructed for this purpose.
We are informed, that an infant has been found in a well belonging to Mr. HODGSON, of Allonby, where, from its appearance, it is supposed to have lain about six months.
On Saturday the Austrian Archdukes arrived in Newcastle, and on the same day visited Shields and Wallsend colliery, and on Sunday paid a visit to the cast-iron bridge at Sunderland. On Monday they proceeded to Lemington, to view the iron works.
CAUTIONS.—Last week, at Sebergham, a child, which had been left alone in the house, was burned to death; and, since our last, twelve other children shared the same fate at Great Bolton, Manchester, Macclesfield, Derby, &c.—On Saturday week, at Wortley, near Manchester, another child lost its life, by its father inadvertently administering laudanum.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—Yesterday week, at Nesham Main colliery, as four workmen were employed on a stage 70 fathoms down the shaft, one of them came to the bank to get something he wanted; whilst talking to the bankman and incautiously passing along a plank, he fell down upon the stage he had a few minutes before left, and so great was the force he acquired, that three beams, 6 in. by 4, which supported the stage, were broken by the shock, and the whole four were precipitated to the bottom (55 fathoms further) and dashed in pieces.
There is now living upon an estate at Chapel Hill, in Mardale, in Westmorland, a family of the name of HOLME, whose ancestors came there from Stockholm, in Sweden, in the reign of King John. That estate has continued in the possession of the same family and name ever since, being upwards of 600 years.
The Swallow, BELL, arrived at Whitehaven, on Saturday, from Jamaica, fell in with, during her passage, the Admiral Durnam, DINGWALL, master, belonging to Glasgow, from Guadaloupe, bound to London, which had sprung a leak, and when met with, had 5ft. 8in. water in the hold, and the leak still gaining. There were 24 people on board, including six French officers, who were rescued from impending destruction, and conveyed to Whitehaven.
Reproduced with kind permission of British Newspaper Archives
