Saturday 02 Nov 1822 (p. 2, col. 6, and p. 3, col. 1-3 + 6)
NOVEL PEDESTRIANISM!—We are informed that a person is now walking through the country, having undertaken for a wager to walk thirty miles a-day for sixty successive days, and to chalk, one hundred times a-day, the name, address, and profession of one of the most conspicuous characters in the world. We presume he must have lately passed through Carlisle, from observing WARREN'S BLACKING, 30, STRAND, chalked on most of the walls in and about this town.
RADICAL RUMPUS.—The new addition to the calendar, "Saint Henry of Ilchester," has received unexpected honours at the hands of the worthy professors of radicalism resident in the outskirts of this city. On Tuesday afternoon, some of the most zealous, (in obedience, of course, to superior authority), waited upon their fellow-workmen at their respective weaving-shops, and induced them to subscribe a few pence for the purchase of a tar barrel, &c. About half-past eleven at night, a few men, and a great many women and boys, marched through Caldewgate to Coalfell-hill, about a mile from Carlisle, to the music of a drum and fife, bearing two banners, and a couple of flambeaux, where they lighted a fire, and appropriately worshipped their immaculate saint by various extravagancies. About half past twelve, they returned in the same order, and instead of going quietly to bed, foolishly marched into the city, with drum beating and colours flying, loudly shouting as they went along. Having reached the market-place, they went three times round the cross, with boisterous cheering, by way of triumph, and also significantly cheered the soldiers at the guard-house, on their way for Botchergate. Here Barnes, the chief-officer of the police, dashed into their ranks, tripped up one of the standard-bearers, and (oh! dire disgrace!) bore off his proud flag to the enemy's quarters. This was too much to be endured; the honour of the patron saint was at stake; to lose a flag would degrade the whole fraternity, who particularly pride themselves upon having the 'physical strength' on their side; and therefore submission was out of the question. Some of the most courageous made attempts at recapture, but finding this not of easy performance, as the police were soon assisted by some of the horsemen, they confined their operations to throwing stones and hissing, and were finally dispersed without much personal injury. A great proportion of the crowd consisted of women and boys; the number of men, however, was considerable: altogether, there were probably from four to five hundred persons. The captive flag is inscribed—on one side, "England, Scotland, and Ireland; " on the other, "Magna Charta and no Corn Laws." About twenty of the chief actors are known, including the standard-bearers, but we are not aware that the affair will come under magisterial cognizance. To the credit of the operative manufacturers, a vast majority of them took no part in this display of folly; they have had sufficient experience to convince them that their condition, whatever it may be, is not to be bettered by the trickster HUNT, nor by the schemes of the idle and dissolute fellows who locally set up for political leaders.
William COLMAN alias FISHER, of Brampton, the person committed on suspicion of participating in the robbery of Mr. DIXON's house, at the Knells, was brought up at the Police-office, on Wednesday, for further examination, and again remanded. Without entering into particulars, which would be improper at present, we may briefly state how the matter stands. Among the articles lost by Mr. DIXON, was a quantity of silver coin. COLMAN, when first examined, declared that the night of the robbery he was at various places, in company with various persons, all of which was proved on Wednesday to be untrue. It has also been proved that he left Brampton on the evening previous to the robbery, and did not return till next morning; that subsequently he bought a horse for £4, the whole of which he paid in silver, without being able to account for it; that a cart was also bought for him, on the Wednesday following the burglary, his mother paying 40s. of the purchase-money likewise in silver, giving, in conjunction with Mr. TINLING, surgeon, of Brampton, a promissory note for the remainder, drawn by Mr. T. on a 3d. receipt stamp, besides being informally written!—Several young men were held to bail to appear at the Sessions, and one was committed for want of surety, for violent and premeditated assault upon a quiet, harmless, youth, of very good character, residing at Nealhouse, named John IRVING. One of the parties owed him a grudge; so they went at night, called him out of his master's house by tapping at the window, and then set upon him with sticks. IRVING appeared at the office with his head tied up, having sustained considerable injury.
The Earl of Carlisle has made a considerable reduction in his rents.
Mr. ALEXANDER having engaged Mr. KEAN to play in Dumfries and Carlisle, that great tragedian appeared at our Theatre on Thursday night, in the character of Richard the Third, last night as Hamlet, and this evening he plays Othello. The house being very small, prices of admission were raised to 5s. 3s. [sic] and 1s 6d.; on Thursday, the boxes and pit were pretty well filled; but the gods, not liking the innovation of the additional sixpence, kept aloof, and many of the seats were empty. In fencing with Richmond, Mr. K. was cut near the eye, by his own foil, but not seriously. We shall perhaps offer a few observations on Mr. KEAN's Othello in our next paper. After leaving Carlisle he will perform a few nights in Whitehaven.
John Young DEAN, guard of the Express post coach, was yesterday fined in the mitigated penalty of £2 : 10s. for taking two passengers into the said coach at Penrith, and bringing them to the suburbs of Carlisle, for which he received 3s. and did not account to the proprietors for the fare.
Mr. FORSTER, fishmonger of this city, has in his possession a very curious inhabitant of the Ocean, called the Monkey Fish, which was caught during the past week off St. Bees' head. It has two feet, jointed fins and tail, and a most singular mouth; it resembles the cod in size and shape, except being broader and flatter about the head.
The weather continues remarkably mild and pleasant for the time of year. We observe that some of the well-seasoned bathers still daily immerse themselves in the Eden behind the Swifts.
The posthumous work of the late Rev. Mr. WILLIAMSON, of Whitehaven, published for the benefit of his family, (as announced in our last week's paper) is likely to be liberally patronized. More than a hundred subscribers have already given in their names at Whitehaven alone, among whom are the Earl of Lonsdale, 20 copies; Sir James GRAHAM, Bart. M. P., 5 copies, &c.
The following instance of canine sagacity was exhibited at Rickerby, a few days ago. A dog belonging to Mrs. GRAHAM's gardener, having pursued a rat till it took refuge in a hole in the furnace house, of no great depth, sat watching the trembling prisoner for some time. At length, finding the rat in no hurry to come out, the dog ran up stairs, seized a kitten in his mouth, carried it to the hole, and thrust it in with his paw, in a manner which implied—"there, go and catch your natural enemy."
[to be continued]
Reproduced with kind permission of British Newspaper Archives
