MURDERS DISCOVERED. About eighteen years ago, a Mr. Carter, shopkeeper, of Cratfield, and his daughter, were murdered there, by some persons then unknown. A discovery has lately been made by a female (who laid at the point of death), to the Rev. Archdeacon Oldershaw. It appears that the son of Mr. Carter employed three men to committ the bloody deed, at the price of ten pounds each. They met on Shotover heath, near Harleston, to concert the diabolical plan. The son met them the night after, and paid twenty pounds to the two persons who perpetrated the act; the other, (a man of the name of Head), an accessary, has also confessed and made a complete disclosure. One Thrower, who resided at Wortwell, near Harleston, has been apprehended. It appears, by the confession of Head, that about the time of the murder he returned from transportation, and met Thrower, and a person called Black William, alias Smith, a travelling tinker or gipsy, who requested his (Head's) company to join them to commit the murder. Head went with these, and saw Gipsy Will kill Mr. Carter with an axe, and Thrower murder the girl with a hammer, which knew no further. Upon this, strict search was made after Head, in consequence of the information given by the female above-mentioned, respecting the affair, and he was found there by the constables. When in custody, he was told that Thrower had made a confession-Head immediately said, "what, have you been to Swaffham to fetch him?"-Upon their answering in the affirmative, he added" then I will confess the whole." Thrower was soon after apprehended. Soon afterwards William Smith, who has travelled the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk for more than twenty years as a tinker, with his wife, who tells fortunes, was apprehended at Bacton, by Mr. Everett and his two sons, of Caister, near Yarmouth. Edmund Thrower and John Head, are committed to Ipswich jail by J. Kerrich, Esq. Carter, who employed the murderers, has been dead some years. We understand that it was Carter's widow, who is now dangerously ill, that deed, which was committed in 1793. first imparted the circumstances of this horrid DIED. On the 11th instant, at Dalkeith Pa lace, his Grace, Henry Scott, Duke of Bucleugh and Queensberry, Marquis of Dumfries, Earl of Dalkeith, Sanqubar and Drumlanrig, Viscount Nith, Torthowald and Ross, Lord Scott of Eshdale, Dourcas of Kinmount, Middlebie, and Dornock. Also Earl of Doncaster and Lord Tyndale in England; Knight of the Garter, Lord Lieutenant of the counties of Edinburgh and Roxburghshire, Governor of the Royal Bank of Scotland, &c.—His Grace was born in 1746, and succeeded his grandfather in 1759. He was the only son of Francis Earl of Dalkeith, by Lady Caroline Campbell eldest daughter of John, the Great Duke of Argyle. In 1767, his Grace married Elizabeth Montagu, by whom he has issue, Charles William, now Duke of Buccleugh and Queensberry, and Henry James, Lord Montagu, and four daughters, viz. the Countess of Cour was afterwards thrown into the river at Bourne- || town, Countess of Home, Marchioness of bridge. Head has lived at Carbrooke, near Wilton, ever since, and some money being left to him, his wife, who lives near Harleston, applied to receive it, and was told she could not, unless she could prove her husband's death. She said, she had heard he had lived at Carbrooke, but Queensberry, and Countess of Ancram; all of whom have families. His Grace is succeeded in his titles and estates by his eldest son Charles William, Earl of Dalkeith, who married Harriet, daughter of the late Viscount Sidney, who has several children. London: Printed by and for J. BELL, sole Proprietor of this MAGAZINE, and Proprietor of the WEEKLY MESSENGER, Southampton-street, Strand. February 1, 1812. BEING Bell's COURT AND FASHIONABLE MAGAZINE, FOR FEBRUARY, 1812. A New and Improved Series. EMBELLISHMENTS. 1. An ORIGINAL PORTRAIT of MRS. SIDDONS, in the Character of the TRAGIC MUSE, from the celebrated Picture by Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS, now in the possession of WILLIAM SMITH, Esq, M. P. engraven, with his permission, by Mr. CARDON. ? A WHOLE LENGTH PORTRAIT FIGURE, in a MORNING COSTUME. 3. A very beautiful WHOLE-LENGTH PORTRAIT FIGURE, in the Fashionable EVENING PROMENADE DRESS of the month, drawn from an Original Dress made within he month, 4. A SKETCH of the NEW THEATRE DRURY-LANE, as now erecting, compared with the large Theatre at Parma, ju Italy, and with the present Theatre at Covent Garden, from the Designs of Mr. WYATT, the Architect of the New Drury-Lane Theatre. 5. An OUTLINE SKETCH of CHRIST IN THE ARMS OF THE VIRGIN MARY; by VAN DYK. 6 An OUTLINE SKETCH of CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO; by VAN DYK.. 7. "WITH ALL MY HEART I LOVE THEE," an Original SONG, written and set to Music for the Harp and Piano-forte, 'expressly for this Work, by D, KITCHENER. 8. An Original PATTERN for NEEDLE or TAMBOUR-WORK. OUR SUBSCRIBERS and the Public, are referred to the EMBELLISHMENTS in the preceding and present Numbers, as Specimens of the taste and finish in which they may expect the ornamental part of this Work to be executed in future. The PORTRAITS will form a new and interesting Series of Cabinet Prints, which are properly adapted for being framed and glazed, or for preservation in Portfolios, as they may be always admired as a Biographical and Portrait representation of distinguished Female characters of the present times. The COSTUMES of every Month will form a practical and highly interesting Collection of the FASHIONS of these days; the continued variations as they arise will ascertain the fluctuating state of the Fashionable World. * An Accurate Description of the NEW THEATRE DRURY-LANE, written by Mr. WYATT, the Architect, was given in No. 28, of this Magazin, to which the present Engraven Plan refers. London: PRINTED BY AND FOR JOHN BELL, SOLE PROPRIETOR OF THIS MAGAZINE, AND PROPRIETOR OF THE WEEKLY MESSENGER, SOUTHAMPTON-STREET, STRAND. MARCH 1, 1912. LA BELLE ASSEMBLÉE; For FEBRUARY, 1812. A New and Improved Series. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ILLUSTRIOUS AND The Twenty-ninth Number. MRS. SIDDONS. It has been said with some degree of point, yet with a greater degree of justice, that the stage cannot degrade the perform- || er, but that it rests with the performer whether he shall adorn or disgrace the stage. If indeed the stage had always been trod by characters like the subject of our present biography, it would never have required an apologist; but unfortunately, it may be both proud and sorry to boast that it here presents to our vew a rare instance of elevated female worth in private life, enjoying the full tide of popular applause in her public character. That genius, at least historic genius, is hereditary, we will not pretend to say; yet if we go back to the earliest years of this actress's life, we must allow that perhaps much of her present excellence is dependant upon carly bias, for we may almost literally assert that she was born. amidst crowns, daggers, and sceptres, and cradled in Melpomene's buskiu, Her father, Roger Kemble, was we believe descended from a respectable Catholic family in Herefordshire, or in the immediate viciuity of that county. His friends seem to have had different views for him thau those which he afterwards pursued, for We call it a rare instance, because al- they placed him at though the present day has produced sevea very respectable school near the city of Hereford; but the ral bright examples of the female world, impulse of youthful genius was irresistible, some of whom have quitted the Green and at a very juvenile period he entered Room to perform some of the highest cha- with ardour on the profession of a strolling racters in society, yet in the last, and in player; where his merit was soon distinthe age preceding it, the most glaring in- guished by Mr. Ward, the manager, whose stances of a contrary kind have been so approbation was certainly highly compli numerous as almost to have established a mentary to the young candidate for public. system of prejudice against those who ven-applause, as he is said to have been a perture on a public exhibition. It is to be presumed, however, that a few such instances as Mrs. Siddons, and some of her cotemporaries, brighter perhaps from certain contrasts, will totally remove au obloquy no longer well merited, former on the London boards in the days of Booth and Betterton, and that with a considerable degree of credit. But there was another member of Mr. Ward's family who also seems to have been a good judge young Kemble's merit, and whose ap of to him thau that of her father; as a proo. of this she soon after united her fate to his, and the young couple in due time not only succeeded to all the thrones and crowus of the house of Ward, but speedily established a new dynasty, of the female branch || of which Mrs. Siddons was their first and carliest hope. probation was perhaps even more pleasing || chance having brought the company to a village in Lancashire, in the neighbourhood of a family of opulence where there were many visitors; the excellencies of Mrs. Siddons were even there so conspicuous as to attract the notice of Miss Boyle, a young lady of fortune and fashion (afterwards the wife of the Right Hon. John O'Neil, and mother of the present Earl), who not only paid her the tribute of admiration, but on a more intimate knowledge admitted her to her private friendship, and by her recommeudation led the way to au engagement both for herself and husband, with Mr. Younger, whose territories extended from Liverpool to Birmingham and their vicinities. Here she had an opportunity of acquiring both fame and experience; and having established her character as a first rate actress upon a provincial stage, it was thought she might be acceptable to a London audience. An itinerant stage is a kind of hot-bed for genius, as the young shoots from the parent stock are often forced into bloom at a time of life when in others the bud is scarcely beginning to expand; of course we find that whilst almost in infancy, Miss Kemble was brought forward as a singer; but this was not agreeable to her taste, for even then she felt herself possessed of those powers which have since so often delighted not only the metropolitan audiences, but every audience in the United Empire. But the Tragic Muse had not then such complete possession of her bosom as to leave no room for the entrance of another and more laughing deity, for we find that in her early bloom she excited a passion in the breast of Mr. Siddons, then a fellow votary of the mimic muses, which was returned with mutual ardour; but family reasons not permitting the accomplishment of their wishes, Miss Kemble quietly laid down the bowl and dagger, and with a praiseworthy prudence shunning the society of the man whom she was forbid to marry, engaged herself in the humble capacity of lady's maid with Mrs. Greathead, then residing at Guy's Cliff, in Warwick- || shire. But even here she was on classic ground, and only eight miles distant from the birth-place of the immortal Shakespeare himself; it is not to be supposed therefore, that her early bias would sink into obli- || vion; accordingly we find that twelve months were sufficient to convince her that a life of dependance was not suited to her taste; she soon after united herself to the man of her heart, and the young couple were content for present support to enlist themselves under the banners of a strolling monarch, whose subjects were of such a description as to render our two youthfu adventurers a most valuable acquisition. It was about this period, we believe, that An engagement accordingly took place with Drury-Lane, where she performed a whole winter; but it is said that Garrick felt so alarmed at the idea, even of female rivalship, that he would only permit her to perform the inferior parts, of the Queen in Richard III. and the second rate ladies in genteel Comedy. But if disgusted with the egotism of the manager, she was still more so with the scurrility of a disappointed author, whose afterpiece, in which she performed, being justly damned, he took advantage of his power, as Editor of a Newspaper, to attack her in a most illiberal and disrespectful manner. Had justice indeed been done her by the manager; had she been permitted to perform those parts which would have displayed her real excellencies to the public, she would have raised au host of friends, and risen superior to obloquy; but it is almost ever the lot of virtuous merit to be forced to shrink from the clamours of the illiberal and the apathy of the misjudging. There was, however, still a wide field for the display of her powers, and the Bath stage afforded her a temporary asylum; and here she applied herself not only to perform but also to improve, in which it has been said she was much aided by the friendly assistance of the "Poet of the |