Scottish Chronicle. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY. N the 8th Jan. came on before this keeper in North Leith, and formerly carrier between Perth and Edinburgh, accused of entering the packet Abo, a prize vessel, lying in the wet dock, Leith, on the 11th of September last, and stealing from the hold of said vessel, fourteen pieces of printad cotton, and three pieces of plain cloth. The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and there being no objection made to the relevancy of the libel, a jury was chosen, and the trial proceeded. A number of witnesses were called, from whose testimony it appeared, that the Abo was captured by his Majesty's frigates, Ethalion and Tartar, and consigned to Mr David K. Whytt, merchant in Leith, as prize agent. On the night of the 11th of September, after eight o'clock, while William Brown and John Campbell tidewaiters, and David Adamson, weighing porter, were walking along the north side of the new wet dock, they observed two men, coming towards them, with parcels under their arms, from one of which a pared fell; they immediately seized one of the men, who proved to be John Hog, but the other made off, leaving the parcels he carried. Hog said the goods were his own, but was answered, that they must see what they were; and they accordingly took the parcels on board a brig and examined them while Hog remained on the quay. When they had examined the parcels, they returned to Hog, and told him, that they were to lodge them with the col January 1812. lector of the customs, and if he could prove they were his property, they would be re turned. The goods were accordingly lodg there, and shewn to Brown, Campbell, and Adamson, they swore they were the same they had seized, having foreign marks on them, and one of the pieces being cut in a remarkable manner. The cloth was also identified by Mr Grimes and John Henderson; belonging to the customhouse, and was afterwards brought to the Council Chamber, Leith, when Hog was apprehended and examined. It also appeared in evidence, that the Abo and several other prize vessels, were kept by Hugh Simons, a sailor, and his son Hugh Simons, a lad about 14 years of age. The father deponed, that he knew nothing of the theft, but the son said he was on board the vessel when the robbery was committed, and had a share of the booty, which he afterwards conveyed on board another prize vessel, but which was recovered when he was apprehended. He said the robbery was committed by L. Pritty and another man he did not know. He was a tall stout man, but he could not $wear that Hog was the person. The last witness examined for the Crown, was Lionel Pritty, tide-waiter in Leith. He deposed that Alex. Forster and himself had the charge of the Abo,and relieved one another that on the 9th of September, Hog proposed to him to take some goods from the vessel, saying there was no harm in it as she was a prize; he, however, refused on that occasion, and also did the same next day, when a similar proposition proposition was made by Hog to him. On the evening of the 11th, he, along with Hog, went on board the Abo, and having forced open a hatch which communicated with the hold, the witness took out the goods from a large truss, which was afterwards divided, the boy having rather the largest share to secure his fidelity. The boy was present all the time, and brought a light to enable them to divide the spoll. That the witness and Hog walked along the north wall of the quay, when he stumbled and let fall one of the parcels, on which some Customhouse officers came up, but he left the goods, and went off. He knew the officers, one of whom afterwards spoke to him on the subject, and advised him to go away. The witness also said, that Hog was to pay him for his share in ready money. Two declarations which Hog emitted before the Magistrates of Leith, were read, in which he denied all knowledge of the robbery, and accounted for his having the paroal, by saying they were given him by a sailor he did not know. Some witnesses were examined in ex culpation, whose evidence was not very mas terial. The evidence for the Crown was summed up by the Solicitor General, and by Mr John Haggart, Advocate for the pan nel.The Lord Justice Clerk concluded the trial by a very candid and impartial address to the Jury, who were appointed to return their verdict next day at 10 'clock, which they did accordingly, all in one voice finding the pannel Guilty.The Solicitor General restricted the libel to an arbitrary punishment; on which the Court sentenced him to be transported beyond seas for 14 years. Counsel for the Crown, the Solicitor Ge neral and Henry Home Drummond, Esq. Agent, Mr Hugh Warrander, W. S.For the pannel, John Haggart and D. Macfar lane, Esqrs. Agent, Mr John Somerville. The trial of James Bradley, and John Lindsay Crawford, accused of forging cer tain deeds, was to come on the 9th January, but, on account of the absence of some material witnesses, was delayed till 34 February next. RIOTS IN EDINBURGH. We regret to state that on Tuesday night, the 31st of December, being the last of the year, and on that account de voted by immemorial usage, and the custom of the place, to innocent festivity, the streets of Edinburgh were disgraced by a series of riots, outrages, and robberies, hitherto, we may truly say, without any example. During almost the whole of the night, after eleven o'clock, a gang of ferocious banditti, armed with bludgeons and other weapons, infested some of the leading streets of this metropolis, and knocked down, and robbed, and otherwise most wantonly abused, almost every person who had the misfortune to fall in their way.After they had fairly succeeded in knocking down those of whom they were in pursuit, they proceeded immediately to rifle them of their money and watches; and the least symptom on their part, of anxiety to save their property, was a provocation to new outrages, which were persevered in, until their lives were endangered. One person, we have heard of, who, after being knocked down, made several attempts to preserve his watch; when he was, so abused and kicked, on the head, and in the breast, and stomach, that he was glad to escape with his life. Another gentleman, in the same unhappy predicament, succeeded in preserving his watch, though it was pulled so violently that the chain was broke, which, together with the seals, he lost. We have heard of many other instances of outrage, but it is unnecessary to enter farther into particulars. These outrages were chiefly committed by a band of idle apprentice boys, regularly organized for the purpose, and lurking in stairs and closes, from whence they issued, on a signal given, in large bands, and surrounded and overwhelmed those who were passing by. By the vigilance of the magistrates, who were on the streets, or otherwise actively engaged in the duties of their office, until about five o'clock on Wednes day morning, several of these rioters were apprehended on the spot, some of them with the stolen articles in their possession, and the most vigilant inquiries were set on foot, with a view to root out this nefarious combination against the peace of society, by bringing to exemplary justice the perpetrators of these outrages. A reward of one hundred guineas was offered by the Magistrates for the discovery of the offenders. We are sorry to add, that on the 4th January, Dugald Campbell, a police officer, died of the wounds he received on the first day of the year. And on the 7th, Mr James Campbell, clerk to a company in Leith, also died of the wounds, he received on the same occasion. Two rewards of 100 guineas each, was offered by the Magistrates, for the discovery of the murderers. Од On the 21st of December, between eight sad nine o'clock, the following melancholy accident happened in Edinburgh. A house in Blair's close Castle-hill, opposite the city's reservoir, suddenly blew up with a great explosion, and the inhabitants in the floor above, were instantly precipitated along with the falling ruins, into the cellar below. A room in the second floor was also blown up; in which there was luckily no person at the time of the accident. The house immediately caught fire, which, however, was soon got under, when the persons who had fallen along with the rubbish were taken out. The house immediately above the cellar, is inhabited by a man of the name of Campbell, his mother, and three women lodgers, with three children. Campbell was much scorched; his mother was killed-one of the women had her thigh bone broken and was much scorched. The other two were also greatly burnt and bruised. The children were not much hurt. The unfortunate sufferers were all sent to the Royal Infirmary.-The Magistrates, police, and firemen soon attended, and the fire was got under in a short time. The gun-powder which occasioned the explosion, was, it is supposed, concealed in the cellar. One of the women died in the Infirmary some days after. Helen Kennedy, daughter of James Kennedy, farmer in Barnsworklees, has been committed to Dumfries jail, accused of having poisoned Thomas Slothart, farmer in Burnswork, and his servant maid, on the 9th of December, by infusing arsenic in the water which had been put upon the fire, in order to make the porridge for Breakfast, of which, however, she would not participate, under pretence that that sort of food did not agree with her, and therefore breakfasted upon bread and Beer. Thomas M'Nair, slater, who was condemned for highway robbery By the High Court of Justiciary, was executed at Falkirk on the 26th of December, pursuant to his sentence. A strong party of military attended. It is 112 years since any person suffered at Falkirk. the room where he was confined, he was found quite dead, having hanged himself by means of his handkerchief. ANOTHER COMET.-The following extract from the French papers, states, that a new comet has just been seen :-a "A new comet has just been seen the consellation of Eridanus it was seen by M. Pons at Marseilles on the 16 ult. The thiek weather did not permit it being seen at Paris before the 5th instant; on that day, at 11 hours 1 minute of mean time, its right ascension was 64. 23. and the declination 13. 34. S. The apparent motion of the comet in right ascension, is retrograde and very slow, and the motion in declination carries it towards the northern hemisphere. "It is not visible by the naked eye; with very good glasses, its nucleus, the light of which is vivid, is surrounded with a light cloud, but not the slightest trace of a tail is to be seen. "It was announced that, on the 4th November, at 7. P. M. there was seen at Berne, in the direction of E.N. E. a comet above the horizon; and it was added that the tail was turned directly on the side of the horizon. It will not be unhecessary to remark, that these indications cannot in any measure relate to the comet discovered by M. Pons, first, because of the 4th Nov. this comet was still below the horizon at eight at night, and next, because it rises in the South East and has no tail, It is probable that the Astronomer of Bethe mistook the Nebulous of Andromeda for a comet. At the Imperial Observatory, GLASGOW, Dǝc, 24.-The new cornet was seen on the evenings of the 22d and 23a inst. at our Observatory. Its position has varied considerably in declination from that given by the French Astronomers for the 5th December. It is now very near the Equator. Its appearance, when viewed in the 10 feet Herschelfan, with a power of 250, is extremely beautiful. The nebulous cometary mass is condensed and appeats bright, notwithstanding the vicinity of the On Monday the 30th of December, two moon. There is at present a fine double men broke into a house in the neighbour star a little to the south west of it. The hose of Donfermline, and stole a watch rapidity of its motion is evident, even in and a pair of pantaloons. One of them the common telescope, in the interval of wat soon after apprehended, and after ex- one day. Its situation has been carefully amination was committed to Dunfermline determined on both evenings by a series jail. The watch was found in his posses of azimuths and altitudes with the great sion. Next morning on the jailor opening - Astronomical dircle constructed by Mr Through Throughton. It is still in the extended J. H. C. de Bernewitz (with temporary constellation Eridanus. ADMIRALTY OFFICE, DEC, 24. 1811. This day, the Prince Regent appointed his Royal Highness William Duke of Clarence, Admiral of the Red, to be Admiral of the Fleet, in the room of Admiral Sir Peter Parker, Bart. deceased. WHITEHALL, DEC. 31. 1811, The Prince Regent has appointed Richard Wellesley, Esq. to be one of the Lords of the Treasury, in room of the Hon. William Elliott, resigned. The Prince Regent has also appointed the Rev. Dr William Jackson to be Bishop of Oxford, in room of the Rev. Dr Charles Moss, deceased. WHITEHALL, JAN. 21. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, to appoint, Geo. Douglas, Esq. Advocate, to be Sheriff Depute of the shire of Kincardine, in the room of Adam Gillies, Esq. appointed a Lord of Session, WAR OFFICE, DEC. 30. 1811. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, in the name and on behalf of his Majesty, to appoint the following officers to take rank by brevet as undermentioned; their commissions to be dated 1st January 1812. Lieutenant Generals Sir Paulus Æmilius Irving, Bart. George Harris, Richard Vyse, William Viscount Cathcart, K. T. Banastre Tarleton, Sir. Hew Dalrymple, Knt. Gordon Forbes, John Floyd, Oliver de Lancey, Sir James Henry Craig, K. B. James Stuart, John Whyt, Andrew John Drummond, John William Earl of Bridgewater, William Maxwell, George Earl of Pembroke, K. B. John Earl of Chatham, K. G. Alexander Campbell, William Morshead, Francis Dundas, Alexander Ross, Hon. Francis Needham, and Henry Pigot -to be Generals in the Army. Major Generals, Sir Stapleton Cotton, Bart. Samuel Dalrymple, William Johnstone, Rowland Hill, Hon. William Stapleton, Denzil Onslow, Sir John Murray, Bart. Hon. Charles Hope, Sir, George Pigot, Bart. Frederick Maitland, John Leveson Gower, Martin Hunter, John Lord Elphinstone, Richard Earl of Donoughinore, Hon. John Abercromby, Sir W. Carr Beresford, K. B.-to be Lieutenant Generals in the Army. Colonels William Raymond, Terence D'Loghlin, George Murray, James Kempt, rank) Wilhelm de Dorenberg (with temporary rank) Henry Chester, Evan Lloyd, Matthew Sharp, John Lindsay, D. L. Tinling Woddrington, Richard Blunt, Henry Bayly, Richard Hulse, Francis Slater Re bow, George Stracey Smith, Hon. E. M. Pakenham, Henry M⭑Kinnon, Sir Thomas Richard Dyer, Bart. Robert Rollo Gillespie, Henry Conran, Joseph Baird, William Wheatley, William Henry Pringle, James Hare, Oliver Thomas Jones, Philip K. Skinner, and Andrew Ross-to be Ma jor Generals in the Army. . Jan. 4. 1812. Lieutenant Generals Anthony Farrington, and Ellis Walker-to be Generals in the Army. Major General William Twiss-to be Lieutenant General in the Army. Colonels Flower, M. Sprowle, of the royal artillery, William Borthwick, do.; C. N. Cockson, do.; William Johnstone, of the royal engineers, and John Burton of the royal artillery-to be Major Generals in the Army, Robert William Duff, Esq. of Fetteresso, has presented Mr John Stirling to be minister of the parish of Peterculter, vacant by the decease of the Rev. Mr George Mark. He has also presented Mr John Bower to be minister of the parish of Maryculter, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. Mr William Paul. 22. At Edinburgh, Mrs Wm. Miller, A daughter. At Atcham, the Rev. James Craig, of Dalserf, Lanarkshire, to Miss Dixon, of 23. At Ashkirk Manse, Mrs Hamilton, Atcham-Grange, Shropshire. a daughter. 25. The Lady of Colin Mackenzie, Esq. Advocate, jun. of Kilcoy, a son. The Countess of Oxford, a son. 29. Mrs Allan, Charlotte Square, a son. Mrs F. Gordon, a son. Dec. 16. MARRIAGES. Mr James Muir, surgeon, Paisley, to Miss Margaret M'Farlane, eldest daughter of Daniel M'Farlane, there. - At Dumbarton, Mr Robert Mackenzie, Jun. writer, to Miss Elizabeth Anstruther Campbell, youngest daughter of the late Niel Campbell, Esq. -At Hutton Bank, James Cunison, Esq. of Jerviston, to Miss Jessie Bryson, daughter of John Bryson, Esq. of Hutton Bank. 17. At Lincluden Cottage, Thomas M.Meeking, Esq. of Miltonish, to Jane, youngest daughter of the late John Morin, Esq. of Ellisland. At Edinburgh, Mr Archibald Mackinnon, merchant, Catherine Street, Edinburgh, to Jean, second daughter of Mr William Moffatt of Damhead, near Edinburgh. 18. At Shutterflat, the Rev. Andrew Symington, Paisley, to Jane eldest daughter of Robert Stevenson, Esq. of Shutterflat.. 20. At Beech-hill, the Reverend John Halket, minister of Cupar Angus, to Grace, second daughter of Charles Hay, Esq. of Beech-hill. 26. The Reverend Daniel Struther minister of the Relief Congregation at Waterbeck, to Miss Isabella, daughter of Mr William M•Craith in Cloneyard, parish of Colvend. 28. At Sheriffston, Adam Longmore, jun. Esq. of Exchequer, to Ann, only daughter of the late John Forsyth, Esq. of Deanshaugh. 30. At Dumfries, Mr William Fisher, to Christian, youngest daughter of Mr John Barclay, Scotlandwell. 31. At London, Thomas Buchanan, Esq. to the Honourable Catherine Abercromby, youngest daughter of the late Sir Ralph Abercromby. Jan. 1. 1812. At Leith, George Forsyth, Esq. master of his Majesty's ship Venus, to Miss Ann M'Lagan youngest daughter of William M.Lagan, Esq. late of Donavourd. 3. At Paisley, Lieutenant John Henning, to Miss Alicia Berry. Lord Palmerstone, to Miss Sullivan; and Lawrence Sullivan, Esq. of Pontsborne Park, Herefordshire(the bride's brother) to Miss Eliza Temple, Lord Palmerstone's sister. 6. At Arniston, Captain Cochrane, royal navy, eldest son of vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, K. B. and Governor of Gaudaloupe, to Miss Ross Wishart, eldest daughter of Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Ross, Bart. At Wigton, Nathaniel Nelson, Esq. of Springfield, to Miss Barbara Agnew, second daughter of Nathaniel Agnew, Esq. At Glasgow, David Jeffery, Esq. architect and builder, to Elizabeth, second daughter of the late George Kenniburgh, Esq. merchant. |