AGRICULTURAL REPORT.- -The very severe weather of last month has, in some degree, injured the turnips and the brassica species; but, although short in its duration, it has rendered the most important advantages to agriculture, by destroying the larvæ in the nidus of the slug and insect tribes, that commit great depredations upon the tender plants in the spring. The flag of the young wheats has, in exposed situations, changed its colour from a livid green to russet brown; but the plant has received no injury, not even the latest sown. The young clovers and grasses have changed colour from the same cause, but without their roots being in the least injured. The severe frost has had the best effect on tenacious soils, by giving them a mechanical arrangement (highly conducive to the fructification of the ensuing spring crops,) by enlarging the interstices to permit the water to percolate freely, and facilitate the progress of the spreading roots. The return of mild weather is also very acceptable, on account of the scarcity of cattle food, as it will not only prevent an increasing consumption, but will bring forward the early spring crops for soiling, which have become such valuable resources in modern agriculture.

FASHIONS.-Carriage Dress. Gown of black Italian gauze worn over white, with long sleeves made high in the neck, with antique ruff a-la Queen Elizabeth, ornamented round the bottom with a grey flossed silk triming. A mantle of French grey satin, with collar fastened on the right shoulder with black broach, and trimmed entire

ly round with a rich stamped velvet, lined with the same colour. A bonnet to correspond, with stamped velvet flower in front. Shoes of black or grey kid; gloves of the same. -Evening Dress. An amber-colour crape dress, with long sleeves, and frock waist, tied with white ribband; slashed Spanish front, let in with satin of the same colour, ornamented with white beads ; on the back of the dress is worn a drapery of amber-colour satin hanging over the shoulders in front, or tied in a bow behind, which either way forms a pretty finish to the dress. It is made just to touch the ground behind, and is bordered with a rich satin of the same colour, edged with beads. This truly elegant dress is worn over a white satin slip. The cap is composed of amber-plaited ribband and lace, edged with Vandyke lace, tied in a bow on the left side, with amber flower in front. Necklace and ear-rings of pearl, Amber satin shoes; white kid gloves; tippet of Swansdown.-Walking Dress. -A round high morning robe of cambric, with deep full trimmed collar. A Swedish coat of lead-coloured cloth, or black velvet, trimmed entirely round with Swansdown or blue fur. A Spanish pelerine of the same, fastened in front of the throat with a motherof-pearl broach; clasps to correspond for the bottom of the waist. A traveller's hat of black or grey velvet, or cloth, turned up on the left side with a shell ornament. Half-boots of grey cloth, laced and bound with black velvet.

1st.

FEBRUARY.

We are sorry to state a most daring robbery was committed a few nights since by some villains, who for med a raft, and crossed the moat which surrounds Leeds Castle, the seat of

General Martin; procuring the boat, they rowed round, and getting in at the window of the kitchen, proceeded to the butler's pantry, taking a quantity of plate; and would have carried off more had they not been disturbed. 2d. The question of privilege, which caused the exclusion of strangers on Thursday in the House of Lords, related to Lady Lecale, the widow of Lord Lecale, an Irish baron, and brother of the late Duke of Leinster. Her ladyship resides in the west end of the town, and was lately arrested for a certain sum of money. Mr Flashman, of Ely-place, had been employed as attorney on the part of the plaintiff, and one Isaacs, a bailiff, carried the process into execution. Upon this statement being communicated to the House of Lords, they considered it a breach of the privileges of the peerage, and the attorney and bailiff were or dered to be taken into custody, and were brought to the bar of their Lordships' House. We understand their Lordships' judgment to have been, that the attorney and bailiff be discharged upon payment of their fees. The lady is related to one of the first families in Ireland; the sum for which she was arrested was 481.

money.

On Friday se'nnight, Mr Hobson, of Skendleby, went in his gigto Louth, to pay a pretty considerable sum of His business detained him rather late, so that it was quite dark when he set out on his return home. When he had got out about four miles, at a part of the road called Mannerslane, he perceived a man standing just outside of the rut. It should be observed, that hereabout the road passes through a kind of swamp for 40 or 50 yards, which, particularly at this season of the year, prevents carriages from quitting the track on the rampart. The circumstance, therefore, of a man standing as we have described, created a suspicion in the mind of Mr Hobson,

who, in order to avoid danger, gave the whip to his horse, and made him start into a canter. As soon as he reached the man, the fellow made a snatch at the bridle of the horse, and called to Mr H. to stop; but the swiftness of the animal occasioned the man to miss his hold. Thus disappointed, he exclaimed " D-n him, I have missed him ;" and at the same instant aimed a blow at Mr Hobson, with a cudgel which he had in his hand; but, luckily, hit him rather smartly on the shoulder only. Mr H. escaped further injury, and thought himself, by continuing to canter away, free from danger; when, at the other end of the swamp, he perceived another fellow standing in the middle of the road, who, as soon as he thought Mr Hobson within a sure reach, dischar ged at him the contents of a pistol, which providentially missed him.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH.--The King v. P. Finnerty.The judgement of the court being moved against the defendant, who stood convicted of a libel upon Lord Castlereagh, Mr Finnerty appeared, and the libel being read, which appeared in the Morning Chronicle, Mr Clifford, for the defendant, stated he had some affidavits to put in. Finnerty, however, interrupted Mr Clifford, and wished to ask whether, if he were assisted by counsel in the former parts of the case, he was precluded from addressing them himself? The court said, he either appeared by counsel, or he did not. If he appeared by counsel, he could not be heard himself. Finnerty replied, that he then wished to be considered as not appearing by counsel. He put in a long affidavit, which was partly read, when the fur ther reading was interrupted by the court. The affidavit itself was of a most violent sort; it included in it copies of affidavits of a number of persons made in Ireland, and arraign

ed the whole conduct of government, during the time that Lord Castlereagh was in administration in Ireland. The court at length said, that this was an aggravation of the libel. They could not go into an investigation of the general conduct of government at any particular period; they must confine themselves to the transaction stated on the record.

Mr Finnerty stated, that he had accused Lord Castlereagh of misconduct and oppression in his official situation, and therefore it was open to him to go into an investigation of his public conduct.

Mr Garrow said, he unwillingly interfered; but it appeared to him, that the course which the defendant was pursuing might be attended with the most mischievous consequences. He was justifying a libel in the gross, by an accumulation of libels, in the shape of an affidavit. The moment this affidavit was upon the files, the defendant, or any body else, might publish it, as part of the proceedings in the cause, and the prosecutor could have no remedy.

Mr Finnerty disclaimed any such intention, and said he was unjustly.accused in the supposition.

Lord Ellenborough said, the court could not suffer its files to be polluted by the admission of such an affidavit. He advised the defendant to withdraw it, and the court would forget that such a one had ever been presented; at least, he thought the defendant had better resort to some professional advice, and not present an affidavit which must do him harm, but rather one that should be beneficial to him.

After some observations from Mr Finnerty and the counsel on the other side, Mr Finnerty agreed to withdraw his affidavit, and he was committed, and ordered to be brought up again on Thursday next.

4th. A few days ago, a labourer at Cara, near Dursley, having a sharp

clasp-knife in his hand, whilst in the act of preventing one of his children from taking hold of it, incautiously threw it from him, when it penetrated the temple of an infant lying in its mother's lap, and caused its death in a few hours.

A few evenings since, as Mrs Sheridan was coming to town in her carriage from Barnes to her house in Queen-street, Mayfair, a portmanteau, containing lace, silk, and valuable articles, to a considerable amount, was cut from behind the carriage, with which the robbers made their escape.

The French papers mention the death of Nicholai, the celebrated Prussian author. He edited the Bibliotheque Universelle, from 1764 to 1792. From the multiplicity of his works, and the influence which his opinions once had among the German literati, he was nick-named the God of Paper and the Idol of Philosophers.

Oxford is about to experience some very considerable improvements. A great number of indifferent houses, belonging to Christ's and Brazen-Nose Colleges, are, on the early expiration of the present leases, to be pulled down, and the streets in their neighbourhood are to be widened, &c. It is also proposed to open a grand avenue to Christ's College, by throwing down the nest of dirty houses which at present obscure its front.

He

5th.-COURT OF KING'S BENCH The King v. Peter Finnerty.-This defendant was brought up on the motion of the Attorney-General. this day addressed the bench, and said, that, in compliance with the advice of the Lord Chief Justice, he had amended his affidavit, and expunged from it, according to the best of his judgment, all the parts to which objection had been taken on the last day he appeared before their lordships. He ther put in his affidavit, but it was found to be still so objectionable, and containing so much irrelevant matter, that it was ordered to be entirely reject

General Martin; procuring the boat, they rowed round, and getting in at the window of the kitchen, proceeded to the butler's pantry, taking a quantity of plate; and would have carried off more had they not been disturbed. 2d.The question of privilege, which caused the exclusion of strangers on Thursday in the House of Lords, related to Lady Lecale, the widow of Lord Lecale, an Irish baron, and brother of the late Duke of Leinster. Her ladyship resides in the west end of the town, and was lately arrested for a certain sum of money. Mr Flashman, of Ely-place, had been employed as attorney on the part of the plaintiff, and one Isaacs, a bailiff, carried the process into execution. Upon this statement being communicated to the House of Lords, they considered it a breach of the privileges of the peerage, and the attorney and bailiff were ordered to be taken into custody, and were brought to the bar of their Lordships House. We understand their Lordships' judgment to have been, that the attorney and bailiff be discharged upon payment of their fees. The lady is related to one of the first families in Ireland; the sum for which she was arrested was 481.

On Friday se'nnight, Mr Hobson, of Skendleby, went in his gigto Louth, to pay a pretty considerable sum of money. His business detained him rather late, so that it was quite dark when he set out on his return home. When he had got out about four miles, at a part of the road called Mannerslane, he perceived a man standing just outside of the rut. It should be observed, that hereabout the road passes through a kind of swamp for 40 or 50 yards, which, particularly at this season of the year, prevents carriages from quitting the track on the rampart. The circumstance, therefore, of a man standing as we have described, created a suspicion in the mind of Mr Hobson,

who, in order to avoid danger, gave the whip to his horse, and made him start into a canter. As soon as he reached the man, the fellow made a snatch at the bridle of the horse, and called to Mr H. to stop; but the swiftness of the animal occasioned the man to miss his hold. Thus disappointed, he exclaimed "D-n him, I have missed him ;" and at the same instant aimed a blow at Mr Hobson, with a cudgel which he had in his hand; but, luckily, hit him rather smartly on the shoulder only. Mr H. escaped further injury, and thought himself, by continuing to canter away, free from danger; when, at the other end of the swamp, he perceived another fellow standing in the middle of the road, who, as soon as he thought Mr Hobson within a sure reach, dischar ged at him the contents of a pistol, which providentially missed him.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH.--The King v. P. Finnerty.The judgement of the court being moved against the defendant, who stood convicted of a libel upon Lord Castlereagh, Mr Finnerty appeared, and the libel being read, which appeared in the Morning Chronicle, Mr Clifford, for the defendant, stated he had some affidavits to put in. Finnerty, however, interrupted Mr Clifford, and wished to ask whether, if he were assisted by counsel in the former parts of the case, he was precluded from addressing them himself? The court said, he either appeared by counsel, or he did not. If he appeared by counsel, he could not be heard himself. Finnerty replied, that he then wished to be considered as not appearing by counsel. He put in a long affidavit, which was partly read, when the fur ther reading was interrupted by the court. The affidavit itself was of a most violent sort; it included in it copies of affidavits of a number of persons made in Ireland, and arraign

sons after her husband, who was in London. The circumstance caused considerable alarm in that part of the country. Lords Whitworth and Sheffield published an advertisement, offer ing a reward of 2001. for the discovery of the writer of the letter. A number of men were employed to watch Mr Jenner's premises, and to patrole in different parts.

On the 16th of January last, Mr Bingham's house was discovered to be on fire, and although timely assistance was given, great part of the premises were destroyed. It was ascertained that the fire broke out in the school room, where there were several fag gots laid. (See report, in page 16.) Mr Bingham reported that he had no doubt it was one of the foresters who had set fire to his premises. The account he gave of the fire and his conduct, was, that his family went to bed about ten o'clock-he was the last up. About half past ten o'clock he heard the noise of footsteps: he looked out of his window, but could not see or hear any person.

About half past eleven o'clock he was alarmed again: he looked out of the window the second time, but did not see any person; but a little before one, he heard a noise at the school room door; and he states, that he saw a man walking from the house, but could not tell whether he had on a blue coat or a smock frock. This account being so very extraordinary and unsatisfactory, Lord Sheffield sent to the Public-office, Bow-street, for an active and intelligent officer, and Mr Read sent Adkins. Upon the officer's arrival, after making enquiries, he strongly suspected Mr Bingham had set his own house on fire, and in consequence placed several men to watch. One of them he stationed in the steeple of the church, when they discover ed him to bring a great quantity of books from his stable, and bury them in his garden. From a variety of other

suspicious circumstances, a warrant was granted against Mr Bingham, and one to search his premises, when Adkins found in the roof of the privy a variety of valuable papers concealed, together with other suspicious circumstances of his having set his premises on fire for the purpose of defrauding the Union Fire Office, and he was in consequence taken into custody, and on Friday underwent a final examination at Lewes, before Lords Chichester and Sheffield, and was fully committed for trial.

6th.-A Dublin paper, of Wednesday last, contains the following para. graph:-Assassinating committees are again in activity. In the course of last week, several gentlemen received anonymous letters, threatening death, and desiring them to prepare for their fate. One gentleman seems to have disregarded the caution-he was waylaid on Sunday night in Gardinerstreet, attacked by a posse, knocked down, and when on the ground, a car bine, loaded with several balls, was fired at him. Two balls passed through his hat without injury to his person; a third wounded him, but not mortally, in the head.

HOTEL ROBBER.-A man was taken into custody on Saturday, on the charge of having robbed divers hotels. Several charges were made against the prisoner, and it appeared that he was in the habit of entering the hotels with all the sang-froid imaginable, and with a candle in his hand he took his walk through sets of rooms, and at opportunities conveyed away such light moveables as he could get at. Amongst his booty was a writing-desk, which contained a quantity of guineas, and which he could not get at; but while he was employed cutting the article to pieces, Foy interrupted him in a taproom, and took possession of the property. The prisoner was remanded for another examination this day.

On Thursday, the 24th ult., a fox 2