A short time since, two of the old swans, and four of those of the last whose feathers were about turnyear, ing white, were stolen from the Serpentine River, in Hyde Park. The The bodies were found tied to tries, without the skins and feathers, which have been traced to a Jew who resides in the neighbourhood of Oxford-street, through his sending them to a featherdresser to be dressed. The Jew has been taken into custody, and has undergone several examinations at the Public-office, Bow-street. The skins and feathers have been identified by a man employed in the Park. Yesterday the Jew underwent a final examination, and was ordered to find bail for having stolen property in his posses

sion.

16th.-PLYMOUTH.-LOSS OF THE AMETHYST.-Last night it blew a very heavy gale of wind from the W. S. W., in which his Majesty's frigate Amethyst, of 36 guns, commanded by Captain Walton, drove from her anchorage in the Sound, and about one o'clock ran on a reef of rocks near Mount Batten Bay, near the place where the Pallas frigate was also wrecked some years since; the night was extremely dark, and in consequence lights were hung out from all parts of the ship, and guns were fired from her as signals of distress. Soon after striking, it was deemed expedient to cut away her masts, which prevent ed her from falling over; but shortly after, from the damage sustained in her bottom, she was found to be filling fast, and in consequence some of her crew took to the boats, and were making for the shore, but were soon overwhelmed by a heavy sea then running into the bay, and it is feared the greater part of them must have perish ed, as six boats were discovered wrecks on the shore at day-light. A boat from one of the men of war in the Sound

was proceeding to the relief of the crew, but, melancholy to relate, was overset on nearing the ship, and all hands perished, consisting of an officer (supposed to be a midshipman) and 16 men; two other boats, from outward-bound transports lying in Catwater, were also proceeding to the relief of the distressed, and it is feared were upset, and their crews perished, as they have not since been heard of: the Amethyst was riding at single an chor, ready to start for the squadron off Brest. Three of the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers have been washed ashore. The guns that were fired from her, as signals of distress, unfortunately were shotted, which prevented the timely assistance that would otherwise have been rendered.

A Dover letter relates the following atrocious deed: A gentleman passenger who was washed on shore near Dunkirk out of the Elizabeth Indiaman, lashed to a piece of the wreck, was conveyed to a little hovel by a Frenchman who had found him along shore, to whom he gave 50 guineas, having saved 500. The Frenchman promised to come at night and take him to a place of safety; at night, he went with two others, each having a shovel, when they beat his brains out with their shovels, plundered the body, then dug a hole and buried it in the sand; three or four days after which, the principal being troubled in his conscience, went and confessed what he had done to a magistrate, when his two accomplices were taken up, and the dead body dug up greatly mangled. The three men have been committed to Dunkirk jail, to take their trial for murder.

25th.-Extract of a letter from an officer on board his Majesty's ship Franchise, to a friend at Plymouth :

"At three on Wednesday morning, in the act of wearing, we unfortunate

ly run down the transport brig John and Jane, William Wishart, master, with 219 of the 11th regiment on board, 14 of her crew, 15 women, and six children, making in the whole 254 souls; out of which are saved, Ensign Duff, and 22 of the troops, Mr Wishart, master, his mate, and six of the crew; making in the whole 31 saved,

and 223 drowned."

The following extract of a letter from an officer on board the Franchise, contains a more particular account of the loss of the passengers and crew of the transport unfortunately run down by that vessel :—

"Franchise, in Farrich Roads,

Falmouth, Feb. 21. "At three o'clock this morning, the weather being uncommonly dark,squally, and raining,, in the act of wearing this ship ran on board a transport brig, and from the velocity with which we were going at the time, the shock was so great, that we very nearly cut her in two, and she sunk under our bows in less than five minutes.

"On striking her, we immediately proceeded to throw all aback, to prevent our going completely over her; she, however, went down almost immediately, but many of the unfortunate crew clung to the masts and spars, which fortunately were entangled in the rigging of our bowsprit.

"In this situation, every exertion was made to save the wretched sufferers. Ropes-ends were thrown out to them, to which they fastened themselves, and by this means a few were saved. I offered to be lowered into one of the boats, to go to their assistance, so indeed did some of the other officers; but Captain Allen thought the boats would certainly be lost, and would not let them therefore be lowered. The darkness of the night, the howling of the wind, the cries of the poor fellows in the water, together with the view of several dead bodies lying on the

"The officers drowned were-Captains McRae and Gregsby; Lieutenants Ross and Fuller; Ensigns Glendening, Handcock, and McMasters.

"Persons saved from the John and Jane transport, which was run down by the Franchise frigate, on the 21st inst., on her passage to Lisbon :

"Ensign Duff; Serjeants Brown, Hunt, O'Neale; Corporal Thompson; Privates, Delancy, Valentine, Harr, Mahoney, A. McLean. B. Burgess, E. Keefe, C. Murphy, J. Parr, T. Reilly, H. Bateman, J. Stott, T. Mooney, J. Young, and one unknown, all of the 11th foot; T. Wishart, master; W. Ledger, mate; E. Veng, John Samuel, G. Smith, J. Yellowson, R. Avering, M. Joseph, seamen.

28th. POLICE.-Yesterday, Davenport Sedley, and Gustavus Kieruft, were committed to Newgate by the magistrates of Union Hall, Southwark, upon a charge, founded on the oath of James Karmer, of feloniously stealing and carrying away five bills of Exchange, for 5001. each, together with several other bills, the property of the Marquis of Headfort. The circumstances of this curious case are as follows:

The Marquis of Headfort being desirous of raising a sum of money on securities, and invited by the specious professions of an advertising moneylender, made application, and was in consequence introduced to Kieruft, who passed as a Swedish nobleman,

and who was aptly dressed for the part he was to act. The marquis was assured by the other person, who was the medium of introduction, that the count was a man of large property; and that although he could not immediately furnish the money to the extent required, yet that his paper was perfectly negociable to any amount, and that the noble marquis might be accommodated by exchanging the count's negociable paper for his lordship's. The marquis, it appears, was not much in the habit of negociations in this way; he, however, gave his own bills, payable at different dates, to the extent of 13,0001. in exchange for such negociable bills as the count found it convenient to give his lordship. The bills of Lord Headfort were immediately transferred to other hands, through the medium of the two other partners, who are still at large. Lord Headfort found out too late that he had been duped.

The first of his lordship's bills that became due was for 2001., which his lordship, by the advice of his friends, refused to pay. How to oblige him to pay was the point to be contrived, and a deep and notable stratagem was hit on. A letter was sent to his lordship, signed with the name of a person, who conjured and threatened his lordship, for the sake of his own character, and for the honour of his name, his children, and his family, to pay the bill, as otherwise it must inevitably be put into a course of suit against him; that in this case the writer having been unfortunately implicated in a charge of a horrible nature with an old man belonging to the bank, who was executed in the Old Bailey two years since, his name would appear on the back of the bill, which, coupled with his lordship's, would go forth to the public, and blast his lordship's character for ever; and to avoid this disagreeable circumstance there was no al

ternative but paying the bill. The noble marquis, alarmed at this insinuation, paid the bill; but on communicating the circumstances to his friends, he was advised to have the writer apprehended, and prosecuted criminally. The person whose name was signed to the letter was, in consequence, appre hended; but denied all knowledge of the transaction.

Under these circumstances it was deemed adviseable to have Sedley and Kieruft, and their two partners, apprehended, as well on suspicion of being concerned in the stratagem, as for the fraud in the other way; and the officers, on apprehending Sedley, found in his pocket a copy of the aforesaid letter. The parties were committed for trial.

Yesterday morning, W. Trueman, for robbing a woman in Smithfield; J. Cope, for passing counterfeit money; and J. Fruin, for horse-stealing, were executed in front of Newgate, pursuant to their sentence. J. Whitmore, who was to have been also executed for a rape, has received a respite for a week. Before the culprits were brought out, several police-officers took their stations on the scaffold close to the chain. They were all well armed. This precaution was employed in consequence of information that an attempt would be made to rescue Trueman, who belonged to a numerous and desperate gang of fellows.

Ân officer, who was quartered in the vicinity of Vienna, returning home one night, desired a child whom he met with a lanthorn, to light him. The latter obeyed; but never ceased singing all the way "What is white, is not black!" The officer, on reaching his quarters, asked the child what he meant by that ridiculous song? The child replied with great simplicity, that it was a signal agreed on between him and some men, when he lighted any one dressed in uniform. The officer gave

notice to the patrole, and desired the child to return with him, singing "Black is not white." Upon passing a wood which skirted the road, six robbers rushed out, and, after an unavailing struggle with the patrole, were conveyed to prison.

At the Lyceum, at Pau, a new system of artificial memory is taught, different from all preceding ones, and which, it is pretended, enables students, in three lessons of two hours each, to undergo examinations in the most difficult and abstract sciences.

A chaise-driver, in the service of Mr Loftus, at Newcastle, having got intoxicated while driving a party on the Shields road, his master, who was in company, ordered him off the dickey, and desired him to walk home. Instead of so doing, however, the man, unknown to any one, got up the back part of the chaise while it was going, and having stumbled, the spikes caught hold of the handkerchief round his neck; and being without the power of making his situation known, he was dragged two miles in this state, his knee joints being rubbed off by the friction of the road.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT.-In the sound and dry grounds, bean-planting is nearly finished, and some oats and peas got into the earth; in less favoured situations, and where tillage has been backward, this branch of husbandry will not be complete until nearly the middle of next month. The wheats in general have improved in their appearance, except upon wet and poachy soils, where they still look yellow and unhealthy. Mr Kemp's practice of putting in spring corn, without the aid of the plough, has been tried by several experimental farmers with beans and oats, and report speaks well of the state of those lands. From the late rains, tillage has been difficult, and is backward in low and undrained soils,

a difficulty which will be felt on such throughout the spring. The common turnips have suffered from wet upon unfavourable soils; but the rutabaga is a certain dependence wherever cultivated, and its culture, as it ought, increases every year throughout the island. From the nature of last year's crops, straw must become very scarce towards the latter end of the season; and from the dearness of hay, those stock farmers who have not provided themselves amply with green crops, will be reduced to great difficulty. Some losses of sheep by the rot, in the midland counties, were spoken of in the past months; but nothing on that head is repeated, nor much yet respecting the lambs. Little alteration in the country since last month in the cattlemarkets, or the farm-yards. The cornmarkets have had an ample supply, yet the general opinion is, that wheat must be dearer; it must, however, be noted, that never before was so great a breadth of wheat sown in England and Scotland, as during the last seed season, and much land is yet reserved for spring wheat, the culture of which has been abundantly successful for many years, and increases in consequence.

In Smithfield market, beef fetches from 5s, to 6s. per. stone of 8lb. ; mutton, from 5s. 4d. to 6s. 4d. ; veal, 6s. to 8s. 4d.; pork, 5s. 4d. to 8s.

FASHIONS. Walking Dress.-A pelisse of scarlet Merino cloth, buttoned down the front and up the arm with small gold buttons; the collar and cuffs of purple velvet; but during the morning, of black, striped with scarlet; an ermine tippet pointed in the back, and muff of the same. A bonnet of scarlet cloth, turned up with velvet, and formed to come over the face; the veil passed through the front and brought round the neck.. Boots of scarlet cloth, trimmed with velvet.— Evening Full Dress.-A round dress of white satin, sloped up in front, with small train, ornamented round the bot

tom with velvet in a scroll pattern, vandyked round the edges, and dotted with black chenille; the velvet during the morning should be grey or scarlet; the bosom, girdle, and sleeves of this dress, are ornamented to correspond. A turban cap of white satin, looped with pearls, and edged with velvet; the hair combed full over the face, curled in thick flat curls, divided on the forehead. Necklace, ear-rings, and bracelets of gold and pearls blended. White kid shoes and gloves; fan of white crape and gold.-Observation.In respect to the fashion for jewellery, all ornaments, whetherrings, necklaces, ear-rings, broaches, buckles, &c. are worn much smaller.

MARCH.

1st. Sentence was passed on Tuesday morning, in Frankfort barracks, Plymouth, on Keeling, Smith, and Marshall, of the Nottingham militia, for allowing French prisoners to escape from Dartmoor, while they were doing duty there. They were sentenced to receive 900 lashes each; but the two latter were forgiven their punishment; and Keeling, who procured fire-arms for the Frenchmen, received 450 lashes in presence of the picquets from every regiment in this garrison.

The frequent escape of French prisoners from Plymouth and other seaports, has called forth a measure from government, which will tend to prevent such occurrences in future. All the French prisoners in our possession, who belonged to the navy, are marching to the depots inland; while those belonging to the army are in future to be confined on board prison-ships, and in the vicinity of sea-ports.

Agreeably to the predictions of the French philosophers, the tide rose, at

Leith, to an unusual height on Sunday week; the depth of water, on the bar, was 16 feet, 5 inches, to which may be added, two feet and a half of dead water in the harbour, making the total rise of the tide 18 feet 11 inches: had the wind been in the northwest, it would have probably risen two feet more. A vast crowd of spectators were on the pier, among whom were several eminent literary characters. The depth of water on Monday was 15 feet and a half.

Yesterday morning, at six o'clock, Mr Sheward, stable-keeper, of Parklane, drove a break and four horses, for a wager, on the road from Picca dilly to Staines. The wager was, that he would drive four in hand fifteen miles in fifty minutes. He lost three minutes of his time in the first seven miles, and lost the wager by four mi

nutes,

A gentleman of the name of Span, late of Bristol, was unfortunately killed in a duel, in January last, with an officer of the garrison of Trinidad.

Tuesday night, about nine o'clock, an unfortunate female, whose appearance spoke the capacity of respectable servitude, was found hanging to the iron-rails of Devonshire-place, Paddington. A gentleman who was returning home, first saw and cut her down, and after three hours exertion, assisted by an apothecary in the neighbourhood, succeeded in restoring animation. Yesterday morning she was quite sensible, and assigns for a reason her extreme poverty; she had journeyed from Hereford on foot, without money, and on that day had walked 19 miles without subsistence.

A few days since, the porter of a shop, in Paternoster-row, threw himself off the top of his master's house. He survived about half an hour, and was taken to the hospital, where he expired. The cause of his committing the act, is attributed to having lost in