themselves to the man for 15 months, and are, at his expense, provided either with a monkey, squirrel, or white mice, which they are to exhibit about the streets, and beg. Should they return with sufficient money at night, they are provided with food; but, if unsuccessful, they have nothing. Upon the members of the mendicity society making inquiries, the above statement was confirmed; and, in addition, they learnt that, at the expiration of the 15 months, should the boys have given their employers satisfaction, the monkey, mouse, or squirrel, is given to the lad, and he commences business for himself. They further learnt, that two Italian men returned last summer to Italy, with 50%., the gains of one speculation of this kind. To stop such abominable fraud, two of the managers of the Mendicity society appointed the constables of the institution to be in the street where these boys are lodged, by half-past 7, and, as they came out, the gentlemen passed down the street, and noticed the lads. They were soon asked to give alms, which the constables seeing, they began to take them into custody. From the resistance they made, only 4 out of 8 were secured. These were conveyed to the sitting magistrate at Hatton-garden, who promises to use his utmost exertion to get them conveyed back to Italy, and in the mean time will take care of them. There are not less than 20 boys now in London under similar circumstances.

MURDER AND ARSON. murder was committed in the town of Woolwich, Kent, on Friday night last, not exceeded

in point of atrocity by any which stain the calendar of crimes in this country. The persons murdered were Mr. Thomas Parker, a venerable old gentleman, upwards of 70 years of age, and Sarah Brown, his housekeeper. Mr. Parker, we understand, had formerly been a goldsmith residing in London, and had retired to Woolwich to spend the evening of his days in comfortable retirement. He had amassed a compétent property, and lived in a neat house situate in Mulgraveplace Red Lion-street, at a short distance from the artillery-barracks. He was an inoffensive gentlemanly man, very much respected by the whole neighbourhood. His only servant was Sarah Brown, a steady woman of about 40 years of age, who had lived with him three years. She too was well known by the neighbours, and was generally respected. On Friday evening nothing particular was observed about the premises. Mr. Parker was occasionally seen at the bow window of the parlour in which he usually sat, and his servant was seen engaged in her ordinary avocations. We should here state, that while the front of the house looks into Red Lion-street, at the back there is a small garden, terminated by a high paling, which divides it from a narrow lane, which is a common thoroughfare. The day closed without any suspicion being excited; but at one in the morning, the sentinel on duty at the north arch of the artillery barracks observed a dense smoke rising from Mr. Parker's house. He instantly gave an alarm, and several of the artillery-men rushed forth to give assistance. They soon reached the spot which had

attracted notice, and there found the flames bursting from the parlour window. The men rapped at the door with great violence to awaken the inmates, who, it was supposed, were asleep, and insensible of their danger. To their humane efforts no answer was returned; a death-like silence prevailed within. The cry of "fire" soon spread, and two engines arrived on the spot, and commenced playing into the window. Corporal Anderson and corporal Poutis, who were present with their men, now resolved to force the street door, and, if possible, to rescue Mr. Parker and his servant from their impending fate. The resolution was no sooner formed than carried into effect, and these brave men, followed by others, rushed into the passage. From thence they went up stairs into the front room on the first floor; here the ravages of the fire were perceptible; the furniture of a bed, which was of maroon (a woollen manufacture), had been partly consumed, and the embers still smoked. In the bed itself there was no vestige of a human being. The men then ran into the bed-room on the second floor, which was found in flames: but the devouring element was soon extinguished. The search which was made for Mr. Parker here was also fruitless, as it was also in a back room in the first floor; neither he nor his servant could be found. Every exertion was now turned toward suppressing the flames in the parlour, which were gradually extending, by means of the window-frame, to the room above. A hole was cut in the floor of the bed-chamber, through which water was poured; and by this means, added

to the incessant playing of the engines without, the danger was subdued. In a short time the parlour door was thrown open, and Lyons, a man belonging to the artillery band, entered. He looked eagerly round in search of the hapless tenants; he perceived a heap of something lying behind the door, and he approached and attempted to lift it up, when he found it to be part of a human body. The man called to his companions, who now joined him, and a second body, which proved to be that of a female, was found stretched in the same place, although not so much burnt. All hope of restoring life had fled, and the bodies were left in this situation for some time, no doubt being entertained that they were those of the unfortunate Mr. Parker and his servant. A further investigation of the premises now took place, when it was perceived that blankets had been nailed up against every window, as if to conceal from those without, the appearance of the flames within. This led to a more minute examination, and it was ascertained, that fire had been communicated in three different and distinct places, no one place having the slightest connexion with the other; that is to say, in the parlour on the ground floor, in the bed-chamber on the first floor, and in the bed chamber on the second floor. From this it was concluded that there had been some foul play, but by whom yet remained a mystery. Sentinels were placed round the house, and at break of day the investigation was renewed. The dreadful truth then burst upon the horror-struck spectators. The bodies of Mr. Parker and his ser

vant were examined. The former was burnt nearly to a cinder; the left leg and foot, on which there were a black silk stocking and a shoe, only remained entire. The skull, however, although the flesh was burnt off, remained whole, and afforded convincing testimony of the commission of a most foul and detestable murder: on the left side, towards the back, there was a terrific fracture. The body of the woman was next examined, and here, if doubt existed before, it was completely removed. The unfortunate creature lay stretched upon her face; her apparel was partly consumed, and her hair, which was long, was spread in dishevelled locks about her. She was lifted upon a table, and the cause of her death became at once perceptible. A horrible wound, inflicted apparently with a blunt instrument, appeared over her eye, and at the back of her head were three deep fractures, which some imagined might have been produced by a bayonet, or some such weapon. Two men are in custody on suspicion; the one had worked as an occasional gardener with Mr. Parker. The constables in the neighbourhood were upon the alert. Mr. Champion, the high constable of Woolwich, took charge of the premises; Bennett, the Bow-street patrol, and Tucker, an officer of Deptford, were likewise on the spot, in order to gain such particulars as might enable them to go in pursuit of the offenders. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.

ROME.-M. Settele, Professor of the University della Sapienzas, had composed a course of astronomy by order of his superiors,

and had intended to give it to the press; but as he had taught the system of Copernicus, and the motion of the earth, the censorship refused him the imprimatur. It is intended to ask the opinions of the congregation of the Holy Office, and those of the Index. Pope Benedict XIV, permitted this system to be taught as an hypothetical, but not as a positive doctrine.

AUGSBURG. Notwithstanding the vigilance and activity of the police, the attacks and wounding of women who appear alone in the streets in the evening still continue. As the perpetrator does not consider himself safe in the public street, on account of the patrole set to watch him, he now begins to steal into houses, and then to gratify his wicked inclinations by stabbing women whom he finds alone. The inhabitants still live in the greatest terror. The boldness of the disturbers of public security goes so far, that, notwithing the increased number of guards set by the police, a girl was wounded in the street the evening before yesterday, and another pursued; and yesterday evening, at 7 o'clock, an attempt was made to assassinate a student. He was suddenly attacked by an unknown person, armed with a stiletto, and only his sudden turning round parried the blow from the heart at which it was aimed, so that it struck the breast, and did not prove mortal; but the young man, in defending himself, was besides severely wounded in the hand. The assassin fled. We must praise the general indignation and tumult among the people, who ran toge ther in crowds in order to seize

the wretches who have so long carried on their wicked proceedings undiscovered. This afternoon a notice has been issued by the police, and all the streets and squares are occupied by soldiers of the police, gens d'armes, and military patrols.

PIRACIES IN THE MEDITER RANEAN.-Letters from Malta of the 3rd ult. state, that Delano, of Liverpool, the master of the William and his crew, have been found guilty of piracy. The trial lasted three days and two nights, and they have been sentenced to be executed on board the ship in which the crime was committed, and afterwards hung in chains.

ROSCOMMON ASSIZES.-Trial of the Ribandmen.-Roscommon, March 1. The Crown prosecutions commenced this day. The first person put on trial was Stephen M'Garry, charged with burglary, with intent to commit a robbery; 2d indictment, for demanding money; 3d indict ment, for breaking into the dwelling-house of Michael Hannally, after sun-set, and injuring the same; 4th indictment, for forcibly exacting money; 5th indictment, for demanding the same with intent to rob; 6th indictment, for appearing, by night, armed. A most respectable jury Iraving been sworn, Mr. Vandeleur, leading counsel for the Crown, addressed the court in an able speech of which the following is the substance:-He said he was pleased to find, that at this awful moment, when the peace of the county was at stake, a jury of so great respectability had been selected. They must be, one and all, aware of the critical situation of the county. The gaoler's calendar was replete

with crimes of the deepest die, tending to overturn the consitution, and throw the country into a state of anarchy and confusion. At such an eventful period, the state of the country depended on a manly and zealous discharge of the duty which devolved upon jurors. Every thing that was dear and valuable in life was consigned to their protection. Let not those spoliators, said the learned counsel, seize upon your properties, and devastate the county. You all have experienced the benefits of social order in times of tranquillity, and I am certain you must now feel the reverse, owing to the diabolical machinations of those disturbers of your county's peace. That county demands justice at your hands: discharge your duty conscientiously, and with manly firmness. The prisoner brought before you stands charged with a series of crimes, almost all of which are of an insurrectionary nature. Accurately and minutely investigate the case, and with all due lenity towards the prisoner; but let not prejudice or terror affright you from an upright discharge of your duty. The influence of terror, indeed, must be foreign to your minds. From what motives those crimes have been multiplied in this county is to me quite inexplicable. Why were they not, in their infancy, extinguished by the magistrates? It is strange how any man could have skulked from his duty when outrage was so prevalent. Apathy must have got the better of that duty, which the magistracy at large were bound to adhere to. It is to this the increase of crime is to be imputed. But the arm of the law is too strong for those

nocturnal disturbers of your peace; and as long as the juries of this county shall be auxiliary to that law, those crimes will be put down. Outrage in the sister kingdom was promptly put down; why not also in Ireland? The Irish, taken in the aggregate, are as loyal as the English; but from the apathy and supineness of the magistrates, outrage has made such head in this county, that an auxiliary force was necessary to be sent down for the purpose of exterminating its baleful influence. It must succeed in putting down crime, if you lend your aid, and peace and good order will be once more restored. In the sister kingdom outrage has been most promptly put down; why is it not likewise put an end to here? Want of sufficient energy is the cause. The consequence is, a hideous catalogue of crimes appear on the calendar of the county of Roscommon. In the discharge of your duty you will have the zealous co-operation of the government, who are determined to put down these disturbances. What object can these deluded wretches propose to themselves? What delusive prospects have they in view? Some examples are necessary to recall them to their duty, and to render them amenable to the law. Let them dispassionately search their own minds-let them pause for awhile, and consider what they could propose to themselves by the perpetration of such crimes, and the result will be, that all is visionary, and that nothing could be achieved by the commission of such outrages. The learned counsel concluded by saying, that he should not trouble the jury any longer on

the subject, conscious, as he was, that they would zealously and faithfully discharge their duty, without fear, favour, or affection. Several prisoners were convicted, condemned, and executed. (From the Correspondent.)

Troops have been ordered to the disturbed districts in Ireland; which comprehend, unfortunately, in whole or in part, the three neighbouring counties of Clare, Galway, and Roscommon. The immediate object of the disturbers appears to be, to obtain a reduction in the rent of land, as that of the English manufacturing labourers has been, to raise the price of labour.

11. Bow-STREET. FORGED NOTES.-Charles Ross, a young man of highly respectable connexions, his father being a merchant, and his brother an eminent professional man, underwent a final examination, charged with being a common utterer of forged 10. Bank of England notes, to a considerable extent. The prisoner was originally detected in uttering a forged 10l. bank-note at the Key bagnio, in Chandosstreet, and the Fountain bagnio, in Catherine-street, in the Strand. On an investigation of his conduct, previous to his then detection, it has turned out, that he was the instrument and dupe in the hands of a most desperate gang of villains, who were engaged in the manufacture and uttering of such forged and fraudulent pieces of paper, as well as some forgeries to the large amount of 20%. each, but the actual forger has not been discovered. They have been traced to a man of the name of Gardner, who keeps a brothel, but with him the trace ends; however, one of the principal of the