Bas 
mehvement of the undertaking had nearly’ 
eased its abandonment, when Col. Cowper 
was requested by the Government to super- 
intend it. After a short deliberation he 
aceepted the charge; but it was not till 
after he had commenced his labours, that ° 
he'was himself aware of the numerous and 
unexpected difficulties with which he had to 
contend ; to the world they will remain un- 
known, but it may be observed that the 
ordinary studies of a military engineer are 
not directed to such structures; and that, 
without the means of reference to scientific 
experience or books —and wholly dependant 
on untutored artificers, whom hé was obliged 
personally to instruct, it is solely to the 
resources of his powerful mind that the 
British empire is indebted for one of her 
most durable and magnificent monuments. 
After the completion of this splendid 
achievement, he was selected by the com- 
mander-in-chief, Sir John Abercrombie, to 
~ London Incidents, °° > 
(Aug. 1, 
organize and consolidate the Commissariat 
department of the army, the duties of which’ 
had previously been dispersed in a variety of 
confused channels, naturally producing dis- 
order and inefficiency ; the ill consequences 
of which were seriously felt in‘all military. 
equipments. - The utmost success attended 
every measure entrusted to his judgment 
and abilities. ’ 
He returned to his native country with 
an impaired constitution, in 1817, and 
retired from the service the following year. 
Respected by the whole army, esteemed by 
his numerous acquaintance, and loved by 
the few who enjoyed his intimacy, and who 
alone could fully appreciate the unassuming — 
virtue, honourable feelings, and zealous 
friendship which distinguished his character 
through life, he finished his career at the 
early age of fifty, leaving a widow and three 
young children—too young, alas! to be 
sensible of their irreparable loss. 
Lcemsmththasiatientiataictommiaat 
INCIDENTS, MARRIAGES, ann DEATHS, iy anp near LONDON. 
—=— = 
CHRONOLOGY OF THE MONTH. 
— 
~WUNE 25.—The New College of Phy- 
@P sicians, in Suffolk-street, Pall-Mall, 
opened in the presence of the Dukes of 
York, Sussex, Cambridge, &c. An inau- 
gural oration in Latin was delivered by Sir 
H. Halford, president. 
27.—A numerous meeting of noblemen 
and gentlemen took place, to promote a 
subscription for the sufferers by the late fire 
in Mortimer-street, &c., Lord R. Seymour 
in the chair. It appeared that, in addition 
to the great destruction of houses, no less 
than 215 men were thrown out of employ- 
ment, and the greatest number of them lost 
their working tools ; and 69 families, in 
which were 166 children, had been left 
houseless. A subscription commenced for 
their relief 
28.—A meeting took place at the City of 
London Tavern, at which the Lord Mayor 
presided, for considering the propriety of 
establishing an university for the education 
of the youth of the metropolis, applicable to 
commercial and professional pursuits : the 
Lord Mayor in the chair. Several eloquent 
speeches were delivered commendative of 
the measure, which was unanimously 
agreed to. 
July 1.—The poll for the election of 
sheriffs for London and Middlesex termi- 
nated: the numbers stood as follow: 
Alderman Crowder ---+++++-e-eeetterre 945 
Mr. Kelly -+----- +++ . 872 
— Dove -- + 455 
wee HUT oes cece cere ence cc eceseeecere 287 
m— Marten .--s-ce re ceee cece eeceecees 137 
— Woolley’: -------0rsseceeereeeeeees 86 
2,— At a meeting held at the Freemason’s 
tavern, the Duke of Sussex in the chair, a 
society was formed for promoting education © 
and industry in Canada, by the establish- 
ment of schools of industry among the 
Indians and settlers. 
4, —The Old Bailey sessions terminated, 
when twenty prisoners received sentence of 
death ; sixty-nine were ordered to be im- 
prisoned for various terms; six to be 
whipped and discharged ; forty-eight males 
and five females were sentenced to trans- 
portation, viz. six for life, three for fourteen 
years, and forty-four for seven years. 
5.—The inhabitants of the parish of St. 
Mary, Lambeth, petitioned the House of 
Commons, praying for prevention of cruelty 
to cattle. 
—. A destructive fire broke out in the 
spacious premises of Mr. Purdue, silver- 
smith and salesman in Great Tothill-street, 
Westminster, which it destroyed ; and also 
those of a Mr. Watmore ; of Mr. Wait, 
feather maker, in Dartmouth-street ; and of 
Messrs. Hazell, grocers. ‘The loss esti- 
mated at £10,000. 
6.— Parliament prorogued. 
7.—A meeting of the Gospel Tract Society 
held at the London tavern, when scenes ' 
utterly contrary to the mild spirit of Chris-” 
tianity took place; an amiable Catholic * 
priest, and another respectable individual, 
were expelled by force, and a tract was 
then made (certainly not from the Christian 
source) by the supporters, which no doubt 
will tend to undo all those that have ema-— 
nated from the press through their means or 
instrumentality ! 
8.—A theatre or lecture-room of the © 
London Mechanics’ Institution, in South- 
ampton-buildings, Holborn, opened. The 
president, Dr. Birkbeck, delivered an in- 
teresting lecture, and was followed by Mr. - 
Brougham and the Duke of Sussex, in 
congratulatory addresses. Twelve hundred i 
persons were present. © eS EX oo 
14.—A fire broke out on’ the estate of" 
S. Marriot, esq. M.P. at East Acton, owing 
to 
82) Vaso, 
