CHRONICLE. 
which it singed extremely, into the 
dining-room, tearing the wall and 
wainscotting very much; threw 
several splinters across the room, 
through the canvas of a large pic- 
ture, and turned the gilding of the 
frames of several others entirely 
black ; then burst in the room with 
an uncommon explosion, and left 
the whole house full of a sulphur- 
ous smoke. What is remarkable, 
four gentlemen were at cards in the 
room when it burst, without receiv- 
ing the least injury. 
In the night of Thursday, April 
12, the house of Mr. Samuel Col- 
lier of Harescombe, about four 
miles from Gloucester, was burnt 
down. Collier and his son, a little 
boy about six years old, were all 
that were in the house. The 
crackling of the fire roused the 
father from his sleep, about twelve 
o’clock at night; and when he 
got out of bed, he found the stairs 
in a blaze, upon which he leaped 
‘out of the window,: and bid the 
child get out after him,and he would 
catch him in his arms: however, 
the little boy in his confusion ran to 
the stairs, where he fell into the 
flames and was burnt to death. 
The house, with all it contained, 
was entirely destroyed. Collier’s 
wife and another of his children 
were fortunately at Stroud. As 
there had been very little fire in the 
house that day, the accident is sup- 
The following is an Account, at one 
15 
posed to have been occasioned by 
lightning, which they say was very 
strong that night, and perhaps set 
fire to the thatch, which was very 
dry. 
Cambridge. The following ex~ 
traordinary competition occurred 
lately at Cambridge: ‘* The can- 
didates for an university scholarship, 
the qualifications for which consist 
chiefly in classical learning, were 
Sir Thomas Rivers, Mr. Maltby, 
the nephew of the Bishop of Lin- 
coln, anda Mr. Smith. Tliese gen- 
tlemen, after having been examined 
six days successively by the ablest 
men in the university, were held to 
be so equally qualified, that no de- 
cision as to their merit could be giv- 
en between them; and they were 
ordered to be mentioned with equal 
honour in the university - books. 
But, though the honour might be 
thus divided, the scholarship was to 
be given only to one gentleman; 
and the want of money was, there- 
fore, properly resorted to as a re- 
commendation, where no other 
difference could be found. Mr. 
Smith was supposed to be the least 
wealthy of the candidates; and the 
scholarship was offered to him, but 
unfortunately with a notice, which 
offended his delicacy, that it was 
offered for that reason. He could 
not be persuaded to accept it upon 
such terms; and the scholarship 
was next adjudged to Mr. Maltby. 
View, of the whole Claims for Dam- 
ages done by the Rioters at Birmingham, and money recovered by Ver- 
wts at the late Assizes at Warwick : 
Claimed. 
&. 8. ad. 
Mr. Ryland, 3240 8 44 
Mr. Taylor - 9831 3 10 
Old Meeting 2117 7 5 
Mr. Humphrys 2191 5 O% 
Dr. Priestley 411216 8 
Mr. W. Hutton 7488 15 104 
Mr. T. Hutton 625 010 
Verdict. Taken off, 
wl. 8.1 ds Bessel Ge. 
2197 11 6 742 16 103 
7202 3 O 2629 010 
1390. 7.5 787 O 0. 
1835 11 0O 3385 14 O 
2502 IS O 1609 18 §8§ 
5390 17 O 2097 18 103 
619 210 518 0 
26th, 
