CHRONICLE. 



49 



Jng to them that they were acting 

 in opposition to the laws, as ex- 

 pressed by parliament, advised 

 them to disperse, and go to their 

 work; and this recommendation 

 they immediately complied with. — 

 Belfast Com, Chron. 



15. This evening about six 

 o'clock, the largest rectifying still 

 in the distillery of Messrs. Lang- 

 daleand Co. High Holborn, caught 

 lire, and burst with a tremendous 

 explosion. Fortunately the fire did 

 not reach any of the other stills, 

 or receivers of spirits, but ascended 

 to the roof of the distillery, to 

 which it instantly set fire. In 

 consequence, however, of a large 

 reservoir of water at the top of the 

 premises being immediately open- 

 ed, the progress of the fire was 

 arrested, and by the timely arrival 

 of several engines, got completely 

 under by seven o'clock. The still 

 which exploded is said to be the 

 largest in London, and contained, 

 at the time it burst, 2,804; gal- 

 lons. 



16. An attempt was made by 

 some French prisoners to escape 

 from the depot at Penicuik, near 

 Edinburgh. They contrived to get 

 a false bottom affixed to one of 

 the carts which carry away the 

 dust from the prison, in which 

 three secreted themselves, and got 

 without the walls. The driver be- 

 ing accidentally stopped by an ac- 

 quaintance, they came from their 

 larking hole, and were proceeding 

 to a wood, when they were met 

 by a soldier, who immediately 

 seized one ; he drew a dagger 

 which he had concealed about 

 him, wounded the soldier in the 

 neck, and afterwards stabbed him 

 in the left side. Tlie soldier was 

 unfortunately unarmed at the time ; 



Vol. LV. 



and fainting through loss of blood, 

 he was obliged to let the prisoner 

 go, but the whole three were af- 

 terwards secured. 



17. A dreadful accident hap- 

 pened at Collingwood Main Col- 

 liery, near North Shields. By an 

 explosion of fire damp, eight of 

 the men were killed, and two se- 

 verely burnt. Among the suf- 

 ferers were Mr. Hope, one of the 

 viewers, Mr. Wild, an overman, 

 and two young men of the name 

 of Richardson, who, having no 

 parents, maintained their grand- 

 naother (now in her 102nd year) in 

 a manner that did them great cre- 

 dit. A number of horses were also 

 suffocated. 



19. A most diabolical conspi- 

 racy has been charged to have been 

 formed on board the Sampson pri- 

 son-ship, at Gillinghara Reach, by 

 three French prisoners, to murder 

 the master's mate, and the Serjeant 

 of marines, belonging to the ship^ 

 together with several of their own 

 countrymen. The murders were 

 to have been perpetrated on each 

 victim singly, as opportunities pre- 

 sented : when the escape of the 

 murderer, by mixmg instantly with 

 the great body of the prisoners, 

 was to be facilitated by the other 

 conspirators, and lots were drawn 

 who should commit the first mur- 

 der. The first lot fell to Charles 

 Mausereaux ; but this man being 

 troubled by some " compunctious 

 visiting of conscience,'* on reflect- 

 ing that the serjeant was a married 

 man, with a family, who would 

 be left destitute by his death, de- 

 termined to dispatch one of the 

 private marines in his stead. On 

 Tuesday se'nnight, whilst this 

 wretch was watching for an op- 

 portunity to effect this purpose^ 



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