CHRONICLE. 
any city of the continent that he may 
name, to avenge the insult offered 
to him as a French officer. Mr. 
Elliot has, of course, treated this 
notice with the silent contempt it 
merited. 
The following lamentable morta- 
lity lately occurred in the family of 
Mr. Williamson, of Gungley, near 
Gainsborough. On Monday sen- 
night, one of his children died; on 
the succeeding Wednesday, ano- 
ther; and the following day his 
wife, from grief, who was ina state 
of pregnancy. They were all bu- 
ried in one coffin. 
This afternoon, about 3 o'clock, 
part of the bank of the Paddington 
canal gaye way, @ little on this side 
the first bridge ; the water rushed 
through the tunnel close to the spot, 
and the meadows on the other side 
were immediately inundated ; the 
lock at the bridge prevented the 
water flowing from the upper part 
of the canal. The gap is about eight 
feet wide; a log of timber is placed 
across, and planks driven to secure 
the lower part of the bank. The 
water in the bason, and to the first 
bridge, sunk between two and three 
feet. 
A court of common-council was 
this day held; when, upon an investi- 
gation of the expences incurred during 
sir J. Eamer’s mayoralty, it appeared 
to the court, that out of 53151. 7s. 
6d. no less than 28931. 6s. were ex- 
pended for the state bed at the man- 
sion-house, and the furniture of the 
room wherein it is placed. 
Sir John Eamer explained what 
he had ordered, which amounted to 
about 7601. He said, that if he 
had ordered a bed amounting to the 
sum charged, it would have been a 
blot upon his character :—that he 
had represented to the court that a 
375 
state bed was necessary, and esti- 
mated the expence of it at 400I. 
curtains 2001. and other articles, in 
the whole not exceeding 7601. A 
spirited debate arose on the occa- 
sion ; Mr. Phillips, the upholsterer, 
insisted that his charges were rea- 
sonable, and agreeably to the lord 
mayor’s orders, and that the silk 
alone cost upwards of 10001. It 
was at last agreed, that it should be 
referred to a committee to examine, 
and again. report. 
10th. A terrible fire broke out in 
the night at a cooperage, in Rose- 
mary-branch-alley, Rosemary-lane, 
which consumed the whole of the 
premises, and also Branch’s cloaths 
exchange, consisting of about 12 
houses, chiefly built of wood, and 
inhabited by piece-brokers. The 
fire raged with great fury for more 
than one hour, through the want of 
water. Happily no lives were lost. 
11th. This morning a most extra- 
ordinary duel took place in Hyde 
Park, between Lieut. W. of the 
navy, and Capt. J. of the army. The 
antagonists arrived at the appointed 
place within a few minutes of each. 
other. Some dispute arose respect- 
ing the distance, which the friends 
of Lieut. W. insisted should not ex- 
ceed six paces, while the seconds of 
Capt. J. urged strongly the rashness 
of so decisive a distance, and insist- 
ed on its being extended. At length 
the proposal of Lieut. W.’s friends 
was agreed to, and the parties fired 
per signal, when Lieut W. received 
the shot of his adversary on the 
guard of his pistol, which toreaway 
the third and fourth fingers of his 
right hand. ‘The seconds then in- 
terfered to no purpose; the son of 
Neptune, apparently callous to 
pain, wrapped his handkerchief 
round his hand, and swore he had 
Bb4 another 
