128 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1812. 



filled, but in vain. An improve- 

 ment was then suggested and made 

 in the grappling irons, when, after 

 much difficulty, the three bodies 

 were brought up to the top lifeless. 

 11. About twelve o'clock, a very 

 serious alarm took place on board 

 the Ganges prison-ship at Ply- 

 mouth, wherein 750 French pri- 

 soners were confined. One of 

 them had actually set fire to the 

 ship and burned a great hole in 

 her before it was discovered. The 

 incendiary was soon detected and 

 put in irons ; he confessed his 

 guilt, and declared it was his inten- 

 tion to destroy himself and com- 

 panions, who were tired of con- 

 finement : he was immediately 

 taken on board the San Ysidro. 

 The prisoners all assisted in putting 

 out the fire, and it was with diffi- 

 culty they were restrained from 

 tearing the offisnder in pieces. 

 Upwards of 2,000 French prisoners 

 have been sent from the ships 

 within these four days. 



12. On this and the two fol- 

 lowing days, a series of storm 

 and tempest occurred at Jamaica, 

 by which great damage was done 

 to buildings and plantations, at- 

 tended with some loss of lives. 

 Many vessels were also driven 

 on shore, or forced from their 

 anchorage. 



13. Two of the French pri- 

 soners at Perth were released from 

 their confinement, to be restored 

 to their country and friends. One 

 of them, a lieutenant, was ex- 

 changed for a British officer of 

 equal rank ; the other, a humane 

 soldier, has obtained not only 

 liberty, but the good will and re- 

 spect of every Briton who knows 

 his story. General Walker, while 

 storming Badajoz, at the head of 



his brigade, was found by this 

 3'oung Frenchman, lying wounded 

 and bleeding in the breach. He 

 took our wounded general in his 

 arms, and carried him into a 

 French hospital, where he was 

 taken care of by the medical de- 

 partment. The general gave his 

 address, with a promise to serve 

 his deliverer if ever in his power. 

 The Frenchman, at last a captive, 

 accordingly applied to general 

 Walker, who lost no time in 

 procuring for him the reward of 

 liberty. 



M. This morning, about half- 

 past three o'clock, a fire broke out 

 in the lower part of the premises 

 of Mr. Merle, picture-frame maker. 

 No. 36, Leadenhall-street. Such 

 was the rapidity of the flames, that 

 it was with difficulty the family 

 made their escape over the ad- 

 joining houses. The wind being 

 from the west, the fire burnt in an 

 easterly direction, and consumed 

 every thing before it to the corner 

 of Billeter-lane. It then destroyed 

 entirely the very extensive premis- 

 es of Messrs. Holroyd and Jackson, 

 slop-sellers; also the premises of 

 Mr. Seabrook, tailor, No. 37, 

 Leadenhall-street. 



On Saturday morning, the 17th 

 inst. a farmer's wife, near Kings- 

 bridge, Devon, was found murder- 

 ed in the kitchen, on the return of 

 her husband from labour. The 

 clothes of the murderer were found 

 in the kitchen, he having put on 

 those of the master of the house. 

 A close pursuit was instantly com- 

 menced by Mr. Lane, and others, 

 from Kingsbridge; and, as it was 

 judged probable that the villain 

 had taken a route westward, they 

 proceeded to Plymouth. The con- 

 stables of Plymouth, and of Ply- 

 mouth 



