CHRONICLE. 



139 



he took to selling oysters in the 

 streets and neighbouring public- 

 hovises ; that on the preceding- 

 evening he was prevented from 

 following this business by the 

 street-keeper, who threatened to 

 throw his oysters about tlie street, 

 and take him to the watch-house. 

 The unfortimate man, who had 

 previously shown several symp- 

 toms of mental derangement, 

 went home in a tit of desperation, 

 and taking his oyster tub, dashed 

 it and its contents up against the 

 ceiling ; then taking an old rusty 

 gun-barrel, he loaded it, and 

 placing the muzzle of it to his 

 head, he put the breecli end into 

 the fire, on which it exploded 

 and blew his head to atoms. Tlie 

 repoit brought the inmates to the 

 room, who found him a corpse. 

 Verdict — Lunacy. 



14. On this evening, about 

 seven o'clock, as Mr. James Sharp, 

 of Gieat Winchester-street, «as 

 proceeding to Wrotham, Kent, 

 in company with his brother, in 

 a one-horse cliaise, they were 

 stopped near the 23-mile stone by 

 seven men, who presented pistols, 

 and took from them a Russia 

 leather pocket-book, containing 

 memorandums, a green morocco 

 pocket-book, a steel purse, a .51. 

 Bank of England note, three 11. 

 notes, two dollars, two watches, 

 with chains, seals, &c. On 

 Messrs. Sharp's arrival at Wro- 

 tham, they gave intelligence of 

 the robbery to the Rev. Mr. 

 Moore, amagistrateof the county, 

 who immediately dispatched a 

 party in quest of the rob- 



large 

 hers. 



selves into two bodies, and agreed 

 to meet at Orinsted-green, near 

 Dartford, at six o'clock on Sun- 

 day morning. The fiist party of 

 constables who got to Grinsted- 

 green overtook five of the foot- 

 pads, and at first succeeded in 

 taking them, but they soon be- 

 gan to show symptoms of resist- 

 ance, and a severe scutBe took 

 place. After fighting a long 

 while, the footpads got the best of 

 it, and all escaped. One of the 

 thieves received a charge from a 

 gun in the back ; and one of the 

 constables was severely cut in the 

 arm. The two guns belonging 

 to the constables were broken to 

 pieces during the contest ; and 

 there was found on the spot the 

 Russia leather pocket-book be- 

 longing to Rlr. Sliarp, containing 

 one 51. and one ll. note, a bag 

 containing three loaded pistols, a 

 powder-flask, and simdry articles 

 of wearing appiirel, all which 

 were thrown down by the robbers 

 in the midst of the affray. The 

 other party of constables were 

 still in pursuit, and it is hoped 

 will secui'e this daring gang. 

 Tliere is a great deal of wood in 

 the part where the constables 

 overtook them, which raateri".lly 

 assisted them in theii' escape. 



16. Monument to the late Rigid 

 Hon. W. Wbidhani. — At Felbria^ge 

 Church, in Norfolk, on his own 

 estate, a monument has been ])ut 

 up in memory of tl'.at celebrated 

 man, executed by Noliekins, 

 which is decorated with his Ijust, 

 and lias, on the cenotaph, the 

 following inscription : — 



The men divided them- 



Sacred to the Memory of the 



Right Honourable WILLIAM WLSDHAM, Esq. 



of Felbrigge, in this county ; 



Born 



