XVI 



Hijiorkal Chronkle. 



On the 14th inft. at ten 

 o'clock at night, a fire broke 

 out near Cherry-Garden Stairs, 

 Rotherhithe, London, which 

 frona the tide being low, and 

 little water to be had, burnt 

 furioufly for a eonfiderable 

 time. It began at a (hip 

 chandler's, but how is not 

 known — fevcral barrels of tar 

 were on fire before it was dif- 

 covered. A number of engines 

 attended, both on the river and 

 on the fiiore ; but from the 

 difficulty of finding water for 

 the latter, and the impoffibility 

 of bringing the former near 

 enough, it was fix or feven 

 o'clock in the mornirg before 

 the violence of the flames were 

 got under, by which time about 

 fifty houfes were burnt dovn, 

 many of them warehoufes, 

 containing property to a very 

 eonfiderable amount. A great 

 number of poor families have 

 been burnt out, and their little 

 all deIl:royed ; and what in- 

 creafes the calamity, few of 

 them are infured. 



A Ihocking accident hap- 

 pened on the i6th ult. at 

 Booterftown, near Dublin — A 

 young lady went on a vifit to 

 an acquaintance, who lodged 

 there forthe benefit of fea-bath- 

 ing, and was induced to go in- 

 to the water. Never having 

 gone into it before, flie was 

 very much agitated, and two 

 ladies who accompanied her 

 very imprudently took advan- 

 tage of her fright, and threw 

 her down, with an intention of 



ducking her. In lefs than one 

 minute fhe was fuftocated, and 

 completely deprived of life. 

 The terror of her companions 

 may be eafily imagined on fo 

 dreadful a cataftrophe. — A co- 

 roner's inqueft was held on the 

 body, and brought in a verdidt 

 of accidental death. 



The foundation-ftone of a 

 theatre, upon a new and ele- 

 gant plan, was a few days fince 

 laid at Belfaft. It will be very 

 large, and faid to be fo admir* 

 ably contrived as to excel every 

 thin,:^ of the kind in Britain. 



There is now living in Brech- 

 in, aperfon aged about 78 years, 

 perhaps the greateft natural ge- 

 nius in the kingdom ; who, 

 though he can neither read nor 

 write, can with the greateft fa- 

 cility and exaftnefs anfwer any 

 qaeftion either arithmetical or 

 algebraical ; the truth of whicli 

 is attefted by fcveral perfons 

 eminent for their Ikill in thefe 

 fciences. In a country where 

 learning and genius are fa 

 much patronifed, it is a pity a 

 perfon of the above defcription 

 (hould remain in the utmoft 

 obfcurity and defpondency. 



At the Circuit Court of Jufti- 

 ciary held at Glafgow on the 

 2«d inft. George Davidfon, late 

 writer in Edinburgh, for forg- 

 ing two bills on Mr Honyman, 

 advocate, and James Plunket, 

 foldier, for ftreet robbery, xvere 

 both found guilty, and fentenc- 

 ed to be executed on the afith 

 of Oftober next- 



