Local records; or, Historical register of remarkable events, which have occured in Northumberland & Durham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Berwicks-upon-Tweed : with biographical notices of deceased persons of talent, influence, &c., in the district. 1832-1857. Being a continuation of the work, under the same title, published by the late Mr. Sykes

Preface

A continuation of the valuable work of the late Mr. Sykes has occupied my attention ior a very long period; several of the paragraphs which appear in the following pages having been collected so early as 1839.

In 1855, when the time which had elapsed since the appearance of the “ Local Records” seemed to call for a continuation of them, I learnt that a quantity of MSS. had been left by Mr. Sykes, and by the courtesy of their present possessor, John Fenwick, Esq., they were placed in my hands. It was at first my intention to give these papers entire, but, ujron examination of them, the chief portion was found to be extracts, in extenso, from the newspapers of the day, made, probably, with a view to subsequent curtailment; and they were consequently so diffuse that the years 1833- 1836 would alone have occupied nearly one-third of this volume. A number of important subjects, which Mr. Sykes did not consider to be within the scope of his work, more particularly Parliamentary and Municipal Elections, Public Meetings, &c., remained to be added, in order to carry out my own views, and it was therefore deemed advisable to recast the whole of the materials, retaining such portions of Mr. Sykes’ notes as might be considered characteristic, or sufficiently concise.

For the remaining twenty years comprised in the volume, I am entirely responsible, and how far I have performed my task satisfactorily must be left to the reader. That there may be omissions, accounted important by some persons, is by no means unlikely; and that, on the other hand, there may be recorded circumstances and events which will be termed trivial and unworthy of notice by others, is still more probable. Indeed, the difficulty of “ drawing a line” between exclusion and admission may safely be said to constitute one of the greatest difficulties which a compiler of a work like the present has to encounter. Without hoping, therefore, for entire success in the selection of my materials, when absolute success seems almost impracticable, I have some confidence that but lew occurrences of real interest or importance will be found disregarded.

IV

PREFACE.

It only remains for me to express my acknowledgments to the numerous friends whose aid I have received during the compilation of the work, lo John Fenwick, Esq., I feel myself under great obligation for the loan o Mr Sykes’ MSS. Mr. Alderman Hodgson has been land enough o afford me, throughout, his able and unwearied assistance and advice ; which, I need hardly add, have proved most valuable, and demand a much warmer return than I am able to offer. To Bishop Hogarth; Thomas Sopwith, Esq., Allenheads; Thomas Doubleday, Esq., Newcastle; William Henderson, Esq, Durham; John Clayton, Esq, Newcastle; Dr. rule, Newcastle; Mr. W. Brockie, South Shields; Mr. J. W. Summers, Bis op-

wearmouth; Mr. T. Harbutt, North Shields; and many other gentlemen, T have also been indebted for a variety of information which has greatly added to the completeness of the volume, and for which I cannot be too

grateful.

Chronicle Office, Newcastle, August 22, 1857.

LOCAL RECORDS;

OR,

HISTORICAL REGISTER OF REMARKABLE E VESTS.

=Hh

IIISilHiBitoBm HE Michaelmas Guild of the Freemen of Newcastle was held October 8, 1832, when a memorial to the king, setting forth the irregularities which had taken place at the last election of mayor (see Sykes), and praying for a revisal of the charter of the town, was adopted, and ordered to he transmitted to Earl Grey for presentation. Among the charges detailed in the memorial, was one of gross partiality practised by the members of the Corporation to each other; in the article of ballast alone, the sum of £30,526 had been paid by the Corporation to members of the Common Council, for conveyance in the previous eleven years, during which period, out of £217,833 received for river dues, only £1,265 had been expended in improving the channel. The population of the borough was stated to be 42,678, only 3,000 of whom had any voice in elections, while the mayor and aldermen were wholly self-elected and irresponsible. The document excited great interest in the town, and was numerously signed by the freemen.

October 8. The new Roman Catholic chapel at Stella, near Newcastle, designed by Mr. Green, was opened for divine service by the Rev. Dr. Panswick, Vicar-Apostolic, assisted by a number of clergymen. The church is in the early English style, with a tower fifty feet in height, in which is the residence of the incumbent. A peal of bells was placed in the belfry in 1836.

15. The first sitting of the court for the revision of the list of

voters for Newcastle, was held in the Guildhall, before T. F. Ellis and L. Peel, Esqrs., barristers-at-law. Similar courts were afterwards held in the neighbouring boroughs enfranchised by the Reform Act. The proceedings being novel, excited much interest. The expense of these courts for the counties of Northumberland and Durham was £1,653.

15. As the sexton of Hexham Abbey Church was, this day,

engaged with an assistant in making a grave in that portion of the church-yard, known as the Campsey Hill, they discovered, at the depth of about seven feet from the surface, a metal vessel, resembling a large flagon, containing a vast number of Saxon coins. A large proportion of the specimens was dispersed before the discovery reached the ears of the incumbent, who then claimed them in right of his freehold, but he afterwards gave up the possession of them to Mr. Beaumont, the lord of the manor. Altogether, it is believed, about 9,000 coins were discovered, nearly all of copper. They were about half-an-inch in diameter; and were found to be stycas of Eanred, Ethelred, and Redulph, Kings of Northumberland during the Heptarchy, and Eanbald and Yigmund, Archbishops of York. Mr. Beaumont presented a collection of the coins to the British Museum, and Mr. John Adamson furnished two interesting papers on the discovery to the Society of Antiquaries, which were afterwards reprinted, with thirty-two illustrative plates, in the “ Archasologia iEliana.” The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle possess the flagon, and a large collection of the coins, the dies of which were remarkably numerous and diversified. [Another, but smaller discovery of stycas was made at the same place, December 23, 1841, but these were supposed to have been scattered on the above occasion.]

October 19. Lord Ossulston gave a fete , at Chillingham Castle, to the neighbouring gentry and inhabitants. The games commenced by a shooting-match for a handsome silver snuff-box, for which there was some excellent sport. This was followed by foot races, leaping, &c., which were continued till the party was summoned to an excellent dinner in the castle. In the evening there were fire-works, and the festivities of the day concluded with a ball, which was led off by the Hon. Mrs. Liddell and Lord Ossulston.

22. Four young women and a boy, belonging to Bishop-

wearmouth, went into an excavation under Claxheugh rock, on the side of the river Wear, to obtain some sandstone. Whilst they were so engaged, a portion of the projecting cliff gave way and fell upon them. The noise of the fall attracted several persons to the spot, and about sixty tons of stones, &c., having been cleared away, the bodies were taken out, three of them lifeless. The boy and one of the girls, though much injured, survived.

23. A large concourse of people assembled at Seaham Harbour, to witness the launching of the first ship built there, but the ways unluckily broke, and the vessel had to remain until the spring tides. She was named the “ Wansbeck,” and was built by Messrs Taylor and Co.

r 27. An alarming fire broke out in the workshop of Mr. John

Turnbull, cabinet-maker, Clive Street, North Shields, but the engines were presently on the spot, and the fire was got under about midnight. In consequence, however, of some casks of oil, &c., which were deposited under the workshop, having burst from the excessive heat, and their contents spreading over the burning embers, the flames again broke out about five o’clock on the following morning. The second outbreak was subdued without doing much damage, but the total loss was estimated at about £600 or £700.

Novembei • 2. A numerous body of free burgesses met at the Assembly Rooms in Newcastle, for the purpose of presenting a piece of plate to Archibald Reed, Esq., the late mayor of that town. It was in the form of a tureen, bearing an appropriate inscription, purporting that it was presented to that gentleman, on the occasion of the conclusion of his sixth

HISTORICAL REGISTER OF REMARKABLE EVENTS.

O mayoralty, by his friends and admirers. The testimonial was presented by John Hodgson, Esq., M.P., in an appropriate address, in which he congratulated Mr. Reed that he had now been 38 years an alderman of the ancient Corporation of Newcastle. After a suitable reply from Mr. Reed, the mayor ( J. Brandling, Esq.) proposed the health of that gentleman, which was drunk with great applause. The company afterwards sat down to an elegant cold collation.

November 2. Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P. for Middlesex, visited South Shields, and was entertained at a public dinner in the hall of the Seamen’s Company.

3. The “Newcastle Chronicle” of this date says, “It has been

determined to establish a body of the new police in Newcastle, and a few of them have this week appeared in the streets, in a blue uniform.” The innovation created a great clamour against the Corporation, and the new constabulary were withdrawn in September, 1833.

4. The new church at Slaley, Northumberland, was opened

for divine service. The edifice was calculated to hold nearly 400 persons, Avhilst the old church had only 94 sittings.

5. As a man named Ridley was working at the bottom of

Felling colliery, one of his legs became accidentally entangled with the rope of the shaft, and, the engine being set in motion at the time, he was drawn up, head downwards, to the top of the pit, a height of 720 feet, but was fortunately uninjured by his strange ascent.

8. A final dividend of 8d., making in the whole 8s. Id. in

the pound, under the bankruptcy of Aubone Surtees, John Surtees, Rowland Burdon, and John Brandling, the partners of a bank known in Newcastle as the “ Exchange Bank,” was commenced to be paid this day. The bank stopped payment in 1803.

10. A chimney, 180 feet high, recently erected by Messrs

Cookson, at their alkali works, South Shields, fell this morning, the foundation not having been sufficient to support its weight. Happily, no personal injury was sustained, but the lead chambers adjoining were completely destroyed.

10. As two men were ascending Gosforth pit in the usual

manner, by some means the engine drew them up to the pulley, over the pit’s mouth, from which they fell, and were literally dashed to pieces.

10. This morning the brig “ Orion,” when about five miles

south-east of Sunderland, coal laden, was found to be on fire, and the vessel, with some difficulty, was run ashore near Whitburn. The crew were saved, but several of them were severely burnt. The vessel was destroyed.

10. A tremendous ' tempest of wind and rain occurred in the

neighbourhood of Alston, Cumberland, in the course of which Mrs. H. Martin, and her daughter, of Redheugh, Allendale, perished, whilst returning over the fells to their home.

12. A new mode of conveyance between Newcastle and

North Shields (which had hitherto been principally carried on by gigs made to carry six persons) was brought into operation, by a company who guaranteed to run single horse “ Omnibuses ” every hour from each town, at a cost of Is. 6d. per passenger. The new conveyances, which had been only recently brought into use in London, created quite a sensation.

November 15. The new chapel at Hetton, in the parish of Hough ton-le-Spring, was consecrated by the Bishop of Bristol, in the presence of a great number of the inhabitants. May 15, 1838, the townships of Hetton and Eppleton were constituted an independent parish by order in Council.

15. A numerous meeting of the inhabitants of St. Nicholas’

parish, in Newcastle, was Held, the mayor (John Brandling, Esq.) in the chair, for the purpose of determining on the course to he taken relative to the property in the church-yard, adjoining Dean Street, which had been built on ground belonging to the parish, and which had hitherto been leased to the original builders of that part of Dean Street, and their heirs. After a stormy discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Aid. Sorshie, that leases for twenty-one years should he granted to the proprietors, subject to an annual payment of one-fifth of the rental of their respective premises. [On the leases again falling in, in 1854, the churchwardens refused to renew them, and took possession of the property.]

16. This morning an alarming fire broke out in the attic of

the dwelling-house occupied by Mr. Thomas Robertson, cabinet-maker, Narrowgate Street, Alnwick, and which was used by him as a workshop. The castle fire-engine and that belonging to the town were soon on the spot, and a liberal supply of water being at hand, the flames were confined to the house in which they originated, the upper story and roof of which were entirely destroyed, with all the materials and workmen’s tools. The fire was supposed to have been caused by the boiling over of a gluepot. The Duke of Northumberland was present during the fire, and gave £25 to be distributed amongst the persons who had rendered assistance. The stock was partially insured, and a subscription was set on foot to replace the workmen’s tools.

19. The prospectus of a proposed “New Water Company,” in

Newcastle, was circulated. Its capital was stated to be £20,000, in shares of £25 each. On May 22, 1834, the bill for the better supplying of the town of Newcastle with water, promoted by this company, received the royal assent. .

24. The new chapel at Etlierley, near Bishop-Auckland,

was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Bristol. The edifice cost £700, and accommodates about 300 persons.

24. A meeting was held in the Turk’s Head long room,

Newcastle, the mayor in the chair, “ to deprecate any participation in the war in Belgium.” The meeting had been called by the Conservative party, but their opponents, headed by Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart., Mr. Losh, Mr. Attwood, and Mr. Fife, mustered in such numbers that the originators of the meeting retired from the room, and Mr. Doubleday having been placed in the chair, resolutions, approving of the conduct of the Government, were put, and carried unanimously.

December 1. The North of England Joint Stock Banking Company commenced business in their premises, Royal Arcade, Newcastle. In the afternoon a dinner took place in the Assembly Rooms, in celebration of the event, General Austin in the chair. (See Sykes, Sept. 20, 1832.)

3. The short Parliament which had succeeded in passing the

Reform Bill was dissolved, and writs were immediately issued for the new elections. Great excitement occurred throughout the country, but more

HISTORICAL REGISTER OF REMARKABLE EVENTS.

particularly in the newly enfranchised towns, and the contests were unusually numerous. The following was the result in this district: — Sunderland. The nomination of candidates for the representation of this new borough took place on the 10th of December, before A. Fenwick, Esq., the returning officer. Dr. Clanny proposed, and Mr. W. Ettrick seconded, Sir William Chaytor, Bart. Dr. Eden proposed, and Mr. Longridge seconded, the Hon. Capt. George Barrington. Mr. J. Lotlierington proposed, and Mr. Scurfield seconded, Alderman Wm. Thompson. Mr. B. Ogden proposed, and Dr. Brown seconded, David Barclay, Esq. The show of hands was in favour of Chaytor and Thompson. At the close of the poll, on the 13th, the numbers were — Chaytor, 696; Barrington, 525; Barclay, 402; Thompson, 376. Number of electors polled, 1,140.

South Shields. The first election for this new borough commenced on the 10th, before R. Sliortridge, Esq., returning officer. Mr. R. Anderson proposed, and Mr. C. Wood seconded, Robert Ingham, Esq. Mr. J. Straker proposed, and Mr. J. Edwards seconded, Russell Bowlby, Esq. Mr. G. M. Cleugh proposed, and Mr. T. Forrest seconded, George Palmer, Esq. Mr. J. Mather proposed, and Mr. Smallman seconded, Capt. Gowan (afterwards Capt. Mauleverer). The show of hands was in favour of Capt. Gowan. The poll closed as follows, on the 12th: — Ingham, 205; Palmer, 108; Gowan, 105; Bowlby, 2. Mr. Ingham was declared duly elected.

Durham City, December 10. Mr. Alan Hutchinson proposed, and Mr. Iloggett seconded, W. R. C. Chaytor, Esq. The Rev. E. Davison proposed, and Mr. Straker seconded, the Hon. Arthur Trevor. George Baker, Esq., proposed, and Mr. Alderman Ovington seconded, Charles Harland, Esq. The show of hands was in favour of Mr. Harland and Mr. Chaytor. At the close of the poll the numbers were — Harland, 439 ; Chavtor, 403 ; Trevor, 383. J ’

Berwick. The nomination for this town also took place on the 10th. Major Orde nominated, and Dr. Kellock seconded, Sir F. Blake, Bart. Mr. J. Fordycc proposed Colonel Beresford, who was seconded by Mr. D. Logan. The Rev. J. Barnes proposed, and Mr. J. Clay seconded, Sir R. S. Donkin. The close of the poll was as follows: — Donkin, 371; Blake, 357 ; Beresford, 345.

Newcastle. The nomination of candidates took place on the 11th, before Henry Bell, Esq., sheriff. Dr. Headlam proposed, and Mr. G. T. Dunn seconded, Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. Mr. Alderman Reed proposed, and Mr. W. Cuthbert seconded, John Hodgson, Esq. Mr. A. Eastcrby proposed, and Mr. J. Fife seconded, Charles Attwood, Esq. The show of hands was in favour of Sir M. W. Ridley and Mr. Attwood. At the close of the poll, on the 14th, the numbers were — Ridley, 2,112- Hodgson, 1,686; Attwood, 1,092.

Morpeth, December 12. The Hon. Capt. F. G. Howard was returned for this borough, without opposition.

Tynemouth. The first election for the borough of Tynemouth took place on the 12th, before Mr. J. IT. Richardson, the returning officer. Mr. I). E. Stephens proposed, and Mr. Rippon seconded, Sanderson Ilderton, Esq. Mr. Burrell proposed, and Mr. Rennison seconded, Geo. Frederick Young, Esq. The show of hands was in favour of Mr. Ilderton, but at the close of the poll the numbers were — Young, 326; Ilderton, 264. Gateshead. The first election for this borough took place before John

G

Dobson, Esq., on the 12th, when Cutlibert Rippon, Esq., was proposed by Mr. Featherston, seconded by Mr. Brockett, and elected without opposition.

Durham, Northern Division. The nomination of candidates took place at Durham, on the 15th December, Mr. T. Griffith, under-sheriff, presiding. Dr. Fenwick nominated Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart., who was seconded by Mr. W. Mills. Mr. Bowes proposed Hedworth Lambton, Esq., who was seconded by Mr. J. Cookson. Mr. J. Pemberton proposed, and Mr. W. T. Greenwell seconded, E. R. G. Braddyll, Esq. The show of hands was declared to be in favour of Mr. Lambton and Mr. Braddyll. The polling took place on the 18th and 19tli, and closed as follows: — Lambton, 2,556; Williamson, 2,182; Braddyll, 1,G79. A serious affray took place at Sunderland on the 19th during the polling, and several persons were much injured.

Northumberland, Northern Division. This election was held at Alnwick on the 15th,' before the high-sheriff, H. J. W. Collingwood, Esq. Mr. C. W. Bigge proposed, and Mr. P. J. Selby seconded, Viscount Howick. The Hon. H. T. Liddell proposed, and Mr. W. Clark seconded, Lord Ossulston. Mr. Culley, who had offered himself as a candidate, was not nominated, and the above noblemen were declared duly elected.

Northumberland, Southern Division. The nomination for this division took place at Hexham on the 17th, the high-sheriff presiding. Mr. Silvertop proposed T. W. Beaumont, Esq., who was seconded by Mr. C. B. Grey. Captain Coulson nominated M. Bell, Esq., who was seconded by Sir J. Trevelyan, Bart. The Rev. J. S. Ogle proposed, and Mr. C. Blackett seconded, Wm. Ord, Esq. Sir Charles Monck was at one period a candidate for the division, but withdrew previous to the nomination. The show of hands was declared to be in favour of Mr. Beaumont and Mr. Ord. The polling took place on the 20th and 21st, and terminated as follows: — Beaumont, 2,537; Bell, 2,441; Ord, 2,351. A petition was afterwards presented against Mr. Bell’s election, but it was ultimately withdrawn.

Durham, Southern Division. The nomination of candidates took place at Darlington on the 18th of December, the under-slieriff presiding. Mr. Witham proposed, and Mr. R. Surtees seconded, John Bowes, Esq. Mr. G. H. Wilkinson proposed, and Colonel Mills seconded, R. D. Shafto, Esq. Mr. C. Rippon proposed, and Mr. C. Parker seconded, J. Pease, Esq. The show of hands was in favour of Mr. Bowes and Mr. Pease. The polling took place on the 21st and 22nd, and at the close stood as follows: — Pease, 2,2G9 ; Bowes, 2,210; Shafto, 1,836. Mr. Pease being a quakcr, a committee of the House of Commons afterwards sat to inquire whether he lay under any disabilities, but on their reporting in the negative, he took his seat on the 15th of February, and was the first quaker that ever did so.

December' 5. An Independent chapel was opened at Winlaton.

15. About four o’clock this morning, Messrs Hawthorn’s

manufactory, Forth Banks, Newcastle (which had been wholly destroyed by fire on March 10, 1832), was again discovered to be in flames; but assistance being promptly rendered, the fire was confined to the pattern shop and lofts, and was extinguished by six o’clock. The damage was estimated at about £1,000.

21. This morning, as three men and a boy were descending

the shaft of the Hodgson pit at Harrington, Durham, the rope broke, and the whole party fell to the bottom of the pit, about 140 yards, and were killed on the spot.

December 26. A public dinner to Mr. Hedworth Lambton and Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart., took place in the Queen’s Head Inn, Durham. J. Fawcett, Esq., presided, and upwards of 250 gentlemen were present.

31. The bills of mortality for this part of the country, for

the year 1832, presented a melancholy evidence of the fatal effects of cholera during the year. The number of deaths in Newcastle in 1831 was 1,648, and in 1832, 2,476, being an increase of rather more than 50 per cent. In Gateshead the numbers for the two years were 412 and 616, showing about the same increase as Newcastle. In Tynemouth the increase was 24 per cent., or from 604 to 751 ; in South Shields 57 per cent., or from 405 to 641, and in Hexham 25 per cent., or from 109 to 137. In Hartlepool, out of a population of 1,400, there were 57 deaths from cholera alone, being the greatest proportional mortality of any town in the kingdom. In Sunderland the cholera broke out in 1831, some time earlier than in the above places, so that there was a decrease of burials in 1832, the numbers being 1,293 in 1831, and 928 in 1832.

1833, Jan. 14. The king was pleased to grant unto William Henry, Marquis of Cleveland, and his heirs, the titles of Baron Raby, of Raby Castle, in the county of Durham, and Duke of Cleveland. The dukedom had been extinct since 1774. The bells of Newcastle, Gateshead, and Darlington, were rung on the occasion.

14. The usual Christmas Guild of the Freemen of Newcastle

took place, and this being the first occasion on which non-burgesses were suffered to be present, it was very numerously attended. A memorial to the House of Commons, praying for a new charter for the town, was carried unanimously. Earl Grey was also unanimously requested to pray His Majesty, William IV., to sit for his portrait, to be placed in the Guildhall. The petition to the House of Commons was afterwards signed by upwards of 1,500 freemen.

15. Married, Charles Bacon Grey, Esq., of Styford, to Emily,

youngest daughter of the late Sir William Loraine, of Kirkharle, Bart.

18. Died, at Kirkharle, Northumberland, in his 54th year, Sir

Charles Loraine, Bart.

20. A fire occurred in the cooperage of Mr. Brown, at the

North Shore, Newcastle, which resulted in the total destruction of nearly all the workshops and materials; a loss of about £700 being incurred.

21. A person, calling himself Captain Stewart, and better

known as “the wandering piper,” arrived in Newcastle, and commenced his tour through the streets. “ On the 24th,” says Mr. Sykes, “ he came down Pilgrim Street, and, on passing my shop door, I presented to him my mite, for which he returned thanks in a very polite manner. He was performing this journey, it was said, in consequence of a wager. According to the receipts in his book, when in Newcastle, he had given £700 to charities in the different towns he had visited.”

24. On this day, and, by adjournment, on the 14th February,

Mr. George Atley Brumell, and Mr. John Walker, the “ electors ” returned by the Newcastle Company of Cordwainers, and Mr. William Angus, one of the “ electors ” of the Company of Skinners, chosen for the election of a mayor, under the charter of the town, appeared before the Court of Common Council, to show cause why they should not be disfranchised, for “ failing, refusing, denying, and neglecting ” their duty at the previous Michaelmas elections. ( See Sykes, vol. ii., Oct. 2, 1832.) Much sympathy was expressed for the accused gentlemen, and upwards of £200 was subscribed, to defray their expenses, by their brother burgesses. The proceedings were instituted by Mr. Thomas Forsyth, but it was admitted that the Corporation were the real movers. It was proved that all the parties had been at the place of election on the day in question, which was fatal to the case against Messrs Brumell and Walker. The Court, however, held the charge proved against Mr. Angus, but offered to withdraw it if he apologised. This he refused to do, and the matter was suffered to drop.

January 26. A new patent was sealed this day, “ to Robert Stephenson, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, engineer, for his invention of certain improvements in the locomotive steam-engine, now in use, for the quick conveyance of passengers and goods upon edge railways.”

31. A grand ball and supper were given in the Assembly

Rooms, Newcastle, to Mrs. Bell, and M. Bell, Esq., M.P., in celebration of that gentleman’s return for the southern division of Northumberland.

31. Married, at Carliam, John Hodgson, Esq., of Elswick,

M. P. for Newcastle, to Isabella, eldest daughter and co -heiress of Anthony Compton, Esq., of Carliam Hall. The inmates of the freemen’s hospitals in Newcastle were regaled, on the occasion, with an excellent dinner at the expense of Mr. Hodgson.

. During this month, about 250 brass coins, principally of Constantine, and a few other articles of Roman manufacture, were found amongst the ruins of Vindolana (Little Chesters), near the Roman wall.

. As some men were working in a quarry, near Durham, they

found an immense toad alive, imbedded in a mass of stone.

February 1. A silver cup was presented to Mr. James Mather, of South Shields, by the reformers of that borough, “ as a testimonial of respect for the able manner in which he had endeavoured to secure the independence of the borough.”

13. A man, named Hugh Rees, was stabbed in a night

brawl in a low public house on the Quayside, Newcastle, by an Italian, named Guiseppe Sidoli. Rees lingered till the 18th, when lie died in the Infirmary. The Italian was tried at the assizes on the 23rd of the same month, and was sentenced to seven years’ transportation, for manslaughter.

17. A riot of a serious character took place at Hartlepool,

between the English and Irish labourers employed on the railway at that place. One Irishman was killed, and a great many on both sides received very serious injuries.

20. This morning, the sea broke over the outer wall of the

south harbour at Seaham, and destroyed everything within its reach. 8ix of the ships in the harbour were scuttled and sunk, to prevent their being dashed to pieces on the rocks, and several other vessels were much damaged. Mr. R. Thompson, master of the Friendship, of Shields, was drowned in endeavouring to save his ship, and two or three sailors were lost by the calamity.

28. At the Durham Assizes, Robert Percy was convicted of

the manslaughter of Alexander Paxton, at llorncliffe, near Norham, under circumstances of peculiar atrocity. (See Sykes, Aug. 1 1 , 1832.) Mr. Justice Alderson sentenced the prisoner to transportation for life, inti-

HISTORICAL REGISTER OF REMARKABLE EVENTS.

mating that he could not well see how the offence could be denominated anything hut murder.

March 5. Died, at Sheriff Hill, aged 62, Mr. John Laing, surgeon, author of “A Voyage to Spitzbergen,” a work containing an interesting account of the zoology of the north seas.

9. Died, at Felton Park, Northumberland, aged 63, Ralph

Riddell, Esq. The deceased was passionately fond of rearing and training race-horses, and was eminently successful on the turf ; his celebrated horse Dr. Syntax having won twenty gold cups, and X. Y. Z. nine. Mr. Riddell gave up his racing establishment a few years before his death.

18. Died, at Mitford, aged 100, Mrs. Ann Jobson.

26. The foundation-stone of a new Wesleyan chapel was laid at

Seaham Harbour. The Marquis of Londonderry presented the site, as well as the stone, bricks, &c., required. The chapel was opened July 19, 1833.

27. As Mr. Win. Buddie, butcher, of Newcastle, was proceeding early this morning to Morpeth market, he was attacked, near the Sixmile Bridge, by four men, named John Slater, James Henry, James Kelly, and John Macbeth, who threw him down, and robbed him of £19 in notes and coin ; not, however, without strenuous resistance on the part of Mr. Buddie, and of his dog. The robbers then made off, but they were followed by Mr. Buddie and his dog, which repeatedly attacked them. At Seaton Burn, three of the thieves got over the brook, but Macbeth fell into it, when Buddie also plunged in, and helaboured the robber stoutly with his stick ; the dog also attacking the man and lacerating him severely. This conflict lasted for ten minutes, when Kelly and another of the gang returned with heavy sticks, and Buddie was at length rendered nearly insensible. Macbeth was so much injured, however, that his companions were obliged to carry him for some distance. Kelly was soon afterwards captured in Newcastle ; Macbeth was apprehended in Durham ; and the others were taken, about a month after, in Nottinghamshire. On the 2nd August, they were tried and convicted at Newcastle, before Mr. Baron Bolland, and sentence of death was recorded against them ; but the sentence was afterwards commuted to transportation for life. A subscription was entered into for the purpose of reimbursing Mr. Buddie to the amount of his loss, and on the 6th Sept, the sum of £19, Os. 4Jd. was paid over to him, together with a watch, bearing an inscription commemorative of his courageous conduct under such trying circumstances.