Imatges de pàgina
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wretches! That a man should be tried | depredations. Her usual custom was, to

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for his life, and be ruined, though acquitted; that deeds, necessary to prove property, &c. &c. should be carried off; what complicated villany!

Such is the history of little crimes, continued; may these instances prove salutary warnings! I am, Sir, Shropshire, June 20, 1815.

Your's &c.
BENEVOLUS.

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The account he gave of himself was— that his parents were poor: they lived on a small farm at Kinnerley, and his father was a shoemaker. Williams's first theft was a can, which he stole at nine years of age, and took it home to his mother, saying it was given him. On discovering the theft, his mother punished him with becoming severity, and ordered him to restore the can to the right owner, who lived in the village; this he did not do, but threw it into a pit of mud, from whence he never took it out. He next stole two cheeses from Osbaston Wood, which he was encouraged to do by an abandoned woman, who at that period supplied the place of his deceased mother. He next stole a loaf from a cottage in the vicinity; also Is. 6d. from his father, with which he purchased gingerbread his father detected this latter theft, and punished him. At West Felton he entered a house in the day-time, and stole from a desk 15s.; went a second time and stole 17. 11s. 6d. He stole a watch and four guineas from the brother of the man from whom he had stolen the can: the money he gave to his patroness. At Forden Heath he stole two guineas and a half and some grocery: at Purslow he stole about nine guineas: for these latter offences he was tried and sentenced to be transported, at the age of 13 years.

take him out with her at night into the fields where there were sheep or geese, and these latter they drove into a corner, and rushing in upon them, caught as many as they could. He wished often he could be separated from this woman. One night, as he was accompanying her upon an excursion of sheep stealing, they came to a place which was reported to be frequented by a ghost. Here he suddenly drew back, and asked her if she did not see something? She replied that she did not; and, on enquiring if he did, he pointed to a stile before them, on which, he said, there was an immense black dog, with white head and red eyes. She was so frightened by this terrific representation, that she immediately returned home, and ceased for a length of time her nocturnal depredations.

In 1811 he stole a horse from Mr. Cranage, of Broseley, which he sold to Richard Morris, of Llandrinio; and the horse being found in Morris's possession, he was taken up and fully committed upon suspicion of having stolen the horse: Morris was tried at the Summer Assizes, 1811, and acquitted, after having been in prison from the 24th of April to the 13th of August. It was peculiarly hard in the case of Morris (who had always borne an honest character) that in addition to the endurance of imprisonment and trial, he paid for law expences attending his trial, and advertising this Thomas Williams, 211. 6s. a sum which his circumstances did not enable him to discharge.

Williams, on the expiration of his sentence at the hulks, returned home to his father's house, with whom he lived a short time, following the trade of a shoemaker. Forming a connexion with a woman of au abandoned character, he was obliged to leave that neighbourhood, and removed to Kinnerley, where he remained but a short time. Incapable of applying himself steadily to any employment, he changed his situation six or seven times, and during this unsettled plan of living he broke into a house at Nesscliff, in which he was apprehended, and committed again to Shrewsbury Gaol, by the Rev. Mr. HowHe was sent from Shrewsbury Gaol to kins, of Fitz. During his trial, he, in open the Hulks at Portsmouth, where he re- Court, threatened the life of Mr. Dovasmained till the expiration of his sentence ton, who was the Counsel for the prosecuin 1809.-To the conduct of the abandon- tion; notwithstanding which, the gentleed woman, he attributed his transporta-nan humanely interceded with Mr. Justice tion:-to the hulks, where he was confirmed in vice, he attributed the melancholy termination of his life at the early age of 26 years. By the woman he was encouraged and even compelled to commit

Lawrence, and the sentence was commuted to transportation for life.

From Shrewsbury gaol he was removed, in company with six other convicts, to the Hulks at Portsmouth in 1810; from

whence he made his escape in less than pal inn there, a coach arrived with many seven weeks time. On his arrival at New- passengers, some of whom were not probury, in Berkshire, he enlisted into the 3d ceeding farther. Their luggage, consisting regiment of horse, where, by his steady mostly of trunks, was taken out, and before conduct, he acquired for a few weeks the the porter had time to carry them into the good opinion of his Captain. In a short house, Williams laid hold of one of thein, time, however, he quarrelled with the re- and, placing it on his shoulders, conveyed cruiting serjeant, at a fair, respecting a it to his own inn. On examining the connew recruit, and from the effect of liquor tents, he found it to consist of several suits and provocation, he so far lost his temper of clothes, loose papers, some pieces of es to strike the serjeant a violent blow. | parchment, and a few books. He immeKnowing the consequence of such an act, diately equipped himself with a fine suit of he deserted that night, exchanging his black, and, by the help of an ass, which he dress, for the coloured clothes of a recruit, had stolen on his way from Gloucester, he and stealing from a stable a valuable brown carried it to Tewkesbury. Nothing, surely, mare with a light coloured mane. This could be more ridiculous than the appearmare he rode all night, and at the dawn of ance of Cranberry on this expeditionday, finding that she had lost all her shoes, dressed in a fine suit of black clothes, with be turned her into a common, having rode black silk stockings, and half boots-her above fifty miles without feeding. mounted on the crupper of the ass, with a Early on that day he reached London, large trunk before, making his way through and proceeded to Highgate, and from bye-lanes and fields, destroying the hedges, thence he arrived in Birmingham in one of where any obstructions came in his way. the canal boats. He reached Tewkesbury unmolested.

In consequence of a very large reward by the owner of the trunk for the discovery of the robber, the constables from Cheltenham followed him, and after a desperate struggle apprehended him, and conveyed him back again to Cheltenham. On the door of the place where he was confined being opened in the morning, he was found stretched on the floor, weltering in his blood, and to all appearance nearly ex

On this side of Wolverhampton, on his way home, he was overtaken by one of the Shrewsbury coaches, and being much tired, he agreed with the coachman for an outside place to Shrewsbury. The evening being very wet, an inside passenger kindly accommodated him with the use of his great coat, with which, on their entrance into Shifnal, he ran away, and hid himself there for that night in a mean public house. The next day he reached Shrewsbury.-piring. On the following day he went to his aunt's at Forden, and not finding any one at home, he robbed the house of 31. in notes, a silver watch, and 10 guineas in gold. From thence he visited his father, and rambled about the country from place to place, until his stock of money was completely exhausted. At this time he cohabited with a young woman, whose family lived at Brosely, and where he resided for a short time, being enabled by the assistance of his supposed father-in-law, to commeuce the trade of a shoemaker on his own account.

He removed to Worcester, leaving his supposed father-in-law to answer for all his debts. Here he enlisted into the marines, and having received his bounty, immediately deserted. Thence he proceeded to Wolverhampton, and enlisted into the artillery, from which he deserted, and returned again to Worcester, whence he went to Tewkesbury and Gloucester. He enlisted into the marines, and at the first opportunity again deserted, and proceeded to Cheltenham. On the second day after his arrival at that place, as he was standing by the door of the princi

On his wounds being washed and dressed by a Surgeon in this place, he recovered, but was not allowed the use of speech, as it was supposed, the least exertion would be fatal to him. He had, in the course of the night, endeavoured to take away his own life, by stabbing himself with a penknife in several places in the neck, the marks of which were visible on the day of execution. The gentleman to whom the trunk belonged, was an Irish Barrister, who was going to Bath. The trunk contained several deeds and other legal documents of great importance, with bills to the amount of nearly 2,000l. No part of its contents had been touched by Williams, the suit of black in which he dressed himself excepted. The gentleman entered into a recognizance of fifty pounds, to appear at the next assizes, which he forfeited, as the appearance of Williams, on the moruing after he had made the attempt on his own life, made such an impression upon his mind, that he did not appear against him; he was, therefore, acquitted at the next assizes; but the moment he left the Court he was apprehended by the Serjeant of Marines from whom he had deserted, and

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NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Whatever the private life of Napoleon may have been, his PUBLIC LIFE has had the greatest influence on the fate of thousands; and though a man must be insane to call him "happy" or "fortunate," yet remarkable, he certainly is; and as one of the most remarkable of men, produced in an age of crimes, he will certainly descend to posterity. Among all his eccentricities, perhaps, nothing is more distinguished than his determination to surrender himself to the British flag, thereby closing a life of the most avowed and determined hatred and animosity towards this country, with an action implying the utmost confidence in the integrity and magnanimity of the very people which he had been so obstinately in the habit of abusing without reserve. That our country did not need this fresh homage to its honour, we may well believe, but that it should have received it from this sman is most astonishing. --

Was there, no other course of escape within his power? was there no country in any other direction, where he could hope for safety?—I safety was all he hoped for; which will continue extremely doubtful to those who know him. Be this as it may, his late conduct adds one chapter more to his history; and this seems to be a proper point of time at which to recall to mind, some of the dates with the order of the principal events of his career, -he now says of himself—HIS POLITICAL LIFE IS ENDED.

CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT
of the

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May 20. Buonaparte sails for Egypt.
July 21. Battle of the Pyramids.
Oct. 24. Insurrection at Cairo.

May 21. Aug. 25. Oct. 7. Nov. 9.

1799.

Siege of Acre raised.
Sails from Egypt for France.
Lands at Frejus.

Dissolves the Conventional Go

vernment.

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Mar. Placed at the Military School, at Nov. 19. Brienne.

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Pichegru murdered in Prison. Buonaparte declared Emperor. Crowned by the Pope.

1805.

Writes to the King of England. Treaty of St. Petersburgh, between England, Russia, Austria, and Sweden. Buonaparte declared King of Italy.

Feb.

April 11.

1794.

May 26.

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Buonaparte heads his army against Austria.

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Events in the Life of Napoleon Buonaparte.

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Oct. 20. Mack's army surrenders, at Ulm. Sept. 2. Buonaparte present at an engage-
Nov. 13. French enter Vienna.
Dec. 2. Battle of Austerlitz.

-

- 15. Treaty of Vienna, with Prussia. 26. Ditto of Presburgh with Austria. 1806.

Mar. 30. Joseph Buonaparte made King
of Naples.

June 5. Louis Buonaparte made King of
Holland.

July 26. Jewish Sanhedrim.

-

- 27. Confederation of the Rhine. Sept. 24. Buonaparte

Prussia.

marches

against

Oct. 14. Battle of Auerstadt or Jena.

27. Buonaparte enters Berlin. Nov. 19. Hamburgh taken-Berlin decree.

1807.

Feb. 8. Battle of Eylau against Russia.
June 14. Battle of Friedland.
July 7. Treaty of Tilsit with Russia.

1808.

July 7. Joseph Buonaparte made King. of Spain.

20. Surrender of Dupont's army at Baylen.

29. Joseph Buonaparte evacuates

Madrid.

Aug. 21. Battle of Vimiera.

Sept. 27. Conferences at Erfurth.
Nov. 5. Buonaparte arrives at Vittoria.
Dec. 4. Surrender of Madrid to Buona-

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16. Buonaparte's marriage with Jo-
sephine dissolved.
1810.

Mar. 11. Buonaparte marries Maria Louisa,
daughter of Francis II. Empe-
ror of Austria.

July 9. Holland and the Hanse Towns annexed to the French Empire by Decree of Napoleon.

Aug. 21. Bernadotte elected Crown Prince

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of Sweden.

Decree for restraining the Liberty

of the Press.

1811.

1. Hamburgh annexed to the French
Empire.

Apr. 20. The Empress delivered of a Son,
styled King of Rome.

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1. Sails from Elba to France. 20. Arrives at Paris, and re-assumes the throne.

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25. Is declared an Outlaw by the Sovereigns of Europe then assembled at Vienna.

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Calls a new House of Peers, ande Chamber of Representatives of the French people.

Calls a Champ de Mai.

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Defeats the Prussians.

1 second

18.

Loses his army in a great battle

against the English and Prus

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BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

and mine; they fly with rage and despair

in their hearts.

"At the Imperial Palace of Lacken, June 17 1815.
(Signed)
NAPOLEON.

"By the Emperor.
"The Major-General of the army.

Count BERTRAND.

Among his papers taken after the battle of Waterloo, was a list of eighty inhabitants of Brussells, whose persons and pro

THE incalculable consequences of this tremendous engagement, have already appeared to a certain degree, and are daily manifesting themselves still further;-they have taken such hold on the public mind,perty were to be respected by the French and appear to be so very important, that we have thought it our duty to collect into one article the various scattered particulars connected with that dreadful and decisive day. We divide them into three parts: Previous to the Battle: During the Battle;

and After the Battle.

Several of our friends are gone over to view the scene;-and we expect additional particulars.

BEFORE THE BATTLE.

army, on its entrance to that city. Among these was a Flemish Nobleman, who had prepared a splendid supper for Buonaparte on the 18th. Of the remainder, several had prepared entertainments on the same day for his principal officers. Of have been Buonaparte's host, has fled. this junta, the Nobleman, who was to

On the arrival of Buonaparte's carriage in Brussells, a great crowd received it with huzzas, little thinking that it came as a part of the booty, and presuming that he was in it as a victor. Shortly after the discovery of the mistake a coach-maker came up, and said he could point out a

ing a very large sum in gold

An Extraordinary Bulletin, added to the Journal of Lille, contains the following news:-by anticipation!

The battle of St. John (thus stiled by the French, but by us the battle of Wa-secret drawer, which might contain someterloo) was not gained by any preponde-vered a box in the bottom of it, containthing of value. He immediately discorating mass of numbers: it was not decided by any single manoeuvre, nor attributable to any sudden and unforeseen occurrence, which, as at Marengo, so often turns the scale of suspense. It was fought on both sides with desperate valour; it was, indeed, "the tug of war;" it was a combat of man to man, and steed to steed: it has put to rest any dispute about the superiority of the British army, which from this moment must be pronounced unrivalled, and unconquerable, under any ordinary disproportion of numbers: and if, by its immediate result, the battle of Waterloo shall lead to Peace, secure and honourable Peace, our heroes will not have fallen in vain.

So confident was Buonaparte of getting to Brussells, that several bales of proclations were found among his baggage, dated from “Our Palace of Lacken," a royal residence near that city.

Proclamation to the Belgians and the Inha

bitants of the left bank of the Rhine. "The ephemeral successes of my enemies detached you for a moment from my empire. In my exile, upon a rock in the sea, I heard your complaints. The God of Battles has decided the fate of your beautiful provinces; Napoleon is among you; you are worthy to be Frenchmen; rise in a mass, join my invincible phaJanxes, to exterminate the remainder of these barbarians, who are your enemics

Valenciennes, June 19, in the Evening They say the Emperor fired the first carbine: that he gave the example, and bad a horse killed under him: on the 15th, 16th, and 17th he gained astonishing victories, which were exceeded by that of yesterday the 18th, on which day he took 30,000 prisoners. The wounded who have come here arrived crying Vive l'Empereur ! and say they long to be cured, that they may be able to return to fight; but for the excessive ardour of his troops, the Emperor would have surrounded and taken prisoners the whole Prussian army. They write from Maubeuge on the 19th at our troops have entered Mechlins and Brussells! Another paper says, "we hear the cannon roar from the ramparts of the cities of France, to celebrate the taking of Brussells by the grand French army.'.

[In addition to these preparations emis. saries were also prepared to announce Buonaparte's victory, before he had won it. This does not rest only on the following paragraph.]

It is a fact, that at two o'clock on the 18th, it was reported and confidently behieved at the Hague, Antwerp, and Brussells, and many other places in Flanders

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