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that view of it, he was so infamous, that he might well be believed capa ble of what the witnesses for the plaintiff imputed to him.

But, on the respectable testimony produced by the plaintiff, on the decisive proof furnished by the defendant's silence, on the heart-rending demonstrations afforded by the condition of his unhappy wife, it appeared that he was a man (if he deserved the name), who, in the first six months of his marriage, had compelled his feeble and inexperienced wife falsely to proclaim herself a common prostitute, and even to remain in this court during the discussion of her prostitution (for a purpose of taking notes, which appeared to every one near to be a mere pretext); that he had induced her even to swear to the truth of these charges, in order to extort money from his brother-in-law, and to annoy, and (as he vainly hoped) to intimidate other respectable persons, who were made his adversaries only by his crimes. The court therefore decreed, according to the prayer of the bill with costs. The recorder expressed his regret, that the honourable uniform of his country should still be disgraced by remaining on the defendant's shoulders, and that he was not standing as a criminal, instead of appearing as a defendant.

In the course of an hour, when the young woman had recovered, and ⚫ felt assured of the kindness of her family, and the protection of the law, she swore, that she was in fear of death from her husband, and a warrant was accordingly issued, to imprison him till he should find sufficient sureties to keep the peace.

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.

CASE OF THOMAS CULVER.

TH HE following were the depositions taken before the Coroner on Monday the 7th of January, 1811, respecting the death of this individual, the circumstances of which gave rise to Lord Holland's motion in the House of Lords:

Thomas Canfield, a prisoner in the said Marshalsea Prison, on his oath, saith, That on or about the 15th of November last, the said Thomas Culver was brought in the said prison for debt, and he was then apparently well, but was taken ill soon after, and continued so till the day of his death, the 4th of January inst.; he says his complaint was a dysentery, that he was once during the time better, and had a relapse, but after that continued getting worse; he says that Mr. Phillips the surgeon attended him during his illness, and that he was taken necessary care of, as far as the comforts of the prison afforded, and that he did not die in consequence of any ill treatment from the Master of the Prison, or any other person whomsoever, and that he believes that what he applied for to the keeper by way of necessaries he had; and that he had two shillings in his pocket when he died.

Owen Tyndal, of the said prison, on his oath saith, That on thursday evening last he was desired to sit up with the said Thomas Culver,

he

he being then very ill, and he went to him about eight o'clock on the Thursday evening, and found him so, and he continued with him till the Friday morning following, on she 4th of January, till about six o'clock, when he died. He says, he expressed satisfaction for the usage he had met with from Mr. Jenkins the Keeper, and from several other persons in the prison, and no complaint whatever.

Andrew Kauffman, a prisoner in the said prison, on his oath saith, That the said Thomas Culver came into the said prison in the month of November last, that he then appeared to be well, and in about a fortnight afterwards he was taken ill, and continued so till about a fortnight ago, and then he came into his room where he used to work, and that he used to give him some of his provisions, and he began to mend as he thought, and about a week ago he was taken worse, and continued so till he died; and that he sometimes asked for particular things, water gruel, and mutton broth, and which he gave him; that he sometimes took them, and sometimes could not, and he believes he had every thing he asked for that it was in his power to give him, and that he continued in his cloaths till his death; that he used to be very often fretting ahout his wife, who was ill, and for that reason he could not see her; and that he had a soldier's cloak, and another coat, and several waistcoats on.

Elizabeth Branhan on her oath saith, That she lives servant with Mrs. Champion in the said prison, and that about a week ago she went up into Kauffman's room, and saw a man lying in bed there, which she believes to be the said Thomas Culver, and he said he was starving, that he wanted a bason of coffee, and she said she would speak to her mistress to make him a bason; and her mistress did so; and she took it up to Culver, and two crumpets; this was about ten o'clock in the morning; and he drank the coffee, but did not eat the crumpets; and about six o'clock in the afternoon, she took him up some tea, and he drank it; and about nine o'clock the same night she took him up some barley water, and he was calling out for the watchman; and she asked him what he wanted with him, and he said he wanted half a pint of stout; and she went to the watchman, and told him of it; but whether he took it or not she does not know; she says there was a fire in the room; this was about three days before he died.

Nathan Settle, a Prisoner in the said prison, on his oath saith, That when the said Thomas Culver came into the said prison, he was apparently well, and that he was taken ill some weeks after, and that he then got better and relapsed again, and that he continued ill till he died; that he saw him twice during his illness; that the day before he died, he saw him in bed in Kauffman's room, and that whilst he was there the doctor came, and he asked him how he did, and he said he was very bad; and the doctor said he saw he was worse than when he saw him last; and then Mr. Canfield said he had given him some things, and had appointed a man to sit up with him; he said he did not complain he was in want of any thing.

Robert Hay, a prisoner in the said prison, on his oath saith, That when Culver first came into the prison he was apparently well, and was

taken

taken ill soon after; and that one day he met him in the yard, and he asked him how he did, and he said he was starving; and he took him to his room and gave him some pork and mutton, which he did not then eat, but took away with him; and that he frequently saw him afterwards, and he always complained of being in want, and said he had not then had a mouthful of bread for two days: this was about a month before he died.

William Hamerton, a prisoner in the said prison, on his oath saith, That about a fortnight after Culver came into the prison he saw him, and he asked him if he had some broken victuals, and said he should be glad of it, for he had not had any victuals for two days till just then, when Mr. Hay and Mr. Alman had given him a bit of pork; and that he was apparently well; but he was afterwards told he had some bacon at the same time in his bag; and about two months ago he saw him take up a bone in the yard, which had just been thrown down, and put it to his mouth.

Thomas Brade, a prisoner in the said prison, on his oath saith, That he was in the prison when the said Thomas Culver first came in, and that he was then apparently well, and in about a week or a fortnight after he was taken ill, and was frequently going into the privy during the night, as well as the day time, and that for some days and nights; and that about a fortnight previous to his death he came into his room to sleep there, and did sleep there about a week, and was ill during that week with a purging; and that he desired a surgeon might be sent for, and a surgeon was sent for, who attended him, he believes, three or four times in the course of that week, and gave him medicines; he says he appeared to have died for want of proper attendance.

William Palmer, surgeon, on his oath saith, That soon after the said Thomas Culver came into the prison, he was sent for to him, and he was then very unwell with a feverish complaint and bowel complaint connected with it, and he got better about a week after, and soon relapsed again, and that he was then taken ill again, and it appeared from a breaking up of his constitution; that he was then above seventy years of age; and that he believes he had all the necessaries that he from time to time required to have, either from Mr. Jenkins or any other person; and that he administered such medicines as he thought necessary.

The jury was convened at 12 o'clock, and proceeded to the examination of witnesses, which occupied them till half-past five, p. m. when they adjourned till the following day at 12 o'clock, and after three hours investigation, and due deliberation, returned a verdict-' Died for want,' &c. Perhaps it may be unknown to the generality of readers, that whenever a prisoner dies in gaol, be the disorder what it may, a coroner's inquest is always held upon the occasion, and half the jury is composed of prisoners for debt: this, among many others, is an instance of the wise and tender regard which the laws pay to the lives and well-being of the subject, inasmuch as it tends to prevent ill treatment on the part of gaolers. For Lord Holland's motion, see Gen. Chron, vol. ii, pp. 422, 520. On the latter of these pages the name of the deceased is erroneously stated to be William Cullam.-ED.

The

DETENTION OF COLVILLE.

The Secret Committee, appointed to enquire into the circumstances connected with the detention of Colville, now a prisoner in the House of Correction in Cold Bath-fields; and to report the matter, as it shall appear to them, to the House; have proceeded in the investigation of the matter referred to them; and have inspected various documents, and examined several witnesses, relative to the causes and circumstances of the detention of the said Colville, the mode of his confinement, and the nature of his treatment in prison.

Your Committee report, that there appears to have been sufficient cause for his seizure and detention; and they are decidedly of opinion, that on public grounds it is necessary that he should remain in confinement: it does not appear to your Committee, that he has suffered any inconvenience which is not incident to the description of place in which he is detained but they are of opinion, that the regulations of such a prison are inconsistent with the nature of the confinement to which he ought to be subjected, and with that security from communication with persons out of the prison, which is necessary for the object of his detention.

Your Committee, from obvious considerations of public expediency, have felt it their duty, in making their report to the House, to refrain from entering into the particular circumstances of the case.-See vol. ii, p. 422.

KING HENRY THE SEVENTH'S CHAPEL.

Report of the Committee on the Petitions for the repair of King Henry the Seventh's chapel.

The Committee to whom the petitions of the Dean and Chapter of the collegiate church of Saint Peter Westminster, which were presented to the House upon the 19th day of February and the 26th day of this instant March, were referred; having called for an account of all monies received or expended in the repair of King Henry the Seventh's Chapel, and also for estimates relating to the same, find that The money actually paid, up to the 31st of December 1310, was Due for work done since 31st of December

4,2881.

1,207

Estimated to complete the two turrets, and the centre bay between

1,073

6,568

Estimated to repair the south east bay, and one turret

2,650

Estimated for the windows in the centre bay

55

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Wanting to complete the bay now repairing, and the south-east bay and first turret adjoining

5,075

It appears, that a part of the 4,2881. already paid, has been expended in forming moulds, and in erecting workshops, which are of course.

applicable

applicable to the future conduct of the whole work, although they have been defrayed out of the first sum which was voted; and therefore these articles apparently increase, beyond its due proportion, the cost of that portion of the building, which was first undertaken.

There is also reason to think, that the north and north-east turrets and bays will not require so large an expense as the south and southeast, so far as the mere security and stability of the building are concerned, the weather having made much deeper inroads upon the south and south-east front, than upon that which is opposite. The south-east bay, with its turret and flying buttress, is stated to be the most ruinous part of the whole edifice.

Your Committee observe with concern, that the expenditure has already so far exceeded the parliamentary grants, as to leave the Dean and Chapter with a balance of only 2931. towards carrying on the work, provided the whole sum for which they apply by their petition should be granted; nor is there any reason to suppose that the whole sum, which seems originally to have been in contemplation, will be sufficient to complete the reparation, if it should continue to be conducted, by entirely casing the old work according to the present specimen.

SIERRA LEONE.

An account of all sums granted by parliament to the Colony of Sierra Leone, with the dates of the several grants, from its first establishment::

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House of Commons, die Martis, 18° Junii, 1811.

Resolved, That all petitions for private bills, be presented within

* This sum includes 761l. 10s. 6d. paid for fees on receipt of monies at the

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pay bills.

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