right and left, as are more usually worn, because his unfortunate brother had on when he left his home boots of that description. We then inquired at the Hornsey Wood-house, and at the Sluice-house, if they had any drags, or if they had dragged the river recently. They informed us they had no drags, nor had the river been dragged for a considerable time. We made several inquiries, and were informed that a hat had been found at the Sluice. I and my friends requested it might be shewn to us; and the man asked us what was the name of the maker? We replied, "Wilson and Waugh." He answered, "that is the name in the hat," and he immediately produced it, and we found it to be the hat of the deceased, Mr John T. Taylor. We immediately sent to the Half Moon for the drags, and employed persons to drag the river. They continued dragging from Saturday until Sunday morning. I went on Sunday morning with my friends again to the New River; six of my men were dragging, and an alarm was made that the body was found. I alighted from my chaise, and saw the body brought up; it was perfectly dead, and appeared to have been in the water several days. The flap of the small clothes was unbottoned; the watch which the deceased always carried about him was not in his fob; and there was no money about the deceased's person, and he never went out without taking money with him; his pockets were turned out; and there were appearances of strangulation, and a black mark on the side of the neck. I know the deceased had a watch, with gold chain and seals, when he left home; he was a very high-spirited young man, and from what I know of him, he would not tamely submit to be robbed; he had a prac. tice of twisting his watch-pocket after he put his watch in it, and I have fre

quently heard him say, that he would defy any thief to rob him, for if they took his watch, they must also take his pocket. I am of opinion that the villains who murdered the deceased, unbuttoned the flap of his small clothes for the purpose of untwisting the fob pocket and taking the watch. In his pockets remained the following trifling articles :-A watch-key, Akenside's poetical works, pair of gloves, silk handkerchief, pen-knife, a stick of black sealing-wax. The body was carried to Hornsey-wood House. An umbrella which the deceased had with him on Thursday night was found on the iron bridge, which was torn recently, from its appearance. From the deep marks on the bank where the body was found, I am convinced that he made great re sistance; some of the heel-marks are several inches in depth in the ground.

Mr Norcutt, of Gray's-inn, being sworn-I lent the deceased an umbrella when he was at my house, and the one found upon the iron bridge of the New River is the same I lent him; it was not torn when I lent it to him; the rent in it appears to have been newly made, and in my opinion was done in the struggle with the persons who at tacked him. The hat produced I am sure is the deceased's, and must have floated down the river to the grate at the Sluice-house. I made particular inquiries at West-green, at the Black Boy, and learned that a gentleman's house was robbed on Thursday night about the time the deceased left the Jolly Butchers, and I have no doubt, from the direction which the thieves took, and the road the deceased went, that the thieves went across the fields, and met with the deceased on the bridge opposite the tile-kilns.

After several other witnesses had been examined, the Jury returned the following verdict :-Wilful murder against some person or persons un

known, the deceased having been, in our opinion, strangled, robbed, and thrown into the New River.

23d.-THE FOG.-The metropolis was yesterday enveloped in a fog, the most dense that has been witnessed for several years. The darkness in the early part of the day was not so very great as to be attended with extraordinary inconvenience; but it gradually increased, and about four o'clock it became impossible to diecern an object at the distance of a few paces. The carriages and waggons moving along the streets were not discernable from the flag ways, and the passengers on the latter derived very little aid from the lights in the windows, or in the lamps, as most of the shops, from fear of accidents, were shut, and several of the latter were extinguished by the fog; even those which did burn afforded but a very feeble twinkling light, not visible until a near approach. The coachmen alighted from their boxes to lead their horses, and the link-boys were in great numbers to offer their assistance; but with every possible care and precaution, the passengers, both on foot and in carriages, seldom succeeded in making their way without mistakes-and horses and carriages frequently deviated from the street to the flagways, to the imminent danger of the passengers. The noises made by the people in the streets were frightful; some shrieking from terror when surprised by the sudden approach of a horse or a carriage, and others calling out to their fellow-travellers, to warn them of danger, or anxiously inquiring their way. In many cases the company deserted their carriages, which remained stationary, the coachmen not knowing where they were. Various sums, from half-a-crown to ten shillings, were obtained by link-boys for conducting a carriage through a single street. In the theatres, the actors on the stage were scarcely visible to the audience;

VOL. XI. PART II.

the

and even private houses, though closed and well furnished with fires, were filled and darkened by this unwelcome visitor. Between eleven and twelve o'clock, however, the rattling of the carriages indicated its departure, and the metropolis had nearly resumed its usual appearance at that hour. The fog, while it lasted, afforded a golden opportunity to the thieves and pickpockets, of which they did not fail to avail themselves. A most daring gang of thieves paraded Piccadilly, and committed extensive depredations upon public with impunity. About the hour of five o'clock, several ladies who had hired a coach, alighted near the barracks at Knightsbridge, and in consequence of the intense fog, they employed a linkboy to light them as far as the Strand. While they were proceeding along near the Cannon Brewhouse, a dastardly fellow came up with a link blazing in his hand and dashed it among the ladies, six in number, which threw them into the utmost confusion. The lighted stuff that was annexed to the link stuck on the ladies' dresses, and burned them very much; at this instant a great many persons came up, who attempted to save the females clothes from burning, and cried “shame,” at the fellow's wanton act. In the confusion one of the ladies lost a scarf, and several persons passing by at the time lost their property. The fellow who dashed the link made off instantly, and was soon hidden by the fog. Several other depredations were committed about the same time along Piccadilly, &c. It was rendered most dangerous for foot and other passengers along the different roads leading to Kensington, Hammersmith, &c. Several of the lamps were not alight, and carmen and drivers drove their horses on the foot-paths, by which one was overturned. A foreign gentleman, driving through Temple-bar, met a broad-wheel waggon on the city side,

R

which, coming in contact with his chaise on one side, and a cart heavily laden on the other, his vehicle was dashed to pieces. It was a benefit night for the coach-makers. Almost every street presented a similar misfortune. We fear we shall have many accidents to record, in addition to the following:

A gentleman coming out of the Ship Tavern, Charing-cross, yesterday evening, was run over by a hackney coach as he was crossing the street, and unfortunately killed on the spot. The accident arose from the thickness of the mist, which prevented him from seeing the approach of the vehicle till it was too late to get out of its way. He was immediately carried to a neighbouring public-house, but there were no papers found on him from which his name could be discovered.

About half past seven o'clock yesterday evening, as two of the mails were passing along the Strand during the thick fog, they ran against each other, just opposite to St Clement's Church, and their wheels, by some accident, got locked together. The coachman was flung from one of them, but fortunately escaped without any other injury than a few bruises; and the only further damage that occurred I was to one of the leaders, who was thrown upon his knees by the concus sion, and was cut in one of them so severely, that it was deemed impossible for him to continue his journey that evening. The mails which fol. lowed were each preceded by two linkboys, and had the heads of their leaders held by a man, who ran on along with

them.

Many robberies took place in shops, by thieves going into them under the pretence of purchasing some article, and then taking what was nearest and decamping with the same the fog always making it useless to pursue them.

26th.-The Queen of Spain, Maria Isabella Francis, born at Lisbon, the

19th of May, 1797, daughter of John IV. of Portugal, died at Madrid this day. About nine o'clock in the evening, her Majesty being in bed, and conversing with some persons in attendance, was suddenly seized with a convulsion, which seemed to leave her in two or three minutes. Her Majesty recovered her senses, but remained in a state of anxiety, which was followed quickly by another convulsion. From that moment the attacks continued without interruption; and, notwithstanding every remedy, she expired in about twenty-two minutes from the commencement of the convulsions. The child, which was an Infanta, was baptized, and every means used to preserve its life; they however proved ineffectual, for in a few minutes it expired.

31st.-EXECUTION OF ROBERT JOHNSTON, AND HORRIBLE OUTRAGE! -We have this day to record one of the most disgraceful scenes that ever took place in Edinburgh. We shall not at present enter on the question as to the precaution that might have been taken to insure the due execution of the awful sentence of the law, but simply detail the horrible transactions of yesterday, as far as they fell under our own observation.

The unfortunate man was convicted and sentenced to die for robbing Mr Charles, candlemaker; his two accom plices, Galloway and Lee, were sen tenced, the former to fourteen, and the latter to seven years' transportation.

Day-light yesterday exhibited the new apparatus for the melancholy ca tastrophe. The place fixed upon was before the northmost window on the west side of the New North Church, a few yards from the High-Street, Numerous groups of people continued to assemble about the fatal spot examine the dreadful preparation, and as the hour approached the crowd was very great.

The unhappy criminal walked fro

to

the Lock-up-house to the scaffold, which he ascended with a firm step, at twenty minutes before three o'clock. After spending a quarter of an hour in prayer, he shook hands with the reverend gentlemen who attended him, and mounted the platform with fortitude.

The executioner occupying a longer time in adjusting the rope than appeared to a great part of the spectators to be necessary, much disapprobation was expressed; the platform sunk about a minute before three. Unfortunately, the rope was too long, or the height from the scaffold to the beam from which the sufferer was suspended insufficient; in consequence of one or other of these causes, or both, his toes rested on the floor of the scaf fold. Just at that moment, a policeman in front, resisting the encroachment of the crowd, pushed one with his baton, who cried out " Murder!" It is probable those at a distance imagined the exclamation to be occasion ed by the pitiable situation of Johnston, and therefore joined in it. Stones began to fly towards the scaffold, (of which unluckily the state of the ground afforded an ample supply,) and the Magistrates and their attendants were compelled to make a precipitate retreat. It was well for the executioner that he escaped at the same time, for at such a moment the consequences to him must have been fatal. The mob continued to throw stones, some of which struck the unhappy object of punishment, and others the church windows. At five minutes past three, a person very deliberately stepped from the crowd on the High Street, leaped on the scaffold with a knife ready open, distinguishable from its brightness (or, as we have been informed, a surgical instrument, taken from a case on the instant,) cut the rope, and, with seeming unconcern, returned to the crowd. The body fell with the head to the

front of the scaffold,-a sight harrowing to the feelings of all possessed of the least sensibility.

Missiles still continued to fly, chiefly directed against the windows of the church, almost every pane of which was destroyed. One large stone struck the inanimate head of Johnston a heavy blow. A lame person, with a crutch, next climbed the scaffold, and then a general rush took place. The body was raised up, and the rope unloosed, with which the lame man exultingly descended; the cap was taken off, and thrown among the crowd, at the same moment a cheer was given by those around the body, meaning, it is supposed, to announce that life remained, which was received by loud clapping. The coffin, light in its materials, was thrown among the crowd, and in less than a minute broken to atoms. The body was then borne off in the direction of the Lawnmarket. Bailie Pattison, who was proceeding to the Castle, protected by a strong body of the police, to obtain the aid of the military force, caused the bearers of the body to change their course, and they wheeled about and arrived almost unperceived on the opposite side of the street to the Police Office, evidently without knowing what to do with it; here, on being attacked by the police officers, they dropped the body, divested of clothes from the waist upwards, in the process of carrying, (the most appalling sight of the whole), which was then taken into the Police Office.

A detachment of the 88th regiment arrived soon after, followed by another headed by Major Graham, which were posted across the Lawnmarket at the well, and in a similar manner from the High Church to the Exchange.

Various reports were current about the state of the unfortunate man as to his reanimation; however, he was again

carried to the drop, and at five minutes before four o'clock was launched into eternity. The military remain ed until the whole apparatus was removed; and we are happy to state no further disturbance took place. The shops in the neighbourhood were closed on the first disposition to riot, and many of them were not reopened that night.

We have not heard that any persons were seriously injured; but many inconsiderate women with children in their arms, were thrown down and trampled on.

With feelings keenly alive to the character of our metropolis, we do most sincerely regret the acts of which the above is but an imperfect account; but to prevent improper statements at a distance, we must declare that no appearance of preconcerted riot was visible on the contrary, it arose, we believe, from the untoward circum

stances of the instant. It will be long a matter of regret to the country, and to the inhabitants of Edinburgh in particular, that so foul a stain should thus be fixed upon us,-but we trust effectual measures will be adopted on future occasions to prevent the recur rence of scenes at once disgraceful, and repugnant to the feelings of humanity.

We sincerely hope also, that the propriety of changing the hour and place of punishment will now be felt by those in whose hands lie the execution of the law, and that immediate measures will be taken to accomplish both of these desirable objects.

Since writing the foregoing account, we regret to learn that the Rev. Mr Porteous was severely hurt, and carri ed to the Royal Infirmary; also, that Lieutenant Bremner, of the Police Establishment, was seriously injured.