ceased; and from his own declarations subsequently made, he had been engaged to be married to her, with the approbation of the mother, from the 16th day of May, 1819, until the period of his quitting the residence of her father, which was three or four weeks previous to the homicide. She had accepted a ring from him with the device of two united hearts, and her name engraved upon it. Shortly after the donation, he went to sea. On his return, he thought Miss Hamilton's deportment towards him changed from its former cordiality to coldness; and believing her manner to be influenced by the unfavourable disposition of the mother towards him, he abandoned their dwelling as his place of residence at the above mentioned period. A short time afterwards, he paid Miss Hamilton a visit, and demanded of her the restoration of the ring he had presented her; ⚫ when it was alleged by the young lady to have been lost. The characteristic gloom of Thompson's temper, and the solitariness of his habits, from that time visibly augmented. It was stated by the proprietor of the house in which he last boarded, that on one or two occasions he had been observed by him to take lonely rambles about the streets before the dawn of day; he still, however, continued to frequent Hamilton's residence. The night previous to the death of Miss Hamilton he paid the family a visit, and appeared in a more melancholy mood than usual, leaning his head against the door, and manifesting more than his ordinary reserve; he, however, when addressed, conversed rationally. On the night of the per

petration of the murder (which was Friday, the 5th of October last), he came about eight o'clock to Hamilton's; and took his stand against the side of a door, whereby he entered into conversation with Mr. Hamilton. The latter, at the close of their conversation, said, he believed he should go to bed. Thompson advised him so to do.

Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton then went up stairs, leaving Thompson with their daughter; they had been but a few moments above, when they were alarmed by the screams of their daughter below, who cried out, "Oh! mamma, Thompson is going to shoot me." The mother ran down stairs, and arrived in sufficient time to see the flash of a pistol, and to catch her daughter in her arms as she fell, at the foot of the stairs. The daughter expired in an instant. Thompson then, after gazing the mother stedfastly in the face, fired a second pistol at his own head, which knocked him senseless on the floor. The father ran down stairs, caught hold of his daughter to see if she was dead, and finding his fears too fatally confirmed, laid her down-and in the fury of the moment, stamped upon the head of Thompson, as he lay apparently lifeless on the floor. Thompson was taken that night to the watch-house, and when he recovered his senses, was removed to the gaol of Baltimore county. He is 40 years of age; the deceased five days short of 15. She was a girl whose beauty and loveliness were proverbial in her neighbourhood.

Thompson, during his confinement in gaol, stated to one of the witnesses in this case, that the reason why he killed her was,

that he was under the firm persuasion, that one of the boarders had dishonourable intentions towards her, and in the event of their success, did not mean to marry her that to the accomplishment of such views, her death and his own were preferable. Insanity was the defence set up.

The chief justice charged the jury briefly. About eight o'clock p. m. the jury retired to their room, and soon returned with a verdict of Guilty of Murder in the first degree.

23. Lieutenant-colonel Mazeau, implicated in the conspiracy of August, 1820, was found guilty, in the court of Peers, of having made a proposition to change or destroy the government and the order of succession to the throne, and to excite the citizens to take up arms against the royal authority. He was immediately sentenced to five years imprisonment, and to pay the costs of the prosecution.

24. LIBEL.-The King v. Weaver, Arrowsmith, and Shackell. -This was an information filed by the attorney-general against Robert Thomas Weaver, printer, and Thomas Arrowsmith and William Shackell, alleged proprietors, of the newspaper called "John Bull," for a libel upon the memory of lady Caroline Wrottesley. The libel appeared on the 15th of January, 1821. The article was headed" Queen's Visitors," and it charged the deceased lady Wrottesley, with having, in her life-time, carried on an intrigue with a menial servant. Mr. Justice Bayley delivered the sentence of the court: Weaver to pay a fine of 100%. to the king; Shackell and Arrowsmith 500. each; and all to be imprisoned

nine months in the custody of the marshal of the King's-bench, and to give security for five years, themselves in 500l. and two sureties of 250%. each.

26. LIBEL.-The King v. Blacow, Clerk.-Mr. Justice Bayley pronounced sentence, for a libel on the late queen: "The court does order and adjudge, that you, Richard Blacow, do pay to the king a fine of 100.; that you be imprisoned six months in the custody of the marshal of the Marshalsea; and that you do farther find security for your good behaviour for five years, yourself in 500l. and two sufficient sureties in 100l. each."

The court also sentenced Williams, mayor of Chester, to six months imprisonment and a fine of 1,000l. for partiality during the last city election.

MYSTERIOUS STORY.-The following mysterious transaction is mentioned in many German newspapers:"A lady of distinguished rank, the mother of princes, and whose fate and situation are sufficient to excite interest and command respect, arrived at Bonn, under the name of Madame Von That city, to which she was attracted on account of her health, pleased her so much, that she determined to take up her residence in it until spring. She then laid aside the incognito which she had assumed, and her rank obtained for her from the authorities of the city that protection and consideration which was her due. Nothing was observed either in her conduct or her conversation, which deviated from the strictest circumspection. Her numerous domestics were foreigners. Among the persons who formed her so

ciety was observed the daughter of president Von Hagen, of the government of Cologne, and professor Ennemossier, a physician, who attended on her and possessed her full confidence, while another medical person who belonged to her establishment, and had also the title of physician, appeared to be no favourite with her. The latter left the town, and it was soon after remarked that a stranger had made his appearance at Bonn, who appeared to occupy himself much about the princess and her affairs. On the 23rd of November, before day-break, there was heard, in the apartments of this lady, a noise similar to what might have been expected from the breaking in of a band of robbers. Her cries awakened Dr. Ennemossier, who slept in the upper story. He came down in haste, and saw this princess, who is near 60 years of age, struggling against her own servants, who carried her by main force to a carriage prèpared for her removal. The aggressors did not allow her time to dress herself properly. The doctor wished to oppose this violence, but he was overpowered, and the carriage drove off so rapidly, that even the sentinel posted at the entrance could not stop it. The carriage proceeded on the road to Coblentz; the gate of Bonn on the side of that town being readily opened to the carriage. The participators in the plot, who remained in Bonn, kept the door of the princess's hotel fast for two hours, to allow their accomplices time to secure their prize. Those who stayed behind have been arrested, and an investigation is commenced by the royal criminal

court.

VOL. LXIII.

27. On Tuesday last, two seamen, named Peter Heaman, and François Gautiez, were tried and convicted on a charge of piracy and murder, before the judge admiral of Scotland. Heaman had been mate, and Gautiez cook, on board a merchant ship called the Jane. On the voyage from Gibraltar to the Brazils they took forcible possession of the ship, which was freighted with specie to the amount of 38,180 Spanish dollars, and murdered Johnston the captain, and Paterson, one of the seamen. They afterwards sunk the vessel, and landed the specie in an island off the coast of Ross-shire. A Maltese boy on board the vessel gave information of the horrible transaction, as soon as he was able; and, with the rest of the crew (three persons in all), not implicated in the mutiny and murder, appeared as evidence on the trial. The two prisoners are sentenced to be hanged on the first Wednesday in January. Heaman is said to be a native of Sunderland; Gautiez is a Frenchman; they are both young men. It is a curious fact, that at the time the prisoners were apprehended, the whole ship's library consisted of a book entitled, "Trial of Captain Delano, for Piracy."

EXECUTIONS IN THE OLD BAILEY.-The sentence of the law was executed upon Samuel Hayward, for a burglary and robbery, committed in a house in Somers-town [see Chronicle for October, p. 153;] Joseph South, for uttering a 10. note, forged upon the Bank of England; and Anne Norris, for robbing a man at a house in Wentworth-street, Whitechapel, under circumstances of great aggravation. There were

N

incidents in the life of the unfortunate Hayward which deserve to be recorded. He was the son of a journeyman currier, residing in the Borough. At 16 years of age he was apprenticed to a tailor by his father, who wished, but could not afford, to give him a liberal education, suitable to the talents he had evinced in early life. He remained at that trade for the space of two years; but his spirits were so buoyant, his imagination so sanguine, and his hopes so aspiring, that the humble pursuit selected by his industrious father grew distasteful by degrees, until, at the expiration of the period we have mentioned, he resigned it altogether. The next scene in which he appeared was at the York coffee-house, near the Royal Exchange, where he officiated as waiter. This transition was his own choice; and though still far beneath the station which his talents were capable of fulfilling, it afforded him opportunities of recommending himself by his address, which he could not have had in his former situation. The hope that influenced his choice, was soon realized in the new sphere to which he had transferred his efforts. He remained at the coffee-house about six months, when he was noticed by Dr. Pugh Gueston, then residing at Furnival's-inn, and occasionally frequenting the York coffee-house. The doctor was at the time engaged in compiling his "History of London ;" and being struck with the address, appearance, and intelligence of Hayward, he took him to his house, where he employed him in collecting materials for the work in which he was engaged. While living under

the roof of his patron, Hayward was so industrious as not only to acquit himself reputably in his engagement, but to make himself master of the French and Italian languages, which he is said to have spoken with great fluency. He became also a proficient in music, dancing, and, in fact, every accomplishment of polite society. He remained with the doctor about five or six years, and then entered into an engagement with captain Blanchard, with whom he continued for nine months, the greater part of which time was spent in travelling. Hitherto every step he had taken was towards improvement, and the cultivation of his mind: but on leaving captain Blanchard his fortune changed, his pursuits took another direction, and though his advancement, considering his original humility, had been rapid and extraordinary, his decline was still more rapid and extraordinary. On separating from the captain, it was his misfortune to be introduced to some of the principal gambling houses at the west end of the town. There his ruin began. His first adventures were successful; hence he was encouraged to bolder experiments, and confirmed in the habit of play. He also became acquainted with some notorious courtezans. But, as if fortune or Providence had not yet abandoned him altogether, the elements of his prosperity were still at work. He made acquaintance with several highly respectable families in Russell and Bedford-squares, became intimate at their houses, frequented their parties, and was the delight of circles in every way qualified to admire and encourage the pro

mise of an individual distinguished by all the exterior graces of an accomplished gentleman. From this period his history is short, and coloured by the sameness of adversity. His whole time was occupied between the gambling house and the brothel, and the temptation to commit a robbery, which presented great profits, was too strong to be resisted in the state of distress to which he was reduced by the habits to which he had abandoned himself. He had lodgings at Somers-town, and became acquainted with the circumstances of the family who resided in the house in which he afterwards committed the offence for which he was executed. Between 30 and 40 gentlemen visited Hayward on Monday in prison. He had been in the habit of visiting at the houses of most of them; and such efforts were made to procure a commutation of punishment, that, up to a late hour on Sunday night, he entertained the most sanguine hopes of a reprieve. On Monday morning he showed the strongest evidences of a resigned spirit, and had frequent conversations with Mr. Brown, the governor, to whose humanity he declared in the press-room he was greatly indebted. The family of the wretched man had not, it seems, for a long time, heard any intelligence of his unfortunate career until it was nearly terminated; but he spoke of them with great affection.

When Hayward entered the press-room, he walked with a firm step to the block at which his irons were knocked off. He then advanced towards Mr. Sheriff Venables, to whom he expressed himself in terms of the

strongest gratitude for the humane concern and interest which that worthy gentleman had taken in his fate. He wrung the sheriff's hand with the greatest warmth, and in answer to the question, "How he felt himself?" replied, "As a man ought to feel who has violated the laws of God and his country."

South, who was nearly eighteen years of age, was the first who advanced in the sad procession to the scaffold. He appeared_perfectly resigned. Mr. Sheriff Venables asked him, in an under tone, a question about his family, upon which the poor lad burst into tears.

The wretched female had not entered the press-room, and before Hayward and South left it to pass to the place of execution, the former looked about with an anxious eye, and said, "Is there not a poor female to be executed too?" An answer being given in the affirmative, Hayward exclaimed, "Oh, gracious God, have mercy upon her." When the sheriffs reached the broad passage which directly leads to the scaffold, Anne Norris presented herself. Her arms were pinioned, and she was engaged in close and anxious conversation with Mr. Baker, who is in the constant habit of attending unfortunate wretches at their last moments. She was dressed in white, and her face was so pale that death could not be supposed to make much alteration in it. Upon seeing her two companions in wretchedness pass along, she shuddered, but very soon recovered, and walked up firmly to the scaffold. She declared upon ascending the steps, that but for the power of religion, she never could have been able to bear her fate.