Mercuriosities

A robbery where the burglars met with more than they had bargained for; the woman whose home they chose to rob was a sexton, not a normal occupation for a woman, which meant she was able to put up a bit of a fight.

‘A daring robbery, attended with peculiar circumstances, occurred on Wednesday night the 19th inst. at the village of Sibsey, near Boston. A woman named Marshall, 68 years of age, has long resided in a cottage there, rather lonely situated, herself being the only inhabitant of the hut. For many years she as officiated as sexton of the parish, and in this strange capacity for a female, she was said to have hoarded a considerable sum of money, which it was generally understood she kept secreted in her house. Tempted, doubtless, by this rumour, some villains, on the night above-mentioned, broke into her cottage. About eleven o’clock, Mrs. Marshall was aroused by hearing one of the windows broken, and rose from her bed to ascertain the cause, when she was astonished by the sight of a man’s head protruded through the broken window. He swore at her, and insisted upon her going to bed, saying he did not wish to hurt her ; but she was not daunted by his appearance, and prepared to resist the intrusion, and to defend her hoard even at the imminent peril of her life. She accordingly armed herself with a large hay-fork, the best weapon at hand, and struck with the tines at the head of the robber ; but, enfeebled by age or paralysed by terror, she missed her aim ; she contunued striking, however, at the man, until he wrested the fork from her grasp. During this conflict, an attempt was made to break open the door of the house, but the spirited old inmate rendered this unavailing, as she placed a large fork in a slanting position, so that the ruffians could not succeed in this attenpt. Thinking the robbers would not venture a second time, after being thus defeated in their nefarious attempt, she went to bed, but was again aroused by hearing a noise in the house. On proceeding to discover the cause of this second intrusion, she was suddenly seized by a desperado, who threw the old woman down on the bed, and pulled out a knife, with which he threatened to destroy her if she did not lie quietly. The robbers had effected an entrance this time, by pulling out a window in the back part of the house, while a third kept watch outside. They told her they knew she had sold a fat pig lately, and they were come for the money, and money they would have. One of them then proceeded to rifle the house. During this transaction, the other man watched over the unfortunate owner of the property, and when she endeavoured to extricate herself from his gripe, he drew a knife from his pocket, and swore that if she did not remain quiet he would cut her throat, to which she replied that he might, and then she should be done with. He did not proceed to this extremity, however, but pocketed the knife without further alluding to murder. The ruffian then asked her if she knew him, but she gave an evasive answer. They remained in the house nearly an hour, during which time they plundered it of guineas, half-guineas, sovereigns, and seven-shilling pieces, to the amount of 50l. They also took a quantity of plate, &c. valued at 10l., making the total loss 60l.–During the same night, another daring burglary was effected in the neighbourhood. The house of Mrs. Towl, at Langret Ferry, was broken open, and plate, &c. to the value of 10l. was stolen by the depradators, who never disturbed the inmates, and got clear off with their booty. Several circumstances tend to the suspicion that both the robberies above-mentioned were committed by the same parties. It appears that, after plundering the poor old woman at Sibsey, they made off across the country in the direction of Lincoln ; and it is probable they adopted a circuitous route, so that they might take Langret Ferry in their course. After leaving Langret Ferry, it is supposed, they proceeded to Dog-dyke, whence they went by the steam-packet to Lincoln, where they were all apprehended by Mr. Cuthbert, constable of Coningsby. It appears that the old woman had a distinct knowledge of the parties, who reside at Sibsey, and have long borne notoriously bad characters. Two of them are brothers, named Lammiman. They were examined before the Magistrates acting at Spilsby on Monday, and will in all probability be ultimately committed for trial at the next Lincoln assizes.–Boston Gazette.’

Stamford Mercury, 28th November, 1828.

In 1828 was £4,000 (now estimated at about £300,000) too great a sum to give to priests to say prayers to free the soul of an old woman so she could move through purgatory quickly? The court and the residual beneficiary of her will thought it was. Was this a money-making venture ?

‘Liberation from purgatory.– A case was argued last week, in the Exchequer Court, Dublin, in which the residuary legatee contested a bequest of four thousand pounds, left by an old lady to Priests to say masses for her, in order to rescue “her poor miserable soul” from the torments of purgatory. Mr. Cooper (counsel for the legatee) contended that this was an enormous sum to have appropriated to such a purpose. The poor old woman must have been priest-ridden when she made such a bequest. In such a case it was competent to the Court to apportion some reasonable sum ; but four thousand pounds was beyond all reason. The Chief Baron–How much do you think would bring her out of purgatory, Mr. Cooper ? Mr. Cooper–I think 10l. would be quite enough to relieve so old a woman, my Lord. Mr. O’Loughlin–I am sure the balance would not be enough to take Mr. Cooper out of purgatory, if he were there. (Laughter.) The Court–We will refer it to the Master to determine how much he may think necessary for her relief in purgatory ; and on the report we will be better able to ascertain what ought to be done. Mr. O’Loughlin–Yes, my Lord ; but recollect that this poor woman’s soul is in the meantime suffering all torments. (Great Laughter.) I am sure your Lordship will not willingly inflict pain by delay, nor diminish the sum of four thousand pounds. This lady must have been the best judge of her own sins, and she thought four thousand pounds necessary to rescue her from purgatory.–The Court decided that the matter should go before the Master first.’

Stamford Mercury, 30th May, 1828.

Previous censuses had taken place, but the United Kingdom Census of 1841 is considered as the first modern census. Here the Stamford Merucry included instructions on how to complete the census for the Enumerator including an interesting way of recording ages which may be of use when researching family trees.

“CENSUS of the POPULATION.-The necessary papers and instructions to the “Enumerators” of the several districts have been issued this week. The Householder’s Schedule has the following information:- “The Commissioners appointed under the Act hereby give notice, that on Monday the seventh day of June the Enumerator of each district will proceed to visit every house in his district, and will call for this paper, which the inhabitant Householder, or any Occupier to whom a whole story or apartment of the house is let, and for who a paper is left, is hereby required to fill up correctly and sign. Inconvenice will be spared to the Householder or Occupier if this be done before the Enumerator calls at the House. It may be done before Monday June 7th, but in that case care must be taken afterwards to strike out the names of all persons who were absent on the night of June 6th, or to insert any who abode in the house on that night but whose names had been previously omitted. The only object for which this information is sought being to obtain an exact account of the Population of the Kingdom, as in the years 1801, 1811, 1821, and 1831, the Commissioners earnestly hope that every Householder, Occupier, and Head of a Family, will willingly assist in this great National work by giving coorrect returns. If the Owner of the house is absent, the person whose charge it is left will be considered the Occupier, and be required to fill up and sign this paper.

“By an Act passed in the present Session, persons making false returns in this Schedule, or refusing to make any returns, ‘shall forfeit a sum not more than 5l. nor less than 40s.,at the discretion of any Magistrate before whom complaint thereof shall be made.’ The Act imposes the same penalty for refusing to answer, or giving false answers, to the questions of the Enumerator.

“Directions for filling up the SCHEDULE.-Insert the name and surname of every person who has slept or abode in the house on the night of Sunday June 6th. Persons sleeping in a separate building (as over a stable or out_house), although belonging to the house, must not be inserted as inmates of the house, but be inserted in the paper which is left at or for such separate building.

“Write in figures the age of every person, opposite to their names, in one of the columns headed ‘Age of Male,’ or ‘Age of Female,’ according to their sex. For persons aged 15 years and upwards it is sufficient to state within what period of five years their age is, writing down the lowest number of that period: thus, for persons aged 15 and under 20, write 15-for 20 and under 25, write 20-for 25 and under 30, write 25-for 30 and under 35, write 30; and so on, upto the greatest ages; but the exact age may be stated if the person prefers it. For persons under 15, write the number of years; for infants under one year, the number of months.

“The profession, &c. of wives, or of sons or daughters living with and assisting their parents, but not apprenticed or receiving wages, need not be inserted. Domestic servants may be inserted as Male Servant or Female Servant, without further statement of their duties. Those who are Journeymen or Apprentices in any trade must be inserted as such, with the name of the trade. In cases of Factory or Manufacturing employment, state the staple on which employed, as silk, cotton, woolllen, linen,&c., with the description of work, as silk-throwster, Wool-cardr, &c. &c. In cases of employment in Mines, state whether of coal, iron, copper, &c. &c. Men or Widows, or Single Women, having no profession or calling, but living on their means, may be inserted as ‘Independant.’ “Whether born in the same County, and whether born in Scotland, Ireland, or Foreign Parts,” write yes or no in the columns as the case may be.”

The Stamford Mercury, 21st May, 1841.

The procedure set out to ‘restore animation’, albeit it specific and detailed, would, we think, have taken rather too long to administer. Or course, we know now that the important thing is to give CPR as soon as possible.

“RESTORING ANIMATION. – On the suggestion of a correspondent, we present at this season, which accidents usually occur from bathing, the following directions for the recovery of drowned persons, as recommended by the Royal Humane Society of London.

1. As soon as the patient is taken out of the water, the wet clothes, if the person is not naked at the time of the accident, should be taken off with all possible expedition on the spot (unless some convenient house be very near), and a great coat or two, or some blankets if convenient, should be wrapped round the body.
2. The patient is to be thus carefully conveyed in the arms of three or four men, or on a bier, to the nearest public or other house, where a good fire, if in the winter season, and a warm bed, can be made ready for its reception. As the body is conveying to this place, a great attention is to be paid to the position of the head; it must be kept supported in a natural and easy posture, not suffered to hang down.
3. In cold or moist weather, the patient is to be laid on a mattress or bed before the fire, but not too near, or in a moderately heated room: in warm and sultry weather on a bed only. The body is then to be wrapped as expeditiously as possible with a blanket, and thoroughly dried with warm coarse cloths or flannels.
4. In summer or sultry weather too much air cannot be admitted. For this reason it will be necessary to set open the windows and doors, as cool refreshing air is of the greatest importance in the process of resuscitation.
5. Not more than six persons are to be present to apply the proper means; a great number will be useless, and may retard, or totally prevent, the restoration of life, by rendering the air of the partment unwholesome. It will be necessary, therefore, to request the absence of those who attend merely from motives of curiosity.
6. It will be proper for one of the attendants, with a pair of bellows of the common size, applying the pipe a little way up one nostril, to blow with some force, in order to introduce air into the lungs; at the same time the other nostril and the mouth are to be closed by another assistant, whilst a third person gently presses the chest with his hands, after the lungs are observed to be inflated. By pursuing this process, the noxious and stagnant vapours will be expelled, and natural breathing imitated. If the pipe of the bellows be too large, the air may be blown in at the mouth, the nostrils at the same time being closed, so that it may not escape that way: but the lungs are more easily filled, and natural breathing better imitated, but blowing up the nostril.
7. Let the body be gently rubbed with common salt, or with flannels sprinkled with spirits, as rum or geneva. A warming pan heated (the body being surrounded with flannel) may be lightly moved up and down the back. Fomentations of hot brandy are to be applied to the pit of the stomach, loins, &c., and often renewed. Bottles filled with hot water, heated tiles covered with flannel or hot bricks, may be efficaciously applied to the soles of the feet, palms of the hands, and other parts of the body, The temples may be rubbed with spirits of hartshorn. and the nostrils now and then tickled with a feather; and snuff, or eau de luce*, should be occasionally applied.
8. Tobacco fumes should be thrown up the fundament: if a fumigator be not at hand, the common pipe may answer the purpose. The operation should be frequently performed, as it is of importance; for the good effects of the process have been experienced in a variety of instances of suspended animation. But should the application of tobacco smoke in this way not be immediately convenient, or other impediments arise, clysters of this herb, or other acrid infusions with salt, &c. may be thrown up with advantage.
9. When these means have been employed a considerable time without success, and any brewhouse or warm bath can be radily obtained, the body should be carefully conveyed to such a place, and remain in the bath, or surrounded with warm grains, for three or four hours. If a child has been drowned, its body should be wiped perfectly dry, and immediately placed in bed between two healthy persons. The salutary effects of the natural vital warmth, conveyed in this manner, have been proved in a variety of successful cases.
10. While the various methods of treatment are employed, the body is to be well shaken evey ten minutes, in order to render the process of animation more certainly successful; and children in particular, are to be much agitated, by taking hold of their legs and arms, frequently and for a continuance of time. In various instances agitation has forwarded the recovery of boys who have been drowned, and continued for a considerable time apparently dead.
11. If there be any signs of returning life, such as sighing, gasping, or convulsive motions, a spoonful of any warm liquid may be administered; and if the act of swallowing is returned, then a cordial of warm brandy or wine may be given in small quantities, and frequently repeated.”

The Stamford Mercury, 22nd June, 1821.

*volatile liquid soap, with a strong pungent smell.

This painting, produced by Peter Paul Rubens in about 1625 as one of the designs for a series of tapestries, can be seen in the Prado Museum in Madrid, and is now known as “The Triumph of Divine Love“.  The appetite for finding and identifying lost paintings is still with us today in such television programmes as Fake or Fortune and Britain’s Lost Masterpieces.

“Singular DISCOVERY of a PICTURE by RUBENS. – A few weeks ago, at the sale of Mr. J.E. Pearson’s effects, at Sheffield, an old picture in which no figure was discernable was knocked down for 1s. 9d. : It was afterwards purchased of the byer for 5s., and the new possessor proceeded to wash it, which caused several of the figures to appear while wet.  This led to a resolution to send it to London to be cleaned, and the old varnish being removed, it turned out to be a very fine old picture.  It was returned to Sheffield, with an offer of 160 guineas for it, and the biddings have since advanced to 350 guineas, at which price, however, it is not to be had.  The picture consists of a fine female figure standing upon a car drawn by a lion ; one child nestles in her bosom, others cling to her robes, others follow her car, while one rides a lion : several other rotund little ones with cherub wings fly about her.  The style of the painting and some other internal evidence have satisfied several eminent connoisseurs that it is a genuine Rubens : and this is confirmed by an old etching of the picture, which is called ‘the triumph of Christianity, by Rubens.’  This prize is in the possession of Mr. Sawyer, wine-merchant, of High-street, Doncaster, where it has been seen by many persons.  The best judges speak of it in very high terms, and the probability is that the biddings for it have by no means reached their maximum. – Doncaster Gaz.”

The Stamford Mercury, 23^rd June 1843

A pug dog was deemed to be an interested witness in this case. He was able to give vocal and physical evidence of the identity of his owner.

COURT of KING’S BENCH, Nov. 30.

Grammont v. Boyton. – This was an action of trover*. The defendant was charged with the conversion# of a pug dog. – Mr. Marryat, who opened the plaintiff’s case, proposed to support it by at least a dozen witnesses. The defendant admitted the taking of the dog, but alleged that he took him in the way of recovery: he confessed that he had found the dog when lost by the plaintiff, but affirmed that he had himself originally lost the dog, and that it was through such loss that the dog had first come into the plaintiff’s possession.

The Lord Chief Justice doubted whether the cause would not be better taken out of Court. The evidence of the dog himself would probably be necessary.

Mr. Gurney, had no objection to that course. The dog, indeed, was his leading witness.

Mr. Marryat begged to deny that fact: the dog was his witness – subpoenaed indeed by him.

Mr. Gurney, in that case, would insist upon cross-examining him.

Mr. Marryat was ready to refer the cause, but the dog would appear most clearly to belong to the plaintiff. In fact, he had already escaped once or twice from the defendant, and had made his way to his rightful owner.

Mr. Comyn took the dog to be an interested witness. It was doubtful how far his evidence would be admissible.

Mr. Gurney was ready to give him a release.

Mr. Marryat – Now you know that you keep him always tied up: if he were released, he would be with us in a moment.

Here the prisoner (the dog) from the lower end of the hall, testified viva voce to the truth of Mr. Marryat’s assertion.

The Lord Chief Justice said that the dog would give his evidence far more collectedly in a prrivate room, before some gentlemen of the bar, Such gentlemen might have more acquaintance with dogs than he (the Lord Chief Justice) could pretend to.

Mr. Gurney was of the same opinion, but his clients demurred.

The Lord Chief Justice was sorry fo it. There was somethjing inconsistent with the decorum of a Court in having such a witness as a dog produced.

Mr. Marryat said that his client was afraid lest the arbitrator might award damages instead of the dog. Nothing could compensate the loss of the animal.

The Lord Chief Justice said that the plaintiff might be ensured: let the arbitrator (to either party) award the dog and nominal damages.

The parties then agreed to refer,

The Stamford Mercury, 7th December, 1821.

*Trover – A law action to recover the value of chattels or goods.

#Conversion – Taking with intent of exercising ownership over a chattel.

Did Sir Isaac Newton think he was about to discover a weather gauge to foretell rain? The ram had the answer.

“SIR ISAAC NEWTON AND THE WEATHER GAUGE-The illustrious philosopher was once riding over Salisbury plain, when a boy keeping sheep called to him, “Sir, you had better make haste on, or you will get a wet jacket.” Newton, looking round and and observing neither clouds nor a speck on the horizon, jogged on, taking very little of the rustic’s information. He made but a few miles, when a storm suddenly arising, wetted him to the skin. Surprised at the circumstance, and determined, if possible, to ascertain how an ignorant boy had attained a precision and knowledge in the weather of which the wisest philosophers would be proud, he rode back, as wet as he was. “My lad,” said Newton, “I’ll give thee a guinea if thou wilt tell me how thou canst fortel the weather so truly.” “Will ye, Sir? I will then,” said the boy, scratching his head, and holding out his hand for the guinea. “Now Sir,” having received the money, and pointing to his sheep, “when you see that black ram turn his tail towards the wind, ’tis a sure sign of rain within an hour.” “What!” exclaimed the philosopher, “must I, in order to fortel the weather, stay here and watch which way that black ram turns his tail?” “Yes, Sir.” Off rode Newton, quite satisfied with his discovery, but not much inclined to avail himself of it, or to recommend it to others.”

The Stamford Mercury, 17 October 1828

The Mercury reports optimistically on a patent for an aerial steam carriage (named ‘Ariel‘), 60 years before the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

THE AERIAL STEAM CARRIAGE. – When it was announced some time ago, by the ordinary monthly lists of patents granted, that Mr. Henson had invented a machine capable of conveying dispatches and passengers through the air, the general impression was that some moody and enthusiastic projector was about to exhibit the produce of his day-dreams.  Our readers may, therefore, be somewhat surprised to learn that this is in truth no visionary scheme, but a design of very scientific conception, carefully and perseveringly wrought out.  It would perhaps be too much to affirm (what yet we cannot deny) that the machine in its present state will certainly succeed ; but the least which can be said is, that the inventor has most skilfully removed the difficulties which have hitherto debarred us the possession of the long-coveted faculty of flight, and has made its eventual, perhaps early, attainment a matter of little less than certain.  This device would not have succeeded if the inventor had not effected an extraordinary reduction in the weight of his steam-engine.  Our engineering readers will be somewhat surprised to learn that the engine of 20 horses’ power now in preparation for the aërial carriage weighs with its condenser and requisite water but 600lbs.  To the united effect of these different branches of this important invention must we attribute our present prospect of making our paths in the air.  The area of the sustaining surface will be, we understand, not less than 4500 square feet ; the weight to be sustained, including the carriage and its total burden, is estimated at 3000lbs.  The load is said to be considerably less per square foot than that of many birds.  It may assist the conceptions of our non-mechanical readers to add that the general appearance of the machine is that of a gigantic bird with stationary wings ; that the mechanical principles concerned in its support are strongly exemplified in the case of a kite ; and that its progress is maintained by an application of power like that which propels a steam-boat.  In the operations of nature, particularly in the flight of birds, will be found many striking illustrations of the principles on which the inventor has proceeded. – Whatever may be the immediate issue of the present attempt, we think it is impossible not to award to the inventor the highest credit due to the removal of the great difficulties which have hitherto defeated all similar inventions ; nor do we doubt that, in following out the path he has opened, complete success will eventually be obtained : whether that success will be, as we wish, early and entire, or whether it will be delayed and gradual, depends on the facts as to oblique pneumatic resistance, which have yet to be ascertained.  It is, however, high time to begin to consider in the spirit of careful inquiry and cheerful hope what will be the changes, commercial, social, and political, which the possession of this new-born power will necessarily bring about. – Times.“

The Stamford Mercury, April 7^th, 1843.

Magnetic north was an elusive creature, perhaps because it was, and still is, constantly on the move. In 1828 these men set out to find magnetic north. They only just missed out because three years later it was discovered by another naval man, James Clark Ross.

“Northern Scientific Expedition.–Towards the end of this month (April) Professor Hanstein will set out on his journey to Siberia. He will be accompanied by Lieutenant Due, of the navy ; and at St. Petersburgh they will meet Dr. Erman, from Berlin, who will go with them as naturalist and astronomer. They will proceed from St. Petersburgh to Moscow, Kasan, and Tobolsk, and northwards along the Obi to Beresow, in order to examine the hitherto imperfectly known northernmost branch of the Ural chain, and to observe the temperature of that tract. They will afterwards go from Tobolsk, by way of Tara, Tomsk, Krasnoiarsk, and Nischmei-Udinsk, to Irkoutsk, where they hope to arrive in time to pass the winter. Hence they mean to travel north-east to Jakoutsk, from which the most fatiguing part of the journey will be to Ochotsk, as there are 1014 wersts (676 miles) to go over, in a country entirely uninhabited, in which they must pass perhaps a thousand streams, bivouac in the night, and take provisions for the whole journey. It is calculated that the tour may occupy two years. The grand object of this important expedition is to observe the phenomena of magnetism, and to ascertain, if possible, the situation of the magnetic poles, &c,–Literary Gazette.”

The Stamford Mercury, 9th May, 1828.

From the stomach pump to the fire escape, Mr. John Read’s inventions knew no bounds. He descended from the various floors of the house causing quite a stir. Other similar creative and amusing fire escape designs were around at this time.

“Great interest was excited on Wednesday afternoon the 30th ult. in Regent-street, by the descent of Mr. Read (the patentee of the stomach pump) from a window nearly 60 feet from the ground, by means of a very simple fire-escape of his invention. The apparatus consists merely of a rope twice the length of the height of the place where it is attached. Above the window of the chamber a ring is fastened to the wall inside the room, a bar crosses the ring perpendicularly, and around this the rope is reflected. Some strong web, which forms a sort of seat, is attached to one end of the rope, and the other being thrown out of the window, the persons escaping from a house on fire lower themselves into the street, by allowing the rope to pass gradually through the hands as they descend. In the same manner children or others may be let down by any one of ordinary courage and coolness, for which purpose a bag is appended to the rope, in which they may be securely enveloped. Mr. Read descended from the various floors of the house with great adroitness, highly to the satisfaction of a great crowd assembled by the novel exhibition.”

The Stamford Mercury, 9th May, 1828.