Carlisle Patriot, 31 Dec 1825 - Local News (1)

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Saturday 31 Dec 1825   (p. 2, col. 5-6 and p. 3, col. 1, 5 + 6)

 

Extract of a letter from Whitehaven: "A balance-sheet has been struck at the Bank here (Messrs. JOHNSTON and Co.'s): the debt of the concern is £93,000; and they calculate upon fully that sum to meet it. I wish this may turn out to be the case; but the general opinion is otherwise."

 

Letter from Penrith: "It would be difficult to form an idea, at a distance, of the gloom which prevails in this town and neighbourhood on account of the failure of JOHNSTON & Co's Whitehaven Bank. Their notes were in profuse circulation here, and all through the south-east and south-west; almost every one, worth five pounds, is a holder to a greater or less amount. Trade is seriously injured; the markets are stagnant; and many poor persons will undoubtedly be thrown out of employment."

 

In the course of the last few days, there were distributed at Lowther Castle, by order of the Earl of Lonsdale, according to good old custom, four carcases of fine fat beef, and a large quantity of warm clothing—all for the poor who reside in the neighbourhood of the noble Earl's hospitable mansion.

 

In addition to the above, the Earl of Lonsdale has presented the prisoners in Carlisle gaol the sum of five guineas; and to those confined in Appleby gaol, three guineas—for which they beg to return his Lordship their grateful acknowledgments.

 

Our fish-market, on Wednesday and Thursday, was partially supplied with fresh herrings, which sold at 6d. per dozen.

 

On Monday last, about four in the morning, a quantity of drapery goods were stolen from the dwelling-house of Isabella BEWLEY, at Upton, near Caldbeck, the property of David KENNEDY, hawker. The goods consisted of printed cottons, calicoes, stockings, silk and cotton handkerchiefs, muslins, &c. The suspected thief is about thirty years of age, and generally travels in blue jacket and trowsers, wearing about his neck a red "comfortable."

 

On Thursday morning, about nine o'clock, a fire broke out in the cottage of John THOMPSON, labourer, at Gamelsby, parish of Aikton, and completely consumed it, with all the property the poor man had in the world, including a few bank notes which he had saved by hard work and deposited in a chest. In a fruitless attempt to rescue the furniture, THOMPSON's mother, seventy years of age, was severely burnt, he himself having been absent at his work. Thus is the poor man left in a pitiable state of distress, with an aged mother and two helpless children; and we hope that his case may excite the attention of the benevolent, as he is every way worthy of the kindest consideration.

 

The Carlisle Harriers will cast off on Monday the 2d Jan. at Newtown; on Wednesday at Harrowby Bridge; and on Friday at High Crosby; each morning at nine o'clock.

 

On Monday last, shortly after the Carlisle harriers had cast off at Hawksdale, they came in contact with Mr. YOUNG's dogs at Greendyke, which had pursued a hare for a considerable distance; both packs took up the pursuit eagerly, but the Carlisle dogs were fresh. Poor puss, finding herself hard pressed by her new enemies, and getting fatigued, her regard for self-preservation overcame her natural timidity, and on arriving at Goose-green, in the parish of Sebergham, she darted amongst a number of children playing at a cottage door, into the cottage, whither she was followed by her merciless pursuers, and killed on the floor.

 

The large Ox, lately exhibited at the King's Arms Inn, in this City, was slaughtered on Thursday se'ennight, and exposed for sale in the butcher-market, on Saturday last. The fine-looking animal was bred by J. C. CURWEN, Esq. of Workington, and fed by Mr. BLAMIRE, of Thackwoodnook, from whom it was purchased by Messrs. GIBBONS and ARMSTRONG, butchers, of this City, for the sum of sixty guineas. We understand Messrs GIBBONS and ARMSTRONG were offered £10 for their bargain, by a person who wished to purchase the animal for the purpose of travelling with him for exhibition; but they declined the offer, and he was slaughtered accordingly. The strictest secrecy is observed respecting the weight of this animal, which we have been told did not altogether answer the expectations that were formed from his amazing bulk. The beef, according to parts, was sold at from 8d. to 10d. per. lb. On the morning the ox was killed, he was missed from his stall, and found in a field behind the east walls, whither, it is supposed, he had been driven by some evil-disposed person, as the lock appeared to have been wrenched from the staple.

 

Our butcher-market on Saturday last (Christmas-eve), was well supplied with beef, mutton, veal, and lamb. We have been credibly informed, that so large a quantity, and so much of it excellent meat, has not been witnessed in Carlisle market on one day for upwards of twenty years. The beef of the large ox attracted great attention; it was quite a curiosity! Mr. George ARMSTRONG had a fine young lamb on his stall, weighing 9lb. a quarter. It was bred by Mr. W. FEDDON, of Gill-head, and sold at the rate of 6s. per qr. or 8d. per lb. Our poultry market presented a scene of bustle and business rarely witnessed. The supply of poultry of all kinds was uncommonly large; and some of the oldest inhabitants cannot remember having seen so many geese in the market before. Besides a number which were brought in baskets, &c., and sold amongst other poultry, we are told there were above a hundred carts with geese alone in the market; many of them were from the Borders of Scotland, others from a considerable distance; and a few of them, we believe, returned home in the evening unsold.

 

On Tuesday morning, a sharp frost commenced here, and still continues—the weather generally clear and delightfully healthy. The mountains are covered with snow.

 

On Thursday evening, a melancholy occurrence took place at the Globe public-house, on Caldew Bridges. A stone-mason named CRONE, (who came from Westnewton, but worked in Carlisle) went into the house, and was almost immediately involved in a dispute with one BAXTER, a sawyer, and by him was struck to the earth, and died almost instantly, without speaking. Richard LOWRY, Esq., the coroner, was promptly sent for, but for want of proper surgical testimony, the inquest was adjourned to this day, when the body was opened, and the necessary evidence adduced. The proceedings had not terminated when our paper went to press.

 

A correspondent complains (and we fear with too much truth) of the trouble and inconvenience felt on account of no proper place being assigned for a pork-market. The carcases are exposed promiscuously in carts, in various parts of the town, and not unfrequently, it appears, in public-houses, which causes much confusion, and is detrimental to both buyer and seller. Some place ought to be regularly appointed, and as the season is scarcely yet at its height, we hope this hint will not be lost.

 

Mr. H. JOHNSTON, the great Edinburgh star, is now performing with a strolling company at Hexham!

 

 

[to be continued]