[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet - 30

[Nev Ramsden]

Whitehaven  - May 11 - 1775.



We are under the necessity of taking up a part of this paper (which we would willingly employ in a matter more interesting to our Readers) to contradict a report which has ben spread through several parts of this county, signifying, “That we intend to drop the publication of the Cumberland Pacquet.”

This is entirely FALSE; the success we meet with from the public requires our constant endeavours to secure the continuance of the favours we already experience, and consequently can leave no foundation in truth, for the suggestions above mentioned. The inconvenience to which we have been subjected, in printing the paper without stamps, has been used as the consequence of our intension of declining the Newspaper; the case is quite different; through some mistake of the wharfingers in London (which we are not yet perfectly informed of) a number of Stamps which should have been shipped the 18th of March last, have not reached us: an invoice of them, to the amount of one third more than the number printed since that time, is lodged in the hands of the Magistrate in this place.



By an order from the War office, dated the 28th of the last month, the Out-Pensioners belonging to Chelsea Hospital, and residing in Cumberland & Westmorland, are required to appear at the City of CARLISLE, between the First and Fifteenth of June next; those not appearing will be supposed dead or otherwise provided for, and struck of the list accordingly.



A debate took place a few days ago in the House of Commons , on the second reading of the Bill for the admeasurement of coals for exportation, in which this port was pointed at as a principal. – a section edited out – 

The Bill however was passed into law last Friday last, without any amendment. No particulars which can be depended upon have yet been received; we hope to have an opportunity of laying them before our readers next week.



Sunday evening last a fine little boy, about five years old, followed a funeral to the Old Church; while the burial service was reading, he had fallen asleep, and the church doors were locked without any person receiving him. At night diligent search was made by his unhappy parents and relations; in several parts of the town, but to no purpose; they then got candles, and went through all the churches without finding him. About five o’clock the next morning, some of his relations procured the keys of the Old Church, to examine a second time, when



They found him sleeping in a pew nigh one of the windows in the South side. He says he awoke when it was dark, and knocked at one of the doors, but as nobody opened it, he went into the reading desk, where he thought no spirits could hurt him. He had been asleep there when the people were seeking him the night before; and in the morning attempted to get out at one of the windows but durst not break it.



Thursday last the [ship] Benn, Capt. McMellan, from Dublin, was seized by the Excise officers of this port, a quantity of tea, and other contraband goods, being found on board her.



Letters from Virginia, by the Pomons, Capt. Sherwin, bring accounts of the great spirit and resolution of many of people in that Colony, but with some doubts of their perseverance, in case matters should come to a serious issue.



We hear from Maryport, that there were pease and beans in full bloom a fortnight ago, in Mr. Nelson’s garden, at that place; and last Friday a young cabbage, above a pound weight was served up at dinner, at the Golden Lion there. 



Last Sunday morning, about four o’clock, Elizabeth the wife of Joseph Vickers, a taylor in Maryport, who had been for near a fortnight disordered in her senses, cut her throat in a most shocking manner, with a case-knife; she also gave herself a desperate wound, nigh five inches long, across her belly, which later was not perceived till Mr. James, a surgeon in that town (who was Immediately sent for) had sewed up the wound in her throat; he performed the same with that ion her body, and there are some small hopes of her recovery. No reason can be assigned for this rash action, as her and her husband had seemingly lived in the greatest harmony till this unhappy period.



A correspondent at Preston, in Lancashire, informs us, that on Monday sennight, five young men returning from setting a companion off, on his journey towards the Capital, (being petty much in liquor) laid a wager about their swimming; one of them, a journeyman cabinet maker in Preston, stripped to swim about five yards, when sounding the bottom, and finding it deep, he was desired by his companions to come out again; but depending on his strength and agility he persisted, and sunk to the bottom; on of them stripped, and with a fish hook grappled the unfortunate young fellow; but could not get him out of the water time enough to save his life. The young man was an only son, and heir to £70 per annum.



Last week four Mole catchers, viz. The Thompsons of Staveley near Kendal, killed at Gilcrux near Cockermouth, upwards of 2,400 Moles.



On Tuesday the 30th ult. A fire broke out at a farm house about a quarter of a mile from Appelby; the present farmer with his family had only removed there the day before, and in searching under a bed for some eggs unluckily set fire to the same, his wife and child were dangerously burnt, and notwithstanding immediate assistance was had from Appleby, Bondgate, &c. the house was almost burnt down, and a considerable part of the furniture entirely destroyed.



We learn from Broughton [in Furness] in Lancashire, that a few days since, three men returning from Ulverston market being a little in liquor, rashly adventured to cross part of the Duddon estuary at high water, and being well mounted, they with [with] the utmost danger and difficulty reached a place of their destination; we may safely conclude that the largeness of their second draught would contribute not a little to obviate the effects of the first.



One day last week a widow-woman in Great Clifton, nigh Workington (who lived alone) drank Brandy to such a degree, that it killed her, the door was broke open the next day, by the neighbours, when she was found dead under the window.



A great number of ladies and gentlemen from this town have, within these few days, been visiting the gardens of William Rennick, at Parton; where, it is said, there is the finest show of flowers ever produced in this part of the country.



We are credibly in formed from Ulverstone, that the Deputy Comptroller of his Majesty’s Customs there, lately thought proper to sell his wife to a young man of that town; the purchase money (a half penny) was accordingly paid; but the purchaser after an afternoon’s deliberation concluded not to complete the purchase, and very seriously refused to take the lady home, notwithstanding which she was very desirous that the bargain should go forward; the affair is not yet absolutely settled.



Last Saturday afternoon a fire broke out at a house in Distington; it was however extinguished, without any considerable damage.

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Nev.Ramsden
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