[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 01 Nov 1823 - Local News (3)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 01 Nov 1823   (p. 4, col. 2-4 + p. 3, col. 6)     [continued] 

 

THE WONDERFUL CHILD.-The illegitimate child whose eyes are said to express the name of his father, "John WOODS [sic]," has been
removed from Galloway to Glasgow, where he arrived last Wednesday morning. The following is from the Glasgow Courier:- 

 

"Bets to a considerable amount for and against the truth of the story were laid in this place; and, in consequence, some gentlemen
here interested in these bets proceeded to Galloway, and by their exertions the stepfather of the boy has been induced to bring him
to Glasgow. We were amongst the number who yesterday saw the child. We went to the place with the full conviction that the story was
an imposition, but we must confess that what our eyes there beheld shook our scepticism greatly. The moment the boy opens his eyes,
something very singular strikes the beholder, though at a distance, and a very superficial examination enables him to perceive
characters, these becoming more distinct as the examination becomes closer and more steady with the naked eye, but still better
defined upon the application of a glass of small rnagnifying powers. The word "WOOD," in the right eye appeared particularly defined
and legible-the letter W appeared well formed, and of a size similar to the type we now use, which seems indeed the size of all the
characters. The characters taken for the name and year, appear in the Iris surrounding the pupil of the right and left eye. The Iris
is a dark blue colour-the letters in ROMAN CHARACTERS, white, in some appearing streaked with blue slightly. Such was the appearance
when we saw them. The child having had no sleep for two nights previous, was extremely drowsy, and there being a vast number of
persons in the room, all anxious to gratify their curiosity, and pressing upon the child with their fingers about his eyes, it was
impossible to get him to keep his eye-lids open so long at any one time as to give us an opportunity of examining accurately, letter
by letter, whether each was equally well defined. Some appeared paler and less formed than others, which might proceed from our
hurried observation, as the boy moved hastily his eye and eye-lids, alternately covering and exposing his eyes, from fatigue and
fear of having his eyes touched by the numerous hands pressing around him. The J in John appeared more distinct, as also 17. Such
were the appearances we witnessed yesterday. How these characters came there-if they can be the effect of disease, or a confusion in
the construction of the fibres of the eye that may approach so near the form of letters as make the beholder take them for such, we
do not know, and will not take upon ourselves to determine. There was certainly no appearance of the work of human art, for the
purpose of deception, at least that we could see, though a more minute investigation may shew it other wise, but we certainly cannot
well conceive how any such attempt could be made on the human eye, and more especially the part mentioned, without destroying the
orbs of vision, which is certainly not the case." The same paper adds-"This forenoon, the eyes of the child, Edward WOOD, were
examined by two of our experienced surgeons, (MACARTHUR and KING, and a Mr. GRANT), at the request of those interested in the bets,
who have certified, as their opinion, that the words "John Wood-Born 1817," cannot be traced in the eyes, but that there is on them
most remarkable appearances, which, without strict examination, might be supposed to resemble letters, but which they are of opinion
proceeds from the particular construction of the fibres of the Iris. They also recommend, that a facsimile of the eyes should be
taken, as offering very remarkable phenomena, and to satisfy public curiosity, and express their opinion that the child is well
worth examining by the curious." 

 

According to a clause in the New Marriage Act, it becomes necessary, on the 1st of November, for every parish to be provided with a
new register book for the entry of bans, from which book only they are to be published. 

 

OLD TIMES.-Some 40 years ago, a Selkirkshire farmer, a great original in his way, and remarkable for his fondness for a "big price"
for every thing, attended Langholm fair, and, notwithstanding his parsimonious habits, actually sold his lambs to a perfect stranger
upon his simply promising to pay him punctually at the next market. On his return home, the farmer's servants, who regularly messed
at the same table, and seldom honoured him with the name of master, enquired "Weel, Sandy, hae ye sell't the lambs!" "Atweel hae I,
and I gat saxpence mair a-head for them than ony body in the market." "And a' weel paid siller?" "Na, the siller's no paid yet, but
it's sure eneuch." "Wha's your merchant, and what's your security?" "Troth I never spiered, but he's a decent lookin' man wi' tap
boots and a bottle-green coat." The servants, at this, laughed outright, and tauntingly told him he would never get a farthing.
Sandy, however, thought differently, and having accidentally hurt his leg so as to prevent him from travelling, he sent a shepherd
to Langholm, with instructions to look for a man with a bottle-green coat, whom he was sure, he would find standing near a certain
sign. The shepherd did as he was bid, and, strange to say, discovered a person standing at the identical spot, who, on learning his
errand, enquired kindly for his master, and paid him the money to the uttermost farthing. Sandy, who piqued himself on his skill in
physiognomy, heard the news without emotion, and merely said, "I wad at any time trust mair to looks than words, and whan I saw
Colly smelling about him sae kindly, I ken't weel eneuch he couldna be a scoundrel." 

 

Last week was launched from the yard of Messrs. Thomas PEILE and Co. Workington, a beautiful copper-bottomed brig, called the
Elizabeth, burthen 204 Tons Register, built for Allan M'GAA, Esq. and intended for the West India trade; and during the last week,
the schooner Mary and Ann; and the brigs Mary, and Edward, were launched from the Patent Slip, after being repaired. 

 

A beautiful vessel was launched on the morning of the 21st ult. from the building yard of Messrs. BROCKLEBANK, Whitehaven, called
the Andes, burthen per register 215 tons; she sailed on the 25th for Liverpool. 

 

The brig Mary, Hugh FULTON master, left Whitehaven on the night of the 18th ult. with coals for Dublin.-On the following night, she
experienced a very heavy gale from the E. S. E. when she was put under a close reefed maintopsail, and a reefed foresail; the sea
was then running very high, and made a free passage over her. At midnight a tremendous sea struck her, and swept away the
stern-boat, all the bulwarks fore and aft, the rails and many of the stancheons, together with every moveable article on deck, the
long boat excepted. In this plight, the vessel had made so much water, as to be ungovernable, and both pumps were got to work, but
all efforts were found in vain, to keep her free. The men then took to the rigging for safety, and at 3 A. M. they saw land to
leeward, and at 5 the vessel struck, with a dreadful crash on a sunken rock not far from St. Patrick's Island, near Skerries. It
being dark, signals were in vain, the Island being uninhabited. In this exhausted state, the crew threw themselves into the long
boat, cut the lashings, and washed clear of the ship; and in a short time drifted on shore. Three of the crew were nearly worn out
with fatigue; and at day light boats came off from the main land, (Skerries,) but instead of taking care of the poor unfortunate
sufferers, plunder appeared to be the great object of their visit. The Mary was not the property of a numerous ownery, as is the
case with the coal ships in general, but chiefly belonged to Mr. Benjamin BRISCO, and had, previous to her leaving port, been for
many weeks undergoing a general repair.-The vessel parted soon after she struck. 

 

During the gale of wind from the S. E. on the Irish coast, on the 19th ult. the following vessels received damage in Dublin Bay:
Utility, FELL; Endeavour, BELL; Columbine, REED; Fame, CREIGHTON; Jamaica Packet, BRAGG; Monmouth, HARRISON. 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://list.cumbriafhs.com/pipermail/list-cumbria/attachments/20240219/3be751b3/attachment.htm>