[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet - 21

[Nev Ramsden]

Whitehaven  - March 9 - 1775



We have a report passing here that letters from the Continent [ ie America ] have been received by yesterday’s post, which promise nothing of that general reconciliation which it was hoped had begun in most of he Colonies of America; however that may be, others arrived a few days ago which confirm the public accounts of the proceedings in New York.



Last Monday at Mr. Hadwen’s ball in the Assembly room in Albion street, his pupils went through a variety of dances, to the entire pleasure and satisfaction of a numerous and genteel Company.



A few nights ago, a club of Chimney sweepers, who meet once a week at a house in Peter street, to play Quadrille and other polite games of cards, unfortunately found occasion to quarrel, contrary to the design and practice of such laudable and social meetings: our correspondent has reason to imagine the disturbance arose from a mistake, one of the senior fellows of the Card Table telling his juvenile companion that he was a Beast, meaning nothing more by it than that he was beasted, the usual way of pronouncing basted, the anglicism of the French Baster, to beat. The novice, however, resented to term in the most violent manner, and the whole company was instantly thrown into great confusion.

The Card Cloth (a foot-bag well dusted) went behind the fire; the fish and counters; which were made of leather, shared the same fate; and the cards traversed frequently across the room, accosting the ears and eyes of the combatants; the windows were just beginning to feel the effects of anger and resentment, when one of the company conjured his companions, as they regarded their characters, to desist from such unseemly  work, adding that if they proceeded much further they would be as mad as the “ Britoners and Mericaners  nurangling and scolding about nothing at all.” This had so great an influence over the company that the contention immediately ceased.



We hear from Ravenglas that on Saturday last about 4 o’clock in the morning in a violent gale of wind from the S.E. attended with hail and snow, the sloop Jenny, Thomas Martin master, from Lancashire bound for Ireland, was put ashore there; the people were so much benumb’d with the excessive cald, that they were scarce able to get on shore after the tide left the vessel, Tis supposed the cargo will take little damage, and the vessel and people are entirely safe.



The succeeding day was so stormy that several gentlemen travelling between Millom and Ravenglas had the greatest difficulty in [completing] their journey; the violence of the wind from the S.E. and frequent and heavy showers rendering it sometimes impossible to sit on horse back.



On Saturday last as three Smugglers, from Scotland, were going past Rowcliff, in their road to Carlisle, they were seen by some country people, who informing the Revenue Officers, they were immediately pursued. One of them was overtake very soon and without any resistance gave up two pounds of Tea which is all he had. Soon after the officers came upon the second, who, denying that he had any thing, was obliged to submit to a search, when there was found not only a quantity of Tea in his coat, but also a considerable number of Barcelona Handkerchiefs wrapt round his breast under his waistcoat. They then pursued the third who had a horse and loaden cart, and overtook him near Carlisle: the smuggler at first made a vigorous resistance, but being overpowered by numbers was at last compelled to surrender both horse and cart, which the officers carried back to Rowcliff. The seizure, consisting of Rum and Tea, is estimated at £50.



Last week died at Peele-town in the Isle of Mann, Daniel Myers Esq.: many years one of his Majesty’s Deemsters of that Island.



On Saturday the 25th ult. A poor woman was found dead in a field between Harrington and Workington; the Coroner’s inquest sat upon her body, and brought in their verdict “starved to death.”



The following fraud was practised in Borrowdale a few days ago; while Mr. Dixon the steward of the Black Lead Miners [otherwise called Graphite] was attending divine service, a number of miners who were drinking in a neighbouring ale house dispatched a messenger to acquaint him his son, who is in the customs at this town, was upon the point of death; Mr. Dixon immediately took horse and came here, where he found his son well; but on his return home he soon discovered that during his absence the mines had been robb’d of a great quantity of ore.



We are informed from Wigton, that Mr. Joseph Norman of Little Banton in Brough Barony, [ now Little Bampton in Kirkbampton] some time ago set a common Grey-field pea, in a bed of young thorn-quicks, he watched the growth of it carefully, and gave it what support it wanted; when ripe, he counted the produce, which amounted to 1753 [peas?]; this gentleman is particularly curious; he is said to have the best House in England, built of Clay and Straw.



Last Sunday the [ un-named ship ], Capt McGreggor, a transport vessel, arrived at Douglass to take away to Ireland the Companies of the 27th regiment which are stationed in the Island; the inhabitants are a good deal surprised at this , as other troops are not sent to relieve them, agreeable to the custom observed on every other occasion, since the Isle of Mann became an appendage to the Crown of great Britain.

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                    DESERTED

>From his Majesty’s 19th Regiment of foot, 20th of February 1775, RICHARD PEARSON Private soldier and in Lieut. Col. Mawhood’s Company, by trade a weaver, nineteen years of age, five feet nine inches and three quarters high, fresh complexion, dark brown hair grey eyes, slender made, born in the parish of Kirklinton near Carlisle. Whoever shall secure the said deserter in any of His Majesty’s gaols in Britain, shall receive Twenty Shillings reward, over and above what is allowed by Act of Parliament.



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Nev.Ramsden
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