[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet - 35

[Nev Ramsden]

Whitehaven  - June 15  - 1775.



The Castor, Captain Brocklebank, arrived here last Thursday in 33 days from Sheepscott in America. For a copy of the minutes in his journal, see the last page of this paper.



An intelligent person in the neighbourhood of this town, who can remember for 60 years past, declares that since that time there has not been so fair a prospect of plenty as the present season affords. The many gentle showers which have fallen within the last few days have freed numbers from the anxiety which an appearance of a long drought had naturally occasioned.



Friday last, the corpse of Mrs Irton passed through this town to Irton church, where they were interred that evening with decent funeral solemnity.



New Potatoes sold in our Market last Thursday at sixpence a pound, and Butter at fourpence half-penny.



Butter sold last week at Maryport at three pence half-penny a pound.



Green Peas were sold in our market last Thursday at 2s the hoop.



The gentleman who was selected for the City of Carlisle on Wednesday the 31st ult., is Walter Stanhope Esq. of Horsforth nigh Leeds, and not William Stanhope, Esq. as mentioned in the last week’s paper.



At a meeting last week of the out-pensioners in the county of York, near one hundred of them were ordered to the garrison of Berwick upon Tweed.



Butter was sold last week at Newark upon Trent, at two pence half-penny a pound.



We hear from Liverpool that the Corporation have ordered the graving docks there to be enlarged, under the inspection of the Committee of Trade



The account last week’s paper, relative to a marriage at Brigham church; is entirely false --- there follows a lengthy apology and explanation as to how this deed was accomplished along with public exposure for the person responsible.



When Capt. Brocklebank left Sheepscutt, no S?lem [Salem perhaps?] papers with the account of the action had reached that place: but the particulars reported there were much the same as those printed in the London papers; except that no mention was made of the King’s troops plundering and destroying houses, and committing several acts of barbarity, as related by the Provincials. He left the country with a new vessel which had been built there, on board of which he had only on barrel of beef and some bread; provisions could not be purchased there; he gave his seamen the choice of running for Nova Scotia, or the Banks of Newfoundland, to try whether they could procure a sufficiency of fish, to support them on their passage to Europe; they chose the latter, and in a few hours caught an amazing great quantity. They had some salt, but not enough to preserve the fish they had taken: This deficiency they, however, soon supplied by scraping up the salt which had had been laid between the [ships] timbers (a custom used for preserving ships) wherever they could get to it; and by these means got as much as cured a quantity which served them plentifully on the passage.



 After twenty days sail they were in in St.George’s Channel, and the 11th from that came safe into Whitehaven, to the great joy and astonishment of their friends, who did not expect them so soon, as the Captain had purposed building another vessel, but from the disturbed state of the Province thought it most prudent to quit it and a considerable part of his cargo, which he had purchased, and had ready for shipping.



Next follows an article concerning the current problems of being an Englishman and living on the East coast of America.

A few days ago died at Sheltinton near Tamworth in the county of Warwick, Mr. Spooner, an eminent farmer in that place. He was thought to be the largest and fastest man in England, weighing but four or five weeks before his death, forty stone and nine pounds. He hath not been able to walk abroad these several years, but had a light cart with an able horse to draw him abroad for air. He measured after he was dead four feet three inches across the shoulders. He was aged but 57 years at the time of his death. He was drawn unto the churchyard in his own cart that he used to ride in, according to his desire. His coffin was made much to long, on purpose to give room for the bearers to carry him from the cart to the church and from thence to his grave. He was carried to his grave by 13 men underhand six on each side of the c9offin and a single man at the head end of the coffin. His fatness some years ago  was the means of preserving his life; for being at Atherstone market, where some differences arising between him and a Jew, the Jew stabbed him in the belly with a penknife; but the blade being short did no pierce his bowels.



Sunday se’nnight, as John Bowstead, a young man of about 18 years of age, was bathing in the river Eden, near Carlisle, he was unfortunately drowned: and on Monday, James Wilson about 25, and George Spedding, about 20, met with the same fate in the same river.



At Stagshawbank fair, on Saturday se’nnight last, cattle sold at a moderate price, owing to the long extreme drought. [in Northumberland?]



Since the first current, a great many of the out-pensioners of Chelsea College, in this district, have been examined by a Doctor, at the Saracen’s-head Inn. Those marked fit for duty, have got orders to hold themselves in readiness by the 15th. It is said they are then to march to Edinburgh, to pass a general review [Glasgow Chron.]



The following is the account given in a London paper, concerning two pieces of painting, lately exhibited before the Society of Artists in London, and which met with the high approbation. They are the production of Mr. Smirk, a young gentleman of 19, who was born in Wigton, and educated at Carlisle, and whose mother is now living in this town.

            Juno’s interview with the Furies.   Ovid

This, and the following picture, are no bad specimens of Mr. Smirks talents for history painting. Juno is here represented with a sceptre in her right hand pointing towards heaven ; her left is stretched out to the principal Fury, which is admirably terrible, and looks at the Goddess with infinite eagerness. The azure colour of Juno’s garment if finely imagined, and well executed, and the folds are extremely natural

[ and so it goes on and on]



Extract of a letter from Glasgow, May 2

“ A vessel, just now arrived from Virginia, brings the following intelligence: That when they left Virginia, the disturbances there were very dismal; but principally at New York, where the rebels and Loyalists have gone to loggerheads, and there has been much blood shed, The Judges at New York, in attempting to recover some depts from different persons, for behoof of their creditors, have been abused and insulted in the Court-house, and put to the disagreeable necessity of firing amongst, and killing several of the mob, who next day assembled in great numbers, and made prisoners of the Sheriff and Judges; and when the ship left Virginia, they were every moment expecting the account of their being put to death.”



            MARRIED

At St. James’s Church, Friday last (by the Rev. Mr. Spedding) Joshua Dixon M.D. to Miss Nanny Fletcher.



At Liverpool, Mr. Edward Parker, corn-factor, to Miss Kitty Duxberry; 

Rev. Mr. Allex to Miss A Johnson, daughter of the late ???? Johnson Esq.



At Birmingham last week, Mr. Thomas Cole aged 66, to Miss Elizabeth Adams, aged 18 yrs, being his third wife; what is more remarkable, he married a widow that had children older than himself, and hath now grandchildren older that than his present wife.



At Cartmell [in Furness], last week, Mr. James Moore, of Lancaster, Merchant, to Miss Roper, daughter of the late Capt. Thomas Roper of Cartmell.



            DIED

Tuesday last, in Sandhill’s Lane, [Whitehaven] Mrs. Bridget Bragg, aged 68, wife of Capt. Bragg of this town.



At Carlisle, a few days ago, Mrs. Bird, wife of Mr. John Bird.

Mrs. Taylor, in an advanced age, relict of the late Mr. Taylor of that place.



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Nev. Ramsden
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