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Education

It is with Pleasure we meet with frequent Accounts of the Success with which the Establishment of Sunday Schools has been attended in different Parts of the Kingdom, perhaps a short Sketch of the Commencement and Proceedings of one of these useful Seminaries at Cromford in this County, may be acceptable to such of your Readers as may be Friends and Supporters of them in other Places.

The Beginning of January 1785, Sir R. A. (Proprietor of the Cotton Mills) fitted up two Rooms for the Reception of Sunday Scholars, one for Boys, and the other for the Girls; appointed six Masters to teach Reading and Writing; provided proper Books of different Kinds, such as Bibles, Testaments, Spelling Books, etc. with every other necessary Article at his own Expence. As a further Encouragement to Learning, and with a View of exciting a becoming Emulation amongst the scholars, he has lately purchased a Quantity of neat Common Prayer books, which he distributes in the following Manner; to each Boy or Girl, that has diligently attended the School for six months past, and shall do the same for six to come, a Book is given, provided they can repeat the Church Catechism, can themselves from the Calendar, find the appointed Lessons for each Sunday, with the whole Course of the Church Service; and we have the pleasure to say, there are Numbers now who can do this; and that several can write in a legible Hand, read and spell English in a tolerable Manner. The present number is 200, which is daily increasing.

These Schools are not only open to those who are employed by Sir R. A. but to the Inhabitants of Cromford and its Environs. Not withstanding the Excellence of this Institution, many Parents instead of forwarding their Children to School will rather send them on some trifling Errand; or what is more to their Shame, find a frivolous Excuse for their not coming at all.

The following well authenticated Instance of Vegetation as Inserted for the Perusal of the Curious : There is now growing in the Close between Norton and Whitewall Newk, belonging to Mr. John Norton, Farmer in New Malton a Turnip which on the 15th Inst. Measured 14 feet 6 Inches in Circumference, and the square Length each way 4 feet 10 Inches. As the present wet Season favors its Growth, it is expected to be much larger. Derby Mercury 25 August 1789

Divorce

Thomas Lawley, a Seafaring Man, who sailed from Liverpool near six Years ago, found, on his Arrival at that place a few days since, that his Wife had been married to a William Stanton about eighteen Months ; in consequence of which he treated her so roughly, as to bring him under the Cognizance of the Magistrates at the last quarter Sessions ; but during the Course of the Sessions, the first Husband agreed with the second, and did really deliver her, for the Sum of five Guineas, with a hempen Halter round her Neck, at the Talbot Inn at Liverpool, on Saturday Fo'rtnight. Derby Mercury 25 August 1789

London August 26 1785
Letters from Paris mention that there are no less than Four Hundred Divorces pending before Parliament, and Eight Hundred more before the Charelot. A striking Proof to what a Height the Corruption of Morals is arrived in that Kingdom, where Divorcees were unknown till 1621.

Shipping News

London January 2^nd 1787

Letters arrived here Yesterday from Waterford, mention the Arrival in that Port of a Liverpool Guineaman having the Mate and eight of the Hands on board in Irons, in Consequence of a desperate Mutiny at Sea. By which the Vessel has been three Days in the Possession of the Insurgents, but the Captain and his party at last, by an artful Manoeuvre, got upon Deck and recovered the Possession of the Vessel, but not until two of the Mutineers were killed upon the Spot. 

Captain Philips, who commands the Expedition to Botany Bay, has discretionary Power to land the Convicts at Botany Bay, or Norfolk Island, or elsewhere as he shall think proper. He is not particularly bound to Botany Bay; on the contrary his Command on that Head is not Limited.

On Saturday Night a desperate and alarming Affray broke out on board the Royal Admiral Indiamen, at Gravesend; between Seamen and Hanoverian Troops. The scuffle grew outrageous, and no less than six sailors were forced through portholes overboard, and were with extreme Difficulties saved from Death. The seasonable interference of the Officers at length quieted the Tumult, but not before several men were desperately wounded.            Derby Mercury January 1787.

Mr. Blanchard's sudden Departure from this County, occasioned some Suspicions to arise unfavorable to his Character In point of probity, but we understand from very good Authority, that he has sent over as much of the Profits of his Continental Ascensions as his own immediate Necessities would admit, for the Satisfaction of his Creditors. We learn from the same Quarter, that he is now at Lisle with his Balloon, and is preparing to make an Ascension at that place.      Derby Mercury August 25 1785

Copy of a Letter from Chester Aug 23.          On Monday, about three o'Clock, Mr. Lunardi gave his first Signal and began to fill the Balloon. The Process commenced pretty well, but as the Iron which he had was very rusty, and could not generate inflammable Air quickly he was supplied with 500lb of clean Iron, which he prepared to put into the Cask; but upon opening one of them the Gaz rose so fast, that the men all ran away, and the cooper was so terrified,  that he dropped the Piece of Wood which closed the Port-hole, into the tub. Mr. Lunardi seeing the Materials escaping, threw himself upon the Cask, and to fetch back the Port Square, thrust his arm into the boiling mixture; but his efforts were in vain; and a small cask having the Head exploded, obliged him to stop the Process of half the Apparatus, and work with the other Half, which he exerted himself to do: but seeing the Improbability of filling his Balloon, so as to carry himself; and his Hands which were terribly burnt by the vitriol, growing worse and very painful, he sent for his servant, who ascended and behaved extremely well, endeavoring to imitate his Master.  We were all highly gratified; for seeing Mr. Lunardi's hands so much hurt, and half the apparatus spoiled, we had begun to despond, and the Hopes of seeing an Arial Excursion that day, has almost vanished.    The Balloon rose majestically, and went in an horizontal Direction about seven Miles, when we saw it descend perpendicularly, there being very little Wind. The servant came to Chester about nine o'Clock, with the Balloon, and after having secured it in the Shire Hall was carried through the Town on the Shoulders of the Populace.         Derby Mercury September 1 1785

Any person willing to build a STONE BRIDGE over the RIVER DERWENT, near the Cotton-Mill, Matlock, they, applying at the Cotton-Mill, Cromford, may see a Plan, and having further Information.            Derby Mercury August 23 1787

Yesterday an Heiress of immense fortune set off on a matrimonial excursion to Gretna Green, Jersey or to some other happy rendezvous, with her own footman, from her habitation in Pall-Mall. 

On Tuesday 16th Instant was married at Gretna Green in Scotland, Mr. Thomas Browne of Chesterfield to Miss Sibella Ann Turner, eldest Daughter of the Late George Turner Esq; of Wigwell-Hall in this County, an agreeable young lady with a handsome Fortune.         Derby Mercury August 25 1785.

Some appearance of the Plague having manifested itself at Gallatz, in Moldavia, a Cordon of Imperial Troops has been drawn around the Frontiers of Buccowina, and a Quarantine established to Prevent all danger of Infection.      Derby Mercury 25 August 1785

The accounts from France of the Consequences of the late Drought are truly ferocious. The Paris Letters of the first Authority declare, that the Harvest is not likely to produce ore than half the usual Quantity of Corn. which has occasioned the Government to send out Agents to all Corn Countries to buy up Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye &c. immediately before the Approach of Winter enhances the price.   

Extract of a letter from Bourdeax Aug 6. On Tuesday the 22nd instant between six and seven in the Evening, we had here the most dreadful and unheard of Storm of Hail. the Stones of which, by their Size and Number, makes the event unprecedented. Some of them,  the largest were equal in bigness to a Hen's Egg, and the smallest to a small Nut; a few of the former have been picked up, and found to weigh a full Pound. The Hail continued pouring for above fifteen Minutes, during which time the Roofs of several Houses were broken in, and the Marks of the largest Stones were imprinted on the Walls. By this fatal Accident the Vineyards within fifteen Miles about the City have been entirely destroyed, and the Damage computed at 20,000 Tons of Wine. Though somewhat similar in effects, this storm was far more destructive than that which we experienced in the year 1751.

A Hail Storm, of unusual Duration and Extent fell last Wednesday in several Parts of Essex and Suffolk, at Whisham, in particular, it lay, about three o'Clock, at the depth of nine or ten Inches; and in some Places was not all melted at nine the next Day. One Hail Stone, or rather an irregular Fragment of coagulated Ice, was put into a Scale, and weighted three Quarters of an Ounce. The Corn In general has a very fine Appearance; but much Mischief is to be apprehended if the Rains should be of long Continuance.

PRAGUE (Germany) July 18. According to letters from Leutmerliz, Dated the 11th last. the Weather was then as cold as in the Middle of Winter, and till the end of June no Verdure had appeared upon the Trees; and they add that, the Produce of the Vineyards will be very inconsiderable.        Derby Mercury August 25th 1785

Our Letters from the Continent bring dreadful Accounts of the Damage done by the late Storms.   The Winds and Hail have laid waste the Village of Sterkelhausen, destroyed the Church and all the trees. At Genoa, the Thunder has done great Damage.   In Dauphin three Parishes were destroyed in a Quarter of an Hour and 250 Families reduced to want. In so much so that that public beneficiaries have been set on foot at Paris for the Relief of the unhappy Sufferers.

20 villages have been destroyed near Meuse Liegesis by the Hail Stones , which weighted Three Quarters of a Pound.       Derby Mercury August 23 1787

London August 26 1785
On Wednesday last a terrible Storm of Hail fell at Bramerton and Framingham, near Norwich, which did Considerable Damage to the Corn and Turnips in that Neighbourhood.

Criminal Justice
Derby December 14 1786        BROKE out of the Borough Gaol, this evening, about Six o’Clock, SAMUEL  M’KEW, (A transport).  He is a stout man; stands about five Feet eight or nine inches high; swarthy completion; dark eyes; pitted with the small pox; black curled hair; had on a dark mixed Coat, Corduroy Breeches and a round Hat. Whoever will secure the said Transport, and lodge him in any of his Majesty’s Gaols, by giving Notice thereof to THOMAS HEFFORD, keeper of said Gaol, shall receive TEN GUINEAS Reward, over and above the TWENTY POUNDS allowed by Act of Parliament. I likewise offer a further Reward of FIVE GUINEAS on apprehending the abovesaid Transport. H FLINT, Mayor.    Derby Mercury January 1787.

London August 27 1787   Last  Wednesday two cheap bakers were convicted before the Lord Mayor of mixing Allum in their Bread; one was fined 2L,  the other 3L.    Derby Mercury September 1 1787.

The cause of the death of Dr. Peckwell, as mentioned in our last is thus stated: Thursday the 9^th , he attended at the opening the Body of a young Woman, who died of a Decline in Westminster Infirmary. He very accurately examined the Lungs, which were in a highly putrid State. And having of course handled them, much putrid Matter adhered. When the Body was to be sewed up, Dr. Peckwell held the Parts together, the Surgeon run the Needle into his Hand, which introduced some of the vittus Matter, or in other Words inoculated him with Putridity. The Dr. did not at first properly attend to it, and a Mortification was the consequence, which spread all over his Body. He languished till Saturday the 18^th, and then died, leaving a Widow and two Children to bemoan his loss.    Derby Mercury August 23 1787

Mr. White, Surgeon and Man-Midwife, and Mrs White, Midwife, at No 2  in London House Yard, the North Side of St. Pauls Church-Yard who have been in Practice upwards of Twenty Years, continue to accommodate Pregnant Ladies with genteel separate Apartments, where they will be treated with Care, Tenderness, and the utmost Secresy. All Disorders incident to the fair Sex, speedily removed, As above may be had, Mr. WHITE’s Restorative Salt Pills, Stamped according to Act of Parliament, at 1L  2s per Box which is an effective Remedy to remove all Obstructions and Irregularities, &c. Also his Address to the Community on concealed Pregnancy worthy the perusal of Ladies whose Situation requires a temporary Retirement. Price is 1s Letters (Post Paid) attended to. – Mrs. White begs to observe, that Ladies applying to her, will be in the House of the real Practitioners ; on Emergency , there is Assistance at Hand ; which is not so in many Houses, where, through ignorance, and not knowing their Business when occasion requires, may be fatal consequences to Mother and Child; and their calling in strange People to do this necessary Business, is exposing the Ladies, whose Character and Reputation ought to be held sacred with Honour and Integrity. *** A Square Lamp over the Door.     Derby Mercury  25 August 1787.