DECEMBER 6—Lieutenant Carden, of the Worcester militia, on his return from Ombersley was stopped close to the Barbourne turnpike by three recruits, and forced to deliver up his gold watch and money. They afterwards beat a girl, and attempted to rob the Bewdley post boy; but Mr. Carden having raised an alarm as soon as he got into the town, a number of people started after them, and two out of the three were apprehended the same night. LOCAL ACTS—To amend and enlarge the acts relating to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal Navigation; for enclosure of lands at Bredon. 1809. PARLIAMENT was principally occupied with the inquiry which led to the Duke of York’s resignation of the commandership of the army. Money was so plentiful that a loan of eleven millions was raised at a lower rate of interest than the public creditor had ever before consented to receive. Consols stood at 68; harvest indifferent; wheat averaged 97s. 4d. JANUARY—The first steps taken to establish a Lancastrian school in Worcester. Up to this time there had been no day school at which it was possible for the children of the poor to obtain an education. Sunday schools had only been established a few years—that at Angel Street Chapel (Independent), opened in 1797, being the first. In April, Mr. Lancaster lectured on education, at the Hoppole Inn; and a meeting was held at the Unicorn, John Williams, Esq., in the chair, at which resolutions were come to to open a Lancastrian school immediately—all religious parties uniting in its support on the common basis of the scriptures; the Apostles’ Creed and Dr. Watts’s hymns being taught to all the children, and the Church Catechism to those only whose parents requested it. APRIL 26—A fire broke out, about eleven p.m., in the china manufactory of Messrs. Grainger, Wood, and Co., Lowesmoor, Worcester, which in the course of two hours reduced the whole premises to ruins. The property was insured, but not by any means to its full amount. MAY 5—In the _Worcester Herald_ of this date the Rev. Thomas Foley, rector of Oldswinford, published, as an advertisement, a long vindication of Joanna Southcote. The charge of her having sold her “seals” for half-a-crown a piece he declared to be “an infamous falsehood;” as she gave them away without money and without price “to all that had faith to believe in her inspired writings.” He concluded by giving a summary of her doctrines in most enthusiastic language. JUNE 31—The toll on foot passengers passing over Worcester bridge discontinued, as the flourishing state of the receipts had reduced the debt to £5,000. The first stone of the present bridge was laid in 1771, and it was opened to the public in 1781. The bridge and quays cost £29,843.