Page 176 - Reading Mercury

attempted to meet the British, and afford time for their disorganised companions to
rally. Here the British left, which had converged upon the French centre, had come up
and here the bayonets closed the contest.
Murrell’s Victories of the British Armies

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Sat 26 Oct
WOKINGHAM STAGE WAGONS
T. Creaker most respectfully returns his best thanks to the Inhabitants of
Wokingham, and its environs for the very liberal encouragement conferred on him
and his late father for the last 48 years, as London Carriers, and begs leave to inform
them he has DISPOSED of the above CONCERN to his Waggoner, ISAAC
WICKENS, whom he strongly recommends to their notice, he having drove and
managed the Business for upwards of 20 years, during which time he has conducted
himself with the greatest propriety.
Wokingham, Oct. 1839
ISAAC WICKENS having taken to the above Concern hopes by strict attention and
assiduity to Business to merit the same favours that have been so many years
conferred on his Master, Mr. Creaker.

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Sat 30 Nov
NEW INVENTIONS
LAND SKATES
We have before us one of the most remarkable contrivances we have of late seen. It
is a specimen of a pair of skates, invented by Mr. William Wallace, of Newtownards,
watchmaker, and is in the highest degree creditable to that gentleman’s scientific skill
and perseverance. The machinery of this little locomotive is so arranged, that it is
equally serviceable on ice or on a smooth footpath (a flagged footway, for instance). It
consists of two perpendicular plates of iron. With pieces inserted between them, to
allow a free rotary motion in three wheels, revolving along the extent covered by the
foot. Three wheels revolve in the action of skating, and, with the addition of a
horizontal plate of wood, elevate the sole of the foot above the surface. There is also a
large wheel at the toe-end, with a ratchet or stick-wheel attached, on the outside of
one of the perpendicular plates, for the purpose of keeping the one foot from
retrograding, while the other is progressing forward. After having seen this machine,
we are somewhat surprised that a mechanical idea of the same kind has not before
suggested itself to some of our ingenious countrymen.

1840
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Sat 11 Jan
LOST.—TEN SHILLINGS REWARD
The above reward will be given to any Person who will bring to Mr. Gotelee,
Bookseller, Wokingham, a Black Silk BAG, containing a black silk purse, a pencil
case, &c. It is supposed to have been dropped in the public road in Binfield, on the
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afternoon of Wednesday, January 8 , and contained a bank note, payment of which is
stopped.
WOKINGHAM CLASSICAL AND COMMERCIAL ACADEMY
The duties of the Establishment, conducted by Mr. W.C. BEECHY and competent
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Assistants, will be resumed on MONDAY, 20 January instant
N.B. French Taught by a Parisian Gentleman.
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Wokingham Academy, January 10 , 1840
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