Page 41 - Reading Mercury

horror, and, I am persuaded, awaken compassion, prudence, and teach us what we
have to do,, by shewing us what we have to fear.”

Last Saturday night the dwelling house of Thomas Cock, farmer at Barkham, well
noted for his humanity and benevolence to all his neighbours, was broke open, and
two large loaves of bread, about 10lb. of cheese, a loin of mutton and suet, a piece of
boiled bacon, a gallon of flour, 2lb. of plumbs, 2 sheets, 4 shirts, 1 shift, a muslin
apron, a pair of pattens, a pair of men’s shoes, and buckles were carried off, A
diamond square of glass in a casement light in the front of the house was taken out, by
which means it was opened, and a little boy thrust in, who opened the outward door
for the villains. This poor worthy man’s house was robbed a month since.

The same night the house of Farmer hall, of the same parish, was attempted to be
broke open, but upon hearing a noise at the door, and coming down stairs, the villains
thought proper to sheer off.
Yesterday se’nnight in the evening, as Henry Street, blacksmith at Chobham, was
returning home from Ripley, two men asked him the way to Dunford-; he rode with
them a little way to shew them the road, when one of seized the horse by the bridle,
and presented a horse pistol, and said “no ceremony, but your money.” On which he
gave them 13s. 6d. in a purse, and said “I have only three half-pence in the other
pocket.” On his horse making a little struggle, one of them said, “Damn your blood,
stand still, or I will knock you down.” While the other with a knife cut the horse’s
bridle, stirrups, girth and circingle, and then made off.

A few days since was married Mr. Thomas Linthorne, of the Worcester man of war ,
to Miss Print, daughter of Mr. Print, vintner, of Gosport. The gentleman got a share
of the £20,000, in this lottery.

th
Fri 20 Jan
BARKHAM NEWS
WOKINGHAM, Jan. 20.
Yesterday night the hounds belonging to Mr. Walker of Putney, found a fox on
Wimbledon-common, which led him in a chace from nine in the morning till four in
the afternoon, and only made one check during the whole seven hours. The course
that he took was from Wimbledon, across the country to Sutton, from thence to
Yeowell, where they were joined by Mr. Northey’s hounds, and a number of
gentlemen who were hunting a hare, the fox was pursued by the double pack to
Godstone, then back to Dorking, and over Box-hill to Leatherhead field, where the
hounds were whipped off, it being too late in the day to pursue the sport.---In the
course of the day’s amusement Mr. Walker’s Huntsman was near being drowned in
attempting to swim across the river Mole; the horse being fatigued and fainting under
him, the huntsman immediately quitted his back, and swam by his side till he came
within the reach of the arm of a tree, which breaking almost as soon as he caught hold
of it, he was carried down the stream, and with much difficulty saved by the
assistance of some countrymen; two of the horses are since dead from the severity of
the chace. The ground ran over is supposed to be upwards of fifty miles.

A curious matrimonial advertisement, published last week ---“Mr. William M---tt,
of the parish of Bishopstoke, in the county of Southampton, yeoman, doth hereby
advertise himself that he s in want of a wife. He is a stout jolly man, fair skin, and his

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