Saturday 03 Oct 1818 (p. 3, col. 4-5) BIRTH. On Sunday last, in Fisher-street, in this City, the Lady of William HODGSON, Esq. of a Son. MARRIAGES. At St. Cuthbert's Church, in this city, on Tuesday, Mr. Joseph ROBINSON, to Miss Catharine M'CLAIN.-On Thursday, Mr. Wm. PEARSON, of Keswick, to Miss Mary ATKINSON, of Botchergate. At St. Mary's, on Friday, Mr. John WILLIAMSON, to Miss Mary SPENCE. At Crosscanonby, by the Rev. Mr. DONALD, on the 20th ult. Mr. James M'CAW, to Miss Tabitha SCOTT, both of Maryport.-On the 26th, Mr. Tyson DOWEL, of Workington, to Miss Ann MESSENGER, of Maryport. Last week, the Earl of Brownlow, to Caroline, second daughter of George FLUDYER Esq. M. P. for Ayston, in the country of Rutland, and niece to the Earl of Westmorland. Sunday se'nnight, at St. Bees, Mr. BRIGHT, to Miss Isabella JOHNSTON, both of Whitehaven. ---------- False Publication of Marriage.-We contradict the account of the marriage of John CHAMBERLAIN to Ann CHATTERTON, inserted in our paper of Friday last, and since copied into others. Finding that this was one of the numerous hoaxes which annoy public journalists, and frequently interrupt the peace of families, we were determined, for the sake of our brother editors and the public, to trace the manuscript, which was falsely signed, to its author. With some industry we effected this, and obtained sufficient evidence against a young man of this town, who however, most positively denied it in every stage of the inquiry. At our request, on Wednesday, Sir W. BARTON issued a summons for his appearance before the Mayor on Thursday. He appeared accordingly, and, on the complaint being stated, acknowledged the offence, hoping it would be overlooked; he had known others to insert false marriages with impunity, and intended no harm; he was sorry he had done so. His apology was all we required; but the Mayor severely reprimanded him, stating, that, as it was a gross public offence, which ought to be brought before a jury, he should hold him to bail to answer any indictment we might prefer against him at the Quarter Sessions. The young man was then taken into custody until bail should be given, of which information was sent to his friends.-Liverpool Mercury.-We insert this by way of caution to the numerous thoughtless block-heads who are in the habit of frequently practising the same imposition in this neighbourhood, under all kinds of devices and signatures.-We were deceived in a very recent instance, but we have our eye on the person, and assure him, that if he again attempts a similar trick, it is more than probable that he will be detected. His punishment shall be as severe as the law allows, nor shall that punishment take place in secret. DEATHS. This week, in this City, Ann SMITH, aged 64 years. At Penrith, on the 24th ult. Thomas HALL, aged 12. He was unfortunately playing with a horse, which struck him, and he soon after expired.-Same place, on the 29th, Mable TODD, aged 50. On the 25th ult. Mr. John BARNS, of Maryport, aged 78 years. At Whitehaven-Mr. John HODGSON, collector of the harbour duties of that port.-Tuesday, Mr. Thomas DAWSON, aged 68. At Appleby, on Sunday last, Mrs. RUSSEL, wife of Mr. RUSSEL, mercer, aged 24. Last week, at Douglas, Isle of Man, Mr. M'KNIGHT, a native of Galloway, but late a woollen-draper at Dudley, in Essex. On Thursday week, at Hall Warberthwaite, Miss Hannah SHARPE, agad [sic] 16 years. Wednesday se'nnight, at Lancaster, on the accouchment of her 13th child, aged 40, Mrs. MASON, wife of Thomas MASON, Esq. of Lancaster, merchant. The 10th inst. aged 71, universally respected, Stephen JACKSON, Esq. forty-three years Editor of The Ipswich Journal. On Saturday, at Upton, near Pontefract, aged 74, Mrs. Ann TOOKEY, relict of Mr. TOOKEY, an eniment [sic] coach-spring and file smith.-This eccentric character ordered her coffin to be made some days before her death, and actually made her own shroud. The 22d ult. at Pickering, Yorkshire, aged 73, Wm. MARSHALL, Esq. author of many celebrated agricultural works. At Okerland, near Hexham, Nicholas RUDDOCK, many years an eminent solicitor in the latter place. At Pisa, about three weeks ago, the most celebrated vocal performer which England ever produced, Mrs. BILLINGTON. In the painful task which so frequently devolves upon us, of recording the untimely deaths of those who have endeared themselves to society by their virtues, or directed their talents to the benefit of the community, we have seldom had occasion to notice a more melancholy circumstance than marked the close of the career of Dr. Robert MELVILL, A. M. of the College of Glasgow, and M. D. Trinity College, Dublin, (grandson of the late John BIRD, Esq. of this City, commonly known by the name of Dumb BIRD,) a professional gentleman of celebrity, who had, for many years, devoted his experience and his medical skill to the philanthropic relief of the unfortunate and the distressed. Whilst in the immediate discharge of his humane and charitable labours, like the good Samaritan pouring balm into the wounds of the afflicted, Dr. MELVILL became the victim of contagion, and a violent fever speedily terminated that existence, which he only seemed to value as it administered to the comfort of his fellow-creatures. It is afflicting to the heart to add, that his wife, whose solicitude from the first symptom of the fatal disease was incessant, could not be prevailed upon to quit the bed of death for an instant, till at last she also became the prey of the infection, and one short week saw their eyes closed for ever in the sleep of Death. This melancholy and heart-rending event took place at Moate, County Westmeath. Dr. MELVILL died on Saturday, September 5th, and his wife at the same hour on Thursday following. The circle of friendship extended as it was, and cemented by the most amiable and endearing qualities, will long lament their loss in that genuine sorrow which is too deep and heart-felt to be told in words, whilst they have left behind them a numerous infant family to mourn over a calamity which dissolved in an instant the tenderest and fondest links of affection, and left them in a state of orphanage as afflicting as any that the Book of Life has yet disclosed. At the village of Ruthwell, last week, aged 62 years, Mr. Stewart LEWIS, a most singular and eccentric character; and certainly the first of all the minor Poets who have appeared in Scotland these many years.-He was a native of Ecclefechan; and his father, who was of jacobitical principles, named him Stewart, after the unfortunate House of that name: he had a brother, who was called Charles, after Prince Charles, commonly called the Pretender. The life of poor Stewart was chequered in the extreme. In his early years, he herded cows in the neighbourhood of Ecclefechan.-Shortly after, he engaged in a mercantile concern near Chester, but was deceived by the villainy of his partner, who fled to America, with a considerable sum, leaving LEWIS to answer all demands. He voluntarily gave up all; but this misfortune hurt his feelings so much, that he began to live rather freely-a habit which he never afterwards could relinquish. After some time he returned to Scotland, and married the first and only woman he ever loved. He then travelled for some time in Dumfries-shire, selling cloth, and occasionally cultivating his vein for the Muses. When Lord Hopetoun raised his fencible regiment, he entered into that corps, and continued till they were disbanded in 1790. He then got employment from Mr. MELVILLE, in Dysart, at a spinning mill near Leslie; he remained there four years, and then went to Glasgow: being unable to procure employment there, he proceeded to Edinburgh, where he resided many years, living chiefly upon what his Poems produced, which his wife went about selling. She, however, died in the spring of 1817, and he continued to lament her loss till the last moment of his existence. After this, the life of Stewart had something truly romantic in it. He travelled vending his productions, along with his son; but, from a principle of modesty, always the companion of real genius, he never applied personally to any one; when he came near a house of respectability, he sent a card by his son, hoping they would purchase a copy. After nearly twice completing the tour of Scotland, he fell sick and died at Ruthwell, as above mentioned. What is very singular, he is interred in the same grave which contains the remains of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. While Stewart lived in Edinburgh his house was the common report of the students from Dumfries-shire. In the summer of 1817, he travelled all over the Highlands. During the present year LEWIS perambulated the counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Durham, Berwickshire, Fifeshire, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, and lastly Dumfries-shire.-He wrote "Fair Helen of Kirkconnel Lee," the "African Slave," and several other pieces of merit. He has left one son and three daughters. His funeral was respectably attended; and we understand that a stone is to be erected to his manes, by the admirers of this singularly unfortunate Bard.