From The Times, 01 Apr 1818, posted with permission of the transcriber, Petra Michinson. Geo. SINGULAR DISCOVERY. - As two gentlemen and a constable were in search of some stolen goods, a few days ago, in a village a few miles distant from Carlisle, they visited the dwelling of two miserable-looking beings, a man and a woman, who, it was reported in the neighbourhood, gained their livelihood chiefly by begging. The man being known to have had connexion with persons of notorious character, was suspected to be acquainted with some of the circumstances at least of the robbery in question. It was on this ground that the search was made. The appearance of the house beggars all description. A large heap of rotten sticks, used for fire-wood, rendered the entrance almost impracticable, and it was rendered still more difficult by the mire and filth immediately within the door. The whole room did not exceed 12 feet square, one half of which was occupied by a huge bedstead covered with two or three mattresses and feather-beds filled with filth and vermin. The roof and walls were covered with a solid mass of cobwebs, and the furniture in general corresponded with the decorations of the house. Among other articles was an old oak desk, which the constable requested to examine; this was, however, steadily resisted by the woman, who as well as the man had hitherto shown no disposition to hinder the search. Resistance only increased the anxiety of the constable to view what she was so desirous to conceal, and a desperate struggle commenced between the heroine and the peace-officer. The latter imagining that something was concealed, that, to answer the end of justice, ought to be divulged, immediately took steps to enforce his authority, when the Amazon became perfectly composed. The officer then proceeded in his examination of the contents of the mysterious desk. After turning out a variety of old rags and articles of apparel, he came to a large bag, which he immediately began to search, not doubting but he should find evidence of coining, if not forgery, having been practised by this happy couple. To his utter amazement, however, and that of his party, he found 50 or 60 small parcels tied up in rags and pieces of paper, each containing different sums of money from two or three old shillings and a little copper to 20L. in banknotes and gold, besides promissory notes; the whole amounting to several hundred pounds. The man appeared as much delighted as he was astonished at this sudden display of his chere amie's wealth, and gave every encouragement to the constable to go on with his search. As, however, so much money was not safe in such hands, and in such a situation, the gentlemen earnestly exhorted the possessors of it to put it in a place of better security; which suggestion having beem seconded the next day by some of their neighbours, they have wisely complied with it. The old woman to whom the wealth really belonged was in the habit of taking the bag constantly about her, under her clothes. The whole of the silver which the gentlemen saw was of the old coinage, and amounted alone to a very considerable sum. - Carlisle Patriot. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~