"The Gentleman's Magazine," published over a long period of time, contained news from British newspapers and letters to the editor (Sylvanus URBAN, Gent.), and was printed by NICHOLS and Son, Cicero's Head, Red-Lion Passage, Fleet-Street, London. It gave information on births, deaths and marriages (mostly of the well-to-do) and could potentially provide researchers with new information on members of the Ascendancy. Here is a little peek into world events circa late1800: Royal Journey to Weymouth, Sept 10, 1800 -- This morning, after breakfast, the king, the Duke of Kent, Princess Sophia (for the first time since her indisposition), and princess Amelia, rode out on horseback on the Dorchester road... Sept 11, 1800 -- This morning the King and Duke of Cumberland promenaded for a considerable time before breakfast on the Esplanade, being entertained with the innocent prattle of Princes Charlotte, who walked between her Royal Grandfather and Uncle. At 10 the Royal Family took their favourite excursion on the water, it being a fine morning...Princess Sophia took an airing in her carriage. After dinner, with the Dukes of Kent and Cumberland, walked on the Esplanade for some time, and, after inspecting the piquet-guard, returned to the lodge. Lady Henry FITZGERALD and her three fine sons were taken great notice of by his Majesty. At seven the Royal Family saw "Speed the Plough," and "The Poor Soldier." Sept 16, 1800 -- This morning his Majesty, after seeing his little grand-daughter, Princess Charlotte, safe into the bathing-machine, returned to his own, when his Majesty bathed. After breakfast the King, and Dukes of Kent and Cumberland, on horseback, and her Majesty and the Princesses in their carriages with their attendants and General Officers, rode to Maiden-Castle where they reviewed the Dorsetshire Yeomanry, who went through their exercise much to the satifaction of his Majesty, the Royal Dukes, and the General Officers. After the review, the Royal Family went to Came, the feat of the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. DAMER, who are particular favourites with their Majesties; and after partaking of an elegant refreshment, returned to the Lodge at 6 o'clock. Wednesday, Nov 19, 1800 -- Early this morning the guard of one of the coaches from Dover to London was shot at by two highwaymen, who stopped the coach near Shooter's-hill. The poor man has, it is feared, received a mortal wound in his back. The highwaymen fired slugs. There were five inside passengers, all of whom these ruffians robbed of their money. -- We have since learnt, that the above unfortunate man is dead. News from America: "We have the pleasing intelligence of the yellow fever having ceased; and that the insurrection of the Negroes in some of the States, which seem to forebode some disastrous consequences, has happily been suppressed." News from West India: Recent letters from the Rev. Mr. JACKSON, Chaplain to the Colony in New South Wales, states its condition to be most promising. Grain, of all kinds, but more especially barley, was abundant, and from hop-feeds, which about three years ago since were sent from England to this gentleman, had thrived in such a manner, that several plantations had been formed, and porter of the best quality produced from it." News from East India: Greater part of the town of Arrah, in the province of Bengal, has been destroyed by fire. The majority of the houses being built of light wood, and covered with straw, the flames extended with such rapidity that, in the course of a few hours, upwards of 2000 houses were consumed; in most cases with their furniture, & c. About 50 persons are ascertained to have perished. A contribution has been made for the sufferers; and the government, to expedite the rebuilding of the town, as well as to guard in some degree from similar accidents in future, have granted a sufficient quantity of tiles to be used for covering, instead of thatch. The convicts in the several neighbouring prisons are to be instructed in the art of making tiles, and are to be so employed, for the public benefit, till the town be rebuilt. News from Holland: Nov. 9, 1800 - "The dreadful hurricane of this day commited ravages in several parts of Germany, but especially in Holland. At Amsterdam the merchant CANTELAAR was crushed to death with his wife, who was in the last stages of pregnancy, by the fall of a chimney. At Rotterdam the damage done was also considerable: it pierced a dyke in one place where 1520 head of cattle were drowned." News from Ireland: Oct 20, 1800 -- "At Carlow, a several tradesman, laboureres , &c., were finishing an angle of the new Court-house, on a high scaffolding erected for that purpose, they quarrelled amongst each other, which occasioned the planks to give way, when they precipitantly fell to the ground; nine were killed on the spot, and the remainder dangerously hurt. It is supposed these unfortunate men were intoxicated." Thursday, Dec. 25, 1800 -- Christmas-day was kept at Windsor in a way that did great credit to the feelings of her Majesty. Sixty poor families had a dinner given them, at the rate of 3 pounds of meat, and soup in proportion to each family; and in the evening the children of the nobility resident there were invited to a German entertainment at the Lodge. There was a yew-tree in a tub, placed in the middle of the room; from the branches hung sweetmeats, almonds and raisins, apples, and toys of various kinds; and the whole was illuminated with little wax candles. The children walked round, and admired it for a certain time; then each child had a share of the sweetmeats, and a toy, and went home highly gratified. Monday, Dec. 19, 1800 -- The Paris papers bring this day an acount of a very extraordinary attempt on the life of BONEPART. A combustible machine, it appears, placed in a cart, was set fire to as he passed in his carriage to the Opera. The explosion caused much damage and several lives have been lost. Other news concerned the establishment of Sunday Schools and innoculation tests on individuals against Cow-Pox. There is a poetry section and a list of productions in Drury-Lane and Covent-Garden, price of commodies, weather, and price of stocks, the latter supplied by (J. BRANSCOMB, Stock-Broker, at the Lucky Lottery Office, No. 11, Holbourn. There are also a few engravings of old buildings (Winborne Minster, Kendal Castle, Mordon, Surrey, SW), Reports from Parliamentary Committees, review of new publications, projected alterations in the City of York, and of course, letters to the editor. In this issue there appeared this letter from an unnamed surgeon: "As every means of saving the use of bread should be adopted in the present time of scarcity, I doubt not but that you will readily give a place in your valuable and respectable Publication to these few lines. In the practice of surgery, the application of bread and milk poultice is one of the most frequent remedies now in use. That it is one of the most soothing to inflamed parts is not be denied; but that a poultice composed of linseed, meal, and water, will answer every purpose expected from the bread and mild poultice, in almost every case, is certainly true. This was the opinion of the late Mr. John HUNTER, and is confirmed by experience. In large hospitals, the consumption of bread and milk in this way is very considerable, and is also more expensive than linseed would be. The linseed poultice has the further advantages of not being liable to become sour as the bread and milk are apt to do, especially in warm weather." As you can see this little magazine is full of interesting occurances of the time, as well as mentions many births, marriages and deaths. This issue had a letter from a Yorkshire Vicar bemoaning clandestine marriages taking place in Gretna-Green, a popular and convenient spot for South-British lovers to consummate their rites without the bounds of England and exempted from the salutary provisions of the marriage act - marriages having taken place because the parties falsely said or swore that they were parishioners of the parish where they desired to be married, and/or that the bethrothed ladies were of proper marriageable age). While most snippets have to do with the well-to-do, there are sections with "country news." If you are extremely fortunate, you could find something in relation to the families you are researching, as some of the items are detailed enough to positively identify an individual, serendipitously providing a researcher with information that could likely be found in no other way. I believe that someone has photocopied some of these magazines and indexed the surnames and occurrances, possibly the LDS church.