The National Register. — London, England, 1822-12-15 00:00:00

!TIE BEACON NEWSPAPER, toit, DEC. 9.—The long-expected trial the Beacon newspaper on Mr. James ritcr to the Signet Caine on this day. I'ERStEIt,—DUNCAN sTESENSON, DEFENDER. ,ssucs in Cansa it was admitted that the Attorney for the Bank of England, ,•ed us agent on the oial of Frances took place before the High Court try at Edinburgh, on the Ist day of Fe -1 819 ; and that in the months of Juna and July, 1821, the defender was printer, publisher, and proprietor of the Beacon newspaper. The first issue was—whether, on the 23d of July 1821, the defender, in said newspaper, (lid print and publish a letter itddressed to the Editor, signed " X." [The letter, which was set forth at length, con tained, amongst other observations on the trial of F. Mackay, the following passage :—] In this case, the agent of the Bank of England induced a young woman, by a promise that else would be taken as a witness against ohm rs, to make a declaration admitting her guilt, and ~iviug full inhanistion as to the way in which the t rime was committed; lie afterwards thought proper to hare her tried, and by concealing from the Lord Advocate the way in which her confession bail been obtained, induced him to give his instance to an indictment against her. She was ac cordingly brought to trial, and, after the confession and infor mation which had been elicited (coin her, in her declaration, she had but one course left—to plead guilty. She was found guilty, in terms of her own confession. The Lord Advocate moved fur sentence, which the Court were pronouncing, when the S:lerili . (the present Lord Advocate) in whose pre sence the declarations had been emitted, happening to come into Court, expressed to his predecessor his surprise that he should hare brought to trial any person whose confession was obtained in the way the painters had been. It was by this time too late to prevent sentence from being passed ; but the Court, on being informed of the circumstances of the case, expressed their high disapprobation of what had taken place, and the Lord Advocate immediately procured s free pardon fur the prisoner. After this, I ask, whether the Whig or the Tory mode of administering justice deserves the preference r It appeared that Mr. Gibson having remonstrated, the correspondence was continued by the following letter : " Edinburgh, July 2, 1821. " am favoured with yonr letter of this date, and in consequence of its unsatisfactory terms, beg leave to decline your proposal of examining the author of any article in die Beacon. I have, as yet, no reason to think that any pssan g e in the Beacon concerning you ' is false, calumnious, and mali cious.' lam not aware of having asserted any right to dictate to you against whom you should proceed. " 1 am, Ito. (Signed) " JOHN NIMMO." " To James Gibson, Esq. W. S." Frances Nlakay was examined at some length as to the supposed promise of pardon if she contessed, but which she positively denied. Among other witnesses fur the prisoner, Lord Pitmilly was sworn, anti examined on the Bunch. For the defender, Lord Nleadon hank was sworn, and examined on the Bench. Sir William ltae, Lord Advocate, was also examined fir the defender. The Lord Chief Commissioner, in summing up for the Jury, said, that in every case, bearing the aspect of the present, there were certain leading principles which ought to be strongly hnprinteti on the mind of every Juryman. These he would give in the words of two of the ablest Judges that ever sat in iVestininster Hall (alludin., ,, to Lord lans field and Lord Chief Justice lie Grey); who in the memorable prosecution of Home Tooke, delivered this opinion—", It is the duty of the Jury to con strue plain words anti clear allusions to 'natters 01 universal notoriety, according to their obvious mean ing ; and as every body else who reads must under stand thcm." . -Holt on libels, page 290. His lord ship then commented at some length on the evidence and applied it with u skilful hand to the libellous matter contained in the issues—and, after a lumin ous survey of the features of the case, gave it as the decided opinion of the Court, that the paragraphs in the newspaper libelled the conduct and character of Mr. Gibson. The Jury, after retiring about ten minute•, de livered their verdict by the mouth of Sir James G. Baird, their Chancellor, unanimously finding for the pursuer on all the issues.—llantrages 5001. The trial lasted from ten o'clock in the planting till ten at night. _ . . It is reported that Lord Chief Justice Dallas (who has signified his wish to retire) is about to be succeeded by the Attorney General, who again will be succeeded by Sir John Copley. Mr. Shadwell is named fur the Solicitor-Generalship. On Thursday evening, at half-past six, twenty five convicts, sentenced to transportation tar life, were removed from Netvgate, in a caravan, strongly guarded, in order to be conveyed to their repective destinations. On their quitting the Sessions-house yard, they gave three distinct liuzzas. EnnymituAsE.-.—About three weeks since, a se vere shuck of an earthquake was felt at Ilißoden, Bucks. It was precodcd by a loud rumbling noise, and corntrotion of the earth, which shook several of the houses so violently, that the inmates, who 1.. d retired to rat, were awoke, and the children screamed from terror. The church only suffered : art of its battlements having been shaken down, as p well as sustaining other dtunage. : 1 0 =93 EmtillUlto fr libel by Gib At m, Wri: : s si Eli GI USON In the ism pursuer, an, was employe Alackay, wit of Justiciary bruary, 18I; 'HE ATII REGISTER EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR. CORONER'S INQIJ EST.-A most strange and affixting circumstance was the subject t/I . 111Ve4lIgAtilPII on Monday, and again by adjournment on 'Tuesday The ClrellillbWllCeS that gave rise to the inqairy was an anonymous letter, which B 'swell. the a 1111 l miming oihcer of MaryLbone, received WI who iii mediately cournieticed an inquiry into the mat er. An inquest was accordingly summoned at the Sawyer's Arms, Al arylebone, upon two bodies, one an old lady, and the other a young W0111:111 mimed Mary Pule. Several witnesses were examined on tae sitting of the inquest cm Monday, from whose evidence it appeared the old lady died a natural death, and that the ypung woman (Mary Pule) was deliveeed of a still-born child on Sunday week, and she died from the effects of the I premature delivery on Tuesday. It also appeared she had made some bargain of a very singular nature with a younj medical practitioner, who attended her during her aCClßlChelliellt, ou condluiriii were the child bun' dead, he was 10 have it for his attendance, and if alive, one guinea and a week's inediciiie. Oii the cuild Maud to Ile dead, it was sent away in a la isket by the surgeon ; the young WOlll.lll deceased wis taken in by the other, acid aided deceased iruin IllilLlVeS of hu manity. The inquest was then adjourned until Tuesday night, after some strung observation on the conduct of the seducer of the welortunaie deceased and the surgeon. Mr. JSIIICS Harvey, physician, proved hating examin ed the child ; it was lull grown, and had no marks of violence, or any blemishes On the head or body. Mr. Cusack, the celebrated surgeon, to whose school of anatomy the ciiild's body was brought by the surgeon, that lie might study from it, moved to the same effect. The body of the child, in a mutilated state, it hating been dissected, was here skew') to the Jury, and given up by their command to the deceased's mother for in terment. A medical gentleman gave the gentleman who at tended the deceased the highest character, and said he well understood his proless — ion. The brother of the deceased proved her wish to con ceal her stale, and the refusal of the surgeon to iniOrm hint where the chilit's body was. After some other conversation the Jury then retired for about 20 minutes, and on their return, the foreman said it was the decided opinion of the Jury, that Mrs. Plumber (the old woman) died a natural death, by the visitation of God, and the inlant being still WM, they did hot impute blame to the medical gentleman, but extremely censured hint for having made a contract to hate the the child for dissection if still born, instead of his fee. The verdict being registered by the Counsel, the bu siness terminated. Loss OF TILE LIVERPOOL AND ELSESMER? STEAM I'ACICET. Übe 1011/wing melancholy particulars of the loss ur a steam packet are from the Chester Guardia.. :—" This packet left Liverpool about three o'clock on Thurstiay afternoon, having 23 persons on board, including her crew. The wind at this period blew fresh, and was a-head of the packet, and there war no appearance in the weather to juatily a suspicion of danker. About live o'clock the wind had greatly increased, and at six the packet had reached witliin a (mite, or a mile of Ellesmere port. kWAS now blowing a complete bUrrielilie, the captain found it impossible to make the port. Ile then con teniplated a return to Liverpool, and steered the vessel round for that purpose, but was soon convinced that it was impossible the tide having so far receded.- The vessel then beat about for several Lours, it being impossible to steer for any particular point. At nine they cast anchor, but she continued to drift ; and about twelve ran foul of fiat, whose cable was also cut, dragging her anchor. 'I he concussion was tremendous every person on board expecting she was going down. Several of the passengers were at this time iu the cabin, and were violently thrown down by the heaving of Die packet. one side of which was under water. The confusion and alarm were now at their height. As the Rat remained some short time alongside the packet, four of the crew and two of the passengrrs caught hold of the side of the Rut, and got on board her. There wan now one foot water in the cabin ; it was determined to cut the cable, mid let the vessel drift with the wind and tide, the sea dashing over her in all directions. About one o'clock the tide began to II .w ; mad the packet was,driven about two miles above Ellesmere port, where she ran against a sand-bank, con tinuing fur several times to recede from and approach to it. At length she stack fast in the sand, nearly opposite Stanlow-house, and the feeble glimmering of the moon discovered the shore at about seventy-yyrcls distance, most of the intervening spe-ce sand, or rather loud. It was now nsar four in the morning.— Captain Dimond here pressed as many of passengers as he could prevail on to make the shore, when Mr. 11. Whittle, sou of Dr. Whittle, Mr. William Leatherbarrow, of the Exchange, and Mr. Nixon. a farmer, near Stauney. leaped into the water, and succeeded in gaining the land. There were now fourteen both Waal, on board, uuly five of whom reached the shore in safety. The captain with his son in his arms was washed over board, while in the act of disengaging himself of his great coat ; Mrs. Deakin, a stonemason's wife, of Flookershrook, with her 'infant in her arms, 'and her niece, about sixteen years old ; the blind fiddler who accompanied the boat ; the son of Mr. Bart. a promising youth about nine years of age ; Mr. W. Davies, millwright, of this city ; and an elderly person—all perished in attempting to gain the laud. The packet has been got up, is found to have sustained comparatively little injury, and has been taken to Runcorn. It was said the other day, that Bish's fame for selling Capitals had extended over most parts of Me Globe, to which a by-stander replied, I should not be surprised, if Next Tuesday he could cover the Globe itself with his good fortune.—On explana tion, we found it alluded to the 91 Capitals now in the Lottery Wheel, 40 or 50 of which most be drawn Next Tuesday, and it is well known Llish's Office in Comilla is next door to the Globe In surance Company. private letter from Newcastle-upon-Tyne says, —" The keclmcn who have so long been eut of em ployment have at length returned to work." • se The near approach of the festive season of Christ-. mu, when the juvenile branches of families return home to enjoy the school vacation, induce Messrs. Rowtero and SoN to recommend their celebrated MACASSAR OIL (of which they are the Sole Proprietors) as tending to embellish sod strengthen the Hair, eradicate the scarf, end add a superlative beauty to that ornament of the human frame.—Pnpe Clement IV, on seeing • child with beautiful Muir, exclaimed " There is a Cherub." Rua staY or THE 131•MtNoHAM COACH•--0.1 Thursday last, at about five minutes after four o'clock, the Birmingham Balloon Coach was robbed of two parcels, containing between 7 MOGI. anti B,oool.—At four o'clock the guard of the coach, which was about :o set off for Birmingham' appealed in the yard (rinse Swa with Two Necks Inn. Lad-lane, in preparation for the journey. The horsekeeper, who had just put to the cattle, observed a man walk up iu the door of the coach, with a great coat, and threw the coat upon the seat, as if he intended to follow it soon after. The guard, who also saw the stranger throw in the coat, asked the hore keerrr who the person was, to which the other rephed, " Why, he's a passenger of your's, to be sure" The guard taking it for granted there was nothing to be ap prehended from the man who had been the oljeet of his enquiry, proceeded to load the coach. lie had in his possession three parcels of the notes of country bankers which had been paid in London by their agents,. and were enclosed to them. One of Mel - a! parcels was ditect,ll to Messrs. Gibbing, Smith, and Co Birminetam, ad.l and another to Nlessrs. Taylor and Lloyds, Birmingham, and contained promisory notes of their respective banks. These two were laid by the guard on the seat of tht coach, opposite to the seat on which the coat lay, the guard imending to deposit them its a place of wore secu rity in a few moments. He had not turned his back tor many seconds when the two parcels and the great coat disappeared. lo the hurry of the business of the yor• nobody who could be supposed to be interested •in the safety of the property saw the person who committed the robbery, and who must hare been watching the motions of the guard from some part of the yard. The guard had put the third parcel in his coat pocket. He immediately ran off to Sir James E,daile's and Messrs. Hanbury and Taylor's banking-houses, from which he had received the parcels, and informed them of the rut bery, but could give no description of the person who threw the great coat into the coach. Placards were to mediately posted about the city, offering 2,0001 reward for the recovery of the parcels, and conviction of the offender or offenders. Judging from the manner its which the thing was done, the police are of opinion that • the tunes are in the ring—amongst the 111:111•COdC3 thieves. On Friday last James Davis, a man who was convicte of stealing carpenters tools, was lartnihe (rom) the House of Correction to I)orset-square, New-road, at,tl • being tied to a cart, was flogge‘s, amid an immense coo course of persons, a distance of 100 yards 'lnc fellow , on the punishment being completed, challenged any one in the crowd to light; but he was put into a hackney coach and taken back to gaol, to undergo his sentence Cil FOR 200 SOVEREIGNS.-MF: HolldeSWOr Illy's I mre so' Pit Oli TilUrsday, upon a wonderful U• 1 dertaking, per•ornl 21 miles, upon the trot, in aii hour and a 'tali'. Toe watch ti'ok place in ssshheit Par's, over a One.: wile cirele. Time was• backed at six to lour, and the match was lust by the intemperance of the mare breaking into a gallop five times, which occupied ciussi erably inure T han one minute and fourteen seconds', by winch nic Match was lost. On Sunday evening last, between seven and. eight o'clock, as a resident member of the Cniversity of 0r ford, was returning from his ministerial vocatiuns at At log. dou, the post chaise in which, accompanied by an academical - friend, the gentleman was travelling, was stopped on the cre►t of the hill, between the third mile stone and the Lodge of Itatlley House, by three desperate villains. From the moi.e of proceeding, their plan appeared to be- well and deliberately organiznl, for one stopped the horse on the of or right side, whilst the other desperadoes approa lied the carriage at either door. The post-buy. to whom great praise is doe tor his cool yet energetic conduct, perceiving the design of the viliain, resolutely whipped his horses, which most fortunately being more fetegnerix than post horses usually are, instantly piun. ing and prinicing, overthrew the wretch who had seired the reins, and as it is supposed the wheels of the vehicle rolled over his body. The iufuriated animals rushed onward, and continued their course with nnabat•-d speed, until they arrived at the sum mit of Ifinksey Hill. To the courage of the driver and the mettle of the horses mast be attributed the fortunate escape of the travellers from pillage, if not from assassination. Iwo of the villains it appears were seen lurking shout the same spot, by the driver of a returning post.chaise belonging to the King's Arms hum. They were dressed in drab frock coats, were armed with tremendous bludgeons, and the stamp of villany was imprinted on their countenances. It is remarkable that the chaise just alluded to, was inimedintely (allowed by a cabriolet, containing another clergyman and kis servant. who however passed the spot unmolested. ihe Police of Oxford and Abingdon, more particularly the University Marshal, who is ever indefatigable in the performance of his duties, have. since the occurrence, used the most active, incessant, ai•d unwearied exertions for the discovery of the persons who made this during attempt on the lives or property of gentlemen, whose profession should render them respected and sacred, particularly when returning from the perforivauce of their re clesiasti ill duties. Si EEPLE CUARE.—Mr. Morrison, of Tooting, Lnd caw. Jaques, a hold rider of the Farley Hunt, started on Tues— day front Monkey, to cross the country to Beggar's 114.6. Surrey, shout 14 miles. Mr. Morrison rode the Eagle none, bought of Mr. Forrester, and Capt. Jaques rode a horse belong ing to Mr. Drown, the lamest of the Farley hunt. At going off the gentlemen kept together, and in the first seven milos they had to encounter many bold leaps, which the wetness of the day did not cinch favour. They were in sight of each other when near Mahlon. Mr. Morrison taking the open country I erging on Epsom Downs, and Capt. Jaques taking the straight line across the fields. They were seen together gallopping up the hills towards Bumstead Downs, when they separated again, Mr. Morrison verging on Wallington Park, and the Captain pursuing the regular track. Mr. Morrison reached home ten minutes before his opponent, iu 42 minutes, t►e Captaiu • s horse laving recwit cd a slight hurt in the fetlock joist. b i t• 1 1 . • 1 • I 1 .. • • It • gl q • • I 'o • • 1....e* 1 1%4+ 3. aP4Mr