The National Register. — London, England, 1822-12-23 00:00:00

'TA'. ildOM TiIiSDAY GdZ.ak. WHITEHALL. Dtc. 16. The King has been pi,a.e I ti .tip.iint s:r M. S. Stewart. of Blackhall„ Bart. to be Lieutenant and Slvritt Principal of dee shire of Watiew, in the tooru of Lard Blantyre. re' l :4llei• The K r ha. been iilet.tal to appoint .1. Kay, E.l. Alvocate. to be Sairi.f I.le,:ute of the sltice of I itintlwow, room of J. H. 3.1.6c1:::a.t. Hi. appointed a Lord of Scataon to scodand. 11.% N it LI i'TS. R. G. S;•co. ling. jun. Ihcknt 014 worth, !lees. coil merchant. Solicitors. Ms'b•lll K1 , 1,11)411 and Co. Cannon Street. J. Ilan:non, Drayton in 11. t: e 4, &Joy. money scrivener. Sol. 14r. Gray's 1.111 J. Crip. l'easenhall. Suffolk, sholik.vper. Sol. Mr. Cufoude, Norfolk Street, Stnind. List:lo3ol, merchant. Sol. Mr. Willett, BS4I:X. St eet. Tt.nple. S l4 . l lkiwes Bridge Street. ii. L. Bennett. Liverpool, tobacconist, Sols. Messrs. SwaM and Co. 0,1 Jewry. Alr. Alasun. New J. H. S. ward, Leominster. mercer. Sul. Mr. Bach. or Mr. Coates...l.c.nninster. M. Pile, jun. Shlmouth. Devonshire, cabinet maker. Sol. Mr. Lys. I Menai'. Inn F'ields. E. J 8114.3 and H. West, n, MancheAct., hop dealers. Sots. Alarm. Willis and Co. Throgunortun Streit. Dec.4l, W. Law. Copt!'All Chambers, Throgmatten Street, rnetchant—.l.m. 7, J. Day and J. Spratswell, 'lad tuck Street, Covent Gilrlit rt. iirapers-7. It. P. Alvin, Elm Savet, Gray's Inn Lam., we brewer—lt, .1. Gorton, Ilenry Street, Hampstead Howl. smith-21. T. Rcay. Smith Shiehli, merchant -40, S. Sncpininl, IVellingtun„ citirupMire. banker-13, H. and E. Edleston, Blackburn, cotton tuanufacturers—Y7, J. llendalli liridport, .Ci.lit I . IFiC.VIES to be grantttl Jan. 7. J. Clone Lee. junior, Northumberland SuCLt, Afarylebone, eurp.ruer—U. 11 . 1meertui Shreve, St. Luke',., timber suerclumt. 141 MY ELLIGEXCE. COURT OF KING'S BENCII. (Silungs &jure the Lord Chief /Nuke.) MONDAY, DEC. 16. THE 1E1 , 6 r. SIR NATMANIEL MINA Pr, COLLINS, AND MILLS. This case has been alres.ly before the public, and this was it new trial of the indictment ou which tile defendants were found guilty. Mr. Scerlett stated. that lie appeared as Counsel for Mr. J. Meek, a much injured mid meritorious individual ; one of the magistrates, !sir Nathaniel Conant, was dead. lie did not mean to cast reflections oa the dead, further than that the facts themselves must impugn his memory. The charge in this in dietrneet contained an imputation of sinister notices oa these defendants, in refusing to grant Mr. Meek a licence, either flour corrupt motives or from perso n al pique or prejudice.— Toe puldie peace. the morals, and the tranquillity of his Ma jesty's subjects. depend on the pure administra.ion of public justice. No individual was to be plireeil M the mercy, or the caprice; or prejndiee, of any man, however high, who was in trusted with the administration of the law. Was a man, as in this case, without imputation on his dosimeter, to be ruined and blaster, in his prospects and character t Mr. Meek par chased in ISIS the leas, of a publie house in St. John-street, ' Clerkeuwell. Ile bestowed mulch expellee is potting it its re pair. The character of the house itself was without reproach, and the defendant challenged the strictest scrutiny into his previous character. Having expended 12001. which was his whole capital, lie approached the magistrates of Clerkenwell with perfect coelidence that he would obtain a renewal of his licence. On the ad of September he was called into a private roots, and told his licence was suspended, a Wino any cause being assigned, although there had Bern indi‘ 'duals who had previously inspected the premises and foamd no objection, ex cept there being two dome, and be agreed immediately to shut up one of them, although he knew every house in the street hail two doors, and particularly a brewei's house nett door, end to this day and to this hour he did not believe that was a ground of objection. Now, olietever might be sworn this day, or might have beets sworn before, be (Mr. Scarlet() would never believe any hut ptortiality and corrupt motives. Two magis• bates had pre•ionsly reported this house a lit one to be li censed, hut these defendants, without way ostensible reason, thought proper to refuse. Ile applied to them again and again. Sir N. Conant pleaded ignorance of his case, and desired him to apply agnin. Ile produced a petition and certificate of good conduct, 'tuned by nearly the whole parish. The case was MIA, decided on, and this man obliged to shut up his house Ile approached the magiatratea in Ist; with a petition, no) only signed by all the t oustalihs, but by oh the respectable inhabitants, that this was in et cry respect a la ;louse ; and Mr. Meek has since had a licence for another house. One crest ohject of the legislature was to prevent persona having any ',end-Ikm with brewers immencing their motives in granting licenses; and altlionali magistrates may not Is,s brewers, yet by come strange f lire. ers could obtain licensee for their Looses when nu persons independent of the brewers could be licensed. C sense would soy, if there was the ab s,.nce of all probable ceuxe or refusing a licence, the inevitable conclusiou of the Jury would be to infer either nralice, par tiality, or other corrupt motive. One of the magistrates asked only one question, which Was—What brewers he dealt with? lie believed he should be able to prove that Mr. Lucas, • brewer, was present on these occ:i4lone. Why lie should be present. the learned Counsel did not know. It occurred to a person who had left olr deafilog with Mews, on being refused, te give an order for five bolls of beer, and then his license was granted. Collies, one of the der minats, went into an explana- Con with one of the parties refused a licence on the subject of a conversation between hint and a brew rr, as being a cause for his not succeeding. Ile should shoe the Caine corrupt influence at work, and that covert and usiderhandness which made it only the more criminal. lie should show that men of the most infamous character could obtain licences if they dealt with the brewers. Was a magistrate to usurp the umpire of disposal of the fortunes of individuals, aud wrap Idols If in mystic obscu rity, refusing to assign wry cease t lie would not have the (gentlemen of the Jury convict any man u p on sespicion, but he sliest tiny that the wear preloofai lay upun them to show that any good motive existed. 'llie piiint sass this : the brewer hail a profit on every butt of beer lie sold ; and thus, by some corrupt wider israttng between either the brewers, or their servants, the Magistrates. .a dereliction of t eir duty, and in disparage ment of the purity of politic justice, lent themselves to the pri vate interests of one party to the ruin of meritorious indivi duals. Mr. James Meek, examined by the Common Sergeant.— Witaessfiercbased, in 1107, a lease of the Green Man public hollow, in John -street, Clerkeirwell. Gave 3001. for the lease --natures lb./. expended it all 1,2001. N itness understood it lisd been . iicsused for 200 pram DesciAneti the situatioa EGL of the premises, and the alterations whied were made. Wheo witness Graf came into the pr, raises, the sale was two butts per month ; at first dealt widi Sherlock and Co. afterwards bless, Reid, and Co. This was in 31arch, Itfls ; he first went to Mruz, and continued until September of that year to deal with them. This was among the must convenient louses in the trade. Witness's licence was renewed in Sept. lbri, wiilnwt the least ditliculiy. Ile named din same magistrate, defendants ou this indictment, and two others, atti tiding the granting- of licencts. The draught eacreased from September 1815, from two butts to betwixt three and four, to the end of his ifealitr , with Meets:, Reid. soil Co. and so on to ten butts sail a half: Ile then dealt with Barelay, Perkins, and Co.— I" the course of 'Lila, engaged a mon named Rawlins to draw the beer, who was under witness's control, and was to leave, by agreement, within live du, h . notice. Il• left witness's ser vice about June 15x6. a 'car alter witness engaged bins. After that witness mknaged it himself, until the fispiember of that sear. Trsusferred his general account from Mews and Co. to Barclay and Co. Kuew a Mr. Lucas, managing clerk to Mein and Co. Mr. Gurney objected to what Lucas said to witness. The Conlinon ;ergeant said he should prove dissatisfaction expressed, and this was an indictment fur conspiracy beim , ell these deleinlants and di*ers persons. Nlr Scarlett said it was not to make what witness said evi dence, rally that a dissatisfaction was expressed. The Lord Chief Justice did nut see bow there wan any con nexion between Lucas and defendants, and it was to he muds either admissable evidence or n.n. When this witness was made to be connected with defendants, that would alter the case. The Common Sergeant.—Lucas was the Agent of Meux. Witnees proceeded.—On the 3d of September, 1516, he at tended the sitting magistrates at Clerkenwell, with other pub licans, fur their licences—a paper was sent down with tile tissues of person% whose licences were suspended until ISlS— amongst these his own was one. Milne** did not are any of the magistrates on that day. 30. Coclerill came to witness's house that night, in company with the High Constable, and made a minute examination of his house. Witness asked if there had been any complaint made against him The answer wan, they had never heard of any thing disrespectful of him, quite otherwise. Mr. Coclerill asked whether witness had ever given any premium fur his goodwill! Witness answered be had nut. Told them he had discharged Rawlins-a* guinea a butt was a fair and regular profit—asked if there was env foun dation for refusing his licence.' Then asked the High Constable Hit was necessary for victuallers to petition where there was no cause assigned for re using a licence. Ile answered, tha only remedy is shutting it up -it would be of no use petitioning. r homes Hills was the High Constable. Ile said lie wished to set every thing to rights. It was understood then: were two doors in the front, and that circumstance was pointed out to the magistrates. 11 ithess told the :megistratee be bad not made any new door, and that, it it rag not according to their wish he had no objection to shut it up.—Witness alluded to other lie" nee in the same street—the Queen's Herd, which had two doors, and others within a hundred yards of witness's house.— They then left his premises. Previous to their departure be chewed them his tap-room, which was large enou g h to hold 40 or 30 persons. After the gentlemen 1, ft the house the High Constable returned in shout live minutes, and told aituess lie n erd not stop business till after the ioljournment. Went again before he magistrates on the [Sill ; the defendant and the Pr. totscoitie, 31r. Cocke.,ll, mud Mr. Lewis. Our of them The anew el ‘• Yes, another day, on the 21st." Witnes than got a peti.l9l. and c,rtilicates piepared, lie produced. ,; g „„el 'uy tins ehuichwardene, and all 11. e iiihalovints hut one, ~,„ w as tilt. 0 i the 200.1 of that mouth saw Sir N. Conant at th e F te mnasoLs' '1 stern, when lie had a c011ect...46,in with him shout his liceiice. Ile said he recollected nothing about it, he aslant what brewer lie dealt with. Told thew Barclay and Co, Otl'ered to produce the brewers' and distillers' books. The censumptinn of beer was out quite 2dl. a month. They told wither.s they did not want to see either brewer or distillers' books. Mr. Coloville said to one of the magistrates—.. Sir, you know nothing of the cue." N itness was then ordered to withdraw, and went. He continued out of the room, perhaps fur ten minutes, and was then ordered in again, when Sir N. Conant clone into the room, sod spoke to 31r. Collins, who was chairman, and witness was again ordered to withdraw : was out of the room ten initiates or a quarter of an hour, when an order ca:ne out that his licence was stopped. Ile waited till after the eases were 1, through, and then went into the ma gistrates room, mid asked if there was another adjoarsinient.— did not know wituess, or where his house was situated ; but, if witness would eon: to the Sessions House nest miming, there were eume objections to prefer against hint, end lie would do every thine' iu his power to settle it. We n t en the 2lst and SSW Mr. Rich ards, clerk to the magistrates, to wham he de livered the petition mid CC:tiSC:IitS—WAS called into a veins about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour after—there found Sir Sir N. Conant and Mr. Cottcrill, and belie% es other magistrates —Sir Nathaniel sold the Chains-a bring absent, they s' ould not enter into the business ; front that September to September following he resided in that house, without following his busi ness—applied in September,lsl7, by petition, signed by entry one of the inhahilanis—and was then attended by Mr. Hendee ' sou, %iliac's . * solicitor, since dead—lll ness was then called hsfore the whole six magistrates that were there the year before-31r. Henderson asked the reason why they would nut grant any licence, snit he would tale it for granted they had some good season—lie supposed the reason was known to the committee of the I loose orCummons—the reason the magistrates gave was, his desling principally in spirits, and nut malt liquors —three of the magistrates said in answer, that they had never given any reason at all, and would not: the magistrates asked who this Henderson was, and said they did not allow solicitors to interfere for licensed victuallers, or to address them on the subject—witness and he then withdrew. The acting constable then v. eut in again with witness, when Mr. Collius asked him if lie had any thing disrespectful to say of witness—the visiting constable said nothing but what was to his praise—as visiting constable, he con d speak Do more to the purpose than any hotly else—he alluded to the Swan opposite, and said mitneese's was s very oifferently conducted house. The magistrates then told Robins, the constable, that if he had nothing disrespectful to speak of witness he might go away—witness's licence was again refused—lie applied again in Sept. 1515, for a renewal ; . the same sin. including the Rev. Dr. Owen sat—witness then present. d testimonials with petition, in which the inhabitants of St. James's Parish joined those of St. John's. Those certi ficates were slatted e •cli year by the Rector of the parish, slated hie losses and privations, but was again refused. Ap plied again in September, 1510. A gentleman of the name of Weeks had j d the magistrates of the preceding year, brought his petition and c.rtificate signed as before, and made his application, stating his ruined eireumetances. Sir N. Conant said I am one of the magistrates, and I object to your petition, on the ground that your petition is false ; but I did not mention in what particular it was false; told him lie was bet aware bat that every word was strictly true, and if they would point out any thing, but licence was tint granted ; witness most solemnly swears, that et ery word of the petition was strictly true. LI &weather, lb Is, saw ; 111 IS 17 Kew Mr. Willis, the managing clerk to Mew, and Co., at Clerkrit st (Ile door of the room oceup.i - d by the e.tun magistrates. —When he went fora renewal, in 1517, De:l mat three, with Willis and % i;;rain. lie saw W i.lir take a card from his pocket, and haring written the name of igram, he sent it into the magistrates' room by the fluor-keeper. Sir N. Conant soon utter retained to the magistrate,. A visimunicati. it look place between igram amt Otis, and Dell's licence was re newed. his bre'.,t era at that time w ere 3lessrs. M, art and Co, —After he had received his licence be went to a public house with The petitions of Mr. 111celi fur the renewal of his licence, in the •ears 1516, Is. and 10, were then put in and read. Mr. Meek, on his cross examination by Mr. Gurney, said, he paid his attorney's bah uitliuut assistance. Since the last trial he Led received LOOI. from the Cutwaittee. 1 bomb 11.11, High Constable of the Finsbury Division, in 1816, stated, that Mr. Meek's Louse was alwapi coutlueled with the weal..it regularity. The plaintiff 'a case closed. The Solicitor General addressed the Jnry for the defendant, Mr. Collins, amid Mr. Gurney for Mr. Mills. The Lord Chief Justice summed up the evidence, and left the Jury to decide upon the question, whether the defendant* had been influenced by the brewers, and had acted corruptly. The Jury retired for live minutes, and, on their return, foond the defendants not guilty. The trial lasted from half past nine in the morning to near seven in the evening. WEDNESDAY, nrc. 18. BETHNAL GREEN PARI,4I.—MAY e. UNWIN. This was ao action against the defendant fur distributing li bellous publications upon the defendant's character. The plaintiff is vestry clerk of the parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal Green, and the defendants are inhabitants o the name parish. Some time previous to 1520, a committee Of severs( inhabitants of St. 3lattliew was formed in the interest of a Mr. 3letealf, to oppose the election of the plaintiff as sentry clerk for that year, of which co tttttt ittee the defendant was the prin cipal. Several publications were issued and distributed through out the parish, in consequence of the libellous matter reflecting on the plaintiff 'a character, contained in two of them, entitled, " A report," and " A Statement of Fact,," the present action was brought. The Solicitor General, for tLe defendant, submitted that tho evidence did not trace the publications in question to have emanated from the defendant, or that be had taken any indi vidual part in the distribution of them, to which the Lord Chief Justice assented, and held the objection fatal to the plaintiff's case.—Plaiutilf uonsuitcd. . THE NATIONAL v. DEIGN N. This was smcglier action founded on the same facts. The Solicitor General said, the defendant in ore of these causes bad consented, with a view to conciliation, to pa) 501. and coats, which amounted to near 14101. It was necessary en this occasion to make an art angement for putting an end to liti - gation and dissentious in the palish. lie plopu.Al in the cause where there had just been a nonsuit, that a juror should be withdrawn, and that no further precucaings should take 'duo in any of the causes standing for trial. After what had passel', he had ticser expected to see the subject bruco g ht again into Court. The Lord Chief Justice— I should be glad to put •n end to the dissentions in this parish. hot I have seen so much that I quite despair of any tlsin,r being done. Mr. Sell-lett—Your Lordship will give me credit for • dis position of she same sort. I withdraw the record in the c•osea upon the piper, but leave the mailer open upon the last ease. . . GAMING HoUSICI.-111r. KING r. ULDFIELD, CABLES, 11114%1.TT, AND I'lll4l4l'S. Mr. C. Phillips stated, that II is was an indictment against the four defendants, for keeping a common gaming house. The prosecution was instituted by Mr. ‘Vondrutle, • gentleman studying the law. The prosecutor would state to the Jury that be was unfortunately inveighd into this house in St. James's street, where he lost considerable sums of money, like many others who ventured, regardless of the chances against them, to play with gamesters. The fact of its being a gaining house would be pros ed, and the only question would be whether the defendants were acting as masters of the house, —The witnesses would state that they saw the defendants acting at the Rouge et Noir table as niastars. All the players wore their hats. The defendants as masters and bankers were without their bats. 011 one occasion a quareel ensued, and one of the smarties, acting on a principle of honour, applied to one of the defendants to borrow a pair of pistols. On that occasion one of them said" If you lend pistols as the master of the table, it is as over with yea." Mr. Phillips concluded by remarking, that it was only, by the evideece of persons who found ruin at these houses, that a Jury could expect evidence of the fact. John Woodruffe said be knew the house No 75, St, James's street. He went there the latter end of July, 1821. Ile found several east iron doors. It was enclosed like a prism He went up to • front room. I* was about 11 o'clock at night.— The room was fitted up in an elegant manner. lie bound 20 or 30 persons playing at Mug, et Noir. The players sit round a table and let on which colour they like. Leery time they made 31 the bank took all the money on the table. lie played six or seven times, sad invariably lost. All four defendants were present, acting as masters. They ft: NU% s appeared without hats, giving. directions to the servants. Ile went in one HIP alter the game was over. All tour rat round a table counting the money. A arms alit was near them. 31r. Caries said the play %NJ: , over, but he should he glad to see him to sorrow night. Ile once inlet fried in behalf of a gentleman. sad Mr. Philips said, " We know bow to rectify mistakes without your interference." Cross-examined by Mr. Cerwood —He said he was a student at law, of the Inner Temple. lie went to the gaining-house in question six or sea en times. Ile bad brought ad adios, against another ,arcing -Loose, and art indictment. lie was alarmed at the prison-like appearance (011ie house—he had newer been in the Fleet ; had not taken Cite benefit of the Insolvent Debtors' Act ; had not compromised informations aLsaitist gaming Louses. Wm Smith knew 75, St. Jones's-street. lie saw Mr. Woodrofle there, and had been often there himself: Whilst be was there he saw Rouge el 1•'.4. and hazard played. There were always refreshments provided, wines, spirits, and other articles. lie Raw the defendants Caries, Bennett, Oldliald, and Phillips there. The witness wait there on the 2tl of August, 1821, also the 4th mud the Gth of the same month.-- The player' were not always sober--the defendants were. On one occasion he asked Bennett for the loan of a pair of pistols ; he said, as the master cf the house, he could not lend them. The witness on his cross-examination said, be was called Gen. Smith. Ile bad been indicted fur a Gaud preferred against him by the owner of a gambling house. having lost a