The National Register. — London, England, 1816-07-14 00:00:00

MENDICITY. Tut new Commission of Mendicity will effutually search and relieve the many places in and about this great metropolis, which are v:ell known to tic mcdical practi tioner, and the humane Christian ; whic7l are n.-vf.:.• free trout infectious atmosphere—they become the resort of the most abject poverty_ Numbers who never saw each other before,—who have nothing to lose, and are intlif ierent to life itself, are 1i shred in the same room or cellar, on terms which menclicity may always procure: many and different families reside on the same stair-case, and several in the same roots, without the means of cleanli ness ; and this want at last reduces them to the habit of •notregarding it as an evil. The melioration of this con dition of disease and wretchedness must be gradual ; that it may be relieved is not to be doubted. Much may be hoped front Mr. Martin's exertions, for he has already clone much towards it. The difficulty will arise from .the anode of relief: if they are driven out of these pesti lential habitations, they carry their conutgion about with them ; and, while their bodies remain unwashed, and their clothing remains unburned, the consequences are .fatal to all who approach them, fresh from country air, or a wider and more salubrious plac.; of residence ; these inhale an effluvia of which their organs are not sensible ; butAhey receive a fever, the cause of which is never sus rected. Notwithstanding this melancholy view of some of our fellow-creatures, yet it is a fact that the scarcity in the winter of 1797 to 1800 produced a greater amen- oration to their condition ; fo the price of labour was .ramd, wkich enabled those who were employed in ma nufactories t* proride better means for cliamliness, and to leave their forcer infectious abodes. Although the high price of labs i aid manaxture is to some productive of profligacy, yet it is not generally so : the ingenuity of a good workman will slacken and sink to isiditference, if not well encouraged ; and, if his wife and children live upon his skill, their share of his earnings are more effectual towards preserving them in •the very reqUisites which are above described : their con dition can be improved only by enabling them to acquire something more by their industry tlain is sufficient for their immediate wants ; they then lezmi the value of mo ney, which at once teaches them economy—habits of order then succer.d ; cleanliness supplies the place of pro fligacy ; and, as their children grow up, they have a desire to see them placed in some school for religious education, which elfectuallydeads the ignorant parents to follow the example, and to cultivate the improvements of duty and regularity. Here religion holds out the beat encourage ment, and the purest satisfaction. It is to Fie observed, that we only hear of those instances in whom high wages have produced as mach irregularity as abject poverty — but we do not hear so frequently of the many who cherish the benefit ; who arc enabled to clothe their children, as wall as themselves, decently ; and to procure for them the means of beneficial .instruction, and to acquire virtuous habits:--these pass sikntlynn . the current of life; but their number is fitr greater than that of the others. The new Commission will introduce themselves into many abodes of both sorts, andxwill find in their researches many qpportnnities of presenting to Parliament not only the e v ils and their wide extent, but also the remedies and cures; and while they are thus occupied, they will visit, with an •unknown blessing, the rich and opulent ; for they will so effectually cleanse these abodes of poverty, as to prevent the means of infection from spreading in the works of the taylor, the sempstress;and the washing-wo •man : at those seasons of the year when these abodes arc more crowded than at others—when the danger is there- lore considerably increased, and an epidemic fever, mea sles, or small-pox, customarily return, we may anticipate the escape from the contagion which has so frequently ravaged the metropolis. The new Commission will do snore and better for us than the mere system of alms; the abodes of poverty are not always amended by money ; many a valuable life would be saved, if the benevolent visitor would send a plaisterer, a chair-woman, or a gla ther, rather than a pound note. There is a solid reason why the opulent should, on any of these occounts, shrink from 'the antics of personal charity, fearing a too close in tercourse with those who have remained a long tir.-e in 'any unhealthy state of dist. ; but they may readily find .almorters who are more accurst amed to breathe a tainted atmosphere, and whose benevolence is daily exerted in the walks of their most useful profession. Among the diseases of London, Dr. Willan says, that the scarlet-fever is most virulent in the months of October and Novem ber, and is most dangerous to infants on the 7th or Bth day : it is mildest during the summer months ; and thus, by the Commission, which will be probably in its active operations during this period, a large opportunity will be offered for the extension of beneficence in its most useful branches, and through hands the most faithful and capa ble of rendering it effectually serviceable. Methods fir the extermination of these fatal diseases lave not been undertaken, except fir the small-pox ; and the almdes of filth and abja , A distress.already mentioned, will 'remain as s..•etts fln• fresh fuel to these maladies, until either the active persuasion of the benevolent, and their actually paying the expence and costs occasioned by the needful cleansing, or th • strong hand of legislative power, which would be a stretch beyond the limits of Magna Charm, shall interpose, and teach the poor the comforts af more civilised life. A. H. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. L.4IV INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF KING'S BENCH-SATURDAY, JULY 13. TM: KM; V. •LN%FTT AN'. OTIIEII%. This was an 'tudirtment founded on the statute of the 9th of Anne, charging the def e ndants, Bennett, Reynolds, and Hill Harley, with having, on the 7th of February, 11:15, milawfollv won at a sitting of a gentleman. named Grimes, upwards of 50i. at the game of hazard. The prosecutor stated, that he was an officer in the Artillery Drivers ; and on the night of the Oth of February, or early on the morning of the 7th, having been dining with some friend, and being rather fresh, he went to a well known gaming-house in St. James's4treet, where he met the defendant., with whom he engaged iu the game of hazard ; and first, in the earl• part of the evening, he played with Bennett, to whom he lost near 1401. and a bill of exchange for 1231. ; after ibis Reynolds and Hill Hurley, the other defendants, came in, and he continued to play, Reynolds taking the dice, and lost MM.; having put down another bill of exchange for 12011. against which the defendant Reynolds played Bennett; Dailey being by, and saying he would go part in the game. When the prow.eutor had lust 0091. Reynolds took the Lill of exchange and gave the wanes: the balance, 5011. in bank-notes. The witne•. continued to play, And WWI lost the .3011. also. At one time le^ suspected Reynolds was not throwing fairly, as he threw the main thirteen or foorteen times miming. Isaac Fitch, the porter at the house in question, proved that the parties were playing together on the night in question, and that he changed the two bills ofesehange at the bank of Messrs. Hopkins's, where they were payable. A vvitm ss named Barker also prayed, that in a conversation which he hail with the defendant Harley, the defendant told him that the defendants bail won two bills of exchange of Capt. Grimes; that he Marley had vi inlet! him out as a good subject, and that Bennett won the first bill, though he did it in so bungling a manner that any one but a fool um•t have found him out; that Reynnlils was empliried to win the large bill; and after they won all the money, they, that is Bennett, Reynolds slid Harley, went to the Shades, in Jenny n.strect, where they divided the spoil. Mr. Gurney, on behalf of the defendants, took au objection in this casei namely, that the statute mentioned money and not bank-notes; that no money except in the form of bast-notes hail passed in the present instance, namely, the given as the balance of the large bill, and afterwards won back again ; and that in tbis ease, bank-notes could not be considered as money . Lord Ellenbormigh said he would save the point. Mr. Gurney then addressed the (7ourt in favour of Bennett. and contended that there was no evidence to prove that he was a party in playing for money ; and that with respect to the first bill, it nut being properly set forth in the indictment, n o verdict could be taken upon it. Mr. Spankie and Mr. Nolan addressed the Jury for Mr. Darle♦ and Mr. Reynolds, and contended that the prosecutor's evidence was not sufficient to convict them. Lord Ellenborough having summed op the evidence, the Jury found the defendants Guilty of winning to the amount of 5011. _ _ IVIoNDAv, .Itt.l, - R. DAVITS t. HARGDAN E AND OTHFDIS. This was an action by the plaintiff, a gentleman residing at Scarborough, against the defendants, proprietors of the York lit raid, for a libel tut rtt ii by them in that paper, reflecting on the plaintiff's character. It appeared that the plaintiff, having occasion to he absent from Scarborough sonic time on business, on his return an application was made to him for 31. for poor'''. Noes. Mr. Davies demanded a stamped receipt, which the Officer refusing to give him, Mr. Davies himself got a stamp, drew up the receipt, and the Officer signed it; upon which Davies paid the money, and demanded twopence back as the price of the stamp. The Officer still refusing, Mr. Davies af terwards lodged an information in the Exchequer against the Overseer, which information was afterwards dismissed, on the Overseer paying 51. and costs of suit. Shortly after a state ment appeared in the, defendants' Paper, detailing the circum stances of this transaction, and observing, that it would scarcely be believed, that the sum demanded of Mr. Davies of 31. was made up of four quarterly rates of 15e. each, then due, and of which the Overseer had refrained from enforcing payment from civility to Mr. Davies daring his absence. The paragraph then went on to state, that the information which Mr. Davies had preferred against Mr. Hutchinson, the Overseer, in the Excite (pier, had been discharged on his payment of costs of suit ; and further, that such was the sense entertained by the inhabitants of Scarborough generally of this transaction, that at a vestry meeting subsequently heidi a Resolution had been come to, de claring Mr. Davies's condnct litigious, nnueighbuttrly, and vexatious. This was the libel complained of by the plaintiff. The defendants bad put a justification upon their plea, and called evidence to prove, that at the lime the SI was demanded, four quarterly payments were due, and that it was not the prac tice of the Overseers at Scarborough to give stamped receipts; and further, that the vestry had come to a subsequent resolu tion, expressive of their opinion as to the conduct of dlr. Davies, such as was stated in the publicatiuu in question ; anti further and principally, that the proceedings In the Exchequer had been dismissed, upon payment of costs only. It appeared, however, that the 51. paid into the Exchequer was paid as a mit.gated penalty. His Lordship observed, that under these circumstances, the jostification not being made wit, the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict: it was fur the Jury to say what damages they would give. The Jury, after a short consultation, found a verdict 'or the plaintiff—Damages One Farthing.. TUESDAY, Jt. FA 9. BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. WOOTTON E. PEACE. The Attorney-General stated, that the plaintiff in this case was a widow woman, about 49, and the defendant a gentleman, possessed of some property, about the s:utie age. The plain tiff's husband was a barge-builder, of sonic repute. He died about nine years ago ; and leaving his widow with a family to support, her friends advised her to take a house, and fit it up for the accommodation ofgentlemen, as boarders. This she ae cording v did, and almait nine years ago the defendant became an inmate in her family. This he continued for several years ; and during that time he bad the beat opportunity of observing her conduct, with which he was so well satisfied that he at last offered her his hand in marriage; a day was fixed; lie had taken measure of her finger for the ring, and she had every rea son to believe her marriage was near taking place. She on one Hee:isn't) proposed to give up her house and establishment ; but tins the defendant dissuaded her front doing, saying he should soon be master of it, and it would then succeed better than it had lately done. At this time, however. he was not boarding with her, but was a regular visitor three or four times a week. The plaintiff, however, observing that his spirit• were not sn good as usual. enquired the reason; when he acknowledged he was cals.:mid) , unhappy ou account of having formed as MIA' 14. proper connection w female of light character. IniniviH awly on hearing thi., the plaintiff 'minted out to hint the he. propriety there would lie in deter! tug this unhappy young. woman Uithnut making sonic provisini for her abli the de. feadant then declari d that he would instantly lireak iitt th e connection, and allow the woman in question a guinea ;1 heck fir lice support: and, in fact. he afterwards assured the plain. tiff lie hail twill,. tliis ; lint this ASAttriture was mere ilisception lie connection in question continued up to this very day, and the consequence had been the hi caking off the connection with the plaintiff. For the injury which the pi:Mi nt/bad sustained, she now came to seek compensation at the hand, of a Jury. The present WWI not w romantic, high co. loured case, but one iu which the parties were arrived at an ugc which left the defendant less excusable than he would have been in an early age. With this statement he would leave the ease to the stiller consideration of the Jury, mum the evidence he would lay before them. Mr. T. ( * ioodlitte was aegnainted with the plaintiff, who keeps u boarding-home in fdahledon-plaee, Barton-ere cent. ‘Vitness had hoarded in her house Ave years, the defendant was there two or three years betorc. 'The witness learnt about 4 year ago, from the defend:tut himself, that he paid his adds ewes to the plaintiff, in the way of marriage, hot had net , er hoard him fix a day. He quitted the plaintiff's house at oat two years ago, and for a short time d;seonti tttt cd his visits, hot soon renewed them, asol came two or three times a week,or oftener, These visits he continued till vaitnin the MO two mouths. Lord Ellenborittigh—Yon have heard the defendant declare his intention to marry the plaintiff. ititess—l have, toy Lord. Mr. ticarlett--My Lord, I am for the ili fenilant ; myself and the Altorney-tietieral have consulted tocethee, and I am cue• tent that a verdict should be taken for the pla4d.itt for 151 d. A verdict was accordingly taken ter that sum and es+sts, Tift itSDAY, .ILLY 11. ADAM t. LEIGH AND OTHERS. This was an action agaitiNt the sheriffs fora false return of imila /,, , ca, upon al writ to levy execntion on the goods of Lord Alvatile. The defence that the property had all been alivirbeil by prei ions et.eellti:MS; but, before the case bad proceeded to any length. it was agreed that a ♦erdict ►hould he taken fir the plaintiff for HOOL mibjcet to a reference; the %hcritls undertaking to produce to the arbitrator all the evict, Uvei in their power. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. WVATT r. GORE. This was an action brought by Charles Perkin Wyatt, Esq. against Lient.-General Gore, Governor of the Province of Up per Canada. for the publication of a false and malicious libel, and for having suspended the plaintiff from his office as tillr veyor.Getwral of the Crown Lands in that province, ‘sitliolit any sufficient around, wlnveby he sustained considerable te. mage.—Verdiet tOr plaintiff, 3001. damages. MIDDLESEX SESSION& Wednesday. Win. Moles, a chimney sweeper, who way in dicted at the last OM Bailey Sessiocs lot the murder 1)1'3. lies,- hngs, his apprentice, aged five years, and acquitted, bit tabled, was indicted for an assault on the same child, and plead ed Not Guilty. Mr. Watford related several caves of atrocious violence on the part of the prisoner towards the deceased, which were fully confirmed in evidence. Elizabeth Ware proved that she saw the prisoner striking at the child's legs w ith a brush to three him up a chimney, which he was unable to ascend, and then dragging him down by the legs, and dashing him with violence 111)011 the floor. Sarah Reeves corroborated this testimony, and ;Oiled, that the prisoner declared he would sore the Goy out when he got him home. Anne Chandler proved that the prisoner came to her house in Whitechapel, on the 235 of April, with the decedsed boy and another, to sweep it chimney, into which he put up the former, who stuck in the fine for nearly an hour. The prisoner was at length prevailed upon to get to the top of the chimney and ex tricate the child, which he did with loud imprecations against him. The moment he got him down he knocked him against a chest of drawers in the room ; and when the child, almost sense less front the blow, was endeavouring to recover himself, kv kicked him across the chandler; and in this case, as in the for. mer, repeated h.is asseveration, that he would so-re him out when he got him home. Mary Craig, who lived next door to the prisoner, proved. that on helping the wife of the latter, who was drunk, into her own house, she saw the child en the ground near tar prisoner. who desired him to get up, which he was unable to do without the assistance of a stick. Witness looked at the boy's leg. which she found greatly swollen. At her suggestion the pri soner rubbed the wounded part with ointment; and when the latter found the buy still unable to walk, he dashed him on the ground. G. Rohs and Esther Jacobs proved their having, en the 23d of April, while accidentally passing near the primmer's house, been alarmed with screams and riles of murder and mercy. Rohs kicked in the door, and urbraided the prisoner and Inti wile with their unnatural conduct. The latter he:d a strap in her hand, with which she uvowed she had been beating the child, and repeated that she would do so again. The prisoner, on being called upon for his defence, put in a written paper, containing a general denial of the charge, and stating, that he was We victim of persecution. Ile did nut call anv witnesses. The Court summed up, and the Jury instantaneously return ed a verdict of Guilty 4 and the Judge, after severely animad verting on his guilt, sentenced him to Two Years Imprison ment. Friday, John Chick, John Clements, and John Waffingto s were convicted of utteling forged Bank 3s. Tokens, well k on w ing them to be forged. The prisoners were all young ua• 14 from 18 to 23 yeat •of age. Each was sentenced to one year's imprisonment : and, at the expiration of that period, to find se cut ity tbr two years. Boning, the wife of John 'totting (hatter known as Jack ('etch), was indicted by her husband fin. violently assault ing him.-- Guilty. Sentenced to fourteen days impri'onwrut. This ease excited much mirth in the Court. To a yin stion from the taunted Chaim an , " What trade are you ?" the l'io seentor teplied, " I am the finisher of the law, Sit'" •Thomas Frankland, a notorious charade!, was indicted for stealing a pair of stockings, the property of Eli/aneth It nod. The facts were shortly these : Mrs. Wood, on going to bed, when half olllllessed, discovered the prisoner concealed tinder 'ter bed, when site gave the alarm, and the stockings were found upon Wm.—Guilty. Sentenced to seven years' traesportatiou•