The Sun. — London, England, 1822-08-17 00:00:00

t;.: IHZ a..IITVIADgaM 11,4 • • . " . :) 44 t1 1 1.1141 4 N r) •( erz fts: :ncat it - -our' dut3t , to hold -up' to public- re ypecVervery meritorious individual, .who exerts himself . manfully and generally in the public ser- vice, ail d under this impression we submit to our readers the following Letters: — DUBLIN CASTLE, FEBRUARY 2. . SlR,—The Commander of tLe Forces haring subtnitted to Government a Report from Major-General Sir JOHN' LAN vvwr.„ by which it appears that you evinced considerable zeal and firmness in conveying a Dispatch from Newmarket to But tevant,_ under circumstances of great difficulty and danger, I have it in command. frern the-14°11D LIEUTENANT,'W express to you how duly he appreciates your zealous and courageous conduct en the occasion referred to. I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. &c. &c. • • HENRY GOULBURN. Rev.-Txoa.as ALLEN, N ewmarket. To his Royal ilighnes.s the Duke of YORK, Commander of, the Forces, &c. &c. &c. May it please your Royal highness, At a meeting held here, at which Captain KEAi'POCIE and Lieutenant GREEIT, of the 22(1 Regiment, were each presented with apiece of Plate, for their very gallant conduct on the 26th of January last, in - defeating, with considerable loss to the In surgents, a large body-of them, when they appeared before this town. - As Secretary, I have been directed to forward to your Royal Highness a copy of the proceedings of this meeting, with the view (as will appear by the enclosed resolutions to that effect), that your Royal Highness may be made acquainted, in the most unequivocal manner, with the very determined and -praiseworthy ,conduct of those Officers, and also of the men acting tinderthein on that occasion. I have the , honour to be, &c. &c. &c. THOMAS ALLEN, Clk. • Newmarket, 10th July, 1822. Horse-Guards, July 20, 1f22. Sett,--3 am directed by . the Commander-in-Chief to acknow:. ' ledge the receipt of - your letter of the 10th inst. with its enclo: sures-, and to request you will assure the Noblemen, Gentle men; and other inhabitants of the town and vicinity of New market, , that his Royal_ Highness has received infinite satisfac tion from the communication of resolutions, which reflect not less credit, upon the Officers, - Non-commissioned Officers, and Soldiers, of the 22d Regimentovho were concerned in the affiair with the-misguided rabble near Newmarket, on the 26th Jan.: last, than upon the liberality of those who have so handsomely noticed their conduct. His Royal Hil..;liness.has no-doubt, that upon every - such oc casion—if, unfortunately, such should occur—the zeal, dis cipline, and gallantry, of his Majesty's troops will be equally conspicuous., I have the honour to be, &c. &c: &c. • -H. TAYLOR. THOMAS ALLEN, Newmarket, Ireland: LAW" NTEL LI G ENCE. 'COURT - OF CHANCERY, AUG. tg. Tun: flora. NEWTON FELLOWES IN TliE MATTER or THE XAIIL OF POETSMOUTH,' AN ALLEGED LUNATIC. • The AT T OUNEY-GENERAL—IIere is a matter of the last importaaceAfefore your Lordship ; I allude to the petition of the Ifon. Newton I ellowes, in the matter of the Earl of Ports mouth, in reference to the hearing of which I am at present only iostrvaed to es!: your. Lordship to fix an early day. Ilan T-1, am of opinion (though the only knowledge I havenn the subject is gathered front the brief Which I have the honour of holding for the• Noble Lord, having received aare t.'iner) that. the case intist'of necessity be very long ; but I beg distinctly 'to be upderstoottabat no convenience of mina will in terpose when. the : Court shall direct it to be discussed. The Loup CHANCELLOR—Itmay stand the first cause on the liataaf4nthe- next seal; or. on the other band, if it be ap proved-Of, send the affidavits on both sides tome, and I Will give you my 'opinion as to their contents ; but as to sitting in Court on Widßaday; I-will not do that to please any.man. ('.curt has heard the application made on hahtlFitf. , the .-. Petitioner, the Honourable 'Newton Fellowes'a and altioali. Hart, on the pact of - the Earl of Portsmouth; botayntir'liirdsliin ii aware there is another interest not unim portant, -- "aa -- regards the consideration of. this case—the . ix terest of -Lady Pditaanouth, which I represent. I think your Lordship Wilt not be :Of 'opinion that any blame attaches to my client, in not' having tiled affidavits,. when it is stated teat on the other aide affidavits have -been in a state of prepa ration ever since the 4th of July last, and that we have not re ceived any notice even to this day of their application, nor have we had any' means of our own of knowing what was intend ed to be done. We have• given , directiona_ for office . copies to beluthistied _with the greatest posSible dispatch; but some tine rmist necessariy elapse before we can receive them. •The Solicitor's in this case have been removed by his Lordship, the alleged luziatic,•and this circumstance in itself has, not without reason, excited considerable suspicion in the mind_ of Lady Portsmouth:. I trust the Court will-allow us' sufficient time to meet What has bean advanced against us.—lndeed, for my part, I CAT,Mat see any reason why the matter should he thus pressed: and therefore, as the other side haanot exhibited-even com mon condescension, hi giving in copies of their affidavits,• I-do. aubtritahat this cause should be taken in the regular and ordi nary course. The' Lon", CD - ANCELLOIL—The common and regular course in this Court varies with the nature of the case before it, but in the ordicary acceptation of that term, it certainly does not apply to cases of lunacy, where, when commissions are ought to be taken out,. the ordinary way, as I take it, is, in vacation, to send in the affidavits on each side to the Judge for. his'consideration. Mr. "{Eaton-a:There are great suspicions entertained, which, at present, areonly suspicions, but which, if confirmed, will render it essentially necessary, for the honour of the Court, that the affidavio; should he referred for scandal as well as imper tinence. • The ATTOItIiEYGENE.,RAL And Mr. HARI' were surprised that the Learned Gentlarrian should advance 'such' assertions, when haprefessed entire ignorance of the contents of the affi-- divitaa.:,3tili observations, if necessary at all, should be re served until the discussion of the case. Mrallstaon got the - communication from another party. The LORD.CHANCELLOR said, he would take this oppor tunity of impressing on solicitors and professional gentlemen, that it. formed-part of their duty not to pahlishoifO the news papers - any . of the eVidence, or transactions connected with this; case bafOre they came before.the Court. - • • - Mr. HEALD would now state what, in 'his opinion, would greatly facilitate the hearing. of this case (for his part he did not wish it delayed .a single moment longer than was 'necessa ry); that was, as affidavits had been filed, that copies should be handed over to each side ; this would furnish his opponents with an opporunity of setting an example of fair dealing. Mrolla.ror said,, that no one could doubt the right of Lady Portsmouth to. be argued with the greatest deliberation when the proper period arrived.; but those.who represented the Earl of Portsmouth could not but regret any offensive observations which might be .made in the *absence. of the circumstances of the case. - . The Loan CHANCE LLonsaid, that he had once before oc easionto moraine, the present, question with respect to the same individual, which,: lie could well recollect, was no easyfatsk.— For the present be would-content himself with saying, that al though this might not. be a case to warrant a commission of lunacy being taken. out, still there was another mode which night be adopted; he alluded to taking care of Lore Portsmouth. After a few further observations from CounSel, the subject dropped, but without any day being appointed. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT. • 1 THE BOWDITCHES. Yesterday Joan Bowctitd.:, Wm. Bozenlitch, and James Scan . - lett, severally came up to be heard on their petitions to be dis charged, and were opposed. by Mr. PoLsocK, on behalf of Mr. lia.rmer, the solicitor, , Joan and William Bowditch are two of the persons whose rase for a long time excited a . considerable degree of public at tention ; and on its development no small share of public sym pathy in consequence of their prosecution by Maria Glenn and her conspirators. James Scarlett is son-in-law of Joan, and brother-in-law of ' William Bowditch. Mr. Harmer was a creditor for the balance of his billof costs, in &AZ:riding the l3owditches, and prosecuting Maria Glenn, for which Scarlett had become security. Mr. POLLOCK said, the object of the opposition was merely to inquire into the property of the insolvents, and not at all to delay their discharge. Tile insolvents all stated that they had assigned their whole. property for the sum of 1,0211. which had been unexpended in the - law proceedinga.in which Maria Glenn's prosecution had involved them. Mr. Harmer -1 s bill of costs amounted to 8641., of which 5001. had been paid. Mr. 11EATII, who was Counsel for.the insolventS, observed,. they were the most injured family. on earth; they had all, but one, who had the good fortune to be -in Ireland, been totally ruined by the foulest conspiracy that had ever been contrived. Some of them had sunk into the graveuntier the weight of their suffurings. 'Mrs. Bowditch was in tears daring the time of her examina tion, Which - the' benevolence of the Court and ; the opposing Counsel made. as short as possible. • . They were all declared intitletrto the benefit of the'Act. Mr: Harmer, at the request of his- Counsel, was appointed Assignee. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. . WESTERN CIRCUIT.—WELLS, AUGUST 15, ILCHESTER GAOL—TRIAL OF WM. BRIDLE. The town was quite alive so early as five this morning, with the influx of persons to hear the trial of this information. By half past 7 o'clock the doors of the Court were surrounded with £xpectants of all ranks ; butno one except those who had imme diate business in the cause were admitted until after the arrival of the Judge. At 8 o'clock Mr. Justice .11z cHARDSON took his seat, and the doors were then thrown open to the public. — Two Common Jury causes of no interest being disposed of, THE KING V. BRIDLE was called on. Twelve special jurors—Charles Simpson, George - - George, John Jones, William Shepherd, Daniel Stanton, Wm. Dampier, Francis Rogers, Jacob Wilkinson, Shuckburgh Howe, William Waters, Samuel Rodbard; Harry Foulkes Edgell, Esqrs. answered to their names, and were sworn. • Mr. SELWYN opened the proceedings. The first count charged, that the defendant on the Ist of Jan. 58th Geo. HI., was Keeper of the House of Correction of Ilchester. Tharbeing such keeper, and a person of wicked, cruel, and malicious dis position, and not regarding his duty as such keeper, but un lawfully, wrongfully, wickedly, cruelly, and maliciously devis ing and intending to hurt, injure, and. oppress, one Mary Cure, who, at the several times of committing the offences in this count mentioned, was a prisoner in the custody of defendant; and which Mary Cure then and. there had an infant child with her of young and tender age, of the age of six months, to'suckle at her breast, and to cause the said Mary Cure to undergo and endure great bodily pain, suffering and hardship, and to injure her health, on November 18, 59th Geo. 111., and on divers days did wickedly, maliciously, &c. without any justifi able cause, and against the will of the s a id Mar y Cure, did put up, shut, and confine, and cause the said Mary, &c. &c. to endure great bodily pain and suffering, &c. &c. so that the infant child was deprived of its necessary subsistence, and the milk failed, to the great damage of the said Mary Cure, contrary to the duty of defendant as such keeper, and to the evil example, &c. &c. The other counts following varied the charge, and the ninth count charged the defendant at great length, that he did causeane Thomas Gardiner to endure great pain and suffering on the 20th of December, and did wickedly, maliciously, and without any justifiable cause, and against the will and con sent of the said Thomas Gardiner, fix a blister upon the head of him, the said Thomas Gardiner, and also forcibly put on him a strait-jacket, and put him in solitary confi n e ment, b y means of which, &c. the said Thomas Gardiner did endure great bodily pain and suffering, &c. The other counts charged him with assault and battery, &c. Serjeant PELt opened the case for the Crown. He' repre sented it as one of the most solemn and important nature. The Learned Serjeant gave a history of the origin of the present proceedings. In the early part of the last year, when, from the representations of Mr. Hunt, Commissioners were appointed to examine into the state of the gaol, and in consequence of their report to the House of Commons, his Majesty, through the medium of the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment, had given directions for the prosecution, and he (Ser;eant Pell) had now the honour to appear as the public prosecutor. — There was nothing in the present proceedings which would, in the slightest degree, touch on the characters of the Magistrates of the county; and whatever might be the inquiries hereafter instituted, would relate solely to, the conduct of the gaoler, Mr. Bridle, on two particular occasions. The case was certainly one which, on the part of the public, seriously required investi gation, and the information confined itself to the charges against Mr. Bridle for cruelty to two of his prisoners—the one named Maiy Cure, and the other named Thonias Gardiner. The Learned Serjeant then stated the case, which w ould be g iven in evidence by Mary Cure ; and certainly if he rested on this case alone, where an unfortunate woman had been, for some offence, which she had giyen, shut up in a dark and solitary cell, with out fire, in the depth of November, with an infant at her breast; and in that state denied the proper sustenance, he should have established that for which the defendant would be deserving of the severest punishment. But the other case went far beyond this, and, if it were true, equalled any thing that had'ever been heard of in the annals of wanton cruelty and atrocity. In No vember, 1820, for some offence which Gardiner had given to the governor, Bridle; the latter had him put into solitary confine ment, on bread and water ; and if the punishment had been merely solitary confinement, no one, perhaps, would have com plained, and the law fully sanctioned the mere confinement, thought it might be solitary ; but, if such inflictions as had been visited upon Gardiner were to be tolerated, it were bet ter that there should be no gaols at all, and that people should wander about like wild beasts ; for nothing could' be more intolerable than the existence of such a state of things as that he was about to state to them. The prisoner Gar diner was certainly a man of an extremely bad character; but whatever might have been his character or conduct, he could not possibly have done any thing that could justify the treatment he had endured. He was no sooner put into solitary confinement, than a fellow convict was sent to cut off his hair and shave his head. He, was confined in a strait waistcoat, and after this was done, a blister was put on his head, of a pungent nature, and over that was placed a cap to keep it down ; and in this most miserable state he was kept for four days, in incon ceivable misery, suit in pain intolerable. But this was not all. lie was supplied with coarse and miserable food, which was laid before him on a bench, and as his hands were tied, he was ob liged to kneel and eat it as a beast from the trough. Whilst he was in this state in a cell of darkness, the tortures of the blister became unbearable. His hands were confined to prevent his - removing it, and in his agony, he was actually reduced to rub his head against the stone wall of the cell ; and with the ca p and blister, off came the skin of the poor wretch's head ! Bryer, the surgeon of the gaol, who, to his lasting disgrace, had supplied the blister for the purpose, would be called to prove that he had done it at the request of the defendant Bridle, and would prove, as confirmatory of his conduct, that no entry was made of the fact on the day when it took place, but that it was entered by Bryer, some time after, at. the request of Bridle, when the inquiry into the case was set on foot by . Mr. Hunt.— The Learned Sergeant said he did not wish to introduce the name of that Gentleman unnecessarily, but, speaking of him only as connected with this transaction, he should say as long as he lived, if the present charge were true, that Mr. Hunt had acted, in this instance, as the benefactor of his country in bring ing it forward.—[There was a strong disposition to applaud this part of the Learned Sergeant's speech' manifested in the gallery.] The UDOE said lie should feel it his duty to commit any one who offended again in the course of the trial. The Learned Sergeant resumed, and after commenting with ability on the details of the case, which he said he should prove satisfactorily to them, he implored their utmost attention tout. Mary Cure was then called and examined by Mr. Gaselee.— She deposed that about three years and a half ago she was con fined for having had a bastard child, in Ilchester gaol, when a quarrel took place between her and Mary Smith. In conse quence they were both had down and locked up. It was cold, and there was sleet and snow on the ground, She had an in fant four months old at her breast. It was - on a Thursday be tween one and two o'clock. There was no fire in the cell until Saturday morning. There was no fire in the cell until Satur day •morning. The cell was very cold and had a stone floor. Het, food Niles bread and cold water. She had not water er.ough, and one day she was without water. She was locked up all day and saw no one ask for water. If was on a Friday. (in Saturday some water was brought to her in a bucket, and which was left in the bucket which she was obliged to drink out of, until - she came out. She was let out on Saturday morn ing, for an hour, into the yard and she drank at the pump. She was not allowed to come out at all on Friday. She had. a fire in another cell on Saturday. She Lad nothing at all to supply the infant with, and on Friday evening she had no milk to give it ; nor any water to. drink herself. On Saturday morning she drank a great deal, being very thirsty. She was well when she first went in on Thursday. She was very cold when she was let out on Sunday morning, and on Sunday night she was very ill, and obliged to call up Mr. Hobbs, for she was sick and ill in her bowels. Mr. Bridle himself locked her up on the Thursday. She knew a person named Traganza. On Thursday morning she was locked up in a cell called the bed cell, which was neither light nor dark. She had before slept up in the women's ward. Cross-examined by Mr. Wraseraars.—She was not married, and had had three children, and had two now. She had a ba sin, and cup, and saucer, in the pantry of the ward with the other women. She was locked up for the first time at about one o'clock, and was let out at seven o'clock. She was let out to go from one cell to another. She did not take her basin with her, because she did not know where she was going. She was never asked on the first day whether she would have a fire, nor did she say she would, be d—d if she would. She never used such an expression during her confinement in the gaol. No one came to her on Friday, nor was any additional rug sent to her. She never did swear, on 'any former occasion, that she had asked repeatedly for water on Friday, and that she could not have any until Saturday. She never saw any one to ask for water. She asked particularly for fire on Saturday morn ing, as she and her child were very cold, and begged Mr. Tra ganza to speak to Mr. Bridle. Tiaganza said Mr. Bridle was engaged with company. Traganza brought her a candle, upon her application, and she lighted a fire in the cell. This (Sa- •II T 0 •`• turday) Was the first time she asked fora fire. She knew Mr. Bridle. — He never used her ill before. But cannot you say more than that for him, Mary ?—No, I cannot. Why, did not he subscribe to pay a fine to get you out ? Yes, he gave the last shilling. What were you then in confinement for ?--She was at that time in prison for takingea few turnips. She did not make any complaint to the Magistrates when they called. She saw Mr. Hunt last Thursday. , He is very kind and good-natured man, is he not ?—I know nothing of him but by his talking. - • She knew Mrs. Shepherd. She did not remember having said to Mr. Shepherd, that she did not know what Mr. Hunt wanted her for, as Mr. Bridle had behaved very kind to her.— Mr. Bridle had behaved kindly to her when she was first im prisoned. She used to go with gooseberries and what fru it she had to sell to Mr. Hunt's room. She was never examined by Mr. Hunt. He had talked to her once or twice about it when she went with her things. She had eighteen pence a !week for her child, but she 'had no opportunity of laying it out. The next witness was Jane Hobbs, who stated that for five years she was matron of Ilchester Gaol, and left it in 1820. The duty of the matron was to superintend females. She re collects the last witness being in prison three or four years ago. She recollects her being put in close' Confinement on a Wed nesday or Thursday, with an infant four or five months old.— She was absent from the female wardaintil the Sunday morn ing following. The witness herself fetched her from a cell be hind in the back part of the prison—lt was a small damp cell. On the Sunday morning she complained of great cold, and witness requested the cook to give her some tea and gruel.— Witness remembers her (Mary Cure) being taken ill on the ' Sunday night. An alarm was given, and witness's husband got up and gave her some medicine. . Witness'S husband was the task master of the gaol. . -. . .. Examined by Mr. Ertsicteez.—She believes her husband sent to Mr. Bridle in consequence of the quarrel between the ' last witness and the woman Smith. Each prisoner has small articles of crockery ware, and when they are put in solitary confinement they carry them with them. Witness cannot speak positively, but she thinks Mary Cure carried with her a pint basin. All the cells for the refractory prisoners are alike damp. Mr. Edward - Cole, . the Clerk of the Peace, produced the Occurrence Book of Ilchester gaol. He turned to an entry of the date of 'Thursday, the 19th November, 1818, in which it stated—" Put Elizabeth Smith and Mary Cure in solitary - confinement, for being disorderly and fighting in their ward." On the 22d was the entry—" Released' Elizabeth Smith and Mary Cure from their solitary' confinement, on promise of fu ture good behaviour." . Thomas Gardiner, a decent looking young man, depoted that he was near twenty years of age. Three years last March, he was committed to Ilchester gaol. On the 27th of _last De cember he was discharged. He has worked as &blacksmith, and is now living with his uncle and aunt at Bristol. In No vember, 1820,. a charge was made against him for having picked one of the prisoner's pockets.. He was not done any thing to then. It was reported to the Governor on a Sunday, and he was had in before him. Witaess told him he knew no thing at' all about it. Mr. Bridle stopped his wages for icon the Sunday. On the Monday he was taken very ill, and could not work, as he ' had a bad pain in his inside. He saw Mr. Bridle pass, but did not speak to him. At night he was taken worse. No one came to him. He saw Mr. Bridle on the next day, when he asked him what was the matter with him ? 'Wit ness told him he was very ill in his inside. Mr. Bridle said he considered that the fever was quite strong upon him, and' he would put him in an -hospital by himself. The witness was then put in a dark bed-cell, where he was confined for three days. M. Bridle never came to him. - At the end of three days - Dr. 'Valentine came to the cell. The witness remained there nine days longer, at the end of which Mr.. Bridle came in to him. He asked the witness how 'he was ? and he said he was better, and asked him to forgive him. Mr. Bridle replied that he did not think he was well enough, and left the cell. In the evening a person of the name of 'Carter came up to the soli.. tary cell, and unlocked it, and took the witness out into.the passage. Carter was a convict-for horse-stealing,. The witness was set down on a chair, and his hair cu t and head shaved by Carter, who put on a torturing blister , and after that, a ca p over it, and tied it down. Pike, the turnkey, was present, and as .sisted. Pike put the strait jacket on the witness, who was then put to bed. Pike put the strait jacket on the witness before his head was shaved. - He continued with the torturing blister on, tied down by the cap, and with the strait jacket on in bed, d.ur -1 ing the night. The pain was . 'Snit the same as needles and pins and penknives being ran into him. On the next morn- F ing Carter and Pike came into him, and Carter took off the blister and said it had not risen. and put it on again, and tied it dewn as before. 'I he strait waistcoat was taken to allow the witness to put on his - clothes, when it was replaced. His hands were confined and-the pain on his head increased until twelve o'clock, when he- cried .out with pain, and 'rubbed his head against the wall,. and the cap and blister came off.— Pike came up and asked the witness what was the matter .with him - that he cried out ? Witness said he was very bad, and requested very much -to see Mr. Bridle. Pike went away and 'did not come again until three o'clock, when per ceiving that the witness was without the blister, he asked witness what he had done with it ? Witness said he had rub, bed it off, and shewed him where it was. Pike said, " there's d—d impudence !" and said he would go and tell Mr. Bridle, and get him to put another blister on. He did not return until seven; o'clock, in'• the mean time the witness remained with his head exposed, and without -dressings It was after wards dressed, and witness was kept confined as. before.' On Sunday morning Mr. Bridle had him down befOre the door of his house when the witness begged him 'to be pleased to for give him (witness.) Mr Bridle said he did not think. he_ was yet well enough, tend that hi should try 'another blist.:.r. Wit ness was taken back.again,, arid in about four days . after he. saw Mr. Bridle and begged him to be allowed to go _to work. Mr. Bridle said he should if he would confess that' he lied stolen the purse. The witness declared that he was as innocent of the offence as a baby, and he was taken back again. He remained until the day he was released in his strait waistcoat, which was taken off only to dress and undress. He was con fined for a week after. He was allowed only bread and water. He placed it by his bedside before his strait waistcoat was put on. Afterwards his hands were confined,- and he was obliged to kneel down and eat it as he could from the bedside. He. saw Mr. Bridle at the .end of the week, and again begged to. be released from solitary confinement. Mr.' Ilridle told the witness he must beg the pardon of Mr. Davis, the turnkey, for what he had done. Witness did not know of any thing that he had done to Mr. Dais, but he begged his pardon and was released. He was never taken to any 'Magistrate. Cross-examined.--No Magistrate visited him during his.con finemcnt. Three days after he was released, he went before two Magistrates. He had been six or seven times punished for offences during his confinement. He remembered having ran a knife in the knee of another person. It was a bit of a .scud. He never did d—n all' the Justices of the county, and wish them all at hell. All the rest that he had said was as-true as this. He ca'n't tell how old he wasawhen he first went' tb pri son. He was at Bilstol ga.6l before he was at Ilchester. He did not remember,_ and did not wish to say for what of f e nce he was first committed. He did pot then live with his uncle and aunt, because he was in Court. He repeated this answer to the question several times. . He went to live. with his uncle and aunt a fortnight ago, He received his'subpcena a fo rtni g ht e g o. Before he received it he bad lodgings in Great Gardens near Lawford's-gate. What is the meaning of living upon the cross ?—Living upon the cross ! I suppose you know it as well as me, but I have not lived that sort of life since I have been out. What were you at Ilchester gaol fur ?—I don't think proper to tell. The blister did not, he continued, begin to go 'like penknifes into his head until the dead of the night. The question was again put to him, as to what he was in gaol for et Ilchester. He replied, that it was for housebreaking, and that he had been found guilty, and sentenced to death, but had been since par doned. He had never, e ither to Charles Marshall, John Pipe , John Wright, or John Pool, d—d the Magistrates of the coun try to hell. He never said to Anne Wright that he knew a thing or two, and that the blister did not pain him so much as he had said, but that he would get well paid for it, as he had been put up to it. He never said to any one any thing of the kind. Mr. Cole, the Clerk of the Peace, produced the Occurrence Book, in which it was entered, that en-the •9th of December Gardiner had been ordered into solitary confinement for pick ing the pocket of a fellow prisoner, and for pretending to be sick, when he was. continued in confinement. Other entries were made respecting this prisoner, stating that he was still continued in the cell for insolence to Mr. Davis, . the keeper, and still continuing to feign sickness. He was liberated, the book stated, on the sth of December, upon expressing con trition. Mr. Bryer stated, that in 1820 he was the surgeon of the 11- chester goal. He kept a journal of the prison. He knew a person named Gardiner. Witness had on that day in question made un the medicine of the gaol, and was going away when he heard a door open, • and Mr. Bridle called Ditto to hi,and asked him how t oo prop' of the goal ss lied 'nothing extraordinary. Mr, Briale. and "if you can cure your patients I cannot cure mine." He added, that he had one man who was very troublesome, and asked the witness for a strong black dose. Witness said that he. had no such medicine. Bridle then said, what do you think of a blister ?—Witness and as his complaint ap replied—Well, you can have a blister, pears Ito be in the head, you, can apply it pretty high in the pole. Witness'spread the blister, and left it. Did you not go in to visit the man ?—No ; I am sorry to say, I did not. • n his Journal, which was produced, was the entry : " November 21, 1820. " A blister to the head for Thomas Gardiner." He did not make this entry at the time. Mr. Bridle asked me whether I had entered that blister for Gardiner's head ?—I told him not. He said you had better. Upon that I made the entry. I did not hear s on the 21st of No vember, that Gardiner had had a straight jacket on. It was on the 53d that I heard of it. By the JUDGE. You said you were sorry that you had not visited Gardiner; did you ever visit him never did. This was the case fo - r the Crown. Mr. WILLIAMS rose in tears to address the Jury on behalf of the defendant, and said, that after all that his persecuted client had suffered—after the course of calumny and artifice with which he had been visited, he was not ashamed that his feelings overpowered him when he rose to address them in reply to the wretched case that had been offered to them, for he knew that there was scarcely a person in Court who did not sympathise with his feelings. The Learned• Counsel (still continuing deeply affected) gave a history of the life of his client, from his first entering the Somersetshire Fen cibles, to relieve an aged father of the burden which his continuance at home would occasion to his parents, of his promotion to be Serjeant Major, until, in less than twenty months, from his extraordinary merit, he was appointed to a situation on board , the Hulks ; and from thence, out of twenty candidates, to that of Governor of Ilchester Gaol. He would show, from testimony of the highest character, that there was not a single transaction of his persecuted client's life that was not characterised by integrity, benevolence, and the highest Christian charity. He asked them whether they would admit the testimony of a felon like Gardiner, who was mature in guilt, and black to the core, before he had arrived at manhood ? The Learned Counsel commented upon the evi dence for the Crown, and contended that such confinement as had been visited upon the felon, Gardiner, was such as the dis cipline of the gaol required ; and it 'would be an insult to the understandings of the Jury to suppose that they would not agree that a most rigid discipline was necessary in such a gaol, or how could he stand up in the midst of 300 felons or murder , ers ? The practice of putting men in strait-jackets who were refractory, and giving them, when they shammed illness, what was called the black dose, was perfectly well known in the army, and even in the Bluecoat School ; where boys shammed illness, the practice of administering what was called the black dose was common. He concluded a speech of several hours length by saying that he trusted that by the evidence which lie should adduce, hr should rebut the foul calumnies that had been circulated in every part of the country by the vilifying papers, and render this a day of triumph to Mr. Bridle, for malice had not been proved. The first witness called in behalf of the defendant was Elia- Somers, who stated that in November, 1820, she was a pri soner in Ilchester gaol. She recollected a quarrel between Mary Cure and Elizabeth Smith, and recollected Mary Cure going into solitary confinement. She recollected going to the cell where Mary Cure was confined.. There was a fire-place in the cell, and fuel in it. Mrs. Hobbs, who went with the witness made an offer of fire to Mary Cure, who replied, she'd be d—d if she would have any, for her time was not long, and she did not mind it. She had a basin in her cell. Cross-examined by Sergeant PELL.—She was in the gaol on suspicion of robbery. Was tried and sentenced to be trans ported for life. Mary Cure said she was ill when she came out, but the witness did not believe her. She and her child ap peared lively and well when she came out, and both appeared as if they had been well fed. The weather was cold, and the cell was damp. Never tried the effect of being four days with bread and water only. Mrs. Smith had a young child, and she was let out on the same day as Mrs. Cure. It was not cus tomary to, confine women with suckling children in solitary cells, unless they were reprobates. Mrs. Thomas, the wife of J. Thomas, the innkepeer of Ilches ter, deposed that she saw Mary Cure some time after her re lease, when her child appeared to be in good health. She has known Mr. Bridle for eleven years, and had never heard but that he was a very humane kind of man. John Traghnza, the Master of the new House of Correc tion at Bedford, was then examined, and said he had been for three years the principal turnkey at Ilchester. When the wind was in a certain way a little rain might beat against the doors of the cells. Was principal turnkey at the time Mary Cure was there. He knew her there as a prisoner, but cannot call it tddris recollection as he had never heard of it. Persons in so litary confinement take their own vessels with them, or they wire fetched. The county allowance to persons in solitary confinement was bread and water. There was a shop book which went round. Witness considered Mr. Bridle as very kind. -He had done many things he had no occasion to do un less he liked. The solitary cells had one story over them. The solitary cells were upon the ground, but about seven or nine inches above the yard floor, and were entered by a step. They were arched. Jane Morgan was examined by Mr. ERskiNE—Her hus band was - a serjeant in- the Somersetshire militia. She was under sentence of transportation at Ilchester gaol in 1818. Remembered Mary Cure fighting Smith, and Cure in conse cpience being confined. Witness remembered her taking a basin with her and going into the pantry to get cheese and bacon. Witness saw Mary Cure suckle her child on the morn ing that she came out. Mr. Bridle always behaved like a hu mane man and a good Governor. John Poole, who was a constable in 1819, recollects Tho mas Gardiner, and having some conversation with him , when d. the latter ---.1-d the Magistrates and Mr. Bridle too. Witness advised him to humble himself to Mr., Bridle; Gardiner said, he'd be d. dif he'd humble himself to Mr. Bridle or the 3agistrates, and d—d the whole to hell. He was always damning and blasting until he had the blister on his head, and then he was quiet. He was always swearing at every one about him. Cross-examined by Sergeant PELL.—Hq was himself in the gaol a prisoner for buying smuggled liquor. The blister was put on by the witness and a man named Car ter. In the morning the strait waistcoat was put on, and at night it was taken off, and put on again in the morning. Witness had been in goal a year before he was confined for smuggling. Witness attended Gardiner from the first day to the last of his confinement. At the farthest, Gardiner was not confined more than eight days. Witness did not know of airy other strait, waistcoat. Gardiner ha r d a cap to keep the blister on. He was obliged to kick at the door when he wanted to eat or drink. Witness did not like to go near him, he was so abusive. He told witness that he should like to have the skinning of him alive. Witness was told by Carter to assist in shaving (iardiner's head. Witness did not know from whom Carter received the order. Re-examined.—Mr. Bridle was always too good and kind and indulgent to the prisoners. Charles. Marshal deposed, that he was two years in Ilchester gaol, and was the master of the work. Gardiner had d—d all the magistrates and the witness, and said he would do for the :thole of them. Witness had seen him seize the mallet, and threaten the life of his fellow prisoners. Mr. Bridle was very humane and kind to all the prisoners. Witness did not be lieve that Gardiner had ever had a blister on his head. Robert Gibbs was a prisoner 'in llchester Gaol in 1820, and recollects Gardiner there. Remembers Gardiner sticking a knife into the knee of Beachem. It was not a mere • send ; it went almost an inch into the knee, and blood flowed immediately it was drawn. Gardiner was a bad resolute young man ; they were sitting quietly, and had no words. The High Sheriff was then examined, and depoSed that he remembered, in September last, Gardiner was in solitary con finement. Sergeant PELL objected to the reception of the evidence of any circumstance which took place after the commission of the offence imputed to the defendant. Mr. Valentine stated that he was with Mr. Bryer, the sur geon, in 1820, and used to attend the gaol for him. Witness was his partner. In November he was called upon to examine into the state of health of Gardiner. Gaidiner complained that ne was sick, but he appeared to witness to be in perfect health. Has known Mr. Bridle for three years ; his conduct appeared to be that of a humane and kind-hearted man. Sir T. D. Ackland had been forty years a Magistrate of the county, and for sixteen years chairman. In 1808, Mr. Bridle was appointed gaoler, and from the opportunities which the witness had, in his constant attendance, the witness had known him to be kind and humane, and exercising every Christian virtue towards the prisoners. He was forbearing in his con duct to all the prisoners. It was the constant habit of the wit ness, because it was his duty, to go into all the wards of the prison, and ask the prisoners whether they had any thing to say against the officers of the prison, and if they had he would hear it in the prison. From the result of all these inquiries, he was enabled to say that the defendant was, in his opinion, a most humane man, and of an excellent disposition. Cross-examined by Mr. GASELEE.—He formerly resigned in July, 1818, as Chairman. - By the JUDGE.—For two years previous to July, 1818, in 'consequence of his declining health, his attendance had not been so active as it had been. F. Poole, Esq : , as a Magistrate of the county, had had fre quent opportunities, for the last eight years, of learning the character and witnessing the conduct of Mr. Bridle ; and, Trom what he had seen of him, if the situation of gaoler were vacant, . • • , he should not hesitate to say that Mr. Bridle was the best mall he knew to fill it. Do you know why Mr. Bridle was dismissed ? The witness did not make an immediate answer, and the question was repeated. I think I know the reason which operated on the minds of some Gentlemen, to think that he ought to be dismissed. The question was again repeated, and the same answer re turned when Sergeant PELL declined to put it again. Sir John Cox Hippesley, as a county Magistrate, had for a long time opportunities of seeing the conduct of Mr. Bridle, and always thought him a kind and humane man. Mr. Cole, the Clerk of the Peace, gave testimony to a simi lar effect. The High Sheriff, and also the Under-Sheriff, spoke in fa vour of hls general character for humanity. Mr. Adam, a Magistrate, had known him for twenty yeas, and always considered him as a humane man, from the op portunities which he had had of witnessing his conduct. Several other Magistrates, the Coroner, and Gentlemen of the county , followed. Mr. John • Browne, the police-officer at Bath, considered Mr. Bridle as too kind. Many of the prisoners, since this charge, had offered to go thousands of miles to serve him. - Messiter, Esq. the Treasurer of the County, had heard Mr. Bridle most highly spoken of for his humanity to the pri soners. Sergeant PELL replied. In his opinion the Government would have neglected a most solemn duty if they had not insti tuted this prosecution. He would consent that the Jury should take the character of Bridle as untouched up to the time of the commission. The Learned Counsel commented at great length 'upon the evidence for the defence, expressed his concern that the facts should have been attempted to be justified, and con cluded by calling upon the Jury for their verdict, in the name of humanity. Mr. Hardy, the successor of Mr. Bridle, stated that he had been the deputy-keeper of Newgate before his appointment to the office of keeper of Ilchester gaol, and had known Mr. Bridle for sixteen years, and had always known him as a hu mane man. Several other witnesses gave testimony to the same effect. This was the case for the defendant. Justice RICHARDSON, in a clear and eloquent charge, sum med up the evidence, which, as regarded the charge of cruelty to Mary Cure, he was of opinion could not be made out to the , satisfaction of the Jury ; but as regarded the charge of cruelty towards Gardiner, he was afraid the Jury would feel themselves bound to return a verdict against the defendant, for the facts were proved beyond a doubt. The Learned Judge said the defendant was justified in a reasonable exercise of the power of solitary confinement for refractory prisoners ' but this was 3 mode of punishment that was charged to have been exercised by the defendant, which the law did not sanction ; for no mail could be allowed, under any circumstances ' to deal so wantonly as he had done, if the evidence were true. If the case rested on the testimony of Gardiner alone, perhaps the charge would be immediately rejected,but;it was supported by stronger testimony- The Jury, after deliberating for a few minutes, returned a verdict, Acquitting the defendant of the charge which related to Mary Cure, but finding him Guilty on those counts which related the charge made of cruelty and ill-usage of Gardiner. The 'Jury begged leave strongly to recommend him to mercy on account of his former excellent character. Mr. Justice RICHARDSON said, that the recommendatio n should certainly be carried to the proper quarter. The trial lasted from nine o'clock in the morning until nest eight in the evening. SUDDEN DEATH.—Yesterday morning, 0)00 nine o'clock, Dr. KELTY, of Cambridge, sud", denly dropped down at the Auction Mart, Bar" tholomew-lane, and instantly expired. We to' derstaud the Doctor had gone there with his daughter for the purpose of showing her the building; the body remains at the Mart until an Inquest is taken. The Doctor had ordered his dinner at the White Horse, Fetter-lane, and had taken his place in the Union Cambridge coach, to return home to-morrow morning. The feelings of this daughter can be better imagined than described. Yesterday afternoon, besween five and si 7c o'clock, a fellow named William Gaffney, a butcher in Newgate-market, proceeded from tha t place, accompanied by many of his companions, (all of whom appeared to be in a state of de graded drunkenness), to Blackfriars-bridge, the purpose of deciding a wager of half a pin t of gin, that Gaffney would not jump from the top of that bridge into the Thames. The fellow stripped himself naked on the centre of the bridge, to the disgust of the numerous passengers, and threw himself into the river. His good for tune favoured him more than his deserts, Or although it was near low water he received little or no injury ; and from his being a good swim ; tiler, notwithstanding his intoxication, be g ot down the river near to the Southwark-brjdg e7 where he was picked up by a waterman. We understand that - the Prelate who has di s' graced himself on' a recent occasion has expel rienced great anxiety to be allowed to resign h i e See ; this will not be complied with, as we ha l ' been informed that Government are fully d eter' mined to punish his infamous conduct by de" • grading him from his ecclesiastical station.' (Irish Paper.) COURSE OF EXCHANGE, August 16. ---... Anistet darn Ditto, at Sight - Rotterdam l2 8 Antwerp . l2 5 lit 7 Haniburgh 37 9 . 1 Vs. Altona Paris, 3 Day's sight 23 55 0 s, D i tto Bourdeaux, ditto Frankforton the Main M a d r id t' c e • . Cad i z Bilboa 36i •E gec Barcelona Seville Gibraltar Leghorn Geia,a -43i—Venice, Ital. Liv. 27*5 7 Malta 45 —Naples agi ,OP Palermo Lisbon Oporto Rio Janeiro Dublin .... 9i cork 91 pei Cent. BULLION. el ()P Portugal Gold, in Coin ' 1.0 0 ?, P Foreign Gold, in Bars... NeW Doubloons . 3 9 13 6 New Doliari • ', 4 4 11 1 Silver in Bars; Standard BIRTHS. hail ri '' ra n g On Monday, the 12th.instant, at the Rectory , f Becks, the wife of the Rev. lienry Breedon , of a s"7 . Da d) , On the, th instant, in Henrietta-street , Bath, tl a Captain Gosling, R.N. of a son. • ______________.-----"---' MARRIED. 1 ,. : Chary , . On Thtirsday; the lath , inst , at Thorpe, thelkp•-,,enou - -- e Lloyd, D.D., Regius Professor of Divinity and - - li ter ''' Christ Church,, Oxford, to Mary Harriott, second daag Col. John' Stapleton, of Thorpe Lee, Surrey. AVIl u On the sth inst. at Preston Capes Northamptonshire7,oo4 Lee, Esq. Fellow of St. John's College to Elizabeth, u • ter of the late Rev. Charles Knightley, (;f . Preston' DIED. SO ' of Onthe 15th instant, Elizabeth, wife of 11. Scrivenor, Clapham, in her 51st year. Webb" On Thursday, at Bath,.dar), the wife of Mr Ari l ' t DO She had suffered a long, affliction (water on then Chest) rail ° l 4 continued-to attend to her domestic concerns the 13 ! lit , an d her life. She. retired, to rest. as usual on Wednesday nlg eet i fic ? had taken some little refreshment afterwards • but e:we! and six o'clock, Mr. W. found her by his side- - a c ° P 5 4 1.7 ~ the - T O R S/ and Published for • the PROPRIRS/ 3t Office, No. 112, Strand, by J. B. CABO at L,A * • - - ,' 'V A' ot 6, „a for fired 3„. 0 I) ePt., he rea Fehr.j,, h est: ?i,rry * `Rd t. 14, Q4d I.'oo fo„ FL o 4, 11 1, e 44 1 1, k7 ' \ :(lt . bp .t 1/4,6 8 04 L e ‘t Og ie 44Y%