The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-12-30 00:00:00

IDOLICI

'lO4 e! •
• • GUILDHALL.
"Vag,
' PORTERAGE 011'. SMALL PARCELS.
The impositions of porters In overcharging fur the deli-
very of small parcels, at all times of pretty frequent occur-
rence, becomes at this season of the year, from the increased
number cf such parcels, as Christmas presents, a matter of
regular system. Few persons will eke themselv es the trouble
to seek redress, and the calculation of these fellows is, that
from the average profit upon the whole number of paroels
delivered, they can very well afford to pay the expense of •
convict' for an overcharge upon one or Iwo.
The Magistrates are very desirous of putting a slop to
these impositions un the &Mk, and their continuance is the
fault of those who will not give themselves the trouble of
making the necessary application.
A ease of this description, which seemed to he one of im-
position from beginning to end, occurred at this Justice-
room, on Saturday, before the sitting Alderman, Sir Junes
Shaw.
Dories, the porter at the Bell and Crown inn, Holborn,
appeared on summons to answer the complaint of Solomon,
Leyden, Esq., of Arlington-street, Camden-loan. A stunt'
parcel, weighing e4lb., bad been conveyed to him by the,
carrier from the Blur Posts public-house, in Holborn, where
it had been lett by Davis, having come to that inn by the
Southampton coach. The sum charged for carriage and por-
acme, and which Davies had received from the landlord of
the Blue Posts, was as.sd. The generally understood charge
for carriage is per lb., and upon inquiry it the Bell and
Crowe, Mr. Levien found that the charge to Davies, instead
of being about Is. sd., was se. This war the overcharge of
the coach owner., with which Deviesliad nothing to do ; he
had, however, in making omit the delivery ticket, added ed.
to the charge, and a proportional increase upon the amount
for porterage and by these impositions together the parcel
cost Mr. Levien about double the regular and proper ex-
pense.
Mr. Levien observed that he bad sabmitted to overcharges
in many instances, but they were now grown into so regular
a system, and become so enormous, that be felt it his duty for
his own sake, as well as that of the public, to make ad el-
-1 motile.
1 Isa porter, in his defence, did not attempt to deny the
charge, and only ptelded, in extenuation of his conduct, that
it was Christmas time, and they generally expected to make a
little more then.
There is, it seems, no Act of Parliament for regulating
charges for carriage. Mr. Lieven's remedy, therefore for
oven-twee in that particular, could only be by action al law,
or by indicting the fellow for obtaining money tinder false
pretences, which, the Magistrate observed, it would highly
become a gentleman of his property and respectability to do.
ho overcharge un the porterage was, however, within the
cognizance of the Magistrate; and Si rJames Shaw, after ex -
preasing his strong reprobation of these impositions, and his
thanks to Mr. Lievcn, in the name of the public, for his con-
duct upon the occasion, convicted Domains the lull penalty
under the statute, of tea. and costs.

BOW-STREET.
PEKPING TOM.
Mr. Thomas Tonikios, who slated his In tie a jeurney-,
man saddler, in the employment of Mr. Cuff, of Chariog-
cross, this stay appeared before Mr. Minshull, with his left
eye in half mourning, to complain of an " assassinous assault"
committed on his sacred person by a man whom he stated to
be "a bird.catcher," residing in St. Marlin's-lane. On is-
terrogation it appeared that be had already obtained* war-.
rant against his assailant, and was now only desirous of ob-
taining the assistance of the worthy Magistrate isi
the means of apprehending him, as he prudently trill
himself to his own trap, to avoid tailing into the hands of the
trips of this office. While the complainant was detailing his
• wrongs, however, Iluly land, the officer, arrived with the of-
fender In custody, and ho was imsnediiitely placed at the bar.
• Kr. Tomkina was then desired to stale the circumstances of
which he bad to complain, which be did with the tone and
eneffilence of a man a ho was about to receive satisfactios fur
a grievous injury, his right Mari in the breast of his coat, the
green badge, which bad previously covered big discolseed
optic thrown back, and his left arm at liberty, to enable him
by eloquence of motiun, " to suit the word to the action, and
1
the action to the word." He slated, that on the preceding,
day, as "he was saying nothing to nobody," io St. Martin's-
lane, the defendant, without the slightest provocation, case
up to him, and strip k him a most violent blow on the eye, and
followed this up with divers tither unseasonable compliments
Slim same character, which reduced bias to the uuseamdg
spectacle he sow presented.
Mr. Minshull.— Did within occur to induce the *seek?
Plaintiff—No, Sir. There was an old grudge betweeuss,
le took this opportunity of etteroptisg my assassinatine.
r. Minsbull.—slow came you to eneouster the defendant?
r,:
It
istif.—l wesjust loosing in at his window, and bad not
there more than two smuts, sakes he sallied out on
with terrific ferocity.
.•-ihr. Minshull—What were you &dog in • place which,
our acknowledged misunderstanding with the defend-
rather to have avoided ?
intiff—l was only looking at the birds is the window.
defendant was now called on to answer for his conduct,
• when he told " a plain unvarnished tale" alto. provocation
which be had received from the plaintiff, and it was in sub-
stases, thisi—Me had oecasiun to go to Germany, in the
course of his calling as a hird.seller, some time ago, and re-
turned on the day after Christmas-Gay twelvenniuths. 1i..,
of course, anticipated a kind and cheerful welcome from his
wife, who be had left in charge o( his business; but was mor-
tified to And himself treated by her with a coldness and indif-
ference fi.r which be was for some time at • luu to account.
,Al length he discovered that Mr. Tomkins nad been a fie-
' quent visitor to his 'Mae during his absence. and he had too
much reason t 9 believe that he found attractions there of •
more consolotory nature than the melody of his piping bull.
Inches. In short, he was of opinion that there was more than
a platonic anection between him and his wife. He ass in-
formed that the Waintiff, after a long absenoe from his mia-
ow, lodgings, hail, on his (the defendaist's), return from
Ornstein , suddenly resumed his long deserted bed,and slated
that the family in whose house he had been in the habit of
sleeping, having returned to luso, be could be accommodated
'there no longer. There were • sanely of other circumstances
which confirmed his suspicions. The p:ainiff was con-
stantly prowling about his house night and day, and a cerre-
spondence was kept up between him nod his witi• which be
had endeavoured in s am effectually to repress.--(The plaintiff
here desired the defendant to pi ',duce his proofs, sod *hew
the letters.]
The defendant refused, observing, "You know the letters
hate been burnt; but I have proof enough of the feus.dation
el the chart..." He then went on to state, that he saw the
plaintiff on Friday peeping into his window for a considerable
time, end brie, perii.vtly aware of his object, he rushed out
• after him ; the plaintiff, the rosiment he sow him, ran assay as
1 if conscienee-stricken ; but he. pursued him illill May's•
,• buildiegs, e here he overtook him, and asked him why he we.
len constantly banging about his shop ? The ',Wolin* then
sluiced tight, and he knock. d him Mien twice.
Mr. Min bull said, there certainly appeared to be more in
this affair then met the rye ; and, turning to the pl .intitt,ll
asked him why, when he knew the defendant suspected his'
improper visits to his a ife, he had the meanness to go skulk-
ing abut the premises to increase those suspicions, and to
break his mere of mind?
The plaintiff, is rather as equivocal lone, denied thejus-
tier sit the imputation, and called i.n the defendant to pro-
duce his proofs.—lle then slid, that a servant maid in the
house Weft old him the defendant carried a knife to assassin-
ate him:
Mr. Kingfield remarked, that from this statement it was
evident he was holding seine intercourse with the persona in
th, defend • nt's house. if he was, as lie pretended to be,
mints hensive of awassination, he bad ou busim•sa to court
dancer, by aniug in the way of the defendant. The feelings
of the del slant ought out to be trifled with on ao serious a
subject. seal, Ns the plaiut• If had by his own conduct pru-
vbked the treatment he had received, he should dismiss the
eisplaimint, leasing him to seek reparation by indictment at
the Sessions.
The !milks then retired: the defendant grateful for the
lenity which had been .hewn him, roil the plaintiff inveigh-
ing isgainst the injustice of bill treatment.