The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-01-08 00:00:00

WESTML

rONS.

The Seiciions for the City of Westminster com=
ineneed yesterday, before i 4 WARING, Esq.
Chairauan, and a _Bench of filagi.,trates, at Guild-
hall, Palace Yard. Court was principally en-
gaged in the following trial :
Bekeillheigcuons of the Eerl of Stair,
stood indietectPfbean assault on Nathaniel Coulson,
the lessee add- collector of the tai:aptle toils, at
Hyde Park eattici.. • ' • ••

'Mr. KNAPP, on the part of tha, prosecution,
opened the case, and then proceeded to call the
prosecutor. Nathaniel Coulson. He deposed that
on the evening of the isth of June last, when
standing at his gate, a gentleman, whom he since
found to be tbe,barl of Stair, rode through the gate
towards Piccadilly, followed by his servant, the
traverser. W.:tile's asked the latter for the toll, or
a ticaeto but received no answer. He then pro-
deeded to take hold of the. bridle Of his hone, and
was immediately knocked down with a large stick
by the. traverser. He was senseless from the blow,
and was removed by his brother and an assistant
into the gute-house. He spoon recovered, and then
saw the Earl of Stair return. His servant then
asked his Lordship whether he should flog the wit-
ness ? To which his Lordship answered," do as you

•
please.,'
The testimony of this Witness was supported
by the evidence of his brother and the Assistant,
with this difference, that they admitted that the
Traverser said he had paid, and mentioned the
letter Y, although the Prosecutor had positively
sworn that the first and only answer hr received
was a blow. They also acknowledged that ts'es-ltiol
scuffle became general, and that they both struck
the Groom ante .
Mr. GET RN EY made an animated speech On' the
nature of the evidence, and commented forcibly
on the general and proverbial insolence of the
collectors and servants employed at TumitikesgalfilL
The Earl of Stair stated, that on the day men,
tioned in the indictment, he hail gone back and
forward, throug,h the Hyde-park gate, three times.
When the scuttle took place, he aus ou his retain
to toen, and had got as far as Park-lane. ifflatiele •
his servant, he returned, and saw a nurriberofGese
tlemen and their servants, aissembled at Hydeepok
gate. One of the Gentlemen, Sir John Dishltsd4
told him his servant had been very ill-treated by
the Gate-keeper, and his assistants. His Lortblap
called to the Traverser, wbo was engaged in a soil:.
111.., to come off. His Lordship positively W. ••e
that he never did desire him to tight, or to do as fib,
pleased, as sworn by the Prosecutor. His 1L0t4..
ship was in the habit of pa.sMig through that gate;
at least five times a week. He did not insinuate
the slightest wish to his servant to strike the Pros
secutor, but, on the contrary, called him otf. The
horse which the groom rode was a remarkably met-
tlesome aid spirited animal.
Sir John Dashwood said, be was riding towards
Grosvenor-place, at the period of the scuffle. He
saw the Prosecutor and his assistants treat the Tra-
venser-iir the most violent ainlisnwarrantable man-
ner. 'They dragged him off Isis horse, struck hiss
various blows, and, from the spirit of the horse, it
was ow:0am); the man was' not much injured.
The conduct of the Traverser was bath cool and
tempaistos-ho.anade .ass.exertion but in his au
defences, So struck was. Sir John with the pro-
riettdf • his conduct, and tbe.ill-treatment he saw
him receive, that he had givewhim his address, and
had actually come from a ihstynce of at lead one
hundred miles, to attend the present trial.—
The-Earl of Stair and his servant were then stmr. -
gers to him, and he felt solely actuated by a sense
of public justice.
, Mr. Hamer, a respectable tradesman, and two
. corporals in the foot guards, proved the wanton out-
rage of the Prosecutors, and positively swore, that
the Traverser did not strike but in his own defence.
The Jury immediately at-Tie:fed the Traverser.
We understand, that Sir John Dashwood, whose
laudable regard for the interests of public in-tiee
entitles bim to public approbation, has lodged aft
information, to be tried at the ensuing 'Middlesex
Sessions, against the Prosecutors, for ass assault
committed on him, in consequence of his praise-
worthy interference.

A Board was held, yesterday, at the Admiralty.
for Rasing seamen into Greenwich Hospital, wl
about 107 Inca were passed.
A vessel arrived, in twelve days, front Da.,,
states, that the independence granted to that w.ta
tunate city is a mockery of the most insulting kiwi.
It is ground down to the most abject state of uns..-
ry by the oppreations and exactions of the Frew 1.,
of whom there are no less 'duet 15,000 quartered
upon it. While these are rioting in excess, int
wretched inhabitants are exposed to all the horrors
of impending famine. A loaf of rye bread, sot
exceeding slb. which before the irruption of the
French might have been fought for blzpettce, is
now sold at the enormous price of four shillings !
As to fresh provisions they. were beyond the reach
of the most opulent of the. inhabitants. Every ar-
ticle of thai. kind was appropriated to the use of
the French army. 4
The Albion, PONV4O,I, from Otenada, hound to
LOndon, is deserted at Sea : the crew are arrived
in the Downs on hoard the Mogaet, COVEr.DaILE,
from Surinam.
A scholar of celebrity, who is now in Itoly, pre-
tends to have found, in the runts of the house of a
Roman Knight, a msanuscript of the 4‘ Mrdea" of
Oeto. Ile announces his intention of pablishi 34;
that curions work, together with a translation.
On Monday afterpoon a shocking accident. hap-
pened at Kensington Gravel Pits. A woman she'd
into a field to steal some turnips ; a lad was ann. -
ing himself in the mine field, and in those adjoin-
ing, by shooting birds with a gun. The woman
being conscious she was doing wrong. suspected
that the lad *as watchiugher,ttud made use of -utile
abusive language ; violent threats passed between
them ;of length they came in contact, and
the woman, supposing herself stronger thaw the
WI, endeavoured to wrest the gun from him,
which unfortunately was loaded, end in the strng-
gle went off, the contents of w 'WI lodeed in her
thighs. She was conveyed to St., Georee a Hosea-
tal. She is not considered out of danger. The
lad hits, in consequence, been apprehended, a "1
committed from the Public-06er, Bow-str..i.t. f a
further examination, till the fate of tie velum .5
determined.