The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-05-09 00:00:00

)UDGM ENTS.
Tilt 1(1,40 v. WILLIAM BROWNE.
The Defend.int in this case had been conviged of

er riot and assault upon Dr. Tathem, a Magittrite
in the County of 2.erks ; and was this dty brougl.t
up for Judgment.
On the nam nine of the 23d of May last, the Pro-
secutor, Daaw Tathem, was informed that a par-
cel of mountebanks were going to exhibit in the
evening, in a Clo,e belonging to the Defet.dant : he
accordingly went to the place where these gentry
were lodged, and expostulated with them upon the-
impropriety of such an assembly ; they treated him
with much civility, and then condttOed themselver
in a very peaceable and decorous manner ; from
thence he proceded to the Defeto.knt's, and expos-
tulated likewise with him, but he behaved in a most
rude and outrageous manner, hissed, hooted, and
groaned at him, and told a parcel of boys who were
present, that he would give them a penny a piece
$1 they would hiss the D.xclor out of the town.
Is the taming, notwithstanding the Doel,r's
remonstrance, the Mountebanks assembled in the
field belonging to the Defendant, with a mob of up-
wards of one thousand people along with them ;
their amusement was rotting for handkerchiefs,- &c.
&c. at one shilling per ticket, at which diversion
they were employe) witett the DoCor arrived with
a constable and some of hi; own servants ; he again

espostuLited with the Defendant, who, is return,
c:ified him a dirty beggar, a lunatic, and an old
1.0, and various other operoltaious epithets ; upon
Is irtempting to enter the field with his servants,
the Defendant hissed and h'u him as before, and
endeavoured to get him and his horse into a corner
of the field where there was a horse pond filled with
dirty, muddy, water, and had nearly succeeded in
his purpose. when the I.):),Ster's horse, which was
rather unritle, !tatted, and ran away, by which
he tared hi: rm.-ter from a ducking; when in the
high toad the Defendant followed him, and shook
a chain' which he bud in a handkerthief, at the
horse's head, who, in the sequel, threw his rider
and ran away, and the Dolor was considerably
bruised by the WI. He was amain proceeding to
the field on foci, when the Defendant met him at the
gate. and struck bits, several violent blows with both
lists upon his breast, shoulders, Ste. ; he then forcibly
took the constable's staff from him, and beat the
letter several times with it. lit his retreat, the
Deitor was pursued by the Defendant, hissing, hoot-
ing, and groaning at him ; and one of the snob, of
the name of Seer, endeavoured repeatedly to strike
the DoElm's horse with a spade which he carried.
The Defendant was a very respeflable person in
that part of the country ; he kept a pack of hounds,
and had an income of about 5001. per annum.
The Constable, in his aZdavit, swore that had he
and the Valor attempted to take one man into cus-
tody, he was certain they would both have been L tiled.
Serjeent SLLLON, ft.r the Defendant, said, he
'mew it was always the wish of their Lordships to
lean towards the side of mercy; in this case the
Defendant, who was a re tpedable country gentle-
man, let the mountebanks have the field, merely
through motives of pore good nature and hospita-
lity* and, being his own property, he conceived he
had a right to admit or keep out any person he
pleased. He had a wife and four children, and he
pawed the Court, under all the circumstances, would
Dot consider it a case for exemplary punishment.
Mr. WILSON, for the prosecution, thought shat
had been urged for the Defendant, by the learned
Serjeant, could go a very little way, if at all, in
mitigation of his offence. lie had committed a most
violent, outrageous, and unprovoked assault upon a
Magistrate. in the anual discharge of his duty
with respen to his wife and children, it could make
/Jury little difference, as he could so well afford to
keep a pack of hounds, which, in all probability, it
he had had them along with him at the time of the
assault, he would have set them also at the Doctor.
The Cowl ordered him to be committed, and
brought up 4ain for judgment on Saturday next.
ILING 1155505, &sq.

In this case the Defendant was conviaed, the
last Assizes for Manchester, of assaulting %Vahan'
Zeeles, Gentleman, Attorney.
The Defendant was a gentleman of very consid. r.
aisle poperty in Manchester, and Colonel of a Corps
of Volunteers; the Prosecutor, Mr. Eccles, along
with Mr. Sharp, were the Clerks of the Race, and
Attorneys of the Assembly-rooms, at Manchester.
Previous to the commencement of the last spring
Lancaster races, the Defendant, Colonel Hanson,
aud Sir William Gerrard, were appointeditewards,
and the Prosecutor was diraled by the Assembly-
room Committee to write a letter of invitation to
the Colonel, requesting his attendance and advice
relative to the management and arrangements of the
ensuing entertainments. Soon after the Prosecutor
happened, by accident, to see Colonel Hanson in
the shop of Mr. Prosley, silversmith, in the town of
Manehester. He immediately accosted him with,
44 Who is to be the Lady Patroness this season r and
the Colonel, not knowing that he had been official-
ly employed, answered, that it was an impertinent
question, and no business of his ; the other in rather
an abrupt manner replied, id Sir !" upon which the
Colonel told him he was an impertinent fallow, and
the former returned the compliment ; words grew
high, and the appellations of coward and scow-
sire. were bandied about, and Mr. E. said be
wruld meet him and fight him in half an hour,
hr his pwn office, or any *here else he pleased; and,
In the sequel the challenge was accepted. and the
parties agreed to meet at the time appointed. As
the Colonel was retiring, he carted out to Eccles
that he was « a blaclrguard of the first class."
Within the tiain qE meeung, Colonel Hanson, ac-
earnpanied by ,Mr. Prosley, went to the office of
Mr. Eccles, 10hour fresh altercation took place, and
site Colonel snuck the latter repeatedly in a violent
Manner, the head and shoulders, with a horse-
Whip whiarlit carried; the blows, however, were
iteturned bi Mr. Eccles, and the Colonel, in going
viz, repeated that he was still ready to meet and
Mr. leeks at the place and time before ap.
mad s bat the latter Gentleman, after what
• seamed, tuunlat the most advisable mode
be derived tram a criminal
,11.4A*- vits were read. by which kappear.
• was is a great pampa with

• *

each other, and were equally v'olent. Col. H..nsnn '
had been accosted by Mr: Ec :les, originally, in an
abrupt manner, and not th rn knowing Lis official
situation, had made the reply which was the occa-
sion of se much ill will afterwards. The Colonel,
as a military man. had felt that his honour was at
stake, whicb drew from him the challenge, and that
which afterwards occurred.
Mr. Woou, for the Defendant, was proceeding
to mike some observations on behalf of his Client ;
when
Lord ELLIN sorrouo H thought it more regular for
the Counsel on the other side to proceed.
Mr. ERSKINE, for the prosecution, said, that from
the affidavit of the Defendant, it appeared that he
felt his chara&er, as a mall of honour, was at stake;
when it was recolleeled that he went to the office of
Mr. Eccles, after a challenge had passed and was
accepted, and the scene which took place there, he
was willing the Defendant should gn free, without
the
.judgment of the Court, if he could make out
his justification or defence, as • man of honour.
Lord ELLEN ao Rovort again interposed, and ad-
vised that Colonel Hanson should consult with his
friends, before the proceedings went further. Ile
thought some accommodation might take place,
and the Colonel's honour soothed in some degree,
as, after heating the affidavits, there was no question
but that he had been accosted in an extremely rude
manner, and both parties had been exceedingly
violent. . .

Mr. Woon, after some consultation, proposed
the matter should be referred to the Master.
Mr. EItSKINZ answered, that he had ever made
t a rule in such cases not to receive propositions of
this nature, through the medium of Counsel : he
then proceeded to make some farther animadversions
upon the condua of Colonel Hanson and the affi-
davits made on his behalf, which he considered an
aggravation of the offence.
Messrs. Craaaow, ICIPPING, and Scaar.vr, fol-
lowed on the same side.

Mcssis. Wool), Fartousott, and LITT Lana LEI,
were he.trd on the part of the Defendant : they sub-
mitted, that Colonel Hanson was not aware of the
compliment which Mr. Eccles was commissioned to
offer him ; he was ignorant of his corning from the
Committee, and thought the question might have
been asked through mere idle curiosity ; and there-
fore he thought the Defendant impertinent, and the
manner, more than the matter of his words, had
caused the subsequent events.
Lord ELLESIBUROVOH" Let him be committed,
and brought up again for judgment on this day
se'nnight."

COMMON PLEAS.

TANKER C. TAINUHARSON.

Serjeant SHEPHCI/1:4 on the part at the Defend-
ant, moved for a rule to chew cause why the trial
in this case should not be postponed. It was an
adion for an assault brought by a sailor on hoard
an Indiaman against one of his Officers. There
had been a notice of trial served on the Defendant
last term, and he accordingly brought his witnesses
to London, at a very great expence, which the
Plaintiff knowing withdrew his notice. He now
had served a fresh notice of trial for the sittings
after this term. The Learned Serjeant produced an
affidavit which stated that three of the Defendant's
witnesses had gone on a voyage to Chin•t, and :here-
fore hoped the trial would be postponed.—Rule
granted.

•!* •

NATAL INTELLIGI ATE.

ral.t.tootu, MAY 5.
Arrived His Majesty's ship Ethane'', of 98 gnu,
Capt. Stuart, and the Sc, of 18 gum. Capt.
Wane-, with the outward bound West India fleet
of 60 sail. On the 29th uIL they fell in with Sir
John Orde's squadron off Cape Finisterre, who in.
formed them of the French fleet being out, on which
Capt. Stuart thought proper to return with the
con v oy.--Wind
P. S. Just at rived the D;(614 packet, Capt. Ro-
bots, with a Mail from Lisbon in eleven days pas-
sage. The letters will not be forwarded for London
till to-morrow.

SHEERNESS. M•Y 7.

The Vq/ture sloop of war is appointed convoy to
take the trade to the Baltic, but is not yet arrived
at the Nor., horn the Downs; the signal is there-
fore flying on board the Spy sloop of war, which
vessel will sail with the convoy to-morrow morn-
ing. should the Vulture not arrive in time, and the
wind continue fair.—S.W. fine breeze.