The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-01 00:00:00

POLICE.

3JANSIO—N-110 SSE.
An unfortnnate Oermau, in the 74th year of his age, was brought
before the Loun ItIATCH, for art act of vagrancy. He had been
found begging in the streets, and wes taken into custody by Allen,
the offices, whose business it is to apprehend all vagrants. The old
man told the olßcer he had no other means of supporting life, al-
though he was willing to htbour at any employment.
The I.onn MAYOR asked him what had teen his former, and
what reduced him to his present condition ?
The German replied that he had been a seaman, but being in
great necessity, seven yean ago, be stole a waistcoat, in a pawn-
broker's shop, was taken up, committed, and convicted, and con-
demned to transportation for seven years. He was removed from
Newgate to the Hulks, from which, haying served the term of his
sentence. he was the day before yesterday sent adrift upon the
world without any means of existence. fie lamented much his
discharge from the flailks, where he was well treated, for he was
always willing to week, and he knew not where to turn to save
himself from perishing In the streets, as he had no clair.) iu this
country, and did not know what means to take to. get home to hies
own. He was aged, he said, but although not nble to perform the
I rough duties of a seamen, he could render himself useful on board
ship, and he abhorred the thought of the offence for which he had
!been tr.insparted.
Mr. Ilobler submitted to the Lord Mayor, that this was a ease
which might be supposed to poetess a elsita upon the " Refuge for
the Destitute." I'ernapa, there could not be a more destitute poor
creature than that unfortunate old man, who was a foreigner, and
had lost his character.

The Loan lllaTc,a thought the condition of the vagrant a very
deplorable one, hut believed that the Ilavarian Consul, upon leart•,-
ing the facts of the ease, would improve it, and send the old man
home. Ills Lordship then directed that application should be
forthwith made upon the subject at the office of the Consul, and
that in the mean time C.te defendant should be relieved.

A man named Johnson, was charged with having, committed a
new species of offence—that of having sung a song in the streets,
describir.g the merits of his wife, for the purpose cladding her to
the highest bidder, at Smithfield.
The Officer said the defendant had gatheredu crowd of all sorts
of vagabonds together, who appeared to listen to his ditty, but who
were in fact, collected to pick pockets. As the defendant had strong
lungs, and an interesting subject, considerable opportunities might
have arisen for the exertions of the thieves, had not he (the witness)
done his duty in removing the singer.
The defendant told o somewhat different story. He had, he
declared, net the most distant idea of selling his wife, who was,
poor creature, et home with her hungry children, while he was
endeavouring to can a bit of bread for them by the strength of his
lungs. He them produced several copies of a story of the sale of a
wife ot Smithfield, to a publican, against whom a butcher, a bar_
bee, a nobler, a fiddleit, and a tailor, had bid in vein. A song fol.
lowed the story. The follaniog verse is that which gave rise to the
constable's suspicion :
" Now come, lads and lasses, let's dance, sing, and play,
And off to the neighbouring wedding, away ;
I'll assemble the world, the young and the old,
To see my fair beauty—that is to be sold."
The Loup Mayon said, that however innocent the oharacter of
the song, and good the intention of the dekndant, he could not be
sanctioned in collecting crowds in the streets.
The defendant ;.soured the Lard Mayor that he hail merely passel
through the streets singing the " Sale of the Wife," and selling the
copies at a penny n-pliseet when he was picked up by the oaicer,
who lodged him in the ompter for the night. He lied given his
last shilling to the printer fix A 3 many copies as would, if they
were all sold, leave him cent. per cent. for his venture.
The Loan Mayon told him the practice could not be allowed,
and must not be repeated.
The defendantsald, he expected his wife would be very shortly
put to bed, and it was the more ne,:asary that he should use every
effort to make her comfortable.

Ills Loanswir ordered that the copies of tho story and song
should be given up. to the defendant, but quitioned him against
gathering a amid in the city ; as, although he were right in deter-
mining to add to the cor_lorts of his wile, he could not bo permitted
to do so at the expense of the public peace.
RECOGNIZANCES.—The husband of the poor woman who,
some days ago represented, in describing her distress, that her hus-
band had been thrown into prison for the offence of not having
discharged his recognizance, was very soon, after the publication of
the circumstances of the scandalous arrest, liberated from prison.
He had not, however, even as much as the prison allowance to
suhsist upon when he was discharged.
Yesterday, after the Loan Maxon had finished the business of
the day, and retired from the Justiee-room, she appeared to beg
sonic assistance for her husband and family, in order that they
might set up business.
Mr. HonLza asked her how much would set her up in bu-
siness ?

She hesitated, as if afraid to ask for so large a sum ; but upon
being pressed, she said that ten shillings would do the thing
effectually.
Mr. ilonr.xn immediately handed over a sovereign to her, which,
he raid, he had received from some benevolent person, enclosed in
a note, for her benefit, in consequence of the report of the hardship
in the newsparrs.
The Beadle of the parish, upon the officers of which the poor
family's case made in 'lmpression, until the Lonu 3lsvon ex-
postulated with them, in rather an indignant tone, added to this
sum ten shilling% and the applicant won away, astonished awl
overjoyed.