The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-23 00:00:00

MEETING O.F LICENSEbFICTUALERS.

The Licensed Victuallers residing in and near London rev. by
advertisement, requested to me-t yesterday, at the Crown and
Anclatr. Tavern, eurand, ter take into consideration the petition pre-
sented to the House of Commons, on the Irish instant, by cerraiti
rectifiers, praying to be allowed to convert rum into. gin, and for
the adoption of some important measures for the pre•ention of the
existing monopoly in British spirits ; and to consider the propriety
of petitioning Parliament to support the prayer of that petition,
The. Chair was to have been token at twelve o'clock, but, owing
to the shortness of the notice, the number of personit present were
so few, that the meeting was adjourned to a future thy, Which will
be announced by advertisement. - o
Tome conversation took place respectift the object of the meet -
iny, in the coarse of which it was stated, that in consequence to
the present monopoly in British spirits, the public war giving,
at kart, eighteen-pence a gallon more than they would do were •
thetrade thrown open and perniitted.to ,be free. they
the
system it was impossible for any pervm to become P.. malt trirsetsilrt
unless be could co end a capital of nearly fifty thousand pounds ;
the consequence wrap, that there were ma i; than twelve distillers
in the kingdom, six of whom had their tilkries in or gear Lon.
don. The Excise Laws prohibited the ' lers from being tech. .
fiers, but, by various methods these laws wekevaded, and-it could
he prer.l,l that no less. than four of the le•pdas distiller. rectify
their own spirits the prices of which they fix at thilkpleasure ,• and
hence the absorbing monopoly so seriously felt sod. tomplained of.
The rectifier was compelled to maintain these prices on pain of be.
ing refused a further stupory of the raw spirit frog/ ttbe distillery :
Itere2ll.
the mischievous tendency of this system, t Wei ,to exact
from the consumer No exorbitant a pelt:ether, ih ' the victualler
could scarcely restate sufficient on the wrapmption spins in the
course of the year to pay for his liceace. By the close monopoly
that existed no ooe could be a t•ectifiet without the will and consent
of the distillery. A person had been,koown to apply with mosey
in hand to all the distillers in London for some •raw spirits, and
was reefed by every one of then), their answer being, " We are
so circumstanced that we cannot supply you.", ..•
Another gentleman observed, that if the rectifiers *ere to be
allowed to convert rum into gin, they could produce quite :..e good
a spirit is was now produced, at 22 per cent. under the Present price.
He regretted the absence of his brother victuallers, inasmuch as he
was convinced, by calculations he had made, that lf tie prepared
measure were to. be adopted by the Legislature, the Victuallers
would not only be deriving a very great pecuniary benefit to them-
' selves, but would, by promoting the measure, be.rendering an
essential service to the country i and he hoped that the Victuallers
would be sufficiently alive to their own interests, to give their beet
support to the object of the petition then before the House of C,oria-
mons, the allegations of which would soon be inquired into by i
Committee of that Honourable House. ,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
r
M. HEREDIA, PRIMEoMINISTER TO FERDI-
NAND VII. KING OF SPAIN.

[PROM • CORKESPONDENT.I
Do NARCISSO DE lIEREDIA, now Count of OWL*, is
the son of a respectable citizen of Almeria, in the kingdom
of Granada. He distinguished himself sp much in his
studies at the University of Granada, that the Rector took e
great liking to him, and endeavoured to give him an educe-
cation superi ,r to that which was then given in the Uni-
versities of Spain. This Rector was the confessor of a rich
Canoness, who having been forced by her parents to take
the veil, was endeavouring to cause her vows to be
annulled, as young Heredia had made a very deep impresb-
sion on her heart. After a protracted law-suit the boll of
the Pope was granted, but as Heredia was too young to
be yet married, the Canon's, by the influence of money,
obtained for him the situation of S. cretary to the Spa-
nish Legation in the United States of America. In the
year 1804 he set out for this destination, end returned
about a year after, when he received, together with his
lover's hand, a large fortune, Red was appointed one of the
first Clerks in the Foreign Department. He distinguished
himself in this new situation by his acquirements and ac-
tivity, and when the Government of the UNITED Braes/
and that of SPAIN were about to determine by a treaty
the boundaries of their respective territories on the Cone
intent of America, they embodied the plan proposed
by M. Heredia, in a most luminous report, which
was highly approved by ell the American statesmen.
At the time of the invaston of Spain by the Fends
troops, M. Heredia did not venture to follow the legitimate
Government to Cadiz. He retired to Malage, and, when
the French took possession of that town, he was compelled
to take the oath of fidelity to King Joseph though he did
not accept the employments which were Offend to him.
On the restoration of Ferdinand he was considered as an
ilfrancesado, and excluded, of course,
' front all public em-
ployments. However, he returned to Madrid, where
he made fruitless efforts to attract notice. At lasS
be obtained, in 1819, the protection of M. UOARTZ, who
directed the Spanish Cabinet, as Me secret egret er Me
En reams or RUSSIA. M. Heredia was then appointed
Councillor of War, and was about to be raised to higher
functions, being entirely devoted to the Court of Russia,
when the Revolution of 1820 broke out. The Council
was then suppressed, end M. Heredia remained without
employment, but always resided at Madrid, where he de-
clared himself openly against the new institutions. He was
suspected of having secretly directed the plots which broke
out during the Constitutional regime, contrived by Rus-
sian gold, through the agency of M. Ugarte. After the
re-establishment of arbitrary power, he was recompensed
for his services by the appointment to the Justice
Department, and shortly after to that of Foreign Affairs.
Heredia is a man of extensive information, but of un-.
bounded ambition, and not at all scrupulous in the choice
of the means most proper to gratify it. In fact, a
man must have lost all dignity of mind to place him-
self under the protection of a UGARTE, a vulgar man.
who has preset ved in his elevated situation all the
manners of his former occupation, which was that of a
porter. M. Heredia, far from blushing for this patron-
age, is proud of it, and seems proud to appear in public
by the side of his Nlecrolas. However, everybody knows
that, by making himself the instrument of despotism, and
by prostituting his talents to Russian influence, M. Ileredia
sacrifices his opinions ; for, on his return from America,
be manifested the greatest admiration for popular institu-
tions, and was looked upon as a most ardent republican.
Heredia, to his great discredit, has given appoint
month to his whole family : all his relations, and even his
servants, have obtained situations. One of the richest
canonicals has been conferred on his uncle, an old roan
verging to imbecility, who her never rendered, nor was
capable of rendering any services either to the church or
to the state. In the meanwhile, M. Heredia is goaded.
with mortificstions the King, without consulting him,
has lately dismissed Messrs. AROUWOSA and CASTIEL,
intimate friends of the minister, whom he had placed
u his bureau, and on whom he relied with the greas-
es' confidence. On the other hand, the clergy cannot
behold, with indifference the fanatic Zees 's functions in-
tweeted in a ma* who is supposed to profess religions w
timents quite opposed to those which prevail in the
party which he serves. N. Heredia is known for an
ardent supporter of expeditions against Spinish America
and one of the conditions imposed upon him, on his entering
the cabinet, was to use all his influence for the fitting out
of a new expedition against Peru. As this conception is
the basis of Russian polity with respect to Spain, it is
probable that M. Heredia will effect this endeavour ; but
fortunately there are numerous and insurmountable ob-
stacles, which render it impracticable.

DISCOVERY OF A QUANTITY OF THE STOLEN NOTES
or THE PORTSMOUTH HAEIL—On Saturday noon last,
middle-aged man, who refuses to disclose his name, entered the
Asp of Air. Tooth, linen-draper, Hastings, and made a purrhste
of several articles, for the payment of which he tendered a 1414.
noteof the Portsmouth Bank. Doubting tts being 'genuine, 7*,
Tooth applied at the Hastings Bank, only • few Lows distant,
and learnt it was one of the Portsmouth stolen notes; on ilia Ste_
T. stepping to the door beckoned the man in, who was waiting on
the pavement, and who no sooner entered the bank than the key lei
tamed upon him, and his person seturhed, when others of the sa
bank, to considerable amount, were found • some in a pocket]
book, and others wrapped round his legs beneath his stockiss"
Information of the arcitni.tenee was received in town yes-
morning, and the parties interested have left town
gaol, to which he is committed.

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LENT ASSIZES.
LANCASTER Assizes, Maacn li

MURDER.
Jaime ittorvf.eld. and 3J, was indicted tin the wilful murder of
Mien Downs, at fleaton Nonis, on the !right of the ad of No-
'amber. 'flie prisoner pleaded Not Dodgy.
This was the case of the unfottunate young woman who was
murdered in her way from tttockport to Heaton Norris, on her re-
turn from an appointment with a leading manufacturer, by whom
she had two children, =fully detailed in our report of the corozer's
wittiest. The accused, who had thoughts of marrying her, was
exasperated at this connection, and had threatened revenge, which
red to his apprehension; but the evidence could not bring the
matter home, and although in company with the deceased late in
the see nags and after her retort, from her previous appointment,
sombating like au aliii ICU proved.
The Jury, after retiring for about 20 minutes, returned a verdict
of Nat Guilty; which verdict was approved by Mr. Justice
MARLEY, who thought it a very doubtful cay.
SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1 P.M.
Henry erifilthi (the sawyer, from Liverpool) has just received
sentetwe of Death, for the warder of John Jones. lie appeared to
be much affected, and is to be executed on Monday next. The
Juq wu about half an hour considering of their verdict.
Two P.m—The trial of Clay Ilan, for setting fire to a building
:.t Liaopool, eninmencod immediately after the above; and he has
!„ten arquilfted.
•

'SHREWSBURY ASSIZES, MAUCH 19.
'SIURDER OF A CHILD BY ITS FATHER.
Richt,(loverjlekl was Indicted for the wilful murder of Richard,
llis Wane son, of three months old, effected by administering
to him tad 'WWI: The prisoner, a man apparently in the con-
dition of a labourer, about 3 years of age, pleaded "Not
I/Why." He challenged three Of the jurymen, who accordingly
• ilel - 9r.
M- S-..ewtO dated the ease for the prosecution, and rolled a
number of withedies.
Louise Davies was then examined by Mr. RYAN, and gave vet-
dance as follows :—I am the wife of Jonathan Ihvies, who lives
of Hridgenorth. In September last we were near neighbours to the
prisoner, who worked at the carpet-manufactory in that place. He
n child which was three mond s old on the morning of its
death. Between eleven and twelve o'clock on Sunday morning,
the 21‘1 Sertenallelai heard a hest) screaming from the priso-
ner's wife. 'ltis red me immedivotly to the prisoner's house.
There I saw the woman to the kitchen, near the table, holding the
child, which was a sucking child, to her bosom. The prisoner was
there, and several other persons. His wife put the child's mouth
to her month, and her tongue into the mouth, and said something
wade her mouth smart, and felt hot, sour, and bitter. She Mill
to her husband, "Oh, Dick ! Dirk ! what have done to my child ?"
He repht " Nothing at all, my wench ; but the black cat got
up to the child's mouth, and brought foam up, and I knocked it
off." The lips of the child were blistered and white with foam.
Mrs. Overfleld left the house with the child, to go to the doctor's,
in great distress.
Mr. Edward John Spry Paid—ln September last I was an assist-
ant to Mr. Hall, a surgeon at Bridannorth. Between eleven and
twelve o'clock in the forenoon of the 2lst of thst month, M rs. Over.
held cane to me, and Draught her child. She was in a state of
Brest agitation, and was crying violently ; so match so, that for a
time she ww; 'unable to tell her errand. She pointed to the child's
moth, and desired me to taste its lips. I did so, and found a very
pungent acid taste, which no female milk could give. The lips
were white and shrivelled, and had small blisters on their inner
Purface. There were similar appearances on the mouth and tongue.
The child appeared in violent agony, and threw itself about so
tom a was difficult to hold it steady. I concluded the child had
swallowed some acid, and surmised from the taste it was sul-
phuric acid, which is popularly called oil of vitriol, and is one of
the strongest mineral poisons. As I thought the caaeof importance,
wished Mr. Hall to see the child : he accordingly saw it, and, on
consult:Oen, we agreed to give niagnusia suspended in water, to
deutralize the acid, and alternately diluent drinks, as gruel and
bailey water. Mrs. Overfleld left the house with the child, and
I almost immediately followed to see that my directions were pro.'
pair ohs/eve& When I retired, I found the room nearly hlled
Witt. the nen,thbours, one of whom held the child on her lap, and
was administering the magnesia. I asked the prisoner if he had
given the child any fond, or any medicine by mistake: he replied
that he had not, but bad merely knocked the black cut of the
child. I asked where the cat was? Ile Paid it was out. I or-
dered it to be brought; it was brought; I asked the prisoner if
that was the at; lie said, " Yes." 1 examined the paws and the
mouth of the cat, but found nothing unusual; and putting my
Sager to its mouth tasted it ; and found no trace of acid. I said
the child had swallowed oil of vitriol, which was poison, and asked
they had any is the house? He said, " No." I examined care-
fully, but found suite. I asked the prisoner if he knew what oil of
'MAI was ? He said, " No." I explained its ordinary uses, as
to snake blacking and clean brasses ; but he said he knew nothing
or it. About one, I found the infant vas incapable of swallowing ;
soon after it breathed with difficulty and nurse; the extremities
grew coil; the powers of life were evidently sinking; and at three
clock the child died.
Two other witnesses were examined, whose evidence was condo-
si•e in support of the indictment.
Edward Hoodall, examined by Mr. SLANEY, said—On Mon-
day, September 22, I went to the house of the prisoner. A phial
was delivered to me there, in the presence of Louisa Davies. I
took the bottle to Mr. Hall, and showed it so him and Mr. Spry,
-*no poured three drops out of it. I have kept it ever since. After
tl.e prisoner was taken, on Thursday. the 25th of September, he
was at my house, waiting to be brought to Shrewsbury. Before he
Went, his wife cam to see him. She said, "My dear Dirk, go
down wt your knees, and pray to the Almighty to forgive you for
what you have dune, and always have the truth in your mouth."
He answered, " I have the truth at my tongue's end, but I dare
tot speak it." "My dear wench ! (he added) you have got my
watch ; keep it for my sake, as I ',hull never come back, and give
my eltehee to my poor old father." The prisoner's house is in this
county.
Joseph Hall, the surgeon, examined by lair. Items, 'Ma—
-1 tasted the lips of the child which were blistered, and found they
had an acid taste on them. I attended the Coroner's inquest, and
'opened the body of the child. On laying open the cavity of the
telly, a blood-coloured fluid escaped ; nearly a pint which re-'
-attained was preserved for the purpose of examination. The great
curve:are of the stomach was-corroded, and reduced to a black sub-
stance of the consistence of wet boos n paper. The gullet was con-
tracted, and the internal lining corroded. The innnbrane lining
the mouth and tongue was of a dull white colour. The lips were
nutemollv Isfistered, and externally they were of a dark colour. I
analyeed the substance found in the child, and detected a conaider-
quantity-of sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol, which was quite
4:aficient to produce the effects which I saw. tiondall gave a phial
to Mr. Spry in my presence, and he poured out a drop ; 1 analyzed
it. and 'fitund it to he oil of vitriol, like that found in the stomach.
-A much lees quantity of oil of vitriol than that found in the sto-
mach was suSUent to cause the death of the child. I have no doubt
'whatever that oil of vitriol was the cause of its death.

31r. Spry twins recalled. stated that he entirety agreed with Mr.
NA in his opinion, and had no doubt that the tail of vitriol found
yid the clrild's stomach occasioned its death.

- • Mr.Dugard, a physician in extensive practice at Shrewsbury,
awing tat...tided to the evidence, gave a as his opinion that the
;quantity of oil of vitriol described as found in the stomach of the
• add would 'induce death. He bad analysed a part of the content*
..ssf the immesh, since diluted, and traced oil of vitriol. lie had
Mad common people soak of children dying from a eat sucking
otbbir breath ; but be did not believe it.
. . . .

Ou ems-examination, Dr. Dugard said, • eat lying on the
mouth of a child, might stop respiration, and so produce the con-
•liiihon4 of death; but in that case the appearances on the body
'eosld hare been very did:Tent.
,"'Clement Hughes, superintendent in the manufactory, being
4isress-enamined on the part of the prisoner, be said that he always
eleasidered him a peaceable and humane men.
Mr. Hall, being recalled on behalf of the prisoner, said, oil of
• vitriol was applied to the boors of cattle on certain occasions, and
hi an undiluted state.

This was the ease for the prosecution.
• Mr. Justice FAUN informed the prisoner, that this was the time
for him to make his defence.
The prisoner, who seemed at first scarcely to understand the
question, at length said he only wished to say that he was innocent
Of the mane.
Mr. Comm., said that as the prisoner had already reeei►ed an
• eitvtlent character from the witnesses for the prosecution, be
alioald ant call witnesses to speak to his humane disposition.

Mr. Justice Pane after expressing Ids satisfaction at the groat
attention paid by the to this moetalhopertant case, rate .her
the whole evidence, and commented on its bearings.
• The Jerry, after a consultation of two or throe minutes, returned
-6 verdict of Crii/fy.
' Mr. Justice PARK TROCOOded to address the prisoner to the fol-
lowi,g effe.et :—•• Richard Overlield, you have been convicted,
att .r a most full and sausfactiry trial, oo evident% which has left
mu doubt on the mind of any man who has beard it, of the murder
tif your own child, the fruit of your body, and whom yon were
bound by every tie of nature to protect and to cherish. The only
elfeculty which the Jury could for an instant fool, but which the
• espight of proof completely overcame, was in cienceiving • motive
Which mild lead you to take away the life of ate.infant which was
incurable of offending you, by the most horrible means. Bat I, from
reading the depositions taken before the Coroner, knew, what I care-
Tully concealed from the Jury until now that they have given their
thst the uahappy woman, who is now the wife of your bo-
som, was with child by you before marriage, and that yen often
expressed on that account a hatred to the infant and her, declaring
• that you would not support her or her bastard ;' but yet. how
you cauld administer this poison to the poor child, knowing, as you
did, the agony it would cause, i cannot imagine. I have only ene
consolation as respects you—that you have now been for six months
in prison, and that you entered it with a conviction of the punish-
ment which awaited y our crime ; and, therefore. I trust you have
nought Ritge7 where aksts it can be and and where it is never
to - . If net, let me int for your urea sake,
monieat ; to betake yoursegituo prayer and to repent-
seek wercy from him, • with whom there is plenteous
The sentence of this Court ls, that you be taken
to the place from whence you came, and from thence,
next, the 22d of klatch, to a place of execution, and
hanged by the reek until you are dead ; and thatafter
th your body be delivered to the surgeons to be anatomised,
OW have mercy on your most guilty soul." The learned
se much_ affected during the &Wvary of this address
s scarcely able to conclude it. The prisoner, who had
t'.e litr, almost as unmoved as a statue, during the
"ten from the bar without manifesting any mutton.

BOARD OF RATISR.Moxbat, Matter! 22.
MI. Jolla Adams, • tallow-chandler, of No. 171, Whiteman-
street, appeared to an information, charging him with certain
breaches of tht! Excise Laws, by which the following penalties be-
came forfeited :—For making candles without a declaration, 501.;
for making more candles than stated in the declaration, 501.; for
removing candles before they were weighed, 1001. ; and for
rtsdipping candles after they were weighed, 101.; in all 2101.
It appeared that the defendant had been tined once before by the
Boanl for similar acts.
The Board convicted him upon three counts, in mitigated penal-
ties, amounting to 351.
Mr. William Jamr, a snuff and tobacco merchant, of No. 4,
New-street, rovent-garden, appeared to an information, charging
him with having an excess of seventeen pounds of rappee in hill
possession.
It appeared that the defendant's stock was examined by the
officer on the 1:1th of February • and on tht 4th of March, on exa-
mining it again, thee app,are;l an increase of seventeen pounds,
without it appearing Ify the permits that he had received any fresh
supply.
The defendant stated that he was obliged to be 'burnt from town,
and had left the care of the shop to his father, who had :catered
the snuff more than he ought to have done, and this was the occa-
sion of the increase. He declared that he had been a great suf.
fever; for by its being so damp. it had made it musty and unfit for
sale.
The officer admitted that part of the snuff in the shop was damper
than usual.
The Hoard remitted the fine, but condemned the snuff.
Danirl Crozier, a Merman, was charged with having in his pos-
session two gallons of spirits, which had not paid the duty, by
which he had iaeurred the penally of 1001.
Benjamin Holland, an officer, stated, that, on the 2fith of Feb.
in consequence of some information he had received, he went to the
Ship public-house, in Shadweli, and saw the defendant with •
basket, apparently filled with leeks, hut, on turning them over,
folind two bladders, one containing brandy, and the other gin.
The defendant had tittered to do all in his power towed, discover-
ing where the still was at work, but had not yet been able to accom-
plish it.
The defendant pleaded distress, which had drove him to the em.
ployment of disposing of the spirits for other persona who belonged
to the still. Ile begged hard to be forgiven.
He was convicted in the *gated penalty of 201.
Witham Setrry was charged with having in his possession 1431b5.
of tea, without • permit.
On the sth February, about six o'clock in the morning, while
John Baker, in the employ of Mr. White, a timber-merchant, at
:Milbank, was going to his work, he saw the defendant with his
horse and cart, and two men Mlle towards him with two sacks,
which they put into the cart. Baker spoke to them, and front
their answers he suspected that all was not right, and went towards'
the cart to see what the sacks contained, when the men ran off.
Ile questioned the defendant respecting the contents of the sacks,
but he professed ignorance on that subject. Baker then looked
into the sacks, and found them full of tea. In consequence he
took the prisoner, horse, cart, and tea, and delivered them into the
custody of Gilmour and Cooper, of Quern-square police-office,
where the defendant underwent three examinations, on suspicion of
having stolen the tee, but it was not ascertained where the tea had
been stolen from. Mr. Marshall, a grocer of Islewonit, who had
been robbed of a quantity of tea, wended at Queen-square, but
could not identify the sea: the defendant was accordingly dis-
charged, and the tea sent to the Excise-office. Since then, upon
petition, the tea has been delivered to Mr. 3lfirs'tsll.
The defendant said he knew nothing of the men, except that
they employed his horse and cart to carry the sacks; but he did nut
know their contents. Ile had been drawn into the affair by the
men who had ran away.
The Board remitted the penalty, but condemned the hone and
cart.

POLICE.

GUILDHALL.

A Ltwex-Musint'sf:Aiii Nes Cowie. a young man
as nicely rigged out, and with hair as elegantly arranged es any
linendraper could desire to exhibit in his window, or behind his
counter, yesterday stood charged by Rivers, a watchman' of Cheap-
side,. lie found Mr. Cowie snatching coolly away with the door
of the watch-box, at the corner of Paternoster-row, and obtain-
ing no satisfactory explanation of his title to the door, he took
Mr. Cowie in charge, and there he was, and there was the
box-door.
Mr. Cowie said he was rather merry, and receiving no answer
from the box as usual to his civil " good night," he took the door
or the hinges and walked away. It was foolish, but he would not
repeat it. He was with a respectable linendraper.
The Magistrate admonished and discharged hint.
HACIINZT-COACH FARLII.—Mr. Boat* was charged by W.'
Carter, a hackney-coachman, for his tire from Bishopagast.street
to Soho-square—thence to Leicester-square—thence to Covent-
garden—thence to Leicester-square again—and thence to Fleet-
street, where, Mr. Benton refusing to pay, and ap • insen-
sible of his liability, was detained and given in charge. He de.
mended seven shillings. 3lr. Benton drank at Smithfield, at St.
Odes's, and in other places, detaining the coach. The fare to
Soho-square was :is. 6d.
Mr. Renton said he had refused to pay. because too much had
been demanded.

The Magistrate said, the coachman had no right to be stopping
at public-houses, and drinking with his employer, when he must
have teen the state he was in. `• Let the defendant pay Se. 6d. and
be discharged."
Mr. Beaton complained of the hardship of confuimorM alms
Saturday sight, but being admonished of the impropriety of his
conduct in getting the coachman to drive him about from place
to place, he paid and departed.

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