The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-25 00:00:00

immediately after the Recess he would pons upon the at-
tention of the lido* He did not know with what truth,
but he hail heard that Ministers-meant to concede this boon to the
people, but nut now. The reason for ;itch a proceeding WAS pal-
pable. They ma= to reserve it for next yestr,*(vben they would '
be compelled to return to their constituents, and bring with them
tins conetinien, as a title to a renewal of their confidence; and for
this piker electioneering artifice the people were to be compelled
to suffer snothtr year under this distressing burtheopf taxation.
No tax had ever been repealed without the rriterateff demand, of
the people • and although they had determined not to petition,
it WU his duty to persevere, secure of their applause; at least con-
fident in a clear consetenco, and enjoying lettings of satisfaction
that he bad been objected to by that man (pointing to Hunt).
(Cheers.)
Mr.llsax proposed a vote of thanks to the High Bailiff, and
the Alectir.g was then dissolved.
We cannot say that the assemblage was either numerous or re-
apectahle, a great pertion seeming to be mechanics, drawn to the
place fruni mete cntiosity.

BERKSHIRE ELECTION.
Yesterday the nomination of a Member to serve in Parliament for
this extensive county, in consequence of one of the Representatives
(the Hon. Richard Neville) being raised to the Peerage. by the
death of Lord Braybrooke, took place at the Town-Hall, in
Reading.
An application, signed by upwards of 600 freeholders, was sent
to Robert Palmer, Esq. requesting him to become a Candidate,
with which request that Gentleman exprxsed his willingness to
comply.
Mr. William Hallett, who has on several previous occasions stood
foe the County. an soon as the present vacancy occurred, again an-
nounced himself as a Candidate.
As usual on these occasions, a number of electioneering addresses
were circulated.
Es* in the day the town presented to scene of unusual bustle
and tray, as a large body of the freeholders of the county
at the residence of Robert Palmer. Esq. at Hointe Park,
a diauince of three miles tram Reeding, with the intention
tt atoning him to the Town Hall in procession, which assembled
wet half a mile front the park, and was composed of the principal
peozien and landholders, who wore wreaths of laurel. Mr.
Palmer met teem at eleven o'clock, and was received with every
demoustration of feeling for his success. Ile MU then escorted by
about 1,200 horsemen into Reading, and entered the Hall precisely
at twelve o'clock.- The Bench and table had been previously occu-
pied, and the immense area of the building was thronged in lees
dun ten minutia'.
' Ebenezer Fuller Maitland- Esq. the High Sheriff, aczompanied
by JJ. Symopds, Esq. the Mayor of Reading, and a number of the
ipmery•or the county, entered the Hall at the 311151Qmonient.
The Sheriff was then called to the (nde, and a desire was
expressed for adjourning to the Forbury (a large open smite in the
centre of the town). 'lie Meeting hewever did not adjourn, and
Mr. Illou fel', of Wasing Hall, came forward, and after eulogis-
ing the character of Mr. Palmer, proposed that gentleman as their
Representative.
Mr. G. H. ELLIOTT, of Binfield Park, seconded the nomina-
tion, and observed, that from his own knowledge and experience
he was convinced the county could not be represented by a member
in whom such qualities were combined as elle Palmer possessed ;
he was known to them all for possessing integrity, uprightness,
liberality, and the highest sense of honour. He was not only rem.,
defeat remarkaele by his good qualities, but he was distinguished
for his public independence.—(Chars.)
The II ton Sit Eat re here asked if any freeholder had any ether
gentleman to put in nomination.
A pause of some minutes duration took place, during, which the
Meeting seemed to look with some anxiety for the apeeerance of
Ile. Hallett or his friends.
A letter was handed to the High Sheriff from Mr. H., and after
some consideration the High Sheriff said that Mr. Hallett lameeted
in his letter that ill health prevented .his being with them that
day.
The how SnE irF eventually put the only question before
him, whether Robert Palmer, Esq. was a fit and pepper person to
be
_put in coinination for the repreeeetation of the County of Berke?
The show or hands in Mr. Primer's favour was very great.—
On the quesfon of the contrary being put, a reggaed boy held up his
Mod and stick.
Mr. PALxlt returned thanks for the honour done him, and
observed, that if he was elected their Representative, he would
strenuously endeavour to promote the welfare of the county.• The
Honourable Gentleman cominued:—" I come forward a perfectly
Independent man; by that urm, I mean, I am not politically at-
tached to any party. But when i consider that the burthens of the
people are reduced, and that those who hold the reigns of Govern-
ment are pursuing a course of general relief from taxation, and
doing all that reasonably can be expected for the people, then, I
say, they are entitled, not only to my support, but to that of he
comer/ at large. (Applause.) I will not pledge myself to any ear-
ticular line of conduct. My vote shall always depend oo the merits
of the question; and I will neither negicetylour ilatemtsnor compro-
mise any own independence." (Applause.) Wednesday
The Election will commence at Abingdon on Wednesday next.

THE BRITISH PR. •

HOME CIRCUIT.
SUSSEX ASSIZES, Hovers=, WZMITZSDILY, MARcm 23.
John FiMilts and Thomas Fibbins, brothers, were indicted for
robbing James Lidbitter, on the King's high-way, at Bamburgh,
on the 21ith of February.
It appeared in evidence that the prisoners had been in the service
of Mr. Penfuld, a farmer, near Ramburgh. In Me evening of the
2.ith of February, Lidbitter, bailiff to Mr. Penfold, had been sent
by his master to Steyning, to get lot worth of silver money to pay
his workmen. On his return between seven and eight, lie was met
by the prisoners, one of whom immediately knocked hint down with
a bludgeon, whilst the ocher rifled his packets of the silycr money,
and then both ran off. The moon shining brightly, enabled the
prosecutor to distinguish the legumes of the prisoner:, both u. whom
he had known intimately as labonrert on his master's farm. Next
day the prisoners were apprehended at a public-house in Brighton,
and upon them was found a quantity uf silver money, corresp,ir.dirg
is amount. within ens or two shillings, with the VIM stolen from
the prosecutor.
The prisoners charged the witnesses for the prosecution a
Palle swearing. and soul that the found upon them was the

e morel to
fruit of then harrzst earnings. No witnesses were called for the
defence.
The Jury found the rriconers Guilty, 'and sentence of Dent'
was recorded.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

HEREFORDSHIRE ASSIZES, HEREFORD, Maßcu 22.
These Moises cosomenced this day., before Mr. Justice LIT-
TLEDALI: in the Crown Court, and 31r. Baron 6•IIROW at Nisi
Pe;nr.
The Calendar contained the names of 16 pridonere, but no case
of peculiar enormity. Twenty four civil cases were entered for trial,
of which kin were Special Jury can.es.
CROWN RIDE.
untie :Vash was charged will' wallas certain articles of wear-
, leg apparel. the preperty of Anne Jackson.
The chief evidence against the prisoner was, that a part of the
stolen property was found in his house.
After the Learned JurcE had summed up the evidence, only
11 ache Jurors consulted together, the twelfth, who wore a white
night cap, standing aloof from hta fellows, when the Foreman of
the Jury said—" 111 y Lord. Cie gentleman won't consult with us,
and we can make nothing of him.
The Learned JunoE said to the twelfth Juror—You must coo-
suit with the other Jurymen, and say with them whether the pri-
soner is gushy or not.
The Juror-31y Lord, I am sure I don't know whether he is
guilty or net ; I know nothing at all about the business.
The Learned June[—Do you agree with the other Jurors in
what they thirk of the ease?
The Juror-1 don't know, my Lord, whether I agree with thcnt
or not.
The Learned JUDGE—It is your duty to consult with them, and
agree with them in saying whether the prisoner is guilty or not.
The Juror-31y Lord, 1 really know nothing at all about the
business.
However. after some further persuasion, the Juror talked a little
wide the ethers, and they acquitted the prisoner.
As noon as the verdict was recorded, Lis Lordship told the saga.
clone gentleman in the white night cap, that the Court had no fur-
.ther occasion for his services as a Juror, and that he might go
home. He departed apparently much gratified at the termon.tion
of his judicial career.
CIVIL SlDE.—Wronrssnar, MARCH 23. -
LLOYD C. WILLIAMS 1E54.

Mr. RICHARDS ripened the pleadings, and stated that this was
an action for word; spoken in the Welch language.
Mr. TAUNTON stated that the present action was one of great
importance to the plaintiff, an it was to decide whether he was to
move in the line of society in which he was used to move, or whe-
ther he should be a degraded man. In the place he tilled exist-
ence without character was of no value. Place
plaintiff was by
business a lend-surveym and was also an Officer of the Court
of Great Sessions. being Deputy Barthel of that Court; one of
his brothers was a Clergyman of the Established Church, and an-
other had had the honour of serving his Majesty in his naval
service. The defendant, Morris. Williams, Esq. was a gentle-
man
of very large fortune, and had Revved the office of Sheriff
of the county, and was now a Magistrate of the county of
Pembroke. lie was a man of very jovial habits, and like many
others liked to be the first man In the company he kept. On one
evening at the beginning of tit:: year, he was enjoying himself
at the Angel-Inn, Cardigan, and according to his own account he
retired to bed in much better spirits than he got up with in the
merning, when he stated teat he missed the sum of seven rounds
out of a sum of thitty pawed*, which he supposed he-hatl had in his
pocket the r ight helot e ; he thought proper to charge the plaintiff
as the thief who hid stolen the money ; the words we not vague
nor uttered in a passion, but were words attemping to laying home
the charge of a parietalsr and specific robbery. lle should chew,
that on toe Itith of March the detcnriant was at this time at Car-
digan, and there, many persons being assembled, the subject of the
supposed robbery was introduced, and the defendant said he had
thirty pounds in his pocket, and bed 'oast seven pounds. On this
the plaintlfrasked if be meant to charge hint wish it, as the plats
tiff hail heard that the defendant hd so charged him. The de-
fendant on this said. •• It was you that stole my money."
Owen Owen was then called, and being unable to speak any lan-
guage except the Welsh, he was examined through an interpreter.
lie said, lam the master of a trading vessel. lam a member of a
benefit society, which met at the Angel, at Cardigan. I saw Mr.
Withants, the defendant, there, and also the plaintiff: There were
a great many other persons present. 'fie defendant said to the
plaintiff, ' Liawl chwi yw'r ay'ri ddwgodd 't avian i,' which means,
• Peril, you are the man that stole my money.'
Mr. CAMPBELL rose, and said that his client, filr.liVilliains,wan
a highly re stable gentlarean, and, from some information he
had received, he was induced to suspect the plaintiff of hay-
ing stolen his money ; but he was now convinced that the
plaintiff was a most respectable man, and that the suspicion was
quite groundless and without foundation. Ile had spoken to Ithe
Learned Friend (Mr. Taunton), who, r.s his client wished only for
the repo-alio, of his character, woeld be satisfied with a verdict for
the plaintiff for 40s.
Mr. Baron Owaitow observed, that the termination of the case
did credit to both pieties.
The Jury found a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 40s.

NORFOI K CIRCUIT.
TUEITFIAscif, 23.

Before Mr. Justice Graz t.r c.
Richard Gower stood indicted foe having feloniously assaulted
Mary Ann Vincent, and against her wish carnally knowing her.
Th. prisoner .appeared at the bar decently dressed. He is only
16 years of age.
Mary Ann Vincent, the proseentrix, gave the following account
of the transaction :—I ant turned 17 years of age. I live with Mr.
Etheredge, of Denton. I know the prisoner at the liar. I went to
Mr. Clarke's at IVorkwell, on the 10th of Match ; that is about a
mile and a lislf from my master's house. 1 returned from Mr.
Clarke's aho,;•t a quarter past six. I saw the prisoner that evening
between Mr. Clarke's and Workwell Bell ; he was riding an a
dicky till, he reaci:ed his father's house, about half a mile;
he asked me how I did t I told hint very well thank you, and
asked him how he was. When he reached his father's house he
wished me good night. As soon as I raised Untwdl Bout, he
overtook me again, and said he was going ID y way. He said he
thought that I was afraid, and then I stud no, few I expected James
to come and meet me. We walked together to the nule stone, and
then he said lie must 'rave a kiss Wore we parted ; I replied that
I never suffered any one to kiss me. Hz then said, 111 be d—cl
it I don't have something else, that's what I einie for. He then
threw me on the bank, and I raid 1 expected James to come, and I
telahlttl he would come.

Here several neecsiary questions were put to the witness, who
became so much embarrassed as to be unable to answcr then,.

The Learned Juno E. turning to the Jury, rai•!—Wr;l, Gentle-
men of the Jury, in this case we cannot proceed without evidence.
It is quits obvious that this young woman is deeply, and, I think,
unalfecsediy embarrassed I and parlisps iris little to be wandered
at under the very unpleasant circumstances in which she is placed.
I hope f am ant mistaken in attributing her present silence to that
reluctance so ratural to a female mind I laced in S,.ch a condition.
I trust there has been no tampering with the public justice of the
country. however that may be, it is for you, in these eireutn-
s:ances. to say that the priiuner in not guilty. -
The Jury accordingly or grarirri the prisoner.
The Learned JUDGE then, in the must gamest and Impressive
manner, addressed the prisoner as follows:
Richard Gower, you have had a fortunate escape. The crime
Imputed to you ill one of the most heinous nature. Had it been
proved, you must Lave atoned for it with your life. As it is, I
trust the peril in which you have stood this shay will operate as a
salutary warning to you for ever. You are yet very young. I
perceive by the calendar that you are only l 6 years of age. It last
all times awful for a man to come into that si!uation which places
him on the issue of life or death at the bar of his country ; but it
is peculiarly so at the early age which you have attained, and in
which criminality cannot have•even the excuse of a vicious ex-
perience. We hare had no means of asechaliting your guilt or
innocence, on account of the conduct of the prosecutrix, whose
motives Ido not pretend to know. But you have received a formal
verdict of acquittal 1(0111 the Jury, throttO a want of evidence.
When you go from that dock, take with you the recollection of the
situation in. which you have stood. lie cautious of your future
conduct, lent you mar not be again as fortunate as you hove boon
to.day. Futflact upon the circumstances which brought you here ;
let them sink deep in your mind, that you may so guard your
habits and conduct in future, es to be free from tile reproach of
wickedness, and the pthalties of crime.
This address was Ilford with the mo solemn atieution through-
out the Court, and the prisoner left the bar apparently impressed
with &deep sense of Ms Lordship's ohserratioos.
MALICIOUS SHOOTING.
Two men, Gill awl Itrytere4, were capitally i❑dieted for shoot-
ing, with intent to murder or disable, Mayes, the gainekever
of the Doke of Norfolk.
The prisoner Gill was convicted, but the other prisoner was
found Nol'Goilliy.
Srntener of death was recorded against Gill.
The. Duke of Norfolk having recommended him to the merciful
consideration of the Court, hit Lordship informed him his life
would be spared, but that he Mist pease very considerable partmn
of it out of this country,