The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-06-02 00:00:00

LONDON,
SATURDAY. JUNE 4, itl2l.

The proceedings in the Court of King's Bench
ysterday were possessed of considerable interest.
Judgment was pronounced against Major CART-
WRIGHT, GEORGE EDMUNDS, CHARLES MAD-
DOCKS, and Tuosias J. Woor.ta, for the part
they perforated at the last great Birmingham meet-
ing, in the lure of electing what was rather loth-
crottely called " • Legislatorial Attorney" to the
[louse of Commons on behalf of the good people
of Birmingham. There never was any doubt, as far
as we could understand, in the public mind respect-
ing the illegality, and we may indeed add, the
rank absurdity of such a proceeding, and no at-
tempt was ever made by Sir CIIAREEs ‘VOLSELIIY,
the elected goardian of the ioterests of Birmingham,
to give validity to the election. The country
laughed at the proceeding, and it was at the time
generally conceived that the Ministers of the Crown
would suffer the memory of such an occurrence to
perish like that of the various (eller follies that for
a moment amuse the thoughtless curiosity of the
multitude, but they Lave determined otherwise,
and have placed it among the records of the em-
pire, there to remain as a memorial either of the
imprudence of the individuals accused, or of the
disorganised state of society, which could have in-
duced so large a portion of the community to con-
cur in so extravagant a measure.
From the judgments pronounced by the King's
Bench on this occasion, ae may estimate in how
very serious a point of view the Judges of that Court
regarded the pretended election of Sir CHARLIIS
WOLSELEY. Major CARTWRIGHT was sentenced
to limy a fine of 11)0/. to the KING—GEORGE ED-
MUNDs to be imprisoned in Warwick gaol for nine
months, and to enter into securities for good beha-
viour for the space of five years, himself iti 400/.
and two sureties in 100/. rasa—CHARLES MAD-
DOCKS to he imprisoned in the same gaol fur eigh-
teen mouths, and to eider into the ssme securities_
end THOMAS J. WOOLER to be imprisoned in the
same gaol for fifteen months, and also to enter into
the like securities. The sentences were graduated
by the Court upon a dispassionate view of the cir-
cumstances connected with the cases of the parties
individually. The lenity of the judgment pro-
nounced upon Major CARTWRIGHT seemed to
aTord very general satisfaction to a very crowded
Court. This Gentleman, who has long appeared
lAffore the public as au enthusiast in the cause of
Parliamentary Reform, is so far advanced in years,
that the public, we are convinced, mould not be
well pleased, whatever may be his errors, to see
convigned to the walls of a prianii for a political
4.irttlee of this suture. What influence this feel-
ing may have exercised upon the Learned
Judges we cannot pretend to estimate, it is indeed
probable that it did not enter into their consideration,
but it is gratifying to think that the Judges in re-
viewing the venerable Major's case, should have
f•teend in it such circumstances of extenuation as
have enabled them iu the exercise of their discre-
tion to pronounce such a judgment upon him us
will please the public, while it satisfies the ends of
justice. 'rise judgments affecting the ether Dr-
flarlsute appear to be sufficiently severe. There
is in WOOLEIN case a particular hardship, foi an
imprisonment for fifteen mouths in a gaol so far
removed as that of Warwick is from the ordinary
place of his business, must exercise upon his pri-
vate fortunes a most destructive effect.

The COANCILLOS of the Excatensft opetv'd
Ili. Budget lost night is the Ilowee of Commons.
The Right lion. Geollcems's speech contained
e'etailed exposition of the Asmisaial state of the
empire, ernbrisciwa a view of the general prodwee
sf the reenlist and of the expenditure for the
smi•ee. As almost every pini.t to %Inch
reteretica cools' he mods in such an exposition has
• 6'en larrady discossed hi the Hruse of Commons
dining the previt.us putt of the prevent Session,