The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-23 00:00:00

POLICE.

MANSION ROUSE, SEPT. 22.—A gentleman applied to the
Lord Mayor for a summons against a waterman, whom be con-
ceived had practised a grout imposition upon him.
The gentleman said, he took a boat to convey two ladies to a
steam-packet off the Custom-house-stairs, and having detained It
four or five minutes, returned in it. Upon asking the fare, the wa-
terman demanded 24. 61. The gentleman remonstrated at the ex-t
orbiting charge. and then the man said be would not take less
than 214., conteuding that he was entitled to it on account of the
luggage, .which thd not weigh more than 301bs. or *Abs. The
ap-
phcant thought, diet if watermen were allowed to make use ef
such a plea as this, they would avail themselves of it to practise
the most extensive impositions on the public.
I The LORD Al AYOR said, he had looked over the regulations,
and found that there was not a word mentioned about luggage. The
wwermen were, in this respect, wholly out of his jurisdiction. He
regretted this much, but there was at present no remedy. The
subject was, however, one which was swelling into importance, and
he should state the facts mentioned by Mr. Spooner to the Court of
Aldermen. He knew that a set of new regulations was now in
progress, and he was convinced that one would be iatrodueed upon
this very proper suggestion, calculated to cheat the gross frauds so
frequently occurring.
II smartly dressed young man applied to the Lord Mayor for a
summons or a warrant against a gentleman for an assault.
The LORD MATOR—TeII me the particulars of the assault, and
whether you gave this gentleman any provocation.
Applicant—l gave him none. I went to him to be hired as his
footman, and I gave hist the address of my former master, but he
promised not to wait upon hint to ask any quastions ►bout me un-
til I should see hint again. When Iv went to him again, he told
me my terms were too high, acd that I was too good a servant for
him. 1 judged from this, that he must have been to my old mas-
ter, and I charged him with it, and he pushed me violently and
rudely out of ills house.
The Ltno MAYOR —Why, you won't pretend that he had no
right to make an inquiry into your character? Bat tell me, if you
please, in what manner you charged him with the breach of his en-
gagement, as you seem to think 1., with you ?
The Applicant—l merely told him he acted in a very ungentle-
manly manner in going to my master to ask about me, after 1 kad
required him not to do anything of the kind until I should see
him again. I knew he must have broken bis engagement to me,
and I said he had not acted like a gentleman, upon which he had
the impudence to seize me by the collar, call me a d--d rascal,
threaten to kick me out, and actually shoved me violently out
at the street door into the street, and shut the door upon me.
The LORD give you no summons. Von may seek
satisfaction at the Sessions if you please. So you wanted to be
hired without a character, did you? You may depend upon it that
you will never get a place without some much stronger recommend-
ation than your civility.
The Applicant—He should not have told me he would not
do what he afterwards did, and it was very ungentlemanly con-
duct.
Theloup Marot—Very well. Take the case to the Sessions.
I shall not trouble the gentleman.

The applicant mutt;.red something in condemnation of the re-
fusal of the Lord Mayor, and seemed disposed to be imperti-
nent.

Mr. HOHLER—My good fellow, you had better walk out of this
as quickly as possible, or you may have to tell somebody that you
were shoved in an ungentlemanly manner out of the Manstun-
hoase.

The fellow looked u terrible u he could, and would have put
on his fiat in contempt of the Lord Mayor, had not one the officen
prevented hint.. . .

,
The LORD MAYOR said the conduct of this very gentlemanly
servant put him in mind of what took place between a friend of
his and a fellow who was making his terms as footman. " What
wine do you give, sir ?" said the applicant for the place. " None,"
said the other. " None! God bless me! And pray who is to
clean my boots a:id shoes ?" cried the servant. •' Oh !" re-
plied the gentleman, '• I'U do that myself," and turned him out
of doors.