The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-16 00:00:00

CONSTRUCTION OF THE COURT.

The tinediCy of iieiring;hichi;expetTencc;l in this Court has
hem frequently the subject of animadversion. This defect having
been very ob►ious during the course of this day's proceedings, on
several occasions in which the witnesses were totally inaudible in
the delivery of their testimony, the Lord Chief Justice was induced
to recur to the subject. His Lordship, in the presence of Mr. Mot-
tague, the city architect, who had been sent for, observed, that he
was frequently obliged to repeat important expressions of witnesses,
for the information of the Jury, to whom they would otherwise
have been lost. This was a matter of constant and unpleasant
occurrence, and required correction. Persona who came into the
witness•box were generally accustomed to speak in the ordinary
mode of conversation; hut to reach the ears of the Jury in this
Court, it was indispensable that witnesses should raise their voice to
a pitch much above the common level. The purposes of justice
rendered it necessary that the evil should be rectified.
The Jury concurred in his Lordship's statement, and added that
the greatest stretch of attention was frequently unavailing to enable
them to catch the worth, or meaning, of the witnesses.
31r. Montague having received auricular proof that this serious
inconvenience did exist, assured the Lnrd Chief Justice that he
would take care that an adequate remedy should be supplied as
soon as possible.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Tit CRIDAY, DEC. 15.

The Commissioners have had frequent cause to complain of the
neglect of some of the attorney]; and their clerks, in respect to their
clients, when they come to be heard on their petitions.
Yesterday the Court reqoestel an explanation relative to an In-
solvent's schedule then under examination, but the attorney not
being present, the case was necessarily postponed.
The Chief Commissioner observed, that the Court having fee.
quently remonstrated in vain against the culpable neglect of some
of its officers, they would have recourse to measures of a iummary
nature, and in all cues where it happened that the discharge of an
insolvent was delayed through the negligence of the attorney, he
should pay all costs consequent thereon ; for sttch conduct not only
berayed an improper feeling toward their unfortunate client, but it
evir.cttd a marked disrespect towards the Cour:.
One of the other Commissioners said that it would not be amine
to suspend, or strike from the rolls of the Court, every attorney
who was guilty of a gross dereliction of his duty.

WINTER HOME CIRCUIT.

SURREY ASSIZES, KINGSTON, Dsc.ls.

The Aseires for this county ended this afternoon, about three
o'clock. None of tl:e capital convicts ware left fur execution.
Robert Veitch and In/liens Lovell were indicted for a burglary
and robbery in the dwelling-house of Elias Simmons, in the night
of the 24th November, at St. Cieorge's, Southwark.
Mr. THESSIGER conducted the prosecution. The prOSOCUrOf
is a broker, living in the London-road. On the 20ili November
the prisoner Veitch, a youth of sixteen, who had been in his
service, absconded with two pounds with which he had been sent
nut to pay a debt. In the course of the night of the 24th
November the prosecutor had been disturbed twice with strange
noises, acd when he got up at seven o'clock, he found that his
house had been broken open, and his desk in the parlour robbed of
a gale of gold earrings. seven sovereigns, is-4 other property.
Ile also discovered that hs small-clothes, which lay by his bedside,
bad been rifled of about in silver. In the shop he found a hat,
pair of trousers, a handkerchief. and a pair of stockings, which he
immediately recognised as part of Veitet's wearing apparel, and
which had been substituted for similar ankles taken away. The
prisoner Veiteb was apprehended in the night of the 30th Nov., in
the very set of commenting a burglary in the adjoinining house,
oecJpio.l by a widow named Holmes. On his person there were
round several duplicates for some of the solos property. The pri.
sOlier Lovell was apprehended on the SAM.e morning, when ice mine
to the watch-house to inquire atter Veitch, aid bim was found a
trocsebknife, w hich was one of the articles stolen.
The prisoners said nothing in their defence.
The Learned Ju DOE thought die ease against Lovell too light
for conviction, but Vanes was found Geaty of grand larceny.
Vette* was again indicted for the burglary in Mrs. Holmes's
house. It appeased that Mrs. Holmes being dirtinbed in the
night, she got up cid found the prisoner in her room. She seised
and held him until her cries for help brought a next doer neigh
boor to her assistance, who secured the prisoner with a pistol in his
hand, which he had brnught from a lower apartment Ile had en-
tered the 11041:c by breaking the bolt °FS back door. On hint were
found some housebreaking implements.
Verdict—Gallty. :lenience of death recorded.

ifich.tel Wood and Mir:iambs f:anaock were c.)nTictod of steal.
St.ileorge's, South;iork, on the 14t of Norcmher, a hamper,
containihiL retread books and other articles, the property of Mr.
Ti omss Dalliinore, late occupier of the Globe Tavern, Fleet.
%tract. They were sentenced to sla osontlis'imrisotiment and hard
labour.

CAI.IIIII Rocs ref Wrcarow.--On Thursday morning
the following notice was found postal on 6:: market-house
of Dualavin:—

" het the great Jones and Harrington take care of themselves,
or we will serve them as we served Mr. PoweL Let no person
send them any cattle to Tubberland, or we will serve them at we
did Pollard's sheep; worse, let them take a C11,1:1011 by this, or if
nut they will he sorry •' MARTIN Rocs.
'' Let no man poll this down."
Mr. Potre!, the gent'.tnen alluded to shove, has been much
injured by the derredationi committed on his lands by
the same persons, ft is supposed, who houghed eight of Mr.

3IETROI'OLITAN SESSIONS, cFc. FOR 1826.
The commencement of thejlthisions of the Peace (quarterly and
reneral) for the county of Mklttlesex, and of Oyer and Terminer
and General Gaol Deliver!, of Ncwizate ; Cue Sessions for the Cities
of I,ordon and iVevtrujestw, and the beginning and ending of the
' the Terms for 1826.

attoDLEsitz.
Sessions House, Clerk- I Sessions House, Clerk-
enwell - Jan. 9 enwell - - June 19
Ditto . - Feb. 14 'Ditto - - Sept. 11
JWlldhall, Westmins. Ouildball, Westmins-
r" ter - - - April 3 ter . . - Oct. IC
Sessions House, Clerk- Sessions House, Clerk.
enwell - April 4 enweli - . Oct. ?3
Ditto - - May 9 Ditto . - - Der. 4
CITY OF LONDON SESSIONS.
Wednesday . - Jan. 11 Wednesday . - June 21
Wednesday - Feb. 15 W'ettnesday . - Sept. 13
Wednesday - April 5 Wednesday - Nov. 25
Wednesday - May 10 Wednesday - Dee. 6
Held before the Lord Mayor, Reconlet, lac. at the Guildhall,
London.
SESSIONS FOR THE CITY AND LIBERTIES OF

weirratisrrEa.
Thursday . Jan. 5 I Thursday . - June 15
Thursday 3U Thursday - - Oct. 19
Holden at the Guildhall of the said City, before Francis Coast,
Esq. and!' Bench of Al agintrates.

'SEII/ON Or OYEZ AND TERMINER AND •AOL DELIVERY

or lIEWGATS.
Thursday - • Jan. 12 Thursday - - June 22
Thursday - FAN 16 Thursday - Sept. 14
Thursday - - April 6 Thursday - - Oct. St
Thursday - - May 11 Thursday - Dec. 7
Holden at the Justice-hall in the Old Bailey, before the Lord
Mayor, Recorder, and the 12 Judges, alternately, three of the latter
being appointed in each Corn mission.

POLICE.
GUILDHALL.
George Lomas, who has been in custody :.bout a fortnight, nn
suspicion of embezzling monies which came into his hands as col.
lecting clerk to Blesses. Pontifex, the coppersmiths, in Shoe-lane,
was brought up for final examination before Mr. Alderman Luc,sa.
The prisoner had been remanded from time to time at the request
of his own solicitor, to give him an opportunity of informing his
friends in thecountry, who were understood to be highly respectable,
of thesituation in which he was placed, and nothing beyond the mere
nature of the charge against hint, without any particulars, was taken
in evidence as a ground for his detention. At his last examination,
Mr. Pon titer, the solicitor, brother to the prosecutors, expressed their
desire to have the prisoner punished in the most lenient manner,
and handed to the Magistrate the Act 4 Geo. IV, cap. 34., to en-
large the powers ofJus'ices to determine complaints between 'nes-
ters and servants, which, he submitted, might be construed to
reach this case. The statute enacts, that any labourer, or other
person, who Minn contract to serve any person or persons whom-
soever, in any manner, and shall neglect to fulfil the same, or be
guilty of any other misconduct or misdemeanor in tho execution
thereof, or respecting the Fame, may be committed to hard labour
for any time not exceeding three months.
Mr. Beresford, the Chief Clerk, felt some difficulty about this
novel application of the statute—well knowing that there was an
old Act, unfortunately in anything but a state of desuetude' by
which a male servant embezzling money, received on account of his
employer, was declared to be guilty of felony, and punishable with
14 years' transportation. The prisoner was accordingly remanded
until yesterday, when
31r. HUMPHREYS, for the prisoner, intimated that he under-
stood the prosecutors were willing to allow the young titan to be
dealt with under the Sth Geo. IV.; and on the part of the prisoner
he would consent to any conviction under it that the worthy Alder-
man should be pleased to make.
Mr. Alderman Lugs.-1 know nothing of the circumstance
yet. Before I convict him of misconduct, some specific act of mis-
conduct must be proved.
Mr. Pontifez replied he would prove a misapplication of money,
and called a witness into the box for that purpose.
Mr. Humphreys, however. very cautiously interposed, and at
once offered to confess or suffer anything under this Act. He wool,'
admit his client entered into a contract, and that he had been guilty
of misconduct under it.

These admissions were then recorded, and the prisoner was sent
to the !louse of Correction for three months.
BOW-STREET.
Among the persons brought from the watchhouses yesterday, on
charges of various kinds, was a gentleman named Gwynne, who
stood accused of having been riotous and disorderly at Drury-lane
Theatre, on Wednesday night, and having also assaulted one of
the constables in the ezecuuonof his duty.
It appeared that towards the close of the performances on that
evening a row took place among the frail ones in the saloon, which
the constables (Nettleton and Bond). aided by the boxkeepers, had
much difficulty in quelling. The calm which their authority pro-
duced was of short duration, fur at the close of the last piece the
quarrelling recon3menceil, and two of the belligerent parties, re-
gardless of the damage that their fair faces or their gaudy apparel
might sustain in the conflict, set-to for a regular fight. The offi-
cers, as soon as they could get through the crowd by which the
combatants were surrounded, and who, by their cheering and
laughter, seemed highly to enjoy the delicate exhibition, put a
stop to the fight, and were conducting the two principal delinquents
from the saloon, in order to take them to a watchhouse, when they
were attacked by 3 great number of persona, male and female, who
assaulted them with great violence, and endeavoured to rescue the
girls from their custody. Nettleton receited a blow on the eye
which brought him to the ground, and while prostrate he was
kicked severely in the ribs. The officers, however, were finally
successful in securing the girls, and the defendant was also taken
to the watchhouse, as having been one of the most active of the
ma dents.

......
Nettleton, who had a terrible black eye, swore that the defendant
was very active in the attack upon him and Bond, and that he
struck htm. lie caul(' not say it was the tleleaidant who gave him
the blow on the eye, but he certainly was one of those who struck
him. _ .

This statement was confirmed by Bond and a box keeper.
Sir R. BIRKIE said he thought such conduct extraordinary from
gentleman of the defendant's appearance, and asked him if he
resided in London ?
Mr. 0 wynne replied, that he was only a temporary sojourner in
London ; his residence was in %i'alcs.
Sir R. WILKIE—And Far, Sir, may I ask who and what you
are ?—1 am a gentleman, bit, and a Magistrate for Carmarthen.
shire. in which county I reside.
Sir IL Btnxit —A Magistrate! Well, Sir, I shall be glad to
hear your explanation of this matter.
Mr. Owynne—Why really I hardly know what to say to it.
I hare no recollection whatever of having assaulted the officer,
and I think lie must be mistaken : I should be one of the last
men in the world willingly to break Cie peace; and I think he
must be mistaken. . .

Sir R. Bumte—As n Al igisttatc you ought certainly to he one
of the last to break the peace. The officer has sworn positively to
the assault, sod you must find bail to answar the chargo at the
Ses►ions.

.....
Mr. Gwynne gave bail and vas liberated.
The two girls who had been fighting were ordered to find bail to
keep the peace; and being unprovideJ with sureties, they were
locked up, in all their finery, in one of the iron rooms attached to
the office. _ .

An Irish gentleman, named Doelan, was brought up in cus-
tody from a watchhouse, charged by Mr. Keeley, brother to the
clever comic uctor of that name, with an assault of rather an
aggravated kind.
Mr. Keeley. who, like his brother, is not of the tallest, on Wed-
nesday night had crossed from Covent-garden Theatre, and was
malting las way quietly and thoughtfully through Broad-court,
when he was suddenly seized from behind by the defendant': who,
to his no small surprise. exclaimed. " You d—d little rascal, you
have ptigeed my umbrella; give it me back, or I will play the
devil with yots." Mr. Keeley ausesuilicieridy acquainted with mo-
dern slang to know what the term " pigged' meant, and he of
course warmly repelled the 'accusation ; but the defendant persisted
in the charge, and push.td and nailed him about so violently as to
tear and otherwise damage his coot very considerably. Mr. Keeley
had his own umbrella in his hand ; and finding it necessary to pro-
tect himself, he gave it to two .• gentlemen" who were standiag
by, and then called lustily for the watch, to whom he gave the de-
fendant in charge. In the confusion, the " gentlemen' walked oft'
with poor Mr. Keeley's umbrella, and were seen no tome.
The defendant eNpressed his conviction that he had been grossly
mistaken, and apologized to Mr. Keeley for the outrage. beyond
of his friends also came forward and interceded for him.

Mr. Keeley said that the ddendstit having made all the repara-
tion in his power, and Hs friends baying undertaken to remunerate
him (Mr. K.) for the loss cf his umbrella, he was willing to with.
drier the charge.
Sir R. BIRSIE—Vcry well. lam glad of it. You will get •
new umbrella, you know ; and as w the coat, you cat get it fine.
drawn, sad all things will be straight.
The parties retired together, seemingly very good friends.