The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-09-22 00:00:00

THEATRE.

COVBift.oAll
The tragedy' of rpolieline was produced. at this
theatre, last night, for the purpose of introducing a
very fair debutante, Miss Noatue, a lady of consi-
derable provincial celebrity, and who must have a
very proper confidence in her own talents, to follow
such aaressesas Mrs. St DOOMS and Miss Su ITH in the
part of /woven. As to beauty and figure her claims
are great ; her voice is clear and strong, bin wants
variety and sweetness. In the first part of the
scene with /drily's she was deficient in dignity, but
in the violent declamation, she excelled. The plain-
tive scenes aho wanted dignity ; it was the sobbing
and crying of a child, interrupted by hes,etical
catches in the voice. Her reading the letter, and
delivery of the dial,igue, want much improvement;
she leaves nothing us nature. it is all art. Mr.
Kest etc appeared in the last Ad to takes warm
interest in 'Miss Islarrori's success. who possesses se
many requisites for an actress, that a few lessons from
such a master, t: ill make her an acquisition to the
stage. Mr. Kr V SLs was himself in Pastheenss.
In the absence of adr.Cooce, Mr. Pots played
ferbasis ; the corteese did not become him, but he
played with great force. The dresses and decor.t-
dons were most splendid. The dullness of the
play was soon forgot, in the lively farce of Mr
Former. Mrs. !Acme. for the first time, su.-
twined the part a &try ntickberry, and was chaste,
lively. and truly comic. Miss Meanows was quite
out of her line in Noll, ntri:eu4. Mr. Mt nono's
Jcsern Jumps kept the house, which was spite full,
in bursts of laughter.

The Earl of Essait will come to town this morn-
iit Cashiubury Park, and will r-turn in the
evening to dinner.
Mr. Hossasos. lately arrived front Madras. has
purchased the late Sir STIIPNiN LUSH i plerrnm's
house is Harley-street, with the elegant furniture,
tor nine thousand pounds.
Lord and Lady Baowaxoso will come to their
house, in Hill-street, Berkeley-square, next Thurl-
Liy, from their seAt, at Belton Hall, near Gran-
d-am, Lincolnshire.

Lady Psarit, arid the Hon. Miss Deustmomo,
left t nen. on Saturday, on a visit to the Macilioness
of EXCTZR. at her seat, in Kent.
The Earl iif .lessee arrived, yesferday, at his
house. its Berkelersquare, from Ostetley Perk.
It is with sine se ob.-wire wit annoliice the per-
left recovery of Viscount Sin IC:11:TH. 1/hen the
severe concussion his Lordship met with is con 1-
dered, lie certainly has got out of Mr. Duttoas's
bands a sorter than could !rave heeti erpeeted.
The Emil of DERBY, on Tharsd.iy last, attained
his 55th year, which was kept at K-icr.vsley with
every demonstration of joy. A grand bail was
given on the occasion, %Oath was at:ended by the
surrousdingNobility._

The DU-Chess of Lagos and the Marchioness
Townsnerso will remain at Reinham till after the
Ntne•at of the Marquis TOWNSISEND, which is ex-
Filed to take place in the course of next week.
The elegant watering place of Bognor Rocks, has
been more numerou.ly intended this Summer than
on any former vason. Additional boos• s are build-
ing. amongst whu:h the new range called Rock-
Buildings seems to be the favourite. A concert. un-
der tie chredion of Mr. Banners., of Chichever.
was attended by all the Mauna of the place and
neighbourhood. amongst whom were the Earl and
Countess of NZWOUIIGH. Lord SELSZT, ',lir THOS.
and Lady Practice, General and Mrs. Causer►.
&c. kc. The performance gave general satist:tc-
, ion

Winchester Musical Festival was held this week ;
the company WAS not so nem.atous as in some for-
mer oft iiinns ; the performers acquitted themselves
in a very able manner.
On Friday was run, on Parkhurst Race Groutd.
in the Isle of Wirt, a snatch between Mr.
1330 T T'S bay mare Dmilia Sal, alt.& Clialdjfalier.
and Mr. SANDISS.S chemist horse Arm, iv., for
one hundred guineas, which wrs won by the former;
and by which the knowing-ones were eased cf • few
hundreds.

Wenn ferstand,that, at the desire of several sports-
men. at SeArbro', Col. Taoaxecra's beagles were
permitted to hunt much earlier than was intended.
They were out the first time on Wednesday week,
and though the weather was very unfavourable.from
wind, rain, and sleet, they afforded much amuse-
ment. Oa Thursday they threw off at Olivers'
Want. where the field consisted of at least 200 peo-
ple, a number of whom were the fair sea, who
paced the high grounds. In short, those tL4I had
not horses hired them, or attended in carriages, kc.
We learn, that Ccl. TuoINTON will constantly hunt
these Lap. Dog Beagles during the season, within
reach of the Spa.
While the friends of that great and goo' man,
Mr. Wtt.searowce, are having medals struck, &nil
engravings taken of him, in consequence of his zeal
and teen ion s for the tart t 'verity years, both in and out
of Parliament, for the abolition of the slave trade, it
srikes us with astonishment, that something has not
been thought of, to perpetuate its recelleaion to
himself and family hr ever. The noble minds of
our countrymen frequently display their gratitude
on occasions surely much less deserving than the
accomplishment of so magnanimous an objets as the
Abolition of the slave trade.
That veteran seaman, Sir Sarum. neon, and
Capt. Dac it es, who reside in the Dock-yard, are the
officers employed to se:rerintend the fitting the Da-
nish navy at Copenhagen, and not Admiral STAN..
PlOrz, and Sir Host Poe n A pi, as erroneously stated
in some of the daily prints.
The ships of the line, frigates, sloops, and gun-
boats, which, as a witty lawyer observes, we now
hold in abeyance for the Danes, amount to nearly
the number of principal Prizes, in regular grada-
tion, from 40,0001. to 1001. of the present improved
Lottery plan. In respell to the latter, however,
there is the very material difference, that they who
are so fortunate a, to capture them, keep pas-
session during life.

-

OLD DAILEr. sf pr. et. • •
SETTING FIRE TO HIS OWN PRISMISER.
Feitva,l Gilsox stood capitally indided for Wile
fully and feloniously setting fire to e certein fume,
tnen in his possession, with intent to defraud Old
Corp iratittn of the London Assurance Cernpairy on
the sth of hugest last. The Prisoner was also
cha►ge 1, in a third count of the same indieftment.wier
havirg set fire to it with intent to Injure the landlord
and lessor of the said premises.
Mr. Fie t. oi ea, on the part of the prosecution, ad.
dressed the Court and Jury in an a►le, perspicuous,
mad most eloquent .statement of the cese. He had
to regret, and he was convinced that the Jury sym-
pathised with him, that those institutions which
were formed for the express purpose of imparting
public benefit, and of consoling the unhappy suf-
ferer under the most dreadful of humus calemities,
had been too of:en the strongest inducements with
bad Ansa to commit crimes. They afforded a new
temptation to deception, and stimulated to milk;
ch!evons performance the unpritictpled incendiary.
He, of all men, was least sidling to arouse in the
brut t cf a respedable Jury any premature feelings
against the unhappy man who stood arraigned et
the Bar; but the call of justice, the claims of the
public interest, made it imperative on him to say,
that the present case was ~0 "Farris, that it was
distinguished from all other apparently similar eases,
in having the main fundamental fad, the corpse dr"
lith, AS IS WAS called, incentesehly proved almost to
the certainty of a mathematical dernonstretiom
From the evidence which he should produce, the
Jury would be sotirtiad that the fire on the premises
was the consequence of a wicked, malicious, and
' premeditated iirehti,,n, by whomsoever planned and
executed. It would only remain for them to eu-
mine and weigh well the citcemstamial chain of
fads and occurrences which in such cases warrant
the dependence on presumptive evidence. The
Learned Gentleman then stated the nature of the
testimony its his power to prodo7e, and concluded
by eloquently observing, that the conduct of the
unhappy man at the Bar would poartray, in the
deepest colours, the uncertainty, the apprehensions,
the doubts, the infatuation of that hideous interval
between the first conception and final commission
of a horrid crime; then it is that deliberation be-
comes contused, and schemes prove abortive ; cau-
tion is off its guard. and commence is defeated by
the very timidity which itself creates. Oh God 1
how opposite and pure are the ways of innocency ;
how calm, composed, and serene. are the sugges-
tions of the upright mind, even under the visitation
afiliNien, ever regulated by that immutable
►tandard which the God of Nature has implanted
in the human heart. But gLiit, however art-
fully disguised, and momentarily concealed, will
betray itself. Again I repeat, could any want of
complete evidence appear. or should a doubt re-
main in the minds of the Jury, let the Prisoner have
the benefit.

r

William Bucklow deposed, that he is a publican,
residing in Boswell-court, 'Temple-bar, the next
door to the house in which the Prisoner lately lived.
The Prisoner kept an eating-house. Witcess re-
codes% that about a quarter before tour o'clock, on
the morning of the 5 h of August last, he heard an
alarm nt " Fire." From the conversation of those
wbom he had overheard, be supposed it was at the
cook's-shop. He then came down stairs, and see-
jog the smoke, called out 44 Fire." There were
two entrances to the Prisoner's premises, the one
was in Boswell-court. the other in Clement's-lane.
Witness went fiat to the entrance in Boswell.
court, and then t the other, but could not get ad.
rea• ince at either. Many people were assembled
at that time. He saw Mr. Stentitord and some
other neighbours amongst them. Mr. Stentitord
had his children with him, and had also brought
down some water. The Watchman came in trom
the Strand, and with the assistance of Mr. S. they
broke in the upper paunels of the door. Stentitord
then jumped into the house, and some person gave
him an axe. with which hr cut down the part on
lire. Witness and others then got into the house,
and saw the stairs in flames, proceeding apparently
from underneets. It was te.s minutes, or there-
abouts, before they extinguished the flames on the
stairs. They Lest proceeded to the cellar. to ascer-
tain whether there was any part of the premises on
fire. In the coal-cellar. they found a candle light-
, ing, and two other candies, which appeared to have
gone out. The candles were stuck in scooped
potatoes, placed on pieces of coal, which rested upon
a plank under the joist of the roof of the coal-cellar.
l'he pieces of coal to which the scooped potatoes
were stuck, were then produced by the Witness.
That part of the roof, under which the candles were
placed, appeared much scorched. They never ob-
served the Prisoner until the fire was got down ;
it was near a quarter of an hour from the time they
entered they house until the Prisoner came down.—
Witness repeatedly called for him and for his wife.
whom he sJpposed was at home. When the Pri-
soner came down, he wanted ro go to the cellar, but
Mr. Stentitord and Mr. Crawford went before him.
It was Mr. Crawford who first pointed out the can-
dles in the coal-cellar. Ab .ut twelve inches from
the part of the stairs which was in flames, there
seemed to have been a separate fire on the end of a
plank. which projeded to the stairs. There were
laths hanging down upon the plank, from the
plainer, which were greased with tallow. It did
not seem to have cor.:nunicated from the fire en
the stairs. The cand.es in the coal-cellar, as stuck
in the potatoes and coal, were placed upon a large
beam. It required a stool, which was in the cellar,
to reach up to them. When Prisoner came down
he was much agitated. He came to live on the
premises last September. and his family consisted
of himself, his wife, and servants. On his cross.
examination, he said it was not at all extraordinary
for a man having his house as fire, both to look and
be much agitated. swi
William Crawford de7vssed, that he lived abou t
twenty yards from the house of the Prisoner; that on
the morning of the sth of August, he was alarmed
a terrible noise in the Court. and by the cry of
44 fire." He immediately went down, and proceeded
with Bucklow and Stentitord to put down the fire.
and examine the otter parts of the premises. He first
saw the candies in the coal-cellar, they were placed
irnmediatsly unt!er ti.e wood. and it was that part
of thecellar which was not plaistered. 7be part of
the cellar which was on fire, was about four yardi

1

~es-,......,,t

-•-- - --

distance fruit the stairs which they first saw in
Bares. The plank which prn.Nleci appeared to
have b-en on fire, and the laths taping down nu it
vnere greased with tallow.
George Harrison, an him:e.carpenter, produced
an tuft model of the ;Heal ies. and tie witnesses
pointed out to the Court and Jury the place, which
they found to have been either on tire or scotched*
when they forced open the door.
John 8“-o iford corroborated the statement of the
ihrmer Witnesses. and snore. that when the Psi.
stoner came down, he was lolly dressed, and that
when he found the candies in ti.. coal-cellar, he,
the witness, Gies: determined to place the Pt isomer
Us custody, under the suspicion of setting fire to his
bans*.
On his cross-ersmination, he said. he could not
positively swear that the candles, which were nut
burning at the time he cmcred the coal-cellar, were
lighting at any time that night ; a! the time rime
that he could swear the tallow which oohed from
them. was, when be felt it, moist.
Thomas Dridge, another neighbour of the Pri-
tnner. corroborated the testimony of the former
Witnesses.
Eleanor Sheppard deposed, that she lived as ser-
vant with the Prisoner for three months. He was
a married men. but on the night of the fire, his
wif- did nst sleep at house. I ler master told her
and tellow.servant, that their mistress had gone to
Bow, and would not return until next day. Wit-
ness said her mistress went off the day before the fire,
hut did not see what she carried in her hands.---
A bout half-past eleven that night, her master, the
P:isoner, desired the Wines; and her fellow-ser-
vent to go to their bed. Xitness then went down
to the coal-cellar, with a red dish, and she saw
every thing there save and proper. When she and
hi.ow-servant went up stairs, her sinter followed,
woh the till under his arm, and went into his Tnom,
as Witness supposed, to go to bed About three
~'clock. sir was alarmed by a violent knocking at
he- ri um door, and heard her master call to them,
a lor Ged's sake get up immediately, the house
is ua fire. Wee immediately got up. ran to to.
door, and saw the l'i-ssancr. Mud he, the place is
sli on bre. and ye bath must get oat on the leads.
1 be Prisoner was devoted in his usual way tor work,
with his apron on. Witless waisted to go down
gaits, hilt the Prisoner prevented her, and went
himself clown. and brought her and fellow-servant's
buses. He did not remain down stairs any time,
but came up en the leads almost immediately. When
there. he gave an alarm, and asked the watchman
why he did or.t spring his rattle ? Witness was
positive as to his dress; it was exaelly the maw as—
that worn isy him the day before.
;Martha D Iris, the other servant, gave the same
account, with this dilfesence, that she immediately
ran gut nn the leads, and made no attempt to go
do:- n stars.

ito e coofirmeJ the statement of the break.

irg out ..f the fire. She lived in Clement's-lane,
an.. saw ti.a Prisoner and the maid se•vants on the

1r He appeAre:l to Or pulling one of them
abojt th• leAds. Wines c.dlyd to him to come

deuce. It was the nature of the offence to afr:rd
only circumstantial tesiniony. and it would be fair
the Jury to consider who had an interest in COM-
mitting the crime, for it WAS fully manifec, that it
was premeditated and determined. The dress of
the Prisoocr, the mann..r in which be cenducied
himself, his non-appearance at the time the fire was
extinguis%ing, were all strong cites:mi.:vices; bu.
it there was a possibility of supposing that it v...ce
don- by another person, then certainly the Prisoner
ought to be acquitted. Indeed, the state in which
the house wis secured prevented almost that possi-
bility. as was visible from the excrtioos of the per-
sons assembled to force t:;e doors. The Prisoner
had received an excellent Aare/ter. and if there
were doubts in their minds, the Prisoner wield have
the benefit of that charaeler.
.fury, alter some deliberation, found the Pri-
soner Guaiy of setting tire, with intent to defraud
the London Assurance Cumpaily (Deeih ); but net
guilty with intent to injure the landlord or lessor.
We understand a question of law will arise upon
the legal prodmiion of the evidence with respefl to
the policy and premium receipt.
Phi/ips Cefians was indi.fted for forging and
counterfeiting an order, draft, or check, t..r the
paynrnt of 491. purporting to be signed by George
Griffitlis, a Linen-draper, in Huundsditch, upon
Messrs. Prescott and Co.. Bankers, Threadeeedle-
street, dated 22J of August last, with an intent to
defraud that Company.
William Fleming Grason. a Clerk to Messrs.
Prescott and Co., deposed, that upon the day above
stated, the Prisoner came to their liouse, about a
quarter before five in the afternoon, and presented
tl:e check in question. Upon looking at it, he en-
tertained susocions of its signature. and comparro
it with one (man Mr. Griffiths, which had been paid
a short time before. He consulted with another
Gentleman in the same office, and then took
the Prisoner into a back room, where he examined
him. Tire Prisoner answered ttie interrogatories by
saykg. that he had it teem a Mr. Soenies. a hatter,
in St. John's•strtet. but did not know the number.
and said he did not her with him. On being fur-
ther interrogated, the Prisoner told she Witness
that be had not received a check from Mr. S ism's,
but that he had gait front a Gentleman in BA( dr,.
Inure w-tane, whom be did not know, but who desired
him to say it came from Mr. Suarnes, of Sr. J,kt-
street. The Witness then asked him where he was
to meet that Gentleman, it he had got the money ?
to which he answered, that he was to meet him at
an eating-house, in bartholomew-lane. The Wit.
Deft then sicsired him to write his name upon
the check, and the Prisoner wrote the name
" On being question:A as to his christiaii
name, he afterwards added, " Jul.n." They then
went nut together, to the house where ti:e Prisoner
said he was to meet the Gentleman, and irquired
for him, but no person of that name was to be

Sound. On being further questioned by the

nets, the Prisoner told him he lived w.th a Mr.
Simpson, in Coleman-stteet t bat oo their way to-

ticwm Pawner ariswerzd, it wa, impossible, as the
pl..ca was all on fins 'the next time .ha Liw him
was coming oat of the adjoining house, in Cle-
anent's-lane, with a sack on his left arm and shoal-

wards that place, he again varied in his statzrnent.
and said, t►at ha woi Iced with A Mr. DIMON All

oilman, in that street. These various statements
confirming the suspicions which the Witness first
entertained, he conduaed Collins back to the house
of Prescott and Co. and had him taken into custody.

der. and a box under his right arm. There was
near the house a pomp well supplied with water.
George Heads, an Officer of Queen's-square, pro-
domed the burnt parts of use stairs, and rie grease.
laths, which were suspended over the per jefting
plank. The former witneoes, Bucklow and ocean-
ford. identified them. Heath larther deposed, that
be bad taken an inventory of all the goods in the
premises of the Primmer, excepting a jack, and that
they were under the value of 401. kale he could not
say witether any other portion of the property was,
in the intermediate tune of the fire and his surreal,
taken :seq.
Mr. Wm. Ford proved the receipt of a box, from
the w;fe of ere Prisoner. on the premises, the day
alter the fire. It was there examiatd, and some
money and varir,us papers were taken out by a
mend o' the Prisoner. who opened the box with a
key of his own. It.. box was at the house ot Wit-
ness, and he did not think. as he had received no hi-
der. that it was necessary to bring it.
Mr. John lfickcrstaff, a Clerk to the Corporation
of the London Assurance Company, proved the
policy of Insurance, which seas for 6201 and the

Mr. John Dutton deposed, that the Prisoner had
lived wF a bon as his porter for several months, and
that he (Dint. n) kept his cash at Prescott and Co.'s,
and frequently sent the Prisoner to their hou e kith
money, and had i:one so that very morning. The
Prisoner had originally c:,me from Bath, and had
eonduaed himself so est'emely well, that he would
be inclined to take him backd were, he acquitted of
this charge.
The testimonies of other witnesses all tended to
confirm the tag of the check being a forget y, and
the Learned Juocc, in summing up, observed to
the Jory, that there could be no doubt of its bc.ng
forged; but the only question was, whether it was
uttered by the pri,oner, he knowing it to be so f
The Jury retired, and, alter an absence of about
bolt an hour. returned a Vomit,. aefaittiag the Pri-
soner.
'the accused. was a young man of only nineteen
years of age.
Mary Davis was indi.lled for stealing a boa, con-
taining one guinea, and Ss. ti t. i.t saver, from the
pocket of Mrs. Hannah Parsley, when purchasing
articles at a market.

. .
sinnature to the memorandum for renewal of what The capital part of the indiflment, however, was
was endorsed upon It. dor.e away by Mrs. Pat :ley, in lier evidence, stating
Mr. Alexander, from the same institution, de- that she felt the hand of the Prisoner in her pocket,
posed, that the premium receipt, which was pro- and immediately missed her propery. Tne Jury
%rimed. WAS taken out of the box produced by the accordingly returned a verdiet of stealing, but not
Witness, FurJ, at the examinajon in Bow-street. privately.
Mr. Martin produced the Charter of Incorpora- ,saes Stock stood charged with a burglary, in
tino. Mr. E‘tward Austen. Accountant to the stealing tt.e sum of SI. I ls. (id. six silver spoons. a
London Assurance Company, proved the validity brass hand-bowl, and a candlestick, out of the vestry
of the policy. as he was the attestins. witness. He of the Chapel called Providence Chapel, Titeitfield-
was preeeeding to prove the handwriting of two Di- street, Mary-la-bonne parish, the property of the
rectors to the endorsed memorandum, when an oh- Rev. Mr. Huntingdon, on Saturday, the Ist of Aug.
jedtion was taken by Mr. Curtsey to the production last, at two o'cloct in the morning.
of such a sptcies of evidence, the alleged memo- Martha Elliott, the char. woman generally ern_
randum not being ea a legal stamp, or being rather played in cleaning out the said chapel, deposed
a hand upon the revenue, and if the memorandum was that there were tv:o rooms, the one a vestry, and
no evidence' the policy could not either, it having the other a study above it, (the chapel), which last
..eisised on the 54th of Jose last, and could not be room contained a bed occasionally used by Mr.
k.-pt alive 'about a renewal of the premiten, of Huntingdon. She had cleaned these apartments
which renewal there was no proof. Alter some oh- on Friday, and saw the said ankles therein, but
is:remit" the abjection could not be supported, the missed tam on the Saturday morning, when she
•:nount of the sum paid for the renewal betig perceived a lower window forced, and the drawers
under 40s. and, therefote, not within :be scope of broken open, apparently with a p..ir of tongs which
the Ad for the regulation of Stamp Duties. lay upon the fbof, considerably bent.
Wm. Richards, the landlord, and John Lang- Dennis Crew, a watehman,who first discovered the
fitlJ, were neat called, and proved, that the i'ri- robbery and gave the alarm, confirmed the former
toner p.sid rent twice to the former, and succeeded witness's testimony, as also did Mr. Huntingdon,
the otter in the premises in &swell-court and Cie- who identified the property.
names-lane. Mr. Atkins, the officer who apprehended the
The Prisoner. in his defence, admitted that his prisoper upon suspicion, deposed, that upon search-
reason for insuring to such an amount was I.) e -.ri- mg him. he found a pawn-brokser'siditiilicate Int the
secesen:e of an imgairenicn• witit his landlord to re- candlestick, and nn charging him with the theft,
build the premises in case tiny accident occurred. procured. confession of his guilt.
Mr. &Marla and Mr. Moss Brune, re‘peetable The Pawn-bioker's Clerk gave a corroborative
merchants, gave the Prisoner a MAAS utimpeadiao e testimony, arid another Witness spoke favourably
eh/trete, for integrity and !apishness. The latter of his charaaer, during seventeen years that he had
gentleman said, that property to the amount of known him i adding, that be, the Prisoner, had been
twenty, thirty. and forty thousand pounds, was abroad as a soldier, and was new twenty-eight
nit•en, with perfect confidence and security, tom- years of age.
mitopi to his care. Three name persons spoke The LBASISSW Junos stated to the Jury, that the
L'w,ly n the charafter ex the Prisoner.
Aare of burglary could not, in ass case, be
Mr. Justice 'ISA TN. with masked impartiality' with justice made out against the, Prisorser. the the::
—elevens, seamed up the whole of the ay.- act ballot beta committed in a place that could be
---- -