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

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

BERKSHIRE ASSlZES—Rrazonro, TUESDAY.

CIVIL SIDE.
[Before Mr. Baron Qsaaow and a Special Jury.]
LIBEL.
TITS ICING ON THE PROSECUTION OF NEWBERRY, GENT.
O. HOOPER.
51'. CttßwouDstated, that this was an indictment for a libel,
published Ili a newspaper called the Readiv, Mercury, and that
a commission of bankruptcy had been sued out against Messrs.
Marsh and Co., formerly bankers of Reading, and that Mr. New-
berry was solicitor to the asaignees, and list the libel charged Mr.
Newberry with fabricating an account-book, which had laid for in-
spection at one of the other banks in Reading.
Mr. JEavts stated, that fur. Newberry, the prosecutor, was a
most respectable attorney, carrying on business in the town of Read-
ing, and that the defendant was a surgeon and apothecary in exten-
sive practice there. In the year 1815, the bank et Messrs. Marsh
and Co. stopped payment, and when • commission of bankruptcy
bad been sued out against them, the prosecutor had been appointed
w.lieitor to the commission. Some years after, in consequence at
the decease of two of the assignees, a meeting had been called for
the purpose of choosing fresh assignees in their room. This gave
rise to certain advertisements in the licadiag filercia y, complain-
. ing that a final dividend had not been declared. This was followed
by a paragraph in that Paper (which was written by Mr. Newberry),
which stated that the bask-book lay for inspection at the banking-
house of Messrs. Simonds and Co. of Reading, and the week fol-
lowing this libel was published, charging Mr. Newberry, with
bringing forward a fabricated book.
Evidence wan then given that Mr. Newberry was Solicitor to this
coinmissioo of bankruptcy, and that the book de, sited by Mr.
Newberry at Messrs. Simonds' bank was a genuine k.
From the doss.examination it appeared that there had been a
meeting of creditors called on account of the delay in the declaring
of a final dividend, and that the defendant was by the creditors
appointed one of a Committee of Inquiry on that subject.
fheltbcl was read. It was very long, and possessed no interest
except to the parties in some way connected with this banking-
house. It charged that the bank-book before alluded to wan not a
genuine book of that banking establishment, as all the entries
appeared to be of one hand-writing, and made at one time.
lilt. TaLrounw, for the defendant, contended that the libel
was only a fair discussion of the circumstances of this bankruptcy
beiwecn parties interested in it, and that Mr. Newberry having
first published statements in this Paper, and appealed to public
opinion and to the veracity of this book, he was not entitled to
Indict a persnn who only went to refute his statements ; and that
therefore the publication by the defendant was fairly argumentative,
and rot calumnious.
The Learned JUDGE said, that the question the Jury had to
consider was, wltther the defendant had published this statement
to i.ijure the chnracter of Mr. Newberry ; or whether it was a fair
discussion in an affair in which both parties were interested; but
If they thonght that this was an attack by Mr. Hooper on the well-
earred refutation of his neighbour, they should find him guilty.
The J wry, after about a quarter of an hour's deliberation, found
the defendant—Gni/Iy.
As soon as the verdict was pronounced, Mr. Irevis rose and
stated, that 31r. Newberry had, some time since, instructed him that
in case a verdict passed against Mr. Hooper. to state that he should
rest satisfied, and take no further steps against that gentleman.
The Learned JUDGE said, that is his opinion that was a Jibe-
_ rality that did Mr. Newberry credit.
The Foreman of the Jury (Edmund Gardner, Esq.) said, that
the Jury wished to express their approbation of the great forbear-
ance of :Mr. Newberry.

OUILDFI•LL.—John Akiandar Csaikshanks and Jahn Davis
were charged with stealing a number of carpenter's tools from a
new building intended fore tavern, in Smithfield. Sir C. IioIIITZR
committed both the prisoners foe trial.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRINCI.—On the arrival of the
Stroud coach on Tuesday at Bristol, it was discovered that the only
inside passenger (Thomas Stock, Esq., of Wickwar, in this coon.
ty,) was dead ! It appeared, on the inquest, that Mr. S. had been
taken op at his own house in the morning, in apparent health,
though he had complained of a pain is his chest end stomach for
sevcral days. The deceased was spoken to within four miles of
Bristol, when he appeared as well as ever: after the coach reached
the inn, he was found sitting upright, with his head en his hand,
Nod mo.. ~:obality expired a i,hout • struggle. The unanimous
verdict of ...c Jury was,--" Dicit by the visitation of God." The
deceased, who was a bachelor, and In his 4Vth year, was brother to
Dr. Stock, of Bristol.
JOINT Brocs COISIZA Walk—There are upwards of two
hundred and twenty Joint Stock Companies, whose plans are now
aced in the greet ocean of Speculation. Some promise Riches
from the bowels of the earth, others from its surface; some
from Water, others from Fire; some from Iron, other. from Fish;
some from Soap-suds, others from Milk;—but let every Specu-
lator remember that each of the above requires Time, which none
of the Projectors seem to have calculated upon: and yet to fit
the Day for the completion of Fortune is the Cream of all
Speculation, as in the present Lottery, where any person who
now advances Pis than Twenty Pounds, may gain one of the
Four Prizes of Twenty Thousand Puutds, which must all be
drawn on the lids of April.
LITER A TURE.—TIIC following important Works are this
day published --1. A Neat Univers-ft Biography, chronologically
arranged, eon:inning interesting accounts, critical and historical, of
the lives and characters, labours and actions, of eminent persons in
• all ages, classed according to their various talents and pursuits ; by
the Her. J. Plans. The first series, complete in one volume, price
comprehending the interval from the Creation to the birth of
Christ. This Work is quite novel in its arrangement. being divided
into convenient chronological periods, and the characters so classed
in each period, that the protrrees of science, knowledge, and arts,
may be eonseetrively and historically traced, a desideratum which
liralong been wanted in biographical works.—g. The Rcaidies of
/ramie"! being original debt/canons, topographical, historical, and
biographical, of each County ; preceded by an Introduction on the
neutral LiClammances of the Country; its political and ecclesiastical
divisions; history, as illustrative of Its topography and antiquities,
and present state. Dedicated, by pertnisiton, to his Majesty.
This work is intended to class with the beauties of Enagand and
• Wales. and to be comprised in three volumes, of which the first
(this day published) is embellished with twelve engravings of
nobiemen't and gentlemen's seats, and other picturesque objects ;
price IL Ss. Ari w copies are printed on royal paper, with proof
impressions of the plates, price IL Ifis. Published by Sherwood,
Janos, and Co. Paternoster-row.

111.