The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-10-22 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.

The Quarter Sessions tor the City and Liberties
of Westminster commenced yesterday morning at
eleven o'clock. Mr. BAKER in the Chair; Mr. MR.
RIK and three other Magistrates on the Bench. The
Grand Jury having heed called and sworn, and the
Proclamation for the encouragement of piety and
virtue read,

The Chairman (M►. BAKER) shortly addressed
them. He was sorry to iureersi them, that the ca-
lender contained an unusual number of prisoners ;
and he doubted not that the bills to be brought be.
fore them would occupy this and the next day. He
would tint, therefore, unnecessarily occupy their time
with enlarging on the duties which they had to per.
form ; indeed such a task was uncalled for, as he
was persuaded that they were well acquainted with
these duties, and with the leading principles of
the Laws and Constitution which they were meant
to support. He should stiffer them to depart to
their room without comment, if he did not feel
desirous of calling their particular attention to one
subject, to which their notice must have been pecu-
liarly drawn by the Proclamation against sedi-
tious said blasphemous publications, &c. They
must all of them he aware of the alarming and per-
nicious extent to which the dissemination of seditious
and blasphemous publications had been carried ;
nor could they he blind to the mischief which had
thereby been inflicted on society, especially the more
humble portions of it. Was it to be said that means
ought not to he enforced to check the dissintination
of such mischief? It had been contended thst it
was cruel and harsh to proceed against the sellers of
such wicked and mischievous publications; that
it would be better and more just to attack the
authors and original publishers only ; this however
was correct neither in law nor reason. It was per-
fectly legs! to proceed sigainst all the venders of
improper publications; anal what means were bet-
ter calculated to check the sale of such works, than
the prosecution of the venders of them ? He was sot
aware whether way sock ease would cove under their
Notice, hat if any indictment of that kind acre pre-
ferred, he felt assured, that in the event of the pub.
lication being proved, and the matter being libel-
lous, they would deem it their duty to return a
" true bill." He felt satisfied that they would
not suffer erroneous feelings of mercy, or stay po-
litical bias, to iuterfere with that calm but firm
discharge of duty which the country required at
their hands. Political feelings all men had,
more or leas, but he was confident that a Grand
Jury of the City of Westminster would not
permit any such feelings to interfere with their duty,
and a proper and impartial enforcement of the laws.
He would not take up more of their time; he
doubted not thst their nonduct would thew that
they merited the trust reposed in them.
The Grand Jury then retired, and the Court
proceeded with the traverse-cause paper.

The Persian Ambassado► regularly attends the
Spa at Chelireihrint. curly every morning. to take
the waters. His Excellency is also a visitant at the
balls.

The friends of Sir RALPH WOODFOHD will be
glad to Irian. that no mention is mode an the Trini-
dad Pittway of any attempt to assamiulato his Steel•
lent". although those Papers entre down to four
days stabarqweiitly to the alleged outrage. The ra•
snout, indeed, was on the face of it highly imp..
liable. It reached this country as r retort through
Natal that

she mediae§ of • Jamaica Weir ; aud it
she attack wee mode an Sir Raman sor the evening
of the tads of Aura*, whitish* sun aims( with hie
sire. Uufortonetely the thes tionshibit. the Way
Governer wee Dever married.

:

rtrk suslsEst.

A Coln orCommouseaweeddlobikid rednitirat
m which Own We. a nay inideelawo onottikore or
hlesolins,
The Ind Mayor comminfested to the tort the attend.
mice uptio.his Itayal Hightnes the Knee the
with th,
4.l4ress sad Petition agreed N he the lasi Coon; 'rem"n toil
the Manninoe and laid Wore them Its Royel
Highness's Amonr thereto, which was read, toll a merino
bring made by Mr. Forell that the Ammer be entered on
the Journals, as amendment was proposed, by adding Von
words " most Inchon," mid after math debate between
Mr. Alderman Waithasaa; Messrs. h. neon Wittiowo-;
James, Hureoutbe„ Arc. the qnestion was pet, tad the ameu.i.
smut was ranted by • eery considerable majority.
A letter from Mr. Alderman Bridges, the Lord Mayne
elect, &entitle boo consent to take upon him the mot
office, was laid before the Court, and read, sod ordered to
be steered.
The Lord Mayor laid before the Collet • detailed Repot t
relative to the conduCt Of Mr. Sheriff Parities; which wag
reed, and, after some dinitasioa, the matter was referred to
a COMMitt•f, who were immediately appointed, consi-tii,..;
of all the Aldermen and a Commoner not of each ward, to
inquire into the same, with power in apply to the Court .if
Aldermen for each papers sad documents as they migt.t
think proper.
A Petition was presented by the Fellowship Puttee.,
complaining of the Initholders, which was referred to the
Committee for General Purposes.
The Watch Aet for the year ensuing paned.
The Comnitien of City Lairds and Reidgeionatte C•tatr•
preseated *event Reports fur leases and other mantas, *holt
were read, agreed to, and ordered.
The Court agreed, optio a Report from the Navigation
Committee, recommending opposition to an application to
Parliament for a Canal to be made from Rualter's Loth,
near Maidenhead*, to the Grand Junction Canal, mod referral
it to the said Committee to oppose the same dangly.
The Tithe Committee presented a votionsiann dreaded
Report of their proceedings during the last flesaion of Par-
luseeret, which was read, and ordered to be catered eta the
intends.