The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-22 00:00:00

TOWN-HALL.

Thomas Phillips, a leather-dresser, applied to Alderman J. J.
Sam's, for a w irrant against a young man named Manning,
under these circumstances :—.
The simple, but kind-heartcd applicant, stated that on Saturday
night last, a young man, shabbily dreat, but of imposing address,
presented himself at the door of his house and solicited charity ;
touched by the eloquence of his appeal, he desired his wife to give
him sixpence, and went out on business. On his return, great was
his astonishment at perceiving the sante person taking tea with his
wife, whom his p:iant tongue had deluded into this second act of
kindness; after notate little time, during which he excited consider-
able interest by his superior manner, and well-told tales of woe, he
departed. On Wednesday he came again, and showing them a
letter, said he had just received it from his mother, at Dover, who
therein desired hint to apply to a gentleman in King's Anns:yard,
Coleman-street, who had prom tord to obtain for him a situation in
the East India House, and ft rnish him with present aid. Unwil-
ling to deprive misfortune of succour he, at his request, assisted
hint with the loan of a suit of deaths, to appear in before
pa-
tron, to which his wife added the applicant's silver watch, since
which they have never beheld him. On inquiry in King's Arms-
yard, he learned front the gentleman's clerk that he had been there
for a few minutes, which he spent in frivolous talk with him as it
former acquaintance. The applicant added, that a person whom
he suspected to be a confederate, had °WeiA fur five pounds to
discover him.
Alderman J. J. S 311TH told the applies-t he hoped he would
not add another foolish action to the one he had already committed,
and ordered Kinsey to render assistance in discovering the cheat,
and bring hint before him.
The emissions simpleton then left the office,

PREVENTION OF d D.UEL.

Yesterday a merchant of the City applied to the LORD MAYOR,
at the Mansion House, for his interference to prevent a duel which
was appointed to take place at half-past three o'clock, at a short
distance from town. The parties, he stated, had been long inti-
mate, and the rupture between them wan of such a nature that all
that mutual friends could do proved of no avail in bringing about
an accommodation.
Mr. Cope, the Marshal, by the direction of the Lonn MAYOR,
went to look for and apprehend the parties, who had determined
to tight. He returned with Mr. John 'cycle, of the Old Exchange
Chambers, in custody. The other party, Mr. John Rutherford,
had already left town, he believed to make preparations for the
duel. The two gentlemen were described as men of great re-
spectability, and are both mercantile men, and the dispute between
them excited considerable sensation on 'Change, where, we believe,
they quarrelled.
Mr. Amos, a merchant, deposed, that he believed, from what he
heard, that Mr. Tyrie and Mr. John Rutherford, both of whoni
resided in the Old Exchange Chambers, were going to fight at
half-past three o'clock, with pistols. He knew that the two gentle-
men had been long friends, and he felt deeply interested for them.
He and other mercantile men to whom they were known were
resolved to interpose, for the prevention of the consequences which
might ensue if the meeting were suffered to take place, and all
attempt at accommodation having proved unsuccessful, they were
under the necessity of applying to the Chief Magistrate.
Mr. Hardy, merchant, of Broad-street, said, lie came to the
Mansion house for the purpose of being security the Mr. Tyrie,
should the Lord Mayor think it necessary to bind him over as •
means of prevention.
The LORD MAYOR seemed disposed to do what is usual upon
oceasiors of this kind—to take the niece promise of the parties, or
either of them, not to parse their hostile purpose : but his Lordship
soon perceived that he had to deal with a person who was not to be
argued out of his intention.
His Lonnsuie asked Mr. Hardy, whether he knew that the
matter in dispute was not capable of being Reified by friends ?
Mr. !lardy said he bad been with both parties, and with their
seconds, and had used hts utmost endeavour to reconcile Mr. Tyrie
and Mr. Rutherford, but It was all in vain; reconciliation was
totally rejected.
The Loan MAYOR expressed his surprise at the implacable
disposition which spurned at the interference of friends. He asked
Mr. Hardy (telling that gentleman at the same time that them was
an obligation upon him to answer), who the seconds were?
Mr. Hardy was reluctant to mention names, as he attended the
defendant to the Mansion-house merely to bail him ; but, upon
being pressed, he said that Mr. Thomas Edgar, of l%iUiter.lane,
was to be the second of one party ; and Mr. Berry, of Cheapside,
the second of the other. Ile gave his Lordship to understand that
Mr. Tyrie was not the challenger.
The LORD MAYOR said, that the course he had to pursue was
a very plain one—he had merely to prevent a breach of the peace,
and he was authorised to demand securities for that purpose. He
trusted, however, that it would be unnecessary to do so, as Mr.
Tyrie could have no objection to pledge himself to drop the
thought of meeting for the purpose of a decision of the quartet by
violence.

111 r. Tyrie Raid that it was impossible that he could make any
promise of the kind.
The I.oao MAYOR—Then, Sir, you must find securities for
keeping the peace.
Mr. Hardy, in answer to some questions from the LORD MAYon,
aid that Mr. Tyrie was a married man, and had children ; that he
and Mr. Rutherford had been friends ten years, and that the ap-
pointment to meet grew out of a few hasty words which might, in
ninety-nine cues out of one hundred, have been done away with in
a most amicable manner.

The LORD MAYOR was sorry to see that so bad a feeling existed
upon such slight provocation. He spoke of the strong domestic as
well as other obligations upon Mr. Tyrie to end disputes by a refer-
ence to friends, by acknowledgment of error, if he was in the
wrong, or by a Christian forbearance, if he believed his friend to be
in error. He represented the impropriety of attempting to decide
differences arising out of mercantile transactions by the pistol.
Mr. Tyrie was silent all the time.
His Lordship asked him whether he was ready to enter Into sure.
ties to keep the peace towards Mr. Rutherford ?
111 r. Tyrie—No, my Lord, I shall not enter into sureties. It
would be ridiculous for me to do so while Mr. Rutherford has it in
his power to insult me.
The Loan MAYOR—Then you must go to prison. Mr. Cope,
you will conduct this gentlemen to the Compter ; and look out for
31r. Ruthetfo.d, for I shall take care to place that gentleman in
exactly the same condition.
Mr. Hardy and Mr. Amos here interposed. They represented to
Mr. Tyrie me absurdity of opposing the law, antt begged that he
would submit to the form, as the penalty of the law would un-
doubtedly be inflicted upon him if he persevered in his intention
not to acquiesce in the alternative proffered by the Lord Mayor.
Still Me. Tyrie was inflexible, and
Mr. nobler, who said the Chief Magistrate's time was not to be
trifled with by gentlemen who wished to introduce fashionable in-
novations upon Change, began to make out a commitment.
The LORD blavoa again asked Mr. Tyrie whether he would
consent to enter into sureties not to break the peace? and assured
him that if he would make known where the meeting was appointed
to take piece, an officer should be sent immediately to apprehend
Mr. Rutherford, who shculd be bound over in the same manner.
31r. Tyrie refused to mention the place of meeting.
The LORD MAYOR—You may as well tell me, for I declare to
you that yon shall not go there. I have too much feeling for your
family to permit you to risk your lite for a mere verbal offence.
Mr. Hardy said, both parties had carefully kept that from their
friends ; bat he did not suppose the information would be of any
use, as he had sent word to Mr. Rutherford's second that Mr.
Tyrie was in custody.
The Loan Alavon, after having given Mr. Tyrie some
time to consider, said Well, Sir; these gentlemen (Mr. Hardy
and Mr. Amos.) are satisfied to be your securities; are you content to
be security yourielf with them, that you will not commit a breach
of peace towards Mr. Rutherford, or any other of his Majesty's
subjects ?"
Mr. Tyrie—To what amount are the securities to be
The LORD MAYOR, after having consulted with Mr. Nobler,
said, the bail should be proportioned to the exigency of the
case. The two sureties should be for 500/. and Mr. Tyrie for 5001.
Mr. Tyrie's friends agreed without hesitation to bail him, and he,
with manifest reluctance, signed the bail-bond himself, and was
discharged from custody.
Warrants were immediately issued for the apprehension of Mr.
Rutherford, Mr. Edgar, and Mr. Berry.