The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-18 00:00:00

POLICE.

GUILDHALL.
CARLII.E'S PIIIILICATIONS.—The Solicitor of the Treasury
is persevering in his prosecutions against the venders of libellous
and blasphemous publications, at -Carideo shop, No. hi I, fleet-
street, with a zeal and determination which must, it might be ex-
pected, put a final stop to the sale of such works. At present, how-
ever. an equal determination is displayed on the other side, and no
sooner is ote individual removed than another is ready to take his
place and continue the sale at every risk. No less than three per.
sons of this description wen brought up hefore Mr. Alderman
limner yesterday; two who had been apprehended on Saturday,
and the third, against whom a warrant was issued whale the
Magis-
trate WA% sitting that inoming.
The tiro put to the bar was a boy, apparently about twelve years
old, and final the deposition of Cousins' a flow-street officer, it
appeared that on his going to the shop on Friday last, he saw Cam-
pion, one of the sbopmen who has been held to bail, sitting there,
apparently taking orders from a gentleman. lie asked him for the
last number of the " Republican." Ile replied, " I don't serve
myself, but tint boy (pointing to the prisoner) will give it to you."
The boy did so, and he paid hint lid. for it. Ile then asked for
" Paine's Theological lc arks," which the boy also served him
with. tie then turned to Campion again, and asked for " Pal.
tner's Principles of Nature," and was, es before, referred by him
in a similar manner to the boy, who sold him a copy of that work.
Everything that passed between him (Cousins) and the boy was
seen and heard by I ampion. The offence therefore charged against
the boy was the sale of the patblications, and that against Cam.
pion, for directing, siding and assisting in such sale.
The boy, as might he expected, seemed somewhat frightened, and
was in tears, but it was evident, thaw his answers to the questions
put to him by. the Alderman, that he knew she nature of the offence
he was committing, as he allowed he should not have sold such
books to the Marshalman, with his red collar to his coat, if he had
asked for them. The mother of the boy, who stated herself to be
a widow, with three children, of whom the prisoner was the eldest,
residing at No. In, Vine-court. Spitattieltis, would have had it be-
lieved that her child had got the place at Carlile's as errand-boy,
I by accidentally inquiring for a situation ; but thegrandfather, one
John Butler, a weaver, in Great Powell-atrect, Spitalfields, said
enough to put it beyond doubt that both he and the mother were
perfectly aware of the nature of the boy's employment. Butler,
indeed, commenced a enlogy upon the moral character of Caine,
as a justifiattion for his putting his grandson there as an errand-boy-
The gentleman who attended the Solicitor for the Treasury
expressed his repugnance at pro-ecuting such a child ; but the sale
of such works must be put a atop to, sad if it was to be curried on
through such children, they must be prosecuted. If, however, any
proper assurances could be given for the boy's future conduct, he
would willingly listen to them ; and upon that suggestion the Fria
saner was remanded for a few days.
W. (tampion was then brought forward, and, on the depositions
being read to him, he denied having used the expresaions stated by
Cousins. Ilia observation was, that he had no connection with the
business. He had, he said, on liberation open bail, returned to the
shop, because he was a lodger in the have, but lie was no longer
Carlile's servant; and had not intended to take, and had not taken,
any part in the business since. Had he thought he should have
been proceeded against again, he would never have entered the
house. .

Cousins, however, persisted in the facts. and the prisoner was
again committed to tied bail, himself in 11101. and two sureties in
Mi. each.

The person just appreher.ded wen then put to the bar. His ap-
pearance was respectable, and he gave his same Juin Clarke, but
declined stating his residence. Ile was charged with having sold
to Cottains that morning a copy of the 17th number of the ninth
vela me of the liepublieg 11, passages from which, defaming the Bible,
were read.

The ftr‘orter said he was entirely ignorant of the tendency of the
work ; that he had taken up t'arlile's cause, and had volunteer&
himself to keep the shop open to preserve the property for the man.
He had gone there only that morning. He did not intend to sell
' any of the prosecuted works, and had put Lem all away. The
17th No. of the Reps/ohms had never been prosecuted, therefore
he sold it. That be fully Agreed in Carlile's opinions was, how-
ever, soon evident, for on the reading of the passage charged as
blasphemous, he observed, " What you have read I am ready to
ninintain ; anti I think you ought rather to prosecute those who
lull the Bible."

On this declaration the Alderman thought it unnecessary to
argue with him; and he was accordingly committed, to tind bail in
the same amount as required fsom Campion.

LAMBETH-STREET.

Yesterday maarr,c-licia;,- and two associates,
named William Ninety and John Wilson, were brought before
the Magistrate, charged with haring picked the pocket of John
I Arnold, Esq. of the Bank of England, of his purse, containing
some guineas, half. guineas, and silrer, on the night of Thursday
week.

It will be doubtless recollected, that on the above night a
dreadful fire took place at the sugar houses of Messrs. Alderman
Lucas and Co., in Osbome-street, Whnechapel ; and, as usual,
there was a numerous attendance of conveyancer, vulgarly speak-
ing pick-pockets; and notwithstanding the assiduity of the police
and parochial constables, wbo mustered very strong, their noc-
turnal operations were very generally felt amongst the concourse
that were assembled at the destructive scene.

Amongst the individuals whose property had been taken from
them, was /llr. Arnold who was pinioned in a corner by three
mem, two of whom held him, whilst the third turned out his
pockets, and dispossessed him of his purse and money. He erodes-
voured to have them secured, but they mingled amongst the crowd. I
and he lost right of them. Fortunately, however, their deeds did I
not pass unnoticed, for whilst they were robbing Mr. Arnold, a
lad who was well acquainted with the persons of the prisoners
stood a spectator of their enterprise. The honest youth communi-
cated his knowledge of the thieves to Mr. Arnold, who gave in.
formation to Plunkett, the beadle of Whitechapel, since which he
has been on a constant look-out for the parties, but it was not until
yesterday morning he succeeded in finding them. :Maurice Delay
was apprehended in bed at his crib in M entwortb-street ; and his
associates at their lodgings in the neighbourhood.
Plunkett stated to the Magistrates, that if the prisoners were re-
manded, he should be able to bring forward most material evidence
that would strengthen the case against them.
The prisoners were accordingly remanded.

ALARMING FlRL.—Friday se'nnight an extensive tract
of fir plantation on the estate of Lord Cawdor, in the neighbour.
hood of Nairn, was discovered to be in flames, and notwithstanding
the united exertions of several hundred persons who collected on
the spot, and cut an avenue horn side to side of the wood, the
whole, consisting of nearly 00 acres, was consumed. Thd fire was
discovered at ten o'clock of the forenoon, on the windward side of
the wood, and the plantation being quite close, with much rank
dry heather on the surface of the round, the progress of the flames
was irresistible and frightful. K e cannot learn whether this event
arose from accident or design ; but it is a singular circumstance,
that the Castle of Lord Cawdor, and another plantation belonging
to this Nobleman, were almost totally consumed by fire within the
last few years.—lnverocu Courier.
On Friday last two men at Dunning happening to quar-
rel, from words proceeded to blows, and shocking to relate, one of
them was killed ; the other, a man of the name of Mailer, was ap-
prehended, and'on Saturday lodged in Perth gaol. It is distress.
mg to remark, that within the last six weeks three men have been
incarcerated in Perth gaol, on separate charges of murder.—Gku.
gow Paper.
On Thursday forenoon a poor blind fiddler, in Santlgate,
Newcastle, was suddenly arrested, near the door of his humble
mansion, by the grim tyrant Death. Poor Jemmy Spence's last
' quavers being performed in " double-quick time," he fell down,
and died instantly. He had taken his breakfast in the morning, '
apparently in his ordinary health, without coml laint. lie was se
years of age, and was weU known among the common people in
the lower part of the town and neighbourhood, to whose mirth and
merriment he oft ministered. lie has, we hear, left a wife and se-
veral children to lament his loss.—Darlions Chroa.

DESPEUATR SUICIDE.—A pensioner named Byrne, re-
siding in Tullow-street, put a period to his existence yesterday
forenoon, by applying a pistol to his ear, and discharging its con-
tents into his brain. lie had been sick and in a state of despondency
fur three or four days previous to his perpetration of the desperate
deed, and he has lett a • ite and four children to mourn his untimely
end.—l Ptah Times.

On Tuesday, a Mr. C— summoned J. W—,
J. J—e W—, A. W—, J. W—, and S. W—,
to the head police-office, on a charge of having assaulted him.
' The defendants, four of whom were females. stated, that notwith-
' standing the complainant had been married before, he had con-
tracted inatriage with a member of their family, and that in cooling'
to the house of the young lady's father, he was or:hired or turned
away, on learning that he had already three other wives living !!!
The complainant not appearing at two o'clock to substantiate the
charge contained in the summons, the magistrates dismissed the
con:plaint, and it is understood the case will now assume a more
serious aspect, as the defendants intimated their intention of taking
proceedings against 111r.C. for polygamy.—Datlia Paper.
ArrEcTios; or A CAT.—It is not long since an old
woman died in Falkirk, who had for many years been attended in
her lonely dwelling by a cat, almost her only companion. On the
death of the to woman, the body was, as is customary, locked up
all night, while poor puss was observed to warder anxiously about
the house, evincing by her conduct that site missed her old mix.
tress. Next morning, to the astouishment of all, the affected beast
was Mund stretched out dead behind the door of the room where
the corpse of her mist r:.!ss lay. The cat, which is generally inure
attached to the house than to its inmates, has been rarely known to
exhibit such an instance of affection.—ChtsArow Jimenal.
On the night of the 12th a melancholy event happened in the
environs of Paris. A master-butcher, of Montlernied, having
bought 26 sheep at Semmtis market, confided them to the care of a
youth of eighteen years of age to drive them home ; the lad was
found this mourning hanging on a tree, in the wood near Montier-
meil, ad the sheep had disappeared. The gentl'annes are in pur-
suit of the robbers, who, it is supposed, have killed the sheep,
but it is hoped they will he taken if they offer them our sale in the
neighbourhood.—Frenth Paper.

On the lOth inst. nine malefaciors were exceed on the Place de
Justice. It was shocking to observe the youth of these debarments
joined with such unfeeling effrontery. Two were branded, one of
whom demanded of the executioner two bumpers of wine ; three
others, for highway robbery, were removed to the Ilicetre, and are
to be exposed in the piliory on the Place de Justice, in a few days ;
one has been condemned to death, being a second offence.--Paria
/Jar,.
—--•-- - - -

A literary French journal shames that more than LOW copies of
La Biographic tics Coidemporiens par Napskwws acre sold last
week, with a remark, tAlset scandal never fails tri its effect.—French