The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-05-03 00:00:00

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Moxn.av, MAY 2.

At ten o'clock Mr. Justice Littledale entered the Court, and took
several common motions. The other judges were all specially en-
gaged to attend the House of Lords,upon the Thellusson argument,
which was appointed to to resumed to-day. Just as Mr. Justice
Littledale was about leaving the Court,
Mr. CHITTY rose and said, that he had to submit a motion, the
importance of which he trusted would induce his Lordship to hear
him, notwithstanding the Court was not full. The Learned Gen-
tleman said that it would be in the recollection of the Court, that
during the last week, an application was made to the Court for a
criminal information at the instance of a person named Moon,
against a Mr. Wilks, who was an attorney of that Court, and err-
toin other persons, for having in their several capacities of secretary,
engineer. &c. to a certain newly-formed company called " The
United Thames Water Company," been guilty of different offences
against the statute of George I. commonly called the " Bubble
Act." The grounds upon which that application was made, the
Court as well as the public were already aware nf, through the me-
dium of the pr. 45; but the report given of the case in the public
papers reflected in some measure on the character of Mr. NVilks.
That gentleman, therefore, dere-mined upon inserting an advertise-
ment in severel papers, which was couched in the mildest terms
possible, merely requmting the public to suspend their judgment
on his conduct until the time arrived for his giving a full, entire ex-
planation of all that he had doss regarding the Company. This
advertisement, however, had given some offence to Mr. Moon, and
he had written a letter to Mr. NVilks, demanding that, if he was a
gentleman, he would name a time and place where he would attend
with his friend. to give him (Mr. Moon) that satisfaction which was
due to him. The object of this communication, the Learned COW,.
sri said, could not be misconstrued ; and Mr. IS'ilks was therefore
compelled, either to commit a breach of the peace, by meeting Mr.
Moon in the field (a laugh), or else to come to this Court for pro-
tection ; and as discretion was the better part of valour, he had pre-
ferred the latter course.
Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE asked in what situation in life the
parties were.
Mr. CHITTY—My Lord. Mr. Moon, the person against whom
I apply, is a stationer, residing at the corner of Finch-lane, Thread.
needle-street. Mr. %I:Us, on whose behalf I apply, is, as 1 said
before. an attorney of this Court, and solicitor and secreta to the
United Thames Water Company, and he in his affidavit distinctly
negatives all that is imputed to him in the affidavit of Mr. Mom,
on which the former application was grounded ; and he further
swears that the Company alluded to was dissolved at his suggestion;
experience having shown that it would not answer the purposes
originally intended (loud laughter), and that he (Mr. Wilke) had
not committed any offence against the statute.
After some hesitation, and subsequent to several inquiries made
by the Learned Judge, he granted a rule to show cause why • cri-
minal information should not be filed against Mr. Moon for sending
a challenge to Mr. Wilke to fight a duel.