The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-07 00:00:00

PRAYER.ROOK AND 110.11ILY SOCIETY.

Yesterday the annual meeting in support of this Society was
held at the London entree House, &Litwin:Atilt, when a numerous
attendance of Ladies and teentlemen took place. Among the persona
of distinction we psrticularly noticed Lords Gambier, Calthorpe,
Kocksarage, and ley;Bex the Bishops of Clare and Ohio, Dr.
Morrison, of China, lie. klarahall, Sir Claudius Stephen II unter,
Rev. Lir. Cunningham, and a considerable number of clergymen,

Lord BEXLEY being called to the Chair, he opened the proceed.
lags iia a brief speech ; afterwr.rds the ikaetary read the Report,
which he prefaced with a short address, in which he dwelt upon
the great encouragement and success the Society had min with
since their last annual mertir since which Ma Royal Highness.

the Duke of Oloucester had condescended to become the Patron of
the Society ; and several Bishops and other individuals eminent for
piety bad also become annual subscribers. The Report stated,
that during the la. year the Society had circulated praya-books
and homily tracts, Etc. in various parts of the globe, we that
effects had been generally observable ; the member of prayer-books
distributed amounted to 9.2 i.,, and that of homily tracts 104,706.
In China, through the exertions of Dr. Morrison, much good had
been done. The Report was received with great applause by the
company.
Lords Colthorpe, Rocksavage„ and several other gentlemen, de-
livered speeches in support of the Society ; and Dr. Morrison, in
an able speech, remarked, that he bed translated the Word of nod,
by which the Chinese were instructed with facility in the truths of
religion.
The meeting entered into a handsome subsefirtlea, and then
separated.
A sermon was delivered in the evening in support of the same
object.

SURREY SESSIONS, MAY G.
ATTEMPTED FRAUD ON MESSRS. BARCLAY AND
CO., THE BREWERS.
Joke Henderson, a respectable-looking man, aged 28 years, was
indicted foe having sent a threatening letter to Mr. Charles Bman,
of the above firm, with the intent to extort money.
Mr. Ts Emote. stated the case for the prosecution. The pro-
secution is under a statute of last year t sending a letter, and de-
manding money, was made death by a statute of George the Fiat ;
the present statute takes up the provisions of that of George the
First, milled " the Black Act," and reduces the punishment front
felony without benefit of clergy to any punishment which the Court
may think fit to allow. The prisoner called an Mr. Bevan, and
stated that he had information of Ileum. Barclay and Co. having
imported a great deal of opium, and in the evening he sent a letter 1
to Dlr. B. demanding money for keeping it sear* ; he demanded 1
the large sum of MOL which Messrs. Ducky anti Company, of
course, refused to agree to ; and for the purpose of clearing up
their character, and bringing the prisoner to punishment, an inter-
view was obtained with the prisoner, and he was taken into custody,'
having admitted that he was the writer of the letter in question ;
the prisoner, it would seem, was aware of the danger of a brewer's
haring opium in his peasenion, for, by the Act of the stith of
the late hung, a very heavy penalty was imposed upon the offence. 1
Messrs. It:archly and Co. had no vindictive feelings towards the 1
prisoner, but they demanded investigation, to prove tl.e falsehood
of the charge of having opium in their possession, and would be
smislied with any small punishment which the Court might think
fit to impose on the prisoner.
Mr. C. Bevan stated that the prisoner called on him in Devon-
shire-place,. )lacy-Isabosw.e, on 77th March, and said he understood
wittiess firm were the largeet importers of opium in London,
and unless they prosecuted the individual who had given hint the
infurntatioo, he should conceive the report to be true. Witness
desired him to quit the hot:se, deeming his visit an intntsion. In
the morning he received a letter from the prhoner, dated from Red
Lion street. Wapping, 'mina that he inquired of the Excise
office whether a hrewer was at litcrty to import opium ; he was told
" Nn ;" he add 01 he would not iniOrm the Excise before he hearu
kom witness, as :IC did not consithr himself bound to keep the me- 1
art for nothing, end he would snit only until the following Wed-
nesday. IVittless, on the ;Will of March, received another letter,
etatieg that lie had made up Lit tubed to take SOUL to keep si-
lence, and I consider 1 have advantaged you, more than ten times
that sum, by stopping the mouth of my author : and I have no
doubt he will pa y you that sum to let hint alone, and I will rive
oath of secrecy if necessary;" if the demand was not a to,
he wonld advertise wituesis house in the newspapers, and it
would have the effect of tasking their house, which was now the
largest. ultimately the ansakest, as h had done hie, the prisoner's,
in Edinburgh.
Mr. Charles Barclay deposed that, in consequence of the pri-
soner's second letter, be wrote to the *sorter appointing a meet-
ing ; en the lob of April the prisoner celled by appointment at
waoless's brew-house • In conversation, he admitted his name to be
Henderson ; that theiecond letter was his writing; witness had an
(Aker in attendance, and diresaly after this admission, be gave I
him into custody; alter the prisoner's committal, he wrote a letter
to witness, dated from liewasmonger-lane goal, stating that his
author of the report was Mr. Mann, of the Albion IkewsTy,
Whitechspel; and that 11r. Main's clerk was present whew du
relent was made...

*Crass-examined by the prisoner--Witases admitted to the Ma-
gistrate that there was a report of the nature alluded to, relative
to his house in ler7, but that the r was false: in consequence
of this rtnort the pablicans who ilaJt with witness's Nem required
an sdeerusement to the papers disowning the truth of the my en.
Mr. Mann, of the tirni of Make asst Maim, ut the Albion
hmsery, deposed that he km w the prisoner; some time in 31arch
the swisoner called on witnzsi. aril wished to hornaw money, stating
he was about to take the l'a“now Coffee-home, Charing.crows, art:
that Mesa& Barclay and Perkins had areal to advance hint HO!.
Be • i*hed to borrow of witness 3001. which was refusW i *beat •
titetnig:tt after he called again to know wb witness ether witne had made
lop les mind as to the NUL ; witness still refused, and requested
Mtn to walk out ; in going out he said witness must let him have
it, others est: he "roold expose the witness; witness never mentioned
a 'WM to the prisocerM" 3loisrs. Barclay and Co. being huporkwa
of opium.

bit. 110, the last witooss's clerk, was sworn, and statal that he
was present when she prisoner was with Mr. Mann.
Cross.tiaudted—Whness was never told what to say ; he has
tot received any bribe; nothing was manumit about el hum be.
toecti witness's employer and the prisoner.
The pTitiatfiCT, his defence, metal that he was a commie? of
Ilarc!ay's, in Edinburgh, and un coming to London Lard many
porse.!• speak against the it porter, and he defended their character
at. ai:il:h as was in his power. Ile declared, that hl his visit to 3lr.
Alsna, that gentleman had stated that Barclay and Co. were the
larttert imtsaters of opium in London.
The prisoner was found Gritty.
31r. Barclay begged leave to teamunend th? prisoner to mercy ;
the object of the Item was cecomplished in the report being
pro% eil. tic hail Wm aseortaised that the prisoner his a raper.
ode am! militate wife and tour children. and that he hail formedy
bo-1 a a:Ty Ivy...ruble tradesman in Edinburg:
The prtsonc.- vas sestet:cal to twelve t
Sri !ten Cwt

j*. 1.it...;:r in