The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-12 00:00:00

CRIMINAL INFORVIATfON.

Mr. EMITS!". moved for a Rule to shew cause
why a criminal information should not be filed
against Jonathan Penny Coffin, and three others.
He moved this on the affidavit of the Reverend Mr.
Gurney, the Mayor of Tregony, and one ofhis Ma-
jesty's Justices of the Peace. This gentleman had
before this been grossly insulted by those who were
under the influence and diroaion of this Mr. P. Cof-
fin, who is the agent of Mr. Barwell, in that bo-
rough : And he swore that it was not safe
for him to live there unless these persons were
punished, as the mob were entirely under their
influence and controul. The case was this : This
gentleman being burned in effigy, the learned
Counsel said, he did not know whether what the
Court had said and done, in a similar case, when ano-
ther ReV, gentleman had been burned in effigy by
a nursers-nian at Barnet, had reached this Borough
—Mr. Gurney was alarmed in the night by a noise ;
this was on the 27th of December last ; he was
alarmed by persons digging on a vacant spot of
ground near' his house, which is the propety of Mr.
Coffin. He caused his servants to get up to see who
it was that was disturbing him. Immediately on
that, he heard a whisperinx, and persons coming
very near his door, and immediately afterwards the
windows of his parlour were violently assaulted,
and eleven panes of glass and part of the window
frames, were destroyed. He directed his servants
to call two constables, one of whom had received a
most.violent wound from one of the persons includ-
ed in this prosecution, and had ever since been I1T1.•
der the hands of a surgeon. On looking near this •
spot, they found they were erecting an effigy on a
pole. The people who were engaged in this work,
said they had their master's protection, they were
on their master's soil, and that they would continue
to do so, and both of the constables were most vio-
lently assaulted. and beat. It appeared this effigy
was dressed in a coat the property of Mr. Coffin:
It was drawn there by his horses, and the at% was
done by his servants; and it was suffered to remain
with a great crowd of people round it, during the
whole of the nest day. This is done upon the
ground of this man, it is drawn with his horses, it
is done by his servants; it is dressed in his garments.
Mr. Justice Le we eNer...—a How does Mr. Gur-
ney shew it was meant to ridicule him in Mr. Coffin's
coat ?"
Mr. Essuiuu observed, the effigy was dressed in
the garb of a clergyman, and all the witnesses swore,
they believed it was intended ter Mr. Gurney.
Mr. Justice LAWILENCE.-•-" Take a Rule to shew
cause."

TRIAL AT BAR.

THE EARL OF STAMFORD v. SIR OLLII::.RT HEATH-

COTE AND OTHERS.

Mr. EttsKINE observed, this was a feigned issue oat
of Chaucer'', to ascertain in whom the soil and free-
hold was of a large fen, in the county uf Lincoln.
Near five huodred persons were interested.in this fen,
which contained a great number of acres, and was
estimated at 20,0u01. A few days ago his Learned.
Vriend, Mr. Park, had moved, that the venue might
be changed from Lincolnshire to.Middleses, on the
ground that a fair and impartial trial could not behad
in the county of Lincoln, because so many persons
were interested. The Court, however, on that oc-

casion, thought, when they considered how large
and populous a county that was, that they should
be pronouncing a libel upon it, if they were to say
that twelve impattial men were nut to be found in
the whole county, and therefore that application was
rejected. The Learned Counsel said he was to
move that there might be a trial at bar in this case,
if his Lordship should be of opinion on the state-
ment, that the learning of the Court would be neces-
sary to its decision. Some of the Defendants, on be-
half of whom he moved, said they could only make
their claims effedual by producing written evidence
and very ancient records, now in the Tower, and
other public offices in the cities of Landon
and Westminster, and on which some very
difficult points of law might arise. It would be
attended with very great expence, if they were
obliged to carry down all these ancient records to
the county of Lincoln, which would be saved by
a trial at bar. It would require the learning of the
Court to decide on the weight that was due to these
ancient deeds and charters. There might be dif-
ficulties it another point of view. A great number
of persons were interested in this Fen, which was to
be inclosed, divided, and allotted, &c. ' - and though
a fair and impartial Jury might be found, yet try-
ing such a cause on the spot where so many were in-
terested, it might be extremely apt to raise preju-
dices in the minds of the Jury. He hoped, for
these reasons, to obtain a Rule to shew cause.

Mr. Justice LAWRENCE said he should certainly
grant a Rule to shew cause, but k must not be made
absolute, as of course. Lord Ellenborough and
the other Judges must have an opportunity to ex-
ercise their judgment upon the matter. As to an-
cient records, a copy of them might be obtained.
If this application were to be granted, every ques-
tion-on an inciosure a 4 might Le tried at bar, to
the impediment of the other causes. His Lordship
did not see why this question might nor be as well
tried at Lincoln, as other similar questions have
been at other assize towns.—Rule granted.

LENT ASSIZES.
MIDLAND CIRCUIT.
Northamptonshire—Monday, Feb. 28, at Northampton.
Rutland--Frid.,y, March 4, at Oaltham.
Itneolnshiro—Saturday, March 5, a. the Castle of Lincoln.
City of Lincoln—SA-le day, City of Lincoln.
Nottinghamshire—Friday, Match 11, at Nottingham.
Town of Nottingliain—S-aine day, Town of Nottingham.
Delayilito--Tti.irlay, March 15, at Derbi.
Leicestershirefriday' March 18, at the Castle of Leicester.
Aorough of LeiteAt..r—Same day, Borough of Leicester.
City of C wentry--Wediesday, March 25, City of Coventry.
\Varw.ckshire—Thuraday, March 24, at Wirwick.