The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-08-10 00:00:00

ACCIDENTS.

U, Thursday a most extraordisary end singular areidest
happened in a coed leading from Craulsorae-stn et, Leicester-
square. A young girl was silting is the second floor of a
house in the court, at the window, with as infant of twelve
mouths old io her arms, when it suddenly sprang from her
arms iota the court, sod fell on a man who was eating ins.
tyre, whicb furtuastely broke its fall, and the little taint
dropped at his fret. It was almost instamaneuusly picked
up and convey toe surgeon's, who, on examiaing it, declared,
to the delight sad seeps ha of the muther,tbat the Want was
and materially ►urt: bee feelings may be better eosceived
than described.

On Friday night John Ellison, Esq. a young gentleman
from the country, who took up his residence at the Gray's.
lan Coffechnew, being rather overcharged with Naar, was
carried by the waiters ■p stairs to his apartment, a hack
room un the third fluor, which was immediately over the
gateway leading into the Inn, when, in a state of
how, he threw up the sash, and leaning forward, be be.
gun to hollow oat of the window, and it is supposed
that by overbalancing himself, be was pitched furward a
depth of near ite fret on the coach-way pavement. The
alarm was instartly given, the inmate' rots out, and the au-
Cirtissate man was discovered in a most shucking condition.
several of his limbs being broken, and the pavement smeared
with his blood. tie was carried is, and surgical aid lame.
chide!), provided, but all Ia an purpose, as he expired imme.
dustily afterwards. A C4lolo,ifell limiest has siree beru•held
on the body, sad a verdict of "Accidental Dada from fatt-
ing oat of a window" was recorded.

The Gibraltar Chronicle of the 18th ult. contain,
the following notice :
" The unction of the Bishop of London having been ob-
tained for establishing a Committee of the Society for pits-
mooting Ck r a Knowledge in this garrivig, the Lord
Bishop having expressed a Irish that she same should be
formed under the immediate auspices of the Guthman', bill
Earelleney begs to invite the Lieat, want Cucutar and other
member. of the &trio,' residing in the garrison, and such
other officers and civil inhabitants as are friendly to the in.
whaling, to meet biro for the purpose if.ubmittiug the ne-
mum, roles and regglatiogs, at the Court House, ow Fri.
day neat, the 19th inst ■t teelse o'clock.
(By command) "S. R. CH APMA N, Civil Secretary.
" Head-quarters, Gibraltar, July IS, ISM."

At the Quarter Sesiions for the county of Staf-
ford, held on the 18th of July, a person named
Thomas I cc, a firmer of considerable property,
was tried for ste.nling a casting-net, under the fol-
lowing circumstances t—The servant of a Mr. Jag-
gird had been using the net, and had left it lying
in a field which did not belong to his master.
On his return, some time afterwards, the net
was missing, and it was found, three months af-
terwards, in the house cf Lee, who, befule it
was found, denied having it, but afterwards
said he had bought it from • man named
Jones. Joliet was first tried for stealing the tier,
and Lee was the principal witness against hint.
Jones made no defence; but the presiding Magis-
twit directed the Jury to acquit him, and desined
the Prosecutor to prefer a bill against the witness
Lee. The bill was found, and he was tried on the
19th, the only evidence against him being, that
the net was found in his posses/ion, and that he hod
previously denied all knowledge of it. He was
convicted, and the Chairman sentenced him to
seven years transportation. The severity of the
sentence in this case may probably excite ■ feel-
ing of surprise; but that feeling will be a good deal
diminished on learning that Lee was suspec,e.l
by the, Magistrate of poaching; and the Chair-
man actually assigned as a reason for su heavy a
punishment, •• that the prisoner opened his house
as a rendezvous for poachers." What 3 otion their
Staffordshire Worships may have of the relintise
enormity of ciiinea, we do not know; but it
does appeal to us that seven years transporta-
tion for taking up ■ net which a man finds in a
field, is a disproportionate punishment, even suppos-
ing the offence to be clearly proved, as in this case
it certainly was not. The following paragraph on
the subject is from the Pottery Gazelle: —•' This
sentence has excited some surprise, front its apparent
severity. Mr. Lee is a man of large property; lie is
at least salirto be worth 5,006/.; end is so well re-
spected, that the constable of Haindsworth, and oilier
petrol's from the neighbourhood, on tre•neing of his
being taken into custody, expressed rem concern,
and went to visit hint, and offer any set vices in their
power—observing that he was one who • never re--
fused to do • 'n•n a good turn.' There does not sp.
pear to us any thing in the conduct of Lee which
might nut be °counted fur from his desire io shel-
ter Junes, with whom lie appears to Wye an ac-
quaintance, and whose g►neral character seems to
have been good."—(Manchester Guardian.)