The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-10-10 00:00:00

LIEUT.-COLONEL ARCHDALL'S CASE.

[ From an Leming Paper.l
We have wi.ltin a few days past received from Mr. Archdall
some communications on the subject of his case, which appeared so
plain and candid on the face of them, that we felt a strong disposi-
tion to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the statements made in
them, and to give the writer of them the full advantage of their
contents, if they should turn out, on inquiry, to be supported by
facts. We have taken some pains to make this inquiry, and we do
not now hesitate to let Mr. Archdall have the bencht of it, as far as
truth seems to uphold his assertions.
Mr. Archdall solemnly declares, that the foul charge lately pre-
ferred against him is totally void of foundation in truth, and is
solely the result of a conspiracy formed by the elder Withers and
his two Rona, with a view to extort mon. y from him ; we know that
such conspiracies have taken place before now; but we should
have very little inclination to suspect the existence of any in this
case, if Mr. Archdall had given us no more titan his own asser.
tions for the fact. Mr. Archdall has, however, done more than
this: he has, in a very straightforward manner, given us names,
dates, and places, by which to ascertain the characters of his
ac-
cusers, %Vithers and his too sons, all of whom be represents as
persons of the very worst deacr;ption in point of morals, and fully
capable of joining in any conspiracy, however base and profligate.
The persons to whom we have been thus referred as knowing anti
valuing as they deserve the characters of Withers and his sons are
all respectable individuals, and In answer to the inquiries made, we
learn that Mr. Archdall has very little overcharged the parties, as
regards the father and the elder son ; but as respects the youth him-
self, we are bound in fairness to say, we have not hitherto discovered
any thing to his prejudice. We are quite satisfied. however, front
all that has been communicated to us, that the public should sus-
pend their judgment until the result of the trial ; and Mr. Archdall
declares, that be the consequences of thartri.il what they may, he
is firmly determined to meet it; and we have no doubt hut the re-
spectable solicitor at present employed by him acts upon the full
conviction of Mr. A relidall's entire Innocence.
Mr. Archdall gives us, also, a abort memoir of his military life.
He was, he says, certainly removed trom the service by sentence of
court-martial, and that for having a man floi4red too without giving
him the benefit of • similar court ; this took place, however, lie
says, on the retreat from Burgos, during the Peninsular war; the
man was flogged, but slightly, and that for marauding, when there
was no opportunity of holding a court-martial. Mr. Archdall
says, that although he was dismissed, the court recommended him
strongly to mercy for his gallantry as an officer and his marked
humanity to his men; and so strongly impressed was the (;out.
mander-tn-Chief by this recommendation, that he (Ilr, Archdall)
was allowed to sell all his commissions and to re-enter the army
again without purchase. He further adds, that he commanded
the 40th regiment at the battle of Salamanca, and for his conduct
in that engagement received the thanks of the Duke of Wellington.

OXFORD POLIC R —A young man, about five
feet nine inches in height, of light complexion, with mus-
tachios, and a small tuft of hair under his lip, and attired
in a soldier's jacket turned inside out, a foraging cap, and
a pair of nankeen breeches, but without shoes or stockings,
was brought before the Mayor, charged with an act of va.,
grancy. On being placed within the bar, he handed three
books to the Magistrate, who inquired of the officer if he
was of sane mind ? Before the officer could answer, the
young man replied, with an Irish accent, "lam a Ro-
man Catholic, and on my pilgrimage. 1 ant not labouring
under any mental incapacity. lam a professed Mall, and
under the influence of an evil spirit, and all the Clergy in
your country cannot save me." The Mayor asked him
where he intended to go. Ile said, if he could obtain a
shilling, he would go to Abingdon, which to him would
be a place of rest. His Worship ordered a shilling to be
given to him, and en officer to see him out of the city.
PorsoNigm—Mrs. Smith, of Denside, parish of ?Jo-
nikie, was brought to Dundee in custody of a messenger,
charged with the crime of poisoning one of her maid-ser-
vants, between three and four weeks ago. It appears that
an intercourse of an amatory nature had existed between
the deceased and a son of Mrs. Smith, which she by no
means approved of. The deceased was with child by the
young man, and it appears his mother was determined that
no fruit of the connexion should make its appearance; and
for this purpose administered a quantity of arsenic to de-
stroy both the child and its mother. Ott Sunday three
weeks the unfortunate mother was interred, and on Satur-
day last the body was exhumed, and czatninul by a party
of medical men, sent wiih proper authority fur that pur-
pose, who brought along with them part of the poison and
the heart. Mrs. Smith was examined on Tuesday, but
stoutly denied any knowledge of the fact. She was cow-
-1 mitted for further ezaminattou.