The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-08 00:00:00

CHARGE OF ASSAULT.

.......
LAMPETH•STREET.--Janies Connolly, anti another Irishman,
were charged with a most savage assault on Daly, who stated
that he was sitting in the King Harry public-house, eating his
dinner ; there was a party of Irish in another quarter of the room.
When witness had finished his dinner, he was preparing to leave,
but one of the party addressed him with "how sour you look." The
witness turned and asked it they spoke to him, when one of the
party struck hint on the head and stunned him.
Sirl). WILLIAMS—Was dist either of the prisoreitt
The witness said, he believed that was the matt (pointing to
Connolly).
Sir 11. WILLIAMS—You believe? That will not do, sir, you
must swear positively.
The complainant said he had a witness who had seen the whole
tranaartioo.
William Reeves cocrohorated the first part of the complainant's
statement, and added, that Connolly " took his list" and struck
the complainant in the face, which knocked off his hat ; and neatly
fractured his skull with a quart pot.
The piiaoner was remanded till Saturday.
ROBBERY AT THE 31INT.__

Joseph Richards, a boy who had 'wen in his liajeaty's
was charged with stealing a pit ce of blank gold, being an unfi-
nished sovereign.
Mr. Atkinson identifiA the gold, and the prisoner wan com-
mitted.
ASTLEY'S THEATRE.

Uorniv-H•Lt..-.-A few days ago a person nnamed Banks, em-
ployed by 31esters. West and Ducrow as a constable, to attend Ast-
ley's Theatre, transmitted " circulars," addressed to several of the
officers belonging to this establishment. enclosing tickets for his
benefit, and requesting that they would get rid of as many as they
could amongst their friends, on payment for the same. The Magis-
trate. hi. Swallow, Esq., having been made acquainted with the
CiTCUMMINSDCe, expressed very amtuderahle surprise that a constable,
reesislog wages at a public theatre, ahottld be also entitled to a be-
nefit. Ms at the same time, observed that the numerous in-
stones of robberies that occurred during the last and the present
asselso Is** above theatre plainly evinced an inefficiency. to the
posts who were engaged to act as constables, is preserving the
VIA* how the daring outrages that had been committed within its

—••••
walls. He was therefore anxious that one or other of the 'mph,
tors should attend at this office for the purpose of giving some et.
planation nn the subject.
Mr. Went, one of the proprietors of Astleft', hiving been made
acquainted with the Magistrate's desire, mtendell yrstevetse, tr,4
th, following dialogue took place with respect to the ormitsbke
who have been employed by the proprietors fer the preservation of
the peace in their theatre.
r. SWANEY, exhibiting several of the cards for Banks's beset,,
at the theatre, asked Mr. West whether it was to take plaits ',He
the concurrence of the Proprietors? Mr. West—t errantly, Sir.
We have been in the habit of permitting the constables employed
by its to have a benefit at the conclusion of each season.
Mr. Sw AHEY—Do you know whether Hanks is a regular van.
stable, or whether he holds a warrant of appointment ?-31r. West
said that he could not take upon himself to say positively wheelie,
Banks was a constable, teether than that he had heard him NAN
himself to be an authorized person to attend at the theatre. Be ,e
also. as I urderwand, an officer of Queen.square police.offiee.
Ale. SWANEY—You have been misinformed; Banks center'
did b 4ong to that police-office, but at present he is not !muted tYO
the establishment. %timber he wan i:OMi•ITO from his situstios
for improper conduct, or whether he left of I is own accord, he c ski
not say; however, the fact should be soon ascertained. The Ala.
glatrate then requested to know how many constables were eter.
played by the Propri- ton, and the weekly wages ()leach for lets
attendance at the theatre ?

Air. West replied that they had tour constaAN in wtf mince
during the town, viz. Banks, Munroe, Pace, aid Dutton, each of
whom reeeiv. ii 34e4. a. week.

Mr. Swai mY was extreally astonished that men acting as con.
stables should receive such high wage., and also have the advantate
of a benefit besides. Ile Wis:reed that the constables they (the
Surrey Maeisttaus ) bad appointed to till the same situations et the
('oburg and the Surrey 'lmams had less wages, namely, one guinea
per week, and no benefit; still they pylori-lied their duties bettee.
and prevented nny scenes of outrage and robbery—Ade, which
were exceedingly prevalent a: the theatre in question.
Mr. NVest We have always found Banks a very attentive officer;
and with regard to outrages and robberies, I pn some as few lie
committed during the season at our house as at any other theatre.
Mr. SIVABEY said that innumerable instances of very flegne,t
robberies occurred, particularly during the last season, at the;
theatre; and unless fit and proper constables were employed to do
the duties, the public would he still subject to plu.oler, if they
ventured within the house. The Magistrate having testified his dis.
pleasure at the proprietors er gaging men as constables without the
sanction of the Bench of Magistrate*. remarked, that since the
period officers were appointed by warrant to the other theatres et,
the district, those scenes of riot, disord. r, and not untrequently
I robbery, which were previously so prevalent, were now at au eod,
I and seldom or never occurred.

MrAVest said that ,he men engaged by himself and Mr• Dunn,
were not absent a single moment from the different parts of the
house during the performance.
It was here stated that Banks was incompetent to the task of
" thief-taking ;" he dii rot know the well-dressed thieves who
frequented the theatre, and therefore was as much use there ei an
ohl woman. An instance was then given of his dexterity in that
line. lie apprehended, it was sa'd, one thief during hi, Wean-,
and tr. oonveying the said thief down to Maidstone gaol. Banks
knew so little about the business, that the fellow "tipped him the
double," and escaped from his custody. Flanks, it appeared,
instead of looking after the thieves at the entrance of the theatre,
watched for the carriages of' the gentry, to whom he was most mi.
duous In his attentions, with hat in hand ; while an engaged
thieves were out curdle coestion ; and whatever company presented
themselves acre admitted indiscriminately.
The Magistrate observed, that he for one should never unction
the proprie:ors of a theatre in allowing constables to have a benefit.
The men certainly deserved payment for their services, but
not in the way of a benefit; as a practice of that kind
would conduce, lie should presume, to lessen the respectability
of any theatre from the company that were likely to assemble on
such an occasion ; the persons for whom the benefit was to take
place, anxious of course to get off as many tickets as they could.
would not be at all nice shout the purchasers. whether thieves or
prostitutes, and these were circumstances which the proprietors
should look to before they adopted such a method of remunerating
the individuals to whom they intrusted the preservation of good
order in their house. _

Mr. SWABLY then asked the characters of the other constables
employed about the theatre.
Several of the officers of this establishment said that Dutton Obi
the proprietor of aeveral brothels, ard that he lived in one himself ;
the girls that resided in his house were constantly in the habit of
frequenting Aittley's Theatre.
The Nagistratepoimed out to Mr. West the extreme impropriety
of having such men about the Theatre, and remarked; that had the
proprietors had the courtesy, in the firs! instance, to have applied.
at that office for fit men to du the duties, proper oonstablestwould
have been uppointrd by warrant at a much less price than they
were paying at present, and a ithour the necessity of giving theta a
beneht. 31r. Swabey then recited the Act, which. empowered the
Magistrates to appoint constables to places of public resort and
amuscmen•, within their jurisdiction.
Mr. IVest said that the present was the first time he knew to
much of the charac:ers of those persons whom they employed as
constables. lle again spoke in high terms of the conduct of Banks,
and was convinced that he was active and zealous in the discharge
of the duties which he lied to perform ; but, added Mr. West, ad-
dressing the Magistrate, s, if it is the desire of your Wo:ship that
we should make application before you for persons to attend our
theatre in the capacity of constables, specially appointed for that
purpose, we have no hesitation in doing so; but as it is now
wi lain a few weeks of the conclusion of the season, we should eao•
cider it a favour to be allowed to deter the application until tts
commencement of the next season."

The Magistrate observed that the proprietors must take the re-
sponsibility of it up3n themselves : all he, the Magistrate was alai-
nu, about, was the appointment of persons in the regular way to
attend the theatre; and if Banks and the other individuals employed
were found to be proper persons to till the situations, there would
be no difficulty in appointing them.
Mr. West was anxious to know how to act with respect to Banks's
benefit. lie said he believed most of the tickets were sold, and
the:, fore they could not be recalled.
The MAGISTRATE said that the proprietors must also take that
responsibility upon themselves, and now, as he(the Magistrate) had
*rated what was necessary to be done, neither Mr. West nor Mr.
Ducrow should plead ignorance on the licensing day before the
Magistrates at Kingston.
Mr. West then left the office, after having expressed his inten-
tion of making application at this office for regulstofficsrs to attecd
at Astley's during the next season.

MEETINGS OF CREDITORS.

LONDON LlST.—[From the London G .]

AT Till COURT Or CoMMISSIORRRS Of MIANICRUITS,

OTILKIT, ON MONO•V NIX?.
Bond, T. Hendon. dealer, Ist ex
Hankey, W. Rolls-buildings' Fetter-lane, carpenter. Int es
Keating, a. %Vaterloo-road, Lambeth, linen-draper, let ex
Todd, C. Lisson.street, Lisson-grove, teal merchant, houses
Turner, J. Finsbury-circus, builder, Guest's proposal ........ •
Watson, W. Bllthopsgate-street, Innkeeper, Ist ex.. ....
Nillittenbury, J. Cambridge-heath, Hackney, builder, adj. last ex...

COUNTRY LIST.
Aire), and Aaptnall, Liverpool soap.boilers, George, Lir. pr. dts II
Raster, M. Cambridge, stable-keeper, Eagle, Cambridge, pr. dis I l
Biore, J. C. Liverpool, confectioner, Messrs. Bloretrott, Lir. compos 10
Charlton, J. and L. Blanchester, sawyers, Star, Manch. eol. 3d ex.. • • 10
Crowley, 'f. Wakefield, currier, Sessions.ho. Wakefield, 2d exam• •• • II
Forber, E. Liverpool, timber merchant. Mr. Leather, Lis. spl. a 12
Green, D. Upton, linen-draper, Mr. Bird's, Upton, special aff II
Harrison, J. Aocoats, cotton-spinner, Star, Manch. enl. :MM... • • • 10
Phelps, W. Belbroughton, mediclue.dealer, Packhorse, Wor. Ist ex. 4
Thornley, It. Longdendale, cotton—pin. Star, Manch. Ist ex
Wells, J. Kenninghall, shopkeeper. Swan. Stratton, spl. aft'. ......

CAUTION TO CHEMISTS, TOYMF.N, AND OTHERS.—
A great alarm has been excited among those persons who
carry on the foregoing and similar trades, arising from a
number of informations which have been made against the
sellers of gold and silver articles not having a license. By
the last Act of Parliament, it is declared, that every per-
son offering for sale any article of gold or silver, however
small it may be, and not taking out an annual license, is
liable to the penalties affixed. We understand that the
minis of above eight hundred individuals have been given
in to 'the Exchequer, and above two hundred writs are
issued.

BIRTHS.
On iVedneaday, in Enstomplace, the lady of Wm. Abbot, L's•l
of Onctor%*-Commons, of a daughter.
At sheen, Surrey, on the 4th inpt. the a ife of C. Blackett, jun.,
E‘ q. of a Rim.
On the 2d inst. Mrs. Stephen Cannon, of Beekford.row, Wala
worth, of a son.

MARRIED.
On the 6th inst. at heron, Essex, John, son of Wm. Davis. of
Leytonstnne, Esq. to Elisabeth Jeerer, Murth daughter of John
Coolie, of Leaspring, Esq.
On the htli inst. at St. Werburgh's, Derby, Ambrose ;Home, of
Milk-street, London, Esq. to Harriet, eldest daughter of Francis
Fox, of Derby, E.g. M.D.
At Millbrook, Hants, Dr. Clement Smith, of Richmond. Surrey.
to Mary Anne, widow of Captain J. Williams, late of Itlonghyr,
Bengal.
On the 31st ult. at Christchurch, Spits Melds, Mr. Joseph
Cnonibs, builder, of Bennet's-hill, to Atney, only daughter of :tit
Hayward, Sermon-lane, Doetors'-Commons.

DIED.
On Wednesday forenoon, the Pith inst. at Lee, Kent, in her 83d
year, Mrs. Mary Ann Mtnlend, relict of the late Wm. lllceland,
Eq. of Pall-mall, Westminster.
On the 2d inst. of the typhus fever, Captain Richard Low, of the
Fifeshire Fencibles.
On the 3th inst. at his house at Barnes, 3lr. Wm. Dale, of the
Poultry. aged 38.
On the Slat ult. at his residence, St. George's-place, Canterbury.
Richard 3lount, Req. in the 113 d year of his age.
-asf.'"")
HIGH WATER THIS Dr
6
Morsini •••• .. 17 sale. after

AT LONDON MOM
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Printed at THE BRITISH PRESS OHMA hy_S:W CARLTON. No,
Strand. and publisbed by N. CANNON. same place.