The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-04 00:00:00

THE RECORDER'S REPORT.

At the Council held yesterday, the Recorder of London
made his Report to the King of the following prisoners
under sentence of death in Ncwgate, namely :
Joseph Jones, aged 20; John Gardner, 17; Joseph Coale, :
Thomas Rhodes, 21 : James Beecroft, 24 ; Richard Elliott, 17 ;
George Hawn, 18; Thomas Kingston, 21 ; Mary Nl•Carthy, ;
Martha Plumb, 25; Thomas Jobbins. 19: James Fraser, 18;
James Roberts, 20; Emma Farrow, 16; Thomas Evans, 20;
John Sullivan, 18; Sarah Forward, 20; William Gibbs, 17;
Thomas White, 21; James Ilocklzy, 28 ; Alexander .51 ichie, ;
for stealing in a dwelling-house to the value of 40s. and upwards.
Thomas Burley, 40, cattle-stealing.
William Davies, 20; James Green, 18; John Thompson, alias
Williams, 91; John Thompson, 16: John Edward Oakley, alias
John Edwards, 19 ; William Wilson, 19; William Brown, 10 ;
John 51•Niebol, 10; Jaaeph Long, 18; John Eaden, 22; Samuel
Tries, 25; John 1111101X1fe, 17 ;—for burglary.

John Jones„ IJ, for • robbery.
Juno Buret,. 14; Catherine Clark, alias Pitt, 27 ; John
Cbek,2ll:—lit highway robbery.
Spencer. '33 : foe sheep stealing.
James Armitage, ; foe horse stealing.
jitney Dv-el:lvy, 23; Dennis Kelly, 28 ;—for returning from
tainsportaticn.
His Majesty was graciously pleased to respite during his Royal
pleasure et the above. excepting Joseph Jones and John Gardner,
whose case stands over for further consideration.
There yet reutain eight capital convicts who were not reported
yesteruay.

POLICE.

BOIV-STREET.

Yesterday a tall young Irishman. named William Little, was
brought before Mr. Mix:mutt. and Mr. lIALI.s, by L&bitter,
on a warrant, charged with sending threatening letters to Rowland
Alston, Esq., of kfarley-street, Cavendish.equare, a Magistrate for
Middlesex.
The defendant had lived for a considerable time in the service
of Mr. Alston, as footman, and conducted himself, in general.
with propriety, but he had the misfortune to have rather a pleasing
vote:. and so high an opinion of his own talent in the singing way,
that he was constantly practising (sometimes to the great annoy.
ance of the flintily, for he was not nice in choosing his boars), and
aa constantly boasting, that if he could once make his powers
known, he should speedily rise to eminence in the musical and
theatrical world. " Oh," he would often say to Susan the house-
maid. •' if I could but have an opportunity of exhibiting before
Mr. Kemble or Mr. Elliston, or 'font Cooke, or any other great
men, just to give them a specimen of my powerful preten-
sions to public favour, how glad would they be at once to
patronize me, and bring me, in time, before a London audience.
l'o be sure, I have not the power of Brehm, but then I know
I have all the sweetness Of Sinclair ; and could I but have
the means of cultivating my talent, what a great man I
might become in a little time !" " Lord, William, said Susan,
and the other servants, who did all they could to discourage his
ambition, •• why you are singing and music mad, sure, a'n't you.
You sing a fair umg enough, to be sure, to please the like of us ;
but you'll never do for the play-house, depend upon it." Wil-
liam, lowever, was not to be `• damned with faint praise," and
be went on singing almost from morning till night, and lamenting
the want of opportunity to bring himself into notice. At length,
about twe!+e months ago, he left the service of Mr. Alum), who,
notwithstanding the defendant's folly in one particular, had a very
good opinion of him, and gave him Id. over anti above his wages
when he went sway. The defendant received a good character
from Mr. Alston, and soon procured another situation ; but he did
not keep it king—the " stage-stricken hero" could not endure
the vile drudgery of a footman's life for any length of time, and he
gave ue his place in disgust. From that moment he began to
tra.le Mr. Alston with letters, soliciting his patronage and influence
in getting him on the metropolitan stage.and oeeasioaally requesting
pecuniary assistance. Mr. Alston soon got tired of noticing these
applications, when the defendant commenced writing in a different
strain ; hinting that, unless his demands were complied with, he
should disturb the peace of ?Ir. Alston's family most materially.
In addition to several letters, containing even plainer thirsts than
this, he wrote to a gentleman in Grosvenor-square, a particular
friend of .Mr. Alston's, stating that he should be sorry to create
confusion and dismay in the family of the latter gentleman, but he
should feel himself obliged to do so, unless he came forward and
lent him his influence and support. lie canted, he said. first of
all, to procure a provincial engagement, and Mr. Alston ought to
supply him with 401. to support him decently until he could be
ushertsl to the London boards. At length his threats became of so
uncquivecal a nature, that Mr. Alston thought it necessary to
seek protection from the law, against the meditated violence of the
defendant ; and a warrant was issued from this office for his appre.
hension.
_

The defendart, in answer to the charge, repeated all the nnn.
sense before-mentioned about his great vocal powers, the loss the
public would sustain if he were not brought forward, and the
obligation there was upon Ur. Alston to do all he could to promote
his views. _ . .

.....
Altusnott. asked the defendant if he had any friends,
and he replied in the negative. Ile had no relations in the world.
Ile was born at Waterton!: Ile did not remember his father and
mother. He did not know when or Where they died, or if they
were dead. He did not know when he left Ireland. He knew he
was an Irishman, because he was horn in Ireland.
All the defendant's answers were evidently evasive. He went
on to say that Mr. Alston had denied that he possessed any quali-
dcations for the theatrieal stage. but had pronounced htm to be
exceedingly well :Awed for the prize-ring, and had offered to back
him if he should fight.
Mr. Alston laughed, and declared that he had never said any
inch thing.
Mr. bliwantrir earnestly endeavoured to convince the foolish
fellow that he was labouring under a delusion, but it was in vain,
and he was ordered to tied bail ; Me. Anshan observing, that in
cmsideration of the defendant's situation in life, he should only
call upon him for his own recognizance in 401. and two sureties in
2W. each to keep the peace.
TM defendant said, the Magistrate had no business to take his
situation in life into consideration at all. If his threats were of
such a nature as to be considered dangerous to the public peace,
the law ought to take its course. He should not attempt to get
bail ; he adould rattier choose to endure imprisonment.
was taken away and locked up.
Eyre Evans, E'q. an eminent merchant at Liverpool, was
brought up by Taunton, charged with intending to fight a duel
with Mr. Thomas Hubert Richmond, also a merchant at the same
pleco.
It apeeated that the two gentlemen quarrelled on 'Change at Li-
verpool, and Mr. Richmond applied the epithet scoundrel to Mr.
Evans, *coon which the latter knocked hint down. A challenge en-
sued, but the meeting was prevented, and they were both held to
bail. It was subsequently agreed m meet at Dieppe, to settle she
affair; but information being sent to this office, Mr. Evans was ar-
rested on his way through Loudon, with his intended second. Co.
lord Barton, of Chester. 111 r. Evans was herd to bail in heavy
sureties.