The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-08-21 00:00:00

?RR ATTORNEY-ORNERA f. V. PEARSON.

Mr. Wtfroetet.n stated this motion related to
the Wolverhampton Merting-hour. The Court
formerly made nu order that n third party should be
introduced into the cause. The Registrar bud some
difficulty in drawing up the order, which made it
necessary to mertion it again.
The LORD CHANCELLOR..."I do not recollect
the case. What does it relate to ?"
Mr. WINGFIELD said it was an information filed
by the Atiorney-General, relating to the Meeting-
house io ‘Volverliampton. He trusted his Lord-
ship would have no hesitation in directing the order
to he drawn up.
The LORD CHANCELLOR —OBl am obliged to
hesitate I am informed wheu the order was
granted."
Mr. Caorrs, the Registrar, stated, that the order
was made two years since, and no application was
made to have it drawn up till now.
The LORD CHANCEI.I.OR-.-" This is most ex-
traorlinary conduct, to say the least of it. It is
another instance of the neglect which I am obliged
to complain so often of ; I make orders which are
never called for, and am blamed for delay caused
by the neglect of others. This case has lain by for
two year., and the order has never been sought for
until now. The Registrar has acted properly in
refosing, it. Let it nut be drawn up now wail a
new Hpplw.ation be made to site on the merits of
the case."

CONTEMPT OF COURT.
1! THE MATTER. OF Baucb:. A HANERUPT.

THE COMMISSIONERS OF BANKRUPTS OF TUB

SEVENTH LIST. C. DRUCK AND DAVIS.
it will he recollected that this was the petition
of the Commissioners, Messrs. Dynely, Wrottras
ley, and the Hun. E. Law, praying that his Lord-
ship would commit the bankrupt Bruce, fur a con-
tempt of Court. when under examination before
them as Commissioner's of Bsokrupts. Mr. Cut-
LEN was heard on a former day tel support of the
petition; Mr. HEALD and Mr. MONTAGU!: for the
Defendant, Davis, and the Bankrupt in propria
persona.
Mr. Cuttex this day replied, and contended,
that nothing had been stated by his Learned
Friends to *hew why the prayer of the petition
I should not be grinned. It wail necessary for the
Court to interfere to protect its dignity, and to
maintain proper order and regularity in ours of
[
bankrupts. Ile therefore called on the Court to
act with energy.
Mr. HEALD said, it was unnecessary for him to
make any observations as to the Defendant Davis,
as his Lordship had stated that he was satisfied that
Davis's motives for interferring were not improper.
Mr. ----, a Junior Counsel, said, he was
instructed that morning to address the Court um
behalf of Mr. Bruce.
The LORD CIIANCELLOR—" It cannot be. it is
too late ; I have all the facts of the case before one.
All the parties have been heard, and Mr. Cullen
11111 now replied. My time is not to be wholly
taken up with this case."
Mr. ---- begged leave to say. that Mr.
Bruce was now convinced that he bad been misled
by his own judgment, and acknowledged that his
conduct bad liven improper and irregular, and that
he was now willing to submit to any order the
Court in its judgment might think proper to make,
and that lie was also willing to submit all the
accounts, &c. to a Master of the Court, and to
abide by his report.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—" This case comes
before me on petition. I have given full and deli-
berate attention to ull the facts and proceedings in
this most extraordinary case (for extraordinary it is '
in every view), and it is also moat important, as it
relates to the liberty of the subject, and the doe till-
ministration of a very high bunch of the law of this
country. I have read over all the affidavits with
great care, and I do think it quite clear that Mr.
Bruce dors not deny what the Commissioners allege
in their affidavits, but on the contrary he admits
what they allege to be true. This case Isis been
long before me, and ought to have been before this
disposed of, and I would have done so if I had nut
been prevented by the extraordinary course which
Mr. Bruce pursued, by preferring five hills fur per-
jnry against the parties, viz. three tag:Molt the
Commissioners. one monist the Solicitor for the
Comsat:Mon, and one against the messenger.
Whatever my own opinion on the subject erogl't
Ise, I paused before I gave my judgment, front
a due respect for the law, till the decision of the
Jury was known. I lament exceedingly that the
Grand Jury were not competent jitters of the
weight of evidence before them, for had they been
competent judges net our hill would have been
found ; never was there such frivolous grounds for
finding a bill. The Jury in the Court of King's
Bench, by the direction of the Learned Judge who
presided, did right in finding the Defendatita /tut
Gailty. The prosecution was most improper, as there
was no ground fur it. The Commissioners doubted
their power to commit for a contempt against them-
selves, and by this petition they applied to me. They
did right, and but for these prosecutions of the bank-
rupts. I would have pot this doubt of theirs at rest
in the first instance, as I would have supplied to
Parliament fur a legislative enactment on the sub-
ject. This, however, I may say, that a contempt
. offered to the Commiseioners is a
contempt of the
Great Seal. Looking at all the facts of the case,
and all the extraordinary proceedings of Mr. Bruce,
I. sitting where 1 am, feel it my duty to have all
the proceedings laid before his Majesty's Attorney.
General. for Irian to decide ' what course lie will
adopt, he bearing iu Isis mind all that has been
done here."
Mr. CULLSW hoped that his Lerelihip would
direct the costs of the proceedings, which ausuisuted

to the mimeos snm of VW.. to be paid out of the
separate estate of Mr. Bruce.
The LoitoCe A lICISLI.OII-•1 Certainly; let them
be paid nut of his proporti of the edatr."
Mr. MONVIOUR requested that his Lordship
would give his uptnint, as to the Defendant, Dar,.
The Loeb ancet.r.oe—" I peed hefure, what
I now repeat, that although Davis acted moat in-
considerately, wit was not front improper motive*.
His teal was ill•tsmed ; but I think he wished in
give the Commissioners full information of all
that Bruce said. The Commissioners, I hop.,
will not be offended, when I tell them, and all
those in the Comsnitarioners' list, that they have
the power to commit for a contenspt, and that
they ought in this and in every oilier case to
protect themselves mgatsist oatrage, and to put it
out of the power of any person to treat diem wilt
insult or insolence. Let them be, av they Away.
have been. courteous is all bankrupts ; but let
them be firm and determined to tin their pnblie
duty. The case is certainly a isainftsl one, but I
would not he doing my pubhc linty if I did snit
vend all the proceedings to the Attorney-Geisersd
forthwith, sod let him, as law officer of the Crown,
di•cliarge his public duty."
Hte Lordship, on applicrt. of Counsel. fixed
the Portsmouth Bank case fur 111unday. should cu.
cusustunces permit.

POLICE.
....-

II killION-8013111.

SEDITIOUS PLACARDS
Yesterday the Lord Marti was occupied during • great
part of the day in an investigation for the purpose of dis-
covering the sources from whence a number-of bills, said to
be serleti 0000 s, have originated, and which have latterly been
posted about the city sod environs in great numbers. Two
of the bill stickers, who hail been seen posting 1111111 C of the
bills in the night, underwent private exanduations several
days since, and were discharged.
The first person examined on the present occasion was Mr.
Davisson (Printer of a periodical work called The Mellow),
residing at No. 10, Dulte.strect, West Smithfield, who ap.
peered upon an information, charging hits with printing se-
veral bills, he not having ap• • g press duly licensed soil
entered. Ile was first interrogated, and called noon to gave
in
the original copyist a bill, headed -Smithfield Meeting r•nil
addressed to " the non-represented people of the metropolis,"
lee. inviting them to the Meeting. As the hill in question
has already appeared iii the politic prints, and bens exten-
sively placarded, it is unnecessary to give a copy.
In
answer is Ike questions of the Lord Mayor, Mr. Dsvision
stated. that he woe, employed to print the bill is question by
Mr. Blanilford, the Secretary of Two Hundred. who re.
shied iii Margaret-street, Hackney. He printed 500 by his
orders, and the coil was 21. Mr. Divissim was for the
present discharged; bnl was told that he would, upon a
future day, he interrogated respecting a number of other
bills of a similar nature, which had his 'tame attached to
them.
W. fletvrts,si ntiterab!e-looking mon, also appeared upon
information, charged with having his name affixed to a pla-
card, he not having a printing.press duly licensed soil euter-
vd. He stated, that he was a journeyman printer, and re.
sided in Clark's.rourt, Skinner-street. The hill upon which
he was examined was one headed—. Universal, Civil, and
Religious Liberty—Surrey and stontbocal Meeting.—Tbe
non represented people and friends of freedom, in Surrey, are
invited to assemble ON Keattinoton Common. Oil Monday:, Au •
gust 23, 1819, at 12 o'clock, Henry Hunt, Faq. in the Chair,
to consult upon the most proper. speedy, and effectual nwaus
of obtaining their rights—a ileum of the Commons House
of Parliament, and a redress of all the manifold grievances
which a patient, honest, and industrious people have long
suffered, and upon the propriety of making a politic. manly,
and energetic appeal to the Prince Regent and to the People."
The hill was continued in almost the same tone and lan-
guage as that which announced the Smithfield Meeting, and
was signed, t! By order of the Committee, Dennis Shaw, Se-
cretary."—The Defendant gave iu tlw original copy.
Lord Mayor—Who employed you to print these bills?—
Mr. Shim employed me : I printed 400, at 13s. per hundred,
and was paid by instalments.
lord Mayor—Who is Mr. Shaw ?—A shoemaker; be lives
in Prairies-buildings, Southwark.
Lord Mayor-1)u you understand to what Committee be
was entitled to sign "By order ufr—No I received the
order and the money from him. This was all I had to do
with him.
Witness said, lie Was oat of work when be took the
job, 'to which Inc was re commended hey a person named
Webb, who resided in lient.street. He was himself a joarney.
Wow printer, and lush been out of work. Has last 11111111er was
T. Cunningham, of Shoe.latie, who allowed him to print the
Wiest his press; but he desired him to affix his own naine to
them. His reason for doing so was, because had done some
business before for the same Committee, sod never was paid.
He would, therefore, have nothing more to do with them.
The Defendant would have nothing to do with them, but
that he had a wife and three hungry children depeuding
upon him for sepport ; and he assured his Lordship
that he had never done any thing of the kind before. lbe
Lord Mayor was convinced, from the Defendant's evidence,
that he was an honest man, mud theiefore he would not Sue
hint 501. for the offeuee which lie had committed. His Lord.
ship asked the Defendant, whether those gentlemes pristers
were in the habit of hiring men like hits to affix their names
to the bottom of bills? The Defendant replied, that be
had not been tnrco in that line of business, amid therefore
could not say. The Leiril Mayor said, that the Defendant
might depend upon it that no Magistrate would take advan-
tage of ignorant mea, and lie should not be a sufferer for the
evidence he hail given. The Defendant said, that he had area
at the various Committees which he attended respecting
his bills, such scenes of shuilliing and trick, that he hail
detcrniiind to have nothing more to du with them, as soon
as he could get clear. Ho was asked where the Committees
were held, at which be attended. The first he maul he was
at, was held at a publie•honse, the sign of the Artichoke, in
Lambeth Marsh; the second was held at the Angel, Upper
Ground street, Westminster. There was a third and fourth
in East Harding-Buret. The Acting Commits*, who occa-
sionally attended, were Dr. Watson,' Wes's. Preston, This-
%lnwood, sod BlaoJlitnl, sad. • man of colour • named
Wedderhorii.—lord Mayor, " DIA you
Hoot there, at soy of their Meetings?"--" Ni.."-
" What suet of people were they •ho mit oiled Omar—
" Generally poor men like myself; but mostly Irish-
men."—. Were they men of talent ?—" They were
rude and uncultivated, as the mounttiiiis they came
from, but still men of intellect."—" Did they acknowledge
themselven to be Honer men?"—" No, nut his men; yet
they always launched out in Isis praise, sayivr, that he
was the only Gentleman in Eagland, and they looked ap
to him as their leader?"—" Was the bill in 'question
drawn up by the Meeilogr—" No, they had nut talent
enongls. lee lieliend it was drawn op by Dr. Watson,
ns also the intended Bemonstrasice; He would not trust
the hills into their bands until they were paid for."—
withh ! not consider Ave persons capable of being trusted
31.?"—" No ; the instalments were raised 'by *sub-
scription.' round the room, two hundred, or isture,leing
present r—. (7tenl.l rot not le list them the money !"
" They were all poor like ,thyself, perhaps without a ditillog
is their pockets. --Lord Mayor. " I am very story that such
111 mall as you should be without money, atiel if f can rendre
you nue service, you niay depend omits it that 1 *in: I shall
take other steps iu courequenceof the evidence which yips
have given, whirls is highly erettitable to you. It will exiobe
these matters to the cuuntry.".
The Defendaat was foe the prerist discharged, until calla
upon.
• We leratand It to toe'ltin Leirdrihip's* to
investigate this subject to thirfalteet
!Orkin(' Malik ii,l fres.-Ertery, 'two t4de5&y.8,,,.,...pipc
were yesterday brought up by •••••••- Hostel, a Master ;weep