The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-04 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER SESVONS, Aram 2.

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The whale of the prisoners having been tried, the Court sat for
the purpose of discharging those who were not prosecuted. Up-
wards et sixty were discharged by proclamation, and received one
shilling each. Including the celebrated Lady Barrymore, who is ge-
nem confined eleven months out of twelve. The Chairman ad- I
, if possible, to abstain from drunkenness, and keep out of
prison.
Her Ladyship requested that the Chairman would forbear
making any remarks on her character, for it had really been so
naach traduced that she was unable to show her face in Court.
George flak, who was convicted in a penalty of 201. for disturb-
ing the congregation of St. Clement's Church, on the 20th ult., was
ordered to be Lrought into Court.
CHAIRMAN—Mr. Hale, I have sent for you, not in the ordinary
course of business, but merely because it was my firm opinion, as
well as that of the Court, at the time you was found guilty by the
Jury, that you laboured mule. a mistaken notion as to the un-
pleasant situation in which you stood ; I therefore have thottght fit,
out of humane feelings to you, to send for you to explain the enact
position in which you stand. You have been convicted under a
certain Act of Parliament in the penalty of 201., for disturbing a
religious congregation ; that Act is imperative, and this Court,
therefore, has no power to help or to assist you in any way whet-
ever, either by mitigating the amount of the penalty, or shortening
the period of your imprisonment. The truth as, therefore, that you
0;9 be kept in prison till the tine is paid, let that be when it wilL
Have you any property, or any means of paying the money?
Whatever your individual feelings might have been on the occasion,
relative to the piety or impiety of the prayer in question, you had
no power to disturb a congregation assembled in church for reli-
gious purposes, and to call a man like the Hes. Mr. Gurney (who
was only, in reading that prayer, discharging elution he was bound
to dot a liar. No person will give you credo fur so doing, and you i
will be considered • spiritual reformer, who goes about creating j
such diaturbances for the sole purpose of getting sato MAIM
Mr. Halo—That, Sir, is not my object. What I did. I did from
conscientious motives ; no man has a ilea to pervert Christianity,
which Mr. Gurney did in promulgating that prayer.
Chairman—l believe you did do it conscientiously ; I believe you
were in ea-nest; and for that reason I have sent for you to ask what
course you intend to pursue. Have you any means of paying the
fine?
Mr. Hale—Not that I ant aware of, Sir ; I have no money.
Chairman—Then all I can do for you is to advise you to memo-
rialise the Secretary of State; but you must do it decently, for it is
only by • correction of your conduct thatyou can expect any mercy
to be shown to
_you.
Mr. Hale—lf Ido petition, I shall complain of the cruelty of the
Act of Parliament that has so oppressed me for stating the truth,
sill endeavouring to rescue Christianity.
Chairman--Then you may rest assured your petition will be re-
jecte I.
Mr. Hale—lt is a most unjust law to keep one in prison for life,
with nothing to lie on but a bed of straw, swarming with filth and
vermin, which every reasonable man must acknowledge to be the
truth, and tying my hands behind me to prevent my working at
my business to help to support my wife and children. It seems I
AM to be visited with all the vengeance of the law tot ay political
ieelings. To imp'isnn a man for life is the height of injustice and
inio.manity, and against Christianity. (Here the unfortunate man
she.! tears.)
Chairman—l should be happy to swiss you if I possibly could,
but I cannot; you must go to the House of Correction.
Mr. Hale—May I be allowed to cork to support my unoffend-
ing cite and family ? The vengeance of the law should not aihact
them also.
The Chalrinan--Alf I ran say is, that your wife and family de-
nand that you should petition the proper quarter to rent you your
liberty, and that in a becoming decent way, and I have no doubt it
will bare the desired effect.
Mr. Halo bowed respectfully, and was conveyed back to prison.

Meeting of Prbtestaata wits held at Castlebar, on the
t /IL wberr a petition in favour of Catholic Enzaucipa-,
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At :7 eheliqg of Me I:M*11'041100e ono anroponere ironin
wi Tuesday, at Dudley, it was resolved Mather,
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i remain at the same price as on the last quarter
e general opinion of the meeting, however, sp- A
4. se She • further advent* would in a abort time oesgt
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