The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-03-27 00:00:00

ought, homer, to lime reported his having re-
vowed a summons before he absented himself, but
bad Hot done it either to the hier teeny of his
Awl, His excuse was, that ebsence had
by his attendance on the House of
been occasioned
Commons.
The witness having been ordered to withdraw,
Lord ALIMONY observed, that it appeared that
part of the charge on which William Stint had
been tried, was for absenting himself from drill,
in consequence of an order from that House. If he
had given that as en excuse, and had produced the
Speaker's warrant for his attendalim, his being put
111/011 his trial was a breach of the priiileges of the
House. In order to clear this point, he should
therefore move that the minutes of the Court Mar-
tial on William Stint be laid before the House.
Lord PALMERSTON understood that the man had
refused to give any answer to his officinal respecting
the cause of his absence, unless be were taken be-
fore a Court Martial. This would he proved by
the setjeant-major of the regiment; he therefore
moved that Thomas Sutton, the serjeant-major, be
called to the Bar.
Thomas Sutton having been introduced and ex-
amined, stated, that he was Serjeant-Major to the
Ist regiment of Guards, and that hearing William
Stint had been minim; at the defaulter's drill, lie
hail ordered Serjeant Harvey to secure him. lie
alierwlrds learnt about two o'clock that it had
ken done, and as he found that Stint's absence
hail been occasioned by his attendauce on the I louse
of CllllllOOllll, he had directed Serjeant Harvey only
to confine him to the Barracks. Strut having subse-
qaently made his escape and been retaken was con-
fined till Monday, sod them arraigned for brea'.ll of
dote. He told the Adjutant, who reasoned vtth him
on the subject, that the charge was false, sod that lie
would ocit mower the questions of imy one, unless
he were brought before a Court Martial. He be.
hawed with the same impropriety to th., Command-
rug Officer. He was theta brought Mime a Court
Martial and found guilty of two of the charges laid
against him, but, in couseilueoce of his plead.
lug that he had been summoned to attend the
House of Commons, tbe Court had pardoned him
and Ito pouisliment had been inflicted upon him.
On the Friday previous to his absence, lie had
stated to the witness that lie had received a -
moist to attend the House of Commons, upon which
the witness told Imo that he must inform him whe-
ther lin attendance would interfere with his military
duly, which he never did. The *lines' dud not
know tlott Slim had been called before a Committee
of the House of Commons, ext eV/ from the report
given him by Serjeant Harvey.
The witness having been ordered to withdraw,
Lord ALIHOFLP, though he admitted that there
appeared to have beemi ou 'menthol of violating the
1,11% deg.a of that House, thought it might be de-
sirable to go through the business, us the sionnuois
served upon Stint seemed to have been the imme-
diate cause of his having been brought to rough. lie
simuld, therefore, renew his motion, that the Mi-
outer of the Conn-roartiul be laid upon the table.
Mr. Bectorr was inclined to consider the pro-
doctiiiii of the minutes unnecessary, as there was 110
VVldri.ce that the trial of Stint was connected with the
order issued by the House.
Mr. TUMMY thought that the exact point for
which he had been toed could nut he made out
%salami the production of the minutes.
Mr. GOOI.DERN had no objection to their being
laid on the table, as some doubts seemed to exist.
Mr. WYNN cleared the two serjeenis of all
blame ; but if Stint had stated to the coolie:Ind-
:it); officrt that his absence had been occasioned by
a suimuoisa from the House of Commons, the
breach of privilefr,e would appear to have been
committed by that officer.
G-iieral Tow %sums said, that having heard a
man had broken away frolic the serjeant, and be-
haved! in IA very improper manner, he hail sent his
compliments to the Adjutant, and desired that the
offender ought be confined and punished in the
usual way.
I.lr. WYNN conceived that the case was elrar, if
the gallant General would state that Stint had been
tried in consequence of his having escaped from
Serjeant H itveY.
ieneral TOWNSMEND said, that Stint's mare
Cron the serjeaut was ceitainly uppei most in ha
woof at the tune. _

S:r GERARD NOEL contended, that, if the Speak-
tea warrant required Stiiit'auttendinice at the hour
the drill took place, it wu, incorrect to Hiller limi
loin) confinement ; and, if he had been improperly
~.fined, his eacape ought nut to have been coma-
tiered as a fault.

---
After a few words from Mr. BecKETr and Colo.
awl Wool),

Lord PALMERSTON suggested the propriety of
confintog the motion to the number of the charges
awl of the seu►euce.

I.lril A ',THORP aas understood to object to
such a partial communication.
The Gallery Mal alien cleared fur a division, but
none took place, and the motion vi.,a negatived.