The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-12-17 00:00:00

h. the North-road, hadTrequently known complaints made at
publicans and their licenses opeo.e.tl, still the Magistrates
uad not taken them away. .
Thomas Roberts, was churchwarden and headborough in
1616, in that character he visited publie.houses; Mr. Meets,s
was a well-regulated house, he did not know one better
:adapted to the aceommodat ion of the public. When be beard
;hat Meek's license was stopped, he went to the Sessions-
house to speak to his character ; Mr. Collins said, if be had
any thing to say against Meek's house they were ready to hear
bins; witness ieplied that he had not, but, on the contrary, ho
came to speak to his character; Mr. Collins observed, "we
bare nothing to say against his character."
George Dell, kept the Hat and Feathers, in Wilderness-
row in 1616, his license was stopped. Mein and Co. had
been his brewers, but in September he gave them notice that
he should cease to deal with them, when his license was
stopped. He cent to Mr. Collins, the Chairman, who told
him be had seen Mr. Wigram, and was son y ho (Collins),
mould do nothing for him. In 1677 his license was renewed.
Witness sold about three butts of beer a mouth: his spirit
sale, wholesale awe retail, between 3001. and 4001. his retail
about loot. a month. In 1816 ho had complained of his beer,
and had given notice he should change his brewer. lie had
toad no communication whatever with Lucas or Willis, or
did he make any arrangement with respect to bis future
supply of beer between the time of his license being stopped
in me, and its reoewal in lett This closed the case for
the prosecution.
The tiouciroa-Orazasx declared he never rose under
greater difficulties than on the prevent occasion ; not from
any apprehensions arising out of the case made ant by the
Prosecutor, but from fear lest he should not do justice to the
venerable individual whose defence was now committed to
his care. Mr. Culling was a man standing on the verge of
eternity ; he was in his eighty-eighth year, -forty of which lie
had passed in the service of the public, without once having
had his conduct called in quesion. or another individual
whose name appeared on the record, Sir N. Conant, he would
net say a word; that individual was removed from ibis world,
and no longer subject to the judgment of say earthly tribunal.
Of Mr. Mills, the other Defendant, he should say nothing;
his defence was iatritstcd to the abilities and tided of his
Learned Friend. Mr. Gurney. Mr. &erica, in his opening,
had represented Mr. Meek, the Prosecutor, as an humble,
oppressed, and unbefriended individual; whereas, on the
contrary, it appeared that he was supported by a body
Of the most powerful description, by whose members the
benches of the Court were crowded—he meant the Society of
Licensed Victuallers, who had already subscribed fir him a
seal of esol.,_ and amongst whom the subscription was still
Ewing on. The qu:•stion for consideration to-day was not
whether Mr. Meek's license had been properly sir improperly
withheld, but whether what Mr. Collins had doue had been
done from corrupt motives. On the evidence, as it nowstoted,
there was not the least pretence for such a charge. lie would
call individuals to the character of his most repectab'e client,
whose testimony would prove that no such charge ever could
have been justly instituted against him. The Learned Gen-
tleman proceeded to comment upon the evidence for the
prosecution, and contended that under the provisions of
11S0 17 Gee. 11. the Magistrates could not license Mr. Meek's
haw, which was, in fact, a shop for the sale of spirits ; but,
eves supposing they could have done it, and that the license
bad been improperly refused, there was not a tittle of cvi-
depce to show that Mr. Collins had voted for or been a party
in withholding it. The truth was, that Mr. Coliins, as chair-
man, had not voted at all. After some furtiw observations,
he concluded by stating he would call a host of wituesses to
the character of Mr. Collins, and with that proof leave the
ease in the hands of the Jury.
Mr. /301111 Y, on behalf of Mr. Mills, submitted to the Jury
that no case had b en made out which, in the slightest degree.
affected that Gentleman. The Learned Connie' entered into
a minute examination of the evidence on the part of the prom
attention, and finished by expressing his intention of calling
witneeem to character, and having so done he should confi-
dently anticipate a verdict In favour of his client.
Mr. B IMO °ARROW (who sat beside the Lord Chief Jus-
tice)being examined, stated, that be bad known Mr. Collins
premiss to his (Baron ()arrow) being called to the bar, and
up to the present moment he had never beard the 'Helmet ill-
putatioa cast un his honour. He believed no gentleman's
character ever stood higher. He believed a more amiable
and excellent individual in private life, or a more virtuous and
iecorropt public mars, be had never known.
Lord Dungannon had known Mr. Collins for twenty years,
and spoke of him in the same terms as the preceding witness.
Sir Gilbert Blanc bad known Mr. Collins thirs
ty years, 11.1f-
itg all which lime he had been a magistrate. This *dam
also spoke in the highest terms of Mr. Collins.
The Rev. Dr. Histop had been acquainted intimately with
Mr. Collins for 13 years, and believed a more honest and up
rlght man never existed; such was the character lie bore
universally in the parish of St. Mary-le-lone, of which he
was senior vestryman.
• Colonel Macdonald bad known Mr. Collins for 17 years, and
considered him as a model ou which a man might safely form
himself.
Mr. Coast, Chairman of the Middlesex Sessions, had known
Mr. Collins intimately for upwards of 4n years, and never
know a man whose character tor integrity ant honour stood
higher. Witness also knew Mr. Mills for several years, and
could give him the same character.
Samuel Hair, Esq. the Rev. Mr. Birdyrood, A. Chambers,
Req. T. Musgrove, EN. W. Mellish, Esq. (late Meuiber for
Middlesex), Colonel Wilton. Rev. Mr. Wilton, John Wiltuo,
Esq. the Hon. and Rev. John Turner, and George Meredith,
Req. were also called and examined. They had known Mr.
Collins for different perieds, front twelve to Ally ears. They
all coincided in giving him the'
most estimable character.
The SouerronGasienee said he had several other wit-
nesses in attendance; but be thought he could not carry
character any further.
Mr. Gunnar then called fir Mr. Mills—
Lord Teignineuth, who had know u Mr. Mills for fifteen
years, and considered him a wan of the must unblemished
entegrity.
Sir James Shaw had known Mr. Mills for sixteen years, and
considered him a man of the strictest honour and must active
benevolence.
William Mellish, Esq. William smith, Esq. M.P. for Nor-
wich, Charles Grant, sea. Esq, M.P., Joe. Butterworth, Esq.
111. P., John Scott, Esq.,Jos. Elliott, Esq., R.H. Martin, Esq.,
Hague, Esq., -- Roberts, Esq., Alderman Brown, It.
Stephen, Esq. and C. Pellatt, Esq. acre afterwards called,
sod they coneurred in giving Mr. Mills the highest charartur
Sbr honour and integrity.
Mr. Cloanvcr said he had a vast number of ether 'illnesses
who would give similar testimony, but ho would nut consume
more ()flint Lordship's time by calling them.
The Leas Carer Jerome Then summed up the evidence to
the Jury. He observed, that from the evidence it appeared
extremely doubtful whether Mr. Collins bad given his vote
tbr withholding the licence. Yellowing the usual practice of
Chairman, it was probable he had mat; and if that were so,
it was difficult to sot that he was guilty, within the meaning
of the indictment. There was not the slightest evidence to
drew that the Defendants entertained any personal pique
against Meek ; and if the Jury had any doubt upon the evi-
dence of their baring acted fr.un corrupt motives of another
niter., it was their duty in this as in other eases, to let the
very high character nhieh the Defeatism ts had boruc have its
proper weight.
The Jury consulted together for about ten minutes, and
*en returned a verdict of—Not Guilty.
Some noisy tokens of approbation were displayed by a part
of the auditory. which
The Cesar JUSTICIe instantly repressed, obsserving, the
verdict of a Jury should always be received in silence.
The Cosier was occupied with this trial from leo o'clock
is the morning till near eight o'clock at Melt, and was
crowded to excess during the whole of the time.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, GUILDIMIL,
MONDAY, DZCZNNIaI le.

London adjourneq Sttlisqs after Michaslmc.s Term. kfure
Mr. Justice BLXHIR rat. and a Special Jury.
POTN DEST F R D. DULL.

This was an 'retina on a Polley of lesuronce.
Mr. Bedews'. Lees stated the case to the Jury. It was an
action brought by Mr. Poynduster, against this Defeudant,
Mr. Bell, on a polio" of insurance.
The claim set up was for the total loss of the cargo on the
ship Roberts, from** Honduras to this country. In conse-
quence of the storms which had token place during the so
age, the ship was reduced to such a coudition as to be unable
to continue its course farther than the Havanisals. He ap.
prehendod the sole question which the Jury sould have to
try would be, whether the loss sustained was • total or an
average loss. This vioi.!d be determined by ascertaining the
condition of the cargo, which consisted of mahogany. On
arriving at the Roraima'', it was deemed prudent to sell the
mahogany, for the benefit of the. w hole concern. It w ould be
proved that the mahogany could not have been kept, from
the want of warehouses on the otie side, sad the sun on the
other. The mate of the vessel would be called before them ;
and upon learning the state of the vessel and the cargo, the
Jury would form their judgment.
Captain John Cherleton, sworn.—When the Roberts sailed
from London, in ibia, 1 was the mate of her. Wu were
nearly three months gomg net, and she performed the voyage
out as well es soy vessel could do. the loaded a full cargo of
ashogaey at the Honduras. I saw the mahogany before it
was loaded ; it was in good order; it was Dot at all worm-
eaten. About the lota of November we encountered
bad weather, and fell in with a violent gale of spud. '('be
vessel laboured very much, and the sea frequently washed
over her. On getting lute the Iles annals the ship was exa-
mined. After the Geese was takeo out we caulked her down
as far as the bonds, in order to repair her. The repairs were
afterwards given up, as Mere was nip proper place for the
business. Several planks or the vessel wore damaged ; the
butt ends were shorted. I remember the King's ship, the
Ontario, having beets there ; the commander was un board at
the time the fret survey took place. 'fberis was no agent he
Uoyd'a at the Hasannah. The masters of Ike Bever and the
.Siderprfee were on board es Stirvilurs, and also the master
of the Stamens. It was estimated that it would cod 11,0001•
to pot her in proper repair. 'the captain died about eight
days after the repairs had begun; I was then appointed to
the command of the vessel, Four seiveys bad taken place