The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-01-10 00:00:00

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CLERKENWELIe. SESSIONS, Jas g.
This day the Sessions for the Pesee fur Middle-
sex commenced here. •
Mr. .KNAVP, who had been ti Counsel for Sil-
fret, convicted at the last Sessions at Westminster,-
of an 'assault on Mr. Hyde, as reported in a
former paper, stated to the Court, that after the
event of that trial, his chent had repented his rash-
ness in preferring the indictment for perjury
ogiiinst that Gentleman, . and that it way not his
intention to follow it up, by gising evidence on the
present occasion.
Mr. Gots isir, as Counsel for Mr. Hyde, declar-
ed that gentleman's readiness to meet the charge.
Mr. Mats wsitteo expressed Ins ibliortnu.N. of
SO impudent an attempt to defeat one prosecution
by instituting another. Mr. Hyde was for form's
sake given in charge to the Jury, on the indictment
for perjury, and acquitted.
The whole of this day was occupied in the trial
of two yolin4 men, Richard Thomas Dolmas, and
Edward Wood, the latter not more apparently than
ei;4liteen years of age, fur unnatural practicio.—
Tiey were indicted, the tiro for an assault on Ito-
-I.crt Hammond, a yonth of sixteen. and after-
tear is far iniscominet together.
The Prosecutor was sent, in August IMO; to
toot' by Ina bother, resident in the Couoty'of
Suffolk, to the care of Dataion, in order to be
apprenticed. Upon his arrival, he slept at Dot-
with the o Prisonets; and he detaileds-ion-field conduct
which there took place, too indeera for the public
eye, though necessary for the earls of justice to
be related to the public ear. Having no friends
in Loudon, he did not dis:7lose. tlw crime of the
Prisoners, till-the arrival of his brother in town in
the Nos ember following. Ilk brother immediate-
ly taxed Duttiviti, by letter, with his depravity,
who instantly instituted an action against him fos
defamation, in the hope of thus getting rid of the
charge; in this, however, he was mistaken. Upon
this trial it was enileuvourad to invalidate the tes-
timony of the younger Hammond, by the evidence
of a young man of the name of Abraham Braith-
waite, who, though professiog himself to he one of
the people ealledQoakers, submitted to he sworn,
end deposed to a conversation with the Prosecutor.
in w 114.41 the latter denied any imputation of guilt
imputable to Dtitman. hits evidence, however,
was wholly discredit •:1 both by the Court taut! the
Jury. who nom.' both the Prisouers--Guitty.
They were sentenced to two years .valitsry con-
inement in the Cold-batli-tields Prison. and to he
placed, at different times, on tie pillory, is itlitil
moan, in that part of Holborn near Lincolii's-iuu-
fields.

TO TUE EDITOR.
Sta-ssAs au admirer ot the Fist Arts, and as a
wislwr to those woo 'posses' that liberalitt
which ought to distinguish the profeashen.l take
the liberty to state to you the regret l!hove fre.-
quentlyqi in marking the many and diteareful
acts, which have; too often, thrown an pbloquy
vow the whole class of 'picturmilealga. That
there-am many men, who, from the great attach-
ment they have to the works of illustrious Artists,
seek after the finest ape..intone of genius. and who
are endowed with sufficlent knowledge duly to ap-
preciate inerit. I can affirm from my own expen-
mice ; should these into make an buiourable com-
merce, by .'lacing aunuine ;mintings in the collec-
tions of the carious. at u fair compensation for their
troable tuid skill, the admirers ot the arts, nay, the
*atom itself, are indebted to their labours; but
When we see ignorance affecting knowlage, and,
with a boundless effrontery. giving whatever name
way best gin the foul purpose ; when we see the
signaturt'of the real Artist effaced, that a false
assertion tam not be contradicted ; when we hear
prices demanded for the works of art. as arbitrary
asd ridiculous as the names that are given to them ;
we involuntarily suffer ourselves to lose our confi.
dense, even in honesty, and to reduce the profes-
sion of a picture dealer to a degrading equality
with many other species of traffic, that have been
long retarded with suspicion and contempt. For
those few whose science enables. them to see
through impositions. the impostor spreads his flimsy
net iu vain ; but too true it that the more unwary
may, and do, fall into the toil, and the wealth, I
boldly say, thus traudukutfy ofitaiiied, encourages
the deceiver in his base practices, amp, at the same
time, casts an odium upoti those whose triutaw-
tiona have merited better. You will, perhaps, ex-
case me, Sir, as I am upon the subject, if I pre-
sume to advise the possessor. of paintings to
be cautious to whom they comma them, to
be, what is termed, cleaned and restoreil
that there arc meritorious picture restorers,
as well as honest pictitre-dealers. I have not
the least doubt ; that there are defacers of pit:-
titres, as well as dealers, who are a sot disgrace to
their profession, I sin certain. The fine distance,
the ne'rial tent, and the finished glazing disappear
before the rude touch of the pretender. In vain
then may Vauslyite complain that the.natural glow
of his portrait his give*, way to a rapid memoir.
tn ; thnt the cciebrat.d &mortis of his depicted
hands have yieltbli to the Done-searching operation..
In vain Shall Poussitt lout for his rittiriog castle.
which once graceil the distant hill, un earthquake
has destroyed it ; and the glowing Cumpagna of
Claude, reduced to a mere twilight, is faintly per-
ceived through a dense mist of destroying varnish.
A icaiust such Goths stud Vandals, who would over-
sit.' the empire, of the arts, a vigorous and spirited
defence should be made, tqjd the most vigorous
defence is, in my opinion, a&al ear to their rues-
tattoos, and a elr.tcd gate to theturwlecs. Having
thug suggested this simple and decisive check to
these barbarous invaders, I am, with few. that I
have too touch to:slowed upon von,
Sir, your obedient hulohte servant,
As ADMIaLK OF TOE ART'.
'Manchester, Jan. 6, 5559. ,
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We have tam% pleasure in stating. that the da-
mage dime to Gen. W aerie's works, on the Rimy
River, by the rushing in of a torrent of water, and
which rumour had magnifreil to 10,0001. loss, con-
sistrd iu withrisio inure than the delay occasioned
by drawing oil the water, which was effected in a
very short time by the great power of .ba fire-en-
gine; and the rattan of coal is renewed as before
the accident.

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