The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-05-05 00:00:00

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1,41 T INT.ELLIGBACt
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COURT 010 CHANCERY, Mat a.
HAYMARIKET THEATRE.
MORRIS AND OTHERS V. COLMAW.
Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY informed the Court, that
the parties in this cause could not agree to the ap-
pointment of arlaitratorat and begged his Lordships
interposition. He stated that his clients, the Plana-
tiffs, had fixed on a Mr. Crawford, one of the bar-
risters of that Court, who was objected to by the
Defendant, and the Delendant,had timid on Mr.
Harris, the manager of Covent-Garden Theatre,
whom the Plaintifii, objected to, and who, the learned
Counsel contended, was an unfit person ; not
there was ally thing ill the character of Mr. Harris
that rendered him so, but, from his situation as
manager of a London theatre, be was an improper
person to settle the disputes f a similar establish-
ment, which, in some measure, was a rival one.
Mr.IIART, Comma for Defeodani,ameeived there
could not be a more proper person for an arbitrator
than Mr. Harris, as, from his knowledge of Thea-
trical concerns, and experitaice in them, be could
best tuideistand them. His clieut had no other
objection to Mr. Crawford, than his total want of
any knowledge of him. Ile might be a very lit
person for an arbitrator; but the Defendant never
hail the honour of hearing his name before the pre-
sent occasion.

The LORD CIRANCLLLOR observed, it was impos-
sible for him to come to a decision before Monday
next. He would not then attempt to insinnate
what that decision would be, but he felt confident
it would be disagreeable to all the parties; he there-
fore advised them to come to en undertanding be-
fore he interfered. He thought Mr. Harris a very
nnfit person for an arbitrator ; not that he meant
it to he understood that he did not believe but Mr.
Harris would give as conscientious an award as any
Gireatleimin could do ; yet there was something iii
the human mind, taking mankind in general, thee
should prevent a person being put iii a situation to
decide on the affairs of a concern. which, in any
measure clashed with his own interest, in which
case Mr. Harris, us Manager of Covent-garden
Theatre, iu his opinion, was more proper to toe exa-
mined** a witness liefore the ar'ntrators, than to
begaerd in the situation of one himself.
Mr. Then and in that cat-, if we were
to appoint Mr. Taylor, there Would be the same
objection."
floe Irmo Cnawcar.Lott—‘4 Mr. 'Hart, I will
thank you for the farour ofyour brief till Monday."
Mr. II A RT-.-" My Lord, it will not be lIKVI4OIIry,
as we will appoint another arbitrator, without giv-
ing your Lordship die trouble of interfering."

CHAT OF KING', BENCH, 'Wstrniaffirea, MAT ♦.

JUDGMENTS.
OBSCENE ROOKS AND PRINTS.
rus nirics v. EDWAKP

Mr. (:ARROW' Mined the jiiigtuent-t-if the Court
upon tlie Defendant, hz having been found guilty
of publishing and vending certain obscene hooks
and prints.
The Defendant put in an'aflidavit, ackanoledg-
ing his ofitroce, imploring mercy, and begging the
Court to take into consideration that he had bean
imprisoned since the 2tl 'Jr Jinuary last, and that
his health was in a very unpaired state, owing to
having screed his Majesty, by 8.14 in hot climates,
cud to several wounds which he had received. He
.had nn Counsel.

Mr. GARBOW said, that the sitfi,hllll, was one tie.
MO of impudence and hypocrisy. Ile was, however,
glad it had bees made, ue it Li:, ei him au opportu-
any of observing upon chat 'sad been said in de-
feuce of the Defendant. It iota been stated in a
Newspaper, that he had been drawn in by the Sf.
ciety for the Suppression of Vice, to commits crime
to which his poverty only had assented. di-
rect contrary to this had been proved upon the
; he was a wholesale dealer in prints of so hor-
rible and disgusting a nature, that he believed the
hand of no engraver was ever before employed upon
so disgu.ting, pernicious, or contaminating a sub-
ject. The very w.erat too of these infamous pro-
ductions were to be attained at a boy's price. The
Society for the Suppression of Vice had been. tra-
duced for this prosecution ; he was neither their
eneotniast nor anltocite ; he had nothing to do with
their general proceedings; but the society had in vain
offered to forego this prosecution, if the Defendant
would direct them to the source whence these prints
were °taunted ; this he refused, and still persisted
in refusing; and he conceived the .comitry, in the
present instance, were 'Wetted .to the Society for
having swept from the streets one of the most per.
tticious characters to society. Ile concluded with
praying the Court to prostoobee a severe judgment
upon the Defendant. -. _

Lad ELLESSOIWOON said, that the prints were
of to abotninable a description, that the inoment
the} were seen they gave a direct shock of horror
to the I•rholder.

Judge Ciaiisx then passed sentence upon the
Disfendatit. lie commented with lunch force up-
on the crime of which the. defendant had been con-
ricked ; it went to root up virtue and morality, tsp.
on which the happiness of mankind depended ; he
might Inure been the means of influencing, the
minds of youth to alma ll ill able ...lid destructive
practices before the fore.- of renson could direct
their judgments t nothing could be snore perni-
cious to snooty, than the circulation of such odious
and obscene productions, and nothing deserted se-
verer putiosliment. the Lordship approved of the
way in which the proseention had beets condueted,
and senteneeil the Defendant to two years impri:
moment in the Molise of Correction for the county
of Mt&'testa, to lie kept to hind labour, and to
stand once in the pillory, at Chariirg-cross.

POTTKR.
Thy Defendant Nue been found guiltT of assist-
several Irreneb prisoners to make thieir e‘espe,
sod was this day laronxlit op front Enett r ewol to
itstignettd. Re ho,l no Contwl. lie woes
ordered to bo confined tea the gaol of Exeter two
.tiifg, and be thin diheitirged.