The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-06-10 00:00:00

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SOCIETY POR PROMOTING KNOWLEDGE
AMONG THE POOR.
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Yesterday, at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate-street, the Beek
Society for Promoting Religiousrywledge among the Poor, bald
its seventy.fout:h anniversary. out eighty of the subscribers,
friends dr the Institution, rot doo dinner at three o'clock. Mr.
Sheriff Key wee to have presided, but owing to the drawing,room,
did not wive for some time after the appointed hour, and-Doctr*
Browne was in consequence called to the chair, which, flowerer, he
vacated on the arrival -of the appointed chairman. After dinner
the usual loyal and pauiotic toasts were drank, when the Chairman
in a few judicious observatiOns, proposed pruposed prosperity to
the Book Society. He dwelt upon the value of education to all
closes of society, and the necessity of giving a decidedly religious
bias to the inostruction of the people.
DostOr BROW NE, in proposing the health of the Chairman, no-
ticed the wide-spread evils—the consequences of popular ignorance
—which came nosier his observation in the exercise of his profession
(that of a barrister) in oneof the most populous districts of England.
He illustrated this bs: the relation of severs] occurrences which he
had opportnnitice of witnessing. He called the attention of the
company, in very strong terms, to the ectivity of the enemies of
religion--an activity which just at present 'was not, likely to be at-
tended with much success; but the 'fruits of which would be seen
if a reason of distresi should arrive. It was from the labours of so-
cieties, such as that, that the correction of erroneous opinions was
to be expected, not from legal stittpression.• it *was from such so-
cieties that the public were to expect the instruction of the poor, in
scriptural knowledge and a due acquaintince *with their social
duties. He concluded'by proposing the health of the chairman,
and by cep:raring his earned hope that the time was not distant
when they should see him fill the highest civic office.
Thank° having been returned In a &tibiae speech by the
Chairman,
The Rest. Dr. WlNTRRaddreued the company at tome length,
for the purpose of prnposing_the health of Ebenezer Maitland, Esq.
Treasurer to the Society. That gentleman, he said, would cer-
tainly have praided at their meeting that evening, had-
he not been prevented by Indisposition. The Rev. Gen-
tleman then referred to the length of time the Society,
had existed, and the externrive benefits which, during that long pe-
nod, it bad poduced. Though It might yield to some in import-
anee, yet It had strung claims upon public support, as being most
efficient to the extent of its means, in promoting the objects of true
religion. Amongst many other merits, it had the Invaluable one
of briming together lit cordial intercourse both Churchmen and'
Dissenter. •
The health of Mr. Maitland was then received with much en-
thusiasm.
A young Gentleman, whose name we could not learn, returned
'thanks.
The next tout was the 'health orMr. Saunders, and the Cor-
poration of London ; when that Gentleii an, in acknowledging the
honour done him. expressed his regret that unanimity did not pro.
rail in the Corporation with regard to their objects.
The Rev. 31r. Custwes, in a speech of considerable With,
took a review of the merits of the Society, and proposed the health
of the Secretaries, Messrs. Williams and Junes.
The latter Gentleman, in expressing his thanks to the comriany„
adverted to the alterations which had taken place in the conatitu.. -
ton of the Society, by which increased roger was given to the Com..
*bee. He defended this on the grounds of convenience and ex-
pediency, contending that it enabled the Society to tell books upon
cheaper terms than former'', and by the desire for religious M.'
struction, in that way excited, the sale of books even at the full
prices was greatly promoted.
The Rev. Mr. AnustrigLt. proposed the health of the Com.
mutter, when
Al r. Cuazus returned thanks, supporting the alterations which
had been made in the constitution of the Society, taking a general
view of the nature hod objects of the institution, and strenuously
recommending it to public favour. •
The healthy of the Stewards and of Mr. Forfeit were then gite.,
cessively drunk.
In the tourse-of the evening, Mr. CNALLIS frequently *Mewed
the company, aril amongst other matters lie stated that meet The
Corporation Committees (he would not say whiehl had leniefored
to oppose the wish of the present Lord Mayer to grant thesis of
Egyptian Hall for the meeting of a religious society. He snake in
terms of strong censure of the: interference, and expressed lib hope
that those who so improperly distinguished themselves would be
denied the outrages of every person connected with the Corpora-
tion who bad the interests of religion at haft.
Mi. Sheriff KEY, previous to his departure, proposed as his last
Went, I'Civil and rellgious liberty all over the world," which was
drank with enthusisam.
Owing to indisposition, the Chairman vacated his place rather
early, to which Doctor Brawn was called; and the remainder of
the evening was spent with much conviviality.
LAW INTELLIGENCE.
VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Tinny:4x, Juxs 9.
WASTE OF TIME.
In a case of but very little public interest.,
His HONOUR interrupted Mr. Hasleerood, and said, we have
already lost au hour, and I really thick we bad now better put an
end to our loss.
Mr. HAZLEWOOD—If an hour hex been lost, Sir, I am sorry
for it, but it has not been my fault.
His HONOVR—WeII, I think the case had now better stand
over till both parties and Csonsel are better prepared to argue it;
and that the next time it comes 'on a whore hoer should not be
wasted as there has been this morning.
31r. Hszt.rwoon (very warmly}-,Sir, I cannot hear that said
in any way that can a pply to me, without distinctly denying the
charge, if the charge is made against me ; no faultis attributable
to nit for the loss of time that has taken place. '
His llowoux—l don't say where the fault lies, but fault there
certainly is ; and it is a great pity that when there is such a pres-
sure of business before the Court, as there is this morning, a whole'
hour should be waited andlost.
Mr. Ilseztwoors:-I spin say, it has not been my fault.
His Hoxons—Mr. Registrar, call the next case.
COURT OF OF uNcrs BENCH, WESTXIOISTEZ, Just& I
TAT ICING r. csoCinot AND OTRERN.
Dir. ROVIERTSOx prayed the judgment of the Court on the de-
fendants, who had been convicted of a riot and common assault at-
Bury-St.-Edmund's, at the last Suffolk Assizes.
The defendants, to the number of nearly twenty persons, now
came forward to the flog of the Court. Many of them were old
grey.headed men, and the whole groupe wore& very respectable and
molfeosive appearance.
Mr. Justice LITTLEDLER read the notes of the trial, been
which it appeared that the riot and assault had arisen in conse-
quence of the attempts of the defendants to pull down a wall built
over a part of a waste, over which they thought they had a right of
common, and which wall they considered as an encroachment on
their rights.
Several affidavits were put in for the defendants.
Mr. Dor Ica sad he was willing now, as in tact he had been at
the trial, to admit that a riot and assault were committed, since
it certainly was in evidence that three or four hundred persons were
present on the occasion, and that acts of violence were corn.
mitred • but he had affidavits in which it was distinctly sworn that
the defendants were net actuated by any motives of hostility, but
that their conduct entirely proceeded from an impression that they
were acting lawfully, in defence of what they considered to be their
rights. It was certainly to be regretted that the parties had
removed this cause from the Bury Sessions, where it might have
been disposed of without incurring that additional expense which
a certiorst i and proceedings in this Court necessarily occasioned;
but this step was taken, not with any view to harass the prose.
cutor, but ander the erroneous opinion that the question as to
their right of common could be tried on this indictment. The
defendants had, however, endeavoured to make every reparation
in their power; and as the Learned Judge who presided at the trial
intimated his opinion that the defendants ought not to be brought
up for judgment, he certainly regretted that his Lordship%
_aus-1
station had not been attended to. The defendants had eland to
pay the costs of the prosecutor, to make a public apdsp it soy
way he might require, and to compeosate him los trthiyrse bap
or damage lie' might have sustained: -but these tents wools=
acceded to on the part of the prosecutor, because dosiommos
woald not rebuild the wall. Such an act they renamed he 4%1
inasmuch as it would be, in effect. a disclaimer of their rights.
Mr. STORRS, for the prosecution, denied that the defendasti
had made any offer of apology, or that the prosecutor had insisted
or required the defendants to rebuild the wail.
Mr. Doves said those facts wore distinctly sworn to in his affi-
davits.
The COURT thought the better way would be to refer the matter
to the Master, who should settle between the parties, and assign
what might bedue to the prosecutor for his costs, and also what
compensation ought to be made to him in consequence of the
deotruct.on of: his wall.
The Counsel having agreed to this suggestien of the Court, the
matter was accordingly referred to the blaster, and the defendants
withdt ew.

THE KING V. MR. STATTORD COOIE.
Tile. TAIT Nrrom again mentioned the case of this defendant to
their Lordships, anti said be s had an affidavit of an eminent physi-
man who had seen the defendant, by which it certainly did appear
that there was some doubt as to the reality of the defendant a in-
disposition.
3lr. CAMPBELL, on the part of the defendant, begged to read
the affidavit of the Surgeon, and the nurse who attended Mr.
Cooke. They both stated that the defendant was suffering from a 1
violent attack of the gout, and that he was also very seriously af-
fected with pains in the head, so much so that in their opinion he
could not be brought.up to receive the judgment of the Court, with-
out greatly endangering his life. Under these cireun.•tances, he
trusted their hardships would allow the matter to be postponed for
a few days, when, it was to be hoped. the defendant would be so
far recovered as to appear before their Lordships.
Mr. Taut sox observed that he had net himself seen the de.
fondant, and, therefore was not able to determine how far it was
true that the facts stated in the affidavits' of the surgeon and nurse
were true; but he had, as he had just before stated the affidavit
of Dr. Rogit.• who stated that he called on the defendant
on the 6th instant, and found hint is bed ; that the defendant told
the deponent he was labouring under a severe tit of the gout, and
also suffering mach front acute pains in the head. The deponent
found that the defendant bad at the time a blister applied to his
stomach ; deponent saw the feet pf the defendant, bat they did not
appear to be much swollen • and In order to ascertain whether the
defendant was really laboring under any pain, he felt lila ankle and
pressed it with his lingers, who she eshodam esclahowl that is