The National Register.
London, England, 1820-10-15 00:00:00

33'

DisrovEnr OF TIIR MANITFACTURR OF SEDI.
TIOCS AND TIMASONADLE PLACARDS.

I al I M

BOW STREET, SATURDAY, OCT. I.
On Saturday evening a simple looking country lad,
mined Geoffery Aduiugfield, who stated himself to be
a waiter out of place, was brought before the Magis-
trates, Sir R. Baker, Mr. Birnie, and Mr. MIIIOIIIII,
by Bacon's party of patrole, charged with distributing se-
ditious and inflammatory handbills among the people
assembled in Parliament Street on that day.
The handbills in question purported to be an address
from the Committee appointed to matiagee the subserip-
tion for a service of plate for her Majesty to the public,
and certainly a more atrocious publication never issued
from the press. It contained the most open and undis-
guised incitements to rebellion, and professed to set up
the Queen in opposition to his Majesty, as being equally
entitled to the throne of this country. There was no
printer's name attached to them.
The prisoner its his defence, said, that being out of
employment, he was standing at Charing Cross, looking
out for a job on Saturday snornitig, when he was accost-
e I by a respectable looking elderly man, who asked if
lie would earn a shilling, to which he replied most
illingly." The gentleman then called a coach, and
they ;tot in, and the coachman was ordered to drive to
NVinielta!l, but they hail not gone many yards when the
stratyat led:cc! cut the handbills in question, and de-
tired hint to distribute them plentifully amongst the
people in Parliament Street. He gave hilts a shilling,
upon which he (prisoner) alighted, and the coach drove
off with his employer.
Mr. Mimhoil, who was the presiding magistrate, said
the prisoner must pay a fine of 201. for distributing bills
not having the printer's name affixed, or go to prison.—
The lad cried at hearing this infinmation, and Mr.
Birnir pleaded for him, observing, that he was evidently
the tool of some crafty knave. and was certainly not an
object for rigorous punishment.
Mr. Nlinsholl remitted the fine, but observed that he
most detain him for the crime of sedition.
Mr. Charles Pearson, the Solicitor, said he attended
officially as Sicietary to the Qtleell'S Plate Subscription
Committee, and stated, that it was the third attempt
that had been made to put forth papers of this kind, as
vomiting from the Committee; but the maeistrates
most be convinced, from the language this bill con-
tained, that the Committee must have been madmen to
tend such an address as that to the public. They
sus-
pected these papers to be the production of a person
whom, he had some hopes, with the assistance of the
magistrates, he should be able to find.
The magistretes assured Mr. Pearson that he should
have every assistance front Mein, and the boy, after giv-
ing a particular dseeription of the man, was taken to a
watch-house until inquiries could be made.
At Mr. Pearson's suggestion the depositions were
taken in a private room, the particulars of which we
are not acquainted with; but a warrant was granted,
and Vickery was despatched to assist Mr. Pearson in the
apreliension of the party charged.
Ve are informed that Mr. Pearson having traced the
party home to his country residence, about four utiles
from Loudon, ratty on yesterday morning, he returned
to Vickery, and they both set off together at a very early
hour, and surprised the gentleman in his bed. He was
brought to London, and safely lodged at Bow Street.
It appears that the person charged is a gentleman
of family and independent fortune.
MONDAY, OM'. 9.
It is already known to the public that a poor and
ignorant boy, Addingfield, was on Saturday last brought
up to this office, charged with circulating hand-bills of
the most treasonable character.
When Mr. Minshull, one of the Bow-street magis-
trates, was proceeding to fine this unfortunate tool in die
hands of others, NI r. Pearson proposed to get the person
who employed hitn apprehended. Having sworn that
he had traced the fabrication to an individual, and hav-
ing obtained a warrant to apprehend hint, he accompa-
nied Vickery, the officer, to his house, and had him
taken into custody on Sunday morning.
This morning soon after ten o'clock. Sir R. Barker,
Mr. Birnie, Mr. Nliushull anon afterwards took their
seats. There happened to be but little night business
to require the atteution of the Count.
Mr. Pearson.—Will your worship proceed now then,
to inquire into the charge upon which I obtained a war-
rant on Saturday ?
Mr. Biosie.—l have no objection: let the persou
charged be brought
It was obsersed, we believe by one of the officers,
that the gentleman w ts not come.
Sir Robert Baker.--He will be here.
Mr. Pearson.—l ask you upenly whether you have
discharged him?
Sir R. Baker —He has given securities for his appear-
ance, and he will be here so you may attend another
day.
Mr. Pearson.—This day was fixed for the purpose,
and I wish to know how it is that he is net bete?
Sir Robert Baker —lie promised to be heft; at
is now past 11, hot he will be here in a few minutes
Mr. Pearson.—Then I shall wait for a few minutes.
Mr. Pearson came forward again, and raid---I beg
leave to state any charges i aga.m. a person of the Ilaalle
of Franklin, who was apprehended on Sunday morn-
ing by Mr. Vickery and myself. Against this person I
have several cieuges, for fabricating and publishing
placards, not only recommending sedition and insurrt e-
lion, bet resistance to the government by force, and for
doing all this under the protection and amherity of that
government. 1 hold in my hand many of those trea-
sonable papers, issned by this person at various times.—
I charge him with being at this moment in treasonable
conspiracy in the neighbourhood. I call upon you to
grant a warrant for searching the house in which I
believe him to be in.
Mr. Minsbull.-11 that the voting man that was
charged here With CtfelliatillZ seditious placards?