The National Register.
London, England, 1822-12-23 00:00:00

'TA'.

ildOM TiIiSDAY GdZ.ak.
WHITEHALL. Dtc. 16.
The King has been pi,a.e I ti .tip.iint s:r M. S. Stewart. of
Blackhall„ Bart. to be Lieutenant and Slvritt Principal of dee
shire of Watiew, in the tooru of Lard Blantyre. re'l:4llei•
The K r ha. been iilet.tal to appoint .1. Kay, E.l. Alvocate.
to be Sairi.f I.le,:ute of the sltice of I itintlwow, room of
J. H. 3.1.6c1:::a.t. Hi. appointed a Lord of Scataon to scodand.

11.% N it LI i'TS.
R. G. S;•co. ling. jun. Ihcknt 014 worth, !lees. coil merchant.
Solicitors. Ms'b•lll K1,1,11)411 and Co. Cannon Street.
J. Ilan:non, Drayton in 11. t: e 4, &Joy. money scrivener. Sol.
14r. Gray's 1.111
J. Crip. l'easenhall. Suffolk, sholik.vper. Sol. Mr. Cufoude,
Norfolk Street, Stnind.
List:lo3ol, merchant. Sol. Mr. Willett, BS4I:X.
St eet. Tt.nple.
Sl4.llkiwes
Bridge Street.
ii. L. Bennett. Liverpool, tobacconist, Sols. Messrs. SwaM
and Co. 0,1 Jewry.

Alr. Alasun. New

J. H. S. ward, Leominster. mercer. Sul. Mr. Bach. or Mr.
Coates...l.c.nninster.

M. Pile, jun. Shlmouth. Devonshire, cabinet maker. Sol. Mr.
Lys. I Menai'. Inn F'ields.
E. J 8114.3 and H. West, n, MancheAct., hop dealers. Sots.
Alarm. Willis and Co. Throgunortun Streit.
Dec.4l, W. Law. Copt!'All Chambers, Throgmatten Street,
rnetchant—.l.m. 7, J. Day and J. Spratswell, 'lad tuck Street,
Covent Gilrlit rt. iirapers-7. It. P. Alvin, Elm Savet, Gray's Inn
Lam., we brewer—lt, .1. Gorton, Ilenry Street, Hampstead
Howl. smith-21. T. Rcay. Smith Shiehli, merchant-40, S.
Sncpininl, IVellingtun„ citirupMire. banker-13, H. and E.
Edleston, Blackburn, cotton tuanufacturers—Y7, J. llendalli
liridport,

.Ci.lit I.IFiC.VIES to be grantttl Jan. 7.
J. Clone Lee. junior, Northumberland SuCLt, Afarylebone,
eurp.ruer—U. 11.1meertui Shreve, St. Luke',., timber
suerclumt.

141 MY ELLIGEXCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCII.
(Silungs &jure the Lord Chief /Nuke.)
MONDAY, DEC. 16.
THE 1E1,6 r. SIR NATMANIEL MINA Pr, COLLINS, AND MILLS.
This case has been alres.ly before the public, and this was it
new trial of the indictment ou which tile defendants were
found guilty.
Mr. Scerlett stated. that lie appeared as Counsel for Mr. J.
Meek, a much injured mid meritorious individual ; one of the
magistrates, !sir Nathaniel Conant, was dead. lie did not
mean to cast reflections oa the dead, further than that the facts
themselves must impugn his memory. The charge in this in-
dietrneet contained an imputation of sinister notices oa these
defendants, in refusing to grant Mr. Meek a licence, either
flour corrupt motives or from personal pique or prejudice.—
Toe puldie peace. the morals, and the tranquillity of his Ma-
jesty's subjects. depend on the pure administra.ion of public
justice. No individual was to be plireeil M the mercy, or the
caprice; or prejndiee, of any man, however high, who was in-
trusted with the administration of the law. Was a man, as
in this case, without imputation on his dosimeter, to be ruined
and blaster, in his prospects and character t Mr. Meek par-
chased in ISIS the leas, of a publie house in St. John-street, '
Clerkeuwell. Ile bestowed mulch expellee is potting it its re-
pair. The character of the house itself was without reproach,
and the defendant challenged the strictest scrutiny into his
previous character. Having expended 12001. which was his
whole capital, lie approached the magistrates of Clerkenwell
with perfect coelidence that he would obtain a renewal of his
licence. On the ad of September he was called into a private
roots, and told his licence was suspended, a Wino any cause
being assigned, although there had Bern indi‘ 'duals who had
previously inspected the premises and foamd no objection, ex-
cept there being two dome, and be agreed immediately to shut
up one of them, although he knew every house in the street
hail two doors, and particularly a brewei's house nett door,
end to this day and to this hour he did not believe that was a
ground of objection. Now, olietever might be sworn this day,
or might have beets sworn before, be (Mr. Scarlet() would never
believe any hut ptortiality and corrupt motives. Two magis•
bates had pre•ionsly reported this house a lit one to be li-
censed, hut these defendants, without way ostensible reason,
thought proper to refuse. Ile applied to them again and again.
Sir N. Conant pleaded ignorance of his case, and desired him
to apply agnin. Ile produced a petition and certificate of good
conduct, 'tuned by nearly the whole parish. The case was
MIA, decided on, and this man obliged to shut up his house
Ile approached the magiatratea in Ist; with a petition, no)
only signed by all the t oustalihs, but by oh the respectable
inhabitants, that this was in et cry respect a la ;louse ; and Mr.
Meek has since had a licence for another house. One crest
ohject of the legislature was to prevent persona having any
',end-Ikm with brewers immencing their motives in granting
licenses; and altlionali magistrates may not Is,s brewers, yet
by come strange f lire. ers could obtain licensee for
their Looses when nu persons independent of the brewers could
be licensed. C sense would soy, if there was the ab-
s,.nce of all probable ceuxe or refusing a licence, the inevitable
conclusiou of the Jury would be to infer either nralice, par-
tiality, or other corrupt motive. One of the magistrates asked
only one question, which Was—What brewers he dealt with?
lie believed he should be able to prove that Mr. Lucas, •
brewer, was present on these occ:i4lone. Why lie should be
present. the learned Counsel did not know. It occurred to a
person who had left olr deafilog with Mews, on being refused, te
give an order for five bolls of beer, and then his license was
granted. Collies, one of the der minats, went into an explana-
Con with one of the parties refused a licence on the subject of
a conversation between hint and a brew rr, as being a cause for
his not succeeding. Ile should shoe the Caine corrupt influence
at work, and that covert and usiderhandness which made it
only the more criminal. lie should show that men of the most
infamous character could obtain licences if they dealt with the
brewers. Was a magistrate to usurp the umpire of disposal of
the fortunes of individuals, aud wrap Idols If in mystic obscu-
rity, refusing to assign wry cease t lie would not have the
(gentlemen of the Jury convict any man upon sespicion, but he
sliest tiny that the wear preloofai lay upun them to show that any
good motive existed. 'llie piiint sass this : the brewer hail a
profit on every butt of beer lie sold ; and thus, by some corrupt
wider israttng between either the brewers, or their servants,
the Magistrates. .a dereliction of t eir duty, and in disparage-
ment of the purity of politic justice, lent themselves to the pri-
vate interests of one party to the ruin of meritorious indivi-
duals.
Mr. James Meek, examined by the Common Sergeant.—
Witaessfiercbased, in 1107, a lease of the Green Man public
hollow, in John-street, Clerkeirwell. Gave 3001. for the lease
--natures lb./. expended it all 1,2001. N itness understood
it lisd been. iicsused for 200 pram DesciAneti the situatioa

EGL

of the premises, and the alterations whied were made. Wheo
witness Graf came into the pr, raises, the sale was two butts
per month ; at first dealt widi Sherlock and Co. afterwards
bless, Reid, and Co. This was in 31arch, Itfls ; he first
went to Mruz, and continued until September of that year to
deal with them. This was among the must convenient louses
in the trade. Witness's licence was renewed in Sept. lbri,
wiilnwt the least ditliculiy. Ile named din same magistrate,
defendants ou this indictment, and two others, atti tiding the
granting- of licencts. The draught eacreased from September
1815, from two butts to betwixt three and four, to the end of
his ifealitr, with Meets:, Reid. soil Co. and so on to ten butts
sail a half: Ile then dealt with Barelay, Perkins, and Co.—
I" the course of 'Lila, engaged a mon named Rawlins to draw
the beer, who was under witness's control, and was to leave,
by agreement, within live du, h. notice. Il• left witness's ser-
vice about June 15x6. a 'car alter witness engaged bins. After
that witness mknaged it himself, until the fispiember of that
sear. Trsusferred his general account from Mews and Co. to
Barclay and Co. Kuew a Mr. Lucas, managing clerk to Mein
and Co.
Mr. Gurney objected to what Lucas said to witness.

The Conlinon ;ergeant said he should prove dissatisfaction
expressed, and this was an indictment fur conspiracy beim, ell
these deleinlants and di*ers persons.
Nlr Scarlett said it was not to make what witness said evi-
dence, rally that a dissatisfaction was expressed.
The Lord Chief Justice did nut see bow there wan any con-
nexion between Lucas and defendants, and it was to he muds
either admissable evidence or n.n. When this witness was
made to be connected with defendants, that would alter the
case.

The Common Sergeant.—Lucas was the Agent of Meux.
Witnees proceeded.—On the 3d of September, 1516, he at-
tended the sitting magistrates at Clerkenwell, with other pub-
licans, fur their licences—a paper was sent down with tile
tissues of person% whose licences were suspended until ISlS—
amongst these his own was one. Milne** did not are any of
the magistrates on that day. 30. Coclerill came to witness's
house that night, in company with the High Constable, and
made a minute examination of his house. Witness asked if
there had been any complaint made against him The answer
wan, they had never heard of any thing disrespectful of him,
quite otherwise. Mr. Coclerill asked whether witness had ever
given any premium fur his goodwill! Witness answered be
had nut. Told them he had discharged Rawlins-a* guinea a
butt was a fair and regular profit—asked if there was env foun-
dation for refusing his licence.' Then asked the High Constable
Hit was necessary for victuallers to petition where there was
no cause assigned for re using a licence. Ile answered, tha
only remedy is shutting it up -it would be of no use petitioning.
r homes Hills was the High Constable. Ile said lie wished to
set every thing to rights. It was understood then: were two
doors in the front, and that circumstance was pointed out to the
magistrates. 11 ithess told the :megistratee be bad not made
any new door, and that, it it rag not according to their wish he
had no objection to shut it up.—Witness alluded to other
lie" nee in the same street—the Queen's Herd, which had two
doors, and others within a hundred yards of witness's house.—
They then left his premises. Previous to their departure be
chewed them his tap-room, which was large enough to hold 40
or 30 persons. After the gentlemen 1, ft the house the High
Constable returned in shout live minutes, and told aituess lie
nerd not stop business till after the ioljournment. Went again
before he magistrates on the [Sill ; the defendant and the
Pr. totscoitie, 31r. Cocke.,ll, mud Mr. Lewis. Our of them
The anew el ‘• Yes, another day, on the 21st." Witnes
than got a peti.l9l. and c,rtilicates piepared, lie produced.
,;g„„el 'uy tins ehuichwardene, and all 11. e iiihalovints hut one,
~,„ was tilt. 0 i the 200.1 of that mouth saw Sir N. Conant at
the FtemnasoLs' '1 stern, when lie had a c011ect...46,in with him
shout his liceiice. Ile said he recollected nothing about it, he
aslant what brewer lie dealt with. Told thew Barclay and Co,
Otl'ered to produce the brewers' and distillers' books. The
censumptinn of beer was out quite 2dl. a month. They told
wither.s they did not want to see either brewer or distillers'
books. Mr. Coloville said to one of the magistrates—.. Sir,
you know nothing of the cue." N itness was then ordered to
withdraw, and went. He continued out of the room, perhaps
fur ten minutes, and was then ordered in again, when Sir N.
Conant clone into the room, sod spoke to 31r. Collins, who
was chairman, and witness was again ordered to withdraw :
was out of the room ten initiates or a quarter of an hour, when
an order ca:ne out that his licence was stopped. Ile waited till
after the eases were 1, through, and then went into the ma-
gistrates room, mid asked if there was another adjoarsinient.—
did not know wituess, or where his house was situated ; but,
if witness would eon: to the Sessions House nest miming,
there were eume objections to prefer against hint, end lie would
do every thine' iu his power to settle it. Went en the 2lst and
SSW Mr. Richards, clerk to the magistrates, to wham he de-
livered the petition mid CC:tiSC:IitS—WAS called into a veins
about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour after—there found Sir
Sir N. Conant and Mr. Cottcrill, and belie% es other magistrates
—Sir Nathaniel sold the Chains-a bring absent, they s' ould
not enter into the business ; front that September to September
following he resided in that house, without following his busi-
ness—applied in September,lsl7, by petition, signed by entry
one of the inhahilanis—and was then attended by Mr. Hendee-
' sou, %iliac's.* solicitor, since dead—lll ness was then called
hsfore the whole six magistrates that were there the year
before-31r. Henderson asked the reason why they would nut
grant any licence, snit he would tale it for granted they had
some good season—lie supposed the reason was known to the
committee of the I loose orCummons—the reason the magistrates
gave was, his desling principally in spirits, and nut malt liquors
—three of the magistrates said in answer, that they had never
given any reason at all, and would not: the magistrates asked
who this Henderson was, and said they did not allow solicitors
to interfere for licensed victuallers, or to address them on the
subject—witness and he then withdrew. The acting constable
then v. eut in again with witness, when Mr. Collius asked him if
lie had any thing disrespectful to say of witness—the visiting
constable said nothing but what was to his praise—as visiting
constable, he con d speak Do more to the purpose than any
hotly else—he alluded to the Swan opposite, and said mitneese's
was s very oifferently conducted house. The magistrates then
told Robins, the constable, that if he had nothing disrespectful
to speak of witness he might go away—witness's licence was
again refused—lie applied again in Sept. 1515, for a renewal ;
. the same sin. including the Rev. Dr. Owen sat—witness then
present. d testimonials with petition, in which the inhabitants
of St. James's Parish joined those of St. John's. Those certi-
ficates were slatted e •cli year by the Rector of the parish,
slated hie losses and privations, but was again refused. Ap-
plied again in September, 1510. A gentleman of the name of
Weeks had j d the magistrates of the preceding year,
brought his petition and c.rtificate signed as before, and made
his application, stating his ruined eireumetances. Sir N.
Conant said I am one of the magistrates, and I object to your
petition, on the ground that your petition is false ; but I did
not mention in what particular it was false; told him lie was

bet aware bat that every word was strictly true, and if they
would point out any thing, but licence was tint granted ; witness
most solemnly swears, that et ery word of the petition was
strictly true. LI &weather, lb Is, saw ; 111 IS 17 Kew
Mr. Willis, the managing clerk to Mew, and Co., at Clerkrit-
st (Ile door of the room oceup.i-d by the e.tun magistrates.
—When he went fora renewal, in 1517, De:l mat three, with
Willis and % i;;rain. lie saw W i.lir take a card from his
pocket, and haring written the name of igram, he sent it into
the magistrates' room by the fluor-keeper. Sir N. Conant
soon utter retained to the magistrate,. A visimunicati. it look
place between igram amt Otis, and Dell's licence was re-
newed. his bre'.,t era at that time were 3lessrs. M, art and Co,
—After he had received his licence be went to a public house
with

The petitions of Mr. 111celi fur the renewal of his licence, in
the •ears 1516, Is. and 10, were then put in and read.
Mr. Meek, on his cross examination by Mr. Gurney, said,
he paid his attorney's bah uitliuut assistance. Since the last
trial he Led received LOOI. from the Cutwaittee.

1 bomb 11.11, High Constable of the Finsbury Division, in
1816, stated, that Mr. Meek's Louse was alwapi coutlueled
with the weal..it regularity.
The plaintiff 'a
case closed.
The Solicitor General addressed the Jnry for the defendant,
Mr. Collins, amid Mr. Gurney for Mr. Mills.
The Lord Chief Justice summed up the evidence, and left
the Jury to decide upon the question, whether the defendant*
had been influenced by the brewers, and had acted corruptly.
The Jury retired for live minutes, and, on their return, foond
the defendants not guilty.
The trial lasted from half past nine in the morning to near
seven in the evening.
WEDNESDAY, nrc. 18.
BETHNAL GREEN PARI,4I.—MAY e. UNWIN.

This was ao action against the defendant fur distributing li-
bellous publications upon the defendant's character.
The plaintiff is vestry clerk of the parish of St. Matthew,
Bethnal Green, and the defendants are inhabitants o the name
parish. Some time previous to 1520, a committee Of severs(
inhabitants of St. 3lattliew was formed in the interest of a Mr.
3letealf, to oppose the election of the plaintiff as sentry clerk
for that year, of which co tttttt ittee the defendant was the prin-
cipal. Several publications were issued and distributed through-
out the parish, in consequence of the libellous matter reflecting
on the plaintiff 'a character, contained in two of them, entitled,
" A report," and " A Statement of Fact,," the present action
was brought.
The Solicitor General, for tLe defendant, submitted that tho
evidence did not trace the publications in question to have
emanated from the defendant, or that be had taken any indi-
vidual part in the distribution of them, to which the Lord Chief
Justice assented, and held the objection fatal to the plaintiff's
case.—Plaiutilf uonsuitcd.