The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-03-04 00:00:00

a a duty incumbent on him to oppose inch an
indemnity in
formed the NOble Lord (Castlereagh), that
though the practice was, he knew, ussusoal, he
should, nevertheless, oppose the first readiug of
the Bill, end take the sense of the House upon it.
Mr. MANXINO presented a Petition from the
London Docks Commuty, praying for leave to
bring in a Bill to amend the Acts us being rela-
tive thereto; winch was read, and leave given ac.
eurdisigly.
Mr. Cusvicx presented a Petition from Cum-
berland, monism the prevent Dimmer of payment
of tithes by modus.—Read, and ordered to be
printed.
Mr. Geee FELL deferred Isis Ron. Friend's (Sir
J. Mackiiiio,lo,) atonal, for a Return of the Ex.
'lease of Hank Prosecutinus for Forgeries. until
this day se'imight, in the absence of that Hun.
Member.
BANK TOKENS.
On the motion of Mr. LOSIIIINOToIf, the Ralik
Tokens Repeal Bill was read ■ first time, and or-
dered to be read a second time on Thursday next.
Mr. Hot.tell SUNNIER presented a Petition from
John Whitmore, Potter, mid Thomas Mead,
Fivers. Ma..istrates for the county of Surrey, eom-
phsining that they had been unjustly attacked, as
having miscunducted themselves in their duty as
Licein.iiig Magistrates of public-linueer. The dt
positions of a witness examined on the Police Com•
twitter, had formed the ground-work of that un-
warrantable and calumnious atomic. The Peti-
time,* prayed they might be permitted to refute
the calumny.
Mr. Mestere admitted the Report had been
drown up by himself, but denied that any reference
had beets intended to their characters in the framing
of that Report. As it was his intention to move
for a revival of that Committee, these parties might,
if they thought they could defend themselves
'spinet the alleged deposition of that wanes'', sp-
licer there, and do it most conveniently. He had,
however, his own opinion on the subject.
Lord LASCELLUS knew of a similar attempt to
inipeach the Licensing Magistrates, by a publican
mimed Fraiscis, who had stated before the Commit-
tee that his license had been takes. away for inci-
duty to some officers of Colonel Clitheroc's regi-
ment of militia ; whereas it could have been proved,
to the satisfaction of the Commitee, that he lost his
license front its being ascertained Ise hail harboured
:I peewit who had committed a robbery, mid who
actually through his means emitted.
Mr. Bee siert did not doubt, that, in so huge
and voluminous a Report as that of the Police
Committee, some inaccuracies might appear.
Mr. SUMNER was happy to boar all attempts to
inculpate these worthy Gentlemen had been dis-
avowed by the framer of the Report. He moved,
that the Petition lie on the table.

Mr. Serjeant Ossi.ow and Mr. S. THORNTON
bare testimony to the general good conduct of these
Magistrates.
The Petition was laid on the table.
MR. HONE'S PARODIES.
Mr. Br. NNETT presented a Petition from Jonathan
Slickly Bel lord, a small bookseller, of Warrington,
in Laixeshire, who had been arrested and taken to
prima at night in a cart, by constable', who, on
being required to shew their warrant, had iii-
sultiegly produced • pair of handcuff., and
dragged !inn to the common gaol, where lie was
im.lioed in a room without even straw In he on.
On be mg examined, it appeared that iolormuf
had heels given against him for selling one of Mr.
Hone's Parodies to an agent, as he believed, of Go-
vernment. On his second examination it was pro-
posed he should obtain his liberation on plot:tiring
two sureties in SOL ruch, himself iii tool. to effect
which bring impossible, he was committed to the
House of Correction at Preston, where lie was eon-
' lined with persons convicted of felooy, and outlet.
sentence of transportation, without any one of the
decent allowances granted to persons in his sitna-
ti,,,,, not even a bed. After being here six weeks
in close confinement, he was brought up to 011116.*
kirk Assizes, where the agent for the Crown remise.
id the proceedings by certiorari to the King's
Bench ; but after four weeks longer imp risonment.
he r.a4 enlarged on hit own recognizance. During
his enntineinent his property in books in his shop
was rifled, soil amongst others the following books
taken away : The History of America. The whole
AMIN of Slum, Lutes Serious Cull, The Evangeli-
cal .11.40:ine. and souse members of Cobbett.
NOM of the Parodies were found in his possession.
r, ..
i ire greater part of these books never yet had been
returned to him. Ile petitioned, therefore, the
House not to grant any indemnity to the Metnbers
vi Adnimistratiou, or deprive him of the privilege
of ohne' g, in a Court of Law, that redress to
which he was constitutionally entitled, cooing to the
injuries end sufferings he had sustained.
The Hon. Gentleman presented a similar Peti-
tion from Samuel Binning.
These Petitions' were ordered to lie on the table.
Alr. BENNETT bezged to ask the Right lion.
.11,1 learned Gentleman opposite, whether it way
i.:, ititritiloll to bring these two unfortunate persona
t., trial, on the recognizance§ into winch they hail
entered? After three acquittals of the principal
petrel in these tninsactiona (Mr. Flour). lie nom-
go,ed the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleti.an
mould slot think or revisits, prosecutions against
soliorclitaite persona us. the County of Lancaster.
The ATToRNET-GENERAII. apprehended there
must be some mistake in this matter, for titiles4 1
the parties under rt.rognizances received notice of
11.4, they were eol humid to appear. Their ri vir-
eizances had been removed into the Court of
hing's Bench, where, when called noon, they must
ni.Pear; hut unless notice to that effect was given
%;tliiii a certain number of days before their up-
utarance was required, they steed not attend.
Mr. BENNETT said, net this was no answer to
I. questioo. The night Hon. and Learned (;en-
' (lean was certainly ant hound to give one unless
Le I lased ; but he vrinsid again bey to asks whit.
t1)`;. if the Attorney-General did nut mean to pro-
:r...te these parties, lie war nut bound to discharge
lona recognizance,
The ATTORNIT•GENERAL had no difficulty in
1 as.weling the questiop. Whether or ow he aliwild
r.:PI it his duty to bring to trial live persona who bad
topieii and circalated the Parodies of lie. Mow',
nos
ri question quite distinct from the consideritt.o.. 1
‘'l. t e verdict in favour of that individual. It di.
1 - fallow, that because lie was acquitted, the.