The National Register.
London, England, 1815-10-08 00:00:00

652

Constable (the Chairman's name), has alone been unmentioned in
the warrant, nor k lie summoned to attend the return to morrow.
" Dyer,
Mr. Ellis, in condo:ion, said, he would not make any comment
noon this letter, it was impo,sible to add to it, strengli—it was con-
fi of all he had ventured to offer to their Worships.
111.. Williams said he should not follow the example of Mr. Good-
enough in entering into a personal contention. If he were so in-
lined. he esooLl, without difficulty, prove that a part of Mr. Good-
hotter was not consistent with truth; and Wise proved that,
apprehended he should be justified in pronouncing the whole
equally undeserving of credit. He was not disposed at that pis iod,
however. to enter into the subject; at present he should confine
himself to calling upon Wilson to produce Isis sureties.
Mr. Kiunaird now stepped forward. •He said, when first he came
into that room?, he had no intention to offeione word upon the pro-
ceedines of the Renck, relative to the melancholy transaction which
formed-the subject of their deliberation, and which had excited inch
senssfiona in the public mind. He came there merely for his own
infoinustion, and with a view of ascertaining whether the idea which
lee had formed of the duty of a Magistrate hitherto, was incorrect
or not. The course which the worthy Chairman seemed determined
to pursue. however, induced him reluctantly to step Forward in his
character of a blasistrate for that comity, to request he.would fur
nish hint with the groin:ids, in point of law, upon which be was pro-
ceeding? It was stated that a breach of the peace had been COM-
i!nitted—he apprehended if such had !wool the ease, there was good
and substantial evidence to prove it, Where was that evidence?
p 941 without it, could it he intended to hold the prisoner to bail?
At hest the offence imputed to the prisoner was but au indictable
coiffure. and if so, that was nolthe place to try it.
Mr. Williams said, he was nut acting from him‘cli alone, No
merely aeted in use name of others, as the Senior Mat!ktrate. and
lw believed his determination was in conformity with that of his
brother Magistrates.
Mr. Smith and Mr Mason assented. •

. Mr. Kinnaird had no desire to offer Mince to one or any of the Mil-
& t rates present, hut he would wi•li some one of them to point out the
Statute to which the prisoner, in the conduct he pursued, was amena-
ble? Was it an niTence at common law, or, in fact, what was the
character of the oance?

Mr. Williams—" Are we to entitider you as asking these ques-
tions 211_a illa2ixtrate ur ac an individual?"

Mr. Kimiaird—As a Magistrate, most certainly, fur it has ex-
cited the stapi ise both of niysell and fifa brother Maeistrate, who
is bete with me, that such a proceeding at that which has taken
place should meet the sanction of this flinch."
Mr. Harriet being thus alluded to, stepped forward, and said he
eenre,sed the motives by which he had been to attend there
that day arose in a great trrasure from curiosity ; and he-would not
have yenttirel to say a word in a point of- such delicacy, if he had
not bet 0 called forward by pia colleague; nor would he even then
give an opinion on the very novel preceedina which bad taken place,
mile-s called upon so to do by those whotu?'he conceived to be the
presiding Magistrates. He had an opinion certainly, and if called
upon to state it, he wou!d speak with candour.
Mr. Kinnaird—" This basiness has excited and demands the at-
tention of the Magistraey of the kingalam at large."
Mr. Harriet wished to add, that le certainly was desirous of infor-
mation, and saon.t. ! ~.e glad to learn any thing from the Magistrates
there assembled la inch might throw a tight imon his public duty.
in his situation at Magi•trate of the Thames Police, he bad often
heard of rowing matches and regattas upon the river Thames ; sonic
for wagers, some for remuneration in money, which collecteel upon
the river and on its beaks very considerable crowds. He had not
hitherto interfered in these, what he em-tired to be, Jandable ex-
ercises—but he might have been wrong in not so doing, and with
the view of enlightening his mind, he had conic to Greenwich.
Mr. Smith said, he was but a young Magistrate, and would not
he vain enough to put his judgment in competition with that of those
who had been hewer in the eammission—hut. on the contrary,
hould feel grateful for any information which he might receive
through their superior extort ienee.—There were motes, however,
of conveying that info! 'nation, different from that chosen by the
two Gentlemen oho had that day hoaoured them with their attend-
ance; and as those modes had not been resorted to, he could not but
think those Gentlemen hod been actuated by sonic other motives,
not so candid or so well intended as they professed. He was still
happy, however, to hear their sentiments. With reference to the
subject before them, be begged to state, that he had no personal
kanwledge whatever of Wilson, and in the steps he had taken was
only desirous of putting a stop to that %Oath be conceived to he