The National Register.
London, England, 1818-11-01 00:00:00

TRIAL OF MR. HUNT.

Monday morning the Moldlosex Sessions commenced at
Hicks's. Hall, before F. Court, Esq.(the Chairmao,and a full
Bene.h of Magistrates.
The first ease was the trial of Mr. Hunt, for an assault
upon V. G. Dowling, On the Btll of September, in St. Cle-
ment's Church-yard.
Before the trial came on, Mr. Hunt,•who sat at the Barris-
tees table, ruse and said—Mr. Chairman, I am here to day to
stand my trial for an assault, and I have an application to
make to the Court for my own protection. A person oho
sits opposite me has just made use of the full..visig expres-
sion ' • •• I are the demagogue, Hunt, is first on the list ; I hope
he'll be transported." 1 therefore apply to the Court, whether
such language is to be tolerated, when applied to a mars who
is here brought before a jury of his ministry. I understand
the person is a Bsrr ester. Ido not know whether he is or
not; bat I appeal to the Court, whether I ain not to be pro-
tected from Stith laugn;ige.
Mr. Alley, who was of Cowrie Mr Mr. Dowling, rose and
said, that env expression which might have fallen from his
Learned Friend, who was a Barrister, could not have been
intended fur Mr. Hunt's ear. _

Mr. Jessup, who was the Gentleman alluded to, and who
aat at the table, but was, not dressed in his wig and gown,
said, that he did lint mean to be overheard by Mr. Hunt in
any thing he might have said ; whatever had been his con-
versation, it was nut, he assured the Court, intended for Mr.
Hunt's ear. _ _ _

Ur. Hunt—l think yon did address your language to me.
It cerininly was uttered loud enough to be heard by any one
araund here.
Mr. Alley interposed. and desired that Mr. Hunt should
not interrupt the proceedings of the Court by complaints of
this kind.
linnt—l am addressing the Chairman, and not you,
Sir ; and it is to his instructions, not to yours, that I shall pay
11, tiernce.
The Chairman—Mr. Hunt, you must be aware that nothing
can wise in your particular case which could justify the
slightest indecorum towards you, standing as you do. The
Court is always most 1111Xl011% to accommodate every defendant,
as far as it can be 'done with propriety , but, on the
other hand, it. cannot well take notice of private con-
versations, whatever they happen to be ; and ! ant
sorry that the seat in which you sit had placed yon near
enough to overhear any thong which might have been said by
the gentleman opposite to you. It is true; that the Court
generally allows a defendant to sit at the tuble, either for the
purpose of being near his Counsel, or any particular friend
whose assistance he may want. I think, on reflection,
you must be of opinion, that such expressions as three you
have alluded to could not, icy possibility, have been meant
for the public ear. The Gentleman to whom you ascribe
them could not possibly have publicly hazarded them on th
eve of a defy:Ames trial. I call give you no assiatance under
the eircumstabees that yon say have occur, ed.
Mr. Alley—fir. Hunt, as you have thought proper to over-
hear a private conversation, and then make it the ground of
u public complaint, yon must now unit your seat and stand at
the hat, as all other defendants usually do.
The Chairman—l am very sorry that any thing should have
occurred to have made Mr. Hunt's application, or your's, Mr.
Alley, necessary.
Mr. Alley—Mr. Hunt, you must go to the bar. .
Mr. Hunt—l again tell you, that I shall ;Mend to the
Chairman, and not to you.
Mr. Alley—Then, if yen choose to he insolent, I must
move the Conti that yon be placed at the bar. The Cote t
will exercise its „jurisdiction towards you as it would to ally
other defendant.
Mr. Hunt—l neither give nor take insolence :I am ad.
dressing the Court.
Mr. Sketchley (one of the Magistrates on the Bench)—l
think Mr. Hunt ought to be put to the liar. It is an indul-
gt nee to allow a defendant to sit white he dory—and, after
what has last passed, I think he bad better change his place.
Mr. Haw —I shall bow with great submission to the de-
cision of the Chairman : and as Mr. Alley has made this ap-
plication, ni my tutu, ark of the Court to be permitted to
temuin where I am, as au indulgence, and not to be pia to the
Bar, where I could have no convenience of taking notes of the
evidence.
The Chairman interposed. and directed the Clerk of Ar.
reigns to read over the indictment, and [winced with the