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

AL REGIS

had thereby collected together, by night and by day, a toemoiltnone
assemblage of people." From this he most inter that the buriten of
the charge :leanest the Prisoner was his leaving collected together a
tumultuous assemblage of people. Now. if this had been the case, it
was surely capable of proof; but he would ask. where that proof
was—and, without the proof, by what authority were the Magi%
trates empowered to deprive a subject of leis liberty? It was not
even stated in the warrant that the Magistrates themselves had at-
tended, but simply," on view"—whether that view was idea; or
substantial, or had taken place at all, did not appear. Upon these
points lie submitted, on the first head, that there was no sufficient
ground npon %Odell the warrant could be justified. With ee•pect tO
the second head of his objection, lie begged to state, that the war-
rant was alleged to have been issued upon the view of the Magi&
trates whose names it contained. Now lie would take leave to state
that several of the Magistrates, whose Daniels were en stirrePtitinuelY
used, distinctly and positively denied that they had token any view
upon the snbject at all, or had given their sanction to the cruel and _
oppressive act by which the prisoner was deprived of hi• liberty,
and hence, from the falsehood it contained, it was illegal. Upon
these two gromula, first, the absence of all evidence. and seemed's-,
the illegality of the warrant, he confidently demanded the discharge
of his unfortunate client. As a proof that the statement st Inch he
had made, of certain Magistrates having denied all Partly teation its
the proceeding which led to Wilfoll'A arrest. he reque•ted to read a
letter from Mr. Goodenough, rale of the Gentlemen whose names
were included ip the warrant, directed, " To Dyer, Esq. Ike
humane friend of George Wilson, Blackheath."—Mr. Ellis then read
the following letter :
Stet—Although I have not the honour to he known to you, your
hitmanity to a poor unoflending man, gives von a title to the infor.
'nation this letter is intended to convey, in the following. narrative of
facts :
" In the Warrant for apprehending Wilson. I with five more
Magistrates who did net sign it, are unequivocally stated as not
only approring, but that it was upon our view that the Warrant was
granted.—lS ow, Sir. what follows is the exact truth:—
"
Ott 'Thursday. the 21t of September. ten Magistrates met at
the Mitie to (midi the Alehouse Licenses for the year. 1' at done.
by the (eiders of Mr. Williams. the Cletk prepared a Blank Warrant
for those gentleman to sign, who were about to depart before Mr.
Williams had prepared it. 'This extraordinary measure wits in ars
imtant sent to the 'Tomb' of all the ra/tuleig
began to eonsider and open their eve. believe, six out 01 the
tcn, with the chairman, took their denartii,e, •'O•' ,feet
except that two or three accompanied me, after a most pointed
declaration, from most of us, that we would have nothing to do
With it—l particularly stating. that the stopping the sell ng liquors
in the boths was as far as, in my judgment, we could co, acroe ding
to law.
" It now appears, however, that Mr. W ! lams persevered, and,
with three other Magistrates, siuned the lest' men!. mom which a
British subject has been deprived of his liberty. without any intim..
Illation upon oath, and, in my poor opinion, without a crime.
"Thus, Sir, have I lost--1 hope only, however, until the public
are better informed--a reputation which, i have been endenvonring
to establish, for near 40 years ; as a Magistrate, by the false state-
ment of my brother magistrates--some of the four, however, i am
willing to believe, have been led astray by two confident a lii•tief in
the know ledge and ability of Mr. Williams, and his having been so
many years an attorney.
" have been now summoned by Mr. Williams's single
to attend the return of the warrant to-mou row ; but I limebly think
I cannot do so with propriety, as the wal rant, if' it be worths that
name, is only retternable before the four gentlemen who • ,t d it;
all others have been excluded. for reasons which Mr. pro.
Irately can explain ; beet, inasmuch, as such exclusion bestir
and suede a Majority of the Magistrates hash'g disapproved the
measure, the Public may not be lone at a loss to account for it.
"As this transaction hiss appeared in the Prints. with my name
in it, without ms knowledge, or any title whatesiT to any honour
that may be delived from it, i should not do ja•tiee, either to your
humanity, or my own anxiety to vindicate my contlitet, so netjustly
aspersed, if I did not allow you to make any use of this letter you
thought proper.
- - -

" With respect, Sir, have the hononr to be,
" Your faithful awl humble Servant,
" G. T. GOODENOUGH.

" Shooters Hill, Oct. 4, 1815.
" P. S.—lt is rather an addition to the the many singnlar eir-
eunwtaocea that hare atteaded tke whole of thin bualuese, that Mr.