The National Register.
London, England, 1821-07-15 00:00:00

IVORIFICII CITY sEssIOSS.
On Tuesday last the Quarter Sessions for this city was
held at the Guildhall, before Wm. Bukhara, Esq. Mayor,
Steward Alderson. and a bench of magistrates. The
learned Steward, in his charge to the Grand Jury, very
ably directed their attention to the several bills before
them, and pointed out die law to their consideration.—
The Court was occupied some dine with Removal causes,
but none that created particular interest.
John Berry, printer, of St. Petei 's Mancroft, appealed
against the conviction of the magistrates, for printing and
publishing a handbill at the last election for 'ayor of this
city, signed " A Freeman," without having a copy of the
paper lie printed the said handbill from preserved by him,
or giving up the name and place of abode of the person
who employed him to print the said handbill, by which he
became subject to the penalty of the sum of 201.
Counsellor Robertson, in a very animated speech, con-
tended for the conviction. He said, the Court were most
particularly called upon to mark this offence in the strong-
est possible manner. The appellant bad not only broke a
statute, but the circumstances attending it was a most
outrageous offence in enormity, lie had almost said profli-
gacy; this handbill was a gross libel on a respectable
magistrate ; it not only vilified him as a magistrate, but as
a man, a gentleman, and husband. He gro iiiii led his ap-
peal on b( 6eu. 111. an Act to secure the subject I
libellous attack—' that every printer shall retain 4 copy
of every paper printed by hint, and not refuse to declare,
when called upon, who is to he considered before the law
&minute ble."— floe learned Counsellor then called the
Sword Bearer, who proved that Berry was summoned be-
fore the Mayor, and refused to plod:tee a copy of the pa-
per, or the name and place of flirt employer, and was con-
victed accordingly; that at his first examination lie denied
printing or publishing, but at the second lie acknowledged
himself to be the printer.
Counsellor Cooper, for the appellant, rose and addressed
the Court as follows :—" Gentlemen, my learned friend is
first bound to prove that the bill was printed for gain,
profit, or reward, before lie can possibly confirm this con-
viction. I contend he has but sery indifferently proved
that Berry was the pointer of the handbill; and supposing
he was the printer, it might nut have been fur reward, but
originate in party zeal, and apply no more to Alderman
Minsk than to any other Alderman on the bench. The
Sword Bearer swears that Berry admitted the printing,
but first lie said No, and afterwards Yes. Why, gentle-
men. the poor man was so frightened that he did nut know
what he said. Only think of my poor client's sitnatioe—
shut up in a Council Chamber, the Mayor on one side,
Aldermen on the other, Mr. Sword Heiner, and other ci-
vic authorities, trying to obtain his confession—first be
did point it, then lie did not ; the Court would be divided,
and pause haute they decided on such a yes or no aunt
a 111411 so cioemuslanced. The bid appears to Hie only an
appeal to his fellow-citizens to elect a !weer, holiest, and
uptight magistrate to fill the office of Mayor, and 1 believe
there is not the evidence there ought to be before the
Court to confirm the conviction."

were so near, and the probability was that he would be
convicted of a capital offence, the charge was dropped,
and the prisoner hilly committed for uttering the forged
51. notes.

EXTRAORDINARY SPEED.—Oti Wednesday D. Crisp,
the celebrated pedestrian, returned to town front Sid-
mouth where he WAS engaged for a wager of 25 guineas
to run from that place to the Castle-yard in Exeter, and
back again in five hours, a distance of 32 miles, over a
hilly country. He started precisely at six o'clock in the
morning, accompanied by two gentlemen on horseback,
and arrived at time Castle.gate in Exeter, ten minutes be-
fore eight, performing the first 16 miles in one hour and
fifty minutes; he rested iwauty minutes and took some
refreshment; the gentlemen did the same, and procured
fresh horses, he then returned to Sidman!), where he
arrived with ea•e twenty minutes within the time al-
lowed. On the liSth of this month he is to commence
his Herculean task of walking WOO miles in as many
successive half-hours at Nottingham, being 11311 the lime
the same number of miles were performed by Captain
Barlelay. Great wagers depend on ibis match.
Dreadful viccitlent.—Tsturs.l.l, as Mr. BM, a master
bricklayer, and two labourers were erecting a scatfitl,l to
the back flout of a house, No. 20, in Por.land-street,
the ledger which supported it, front being rotten, snap-
ped in two, and the three unfottunate men were preci•
pirated w the ground, a depth of about 40 feet. Mr.
8211 had One Of his legs broken, the bones protruding
through his stocking, and otherwise bruised all over; lie
was taken up inaensible and carried home on a shutter.
—The two unfoittmate labourers, one of whom has a
wifi. and four children, 113 d each several bones broken.
They were taken up covered with blood and bruises,
apparently in a lifeless state, and carried to the NI iddle-
sex-holtital, where they remain without the smallest
hope of recovery.
About a month ago, two whales of large dimensions
were fi.und, forsaken by the tide, at a point called lit-
nerwell, in the bay of Wigtown, 111 Galloway. These
peaceful Arctic wanderers were first observed by a party
of seafaring youths, who had been out on a fishing ex-
pedition, and who immediately thought of securing the
prize. To work, therefore, they set, and as a substitute
fur an anchor, hit upon the somewhat dangerous expe-
dient of making fast the boat to the back fin of the
largest fish. But the animal, whose leviathan carcase
was half buried in the sand, and which had hitherto
made no resistance, was very far from relishing this un-
civil interference, and, shallow as the water was, he
scion began to beat it so lustily, and with such good effect,
that had not the party prudently changed their moorings,
they might have perished in a storm of their own cre-
ating. Accommodating themselves to circumstances,
they commenced an attack upon the hinder parts of the
whales, and, rude as their implements weir, succeeded
in filling. die bo,,t with about a ton and a half of blub-
ber! 11 ith this cargo they immediately stood for the
town of Wigtown ; and after providing themselves with
a cable, anchor, hatchet, saws, &e. they returned to I it-
nerwell ; but by this time the tide had thawed, accom-
panied by a smart breeze front the N. W., and wafted
the carcases of both the fishes far beyond the reach of
these inexpi r.eneed a-sada:its.
On Friday se'intiftht an accident happened near the
Fleece, at Brook-street, Essex, where tile road is rather
narrow, and at a point tit which three vehicles were its
the act of passing each other; one of them was a higler's
cart goit.g front Chelmsford market to London, loaded
with fowls, the proprietor of which was treating a rela-
tion, said to be from Clare, in Suffolk, with a ride to see
his friends in town, when the wheel of the cart came in
contact with another so violently, as to jerk the pour
man iron his seat, and his head fell between the tore
and alter wheel of a stage waggon ; and was crushed to
atoms; it is needless to state that lie instantly expired.—
A nearly similar accident occurred to another person in
the road near Ilford, and attended testa circumstances
aIIIIULt as dreidlul ; but the unfortimate sufferer, we
hear, still lingers in the utmost agony.
FlRlt.—About half past eight o clock ott Thursday
evening, a most alarming fire broke out in the house of
Mr. Clarke, broker, in Clerkenwell Green, which for
some time burnt with almost incredible fury. The la.
roily (with the exception of the servants) were at Sad-
lees Wells at the nine, but by the exertions of the sur-
rounding populace the greater part oh the extensive stock
in trade was saved. A considerable time elapsed before
the arrival of any engme. The Sun was the first whicn
came to the scene of conflagration, but ottfortunately no
water could he procured for some time, consequently the
flames raged with unabated velocity, and soon became
master of the enure premises, which were by ten o'clock
completely consumed. The utmost confusion was wit-
nessed at the two it,'jitittitig houses. occitpied by Messrs.
Goode and Miller, persons in the same business, mid
articles of furniture were to be seen pitching front the
windows into the street. In short the whole Green was
one complete mass of articles, the glcitur part of winch
is materially damaged. The fire caught the rear of the
house of Mr. Goode, which was consiarrably damaged.
Finns the contusion that pre‘ailed we could not learn
whether the parties are insured or nut.
Suicide.—ln the night of the sth inst. G Hassell, If:sq.
drowned himself in a deep pond on his own premises,
;th.,111 a half a utile front his house at Chn'shurv, in the
Chiltern hills. Bucks. He served the office of Siteritt
for the county in ISIS, and died uniii3tried.
THEATRICAL MODESTY.—In It letter published
hi an America' paper last month, Ly Mr. KEAN,
ill excuse of his conduct at Boston, where, because
the audience was not so brilliant as he thought it
ought to Lave been in compliment to him, he lcti
the house abruptly, a'id refused to play the part he
had undertaken, he says " the present existence of
the first theatre in Europe is thunded on the abilities
which they (i. C. OUT transatlantic brethren) allect
to despise'

The Court retired, and on returning Mr. Steward Al.
derson said he was sorry to say that the Court considered
the handbill a scandalous libel, and deserving their just
reprobation; but desirous to extend every lenity to the
appellant, under all circumstances, and finding by the
Act that they lead the power of mitig.ition, they would
mitigate the penalty to 101. and however they might be
inclined, they could not go below that sum, as et might
encourage a recurrence of this evil, and not sufficiently
mark their sense of the offence.

'lke Court called on Berry to apologize to Alderman
Marsh ; he said, he did not intend in ally way to apply
Cie paper to him, but if the worthy Alderman thought
otherwise, ha was ready to say lie was very sorry for har-
ing done it.

Police.
G UILIMIALL.

FORGED FIVE Poulin NOTES.—George Lee and
Elizabeth Brown, whose cases have already been before
the public, were brought up on Fruity for final exami-
nation, before Mr. Alderman Thomas Smith, the sitting
magistrate. A new case, in addition to the five alrearly
preferred against them, was brought forward by Mr.
Maynard, the Bank solicitor, in which, however, the
female prisoner did not appear to have been at all impli-
cated. Thomas Clone)+, brother in law to Mr. B iwie,
who keeps the Red Lion public-house, in Great Wind-
mill-street, St. James's, stated that the prisoner Lee came
there on Friday, the 4th of May, its the name of Mr. C.
hickmaii, of Upper Nlarylebone-street, for one gallon of
Hodges's best gin, in payment for which he tendered a
forged 51. note, and received 41. 4s. in change. Mr.
Rickman being a customer, no suspicion was excited,
and aso inquiry therefore made until the note was returned
tram Messrs. Men% as a forgery.
Mr. Maynard observed, that he had now given evi-
dence upon all the charges which he meant to prefer
against the prisoners. A clear and very wow; case was
made out against the male prisoner, Lee; and trusted
the magistrate must feel that he was a fit object for pro-
secution. With regard to the female prisoner, inquiry
had been made, frosts which it appeared she was an un-
fortunate girl, and that her connexion with Lee had been
but abort. There were, certainly, good reasons to believe
that she must have been acquainted with the nefarious
practices of her companion; but as it was possible that
she might have been drawn in by him, and as there was
no proof that she had taken an active part in the uttering
of the forged notes, the Bank were ss to consider
her as innocent,and would not press further mueeedings
against her.

—The prisoner Brown being questioned, said she had
known the prisoner Lee only about a month, and de,
• dared she was wholly unacquainted with the practices
he was carrying on. She had, it seemed, been taken
from the public streets by Lee, and selected, probably,
from the circumstance of her being in a state of preg-
nancy, a situation well Calculated to aid him in the
deceptions he was practising. After a suitable admonition
from the alderman she was discharged.
In the course of these examinations a charge was pre-
ferred against Lee by a person front whom lie had hire('
a horse and gig, %% Inch Mid never been returned. Tilt:
=nue be gate at that cute was Le% y. the ses..ialis

. _
THE NATIONAL REGISTER as

Daring case of Roblery.—The followArisos
atrocious robbery was committed on Sat at
Greenwich, and information was given of ft on
Monday afternoon at the Public-office, Bow-street.
Mrs. Welding, the wife of a gentleman's coach-
man, occupies the house No. 12, Alfred's-buildings,
Greenwich, the next dwelling to which is uninha-
bited. On Saturday she was in the house alone,
and at eleven o'clock in the morning a man, dressed
rather " shabby genteel," knocked at the door, and
asked her if the next house was to let, as he wished
to look at it. She said it was, but she had not the
key, and was about to shut her door, when he rushed
in, and seising her by the throat, said, " he was
come for money, and money he must have." She
escaped from his grasp, and ran up stairs, intending
to give an alarm at the window, but he followed
her closely, and just as she reached the landing.
place, he knocked her down with some heavy in-
strument, and swore if she made any noise he
would murder her. He then tore out her ear-rings,
cutting both her ears through in doing it, and beat
her about the head until she was quite senseless.
She continued in that state, as she believes, for more
than an hour, and when she recovered her senses
she with difficulty procured assistance from a neigh-
bour, and it was found that the ruffian had broken
every lock in the house, and had stolen 401. in
bank-notes, a watch, and a considerable quantity of
wearing apparel. The husband of the woman gave
information of the robbery, and added, that his wife
was not expected to recover the effect of her wounds.
A very accurate description was given of the rob-
ber, who it is hoped will not long escape the pu•
nishment he so richly merits.
On Friday night, about nine o'clock, the city of
York was thrown into a state of great alarm, by the
ringing of several of the church bells, and the cry
of " Fire !" Crowds repaired from all parts of the
city to the place where the fire had broken out,
which was in the Castle Mills, behind the county
gaol. The cause, &c. of the fire was as follow :
The mills are in the occupation of Mr. T. Hoppe;
but Messrs. Simpson, whose large mill, near North-
street, was lately destroyed by fire, have also made
use of them since that event, and had a large quan-
tity of flour, &c. there that evening, when the fire
commenced. It appears that the millers left the
place apparently safe, between seven and eight
o'clock, and that about nine is person passing by dis-
covered it to be on fire, and gave the alarm. A
large beam had very improperly been connected with
the flue of the boiler of the steam engine ; and had
most probably been burning very long before it was
discovered. An engine from the barracks, and two
from the city, were immediately procured; and by
eleven o'clock the devouring element was entirely
subdued. A large quantity of the flour, &c. rescued
from the mills, was guarded by several of the bar-
rack soldiers. The property was all of it insured,
and we hear that the total damage is not estimated
at more than 2 or 300 h With great pleasure we
also add, that no lives were lost on the occasion,
nor did any serious accident whatever occur.

Extraordinary Bullock.—There is at present to
be seen on the farm of Nunfield, in the immediate
vicinity of Ditintries, an ox of the Teeswater or
short-horned breed, and of the following extraordi-
nary dimensions:—

Ft. be.
Length from the no'e to the top of the ramp
Girth round the middle lO 0
Girth round the heart
Height of the shoulder 6 tt
Height from the hind foot to lop of the rimy 6 6
These measurements may be relied on us perfectly
correct. Independently of his great size, this ani-
mal is extremely handsome, and by the time he has
had experience of the oil-cake and other luxuries of
an English farm-yard, he will probably form a
°Tenter curiosity than the celebrated "Caps-All,"
the largest ox ever exhibited in Scotland. At pre-
sent he is supposed by competent judges to weigh
nearly 280 stone English; and he is both higher
and stronger in the bone than " Caps-. 111;" there
is no saving to what size he may ultimately attain.
Till within these few months, Mr. Gibb, the pro-
prietor, had paid little attention to the keeping of
this extraordinary animal; as a proof of which we
may mention, that be was one season wint,tred, in
addition to Ins manure, for the low rate of 10s. and
fed only on wheaten straw. He is exactly five
years old, and was purchased in Carlisle market
when only one year old, fin. 91. sterling—a price
sufficiently liberal, considering his age anti condition,
and which Mr. Gibb was induced chiefly to give,
on account of the largeness of his bone. But the
speculation is likely to turn out a very wail one, as
Mr. GM has disj'osed of this ox fur the handsome
price of YOG guineas.

A SPlN—Mitellol, the spy, whom Mr. Baines
exposed at a tucetint; of the count• of York, and
whom our rea.ters will recollect Mr. Lambtou ob-

served upon at the Durham county meeting on the
Manchester transactions, as a man deserving of ex-
ecration to the latest posterity, is at presott iu
Newcastle