The National Register.
London, England, 1812-08-02 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

478

PROVINCIAL ASSIZES.

At the Guildford Assiies, on Tuesday last, an indictment *as
found against Aag, the Editor of the Magazine, called Town
Talk," for a libel on Thomas Best, Esq.
The libel was contained in the first number of that work, and was
in the shape of the biography of Mr. Best, whom it represented as the
chere amie of Mrs. Clarke. ft stated him to have been born ot
honest parents in Barbadocs, where his youth had been spent in
flogging and torturing negroes ; that he came to this country for edu-
cation, but was as ignorant as a barbarian ; that his habits were pro.
fligate, and, as a gimestet, h.! used unfair practices, and was given to
greeking in plating tool ; that he had wantonly killed Lord C. —d,
an amiable tgoblvinan in a duel ; and that his wife had deserted him
for a more deserving object.
Mr. Serjeant FR D, for the plaintiff; having stated the case,
Mr. Charles Hai rison, the Attorney, proved that he bought the
book in question of Redford, the printer, and he told him at the time
he meant to proce:ute for Mr. Best. Redford referred to Agg, who
resided within the rules of the Bench. He applied to Agg to give up
the author, but he refused ; and observed it was of little use for Mr.
Best to proceed against him by law, for he was a prisoner within the
Rules as well as himself, and could pay no damages.
Lord E LENBO R OUCH said, however little respect might be due to
either party, there was yet a respect due to the laws of the country;
even the most profligate must not be libelled, for if that could be
endured, it would lead to endless breaches of the peace, as those who
did not find protecti in in the law, would be driven to be the assertors
of iheir own redress. The publication in question had not been
dented to be a libel, and could not be denied to be one. They must
therefore find the defendant guilty. Verdict—Guilty.

At Gloucester Assizes, Thomas Gardiner, for sending a letter to
Iris employer, Mr. John Lewis, threatening to de,troy his machinery,
unless he raised the wages of his workmen, was sentenced to be trans-
ported for seven years.
At York Assizes, Elizabeth Woodger and Susannah Lyall, were
charged with the wilful murder of a new-born male infant. The fol-
lowing is a brief but correct sketch of this extraordinary case:—On
the :2th of March, the wife of G. Needham, of Blackburn, near
Rotheram, was delivered of two children, a girl and a boy, the former
was perfectly formed, but in the boy there was a deficiency in the
superior part of the head, the brain not being protected by any bony
matter, but merely covered by a single membrane. Woodger, the
midwife, conceiving that it was not likely to live, formed the design
of putting a period to its existence, which was accomplished by drown-
ing it in an earthen vessel. It was then buried, but was taken up
again on the lith of March, for the purpose of the Coroner's Inquest:.
The surgeon who examined the body, stated, that the child was per-
fectly formed, except his head, which was deficient in the superior
part an inch and an half. Any pressure upon it must have produced
dangerous consequences; and he did not think it possible that the
child could have survived more than a few hours. The prisoners
used no concealment, and it was clear that they acted under mistaken
apprehensions as to the law, and thought they were justified in what
they did. Several ladies gave the prisoners a most excellent charac-
ter for humanity. The evidence being gone through, his Lordship in
his address to the jury, said—" I think this prosecution may be of
(treat use to the public. in removing an erroneous opinion, that the law
allows the right of deliberately takirg away the life of a human being
under any circumstances whatever. It is, therefore, highly necessary
tha the contrary should be known." The Jury found the prisoners
guilty, but recommended them to mercy, on account of the mistaken
notion under which they acted. His Lordship said he should not pass
sentence upon the prisoners, but should write, by that night's post, to
L'w4,,,:‘,:rctary of State, to make a representation of the case to the Prince

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

On Tuesday the Agent to the props ietors of the Bull and Mouth
Inn appeared before Alderman AGN AY, at Guildhall, accompanied
by a young lady of genteel and interesting appearance, whose poignant
distress excited the commiseration of all who saw her. He stated
that the young lady had, on the precedilg evening, alighted from
the Shrewsbury coach, and was introduoM to the bar by the guard,
who said that I.he had been living at an inn at Shrewsbury, fir the
last week, and at length confessed that she had no money; but it she
was allowed to take her passage for London, she had triends in the
Haymarket, who would defray all the et:pences she had incurred.
in consequence of this representation, she loias forwarded to London.
The person in the bar Navin: siven her some refreshment, she was
asked in what part of the Haymarket her friends lived ? To this
question she made no other reply than bursting into tears, and con-
fessed she had been deluding her protectors. She was then entreated
to give some account of her connections, but for some time she evaded
the most earnest solicitations to that effect. Sume threats having be It
distantly hinted of taking her before a Magistrate, she evinced symp-
toms of considerable alarm, and gave to her hearers the following
narrative :—She was the daughter of respectable parents, at Bath her
brother was in business, and had a house in the madtCt-place of that

AUG 0

town. Some time back ayoung gentleman paid his •• •
untoward events, however, prevented the accomphaem..„,
.1
wishes, and he became so much atiected at the disalienan,..
he quitted Bath in a tit of despondency. She for some time t •• .
fortitude the departure of her lover, but at length, roused b' th..
of his friends, who accused her of being the cau ,c of his derai.,„.l,,,„r
she came to the romantic resolution of following him to Sit% .
where she heard he was confined in a state of ii sanity. Se ;
lime in (tarrying this resolution into effect, an ' c liectit g
supply of mo:-.ey and necessaries, fled trots her native town
of him. She teachcd Shrewsbury, and, after some inipmits,
tained the I:lace of her lover's confit ement. Its veh., h, ve,b.j.
rho sue tbr admission to his• presence—it i.rastieflied ; and it
a prey to an egohy of mind, which die consciousne:-, 0. her oNN 1, in.
propriety of conduct, as well a, regret for the stare 0: h:
considerably enhanced. At length, destitute of money .., is.
and pressed for the payment of the small debts she had Int
inn, she resolved, in the cuntosion and despair of her innt,t, i., • , tv
London, where she knew some of the friends of her LIMA)
dent. Being asked certain questions respecting Inh.,b [dills b.ah,
who happened to be known to some gentlemen w n w..faa.scd her
distress, she gave such answers as at lealt proved ,he wad a knowledge
of the place from whence site said sl,e had origliall c,me.
Alderman M AGN A Y said, that under all the circus. st es, hc had
no doubt the humanity of the proprietors of the Bull and Mouth inn
would induce them to afford the I ugit iye an asylum, until her brother,
whose address she gave, could be written to. The agent of the Pro-
prietors of the Bull and Mouth havii•g vouched for the hurt-unit) of
his employers, reconducted his charge to their house.
At the Haymarket Theatre, on Monday night, a gentleman sicine
close to the orchestra in the pit, fell down in an apoplectic tit, airl
an instant expired. Medici' ass stance .vas immediately procured,
but in vain. He was ret egnised to he V Weiner, E,q one of toe
Gentlemen Ushers of the King's Privy Chamber. Coroner's verdict,
Died by the visitation of Gud

DIAMONDS and PEARLS.— DENIS JAr OR egs leavo to inform the Public,
he has REMOVED from Cockspur-street, tkt No. 57, Carentl,-h.
spare, where he cmtinues to give the full value fur aiamoods and Pear'. To he
dtsposed of two capital single-stone brillia neckl.ice,a, two pair of top and drop
ear-rinp, Maltrese crosses, and various other articles in diamonds and pearls, sc.
coed-hand.