The National Register.
London, England, 1820-04-17 00:00:00

1441

poi tderfpt-

LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 17•

From the Pails papers we learn, that the King
still suffers from attacks of the irregular gout, but

. -
is able to transact bnsiness in his apartments. The
trial of Louvel, the assassin, is expected to come

on before the House of Peers on this day. It
does not appear that he has made any discovery, nor
had he any accomplice. M. Bidault, the responsible
editor of one of the most independent papers pub-
lished in France, was tried on the 12th instant,
charged with inserting an article in his Journal
tending to excite the people to a civil war. He
endeavoured to put off his trial, m consequence of
the absence of his Counsel, but the Court would
not allow Ifim. It was then considered that he
permitted judgment to go by default, and he was
therefore sentenced to five years' imptisonment, and
a fine of 12,000 francs (5001.), being the maximum
of punishment that could be inflicted. He in-
tends to appeal against the judgment. —Spain is per-
fectly tranquil, and the people begin to feel the
happy effects of the revolution. King Ferdinand
has passed a decree, which permits his subjects, the
partizans of Joseph 'Bonaparte, who have taken
refuge in foreign States, to return to their country,
and authorizes the restoration of their confiscated
property. A private letter states, that the Staff of
the garrison of Cadiz have been dismissed, and are
to be tried on account of the disorders of the 10th
of last month and the following days. We am
anxious to be informed with whom the treacherous
and barbarous business originated. Colonel Infantes
bad an audience of his Catholic Majesty; he was
deputed by the army of the Isla de Leon to con-
gratulate their ling upon his acceptance of the
constitution. As the organ of their sentiments, he
informed his Majesty, that " that division of the
army would keep possession of the Isla until the
Cortes shall have assembled." The Russian, Prus-
sian, Greek, anti all other vessels at Cadiz, with
the exception of the British have been sent back to
their respective countries. The English vessels are
not only regularly paid their freight, but ordered
to hold themselves ready to put to sea; whence it
is inferred that all idea of sending out an expedition
is not yet abandoned.
In another part of our paper, will be found an
account of the trial and and conviction of Mr. Mit-
chell. It will be remembered that this Gentleman
was repeatedly denounced by Mr. Baines, the pro-
prietor of the Leeds Mercury, as an intimate friend
of Mister Oliver, and a spy employed by Govern'
went, to furnish matter for another Green Beg.—
To the first part of the charge he pleaded guilty on
the trial, and the latter part is corroborated by the
fact, that after the indictment for seditious speaking
was found by the Grand Jury, Ministers did not
employ the Attorney or Solicitor General to carry
it to conviction. If poor Mr. Mitchell acted under
orders, it will be rather hard for his employers to
allow hint to linger for six months in prison for
what he did. We are rejoiced, however, to per-
ceive by his sentence, certainly the most lenient
one we have for a long time recorded, that the
occupants of our judicial seats arc retracing their
steps, and that we may yet find that "Mercy tem-
pers Justice."

OLD BAILEY, Motukty, April 17.

The Court sit at ten o'clock precisely for the tri tl of
the Clot-street Conspirators, and that of Arthu Tais-
tlewood, according to the pre-arrangone•ut was immedi-
tely called on. 'Dm pnliminaty business oe
so much tune t hit at hall-pima one me cmalleng-
lug the Jury had not finished ; we are of course pre-
vented by the lateness of the hour !Min gitinog the names
of those who will ultimately form the Jury on tbi4 im-
portant occasion.

We understand that, at the levee on Saturday
last, his Majesty presented a gold stick to the Duke
of Wellington, as Colonel of the Blues. This makes
the third gold stick on the establishment of the royal
household.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER•

PONTEFRACT SESSIONS, Thursday, dprii IS.

ZING W. WITeIIIII.L.
Mr. Alderson stated that the indictment charged the
defendant, that he being a malicious, seditious, mad ill-dis-
posed person, did, on the fourth of oetober last, in a meeting
held near Halifax, nutlicioasly and unlawfully speak to,
and in the presence of divers liege subjects of our said Lord
the King, then and there assembled, amougst other thaws,
tee following seditious ,surds, which are contained in the
second count (which comprises the whole of what is stated to
the otht r counts):
" Our laud, once the happiest and noblest under the sun,
is now a disgrace to the eye of Heaven, on account of the
maNled coleuses of the men with which it is filled. What,
then are we to do ? Are we to petition the Prince Regent?
That would be useless, because lie has thanked the Man-
chester magistrates already. Are we to petition the House
of Commons ? No. that would ba useless. Redress from
that House ! The thing is impossible. To petition that cor-
rupt body to do justice to the people would be worse than
ab-urd. We fib well ask it to 'reform itself, which
would he like paying a teief to give back the property he
had stolen, and be hanged. 01 there would be an awful
revolution in taking from Col. Horton a part of his property
and giving to the poor a small portion from the large estates
of the Bedfords, the Cokes of Norfolk, and the Fozwilliams.
Certainly so there might; but how many of our starving
population would be benefited by it ? It has been made a
law that a national debt should be incurred, and that is 1000
millions; but as we can repeal some laws, why should we
not repeal this? And it ought to be repeated, if the whole
sunk to the bottom of the sea. But 1 would not deprive the
poor widows and orphans, who have money in the funds, of
of their 501. and 1001. No, but I agree with nay friend, Mr.
Cobbett, that a re-funding system should be commenced,
and those who have amassed money to themselves should be
made to refund, and pay those small pensions."
Mr. Maude stated the C 350 to the Jury.
The first witness called was Mr. John Tytts, who said be
is connected with " The Times" newspaper. fle attended
a public meeting at Skircoat-moor, near Halifax, for the
purpose of taking a report for that paper, on the 4th of
October last. Heard the: defendant address the people.—
After sense observations on a loyal declaration which had
been adopted at Halifax, be went on to slate, that they
wanted to destroy whoredom and bad principles, and nut
bad man; hut if they were oppressed by bad principles,
they would destroy bad men mid tyrants, rather than be
oppressed by them. Mr. Mitchell then went on and said,
" Our land, once the noblest and happiest under the suit, is
now a disgrace to the eye of Heaven, on account of the
mangled carcases with which it is filled. What then are we
to do After saying it would be useless to petition the
Prince Regent, he proceeded as follows:—" Are sae to
ratan the House of Commons? No ! that would be still
more useless. Redress from that house! the thing is impos-
sible. Te petition that corrupt body would be worse than
absurd; it would be worse than asking a thief to give back
the property lie had stolen, and be hanged." Mitchell then
paused and turned round upon his assertion. and recommen-
ded that they should petition. Some observations were then
made by Mitchell about taking the capital from the Corin-
thian column, and also about Col. Horton, which introduced
the following But, 0 ! there would be a great revolu-
tion in taking part of Col. Horton's property, and giving it
to the poor, and a small portion from the Bedford., the
Cokes of Norfolk, and the Fitzwilliams." He then re-
peated. " 0 but there would be au awful revolution," and
said something about the funds, which the witness said he
he did not take any note of; but some time after, in summing
up his argument; he said, " Certainly there would, but then
how many of our starving poor would be relieved ?" Witues
said that Mr. Mitchell was here called to order. lie said
also something about a refunding s; stem, to this effect, that
be did not wish to take from the poor widows and orphans
their small annuities. Witness was cross-examined at great
length by Mr. Mitchell, but nothing transpired to easy
the account he had given of the language used by the
defendant.
Mr. Edward Baines,jun. attended the meeting, for the
purpose of taking a report for the " Leeds Mercury." He
proved the words which had been stated by the last witness,
and stated more fully that part of Mr. Mitchell's speech
which related to the fundinA system. He observed," that
the national debt was a thinicand millions,; but which, as
his friend Knight had observed, having been created by one
law, they might pass another to repeal it, and it ought,
(continued Mr. Mitchell) to be repealed, if the whole was
sent to the bottom of the sea.
This witness was truss-examined at great length by Mr.
Mitchell.
Mr. Mitchell then addressed the Jury in a speech which
occupied an hour I a half in the delivery. lie admitted
that he had travelled a good deal fur the purpose of advocating
the cause of reform, and that he h-ad attended meetings
cuoivened for this purpose in diiferent parts of the kingdom :
Ise mentioned Wolverhanipton, Sheffield and other places
which he had visited for that purpose. But his motives
were pure, lie had two object: in view in his itinerating,
firsts to assist in procuring a radical reform, which he then
thought, and still thinks, was the only means of relieving the
burdens under a hich the people suffered. His second object
was to prevent the people liaviug recourse to violence. Mr.
Mitchell contended that the circumstances of this prosecu-
tion not having been instituted by the Attorney or Soliciter-
General was a presumption that what be had said was not
considered as deserving legal aniumolversion.
the then adverted to his connexion with Oliver, who had
been introduced to him as an honest man, and be had no
reason, during his inteacomrse with him, to suppose to the
routs ary. Mr. Mime hell concluded his speech withrequest-
ing the Jury to dismiss fiom their minds all impression
which had been made to his prejudice, :laid to be governed in
their vei diet solely by the evideece. The defendant called
ituesses, moue of a hum wok any notes of the. speech of
air. Mitchell, mid they professed to remember it very ha-
' perfectly ; but they all stated that they bad some rerollec-
tiou, mole or less di ti a_met,of several of the expressions spoken
to by the a finesses out the part of the prosecution.
The Jury, slier a onsulaing together a short time, found
the dr fenolani guilty of the seditious language, but acquit-
ted him of the conspiracy.
Mr. Nlatidc, on the part of the prosecutor, recommended
Mr. Mitchell to all the lenity which she Court could show
consistent with their duty to the
The magistrates retired to deliberate upon the judge-
ment to be passed upon the defendant : alter remaining
in colisialtation about fen minutes, they returned into
Court, and the Chairman sentenced the defendant to lie
imprisoned, in the Castle at Yet k , six months, and at the