The National Register.
London, England, 1820-07-17 00:00:00

HERTFORD ASSIZES.

On Wednesday evening Mr. Baron Wood arrived here,
and the Commission was soon afterwards opened wills the
usual form,

!itctswiv ROMBERY.—Hugh Carbill, a robust-looking
young man, aged YO, was capitally indicted for feloni-
ously assaulting the Rev. F. W. Franklin, Clerk, ou the
highway, ■od taking from his person a witch, chain and
seals, and other articles, his property; eau following cis -
commences were proved in evidence.
On the evening of the Vd of April last, Mr. Franklin,
who is a Clergyman at Hertford, was remitting home front
London in his gig, and had reached about one mile this
side of Hut:Meador', when two men suddenly rushed into
the road, one of whom seised the horse's head, and the
other jumped into the gig, and demanded his mon"y. The
prisoner war the man who held the horse. As Mr. F. was
feeling is his pocket for his parse, the maul in the gig saw
his watch-chain, and immediately seised it, and attempted
to draw it from the lob. Mr. F. made some resistance to
this, ripOli which the robber called out to Iris companion
(the prisoner) •u Give one a pistol, and I will blow out his
brains." The prisoner then left the horse's head, and
jumped into the gigs and the other pulling Mr. Franklin
over to one side, the prisoner seised him by the legs, and
threw him over into the road. They got down, and were
proeeeding to ride his pockets, when a womais, named
Coalmine Hancock, cause up, and seizing the prisoner,
dragged him off Mr. F. eaclaiming, " In Goil's name,
what are you going to do with the gentleman?"—The
other ran away, and the prisoner, as soon as he coind
release liimerlf, followed his example, but not until Mrs,
Hancock hail compelled him to twit sound, so that she
had a full view of hi. features. It was snacked at the
Inn . that are offenders spoke with a strong Irish accent,
and a pursuit been soon afterwards raised, they were
overtaken by a trade sman of Stanstead, and asked them
where they were gcmg, and they said to March. He Wit
puttit. some further quentiOtta, When they troth ran away,
but the prisoner was pursued and scented, and in a d.rch,
a few yards from the spot where lie W.V. 1.1k../1, Mr.
Franklin's watch was found. The other fellow effected
his escape. They were both natives of Ireland. 0.1 u e
prisoner two steam pistols wets tOnod, which were farm-
ed of brass, nailed on to pieces of wood, bat were not
calculated to do any serious injury-. The July, %skirt:let
hesitation, found the prisoner Guilty—Death; hilt re-
commended him to mercy oil account of his youth.
Peter Parrott and John Olney were indicted for steal-
ing a hiackansilli'n anvil, the proprrty of John Lila's.—
Pan ott was found guilty, and sentenced to twelve months'
inipsisonmetit in the House of Correction, and to be kept
to hard labour.—O u.. was acquitted.
_ _ .

Tuesday the Lord Mayor held a Court of Alder-
men. James %I'dlimns, Esq. one of the Sheriffs
elect, attending, gale the usual bond to take tivni
himself that race at Michaelmas next ; and time
was allowed Alilertaan fOr 0ti.:.'41114:V0
rtareSe.

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226

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
On Thursday a Court of Common Council was held
for the dispatch of genreal business, wnich was very
numerously attended.
IX TRODUCTION OF THE MILITARY INTO THE CITY.
Before the business tit the d..y was guise into,
Mr. Alderman W'AITHMAN TOSC, to bring before the
notice of the Court one of the greatest intasione af the
rights and Nis ileges of the City of Loudon which had
ever been contintied. Dialog the deliberation of the
last Common Hall, at which the Lord Mayor presided,
troops of dragoollN were assembled on the skirts of the
City, and one of these soldtets, an orderly serjeaut, was
in waiting on the outsnla of the Hall. it was said, to
receive orders as to their disposal. The worthy Alder-
man pr. ceeded to state, that he had himself, on his way
house, met some of the troops. He had seen statements
in the public prints made by the Lord Mayor; lan he
now wished to ask a few questions of his Lairdshipre-
He asked whether the troops were assembled solely at
the instance and desire of his Lordship? Or whether
they came from and at the sole older of the secretary of
of Stale? And whether arty or what
passed Upoll the subject ?
The LORD MAYOR shortly replied, that the troops
were sent at Ills particular rctlocst, anti mot at the in-
stance of the Secretary of State.
Mr. Faecal. said, he never rose for the perlOrmance
Of a moire painful duty than on the present. occasion.—
BM it was all imperems ditty, the performance of which
he owed to his fellow citizens, to introduce to the Court
a motion respecting the introduction of a military toce
into the city.
The LORD MAYOR—" Not into the city, Sir."
Mr. FA, ELL—" Well, near the city." During the
time his Lordship had sat in the Chair, there had been
no differences between them ; but on an occasion like
the present, courtesy must not be an obstructitin.—
Whether.any of the reasons given by his Lordship could
justify the proceeding, was fur the consideration of the
Court, who had every reason to make allowances for the
discretion to be entrusted to a Cold' Magistrate. They
were even disposed to overlook mistakes ; but the ein-
ploymem of military force by a magistrate was a matter
which involved the very being and birthright of Eng-
lishmen. He would not say one word ou any thing but
that which they were bound to notice as the represen-
tatives of tne city, and the guardians of the freedom and
privileges of their fellow-citizens. Could it be allowed
that the 10,000 free and good men, as they were anci-
ently styled, of the Livery of London, should be over-
awed in their deliberatimis by a military force? Never
was there a question which eo deeply affected their rights.
If they recurred to their history doting the days of the
Star Cnamber, and the tyranny of the Stuarts, when
their Recorder went to report the speech of an honest
individual, and for cluing so was put in prison, they
read of every description of tyranny being practised, but
they never heard of any military mice being assembled
to overawe the citizens of London in their deliberations.
(Cries of hear, hear.)—lf constitutional bodies, like the
Livery of London, could not be allowed to deliberate
without the presence of a military force, who could say
that if this precedent were passed over unnoticed, Com-
mon Councils might not hereafter be intimidated in the
same manner, should some future fearful Lord Mayor,
frigotened by a little clamour, choose to have soldiers
posted its the avenues of the Court•—(Hear.)—He did
not mean to throw any disrespectful observations upon
the general character of the military, because he was
aware that they had not sunk the character of citizens im
that of soldiers. After some further observations the
Speaker concluded by moving a string of Resolutions,
expressive or the senumeuis contained in his speech.
Mr. OLDHAM, in rising to second the mutton. said,
that personally no one had a higher esteem for the pri-
vate character of the Lord Mayor than he had ; but he
hoped he should be the last Mall who would suffer sen-
timents of that nature to influence his sense of public
duty—he concluded by expressing his hearty concur-
rence with the Resolutions.
The LORD MAYOR declared, that in the course which
he adopted he had been influenced by toting bat a
powerful sense of duty, which pointed out to him the
surest means of preserving the peace of the metropolis.
It had been insinuated that he had proceeded to the
measure now complained of, with a view of overa-ving
the Lis ery. Very different, indeed, was his mo:ive.—
His object was to secure to that respectable body, to
which he owed so much, an uninterrupted freedom of
discussion. The peace of the city had remained un-
disturbed. 'I he measure might have created an mildew,
sant feeling in the heats of those 6, titheren to whom
Ins political views were adverse, but there was no insult
unfolded, and tio pritieple of the Cutistionion violated.
Under all the cirentostances, he felt dirt he had faith-
fully disc:hug( d his duty, although others might I VC
discharged theirs cuitscietniously io a very daft:mot
manner.—(Hear, hear, hear.)
Mr. Oncost said, he was sorry it had taken place.—
(Hear, hear!)--flout front his seed he believed this, that
howet cr unfortunate the business was, the Lord Mayor
had no idea of overawing the Livery.
Mr. T. N. WILLIAMS said, there was no reason for
passing a vote against his Lordship, as if he had been
guilty of an Act of High Treason. .1 he Resolutions
were most violent. ills Lordship_ had probably acted
ham an apprehension that her Majesty was coming to
the Hall with a notorious Alderman —:Cries of order.)
Mr. J. tatinmis. " A notoriously good Alder-
man—brave Alderman Wood."—(A iaugh and cries of
hear.)
Mr. Alderman WATTHMA:ST said, that every thingthat
presented itself fornedied a strong ground 01 repreTheu-
sion against the conduct of the Lord Mayor. In the
City of London there always existed the greatest jealousy
of military interference. A coy magis.rate had even
'shined to the Secretary of state, because a few sol-
diers had marched through the streets. The Lord
Mayor ought at least
.to hate called his brother ciaeis