The National Register.
London, England, 1816-07-15 00:00:00

182

MENDICITY.

Tut: new Commission of Mendicity will effectually
search and relieve the many places in and about this great
metropolis, which are well known to the medical practi-
tioner, and the humane Christian; which are never free
from infectious atmosphere--they become the resort of
the most abject poverty. Numbers who never saw each
other before,—who have nothing to lose, and are indif-
ferent hi life itself, are lodged in the same room or cellar,
on terms which mendicity may always procure: many
and different families reside on the f*IPI:` stair-ease, and
several in the same room, without thy means uf cleanli-
ness ; and this want at last reduces them to the habit of
not regarding it as an evil. The melitTatioa ofthis con-
dition of di ease and wretchedness must be gradual ; that
it may be relieved is not to be doubted. Mach may
hoped from Mr. Martin's exertions, la' has already
done much towards it. The difficulty will arise from
the mode of relief: if they are driven out of these pesti-
lential habitations, they carry their enntagion about with
them ; and, while their bodies remain unwashed, and
their clothing remains unburned, the consequences are
fatal to ail who approach them, fresh from country air,
or a wider and more salubrious place of residence ; these
inhale an effluvia of which their organs are not sensible;
but they receive a fever, the cause of which is never sus-
pected. Notwithstanding this melancholy view of some
of our fellow-::matures, yet it is a filet that the scarcity
in the winter of 1797 to 1800 produced a greater ameli-
oration to their condition ; for the price of labour was
raised, which enabled those who were employed in ma-
nufactories to provide better means tier cleanliness, and to
leave their former infectious abodes.

Although the high price of labour and manufacture
is to some productive of profligacy, yet it is not generally
so : the ingenuity of a good workman will slacken and
rink to indifference, if nut well encouraged ; and, if his
wife and children live upon his skill, their share of his
earnings arc more effectual towards preserving them in
the very requisites which are above described : their con-
dition can be improved only by enabling them to acquire
something more by their industry than is sufficient fur
their immediate wants ; they then learn the value of mo-
ney, which at once teaches them economy—habits of
order then succeed ; cleanliness supplies the place of pro-
fligacy ; and, as their children grow up, they have a desire
to see them placed in some school for religious education,
which effectually leads the ignorant parents to follow the
example, and to cultivate the improvements of duty and
regularity. Here religion holds out the best encourage-
ment, and the purest satisfaction. It is to be observed,
that we only hear of those instances in whom high wages
have preiuced as much irregularity as abject poverty—
but we .10 not hear so frequently of the many who cherish
the benefit ; who are enabled to clothe their children, as
• well as themselves, decently ; and to procure for them the
means of beneficial instruction, and to acquire virtuous
habits :—these pass silently on the current of life ; but
their number is far greater than that of the others.
The new Commission will introduce themselves into
many abodes of both sorts, and will find in their researches
many opportunities of presenting to Parliament not only
the evils and their wide extent, but also the remedies and
cures; and while they are thus occupied, they will visit,
with an unknown blessing, the rich and opulent ; for
they will so effectually cleanse these abodes of poverty,
as to prevent the means of infection from spreading in the
works of the taylor, the sempstress:and the washing-wo-
man : at those seasons of the year when these abodes are
more crowded than at others—when the danger is there-
fUre considerably increased, and an epidemic fever, mea-
sles, or small-pox, customarily return, we may anticipate
the escape from the contagion which has so frequently
ravaged the metropolis. The new Commission will do
snore and better for us than the mere system of alms; the
abodes of poverty are not always amended by money ;
many a valuable life would be saved, if the benevolent
visitor would send a plaistcrer, a chair-woman, or a gla-
zier, rather than a pound note. There is a solid reason
why the opulent should, on any of these occounts, shrink
from the duties of personal charity, fearing a too close in-
tercourse with those who have remained a long time in
any unhealthy state of distress ; but they may readily find
almoners who are more accustomed to breathe a tainted
atmosphere, and whose benevolence is daily exerted in
the walks of their most useful pmfession. Among the
diseases of London, Dr. Willan says, that the scarlet-fever
is most virulent in the months of October and Novem-
ber, and is most dangerous to infants on the 7th or Bth
day : it is mildest during the summer months ; and thus,
by the Commission, which will be probably in its active
operations during this period, a large opportunity will be
offered for the extension of beneficence in its most useful
branches, and through hands the most faithful and capa-
ble of rendering it effectually serviceable.
Methods for the extermination of these fatal diseases
have not been undertaken, except for the small-pox ; and
the abodes of filth and abject distress already mentioned,
will remain as seeds for fresh fuel to these maladies, until
either the active persuasion of the benevolent, and their
actually paying the expcnce and costs occasioned by the
needful cleansing, or the strong hand of legislative power,
which would be a stretch beyond the limits of Magna
('harts, shall interpose, and teach the poor the comforts
cf mere civilized life. A. 11.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

L.IIV INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KINGS BENCH—SATURDAY, JULY 13.
THE RING V. IBENNE'IT Ash OTHERS.

This was an indictment founded on the statute of the 9th of
Anne, charging the defendants, Bennett, Reynolds, and 11111
Harley, with having, on the 7th of February, 1815, unlawfully
won at a sitting of a gentleman, named Grimes, upwards of 501.
at the game of hazard. The prosecutor stated, that he was an
officer in the Artillery Drivers ; and on the night of the 6th of
February, or early on the morning of the Ith,having been dining
with some friends, and being rather fresh, lie went to a well-
known iiiiminc-tionse in St. Jamests.str,et, where he met the
it, fetisliorit•, with %demi he imedzed its the Ltaisie isfliazarsll; and
tiro, in the early part of Vie evening, he eil a Oh Itcrineit, Io
whom he lswt near sol. auil a bill of exchange Sro 1231. ; after
thi• lieynsslsl• and Hill Darley, the other defend tut-, came in,
unit lie eonUnued to clay, Reynolds taking the 'lice, and lust
5001.; having put slows' another bill of exchange for 125111.
iczaiost which the defendant Remold: placed Bennett;
Dailey ticiug by, awl sas inv his %sould go part in the ginslc•
lisai the prosecutor had list elfin. Res suilit• took the bill sst
e•clainge and gave the witness this hal:olive, ;soil. iu Miiik•tiotes.
The wane., continued to tilde, and sossn Iss•t the ,Ol I. al•so. At
onetime he stiTeetell Raynolsl• wit, not tin owing tarry, iv+ be
threw the main thirteen or fourteen tiiiie• rumline.

Issas Fitch, the porter at the how.e in proved that
the parties were play Me together 011 tilt 01011 iu question,
that he changed the too hills ofexchange at the bank of Ale‘sis.
Hopkins's, where they were payable.
A witness named It:triter:Oko pros ed. that in a conversation
whirls he hail with the defendant Dailey, , the ilet'endant
told him that the defendants had won two bilk of exchange
of Capt. Grimes: that he Ili-Arley had pi nava Miss out a, a g I
subject, and that Bennett won the lust bill, though he did it
in so birigliug a manner that any (me bust a foul have
found him out ; that Reynolds was employed to win the Issue
bill; and after they won ull the moue, they, that is Bennett,
Reynolds and Dailey, went to the Shades, in Jenny u-street,
where they divided the spoil.
Mr. Gurney, on behalf of the defendants, took an objection
in this rase ; namely, that the statute mentioned money and nut
bank-notes ; that no money except in the form of bank-notes
hail pa,seil in the present instance, namely. the 3011. given as
the balance of the large bill, and afterwards won back attain ;
and that in this case, bauk-uutes could nut be considered as
131011ey.

......
land I:llenhoroneh said he wrthd save the point.
Mr. Gunsy then adalrcs:•ed the Coact in favour of Bennett;
and contended that there was no cs ideuce tat prove that h
st as a party in playing for anotte ; and that with respeet to the
first bill, it not tieing properly set forth in the indictment, no
verdict could be taken upon it.
Mr. kipankie anal Ma. Nolan addressed the Jury for Mr.
Darby avail Mr. Hes mild+, anal runt, tided that the prosecutor's
evidence was not sufficient to convict them.
Lord F:llcithorough having summed up the evidence, the
Jury found the defendants Guilty of winning to the amount
of 5011.

MONDAY, JULY N.
DAVIES V. lIARGRAVE AND OTHERS.

This was an action by the plaintiff, a gentleman residing at
Scarborough, against the defendants, proprietors of the leek
Herald, for a libel inserted by them in that paper, reflecting on
the plaintiff's character. It ;appeared that the plaintiff, having
occasion to be absent front Scarborough sonic time on business,
on his return an application was made to him bar 31. for popes'.
sates. Mr. Davies demanded a stamped receipt, which the
Officer refnsing to give him, Mr. Davies himself got a stamp,
drew up the receipt, and the Officer signed it; upon which
Davies paid the money, and demanded twopence back as the
price of the stamp. The Officer still retu•ing, Mr. Davies af-
terwards lodged en information in the Exchequer against the
Overseer, which information was afterwards dismissed, on the
Overseer paying .-11. and costs of suit. Shortly after a state-
ment appeared in the defendants' Paper, detailing the CirClllll-
stances of this transaction, and observing, that it would scarcely
be believed, that the sum demanded of Mr. Davis•s of 31. was
made up of four quarterly rates of 15s. each, then due, and of
which the Overseer had refrained from enforcing payment from
civility to Mr. Davies during his absence. The paragraph then
went on to state, that the information which Mr. Davies had
preferred against Mr. Hutchinson, the Overseer, in the Exche-
quer, hail been discharged on his payment of costs of Snit ; and
further, that such was the sense entertained by the inhabitants
of Scarborough generally of this transaction, that at a vestry
meeting subsequently held, a Resolution had been come to, de-
claring Mr. Davies's conduct litigious, nnneighbourly, and
vexatious. This was the libel complained of by the plaintiff•.
The defendants had put a justification upon their plea, and
called evidence to prove, that at the time the 31. was demanded,
four quarterly payments were due, and that it was not the prac•
lice of the Overseers at Scarborough to give stamped receipts;
and further, that the vestry had come to a subsequent resolu-
tion, expressive of their opinion as to the conduct of Mr. Davies,
such as was stated in the publication in question ; and further
and principally, that the proceedings in the Exchequer bad been
dismissed, upon payment of costs only. It appeared, however,
that the 51. paid into the Exchequer was paid as a mitigated
penalty.
His Lordship observed, that under these circumstances, the
justification not being made out, the plaintiff was entitled to a
verdict : it was for the Jury to say what damages they would
give. The Jury, after a short consultation, found a verdict for
the plaintiff—Damages One Farthing.

TUESDAY, JULY 9.
BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.
wooTTon V. PEACE.

The Attorney-General stated, that the plaintiff in this case
was a widow woman, anent 40, and the defendant a gentleman,
possessed of some property, about the name age. The plain.
tiff's husband was a barge-builder, of sonic repute. He died
about nine years ago; and leaving his widow with a family to
support, her friends advised her to take a lonise, and fit it up
for the ace datiou of gentlemen, as boarders. This she ac-
rordinglY did, and shout
an inmate in her family. This he continued for several year ;
and during that time he had the best oprortunity of observing
her conduit, with which he was so well satisfied that he at last
offered her his hand in marriage; a day was fixed ; he has
taken measure of her finger tier the ring. and she had every rea-
son to believe her marriage was near taking place. She on one
occasion proposed to give up her house an,' est tblisl nt ; but
this the defendant dissuaded her from doing, saying he should
soon be master of it, and t. would then siieeced bett'•r than it
ha•l lately done. At this time. however, lie was nay hoard:tit;
with her, Out was a regular vistior three or foul t.iiies a tv,vk
The plaintiff, however, obsei ring that his spirits were not so
good as usual. enquired the reason; when lie acknowledged he
was extremely unhappy on accoaut of having formed an int-

JULY 15.

proper connection with a female of lithe character.
ately on hearing this, the plaintiff pointed out to bitn the im-
propriety there would be in deserting this unhappy young
woman without making some provision fur her and the de.
fendant then declare ti that he would instantly tweak off the
connection, and allow the woman in question a guinea a week
fur her support; and, iti fact, he afterwards assayed the plain-
tiff he had made this are angemsost ; but this assurance was a
mere deception ; the connection in cpsestion continued up to this
very day, and the consequence had been the breaking off the
connection with the plaintiff. For the injury which the plain
tiff had sustained, she now came to seek compensation at the
hands of a Jury. The present was not a romantic. high co.
loured ease, hot one in which the inane, e rre arrivret at an
ace 'Atari, tell the' dekcidant less exensaltle than be- wileel4 have
been in an earls ;cr.,. M chit tlei• statement he would lea% e tilt.
C.ISP to the sober eunsirlr•ratiull of the J y, 1111011 the (-vale-nee
Ire wenl.l lay het', e them.

.
mr. (i,...11.1h• wat 101114i1ltril 14 Oh the plaintiff, alio
keep, a hoarding-lions,. iu Ntahletlbo.place, Harton-crescent.
Witne•• had hoarded in her house five years, the defeitilatit W. 1.1
there two or three year. before. The witness learnt about
ear a=ZO• frOin the 11.-tendairt himself, HIV lit paid WS aillitt'SseS
10 the plaiotiti, in the way of marriage, but had newer hearii
him fix a day. lii quilted the plaintiff's bonne a, out two
rm.; a2O, mid for a short time discontinued hi. visits, hurt soon
renewed them, tel came two or three times a week, ur oftener.
These visits he emitiiiiied till within the last tarn month..
Lord filleoliormigh -Yon have heard the detindatit declare
his intention to mar} the planitilf.
%. tines, -I have, iiiy L.urd.
Mr. Searlett- -My Lord, I :1111 for the defendant; myself anti
the Attorney-General have coniiilted together, and I am con-
tent that a verdict should be taken for the plaintiff for 15.'1.
A verdict WAS accordingly taken fur that MIDI and costs.
111rTH I. ► 0113:C7ER.

The plaintiff in this case was proprietor of one of the board-
in -horses at Eton College, and the defendant a gentleman of
rank and fortune, residing in IVorcestershire. The present
action wa- brought to recover the sum of 8431. di. the amount
of the plaintiff\ demand fur the eiipenres of board and rdne I-
lion for the defendant's %011% for two years, from December
Isl 3. to December ($l3. The items were--two years hoard
for three boys, at 110 guineas a year each, 6931.; allowance t
servants, one guinea and a hairy-early for each young gentle-
man, amounting to Isl. lbs. for the two years; to Dr. licate,
fur the two years, 271. 6-.; for pocket-money for two years,
lid.; money advanced fur the young gentlemen's j nits
home, .481. Is. There was also a charge of .4'l. Vis. fur a
quarter's board for two of the young gentlemen, who had been
remoted from the school without the regular notice being
givi n. These items together arismuted to the sum of 8131. Us.
The Rev. Mr. Drury. one of the Masters of Eton College,
proved these the usual charges. There W.O no defence to the
action, and the Jury Wand a verdict fur the plaintiff fur 8131.
6s.—costa 4Us.