The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-05-04 00:00:00

EXHIBITION IN OIL AND IVATLrR COLOURS.

It ws. our intention to have resumed our remarks
'on this Exhibition. but we are obligtd to ptistpeue
1;1. In 141 consequence of the length of the precediug
bunt Its.

Tom Cataa's 'benefit to-morrow at the Fives'-
court, promises a full attendance 'of fashionable
amateurs. This Prince of Pugilists is eminently
entitled to the patronage of every friend of the
fancy.
A frVf slays since the workmen engaged on the
Nurt6 Stepee 'improvements, at Brighton, dug up
a Ittiniau copper coin of the Emperor ALLiaa.
Dta StvEnusb in excellent preservation.
CAT.RACE.—Usher, the clown engaged for the
Coburg Theatre, had undertake.* to drive los
tom cal-, in a vehicle of his invention, tino yards
in Ivo Ile on Saturday commenced from
the ruulh s oil of Watt' 100 Bridge-, and mask tl e
vat■ iwri the task three tumults within the true.
—(Obserrer.)

LeIW INITLL!CENCF►.

CONIIT OF KING'S BENCH, WISTMINSTIR,

SATURDAY, MAY 2.

DISSENTING CONGREGATIONS.
T116..N1N0 D. Mg AFT. AIR. LUTON AND than'

This was an indictment against these Defendants
fora conspiracy to a.semble and disturb a congre-
gation of Pristei.taiit Dissenters, assembled for Mi.
xitrestvarsliii, et a Wipe duty certificated fur that
purfar•e. There was a second aunt against the
• Defendants fur a riot. At the' trial befiire Mr.
Justice Flolrilyd, at the last Assizes for Wiltshire,
the Defendants were serendly arlsiiiittetl upon the
count tor conspiracy, but were rabid guilty of the
riot.

Mr. Serjeant P►.LL now prayed that they be
brought up to receive the jurigmeilt of the Court.
From the Lear►wd Judge's report, it appeared that
the Rev. \lr. Easton was perpettial curate of the
yerish of "fisbury. 'in the county of Wilts. The
Prosecutor, the Rev. W. Hopkins, was a Dis-
senting Minister of the Independent persuasion,
and lied a regularly licensed chapel in the adjoin-
ing parish of Austell. A short tithe previous fo
the month of December, 1816, the Prosecutor
had taken a small private house in the parish of
Tisbary, about one limidred and fifty yards from
the punch church, in die occupation'of a man nam-
ed Butt, for the purpose of celebrating divine wor-
ship, disseminating the Gospel, and milting converts
to his persuirsion ; a oil avert ificate had been obtained
at the Quarter 'Sessions, licensing the house. On the
Jlst of December, 18 IN, the Prosecutor proposed
celebrating divine worship at Butt's house, in the
eveonig, marl was pria•rediig to his destination,
when he wits met by sonic of the Defendants, who
essailed hint with hisses, gromiings, mid other ex-
pressioss of hostility. flo, however, proceeded to
the house, and commenced the service. In the
mean time, a greet number of persons, amongst
whom were the Defendants, assembled on the
dancing green before the house, and began to make
the most violent noises, surl► as whistling, blowing
ringing large sheep's bells, mid halloo.
ao that it was impossible for himto proceed in
his ministerial duty. He frequently attempted to
g• on, but was so overwhelmed with the noise with•
out, as to frustrate all his efforts. He sent out some
of the congregation to remonstrate with the De.
rendesits, but in vain ; the noise wss continued.
The Rev. M►. Easton was seen among the rioters,
and• was heard to order the mob three times to
" play on," which they did accordingly. Another
of the most active disturbers wall James Garrett, a
substantial Griner, and constable of the palish. 'I he
other seven Deka. lams were labouring men in he,.
baindry, and appeared to join in the riot without
any previous concert or design. It was sworn that
a few days before this, Mr. Easton spoke to Butt,
and asked Ilion when " that methodist fellow," or
" felliive (the witness could not say positively
which) was going to preach ?" • To which the an-
swer was, that Mr. Hopkins was coming on the
Tuesday following to his (Butt's) house. The re-
ply of Mr. Emits,. was, "'I hope I shall be able to
make an example of him this mouth;" and Butt
rejoined, " I hope not." The Prosecutor having
been "drivel) from the house by the disturbance
created, left between eh: and seven, and was after-
wards hunted by the like noises to the confines of
the parish. Uider these circumstances the cue
was presented to the judgment of the Court.
Affidavits were put in on the part of the De-
fendants in mitigation of punishment. Front Mr.
Eastois's effilavit, it appeared that he had officiated
in th►e parisib of Tisbury, for a period of thirty years,
to the satisfaction of all his parishioners, church-
men its well as disarmers ; that his income was only
eighty pouorls a year, and he had brought up a
flintily of ten children by those limited means, six
of whom were now dependatit upon him for sup-
port ; and one had lost a limb it, the service of his
country. He denied all premeditation, or previkis
concert with any of the ether -Defendants, in the
unfortunate transaction in which he was impli-
cated; and stuteriLlort when lie went to the spot,
he had not the slighteit intention of disturbing
Mr. Hopkins or Ins congregation, amid that the
expressions 4% ploy up," did not fall from hail
until lie believed that the service was over.—
Since this unfortunate affair lie had applied to
the Prosecutors to know what r .ession would
satisfy theta and the rods or justice; and the con-
dition they imposed ultras him was, the degrading
one of inekieg an apology in the public papers.
Upon the whole, lie expressed his sorrow for the
part he had acted, and, lementing his indiscreet
conduct, lie threw himself upon the forbearing coil-
sidenni 0000 of the Court. Affidavits were put in as
to his general charaeter, subscribed by Arun-
del, the present and late Sheriff of Wilts, and a
great many most respectable Magistrates and Gen-
tlemen, who bore testimony to the prOper and be-
coining demeanour which Wad marked his conduct
in the parish, to the satiglaction of every body, dur•
ing a period -df thirty years. Fur the other De.
fendaills affidavits were likewise put in of the like
teiideney.

Mr.CASIDISRD mill Mr. J.F.WILLIAIIIS were heard
wills great ability in mitigation, and Air. Serjraist
PELT. and Ali.. GAtiLLEE Inaggra litiuss of

The Court taking into consideration all the cir-
eimistatices of the cube, and particularly that the
l'imecotors had rviutived the indictment by car.
Imolai into this Coact, when it might have been
tried at the SCSSI ,or preferred originally et the
Assizes, ordered mid adjudged that Alr. Easton
should pay a line of 51. to the Einf.;,, that James
(Limit should pay a tine of WI., that the other
Defendants should be fiord to. each, and that they
slitadd all enter into Yr cogiiirinices to be of good be-
haviour for three year., the two (sinner Defeo,tants
in 1001. each, awl the rest in the suns of 401. each.
The Court at the same time distinctly announced
their deterinienthiss of pitorcting the Prate+dant
Dissetiteis in general, in the due extreme of their
religious worship. He immured by haw.

Sir VTI inlr (:11:111 the Chler Justice of the
C 911,111011 Ica lief it cilablell 10 liiteiiii hiti
rubl.c diitieti oti the gira.tr of :Le Tbrui ;
hie livaith is 111%101 iti.rultd.