The National Register.
London, England, 1820-04-03 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

22.-1722. Hellfire clubs suppressed by order of CounciL
1762. Cornelius Nepos, published at Moscow, was the first
classical book printed in Russia.
50.-1451 B.C. The Israelites, under Joilitm, pass the river
Jordan, and enter Canaan, on Friday.
Lucan condemned, and bled to death in a bath : he
was born at Cordova, in Spain, Nov. I I, 57.
17-15. The battle of Fontenoy was fought betweLii the Eng.
is h, under the command of Cumberland, and the
French, when the former were defeated, with the
loss of about 12,000 meth

FROM TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
This Gazette notifies the appointment of Major General Sir 11.
Terreris, K.C.8., to be Adjutant General to his Majesty's
Forces; and Major General Sir Herbert Taylor to be Military
Secretary to his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief.

BANKRUPTCY ENLARGED.
W. Carter, jun., Nuneaton, Warwickshire, silk manufacturer,
from April 4, to 13.
BANKRUPTS.
W. Bennet, Leman Street, Goodman's Fields, shoemaker.
Solicitors, :%lessrs. Madox and Sidney, Austintriars.
T. Motley, Steam), patent letter manufacturer. Sol. Mr. Da-
de, Palsgrave Place, Temple Bar.
W. Matthews, Birmingham, upholsterer. Suls. Messrs.
Egerton and Co.. Gray's Inn Square.
G. Robinson, Middlewich, Cheshire, innkeeper. Sols. Messrs.
Atkinson and Wildes, Chancery Lane.
.1. Lea, Haiglimn, Flintshire, miller. Sols. Messrs. Long
and Austen, Gray's Inn.
W. Thorpe, Epping, Essex, hawker. Sols. Messrs. Lotling.
ton and Hall, Temple.
.1. Simpson, Smith Square, Westminster, corn merchant. Sol.
Mr. Shuter, Millbank Suter, Westminster.
H. R. Ward, Maiden Lane, Battle Bridge, mustard manufae.
turer. Sols. Messrs. Lane and Bennett, Lawrence Pountney
Hill.

DIVIDENDS.
April 18, J. Neale and S. Warner, Lime Street, wholesale
linen drapers-18, W. Cobham. jun. and 'l'. Jones, Ware, Herts,
bankers-20, W. Skidmore, Sheffield, grocer-22, J. Hardwick,
Mill Street, Lambeth, engineer—tB, W. G. Harvey. Battle,
Sussex, gunpowder manufacturer-2t, J. Renshaw, Nottingham,
lace manufacturer-19, J. Worsley, Liverpool, wine merchant-
-25, G. Semilan, Aston, Warwickshire, victualler-25, E. Rog-
siter, Warminster, Wilts, clothier-21. R. Stewart, Liverpool.
merchant-21, 11. Sculthorpe, Nottingham, linen draper-Is. J.
Burleigh. Bristol, brass founder-24, S. Davis, Brlalftfrd. Wilts,
clothier—l, G. W. Wye, London, merchant-20, W. Humsley.
Weatherley, Yorkshire, grocer-21, J. Wigner, Harwich, sail
maker-21, J. Latham Romscy, Southampton, common brewer
—May 2,'l'. Maoris, Barton upon Humber. Lincoln, banker-
4, J. P. Lucas, Birmingham, bookseller.
CF.RTIFICATES to be granted April 18.
T. Watinough. Liverpool. joiner—J. Dutfield, Tottenham
Street, St. Pancras. coal dealer—E. Ford, Lime Street, wine
merchant—W. Relph, Lewknor, Oxfordshire, farmer—lt.
.. mean Bedwardine, Worcestershire, miller-3. Bryan, Ostend
Street, silk mercer—l. B. Belcher, Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex,
linen draper—S. Carrington. Ashborne, Derbyshire. mercer—S.
Lace, Liverpool, brazier—T. F. Hunt, Stable Yard, St. Martin
in the Fields, builder—N. Josling, Bexley Ileath, Kent, inn-
keeper—B. Keeling, Stafford, cabinet maker—.l.Dreirry,Stafford,
stationer—lL Cawood, Leeds, clothier—J. and W. Collins,
Oxford, linen drapers—C. Bowen, Hackney Road, surgeon—T.
Richardson, King Street, Spitallields, silk weaver....W. Brown,
Mile End, brewer.

HOME CIRCUIT.
SURREY LENT ASSIZES.—Mancit 27.
CIVIL SIDE.—SPECIAL attams.
SEDITIOUS AND BLASPHEMOUS LIBELS.
VIM KI/40 V. PHILIP FRANCIS.
This was an indictment against the defendant, few publishing
No. 3, of Castile's Republican," containing an alledged sedi-
tious and blasphemous libel, in the form of a letter, addressed
to the inhabitants of Manchester, relating to the proceedings
which took place in that town on the 16th of August last.
The prosecution wAS conducted by Mr. Serjetmt Onslow, Mr.
Marryatt. Mr. Gurney. Mr. Nolan, and Mr. Holland.
This was one of the class of cases of which II great many
were tried at the Middlesex sittings after last Term against dif-
ferent News-venders. It appeared that the defendant. who is an
infirm elderly man, combines' with the business of a shoemaker,
at No. 13, Bermondsey.street, that of a dealer in political and
other pamphlets. The libelous pamphlet in question was pub.
fished on the 10th of Septeniber last, and sold to a person named
George Oddy. who deposed to that fact.
The defendant addressed the Jury to the following erect :
" I am a poor ailing man, and if I have been guilty of a crime
in selling this pamphlet, I do declare most solemnly that 1 did
not sell it with any wicked intention. The moment I under-
stood that I wits acting impropeily, I desisted, and I certainly
did not sell flue book with any malicious or wicked intention. If
you believe this,_ you will acquit me. If I have broken the law,
a was without knowing it ; because I was not astute of the ten-
dency of the publication, and certainly had nJ disposition to
violate the law.
The defendant said he had no witnesses to call.
Tow Chief Baron charged the Jury that the defendant's in-
tention was distinctly proved by the libel itself. His Lordship as
well as the Jury acted under the solemn sanction of an oath, and
eying hi- hand upon his heart, his Lordship said, *• Upun toy
oath. I never saw a more atrocious libel twin this is."
The jury immediately found the defendant Guilty, but recom-
mended lion to mercy. on account of his poverty, and his %no •
ance of the nature of tbe libel.
The Chief Barom—Gentlemen, are you aware how prejudicial
such a monimendation may be? It sucii a publication as this
finds its way, it will be productive of the most mischievous con-
sequences. Recollect yourselves before you give such a MOM-
mendation. I certainly shall carry your recommendation into
erect as far as I can, but pray recollect before you give it.
The Jury turned round again in the box, and after five mi-
nutes hitcher consideration, the foreman, Benjamin Barnard,
Esq. said (as we understood)--•• My Lord, the Jurymen ate not
inclined to alter their opinion."
The Chief Baron oeith some warmth)—Then you will send all
do se publications to the most ignorant classes of society.
The Jury was cougar ed of halt special and half salesmen.
tits; KING I!, JOIIN CAIICAC.
This was an intOrmation tiled by the Attorney General against
the defendant, a pamptilet seller, residing at N. 53, Blacmilan•
street, in the Borough, for publishing, on the 3d of September
last, a seditious libel contained in No. 4of the •• Republioui,"
in the form of a letter ialiiressed to Lis Majesty, when Prince
Regent. concerning the transactions at al ;oichester, on the Will
of August, tolecting upon his Majesty, and on the cumaituuun
of the country as by law established.
Mr. Sergeant Onslow, in stating tbe case. adverted to the ex-
cuse, whim had been pleaded by the detendaut in the last criai,
for publishing the libel, namely his poverty, and said it was just
rs good an escort as that of Romeo's apothecary, for yelling
poison—that lime poverty, and not his will, consented. The
Learned Sergeant, speaking of the meeting at al =cheater, said.
that no man, however snot* his political feelings had ever yet
_ been a hotly us to contend that Hutt •as a legal meeting.

107

George Oddy proved that he had iftletiabed the pamphlet in
question at the defendant's shop on the 3EI of September last.—
Cross examinei. The defendant is a bookseller its the general
way in Blackman-street, in the Borough.
The libel being read by the officer of the Court, the case on
the part of the Crown was closed.
The defendant then read a written defence to the Jury, in
which lie urged his innocence of any intention to publish dm
libel as charged in the declaration. lle had merely told the
pamphlet in quenion in the general way of his business as a
book,eller, without ever having read it. Professing himself
hostile to the principles contained in the alleged libel, lie threw
himself on the consideration of the Jury.
The Chief Baron charged the Jury, that the libel was a nie‘t
atrocious one, and under his lordship's direction they found the
defendant Guilty.

C BOW N. SI DE.
HANK OF ENI.LANH cItosECUTIONA.
The 25 unhappy beings, who stand charged with uttering
forged Bank of England notes, having been arraigned, 16 of them
cho,e to plead Guilty to the minor offence, of knowingly having
in possession, and were severally sentenced to 14 years transpor-
tation. The remainder elected to take their trials for die capital
otlimee.
William Vorsfold was indicted for feloniously uttering a
forged O. Bank of England note, to Thomas Cabbage, at Epsom,
on the 29th of August last.
Beside the uttering, for which the prisoner was indicted, it was
proved, that on Saturday, the Ybtli of August, he had been de-
ributing his spurious paper to several unwary shopkeepers at
Hampton Wick. On the 29th he was so imprudent as to attract
observation, by pulling out in the street a parcel of forged note',
which being observed, inquiries were made, and a pursuit wit.,
commenced. Ile was accompanied by his wife, who escaotal.—
One of the pursuers, a shoe-maker, gave evidence that lie took
the prisoner a short distance from Epsom, when the following
slang took place between them. The prisoner asked what Mies
the matter ? Witness answered it was for putting off Gum?,
screens (forged bank notes) ; upon which the prisoner said.
" I'll come a good (give you something handsome), if you li t
me bolt." Witness refusing, the prisoner asked, whether the
violisher had pegged back into the nsonkcry," (whether his wife
had gone back into the town.)--Witness replied '• she is hear:."
(she is safe, or got clear off.) Prisoner said with glee '• That's
t um—there's the dollop."—(That's right, she ha, the whole bun-
die.) During this dialogue the prisoner contrived to drop a bag
containing 71. 135. oil. in silver, the produce of his industry.—.
' He had besides a genuine al. Bank of England note.
In his defence he called two witnesses, one of whom a dog-
dealer by trade, swote that he had purchased from him about
the cud of August, two pointers. for which he had paid him 41.
in 11. notes; and the other, that he had given him four 11. notes.
but neithet could identify either of die four notes which were
produced.
A third witness swore that the prLonet was with him at Shere,
near Guildford, .20 miles front Hampton Wick, frou seven
o'clock during the whole night of the 28th of August, the time
at which it bad been so clearly proved that he was at die latter
I place in the exercise of his unlawful industry.
The Jury under the Learned Judge's directions found the pri-
soner Guilty—Death.
Samuel t;atward was next found Guilty, upon the clearest
evidence. of uttering a forged 11. note iii Southwark, on the 12th
of Feb. to one Sarah ,Matthews.—Death.
Thomas Hubbard, upon being brought to the bar, retracted his
plea of not guilty to the capital charge, and was allowed to plead
Guilty to the minor charge, and was sentenced to 14 year'
transportation.
James Pennington was tried and acquitted on a capital charge
of uttering, it appearing that the witnesses were mistaken as to
his identity, there being another man in tile gaol so like him all
to render it difficult to distinguish the one flout the other. The
prisoner was proved to be a man of irreproachable character.
The Bank Solicitor immediately paid the poor fellow 31. to
answer his present exigencies.
George Gilbert was also tried and acquitted, upon the clearest
evidence of his innocence.
Thumas.Castles was also acquitted under the like circumstance',
both he and the last-mentioned prisoner being men of excellent
characters.
John Wilson was capitally convicted upon the most satisfactory
evidence.—litath.
William Wyatt, a waterman, was tried and acquitted also upon
the must satisfactory evidence of his innocence.
The Bank prosecutions.laited the whole day.