The Sun.
London, England, 1830-09-18 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

Yesterday William Wilson, a tall, thin, sickly-
looking young man, was brought up on a charge of
being drunk, and, while in that state, assaulting a
police-serjeant of letter M division.
The eerjeant stated that, on going his rounds that
morning, in passing Charlotte-street, he observed
the defendant staggering along the pavement, until
he at length fell down on the step of a door. Seeing,
from the position which the defendant had taken,
that he had made up his mind to make it his resting-
place, the serjeant went up, and, gently raising him
on his feet, asked him where he lived, with a view
of leading him along in the direction of his home.
The defendant, however, was no sooner raised than
he threw himself into a boxing attitude, and swore
that it was out of the power of a dozen of the
pits d'armes to prevent him from doing as he pleased
in the streets ; adding, that it would not be long be-
fore they were served in a similar manner as those
of the same stamp were served by the brave citizens
of Paris. The serjeant told him that his only object
in endeavouring to persuade him to go home wad to
prevent his being rubbed or maltreated. The defen-
dant would not listen to any advice, and ultimately
struck the serjeant, who, in conveying him towards
the station-house, was kicked very severely on the
legs. During the way thither the defendant used
the most violent language towards the new police,
exclaiming that he had been at Cobbett's lecture
that night, and that he was prepared, like many of
the auditors present, to show what he could do under
such a leader. At the station-house the defendant
kept raving about the French revolution the whole
time he was there, and completely deprived those
who were disposed to rest from having any.
The Magistrate asked the defendant where he had
got so drunk ? Defendant—Why, your Worship, to
tell you the truth, I was present at Mr. Cobbett's
lecture last night, and, after it was over, I went with
a few gentlemen present, and we got drunk together.
Where was the lecture you speak of delivered ?
At the Rotunda, in Bluckfriars-road.
What was the subject of the lecture ?—About
the French Revolution, eulogising the bravery dis-
played by the Parisians on the three memorable
ilitys of July, and, us well as I could understand,
contrasting their gallant conduct with that of the
cowardly behaviour often displayed by the subjects
of this as well as other nations.

How long did Mr. Cobbett speak 2—About two
hours, I should think, at least.
Did you pay any thing for your admission to hear
the, lecture 2—liach person paid twopence on his
entrance.

The Magistrate said that he had frequently heard
the Rotunda spoken of as a most intolerable nuisance,
during the period some theatrical exhibition or
another was going forward there. That nuisance,
however, was now done away with ; but another
equally, if not worse' description of nuisance had
succeeded the former one ;—he alluded to what
were termed lectures delivered by Mr. Cobbett, and
which were attended by the rabble. The Magiii-
trate then said that it was the duty of the pariah
authorities to proceed against Cobbett, for illegally
taking money for admission into the Rotunda, where
it was notorious matter of a seditious nature was
constantly vomited forth by the different speakers.
Such meetings were calculated to endanger the pub.
lie peace.
Defendant—lf you let me go this time, I'll pro-
mists never to listen to Cobbett again, as long as I
live; it was the first time, and I shall take care it
will be the last._

—Magistrate--What business do you follow P—l
am a book-keeper.
Magistrate—lf you had attended to your book-
keeping, instead of going to the Rotunda to listen
to the trash of Cobbett, and those of the same kid-
„y, you would not have got yourself into this pre-
dicament; and unless you pay a fine of 51. for being
drunk, and ss. for the atfault, on. the serjeant, a
heavier fine will be inflicted on you, when another
Magistrate comes.
, • •
The defendant said that he bad no sufficient

money to pay the fines, and requested that a mes-
senger might be permitted to call on his aunt, who
was in Ow coal trade, to make up the remainder.
The Magistrate said that he supposed a meseen-
ger might be procured, if he paid for one, and
trusted that the former night's exploits would be a
lesson to him -in future, not to attend such raga-
muffin meetings as those now held at the Rotunda.
THAMES-POLICE.
Yesterday Charles .11PFarlane, an athletic Irish
coal-whipper, was brought before Captain RicunaLL
and Mr. TWYFORD, charged with the commission of
a very brutal assault, on a lad named Andrew Sulli-
van, and thrusting his right eye eut of the socket
with a tobacco pipe.
The Magistrates committed the prisoner for trial
at the next Middlesex Sessions, and bound over the
witnesses to prosecute.