The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-20 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 20, 1830.

PRINTERS' PENSION SOCIETY.

Yesterday a very numerous and respectable as-
semblage of the friends and supporters of this ex-
cellent institution held their anniversary dinner at
the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street.

• ta
At six o'clock Lord Morpeth entered the room,
and was conducted to the chair by the Stewards.
Ills Lordship was supported on his right by C. P.
Thomson, Esq., M.P.; and, on his left, by the Rev.
Dr. Dibdin and Dr. Birkbeck. There were also pre.
sent several other persons connected with literature.
The cloth being removed,
The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, I give you
" The King, the Patron of Literature." In :nen-
tioning his name lam sure you will feel with me
the highest joy at the improvement of his health,
and the most cordial desire that it may continue."—
(Loml. applause.) Air, " God save the King."--
The next toast was, " The Duke of Clarence, and
the rest of the Royal Family"—(three times three.)
Then followed " The Lord Mayor, the firm friend of
the Printers' Pension Society."—(Cheers.)
Lord MORPETM then, addressing the company
with great earnestness, said he had to propose a
toast which was not urged by the higher constraints
which charity, in a religious sense, would enforce,
but which, at the same time, was recommended by
all that was dear and deeply interesting to their best
feelings. It was needless for him to say that the
claims of the decayed printers were such as must
forcibly appeal to every feeling heart. Much as that
company were disposed to pay to the Press, yet the
debt could never be discharged. All that English•
men prized most dearly—all that was valuable in
every station in which an Englishman moved—might
be referred to the exertions of those persons, in
whose cause they were, on this occasion, assembled.
—(Applause.)---Be it remembered, that the printer,
whose labours tended so much to the improvement
and edification of mankind, when worn out by toil,
too often found himself with all his faculties waning
in decay—with sight impaired, and limbs scarcely
able to sustain their tottering weight !—(Applause.)
With regard to the printers employed on the daily
Press, he might well say that
" Sunday shines no Sabbath-day to them."
Where some of the most useful and meritorious
members of society were brought to a state of indi-
gence, the great object of this institution was to
afford to such persons an asylum in their destitution,
and a solace in their misery—a shelter for their
wretchedness, and a refuge for their feebleness.—
(Applause.)—There were, in London, no less than
3,000 printers, and to all those literature owed a
debt of the very highest description. To their art
we owed all the benefits of knowledge, and all the
blessings of religion. Their's was an art which
taught us the knowledge how to live, and armed us
with the faith by which we learned how to die.—
(Great applause.)—He would now call upon the
Society to look around, and contemplate the state
of those deserving persons, whose cases formed the
main object of the present meeting; by affording
relief to such persons, they would realize the highest
lesson that the Press had ever breathed through all
its sheets—that of doing good to man, and honour

to God.—(Repeated cheers.)—The Noble Chair-
man concluded by proposing—" Prosperity to the
Printers' Pension Society."
Mr. C. P. THOMSON then gave " The health of
their Noble Chairman, Lord Morpeth." In pro-
posing this toast, he assured the company that he
felt the highest gratification. While others-in the
same elevated station of their Noble Chairman in-
dulged in pleasures, he thought only of the best
means of doing good towards his fellow-men, of
promoting the highest interests of science and lite-
rature, and of advancing the public service to the
utmost extent in his power.—(Great applause.)
Lord MORPETII, in returning thanks, said that, in
presiding on such an occasion as the present, the
honour was not conferred by him, but upon him,
inasmuch as the cause of literature was the very
highest in which any man, however exalted, could
possibly be employed. It did not often happen to
persons in his station of life to come forward on oc>
casions like the present ; but he would say that,
were they to do so, they would act in a manner
honourable to themselves and useful to their gene-
ration.—(Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN, after a few eulogistic observa-
tions, then proposed " The health of the Hon. Meal-
.ber for Dover."

Mr, C. P. Tuomsos, in returning thanks, said
there was no public institution; however praise-
worthy, which preferred stronger claims for support
than this. It was an institution established for pub-
lic welfare and public happiness,-(Applause.) It
was highly gratifying to him to find that, from the
class of printers, some of the first men that had dis-
tinguished themselves in scientific pursuits had
emanated. One among the number was a states-
man and philosopher of the very highest rank, he
needed not to say that lie now endeavoured, how-
ever feebly, to offer a just tribute to the celebrated
Dr Franklin.—(Cheers.)
Several other toasts followed, and the Secretary,
at occasional intervals, read the list of subscriptions,
comprising, among other items, a large sum furnished
on the occasion. Throughout the whole evening
the best feeling prevailed, and persons of all ranks
appeared emulative in supporting the interests of an
institution which has the strongest claims on liberal
beneficence.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE•

GUILDHALL.

Yesterday, Mr. Francis Shaw, grocer and tea-
dealer, 129, BiShopsgate,street, was brought up on
a warrant, and charged before Mr. Alderman YEN 4,
FILES with kicking Mr. Solomon Bennett, his next
door neighbour, at the pickled tripe warehouse, No.
130, in a certain part of his person quite out of
sight, whereby Mr. Solomon Bennett was unable to
take any precautionary steps to prevent the inflic-
tion of the indignity,

Mr. Solomon Bennett stated, that on Friday last,
as he was passing along Acorn-street, wholly un-
conscious of the visitation which was following him,
he suddenly felt what afterwards proved to be the
toe of Mr. Shaw's right shoe come in contact with
his hinder part,,, arid such momentum added to the
unexpected salutation as will cause him to remember
the circumstance for a considerable time to come.

Mr. Shaw—The fact was, Mr. Alderman, I had
taken a glass of wine too much, and I had a light
pair of pumps on, which I assure you could not
possibly hurt any one.
Mr. Bennett, sen.—Mr. Shaw has become quite
a terror to my family ; he has, on one occasion,
thrust his fist into Mrs. Bennet's face. lie has
collected a crowd around my door, and I consider
my own life as well as my son's in danger. Sap-
well, the street-keeper, has come into my house and
told me that Mr. Shaw was determined to do me a
personal injury.
Mr. Shaw—About twelve years ago I invited Mr.
Bennett down to my house in Derbyshire. I com-
municated to him that I had a good trade, and what
was the consequence ? Why, to entice my young
man away from me; and for twelve years he has
been insulting me in the public streets. ( With
great warmth)—Sir, he sends his cat's meat and
tripe up and down my door all day. I cannot take
a package out without being insulted.. I can't
.
follow my business. if I were to send a chest
of tea to Jericho, he would undermine me. I have

no charge against the complainant. lie's the best
of the whole family.

Mr. Alderman VENABLES—A very extraordinary
way, I must confess, you took of showing your good
opinion of the young gentleman.
Mr. Bennett.—We have had Mr. Shaw five times
up at the Mansion-house for conduct of a similar
description. -
_ • -

Mr. Alderman VENABUES —What I am surprised
at is, that Mr. Bennett did not thrash the defendant
soundly, when he found he had so assaulted him.
Perhaps, as a magistrate, I ought not to make the
remark.

Mr. Bennett, sen.—On a former occasion when he
assaulted my son-in-law, he gave him a sound
thrashing.
The elder Mr. Bennett then proceeded to prefer
his complaint against the defendant—viz. that he
went in fear and bodily terror from him.
Mr. Alderman VENAi3LES animadverted on next
door neighbours suffering such angry feelings to in-
terrupt the harmony in which they ought to live
together, and proposed binding Mr. Shaw over to
keep the peace for twelve months.
This was at length agreed to, and the defendant
discharged.

BOW-STREET.
Yesterday Mr. Wood,ihe coal-merchant, of North-
umberland-wharf, Strand, appeared to answer to a
summons issued against him, at the instance of Mr.
Turquand, the master coal-meter, for having had in
one of his coal-waggons an illegal bushel measure,
for which, according to Act of Parliament, he incur:-
red a fine of 201. Mr. Hill, the vender of the coals,
appeared under similar circumstances, and was liable
also to a fine of 201.; and Joseph Gore, the driver
of the waggon, was likewise summoned, he having
subjected himself to a penalty of 101.
Mr. Alley, for the defendants, objected to the pro-
ceeding, on the ground that the magistrates could
not proceed to a conviction, as no information had
been preferred against his clients.
Mr. Adolphus, who appeared on betalf of other
parties who were summoned under similar circum-
stances, insisted that informations ought to have been
preferred, and that the magistrates had no power to
convict on summonses merely.

Mr. Turquand, on the contrary, argued that the
Act of Parliament gave the magistrates equal power
to convict on summons as an information, and with
reApect to the practice, he had recovered penalties at
all the police•oflice•, excepting the Mansion-house
and Queen-square, on summonses only.

Sir R. PIRNIE and Mr. HALLS decided, however,
that they could not proceed without some written
document, which could be referred to as evidence of
the matter of complaint. A summons was, in point
of fact, but a secondary proceeding, and ought to be
founded upon en information previously preferred.
They therefore dismissed the complaint as regarded
Mr. Wood, on the ground that they could not pro-
ceed to convict.

Messrs. Wheatstone and Johnson, coal-merchants,
were then called upon to answer to similar earth.
plaints ; but Mr. A.dolpus, their Counsel, having
urged the same objections, Mr. Turquand consented
to withdraw the summonses, and proceed against
the parties upon information.
The bushel measure referred to in the case of Mr.
Wood was ordered to be produced by Mr. Alley,
who warmly contended that it was a fair and proper
measure, and that his client was quite above the com,
mission of such a fraud as had been imputed to him.

„ .
Mr. Turquand, however, declared, that the mea-
sure was not capable of containing a legal bushel,
and that it had been purposely made to deceive.

UNIO.N.H4LT,.

FOT some time past the Magistrates have had fre-
quent occasion to express their disapproval of the
conduct of the new police belonging to some of the
divisions stationed in this very extensive district, not
only for taking into eustody unfortunate women of
the town, without the shadow of a charge against
them, but also for apprehending minstrels and other
description of persons, who obtain their livelihood by
playing on wind and other instruments in the streets.
Indeed, to such an excess of zeal has this spirit for
taking perfectly innocent persons into custody led
away the new police in this quarter of the town,
that notwithstanding the repeated cautions of the
Magistrates to the inspectors and policemen as to
the exercise of their duties, there is scarcely a day
passes that they do not expose themselves to actions
for false imprisonment. Yesterday a very glaring
instance of the improper interference of the new
police doing duty in'Cambervvell, with the amuse-
ments of the youth of that neighbourhood, was in-
vestigated by the Magistrates, in which a young lad,
named John Pope, the son of 4n old and respectable
tradesman, was taken into custody by the orders of
Inspector Niblett, and locked up in the station-house
for playing a game of cricket on Camberwell-green,
Inspector Niblett stated, that on Friday afternoon
an elderly gentleman and lady, in passing over Cam-
berwell-green, complained to one of the policemen
of the danger of permitting cricket to be played
there, and subsequently another gentleman, named
Class, also made a similar complaint, urging the
impropriety of suffering such a game over a tho-
roughfare where persons run the hazard of being
struck with violeniT by the balls from the wickets.
" Owing to these complaints," said the inspector,
" I proceeded to the green, and observing a num-
ber of young men playing at the game, I requested
them to desist, and they did upon that occasion.
Last evening, however, several young men com-
menced playing, and Mr. Class having again com-
plained of the circumstance, I went to the green,
and remonstrated with the players in the most mild
manner, telling them at the same time the com-
plaints that were made on the subject, and inform-
ing them that I should take them into custody if
they persisted in continuing the game. This remon-
strance," added the inspector, " was unheeded by
the defendant above all thp rest, and he expressed
his determination to go on with the game, so I took
him into custody, and locked him up."
Mr. HONE—Then you did an act which you were
not at all justified in, for the lad was committing no
sort of offence at the time you tool; him into CtIF.

tody. Th,e Magisiwate then inquired if there was
any local act prohibiting the game of cricket from
being played on the green ?—Mr. Howard, the over-
seer of Camberwell, replied that there wqs not,
adding, at the same times thttt he played the game
there upwards of forty years ago, and continued to
do so up to manhood ; and until the introduction of
the new police he never heard of an instance of
such recreation being ever complained of by any of
the inhabitants.
The inspector said, that the gentleman who com-
plained in the first instance of the circumstance was
then present.
BFt at
ral int TY;ygi li:advicsihtec,alx;pstri-eireiseisa 3%tl' a s poanssiC"gamtobehri‘sv
Mr. Class here stepped forward, and said that as
his name had been mentioned, he was desirous of
did say on the occasion. He cer-
oingthe inspector his disapproba-
tione -g
residence,r een aOn
and,
strangely enough, as hq happened to be passing
again on Tuesday afternoon, he observed an alterca-
tion between the same inspector and several youths,
amongst whom stood the defendant, who was taken
to the station, but not at all at his (Mr. Class's)
desire, the inspector conceiving that he was justified
in acting as he had done.

Mr. HONE inquired whether the inspector , was
enabled to produce evidence of any accident having

arisen in consequence of the game being played on
the green ?
The inspector was not aware of any serious ace:-
cident happening there, but had mentioned the com-
plaint made by the old gentleman and lady, and also
that of Mr. Class, to the superintendent, who in-
structed him to lock up the parties refusing to desist
from playing; and I therefore acted (said the in.
spector) under the orders of my superior officer,
whom I was bound to obey.
Mr. HONE-But you are not bound to do that
which is contrary to law ; and if you read over your
instructions with attention, you will there find that
you had no authority for acting as you have done.
The defendant's father considered it a degrada-
tion for his child to have been locked up in such a
place as a watch-house.
Mr. HONE was convinced the commissioners of
police would never sanction such proceedings on the
part of the policemen. He had occasion to com-
plain to the commissioners some time ago of the
conduct of the men taking into custody such num-
bers of unfortunate women for no offence whatever,
but merely walking the streets. The inspector, upon
being questioned on the subject, said that it was
their orders from the commissioners to apprehend all
prostitutes found in the streets at unseasonable
hours. With the view, therefore, of ascertaining
whether the statement was correct, he (Mr. Hone)
had an interview with the commissioners on the
subject, and they disclaimed ever having issued such'
instructions.

Mr. CHAMBERS said that it was only a day or two
ago an unfortunate girl was brought before him, by
an inspector of the Lambeth division, for merely
walking in the road. The charge was investigated,
and no shadow or proof of any offence having been
committed by the girl, she was of course discharged,
he (Mr. Chambers) desiring the inspector to be
more cautious in future, and telling him that he was
not justified in what he had done.
The inspector immediately said that he had his
orders from the commissioners, and declared his in-
tention of apprehending women under the same cir.
cumstances again.
When assured that his conduct should be reported
to his superiors, the inspector seemed very careless
upon the subject.
" These descriptions of cases," added the Magis-
trate, " are very common, and it was only on the
preceding evening a young man, who was bathing in
a part of the canal out of sight of females, was
brought up in custody. Persons not offending
against public decency are not to he dragged off to a
watch house, arid bathing is a recreation at this sea-
son of the year actually conducive to health."'
With reference to the case against the lad Pope,
who was locked up for playing the game of cricket,
Niblett, the inspector, made at ample apology, and
the case was dismissed, on the perfect understanding
that the police were not to interfere with the amuse.
merits of the inhabitants of Camberwell, unless they
saw a breach of the peace committed.