The Sun.
London, England, 1822-07-25 00:00:00

SPORTING ACTION FOR DEFAMATION OF A STALLION.

SWEATMAN V. GLASEPY:-.-SPECIAL JURY.
Mr. SELWYN stated the case. The plaintiff and defendant
travelled about the country with horses. His client possessed
one (a stallion) of a very superior kind, whose good fame the
defendant had scandalously traduced, for which he had brought
this action, with a view to obtain compensation in damages
for the injury done the character of his stallion, who is called
Florian.
Mr. P. WILLIAMS followed on the same side, and ex-
patiated largely on the beauty of Florian, who would, he said,
be proved to be as good as he was handsome ; and that the de-
fendant had published throughout the country, in the most pub-
lic manner, that he could buy the progeny of this valuable
creature at 161. per head; and concluded his address to the
Jury by saying, that the action was brought both on legal and
moral principles.
Several witnesses were called, when
Mr. Serjeant PELL said—Gentlemen I shall trouble you
with no-witnesses in this absurd cause. It is not an action fo:
slanderous words made use of by the defendant against tee
plaintiff., whereby speckil damages can be obtained. What was
said to the 'prejudice of a horse cannot affect the character of
a man ; and if any damages are to be given, they can only be
fbr two guineas, which Perris (the witness called, on the part
of the plaintiff) had said he should have given if he had not
heard the bad account spoken of the horse by the defendant.
Mr. Justice Riciimensos observed to the Jury, that this
was not like an action of slander against the reputation anei
character of a man, but for words as charged in the declaration
as .being false, scandalous, and malicious, published of and
concerning the plaintiff's horse Florian, which only affected
the plaintiff by traducing the animal in the estimation of others;
special damages, therefore, must be stated in the record, and
proved, before they could be sustained ; but it had been stated
in evidence that the defendant had travelled about the country,
speaking against the plaintiff's horse, from which he had been.
prevented from receiving the sum of two guineas of Penis. If
they believed this, they would find ibr the amount.
The Jury consulted a short time, and brought in a verdict
for the plaintiff.—Damages 2/. 2s. „

PARLI A rtIENT,

lOU,SE OF
.LORD'..;,- WEDNEOAY,

Mr. BapanEN and other Members of nthe House
of Commons brought up the Irish Salt Duties' Reduction the
New South Wales Duties',- the East India Company's Loan'
Bill, the Stage-coach Duties', the late Queen's Servants', the .
Countervailing Duties', and 'the general 'Turnpike Bills ; all of
which were read a first time.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL moved the second reading of the.
Alien Bill—observing that it was understood,,that it would meet,
the general convenience of their Lordships to take the discussion
on the third reading. •
The Bill was read a second time ; as well as the Irish Con-
stables' Bill, the Sotch Boroughs Accounts', and the Scotch
Uagistrates' Residence Bills.
,The folloWing' Bills went -through a, Committee :—the Court
of Exchequer
.Sittings', the Reduction of Salt Duties,' the
IriAh Temporary Advances,' and,the Public Works' Bills; the
third reading of which was agreed to be taken on Thursday.—
Adjourned.

HOUSE OF -COMMONS.
BOROUGII OF STOCKBRIDGE.

, on the motion'of Mr. CALCRATT, a new writ 'was ordered
to be issued for the return of a Member to serve in Parliament
Mr the Borough of Stockbridge, in the-room of Mr. John' Foster
Baron, who has accepted the Ste Wardship of the Chiltern Hun-
The Report on the Greenland Fisheries Bill was received,
and the Bill Was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.
The Scr.tch Spirits' Exportation Bill passed through a Com-
mittee, and the Report was ordered-to be received to-morrow.
EXCHEQUER BILLS. _
The House having- resolved itself into a'Committee-of Ways
and Means,
The CHANCELLOR. of The-EXCHEQUER proposed a-
resolution, that a sum not exceeding 16,5N0,0001.-be-raised by
Exchequer Bills, for the service of the present year.
Mr. HUME expressed a hope that these Bills would not be
allowed to run beyond 12. Months.
The CHANCE!,LOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that
.the Bills would be taken up before the expiration of a year.
'The Resolution was agreed to, the House resumed, and the
Report was ordered to be received to-morrow.

, . IRELAND.—POOR RATES.
Mr. S. RICE presented a petition from certain inhabitants
of The ceuntics of Middlesex and Surrey, entreating the House,
bet Ore the session terminated, to take into consideration the
urfertunate condition of their fellow-subjects in Ireland.
Mr. H. GURNEY attributed much of the calamity which
at present afflicted Ireland to the want of a system of poor-rates
in :hat country.
Mr. PA WSON said it would be impossible to 'introduce
poor-rates into Ireland ; the ptlor would be the only persons to

_
pay them.
Mr. S. RICE hoped he never should see the day when poor-
rates would be introduced into Ireland, the effect of which
,would be to destroy the natural independence of the people, as
.had happened here.
Mr. HUME could not allow the observations of the lion.
Member for Newton (Mr. Gurney) to pass without stating that
he was totally opposed to the opinion which they conveyed. He
would refer the lion. Member to Scotland, where no poor rates
"existed, where none of those scenes which were now passing in
Ireland were ever exhibited: He hoped that the poor laws
•-would never be introduced into Ireland, and that they would
speedily be-removed from this country, for he considered them
the greatest nuisance that ever existed.
The punishment by Hard Labour Bill was read a third time,
,'andpassed.
The report on the Tithes' Leasing Bill was received, and the
Bill was ordered to be read a third time on Friday.
COAL-METERS:

Mr. HUME presented a Petition from a person of the name
-of Bradfield, complaining that the public were not sufficiently
protected against the frauds of coal-meters.
Mr. LUSH INGTON said, that the petitioner had brought
.forward charges of a similar nature against the coal-meters
about five years ago, which charges, upon investigated by
the Attorney and Solicitor-General, proved to be entirely
+groundless. He knew from recent inquiry that the coal-meters'
office was well conducted. No complaint on the subject had
reached the Treasury. •
Mr. HITIUE was of opinion that the Treasury did not exer-
-c:se efficient .control over the office. •