The Sun.
London, England, 1825-04-01 00:00:00

HUNTING INTELLIGENCE.

The Earl of Derby's Stag Hounds will meet to-morrow, at
Couldon, four miles from Croydon.

MEETINGS OF HOUNDS IN THE ENSUING WEEK.

His iliaSe;;;;Stag-iiounds, on Monday, at Farnham Com-
mon ; Friday, at Worburn Green, being the last day of hunt-
ing this season.
Sir Richard Puleston's Hounds, on Tuesday, at Wynnstay ;
Friday, at Chirk Castle.
A Stag will be turned out before the Brighton Harriers on
Monday, near West Blatchingtsn, for the last time this
season.
Sir B. Graham's Hounds, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sa-
turday, at Acton Burnell.

WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.

DISTURBING A CONGREGATION.

Yesterday George Hale, a young man of rather respectable
appearance, and about 25 or 24 years of age, was indicted,
under the st of William and Mary, for disturbing the con-
gregation of the church of St. Clement Danes, while assem-
bled at divine worship, on Sunday, the 20th of March.
Mr. ALLEY conducted the prosecution, and called the fol-
lowing witnesses :

The Rev. Willianf Gurney stated, that he was Rector of St•
Clement Danes. On the morning of the 20th of March, a
letter from the defendant was put into his hands, saying, that
the writer protested against that part of the Liturgy in which a
prayer was offered up for " our most religious and gracious
;"King and that he had before interrupted it in Orange-street
Chape, for which he had been confined in the watch-house for
about an hour, when he was liberated by the directions of the
Minister of the chapel ; but it was now his intention to inter-
rupt it in one of the parish churches. In consequence of this in-
timation, the witness directed a beadle to be ready to take any
person into custody who might disturb the congregation during
service. When he arrived at that part of the Liturgy in which
the high court of Parliament and the King are prayed for, he
raised his voice as much as possible in order to keep the atten-
tion of the congregation engaged, if he could, in the event of
an attempt being made to disturb them. As soon as he re-
peated the words " our most religious and gracious King," the
defendant muttered something about " a lie," which attracted
the attention of the whole congregation. The beadle imme-
diately removed him • not, however, before he repeated the
words, " It is a most abominable lie."
The defendant's letter (which he admitted to he his) was here
read. It stated in substance what Mr. Gurney had mentioned,
adding that the prayer in question was a most wicked
mockery of the Christian religion, and that Paine or Carlile
had never published or written any thing half so impious. En-
closed in it was a printed handbill, addressed " To all men
who love truth," denouncing the wickedness of pronouncing the
sovereign in solemn prayer to be " a most religious and
gracious King," when it was well known that he was " a most
immoral and irreligious King."
These documents having been read, the defendant cross-
examined Mr. Gurney, as to the part of the church in which
he was at the time ; to which Mr. Gurney replied, that he (lid
Not see him, but heard him.
'The Beadle was then called, and stated that the words used
by the defendant were, " That is a lie : you ought to be
ashamed of yourself to tell such an abominable lie."
One of the Churchwardens corroborated the above evidence ;
and related what took place at the police-office, where the de-
fendant merely varied the expressions attributed to him so
slightly, as to leave the meaning quite unaltered.
Being called on for his defence, the defendant asked how a
King living in the commission of every crime could be held up
as the very image of the son of God ? This prayer did not
hold up the King as a religious King, nor yet a very religious
King, nor yet an exceedingly religious King; but as "a most
religious and gracious King," than which no higher words
could be applied to the Son of God himself; to whose image,
therefore, it exalted him. Now the character of the King was
notoriously immoral, and any thing but like the son of God—
Mr. ALLEY here interposed.
The CHAIRMAN said the Court could not allow him to go
on to abuse the Sovereign.
The defendant said he did not want to abuse the Sovereign,
but to defend the Christian Faith.
The CHAIRMAN observed, that he could not do that here;
neither had it any thing to do with the charge against him,
which was for an infringement of this statute in disturbing a
congregation.
The defendant said he could only defend himself by proving
the prayer impious.
The CHAIRMAN replied that the Court could not allow him
to do that. His madness would be no excuse for their listen-
ing to such observations.
The defendant said he had laid out 3001. in publishing works
in defence of various parts of the Christian religion, which he
had distributed gratis. Before he had recourse to the present
mode of preventing what he considered a mere mockery and
abuse of the worship of God, he had done every thing else in
Isis power ; but having spent all his money, he could publish
no more works.
The CHAIRMAN again asked him if he had any other kind
of defence to make to the accusation against him.
The defendant replied, that since he was prevented from
making a defence in his own way, he would make the best de-
fence he could. He then asked permission to put a few ques-
tions to Mr. Gurney.
The CHAlRMAN.—Certainly.
The defendant—Pray, Mr. Gurney, did you never state that
his Majesty was the greatest adulterer in the world ?
Mr. Gurney shook his head, and
The COURT again interposed.
The defendant asked Hite would not be allowed to make his
defence ?
The CHAIRMAN—Certainly not that kind of defence. If
you have any observations to make to the Jury of a different
description, you will be heard as long as you choose.
The defendant then addressed the Jury, but still in a similar
strain. He quoted passages from Scripture, to show the hei-
nousness of uttering a lie in prayer to God, and was again pro-
ceeding to prove that the prayer in question contained what was
untrue, when
The'CIIAIRMAR once more stopped him, and left the case
to the Jury, who instantly pronounced a verdict of Guilty.
Mr. ALt.EY observed that the Act of William and Mary li.
mited the fine to only 201., which, however, was then, perhaps,
equal to 1001. now.
The defendant—l don't know what your circumstances are;
but, perhaps, 201. are as much to me as 20,0001. to you.
Mr. ALLEY—And you have just now stated that you have
spent 3001. in disseminating your wickedness.
The defendant—lf uttering the truth be wickedness, 1 glory
In it.
The CHAIRMAN—WeII, what course do you mean to
pursue?
The defendant—lt is not in my power to pay the fine.
The CHAIRMAN—Then you must remain in prison all your
life, unless you apply to that quarter which you have just been
abusing.
The defendant.—lt was not my intention to abuse the Sove-
reign ; nor should I have considered myself as warranted in
speaking of him at all, had not his name been made use of in
this impious manner.
He was then removed from the bar.—The Act of Parliament
is specific with regard to the fine, and leaves the Court no dis-
cretion on the subject.

In 1793, when a war with France was agitated
on account of the conduct of that country to the Dutch, a gen=
tleitian in company silk impetuously, " D—n the DUtch ;
burn their towns." " Rather," replied Lady Wintringham,
" LTndam them, and 'sink theth."