The Sun.
London, England, 1822-11-06 00:00:00

TRIAL BY JURY.

Yesterda.y. the'Twenty-eighth Anniversary of
the acquittal of Messrs. Hardy, Thelwall, &c. was celebrated
at the Crown and' Anchor Tavern. The company had their
dinner in the large room. There were near 300 persons present.
On the motion of Mr. Galloway, Mr. Wooller was called to
the chair. After various toasts, that of " The Majesty of the
people," " The Trial by Jury," &c. the Chairman (Mr.
Wooller) read a letter from Lord Erskine, excusing his absence,
which was as follows :—(The letter was addressed to Mr.
Nicholson, of New Bond-street.)
" beg the favour that you will explain to Mr.
M'Crevey and Mr. Gardour, the cause of my being prevented
the pleasure of receiving them, with yourself, on Wednesday
last; and you will further much oblige me by expressing to
your worthy friends, when assembled, on the sth of 'November,
that I regret my not having it in my power to meet them ; but
that if they desire it, I will not fail to be present when they re-
assemble next year.
" When all circumstances are duly considered, no
.public
event can, in my opinion, better deserve to be held in per-
petual remembrance amongst us, than the acquittal of
Thomas Hatdy, in 1794, from the unfounded charge of con-
structive High Treason. A great portion of the ordinary
period of human life has since passed away, and a very
short time indeed can now remain to me ; but I
am sure, that, even in my dying hour, I shal call to
mind the august spectacle of London on that day ; which
proved at once the firm foundation of our lives and liberties
whilst the trial by Jury shall continue, and the worthiness of
those who knew how to value such a blessing.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your faithful humble Servant,

" tRSKINE."

(Signed)
" Buchan Hill, Nov. 1, 1822."
" P.S.—I have ever since the trial kept up my acquaintance
with Mr. Hardy, and believe him to be a worthy and innocent-
minded man, incapable of meditating the destruction of the
British Constitution.

" To Mr. Nicholson."
After several other toasts, " the Liberty of the Press," &c,
the company separated.

DINNER TO JAMES BRYNE.

Yesterday eveninz, about 200 gentlemen dined
at the Horns Tavern, at Kennington, for the purpose of pro-
moting the subscription intended for 2 the relief of this per-
son, and for placing him in a situation by which he may be
enabled to earn a livelihood by his industry. Mr. Parkins
was in the Chair, supported by Mr.. Cohbett. The latter
gentlemen addressed the Meeting several times, and pointed
out the necessity of something being done by the people of
England in favour of a man who had been the victim of the
greatest perversion of law, and of the most cruel tyranny and
oppression ; and he was happy to say that England was the
only country in the world where men were actuated by an in-
dignant spirit against such violations of law. as had occurred in
the case of this individual; and whose relief was extended to
the victims of tyranny carried on according to the forms of law.
Eleven years had now elapsed since the unhappy man had been
whipped almost to death through the streets of Dublin, and
afterwards subjected to the most dreadful incarceration for up-
wards of two years. The people of England had lately take
up his cause ; and he assured the Meeting, that as soon as
Parliament met, that assembly should be called on
,to take up
his cause by means of a petition which should be presented
from the individual himself.
The " Health of James Byrne," was 'afterwards drunk
with three times three ; after which he got up, and gave a de-
tail of the sufferings he had undergone, and described what, he
had felt from the idea of his having lost, and afterwards re-
gained, his character.
A gentleman of the name of MAsox, who once practised at
the Irish Bar, said he had been a state prisoner in kilmainham
Jail, during the time Byrne was confined there, and he felt it
necessary to declare that nothing could be more correct than
the conduct of Byrne, during the whole of the time he had
been confined there.
In the course of the evening Byrne's wife and children were
brought into the room, and their healths were drunk. They
were decently dressed, and their appearance excited consider-
able interest.
A liberal subscription was afterwards raised in the room ;
and a little after eleven o'clock the company dispersed.