The Sun.
London, England, 1826-10-28 00:00:00

justice. I know that threats have been held out to, this man ,to
provint him from appearing against the prisonero.
Sir R. Btaxtx—l certainly will not direct the witness to an-
ew* the Learned Counsel's questions if they go to invalidate' or
impugn his testimony. We know the capacity in 'which he ap-
pears, but that is not sufficient to invalidate his evidence.
Mr. Platt—lf the prosecutors are afraid of hie character being
exposed, they are right to prevent that exposure. Perhaps I
could show ',that this witness is the very man who tired his gun
at Morgan. How can any one say that he is not-the man? I say
that none of the prisoners were present on that occasion.
Mr. Donee.--I have made out a ease against.the prisoners suf-
ficient, I think, to call for their committal.

Mr. Platt—Here is Giles, one of the prisoners, against whom
-there is not a shadow of evidence.

Mr. Jones—l charge Giles with being armed, and near Dim-
church, on the coast of Kent, on the 11th of 11Iey last, when
William Wynn vitx ext.
Sir RICUARD Bi4tutr—Are you prepares' to prove that case?
Mr. Jones--I will prove ii within au hour.
A messenger was then dispatched to the Towtt Ibr a material
tritest.

William Wynn, the witness, wheat ptesence was required, was
*hen sworn.—Was a seaman on board the Ramilics ; was stationed
at Herring-hang, in the jiarish of Dimehurch, Kent, on the 11th
of May last; was employed with others to ix-event smuggling;
was cent out about 10 o'clock, and was stationed on the beach.
About 12 o'alock, a party of smugglers came to the llerring-hang-
bony. A boat came in; was about 100 yards from her, but
*could se* her quite plain, and Also the men in her... To the
hest of vvitness's judgment 150 men crane down to the, coast.
They were armed, and fired on. witnese ; anti witness red at
them in return ; a volley was fired at witness while they rushed
to the beach ; they were working the tubs; on the tieen:.d volley
witness received a sing in the face ' • sonic of the tubs were seised.
Whelan, another preventive man, had a shot lodged in his coat
pocket ; the smugglers escaped ; they left a lowling.picce behind
them.

• Edward Horn, the approver, again caned—Recollects a transac-
tiou that took place Ai. Dimchurch on Saturday, the J Ith of May.
Went to George Ranaicy's house, at Allington-fright; fur the Or-
pose of being 'on the look-out. All the prisoners, except Robert
Bailey and William Wyer, were there ; left the house of Ransley
about seven or eight o'clock; went to Herring-hang, a distance of
seven or eight miles from- Ranaley'S house; got to the sea-shore
some time between twelve end two in the morning; Thomas Den-
nard was armed ; Samuel Bailey, „Thomas Gillaui, and Charles
Giles, were 'alio armed ; but • Ransley „was not armed. He
went forward to look out for the boat; ht, hallooed to us, and
we all ran over to the boat ; those whQweie armed were stationed
at each side of the boat, to ;net t the men as they landed the
cargo; witness was armed n.i gun; cannot say where it was
got from. Ransley and Sitinue Bailey are brothers by marriage ;
lip
Musky is married to Bailey's sister ; the party ran from 80 to
100 casks of spirits that night ; Giles lost his arms on that aces.
sion ; there was firing r:a the beach between the blockade and the
smuggling party wl':ste the casks were landing ; Giles was wounded
by the firing; I'..c was carried away into a little green field; wit-
ness carried 'aim his hack; ri 1 told :
, On
any of t'.ie party that itsight be shot; witness carried Giles for 40
or 5'4 yards, and then he walked a bit himself; when witness and
/..e. arrived at the high road, they met with Hensley', who placed
Giles in his cart, and drove him away;, Giles was wounded in the
neck ; Ransley paid witness 20s. for his night's work. The tub-
men were paid about Is. each ; we generally spend the money we
get at Ransley's house.
Sir R. Bianie.......Why, what house does Rauslcy keep ?
Mr. Jones.—He keeps a sort of a public-house ; but lam lin-
formed by the Magistrates that he is not licensed.
Mr. Platt—Really I must say this is raising an unfair prejudice
against the prisoner Ransley. I perceive that those gentlemen are
taking notes. lam fully aware of the utility of ' reporting, but I
fear that those loose assertions may injure soy client if they go fOrth
without comment to the public.
Smith, the dicer, was then called—Took the prisoner Giles
into custody ut or near to Bikington, in Kent, on the morning of
the 17th of the present mouth. He gave his name Wood, but he
afterwards acknowledged' his name to be Charles Giles. . Looked
at lils neck, and found the mark of a wound, which he accounted
for, by saying it was the effect of a blister.
Wm. Spillane was then 'culled to prove a third case against ,the
`prisoners. ' ;
1
The evidi .... _ . ' ' '— •

fence

11, M.

reing dose, r. Platt observed that he upped
the Prisoners tunit be committed for trial.' His advice to them
therefore, would be to say nothing nt present.
The prisoner* were then fully committed to Net:slate to , take
their trial for the murder of Morgan, and also on two sqtarate
charges of carrying arms on the coast of Kent, with a view to run
smuggled goods.
Ransley, the captain of the gang, ►s a man of a most detertdin-
ed appearance. He paid great attention to the examination, which
lasted from a qUarter past 12 till pant five in the even:lig. The
rest of the smugglers are principally young men, whose looks do
not at all agree with their desperate trade.

REVIVAL OF ALFRED'S. INSTITUTION

IN THE MANOR OF GLASTONBURY.

On Wednesday one of the most extraordinary scenes
the inhabitants of the county of Somerset ever behild,
took place at. Glastonbury, where Henry Hunt, Es q.; as
Lord of the Manor, which comprehends a district of up-
wards of 100 miles, summoned the principal farmers to
attend him, for the purpose of appointing Juries, according
to the feudal system, and receiving directions upon the sib-
;Oct of those long-neglected institutions which constitute
the great boast of British antiquity.
At two o'cloek the great room Of the White Hart Inn,
where the Court was appointed to sit, was crowded by the
farmers of the manor of Glaston Twelve Hides, to the
number of about 200. Several gentlemen who wished to
witness the form of the ceremonials observed, by the
Lords of the Manor, in the Courts Leet of days long past,
and who knew that the person now exercising the power,
would not tread in the beaten path, were also present.
The greater interest was excited by the expectation that
Mr. Hunt intended, from the regard he bears to the popu-
lation of his Manor, as welt as from the abhorrence in
which he holds the. practice of the low attorneys with
which the county abounds, to give notice of the revival of
the Court as established by Alfred the Great, to
determine; tnjuriep, trespesses, debts, and other actions that
are under

• The Bailiff having commanded silence, and put in nonti- '
nation twelve men from each hundred or hide of Glaston,
and the Lord having tendered the usual oaths, which
required that the Juries should present nothing from malice,
nor conceal any thing from fearor affection,or reward, Bic.:
Mr. HUNT addressed them in the following.terms, hay- '
ing shown, however, that he would dispense with those
severe observances upon the part of the Assembly which
were required in the days of " Lord and Vassal :'
" Gentlemen---I perceive that there is not so large' an
attendance of jurors asol expected to meet upon this Oc-
caaiall; hut as I understand that the fault was my officer's
and not yours; and that this, being the day appointed for
holding Wells
fair, was .4, i'
_ .t ay on . which it was convenient
foohroyworlitttoo'matytest:::lllo
mishell„esnutacoesa er the partial disregard
from
the,
necaoity
of
the inip other light than as arising
regret,f indeed, to find,
that the market fr,-in which tunny you have just come,
has turned out so iniierably ; liutitois one of the inevitable
t
consequences of the system; and, untilthatsystem ends,
we must be content to feel those c lonset tees in all their
severity. It is necessary far me to 'state wto.
another year, acting as I do, in the name of you, that in
shall enforce the regulations of this court in stteAtienaftAgli-f,rnedir
as to make them worthy of the gretwauthority
and to gain for you and me the approbation of all good
men. althoughuut
men. I shall in future enforce all the fines a this Co-int,
leet ; but I shall exercise no arbitrary controfloilr,
my power is fixed upon an immovable basis ;
all be aware, that the authority of a manorial lord for-
merly extended so far over his vassals, that he could call
them out in armour to fight for hint at a momenee notiee."
--(A laugh.) .
Here the farmers stared at each other.
Mr. HUNT--The law of Alfred, upon which the insti-
tution of juries is founded, is a fine instance of the spirit
of liberty which existed in the breast of that King. It
was ma& not to protect the Barons against the vassals,
but to protect the weak against the strong; to make the
great responsible for what was done in the districts over
which they presided, by the infliction of capital punish-
ment upon the aggressors of the poor and defenceless. I
have no power, as Lord of. the Manor, to inflict any fine
or other penalty, except I can prove it to be. consonant
with the law of the land, anti I lament it; I lament it,

standing here as I do, the ittepresentadie of the King,
that the betintiful institutions of courts-leet and •cOurts-
baron have fallen into disrepute,in -Consequence Of the Cart
less, slovenly, and often arbitinfy `nianner in which the
duties have, for a series, of years, been performed. It is
your duty-to inquire itAti 'kid present offences from felony
down to the most trifling crime. It is also amongst your
duties to appoint constables, wluise principal businets it
Will be to collect the county stock, and hand it over to
the treasurer; and I would have you to be cautious what
men you appoint, for if they run away with the money,
the county must be paid by you.—(A laugh.) „ .
Several Farmers (evidently in a fright)—Oh; Lord!

that's too hard.
Mr. HUNT-By'thi ou appoint the men your-
selves, and if ,jtlit do it carelessly, you must take the con.
secittelices. If I were to appoint the constables myself,
and such an event as. I have supposed were to take place,
then, indeed, it would be a hardship upon you to charge
you with the responsibility; but the power of election is
yours, not mine.
A FAnsn lt if We appoint a respectable , man, he
instahtly tefuses to act:
Mr. HuNi.—lie can't refuse: Appoint those men
whore you Conceive to be the mod trustworthy, and I
shall, acting for the King, Make them act. You have
also to 'appoint tithingmen—an important trust, for they
have, to a certain degree, a controul over the safety, nay,
the life, of society.
A FARMEIt—Is it the fact, my Lord, that what we do
will be cared about? .

Mr. HUNT--Who Is the person that will dispute it ?
Ant:niter FARMEtt—Why, one of the constables here
thinks nothing of going into a public-house drunk at eight
or nine o'clock at night, and ordering it to be shut up, and
then he'll turn nil the people out, because he has a pique
against the-landlord, and strip off his coat to fight.
Mr. HUNT—I have heard of abuses of the kind, and 1
shall therefoJe act more resolutely ; and I. trust that you
will present this and all other cases of such a nature.
A FARSOM—Lord bless you, sie, the Corporation laugh
at us, and say they don't care a fig for us. There is not a.
man amongstthem that would not (strip off his coat to light

if we disputed his power.
Mr. HUNT---Very well. If ever you see any of them
commit a breach of the peace, put him in the stocks.
Look at this regulation. It is here said " there ought to
be a pair of stocks kept in good repair in each tithing, for
it is the tithingman's prison, and a thing very useful, as
the world goes."----(Laughter.)---If you see the Corpora-
tion breaking the peace, cram them into the stocks upon
my responsibility.
I:ARBORS—We will; we'll do any thing you desire us
to do ; but what will the Mayor and 'Squire Dickenson
(the Recorder) say
Mr. HUNT—Let them say what they choose; but if the
Mayer and my friend (Mr. Dickenson) follow the example
of the Corporation, why clap them in the stocks too—

(Loud lauiliter.)
Mr. HUNT-It is also in your power, in case of necessity,
to try before the Lord Steward any offences short of felony,
and that without the presence of a single" shark." You
need not have any of the gentlemen of the law to assist or
humbug you—(A laugh.)—lt is my intention to revive
the Court Baron in the King's name, a Court in which all
actions and suits under 44)5. shall be decided. From the
revival of this Court, I expect the greatest benefit to the
county. You all know that costs have been charged in
a 395. ease, to the amount of 701. or 804 by those gen-
tlemen of the law.
The FARMERS—We do indeed.

We have seen enough

of that sort of misery.
Mr. HUNT—When I was in Banter gaol, for saying
and doing what is at this day said and done by ever:, body,
aye, in ten times a stronger manner, I found that four-
fifths of the debtors were imprisoned by their attorneys.—
I. asked one what brought him there, and he said,." Why,
1 was defendant in a case where four or five shillings were
demanded of ma unjustly. I defended it,. and succeeded,
but my attorney sent me in a bill that I. was unable dis-
churl, and he then sent me here."-,-(A.
another ease a fallow prisoner accounted to me for his re-
tirement, by saying, " Why, I was plaintiff '(,lciud laughter)
in a case in which I was entitled to 365. or 375. To be
sure I gained my suit; but my attorney brought me in a
charge for fifty times the amount of the verdict, and, as I
was not able to pay the demand, he locked me• up here."
So much for the establishment of the County CourtS,
where the moment you enter, you have a devil at each
side of you. How the devil then can you expect to escape?
—(A laugh, and cries of Never, never!)--It is infinitely
better to go before the Judges, expensive as that sort of
proceeding is, than to appeal to such Courts. It is, there-
fore, my determination, under good advice, to appoint the
revival of the Court Baron, the summonses to attend
which will cost but Id., and all the expellees attending
which will not amount, under any circumstances, to more
than 4s. or ss. at the utmost; and I thiOk that this manor
will be more benefited by the revival than it has been
benefited by any thing that has befallen it within the me-
mory of man.
A FAasttia here expressed his astonishment at the as-
surance that the power of the Corporation was not suffi-
cient to Overwhelm juries, and constables and all; and he
asked, whether, the Corporation could not snake laws strong
enough to render those of Alfred unavailable ?
Mr. OLIVER MAYWARD, who, it will be recollected, se-
conded the nomination of Mr. Hunt at Bridgewater, and
had a sharp bout at Behester with Sir Thomas Lethbridge,
said that the question of the juryman was certainly a very
natural one. The Corporation, he believed, thought they
were omnipOtent, and he thought that they were supported
in that opinion by those who presided at the Quarter
Sessions. " Why I," said he, " was, present when it .was
decided diet a woman ought to be compelled to serve as
conetable."—(A laugh).
Mr. HUNT—Very well ; it was quite natural for the.
Quarter Sessions to decide upon that point. Mow would
you have a set of old women decide in the name of God
(loud laughter)? Now, Gentlemen, there cannot be a
more beautiful system of law than that under which you
`are now acting. There is here a perfect security to the
life of the subject. it is here said, " You are also to in-
quire of bloodsheds. If any persons within the precincts
of this leet bath wilfully or maliciously drawn blood from
the person of another, it is here punishable?' You see
how careful this most admirable of Kings was of his sub-
jects. This authority still exists in the institution of his
appointment, and yet it is so neglected, that a ruffian is
allowed to go into a public-house, to turn every one out,
and to strip and provoke peaceable persons to tight. lam
tillable, so judiciously limited is the authority of the lord
of the manor, although the 'offspring of feudal days, to
lunish a fellow of this description without your concur-

twice.
Several FARSIERs.—The fellows do what they please.
--They radish every one they'dislike, and pass by those
that are in their. favour.
Mr. HuNT,—I hope that you will not choose any such
warlike officer from amongst you, and I trust that this
time twelvemonth I shall see you all here, after having
loyally performed your duties.
An old FARmP.R.—Aye, we'll perform our duties loyally
to you, but to nobody else, my lord; we love you better
than we love any one else.
Mr. Hu wr— Tie all nonsense to talk about loyalty to
m suppose you mean to me, because I am the Re-
presentative of the King here—but it is nonsense to. talk
111°,05:.a..1,tY either er to me or to a king for whom.- I may act.
laws; by is a man Who stands up to support good
his
oti;witioollig so, he of course supports
it to
imply the obli support good laws does not necessarily
good kings, but
has nottmg to do
may
tithing
ton to support any sort of a person who
with,
a throne.—(A laugh.)—Loyalty
wholesome iiistitutions4itersou ; it merely refers to the
reside.thi;lCr.moirtLiinnwabiiihmlwniivrr aestors, one of which is
ti:e re
"Ifild that he would be per-
mitted to ask Mr. limit, foresentaiive of the King,
whether the public would be able keep attorneys nut of
the Court Baron, because the 'tower to that question

would he decisive with him ay to the e#eet of reviving
the old Court.
Mr.4luNT—Waa there ever a place into w}ich they
did not worm theinselves ? None, except, that in 'Which
there was little or tiothing to be had,:(Laughter.)—l
have to announce kir, myself, I shall riot silk any body
'Out—(Cheert)--but the " sharks' shall get very indif-
ferent encouragement from Inc wherever 1 meet them.—
(A" laugh.)
All the Jurors declared, that they would poy.the utmost
attention to What had filleh froth the Lord of the Manor.

Mr.,HusT.l—l most strongly inculcate the dOetrine,
upon all occasions, of obedience to the laws. I have been
accused of a disposition to violate the laws, when, God
knows, it was peace and good-will that I inculcated uni-
formly. I, at the same time, declare that men must stand
up for their rights and liberties, and defend them too, if it
be requisite, with the risk-=-aye, the kiss df their lives. In
former days, hien used to tome *trued cap-ri-pie to defend
their Lerdti. They sorely could not hesitate to stand up
for their own rights, now that circumstances are altered.
A FARMER.—Aye, but if they strain us so, how can us
stand up.—(A laugh.)
Mr. HuNT..--Stritin 7ou Aye, you will be strained.
Another FARMER.*- We are strained, indeed : at the
fair to-day at Wells, there was an immense stock both of
cattle and sheep, particularly of the latter. There were
not purchasers for half the sheep, and those who sold got
ruinous prices, not exceeding half of what they sold for
last year. Both lean beasts and fat cattle sold at prices
lower than ever was remembered before. A friend of
mine bought such oxen for 20/. a-head as he had a short
time ago given 40/. for. The best fat beef w't sold at Bs.
a score, or 4d. per lb. A good three-year old Devonshire
heifer, which could have readily fetched some years since
16 or 18 guineas, bretight no more than from 71. to 8
;guineas, •
Mr. HuNT—I regret' the condition of the market greatly;
but without pretending to be a prophet, I said long ago
that things would come to this pass. Look at the conduct
of our Landowners, who are now afraid to budge with any
of their nefarious, but, I rejoice to say, totally harmless
petitions. Oh, it reminds me of the admirable words of
that ornament of the British nation, whose contempt for
the persons he described was as great as • any other of his
strong emotions.
" Mas the country ! How shall tongue or pen
Bewail her now un-country gentlemen!
The last to bid the cry of warfare cease,
The first to make a malady of peace?
For what were all those country patriots born ?
To hunt, and vote, and raise the price of corn :
But corn, like every mortal thing,
,must fall,
Kings, conquerors, and markets most of all !"—[Laughter.]
Mr. HUNT, in the course of his address, took the op-
portunity 'of alluding to IVIr. Peel's Special Jury Bill.
" There is ageneral mistake," said he, " With respect to that
Bill. It is true, when first it was introduced to the House
of Commons, there were some things in it which looked
promising, but itseems to be little known that a conference
was held between the two Houses, and that all the po-
pular clauses were struck out. The Bill certainly
extends the number of those who are to serve upon
Special Juries, but it also caused to be legal that which
was illegal before. The King has by , this Bill, the
power of appointing his own juries, so that very little diffe-
rence exists between the old and new Acts,with theexception
of that clause which renders the chances of the subject
more desperate now than they were before. , I greatly
lament the melancholy description which has been given of
Wells Fair. You will all go home now, and pay your
rents as well as you . can. I hope, however, before you
part with your last shilling, that you will make an effort to
keep it. I hope to see you all free, happy, and prosperous;
but those blessings can never reach us, while things re-
unuin they are now. This may be called; in consequence
of the subjects which 1 have introduced to your notice,
and the unrestricted conversation which has taken place
between us—a political meeting,. What do we care what
they call it? 'We hive tiectt discussing the tendency of
certain laws or tuts very, greatest moment to us, and all
laws are matter of politic,. 'Mimic which tend to diminish
us; *realm otir right and liherties, must be designated
political. To draw tie distinctions upon such an occalion
is gross absurdity. I trust that whatever other people
may say,. you are convinced that I never gave you bad ad-
vice." •

All the FAamrss—Never never. Hunt forever. You
always told us the truth. Whet shall we do ?
Mr. litirr—Why call a County Meeting, and request
those gentlemen who now tread upon the farmer and the
labourer to lower your rents.
FARMERS—That's a cry they will never listen to. That
will never do.

Mr. HUNT--No, they never will, so long as they esti
grind you as the miller grinds your wheat. I remember
having heard landlords say, in asking about the qualifica-
ions of persons who wanted to become tenants, " What sort of
fellows are they—will they stand up for themselves ?" and
if the answer was in the affirmative, the applicants were
dismissed with a flat negative—(A laugh.)—Now I hope
to see the day when the farmers will say, in looking for a
landlord, " What sort of a fellow is this ? How does he
act •to his tenants ?" And if they hear an unfavourable
account of him, I trust they will spurn him with the in-
dignation which inhumanity can never fail to excite in the
bosom of an honest man—(Loud cheers.)
The Jurers then returned the names of some of the moat
creditable men in the manor to serve in the different offices.
The elected persons complained heavily of being called to
till• such situations, anti pleaded several things in excuse
of their services; but Mr. Hunt o►er-ruled them all, de-
claring that he rejoiced that the Jurors had taken•so much
care of the public as to elect men who were qualified to
serve them so effectually.
The several officers, according to custom, pulled out the
fees which the elected are usually called upon to pay; but
the Lord of the manor said, he was determined to support the
dignity of the personage whom be represented, by reject-
ing, all fees. He dissolved, after having received the va-
rious presentments, the proceedings of the Court, which
listed froM two till near six o'clock, when Mr. Hunt gave
a dinner to several of his friends and tenants, upon which
occasion a very extraordinary discussion took place.

The following is an ,account of the respective ages
at which many of the Archhishotm of Canterbury,
since
the Reformation under •Elizabeih, have been ad-
vanced to that see :

Year; of Nominatil
o3:.cheh)ra aNraernmeia.rked with a B.

1559
5 b
..
•
1675-6 ........... Gri:
dal, B.
1683 • Whitgift, &... 53

1604

1611 .. . Abbott, B.
1633
1660
1663 Sheldon, 11.
1677-8 ............ Sancrati'll.
1691 .. .... . ........ Tillotson
1695 ......... ... „. Tennison
1715 .. ........ . .... Wake.. 57
.......
1737 .... . .. Potter . 63
1747 ............ ... Herring, B.
1757 ............... Hutton • 64
1758 ............... :Seeker, Widower
1762..• .... . ... ••• Cornwallis
1788 ............... Moore
1805 ............... Sutton ... 50
It ries generally been thought that the circumstance
of only one child havinilieen born to ,an Archbishop
during the space of 20' Years, has heen.nwing to the
advanced age of the Primates at their promotion, but
from the 'above statement it is evident that it is partly
attributable to the great number of them who were
single men.

Lord Ponsonby left Rio for Buenos Ayres on the
28th of August. It was expected, that, on the arrival
of his Lordship in the Rio Plata, every thing would be
amicably arranged between Brazil and Buenos Aytts•