The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-05 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.

These Sessions commenced yesterday morning, before F.CoNsr,
Esq. and a select Bendy of Magistrates.
John Billings, Charles Banks, John M' Gregor, and IVil-.
Liam Lightfoot, were indicted for an assault upon William
Boswell.
The defendants were found Guilty, and sentenced by the
CHAIRMAN to pay a flue of 101., to which they objected. Upon
the CHAIR:m.I,N telling them that if it were not paid, they must
go to prison, Mr. At.t,r,v rose up, and insisted upon paying it.,
for them, and immediately presented them with a cheque for the
amount.
John Hall, late a pensioner of Greenwich Hoipital, was in-
dicted for an assault. When called upon to plead, he replied,
" Why, guilty, to be sure. I did it on purpose. I meant to kick
up a bit of a row. You may send me where you please--I don't
care about it." _ _ _

Mr. H. Twiss, who attended for the prosecution, thought it
better to call a witnem, that tke Jury might be made acquainted
with the facts.
The Head Porter of the Admiralty was then called, and stated
that the assault originated in the defendant having been struck off:
the list of pensioners, which was entirely owing to his own mis-
conduct, as he had absented himself for a length of time from the
Hospital. He came to the Admiralty as usual, when he was told
that in consequence of his behaviour, he had forfeited all claim.
He refused to go away ; and when turned out, pulled off his
coat, and defied any one to touch hini, saying that they might
shoot him, bat he would not move.
CHAIRMAN—What have you to say to this, is it true
Defendant—Why as to that matter, I believe it is. You may
send me to prison ; better to shut a man up that let him starve
in the streets.
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you will have nothing but bread and Water
in prison. Defendant—So much the better—a contented mind
is as good as a feast.
CHAIRMAN—This wan seems to be mad. Defendant—Ali
and it would make you mad to be twenty-live years in the service
and then turned out of the. Hospital.
Mr. H. Twrss said, it was but justice to the Admiralty not to
let this man's statement. go forth to the public. The fact was
(since he was compelled to say it), that he had absented himself
because he had stolen two dogs.
The CHAIRMAN could not pass sentence at present, as-he
thought the case required further deliberation.

METEOROLOGICAL PHENONIENON.-011 Tuea-
day last, about two o'clock, a few gentlemen who were coursing
in the moors of Slamanan, witnessed one of those celestial phe-
nomena which are frequently not more striking in their immediate
effects, than in the notice which they attract among the scientific
where they occur. At the time stated, a tremendous explosion
was heard, equalling that of the largest ordnance, in a vertical
direction, and making the dogs cower in among their masters' legs ;
the effect of the whole being as if some terrible affair were passing
over the spot. It seemed to go off in a S.W. direction, with a
loud hissing noise, and died away without any thing else of a re-
markable nature being observed ; for a thick mist, which pre-
vailed at the, time, prevented them from beholding the full effect of
this curious occurrence longer than a few seconds, althenigh there
is little doubt the phenomenon must have been observed in other
i places, and these perhaps at a considerable distance.—Edinburgh
Observer•.