Star.
London, England, 1808-03-24 00:00:00

ASSIZES.

HORSHAM, MARCH,22.
CIVIL CIDE.--.-THE KING V. STEWART! • t
Mr. RosE stated, that this was an infortn,atiZti Peet
ex oleic., by his Majesty's AttomeY General, b.gainst
the Defendant, for sailing, contrary to an embargo
laid by an Order in Council, and assaulting and im-
prisoning the Revenue Officer, who was put on board
his ship.
Mr. Serjeant SHEPHERD stated to the Jury, that this
prosecution was instituted against the Defendant, to
teach him, and all other persons in his situation, that
they must not take upon themselves to treat the law,
the policy of which they must not presume to arraign,
-with contempt. The Jury were unquestionably 'well
acquainted that his Majesty from time to time issued
orders by the advice of his Privy Council, prohibiting
all ships to sail from the ports of this kingdom. The
necessity cf such a measure might arise from a thou-
sand circumstances, either for the purposes of trade,
of revenue, and, above all, to conceal from the ene-
my the time of the sailing of our expeditions. The
defendant was Master of the ship William and Anna,
which, in July last, was at East Bourne, in the juris-
diction of the port of Rye. It was a Sunderland ship,
and he believed, a collier. On the 22d of July his
Majesty, by the advice of his Privy Council, issued
an Order for laying an embargo, which order was
forthwith communicated by proper officers to all the
our-ports. The Officer of the Customs of course com-.
municated this order to the defendant ; but he swore
he would sail in spite of any Order in Council, or any
body else ; and, in fact, he kept his word, for he
should call the tide-waiter, who was on hoard his
ship, who would prove that he swore he would take
him to sea with him, if he did not chuse to go ashore.
The man would not abandon his duty, and the De-
fendant weighed anchor and stood out to sea. At the
same time he told the officer pretty plainly, that in the
course of the voyage, he shoal d take an opportunty of
sheaving him the bottom. After they had been at sea
a short time, he, however, thought better on this sub-
ject, for he put the officer on board a fishing boat,
which brought him on shore. This was the imprison-
ment of which the officer complained, and it was as
much an imprisonment as though he had locked him
in a house on shore. And this reminded him of what
Dr. Johnson had said upon this subject, that being in
a ship was being in prison, with the additional danger
of drowning and burning without means of escape.
. Such was the view which that learned Doctor had of
a sea voyage. The Loan CHIEF BARON here obser-
ved, that Dr. Johnson thought differently on matters
of pleasure from some others, for on being asked if he
never tuck a ride ? he replied " No, and he never
. would while he coald hire a porter to kick him."—
The Sergeant concluded, he in this respect agreed with
the Doctor, a ship was a prison, and sickness not the
best of pleasures.
Mr. .T. Ranchmcre proved tie two Orders in /Thun-
cil, the cue dated 22d July, 1783, for laying on the
embargo, the other 29th July, which rescinded thL.
former.

_
Edward Hood, the Post Officer at Eastbourne, said
he communicated the order for the embargo to the
Defendant on the 2.ith of July, and put a tide-waiter
on board the ship, to prevent his sailing ; he shortly
after saw the ship in the offing.
Abraham Wood, the tide-waiter, proved that the
Captain swore he would :aii, notwithstanding the•
embargo; and as he would not go on shore, he put
out to sea with him on board. Ile attempted to take

the helm from the Captain, who immediately gave
him a blow on the face. The Mate interfered, but
he swore would kick him to the devil. He-sailed,
hut at I! enn-nty of the witness, he put him on
b,r-trd a iising-heat, which landed him.
Tier Lonn CIZIEF B.tr.ox observed, that this was a
char case, and it was most important that all embar-
goes and quarantines should be.strictly observed.
The Jury found the defendant guilty.
CilowN-NDE.—There was no case of any impor-
tance on the Crown side.
•. _ _ _ _

Flilhia,n Hoare was indicted for ravishing Rhoda
ratcbelui, a girl of the age of 14 years. She gave
ev::.l4.nte that the fact was committed at the end of
the town ef Sterrington, in the court of an uninha-
bited house, but she said, she made no resistance,
and never told it until three months afterwards, when
it was discovered by her mother, as the prisoner had
infl-ct.:!,l her with a venereal complaint. _ _

ihe .-,.razd Judge immediately directed the Jury
to acquit the pris•-•ntr. •
lie was also tried and acquitted on an indictment
for a similar offence on the sister of the last Prose-
cutrix.