Star.
London, England, 1830-06-24 00:00:00

BLISSZTT V. WILSON ♦ND ANOTHER.

Mr. Sergeant Russura. moved for a rule to set aside an inquisi-
tion held in this case:on Saturday last The trespass complained of
consisted in the defendant's having stopped up kgate, and cut a
quantity of underwood, the property of the plaintiff: The plaintiff
had recovered a verdict with 501. damages. The grounds of the
present application were, that the Jury who had returned this ver-
dict had been got together illegally ; that the verdict was contrary
to evidence, and that the amount of damages was altogether
disproportionate with the trespass. The defendant in his affi.
davit stated that the notice to execute the inquiry was at a
public-house in Worcestershire, and was appointed to be held
on Saturday last. That on the morning of that day the de-
fendant's attorney had sent to the Sheriff, who had not received the
brief up to 11 o'clock, (the hour appointed for inquiry was one
o'clock,) and that the Under-Sheriff did not in effect receive It until
half-past 11 o'clock on the day in question. The defendant then
went on to state that the jury could not have bees impannelled, and
that be understood the Sheriff had only named one or two of the
jurors, the rest of the number being made up by the landlord,
waiters, &c. of the public-house, who actually acted on such ma.
dons either in consideration of money or drink.
Mr. Justice Parlez—Why, brother Russell, you have certainly
attended a Sheriff's jury before now, and know of what materials
it is usually composed. (A laugh.)
Mr. Sergeant Russzia. admitted that he had ; but added, that
the publican, who was a maltster, had himself acted as foreman
on the occasion in question.
Mr. Justice Paazz—Well, and a very good man too ; a maltater
is as good a man as any other. (A laugh.)
Mr. Sergeant Russem.—But yet, my Lord, I submit the jury
ought to have been "indifferent."
Mr. Justice PARSE-Why, brother Russell, I thought you
were complaining all along that they were " too indifferent."
(Laughter.)
The defendant's affidavit, in conclusion, stated that the verdict
had much surprised the Sheriff, who had told the jury that the tres-
pass did not call for heavy damages, and that he had subsequently
intimated his astonishment to the defendant, at the undue amount
of the damages.
The Court eventually granted a rule, on the ground of excess of
damages and improper evidence.

Whiston computed that the world would last only 20
years from his own time (1712), and yet asked thirty years' pin-
chase for an estate which he had to dispose of !
PORTER BREIVINO.—Not a century has elapsed since
porter (known by that name), was first introduced ; though leading
as it has to the establishment of immense breweries, and the realising
of princely fortunes. kir. Whitbread, the father of the late Member
foe Bedford, first commenced brewing, in a cellar; and a publican
of the name of Poe, who kept the Pewter Platter, In Leather-lane,
Holborn, was his &st customer. The latter, becoming subsequently
distressed, Mr. Whitbread allowed him an annual pension, in con-
sklerstion:of his having been his first customer.

POLICE REPORTS.

Mawsrow•Hottai.^A fellowship porter, named Bellamy, wu
summoned before the LORD Navon, under the following circum.
stances:—

William Gibson, a lad who is in the habit of purchasing fish in
Billingsgate-market, deposed that he went to the market a few
mornings ago, and paid to the defendant the sum of five shillings
for a quarter of a hundred of mackareL His basket was, according
to the usual practice, sent into the hold for the quantum of fish, but
it never appeared again, and he applied in vain to the seller for the
fish, or the basket, or the money. He could receive no satisfaction
whatever, and upon nuking his complaint to the Clerk of the Mar.
ket, he was advised to represent the matter to the Lord Mayor.
The defendant declared that every person who paid him was sure
to receive the fish purchased with the money. He begged to be al.
lowed to assure the Lord ➢layor, that the fellowship porters were
subject to great losses and annoyance from the boys of this descrip-
tion who infested the market.

The Loan Mayon asked the boy whether he could have made
a mistake as to the person to whom he paid the money ?
Gibson replied that it was impossible. He had positively handed
to him the money and basket at the same time; the basket went
below, but he never set eyes on it since.
The defendant again insinuated that the complainant was not a
good character.
The Loan MAYOI.—Do you know any thing against the cha.
ratter of this boy ? Ile does not appear to me to be an improper
person.
The defendant said he could not himself say that he knew any
thing bad in the boy's conduct, but a comrade seemed to know him
pretty well.
Hers another fellowship porter declared that the boy had in the
first instance accused him oft he conduct just complained of.
Gibson asserted most vehemently that he never had.
The witness said he, moreover, knew the complainant to be con.
netted with a gang that infested the market, and that the boy and
his " collegians" were constantly about the place watching for op.
portunities to commit plunder.
The Loan BIATOR—If that be the case, it is impossible that I
can believe a word of the charge against the defendant.
Gibson—l never was dishonest, my Lord. Can he say what I
ever did to make me deserve such a character. This is all done to
I deprive me of my property. My basket, that cost me Ss. 4d. is
guns, as well as my money.
The Loan MAYOR (to the witness.).—You say you know this
boy to be a bad character ?
Witness... Flame your Worship, he was publicly whipped at the
cart's tail the whole length of the New.ro4 at Deptford. He was
nip me GI-- d.
Gibson—Oh, Lord ! oh, Lord ! Whipped ! For what was I
whipped ?
The LORD BE/molt—Aye, aye ; so you have been whipped,
have you ?
Gibson (much affected h, never, never, my Lord, except
once, when I was a little child at school, and I was never whipped
after, and that was lower than my back, please your Lordship.
Witness.—l can prove it, my Lord, that he was well whipped ' •
for I can bring you a note from the Magistrate at Deptford the first
day lan go there conveniently.
" Stay," said the LORD MAYOR, " I don't like to give you so
much trouble. We shall decide the matter here. If he has been
whipped at the cart's tail, he must have some marks of the cat upon
hint. His Lordship then desired Foster, the Alarshalman, to take
the boy aside and examine his back.
Gibson threw off his coat in an instant, and would have thrown
off his shirt too before the whole room, if he had been permitted.
The witness's face dropped the moment he saw that :his veracity
was likely to be called in question. In a minute Foster returned,
and said there was not the slightest mark upon the complainant's
and the Lord Mayor ordered that the defendant should not
person
from custody until the boy _received the sum he had
paid, and the price of his basket.
Maannottouon.svnzET.—Yesterday Mr. Dawes, a licensed
victualler, keeping the Earl of Albemarle public house, in South
Audky-street, May-fair, was summoned to show cause why lie re.
fused to pay the usual reward to some firenmen who attended on an
alarm of fire given at his house.
To account for this refusal Mr. Dawes produced an abstract of the
Building Act, under which this reward Is given, and pointed out to
the attention of the Magistrates a clause in it, which exempts from
all the provisions of the Act every royal palace, or other building
occupied by the King, t,r for his Majesty's use ; and under this
clause Mr. Dawes said he claimed exemption for his house.
The Magistrate, who seemed not a little surprised at the line of
defence, begged to know from Mr. Dawes, how a clause which ex-
pressly related to royal residences only, could have application to
his house ?

Mr. Dawes said, that the clause referred to all houses that were
occupied for the use of his Majesty ; and as he, Mr. I)awes, hap-
pened, just at this time, to have one of the soldiers of the Foot
Guards quartered in his house, he considered that the house was thus
occupied on behalf of his Alajesty, and therefore within the meaning
of this clause.
The Magistrate, who appeared still more astonished at this con.
struction of the Act of Patliament, said that Mr. l)swes, in his view
of the interpretation of the act, gave it an extension which be was
sure no one else living would have given it, and which it was unne-
cessary to say, the Legislature never intended; and, indeed, he was
quite surprised to hear a sensible man like Mr. Dawes set up such a
defence._

Mr. Dawes said, that he really thought it a fair, and by no
means an extravagant, interpretation of the act; for as soldiers were
clearly the King's troops. and in his Majesty's service, every house
or other building occupied by them was in his Majesty's use for the
time.

The Magistrate said, that he so entirely differed from Mr. Dawes
about the matter, he must direct the reward to be paid, which Mr.
Dawes accordingly did immediately.

INQUEST ON SIIELTON, THE PUGILIST.

Yesterday afternoon an Inquest wu held at the Ship public.
house, in Ilishopsgate-street, before William Payne, Esq. the Coro.
ner for the City of London, to inquire into the cause of the death of
Thomas Shelton, the landlord of that house, and for many years a
well-known prise-fighter, who died suddenly on last lionaay night.
Mary Ann Edwards. a servant to the deceased, swore that on
Monday night last, a little after twelve, the deceased desired the
witIICSR to get him a glass of gin and watts ; he was then in his
bed-room • she gave him an orange, and went to get the gin and
water. Cin her returh she heard a noise in the room, and upon her
entry she saw the deceased lie on his left side in bed, with a half.
pint bottle beside him. She alarmed the lodgers, and went for
Mr. Hartley, the burgeon, who, along with his assistant, came
immediately, but they could not render him any assistance.
The witness supped with the deceased that evening, and no.
thing particular took place on that occasion, After supper,
and while he was in the up-room, smoking his pipe, he
talked about some person having traduced his character. He
said several times lately, that in consequence of his losses at Ascot
Kates, he would go into 11'hitecross-street prison. The witness
had known the deceased 14 years—but his manner had lately very
much changed, and front his conversation latterly, she thought he
was of unsound mind. The deceased had not been sober for nearly
a fortnight.
Mr. Hartley a surgeon in Ilishopagate.street was rent for. and
saw the deceased about half past 12 o'clock on Monday night, lying
on his bed in a dying state; the witness raised hint up and admi-
nistered a little brandy, his pulse was gone, and he tried the sto.
mach pump, but nothing came off the stomach but the brandy.
The mom smelt strong of prussic acid, and from the 'rime... 6,1 ing
a bottle labelled " prussic acid--poison," he thinks the deceased
died by taking that poison.
Mr. Alexander Crawford, of John.street, Spitaltields, swore that
he knew the deceased for four yearn. On last rhursday he told the
witness he had lost 8001. then 6001. and latterly 2601. at Ascot
Races; and on a subsequent occasion he cried like a child, and said
be bad lost only 761. The deceased was not sober at the time of this
conversation, and the witness believes he was then of unsound mind.
John Whitcomb, a lodger in the ship, wu called up by the fir*:
witness. He found the deceased lying on the bed, and saw the bottle
produced in the hands of the servant. The witness had lived in the
's house for upwards of four years, and in a conversatior.
with him on Monday he said he lost money on the tight between
Dobell and Brown.

[Here Dobell (who was in the room) put a question or two to the
witness with the permission of the Coroner, which did not tend to
throw any light on the cause of the deceased's death.]
Mr. Baker, a neighbour of the deceased, proved the unsound state
of Ms mind or some time before his death.

The Coroner summed up the evidence— and the Jury, after some
consideration, returned a verdict. " That the deceased came by his
death by taking pnsuic acid, and that he was of unsound mind at
the time."

THE DERIVATION OP WORDS.—A history of words
that have been brought into general use in modern times, might be
rendered an amusing work. The terni " Quiz," for instance, was
first introduced about 40 years ago, by being, in consequence of a
wager, chalked in the course of one night, on the shop.Autters, In
moat of the principal streets of the metropolis. The word " Con-
valescence" was first brought into general use on the recovery of
the late King, in 1789, and for a short lime puzzled a great number
of people. It is only little more than 30 yearn since the term " Ul.
timatuni," in diplomacy, came into use ; and the word " Protocol,"
Is of still more modern introduction. Other words have, in the course
of a similar period, sunk in estimation ; and the fashian of promin.
elation has, in many instances, marvellously changed,

•
NCINTILLA.

PAMPHLIT—U derived from being a book not bound,
but fixed per ww filet, which, in Caxton, we find first corrupted
into •' pasusilet."

Marktootrr—appears to have been the name of
sect of Christians In England long before the time of Joux Wts.
LET and his followers; for in a collection of old sermons, printed in
the year 1640, is the following passage : " Where are now the Ana,
baptists, and plaine packstaffe Methodists, who esteem all Howell of
rhetoricke in sermons no better than stinking weedes, and all the
elegancies of speech than of profane spells ?"

"As cunning as Crowder"—is a saying current in the
north and north-west parts of England ; and is said to have derived
its origin in the following story, related of one SAMUEL CROWDER
--probably an ancestor of our present excellent Lord Mayor—but
one apparently not so wise in his generation. This SAMUEL CROW.
DER WAS a carrier, and was desired to bring a pound of tobacco fot
a neighbour—he accordingly buys the tobacco, and packs it up In
the mouth of a sack of salt. As the weather was wet, the salt,
being moist, broke through the paper which contained the tobacco.
—Next day, therefore, when CROWDER and his wife were unpack.
ing, they found, to their great surprise, some of the tobacco and
salt mixed together. His wife Mary made great lamentations to
have so much tobacco and salt spoiled ; but SAMUEL, wondering at
his wife's simplicity, told her he had thought of a method of sepa-
rating them immediately, and ordered her to fetch a pail of water,
which was done ; he then emptied the tobacco and salt into the wate:
0..4 Now," said he to his wife, "then is a quick thought of mine,
you fool : you see all the tobacco swims at the top." " But where
is the salt, SAMUEL ?" cried MART. "Oh ! that, of course, will
be found at the bottom, you know." Hence, when any one acts
deficient in smartness, they are said to be "as cunning 4/
CROWDER."

A man went to BERKELEY CRAVEN seeking a situa-
tion as Valet, and answered the usual questions very satisfactorily ;
but, said the sporting character to hint, " can you tell a good lie r
The Valet staggered at the question, and candidly owned his Ma.
bility as to that qualification, and retired. Finding, however, that
be au likely to lose a goal place, he returned, and told CRAVEN
that he would endeavour to learn to he, and doubted not that under
the tutelage of so apt a master, he soon would become a proficient in
the art. His master put him to the test at a very earl opportu.
nity:—“ What news to day?'' said a friend of GRAVER!
" Nothing particular, except the fire at the Customhouse ;
and Jaws saw it, and will give you all the Information
did'nt you John ?"—" 0 ! Yes, Sir, there never was such a
blue: the whole of Thames.street is burnt down—the Thames
itself Is actually boiling—all the Indy ships too are on fire—
there's thousands of poor people drinking tea by wholesale—and the
fish at Billingsgate are ready cooked—all the firemen and engines
are burnt, and I alone am left to tell the tale !"
During a spirited debate in the House of Commons,
Lord NORTH, who yielded his political celebrity to classical pre-
tensions, quoted something, as he uid, from Homer, of which that
author happened never to have heard. Homer was not in the house,
but Mr. PULTEWEY was; and the honourable gentleman called
the noble Lord to order. An appeal was made to the Chair by Lord
NORTH, who was not a little disturbed at the rustic innovation of
his literary fame. He was at the time attired, as was his usual cus-
tom, in a full dress Court suit. He rose and spoke thus Mt.
Speaker,—For once I will condescend to adopt a line of conduct pur.
sued by country gentlemen: rn bet the honourable member a yui.
*ea that my quotation is correet."—" Done," said Mr. Puxix.
Way, "for any sum you like, provided the bet be settled by an
immediate reference to the Speaker's Library."—" Agreed," said
Lord Noarn, and Lord NORTH lost his wager ! He was. gtre.
rally speaking, a man of polished manners ; but on that occasion he
lost his temper with his money, and indignantly flung the guinea
across the table at his successful antagonist. Mr. PRLYLKEV took
it up coolly, and replied :—" This, Sir," turning to the Spealtr.
"is the first public money which has ever soiled my pocket. I
say nothing of the mode in which I obtained it, for I pocket the r.o.
ble Lord's affront—(hear, hear, from all parts of the House, :n
which Lord NORTH did not distinctly join),--and I am sorry to
find, in the course of his Lordship's attempted explanation, that
what at first I attributed to a want cf recollection, is the sheer el.
feet of consummate ignorance."—(Hear, hear.)—Lord NORI
here remarked, that he had received just as much civility as his pe-
tulence deserved.

BAROMETER.—The information contained in the fol-
lowing paragraph is of importance in the history of the barometer :
—" It is a remarkable fact, communicated by a gentleman who has
been for upwards of thiraecn years in the service of the Hudson Buy
Company, that at York Fort Factory, during a considerable pan elf
the year, the barometer ceases altogether to indicate the state of
the atmosphere. From the middle of October to die end of March
the instrument does not range at all. In a temperature varying
from 60 to 65, it stands immovably 45 high u3O or 30} inch s ;
be the weather calm or stormy, clear or cloudy, the mercury does not
appear either to rise or fall to thy least sensible extent."

ROOK J LTSTICE—" COLLECTIVE WISDOM. "—Ai
Amisfield Tower, in the neighbourhood of Dumfries, multitudes of
Rooks have roosted foe centuries, and meet with so little molests.
tion, that they seem to claim a " vested right" to the trees. And
there sans are enacted which are at once instructive and highly
amusing. Rooks, like men, hare not all the same nice sense of jib.,
tice: some of them are honest, obliging, and industrious; other•
knavish, idle, and mischievous. In the Spring months in particular,
when they are all busy building new nests or repairing old ones, ea.
tam evil doers invade their neighbours' stores of sticks, to US'.
themselves the trouble of collecting materials in a more laborious
and lawful way. This to some may appear a very venial crime.
but what a plank is to a carpenter, a twig is to a crow, and to pitter
the one is just as bad as to purloin the other. But as often a
offences of this kind are detected, a complaint is made to the prop
quarter, and the delinquent tried and punished by his peers. Sonu
veteran bird acts as chief-justice, and, from the bustle that goes for-
ward, the cawing of tome rooks and the silence of others, it is platn
that the Court proceeds upon system, though I cannot subscribe
the startling opinion that they examine witnesses and impanel,: jar.
The presiding rook, who site on a bough above all the others, is
heard croaking last of all; and when sentence is pronounced, punish.
mesa follows very promptly. Either the culprit is seized and p..L.sed
most severely, or the nest containing the ill-gotten twigs is pti;:r,i..!
oa and demolished, until not one stick is left upon another.—.l!le
ihurmiers :;ketches from Nature.
ANECDore 01 D.t it N LE Y.—Darnley had an uncle i!,
Clydesdale—George Douglas of Todsholes, otherwise called et
Part:hear...a person noted in Scottish history for having intlieted
the lint wound upon Rizzio, and who was generally known by the
ep.:Set of the Postulate of Aberbrothwick, from his having a pros-
pect of tett:wally enjoying the temporalities of that rich abbey.
Though th.:s man was only a natural son of the Earl of Angus. ri•
ther to Darnley's mother, Darnley always styled him Uncle and
the royal pair occasionally visited him at Todsholes. One day.
about :he time when the quarrels of glary and her husband first
pl.bEcly observed, Darnley was fishing on a lake near T 0:,..
halts, there being no other person in the boat but Rizzio. Pettg.ss
hat perceived, on being infomied, that the Italian was the so.e
e..tise of his nephew's troubles; and with that fatal dispesmen
common to all Scotsmen at the time. by which the interests If
kinsman were held superior to all other considerationa, road: 3
sign to Darnley for permission to throw the Secretary into the war,r,
where, in all probability, he would have instantly perished.
llrr-
kr, however, would not allow the Postulate to make this.saer..a
of life for his sake, however little the risk of detection No doabt,
he was afterwards provoked, not only to e‘rasent nulnkl
cf
but also to take a part in is. tie it is certainly so IMIC- In
his favour, that, at a period a little earlier, he shrunk from "sec-
tioning such a crime, although it might then have been easuantud
more conveniently, and without the least share of that risk. of
disagreeable consequences which eventually attended it.—Consts-
lie's ilitrellany, Vol. LI.. Life of King James Ike Free.

BIRTHS.
The 13th instant, at Hamburgh, the wife of Dr. J. Oldermarn.
of a yon—The Lady of T. Cave, Esq. of a daughter.—Thurttlay,
the Lady of F. Trotman, Esq. of Sisson Court, GiolleCtlttrAitt. at
daughter.—Wednesday, in Clare-street, Limerick. the Lady of li'.
F. Hartney, Esq. of a son.—ln Dublin, the Lady of the Hon. J.
Plunkett. of a son.

MARRIED.
At St. George's, Hanover-square, R. Burford, Esq. of Leieestcr-
square. :o Alias Shepley, of the same place.—At Paddington
Church, E. Duffin, Esq. to Agnes, eldest daughter of J. White,
of IVestbourne-green, and of the New-road, Alaryhbore.—
On the 22d inst. Capt. 0. Gunning, R. N. fourth son of the late
Sir G. (Sunning, Bart. of Norton, near Northampton, to MAU
Dora. ior.rth daughter of Commissioner Sir 31. Seyn.our,
Inc 2.3 d inst. Sir H. Durant, Bart. of Scotto', Hall, Nurfolic, to
Mins Agnes Marsham, youngest daughter, of R. Marbliam, EA. Of
btrartor. Strawless, county of Norfolk—On the 22d inst. E. R. G.
Robertson, Esq. of the Inner Temple, to Sarah Ann, youngest
daughter of the late R. Edmonds, Esq. of New-Bross, Surrey.

DIED.
On tile 20th inst. suddenly, at Chariton Kings. Cheitcrham,
in
the 71,: year of his age, General C. Wards of Woedlard Castle.
Ulartiorganshire, third son of the late J. Warde, Esq. of Squerick
in the county of Kent.—On the 26th of January last, at sea, on his
paasage home from Bombay, Major E. Lutyens, of His Majoty's
20th Regiment, respected and lamented by his brother officers•

Lo►uou Printed and Published by JONM Mgrs, at the SI".
Orrice No. 1, Pickett-place,Ternple Sm.