Star.
London, England, 1824-12-08 00:00:00

TO THE REDBREAST.

Yes, my sweet bird ! the dull decaying year
Aluch needs thy music, for the suns of Spring
Sit in the silent shade with flagging wing,
And still Creation waits, with anxious ear,
Thy ever pleasing sung. Thou seem'st to me
The cherub Consolation at the bed
Of withering Age, when summer friends are led,
('peering his hours with heavenly minstrelsy !
Like the declining year, I too have known
The sweet Spring-time, in cloudless beauty fair,
And Winter's storms may find me left alone,
linscreen'd and naked as the leafless tree •
Thrice happy, Olen !•wouild Heaven in merry spare,
One friend as constant and as true u thee !

OLD BAILEY. DECEMBER 7.

CONDUCT OF THE SUMMONING ( FFICER, AND FLIGHT OF
HIS DEPUTY.
Saturday List, Mr. Ames, of Lower-street; Islington,
applied to be excused from serving on the Jnry in the
evening, on account or urgent private business. The ap-
plication being refu-ed, Mr. Ames then statad that se-
veral of his neighbours had been excused by paying a
gratuity : hence he considered tliat those who never
tampered with the officer should be allowed a reason-
able indulgence. Tills statement led to an inquiry,
when Mr. Griffith Todd, and several other Gentlemen
of the Jury, Cully established its correctness. The Court,
then ordered the case to be brought forward this day,
and gave notice for the summoning officer and his de-
puty (the person charged with taking bribes) to attend.
At nine o'clock this morning, Mr. Seijeant ARABIN,
Sir JAMES SHAW, and Mr. Sheriff BROWN, took their
seats, %%hereupon Mr. ,Shelton, the Clerk of the Ar-
raigns, inquired whether the officers, whose presence
was required, were in attendance? when he was in-
formed that the principal was in Court, but his deputy
was not. The summoning officer then stood forth, and
stated that the person who acted as his deputy (and
who had been accused of malpractices) left town yes-
terday for Bristol.
• JUDGE—How came it that he left just now, when he
must have been aware of the requisition to attend
the Court?
Officer—l believe he is gone in consequence of the'
death of a brother, or brother-in-law.
ALDERMAN—This eonchict is extremely wrong. It is
only' a few days since this matter was before the Court,
and it is impossible but to think that the party whose
presence is required must have known of the fact; or,
if he did not,.it was the imperative duty of the sum-
moning officer, who is answerable for the conduct of
those he employs, to have informed him.
Sir J. SHAW again expatiated on the extraordinary
and culpable conduct of the officer. It was quite clear,,
from the acknowledgment of several respectable per-1
sons, that bribes had been tendered and received ; there-
fore, as the matter involved the privileges of all persons
eligible to serve on Juries, and the dignity of the Court,
as well as the character of one of its officers, he would
again express his determination that the subject should
be fully investigated.
—The COURT then conferred for a considerable time ;
after which,
Sir JAMES SHAW said the Court had come to a de-
termination that a public prosecution should be insti-
tuted against the summoning officer, and that process
of action should issue forthwith. _ _ _

On heating the communication, the officer said he
hoped the Court would alter their determination, on
account of his having a large family.
Mr. Serjeant ARABIN told 'aim he had no right to
complain, as he had brought all upon hiiiiself by his
own conduct and wilful neglect.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, DECEMBER 7.
Antonio Massr, an Italian, and dealer in clothes, re-
siding at No. 3, Thackum's-court, Church-lane, Strand,
was indicted for receiving goods, the property of Mr.
Weiss, of the Strand, knowing the same to be stolen.
The prisoner was found Guilty on two several charges,
and sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment in the
House of Col rection, and hard labour.
Richard Sheldrakc was charged with a misdemeanor,
in personating bail on the 10th of October, 1823, at
Marlborough-street office. There was another charge
against him for a similar act committed eu the 29th of
o..tober, 1823.
From the office books, produced by Mr. Fitzpatrick,
the chief clerk of Marlborough-street, it appeared that
on the 2d October, one John Mac Gibbon was charged
with an assault, and committed to Tuthill-fields prison
from want of bail. On the 10th of the same month he
came forward with tsso sureties, one in the name of
Henry Dobson, of No. 77, Curtain-road. The person
who gave this name and address, was proved by one of
the officers, to have been the pi ironer at the bar. Mac
Gibbon not having subsequently appeared to answer to
the charge, the recognisances became forfeited, and in-
qairy having been made at 77, Curtain-road, it was
found that the prisoner was not the person he repre-
sented himself to be.
Henry Dobson said be resided, on or about the 10th
of October, in the Curtain-toad. He knew the pri-
soner, who occasionally transacted business for him in
the oil trade, for which he paid him a commission. Oa
the 10th of October, 1823, prisoner asked him to take
a wtilk towards lklarlborougli-street Office. He did so,
but he had nn idea at the time th it he intended to r fen
himself as bail. Witness had no experience in matters
of load. His bail was refused twice in civil suits, and
he was once sent to Newgate, because he told the truth.
This was tie evidence in the first case ; the second
char?n WAi not gene into. Verdict—Guilty.
fire se.,tence ul the Court was, that he should be im-
prisoneJ for eighteen months in the House or Correction,
and kept to hard labour. •
Robert Johnson, a miserable-looking wretch, was
found Guilty of stealing a pewter pot in the house of a
publican, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment
and hard labour. At the time of his apprehension
there we: e found upon his person seven'uther pint and
quart pots, belonging to diffe:ent publicans ; the charge
of stealing on the premise, however, could not be
brought home to him, except in the single instance.
Patrick Sheehan, the particulars of whose case were
mentioned in our Paper of Monday last, was brought
tip to receire the sentence of the Conn, which was,
that he be confined six months in the House of Cur tec-
tion, and to be kept to hard labonr.
The business of the Session having closed, the Court adjourned
to Thursday week.

The Horse Fairs at Newton Stewart, aild Kelton Hill, were well
attended by dealers, and lively young an: mals sold remarkably high.
Roth roadsters and strong horses fit for draught brought in some
elus from £4O. to £5O.