Star.
London, England, 1812-11-24 00:00:00

THE KING v. FLEET.

Sir W.GARROW prayed the judgment Of the Court
against William Fleet, the proprietor and publisher
of The Brighton Herald, for a libel that had sp-
peared in that Journal, the 21st of March, on the
daughter of Lord H. C. Somerset—the Hon. Miss
Elizabeth Somerset.

The libel was then read ;—it appeared in The
Brighton Herald on the 21st of Match, in the shape
of a paragraph, setting forth, that 4. a faux pal h4d
been discovered in /ugh life, by which two Noble
Families had been plunged into the deepest distress ,
and affliction—that it had been occasioned by an I
(Nicer in the Hussars, who bid subsequently pro.
mised the lady.marriage, but the Noble Lord, his
father, had threatened hire with d4eisiwritanceif he'

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complied with any such promise."—Affidavitsmadts
by Lord Somerset and others were read, in which
they stated their full belief, that the above paragraph
was intended to 6x an. allusion upon the Hon. Hiss
tomerset, stating their reasons for such belief. •
William Patterson, staff clerk to the regiment of
which Lord Somerset was the commander, and in
which Captain Wyndham, the " Officer in the Hus-
sars" alluded to, deposed by affidavit; that having
had frequeht occasions to call at The Brighton He-
rald Office, on business, he met with fleet at such
office, on the •20th March. On entering the office
Fleet beckoned him to go into a back room, and de. •
ponent complied ; when there, Fleet sail to hem
" Have you heard any thing about Miss Someriet
and Captain Wyndham ?" No," replied deponent:
-" Oh, you must have hear,l," continued Fleet—.
" Miss Somerset has commit.cd a 11i/ with Captain
Wyndham, and she is now two months gone; he has
offered to marry her, but his father will not suffer
him." To this deponent replied, le I will not be-
lieve it—there is no truth in it." The next day de-
ponent saw in The Brighton Herald the paragraph
above gives.
In reply to this, Fleet, in his affidavit, stated, that
the above deponent (Patterson) was in the habit of
procuring information for the Paper, for which he
(Fleet) paid ; and that the conversation respecting
Miss S. had been a private and confidential one, and
that deponent had nut expected it to be divulge.' in
such a manner. With respect to the paragraph itself,
it was published in the hurry of buSiness, and without
deponent having had an opportunity of reflecting on
its libellous and scandalous nature.

Another affidavit tees put in and read, in which
Fleet was deposed to have said, when convening on
the libellous paragraph, the licentiousness and im-
morality of Brighton are such as to demand the cor-
rection of a free press."
Fleet next deposed, in an affidavit, that he had
done all in his power to conciliate and to make repa-
ration to Lord Charles Henry Somerset for thetinjury
done him, he having ever been deponent's benefactor
and friend. Deponent had written to his Lordship
by way of atonement; and had stated therein the
circumstances attendant upon the publication. ,The
paragraph, enclosed in a letter, had been found in
deponent's communication box ; and the letter stated,
that the intelligence disclosed in tit libellous para-
graph would be 4. very at-amble to the fathionable
world." The paragraph was handed to the printets,
and deponent again saw it- in a proof of the press,
bat even then he had " no decisive idea that it ,al-
luded to Miss Somerset." lie, therefore, suffered it
to pass, and into the Paper it went, but without any
thing like evil of deliberate intention on the part of
deponent.

Another affi iavit stated, that Fleet acknowledged
to the Rev. Mr. Carr, of Brighton, that the lady
alluded to in the paragraph was the Honourable
Miss Somerset.
A further affidavit, from Mr. Fleet, gave art ac-
count of Captain Wyndham having called on him;
and after getting him into a private room, that Cap-
tain Wyndham had given hifn a severe horse-whip•
ping on the 26th March.
Sir W. GARKOW, fix the prosecution, could not
but obseive that some bf the paragraeh, in Mr. Fleet's
series Zif afsdavits, had found way there much in the
same manner as had the paragraphs into the Paper,
according to its proprietor's account—" in the burry
and bustle of business ;" °Ebel-se/4o he could not ac-
count for their appearance. The defendant and his
attorney seemed Much surprised at the unaccommo-
dating disposition of the noble prosecutor, but did
they suppose it possible to sett e such a matter in
arty other way theft by going Lefure their Lordships
Let their Lordships reflect on what would have been
the consequences Of compromise--why, " that
fashienabie world," and those tea.tables, where the
former batch of scandal had been so very accep.
table," would have immediately said, on seeing no-
thing more than a contradictory paragtaph and-
such a ah ! this is vastly pretty-6„t we its
how it it the matter is quite evident—the noble fa-
milies don't like to pursue the affair More publicly.
Had there not been something in the first charge, the
Paper would not have got off so .easily." Such
would have been the surmises and whisperings,
had the Noble Lord persevered in calling for it pub,
lie judgment. As to the beating of Fleet by Cap-
tain Wyndham, he would not say any thing, tlar
Captain being about to be brought up for judg:
ment for that conduct; and if the mention of that
fact by the defendant sheaved any thing, it wag
the indecency of prosecuting him on that accaunt
But what was the character of the libel ? Why the
defendant himself should tell them I it was calcula-
t:d ro plunge two noble families (the houses of So-,
merset and Egremont) into the deepest distress and
affliction. That was the defendant's own description
of it, and it was a correct one. He ridicule.d the im:
pudence of defendant's talking about correcting the
licentious and immoral people by his free press !
He, however, could not but considet that this maa;
to whom Lord Somerset had been such a benefactor
and friend, did not stop to examine whether there
was any truth in. this precious morsel of scandal, be-
fore he inserted it. gut the Paper must be made up,
to go off by the Post, and in it most go the scandal,
though it wounded a friend and overwhelmed hini
with affliction. Newspapers, if well-conducted, were
highly useful to the community; but otherwise they
were the most abominable nuisances that any country
could be afflicted with. At all events, those who
conducted newspapers //lust take care what they in-.
sett, or be answerable.
Mr. Bnonunast spoke briefly for thedefendant, sub-
mitting that the contrition for, and abhorrefice of the
libel, evinced by Mr. Fleet, gave him a strong claim
to their Lordships' judgment, in mercy.
The sentence of the Court was, that the prisonere
Fleet, pay aline of eetoo, and be imprisoned in the
gaol of Horsham for three Calendar Wriths.
The Court was occupied in hearing these iudg-
ments, some few Motions of course intervening, till
half past four o'clock. •
Mr. Jiistice Guose was again absent, on account of ,
indisposition. •
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COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, NOVEMBER. 23.
Lord Chief Justice MANSSIELD sat at Nisi Prigs
this day, but, nothing of any interest occurred, as his
Lordship's attention was occupied by a few unde-
fended causes, which were soon disposed of_ and the.
Coin rose before one o'clock.

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PO L ICE.
UNION HALL.--A respectable coal-dealer was
) esterday summoned on an information charging
him with selling coals in s mks of less dimensions than
those mentioned in the Act of Parliament. The coals
had been sent by him to a retail dealer, in Worcester.
street, and whilst unloading there the sacks were
seized, and measured by Goff and Clark, and were
taken to the Office. Mr. GURNEY attended for the
prosecution, and the sacks being measured in the
presence of the Magistrate, and found to be consi-
derably less than the dimensions mentioned in the.
Act, viz. four feet two inches in length, and two feet
one inch in breadth, the Learned Counsel contended
the Magistrate was bound to convict the defendant.
The defendant produced several respectable coal.
dealers, who all stated that the sacks in question
would contain full three bushels. Mr. GURNEY,
however, observed, that he had been employed by
the trade to tiame this Act, and to watch its pro-
gress through the House of Commons, and had been
instructed by the coal-dealers themselvesito contend
that coal sacks, at the time of stamping and when
new, should not be less than four feet four inches in
length, and two feet two inches in breadth ; and that
It the time of using they should not be less than
four feet two inches by two feet one inch, or that they
would not hold three-bushels without waste. This,
therefine, being an Act of their own making, the
"Magistrate was bound to convict upon it. The Ma-
gistrate being of the same opinion, the defendant
was convicted in the penalty of 40s. per sack and
costs upon each sack seized, amounting to twelve in
number.

The prisoners /rioter and eflkn, convicted of the
robbery of the Sisters hoy, together with another pri-
soner, named Ed!, for forgery, confined in Newgate,
`attempted
.to make their escape in the course of last
week, having been provided with a crow-bar, chissels,
apring-saw, &c. which were discovered by the vigi-
lance of the keeper. Since the detection of this plan,
they have been loaded with additional irons.
Saturday morning, between one and two o'clock,
the premises belonging to Mr. WALKLEt, corn-chand-
ler, in Great Peter-street, Westminster, were entered
by a gang of viftains, who made their way into the
house by forcing open the shop doors, and afterwards
cut a pane of glass out of the parlour-door.; but, find-
ing the aperture too small to gain admittance, they
broke open the door, which was double locked, by
means of a crow-bar. They next proceeded to the
bureau, which they also broke open, and took out 7
silver spoons, three pounds-worth of half pence, a
silver coral, and several articles of wearing apparel.
A daring attempt was made on Thurday night, to
break into the farm-home belonging to Mr. Worm,
of Hanger-hill, near Acton. The thieves first tried
to enter at the parlour window, but failed, owing to
some iron bars fixed' inside. They then attempted to
cut a passsage through the main brick work, and had
succeeded in making an aperture in the wall, almost
sufficiently Large to admit a boy into the bed-room of
Mr. BRICKENCALL, the bailiff, when they were dis C-
overed, but unfortunately effected their escape.
Same night, a large quantity of linen . was stolen
from the premises of Mrs. HEATHER, a laundress, in
the above 'neighbourhood, supposed by the same des-
perate gang,
Monday seinnight a sloop lying in Whitton Chan-
nel, upset, by which unfortunate accident the Cap-
tain, his wife, and four children, and two men, one
of them a blacksmhh, belonging to Winningham,
were drowned. One man, a carpenter, got into the
boat, and was saved.

Tl.e Dublin Evening Post states, that as Mr.
O'CoNWEL, of Grenagh, in the county of Kerry, bro•
ther of Counsellor O'CoNNEL, was riding on Friday
se'nnight, near Killarney, he was met by two car-
riages full of gentlemen, and while he was engaged
in speaking to one of the party, be was addressed in
very abusive language by Mr. MAURICE O'CONNER.
This Mr. O'CoNsIEL resented with a blow, on which
Mr. O'CONNER drew a pistol from his bosom, and
fired at him, the ball from which grazed Mr. O'CoN-
NEL'S arm. Mr. O'CONNER, the account adds, has
absconded.

THE MARKETS.

CORN TRADE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
Sin—l lately, through the medium of your vs-
luable Paper, conveyed my opinion on the state of
the Corn Trade, and pointed out the extreme dispro-
portion between the price of Wheat and Flour. I
now beg leave to state, that unless some amei;dment
is made to the Bill, brought in by the late Alderman
Skinner, for regulating the price of Bread, that ne-
cessary article of subsistence will never be at its pro-
per standard. We know that the bakers never use
the finest flour—very good is sold to them at the
price of seconds, which makes very passable bread.—
It is only in the households of the Nobility and Gen-
try, and amongst the pastry cooks and confectioners,
that superfine flour is used. And I know it to be a
fact, that sales are made out at 3s. and 4s. per sack
higher than the baker pays, to • evade the Mehl-
weigher's return—we may also observe, that in fine
flour, Red Wheat, and those of second quality, are
used—the price of which is 10s. or 15s. per quarter
lower. If these observations, Mr. Editor, should
tend to any public advantage, I shall feel thyself
highly gratified in being the instrument, through
your means, of giving them publicity. nolasrus.

CORN MARKET, MARK LANE, NOVEMBER 23.
English Wheat, 304. 1145.1335. 1 Brown do. 40s. 435.

Foreign do. 83s. 1 t 28. 1341. Oats 445. 50s. 525.
Dantzick, -to - Horse Beans, 7es. 86s.
Rye, 68s. 70.. Tick Ditto, 745. 82s.
Barley, 625. 665. 6ss. Hog Peas 78s. 82s.
Malt, 1086.1145. Boilers 105 s. 1201.
Caraway, per cwt. 725. 751. Canary Seed 98s. 1201. 1355.
Coriander, do. 40s. 445. Win terTares, 005.005. per bush
Bares, per bushel, 165.181. I Rape Seed £6O, £6B, per lass.
White Mustard, do. 30s. 331. Flour .105 s. to 110 s. ,per sacil
Overage Price of Corn In England and Wales from the returns
ending the•l4th of November, 1812.
Wheat. Rye Barley. Oats. &Sal. Pease.
S. d. la.d. I
s. d. I s. d. 11. d. s. d.
122 8 78 8 64 7544 5 91 11 182 7
The average Price of Sugar, computed from the returns made
In the week ending the 18th day of November, is 475. ld. per cwt.