Star.
London, England, 1830-01-04 00:00:00

CONTEMPT OF COURT.

In 1793, when Swift entombed the revision atealliver's
Monk, be made the wait bitter additions to the diketbe
the Law and its Preteens... About the same time, he Me
humours with a most extraordinary mock trim in ridicule of the
Assizes then shout to Issfaeld in the county of Moth. The seem
was Anisette, the house of Mr. Ludlow, where the Jackson, Gm-
tans, Mr. Stopford, and other favourites of the Dean, were &mem-
bled. Sheridan, it seems, bad bees guilty of a petty delinquency in
his chamber. The rest shall be abridged from the narrative of Mr.
Theopblius Swift :—" A tribunal is erected, and all things prepared
in due and regular form. A plain kitchen table Is turned with
its top downwards, and into this dock Sheridan is put velem and
bare-headed ; while Swift himself mounts the seat of patela, with
his own wig, frizzed and bushed into a furl bottom, and set in-
verted on his head. A servant maid's scarlet cloak is lung over
his shoulders, to represent the robes of a judge. and Aaron's band
is converted into that of a Chief Justice. The Grand Jury are
sworn and the bill found ; the Petty Jury sworn in their turn, and
the prisoner put on his trial. The crier commands silence, and
the lawyers are ranged. The utmost gravity and decorum prevail,
and the only smile that pained on the occasion arose from the lull-
anus circumstance of Mr. &upford, who, being fee'd for the Crown,
declared be could not do his duty as a true lawyer unless be should
be fee'd on both sides. A second fee is therefore given him, in
open Court. on behalf of the prisoner; and be told my mother
be actually received by the double fee eighteen shillings. He is
said to have cenducted himself with wonderful humour and
address through the whole of the trial The Jackson and Graz-
tans bad likewise their respective stations in the cause. Most of
the servants are examined, and, in spite of prayers and intrudes,
Mrs. Ludlow herself, who is made to swear on the vessel alleged
to have suffered pollution. Their verdict, as might be expected,
is that of guilty; and Swift, with all the solemnity of justice, pro-
nounces sentence of death on the trembling Sheridan, awfully con-
eluding with "the Lose have mercy on your soul!" A rope Is
produced; Sheridan sees be shall be banged preform's out of the
dock be springs, and flies up stairs, the whole Court in full cry
after him. But fear having added wings to his feet, he bad suld
disc doe to bolt his chamber-door, which he barricadeed as well
as he could with what furniture was in the room. Here for two
boars he remained besieged : at length be capitulated, on a solemn
assunnce that be should not be hanged. In a day or two the
Judges arrive, and bearing the contempt that Swift had upon
them, sent an express with the account of it to the Lord Lime-
nant, who very wisely laughed at the frolic.. Not finding the re-
dress
they expected, they made a formal complaint to the Bishops,
who bad witty resolved to take up the matter seriously; but one
more prudent than the re.t recommended that the whole should
be hashed up."—Sie raker Sates" Mambo Visill."—We know
what oar Attorney-General would have advised, bad he
been living. told applied to at the period io question ; a period, la
ud
the way, which, on the late trials, Sir James so strangely a
to as being free from vehement attacks on publich characters.—
Bouniner.

ROBBERY AT MR. WHITEAVES' SHOP.

IPORTIIIII PA 11111CITLA I&

A daring and extensive robbery was committed on Friday
unarming, between three and six o'clock, in the premises of Mr.
Whiteaves, jeweller and silversmith, Mb. Fleet-street. The
house in ululation is situated in the most public part of Rott-
enest, and yet the thieves obtained en entrance by forcing
up the lion grating in front of the house, into which, it
would seem, a boy was thrust, and in an instant it was closed
down again. The young thief then entered the kitchen, and
came up into the shop, and having admitted his companion at
the front door, they entire h' cleared the shop-windows of the
watches and small articles of plates, mud then broke open several
drawers and cabinet., and took out some rare and valuable gold
coins; among which were a sovereign of Edward VI. half ditto of
Henry VIII.. M. piece of Charles I. live shinier of the Com-
monwealth, a sovereign of Elisabeth, throe or four foreign nobles,
pattern of 7s. piece of George 111. guineas of George I. 11. lIL
William and Mary, half ditto; as. pieces of James I. Charles I.
&c. Silver Greek coins, Macedon, Syracuse, Corinth; and some
Roman. The other articles which the villains possessed themselves
of were six gold watches, about thirty-six silver watches, and lever
horisemuls, various gilt watches, and gold watch-keys, rings, about
20 gold seals, three gold chains, and several articles of jewellery ;
gravy, table, tea, and dessert spoons, forks, mugs. lab-slices, and
five silver snuffboxes ; a set of new coins op to the double
sovereign, and other valuable articles, furnishing a rich booty.
The family of Mr. Whitesves slept in the upper part of the
bone, and were not in the least alarmed by the operations of the
thieves. They made no noise in forcing open the drawers and
cabinets from which they obtained their booty ; nor did they enter
the parlour. where very extensive property was liresild; They
left a crowbar, a centre-bit, a dark lambing, a and two
pockeobandkerchiefs. The city oMeers who ?kited . Whit.
aves's home on Friday expressed their surprise that the matrons
could be effected undiscovered. The grating, which Is Axed in a
wooden frame, was firmly fastened in the ground, and must have
required great exertion and strength to raise it up. The lustre-
ment that appears to bate been used on the occasion was a crow-
bar; but how it could be used without exciting the attention of
passenprs, and, above all, of the guardians of the night. several of
whom 'were stationed in and about &. Dunstan's watcbhouse, is a
most extraordinary circumstance. A reward of ASO is offered
fur the discovery of the offenders.