Star.
London, England, 1802-11-16 00:00:00

COURT OF KING'. BENCH, NOV. is.

The Grand Juries for the county of Middlefex
were fworn in, and Mr. jullice Gaoss delivered
to them a very folemn and able charge, in the
courfe of which he obferved upon the vices which
were molt prevalent at the prefent time, particu-
larly in and about the Metropolis ; and inftanced,
among others, the profanation of the LORD'S day,
which it imported us all, and which we were en-
joined to keep holy. He obferved alfo, that the
evils ofpeace would be almoft as great as thofe of
war, unlefs the laws made for the obfervance of
morality and religion were enforced. He took
notice of the praitice of Boxing, and Paid, that this
fpecies of exhibition in public was highly injurious
to public morals ; for, by it, multitudes were
called away from the exercife of that honeft in-
dnftry and labour, by which they gained a liveli•
hood for themfelves and their families, and were
impoverifhed, and perhaps led to the commiflion
of crimes. Thefe things were difgraceful to the
civilization and humanity of this country, inaf-
much as Tome of thole who took an a6tive part in
them, thought there was no`harm done, if they
could by fuperior dexterity and (kill, put one of
their fellow-creatures to death.

There was another fpecies of public exhibition,
which claimed the attention of the Jury, and that
was Balloons, which, for Tome months paR, had
been extremely prevalent. What ufeful purpofe
thefe exhibitions could anfwer, he was perfedly at
a lofs to know; the general effe& of them was
highly injurious to the honeft and induftrious
tradefmbn, by taking away his attention, as well
as that of his cuftomer, from their lawful purfuits,
and by promoting idlenefs and diffipation, deftroy-
lug the fruits of one day's labour entirely, and
frequently encroaching upon the next, which was
a great hindrance to the labour of thoufands of
almoft all claffes, and particularly thofe who had
no means of fubfiftence but labour. Thefe ob-
fervations the Learned Judge applied to. Balloons
in general ; with refped to Fire Balloons, ob-
jedions were more fpecific, for it was impoflible
to know where they might fall, fo that the con-
fternation and lofs they might caufe was incalcu-
lable. The Learned Judge faid, he did not make
thefe obfervations from any idea that any cafes of
this kind would come before them as Jurymen,
but from an idea that force of them were Magif-
trates ; and he reminded them how much it was
in their power to difcourage all fuch dangerous
exhibitions as thefe, as well as of the intereft of
the community in checking them. He obferved,
however, that amidft the diffipations of this great
Metropolis, he was happylo fay there was great
virtue and great vigilance in different claffes of
fociety, particularly in that dais which he had
now the honour to addrefs, who mutt be well per.
fuaded, that whatever was contrary to religion and
morality, was injurious to a Rate. The Learned
Judge concluded with exprefling his perfuation
that the Gentlemen he had now the honour of ad-
dreffing would difcharge their duty in a mariner
that would do credit to themfelvcs, and benefit to
the public.
The Court then proceeded to take bail, when
one hundred and two juilifications took place ; and
then the cafes of infolvent debtors were difpofed
of, which bufmefs was not over until half pail one
o'clock. .