Star.
London, England, 1824-02-13 00:00:00

ADELPHI

Though FIELDING'S Tort Jones be perhaps, even to
this day, the very best novel in the English language,
and T. DIBDIN has shewn himself, upon the main, the
most skilful of his day in the meek of dressing up a popu-
lar novel into an amusing draina, we cannot very much
commend the selection made at this amusing little
Theatre for the leading performance of the week. The
chief merits of the novel itself are of a nature that defy
tr tnsplauting to the scene of theatric action, and the
dramatist has not made use of all his accustomed skill
in meeting the difficulties he has chosen to brave :
while, at the same time, the cast of the characters, on
the present occasion, is far from applying to the best
adv.tiltage the assemblage of talent which the company
of this minor theatre may very fairly boast. The per-
formance, however, has brought good attendances, and
swith the auxiliaries of the second price, even full houses.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER COURT-THIS DAY.

The appeal of Mr. Clement against the fine of 5001.
imposed on him by the Lord Chief Justice, fur a con-
tempt of Court, in publishing the proceedings against
the Cato-street Conspirators while the trials, were yet
pending, came on this day, in the above Court, before
Lord Birxt-ev, as Chancellor of the Duchy, and Mr.
Justice BAYLEY and Mr. Justice HOLIWYD, as Asses-
sors. Or. behalf of the Crown, the ATTORNEY and
SOLICITOR-GENERAL attended; and Messrs. --SrARLE?T,
BROUGHAM, and DENSIAN, for the Appellant.
Mr. SCARLET? rose and stated, that the question
came into this Court from the Old Bailey, and that in
a case of this nature, this Court possessed similar powers
to those of the Court of Exchequer, and were therefore
competent to set aside the estreat, provided it could be
shewn that there was anything irregular appertaining
to it. He should be able, he hoped, to establish that it
was either a process which the Court of Session had no
jurisdiction to issue, or a process which was on the
face of it irregular, and in either case to be set aside. This
was a fine imposed by Judges, without any trial or re-'
golar proceeding, or any of that constitutional examina-
tion which mostly preceded judgment. Cases of this
kind were to be regarded as excep; ions, and not as part
of the common law of the land ; and, in that case, the
anus probandi will lay on the opposite side of proving
the right to the power as thus exercised, either by
statute, or by inveterate usage. This was the first
case 4 the kind, and it was therefore important
that it should be supported by strong and decisive
testimony, before it should be suffered to become a
precedent—a kind of justification for future exercise
of a similar power. He would submit four proposition
to the Court, and which, if true, or even if one only
of them were conceded, would, he apprehended,
establish that the jurisdiction exercised by the Session
was one for which it had no authority. The first was,
that the. Court of Jail Delivery had no-right to issue
it of attachment. Secondly, that the power of pu-
nishing for contempt committed out of the view of the
Cow, by one who owes no suit to that Court, and
bound by no official duty to attend the Court, is nut
derived thereby, nor does depend on the power of pu-
nishing in a summary way. Thirdly, that the order
not to publish the trials whilst any were depending,
was an order on all the King's subjects, amounting to a
laws which the Csait had no jurisdiction to make.—
Fourthly, that if the order could be considered as an
order made in the particular trial, and obedience exacted
wit a; an order in the cause, it ought to have been made
in writing, and served on the party before he could be
punished for a contempt in disobeying it.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY, on looking at the estreat, found
that it did not appear therefrom that this contempt was
net committed in Court, and that therefore the estreat
did not give fair scope to the objections raised. He
would therefore propose that they should put it into
record in the Court of Exchequer. It did not appear
from the estreat how the appelant was convicted of this
contempt, and for aught they knew legally, it might
have been by a Jury.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL observed, that, from the
importance of the subject, he was anxious to have it
fully argued, and therefore would have no objection to
their putting in a plea, and arguing thereon.
After some further discussion, it was settled that a
plea should be put in by the Counsel for the Appellant,
embracing all the facts of the case, and that thereon they
would proceed to argue the general question, whether
the uoges of Session had power so to fine or not? The •
case is to come on a day or two before next Term

coutur of vK.ciiuguint, FEBRUARY 12.
The Court was occupied most part of the day With
motions of course, of no pul;lic interest. Towards the
close of the day the following, motion was made :

THE KING U. caouctz.
Sir WILLIAM OWEN moved to discharge the recog-
nizances of the defendant in this case. Crouch was a
notorious body•snatcher, and having been ordered to
find bail for this offence, he ran off from his sureties ;
at the Sessions, in consequence of his not appeat ing, the
recognizances were estreated into the Exchequer, but in
a short time the sureties succeeded in apprehending
him, when he was tried and found guilty, and is now
undergoing his sentence in prison. The Learned Counsel
u,erefore moved to discharge the recognizances.
17. 'Caron GA1"..10W." This is a grave subject, Sir William,
the only course we can pursue, is to grant your application."

Mr. DORRIEN MAGESS gave a grand Ball and Supper
nrr Tuesday evening at Hammerwood Lodge, near East
Grinstead. The gardens were illuminated, and the
plendid suite of apartments were all thrown open for
first time for a series of years. The fete was given
!n. honour of Mr. NIAGENs son coming of age. An the
If the neighbourhood were present
Yesterday morning, at ten o'clock,
upon Mr. Woolridge, poulterer,
ick-square, by those sharpers who
ling into circulation counterfeit
rery elegantly attired entered Mr.
ordered a brace of foss is to be sent
.2; the price was agreed on, 85.6 d.
saying the servant was to bring
with him. Soon after Mr. Wool-
rod change for the sovereign, and
id or- Everettr.streer, the Lady met
cy, you have been a long time."
6d. change, together with the
a sovereign, as he supposed, and
rant brought the sovereign, and
uely discovered it to be a counter-
2, Lansdown-place, to inquire for
'eh person lived there, or could be
vas attired as a country lady, with
-got, and rather lusty.

Nobility and Gentry of
oil rile occasion.
SOVEREIGNS.—I
a triL I; was played off
..verett-street, Brunswil
a;-,2 n the habit of send
overeigns. A female ve
Irooli-idgef shop, and a
z•) Lar.sdown-place, No.:
ar.d 6e Lady retired, s
t:ange for a sovereign
':age sent his servant ar
as
b got to the end
-1113. exclaiming," Mel I
3'2 then took the 13s.
f'lvils, gave the servant
t •f/creparied ; the ser v:
immediat
fej:,aod hastened (Awl
z:•v female, but no such
ali heard off. She wa
f!:41) upon her counte