Star.
London, England, 1822-04-20 00:00:00

11ILDI)LESFx SESSIONS.

Yesterday Mr. C. Pnit.t.trs made application to the
Court to permit the indentures between an appren-
tice, named Oakley, on the one part, and fii. maker,
Mr. E. Edwards, a watch-cap-maker, residing at
laggerstone, on the other hart, to be cancelled ; and
to order the restitution of 231. which was paid at the
time of binding, as a premintU.
Mr. 131111.1.11'3 commenced by stating that his ap-
plication was grounded en two poiots—first, that the
master had not acted accot ding to the covenants con-
tained in the indentu: e, inasmuch that he had not in-
structed the boy in the art and science of watch-cap-
making, but in point of fact had employed him in
the drudgery of his household ; in the next place, he
had inflicted a series of unlawful punishments en the
boy, fir.t, by keeping him tip to all hours of the morn-
ing, in order to let him in after he had been indulging
the whole of the preceding night in drunkenness;
and in case the boy did not rise the next morning
preci,ely at seven o'clock, he (the master) would strip
the bed-clothes off him, and drench him with a pail
of cold. water. The Learned Counsel was positive,
when he called witnesses to these facts, the Court
would give their judgment in favour of his client.

Mr. Frederick IlnSkeen stated that he had resided for a
length of time la the house of the defendant, !wards, during
which time he had every opportunity of witnessing the manner
in which the boy was treated. The defendant, who was of
TUT irregular habits, would stop out till three or four o'clock
in the morning, and the boy was compelled to sit on the stairs
by himself, with a lighted. lamp, till his master came in. This
was almost every night in the week. Notwithstanding the un-
reasonable hours the ho) retired to rest at, he was always com-
pelled by the defendant to quit his bed at seven o'clock the
next morning; and if he slept beyond that hour, the bed-clothes
were drawn off him, and he was doused with cold water.--;
Witness had beard the boy frequently complain to his master of
this treatment, and he replied, that he would do so whenever he
thought proper. Witness had seen the boy occasionally working'
at the business, but as frequently scouring the stairs of.the house,
and assisting his mistress at ne:qtework ; and if ever he refused to
scour the stairs, or to work at the ntvdle, his pocket•money wa3
stopped, and he was kept from going out on the Sunday: Wit-
'less had often heard the defendant s.iy that 'Rim (meaning the
apprentice) was a stupid fellow, and he Wished he could get
rid of him. •

• Thomas-Oakley, the apprentice, stated that he had lived three
years and a half as an apprentice to Edwards. lie had frequently
beaten him about the head and body with a stick. Ile was always
kept up till shree nr four o'clock in the morning to let his master
in, who fisqueuted bal!s, pl.iys, &c. and if he did not get up at
his usual hour in the morning, his master would throw water
over him. lie had frequently been compelled to hens towels for
his mistress, and act as housentaid.•

• Mr. WALFORD said that the boy had, during the
time he was with his master, committed two or three
felonies, and in one instance he had broken open a
desk and stolen £S. No master Was bound to keep
his apprentice in his house if he turned out to be a
thief; and the Learned Counsel contended that the
application !Or the restitution of the premium could
not be complied with. Ile could not only prove that
he had robbed his master by several witnesses, but
by his own confession in writing, stating different.
items of the manner in which he expended part of
the mone,y•—(flue the acknowledgment was put in
and read: the tbllowing is the literal copy):

A pair of boots purchased and presented to Miss
navy, of Norman-street
Books and a brooch to ditto -
Rabbit for mother - - -
Expenses at going to see Tuns mut Jerry witli Bliss
Fossil - - - - 0 7 6
bitto on a party of pleasure by steam-boat to Purfleet 0 15 0
Rabbit-hutch 31. rabbit-man Is. - - 0 4 0
Ring - - - - 0 5- 0

- X 0 15 0
- 0 11 6
0 3 0

JCS 1 0

Oakley—" I confess I did break open the desk and
steal EA, but I can't at present recollect in what man-
ner I spent the whole"—(Loud laughter).
Mr. WALFORD contended that he had shewn quite
sufficient to counter act the application altogether;
but to make his case stronger, he called
Mr. Edwards, the master, who proved that the boy
had robbed him, and that he had taken him to a po-
lice-office on the charge, but had agreed not to pro-
secute, upon his father paying him four pounds. He
admitted keeping him up late, but allowed him to
lie in bed next morning to a late hour. He also ad-
Mitted throwing about halfa pint of water over him
one morning, but nat a pail-full as stated by Mr.
Phillips. The boy knew his business as well, although
he had been with him only three years and a half, as
many who had served the whulo of their appreutice•

PRICE OF LEATHER.
Butts, SO to 561bs each ~ • 18d to 2041 per lb.
Ditto, SG to GGlbs each ...............2441 to 23d
Dressing Hides - 174 to Ind
Fine Coach Hides... ......... ........ ....... .....19d to cod
Crop Hides, 35 to 401lis fur cutting 17d to 11i
Ditto 45 to ............. f.:.(41
('alf Skins, 50 to 401bs 0"1 to" gad
Dittk 50 to 701bs 1
to -4
Ditto 70 to 1101bs 264 to ,Z.G'd
Small Seals ; Oreentead) led tv 204
Large ditto 144 to 184

Tanned Horse !fides
-Spanish Horse !fides.

13J to Ist!
I6d to 20d