Star.
London, England, 1809-05-26 00:00:00

, •
ilb -
TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
amm.•••••••••
.• • •
An account of a Petition presented by General
Gascorstz in the House of Commons, on the 19th
instant, concerning the Duty of Salt imported into
Ireland, having been very imperfectly, and in some
instar.ces erroneously reported, I will thank you to
state the same in your nett, to be as follows:
The Duty on British Salt imported into Ireland is •
at present two shillings per bushel of 56 poundsrand
the duty on salt imported there from Fra,ee, Spain,
or the Mediterranean, is only'one shilling , and flee-
pence per bushel of 56 pounds. The • British Salt
Manufacturers therefore petition Parliament, that a
grievance so unjust and impolitic in its effects may be
redressed. either by the British Salt Duty being low-
ered to that now payable on Foreign Salt, or the Fo-
,
reign Salt Duty be raised to the duty now payable
on British Salt.
They trust to the justice and equity of a British
Parliament, that it shall no longer be said that a Bri-
tish staple commodity pays a larger duty in any part'
of the British Dominions than the same article pays
when imported from foreign parts. The Petitioners
ask for no exclusion, but only equalization. T. S.
May ze., IsO9.
LAW INTELLIGENCE.
•
eOURT OF KING'S BENCH, MAY 25.
ORIMSTEAD v. SHIRLEY.
This was an action of trover to recover the plate
and househilld linen of an old Gentleman of the name
of Grimstead, the uncle of the plaintiff, who was also
his executor.
It appeared in evidence, that the old Gentleman
was formerly a brewer at Stratford, and had accumu-
lated a handsome fortune. On the death of his wife
he went to live with the defendant, whip was a near
relation of his wife, and he had always expressed his
• intention of giving his wife's jewels and his plate be-
tween the daughters of the defendant, and the house-
had linen to the defendant's wife.. He, however
took some disgust at them, and nude a will, by whicl;
be bequeathed those articles to his nephew, the
Plaint'
The defence was, that the old man bad given them
to the family in his life time, before he took his pique
against them ; to prove this, the two daughters were
called, who expressly stated, that he delivered the ar-
ticles in question to their mother, thatle gave them
the pearls, &c. and a paper was produced in his hand-
writing, by which he distributed the articles between
the different members of the defendant's family.
T. Sims, the Attorney for old, Grimstead, proved,
that when he lel. the family of the Shirleys he came
to consult with him; and desired him to commence
an action for the recovery of his plate, &c. He ac-
cordingly made application to Shirley for it, who re-
fused to give it up, saying that he had rendered a ser-
vice to the old man, for which he offered him a draft
for 10001 but that he would not accept it, on condi-
tion that he then gave his chi Wren the plate which he-
bad promised them at his death.
The Jury found a verdict for the defendant for the
plate, linen, and other material articles ; and for the
plaintiff for one or two other trifling articles which
the defendant had in his possession.
BLEwITT V. CHAPMAN.
This was an action of damages brought against
the defendant for negligence in his professional ca-
pacity as. attorney, whereby it is alledged, the plain-
tiff lost the security which he otherwise would have
had for a demand against a man named Marsden, for
.5001. and upwards.
. The plaintiff and Marsden were both horse dealers,
and the latter indebted to the former in the sum be.
fore stated. The defendant's agent in town sued out
process against Marsden, who gave notice of bail, to
which exceptions were taken. The agent, instead
of desiring an inquiry into the bail; demanded a plea,
which Marsdea's attorney gave, and thereupon he
lost his claim against the bail. It appeared that these
bail were men of straw, the one being a sort of clerk
of the stables to Marsden, and the other his uncle and
helper.—Atter the case had proceeded some length,
the defendant proposed to give up his demand for
the bill of costs, and to withdraw a Juror, which the
' plaintiff's Counsel acceded to.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH observed, that this was the
most, prudent step, because, however much he might
have been inclined to assist the defendant, who bad
incurred this action, not from his own negligence,
but that of his agent in town, he still must abide by
evidence.—A Juror was then withdrawn.
On Tuesday, during the Races at Guildford, Lord
EGREMONT'S horse, which was expected to be the
winner, and valued at 1500 guineas, slipped, and
broke its leg. Mr. GODDARD'S Canopus was, in con
sequence, the winning horse.
fuesday se'nnight, in the afternoon, a very sharp
storm of thunder and lightning came on at Ayr,
which lasted upwards of an hour. It was most se-
verely felt in the neighbourhood of Moakton. There
its sound and appearance are repreFnted to hatte been
truly terrific. During the storm, a vast deluge of
rain, mixed with heavy hail, fell out, which washed
all the small gravel off the road in that village ; but
it did not extend to the Spinal Hill, four miles north-
e ist of it. At the north end of Monkton, a very sin-
gular phenomenon took place, which was bbserved
by three men. A flash of lightning struck a hedge
• oppo..ite to them, from ullich they saw an immediate
emission of smoke. Where it struck, a quantity of
earth had been win out, and scattered about ; but a
scraggy tit:, and the thorns of the hedges were un-
touched. Within a few yards of this spot stood
a stable, where two horses were put up in separate
stalls, just at the commencement of the storm. When
they were vis'ted after it, they were both dead, and
fallen contrary
ways. Nor, except. the slight appear-
ance of singeing on one of them, was there the least
mark of external hart. The stable is thatched, and, '
above where the horses stood, was filled with loose
• straw ; the door was shut, and no appearance of the
electric fluid having been in the place could be per-
ceked.--The lightning also struck the roof of Under-
wood House, tore off the slates, and left the sarking
bare the width of a ploughfur, went down the kitchen
vent, passing by a number of children sitting near the
the opposite wall, following the direction
; struck
rt the bell-wire, tore down the lath and plaster, as.
tended to the first floor, drove off the washing-board,
and broke one of the steps of the stair,
• •