Star.
London, England, 1815-06-06 00:00:00

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IN7 ELLIGEN CB.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, TUNE S.
THE MOGN•RAKERS.
WELCH b PF:A
This was an action brought by an. Artist, to re-
cover RIO 10s. for a picture and frame. The de.
fendaot keeps a public-home in B;shopsgate.street,
frequented by Wiltshire men. On one occasion they
requested him to hang up a picture in his parlour
that would remind them of their country sthe de-
fendant. consented, and the subject was to be the
2120 n raters a story peculiar to Wilts. It is jo.
cosely related, that a custom-house officer mice ob.
set ved a party of *Wiltshire m..•it raking a pond for a
cheese, which was only the moon in the water. This
:u,li:rons subject was proposed to the plaintiff, who
was oidaetl to make a sketch, and send it in with tie
r!,:e. The sketch was made, and the pike for a
toure, foul feet by three, was to be five guineas,
1-lis design was highly approved, but at a general
meeting a the Wiltshire folks, the'printer was in-
structed to add three things. viz. an Owl, a Hay-
s:ack, and a Smuaghr with two kegs of brandy on
his shoulders. 'rite picture was finished according
to the ender and sent home. The defendant was sA-
tistieJ. and it war burg up in Ins parlour iu a frame,
for which the plaintiff was to be paid an additional
live tluitteas, making his rice for the whole :CI 0 10s.
A s.ibject operating as a libel upon the county of
cotiLl not suit every taste. and some one of
Wiitshiremen, perhaps piqued for the honour of
I:is ectely, very clandestinely slid resolutely ran it
rker Caungh the smuggler's body. The picture,
xvith a large hole in it, was then sent back to the
plaintiff, and in order to get rid of it altogether, the
defendant alleged that it had rot been painted ac-
cording to contract, inasmuch as it *as painted on
paper put. upon and not upon canvas itself.
Mr. Sericant V4WGIIAN; for the publican, said, his
client's object was to have a picture that could be
scrubbed and washed clean, because the smoke in his
parlour rendered that ceremony necessary at least
once in twelve months. The plaintiff had received
orders to paint it on coleus, but had thought fit to
do it on paper, which would stand no washing.
Commenting on the picture itself, which was exhi-
bited in Court, to the great amusement of all pre-
sent, he declared the owl was a correct likeness of
one of the plaintiff's witnesses, who bad given his
evidence in rather a nocturnal sleepy style: he said'
•he should have thought a full moon sufficient indi-
cation of night without an owl, but looking a little
closer at the picture, he found the moon might be
takra for a haiterpuellinj, and therefore the owl was
required by way of glossary. It appeared under ill
the i tecerostances, that the plaintiff had received no
orders to rtiat on canvas, and the Jury gave a ver-
dict for fen Guineas. The cause afforded much
mirth in Cou:t.

Wednesday last the Anniversary* Festival of the
S ie y for Prpaga.ting Chii,tian Knowledge in the
Highlands and Islands of Scotland was held at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern, the Duke of Ite.we in the
Chair. flis roxat. lituUNE s stated, that in 170
Queen ANNE granted a clia.rter cf iticorroration to a
number of benevolent individuals, who in 1701 had
established this Society. Ever since it had continued
to promote its benevolent purpose, with infit.i;e bene-
fit to the country. There had been established 360
4.1104:1s, in which 17,000 children were educated ; and
is 113 years there had been educated abbtrt 600,000,
many of whom had risen to high distinction in church
and state, and which had in tact laid the foundation
of that intelligence and morality for which the Nor-
thern part of the kingdom was remarkable. The day
was spent with diet luxury which the sentiment of
the good they conferred on their fellow•crerroires was
sure to inspire in the promoters of an institution sc
benevolent.

Yesterday being the Anniversary Dinner of the
Siihscribtrs and Friends to the British and Foreign
School Society, the Duke of KENT took the Chair, in
the absence of the Earl of DAIINLEY, who ails pre-
vented from attending by serious indisposition. The
Chairman, after dinner, gave a concile history of the
origin send prowess of the 'Society, and with much
li:eling for Jo. serf LANCASTER, stated the reasons
whicli had induced the Society to change its denomi-
naion.: be concluded by observing, that•he still die-
imbed the hope diet the founder of the system would
again feel that the Society contained ,his best friends,
and that his return would be received with as much
pleasure as hii deposition occasioned regret. • In the
course of his speech his Royal Highness observed,
that the benefit of this system even extends itself to
the &karts of Africa; for several hued-ed miles from
Cape Town, in the interior of the coun,ry are schools
existing, by which the natives are instructed and
• taught to use the reason which Gun has given them.
Mr. Fox then read the list of subscriptions, and it
may be interesting to the fri4nds of t e Socif iy to
know, that of the proposed collection of ten thousand
pounds to liquidate the debt,-43756..175. 6J. are al-
ready collected.
MAnsunv House --INFAMOUS A ISAULT. Tester-
day William C. wdell was charged with a violent as-
sault upon Miss E. Smith. 't'he prisoner, in corn-
`pony with three others, were observed, in the vicinity
of C rnhill, on Saturday evening, stopping almost
every female that passed, and endeavouring to seize
their shawls or handkerchiefs. The prosecieril'was
in company with a Mrs. Clarke, add the latter being
attacked by the gang, who tore her shawl to pieces'
she tied and calked for assistance. The party then
escaped ; but in some mintttes after the prisoner was.
obsyrvcd following the prosecutrix along Cheapside,
when he suddenly stopped her, knocked her head
against the shutters of a shop, struck her several vie:
lent blows, and, having thrown her down, kicked her
while in that situation. The watchman :utd patrole,
however, coming up, the prisoner WAS conducted to
the watch-house ; where, while the prosecutris was
stating her charge, he gave her a desperate blow, and
s tid he would have her life. He was fully committed.
CHILD-STEALING.--On the 22d ult. Sarah Lures
was committed to Essex county jail, charged on the
oath of Susannah Jones, of Deptford, in Kent, and
others, with having, on the 9th instant, feloniously
stolen two children, viz. a female child, aged about
.seven years and a half, and a male child, aged about
'seven months, being the children of the said Sumnah
Jones. • -