Star.
London, England, 1829-12-21 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

HUNTING.
Mr.Osbaldeston's Hounds meet to-morrow at Mlsterton; Thurs-
day, at Hardwicke; Saturday, at Fox Hall.
The Duke of Grafton's Hounds meet on Wednesday, at the
Cross Roads, Drayton ; Thursday, et Castle Thorpe.
Mr. Berkeley's Hounds meet to-morrow, at Clapham Turnpike;
Thursday, at Sharnbrook ; Saturday, at Clifton Spinneys.
Mr. Drake's Hounds meet to-morrow, at Catesby ; Thursday,
at Bicester Windmill; Saturday, at Croughton.
The Cambridgeshire Hounds meet on Thursday, at Haley-ivond;
Saturday, at Shearhatch-wood.
The Quorn Hounds meet to-morrow, at Beeby ; Wednesday, at
Six Hill ; Thursday, at Ratby ; Saturday, at Bunney Park.
Lord Anson's Hounds meet on Wednesday at Dunchurch Ken-
nel ; Thursday, at Combe Abbey; Saturday, at Frampton-wood.
Mr. Meynell's Hounds meet on Thursday, at Canon ; Saturday,
at Holly Bush.
The Suffolk and Norfolk Union Harriers, Wednesday, at West-
hall Greyhound ; Saturday, at St. James's-street.
The Kernpstone Hounds, Wednesday, at Mr. Beck's, Mileham.
Mr. H. Villebois's Harriers, to-morrow, at Whittington Hill:
Thursday, at Bradenham-green; Saturday, at Marham Tithe Barn.
Sir J. Cope's Hounds, Wednesday, at Stanford-street; Thurs-
day, at the Red Lion, Basildon.
The Brighton Harriets, Wednesday, at the ;Race-course ; Fri-
day, at the Dyke.
The Lewes Brookside Harriers, Wednesday, Ashcombe ; Fri-
day, at Telscombe Tye.
Sir R. Peleston's Hounds on Thursday at Hardwick; and Sa-
turday Hettesfield.
Mr. Boycott's Hounds on Thursday at Brinston.
The Puckeridge Hounds on Wednesday at Rockelh; and Sa-
turday at Munden Lordship.
The Royston Harriers meet to-morrow at Foulmire ; and
Thursday at End Hill.
Lord Yarborough's Hounds to-morrow at Gozhilltross Lanes;
Thursday at Ormsby Mills; and Saturday in Rorton Wood.
Sir R. Sutton's Hounds to-morrow at Gate Burton ; Wednesday
at Utterby Village; Thursday -at Winceby Village and Usselby
House; Saturday at Gautby Park and Usselby House:.
The Earl of Harewood's Fox Hounds, Wednesday, at Peckfield
Bar Saturday, at Harewood Bridge.
The Worcestershire Hounds to-morrow at Cliffey ; Saturday,
at Cotheridge.
Mr. Dansey's Hounds to-morrow at Wormelow Tump.
The Craven Hounds Wednesday, at Savenoke House; Thursday,
at Denford House; Saturday, at Asbridge.
Lord Petre's Hounds Thursday at Langdon Mills; Saturday, at
Tilbury Mill.
The Essex and Suffolk Border Hounds (Mr. Mule's,) Wednes-
doy, at Wivenhoe Park ; Saturday, at Catawade Bridge.
Mr. Lester's Harriers, to-morrow, at Moretown.
The Hambledon Hounds, Wednesday, at liotley Gate; Satur-
day, at Stevens Castle Down.
The Fife foz hounds met at Cameron Bridge on Monday. Up-
wards of thirty gentlemen appeared on the field, amongst whom
were several ladies on horseback. There were of the company
Lord Leven, Sir Ralph Anstruther, Captain Wemyss, M.P. and
Lady, General Balfour and Lady, Colonel Wemyss, Capt. Dalzell
and Lady, Captain Fergusson, son of General Sir R. C. Fergusson,
M.P. Captain Douglas, &c. The pack was thrown off about ten
o'clock, and shortly after they found in a plantation belonging to
Wemyss estate. Ileynard took to the southward, but after a heat
of a mile and a half was overtaken and his brush taken from him,
when about to cross the road that leads to Windygates, and within
twenty paces of General Balfour's carriage, which was filled with
ladies anxious to get a view of the exhilarating sport. The grounds
surrounding Wemyss Castle were next tried, but unsuccessful; pro-
ceeding northward, two foxes were started, but no run took place.
After arriving on the north side of Baibirnie estate, the dogs again
found, and here a beautiful and long run commenced ; the fox took
up by a plantation to the north and west of New Inn, made di-
rectly for the East Lomond, passed over within a short distance of
the top, went right down the mountain side, most of the gentlemen
following at a slashing pace. It now appeared evident, over that
hilly country, that reynard was making for the West Law, and up
he went at a speed that could not be equalled. There the horses
were beginning to blow, and the gentlemen were few and far be-
tween. After a hard run up that high bill, the fox got quarter
amongst the crags; the bugle now sang truce, for the night cloud
bad lowered, and some difficulty was apprehended by several of
the sportsmen in winding their way back from the rocky-brow of
the mist-clad mountain.
FEMALE PEDESTRIAN.
A female pedestrian, named M'Mullen, a native of Scotland,
started on Monday afternoon, at half-past three o'clock, to walk 96
miles in '24 successive hours. The ground chosen was front the
corner of St. Thomas's Passage, Southgate-street, in Winchester, to
the cottages below Southgate House, on the Southampton road. a
distance of a quarter of a mile. She accomplished the arduous task
20 minutes within the time specified, and was rewarded by contri-
butions from the numerous spectators.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
,ii..--
COURT OF CHANCERY, Dwtl9.

1111 A OF aiNciurri.

Mr. Pitt. of the Adclpbi, appeared before the Court in person,
and said that he was one of the assignees of James and Henry
Jones, bankrupts, under a commission before the 14th list, and held
in his hand a paper, marked as an exhibit by Mr. Impey, one of
the Comraissionets of that list.
Loan Coascutoa—Mr. Pitt, have you a complaint to make
against any one?
Mr. Pitt—Yes, my Lord, I have to apply to your Lordship to
remove the Commission to another list•
Loan Cusecattoz—Then, Mr. Pitt, that can only be done on
petition.
Mr. Pitt—My Lord, I have a petition and an affidavit.
LORD Cuasestioa—Then you must have it entered, and bring
it on in the usual way.
Mr. Pitt—But, my Lord, I am summoned to appear before
the Commiuioners at twelve o'clock to-day. and unless your
Lordship bears this application, I may be sent to Newgate
this morning.
Lotto CHANCILLORI cannot presume that Mr. 'mini, or any
other Commissioner will do any thing wrong. They must do it
before I can hear any complaint against them. You oast petition
in the regular way.
The complainant then withdrew.
COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Dec. 19.
THL ROO V. MURRAY._

This was an indictment against the defendant, the well-known
publisher In Albemarle , instituted by Louis Lecesne, and
another, for the publication of a libel In a book designated
" Annals of Jamaica," by the Reverend George Wilson Bridges,
a Member of the University of Garold, a Master of Arts of
two Univenides, and Rector of the parish of St. Ann's, Jamaica.
The ATTORNEY- GEIZIAL (with whom were Messrs. BILOUGHAK
and Guanav,) stated that the defendant was a highly respect-
able gentleman, exceedingly well known as a publisher, in Aibe-
-1 niarle-street. It was not bis intention to say the slightest thing
against that gentleman personally; his character stood high in the
world, and it was not for him to attack him ; but he was neverthe-
less responsible for works published by him at a period when the
'authors were residing abroad. According to the laws of this
country, a publisher was answerable if he did not produce the
author, so that he might be made amenable for his own
works. The prosecutors in this ease complained of • libel put
forth by the defendant in a work published by Wm, in the•
most insidious form. a book entitled " The Annals of Jamaica."
The prosecutors were named Facbaffery and Lemon. They were
the sons of French persons, who lived in the isl•ad of Saint
Domingo. It was supposed that these parties had takes part
in an insurrection, and they were accordingly taken up, by order
of the Magistrates, under s peculiar law of the Wand, which gave
power to the Governor to transport aliens beyond the sear, if it was
deemed that they were dangerous or suspicious person*. The pers.
secutor's Meads applied for a habeas corpus, and the aMdavks
which wen thee made were in favour of their being British sub-
jects, and the Judge released them. Some other information
being subsesunnly furnished to the Government, the pima-
cutors were again suddenly arrested, were sent to St. Domingo,:
were stripped of their property—sad it was only by the itu-
manfty. of an individual that they were brought to this coun-
try. A petition was presented by them to the House of Com-
mons. Every body would remember, that on the discussion of the
merits of that petition, the reddensr found, amongst many others,
an able advocate in Dr. Leskington. and no doubt remained of
their being British subjects, and that the Court had dine rightly
in dismissing them, they being privileged as suet subjects. So sen-
sible was the Government of the injury does to the prosecutes, by
their having been arrested, that it Intended to do them justice by
giving them a compensation. While these proostedinp were going
on, and whilst the Government were taking into consideration the
compeasstiou they should be paid, the libel complained of was'
published by the defendant in a work entitled " Annals of Ja-
maica,' which appeared to have been written by a clergyman of
the Established Church. In that book an attack was made oa a
near relative of Ms (the Attorney-General); be had no hesitation,
however, le saying. that suck .a charge was false, for never had Ms
worst enemy dared to charge him (the Chief Judos of Jamaica)
with corrupdon.
the Arronaire-Gattenot then read the libel, the most material
pan of which was in these terms :14 A cos of unparalleled atro-
city drew the public to a subject at variance with that which had
lately engaged it, and whose investigation bra been the fertile sub-
ject of bitter calumny, promoted by one distant and prejudiced in•

dividual, who has blindly espoused the cause of murder and rebel-
lion against the great body of colonial eye-witnesses, who were
themselves the objects of destruction. I will not repeat, because
I do not firmly believe, that the Chief Justice of Jamaica was
influenced by those corrupt motives which have been attributed
to him, to release, in the exercise of his anklet power, two French
prisoners, who had been confined for an attempt to revolutionise
the island, and who were impatient to sheath their daggers In the
breasts of its white inhabitants • yet when a Judge descends to the
narrow and peevish character of a factious disputant, he is easily
provoked to supply the defect of argument, or even the integrity
of reputation, by the plenitude of the authority with which his
gown bas clothed him.' The article then described the prosecu-
tors as uttering palpable falsehoods, as artful foreigners, as wretches
still cherished, criminals, conspirators, &e. ate.
The evidence which was called proved the publication of the
book, and that FAchoffery and Lecesne's cue bad been referred to
Mr. Maule, of the Treasury, and that it was now a mere matter
of account as to the amount of compensation they were to get.
Mr. Cotaatoos addressed the Jury for the defendant, and con-
tended that Mr. Murray entertained not the slightest malice towards
the prosecutors, and that he never saw or heard of them until he
saw them described in the book. Mr. Murray was a very caten-
ate publisher; it could not be supposed that be should minutely
examine every work that came into his hands. The work was pre.
sewed to him by a gentleman of character and reputation, and be
therefore could not have suspected it contained a libel.
Lord Tentaaneu.—This was an indictment against the de-
fendant, for publishing what was called a false *ad scandalous libel
against the prosecutors, in a book entitled a Annals of Jamaica,"
by the Rev. George Wilson Bridges. The first question was,
whether this was a libel? and the second, whether the defendant
was the publisher? Some observations bad been made as to the
impropriety of giving, in the opening statement, a narrative of the
transactions to which the libel referred ; but from the book itself
they might collect the facts to which it related ; for it there
appeared that these persons, on a suspicion of attempting to
create an insurrection in the island of Jamaica, had been liberated
by the Judges and again taken by the Governor, and deported
to St. Domingo as aliens: that they bad come to London
and petitioned the House of Commons for redress, and that their
petition bad been attended to. It appeared that at the time when
the libel was written, there was a great deal of animosity between
those who advocated the cause of the slaves 'and those who differed
with them !Au opinion ; and in this libel these men were called
French miscreants • that they had gone to London pregnant with
mischief ; that they were criminals, wretches, and convicted
felons. Anything could hardly be conceived more outrageous
than the language employed ; but then it was said that the
defendant ought not to be convicted, unless there was a design
in the publisher to injure the prosecutors. But what means
had the Court and jury to judge of the intentions of the par-
ties except from their acts? It must be considered that a per
son meant to do what be really did, otherwise the greatest
criminals might almost always escape with impunity. Then
It was said that the defendant should examine minutely every work
which he published; but if be had looked at the preface, he might
have seen that the work was carried down to the present time, and
that a portion of it must relate to the time when these disputes ran
high, and this should have put him on his guard. It was stated
also, that the defendant was • very respectable and an extensive
publisher ; but what distinction could they make between him who
published only two or three works is the year and him who pub-
lished thirty or forty? It was the duty of all to take care that
they did not publish that which must injure the reputation of
others. If they did publish these libels, they must be responsible,
otherwise the persons injured could have no remedy. No person
could be safe, if publishers could send out such libels as this to the
world with impunity.
The jury immediately found the defendant guilty.
SUS LOYDON AND wI.TMINSTIR OSOIESTANT CLOS.
OURS v. POWNALL.

Mr. CAMPAILL statedthTt this was an action which arose out of
the agitating question of Catholic Emancipation. The plaintiff was
a stationer and printer, and brought this action against the defen-
dant, who had officiated as Chairman at a meeting held at the Crown
and Anchor Tavern, in February last, to take into consideration
the propriety of petitioning the lionses of Parliament against
granting Catholic Emancipation. It would be recollected that an
advertisement bad appeared in the public journals, signed by John
Halcombe, calling a meeting for this purpose; stating that the ad-
vice of the Sovereign, in his speech, delivered at the opening of
Parliament, was such as threatened destruction to the country, and
calling on all those who were good Protestants to attend. The de-
fendant, Mr. Pownall, saw this, and wrote a letter to ibis effect :
" Slll.-•I did not see your advertisement until to-day ; I shall be
desirous to join in your endeavours to keep fur my children what
little property I have."
It then went on to request to know the hour of meeting, and
expressing his intention to attend. Mr. Pownall did attend that
meeting, and the result of It our readers must well remember—
the partial defeat of their plans by Mr. Hunt. It however ap-
peared that the parties had mired into another room, and bad come
to a series of resolutions. Amongst them was one to give a copy
of them to every person who signed the petitions. These amounted
to 116,000. The plaintiff had supplied stationery to the amount of
£219 18a. 10d. This action was brought to recover it.
The defence set up was. that Mr. Holcombe only was the re-
sponsible person. The Jury, however, entertained a different opi-
nion, and found a verdict for the plaintiff.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Dsc. 19.
rArnva AND °TARA/ T. SLATTRIL.
- . .

The plaintiffs are eminent bankers at Parts, the defendant is a
bookseller at Oxford. The action was brought to recover the
amount of a bill of exchange fir 3151. 16s. drawn by the
defendant on a person of the name of Tebbe.. It was passed
to the plaintiffs by a Mr. Magtath, at Paris, and was in
the hands of Sir William Curtis and Co. when it tell due
on the fist of June last. Not having been honoured by
the acceptor, the bill was taken up by Mr. Rothschild,
for the honour of Messrs. Lafitte, and by him transmitted to Paris
It arrived in Paris on Friday, the 216th • Saturday was consumed
in seeking for Mr. Magrath ; and on Tuesday the bill was sent back
to London, that being the day on which it was customary to calcu-
late the exchanges. On Friday, the 3d of July, the bill arrived in
London, and on Saturday notice of its dishonour was sent to the de-
fendant at Oxford. It was contended upon these facts, that in con-
sequence of the delay which had taken place before the plain
tiffs had caused the defendant to receive notice of the dls-
honour of the bill, he was discharged from his liability as
drawer, the holder of a bill of exchange being bound in such a case
to use all due diligence in apprising the drawer of its dishonour by
the acceptor. For the plaintiffs, however, It was insisted that
I bankers were always allowed one day to consult their principal,
and that on the present occasion only one post day bad been omit-
ted before the bill was sent of to London. But it was further
contended on their behalf, that in this case there was no necessity
for notice at all, because it appeared from the testimony of a wit-
ness named O'Meara, that before the bill bad become dee,
rebbs, the acceptor, stated to the defendant that lie bad
never received any value Ns it, but had been induced by a
stock-jobber of the name of Rose, who had elect run away, to
accept it, and another bill, amounting together to 7001. whereby,
he bad been ruined, for be should not be able to take either of,
them up.
The Loan Curer Seance having heard the observations of
counsel on the points of law, declined to nonsuit the plaintiffs, ob-
serving, that the point most in their favour was Tebbe s saying he
bad received no eonsidration for the bill, and would not be able
to take it up. His Lordship, therefore, directed the Jury to and
a verdict for the plaintiffs; at the same time giving the defendant
leave to move to set it aside and enter a nonsuit.
A verdict was accordingly entered for the plaintiffs, subject to
the opinion of the Court above on the points reserved.
WINTER ASSIZES.
ROME CIRCUI'ITONE, Due. 18.
(Before Mr. Baran GARROW.)
John Wickham, aged 19 years, and James Beyeohls. aged 19 years,
were capitally indicted for stealing from the Tally-110 coach travel.
I ling from London to hfaidatone, a pair of light infantry wings, or
epaulets, value 45 15s. the property of Lieutenant Campbell, 46th
Regiment of Foot.
The charge being satisfactorily proved, the Jury found both pri•
slicers Guilty.
Mr. Agar, the Governor of the High Gaul, Maidstone, pro-
duced the return calendar of the Spring Assizes fur 1827, by which
it appeared that Reynolds had been convicted and sentenced to a
year's imprisonment, for stealing a silver salt-cellar.
Mr. Baron Gaaaew sentenced Wickham to seven years want,
portatioe, and Reynolds for life.
This being the last me in the Calendar, the Court proceeded t•
pass sentence on the following prisoners, who were ordered to be
transported for life, viz.—Charles Lepidge and Thomas Smith, fey
• burglary at. Mr. Bartktes, watchmaker, Maidstone; Thm
Rose, for uttering • forged .15 note • T. James Kempen, ad
Charles Kidney, foe sheep-stealing ; George Byford, for the tow
glary in Woolwich Biunicbe ; Wm. Adler, for korse-stealinn ; IF+
ward Draper and James Spicer, for a highway robery ; Thome'
Smith, for hoesebreaking ; and Wm. frelladd, for burglary. •

A fire which broke out on Friday morning, in Wood.:
street, Cheapside, did considerable damage. Two large
houses, occupied by Mr. Ferguson, who is in the cotton
trade, and Mr. Miller, who is in the muslin trade, were
completely burnt down ; and so rapidly did the llaaal.
eatend in all directions, that only s few bales of the vain
-
able stocks in each house were saved.