Star.
London, England, 1829-09-25 00:00:00

Mr. FRENCH and Messrs. COBBETT.

Yesterday Witham abode, Jahn Coact:, and Rickard COM, were
indicted, at the Middlesex Adjourned Sessions, for an insult us
Daniel French, Esq. Barrister at Law.
The defendants are the sons of the wen-known Mr. Cobbett,
and the nature of the assault has been already before the public.
Mr. French (tbe prosecutor) was the first witness examined by
his Counsel, Mr. Pamestaaa.trr' and he stated the nature of the
assault, which was rather of a severe nature, he having been

stopped by the three defendants in Kensington, and beaten with a
bludgeon of rather awful dimensions. Mr. French, in stating the
circumstances of the assault, frequently wandered into matter which

was not strictly evidence.
Mr. PRINDIRGAST attempted several times to keep him within
bounds. and at length Mr. French told bins that he had changed
sides. It appeared upon the cross-examination that the assault ori-
ginated in these circumstances. Mr. French had been for months
the intimate friend of Mr. Cobbett, and was received on terms of
confidence by every member of the family. Mrs.Cobbett also made
him her confidant as to certain charges which she supposed to be well
founded against her husband? Mr. French would not understand
the nature of these charges, hut after they bad been reiterated
during a period of six months, he at last put the question to Mrs.
Cobbett as to whether she really meant to make such charges
against her husband. She replied in the affirmative. lie was
amazed, and felt hound to communicate the fact to Mr. Cobbett.
In the first instance, however, he communicated it to a clerk
of Mr. Cobbett, of the name of Riley. When Mr. Cobbett
was informed of the circumstances, he thanked Mr. French fur
communicating the facts to him, and said that he believed Mrs.
Cubbett would cut his throat if she could, she was so jea-
lous of him. . The sons of Mr. Cobbett subsequently became
informed of the nature of Mr. French's communication, and the
mother denying that she had told him anything of the kind, the
defendants, naturally enough inflicted the chastisement complained
of upon the plaintiff, under the impression that he was himself the
author of the calitninies, witch he attributed the origin of to their
mother. Tile assault was proved by other witnesses as well as by
Mr. French, after which Mr. Prendergast said that his case was
closest.
Mr. C. Punta's. on the part of the defendants, then rose and
said, that he believed such a case had never before been brought
before a Court of Justice. For the honour of human nature be
wished that the case had not been exposed ; that Mr. Cebhert
had not been dragged into a Court to have exposed against him
the most vile and groundless calumnies; that he had not been
thus assailed by men, whom he had only known by the benebts
he had conferred upon them. Exposure to foul and undeserved
calumnies was, however, a debt which men of talent were always
doomed to pay ; hut still be confessed he was much surprised to.
see a gentleman, a man of talent and education, a Member of the
English Bar, and, above all, a husband and a father, conic into the
witness-box, and depose to facts such as hr had done that day.
Even supposing his own statement to be perfectly correct, what, he
would ask, did he deserve for acing as be had dune? lie had
been received into the confidence 01 Mr. Cobbett, and had shared
the hospitality of his roof, and he had received at the bands of
Mr. Cohbett numerous kindnesses, which, though trivial in their
nature, admitted of no doubt as to their motive; and if such a
man were found disseminating slanders too atrocious for human
utterance, surely strong exteimation was proved for the assault
committed by the deretatirtiti. Mr. French admitted that lie was
always received at Mr. Cobbett's house and by every member
of his family with a hearty welcome, whether he went there
with or without an invitation ; and yet, time after time, for a
period of six months, he had been listening to the slanders of
the wife against her husband, and never communicated those
slanders to his triend, never refrained trout sitting down at the
same table with this woman, who, if his story were true, was a
monster unutterable—a monster beyond conception—a monster
baser even than the fabricator sit such atrocious calumnies.
Ought he not to have Bed the house, instead of day after day, for
a period of six months, listening to such calumnies with a com-
placency which was quite astonishing if his story could be
believed? Ought he to have enjoyed the hospitality of Mrs.
Cui•bett after she had uttered such calumnies ? 'the very cir-
cumstances of his continuing to sit at the same board with her
was evidence sufficient that she never said so. Mr. French told
the Jury, that over and over again she made the charges for a
period of six mouths. Bit. French said that he upbraided himself
for thinking that a Lady could have entertained such an idea, but
that at last he put the question plainly to her ; but if he only
suspected her meaning, ought be to have subsequently sat at the
same table with her ? Was it not his duty to go to Mr. Cobbett
in the first instance instead of going to Mr. Riley, who was but a
servant of Mr. Cobbett's? But be (Mr. C. Phillips) had said
that he did nut believe the statement of Mr. French, and as he
wished to relieve Mrs. Cobbett from the suspicion of having given
utterance to such caluntifies, he world place her. in the witness
box, and then they would have oath against oath.
Mr. Paasintacner objected to Mr. Phillips alluding to evidence
which could not be adduced. Mrs. Cobbett's evidence could not
be received, except in mitigation of punishment, and therefore
ought not to be attended to.
The CHAIRMAN seemed to be of a similar opinion.
Mr. PHILLIPS then proceeded to argue that Mrs. Cobbett could
never have made these communications to Mr. French, for if she
bad believed Mr. Cobbett capable of such crimes, was it likely that
she would have continued to reside beneath the same roof?
_ .

Mr. Putman was repeatedly interrupted by Mr. French in the
course of his address, and at length said that he could not wonder
at the treatment which he received from Mr. French, when be had
told his own Counsel more than once that he had changed side..
The Jury immediately found them all Guilty, but under circum-
stances of great provocation.
Mr. Pamirs put in an affidavit from Mrs. Cobbett in mitigation
of punishment, but the Court finding that it positively contradicted
the evidence of Mr French, rejected it.
The Comm then sentenced William Cobbett to a fine of 201. to
the King, and John Cobbett and Richard Cobbett to a fine of 40s.
each, and to enter into their own recognizance. of 1001. each to
keep the peace towards the prosecutor.
A witty lady remarked that she hoped the New
Pelisse would not be a cloak to any irregularities.
The last Gazette contains the singular announcement
of a bookseller at Calcutta among the list of bankrupts.
The late succession of fine days has enabled the
farmers in some parts of the country to put a finishing hand to the
harvest ; but of the barley much yet remains to be cut in many

places.
During the late floods, a man, residing on the banks
of the Avon, a few miles above Tewkesbury, employed himself
with a boat for nearly a week in collecting the hay that Boated
down the swollen river. His labours were rewarded by sufficient

to make a large rick of considerable vahle.
A few days since, a farmer, residing in the neigh-
bourhood of Banbury, while drinking a p rit of beer, swallowed
a wasp which was in the cup, mid so rapid was the inflammation,
that he died in a few hours.
A respectable inhabitant of Cheltenham• states, that
within the last 25 years there were only four inhabited houses in
the tithing of We,tall, a large district of the parish lying south of
the Chelt. The present number of inhabitants are estimated at
spwards of four thousand. who real& in ahni.t six hundred houses,
many of which ate the most bplendid and substantial that have
been built In this increasing and highly favoured watering-place.
General Lafayette has imported from South America
two birds, male and female, called hocco„ which are now at his
estate, near Paris. This bird, which is wild in South America,
becomes speedily as tame as the domestic fowl, and thrives in our
climates., The 4occo Is as large as a small turkey, and its flesh is
said to be exquisite. The female in the possession of Gen. La-
fayette, has laid six eggs, but they were broken by accident. It
is thought, however, that it will anon lay again, and that the
breed may be propagated to a great extent.—Literary Gametic.