Star.
London, England, 1826-03-08 00:00:00

SWEDEN.

- .'
Tfig PILOTS OP SUNDAY.
"HABIBURGH, Fss. 25.
(rtirt*Tz LIMY/4
"Sweden, which hardly more than a century ago
acted the first part in the general p'llicy of Europe, had
for some time almost wholly escaped the public atten-
tion: the catastrophe of ,Russia has just recalled it to it.
It will be recollected, that since the time when
that monarchy 'declined from the summit of its great-
ness, two parties.have existeJ in it. One, called that of
the Hats, was supposed to be in the French interest;
while the other, called that of the Caps, was supposed
to be devoted to Russia.
" Since the general f.eace, France seems to have ezer-
cised no influence over the affairs of Sweden; but it has
been succeeded by England, which now rivals the for.
midable neighbour of theScandinavean kingdom. During
the life of Alexander, indeed, the Russian party, though
little inclined in favour of the dynasty of Bernadotte, and
though the house of Gottorp had still numerous parti-
sans, was reduced to perfect. inactivity by the personal
friendship of the twos S >vereigns. Bet since the death
of this powerful protector, a change seems to have taken
pl,:ce with respect to Sweden, of which some alarming
symptoms have been ob•erved, Loth in the foreign rela-
tions and in the spirit of ,the people, which has been
manifesred on several occasions. It is therefore not
surprising that King Charles John seeks to approximate
more closely to Eirgiand, and two cabinet messengers
from Stockholm to London have passed through this
city within a few days, whn seem, by the haste they
made, to be the bearers of very important dispatches.--,
There are various reports, but all persons who have
means of being informed, give us to understand that
Charles John is at present in an embarrassing situation.
"It is affirmed that Prince Gustavus is at Peters-
burgh, brit that he observes the strictest incognito,
because the Emperor Nicholas wishes at first to avoid
any ostensible measure which might give umbrage to
the Swedish Monarch, with whom it is at present his
intes•st to be on good terms."

The Gazette of last night presents a comparatively
pleasing complexion. It contains twenty-five Bankrapts.
A Meeting of the llreeholders of the county of Surrey
was held at the Spread Eagle, Epsom, on Monday, to
petition Parliament for the abolition of Slavei y in the
British Colonies. The High Sheriff, Mr. H. Drum mond,
was in the Chair. The Petition was moved by Mr.C.
B .rclay, and ieconded by Mr. Sperling. The other
speakers were, Mr. H. Sumner, Mr. Briscoe, Mr. Pow.
nail, Mr. Denison, and Mr. Hunt. The Petition wai
carried unanimously.
Such has lately been the activity of the recruiting i
staff, and so numerously and readily have recruits come
forward, that -by a recent regulation no recruit can be
accepted forarty regiment of ceislry or infaatry is the
East Indies 'if under the age• of twenty years; while
each reginient of infantry ft enjoined to retort to the
standard which was fixed at the cotninencement. of Octo-
ber, 1825, and in future to recruit by it.

• HOUSE OF.LORDS, Dittad.l 7. •
7t-7t
-vOll5l - APPEALS. • 74* (V
. .
Too *Alla A Tits AND ttlyiNtiteler 44A 5007120 AVI/4
Loewe; PAWSON AND altrosetx, .sasrbaSsoilifi
The appellants and their predecessors awned titer
had a right, beyond all milniory, to elact a small istrpost
or custom from all persons bringing corn or Meal into
the liberties of the Borough of Glasgow. The duty
was called the ladle, being a ladleful out of every_sack
or boll of meal or grain brought into the Borwugli.—
The date of the grant of the cu torn Could not be ascer-
tained, because Glasgow being an Archbishop's burgh,
its ancient charters and records were either destroyed
Or carried beyond sea during the Reformation, but this
was not so material in the question, as during the last
three centuries the right had been recognised by various
Charters and Acts of Parliament. The respondents
Occupied a distillery and,mills on a part of the Wester
Common, near Glasgow, where they imported a large
"siisantity of grain, and upon the rtligistrates claiming
e usual custom, the respondents resisted it, on the
ground that the- lands they occupied were wit within
the liberties of Glasgow. This was the quortion at
issue. The Courts below decided for the respondents,
and against ibis decision the present appeal was brought.
Judgment postponed.

LAW REPORT.

COURT OF OF CHANC.ERI4 31.4achi 7.
IN THE MATTER OF SMITH, A LUNATIC.

In this case a petition had been presented by the Rev.
Henry Delves Broughton, of Broughton Hall, in the
county of Stafford, praying that a commission de luna-
tics inquirende might issue.
This case has excited a very extraordinary sensation,
the particulars of which have beefi laid before the public,
but in a very exaggerated form.'
The father of the lunatic in this matter was Isaac
Smith, a farmer, who lived at a place called Muckleston
Wood, near the town cif Muckleston, in the county of
Staff )rd. This Gentleman died in the year 1812, kav-
ing several sons and daughters; among others, the un-
fort ueate lunatic in this case, named George Smith, who
during the lifetime of his father was afflicted with one
or two paralytic strokes, which, in a great measure, de-
prived him of the use of bath his body and mind. On
the death of his father, this unfortunate individual was
consigned to the care of his brothers and sisters, but
more particularly to the care of his brothers William
and Thomas, and his sister Sarah Smith. Dining the
lifetime of the father it was customary to have a room
set apart for the sole accommodation of the lunatic
during the continuance of any violent fit, for he was
subject to epilepsy. After the father's death, it appeared
from affidavits, that this unfortunate person was kept
completely shut up in that room, without ever being
permitted to leave it for a moment. In this state he
continued from the year 1812 till tile 25,h of January,
1826, a period of fourteen years. -It was indeed, sup-
posed in the county that the poor idiot was dead. Some
time previous to the 25th of January it came to the
knowledge of Thomas Elves, Esq.t et the above county,
that this unfortunate person was co'hfined in a dark
room, at his brother'i, and ficklikl a:seine through an
aperture in the wed]. Oa receiving this information,
he communicated the intelliginee to, the Rev. Gentle-
man abbe named, tvhsi is a: Magistrate of the county.
On the 25th Jan.uary tOth theie Gentlemen, having
previously ordered the (instable,. Jonathan Coulson, of
the town of Muckleston to attend on the same day at
the blase of the parties al Muckleston Wood, proceeded
to the house, and entered the kitchen by the back door.
On entering the house they- were met by r. Smith.
They then proceeded to inquire of the number of
his brothers and sisters. Ile told-the names of all, except
that of the lunatic. 'Oa being iiirckloned tespecting
him, he seemed agitated, and irriaheef to conceal the fact
•
of such a person being in the house. An altercation
;hen ensued between Mr. Broughton and Smith, in
which Mr. Broughton insisted ort entering the room
where the lunatic was confined. This at first was re-
fused, but on Mr. B. telling him that he was a Nlagis.
trate, and had a constable with him,' it was conceded.
During the altercation the sister Sarah joined the parties
in the kitchen. When it was undergo-id that Mr. 111.
was. determined to see the lunatic, several excuses were
made relative to the key, which was said not to be in
the house. In the meantime Mr. Elves and the con-
stable went up a backstairs and searched the attics. On
coming down they met Mr. B. in company with Sarah
and Thomas' Smith, on the landing-place. One of the
Smiths had at this time agreed to show the way to the
room where the lunatic WAS confined. While the per-
son was proceeding before the party to point out the
way, Mr. B. perceived a door with a large hasp and
staple, but unlocked. He opened the door, and was
immediately assailed by a dreadful stench. The room
was comple ely dark at the time, the window having
been stopped up by loose bricks. The constable pro:
ceeded to take away some of the bricks, and when light
was let in, the room presented a most appalling ap-
pearance—a filthy old bedstead appeared in one corner
covered with chaff, and two or three old sacks. The
floor of the room was so covered with filth that it was
almost impossible to walk through without treading on
it. Mr. B. inquired where the lunatic was, and Sarah
Smith then took up the corner of one of the sacks, and
said, di Gentlemen here he is." The poor creature was
'then uncovered, when a dreadful spectacle presented
itself. lie was horribly contracted in his limbs ; his
heels turned backward ; his beard was grown four or
Eve inches. Mr: \Broughton .and Mr. Elves then pro-
ceeded to the Lunatic Asylum- at Stafford, leaving the
constable in charge of the room, enjoining him not to
permit and thing in it to be altered till they should re.
turn in the evening with Garret, the superindant of the
Asylum, to remove the poor creature. No objection.
WAS made at that time by the Smiths to the intention
of removing him to the Asylum. These facti ate stated
in the affidavit of the Rev. Mr. Broughton. The affida-
vit of the constable also corroborates these facts; and
further states, that being unable to remain in the room
from the disgusting smell—he became sick and went
home for about half an hour, a distance of half a mile.
On his return he found the room quite altered, and
cleansed in a great degree, and the lunatic placed on a
feather bed. In the evening the Gentlemen returned
with the Superintendent, and removed the lunatic to the
Asylum at Stafford. Several affidavits were put in by
the Smiths and others, contradicting the above facts,
and stating his dreadful state and appearance was caused
by his own violence during the fits; and that it was impos-
sible to permit a fire in the room lest he should destroy
himself. Subsequently to the removal of the lunatic, the
Smiths brought their action against Mr. Broughton for
trespass, in removing the lunatt‘without an order of the
Court of Chancery, and he was returned to the care of
his brothers and sisters. Mr. B. then presented this pe-

,-..tion to the Mont, that a tomtatsston Might
In consequence of this the lunatic was restored to tht
'llisylutn again, but the Smiths put in a caveat again't
die petition, not indeed for the purpose of contesting
she point of lunacy, but on the ground that they could
"'make out, to the satisfaction of the Court, that he was
taken as good care of as a person in his situAtion could
p-ssibly be. On this ground, however, they failed.
Very exaggerated statements of this case appeared to Itartf-3611,
in Stafford, and in some of the public prbps.--eamely. that this un-
fortunate c.,eature was contracted to a yard in height ; that the haii
on his body was six inches long, and that he was fed like a swine.'
None of these statements were borne awls? the Adavits.
The Loua Cisasczta.oa :aid, that as the lunacp of the unfortu-
ate individual was admitted," and -being nide, the mete of the.
Asylum it only remained for hint to fleet& on the question, ef costs
for the application for the commission. He could not,•hoWEverixf
that time, decide that question.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

...n

GUILDHALL.

Thomas Brayshaso um.- charged with• conspiring with four otherif
warehousemen in the City, to cheat William Booth, a Yorkshire•
man, of 1760 yards of woollen cloth, value MIL and for obtaining
possession of the same by f 'lse pretences. An indictment imving
beon already found against the parties, he was ordered to give
48 hours' notice of bail.