Star.
London, England, 1819-11-22 00:00:00

TO THE. EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Sir—l rejoice to findtiittitepre---viiiini sentiment
now is, that enquiry should be made into the situa-
tion and circumstances of the Labouring Poor, as a
necessary preliminary to any attempt at removing the
evils so generally complained of.
trust this wilt be done in the spirit of kind-
ness ; and that the inquiry will be conducted in
a fair and candid manner, that we may be able there-
by to separate the worthy from the unworthy ; the idle
and the dissolute from the deserving, industrioncand
patient ; that we shall allow character to have its in-
fluencs, and, on no account, permit importunate
mendicity, brought on by profligacy or idleness, to
eat the bread of the patient yet suffering Poor, whose
only misfortune is, with the best disposition to indus-
try', to find no adequate employment, by which their
starving families can be sustained. If the result of
this investigation puts us into possession of the real
state of things, as it regards the labouring Glasses,
and we are able to ascertain what portion of that la-
bour, in the several Manufacturing Districts, is not
likely to meet with profitable employment, we shall
necessarily look for means adapted to their relief in
some other way.
There always has, and always will be, a variety of
opinions, as to the best mode of correcting existing
abuses; and the evil, as it regards the vast increase
of pauperism in the country, has engaged the atten-
tion and exercised the judgment of the very first cha-
racters amongst us.
Some are of opinion that our population is too great
to be sustained by employment in our manufacture',
or any other resources that our country affords ; and
therefore, with the best of intentions 1 have no doubt,
recommend emigration to the Cape of Good Hope,
as a present provision for the wants of those who em•
brace it, as well as, eventually, by the increase of
such a colony, to promote the wealth and prosper ity
of this country.
Others believing that a well-educated population,
taught from their infancy to fear GOD and honour
their KING, to know their duty to their fellow-crea-
tures and their CREATOR—the more there are of such
people, the greater will be the wealth and power
and prosperity of a State, for such people constitute
the strength of States.
Convinced of the soundness of this opinion, and
perfectly satisfied that we have ample resources
within ourselves, by which to give profitable activity
to every unemployed hand in the Kingdoin, I can-
not help feeling astonished at the Apparent apathy
and unconcern of the men, whose influence may be
most likely to bring these resonates into u:,e, by, at
least, enabling those who toil 16 to 18 hours a day,
in their occupation, as weavers, for less than so
many pence, to avail themselves of such allotments
of land as might, by their own, and their children's
industrious exertions, produce the means of a more
comfortable ,übsistenc... I must confess there is
something so compleatly in unison with what I would
call good old English, feeling, at the idea, that nothing
would rejoice me more than to see the plan adopted.
Idle and dissolute men may be expected to be found
in every community, but, as I know of no authority
by which such characters ought to claim a partici-
pation with the industrious and orderly, so, I think,
the means of inducing other and better habits, even
in the most incorrigible, may be readily found out
and applied.
On the other hand, men who appear conversant
with the subject, give a decided opinion, that was
such a plan as this resorted to, and the waste and
crown lands, in .the several parts of the kingdom
nearest the people who most stand in need of assist-
once,' divided into allotments, and converted to their
use, that they would not, from their utmost exertion,
be able to earn as much as weaving would produce to
them, ev,en in the worst times.
Though this were the fact, I would not be deterred
Of my influence would lead to it) from the experi-
ment; because, to draw so much surplus labour from
our manufactures, where it is at the present monteitt so
oppressive and ruinous to them, would, by diverting
that labour to some useful end, produce a general diet
beeu,ficial to society at large.
Impressed strongly with this opinion, permit me,
Mr. k:ditor, to request that you will, through the
medium of your excellent Paper, call the attention
of some of your Agricultural Readers to the subject,
which is one of vast importance to the country, at
the piesent juncture, in order that they may state
what the probable ; esult of spade culture may be esti-
mated at, upon a space ofground, such as might be ex-
pected lob:Tome the allotment of a man, his wile, and
three or four children, supposing the land to be subject
to a small. rent,or heldfree from both rent and taxes.
This information would be most gratifying to many
of your Readers, but particularly to your obliged
and obedient servant, AMICLTS.
Manchester, November 18.

We are happy to find that the reports circulated
on Saturday, respecting the state of the KING'S
health, were greatly exaggerated, and that his MA..
.InTY is as well as can reasonably be expected at his
advanced period of life.
Parliament assembles to-morrow, and it is under-
stood that the PRINCE REGENT will open it in person.
The Speech proposed to be delivered from the Throne
on this occasion, was submitted to his Royal High-
ness on Saturday, and received his most gracious
approval.
The Duke of YoRE did not go to Windsor in un-
usual haste on Friday morning, as has been reported.
Mr. CANNING arrived at the India Board Office
on Saturday evening from Italy; and had yesterday
morning an audience of the PRINCE REGENT at Carl-

ton House.
Viscount and Viscountess Dowst arrived this day
at their house in Charles-street, Berkeley-square,
from their seat, Cowick Flail, Yorkshire.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL has thought proper to
lay his ex-officio Information against Sir FRANCIS
BURDLTT--not in Middlesex, but in Leicestershire.
It was a Leicestershire Jury which found a verdict of
Guilty against Mr. THOMPSON, who was brought up
for judgment :he King's Bench on Thursday, but
discharged, without any sentence being passed.
Monday last, a Reform Meeting was held on
Eccleshill Moor, near Bradford, at which 15,0001
persons are stated to have been present. Resolutions
of the usual tenour were passed.
The heavy duty on Claret will be repealed next
Session of Pailiarneat.—Gksgvrar Pcrper.

MANCHESTER, NOVEMBER 19.

SEIZING OF PISTOLS AND CHARGE OF ASSAULT
AGAINST NADIN, THE POLICE OFFICER.
Mr. BENNET, an attorney of this town, tu-day ap-
peared before Mr. SILVESTER, the Sitting Magis-
trate, to lay a complaint against Mr. Nadin, under
the following circumstances, detailed by Mr. Bennett,
who said_l am Conductor of the Watch and Ward,
for the Districts Nos. 13 and 14, and being upon our
round last night, about twelve o'clock, we called at
the Chester Tavern. in Bridge-street. fOn getting
into the house, we found Nadin, who said he should
want our assistance ; he had a man in custody, of
the name ofJones, who was in company with a Mr.
Dickinson. Nadin went up stairs, and I and one or
two of the Watch and Ward followed him ; on get-
ting into one of the rooms Nadin found a basket, and
produced from it a pistol, which he put into my
hands, and I snapt it off, at which Nadin was very
angry. On coming down again Nadin said, " we'll
take the prisoner and the property into custody," and
the prisoner Jones was taken into custody to the New
Bailey. On returning up Bridge-street, I said to the
Watch and Ward that we ought to see the contents
of the basket, and they acquiescing, we went after
Mr. Nadin, and I called out to him several times be-
fore he stopt. On my coming up to him, I told him
that the Watch and Ward thought they ought to see
the contents of the basket. Nadin replied—" 111 be
damned if you or any body else shall, and took me
by the collar and shook me, and then threw me back.
I then insisted on seeing the contents of the basket,
aid attempted to take hold of it, but Nadin prevented
me, and we followed to the Police Office, where a
great deal of language passed- between myself and
Mr. Nadin, which, perhaps, neither party ought to
hake used. At the Police Office we again insisted
upon seeing the contents of the basket, and Mr. Na-
din again refusing to allow us, we sent to Mr. Smith,
the High Constable, to desire he would come down ;
but he, being unwell, could not attend. On Mr. Na-
din learning this, he ordered two of-his men to turn
me out by the shoulders, and told the other Gentle-
men that if they also did not go out the men should
turn them out ; and, agreeable to Mr. Nadin's or-
ders, I was forced out of the Office, by two of his
men. After we were out of the Office, Nadin called
one of the Watch and Ward (a Mr. Nield) back, and
told him that he might examine the basket; but be,
considering that all of us ought to be present, re-
fused, and it is for the assault on me by Mr. Nadin,
in Bridge-street, that I now apply to you.
Mr. BENNETT then called three witnesses, who
fully corroborated the whole of his statement.
The first witness was a Mr. Fred. Gardner, who
was one of the Watch and Ward. He having proved
'the whole of the circumstances stated by Mr. Bennett,
Mr. BENNETT said, are you positive that Mr. Na-
din got hold of me by the collar, and shook me,
prior to my attempting to lay hold of the basket ?
Mr. NADIN—NOW mind how you answer that
question.
Mr. GARDNER—You had not attempted.tolay hold
of the basket prior to Mr. Nadia laying hold of )ou
by the collar.
Mr. FERNALY, another of the Watch and Ward,
corroborated the evidence of Mr. Gardner.
Mr. NADIN—I'II ask that fellow a question or two.
Now I ask you, upon your oath, whether Bennett and
Gardner had not both hold of the basket, before I
got hold of him ?
Mr. FERNALY—I did not see any one attempt to
lay hold of the basket until after you had collared
Mr. Bennett, and I was sufficiently near to see all
that passed.
Mr. NADIN here asked one of his men, whether he
had, as stated by Mr. Bennett, said, " We'll take the
prisoner and his property into custody ?" The man
said, he had not, but had desired him (the man) and
his companion to do so.
Mr. BENNETT said, he had other witnesses to call,
but he did not know if they could prove the assault.
Mr. SILVESTER—Mr. Bennett, do you think that
this is a case to call fox my interposition ? I think,
if you consider the irritable state of both of you at
the time, your own good sense will dictate to 'you
that it ought to go no further.
Mr. BENNETT—I have been assaulted, Sir, with-
out any provocation, and shall, therefore, press the
matter on.
Mr.NADIN—I don't wish him to smother any thing,
let him do his worst. I don't want any favour from
him. I'll see what I can do to you (addressing him-
self to Mr. Bennett) at the next Sessions.
Mr. BENNETT then called Mr. Hallett, who proved
what passed in the public-house and Police-office,
but could not prove the assault.
Mr. NADIN then stated in his defence, that having
received information at the Police-office last night,
about nine o'clock, that a quantity of pistols had
come by one of the-coaches, and that some of them
were then at the Chester Tavern, he went there, and
found a basket, containing thirteen brace ; that he
then desired the landlady to let him know when the
persons who had before called about them came again,
and he in the mean time secreted himself in the house.
After waiting there about two hours, he went into
the kitchen, where he had not been long • before a
knock came to the door, and the prisoner Jones came
in, and he secured him. Immediately after the
Watch and Ward came in, and the whole of what
the witnesses had stated passed prior to the alleged as-
sault being committed. Thai on Mr. Bennett asking
leave to look into the basket, ire had refused to let him
do so, when Mr. Bennett said, "By G—d we
and immediately laid hold of the basket ; upon which
" I got hold of him by the staff of the neck, and
pushed him back!' When we got to the Police-
office, Mr. Bennett abused me, and called the Ma-
gistrates and their Clerks 'opprobrious names. I
gave it him again pretty well, and he bad not much
the best of it. After he was put out of the Office, he
continued about the door making a great " We,*
and noise" for a long time, as 1 can prove; and: it
was not until after he laid hold of the basket thati,
got him by the collar and threw him back ; but k
now say, that if Mr. Bennett or any ot4er man im-
pedes me in the execution of my duty,l4.must abide
by the consequences.
..il•
istostf6Ct; •
Mr. BENNETT—And so must any one ii.
. .?"0.
me in the execution-of mine. :.•
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Nr. NADIN did not call any witnesses..'
The Magistrate said, he could not consider thins,
an assault. it was mtichto be lamented that Offic'.er •
in the execution of their May should have any raise

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understanding. In this case it would appear that
Mr. Bennett had attempted to lay hold cf the basket
whilst in Nadin's custody, which he had no right to
do, and that Nadin had then pushed him away, and
he thought Mr. Bennett, on considering it, would be
satisfied that it would be much better that the matter
should drop here: if, however, he thought proper to
proceed by indictment, he could do so at the eeS-
sions, but he (the Magistrate) did not consider it a
case that he ought to entertain, and theiefore must
dismiss the complaint.
Mr. BENNETT—WeII, Sir, I must submit to )our
decision.

Mr. NADIN—I'II indict him at the Quarter Sessions.
Mr. DICKINSON, the person alluded to as being in
company with Jones, stated to the Magistrate that
he had been grossly insulted by Nadin, who had
called him a suspicious and disaffected character; he
begged to say that he obtained his• living as a shop-
keeper, and had, as he had a right to do, sold a great
number of pistols in the course of his trade to parties
applying for them at his shop, and was well known
not to be that suspicious disaffected character Mr.
Nadin would represent.
Mr. Nols—Sir, I know you have sold pistols to
lads of fourteen years of age, and regularly sell them
to the Reformers.

Mr. DICKINSON—What I sell, I sell in my shop
publicly, as all other shopkeepers do.
The prisoner, Mr. Jones, who it appears is a re-
spectable man, was discharged, it appearing that the
pistols were sent to him in the regular course of trade.


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