Star.
London, England, 1820-11-04 00:00:00

PRAYING FOR THE QUEEN.

SUFFOLK COUNTY SESSIONS, OCTOBER 23.
Considerable interest was eicited at these Sessions,
held at Bury St. Edmund's, by the trial of Mr. Fran-
cis Tvtight, a farmer, for repeating in open Church,
at Whepstead, in this County (after the blessing im-
plored for the King), " and GOD bleii the Queen too.
For this exclaination he was summoned by the Rev.
ViCar of the parish, Mr. Image, _ before the Magis-
trates, and convicted in the penalty of £2O, which,
refusing .to pay, he was committed to prison until
the ensuing Sessions, or find bail, which be declined,
though.pressei so to do, not only by the most re-
spectable inhabitants of the parish, who offered to
become bail, but the Magistrates themselves. A
Jury, after several challenges, was sworn ; the Clerk
then read over the indictment, containing no less
than eight counts, which charged " the defendant,
Twight, on the 17th of September last, in the Parish
Church of Whepstead, willingly and of purpose,
maliciously and contemptuously, did interrupt and
disturb the congregation there assembled." When
the defendant was asked, in the common form, whe-
ther he pleaded guilty or not -guilty, no little con-
sternation pervaded the Court and auditors to hear
'him reply " guilty." Mr. COOPER, one of his Coun-
sel, immediately arose, and said that the defendant
certainly laboured under a misapprehension; and
Twight added, he said the words, but pleaded guilty
to them as " no critile."

Mr. STORKS then addressed the Jnry—" After a
very anxious attention to this case, and a firm per-
suasion-in my own mind, from the finding of the
Grand Jury, -as to its result, I yield myself relict-
, antly to the wishes of my client, who has felt it his •
duty not to.have permitted in his Church that which
would not have been permitted in another—an at-
tempt to distutb a Christian congregation. He has
felt for the infatuation tlf the defendant, and is satis-
fied with the punishment he has received, having
thought proper to lie in jail ever since the 27th of
September last, which he trusts will ise an example
to him and to all others. I say (continued the
Learned Gentleman) that my client, impelled by this
Christian spirit of charity, wishes to put an end to
this case, and to leave it at this stage of the proceed-
ings, by not producing any evidence. If my Learned
Friends choose to accept this offer, I shall sit myself
down ; but if it be not accepted, I shall discharge
my duty as a zealous advocate in prosecuting this
case, and I have no doubt as to its result."
A pause here ensued. No answer was made by
the defendant's Counsel; when the Chairman said,
" As no evidence is brought forward, the Jury must
find an acquittal ;" and they instantly returned a ver-
dict of Not Guilty. The Chairman observed, 66 You
ought to feel very much obliged ;" when Twight said
loudly, g 4.1 do not feel so at all ;" or, ‘,l do not
thank you for it." General applause upon hearing
the verdict immediately ensued, when the Chairman,
with great warmth, desired the constables to take
the offenders into custody, and, if they would not do
their duty, he would do his, by apprehending the
first man guilty of such behaviour.
The defendant intends instituting proceedings
against the Vise.