Star.
London, England, 1828-02-09 00:00:00

LONDON INSTITUTION.

Wednesday evening, the first Sobie or Conversazione
was held in the London Institution, which was attended
with the most complete success, there being nearly 500
persons present. Tea and other refreshments were pro-
vided at an e4rly, hour, and at seven o'clock the Library
doors were thrown open for the display of a large col-
lection of novel, inventions and specimens of improve-
ments in the arts and manufactures. Shortly after

eight o'clock the company adjourne I to the Theatre,
when a LectUre was delivered by Mr. PARTINGTON,
the subject of which will be best understood by the
following introductory observations:
" The printed notice put forth by the Board of Ma-
nageinent to the Proprietors of this Institution,* ob-
served Mr. Partington, .6 will sufficiently explain their
object in establishing a conversazione within these walls;
and the announcement of this intention has, I am happy
to say, been received by the Proprietors with the greatest
possible satisfaction—a fact, indeed, sufficiently attested
by the numerous and highly respectable auditory who
now surround the Lecture Table.

di The subject that is this evening to engage our
attention, has been happily suggested by your Com-
mittee of Management, as peculiarly adapted for our
examination, both from its novelty and importance.—
Many of my auditory have no doubt seen a small tube
furnished with a disc of paper. They may have seen
it probably resist every effort to expel the moveable
disc from the tube against which it is laid. '
4. The little apparatus such as I have mentioned, hardly
appears of sufficient importance to warrant our devoting
an evening to its examination ; but those who recollect
the origin of the great Newton's investigations relative
to the laws of gravitation, will readily admit that the
an apple from the tree that supported it, scarcely
Appears to afford a more favourable subject for a scien-
tific explanation, than the philosophical toy we have
examined.

14 The construction of this little apparatus originated
with M. Clement, who, being engaged in pursuing
some experimental researches relative to the escape of
high pressure steam from a boiler, found that the escape
of the steam was, to a certain extent, impeded by the ad-
hesion of the safety valve. On examining the valve, he
found that it would move with the most perfect freedom,
till the steam acquired a high expansive force; and that
then, in opposition to all that might have been expected,
it was actually held nearly in contact with the-plate
ou which it usually rested. Pursuing his investigations,
he found that a similar eff ct resulted from the escape
of air from s small aperture."
Mr. PA RTI GTON then fully explained this apparently
paradoxical phenomenon, by a variety of novel and
striking experiments, and concluded his Lecture in
nearly the following words: " A pleasing duty now
remains, prior to closing our notice of M. Clerment's
apparatus; it is to congratulate the Managers and l'ro•
prietors of this Institution on the success that has attended
the present novel attempt of increasing the usefulness of
our establishment, by increasing its means of imparting
useful knowledge. The design, as you well know,
originated with the Royal Society abont two centuries
back ; but their efforts were of a very different character.
At the Meetings, which were generally attended by the
very elite of it. Members, we find discussions on graft-
ing teeth, and making the teeth of one man grow in the
mouth r f another,' occupying the place of rational inves-
tigation; and when we look for' an account of the pre-
sent undertakings, studies, and labours of the ingenious
in many considerable parts of the World, we find in
place of so useful a Report, some ridiculous disquisi-
tion' on the probability of horns taking root in the
earth, and vegetating like a tree.' In modern times,
however, we are more especially indebted to the Royal
lataitution, for having set us so good an example.—
Need I add, that we have not been sluggards in the
race, and I trust that we shall go on with perseverance
in the great and good work, till knowledge shall cover
this goodly land, e'en as the waters of the ocean cover
the beds of the great deept
Amongt the numerous visitors we observed Colonel
Colby, Mr. Pepys, Dr. Birkbeck, and several members
of the different learned Societies.

MARRIAGE IN HIGH Lira.—Among the reports
current in the circle at the West-end is, that Ororay Cave, Esq.
one of the Representatives fur Leicester, is about to lead to t►e
hyntenial altar one of the daughters of Sir Faaxcis Boum?. The
ceremony will take place, it Is said, previous to the apprpach of Lent.

• .
. .LAW INTELMF.NCEI _ .
.vicijr4 AtFI IZ 10 aWS COURT. Frs. A.
APPiwanos. tun AN iNJONCrinis..—CLEiNtkt Et HARRIS
• Aski ANoiUltE.
This was an st!rOlicati•;tr for an injunction, to restrain
the defendants from prove sling in a certain action at
law for the recovery of the amount of a bond. The
bill stated, that the plaintiff botrowed from the defend,
dant Harris, 6001. for which he gave him hit bonth
Some time alter Harris applied t the plAintiff for part
of the loan. Clarke was unable to tat it ; and it was
then represented to him, that if he gave Harris bis note
of hand for five hundred pound, it would perfectly
answer his purpose. The plaintiff was assured that the
note should never get into circulation, as Harps would
.take care to take it up when it became due. Notwith-
standing this solemn promise of Harris, the note found
its way into the world; and was paid by Clarke, he
being unable to set off the tinnd against it, as that was
in the possersion of Hartii, and the note was in the
hands of a holder for a valuable consideration, withOlit
notice% Harris since deposited the bond with the other
defendant, Eade, who has commented an action for the
recovery of it.
Mr. RUSSELL appeared in support of the piesent apr•
plication, which sought to restrain any further proceed-
ings in that action on the bone. The bond was not
assignable, and it was clear that the plaintiff was,
therefore, entitled to all the equity against Eade, which
he could have ag.rinst Harris. The equity against the
latter was, that the note which Clarke had paid was
passed for part of the amount of the bond.
The Vice CHANCELLOR asked whether the motion
was founded on the answer of Harris, or of Eade.

Mr. RUsSELL.-We move on the statement of facts
admitted in Harris's answer, and we think that we are
entitled to the injunction, notwithstanding any thing
that Eade may urge to the contrary. If the plaintiff
could restrain Harris as a matter of pourse, he could
also enjoin Eade, who sued in Harris's name.
The Vice CHANCELLOR said, that it had been de.
tided differently by the Master of the Rolls; and upon
an appeal to the Lord Chancellor, the decree of the
Master of the Rolls had been confirmed. Might it not
turn out that Eade was 2 holder of the bond for valuable
consideration.
Mr. Baassas said, that the case to which his Honour
alluded, was Montague o. Hill."
Mr. RUSSELL again insisted, that as Eade took the
bond, which was a chose in action not assignable, he
must be subject to all the equities affecting it before
the transfer.
The VICE CHANCELLOR, upon the authority of the
case before referred to, refused the application.
COURT OF KING'S BENCH, w lISTMINSTER, Fel. S.
THE KING V. CRAZE AND BROOKSBY.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL said, that he appeared to
oppose a rule obtained on a former day by Mr.
BROUGHAM, calling upoo them to shew cause why a
criminal information should not be filed against the
Rev. Mr. Brooksby and Mr. Cr abb, Magistrates, of the
county of Essex, residing near Chelmsford. His Learned
Friend (Mr. Brougham) had obtained the rule upon
affidavits which charged the defendants with having
corruptly and partially given the license of a public-
house in Chelmsford to a person named Archer, their
own clerk, to the prejudice and against the mote just
claim of a Mr. Mayhew, a wine merchant, residing in
London, brother-in-law of the last holder of the public
house, who had become a bankrupt, and under w hose
commission he was assignee. The affidavits he (the
Solicitor General) held in his hand, not only from the
defendants but from several disinterested persons, com-
pletely rebutted the charge of corruption. The reasons
that chiefly induced the Magistrates to grant the license
to Archer were, that he was a resident on the spot, and
therefore was more likely to conduct the business to the
advantage of the general body of the creditors ; thatte
'was a mortgagee to the amount of 10002 on the bank-
ropes estate; and lastly, that he was, under those cir-
cumstances, in possession.
Mr. BROUGHAM rose to support the rule, when
Mr. Justice BAYLEY said, if Archer. was the first
mortgagee in possession, I do not see that the Magistrates
could grant the license to any other person. •
Mr. BROUGHAM had not heard before then that Archer
was in possession; but he certainly conceived that the
assignee under the Commission was the person most
proper to conduct the concern for the general benefit of
the creditors; and as to his being a non-resident it was
distinctly sworn that he offered to reside .on the spot if
his being away was an objection.
Lord TENTERDEN-1 see no reason to impute cor-
ruption to the Magistrates.—Rule discharged. •
CONTEMPT 07 COURT.--THE KIP.G V. MOLINEUI AND
OTHERS.

Sir JAMES SCARLETT said, that he appeared to move
for a rule, calling upon the Mayor and three Magistrates
of the town of N. rthampton, to shew cause why a cri-
minal information or an attachment should not issue
against them for their conduct, under the circumstancis
he was about to state to the Court. It appeared from
the affidavit. he held in his hand, that on the 19th Sept.
last, two persons, on whose behalf he appeared, named
White and Howes, respectable tradesmen of Northamp-
ton, saw a Gentleman assailed by a mob; they tan up
to his assistance, and rescued him from their violence.
The Gentleman was a total stranger to them, and they
wete actuated in what they had done, by nothing mote
than common humanity. On the 24th Sept. to their
peat aqinnishniell, they were taken up on a warrant,
which charged them with rescuing a person in the cus-
tody of a constable; they had seen no constable, and
were conscious that they had done no wrong, but as
they had, at the last election of Members of Parliament
for the borough, been exceedingly active in favour of
the candidates eppoed by the Corporation, they appre-
hended that the Magistrates would not be impattial in
their trial. They were, therefore, advised, and did
apply to the Court for a certiorari, to remove any in-
dactpient that might be found against them to another
place. They obtained the certiorari, and, as required
by the Act, put in recognizances for 20/. The Grand
Jury having found a true bill against them, they prey
rented the Magistrates with the certiorari. It was not
usual for Counsel to attend at Northampton, but on this
occasion the Magistrates had retained a Special Counsel
to conduct the prosecution. This Gentleman, when he
certiorari was p esented, made two objections against
lits being accepted : the first was, that the recognizances
ought to be utfeied to a Justice before the presentation
of
the certiorari ; arid the second was, that ti e
nuances ought to have been taken before a Justice rf
the borough, which he (Sir J. Scarlett) must admit had
not been done. The Magistrates allowed the objection;
but the trial was postponed till the following day. The
attorney for the parties for whom he appeared, in order
that nothing proper might be omitted on his part, wet t
the next day, previous to the trial, to the private res'-
dence of the Mayor, to present him the recognizances
in the regular form. That Gentlemar, however, re.
fused to accept them, as did another of the Magistrates
to whom they went. When also the Magistrates were
all assembled in Court, the recognizance: were again
offered and again refused. They also again refused to

accept the certiorari ;but they proceeded to try the
parties, wt.° were convicted, and sentenced each to pay
a fi ,e of 251.
Lord TENTERLIRt/What does the Act say with re-
gard ro the Justice before whom the' recognizance:
ought to be taken?
Sir J. SOARLarr—The Act certainly says they must
he taken before a Justice of the place. - My clients, in
the first instance, took them to a Justice not of the
place; but they afterwards complied with the words of
the Act.
Lord TittifettrogN—lt then become a question, with
regard to all the parties, whether they ought to have
taken the retognizances in Court ? The Att says nothing
as to the time they are to be taken.
Sir J. Soaatire—The Justices are bound to take'
them whenever the party tenders them. But, if youi.
Lordships approve, I will take the rule in the ahem*.
rive, eilher for a criminal information or an attachment:
If.oll the four Magistrates, *hose names are in my
affidavits. are not actually in contempt, yet I think
their é induct shesss gross partiality.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY—The tecogoizances could not
have been.tak- n by the Coint as a-Court.
Sir .1. SCA RLETT said, that nothing was more com 4
mon than for a certiorari to be sent into the country brj
thy post, to a, rive ,n the eve of trial, and to be accepted
with the recognitinces instanter by the Magistrates.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY—Ye. ; hut I believe one of the
•Magistrates coos ap at, and accepts them in his private%
character of a Justice.
Lord TENTERDENI am only doubting as to whether
the whole Court are liable to punishment; or whether
we can only reach the particular individuals who re-
futed to accept the recognirances.
_ _

Sir 3 ScititLivr —I think all, my Lord, ought to be
comprehended the rule; for it was competent to any
tine of them to here Liken the recogoizances. They
were all in a conspirAcy to refuse them.
Lord TENTERDItti—The only consideraion with us
is what form the rule ought to be in. I think it ought
to be a rule to shove calve why a criminal informatiin
or attachment should not be issued.

Rule in chat t.,rrn granted.
NUISAWCE.-TUS KING D. DAVIDSON.

The defendant, Who was convicted at the late sittingsi
at NVestminster, of a nuisance, in carrying on an oil
'add blacking tnanufactory in the neighbouthood of the
flornteNoad, Was to-clay litonght up kir judgment.
Laid I't►~ztittftittr ONsferveif, that it was a most it*.
portant part of the dutysof the Court, havin regard to
the health of the inhabitants of this great metropolis, to.
Like cart that tie such isuilance as that of which the
defendant bid Wen fotind gOilty should be allowed to
a aist. The defended eistist effectu'alty afiafitfte nuisance
bet Wein shin and nett Teini. ettiertietfe tittecinYt *fluid
' itit'post a heavy fine uliori

tNTOMllat*iott.
Oriaiti.moved for a role to show cause vrity a
ctirninal infoimation should not be sled agatinst a Gee-
tfemsn of the name of flak, fer the publication of cer-
itin libels reflecting on the conduit of if Imams falett,
Isq. a Magistrate br die county of Surrey: 'the libels
*el* turitained in clicular letter's which Mr. Matt feed
tine to-selierail of the inhabitinta in the neighbourhood
it.,f Vat:Stall, wfterehe resided. They abased Mr. Lett
in eery
.gtois'term, and imputed conduct to him,
Which, if true; would be cotropti.ni in him as a hiagis- '
trate. 'the circulars contained a di awing of a gibbet
ti.ia__tanis to
at the head of thens,and they invited the i 1 hi
tome and see Mr. Le;t and another person both
on the same gibbet, and trying which could
get to b--. 1 hist. The affidavit of Mr. Lett stated that
Ire was unconscious of.taviog given any offence to i%lr.
Matt, escelit that of making an order in his capacity of
Magistiate for diverting a water-course, which Mr. Hatt
itypcised had iqured hi! property.
.Loid Tit4ll.llDEN—Take a rule.

CONIPIRACT—TUE KING V. ROBERT BOLTON AND
ANOTHER.
This was an, indictment against the defendants, Reheat
Bolton and William Briggs. for a conspiracy, to des
fraud the Sun Viie.office, by making a false represent*.
tion of a loss by lice. It was tried as the London Ad-
kurned Sittings after Michaelmas' Term. before Lord
Tenterden and a Special Jury, when both defendants
we. found guilty.
The detetidant, Robert Bolton; was now brought up
to receive the judgment of the Court.
Lord TeNviaucn read his notes of the trial, full par-
ticniars of which were published in T-14 STAi of the
17th of J anuai y last. It appealed that the defendant
Bnlten was a coffee and spice dealer, carrying on
business in Little Ea.tcheap, and having a private
residence at Kennington; he had effected in the Sun
Fire Office an insurance ci four thousand pounds on his
stock in trade, consisting of coffee, almonds, spices.
and other Alcides. On the evening of the 10th of May,
i 8261 a fite broke out in the upper part of the premises
in Little East Chen!), and on the following morning
Baron procured a quantity of elm:lnds and ginger to be
bronght from his house at Kennington to the warehouse
in Lit le Eastelicap, for the purpose of mixing them
with the c • h. r article; which had been damned by the
fire or by the water ttsed.to extinguish it. The object
of this w as to induce the Suiveyor of the Sun Fite-office,
who came to inspect the premises, to believe that a large
sin intity of goods had been damaged,wheteasit appeared
that only a very small quantity of goods was on the de-
tendant's premises at the time of the fire, and a very in.
considerable portion of them was damaged. A claim was
however tent into the File office, to the amount of
281/. 16s. 9.1. which was letetred to arbitration, and
reduced to about 180 i. but even that sum it afterwards
appeared was much beyond the teal amount of the
daixiage done: It was SWOT a by the witnesses at the trial,
that alter the fire Bolton had been heard to say that be
intended to make a good job of it, and expressed his
regret that the house was not burnt down to the ground,'
as in that case he should have got 3,000/. from the In•
stnance office. Briggs, the tatLer defendant, it appeared,
had been induced to abet Bolton, (in whose seivice he
was) on a promise of a present of 201. which however ht
never seceived, Bohon telling him after the arbitration,
that as he had not stuck up to hint in that affair, and be.
had, in consequence? had 1004 km eked off by the a: bi•
taatora, be should givekim ;inching. Briggs subsequently
gave infnimation ;odic Fire office of the circumstances,
and thi4 prosecution was ache ;emit. Briggs was now
brought Up "for judgment.
Mr. DI:OUGHAU, in addressing. the Court in mitigation
of punishment, reminded their Lordships of the goo.l
character given to the defendant ore the trial, and obe
served upon the consequences of this conviction as likely
to affect Kim during the whole of his future life. S.nce
this prosecutinit was instituted the defendant had been
utterly ruined, and his wife and family were now re. '
duced to the greatest misery and distresa.
Sir JAM'S. SCA MATT and Mr. GdaNalf addressed 4
ths.Court in aggravation of punishment.
Tke defendent !aid he had insured in the Sun Fire
Office for the.lase fourteen yea's; and that? until 1826,
kehad never bean insured in a less amount thairs,oool.
brit that in the year when the' fire happened

(1826) he had reduced the sum to 4,0601. in consequence
of a decrease which had taken place in the value of
his stock.
Mr. Justice BATLEY, in passing the sentence of the
Court, addressed the defendant upon the enormi:y of
the offence of which he had been convicted. It was,
perhaps, fottuaate for him that the lire had terminated
in the manner it did, for had it reached the adjoining
premises, it might have been a question to be deter mined
by a jury, whether it had not been occa.ioned through
the defendant's wicked meaas,and in that case, if the jot y
had found in the affirmai ive,the offence would have been
a capital one, for which the defendant might probably
have forfeited his lite. No one could read the evidence in
this case without seeing the dreadful consequences which,
were likey to result from the defendant's conduct. Theta
was a small quantity of goods covered by an immense
insurance, and the means which had been suggested to
the defendant by one of his own servants, to guard
against the fire happening, had been rejected by him,
and the consequence might have been the destruction
of the entire neighbourhood. The Learned Judge, aftei
referring to the other fact. of the case, and animadverting;
upon the defendant's conduct a, wicked and malevolent/
,entenced him to be imprisoned in his Majesty's gaol of
Newgate for the space of two years.