Star.
London, England, 1819-09-04 00:00:00

CHESTER ASSIZES, SEPTEMBER 1.

This morning, the Hon. CHARLES WARREN, and
the Hon. SAMUEL MARSHALL, his Majesty's Justices
for the County Palatine of Chester, arrived at Ches-
ter, and.opened the Commission of Assize.
At eleven o'clock their Lordships, accompanied by
the High Sheriff, Jour; SMITH BARRY, Esq. at-
tended Divine Service at St. Peter's Church.

At two o'clock the Learned Judges repaired to the
Shire-hall, and opened the business of the Court.—
The Letters Patent of his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his
Majesty, whereby CHARLES WARRVI, Esq. one of
his Majesty's Counsel learned in the Law, was ap-
pointed Chief-Justice of Chester, was first read. It

was dated June 15, 1819, and having been read by
the Clerk, was ordered to be recorded. The Fines
levied in the County were then proclaimed. The
Right Hon. Earl Grosvenor appeared iu person, and
suffered a recovery upon his Estates in Cheshire, pre-
viously to the marriage of his son, Lord Belgrave,
with the second daughter of the Marquis of Stafford.
The following Gentlemen were then named on the
Grand Jury :
Sir J. T. STANLEY, Bart. is the Foreman.
Lord Belgrave. Henry Cotton, Esq.
Sir Henry Mairrwaring. D. Davenport, Eaq.
Thos. Cholmondeley, Esq. F. Davies Davenport, Esq.
Thomas Parker, Esq. William Egerton, Esq.
T. C. Clutton, Eaq. Rt. Hibbert, Esq.
Chas. Cholmondeley, Esq. John Isherwood, Esq.
D. Ashley, Esq. John Leycester, Esq.
'G. Wilbraham F,sq. Thomas Marshall, Esq.
W. H. Worthington, Esq. D. Stracy, Esq.
IL Taylor,
The CHIEF JUSTICE addressed them in these words:
" Gentlemen of the Grand Jury—Permit me to
congratulate you on the state of the Calendar with
respect to the number of prisoners—a number con-
siderably less than, as I understand, it usually con-
tains, and little more, as I am told, than one-third
of what appeared in the last Calendar. , This fact,
certainly, is a subject for congratulation; but, Gen-
tlemen, I am sorry to observe, that it contains many
oases of burglary, a crime extremely prevalent, and
,spreading in this country ; and if the cases are made
out, one which ought to be heavily punished. The
Court has frequently expressed its determination to
check these nocturnal depredations; and it is now re-
solved to put a stop, if possible, to such alarming
excesses, by rigorous examples. There are several
persons charged with other heinous offences ; but I
think, Gentlemen, that your talents and your expe-
rience will have no legal difficulty in disposing of
them. On ordinary occasions, I might here Close
my observations ; but i may, perhaps, be excused in
saying a few words; nay, it may bethought neces•
sary, in the present state of affairs, that I should ad-
dress you a little more at length. Gentlemen, the
dissemination of wild and abstract political theories
have created a degree of unusual feeling throughout
the Country, that cannot be too soon repressed. Riot
and sedition have spread through various Distridts;
and it behoves every well-wisher of the Country—
every Englishman, to unite in thwarting the objects
of Revolutionary Anarchists, in protecting the Coun-
try from their influence, and in preventing their ex-
cesses and their growth. I would willingly believe,
that the theories and the doctrines which have been
promulgated will be counteracted by their very ab-
surdity ; but we all know from experience the dan-
gers that may arise from their progress, and by the
influence of designing incendiaries, who attribute the
existing distresses, evidently only temporary, and
arising from causes which it was impossible to coun-
teract, to other sources, in order to excite discontent
and disaffection. To forward their designs, the rest-
less and lawless race deride the Constitution, and in-
sult its laws; but I trust, Gentlemen, that the laws
of this Country are sufficient to protect the people
from the malevolence and hostility of such char?c.
ters. Much depends on the exertion of Gentlemen
of your description—Gentlemen of fortune, educa-
tion, talents, and influence—in putting an end to the
system of delusion which has too long been permitted
to exist ; on your conduct, as Magistrates, rests in a
great degree the peace and safety of the Country.—
You have an arduous duty to perform ; but the Pub-
lic appreciate your services ; and by a continuance
of the same zeal, you will obtain the best wishes of
the good and virtuous, of the loyal and patriotic
subjects of the Realm. Gentlemen, I now request that
you will retire to your room, and that you will lose
no tune in returning the Bills which you might find."
In the course of the day, Joseph Harrison, whose
case is well known to the Public, was discharged on*
bail, himself in £5OO, and two' Sureties, resident
shopkeepers in Stockport, in £2:50 each, before Joins
PHILLIPS, Esq. Magistrate. We understand, that
he intends to traverse his case till the Spring Assize,
He made himself very conspicuous afterwards, by
coming into Court, and shewing himself in various
parts of the town.
The Grand Jury have come to the following De-
claration t
" We, the Grand Jury of the County Palatine of Lancaster,
feel it incumbent at this time to declare our indignation at the
machinations of artful and itinerant Desnaguguea, Who dissemi-
nate Papers of the most dangerous and *editions tendency at
Public Meetings—With freedom In their mouths, and fraud and
plunder in their hearts, employ the most inflammatory language,
01411(3114y inculcate, under the specious veil•of Reform, hatred

FS": ' •

71r--r

and contempt of oar CoestitutiOn, and Instigate the heard* aid
unwary even to exert physical force (that is, violeuse and open
arms) t'or the enforcement of their viiloraty claims, at once use•
less to themselves, destruettivof the rights and property of their
fellow-subjects, and Involving the country IN .ne general :tin.
" Nor can we refrain from declaring our disgust and horror,
at the odious and blasphemous publications pouted forth
throughout the country, in which the Holy Scriptures are held
up to derision, reviled, and scoffed at, and audaciously deiloaneed
to the people as false, with the malignant intention of eradi-
cating from their minds all moral checks, and all the hopes and
comforts to be desired from religion; but with the most serious
and peculiar anxiety, and detestation, we contemplate the un-
remitting exertions to poison the minds of the rising generation
with the same horrid and detestable doctrines.

•' We, therefore, strongly impressed with the excellence of
our Conatitution, protecting all ranks and degrees of Society,
are firmly resolved, by every means in our power, to enforce the
due execution of the laws, against the seditious and disaff_eted,
and against 2H who either by their acts, or otherwise, end•tnget
the puLlie peace and safety of the Realm."

SHOOTING AT BIRCH, THE CONSTABLE;
James George Bruce and William Pirrais.—On
Thursday morning the ATTORNEY-GENERAL ap.
plied to the Court for a rule to shew cause, why the
Trials of these persons, charged under what is called
Lord Ellenbomugh's Act, with shooting at William
Birch, the Police Officer, with intent to kill him,
should not be put off till next Assizes, on account of
the absence of a material witness. He moved for the
rule on the affidavits of the Surgeon and the Attorney
for the prosecution. Mr. Flint, the turgeon, deposed,
that he and Mr. E. Killar had attefided Birch from
the time lte was-wounded to the present time ; and
notwithstanding his progressive seate of amendment,
he was not yet so far recovered, as to render his re-
moval safe or prudent. They considered he would
be sufficiently recovered to appear and give evidence
in Court next Assizes. Mr. Lloyd, the Attorney,
stated, that William Birch was a material witness in
the prosecution of the prisoners, and that he could
not proceed to their trial without his evidence. He
thought,it probable,. that in the interval, between the
present and next Assize, the other parties suspected
of aiding, &c. in the attempt, would be apprehended.
COURT.—Take a Rule.
APPREHENSION OF *INNIS.
THURSDAY, RIGHT P. St..
Intelligence has just been received here of the ap.
prehension of Jacob Mlnnis, strongly suspected of •••
being the man who actually shot Mr. Birch. He was
taken in Ireland, by a Police Officer, named Man-
ning, and may shortly be expected in our Castle.—
The communication is from Warren, Esq. one
of the Magistrates of the City of Dublin.

A Requisition for a Court of Common Council,
upon the subject of the late proceedings at Man-
chester, was presented to the Loan MAYOR, as we
have already stated, about 11 o'clock in the forenoon
of Thursday, to which his Lordship promised an an-
swer on the same day or early the next Inoraing.
The question, however, it seems was not so easy of
decision, but required serious and deliberate consi.
deration ; and accordingly some of the Aldermen
were summoned to attend his Lordship's Councils,
and met at the Mansion House at two o'clock yester-
day afternoon ; the result of which was the transmis-
sion of a letter from his Lordship to one of the Gen-
tlemen of the 'Deputation, at four o'clock yesterday,
stating that his Lordship, conformably with their
Requisition, had directed.a Court of Common Coun-
cil to be summoned fort,hursday next, the 9th inst.
at the usual hour. . .

A simular Requisition, couched in precisely the
same terms, and signed by nearly 100 Liverymen,
was also presented to his Lordship yesterday morn-
ing, for the purpose of obtaining a Meeting of the
Livery in Common Hall, to which his Lordship re-
turned a similar answer, " that he should take time
to consider of it." One of the Members of the Depu.
tation requested to know when they might wait upon
his Lordship for his answer? To which the LORD
MAYOR replied, " whenever they thought proper."
On inquiring whether they might wait upon him on
Monday next? his Lordship again replied, " if they
thought pr, per." The Gentleman, judging from the
coolness of his Lordship's manner, that he was averse
to granting the Hall, observed, that he hoped his
Lordship would give them a definitive answer, and
trusted the Lord Mayor of London would not deny
the Livery the use of their own Hall upon so impor-
tant an occasion; adding, that the Guildhall was the
property, the freehold of the Livery. To which his
Lordship replied, that he declined giving any other
ar.twer at present, but that he would consider of it.
The Deputation then withdrew, intending to wait
upon his Lordship again on onday next, for his
final determination.
SOUTHWARK MEETIHOrThe example of the City
of Westminster will be followed by the Borough Re-
formers. A Requisition, most numerously (and cer-
tainly very respectably) signed, has been prepared,
and will be this day or Monday presented to the High
Bailiff (J. Partner, Esq.) desiring him to " call an
early Meeting of the inhabitants of the Town and
Borough of Southwark, to take into consideration the
late dreadful outrages committed on the people of
Manchester by the- Yeomanry Cavalry and Magis-
trates." his supposed that the High Bailiff will not
consent, in which case the Meeting will-be called
without his sanction.
A Iletitteis placard, recommending Reform Meet-
ing to'bekeld, was posted some days ago in Chester.
It was rapidly pulled down, and no more has been
heard of the matter.
On the evening of Friday se'nnight, Mr. ROBenr
BARCLAY, slip-owner, and Mr. Geonon Suarsov,
merchant, went on board the brigantine Fortune, in
the bay of Arbroath. Off Auchmithie they left the
vessel to land there ; bot had not proceeded far,
when the boat, from some accident, unfortunately
upset, and both perished.
At the Dawlish Regatta, a few days ago, an ex-
..,
celleut race took place, between two six-Oared bOats,
rowed by women of the salmon fishery, which afforded
much amusement to the company present..
LITERATURE.—The most interesting and valuable
volume anew and useful information which for
many rears has been presented to the Public, is the
First Volume of the Journal of New Voyages 'and
Travels. Tnis Volume is only 'los. bound, contains
five complete Works, separately worth ten guineas,
and the chief -contents of six Works, value other ten
guineas. A complete Work, as usual, will continue
to be published on the 15th of every Month, but, for
exportation, the sii Numbers done up in 'a Volume,
and the Volume of the Monthly Magas*, constitute,
together, a body of unrivalled contemporary Litera-
ture and 'Science. •