The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-05-25 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR.

James Linsey Turner came up to plead to an indict
moot preferred against hint. ive underatand, by the
" Constitutional Association," for a scandalous and se-
ditious libel.
The indictment having been read,
The defendant said that he wita improperly described,
his name was not James Linsey 'Varner.
The LORD CDIRE-JvsTics.—lf cot: mean to plead in
abatement, you must state chat your name is.
Defendant.--My name is John Linsey Turner.
The Loan CHIRP JESTICE.—That plea must be veri-
rified by affidavit. If you have not an affidavit prepared,
you must be brought up again to-niorrow-
Defendant said that he had hail in Court.
The bail, as they came up, were opposed by Mr.ilin-
dal ; they were eventually received ; the Learned Coun-
sel requesting :hat recognisances might be taken for the
good behaviour of the defendant.
TIIE KIN'S V. TRO3IAs JOON ETANS.
The offensive matter in the libel referred to in our
paper of yesterday was contained in a paragraph in
The Manchester Observes., of which the defendant was
proprietor, published on the 29th of April, 1820, headed
"Military outrage at Oldham," and pnrportinc to de-
cribe an affray which took place on the 2:ttli of April,
between some inhabitants of that town and a party of
the Knit regiment : it was charged to be written wit?
intent to excite the subjects of the realtn to hatred and
contempt of the King's troops; and also to be with
intent, seditiously, B:.c. to reflect upon the conduct of
the Government of the Country. The cause was tried
before Mr. Justice lest, at Lancaster. The jury found
the defendant guilty.
After the objections made by Mr. Williams to the in-
dictment, as stated in our last, were overruled by the
Court,
Affidavits were put in in mitigation : one from the
defendant himself, declaring that the statement publish-1
ed was from information collected by himself immedi-
ately after the riot, in the town of Ohiliatn ; another
from several artisans of that place, deposing to such in-
formation having really been given to the defendant.
M. Wit.Liatas rose to discharge his last duty to hie
client. The moving, though not very novel, topic of
a wife and small family, was (the Learned Counsel.
said) wanting to him on the present occasion : far the
defendant, though ruined, bad only his own ruin to
lay before the Court. That fact lie stated merely as a
fact ; be meant not to affect any contrition which be
did not really feel ; and were the thing to he done
again, be could not pledge himself that, under similar
feeling and similar belief, he should not write in a
similar manner. One observation, however, as to the
extent of punishment, Mr. Williams would submit.—
Looking back to the annals of English history, he
found prosecutions for libel most frequent, and punish-
ments most severe, at that period when the reigning
dynasty was falling fast in public estimation : of that
dynasty he did believe those very severe punishments
to have accelerated the fall. That prosecution* would
cease to be frequent, especially since a self-constituted
junta bad taken up the business of instituting them,
the Learned Counsel could not very confidently hope ;
but he did trust that, under the forbearance and good
sense of the'Court which he Was addressing, vindictive
sentences were no longef to be apprehended.
The Arribl T-OZNER4I.I thought that, after the
avowal which had just been made by the defendant,
observacions in aggravation became altogether unite-
cessac,,, . • . -
The ICIOW:T Was abanke,to deliberate upon the me,
'42lc. fr,,t‘t'int.r.v.rs pra. ied—rlttaignient for a prgv;einge ..l.
tit gt
o hiattli.egg:rdto.tax ha•
Tdia)soubeheles convicted ii #}r"
was upon a igralliO4
drast-efiliewauic /ife : it ingrain! to Wan.' eon:
. .• Or Alb . 4.

Sir—ln one of the daily papers a few days since, the sot
jeet of knighthood occupied part of its columns, and having
had that honour conferred on me in June. 11420. for an inven-
tion of national importance, it luny not be uninteresting to
some of your readers to know the proper step
ions ress to obtaited
n
that 'intoner. The foundation. Sir, of my pretens
on a discovery, of which few can boast, and which has been
neknowledgeil by my country to be of the utmost conse-
quence. viz. the invention of the Life Preserver, used in
cases of shipwreck. bathing, &c. Jte. This discovery was
made in It-0.5. and was brought by me to perfection after
much labour and expense ; and so completely did it answer
the purpose. that in a short period. numerocis lives were ac-
tually saved. In consequent:: of this. in Vicril, 114011. I was
presented with an elegant medallion from the 11,.y al Hemline
Society ; the
Gold Medial from the Society of Arts, preseived to ith
me by
their President, the late Diti.e of Norfolk. Sc. .h was the
high opinion of the invention, that soon alter it was sub-
mitted to his Grace; it also received the pntroange of his
Royal Highness the Dole of Sussex. Several Noblemen at
this Om- possessing the Life Preserver. suvested to me the
propriety of my being presented at Court. This suggestion
I at that time declined ; but afterwnrils considering the
great national henelt this invention held out to so useful a
bah of men as mariners, who nre allowed t
eemed o be the
pride and bulwark of our country. I d myself
justly entitled to a mark of Royal favour. Otothe that ac-
count I took the liberty of apprising one of Royal
Fancily of my wish noel intention ; and afterwards I con-
sulted one of the late Members for Nliddleses, who,
proving of my resolution, informed
the Secretar
Home Depnrtment of my intention." In April. ISO%
I wrote to Lord Sidmouth. and had the honour of
his Lordship's answer on the Otith, who politely gave
me all the requisite information respecting my attending
the Levee. I then intimated in my answer to his Lord-
ship that I should attend the next Levee. on the 14th
of dilate, for the express Purpose of receiving the honour
of kn;litood. I diet attend, and in the presence of
the Miniistersh, and a Noble Duke. who preeented to his
Majesty his sword for the purpose. I received from the
hands of our beloved Sovereign that distinguished and
justly evolved mark of Royal favour I now possess.—
On the 21th of June (ten days after) I received an official
letter from the Lord Chamberlaln's Office, signinged T. B.
Mash. "claiming the usual fees, including gazett, B.
ctr." Oil the same day I called upon Mr. Mash. at the Lord
Chamberlain's Office, and left with the Clerks a draft on
my Banker for the full amount. Such are the steps I pur-
sued, and it may be useful to some of your readers to know
them, who may consider they have a claim to the same
honour. His Majesty. in conferring it upon one,
had only recog-
nised and confirmed that approbation which already
been bestowed by the two first Societies In this country—
the Royal Humane. of which he is Patron, and the Society
of Arts. All these particulars are detailed at large in a
small Memoir, just published. of, Sir, Your
C. most obedient
humble Servant. F. DANIEL.
Grove Cottage, Mile End. and charlotte
li I House, Surrey. May 33. Dill.
rtir con-

ELECTION TOR QuEENHITIIII.-•-.llsis election was
tinned to so late an hour on Wednesday night, that the
Lord Mayor did not officially declare the numbers on
the poll ; indeed, his Lordship could not properly do so,
as a scrutiny was demanded by Mr. Capel's friends, and
which, we understand, the Lord Mayor wnsloc millin to
o
have gone into yesterday morning at 10 o 'ck, an
fur that purpose took his seat in St. Nicolas Cole abbey
church. The scrutiny was not, however, called for on
the part of Mr. Cape', and the Lord Mayor declared
Mr. %.enable' duly elected, he having :oil votes; Mr.
Carl 31. Mr. (loss then resigned the office of Deputy,
leaving the new Alderman to re-appoint him, or any
other, if be thought proper. Mr. Cape), it is said,
would have relinquished the contest on Tuesday, but for
the persuasion of his friends ; some of whom, at the
Stock Exchange, had laid considerable bets upon the
result of the election. The thanks of the Wardmote to
the Lord Mayor, in which the candidates and their sttp-
porters joined on account of the judgment and temper
Isis Lordship had displayed throughout this sharp and
subtle contest, were unanimously carried. The Lord
Mayor, in returning thanks, said he was glad to perceive
that the situation of Alderman was become one which
was sought after with so much emulation by men who
ranked so high in point of opulence and character. Ilia
Lordship concluded by expressing his hopes that the
termination of the contest would restore the Ward to
entire peace.
CITY or LINFIRICK RIGHT or ELErninit.---The fol-
lowing is the decision of the Committee, as reported
de Wednesday night by Dr. Lushington, copied from
'the official votes and proceedings of the House of Com-
mons :—" The Committee have determined; that the
right of election of Members to serve in Parliament for
the city and county of the city of Limerick, is in the
freeholders of the said county of the said city and in
such freemen of the said city as were resident therein
at the time of their admissions to their respective free-
doms. That the eldest sons of freemen, and persons
who have married the daughters of freemen, and per-
sons who have served seven years apprenticeship to
freemen of the said city, are entitled to the freedom of
the said city, and to vote at elections for the same."
Conostae's INQUEST.•-••SOlCiElg.laii night an
Inquest was held before T. Stirling, Esq. Coroner, at
the Three Compasses, Little Marylehone-street, on the
body of Mr. Dumberley. of !3, in the said street., who
put an end to his existence on Wednesday morning, by
cutting his throat with a reser. He had formerly
been butler in the family of a Noble Deke now es the.
A:eatisent, and reeentiy And ken in tim aseekeef
Colonel tairlor, ASA Mrs. Mears, of Parkilane. He
'has left IL wife and large • family. Verdirt—laresit
- * . ..- .Y.