The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-02-11 00:00:00

P

ed—a mark of respect with which he never saw him
treat the British Officers when they also passed him.
James Longstreeth, Michael M'Donald, John
Price, and James Packett, who had been shipmates
on board the- Laurel, and taken prisoners along with
the Prisoner, all severally deposed to the Prisoner's
liberation from the French prison about two or three
months. They all described his uniform to be white,
faced with blue.
It further appeared, from the testimony of Cape
fain Woollcoutbe, that 50 ether British sailors had
joined the French at the time the Prisoner had de-
eertea. •
Captain Willoughby, respecting whose testimony
the Prisoner's Attorney had put in an affidavit, was
sent for by the Attorney-General, and came to the
Sessions H 01162, in a Hackney coach, but was obliged
to go away again so unwell, as to be incapable of
staying to give evidence, without great danger to his
health. This fact was proved by Mr. H. Cock,
Clerk to the Agent of the Admiralty.
The case here closed on the part of the Crown.
Mr. Baoucactst then addressed the Jury, on behalf
of the Prisoner, at great length. He set out by con-
juring them to receive the evidence in a case Ia-
• volving so many serious consequences to the Prisoner
as the present, with the greatest caution. He con-
tended, that the testimony of Lieutenant Brereton,
ought entirely to be put aside, inasmuch as he had
been contradicted by all the other witnesses for the
prosecution, in respect of the uniform which he stated
the Prisoner to have worn. He must infer from that
circumstance, that he had mistaken the Prisoner for
some other person, and, consequently, that- Put
of the Prisoner's conduct, namely his insulting and
jeering conduct to his officers (which, he con-
tended, was the most serious part of the whole
evidence), was without foundation. All the other
witnesses had stated the Prisoner to have worn
-it white and blue uniform.—He then proceeded
to direct the attention of the Jury to the motives by
which the Prisoner had been induced to swerve from
the strict line of allegiance to his Majesty, and to
adopt a course apparently so inconsistent with every
feeling of honour and loyalty. He drew-a glowing
picture of the miseries to which the unhappy Pri-
soner and his comp. 'dons had been exposed—confined I
is a dungeon swarming with vermin, and kept upon
an allowance of provisions scarce/4' sufficient to sus-
tain existence, together with a variety of other hard-
ships too numerous for detail. From such wretchedness
as this, it was not surprising that men, not possessed of
the must relined feelings, should attempt to escape;
and as the first step towards an end so desirable, to get
without the walls of their loathsome prison by the
only means which offered, namely, by the trick of en-
tering into the French army, with a view not alone of
procuring the means of alleviating their own distresses, I
but of rendering assistance to their countrymen in
thraldom. This, he argued, had been their only
Motive, the only feeling by which they had been ac-
tualed ; a fact which was sufficienlv proved by the
words of tl.e Capitulation, to be found in the Gazette
co..,aining the rarticulars of the success of the Bd.
tish arms. `there it nag specified that the French
troops And their families should have the opportunity
of b i.ig conveyed to any port in France, and in
cces pence of that stipulation, to the disgrace of
Great Britain he had to lament, that several British
suercts bail actually accompanied the enemies of
their retztry. fire Prisoner, however, did not avail
himself of that liberty, but with a zeal highly credit- ,
. We to hiteself, seized thefirst opportunity of quitting
a sertice which be so thoroughly hated, and sub-
m:tting himself some more to the direction of British
Officers. Under all the circumstances of the case, he
trusted the Jury would agree with him in thinking,
that the charge against the Prisoner had not been
fully substantiated. That there was considerable
doubt he was satisfied they would admit, and con.
cl tasted by exhot ting them to decide upon the fate of
the Prisoner with that mercy which ever marked the
proceedings of a British Jury.
Captain Willoughby, the Gentleman already al-
luded to, was theu called upon his subpcena, but did
not answer.
Three witnesses, one named William Reynolds,
and the others George Armstrong and J. Fibbs, both
standing indicted for High Treason, were then ex-
amined for the defence. Their testimony, however,
merely went to prove, that the prison in which they
were 'confined was uncomfortable, and that their
captivity was irksome. They deposed, however,
tha4 g the time the British forces were off the island.,
they were imprisoned, and on being asked to aCCOPM
puny the French troops, they all positively refusedi
so to do, and, when the opportunity arrived, they
immediately surrendered to the English army.
The evidence for the defence being closed, the
Gazette containing the capitulation of the Isle of
• France was put in, and that part alluded to by Mr.
Brougham read.
Air. JONES then followed on Mme side with
ML. Brougham.
The ATTORNEY-CiiiRAL eitplatad:
Baroll MACDONALD having summed up the isvti
- deuce, en which lie commented with his usual abi-
lity, tW Jury retired, and after a short consideration,
returned a verdict of Guilty—Deetk—They how-
ever recommended the Prisoner to mercy, upon the
ground of'his having returned to his allegiance when
thr -"felinity offered.

ippok y
The Court then edjunrned till to-morrow,
IRELAND.
•
• COURT OF COMMON PLEAB'.4.ND EXCIILQUER,
;ATuaDAy, !ph 8.
OATROLIG DEPLGATES (YEESSAS. BURK, SCURLOG, AND
OTIONI4), 41! PLAINTIFFSI AGAINST CIIIET JUSTICE
powsrat.
In this cause, Counsellor Pcmistravumt, sen. ap-
plied on behilf of the Defendant for time to plead,
Ie to first stay of term.—Court granted the motion.
ft similar *upplicatiaq was made in the Court of
common Fleas;
Wi • , arm=2_3meerss
naderstand a very useral article of the Patent
• 'et lyijusling Rack Pulley, may be lad hr Iron-
. Sockageo and Factors, at Messrs. WitisANl Guts.
mu and Co.'s brass foundry, brass nail, coffin for.
pittirC*, pair, and hair-seating If boleseift warehouse,
oitsfur:stiv; West Smithfield, Ilondon,
who) We4111474441(1014, appeint#4 .4* ligegf
gib !IMAM:.

gao'
tise
/I

•
• f
:•• - r •••••,.• THE EfPNYERMAN•

• BUILDING LAND,' GRAY'S INK-LAWIL ,
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION,
By Mr. WM. diLS,IANDBR, it
At the Auction Mart, opposite the Blink, a• TN A7'
Feb. 13, at Twelve o'Clock, •
ALL that valuable piece of FREEHOLD BtiILD-
ING LAND, situate and %being in Charlotte-haul..
Gray's Inn-lune: containing by admensurement forty-1100 *et
to frost, by thirty-five feet deep, with about fifty thaasand
RR!' KS thereon, and is extremely vreU adapted for boild!pira
ben' in a most desirable and papulans neighbourhood aMM MI
It b presumed, well calculated for the erection of a
tory. or on whirls eight Tenements may be hwilt.
Ta be viewed wait the time of Sale, and Particulars and Con-
ditions bad of the Auctioneer, 10, Park-place, bileglllti at the
Auction Mart; nod of the Penns who will show Ibil Properly.

The volunteer exertions of the inhabitants of the
metropolis (pending the investigationr of the Police
Committee) for their own defence, have proved so
far effective as to drive gangs of murderers and house-
breakers into the country, there to carry on their
nefarious practices until Louden is lulled into a suffi-
cient security for their return.' The County Papers
abound with details of their horrible transactions.
A paragraph has appeared in most of the Papers,
strung, that letters from Gibraltar mention, that his
'lllialusre's ship Conqueror, had been unfortu-
illfidy becalmed under a French battery near
"Nolen, until one hundred and seventy of her men
were killed His MAJESTY'S ship Conqueror is now,
and has been for nearly a month, in the Medway,
between Chatham and Sheerness.
BOW-STRlET.—Yesterday John Overton was
charged with stealing a great variety of property to
a very considerable amount, belonging to Mr. Wes-
sell, the pawnbroker, in Fleet-street.--It appeared,
that the Prisoner had lived with the Prosecutor four
years, in the capacity of foreman,. and Mr. Wessell
had the greatest confidence in him. ' In the month
- of April last Mr. Wessell took stock, and to his
LONDON:
great disappointment, found himself 2001. deficient,
TL:ESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 181% but could not In-any way account for it, havingno
suspicion how his property went, or of any person.
CHANGE OF 11HNISTFA.
- He being stockw to move to a house in 'Pickett-
street, and his of wine being removed, seve-
. Isuspicion being
WE congratulate' the nation; we congratulate) in ail bottles were missed, and the .
particelar, the friends of Peace and of the Constitu- very strong against the 'Prisoner, his denying It
was,not believed, and hit box was searched, when four
lion, on the more than probable *respect' ther4 Is of bottles were found. 'Thorp Wiill also found Bank-notes'
a speedy change of the present moisten. Marquis
,i.ndoesh to a considerable amount, severel watcbese,
rings, tilakete, silg stockings, &c. Arnorig the
WELLESLEY, who aimed at the, subversion of the Bank notes was one for 201. Mr. Wessell *as able
Constitutinu, and who constantly preached up eter- to identify it as his property, from the number and
marks on it, which he recollected having taken from
nil werfare, has either given its his resiguation, or is
Mr. W. liall of Duke-street, wine-merchant, for
on the eve of doing it. Mr. yogi!? hi, worthy his father, as a' dividend from a public concern he
colleague in what has been impudently termed his I belonged to in October last, and ffe then put it into
MAJESTY'S Council, quits his seat this day as First the till of the shop for the use of the business, with
which the Prisoner was entrusted, and had no doubt I
Lord of the Admiralty. The LORD CHANCELLOR) but the Prisoner had got possession of it improperly,
and the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who both pas he had not paid him any wages since that time.—
had an audience yesterday of ',the Parsicz
i Mr. Hall was able to identify the note as the same he'
j paid to Mr. Wessell. The Prisoner was committed
REGENT, ire known to have received notice I for further examination.
from his Royal Highness, that' a change was I A most daring and •singular attempt to rob the'
meditated in the presentl Public-house, situate at the 'roll-gate, called Pease-I
system We may , p
ottage-gate, on the Cuckfield-road to Loudon,
therefore expect in a few bays, to hear of and about 23 miles from hence, we hear, was made'
those arrogant Aristbcrats giving up their Seats in the night of Wednesday last. Towards the even-
of Office; and of All the inferior tribe who defeed-
Jug of that day, a person, decently attired as a
I female, applied at the above house for refreshments
ed their measureee and who performed the dirty and a bed, both of which were obtained. Soon
work under them, packing up their implements, and -I, after the retiring to the litter, the maid of the house
following the example of their high-minded saperci- she
T hinted her suspicions to her master, that the stranger
had. lighted up stairs was a man disguised in
lious masters. Although every thing has been writ- . woman, clothe's.; and if so, that the entrants he
ten by the servile Journalists of Mr. PERCRYAL to kid ' gai;led intro. the house could not have b ee
.. ' '._, I effected or any laudable purpose. After much had
.bring the PRINCE
subject ; and although they so far succeeder, a; to: happened to be drinking in the house, made an offer
create an idea in the public mind, that no Change 6(1 of sitting up all night in the tap-room, in the dark,
to counteract any bad design that might have been
measures would be pursued by his Royal ---elliffbnesit', concerted against aught within time-premises. This
' on the expiration of the Regency Restriction's; it hasi offer. was. accepted, and the landlord, Inc:. as ad-
all along teen our endeavour to counteract an lvieed, soon after retired to bed likewise, that n•
in-
soopleion of what was decided upon should reach
pression so derogatory to the honour of the Niece., the stranger above stairs. The house had been
' and so contrary to that line of conduct which the quiet for some time; but, at length, the sound of
i well-known principles of his Royal Highness, could footsteps, as of some person cautiously descending
the 'stairs was heard by those below 2 and some one,
not fail leading him to' pursue. The changes which soon after, from within, made an essay to open the
have already taken place, are a sufficient guarantee 1 front door, but that was not to be effectol, as the
of this ; and when we learn as we have done I landlord bad wisely taken thekey from the lock be-
,l
, fore he ascended to his chanber. The disappointed
that a Nobleman of such high integrity as Lord individual now sounded a whistle, and footsteps
ERMINE, is to fill the important situation of were distinctly heard from without. At this criti-
.Cu esteem:oa of the Empire, we consider this Iwa
1 cal juncture, tfie party on the watch raked fdr-1
r , secured the mysteriods personage on the bee
d'
1I
as a sufficient pledge of the Persica REGENT'S nor side of the door, and the suspicions 4, the
1
intention to call to his Councils those only house-maid were presently after confirmed. 'lt is
added, that the detected ruffian, after-due examine--
who have at heart the safety of his Throne, and the
1 tion by a Magistrater has been• fully committed for
happiness of his people,' both of which have been- trial-
i brought almost to the verge of ruin by the prSunday night, about 12 o'clock, the house in which
od' .
I gaoy of the present Ministers. It will, indeed, be a Sir John Carr resides, at ltayner-place, Chelsea,
vas attempted to be broken into, and just as the
I jubilee to the country, and ought to be celebrated as i '
villains had succeeded, they were overheard by the
1
i such, the day which puts an end to the Restrictions - 1 family • but in attempting to secure them, they made
imposed on the Pntsce REGENT, and which promises their escape.
On the same evening, at dusk, a house in Queen-,
so faeourafily to restore Peace and Plenty to this street, Chelsea. was entered and robbed, but upon
aillicted land. the family being alarmed, the robbers succeeded in
getting off.
Numerous letters daily arrive in town to the Wisrusoa, FEe. 10.—The itieo is net so well to-
-
Lot-
day as he has been for these few days past. tery Offices, complaining of a want of the usual re-'
e mittaires to the Country of Tickets and Shares in the
1 The four Moe Ribbons( vacant by the death of`
Scheme which stands so near at issue as Tursoey
the Dukes of PORTLAND, DEVONSHIRE, GRAFTON', wy___
:vizi'. The cause obviously is—that a Lottery of
and Recceruou, will, it is supposed, be conferred'
only 8,000 Tickets, yet so interesting as to contain
on the Dukes or NORFOLK, RICHMOND, 'Dcvos-
Prizes of 20,0001. with other important Capitals
seine, and Earl %riga) is the come of the pre- ..i. I
sent month. . -- 41 will loseeelz be !efficient to supply the Metropolis,
' . ''' .4 `.7`.. ••••—' `' ( and eonietieently not to admit of the aettestoelerli
-es e
Mr. eeymoun, son,.! we understann, et the late :
Lord• HUGH Szemo'ire, '4llll probably' bitlie sasses.
1 remittances toyrovincial Agents.
, 1 Oar:tn.—No Court .of Aldermen to-day. The
sor to the late Mr. Coleus, as Serjeasit 4 Arms to , i
the House of Commons. • •e _ .a'. 4.0n0-Meestß, after inspecting the retains) ordered
it to rise Id. per peck.
Lord WK. KUSSELIO isle said, is appointed Aid-
de-Camp to General GRAILS*, and
_proceeds Wise. - . • - -
eliately to Portugal. • LENT CIRCUIT.
,•
The Windsor Castle picket is arrived at Fallen* ' • - NORFOLK.
from Rio Janeiro, after a passage of 5•5 dip. 1.. A "OM (Blef,leatice MAssrtet.n and she Honourable Mr. Jus-
tice ii f ATM. -
Thursday, the Chatham, of 74 guns,• tilkeiettie e loruchlostssanaire-eMoeday, morals, at Aylesbnry.
the stocks at flushing, and, named after the Officer mentt•
gr--114171,114* much 5' at
iltritforHasli
nREoa
commeuding the Expedition to Wilcheren, is to be t Cambridgesbire--Timai47 karat 10; at Calpluidge.
launched from Woolwich Dock-yard. Care, Mintier ,Norfolk—Saturdav, March 14, aerbetfard.
iS to have the command. ' ' .• S•gbik—Wedziestay, Marti 18, at Bury 84. Linands.
A new Operatigal farcf, from the pen of Mr. , ale aupetit
' .11a,c4juk/44111GlaitEd *Sir NAM Gams, Knt.
Hoemese the music by Mr. T. COOKE, of Dublin, Ifertforeseire—Thuriaay Ibr., 5, at Hertford.
was read in Coy e,den Green-room Eases—Mondi- N 9. ' Caelrosford.
etriet-ey
Mr '7 , name-
that gimpy-
Mss

Mr. Mails. . Dan.
1 4,.•• - Dublin .•
•0 • 0.'6'0 .... Co *do. • Waterford 1
' Guernsey ...
0
1 • ...• Brazib

Smtais:toSlDAT .—Holiday at the Public Old .

THE STA.TESM4N.

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