The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-12
The Law " No Respecter of Persons"

striking instance of the above proverb, the
correctness of which many persons have frequently
questioned, recently occurred in London. Capt.
Paulet Henry Somerset. arstocratic gentleman
belonging to the aristocratic Coldstream Guards,
attempted to drive two horse vehicle up the road
to the great exhibition, which the commissioners
had closed to carriages. He was stopped by po-
lceman, whom he horsewhipped with great fury
but was arrested and taken before Magistrate
Hardwick. He stated THAT he had not received
that courtesy from the police which a gentleman
had right to expect" The magistrate gave him
proper admonilion, and sentenced him to the
House of Correction for ten days. The sentence
appeared to overwhelm him. and he offered to pay
any fine which migh be inflicted as he would be
obliged to leave his regiment but The mag strate
was memorable, and declined to make any altera-
ton. The case naturally provoked much discus
sion in all circles. The London Chronicle SAYS of il:
The case of Capt. Pauet Henry Somerset has
excited considerable attention, and thessentence
passed upon him will probably be viewed in widely
different lights, according 10 the rank in life and
the habits Of those who, in club, tavern, dining
parlor, or drawng.room, will sit in judgment on
the judge. scion of the princely house of Beau
ort--a captain of the CodsIream Guards-sent to
the House of Correction 1t is enough to stir the
househol troops to mutiny, and to breed rebellion
in May Fair. Let the facts, however, be calmly
recapitulated and duly weighed, before indigna-
ton is nduged."
A recitation of the facts follows, when the
Chronicle adds:
We do not quite agree with the magistrate
that the law knows absolutely no distinction Of
persons in apportionng punshments for nomi-
nally equal penalties become garingly unequal
when applied individuals of different habits and
remperaments. The prospect of ten days contine.
ment in the House of Correction, which would
have comparatively little terrors for cabman OF
| an omnibus driver, naturally enough burst upon
| and bewdered the luckless officer like thunder.
clap But our deliberate conclusion, noiwitbsand-
| ing, is that MIR. Hardwick was right. A resort tc
brute force is ntolerable all times in civilized
community ; and habtual respect for the const
tued authorities, from the highest to the lowest il
| what every well-ordered magisiracy will always
make 1t paramount object to enforce
In conclusion, the Chronicle brings Shakspeariar
| authority in Support of the decision, saying:
" 1t has been half jocularly suggested by loren.
sic hnmorist, that the commttal of Capt Somerset
bv Mo- Hardwck is the most remarkable event in
Eng fish Jurisprudence since the Incarceration OF
Henry the Fifth, when Prince of Wales, for striking
The Chief Justice and that the worthy magistrate
has, by his firmness, fairly earned niche, panel
or compartment in the new House of Parliam4 Mt
Ridentem deere rerum quid uetat =? 1t is unques.
uohabiy Jndlcious, opportune, fearless, and m
compromising exercise of magisterial discretion
and we make bold to prophesy that it will be fol
lowed by the most beneficial results, and that al
who rightly uphold and conscen,iously venerate
the majesty of British law, will thank him for il. 2
FURTHER srEAmsHIr WASHINGTON.
Captain Paulet Henry Somerset, whose case
has excited so much attention in the London jour.
mails and social circles, and who was committed to
the House of Correction for ten days, notwth-
standing his position as Captain of the Coldstream
Guards, for assaultng policeman in the discharge
of his duty, has been visited in all by many of the
most distinguished persons in society. On the first
day The Duke of Buccleuch, the Marquis of Stat
ford heir of the Duke of Sutherland, Lord Mul
grave, and several officers of his regiment were
among the visitors. Strenuous efforts were made
at the Home Office for his relief from Jail, but Si
George Grey's private secretary waited upon III.
prisoner and told him that Sir George could moi,
| conscen'iousIy, advise Her Majesty to remit an,
portion of the sentence. On the following two
days the visitors weravery numerous, comprising
Peers, members of Parliament and military men
Captain Somerset's visitors. during four days
prison clothes, and fares precisely as the othe
l nrisn