The Sun. — 1825-09-15 (London, England)

LONDON SESSIONS.  Yesterday these Sessions commenced before the Right Ilon. the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, the Sheriff's, and a full Bench of Aldermen. The RECORDER addressed the Grand Jury at considerable length :-11e was free to confess that it gave him great concern that the labours of the Gentlemen of the Grand Jury were likely to be extended to a considerable length of time; for, up to the time the calendar was made up for publication, there were 82 prisoners charged with crimes within the city of London, which . was at least one-fourth more than he ever remembered in the corresponding periods during his 40 years' experience. With a few exceptions, the charges were of that common description, with which they were, alas, but too familiar; therefore, in deciding upon them, in all probability their intelligence and experience would most likely supersede the necessity of remarks from the Court. There was, however, one case on which he would make a remark, viz., maliciously killing 2 valuable horses. —Formerly the law did not deem this heinous offence% capital felony, unless it tVas proved that the offender was prompted to such a brutal act from a principle of malice against the proprietor of the beasts or cattle which were maimed or destroyed. During the last session of Parliament the Legislature had judiciously passed a law which would prevent persons of this description from escaping (as many had done) with impunity ; the offence was now become % capital felony, and punishable as such. There were some cases which the calendar did not contain, one of which number would probably come before the Grand Inquest, and it' so, it would demand their serious attention. The Learned Recorder said lie alluded to a charge of combination, or unlawful conspiracy. In a country like England, this offence was not to be tolerated. Since the session before last the Legislature had very properly made an enactment which would render the common law of the land operative, so as, if possible, to annihilate the evil, or at least stern its torrent. Experience had shown that the offence to which he alluded had not only been subversive of order, and detrimental to trade and commerce, but i:s result had been stained by the foul crime of murder. Those conspiracies had not been confined to one element, but in some instances bodies of men had armed themselves, and attacked ships, &c., thereby preventing the orderly and satisfied mariner from doing his duty. He adverted to the occurrence of an illegal conspiracy which had taken place l years ago at The Tinics office, and which had been prosecuted with great spirit by the conductor of that journal. The offenders were convicted, and a severe punishment very properly followed, hut a punishment not more severe than just. The consequences were extremely beneficial, as conspiraces of this nature were afterwards for a long time prevented. After the Learned Recorder had remarked upon the several other offences, he dismissed the Jury, expressing his confidence that the members of it would discharge their important duty in a manner which would prove not only satisfactory to themselves on reflection, hat also obtain for them the thanks of their fellow-citizens. The Cotnur afterwards tried one assault case, and heard a number of parish appeals not possessing the least interest.  Last night, between nine and ten o'clock, the metropolis was visited by one of the heaviest showers of rain we ever remember to have witnessed. In many parts the streets were, for a considerable time, rendered impassible. From the courts that empty themselves into Fleet. street, the water rushed clown in torrents, and in some of the houses in Holywell-street the lower parts we re flooded. Under the archway at St. Clement's Church the water was nearly six inches in depth.