' r , *-% The Solicitor Cement this day showed cause against the rule, sod contended there was not the least ground to impute a oar- Inett motive. The court were of opinion, upon a view of all the affidavits, that these was 110 ground to stay Mr. Lewis had acted oppres sively, and that he bad dune nothing lie might think he was nal bound to do. The rule fur a criminal information was discharged. THULSDAY, FEB. 13. The Lord Chief Justice held the first sitting after term is the court of the sessions house. BIDDY V. HOWELL AND MANNING. The Common Sergeant stated, that this was an actinb brongh by a widow lady, resittng at Chelsea, against the defendant who is a collector of poor -rates, and another, for tree s's and riot on the premises of the plaintiff. Miss Jane Biddy, daughter of the plaintiff remembers Mr. Howell ea/ling at her mother's, about three o'clock on the Bth of August —her mother promised, if he called at five that even ing, he should be paid. About eight o'clock that night witness beard a loud knock at the dour. Wittiesa looked out of the window, and saw an man, in a state of intoxication, leaning against the well of the street-door, whom she since knew to be Manning, the other defendant. He demanded to see Mrs. Biddy ; and being told she was not at home. be said he'd Gall again in the morning. Witness particularly urged bins to tell his hnsineu, but he declined. As witness was going op stairs, she saw him out of aliswindow, gettinh over the rails of the back garden. Witness immediately screamed out. She then ern down and bolted the back door, which wait burst in, " and the man fell in nearly upon me." Ile then called out, 1 ant in my boys, and I'll let you in." At that moment a thundering rap cone to the street door ; Manning ran and opened it, letting in Howell, the defendant, and Mr. Cranbrook, When Howell entered he said— , . I have a warrant for the poor rates." Witness said, " For God's sake let me entreat you don't make this exposure, the money has been ready for you ever since iny mother bid you call." Witness immadiately tendered the money to Howell, and then awearirg, lie said, •• Madam, for your impudence, I will make you pay the levy," —lie was very much intoxicated, and so was Manning. Witness sent for Mr. Wilson, her attorney, sod again tendered the money, one pound odd. There was a great tumnit and mob before the dolor. Rowell demanded. 11. 1 Is. Gd. and took that sum off the table. Mr. Howell saidhe had taken. too much, and gave back 6e. Gil. Cress-examined by the Solicitor Gennal.—Knew that Howell was the rate-collector, and that lie bad called frequently to demand payment; is not in the habit of locking the door and answering iron the windows, but might have done so to the collectors in several instances ; will swear that the door was bolted when Manning burst it open ; did not know that Manning wits a parish constable; the house had been robbed some time before, and she took this men for a robber climbing over the wall. Mrs. Mary Ryan is another daughter of the plaintiff's ; was owe visit to her mother ;corroborated last witness. Mr. Blowhard lived next dour ; saw the disturbance ; Man ning appeared to be drunk, and conducted himself in a• very allusive manner, as likewise Howell, the collector. William Lower, carpenter, received ss. ntl. for repairing the door. The Solicitor General admitted they had no right to break open the door, but the damage was only ss. Gd. No doubt the plaintiffs were ready to pay, bet not willing. What was the pecuniary injury them parties had sustained by the defen dants doing their duty in recovering the rates, attended with so much trouble and difficulty. The Lord chaerJustice observed, a verdict most go to the plaintiff. The Jury would say how maclemore they would give is damages than the 21. which the plaintiff had paid to the de. tendons, ineludinh the repairs of the door. The Jury, without hesitation, found for the plaintiff—damages 201. beyond the 21. paid. FRIDAY, FED. 14. Judges Bayley, Holroyd,aud Best, were occupied during the day, hearing arguments against new trials in country causes. The question of bribery' at the Ilchester election was dis gamed. A noble lord was the defendant in an action fur bri bery, and the Jury found a verdict against him. Is the course of last term a rule Mei was obtained to set aside the verdict and inter a non-snit, on the ground that die money, alleged to be a-bribe, was paid after the election. This it was contended could not be bribery under the act. The Court, after hearing counsel against the rule, decided that it was nor a case in which en action for bribery would lie, and consequently made the rule absolute for entering a nonsuit. tzarslNG SHIPS THAT ARE St:NAC. JONES V. THOMPSON. Mr. Gurney stated that Ibis was an action brought by the plaintiff, who was in possession of a very useful and ingenious art ; namely that of raising ships from the bottom after being sunk in the river Theme*. For this service, rendered to a vessel called the Planter, (which was run down by a another ship called the !!awry,) Ito claimed 1001. horn _the Captain and owners of dint vessel. Ile called saveral witnesses to prove work and labour, and the plaintiff Jones having mad the seamen employed 101. each, besides hiring a barge no the occasion. The Lord Chief Justice summed up, and observed, the Jury would say whether the plaintiff was enticed to a reasonable compensation for such service as was rendered by Liw. % er diot for the plaintiff, damages 121. CONDUCT OF KING'S COUNSEL AT THE CHANCERY BAR. Os Thursday last a most numerous meeting of the most re spectable Solicitors of this metropolis asseoitiled at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand, fur the very important pur pose of adopting such measures, with respect to the gentlemen of the bar in highest practice at the Court of Chancery, as may lead to • more eliectusl performance of their duty to their clients than has taken place since this establishment of the Vice Chancellor's Court. There were upwards of 250 of the pro fesaizn present. Mr. be Blanc was unanimously called to the chair. The principal members stated—what had been long tastier at complaint among Chancery solicitors, hut to which public attention was never before called—that the proverbial delays in the Court of Chancery were greatly increas_d, and the ex penses of suitors alarmingly augmented, b► the manner in which the Chancery business was transacted by the leading eouosel at that bar. It was usual fur a King's counsel, after making a speech in the Court of t:hsnoery, to pop olt to the Vice Chancellor's court, and there to make another speech, a!tcr which he ran back to the court of Chancery, without making himself acquainted with the arguments on Cie opposite side, or (loin any dour further for the benefit of his client, — The conscqaence of such a mode of disposing of the important trust reposed in the hands of Chanocry solicitors was exees sively injurious, The comp) tint eumprehoutled an almost total ""' ~' TAY' NATIONAL , trivaiSTEll carelessness as to time event of the rases In which the counsel were retained, and the solicitor. were hound in justice to the public. and for the sake of their own reputation, to interfere for the prevention of practice which aggisvated the burdens or the law, by creating expense which in matey instances was nut recompensed by a single effort. it was notorious that leading I counsel walked from one court to the other, sod kept the fees they received iu cases which were goiag on at. the some mo ment iu both courts ; it being suieetablisheol ',iodide with them never to retort" a fee, to whatever 'native their absence from the coati in which their attendance might be of vital im portance to suitors should be attributable. It became necessary, therefore, to adopt means of remedying inconvenience nod vex ations of this description, for time purpose of accomplishing which the assistance of all solicitors whose practice compre hended the Chancery court. was necessary. Under such eir cuonstsnces. the measnre which suggested itself as most ad visable, was the appointment of a committee to consider the propriety of seeming justice to their clients by employing those gentlemen of the bar only who would attend strictly to the business placed in their hands, and who were determined riot is divide their attention between the courts, in such a man ner as to give cause of complaint to those whose interests de pended so melt open the talent and care of the advocate.. Resolutions to tide effect were immediately agreed to. The committee will soon report to a geuetal electing of the solicitors. • i n• It ought to be stated in addition to the above report, that the Law Society had directed their Prolecutor to write to ail the Chancery Counsel within the Bar, respectfully request ing their concurrence io some arren,;einent which might obviate the evil oomplained of, and that those gentlemen treated the communication with silent contempt, although solicited for an answer by a second letter. To tl,is oh ion three escep tions must be made, in the names of Messrs. Cullen, Sliadwell, and Fonbleaqe. The two first acknowledged the propriety of the application by positively meting their deteriniioation each to adhere to one Court, unless under any peenli.ir circumstances. Mr. Fonblaimee in his reply asserted his Timms that the dignity. , of the Bar would he compromised by subluiesion to any arrange ment whatever with the Solicitors !!!—lt is but justice to add that Mr. Bell. convinced of the imposeilsolity of an honest dis charge of duty in two Courts at the same time, has long since honourably relinquished his immense practice in the Lord Cbancellot's Court, and pleads only iu that of Vice Chancellor. _ _ LENT ASSIZES. HOME CIRCUIT. before the Loßn Grant Bartow, end Mt... Baron 0•411116 IlerifOrds'iire—Thursday, Marc:a 6, at Hearn& Essex—Monday,. March 10, at Chelmsford. - Kent—Monday, March ;7, at Maidstone. Suarez—Monday, March 26, at Horsham. Surrey—Monday, March 21, at Kingston upow Thames. MIDLAND CIRCUIT. Northamptemshire--Saturday, Mardi I, at Northampton. Rudand—Friday, March 7, at Oakham. Lincolnshire—Saturday, March 8. at the Castle of Lincoln. City of ditto—Same day, at the City of ditto. Nottinghamshire—Monday, March 17. at Nottingham. Town of ditto—Same day, at the Town of ditto. Derbyshire—Saturday, March 2R, at Darby. Leicestershire—Monday, March 31, at die Castle of Leicester. Borough of ditto—Satue day, at the Borough of diuo. City of Coventry—Saturday, April 3, at the City of Coventry. Warwickshire—Same day, at Warwick. WE,TERN CIRCUIT. Southampton—Mooday, March 3, at Winchester. Wilts—Saturday, Nlarch It, at New Sarum. Dorset--Thursday,.March 13, at Dorchester. Devon—Monday, March 17. at Exeter. Cornwall—Monday, March 26, at Launceston. Somerset—Saturday, , March 89. at Taunton. OXFORD CIRCUIT. Berkshire—Monday, March 3, at Reading. Oxfordshire—Wednesday, March s, at Oxtbrd. Worcestershire—Satu•day, Much 8. at Worcester. Stagsrdshire—Thursday, March 13, at Stafford. Shropshire—Wednesday, March 19, at Shrewsbury. llorefordelli.e—Monday, March goy at Hereford. Sloomouthahlre—Saturday, March 22, at Monmouth. • Gloceatershire—Wednesday, April 2. at Gloceeter. • • POE? OP LONDON BIBLE SOCIETY. On Thursday afternoon a highly respectable meeting was held in the King's Concert Room the Haymarket, for the purpose of promoting the interests of the Port of London So • ciety for spienelhig religious knowledge among the Straits. Witterineis, and Lighterinen of the Port of London. M. Wtinceriiitct: having been called to the Chair, stated the objects of the Meeting. Tlic Rev. Mr. Iruoveit reed the Society's Report, describ ing the purchase of a ship of war, and converting it into a floating chapel, and the other important measures adopted, and the exertions employed to diffuse a spi-it of religion and mo rality among the seamen, ,Src. both at home and abroad. The Earl of ROCKSAVAGE moved a resolution, that the re • port be received and ciroulsted. lord CALTHORPE had great pleasure in seconding the resti tution. The motion was then carried unanimonsfy. Sir C. MISTER rose to move a resolution, that the inimicl thin of morality and religion among Seamen, would he not only useful to themselves, but advantageous to their country. Mr. R. 11. MARTEN read a letter from Captain Young, In- Spector of transports, at Deptford, in praise of the objects of the Society, and declaring that, through its esertions, the can. duct and language of seamen scd %Mennen on the Riser bad improved in an amazing degree. The Rev. It. HILL said, one of the greatest honours of his life was to open this Chapel. It was open to clergymen of all denominations but be was sorry that many were kept away by mire ; which lie hoped the Dignitaries of our Church wouhl small for and abolish ; for Cie sooner they were annihilated. he was sure, it would be the better. Ile expressed bis asto nishment at the avidity with vatic* seamen received religion instruction. Ile concludeod by seconding the motion, which was also carried unanimosly, as were the others proposed to the meeting, which then adjourrwA. Abouticven o'clock on Monday morning, the inhabit • ants of Great Queen-street, Westminster, were 111.11113t11 by a fire which broke out in the house of Sir Charles Flint, in the second floor. Several engines very soon arrived, and the firemen exerted themselves so effectually, that it was put a stop to before it communicated to any other apartmerit,.ekcept that in which it broke out. — The cornices, fomiture. Ike: were destroyed. The acci dent was ascribed to a servant maid hating carat/41y placed a lighted candle under the window-curtain. Awl/4AL SIMPATIVT.—On the day of great thaw, a Spaniel was observed, opposite to llsionville, floating down the Moselle on a small piece of lice. It is not known how the poor dog got into that situation ; but he set up piteo u s elks. Having passed one of the dogs belonging to the decoys on the left of the Aloselle, that intrepid animal dashed into the river, soon reached she unfortunate Spaniel, and seizing him by the neck, swam on shore with hint amidst the ..cclarhations of the spectators. Ditemartri ACCIDZIOT iiY SNOw.—On Wednesday sennight, a most melancholy circumstances took place at Troutsdale, ill the pariah of Brominism, about three miles from Hackneys, in Yorkshire. The stow had ac cumulated on the side of the hill, at the foot of which was a cottage, oeetcyied by a poor man of the name of Breventler, his wife, and three children; when, ones... • pectedly, the whole mass of 'snow fell down into the valley, and with its weight crushed the grillage, and buried the hapless inmates amongst the ruins. After about five hourvorlainitir, they were dug out ; but the King of Terrors had added to his innumerable conquests, • and their spirits had fled to happier habitations. Mr. Russell, the actor, met with an arenlerit a few days since, when playmg in Raymond and diner; at Brialitrin. The lady as Alarsuerile, discharged a pistol in the direction of Mr. Ittissell (Raymond), which con tained in the powder a shot; it struck him in the fore- • head jtsst between the eyes, occasioned a considerable effirdon of blood, and was violent in its ellieet By the timely applicatiOn'nf leeches, Mr. Russell at reknit ay- - pears not at all inconvenienced from the occiirrener.— On searching the cannister, in which the remainder of • the powder was kept, another shot Was found. FoRCI.Le AIDOcTION.—On Sunday last, about two • o'clock p. in., as the Waterford and Limerick mad co ch was proceeding between Tipperary and Limerick, it was stopped about eight miles f he former place, - by a piny of people from 20 to 30 in number, seven or ei,4tt of whom were armed. When they stopped the ...anti, Bottle, the guard, who was in his place Mislaid: • discharged a pistol at one of Orin. who win armed. and who held one of the wheel horses, by which hoveceived a wound in the neck in near the ear, as he fell against • the horse which he had hold of, and the coachman saw the blood flow from the wound. Immediately on Battle discharging his pistol, another of the party struck him with a stone, as the coachman believes, and knocked Mtn down eff the mail boot, on which he was standing at the tinae, anti afterwlitis stone of the party dragged him 3C10,3 the toad, and thr. w him against the ditch.— The asatsilamt then opened the door of the coach, and • forcibly look out a young woman, who was an inside passenger. Twoof them took her awayacross the fields, • while the rest remained on the road, until the coachman- • Dm le, came off the box, and got Bottle into the coach. into which he pot the arms. They then permitted the coachmati to drive off, and he met no Anther imerrup. titan until he reached Limerick. Tile young woman, we untlerstatid, was going to Limerick for the purpose of being married. Accrnearr.—On Tuesday last, a boat in which were two young men and a lady, in crossing the Thames he. low the Tower, rail foul of a large hawser, which they dal not perceive, and not being able to manage the boat, and the tide running high, they were all precipitated into the river. Two ye:lnquiet' who witnessed the acci dent pulled up to their assistance, and with much diffi - - talky secceeded in saving the female and one of the men, hut the other could not be found. It is said the party live at Liinchouse, and that they were at a wedding ill S.inthwark, where they spent the morning. By a return of coals imported into the port of London, and delivered in the year 1822, it appears that the total quantity was 1,199,511 chaldrons. r !~ qv • PIRICY. (EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM TILE. AGENTS TO LLors's AT HAVANNA/I, DATLD 1.01:C. Ib. " Since our last communication,"the follewing instances of piracy have been made known to us upon unquestionable an tkority :—The French ship Alexander, •of Bourdeaus, from ♦'era Cruz, to touch at Ilia port, with a 'rateable cargo, consist ing of cochineal, indigo, and specie, was boarded off Bahia Honda, robbed of her cargo, and disabled in her roasts, for the purpose of preventing her remelting this port, in consequence of which she bore away for New Orleans,. where she has strived in the greatest iiistress. The schooner Harmony, of and from New Orleans, bound here, was also-captured, the crew mal t rested, and the cargo plundered, As appears by the Captain's protest, ,both depredations were committed by a long low schooner, with one gun omidships,and a crew of 70 men, sup posed to be the same vessel which sailed front this port clan destinely a pew weeks ago. The schooner Renown, of Massa cliussetts, on her voyage from Honduras to that port, was also lately hoarded off Cape Colientes, by an open canoe, with 20 armed men, who robbed her of specie, turtle, provisions, and even the clothing of the crew, which obliged her to put into this port in distress ; and lastly, the British brig Olive Brandi, arrived yestrtllay horn St. Thomas's, was chased for the space o' three boors off Cape Antonio, by a suspicious schooner, and escaped with great diCkulty. " From the saute place, Dec. Bth, the commander of the British squadron sent in the Grecian emitter to the port of Ma • tanzas to procure pilots, but none would go upon any terms ; the lives of any who would bane e•.tgaged would most assuredly have been taken on their return, sock is the audacity of these "Aides and their coadjutors on shore: 14 of the wretches are now parading the streets of 31iitanzas who are known to have been on board the vessel captared by the American ship Alligator, but eseaped. The squadron should have called at Nassau and obtained plots. KICGsToN, (Jamaica), Nov. 23.—The Creole, Janus., from Pedro Shoals and Lucia, which arrived here on the 2hs inst. was boarded while et anchor on the Pedro Shoals by• Spr• ish privateer schooner, and plundered of every article that' cm lay their bands on. They had taken an Mistiest' schooner from San Andreas, bound to New York, and rubbed her oilier cargo, to the take of 2,000 dollars. The Spanish schooner Juliana, from Berson to St. Jago de Cuba, was captured by the Patriot privateer schooner General Montilla, and both were taken by the Hrperion frigate, sod seat to this port. ^