13 OCTOBER 1832, Page 3

The space at Charing Cross is, it seems, to be

baptized Trafalgar"

Square,—because it-is not square, we presume. • Old Mr. Hardy, the well-known confessor in the cause of Reform, died at Pimlico on Wednesday, in his eighty-second year. Mr. Hardy was the founder of the London Corresponding Society, and, with Mt. Horne Tooke, Mr. Thelwall, Mr. Holcroft, and eight others, was indicted for high treason in consequence, and, after a trial which lasted nine days, acquitted. His acquittal was commemorated in an annual dinner until within a few years past, and formed, we recollect, a standing topic for gibes and

sneering to the Courier and other Ministerial journals of the day. Mr. Hardy's last public appearance was at the Westminster dinner two years ago, when he made a brief but pointed speech, on the difference between the times into which he-had lived and those of his earlier years. He has gone to his grave with the character of a simple-minded, good-natured, honest man. We owe the following anecdote to the Morning Chronicle- " Mr. Hardy retired from business as a shoemaker, many years ago, on what he deemed sufficient to enable him to live in a simple way to the end of his days. The interest on his Stock not being sufficient for his subsistence, he calculated the number of years he might live, and thought he might encroach on his capital with safety: It happened, however, that his calculation deceived him. He lived several years beyond his time, and we understand that Sir Francis Burdett kindly supported him for some time before his death."

Hardy's simple and honest appearance at his trial was one great cause of his acquittal as well as of the acquittal of his companions. The Jury could not believe such a man was a traitor—and they were right. Two lads, named Hancock and Parker, who had been remanded on a charge of selling unstamped newspapers, in order to allow them to re- ceive legal advice, were brought tip on Wednesday at the Guildhall, for re-examination. The fact of the paper—the Poor Man's Guardian-- being a paper containing ordinary news matter, was proved by one of the beadles of Christ Church Hospital ! Previous to passing sentence, Alderman Lucas asked the prisoners, in the Old Bailey phrase, what they had to state why they should not be committed?

Hancock said, when he was taken to the Compter on Saturday, he was placed in a yard amongst thieves and the basest of characters although he had not been guilty of any crime against society. He was insulted by them, had had water thrown over him, and repeated attempts were made by them on his pockets. One of them, indeed, boasted, that with all his care he had picked his pocket Of a sheet of paper. When night came on, they were obliged to draw two bedsteads together, that three persons might sleep on the beds; which were in such a state, that had they attempted only to turn them, they would have been suffo- cated with dust. They were covered with some old rugs, and were so teased by vermin that they could get no sleep all night.

Mr. Teague, the Governor of the Compter, said the prisoners were placed in the yard appropriated to the reception of all night charges; which was kept as clean as circumstanees would permit.

Mr. Alderman Lucas said, they had no opportunity to classify prisoners on the moment of their apprehension. The beet way to avoid being inconve- nienced, was to take care not to offend against the laws.

Hancock said it had been repeatedly decided at Bow Street, that unless an actual sale was proved, no offence was made out.

Mr. Beresford, the Clerk, said, that certainly was a mistake ; for the law said, it was equally an offence to carry unstamped papers about you. [Why not prosecute the buyers, then

Mr. Alderman Lucas (addressing Parker)—" I understand you have not been here before?"

Prisoner-LP No, but I have sold before."

Alderman Lucas—" I did not ask you to admit that. Have you any thing to say to the charge?"

Parker—" I am of the same opinion with Mr. Hancock—

Mr. Alderman Lucas (continuing the sentence)—" Your learned friend. I commit you, Hancock, to hard labour for three months, and your companion for two months."

On the same day, one James Bennet was placed at the bar before Mr. Marriott of Queen Square, charged with selling the Poor Man's Guardian. Mr. Marriott committed the defendant for a month to Kingston Gaol.

Three other men were committed for the same offence by the Queen Square Magistrates ; and several additional commitments have taken place during the week.

A genteel-looking man, who called himself Augustus Ignatius Coyne, was charged on Saturday at Bow Street with fraudulently obtaining

money on a gig alleged to be stolen, from Mr. Alexander, proprietor of the Finsbury Repository. The prisoner, on being called on for his defence, made the following edifying statement— He had been living with Mr. Boynton, the member, as his agent ; and that -gentleman being in want of a phaeton, directed his brother, Mr. Mortimer Boynton, to hire one for him. He accordingly obtaiued the loan of one for six months from Mr. Feltam, and Mr. Boynton had it in use far some time. A quarrel then took place between the Messrs. Boynton; and Mr. Mortimer Boynton went to Mr. Feltam, and told him where the phaeton was, and advised him tO take immediate possession of it, or it would most likely be sold. Mr. Feltain and Mr. M. Boynton then went together to the lively-stables, where the carriage was, to take it away ; but lie (Coyne) having received directions from Mr. Boynton, the member, not to part with it, lie refused to give up pos- session of the carriage, but consented to accompany Mr. Feltz= and Mr. M. Boynton to Union Hall, the former leaving the vehicle in charge of a police- constable until he should return. Mr. Chambers, the Magistrate, advised Mr. Feltam to take forcible possession of the phaeton ; and Coyne, on behalf of Mr. Boynton, expressed his determination to retain possession, by calling in the aid of a sufficient number of men and opposing force to force. On their return to the livery-stables, however, fie found that the servants of Mr. Bay-ntun, the member, had put post-horses to the phaeton, and had driven off to Brighton with that gentleman. On the return of Mr. Boynton to town, he told Coyne, that he had been to Brighton to see his father, for the purpose of getting some money to pay his debts, and that his father had agreed to give him 3,000/, and also to pay the debts of his brother. Ile had not, however, received the money ; and being in immediate want of 20/. or 40/., he wished him to take the phaeton to the City to raise some money on it. He then said that his brother had settled with Mr. Feltam for the purchase of the carriage. Prisoner asked Mr. Boynton if he was sure it was all sight; to which Mr. Boynton replied, "Do you sup-, pose that I, a member of Parliament, would do any thing wrong for 30/. or 40/. 1' -Under the impression that the purchase of the phaeton had been agreed to by -Feltam, he took it to the City, and went to advise with Mr. Levy how he could best obtain an advance upon it. Mr. Levy consented, on receiving a douceur of two sovereigns, to introduce him to Mr. Alexander ; and that person ultimately consented to give 40/. for the phaeton, deducting 5/. for the loan, it being agreed • that the phietOn shbuld become the property of Mr. Alexander if not redeemed within two months. He accordingly received from Mr. Alexander a check for 35/.

At the Queen Square Police-office, on Monday, a child, about six years of age, was charged with being found begging in the streets. He was taken to the workhouse, where he told a lying and lamentable story how his father and mother had deserted him. The father of the boy, whose name is Thorogood, said his son was of' such a disposition , that he could do nothing with him. He had run away from him fre- quently in order to associate with bad characters. Mr. Whit, asked

the father what his business was, and where he came from ? 'ioro- good replied, that he was a shoemaker, and lived at No. 5, New Tot- hill Street.

Mr. White—cc What part of the country do you come from ?"

Thorogood—" From Wisbecla, in Cambridgeshire."

Mr. White—" Then you see you have set your son the example of a vaga- bond."

Thorogood—" How so, Sir?" • Mr. White—" Why, by coming to this parish. Why did you not stay at Wisbech, where you belonged?' Thorogood—" I came to London to get work. I could not support my wife and seven children in the country."

Mr. White—" Take your son home, and endeavour to break him of his bad habits."

Qumre, where was this same Mr. White born?

"'""`"Pie thought the breed of " Charlies," with their lanterns and great- coats,had been extinct; but it appears there are still a few specimens

surviving. At the Mansionhouse on Wednesday, a young man was brought up, charged with having been drunk on the preceding night. Those who had most reason to complain declined pressing the charge against him, being satisfied at the humility and regret which he mani- fested. The watchman said he hoped the Lord Mayor would not let the gentleman go without giving him some "illumination" for his trouble.

The Lord Mayor—" You mean remuneration, I suppose?" Watchman— Surely, my Lord. It's the practice, you see my Lord, when a watchman is knocked about by gentlemen in the streets, for the 1ialderman to tell the gentleman as knocks him about to illuminate the watchman." "But I haven't heard a word about your being knocked about ; how does it happen to come in at the tail of the business ?"

" He kicked my lantern, and knocked about my coat, as I was just a going to put on, and he assaulted me in other ways." "But you weren't in your coat when he knocked it about?" " No, but please you, my Lord, it was just the same thing."

The highest and the lowest, the best and the worst, receive pretty nearly equal notice from the best public instructors. One day we have a panegyric on the talents and virtues of Sir Walter Scott ; another, we have an elegiac tribute to the memory of Mary Ann Pearce, " Lady Barry-more "—for she too is dead at last. We formerly said the penny. a-line-men should raise a stone to her : they have perhaps done more wisely—they have raised a story upon her. They are not done with her yet : surely they will give us her funeral; and if some handy resurrec- tionist should lay hands upon the body, we shall have more last words Upon her remains, nor will they quit poor Mary Ann until they have picked her to the bone. The following is the most recent attempt to transmute the fancies of Lady Barrymore into substantial beef and pudding- " This unfortunate woman, who, for many years past, had been the terror of beadles, watchmen, publicans, and police-officers, expired on Monday night, at her lodging, a miserable attic, in the house No. 8, Charles Street, Drury Lane. She was twice taken to the Station-house in Covent Garden, on Sunday last, for disorderly conduct, and discharged by Mr. Thomas, the Superintendent, for at least the hundredth time. On being discharged for the last time, she ad- dressed Mr. Thomas, saying, I have given you a great deal of trouble, Sir, but I shall not give you much more. It is almost over with me.' Mr. Thomas, observing that she appeared faint and ill, advised her to go home and go to bed, [good man!] and she left the Station promising to follow his advice. But the ruling passion of her life, the love of gin, overcame her resolution; for it ap- peared that instead of returning to her lodging, she found out some of her favourite haunts, and became again intoxicated. In this state she reached her home, where she was put to bed ; and about midnight, the owner of the house came to the Station [to her friends to wit, we might almost say her relations, the policemen] and gave information that the unfortunate woman was either dead or dying. Mr. Thomas immediately went to the house, supposing that she might have met with some ill-treatment ; but on his arrival there, at midnight, he found that she had been dead about ten minutes, having expired from a general decay of nature, brought on by her addiction to gin, and the miserable life sbe had led. For the last fifteen years, she has been a constant visitor at every Police-office in London, and by far the greater portion of that time she has lived in pron. Her excesses, under the influence of liquor, occurred so frequently, that the eVening of the day on which she was discharged from prison generally found her there again. Ifer conduct in confinement formed a singular contrast to her behaviour on obtaining her discharge. In prison, where of course she had no opportunity of indulging in her favourite beverage, she conducted herself with so much decency and propriety, that Mr. Nodder [another good man], the Governor of Tothill-fields usually appointed her to watch over the female prisoners- in the capacity of matron; and he has often declared that lie could not have selected a more fit person; and he always regretted, for her own sake, when the expiration of the term of her imprisonment took place."

The report goes on to say, that Mrs. Mary, the prot6y6e of Mr. Thomas and the pet of Tethill-fields Prison, had the name of Barry- more from being the mistress of Lord Barrymorc, and of Pearse from being the wife of his man respectively,—two facts which may well be termed golden, for they have been told until they have been worth, not a penny, but a guinea a line, to the tellers.