15 NOVEMBER 1828, Page 5

Police OF LONDON.—Mr. Williams of the Post-office coffee-house, St. Mar-

tin's-le-Grand, complained at Guildhall, on Tuesday, of the conduct of the Light Dragoons who formed part of the Lord Mayor's procession on Monday. As a citizen he felt yery jealous of military interference and encroachment ; and he wished to know whether horse soldiers were not amenable, as other persons were, to the law against riding horses along the footway. He was in Fleet- street about six o'clock on the previous evening, when considerable alarm was created by several of the military, two abreast sometimes, passing along the foot pavement, and driving the passengers either into the road or the shops. He remonstrated against this conduct, and the sergeant of the party, by way of reply, drew his sword, but did not aim a blow. Such menacing, in ad- dition to the misconduct, which had occasioned some confusion and danger, ought not to be passed over without as much notice as would prevent the repetition of it. Fogg, the Marshalman, said he happened to be on the spot at the time, and attempted to prevent the soldiers from keeping on the pavement, by seizing the bridle of tire sergeant's horse. The sergeant threatened to cut off his head, and he let go the horse's head to save his own. (A laugh.) He was escorting the Judges to Guildhall, and the conduct of these soldiers added to the difficulty of clearing the way. The men being merely on their way home, should have kept the line of carriages going to the west, instead of breaking into the opposite one. When they met the Judges they were obliged to go on the pavement, and break through where and how they could. There was so much delay in getting the Judges along, that, before they reached the Hall, one-third of the carriages had dropped off Sir Peter Laurie said, the company universally complained of the obstructions they had encountered in the streets, and asked Fogg how many constables had been employed ? Fogg—"About four hundred, I suppose." Sir Peter asked how the soldiers had conducted themselves during the day. Fogg— "Remarkably well until they were dismissed." Sir Peter said, that, if the soldiers had assaulted any one, or committed any other breach of the law, he should feel no hesitation in sending a warrant for the offenders, if it were re- quired of him ; but he understood Mr. Williams's object was not to punish, but to prevent a recurrence of the fault, and this should be effected by making a representation to the officers, through the Lord Mayor. The soldiers had been engaged to swell the parade, and not to assist the police. The military were not—and he trusted never would he—employed for protection in the City ; and he therefore was rather surprised to find these dragoons keeping the ground on Tower-hill, instead of the police. Fogg said he believed they did that of their own accord, from a wish to be useful. Mr. Williams said one of the soldiers tried to excite his horse to kick while on the pavement ; and if he had had a stick, he should certainly have knocked that man down

He thanked Sir Peter for attending to the complaint, which the Alderman undertook to lay before the Lord Mayor. This statement was yesterday publicly and positively contradicted in the Justice-room, by Mr. Alderman Ansley. The individual who made it was characterized as a " violent coffee-shop demagogue." The Alderman had every opportunity to witness the conduct of the Hussars, which, he observed, was above all praise.

RORBERIES.—Smith and Jones, both young men, having been observed by a watchman in Bermondsey, on Sunday night, carrying a heavy package of leather, were taken to the watch-house on suspicion. It was soon discovered that the premises of Mr. Smith, currier, had been broken into ; and when Mr. Smith came to the watch-house he was shocked to find that his own son was one of the parties implicated. The father was not inclined to prosecute; but the Magistrate at Union-hall committed both the culprits fur trial.

Frederick Blagg was charged at Bow-street with having stolen some of his brother's clothes. The brother was the prosecutor, and his sister the prin- cipal witness. The prisoner was committed for trial.

Maccausland, Mayes, and Cleveland, were charged at Bow-street with two extensive robberies committed on Sunday evening. The first-named pri- soner was the servant of Mr. Gaug,h, who occupies premises in Lincoln's-inn- fields ; and it appears that he had planned the robbery of his master, and of Mr. Lawrence, who occupies apartments beside him. They carried off all the clothes, 1441. in notes and gold, and some articles of plate belonging to the latter gentleman ; and four dozen of silver spoons and forks, besides 401. in money, belonging to the former. The prisoners offered part of the pro- perty on the same evening to a Jew salesman; but as no satisfactory ac- count of them was given, the Jew detained the articles. At an early hour on Monday morning the prisoners were apprehended.

The case was again heard yesterday. It was satisfactorily shown that Cleveland could not have been concerned in the robbery, and he was set at liberty; Mayes was detained because he was a well-known thief ; and Mac Causland was fully committed for trial for the robberies.

Cattle and Smith have been committed from Bow-street, charged with having assaulted and robbed a young woman of 51.

Andrew Bell, and Sarah Bell, his wife, have again been examined at Marl- borough-street, on suspicion of having been concerned in the robbery at Lord Hardand's house. In consequence of the report of the previous proceedings in the newspapers, Mr. Coxheadi bookseller, waited upon Lord Hartland with several valuable books which had been offered him for sale, but which he had detained in consequence of some suspicions arising in his mind. The person who left the books never returned for them. The books belonged to his Lordship. Neither Mr. Cos:head nor his wife were able distinctly to iden- tify Bell as the person who brought the books, though they thought there was a great resemblance. Both the prisoners protested their innocence, but they were again remanded for a week.

Three men were charged at the Thames Police Office, according to the terms of the watch-house book, " with stealing divers Highlandmen, two Blackamoors, four dead rabbits, two tubs, and other articles, the property of somebody unknown." The prisoners occupy a room in a house in Juniper- row, Shadwell. A report having been raised that a Highlander had been murdered and his body concealed in the prisoners' apartment, an officer pro- ceeded to search ; but in place of finding the supposed corpse, he found the above miscellaneous articles. part of which were claimed by some shopmen. Two of the prisoners were detained, but the third was set at liberty. William Long was committed for trial from Lambeth-street Office, on the charge of having stolen a parcel containing silk shawls and other things, value 401., from a boy.

Elizabeth Murphy, an elderly and respectable looking female, was yester- day charged at Marlborough-street with a series of robberies and frauds upon Mr. Verey, the Swiss confectioner. She had been employed in the shop before the late Miss Verey had acquired the English language, so as to be able to converse with the customers ; and during her life-time, she plun- dered her of a great number of articles of clothing, to which the unsuspicious girl submitted in silence. After her death, she stole the veil which the young lady had last worn; she had besides begun to plunder another young female who had been taken into the house; and after she was discharged, tier honesty having been suspected by Mr. Verey, she went to different tradespeople and obtained goods in his name. No fewer than seventy-four pawnbrokers' duplicates were found upon her. She urged nothing in her defence.

Ball and Curtis were yesterday committed from the Mansion-house on the charge of street robbery. .

James King was also committed for having stolen three 5/. notes in the office of Mr. Abbot, solicitor, Furnival's Inn.

A LITERARY ADVENTURER.—A little gentleman, dressed in very shabby black, appeared at Bow-street on Thursday, in custody of a patrol, who stated that he was charged by Mr. Wilks, bookseller and printer, Chancery- lane, with detaining a MS. composition, the property of Mr. Wilks. Mr. Wilks stated, that on the 12th of December last, the prisoner called upon him, representing himself as a literary man in great distress, and anxious for employment. Mr. Wilks told him, that he had no employment to give hint : but that he might look over a MS. respecting the right of the Rev. Robert Fellowes to the property of Baron Maseres, and tell him whether anything could be done with it ; after which they would settle the terms of preparing it for the press. The prisoner took away the MS. to look over, having signed a receipt, obliging himself to deliver it up on demand. The prisoner re- turned some time after, demanding a guinea for his trouble in reading the MS. ; which the witness refused to give him, but he gave him a shilling in charity. The prisoner took away the NS., and never returned it from that time to the present. Mr. Wilks said lie had reason to believe that the pri- soner meant to sell the MS. to Dr. Fellowes. The prisoner, in reply, stated, that his name was Matthew Ferstandeg, a German by birth, who had for many years resided in this country as a classical writer and teacher and his literary fame was known to all Europe. The bargain which took place be- tween Mr. Wilks and himself was, that he should receive either a guinea for reading over the work, and passing his opinion upon it, or 20e if he went to the trouble of transcribing and correcting it. He had made repeated appli- cations to Me Wiiks to induce him to fulfil his bargain ; but he would not, and even reinse1 to pay the guinea which he had agreed to give for reading the MS. The prisoner added, with considerable warmth, that there was net the least occasion for Mr. Wilks to have posted him through the town, offering a reward for his apprehension, when he knew well that he hail never gone out of the way, and was to be found any day at some one of the literary. institutions. Sir R. Bintie—" You have no right to retain the property of Mr, Wilks. Mr. Ferstandeg—" That may be the law, Sir Richard Birnie, but my reason tells me that if 1 hold a security I ought to retain possession of it until my claim be satisfied." Sir R. Birnie—" Pray, Sir, were you ever in Ireland ?" Mr. Ferstandeg—" I was." Sir R. Birnie—"As a preacher ?" Mr. Ferstandeg —" No, not as a preacher, but as a lecturer, in expounding the difference be- tween the Greek and Hebrew translations of the Bible. Yes, and I was in Scotland, too SirRichard." Sir R. Birnie—" I am afraid you found the Scotch people not quiteso easy of belief. The Scotch Colleges, I fear, were rather too clever for you ; eh, Mr. Ferstandeg?" Mr. Ferstandeg—" I delivered lec- tures there, and I did not find them so deeply learned as I had expected to find the Professors of classical literature at the Modern Athens. I demon- strated that the Professors of the Greek, Hebrew, and the Oriental languages in the five colleges of Scotland, were incorrect in their translations, and I ex- posed their pretensions to a thorough knowledge of the classics." (laughter). Sir R. Birnie—"If Mr. Wilks will swear that the MS. was taken away to extort money, and that it is detained without his consent, I think we can act upon such a deposition." Mr. Ferstandeg—e- You know you cannot do so." Sir R. Birnie—" I shall do so, without caring two-pence for your opinion." Mr. Ferstandeg—" No, I do not suppose for my opinion, Sir Richard Birnie; but there is a tribunal above yours to which I shall appeal —I mean public opinion. If you outstep your duty as a Magistrate, to that tribunal von will be held accountable." Sir R. Birnie—" It is surprising how miscreants of this description can find encouragement in this country." Mr. Ferstandeg—" If 1 have done wrong, I am ready to suffer punishment ; but 1 will not be brow-beaten by any Magistrate. It is an insult to common sense to hear that rascal there (pointing to Mr. Willis) swearing to what he knows to be false." Sir R. Birnie—" Hold your tongue, Sir. You must not apply the term 'rascal' to a witness in my presence." Mr. Ferstandeg —"Rascal' is not so bad as ' miscreant,' a term which you, a magistrate, sitting in judgment, applied to me who am a prisoner." After a very long examination, which lasted until five o'clock, and was renewed again at the evening sitting, and of which the above is a meagre sketch, this curious scene terminated in Mr. Ferstandeg, being sent to prison for petty larceny, in stealing to the value of 6d., being the amount which the manuscript was valued at as waste paper.

Mt:mem—At Union-hall, on Wednesday, Mr. Chambers and Mr. ITone were engaged in inquiring into the death of John Sarsons, whom John Fisher was suspected of having murdered. Pitts, a constable, in consequence of information, repaired to the prisoner's house in White Horse-yard, South- wark, and there he saw a man lying dead on the bed in a state of nudity, with marks of violence on his forehead, and his body otherwise bruised. There was a medical man in the room, who pronounced that his death had been caused by external injuries. The prisoner Fisher was pointed out to him as having been instrumental to the death of the deceased. Maisey, another constable, took the prisoner and his wife to the watch-house ; and he heard the following dialogue piss between them.—" I say," said the pri- soner to his wife, " are they all gone out of the watch-house ?" She said, " Yes." " Then," said he, " you must be careful what you say about this matter before the Magistrates. State to them that Sarson was drunk, and that you and I having had a quarrel, you ran out of the room, followed by me, and that when you went back again alone, you saw Sarson lying at the foot of the stairs dead." Maisey added, that he was in such a situation that lie could overhear all that was said by the parties, without their seeing him, or having any suspicion that he was present. The prisoner frequently desired his wife to be most cautious, and to say as little as possible on the subject as she could, if she should happen to be examined as to the cause of Sarson's death. From other witnesses it appeared that the prisoner and his wife had a quarrel in the course of the evening, and he turned her out of doors. Sar- son, of whom she said he was jealous, was in the house. A scuffle after- wards took place, and the prisoner was heard to say, " You old rascal." The deceased was found at the bottom of the stairs in a dying state ; and exclaimed to two people who came to his aid, " For God's sake help me." He was carried into the prisoner's house, who abused the people, and said lie would see the deceased damned before he should be laid upon his bed. The prisoner expressed great anxiety to vindicate himself ; but the Magis- trate repressed his wish to speak: The examination was postponed for a week.

CRUELTY.—A female orphan child, daughter of a Welsh clergyman, com- plained to the Magistrate at Bow-street, on Wednesday, of the cruelty of Mrs. Broadwood, the wife of a carver and gilder, in Oxendon-street, Hay_ market, to whom she had been bound apprentice by the parish. The little girl had been treated with great severity, and in some instances with cruelty. The Magistrate expressed great indignation at tile treatment of the young orphan, but he declined to come to any decision for some days.

It was decided yesterday that the girl's indentures should be given up ; and security given for Mrs. Broadway's appearance at the sessions. James Screen was charged at Marlborough-street, with atrocious cruelty to his wife. He had beer, married for three years, the greater part of which time had been spent at sea. On his return he had become jealous, and, under the influence of passion, he had beaten tier, knocked her front teeth out, and had tied her to the bed post and lashed her with a rope. He was ordered to be imprisoned for two months. The Magistrate at Bow-street on Tuesday, fined Samuel Dutton, in 40s. for cruelty to his master's horse. As he had no money, he was sent to prison.

Assenees.—A young man charged Cheen, his father, who keeps an um- brella shop in Oxford-street, with attempting to cut his throat, and with having threatened to murder his mother. The accused is eccentric in his manner, given to drinking, and is supposed to labour under an aberration of intellect. He was detained in the mean time.

SWINDLING.—William Appleby was charged at Hatton Garden, with having assumed the character of a 'Master in Chancery ; and, under that false guise, obtained considerable sums of money font credulous individuals in the country, under the pretence of enabling him to aid them in legal dif- ficulties. From a rope-maker in Manchester he had obtained 351. He was co :emitted for trial on this charge.

Coat TRADE.—Mr. Todd, a coal-merchant, at the Northumberland wharf, was charged with having given Morris, one of the Surrey coal-meters, 10s. for having yielded to an irregularity in the measurement of a certain quan- tity of coals. The facts set forth in the information were confirmed in every point ; and Mr. Todd was fined in the full penalty of 201.

BANK NOTES Foesn.—A decent-looking female presented herself on Thursday at the office in Marlborough-street, and stated, that towards the latter end of May, while passing through the Haymarket' she picked up a small parcel, which she found to contain the halves of Bank of England notes, to the amount of above 10001. She had daily looked into the news- papers, in the hope of seeing them advertised ; but she had discovered no notice of them ; and when she applied at the Bank of England, she was in- formed that nothing was known at the Bank of the loss of any such notes. She wished the Magistrate to advise her how to proceed to discover the owner. The Magistrate, and Sir Thomas Farquhar the banker, who happened to be present, classified the halves, and found that the whole sums amounted to 10701. Sir Thomas promised to inquire at the Bank of England ; and the notes were restored to the woman, who was desired to call again in a week