Tins PoLice.—In rows with the populace, the old watchmen generally
got severely beaten ; and the ruffians who were disturbing the public escaped scot free, except from the legal penalty. The new police however, are active fellows' and though, we believe, as patient under blaciguardism. and blows as can be expected, they can give, when provoked, as well as take a thrashing. We observe the booby Police Magistrates complaining of this, as they complain of every thing wherein common sense appears to be the guiding principle. Why should a ruffian be permitted to beat and abuse an
officer at discretion, without a sound drubbing in return ? It is precisely because the 'Watchmen could be abused with impunity, that the system of re- sisting an officer in the execution of his duty has become so rooted among the lower classes, that nothing but blows will drive it out of them. Let them find by experience, that nothing but hard knocks are to be got by such contests, and they will give:them up, as they have long done with the officers of the olice establishments.
GISTERIAL Cosren.raTiosr.—A few days ago, information was given to Mr. Conant, the Police Magistrate, that a challenge had been sent by Mr. ( Charles Nicholson, the celebrated flute-player, to Mr. James, the editor of ' The Flutist's Magazine, in consequence of an article which had appeared in /
the last number of that periodical, which was considered by Mr. Nicholson of a personal nature. To prevent a hostile meeting between the parties, i Mr. Conant, on receiving the information upon oath, issued a warrant, which was put into the hands of Goddard and Clements;the officers, who took the I belligerents into custody, and conveyed them to the Magistrates' private i room at Marlborough Street Office, where they were severally bound in their i
‘ own recognizances in the sum of 400/. and produced two sureties, in the sum 1. of 2001. each, to keep the peace for twelve months. It appeared that a good deal of ill feeling had existed between the parties for some time, and the 1, article which produced Mr. Nicholson's challenge was entitled, "Death of i*Charles Tootle Too, Esq." The Magistrate lamented that there existed so = little harmony amongst the gentlemen, and quoted thewell-known couplet :— "Strange that such difference there should be
'Twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee."
The bail having been taken, the parties were discharged out of custody.— [ What pleasant fellows are these Magistrates! The worthy Justice laments
ill-will between the gentlemen, and affronts them both with a hacknied con- temptuous couplet to mend the matter. This is what the Methodists call inproying the occasion.]
LisrintEcnr, THE DuELLisT.—Since his acquittal, Lieutenant Lam- brecht, it would appear, has been reduced to complete destitution. None of his friends will acknowledge or assist him. In the course of last week, he applied at a police-station in Southwark for permission to sleep on the floor. He received the accommodation he required. On Monday he applied for similar permission at Union Hall. There they had no means of receiving him, but he was provided with a small sum of money for his immediate necessities. His appearance is said to he wretched in the extreme. Some generous individuals have sent small sums to the Times office for his use. CHRISTIAN ZEAL.—On Thursday, Mr. Carlile son of the bookseller, charged a lad at the Guildhall with picking his pocket. A Mr. Mc Donald attended to speak for the prisoner : he said he had known him to be indus- trious, and it would not be consistent with English law to deprive him of liberty on the oath of a professed deist. Alderman Atkins said that he was bound to receive Mr. Carlile's oath, if he was willing to take it, or any other man's. Mr. McDonald—" It is contrary to the general usage of courts of
law ?" Mr. Alderman Atkins—" No, no—(to Mr. Carlile)—Do you be- lieve, on the oath you have taken, in future rewards and punishments ?"— " Yes, Sir." Alderman Atkins—" There, Sir ; besides we have the oath
of an officer." Mr. 111c Donald—" Ay, another witness, whose oath ought to be received'with great suspicion." The Deist and officer were however believed, in spite of Mr. Mc Donald's religious. and legal doubts ; and the pickpocket sent to Bridewell for a month. ATTACHMENT TO THE DEAD.—Mr. Lane, a surgeon of Drury Lane, and his assistant, were brought up at Marlborough Street Office yesterday, charged with having been found carrying a dead body on the previous even- ing. Mr. Lane stated that he was carrying the body to his dissecting-room, to ascertain the cause of the deceased's sudden death, and that it was to be returned to the widow for interment. This statement was confirmed by the widow, who was also forced to confess that she had received 41. for the use of the body. Mr. Conant seemed disposed to doubt whether the woman was not a body-snatcher herself ; but the worthy Magistrate's suspicions were removed by the daughter of the deceased ; she proved that the pre- vious witness was her mother, who, though she had long been separated from her husband, had felt her fondness for his body revive at his death— had removed it to her separate lodgings and disposed of it to Mr. Lane. That gentleman was, of course, liberated, and orders given for the inter-
ment of the body. .
• A CRUEL Ilusnaxe.—At Bow Street, yesterday, Mrs. Osbaldiston, the wife of a solicitor in Bloomsbury Square, charged Perring, a man-ser- vant of her husband, with assaulting her. Her husband, it appeared, caused her to be treated in the most brutal fashion,—confined her to the upper part of the house, denied her the common necessaries of life, and encouraged his servants to annoy her in all possible ways. On going into the kitchen, on Thursday (the iron gate which confined her to the upper part of the house having been left unlocked), the prisoner knocked her down. A gentleman who was passing at the time entered the house, and rescued her. Sir Richard Birnie expressed the utmost indignation at the brute her husband, and promised the unfortunate lady all the assistance in his power. The pri- soner was locked up till he should find ball. MADAME VESTRIS.—Two gentlemen, friends of this lady, applied yester- day to Sir Richard Birnie for his advice in her behalf. Madame Vestris played Captain Macheath on Tuesday; but on entering, she was received with hisses and expressions of disapprobation by a few individuals scattered through the boxes, pit, and galleries, till they were put down by the audience. It had since been discovered that a singer who lately made his debut at Drury Lane, had paid these noisy individuals for the opposition which they made. Sir Richard said that the parties might be indicted for a conspiracy. The appli- cants said they would adopt that course.
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