The "seizure of arms," a fortnight ago, which report connected
with Kossuth, has at length been made the subject of more formal inquiry, and we have the proceedings of the Police Court before us. The defendant in the ease is Mr. William Hale, a maker of war-rockets at Rotherhithe ; but the position taken by the coun- sel for the Crown shows that Kossuth is regarded as the employer of Mr. Hale, and that the practical object is to prevent some war- like proceeding which the Hungarian is supposed to have in pre- paration. The lawyers, however, have as yet only thought it de- sirable to proceed against Mr. Hale, under a well-known act limit- ing the amount of " gunpowder " which any private person or trader may store within a certain metropolitan circle, and a for- gotten act prohibiting the manufacture of fireworks. As to the former, Mr. Hale replies that his rocket-composition is not " gun- powder "; a point on which chemists differ. As to the latter, he admits the offence, as sharing it with persons who supply Cremorne and Vauxhall. The connexion between Mr. Hale and Kossuth is asserted by three Hungarians whom the rocket-inventor em- ployed. On the other side, however, it is averred that Kossuth has been besieged by claims for assistance from Hungarians, whom he has placed advantageously ; that these men were recommended to Mr. Hale from the same charitable motive ; that they had been discharged for ill behaviour; and that the accusation to which they depose was preferred after they had been discharged, and had vainly asked Bossuth's intercession. This is the neat result of the examination at Bow Street; and the reader can judge for himself how much it proves, or leaves unproved. The Magistrate has sent the case to a higher tribunal—the Surrey Sessions ; and it is pro- bable that both sides have reserved some part of their case.
