Page 100 - Reading Mercury

of a man in whose breast, cruelty was evidently the predominant passion to the last
hour of his existence !---It is to be hoped the late addition to the Body Corporate, and
the election of the New High Steward, will soon display such a spirit of independence,
as will put a period to the tyrannical imposition of the one, and the inhumanity of the
other.

th
Mon 18 Dec
BULL BAITING
nd
On St. Thomas’s Day, the 2 instant, there will be TWO BULLS BAITED in the
MARKET-PLACE, WOKINGHAM, as usual, and the following prizes will be given:
for the three best dogs that are adjudged to run fairest at the said Bulls, Seven
Shillings and Sixpence for the best, Five Shillings for the second-best, and Two
Shillings for the third-best.
READING, Saturday, Dec. 16
th
On Friday the 8 instant R.A. Neville, Esq, representative in Parliament for this
borough, was sworn into the office of High Steward of the Corporation of
Wokingham; on which occasion the morning was ushered in with ringing of bells,
firing of guns, and every demonstration of joy; at 12 o’clock the High Steward, (with
Judge Hayes, then Recorder) was met at the Holte-house, by the Body Corporate, and
principal inhabitants of that town and Neighbourhood in procession, with a band of
music playing and colours flying; in this manner he was conducted to the Council-
chamber, (amidst the acclamations of the people where the oaths of office being
administered, a temporary adjournment was made to the long room at the Old Rose, to
receive Lord Hinchingbroke, Lord Spencer Hamilton, General Cox, Messrs Palmers,
Webb, Morse, Whatley, Ravenshaw, Humphries, Whitcombe, &c. &c. from whence
they proceeded to the Town-hall, where a most elegant entertainment was provided;
the High Sheriff did them the honour of his company after dinner; the greatest
harmony and most universal satisfaction prevailing throughout; many loyal toasts
were drunk, and a variety of jovial songs contributed greatly to the uninterrupted
mirth and conviviality of the very respectable company, who honoured the Alderman
and Burgessses with their presence on the occasion. The town was universally
illuminated, and the different rejoicings continued through the whole of the next day.
On Tuesday was committed to our bridewell, by the Worshipful T Cruttwell and J.
Fennemore, magistrates of the borough of Wokingham, James Heifer, to take his trial
at our next assizes, with Henry Ghost, William Watts, Christopher Lawrence, and
James Patey (admitted to bail, with additional security to keep the peace) for most
violently, maliciously and cruelly assaulting, beating and dangerously wounding,
th
William Taplin, of the said borough, on Friday night the 8 instant, for being the
supposed author of a paragraph, (replete with humanity) inserted in this paper three
weeks since, animadverting upon, and tending to abolish, the custom of baiting two
bulls, in the Market-place of that town on every St. Thomas’s-day. The circumstances
attending this transaction, were aggravated by so many instances of cruelty, and
shocking barbarity, as not only to rouse every principal inhabitant to a sense of his
own danger, but to inspire the magistrates with a degree of ardour in the cause of
justice, that does them the highest honour; they being now determined to destroy the
very cement of a lawless combination, that has for years been a terror to the principal
inhabitants of that town and neighbourhood; to effect which, there is no doubt that
this prosecution will be very much contribute.

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