tion in Hastings, the startling news having spread like wild-fire. It at length reached the ears of the lord of the manor, E. G. Egerton Esq., M. P. who laid claim to the gold as having been found on his premises. Application was made to Willett for the restoration of the property, but he refused to give it up. Mr. Egerton communicated with the Lords of the Treasury, and a warrant was issued for Willett's apprehension, who was handcuffed and taken into custody. On the 24th of Feb. Willett appeared before the magistrates at the Battle petty sessions, and was remanded, on bail till the following Saturday, when he was again brought up and examined on the charge. Mr. Langham, of Hastings, was retained on the part of the Crown, the Lords of the Treasury being the prosecutors, and Mr. Lewis, of London, for the defence.
Mr. Lewis, in a lengthy address, objected to the jurisdiction of the magistrates, contending that the investigation, if any were necessary, would fall solely within the province of the coroner, and referred to the statute (4th of Edward I), and several other authorities in support of his objection. After some discussion, the magistrates discharged the prisoner, but the matter did not end there. it afterwards turned out that Willett had sold a portion of the metal to Mr. Murray, a jeweller at Hastings, whilst the larger part he took to London, where he sold it for £529, 13s. 7d. to Messrs. Brown and Windgrove, of Cheapside. By these purchasers the articles were melted down before their antiquarian value was ascertained. On the 27th of March a so-called inquest was held at the John's Cross inn, when Mr. Reynolds, solicitor to the Treasury was in attendance to show that treasure trove or concealed treasure was the property of the Crown. Silas Thomas, the marine-store dealer and Stephen Willett, the fly-driver, were tried at the Lewes Assizes on the 22nd of July, when the property in question was described as having consisted of a number of rings, one of them supposed to have been made for encircling the body, and some others for the neck and arms. It was also stated that there were several pieces in the form of horse-shoes. There were also other pieces, the use of which was conjectural. The prisoners were judged to be guilty and were sentenced to a term of imprisonment. Although these ancient ornaments - if they were such - were struck by the plough at about 18 inches below the surface, they were believed by antiquarians to have lain in the ground nearly or quite two thousand years.
Entertainment
Mr. Chas Matthews, the well known histrionic professor, gave an entertainment at the Music Hall on the 12th of January, and notwithstanding Mrs. Fletcher-Notron's great dancing party the same evening, such was Mr. Matthew's attractive performance that there [were] no fewer than fifty carriages in waiting at the approaches of the Hall.
England and Australia were presented to the Hastings people -
