A young man was amp d, on Thursday, with having
assaulted and kissed a young woman. It appeared that the complainant had been sent by a friend, Mrs. Small, to Shilley, to execute some commission for her ; and that, while proceeding on her way, the defendant, in spite of her msiatance, attempted to kiss her, and actually perpetrated the offence on a second attempt. Ile was committed to Winchester gaol for three nionths.—//arapshire Advertiser. [If we were not firmly convinced that the Unpaid Magistrates of England are the " chastest, virtuousest, discreetest best" of mankind, we should almost suspect that the young woman, whom Mrs. Small of Shirley honours with her friendship, was a cla're antic of the committing Justice : the punish- ment seems to be so nicely proportioned to the offence! How could the " young woman " bring herself to prosecute? Perhaps the offender declared himself disappointed in the stolen pleasure. Old Montaigne, alluding to the custom, in his day universal in France, of kissing com- mon acquaintances, declared that it was a bad practice ; as, for one sweet kiss, he got twenty which were disagreeable, and in his opinion twility of the first barely compensated for one of the latter. It is said that the ungallant Gaseon was never forgiven for this observation, mid that to this day the ladies in France refuse to patronize Mon- taigne.]
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