Star. — London, England, 1819-10-15 00:00:00

'I ( I I t • , • ;. . it infinitelAmote,prensive, than gorse in the informa tion. To prove this, the Learned Attorney read pas sages from pages 38 and 65 of the Age of Reason, He then proceeded to shew the fallacy of the argu ments of the defendant, to prove the inadequacy of the doctrine of revelation to prove the divinity of the Bible, by contrasting the sublime idea of a future state conveyed by Christianity, with the glim meting and confused ideas of Cicero, Socrates, and Plato, upon that divine conception of the Gospel.— After discussing, with considerable animation, the blessings whiCii Christianity dispensed to man, as compared with any other system of religio , i ; he proceeded to say, that if the Jury were prepared to decide upon that_ oath which they had taken upon the Gospel of Gov, that the Bible was a book of lies, and a blasphemy upon the Aciamitry, they certainly were bound to give the defendant a verdict ; but if they could not come to such a conclusion, they had but one duty, and that was an easy one, to dis charge.—The Learned Attorney having gone over most of the topics which were embraced in his open ing speech, concluded by admonishing the Jury to walk firmly and steadily in the path befote'them, and not to suffer themselves to, be influenced by what men, like the defendant, might think of their con duct. By doing their duty like Christians, they would satisfy the anxious expectations of their coun try ; and, by giving their verdict according to their consciences, they would never have to regret a de cision which would save their country from the pol lution of those doctrines contained in the Age of Reason. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE immediately afterwardi addressed the Jury, and having stated, with preci sion, the substance of each count in the information, as the offence charged was differently described, re ferred to the several points on which the defence had been rested. Much had been urged, in the course of that defence, of which all who heard it must disap i prove ; but the Jury were not, on that account, to suffer any prejudice to withdraw their consideration from the simp le question on which they had to de cide. It bad been insisted in the progress of this in quiry, that all that had been written of the Scripturei and published by the defendant was just and true, fit, and proper to be so published. The defendant had wished to read other writers, who maintained similar opinions, though not expressed in so strong, or perhaps, so coarse a manner. Ile had also desired to call witnesses to speak with regard to the diffe rences prevailing among different religious sects. Lordship had felt it his duty, on mature considera tion, and, it would hardly he supposed, that he came to a trial like this, without previou'sly turning his thoughts to the subject, to inform his mind as to what course he ought tO pursue in the different circum stances which might be expected to arise. Ile had, then, determined, and he did not regret that deter inination, that it was not competent in a Christian Court, in a - Court of Law, to rise up and say, that the Christian Religion was not a Religion of truth.— It would be strange, indeed, if such a questiod were to be put in issue in order to be tried befoie this Tri bunal. He had resisted/therefore, every attempt to introduce such a discussion, and should have felt that he was disgracing his situation if he had acted other• wise. Another topic of defence, strenuously, and in some degree properly urged, was the danger of re straining free discussion and free inquiry. GOD for bid that any such restraint should take place! But they had to distinguish, whether the present publi cation was atk instance Of, that free inquiry and dis cussion on a Work of mere calumny and ridicule? There was nb individual and no subject, to whose Character or whore Merits, revilings and calumnies could be lasifullY applied. The exercise of reason was allowed in the fullest manner by the law of Eng land, because it was a law of public liberty and free dom. That law had adopted into itself, and was founded in a great degree on, the Christian Religion ; and from this source it was, that'lts principles of li berality, and humanity, the spirit that influenced and guided the administration bl - juitice in this country, were drawn and derived. Bitt though as a law of liberty it allowed perfect 'froedom of opinion, and interfered with no man's private belief, it did not allow to every man to do what seemed good in his own eyes, if it were injutious to society.— They had then to consider the character and tendency of this work, for With regard to intention, they had no means of judging, and could not decide upon the motive of any act, except from 'the nature of the act itself, supposing it to be deliherately performed. The purpose contemplated must be inferred from the na tural, obvious, and direct tendency of the act, unless by some extraneous proof it could be shewn that the agent had a different intention. The Christian reli gion forming part of the law of the land, it was tint fa that he ar any other person should openly deny its truth. 'Tat must be taken for granted in a Court of Justice. But in the consideration of motives, it was not unreasonable to look at the object assailed, and compare ft With that which it was proposed to substitute. The Christian religion had advantages which never existed under any other religious system. By the institution of the Sabbath, a stated day of rest was afforded; and he could not allude to this subject, without expressing that this alone had always appeared to him to be strong evidence of its divine origin. Man had never been so kind to man, as the AUTHOR of our Religion had been in establishing this regulation. Christianity likewise gave the best support to the afflicted, taught them to bear their sufferings with' patience and resignation, in holding out to them a hope of the highest kind—an eternity of joy hereafter.— Now, before any man assailed an Establishment thus offering blessings to all classes, without distinction of rich or poor, powerful or weak, learned or unlearned,' se might be expected to pause and consider what he would substitute for that which he was anxious to :destroy. The Jury, and not he, *Pre to decide this Areespon ; but he thought no man wishing well to his fellow-creatures would approach the subject without awe and reverence of feeling, without decortnn both of thought and expression. Let diem consider for a moment what was this Creed of Deism which had j:gen so eulogized ? Christianity was addressed to all; it was intended for all, and especially for the poor ,and humble. What did Deism present to them as expounded by the author of this wcnk ? Cold, prOnd, and presumptuous, he reserved the blessings and ho nours of a future state for a few, and condemned the great body of mankind to merciless annihilation, saying that they were neither worthy of being dunned • nor safed. Such a system enabled a l l those d et ote ei gne w at ho hik ood the vanity to conceive that th e y h ad a * in their generation, to aspir e after et bless . h in .e g d s, while it set aside the trea t mass of man themselves, ho _ those who ,by their situa w tm e n eet in f ll i fe thf c ul ou ly ld th u e ot y dis tinguish dis chargednoticeefththeeir cdeuetiAesi,neeaseftotho elaWsi'goturlda.callltt fo r the re- wmhairelchabtluet,nteooccutitant the e e .d b: n tt g er et part e te or sri th i e eln len feee ce professed Be eorworits a those di I c o u w ss e i o r e n , eitherwas a c l h l t t ii i t k ia e e n D fr i o s t le tli c !jivers in Christianity ; and w eb, according to . this pUblicgtion, were the ruture conditi on of the defendant himself, w hi c h he to,Gob. With regard to he had brought under their considiration in repre senting himself as about to be banded over to a mer ciless tribunal, it was a matter which he did not wish to withdraw from their consideration. It was for the Jury to say, whether, in former cases of conviction for misdemeanours, the Judges had deserved a re proaCh of this nature? It bad been argued, that Christianity did not require the aid of the Civil Government. He, for one, firmly relied on its Di vine character, and believed it would go on till it comprehended, in Gon's good time, the whole of the human race ; but although k could not be ex tirpated, it might for a time be superseded. They had seen an example of this in A neighbouring country, where it had formally been set eskle....- All the bonds of society were immediately lettsen ed; and a dreadful anarchy took place. The ittilo* question turned on the character of the .soil. and that must now be collected front it as a whole.— Was it a fob and candid inquiry? Look at those epithets applied to the SCriptures—" a book full of lies," " a dangerous heresy," " an impious false hood." These were a few specimens, and he had found none other to soften their effect, or that indi cated any other object than to defame the Bible, and bring it into universal disbelief and contempt. Sb thinking, it was his duty, sitting where he did, to ex press his opinion to the Jury ; and that opinion was, that this publication was a work of calumny and scoffing, and, therefore, an unlawful publication.— He desired them, however, to think and judge for themselves. Other Juries had thought with hint, but they were to form their own verdict, without any reference to former decisions. Some witnesses had been called, the relevancy of whose evidence might well be doubted, because moral character had no general connexion with profane publications. He doubted not that their verdict would be such as their judgments dictated, and their consciences approved. The Jury then withdrew, but shortly after ex )t-essed a desire to see a copy of the Statute of the 53d of the King, upon which the Chief-Justice de tired their attendance in Court, and after noticing his own omission, explained to them the whole tom& 6f the Act of William, as altered and modified by two Acts of the present reign. The Jury again retired. During theft. absence, Mr. llcut inquired, whether it was his Lordship's intention to take as the next case, "`'the King against &oddart ?" The Loan Cuirr-Jurrica said, he understood it td be Mr. Tunes wish *at it should by fixed for a distant diy. Mr. Huxr replied, that his Lordship had recosntnended to ronitnunicate with the Solicitors of the other party. He had not seen those Solicitors, and was himself quite prepared for trial. The Loan Ciiixr-Jusrtea.—Well, certainly we shall net pro ' ceed to it to-day. The Jury, after being closeted aboui half an tour, returned to Court, and pronounced i verdict—Guilty. It was then announced by Mr. GURNEY to the CHIEF Jusricr., that the next case which it was in tended to try against Mt. CARLILE, was the indict inent preferred by the Society for the Suppression of Vice against him for re -publishing a blasphemous libel, written by an American, named PAiStER. The CHIEF Jusrice then desired that the defen , dant, who had not returned into Court, should have notice of the intended course of proceedings. The verdict was received with profound silence in the Court and Hall ; but it produced a momentary expressioa of disappointment from some of the defen-, dant's friends without. The trial was over by A quarter-past rive o'clock, and the defendant left the Court about three-quarters of an hour before the aver. diet was given. • • • A hi eviallett a lt is the Incitiost of the "17 that the i inq ata usn o t f * slit d is l i 7 e a su dj sered ourned ve to y a rn r c t s prd as to . affec Seo g their health, by fatigue and attendoo: It is my der' sire, therefore, in this mid case l so extraordinary in its circumstances, to adjourn the Inqiiest from this day to the Ist of December. I Dime sufficient reasons for myself in so doing; Sind if there is any thing wrong, this wall idlow time tot an application to the Court of King's Bench, not only by those imtne dlately concerned, but by others who appear here.--; Therefore (addressing the Jury), I dismiss you to day; and 1 will take your reeognisances to appear here oo the Ist day of Deanbber." Mr. HA mesa begged leave to be heard for i Mo ment. "If this extraordinary deteimination should be carried into execution"-- The CORONER, interrupting him, said, " I do not know you; I object to „hept•you at all ; you have been heard too much already." Mr. Hatassza wi.o4 tb observe, with all due de ference, that no Corontr was justified in unnecessa rily adjmirning the Inquest. Coaowza-1 have nothing to say to you ; I have heard too much already; if lam doing wrong, you know where to obtain redress. Mr. HARMER earnestly requested to be heard for a moment. It was of the first importance to skew that it would be a high misdemeanour to adjourn the Inquest: Conoxaa—l repeat. that I have allowed you to say too much already. Turning to the Jury, he sidd, " The Court is adjourned." Mr. HAHURR—I have here settled law upon the subject, and I should be glad to know whether it is the wish of the Jury that the Inquest should be ad journed ? • CORONER—The Jury ! Yon have nothing to do with the Jury. You have interfered &great deal toil much with the Jury already. Mr. HARMER defied the Coroner to prove it. He denied that any thing of the kind had taken place, and he appealed to the Jury to say whether any thing had come from him at any period? Mr. ASHWORTH (addressing Mr. Harmer)--The Coroner has done with you now. I was certainly ready to have brought forward decided 'cases,. by which it would appear that some measures had taken place which might be the ground of a criminal in formation.--(Here Mr. Barrow whispered some thing to the Learned Gentleman).—the Coroner has stated to you that you have an opportunity of ap plying to the Court of King's Belch to impugn his judgment. Mr. Hallman—Mr. Barrow has suggested to you, that there are sufficient grounds for a criminal infor mation: beg leave to ask against whom it is to be filbdi awl the reasons and ground of it ? Mr. Asuwoniu-1 cannot say that now: I have tio doubt but that in due time you will become ac quainted with them. As you have been connected with the investigation of this case, no,doubs•you will also be connected with tbe criminal information. I have no doubt but that Courts ofJustice ate open to every body who may think the Coronet has acted wrongly. Mr. HARTARR said, that it did not appear that these proceedingibad been adopted by the wish of the Jury. Coaorsna—l beg to hear no more from you. Mr. H.SRISHR represented to the Coroner, that he had not stated to whit place the Inquest was to be adjourned'. CORONRR—I have already stated at the Star Inn, Deansgate. Mr, Haamea said that he certainly had not heard it. He also wished to know at what hour the Court was to meet on the Ist of December ? Coaowsa—At ten o'clock. Mr. HARM za—That adjournment will be rip corded. The Inquest might as well have been ad journed to this lee six months: Some of the Jury men may chi ; and some of the witnesses not yet ex wined 'may die in the mean time. Mr. Asuwoorn—The Court of King's Bench is bpen to you. The Chief Cbroner of the country is the Clisef Justice bf that Court, - and he will super intend the jurisdiction of the Coroner here. Mr. HARMER concluded by suggesting that during this long adjournment all those already implicated in this affair, as well as tither& who still might be im plicated, might. escape. The CORONIR then left thE Chair, and the Inquest was adjourned until the lst dof DeCember next. COURT OF RE QUESTS. This morning a trial came on before -- HALL, Esq. the Chairman, and ten Commissioners, wherein Mr. Maas, Clerk to the Magistrates, was plaintiff, and Mr.Witos, Proprietorof Te Mincßester Observer Newspaper, defendant, for £l.4s. the amount of fees due to the said Mix Milne ' as Clerk to the Magis trates, upon the libtikit!cin of Mt. Wroe on bail upon various Infortnitidns, &c. - Mr.MiLwi produced Messrs. Barrow and Daniels, two Attorneys, whose practice is principally in cases that come before the Magistrates at the New Bailey, and they gave it as their decided opinion, that the fees were legal; and authorised by Act of Parlia ment, from which they quoted ; wherein it appeared that the Magistrates of the Division had authority, by giving one quarter of a years notice, to alter the fees of the Coast, subject to the approbation of one of the Judges. The opinion of Mr. Baron Thomp son was also given as authority. The CHAIRMAN—There is no question in my mind, but that the fees are legal and authorised by law ; and Mr. Milne, as Clerk to the Magistrates, is equally entitled to them as the labourer is to his hire. A COMHISSISMIR wished to put a question to Mr. Milne—Whether there had not appeared on the fact of his evidence a contradiction, inasmuch that in one instance he had stated that the warrants issued against Mr. Wroe were signed by the Judges, and in another that they were signed by the Magistrates ? Mr. MiLwx-1 shall not reply. You are no - I: ovve C o om mthl i tas is mi s o i r o N. ner zma , a( a nei n o d dbie gnecoanninetlmy)--ofittetMdherfo.praChrt7coan'itrMemanpt, ofl Court, 'Me accuses me with being one of the party. Sir, I detsand 'you to commit him. The CH/ORMAN, after some hesitation, said, I do not see that he 'has committed himself so as to wat rant such a proceeding. COMMISSJONRR--you must have heard his' muttons. and I therefore demand the committal of that fellow, who dares to insult me sitting here as a C°Ml3l iSliOnere — (After some vause)--Sir, I again. - ; f MANCHESTER, OCTOBER 15. ADJOURNED INQUEST FROM OLDHAM. This morning, in pursuance of the adjournment, the Jury met at the Star Inn,. to resume the proceed ings in this case. At ten o'clock, (the usual hour for commencing the examination), the Court was crowded to excess, but it was not till nearly. eleven o'clock that the Coroner entered. Shortly, however, before his appearance, Mr. ASHWORTH and Mr. BAR- Row entered the room. Mr. ASHWORTH then, addressing himself to the persons present, requested to kndw whether there were any individuals there, by whom he could be informed who were the persons who had sent anony mous letters to him from London ? He did not be lieve that there were any persons present who witrirld have done it, but he wished to know the iv:titles, as such attacks were highly injurious to him in his pro fessional capacity. Mr. HARMER said, that he might Mate similar complaints of similar attacks contained in anonymous letters to him both from London and this town. • Mr. Aaliwoßrn—Do not suppose that I allude to you, Sir. Mr. HAisten profi•ssed his ignorance of any th i n e s of the kind as respected Mr: Ashworth; but he beg leave to state, that he had received letters containing most shameful aspersions upon his character. Mr. Asirsvoarn—lf I cannot find who are the parties, I cannot help it. But lam determined not to receive any of these letters from the Post-office. 1 shall let the Post-office keep them. The CORONER now entered the Court, and the conversation was dropped. As soon as Mr. Fait— Rani) had taken his seat, Mr. ASHWORTH was about• to address - the Court, but he was interrupted by the Coroner stating that the Jury had not been called.— The Jury were then called over in the usual form. Mr. ASHWORTH commenced in these words:— " Now, Sir, various things have come to my know ledge, to which I cannot shift ii,y ears--things which affect the independence and impartiality of a body of men immediately connected with the investiga tion of this case." • The Cowmen here interrupted the LearnEd Gen tleman by saying--4 , 1 beg your pardon, b ut if 7ou will allow ale for a moment." Atter a short pause, - _ . - • ......~ demand that he be committed. I have see n 0 , men committed for co n t empt i n this Court, for': fences trivial in their nature compared with t hi s loiv's.—LAHere loud applause followed in the Corm, The CHAIRMAN still hesitating— COMMISSIONER—I demand hi committal; I a peal to my brother Commissioners whether it is pi per that any individual s h a ll b e allowed so t o e duct himself? lam one of the oldest Commissicr on the Bench ; I assisted Mr. Keay, the attcrrer, • procuring the Act which constitutes this C. accompanied him to Lyndon to obtain it, and I de l ion. man to say that my conduct h i bee n p artat. The business of this Court shall not proceed 1 1; 4 that, fellow is committed who dares to insult it ir. person of one of its Members. The CHAIRMAN, who appears a most gent!ernarlv man, wishing to avoid this dispute, here put the Tit , Lion to the Commissioners present, whether it was their opinion that the demand of £l. 45. on t'ie ? art of Mr. Milne, was legal ? wh en a di v i s i on took place, and it appeared there was si x f or and foe!. r.- i aln st the plaintiff. A verdict of course was pen f)r &e atnotnt If the feet. . Mt. ChArtmtax to Mr. Milne. —Hare you azy thing to say in explanation of your condi.:ct the Commissioners? Mr. MILE -I beg to observe, that no man eater. tains a higher respect for a Court of Justice than rm. self; but Mr. - is a party man, and beneai 55 my notice. COMMISSIONER—Here Sir, you sce th!s rnan, ' 3 his attempt at extenuation offers an additional insul:. I demand again, yon will commit the fellot., and :lot allow him to depart a Court he has dared to insult. Mr. MILNE, accompanied by Nadin and Messy, Barrow and Daniels, in the mean time escaped out of Court: MtET'ING OF COLLIERS AT TOLLCROSS, NEAR GLASGOW. Agreeably to advertisement, a Meeting of the Operative Colliers was held at Tollcross, on Sates. day, to express their sentiments on the late proceed. ing! at Manchester; and also to consider the best means of obtaining Parliamentary Reform. P e number present was supposed to be 2,000. After the appointing of a Chairman, various persons harangued the assembly. The first spoke with great warmth against those in Manchester who had " cruelly Lt.:. sheared man, woman, and child." He said thaitEe efforts to put down Public Meetings would not sac. ceed. " The Romans, under the 'ancient tyrant Ti. berius, lost their right to assemble on public ques. tions; but we will never cease to assemble together, and the God of Liberty will give the victory not to the strong, hilt to the just. Let us therefore heartily unite in demanding our long-lost liberties; and may that flame light us which blazed at Marathon, and now barns so brightly on the plains of South America.' Another Orator was equally aniniated on the same topic. He said—" It was easy to attack unarmed men, women, and children ; but 20 of Napolecai Imperial Guard would have mad e th em fly like c'uff before the wind. He would far rather see his bleed stain the heath .than allow such deeds to pass in silence. They may grasp the lightning as it A' through the air, but never shall Britons endure the galling chain ofslavery. The Jews of old sat down by Babel's streams and wept; and hung their harps upon the willosittees. Shall we calmly sit dm under the shade of our national thistle. and weep!ng, hang up our harp ?—(Cries v No, no). —We must bestir ourselves in the cause of Freedom. When your aid was wanteil on the Continent, you were II brave and liberal people., arkt‘every . thing that was good; but now, when you demand Justice end Freedom, you are an.' abandoned, lawless, sanguinary rabble." He concluded with requesting the people to establish Union Societies, to bring themselves to an unanimity of sentiment, and corruption would fall, like Lucifer, never to rise again • Another Orator said, his soul was harrowed I when he saw the pale faces and ragged coats of cle Meeting. A Radical Reform is the only thing that can renovate this vale of human misery. By graced steps, it will bring back that quantity of human happiness which the Statute Book of Hearer: ordarls to man, but which the Borough-mongers have Stcie from him. While contemplating the bloody scene at Manchester, he said his blood ran cold in his vein,; and he would rather have his bones hung up in the sun, than see such deeds pass by in silence. S)or.er should the waves cease to roll, than he would c,Ni:e to advocate Universal Suffrage, Annual Parliame! , :s, and Election by Balker. Anedie4- Person observed, that when the Reformers Were peaceably assembled, the Yeomanry Cara'r, like the forked lightning, darted upon then, and be gan an indiscriminate slaughter. He conclud td, by reflecting upon the Yeomanry Cavalry of Clydesdale. The next Speaker congratulated the Colliers upon having at last come forward as the friends of Free dom, and the determined enemies of Corruption.— " Much has lately been said about laying aside lusn ries, and we must now begin to lay restrictions upon our noses. Tea, as well as snuff, must be laid aside; but tell me, 0 tell me, how we shall be able to sub vert the social order of cups and saucers?' Ile said, " before he would meet an old woman with her hair upon end, and her talons ready in defence of her tea, he would rather meet six of the Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry ready harnessed for the destruction of the Reformers. Dram-drinking is another odious practice, and must be immediately laid aside, and then we knock another leg off the banding of corruption. The Orator, B/LAYSHAW I from Leeds, addressed the Meeting in a long lecture. The most prominent part of his speech was the abuse of " a party Paper, The Glasgow Chronicle, and us servile Editor." He said. he did not wish to go to the Innkeeper, who had fur nished the offensive paragraph, for fear he should be assassinated by the way. While he was going on with his speech, there fell a heavy rain, which made the great bulk of his hearers scamper off. Mr. WILSON said, that the Colliers were airlifted from 50 to 100 fathoins below ground, and they were generally considered to be unable even for the pro per management of their own affairs ; but ouch an absurd opinion had been completely set at ves t by `pies and proceedings of that day. He said, that • pies and Informers were abroad, and that they ue'%'.... • .J. it sk )ct