Star. — London, England, 1820-04-20 00:00:00

.... 1 ' his Bible, and Acted atiarge.—Suppose he were to "preach or as cite, and to allude to persons in the higher Walks of life, he might be prosecuted. Sups prae he wet e to open his book at the sth chapter of Jeremiah. Here the defendant again quoted at length. How should he explain the Seriptures at large, without sometimes taking texts which might be offensive? Why were not such teats, taken out 'altogether ? Or why were not the Ministers of the Gospel told at once what texts they might preach from, and what they might not? It was dangerous to name the higher powers. If they spoke disrespect fully of them, that was direct sedition. if they were to speak respectfully, it would be supposed, of course, Drat the respect could not be meant—that it was • mere contempt and irony : and that would be sedi tion too. Suppose be went to the 22d chapter of Ezekiel, the 25th verse. flare the defendant quoted. There was sedition!—" The people of the land bad oppressed the poor and needy." There was sedation! Again; in the Sd chapter of Amos. Persons seat about by Magistrates mit t lit always pick out a word uttered by a preacher, which might be tortured into Ledition. In the 3d chapter of Micah, the defendant quoted. People would be told in a Court of Justice, that these words.were bringing the Government into contempt. • Again, 7th chapter of Micah=here was sedition, according to thenotion of the present day ! .Again, the 3d chapter of Zephaniah—the defendant quoted. The language which. he had- been reading, if it had been his own, would have been called sedi tion. It had been said, that Ministers of the Gospel ought •not to enrage in angry politics. Mark the word, 6 , angry."' He, the defendant, had ever avoided angry politics; but he would state what his reasons had been for commencing his public career as a Re former. First, it was to prevent the dissemination of infidelity, which he found to his sorrow had made progress among the Reformers. His father, who was a Minister of the Gospel, residing in Yorkshire, had been a steady Whig. He had been a disciple of Charles James Fox ; and from the Whigs it was that he, the defendant, had learned his politic s . He had a book in his pocket worth its weight in gold; it was Wat'l Answer to Bishop florslqr's Nenhons.— Many quarrels had he had with the Refoi mers, on account of his defending and propagating the Gospel among them. His next reason for becoming a Re former had been to relieve the necessitous. He was himself a poor man, but he might have influence with those who were not so. • Truly, however, it had been said in 21loore's Almanack of the present year, that fe some men's charity would be their greatest foe." So, indeed, had it proved with him, the defen dant. He had never thought it necessary to take up arms in older to attain Reform. He had always thought it would be enough if the higher orders could be convinced that Reform was actually desired by the people. On this conduct he would stand or fall. There was, he tharght, a law in the reign of Queen Anne, that no man should be prosecuted for words spoken. Another law had been passed in the last relga, that no man should be prosecuted for words spoken, unless information were given of those words within four days. Now, however, they might see truth, hut they must not speak it; and this principle was to be sanctioned by the Juries of the Country ! He hoped not. He hoped better things. Surely the Gentlemen of the Jury could not sell themselves to work such wickedness. The defendant theft went on to observe upon the evidence. The first witness, Matthew Cowper, had not heard the beginning of his discourse. He had picked up a few words, which, with a little twirling and twining might serve the purpose of his employers. He had not taken notes at the time ; but he had told the Jury that he (de fendant) had advised the people to abstain from ex ciseable articles, and that they would then starve the .system which had starved them. He did not remem ber to have used such words. He might have said, tat he was glad to see the people abstaining from drunkenness, by which too often their fan.ilies had been starved. Another witness had charged him, the defendant, with advising the people to make war. Ile thought war was now trade upon him—a war rateli as he had often characterized in his speeches as aan illegal legal war." The witnesses against him had been Police Officers of Manchester; they had masters to serve, employers to please; and the Jury would find that he had been an injured man.— Oae witness had spoken of the advertisements of the lecture, but he had not seen them : there had been La advertisements but what were common on such occasions. The eighth count of the indictment charged him with a heavy crime : no proof bad been vivea ia support of that count in the evidence for the , prosecution ; btu: it was in the indictment, and he (Mr. Harrison) moat disprove it.—[Here the defend ant read the eighth count.'—He was confident no verdict of guilty could be found upon any count. The Attorney-General had laid a stress upon the circumstance of this lecture having been given the day before the great Manchester Meeting. He was unite unconnected with that Meeting : he had not attended the Meeting. He had walked towards 'Manchester on the day of the Meeting; but, before be arrived, that Meeting had been dispersed by the words of the Cavalry. If it could have been shewn t‘aat, in his lecture, he had even alluded to the Man chester Meeting, then indeed the Jury might go along with Mr. Benyon, and connect the 15th of August with the 16th. But persons attended his lecture, who would have retired in disgust if any at tempt had been made by him to excite the people to rebellion or so bloodshed. He was not a malicious •anan. He wished no harm to his worst enemy, and be trusted the Court would allow him to bring an evidence or two in his favour. Stanley Hamilton examined by Harrison.—! was at the Windmill Room on the 15th August, ten minutes before service at.d after it was over; I observed everything very regular, as became a place of worship; you (ilarrison) preached out of the Bible ; you txhorted the people not to go to public-houses, and ma to spend their all to the destruction of their families; I bard nothing to encourage the people to insurrection or to 14.4rve the Government. CroA.:examined by Mr. BEN-vou.—l am a weaver; M'lnnis 10.1,-ed with me for seven or eight months. AssozNir-Ganzariz..—lt's a mistake; you are not the person. John Burgess examined 'by Harrison.—! was at the Wiud n.;!l-room on 15th August; I joined with the congregation in rehgicus worship, in singing and prayer; there might be 500 pup - 1- there •it was not so fully attended as usual ; you preached arum the Scriptures; I did not conceive you preached a political sermor ; I never hears the word Government mentioned ; beard the defendant admonish the people to avoid drunkenness ' w hich was the case with many ; you stated drunkenness had brought many families to great starvation; nothing to excite the rcoft.: to arum, qu.te the reverse to that ; I did not hear deiced- ant My tit, people should starve the government, nor that it was a corrupt Voveriunent ; if it were said. I am certain I should have beard it. Robert Jump examined by Harrison..--I was at the Wind mill-room on the evening of the 15th August; I recollect some little of what occurred ; the preacher encouraged the people to peace and good order, and to abstain from public-houses; I beard nothing disrespectful spoken of the Government, nor heard the people advised to Reform the Parliament by force— far from it. by Mr. Man.v.—l ums door-keeper that night ; I have but little to do with the management of the Chapel. Randall Wilkinson deposed to the same effect. Cover —Who do you call next, Mr. Harrison? Harthon.—l do not, my Lord, think it necessary to call any more. I shall here close my defence. Mr. BENTON.—Gentlemen of the Jury, yaw haie heard the charges made against the defendant, you will bear in mind the allegations and the proofs I have offered to substantiate them, and if you believe the words you have heard were actually made use of, I know not for what other motive they were used than the one suggested in the indictment. One wit ness (upon whom some aspersions were endeavoured to be cast, but who, from his demeanour and general conduct to-day, becomes, if possible, a more credible witness than he would otherwise have been) has proved to you, almost verbatim, the defendant's use of the words charged against him in the indict ment, and unless you disbelieve this witness, corro b-rated in the main by two others, who 'followed him, you cannot possibly decide in favour of the de fendant. Having gone over the evidence the Learned Attorney-General continued—Mr. Harrison styles himself a quiet, unoffending, and religious man ; I hope on other occasions he is so ; but sure I am, that when be uttered the seditious expressions I have proved to you, he could not lay claim to the charac ter he has now set up. With regard to the many ex tracts from the Scriptures, which he has cited, I say they are of Divine origi . n, but applied to times and .circumstances totally different from those in which ,we live ; and, while I pay every respect to every thing contained in the Sacred Volume, I have no he sitation in saying, if some of the extracts were ap plied to the Government of England, andintentionally so applied, that such application of them would be 'seditious. The Learned Gentleman concluded, by committing the case to the best and most impartial consideration of the Jury. The CHIEF domes proceeded to sum up the case to the Jure. After having read over the indictment, he said—The first thing you will have to consider is, whether the words were spoken cr not; the second, whether they are seditious; and, thirdly, whether the: were spoken with intent to excite in the minds of the liege subjects of the King, a contemptfor his person and Government? In order to enable you to do this, I shall read to you the evidence.---CHere the Learned Judge read over the evidencej.--In one part, he asks if it was fit that the people should obey the laws so made? This, though put in the way of a question, was a direction not to obey the laws of the country. It is the duty of the Magistrates to procure persons to give concert information of what takes place on such occasions as the present, and therefore no imputation could be cast on the witnesses called to prove what they had been-sent to collect, from the circumstance of their being so employed by the Ma gistrates. In allusion to what one of the defendant's witnesses said, the Leatned Judge observed, Harri son wished to spew that his discourse was a religious one, and yet we have his own witness, who tells you that he said the House of Commons was corrupt.— Was not this an introduction of politics ? Having gone through the evidence, the Learned Judge said, that he saw no reason on earth to doubt the witness Cowper. He does sot come here charging his me mory with what was said, he took notes of it, and therefore there could be no doubt as to the fallibility of memory, and he was corroborated by three other witnesses, who swore to the same words. Nor did Mr. Harrison attempt to explain by the context what he meant by the words imputed to him, which he had an opportunity of doing, by asking what was said before and what after. On the contrary, he en deavours to shew that he did not use them at all. Bat all that can be taken from his witnesses is, that they did not hear him say the words. As to whether the words were seditious or not, it would be a waste of time to speak on the subject; what could be more likely to excite discontent and disaffection, than being told from the pulpit that the Government starved the People, and that the People ought to starve the Government ? We judge of men by their actions, as well as their words. What then could Mr.- Harrison mean by using these words, unless that which is charged against him ? This sermon he professes was a reli gious one, and grounded on the Gospel ; but surely these words could have no reference to the subject of religion? If you believe, Gentlemen, that the de. fendant used these words with the intention imputed to him, you will find him guilty ; if you have any doubt on your minds, you will give him the benefit of it.—The Jury, without leaving the box, returned a verdict cf—Guilty. . THIRD TRIAL OF AMR.-lIARRItOIf. THE KING V. HARRISON, FOR SEDITIOUS WORDS. The ATIbRNEY-GENERAL said, this was an indict ment for misdemeanour against the defendant, on which he had an opportunity of challenging any of the Jury if he pleased. Mr. Harrison—l shall certainly challenge the whole Jury, my Lord. The Cuter ionic's—lf you do you must assign a reason for it. Mr. Harrison—My Lord, they have found me guilty on one indicuneht. which I thought they could not do, and I think that is a sufficient reason why they should not try me again. The Cruse Jussmr—That is not a legal reason, Sir. Mr. Justice him's:lats.—No, no. that is not a legal reason. The Arrorcizr-GENsasx.—My Lord, we will geiaftesh Jury if the defendant wishes ; I have no objection. The Clime Just:es—Well do so. You act very fairly ; only I wish it to be understood that the defendant cannot have it as a matter of right, unless he assigns a legal objection to the pre sent Jury.—Another Jury was then called. Mr. Harrison—My Lord, I understand that some of the last j Jury are again called. Mr. Justice MAX smAzz—That is an matter. Mr. liarrison—My Lord, I shall not say a word in my de fence, unless I have a new Jury; the Attorney-General may take what course he pleases. The Cum Junicz—You will take what course you please, Mr. Harrison, in your defence. Mr. Harrison—l have not a list of the Jury, my Lord. The Psovuonoraß7—You shall have we, if you wish it. Mr. Harrison—liarn says, that a Juryman having served on one trial, is a sufficient reason against his Sitting on a second against the same person. The enter Jusview--No, no; you will not find It anywhere for a misdemeanour, The Avvoassx-Grvartst.--My Lord, wishing to have every thing fairly done, I hastily told Mr. Harrison that I would get a new Jury. No; wishing to retrgit this promise, I shall, If your . Lordships do not feel it necessary to press - the trial, put It ,off to the next Assizes. • The Couaas—We cannot express an opinion on the subjanc.: It is for the parties to agree about it. - The Arroawee-Gmatiut&—Then, my Lord, I shall give Mr. Harrison his choice, if he wisher it. Mr. Justice Maastrass--I think, Mr. Attorney-Genetali you had better bring the case un now, and rut an end to it. Some delay occurred in endeavouring to procure a new Jury. Some persons in Court were called upon ; bet The ATTolutrr-theNzaAt said, that the Citizens of Chester claimed the privilege of exemption from serving on County Juries. Mr. Justice Measmat.l.—l think we must dispute that privi lege. The High Sheriff is accountable for this delay: He ought to have a sufficient number of Jurymen in attendance. A Jury having been at length impannelled, Mr. Harrison said he objected to George Ethorards. The Couar--What is your objection? Mr. Harrison—l challenge peremptorily, my Lord. The COURT—That will not do. You might do so on a trial for treason or felony, but not for misdemeanour. George Edwards was sent off, and another Juryman sworn in his place. Mr. MANLY then opened the proceedings. He stated this to be an indictment against the defendant for using the following words seditiously, and with a view to bring the Government into contempt : " Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lords, Commons, Parlia ments, Archbishops, Bishops, Prelates, Rectors, High Constables, Constables, Sheriffs, Deputy Constables, and Bailiffs, are all corrupt, and the time is near at hand when they will be upset. The People should rise en masse to suppress such a tyrannical Govern rnent as the one of this country ; and it will not be 'long, but very soon, that it shall be overturned, and many a bloody battle may be fought, and many a one incarcerated in prison before it shall be accomplished." The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, this indictment charged the defendant with maliciously and sediti ously attempting to overturn the Government of the country, and to excite contempt and disaffection in the minds of his late. Majesty's subjects. Ile should prove that these words were uttered on the sth of December, at Stockport, in A sermon preached by de fendant at his chapel during evening service.. It would be for the Jury to say whether these words were seditious, and if they were used with the inten tion charged upon the defendant. If they could on their oaths say that the defendant had no such mo tives, then - they would acquit him, and, if otherwise, they would find him guilty. Mr. John Robinson examined by Mr. Msaxv—What are you, Mr. Robinson? Witness—l am a man, I suppose. The COURT directed witness to answer with more propriety. I have been a Barrack-Master occasionally. I attended at the Windmill-rooms, at Stockport, on the sth December. I saw Parson Harrison and a crowd of people there. I went there in consequence of having seen an advertisement of the Meeting. I went to the steps leading to the loom; I was sufficiently near to bear what was said. Mr. Harrison was preaching. I could specify my reasons for going, if— Judge MARSHALL—Conhne yourself to answering the ques tions put to you, Sir. Witness—l heard Harrison say, that all Kings, Lords, Dukes, Commons, Parliaments, were corrupt. I have my notes, but I believe I have left them—l believe I have'got my notes some where about me. Mr. Harrison—l object to his reading his notes ;he may look at them. Witness-.-I took my first notes at my father's, and I copied this paper (producing a paper). Mr. Harrison—My Lord, I object to his reading his notes; he nry refresh his memory from them if he pleases. Judge Msassmsn—Why do you object? Mr. Harrison—Because it is contrary to law. Judge Mansnetx—Pray where do you find the la* against it? Mr. Harrison—My Lord, you know it. Witness read from his notes.—Archbishops, Bishops, High Constables Constables, and Deputy Constables, Hailiffs, and even till be came unto the common Bum-Bailiff, were all cor rupt; and that if such a tyrannical Government must exist, the people ought to rise en mane, to suppress such a tyrannical Go vernment. Mr. Harrison—My Lord, it appears -that the witness is in toxicated. It is calculated to bring this Court into contempt; you ought to look to it. Mr. MARSHALL (to witness)—Go on, Sir. Witness—He went on to speak of Noah's Rood and the Ro-' man Government. He said it would not be long, and , 'tat it should not be long, when such tyrannical Governments as the one in this country should be upset, and the people should rise en mane to suppress such a tyrannical Government as the one in this country. The Couar—Mr. Harrison, do you wish to ask any questions of the witness? Mr. Harrison— As your Lordships have thought proper to examine him, I shall do so. Mr. Harrison—Do you ever read your Bible? 'Witness—Yes; and so do yo,u I suppose. Judge MARSHALL (to witness)—Do you know that you are on your oath? If you do, you must not joke. Witness—l have read he Ten Commandm " Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." 1 have had the command of the Barracks some time. I was in the employ of Mr. Harding. Mr. Harrison—How long were you in that employ ? Witness—What's that to you? Judge hLtasnau.—You must answer the question put to you, You are conducting yourself in a manner not creditable to you. Witness—l lived in Mr. Harding's employ twelve months. Mr. Harrison—What were you?—Hook-keeper? . Witness—l don't know hOw to answer you; that's a very blackguard question. Judge hlsasnatx—Answer, Sir, or I shall commit you. Witness—There never was a deficiency of £4OO in my ac counts ; my brother did not compound for me. Mr. Harrison—Were not you in danger of being transported under the Embezzlement Act ? The firth in, The Cotner stopped the answer to this question. Jamts Whalley—l went to the Windmill-rooms with the last witness; 1 did not see Harrison, but I heard his voice ; I never heard it before; I heard him speak, but nct as a preacher ; knew his voice because Smith said to tke preacher, Mr. Robin son is at the door, and the same voice said, if Robinson is at the door let hint come in. The voice seemed to come from a pulpit. I did not see a pulpit. I heard him stating the state of corrup tion before the Antediluvian world. He said the people in their days were corrupt, and that it almost repented Gon.that he had made man; and drat Noab, as a preacher of righteousness, had warned the people for the space of 100 years in preparing of the Ark, in which only eight persons were saved. I then heard the same yoke treat upon the Roman Government; he said it was tyrannical. Ile then compared that Government to the present Government of this kingdom, and said that King, Lords, dukes, Commons, Archbishops, Bishops, Rectors, Sheriffs, yoga (HE tete, High Constables, Constables, all Authorities till he came down to common Bum-Bailiffs, were corrupt ; that our present Government was tyrannical. And it will soon be that many a bloody battle will be fought, and many incarcerated in prisons and in dungeons before these things are accomplished ; but they will be accomplished. And that the people ought to rise en masse to overturn such. a tyrannical system. At this time Henry Smith came out, and said , Mr. Robinson, will you walk in ?" He declined going in, as silver would be expected at the door. Smith went back. The same voice began to say what collection had been made. Cross-exantined by Mr. Harrison—l am not in the employ of the Police, nor was I ever ; I went to the Windmill-room with John Robinson ; I did not see him have any liquor on that night; he did not appear to be intoxicated. I am generally a sober man. but I get a.drop sometimes; I dare say I got a drop last week, but I did not disgrace myself. I was formerly em ployed in carrying out political publications, but I cannot say that 1 ever sold twopenny trash. I was agent to Mr. (heave, or Manchester. Mr. Harrison—l suppose, my Lord, I can't ask him if he left that place honourably? Witness—You may if you please—l'll answer It. . Here the ease for the prosecution dosed. Mr. Harrison rose andssaid—Here I stand befok you or a.notLer indictment for preachinz. 1 buve reason to believe that there are some things littered in my preaching that will not please some people. I think differently from many. But I never pub lished my sentiments, and I think that, as a free-burn Englishman, I have a right to think as I please.— , This sermon was preached to procure a subscription Ifor a Sunday School, as I always wish to do all I can in charity to my fellow-creatures. I was asked to preach the sermon. It was publicly placarded that the sermon was to be preached in aid of this School, in which 600 children are educated. Ido not know the merits of the school, as my Sunda) s are occopied in preaching. lam net here to deny my psdaching ; if I do wrong it is for you to find me guilty. If I think lam right it is for me to, ju,- fromtify myse attlf if w I can. 12 I : took my text on that occa.tiJn mae vii. " Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that mea thcold do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and Ase prophotb." connexion of our text with the foregoing verve intimates, that the more goodness we expect from GOD, the more kind and disinterested we should be. to our neighbour. A firm persuasion that our Ilra- VESLY FATHER will give us all the good we need in answer to prayer, vt ill certainly excite our endeavours to promote the happiness of others. Thetext goes upon the principle of self-deniai—appeals to the prin ciple of self-love—applies it to our neighbour—and insists upon it as the motive to influence all our ac tions—and is similar to, " Thou shalt love thy neigh bour as thyself( and is the demonstration of that text in action. If the principle of our text were acted upon, what a destruction it would be to trade of some kinds. I. The Parsons' trade would be cut up by the root—the Rector, \vial his £3,000 per an num, and the Bishop, with hi. £30,000 per annum, would have to resign their lucrative posts, and weave, and spin, or till the ground, &c. &c. &c. But no doubt they hope this will never be in their day. 2. The Lawyers' trade will be ruined. There will be no quarrels or litigations; no ea pensive law-suits ; no prosecutions. There will be no need of atternies, counsellors, judges, courts of justice, jails or jail keepers, no bum-bailiffs., no police-officers, &c. &c. S. The Magistrates' trade would be destroyed. There Would be no granting of summonses or warrants. No making of mittimuses—no bondsmen, and no bail fees, &c. &c.-4. The soldiers' trade would Fetish. No bloody 'Waterloo battles or Peterloo massacres— no atming, training, drillings; swords would be beaten into plough-shares and pikes into pruning hooks—musket barrels into gas-pipes, and cannon into steam-pipes, &c. &c.-5. The Boroughmonge - s' trade would be abolished. No giving £lOO,OOO for a few old pig -sties, called a borough—no bribes to voters fur members—no placemen, pensioners, sine , curiits, &c.-6. The King trade will be greatly affected. No Parliament—no King but one, " and his name shall be one in all the earth."—l observed that this doctrine had been preached six hundred years ago ; by Enoch before, and by Prophets after the Flood; by the Apostles of discs in the Roman Empire ; and ever since by all the true Ministers of CHRiST. Alas! what corruption—what wickedness has taken place, notwithstanding this divine maxim. I had no doubt but large salaries would be paid to Ministers for leaching their flocks; that Judges, Counsellors, and Attornies would be employed for along time before this.principle would be acted upon. That military would be kept up ; that many bloody battles would be fought ; many persons incarcerated ; many blockheads crowned, and many crowned heads cut off,. before this great principle was acted upon.— I this, l Gentlemen, and you will, I suppose, con•iict me ; but I call not only Earth but Haas - Est to witness, that I am incapable of uttering the lan guage so foully and so calumniously imputed to me by that witness you have seen, and who, you must know, is unfit to give evidence in any case. lam a preacher of the Gospel, but am I to compose all my sermons of texts of Scriptures ? Did any one ever hear such a sermon ? Look to the preachers of the Established Church—do not they introduce politics' You, perhaps, have heard many loyal sermons—you have heard political doctrines freely urged, and loyalty. to the Crown recommended ; theu, if intro ducing politics into religious discourses be criminal in me, it is so in them also. • As a preacher, it is na tural that I should wish to see the,days of Millennium arrive. I would say, I will say, with the Apostle John, " Come, }man JICSIII4 come quickly It is for you to say, Gentlemen ) whether we have or have not a right, as public speakers, to utter our sentiments. If we have a right, are you as Jury men to deprive your fellow creatures of their rights? You are not to be guided by the speech of an Attor ney-General, or the charge of an Honourable Judge. You are to judge for yourselves, and in that judg ment you are to be guided, not by interest, but by principle. You are judging a case between your -King and the defendant—between religion and the defendant, and you are to say whether that defend ant was entitled to speak as he tells you he has done. I find it in a book in my hand, that Solon, - the Le gislator of Athens, enacted a law, making it a capital offence for any man to stand neuter, when party rant high in the State. The writer says, he admires the principle on whicli this law was enacted. He says, that when party ran high, it was the duty of every man to act with firmness and consistency. For my part, whether in prison or out Of prison, I shall at ways advocate the cause of Reform. No matter whether it please or displease men in robes or iii high authority. Mr. Harrison proceeded to read extracts from the work he held in his hand, in which the author pointed out the lamentable effects which would be produced by a perseverance in a system of coercion and misgovernment.' He was proceeding to read, when Judge MARSHALL said he was reading an attack on the Government and established Religion of the country. It mii,ht do much harm, but could not serve him in his defence. _ . Mr. Harrison submitted to the. Court. He wished to shew the Jury that he was not singular in his opi nions. That many good men panted to see liberty restored, as much as he did. He wished to accom plish this by peaceable means. He went on to stace to the Jury his.re.vons for becoming a Reformer and a public man, as Ile did on the fanner trial. He then went on to say, that he never cursed the King. He .n e v e r went on his knees in a garden to do so, as was Ow case with a certain person now high iu authority in this country. Atter some further observations of a similar r.l - tune, he concluded his incoherent defence by capiPg V P .p