The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1824-01-16 00:00:00

LAY INTELLIGENCE. :FeCIIANCEI.I.OIO4 (1)1)117 1 , TnuasuAr, .411.16. LOTTERY TICKET. a►:ae.n v. LAWLESS. 'twice moved, thnt a certain aum of money, bring the nerth pan of a 20,110111. prise, be Itvid into Court. There MAN an inctioo a lready m anoel, b which Mr. Jenkinson pa wl from paying it to the de y feodant. It. P/1/1.1.1M4011 g oppiond the motion. Ilia client was per. satisfml with having the money where it was at twrient. Au tithe was granted upon an ex-parte sweatiest, and he had yet put his answer. virt: 1. Lon—The interest of your client is equally red. The money is now unproductive t if placed in the f the Areoutitaiit.lieneral, it would produce something by your oppooition, you are sinigghng against the of your client. When will you put in your answer? tile. Ptiu.t.r stone said, in shout ten days. Jr.! Kit inner saal, he had no Oe ItNI to the postponement of e natter for ten days, if he were a llowed to amend his bill, and to the defendant's wife • parry. VICE-CHANCELLOR —I ht the Host view, the ticket appears as were a present tenor the husband to the wife. let the matter ' over for ton days, until the answer be put in. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, THURSDAY, Jaw. Ili. 01 Wetiminster gyler Michaelmas Tema. &Araks LORD CHILI J wit Ks sod Special Jacks. :lAL FOR LIBEL.—LORD BYRON'S VISION OF JI'INiM ENT. Tug LINO V. NV NT. Few cases of libel have occurred, exciting ape-ter degree of public tendon and cannily than that of Mr. Ilunt, wl.irh came on in King's !tench yesterday. The Interest it mated was so intense an early hour the ('ourt was tilled in all parts; the several les were crowded, and a little after ten o'clock, ingress or to and from the Court was quite impracticable. Several of elegant appearance were present. tis was a prom-cistern instituted by the Constitutional Astoria. against John Dont, of 22, Itoitil-aireet, I lewd Ityron's pub for the publication of a number of the Liberal, enntaisting hsitw ofJudgment." F:xtracis from the Poet), which were to be libellous., were spread on the face of the word. Our will and them as they occur in the . meet of Counsel. lury were sworn a few minutes before ten o'clock : t Honeys, Matthew Lloyd, Robert Conk, Richard Horse ' Charles Cosetable, II I. rii I'o prayed a tales, and the following flentlemen to their names: James Chambers, Johii I ronson, William Thomas Jones, Thomas Iteattice, George Edward Dalton, illiam Trough, and William Elliot. Mr. Pail Isom opened the pleadings. The miliciment, was as follow*: - Middlesex Si' wit.!.-The Jurors of our Lord the King, upon nth present, that John Iluut, late of the parish of SL (lone, r-spare, in the county of Middlesex, bookseller, being a of wicked and malicious disposition, and wickedly and ma contriving and intending to injure, defame, disgrace . , and ; memory. reputation and character of his late Majesty, Anrge the Third, the Father of our Sovereign laird the now and of divers others, the I teacentlants lit. said late Ma i, members tit the Royal Family of this realm ; and also con. ing and intending to cause it to be believed that hie said late ijedy was a bail King, guilty of !Mtn& and • protector of ants, and that his death was unlamented and tinregretted even these who attended his burial, and thereby to disturb and di.- et the niinda atoll destroy the comfort and happiness of our said the now King aril other the said Descendants, and to hying into public scandal, infamy, disgrace, and contempt, with inongst all the subjects of this realm, on the second day of miter, in the year of our laird one thousand eight hundred end ty-tern, at the pariah aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, with and arms, falsely, wickedly, maliciously. and 'inlay/hilly, int and publish, and cause to be printed and published, in a printed book, to wit, in a certain printed book called The ', • certain false, scandalous, malicious, and dcfanistory and concerning his said late Majesty, and also of and con his reign, death, and burial; containing therein, gat tinge, the following &lac, standalone, 111•1160 UP, and de matter, of and cower • g his said late Majesty, and ulso .end concerning his reign death, anti burial: (that is to toy) • In the hot year of freedom's second dawn, died George the Third;" (meaning his said late blejevoy) " although no tyrant, oft alto Oneanisig his said late Majesty) "shielded tyrants, till, each sense withdrawn, left hint" (meaning his said late Majesty) " our mental 110 e external sun: a better fanner ne'er brusli'd dew (runt lawn, a worse King " (meaning • worse King than his sad late Majesty' " never left a realm undone. lie" (meaning his said late Majesty ) `• died, hut left his" (meaning his said late Majesty's) " silb . jects still behind, one half as maul and Collier no lase blind. Ile' (meaning his said late Majesty) "die.% his" legsain meaning his said late Majesty's " death made no great stir ea earth; Ills" (meaning his said late Majesty's) " burial made rase pump: there was monition of velvet, gilding, brass, and no great dearth of aught but trios, save these," (meaning those tears shed by militant), therehr the, stud there meaning that his said'. late Alajesty was • bad king , guilty of misrule, a protector of ~ and that his death was unlamented and toregretted even • who attended the burial ot his said late 3lajesty): To the rare and scandal of the memory, reputation, and character ..id late Jls,joety ; to the great disquietude and disgrace of said bard the now King, and his laws, to the evil example of others In the like elm Wending, and against the peace o 7 our id Lord the now King. hie crown, anti dignity. Lillie the above charges are repeated, in the usual legal way.] And the Jurors stionsaid, upon their oath aforesaid, further pre vent, that the said John Ilunt, so being such a person as aforesaid, Val wickedly and maliciously further contriving and intendit g to mime, defame, disgrace, and vilify the nienurry, reputation, and I character, of his maul late Majesty, so being the father of our raid lord the now King, and other the said lkscendants; and also con tnring and intending to cause it to be believed that his said late Majesty had been, during his reign, guilty of internle, and that he was • person of ut.ut col avaricious mind and disposition, and thereby to disturb and disquiet the iii i i ids and dastniy the comfort A happiness of our said laird the now King, and other the said slants, and to bring them into public scandal, hatred and ! with and amongst all the subjects of this realm, on the N year aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the county afore said, with tome and arms, falsely, wickedly, maliciously, and un lawfully, did 'dint and publish, anti emote mid procure to be printed and published in a certain other printed hook ; to wit, a certain printed honk called The Liberal, among other things a certain Vihar se, scandahms, malicious, and defamatory libel, of and tg his said bite Majesty, and of and concerning his said the form of part of a speech therein, supposed to be by a being therein called the Prince of Air, containing amongst other things) the Sent, scandalous, malicious. - - yy matter of and contenting his said late and his said reign (that is to say): •• (meaning his 'me lt l4 )enY i " came to his" (meaning his said late Majesty's) aeepne ‘..41 , g, he" (again meaning his said late Majesty) "kern ll" lnu atiing his said sceptre)" old. Look to the state iii Which tic" lincaiiiiiftins said late Majesty) " found his realm," limning this realm) " aiol left it;" (meaning this realm) 66 and his" (meaning his s a id l ate Ilajessty's) " annals to behold : how a minion lint he" (meaning his said late Majesty) "gave the '" (meaning the helm or government of this realm) " how quo his" (meaning his said late Majesty's) " heart a (hint the beggar's vice, which can but overwhelm the meanest (thereby then and there meaning that his said late Ma hal been, chant% Ins said reign, t in ilty of misrule, and that Mrs a person of mean an d avaricious disposition : To the great ittrare and scandal of t o memory, reputation and character, I ' 4 said late Majesty ; to the great disquietude and disgrace o f read Lint the now King, and other the said Descendants; annempt of our said Lord the now King and his laws ; to nil example of all others in the like case oftsding ; and pat the peace of nit, sail Lord the now King, his crown Intuit,— And the dinars aforesaid, upon their oath afore limiter present, that the said John Hunt, so being such aforesaid. I` id wickedly and maliciously further eantrishtir minting to move, detame, disgrace, and vilify the memoq, Minn, and character of Inn ALIO lam Majesty, so being the uf our said Lord the now king, and other the said descend. : and abut nnitriving and intending to rase it to be believed • his said late Majesty was, during his reign, an enemy td liberties it his people and of other nations, and that his said :u was remarkable tor great national calstnities, and thereby to orb and disquiet the minds and destroy the eaunfan said happi- I of NU maid Lord the now King, and other the said descendants, to bring them into public vandal, infamy, disgrace, and con 1, with n d amongst 311 the subjects of this realm, on the day ‘ear aforesaid, at the ponds aforesaid, in the county 11, with force and antoi, falsely and wickedly, ma. and unlawfully, did print and publish, and cause and to he printed and published, in a certain tithes printed to wit, a certain printed hook, called Is T.lr Liberal," lief things, a certain other false, scandalous, malicious, -natorr linel, of and concerning his said late Majesty, and and cincerning his reign and history, in the firm and part a therein, minim-Li to be spoken by the said Being therein : Prince of Air, containing therein, amongst other things, /Mg scandalous, malicious, and defamatory matter, of and me his said tate Majesty, and of and concerning his reign ; to my—" 'Tis true, he (meaning his said late Majesty) was . num tied to last ( I (meaning the said Prince of Air), have the "hen sate); but as stool, In let hint (meaning his late Ma -14 consumed. 'tom out the past ages, since mankind have `nibs nil, of monarchs, from the bloody rolls amassed of sin 1 4tion, front the Conn' school, take the wont pupil, and a reign more (mean i ng more than his said late Majesty's) nril with the slain. Ile (meaning his said late Majesty) 'Mot with freedom and the tree nations, ma men ; home sub '4.l"",cll hies, so th a t they uttered the word ' Liberty.' found ..the Tided ( mean i ng liis natal late Majesty) their heat oppo ', *hoar history ass ever stained as hie (meaning his said u e , stv's • be with national and Individual woes 1' • (thereby M 4I I there mem - iiig that his said late Majesty wan, during hi* 'NV% an enemy to the liberties of his people and of other nn. :'!!`'l that his reign wan remarkable for great national entami. c great di sgrace an d scan d a l o f t h e me 11111 l v, reputation, 'traner of hi. late Mau aity, to the great disquietude and dis. ' 4 "ur said Lord the now King. and other the said descend. `,, ln i,""nl.Pt of our said Lord the now King and his law*: to -- potniple of all others in the like case °Knitting, and Kerr align said Laid the now King, his crows and t h e .a,1% -one charges ere repented.' James upon their moth eterelaki. furthe7 pre the odd Juhn Hum, so king such person as aftworkid, 'sad wickedly and mabelowely furthet enntriving and intending ell . 1 injure. detente, dimmer, and vilify the nietnory, reputation, and character of his said late Mainty. so being the father of our said ; Lord the now King, and other the said descendant., and also con triving and intending to cause it to be believed, that his said late Majesty was a person of bad and vicious character, and thereby to disturb and disquiet the minds and destroy the comfort and leeppi. ness of our mid Lord the now King amt other the said descend. ants, and to bring them into public scandal, infamy, disgrace, and contempt, with all the subjects of this realm, on the day end year aforesaid, at the parish :aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, with fewer and arms, falsely, wickedly, enaliciouate, and unlawfully, did print and publish, and cause and procure to be printed and published, in a certain other pricted book, to wit, a certain printed hook called The Lihreo4„ among other thine% a certain other false, scandalous, malkinua, Dad defamatory libel, of and concerning his said late Majesty in the ferns of part of a speech therein, supposed to be spoken by the said briar, therein called the Prince of Air, con taining therein, animal ether thing's, the following false, %colds lous, malicious, and defamatory matter, of aid concerning his said late Majesty; that is to say, " Ile (meaning his said late Ma jesty) leaves heirs an many thrones to all his (meaning . his said late Myelin's) vices, with oat what begot conipaesion for I (meaning bits said late Miejesty), his (meaning his said late Majesty's) tame virtues. Drones who sleep, or despots who have DOW forgot a lemon which shall be retaught them, wake upon the throne of earth ; but let then, quake;" thereby then and there meaning, that his said late Majesty was a person of bad and vicious character, to the great disgrace and scandal of the memory, reputation, and • character of his late illajeaty.-iil the great disquietude and die grace of our said Lord the now King and other the said descend ant*, in contempt of our said hotel the now King and his laws—to the evil exaitiple of all others in the like case offetidirg, and against the pear. of our said Lewd the King, his crown and dignity. Mr. Ano s. riles stated the case on behalf of the prosecution. Ile commeneml by obaerviiig, that the la• of F.ngland not only shielded the fame and good character of the living front calumny, but also protected the memory of the elm& This protection of the geoid tame of the dead secured the peace of the living, and en abled them to pass through the world, and discharge their duties with coehilent - e. The present libel was SetilftlillOlDl, disloyal, fake, and Mil ' Something may be said as to the responsibility of the defendant ; nothing mold be said in defence of the libel. It might he attempted, and he anticipated that an attempt would be made, to cemure the prosecutors; but such attempt would only be made by those who mire more ready to impute blame to others, than anxious to vindicate their 1/WIN itniOeeDOL It might be said, • that if the li b el natty affected the Royal Family. the Attorney tieneral was the proper venom 111 undertake and Net the pre. sent prosecution. Rut there were malty ease in which the Attor ney-1i mend might not think it expedient to prosecute; but where individuals of public spirit, feeling with a becoming sense of loyal duty the insult °tiered to their Sovereign, may interpose, from a tjust indignation at fake :said KIM asperaiistut thrown out to disturb his happiness, his subj e i ts hail a right to imeitute such a proseru time as the prese..t. It was nut a nist:er of great importance by whom it was instituted. It was more important far to coesider if the defindent had not a fair trial; sod nu well-grounded objection could b: taken to the present mode of promeution, unless it were contended, that by such a 111011 e the defelidant was MOM likely to sustain it...Jo:Mee than by any other. lln the contrary, the present process of trial held oust great advantages to the defendant. The bill had been regularly 1011011 by a (hand Jury, end the case came before the Court and the Jury this day, unsuatalned by the mallet. rity, the power, or the ability of the Attorney-lieneral. It 'rid been entrusted to vii humble an individual As himself, to whom there was omens' an adeiwate of great learning and great talents. Again, the defendant has the advantage of not haystig the right of reply rest with the prosecuting Counsel. Did any of the law officers of the Crown undertake this proacuti )))) . he would have the right of reply, without any evidence being called on the other side; hut in this case, as no witnesses would probably be called, the eminent Counsel who was entrusted with the defence would have the right of addressing them last. It would appear, then, in truth, that the ilrfrnitaht hail no just ground to complain of this mode of trel; and he was the more anxious to impreu die obser vations he had offered to them on that topic more strongly on their minds, as he was ulnae It •as one that would be pressed upon • their attention, awl represented to them in a different point of view ' from that it, which he had sulimitted it to their cotisideration. If the Learned Counsel (Mr. Searlett) could oflia. a satisfactory ex. planation, which would ahow that they who hail instructed him were mistaken, that his view of this subject was an erroneous one— ' if it could be proved that the present 'publication was not disloyal, 0 false, and impious, none would rejoice nitre than hc, or retire 1 with greater satisfaction, at finding that it was not sought to as , parse the character of his late Nlajesty. It was known to the Jury, i that Oconee 111. died in IS_'B, after a reign of sixty years, a short time after the coma 11111 l lawn of a glorious war. Is a long time previous to his sheath. the hand of Heaven hail lain heavily upon elm. Ile enjoyed a long and happy reign, surrounded by the love and 'alteration of leis people, and the end of the fiftieth year of his reign was celebrated by public rejoicings. Towards the chime of his life he was afflicted with many art ere Mohan infirmities-- h• was afflicted by the hand of Providence with the deprivation of his malerstandinc- lie was old 111111 blind. Tudor such atflicions did the late Monarch unhappily labour, until death closed his earthly statferitiga; and sue 111 sere the afflictions which the libeller selected for heartless ridicule mil base rot dement. In the case of an indivi dual, would not a man who had cherished enmity towards another, rich say Rapidity tor his misfortu ler% ? In ageeerous envoi', calamities such as these would excite no ventiment but compassion. On the mind of this libeller, however, they excited no sympathy, awakened no pity ; they were the selected points on which he enlarged, and rowed to vent his malice. For a long time it was thought lit to make personal attacks upon his present Motrity. To those who wasdisposed to as and to away hlUt. hie supplied a subject oa which they anxiously dwelt.t scion ast personal stairs beanie unincumlwred, and that no ground of attack existed, 'elections on his patent were resorted to, for the purpose of annoying him. In pursuance of this plan, the Anent publication, entitled. The Liberal, or Verse and Prose from (hr .Susili, appeared in the beginning of 1822. The word Liberal was a special sound, which in its generally accepted sense was cakulated to tom iliste favour. About ltd years ago, the word Liberal was used to espr‘ss a coutrartersolverse to religion; &person louse in MI moral habits, and unrestrained in his conduct. Such was the meaning which now-a-days, with a slight variation, should attach to the word, end the priticiiiko which such a person might be supposed to enternli were those which the undertakers of the pees: et put beation wire anxiety to transmit from the South, and in culcate on the inhatitants of the frigid North. It was not the pro duction of men who resided in this country. and who were amen. aisle to the lane, but of persons who were abroad, whom distance, made valiant, and indlfetenre to sharoser toads brave--ef men who not only vilified the living, but sought eyes to ransack the grave, and prey upon the dead. In the first number of the /Aerie/ , there was a poem called the Vision t; (Jedetesent. In dila poem the author presume" to lay the scene in Heaven, soil with a degree a levity and wanionnese--a depth of impiety, that would di sgrace • pat-house, sheered an utter dlsreganl of that reverence which w as due to the Supreme Beiag, and a total neglect of the awe which his idea should create. Whim he (Mr. Adolphus) began his addend s he was admonished in a whisper not to go beyond the charge in the indictinent t but if he found that the libel had had another charac ter besidesthat ascribed le it in that document, and one that he could only regard with horror, he did not know why he should not advert to it. If, beyond the 'Mischief with which it steed charged, it another mischief iore banef u l st ill, he thought that, altfZri! might rot be i rth in the indictment. y e t th at it ready listed listed the evil ' O uted to it. n the death ado King, his Majesty is represented the gaol. A council is held to scan his life and action,, at wit/ 1 Satan is in attendance. Such was the impiety of the plot of !hie poem. As Englishmen we love freedom of opinion. We have our differences en points of policy and matters of religion; but every honest and wedl-conatituted mind must revolt at the hor rible impiety of such a production as this. Whatever may be our diflefelleeS, no man wishes to see religion itself debased by Auteuil, or jest, or made the subject of an ill-pointed tale. He did not ex. pest to see in any English welter, or from any person who had ever ..rd of elvienanity, such a compoaltiao, where that final judg ment, to which we all look, seehlls mode a topic of ridicule. He was not prepared to see such a coarse familiarity &reamed, where the mighty none of Milton mooched with awe and fear, in which the seer selected was the very floor of heaven, and in which the author's prelligate muse afforded a striking example that "Fools rush in where angels firer to tread." The poem opens with the following starml..- •• Saint Pew sat by the eeteciel gate. Ilia keys were mon, and the lock eat dull, So little irmible hail been giveu of late; Nut that the plats by may means was feell. Rut since the Dallis era, • ssghty-eight,' The devil's had *e'en a isetfger, pell. - ' Af.d • a pull altogether,' as they say At sea -which drew most souls another way." In order that the Jury might hare a better idea of the levity and Impiety of the general tenor of the production, he would punit out the iti,b;einiiing manner in which the Iteeuriliag Angel was intro duced. It an+ stated in the Poem that his wings were plucked to make pen., that he had six cherubim* appointed to be his clerks, and admen to officiate at under clerks, but still that the task of re cording was in smear. It then Foes tit to state that a general noise and rustling is heard, and, on inquiry being made. the answer is, that George the Third is dead. This is the account then given of bins— " In the tirst year of freedom's second dawn Ititsl I iCOTKV the ; sill gh no tyrant, one Who shielded tyrants, till each ,e se withdrawn Left him nor mental nor external sun : A better farmer neer lirusli'd dew from lawn, A worse King never left a realm undone ! lle died - but left his subjects still behind, I hie half as mad---and ember no less blind. " Ile died !-- his death made no great stir on earth Ilis burial made sonic 1.011111; there was profusion 11f velvet, guiding, break and no great dearth If aught but tears--save those shed by collusion For 'ht... thill4^l Ills, be bought at their true worth : 01' elegy there was the dust infusion-- Bought alai; and the torches, cloaks, and banners, Ileralds. and relics of old tiothic " rattled a sepulchral meloArnnic. of all The fools who tlttek'd to swell or pee the show, \I ho cared about the corpse ? The funeral )lady the *twat- ion, and the black the woe. There thmbb'il not there • thought which pierced the pall; And when the gorgeous coffin was laid low, It seeni'd the meeker) , of hell to told The rottenness of eighty years in gold. " This was a handsome hoard__ at least for heaven s And yet they had even that enough to do, do many court nits' cars were daily driven. So many kingdoms tilted up auto ; Each day tos slew its thousands six or given, Till at the crowning carnage, Waterloo, They threw their pens dawn in divine disgust.— 'l'lie page was SO besmeared with blood and duat This by the wsy; 'tie not mine to record What angels shrink from : even the very devU On this occasion his own work abhorr'd, So surfeited with the infernal revel ; Though he himself had sharpen'd every sword, It almost quenched his innate thirst of evil. ( Here Satan's sole good work deserves insertion -1.i., that he has both generals in reversion.) " • Let's skip a few short years of hollow peace, Which peopled earth no better, hell as wont, And heaven ,one—they form the tyrant's lease With nothing b u t new names subscribed uposs 'I; •Twill one day finish : meantime they increase, • With seven heads and ten horns,' and all in lions, Like St. John's foretold beast • hut ours are born Lew formidable In the head than M.rn." This was the way, after a reign of re years, that this poet treated his subject. 'l'he Monarch was reproached for the calamities with which he was afflicted by [leaven; he was pointed out for the re. preach of men, for misfortunes inflicted by the hand of Pnr:idence; and the strain was throughout tone of pretended sorrow and real de rision. Satan, as he had already stated, wit in attendance at the Council, and to him is entrusted the bringing of the accusation agairst his Majesty be is thus introduciA as his accuser lle came to his sceptre young ; he leaves it old: Look to the state in which he found his realm, And left it ; and his annals too behold, (low to a minion first he gave the twins llow grew upon his heart a thirst for gold, The beggar's vice, which can but overwhelm The nievnest hearts; and for the rest, but glands, Thine eye along America and France ! " 'Tin true he was a tool from first to last t ( I have the workmen safe); but as a tool So let him be consumed ! From out the past Of ages, since mankind have known the rule Of Monarchs—from the bloody rolls unsaid gain and slaughter—from the Crows' school, Take the worst pupil ; and produce a reign More drench'd with gore, more tun:We'd with the slain ! 1. Ile ever wired with freedom and the free: Nations as men, home subjects, foreign foes, So they that tweed the w o rd • Liberty Found George the Third shrfrerdlintponeill. Whom History was ever atem'd as his wW be With national and Individual WON ? • ••-•.— -- • I 'Tint his hou.shold abstinence: I glint His neutral virtues, which most It!nautili want." In a strain of corresponding ludierouthese the poem proceeded to describe King lieorge the Third, alter some dispute, slinking into Heaven by stealth; where he is seen, according to the conclusion of the poem, " practising the hundredth Psalm." This was the publication on which they (the Jury) were called on to pronounce their verdict. 01 the publication by the defe nd ant, there could be nu doubt ; and with nipect to his motives, it was not material. It was not necessary to prove that the defendant was actuated by per sonal malice toward tleurge the Third, at penional hostility to ward tleorge the Fourth. If die Poem had the effect of making their enemies rejoice, and their friends mourn, it was not the less culpable, whatever might be the motive either with which It was written or published. lie had adverted to the (engin of this pub lication. It was entitled " Verse and Prose foam the South," and it would seen there WO some author behind, who was not known, and could nut be reached. It was no slight aggravation of the de fendant's o ff ence, that he put forth that which had been sent front a distance, and the real authors of which were safe. If there is an author whose talents might have raised him to a high rank in literature, and who might have taken his place among the tint spirits of the age, connected with this publication ; if there is such • person, he was truly sorry to see him degraded to a level with the basest reptiles. lie was truly sorry to see a high anti glorious name so debased ; to see great talents, that might have been better em ployed, so occupied. He deplored the degradation of intellect, and the humiliation of genius, and that a fame which should be pure anti high should be alloyed by so much basene s s, scu r r ility, le v ity, and malice, as charactensed the present publication. He hoped, however, that the author would redeem the disgrace which such a Publication must bung upon his name, by . voW-directed efforts in future, and that he would yet have to mow is their better cm ployment. Such an abuse of them as the present work gave evi dence of, was to be attributed only to indiscretion, or to the effects of bad habits of life. ratan was the character, in whose mouth the accusations against (ferret the Third was put ; and it might be said, that as Satan is the father of all lies, the feet of the charges, preereding from such a sourer, imported that there was no malice in the breast of the midair against the late King. This might be said, and it would be perfectly true, If the tome of the poem throughout corroborated such a view of the car. But in point of fact this was only a most • flimsy diNruise, and d 3 did only conceal the malice beneath. It might should said that the characters of Kings Wiens to history ; but it is not to be said that the she. racier of either dead or living Monarchs is to be left at the mercy of any daring libeller. If an historian should write the reign of Omega 111, and shewed brief charges against hint, lethim prove those ells:gee, and he will net be called a libeller. If he sustained the propositions he advanced, then indeed )o rtt some excuse be offered for him. If, like some Roman n Heorge lii. bad been as undutiful son, a faithless husband, lost is effeminate pleasures—if the dames of penecution had raged pan. his sovereignty--if he had been verned by Isenniter—if le it, power had been arbilyagy inn cogushis peon it wam directly insiousted) he was ruled by avarice, " sM bode Tit." —if this could be said of him, let bin ant with Odle vbeee names cannot be regarded without loathing. If it could be ;roved that "a worse King edger left 'realm undone,"—lf the calumnies advsnedl against him could be substantiated, than then*" mat ter for the defendant's vindication. If he could fail; be Wolfe"' to the worst of Suntan Emperors, who witnessed unconcerned the devastation of his capital and his people fille.l with feeree — ifs cast ing an eye along the line of English history, be could be accused. like one Monarch, of having pretended the dignity of his crown in abject vassalage to the see a Rolue--if wee er ucted to effemi nate pleasures like another, then might his memory have been visited with mime portion of the censure width is so unsparingly heaped upon it in this poem. Hut if the reverse of that picture be true—dile be found through a long reign the ocalous supporter of religion, according to his coronation oath—if be has passed through life without a single stain upon his mond 'banner—if he began his course as • dutiful son--it die whole OMNI of his life was marked by religion, by abstinence, by genseceity--if there was no mend stain upon his character—if an which Otis publicatioo said of him was utterly libellous, they would protect his memory trent calumny and false aspersion. It was true that some domestic good qualities were ascribed to him to temper tbe s ill r e of severity with which his falsely imputed vi ces had been en of—some " beggar's virt u es" which more belonged to as rite than to king. These too, were only ascribed to him in order to heighten the effect, by contrasting his great deficiencies withal , trifling me rits for which he got credit, and maned only to aggravate the bunt ing calutuny with which his name was bonded. This was the view that he entertained, and he hoped they would not sutler any artful address to divest them of that cool judgthent with which they ought to regard It. Though be should be glad to have a new light thrown upon the subject, in his mind he could tint conceive the possibility of its admitting any other construction than that he had plated so it ; and with this impression he submitted it to their serious consideration. The libel had been published some time, and it might be said that the subject was now stale, and that there was no neensity to revive it; but, continued the Learned Counsel, the delay had been unavoidable, and not any fault on either side. 'they who were acquainted with proceedings In Courts of Justice, would easily allow for the interval that occurred between the pub lication and the present prosecution. It was unavoidable, not in tentional. It may be said that whatever feelings this publication had minted had now passed away. To this ha replied, it war not vengeance, but example, that was sought. If such an argument were to be attendcd to, it would extend i 11111 l unity to the offences of all persons who h. red not been punished ininkthately on the com mission of offence; it would, in short, be an enonuragentent , for crime. He left now to the Jury the ease of a libel upon an old nom, whodescended to th e grave lamented by all classes;—upon • King, who justly obtaitied the tide of lathy of his people ; the case of • libel affecting British fame and feeling on the I point of venerating the memory of their fathers. Forgetting fur • mo ment that Heorgell I. was ever King, yet in that Interest which they themselves had in upholding the ',actuary of their ancestors, and that theirsterity would have in twahremniv th eir , good name,' Chet oho act • • the mho elf the deektobe raked up and Insulted. These ne en 'serrations which he felt it his duty to *tabula. They. he was pure, would 410 their duty on their oat hs; he was satisfied that he had faithfully, though feebly, discharged his ditty. John Person examined by Mr. Parrtasow--I know the house, No. 22, Old llond-sireet. I went there on the 'A De cember 11t.'2. A bookseller's business was carried on in the shop. I saw there the defendant, J. Hunt. I purchased two hooks at the time, one of them was the titerul. I purchased it f the defendant, and paid him for it. There were many other persons in the shop. Mr. St ARLETT requested to see the book which witness held in' ' his hand. Cross-examined by Mr. Sesai.r.vr-1 am an Miser belonging to Row-street. I have [Teti for lire years. I purchased one by order of Mr. Mamie, Solicitor to the Treasury. I gave it to Mi. Stafford. By the CotT wr—l did not see Mr. Motile upon the subject. ('rota-examination.—Mr. Stafford directed me to purchase the copy now produccif. Mr. Murray paid me. Mr. Murray ix, I be. here, a Mlllcihlr. I s.iw him at his own house In nedforc.row. By the Cot , II T.- —M r. Murray paid me fur lon of time, as he usually does for similar purchases. Ido not know who Mr. Mur roy is, but I understand he is an attorney. I have got seven! books of this kind; I believe he gets them for the sake of prosecu tion. Ido not know ohether he pays the expense of such prorserti r;qns. I have heard, but ant not sure, that he is attorney for the t , .stitutional .%ssociation Mr. Sharpe has ocrasioragy paid me. I are never seen Mr. Murray aml Mr. Sharpe together, except in the case or a prosecution. The prosecutions at which I saw them were carries! on for the publication of books which I purchased. I may have seen them together on some other occasion, Mot do not remember to have done so. In reply to a question from Counsel, inquiring what was the description of books he usually purchased rue Mr. Ilurtay, witness replied that they were pamphlets. I never sisw Mr. Murray at liridge-rtreet. I cannot tell if the proserutiunsia which I saw Mr. Murray and Mr. Sharpe together were conducted by the Constitu tional Association. I did not purchase for Mr. Murray Southey's Vision of Jsulgmott. I have read of the I.iberel which the IL in,g, but did not road that part which rears MVou's ICFAIIANCI Or. KNIGHT I truth INal of a Junction already r od from puyim Mr. Pll/1.1.1111 4 satislied will :section was gra yet put in his Vitt-I'ns • t' neernrd. The of the Ares 'ore, hr yoe , rmit o f yours Mr. PIIII.I.IHr Mr. KNIGHT g matter fur ti ,hr the defends] VICL-CHANCV it wan a ore oe toes COL'RT OF rim. 44 Welif Cii TRIAL FOR Few eases of lih retain's and en re Ring's Rene t an early hr venues were r at to mid fr ie. of elegant This wos a pr on, against ./0 then) for the y e " Vssitm of .1 legeol to be Mtn aim will find ' The Jury arm Robert Hagen I. and Chart' Mr. Aurst.rm %wend lathe+ r %story, Thom' IV raisin l'irnug • Mr. Pail lill The °Airline Afiekilearr Si' heir oath prom Ilanover-snilare of wicker !remissly contra' vilify, the anent King Gorge th , King, and of di 'city, member. r Inning and intr. Jilaiv.ty au a tyrants, and this by those who at qDiet the minds Lord the now I Omni into publ and amongst al Ihyresiber, in di twenty-two, at force and arms, did print and It certain printed Liberal, • ecru libel, id and ern. caning his reit' giber things, d (amatory runnel of and concemi " In the first Third," linear one •lio Omar each ...rue with " our milital It %invite, and that hi by those who at rrud vet dis , rare and si of his sa id late Alan oar said Lord the ii 'ileitis's' In the ilk • said Lord the now I • Illere the above And the Jurors a ant, that the maid . aril wickedly and ii mime, defame, die diameter, of his pal lord the now King. !tiring and intender Majesty had been, man a perwii Id ue.o ar thereby to disturb and happiness of on • lbserralants, and t; disgrace with and s day and year aforess MC with turn and o lawfully, dud sirint and publielieti in a pnnted honk cants Wier false, scandal r, meetening hie mid I reign, In the form • • lass by a being tinsels i amongst si ▪ sad defamatory mat • 11 a-sty and his as said !ate Majesty) '' d sceptre ‘uuttg, "haves ii" too-ant which tie" meaning this realty his" (meaning hes s et to a minion lino he' helm" (meaning ii grew sloe Ma" (me gold, the beicinu beans:" (thereby t jest, had been, due ▪ be wan a person of dis t r ae• and scene ▪ of nis said In, Ma our said Lord the e• iu ointen:pt of inn the evil example against the peace pir 11 , 11 dignis y..- A nil Is Pall, tardier prase person aforesaid, to a, sine Intending to hr be reputation, ainl rha father afoot said Pats : and also ono Is filet his said late d i the liberties of hie l i g reign was remark ;MI ▪ disterrb and disqo lei of wail of our said Lot mil to toting limn i s; temps, with et.d stn re sad •mr aferevaitt • a omen!, with fog • 11,10141 r, anti unlit, all ' , vire to be print' 1; ask, to wit, a CI alliong other things, defamatory Jebel and eineernie sietch therein, sop ▪ alled the Prince Of thcfidlowin , e , rning hit said I ' l l 14 10 41?--" uul Rolle tirst to lo "nnen ,410; hut P f be mnsimiett ill °"'" the rule of rm tie d from J'os'e a num more re w oherrel with the al ly " with tree, 64 ' 1 01 Mew, so id th , . Titled rb Where histor l 4 1it , 1 , 1e . 1 • soli b. I q , asl Mere meat !t• 0 4:q. all il) 1•1^ . 1 that his tri 1. T.116e grr a t dii ire '1 cl Orincriir his I ct , "ow mid fowl -5 la ‘ l.ll l , ltipt Of exampl e of m fte the peace of a ls t , t•• t HI " the shove eh A " the Juturs sto • 'hot the saki Jul 'Woe ofJsulemetst. I slid not know that this win written in ri- dienle of Southey's Vision( ref IltettpueNt. (The beamed Counsel here read the following onstage* from the I Liberal, in reference to Southey's Vision o(Jotlytneal.) "At length with jostling, ellsnwieg, and the aid Of cherubim appointed to that post, The devil Aatundeus the circle made His way, and look'd as if his journey cost Some trouble. When his burden dowel he laid. • Whet's this ?' cried Michael ; ' why, 'tie not a ghost ? I know it,' quoth the incubus; ' but lie Shall be one, if you leave the affair to me.' " Ile ceased, and drew forth an MS.; and no Persuasion on the part of devils, or saints, Or angels, now could stop the torrent ; so Ile rea d the first three lines of the contents ; But at the fourth, the whole spiritual show Had vanish'd, with variety of seentn, Ambrosial and sulphunsms, as they sprang, Like lightning, off front his melodious twang."' Mr. St; All I,E T T—Do you understand the following line? " Hut ere the spaviti'd dactyls could be spurred." Witness—With some hesitation— No. Mr. Sc*AN I. T —Do you understand this—" Stuck fast with his hexameter." Mr. SCAR I. ET T (the witness again hesitating). Do you know what an hexameter means ? Vi'itnesa—Yes. You are e rarnittingi me. (Much laughter.) The Learned Counsd was proceeding to ask kik:albs: questions re specting other passages of the poem. The Loan I'lllr JU STICE interposed. and suggested that jt was not expedient to persist in that course of examination. Mr. Buckinaster 'le called, and spoke to the identity of Mr. Hunt. Cross-examined—l am an army clothier; I read The lifer,!; I am not • subscriber to the Association. lam called by Mr. Murray here. M;. riC•ll T T —And only to say you know Mr. hunt F—Yea. Mr. SC MIL E T --( /0d bless me! I thought it was to give your opinion of this poem ?—No. Mr. A nut. Pll vs requested that the part of the Poem set forth on the record might be read. Mr. SCA iL r. T T said, if that part of the poem was reed, he would require the reading of the whole poem. The passages above quoted in the statement of Counsel were here mr. SCAM. ET T —As a eet-off to those passages, I require that the l ;s o r , hile poem he read. CHIEF JUSTICE—Yoursi only mention your wish, Mr. Soviet ,to have it complied with am nut the penman who will have most reason to complain of it. Mr. Abbot, jun., then read the whole poem, which furnished the matter of libel. The following stanzas, which were read from the poem, are thou which refer to Mr. Southey, in ridicule of whose style the Counsel for the defendant, in his address to the Jury, insisted that the Mims of Jolitotent was written:— " Ile mind—(l only give the Itcado—he said, Ile meant no harm in scribbling; 'twas his way Upon all topics; 'twas, besides, his bread. (If which he butter'd both sides; %would delay Too long the assembly (he was pleased to dread) And take up rather more time than a day, TO name his works—he would but cite a few— Wet Tyler—Rhymes on Blenheim—Waterloo. Tenon of high station; world pet the same enratructiest 6t eft/ poem that Mr. Murray has thought proper to put upon it. The whole weight of this prosecution is thrown upon the shwa den of Mr. alurray. Who is Mr Murray ? Dam lko understand this poem ? r doubt it. Had he been in the whores boa, perhaps many of his answer', would not be more intelligent. titan the witness he had than day iironght forward. He (Mr. b.) would say that he had brought into('cart what near had bee prosecuted before, and which ought nut to be brought into or now. The character of a tlect.asul king, toe criticism of an b genious poem, was nut a tit hUbil•'t for a J nry. Mr. Murray may be a respectable attorney, but he is not a judge of the units of a king, or the character of a statesman, or the qualities 8(a putt, Mince he (Mr. S.) was compelled, however, by Mr. Matra,. to entet into this subject before a Jury at Westminster, he would deny. in terms the strongest and most iingtittli tied, that it was n crime in r.t. v man " to intend to have it Leheved that a deceased king was is bad king, was guilty of mi.rule, and a protector of tyrants. - If one was precluded from commenting on the reign of George the Th'rd, why should he nut also be prohibited from own. menting on the reigns of bit ancestors? If this Ise • libel, then, was it not (also a 1u ,d to say any thing . rogatory of the character of his grandfather. Did Mr. Slums know there was such a pet u Shakespeare? Did he know that the present King was descended from Richard the Third. and that Shakspeare drew him a.s a murderer ? Vet this was a play which his Majesty mileht, without any strong emotion, eretswia, though, in the opinion of Mr ;Hurray, it may be a polite-al libel. The present King, was descended also front James tie Fine, yet Sir Walter Scott., in one of his late novels - (Mr. Sisriefl apologised for mentioning the name of At. Walter Scott)--he meant an ur - knowo period, the author of " Waverley," had described him in one of his late novels as a most contemptible character, as a pet son destitute of all the qualities which constitute • rod King or a good man. 11 by was out this work prosecuted by Mr. Murray ? Does Mr. Murray think that there was such a King an Henry the Eighth and that no person ran mention his reign with: out describing his tyrannical coishict ? Dors he know anything e the memory of M'aldegrave, one of the late King's tutors? Hu he read the Memoirs of George the Second by Lord OrcerA ? Her he seen an account of the funeral of ileorFe the SecOntl, or a Cor respondence of those times which should have never men the Witt He (Mr. Scarfed) believed that Mr. Murray had not, au! that it was his ignoranie alone thet could bass inducted him to institute such A prosecution as the present, or led hint to entertain a hope of its success. lie now dismissed this part of the case with mixed emotions of contempt and Indig nation. The next charge contained in the indictment WO that the death of the bow King was uaregretted even by those who attended his funeral. Mr. Murray would fain make it an dread that • king should not be regretted. This was *fitly • new way of flattering the reigning sovereign. The funeral was described to •. have been conducted with great pomp and ceremony. As to regret for • sing, the very condition that makes him • king excludes him from sharing in that sorrow with which his subjects are AIM followed to the grave. Ile is 8) far raised above his subjects in Ka. t 00, that he cannot descend to that level where private friend+. ships and close intimacies are formed and cemented, and he is ex- • eluded and shut out from those endearments and those solid which his subjects store. For ilis reason, a king is rarely except for political consequences. There was a class of h6is Majesty's subjects in whom his death created a very lively sense of sorrow ; he meant his Majesty's present Ministers, for at that time there was a report afloat that they would not be in office twenty. four hours after his funeral (a laugh). Lotus the X Wth and XVth were examples of the little share ofprivate regret • " lie had written praises of a regicide; He had written praises of all kings whatever; 114 had written for republics far and wide, And then against them bitterer than ever; For pantisocracy he once had cried Aloud, a scheme less moral than 'twee clever; Then grew ■ hearty antijacobin— fli followed monarchs to the grave. Louis the XVtli . who of the small-pox, was deserted by his own ministers, and ~ the menials who were left to attend hint did not administer to him the common offices of attention due to a dying man. It Wait further alleged in the indictment, that it was sought by the present publication to divturb the mind of the present king, and to bei ng his family into disgrace and contempt. If by the expression •• • Aad eZrnett his enit—and would have turned his skin. " He had sung against all battle•, and again In their high praise and glory ; he had called Reviewing 'the ungentle craft,' and then Become as base a critic as e'er crawird_— Fed, paid, and paniper'd by the very men By whom his muse and morals had been maul'd: Re had written much blank 'I'M. and blanker pow, And more of both than any body knows. bad Kink," were - aimed to disturb * his !ifitjesty's puce of mind, he would admit, that whether the allegatio: . were true or aim, the intent and motive of wounding the Kirg's feelings were of themselves libellous: ~ut no such Intention was entertained by the present publisher, or, he believed, by the author. Tho purpose of the work was, as he would immediately sheer, quite different. Indeed, • political writer might, in pros speak much move strongly with impunity on the events of the late reign, than was to be found in any passage of OW --- He wu not desirous of ' consideration He had written Wesley's life :—here, tuming round To Sithan, ' Sir I'm ready to write you*, In two octavo volumes, nicely bound, • With notes and preface, all that most allure. The pious purchaser ; and there's no ground ' For fear fur I can choose my own revtewers: • So let me have the proper documents, ' That I may add you to my other saints.'" pnem. _ _ as of going into the - .. of this late King's reign, but u Mr. Murray had compelled him to eager upon the subject, he would briefly touch upon some of those events of the last reign which would probably be most conspicuous to posterity. He would preface those brief remarks by the deck. ration that it was his connection that the personal virtues of the late King had, at critical moments, the effect of promoting the prosperity of the nation, and of averting imp en di ng calamity from It. The events of his reign supported him an this opinion. Time . - Mr. SCARLET,. appeared for the defendant. /lie learned friend may be persons, however, who may not think that his reign was one (Mr. Adolphus) had said, that they would hear from hint an ad- that contributed to the general prosperity of the empire. We might dress of great eloquence. Ile did not possess those talents ai,d arts suppose an individual to consider, that when his late Majesty mo which his learned friend seedbed to him, nor could he even lay send ed the throne, a wise body of men cotelneted the &freers of thee claim to the humbler merit of facility in co iiiii Junketing his old- nylon ; that the people were respected &healed, and filippy and con. Pions, which experience and daily practice usually give. Did he tented at home ; that the country laboured under no encumbrance pleases thesphe should be happy, on such an occasion as the pre- that the King might be tr u ly sa id t o b e L or d o f t h e B r i u d i Oft, SO em oy whatever resources he could draw from nature or Isles, !and of the mighty oc ea n th a t se p ar a tes them front the Mott art, i 'forcibly expressing the contempt, the ridicule, and the vast continent and distant countrie s ; that n o desire then existed latignatton with which he contemplated the present prosecution, of altering the government ; that this King, ascending the throes otd with irhich every honest man ought to look at it. Never did 'ender auspices so favourable, placed an unlimited confides. Winer. lament the want of them talents than now, although he in • nobleman who had been hie tutor. and the advisor of his feared that if he possessed them, the energy of his own feelings at mother ; that a consequent jealousy arose Itirongst the 'Ability of the present moment would deprive him of the due and efficient (ler- England, in consequence of their exchteiun from office and sow& l i tifi r si b e g aro l% fr i did ! I I: I nt el tho ta heat publicatitognia:fejinuyr ged, opinion ia i " or at that moment e f a r , that an n in t digt r lugl av of n n g o great i issinua lm ted that a sentiments respecting a . deseased mongrel' was • and a libel partiality was harboured in the royal breast toward, this nobleman g affecting • living sovereign. Ilis l e a r n e d friend anxiously abstained that in consequence of his publication of a newspaper called the horn the law of this case, and with good policy left it to his Lord- North griton, he was made an object of vengeance; that he was ship to lay down. !netted of laying down the law of the ease, he prosecuted for a number of this paper, to which was prefixed • betook himself to topics of declamation, calculated to excite some. motto from Ovid.--" Ne aniki rewribits, anamen ipse very ;" that whatofparty feeling, that should never enter into the administration ministerial majorities were got up with no other view than to do of justice. He (Mr. Scarlet) would wish that his learned friend 'troy Mr. Wilkes; that a House of Commons expelled him, and had conducted the undemanding' of the Jury to the law of libel ; that another House of Commons expunged nom its journals that he had stated to them under what head of law this prosecution theme resolutions, and thereby declared them to be foolish._ was founded ; that he had pointed out to them the difference affect- Passing over the ferment that these events created, suppose it to be ing the Kings/id ordinary one, in order that they might have the stated, that in this King's reign the question of taxing Americo t benefit of his epinioes, and that he (Mr. Searlett) might know with arose—America then growing into wealth and power and grantor what he had to grapple. Demerits not in the indictment formed —that after an ineffectual struggle the King lost the fairest poetise the subject of his declamation ; and he would rein disguise from of his empire —and that he was obliged to sign a recognition of the them the real matter set forth In the record, by sour.ding epithets independence of those who before gloried in the name of British and imposing tones. Bina his learned friend, then, had abstained subjects. The independence of America he would not say was the Iwo the task, be would bespeak their indulgence whilst he immediate cause of the French Revolution,- but he would say, thee szplained 10 them this point, and undertook to prove that the in its successful opposition to the power of this country were NOS% record of this indictment was a disgrace to this Court of Justice. the seeds of that spirit of liberty which afterwards ripened is A libel is defined "to be •erime, because it tends tee breach of France, and which was too unfortunately followed by scenes of the public peace." Why does it tend to do so? because it excites disaster and blood that the heart recoils at the reoollection of •desire of vengeance, inconsistent with the public pewee; it is the What then was the situation of Britain ? A war was inevitabte polisy of the law to take redress of injuries es much as possible it wee entered upon ; but not persevered in on the declaration of out of the hands of individuals; and unless the law laid such re- any specific object. It might have been right then to enter upon a oinsint on our feeling.. we should return to a state of savage na. was ; but re object of it should he also declared—if the object was tore. A charge against a living monarch is not • libel, because the restoration bf the Bourbons it should have been declar•'—if be cannot be supposed to feel a desire to beak the peace. The the object was the restoration of an island, that island might be sovereign is entitled to reverence and duty, and all outward forum given to us. No ; there was no specific purpose declared, 'sod of submission consistent with law. Any attempt to bring him into the cant of the Parliament of that day was, indemnity for the pant contempt, or to insult him is Adelina, and is a crime of a different and security for'the future. What was the indemnity ? What the Mum from ISO attempt to insult and degrade his subject. It Is a security The loss of two hundred millions in the American eon . crime, not because it tends to provoke the monarch to break the test, and of six hundred millions in the war that followed, hid public _peace, but because it tails to weaken the civil allegiance loaded the country with an unequalled burden of taxation: and of the King's subjects. In this. end in all free countries, Govern- where was the indemnity ? A few brilliant actions at sea commie:4 OWN is the result of public opinion ; the strength is with the mut but did noeindeninify us fur this loss of treasure and of blood. dtwle the executive acts as their agent ; and the sentiment is Then let it be remembered that the /faxes Corpus Act was son well inculcated on the minds of the people, that every attempt to pended in that reign; he was ashamed to say how often; and all bring its bead into contempt should be checked, because such at- those safeguards were withdrawn, and principles violated, on whisk tempt obviously tends to weaken those boucle of opinion which go the British people were wont to revolve and repose in quiet. And to constitute the strength and security of Govemment. His learn- now had that peace had arrived, where, he would ask. was the rea ed friend had said that the good fame of the dead must be protect- ligation of this promised indemnity, and much talked of security ? ed, on account of the living, because attacks on our fathers excited I —Such a view might be taken of the reign of George the OS to break the public peace. ('an that besaid of a monarch? He I Third, by same persons in this country. Mr. Adolphus might hoped never to see the day when it would be received as a maxim if he pleased write a history of his reign and in his praise, but that in • court of justice, that observations on a deceased monarch I will not deprive others of the opinion,' which they may hare fanned amount to • libel on the living sovereign. If such a maxim be upon it. If such a comment rot 'it be made in prose upon the laid down, history is et an end. It destroys liberty and freedom of , reign of tho late King, why might n o t a ll us i on o f lees strength, sod opinion. nel gore to the very root of our civil institutions. The conveying less censure be permitted to be made in poetry? The case is different between kings and individuals: we may descend I Learned Gentleman again resumed the topic of the importance sat to on graves ; our v irtues and our vices may descend there with us, I permitting free eiscussion on the reigns and actions of kings; it and it emitters not whether they are remembered or forgotten. Fir • was of not less important* to kings themselves than to the roa. different is it with kings and rulers : their lives are connect. dons they governed ; for the achievements of their Tripe, do ed with the times in which they rule; their virtues and wisdom and success of their councils, were sae-rile:A to them, their vices are recorded and preserved, as memorials foe history ' and the generals who may have achieved, or the generals when and lemons for posterity. The divinity which "hedges in • king," • may have advised, were flung into the shade. It was a cos 'leaves him in his grave; the sanctity of his character and sacred- tributlon which posterie• paid to them. brink at Elizabeth, nem of obligations, which he enjoyed whilst living, are transferred who, though she had t'ecß for a Minister, wee herself regarded as to his successor when he is mingled with the earth and lies undies the centre of all the glory of her reign. Such, too, will be the tingulsbed in mortality. When he returns to that earth from which , future award pronounced on all monarchs, according as the* he sprung, lie beconies the subject of free and full discussion. This' reigns may he attended with 'dory or clouded with misfortune. after-judgment that posterity will pronanince upon him operates as After taking • rapid review of the progress of the Duke of Wels, a restraint to deter Ii i iii from bad actions, and as an inducement to lington on the Continent, who, he said, fought more pitched stimulate him to gaol ones. It he deeply interesting to mankind, battles than any of er great commander, and after having owe. std of the utmost inieortance to Englishmen, that this right of ells- thrown many French Generals, and finally member', the greater* cussing the merits of a deceased wavereign should not be surrendered. of them all, the Learned Illeatlernan stated, that the present pub. What mum nothing he said of deceased sovereigns, but what is lication arose out of the jealousy of rival bards, in wham- ineeeiblie said in the language of praise and panegyric? if nothing is said contentions he was unwilling to interfere. They had probe* of them but what is pleasing to their sucemeors, what becomes of heard of Mr. Southey's work, which bore the same name as the prow historical truth ? It we are condemned only to panegyrics, what sent publication, and in which the same character' were inn*. faith is due to those who ;rather from the peat rules for future dumd. It was written in a strange metre. in imitatiou of Latin, gayer -nt ? The greatest of ancient historians (Twin's), the most an attempt in which Milton had before failed. perfect master of hunwn wisiloni, speaking of the difficulty of The Loan Ciityr .Ire - eft:v.—l believe, Mr. Scarlet', the finding persons to speak the truth, says. " In the reign of Augustus, I Hardy was the poet who made that experhnent. there were not wanting persons who could tell truth—there Mr. Seentscr I. end Milton also, my Lord. lie essayed an were many bright geniuses, but adulation prevented them."— imitation of Horace's ate in that style, commencing— Snell that lie said too in this country ? Shall a Jury sanction it? "(Juts molts gradles to pun in nese Patusu, liquidis," , lie fervently hoped there would be found no record of such a Southey introduced George 111. at the gates of heaven. He alms venlict. lie would concede, that if any man write respecting • introduced the persons of the Deviltry, which perhaps it had ban deceased monarch, with a view to insult the existing monarch, it is better not to introduce. Wilkes, Junius. and Washington "Of 'cri iii inal, and ought to be punished ; and if the defendant has done the persons in the original poem. This vision was sere from the so, he would convect to a verdict against him. But that is not so. If hill of Skiddaw, in C berland, where the Poet !Aureate mode% all the virtues of his piedecessor were stated as a contrast to insult . The most striking similarity prevailed in even page, on that ao the living monarch, it wombl be criminal also. 11y learned mistake could arise as to the intention of the writer. winch was Friend has said that this prosecution proceeds, not from the Crown t expose the laureate, whose poetry he coneidered as dull. vapid, awl it was not advised by his v inisters ; he called it an effusion of stupid. He recommended the Jury not to be too'eritical on the his subjects, of certain individuals who had erected themselves into lines of a poet, The sporting of the imaginattuo ought not to be the character and station of State Nome-units. On political events dealt with too severely. What would they think of such a hue se it was nut for him to dwell ; but he could net forbear from &eking this, in Milton to wl was the memory of his late Majesty dearest—by whom "ln the prison of his tyranny we are doomed." was it held in the highest veneration ? Surely, to these Ministers No 'meth% surely amuse Milton of impiety. He only pointed who now surround the King; fur they are the same persons whom to tt e t ' sn l ine to chew the danger of scanning poetical words and the late King raised to power. There is not one of them wbo has phrases with too match nicety. It was strange that the oily hum not read this book, for it was not designed fur the vulgar end int- which might be cekellimed to disp:-...e his remit Mltially. IMO terate ; it can only be underetood by men of education and letters. emitted in the indictment. The lines were three :--- This is indeed forbearance rare and unceampled The Attorney- " Except that homachold your, most unorantraos, f incest, who may be supposed to be the best judge of such a mit.) Of constancy toe had ugly woman." ter, has sot noticed it. It was not because he had not noticed it Pion the illusion contained in these lines to events that were knows that he called for their verdict; but he inferred from this mimeo's to them, some objection-pay be made ; but none other la the to notice it, that no man of letter, of education, no statesoon, no hook could he said to afar, ia any degas, to the proms Rine, ~~■~ i 1 ii I ~~ I 11 I