The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1819-12-07 00:00:00

MI 14ci‘Ci‘' g i l k"T Cent Air, L, s 41 11A1 Oa tufloapa ) 51 * t 4 NUMBER 5304. 14v LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7. 1,419. Pai( e 74. CUUKT (rl , ' COMMON COUNOL. which they immediately prure►ded to the noose with the saine.—Tm• Rrsofutions see Atfrerfisenteet.) The Court took into ronsiderliton a Report from the Gresham Committre, in resitiret rehtri , tholg the lower of the Royal Exchange. sod agreed ihith the same. Yesterday n Court was held, for the purpose of consider. ing of a Petition to Parliament, against the impending mew. 11111 , 4 proposed in the five new Bill.. The LORD MAYOR entered the Court at twelve oclock. Flavin( Liken lIIN seat, and enough Memlwrs bring p r. sent to form a Court, he directed that the hominess should proceed, recommending the Members to Asians from per sonalitira, and conduct themselves in a manner becoming the importance of the aubiect In I.e discussed. Mr. S. 111 XOR complained of being taken by surprise, as to the time of the meeting._ . _ IMPARIAL PABLIAME T. HOUSE OF LORDS, Momtv, DECEMDISR 6. The Hon. Captrin Edward Fox Fitzgerald, soil his sisters, the Misses Pamela and 1.. Fitzzerald, childrca of the late lord Edward Fitreetald, appenied at the bar, accompanier! by Lord 1161.11.41%1). mad took the oaths of allegiance, seiner otary, and abjuration, in vonfurmity with the Act pared in the last Cession Gf at fur removing the attainder flum the family. I.nrd strtmovill laid on the table accounts sheering the number of infurmattoor tiled by the Attorney-General, sad of indictments found during the years ISIS and 1819, with the proceedonrs had thrreun and the dates thereof.—Order ed to be print..l. 1.11-ASPHEMOUS AND SEDITIOUS • Mr FAVELi. 3rlmitnishetl the Gentleman against prueok ine a debate nu that !titbit er. The Report •f the Committee appointed to consider the prosecution* ordered by a tzelect C ~,,, mime of the Court of Aldermen, against Alderman Waithinau, Mr. Hum, and others. was read ; it r6eontnirniled the Court of Common Council to May all further prucecdiusa, and refuse the 'a rmies already incurred. . . _ . . Dlf SPECIAL DESIRE. AND ENDER TBF. MATE PATRONAGE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PEINCE LEOPOLD. TIINA'rfrE w•r IL. DRCRY-LANN. THIS P.VENING. TUESDAY. Div. 7. hi s Majesty`, berw.atis will prrfurm lbs Com* a WILD OATS OR, THE STROLLING GENTLEMEN. Sir Geary. ?bander, Mr. Dnaiton ; Raver, Mr. Ellisann p ar ty Thunder, Mr. Fraley; Rank.. M e . Pnveli ; J,dtu Dory . Y: r ./lathe; Farmer Garnmon. Mr. Meredith; Lamp, Ay r . Kirke; Ephraim Smooth, Mr. Standen; Sim. Mr. S n icht; filet, Mr. Coveney. Lady Amaranth, Mrs. W. West ; Antelia, Mrs. KlitAht ; Jane, Mies Kelly. To which will be edited, the Magical Farce of THE TURNPIKE GATE. Sir Edward Dishaway, Mr. Barnard; Henry Bluet, Mr. T. Coolie; Crack, Mr. :Vanden ; Maier: Mint:lain, Mr. Knight Pray, Mrs. Deicer ; Mai y, MI , . Cabot. Boxes ; Second Price as. 64.—Pit as. ad. ; Screed Price fe.—Lower Gallery 2a.; Secutrd Price IL—Upper GAery 1. ; Seemed Price ad. To morrow the Tragedy of Macbeth, with What Next! On ThoorrA, lior Opera of The Siegrillitle. • THEATRE-MOYAL, COVENT-GA lIDEN. r s EVENING. TUESDAY, Dec. 7, will be acted llw Opera of GUY MANNERING. Mmanering, Mr. Abbott; Hear! Bertram, Mr. Da so I ',mini, Sampson, Mr. Liston; Dandle Diamoni, Etrery ; Dirk Hattrritick, Mr. Lower. Lucy Bertram, Ms,s M. Tree; Julia Manacling, Miss Matthews; Mrs. iki`f.tmilislo, Mrs. Davrupurt Meg Merrities, Mrs. Yates. - - - Mit r which special desire of the Duke and Duchess of Kent}, the iblrlu-drams of THE MILLER AND HIS MEN. .....- Griaduir, Mr. Farley; 0111101 Fredrrirk Friberg, Mr. fen. nor ; Nail, Mr. Blanchard; Intkair, Mr. Abbott. Claudine, rooir; Laurel', Mrs Cerri. Ruses 7s. ; Second Prier 3s. Gd —Pit 34. 6.1.; Srrond Price 'N.—Lower Gallery Is.; Second Price Is.—Cpper Gal lery 1..; Second Price 64. On Saturday, first time. a new Historical Tragedy, called ny Stuart, Queen Scotland: Earl of Lek-ester, Mr. 11 , •eres1y ; Mary Stuart, Miss Macaulry, her first appear ance at this Theatre. ► E QUA RTERIS REVIEW, No. XLIII. will be PUBLISHED tin SATURDAY. O.: January 1, 1821/, will be published, by BALDWIN, CRA DOCK, and JOY, THE LONDON MAGAZINE. No. I. A Work, to be continued Monthly, which is Weed. id to combine the Principles of sound Philosophy in Qat*. of TaPer, Murals. and Polities, with the Enteitaisiment mot ntiscellsseuus Information expected from a Public Juktru3l. SUAKSPEAROS COMEDY OF ERRORS. This day is published, YVIJF COMEDY OF ERRORS; with Alte. IL ration*, and the lotriwhictioo of Suggs, Duets. Glee., Chinese•, &e. selected from the Ploys, Situeis. and Purina of Shokiipeare, as now performing at the Theatre-Royal, Cutest-garden. Feinted for Sampson Low, 42, Lamb's Conduit-street, prier 4.. 6d. TWO FIRST PRIZES £lO,OOO EACH. WIFT and Co. ret 1111 l d shesr Friend. and the 175 Public ' that the Last Day of Drawing is THURSDAY NEXT. the 91h of December, when every Ticket now ost bale will be drawn. _ _ _ The Wheel contains, besides other Prizes, SIX of .e-20.000, TWO of which MUST, and ALL the SIX way be drawn oust 111.4 day. Ticlots and Shares, warranted undrawn, are selling at tbra 4 qfiCet-- Nu, 11, POULTRY; I 31, ALDOATC HIGH -12, Citantao-nitnits STREET. SWIFT and Cu. in the present ■nd recent Lotteries, hare bad the satisfaction of sellior uue nr mure Capital Pi 'zee earls Drawling, including 9,236, a 20,0001. and 690, a 30,000! BRIDGES, M•voa. A COMMON COUNCIL, holden in the CHAMBER of taw GUILDHALL of the CITY of LONDON, on MONDAY, the Bth Day of Oteecober, 1819; RESOLVED, rroiAT Petition, be pre.eitted to both Houses of Parliament, representing, that this Cord has learnt with apprelsepsion and regret, that measures subver sive of our free Constituti aaaa have been submitted to Par liament, by the Mini of the Crown, on the pretext of conspiracy for the destruction ufall Religion, Government, and Propi rty, within the Realm. For the detest of so monstrous a design, did we believe in tt reality, we should be most anxious to employ all the ,:revs that we possess; but, while such an alarm rests ro,tily upon unauthenticated or anonymous statements, atrtch have been submitted to no investigation (however von , ‘ti.nanced by the turbulent ronilitet and inflammatory 'sidings of some misguided or evil-minded men), we can not perceive the necessity of any abridgment of our I. Lei t ars. Deeply lamenting the prevalence of discontent, we hum bly recommend to Parliement, as its only proper care, a %Meyer and 1 endeavorsr to remove all just ground of complaint; and, eensible of the incoevenieneies arising from frequeett large assemblagev, and from the want of respect and affictiou twin - rem the Magistracy and the people, we re spectfully submit that a Coustouti 4444 al Remedy weight be found in the establishment of a due Repiesentation, and liberal itemicipal C:onsiltutiuns, azreeable to the elicited misty and analogy of our Government, fur those places in which popithelion bas extensively accumulated, but which du nut yrt eitioy them. tt e fully participate in the disgust excited by some late plottications hostile to the Christian Religion and the public Iw•re; yet, a% they immhdiaurly became alit objects of ge-, urral desesuatiom and could have been at once submitted In the judgment of the Laws; and as they hear an infinite-1y salad proputtion to these productions which are favonrabk to littowledge, viriur, and relieson, they seem to us to af. lord nu retro° for subj. (tine the Press to enactments calcu lated to I• all who are co:met-red with it—to destroy its freedom—mid to prohibit stone of its most useful labours. tit• trust, there fore, th■t at a tiene when we anxiously ra per:ea aw 18448088608 into transarliOns which home recrui t), relied forth an expression of gt areal theapprobatime, sad heriu•d fur sack a Retlrces of Grievances, and Reform of A 1,,.,., 84 aright allay the irritated feelings alba People, Parliament will not hastily, and without inquiry, dewing the prevalence of an unfounded or exagterated alarm, pan Lass nu account of a partial and temporary evil, tending perms oeoily and universally to afl,rl the liberty of ilw subject, and to produce increased irritation, e bile Ilwy sit inefficient as to the purposes fur which they are designed. Should, however, some measures be thought necessary fur she preservatirm of the politic peace, we eansemly en treat that Parliament aid 841,.111 484 - 11 only as shall be It witted in their exlellt 884 duration ; end that its next care mas le, to reject the 11.4priale censtsels of those Am would ✓efuse all CuliCess . ,to apply itself to the effectual correc tion of those abuses and rickets a hob have gisea rise to the pievalling dimuntent. WOODTHORPE Sir S'. , w. RAWLINS Mimed the adoption of the Resolution fur stint pnfpose recommended by the Committee. Mr Dimon thought. that the teestion involved in the roweetations might to be set at rest, and that the gentlemen ',enameled ought to he anxious for its decision, particularly as they p.orergell to be so fortified in iunuctuce, Mr. ()Lomas', as a Member of the Committee. stated, Ott the C mince were all of opinion flpt the snestion should be set at rest, but that the measuk . s propoied• for that purpose were so mined with politic4viangos and per sonal pique, that they imagined that the only eflitt of them would be to create irreconcilahle animosities birween the three branches of the Corporation. The question itself might be tried under an order of the Cubit, as • frivol' question, without personal prosecution; or a Court might he specially held, calling to evidence I g o opinions, sill: consulting peer...dews, or legal opinion /Milt be lakeu on a care agreed Sr. by a Committee. Ald.rmatt I.Vatenstait did not cure whiti they did with She question as it regarded himself, where thej tried it, or how. If the intention had been merely to try the question of right of th-litseration in the Common Mill at Miehoelmag, ur soy other time generally occupied in business of course, it would Lave been easy to settle it by going into that very question, and calling for iwecedents mid legal opinions. As it was, abating their vindictiveness, the proceedings were all Mr. T. N. WILLIAMS lamented the variances among the three branclirs of the Corporation, and disarproved of the proceedings. He was out with the worthy Alderman (Width- man) in politics, but he had honesty enough to declare, 'hot it was an injustice done that Gentleman in the proceedings to mingle his name with that of Hunt, when it was knowu that he would scorn to speak to Hunt. The probable effect of the prosecutions would be to excite acrimony iu the minds (tithe persons sued, and induce them to adopt systematic opposition to the measures of the Court. The Report was received, and ordered to be laid before the Court of Aldermen to-morrow (this day). Mr. AILILI presented a Petition from the Ward of Crip plegate.Within ; it recommended that • sum of money should be voted out of the City funds; and. 2dly, that the Court should witlidsaw the prosecutions above surutioned. Alderman ATLINa wished to know what description of persons from Manchester litsi applied to the Ward to make this application to them' Sr Mr. Assoc replied, that it was the spoutaneons feeling of the Ward. Similar Petitions had been frequently presented. He could shelter himself by asuseromi precedent's. Alderman Amore was astonished at the fear and alarm evinced at the prosecutions. Juries were huuest, and nu good man need dread inquiry. He would not say that he was a good patriot—(Near, hear)—because if he itid he would out be belicred.—(Lord cherrs.)—Bat he bad wirer deprived any Englishman of bus rights. Mr. OLDHAM differed entirely from the Petitioners. The Court had Hsu money for such objects as they recomosensled. lie was astonished, however, at the observations of the worthy Alderman (Atkins). His (Mr. Oldham's) friends were, indeed, nut afraid of prosecution, but the charge had been got up in secret—the evidence prepared its secret, and the worthy Alderman himself was at the bottom of it. As In his declaration that lie had deprived no Englishman of his rights, the transactions on which those prsoiecut were founded, would never have taken place but fur the denial of the worthy Alderman to convene a Hall.—(Hear, hear.)—Most of the evils which thee raided the country, would have been entirely avoided but fur such comfort. The danger of public meetings, which he would readily admit, had been greatly aggravated by the difficulties thrown io the way of meetings of legitimate bodies. Alderman WAITIIMAN wished to reply to the extraordi. nary notioss put forth by Alderman Atkins. By his ques tion it would he supposed that the sabring and killing the people of Manchester was of no importance to use people at large. The Lotto Mayon again personalities. Alderman WAITRILIN said, if he did not labour under the greatest delusion, be was only making a fair statement of the Alderman's (Atkins) argument. Now, be insisted ou it, that whenever, or wherever, lives were lust, without expulpatory or expiatory proceedings following thereon, there was an injury dune In every subject in the Stale. As to the other notion of the Alderman, that it was the nature of innocence to seek inquiry, his answer was, that the Com mime directing the prosecutions was a secret nue, that the evidence was ex-parte, that the testimony might (yen be perjured, that every thing in the shape of defence was put down, and the proffered testimony of an officer of the Cuurt refused. He thought such a trial as this, with the chance of having some hundreds of pounds, were more than the in uncence of any man should be called ou to encounter, merely to ascertain the nature ■nd extent of the right of the Livery to deliberate in Common Halls not Epeeist!), eon. versed. As to the boast of the Aid. Elnan, that he had de prived no Englishman of his right, what did he call the re. focal to convene the Livery to petition Parliament ? That was a right expressly insisted on is Magna Charts as an an cient anti inshenable right. Had not the Worthy Alderman also prevented the Livery from petitioning against the im position of three miliions of taxes? Yet this was a viola. ttuu of the Bill of Rights. Mr. CROOK, in reply to the boast of the Worthy Alder man's (Atkins), of nut having deprived ally one of his sight., begged leave to inform him, as he (Atkins) bad nut heard the minutes of the last Court read, that Hoy con tained a vote of censure on bim fur depriving the Livery of their rights doting Lis Mayoralty.--(Chetiv.) The Petiti &&&& was then received. Mr, FAVILL moved that the requisition should be read on which the Court had been etinveued. The requ oo n bring read, Mr. FA vet.t. roar again. Hewes bound, in common with the avoillauee of the Court, to thank Ins Lordship for the handsome readiness with whit la he had c.,mplied with the wishes of the citizens. He hoped fur such indulgence and 'Motion from the Court as was becoming the gravity and inoportance of the subject be should invite them to. The Resolution and Petition were so drawn, that be hoped fur the support of all parties to it who protesved to feel 11111161.1111 fur the liberties awl wel fare of their country. The rri‘is we were •pproaching was late Scylla and Charybdis. He nemensbercd Horne Tooke myPig, that he would prefer the temporary porgmory of anarchy, to the everlasting hell of desputirin. He (Mr. F ) hoped we were not reduced to such au alternative, though the vise of the country was erty much like it. He should, burever, in such n cam adopt She same op• • as Mr. Tooke. He complained of she partieulara atized sip with she prom coition of his friend Alderman Waithlualst especially that of coupling him with Hunt. Hr (Mr. F) hail been at she Home at some religious meeting, and sat by the side of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; as well might it he 'recreated from thence, that lie was a Ministerial mull. He would come, however, to a snore momentous subject— the rights of the citizens. as they were likely to lie affected by the 11,11 s pealing in Parliament. He defied any one to pot his finger on Rosy resolution of that Court, Paling to invite a hrearh of the peace, or countenancing, in any de. grec, sedition.. or blasphemous writings. It haJ always been contended there, that thou, large county meetings were altogether improper and inischieviiiis; they were gene rally attended by spies and imprinripled arch-hes, who made Treasonable speedier., and caused *ifs to he ascribe., wills inflammatory mottoes. Rot were Englishmen therefore to abandon their Eights and relimpluh those valuable laws prepared fur them by their S:11•011 microbus ? Were the de scendants of Alfred to what the tyravit's plea of neces sity, and mstrer themtlirpation of Ow ir liberties, enjoyed fur PO many ag.s? The mean., tOr remedying du evil of la multuous assemblies acre already prepar, it in 1•34,14 0f,1111.6, boroughs, and twmhes ; but 110 care had hero [alien to ',cure similar opportunities for plates ttf growing import ance in population and trade. He sod tricot's had hero no anuncing the approach of that tvi I of molt it sidinun• meetings for years in that Coact and Halt The mare fur it, however, which the Gus...runlet.* 04/1 aillyisf i 4 would de. May insulate altogether. He then took iv -view of the new 831 s. In respect to that for the searchiag Its truss., NI that it would out be accommoird„ as it Isliss in the stoke country, with flaming. He had Mein in the inlay, and re tained still an old sword which lie Ikea wore. He should be happy to dispose of it, list souse informer, such as bad avrornuo the Intended Aring of the City before Alderman Atkins, al Id - swear that he had a cellar full of arum An other subject of treat i'Mportance was the Rill to regulate meetings. It 11/101 straps* to understand she provisions of the Hills ; but if he understood this one at all, a Magistrate and a spy,,slarig..in concert, might pat down soy meeting whalorievel% afrti he considered peculiarly and highly dangernito, both in its ireni.'di ire effects and their cuosequences. What hut the (rotators, with which Englishmen had been habilitsteil to th dare theeeselves on public questions had saved the country ? Take away the right of meeting, sod discontent must then have retonrre to secrecy; perhaps, like the Gentlemen opposite, the people might for a while take to tart re, meeting.; bnl in the cod, dissatisfaction, thus compressed, would les,l to disalfecti 4444 , and from thence to sedition, treason, and private conspiracy, till trenchery and the stiletto would become as fashionable an in the most debased countries. Magna charts and the Bill of Rights in an esperi ii manner secured the right of meeting to petiliou for redress of grievances. Thr soeihi- Intion of this right, which was almost eon:prised in the new Bill, put him in mind of lur' saying of a great lawyer, who, when King William observed to him, "You are growing old," replied, " Yes, amyl if your Majesty had not come user when you did, I should have outlived the Cuinititiiiion it. self." Tbitnext subject if his consideration would be the libertrof Ithe•Pralss. • There seemed to he but one opinion on the freilifkift‘stnitiereligions writings lately put forth. No . _ • . - - era had eiteetreen so distinguished for a zealous spirit for propagating Christianity, nu, not even the period Of the Re. formation. lie rejoiced at it ; it proved that Christianity was founded on a reek, and th at " the gate" of hell shall nut prevail against It." Rut the mischief of the new Rills was, that:they would tend to restrain the publication of the gond, which ought to be spoken full as touch as the bad, which ought to be kept back. Adverting to the molly calls made by himself and Winds (or so many years past fur some urea. anrea of reform, and the pertinacity with which they had al ways been oppostirrin that Court, he wondered wit it reply their opponents could-make to Minn now,afit r Sir 11.1.opcs had (seen fined 10,0001. fur the practice of that bribery and corruption which had been so stonily deuied to exist at all. He trusted that sentence would be a lesson to those gentlemen who put the safety of the Constitution in the denying that any •husee existed, and its opposing all attempts at reform. Ile considered the Court of Cummins Council as peculiarly fitted for deliberating un the impending mea sures. He then read the Petition. Mr. Tagt.tot rose to second it, as it was moderate and judicious. The question was one not of party interest, but important to all. The moire of the prevailing discontent was distress ; obis led to conduct which alarmed many good end wise men. But they ought to take rare how they safer cd their alarm to lead them to support measures which even the proposers would probably soon be brought to regret the adoption of. 'There was great misrepresentation and miscon ception of those discontents ; the story of a general con spiracy to destroy all governments and institutions be cook) not believe. Unmitigated Atheism was said to exist in the country. Where? he asked. There had been evidence., indeed, of some irreligious practices and publications, but this was a useless exaggeration. It was not, however, the first time that Government bail had recourse to exaggerated statements for the purpose of abridging the public rights. The latter roil of the reign of the Stuarts was distinguished by these practices: plots were got up and false information procured to enable the Govern ment to reduce the rights of the people, till at length the Tories joined with the Whigs in expelling that wretched family from the throne. Without any new laws, there were restrictions and powers enough is the old ones fur any evils now existing. There was besides the reformation of abuses, which would do much to allay discontent. A reform in the Parliament would be useful fur that purpose, which might yet be carried on according to the most jealous spirit of the Conslitlitios against innovation. The influence of the House of Peers user the election of Commoners might he re duced in strict eonsoisaiire with the direction of the Consti tution expressed on that subject. The right of meeting was no old as the Constitution itself. The right of arms hearing fur private defence was guarasteed by the Bill of Rights. The liberty of the Press had always proved to be the greatest support of morals and religion. The turbu lence of public meetings might be almost as great as was represented, but the benefit of them was far bevoisd soy thing which could arise from their abuse. The abolition of the Slave Trade was brought shout by them; might they nut to be ettlltions as to passing a Bill which should prevent such persons as hlr.Wilbc rforre from attendiug different meetings in the country to assist a cause au interesting as that tptestion was to humanity ? The meetings most complained of were those called is places uot represented. Why then not apply the ancient remedy of representation ? It was by far the best security of the Constitution. He concluded by metal:ril ing the motion. Mr. S. Dilon spoke at some length against the Resolu tions. Mr. JANIS followed on the same aide; he did not object to the prayer or the form of the Petition, but he consideied that the effort* of the Court, coming after She weighty deli. beratioua of the two Houses, were like those of a pigmy after a giant. Mr. PEAVOOM replied to the two previous speakers. 1 Blackstone bad defined an Englishman's rights to consist of personal security, personal liberty, and the insev ity of pris vale property. The defence of the first was piacesl in the Cools, of Law ; of the second in the right of petitioning the Legislature ; of the third in the right of keeping arms for his own defence. lie then proceeded to shew bow much the impending Bills would impair those rights. Aft. r a speech of some length against the new measures, to which the Court listened with each attentions, be concluded by supporting the Itemlotions. r. JUPP supported the itesolutions. Mr. Cuog sit objected to them, and Mr. Fevet.t, replied. The Rrsulntioua and the Petition were finally agreed to upon a division, by a majority of 15, there appearing— Fur the Resolutions--Aldersmu, 4; Commoners, 75; Tellers, 2.—Total, Against them-..-lord Mayor, 1; Aldermen, 5; Com moners, 56 ; Tellers, 2.—Total, 06. The Resolittions were ordered to he advertised, lad the Sherif, attended by the Remembrancer, directed to pretest the Petition to the House of Counoeus forthwith, twins LIBELS. Lord Si DMOVTII -1-e to mote the second reading of the Bill tor ilie inure effectual prevention and pnnishmettt of blasphemous and seditious libels. The title of the Bill, olieerved the Noble Viscount, expressed its object, which was to check as far as possible the dissemination of such libels as tended to lortug into contempt the religion of the country ✓od she institutions on which the Government was established. It was proposed for the attainment of this purpose, to give the Court of King's Bench ■ di,erettititary powt r to visit with increased severity of punishment the crime of libel tit cases of is se could colivieitoo, extending even► to banishment and transpurtotion, It was not intended to inter fere with the laws as they stow stood, so far itS they related to a first coriviction, but the licentiousness of the press had increased to Poch a degree that un less some metros were adopted for checking a repe tition of an offesice so injurious to society: the worst cosisequerices might be apprehended. With these general observations, lie should now content himself with moving the second reading of the Bill, reserving to himself the right, if he found it siecessery, of again addressing the House during the course of the evening. Lord ERSKINE complained of the reserve of the Noble Viscount in not entering specifically into the provisions of his measure, and exploitong its neces sity, character, and principles, instead of waiting for a more advanced period of the debate. He complained also t h at the preamble of the Bill was no less reserved than the Noble Lord in expressing the necessity of such an enactment. Instead of stating any mischief that required the interference of Parliament, or chewing how the existing laws were insuff►cient, it coldly recited, Whereas it is expedient." This was an important defect which was tort supplied by the Noble Secretary. It fell to him, therefore, to apprise their Lordships that the Bill related both to blasphemous and to sedi tious libels, two offences totally and essentially dif ferent. In blasphemy there were no shades or degrees of guilt. None but a wicked man could write i blasphemous libel, but a writing which it may please an Attorney-General to call a seditious writing, might be composed by a moral and hottest man, a frieltd to social order, and a firm supporter of the Gave 11111 l ent in the proper a:•ceptation of the term. Were the present Bill calculated to repress blasphemy the whole country would vote for it, and no one could be more forward its support. log it than the individual addressing their Lordships. The crime of blasphemy was the moat revolting, as it was the most cruel injury that could he inflicted. Look to the poor man sur rounded by his infant family, having perhaps no bread to ►till the clamouring* of their hunger— even lie has still a hope and consolation, founded on religion, which bi‘ls him look to a blessed futu. rity, when lie shall be greater than the greatest, and happier than the happiest upon earth. How dreadful was it to break in upon his store of comfort, and deprive him of the only consolation of which the severity of fortune had not bereaved him! But he affirmed, from the great experience of a lung professional life, that the present Bill was not eslculated to deter the blasphemer, and that the object which they all had in view, would be best attained by a rigorous enforcement of the law now tit operation.—(Near, hear.)—ln confirmation of this opottoit, lie informed the House that when► he fist came to England, and, indeed, when lie first went to the bar, there was a species of publications almost as injurious in its nature, and perhaps more difficult no repress, in extensive cir colation—lie meant obscene prints and writings. They were as prevalent at that tune in Eng land, and were sold as freely as they are now on the Boulevards. or in the Pubis &gale of Paris. The Society for the Suppression of Vice under took to put them down with the existing law, as sisted wily by subsctiptioris from private indivi dusk among whom the late Bishop of London was mot( einineilt, and they completely succeeded. Of this he was well apprised, for he represritted the Society fur a considerable time in the Court of King's Bench. With this example before lino,, was lie not justified in asking why the Attorney- General dirt tint endeavour, by the same means, to repress bl ►sphemosta and vtrlitusts publications ? No such exertions had in fact hero made, for either no prosecutions whatever were instituted, or the select of objects was badly and injudiciously made. A prosecution was commenced against I lime, fur a kind of mongrel production, half. blasphemous, half-seditious, and Hone was ac quitted, be would not say whether justly or un justly, fur beisi acquitted by a Jury of his coun try, it was ion tor him again or try him. Ile ob served, that when the Act of Habeas Corpus was suspenthd, the Age of Beason was in circulation, and yet WI attempt was made to suppress it. But in None's case no count was inserted in the indictment changing I with► • sectitiour libel, yet to the parody on the Litany there was a passage to this effect--" 0 Borusighruongering I House of Commons, proceeding from all impurity and uncleanness, have mercy noon us !". If a charge of .editious libel were e rounded aim this. he c4oriti f envy an advocave otbin smog a Jury of II honest men , and saying. that ilo. IFuu.r of CUM.' Mona, so constituted and calumniated, oaf the very House of Conning's th a t we ...A t h e 13,11 o f Bi g h t . ; that it Was this very House of Commons, so doom:- toted and so calumniated. that passed the Act of Halms Corpus; that it was tins very House of Commons, an constituted mud so calomideird, that passed the Libel Law, under which you, Gentlemen of the Jury, now exei cow. your prisilrges, and %licit you must be careful not to 'those, and while this House of Commons retuning a part of the Legisla. lure, it is entitled to your protection. If mine such append were mode to any It honest men its the coun try, he could not but think that it would I , e ,,v e suc crssfol. The present Bill can:awed a dense moth*. rising the seizure of the offending ptiblicsiion after verdict, but it contained not it word about a new trial : so that a man might hr resonate, in July or August, aid not have an opportumty of wing for • new trial until tile fvllnwiv.g November, sod to the mean time he was deprived of Ins property. fie team ked, that, in the case of the Demo of St. Asaph, a conviction was oloairied—yet, when • motion was made for arrest of judgment, after two Counsel were heard to prove tue libel, 1 (said Lord Erskine) ruse to argue that the facts proved did out constitute a libel ; but Lord' Matisfiolti told me that I need not give myself troy trouble, and the motion was granted. The Noble Lord alluded briefly to Mr. Stockdale's cow. and then obseuted, that the measure now proposed, instead of checking libels, would rather tend to eneounnee ilietn—for if the people felt no confidence in PArliainent. owl saw that they Were in danger of losing their birth right of freedom, they must look to some way of emleavouring to maintain it by expressing their opinions. If he were to advise the people how they were to act, lie would say, give up your will 'lotions of universal suffrage and mutual townsmen's. which must bring ruin upon your country, stick to your present Constitution, and if y 460 unite firmly, and express your op• ms.sternigiy, it will be int possihle to affect the integrity of your freedom. In a low and rather indistinct tone of voice the Noble Lord spoke of the seizure of Ilarriugton's Uceasa by Cromwell, slid of the application made in favour of Harrington by his daughter to the daughter of the Protector. On that occasion Crom well magtienimuusly exclaimed, that if his Govern. merit were fit to stand, it could not he affected by paper shots. The best mode, he affirmed, of repress. lug blasphemous and seditious libel,, was to - exert the force of the existiog laws, which would be Garold sufficient, fur every repetition of • libel was an aggravation of the offence, mid if soy to dividual were desirous of trying his strength with the existing laws, he would in the end find himself mistaken.—(lfear.) The Earl of HA RROWNY observed, that he could collect from the Noble Lord his intention of votritg ageing the law, although he must confess that lie could not discover in his speech one urgument from which that intention could he fairly inferred. The Noble and Learned Lord commenced by say ing, that there existed a great difference between blasphemy and 'sedition. This no man could deity ; but when the Learned Lord declared that in phemy there were no shades of distinction, no de grees of guilt, he could not assent to his doctrine, and he would appeal to all who heard hiin whether their Lordships did not discover the utmost diver. sits/ in the publications which now inundated the, country ? The alarming increase of these unbhca. lions it was that demonded increased energy on the part of the Legislature, but no increased *evenly of punishment was threatened, except in case of second conviction. He admitted that a repetition of the offence at present called for an aggravating of punishment; • term of imprisonment might Le extended, or a fine may be increased; but nulrsa the quality of the punishment was altered, the ob ject of prevention would not be folly accernpliehett. tie contended that they who proposed the mentor of correcting the shines of the press were the best friends of its liberty ; they only pruned its licen tiousness to secure its eternity. The Marquis of LA NIIDOWN commenced by ob serving, that he was prepared to admit the net:nail of correcting the licentiousness of the press, and of devising new measures for this purpose if the exist. lug laws were insufficient But what iufortnatiors had been given to them to prove their insufficiency, and, above all, to thew the necessity of applying to a misdemeanor • punishment hitherto anitexed to a felony ? lie was sure their Lordships would not be led away by the vulgar notion entertsitred by persons out of doors, who, from the moment they were aware of the existence of any mischief, thought no punishment, however great, unfit to be applied for its corre • : but their Lordship.. practised in legislutiun , knew how important laia the questiors of regulating the quid iy of the puoisli ment by the nature of the offence. How could they then, without miry assurance that the eitis!mg laws had been fairly tried. with evert the certaot knowledge now on their table, that for a long pc- . riod of tone the laws lusti not been put in force, send that not until late in tOIB were any prosecution, commenced—how could they courent to adopt nen laws. and effectually to change the character of a MOM important branch of our criminal jurispra. deuce? The clearacter of the law or libel, as given by Mr. Justice Blackstotte, was that of mildness sod mercy, but that it dealt etfectutitiy with this particular chow of offences. He re marked, that the punishuseirt of tratniportatiou was wholly inapplicuble to this kind of offence. that it was in itself unequal. and Was partici). lady inappropriate when applied to these indi viduals who were most likely to compose eveh writings as would be termed Isbellaas , Ti ,e threat of so severe a punishment against such, • class of persona would revolt the minds of Jurors. and preveut them from convicting ea individual, shell They were aware that ley colovicting him thwy would probably consign pins to this extravagantly