The Sun. — London, England, 1829-12-22 00:00:00

the - . • • ew:woes contained in that paragraph applied to do Chancellor arid the Solicitor-General. Ou what did lett faunri that belief? It could but apply to th em , f or t a ki ng the p a r ag r a ph i n t p general sense, and •also qualified by the ter.n " Learned Cati et. it did t ). I to any other person in the an no al" .. 414 'it application did you make of it ? know th a t I exact l y un d erstan d your ques ti on . j•th'• Alexander—l mean, what did you understand the P „. 4ra gjaPhto . impute, what charge did you think it can against the Lord Chancellor? saying that it referred to the appoint Kent of a - 11 - -C appointment is vested in the Crown ; .o:•°".intnerfliii was in the Cabinet ; and although PP" , rnment is vested in the Crown, yet that a Law t would never be appointed without the advice of the Chsneellor, who was best calculated to know the ilea of the person to be appointed. 1) ° 04 your Lordship conceive that there is not any other dher in th e C a bi net to w hi c h i t wou ld lat h er app l y t "ll in to the Lord - Chancellor ? know that no person could be appointed without u lting the Lord Chancellor, as to who is the fittest v" .. „‘on fo r the offiee, and it would he his duty to conanu luaatetuelt information to the Crown. . :11 . - exambied by Mr. Guiteev—l rather think that the 'Prhaei Pal -point of the question is what imputation your `"hip considered-the mention of 30,000/. to convey nrou44, the Lord Chancellor ? atnierstood that it conveyed the imputation that the d 'Cltancelior hail been induced, by the luau of 30,000/., 'Le.°l°ml the Solicitor-General to -the office. .. 1' d Holla n d sworn an d e x a mined by the Arroamtv - 111a41 ---Did your Lordship hear Mr. Bellamy read Paragraphs eontaiaing the libel? - • T o whoM does your Lordship think the worda " other —.rued Personage" apply ? 111 My Lord Chancellor. 1, Alexander declined asking the Noble Lord any - 9 1 1eita tnik. aa il liato Courtenay, Esq., M. P., sworn, and examined r ‘ tar. Atnxeson. • "%k have heard the paragraph in the beginning? ' . 'i t i -4.42t te- iince -read it "shortly after its publicatiora and also read To ;limas ' does the term, " other Learned Personage" ?. I L-' al threered'at the time I read it, that it was meant to l'ar to th e L or d Chancellor, and I am confirmed by read - That is your present opinion? 'that is my present opinion. lir- Alexander also declitted asking this witness any ( Poeiti ans. Williew Aston' Esq. M.P., examined by the ATTORNEY beIiew, Sir, you are Chairman to the E mat I CO W pww ? am Deputy . Chairman at present. 1 .) " 1 you read the piraeraph in question ? have read it, certainly. : * tat ,.. r ° Whom do you believe, may I ask, applies the impu • "441,. Mentioned in the p a ragraph? appeared to rue that the term " other Learned Per -4g e n could apply t o no o th er th an th e Lord Chancellor. e 1.4111% Abraha m RAerta, examined by the Scoactron „Raee—Have you read the paragraph which hes been 1 14":1e.this day, beginnin g with the words "Mr. Sugden ?" x l'9 Whom d 0... you conceive the term " other Learned 11"age6t when I read it on the day it was pul.lislied— me;.:l24 time I took in the Morning Journal—that it apply to the Lord Chancellor. ;41..4"j'" you still retain that opinion ? Unquestionably. e.„eja Coast, Esq. examined by Mr. GURNEY—Mr. yi'm are Chairman of the Middlesex Sessions, I be - I am. a. Have you read the paragraph in question ? I have. _4. o 'whorn, in your judgment, dors the imputation con ; 7 4 4 4 in that paragraph apply? : I'o the Lord Chancellor. i? 4 l4ir B. Richards, Esq., examined by the ATTORNEY' IXtRAL—Mr. Richards, will you allow me to ask if you r,,esd the prra;rapb in question? I have. AccOrdin . 'to your understanding of that paragraph, to mt, " dad you apply the imputation contained in it ? `-" th* Lord Chancellor. was the plaintiff's ease, ""- Pot.r.ocac then rose for the defendant, Mr. '`imtch. a He stated in the outset that he neither ape „ l e_Weed fo r M r . Fi s h er nor Mr. Alexander, only fur are t Gutch. He observed that it had always been "temsary in such cases to prove the publication of the fort it could be proved to I.e one, and he appre ambrhk. --that he should lie entitled to the verdict of ~..any 7 41 1 upon that ground. Ile 41i41 not mean to cast " In Putation on any one in the least degree. He did • I _ He4 ° to prejudice the defence that his Learned Friend A t ' '"arstow mig ht make fur his client, or that Mr. r t '- !t °der m i g h t make fur himself. But what he meant • itt ' teod was th a t his cli e nt must be entitled to a verdict, bade ground of there not being prima facie evidence against 1 4 : 1 a any participation in the publication. His n ed Frieud, the Attorney-General, as is usual in e i . 7 "t of this sett, had thouaht it right to say one word 4 4 t wo about the liberty of the Press. In his rued F, iend's panegyric be most cordially joined, 41 , e . did nut . so h . eartily coincide iu the neces °l arnerary interference in this, any more WD la other kinds of property. His Learned Friend had :,44 that th e lib er ty o f th e P ress was i m p or t a nt, in ord e r, ti,i tte term e d i t , to prune i ts l uxur i ance an d to c h ec k i ts licen ,22'nies. Il e truste d , h owever, t h at t h e J ury , i n t h e present L'" again s t M r . C atc h wou ld b e f ee li ng l y a li ve t o t h e be cgt'af the liberty of the Press. It had been well observed 14 11 ,Writer on th e C ons tit u ti on o f E ng l an d, w h ose wor d s ee - "eft, he might almost soy, embahn,d in the minds of • P o liticians—h e meant the words that were to be found 14 th e „ • th_ Letters of Junius"—that such was the value of et: Liberty of th e Pr e ss, that if, i n a d es p o ti c I .. llll trY where no law prevailed but the will of the Sove , 4 103 . th ere cou ld be found some sanctuary from which a rui tiu ients and opinions might issue, free from restraint, Z; u . 4 3 it were , un d er t h e sanct i on o f re li g i on , th a t such 44 'nl arid sentiments would of themselves establish , 1 ui -n e freedom in that state, by meeting with the sympathy enjoying the support of the people. In some cases he e0111 (1 rat V, Ut It a d m it- that arbitrary interference was neces p Fur instance, the right of the t.vo Houses of 4lianxent to commit for contempt, when their just Ithts are violated, arid also the right of a Court of L u e s t tie e to prev en t an y person froin disturbing order within. tile Jury consider the value of the liberty of the Press ii s l t e a tte hand, and probability of abuse on the other. Let 41 look a t th e a d van t age t h an d er i ve d f rom th e publica tte of men of genius and the records of past 'ls and of men of science and learning in all coun ty", and he believed there was no man but t a u t id feel that it was a privilege which ought ed t , Carefully presv. 'f he remarks of his Learn erel the Att e o r rn e e d y-General applied to encyclo te„tiu, as well as to toopsines and newspaper', to the oryearo, as well as of svhat occurs from day to - and th ey w o uld still further know the importance of e 3ttestion they had to judge. He did not know why a ii7laction. should be drawn bet Ween the propti t tors of •e 4r Y Productions, such as he had mentioned, and his bl/4 a nt, M r . G u t c h, th e proprietor of a newspaper. He .0 4 : 1 _ 14 produce circumstances from which, by the law of m( 1 . he ould ost certainly b e entitled to their ver ,. RC be ll eved re m r, because he should show that his ht d _ . t had nothing whatever to do with the iv• h 'ltion,—that he had nothing, in truth, to do the article,—that be was free from all inten- ILL' floral all blame, all malice, and all guilt. Knowing 11, 4 7 11 4 st is the law which relies on the truth and justice of r t , ir e4 u'e, he should rely with confidence on their decision, ta th t h had heard the evidence which he should present "°. ey He informed them...a-and he had no doubt his. 4°1'4,1' .14 • "P would confirm his opipion io his charge to 7 day,— p e Z:hF• was taken as prima facie evidence when unop i .444 be considered very di ff erently when oppose( tie"e"tradieted ; and if prima facie evidence was 4 1 opposition to it, the defendant would be hve,„" 44l , to an acquittal. A different doctrine had e t ia r • wou ld contend, was Ai ett d own since ; but that, he Jt4„.•eY to gnod "ewe, and every principle of late and t i:".7,* In -- support of life opinion, be would cite the case of Pal tiler : that ea: , .e was for 'the' pnblicatton re44:`,3gazine, (Sr something of the sort.' A more revert . ki„"wever, had occurred the other day—be meant t . a. e . Muiray. Both those caL - S warranted him in that it WM competent to a defendant to show that n "O'ing to do with the publication in question. It t h ea.r-ittr fed( evidence against him to prove that the eboi tetien question was • u!,lis4ed by •hia .11E-avant as . tl mst , 'hintse/j: But it- 'wee cdnipetent. to contradict 11,1ttiq ehowing that the defendant was at a distance, con field, to his h ouse on hi s b e d b y b o dily a ilment. Lord Mane ▪ ` bcl Mr. Justice Aston had laid down the same doctrine, the ' ot h confirmed him in his view. So would it be in It! " 4 . -Prima facie evidence had been adduced against tro t , 'nth, and lie should be prepared to prove the con - e:f t ; l ife should show that Le resided at Bristol, and ; I fizu 4 : 4l '"U On earth to do Hai the errie.e ::uestien.— ''lise s .: - ' l4 °to ,bee.t disqainieci -by Mr. Guteit iii thi• %quu it was presented to time Court in another ,-• , • shape. Mr. Guteli . }Fas,iigßtistol at the time, and entirely ignorant of it.. The ; Le:awe] Gentleman then went on to cile some cane , iii .suppert. of his position.— He knew that Guteh was convicted, be enehl carry it to the Thatse . of Virds. It 'lied been &Med by the authorities, except, n th win the case of a "inistlbby; that any aervant or other person catryi: i a letter whieli-ceriteineel ;Rid. he was legally reapettsible, although that person might nut be able to send or write. When such a case once came.before a. Jury, they lamented that they w ere obliged to convict, and recommended the their Attorney- General to. relinquish the prosecution, by withdrawing a Jury which he consented to. And he (Mr. Pene e k) would note ask the Attorney-General of the present day, if he could for one moment think that lie should sacrifice his duty in adopting a similar course with respect to Mr. Gutch, fur it never coul4 be contended for a moment, that that gentleman had any actual participation' . in the alleged libel. He knew there were some more points to which the Attorney-General could allude, but he also know his. Learned Friend's public and private opinion in cases not only where the liberty of the Press was concerned, but in All others, was to look at them in all their bearings and wish fur them to be cited according to their merits. The Learned Counsel then alluded to several cases where the parties pro'ecuted stood in the same situation as Mr. Gutch, particularly to one in which Mr. Jones, a publisher of St. Paul's Church-yard, was convicted and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment fir a libel on the Russian Ambassador ; shortly after that sentence was pronounced Lord Erskine, in his place in that Court,described it as the most infamous judgment that ever dise raced a Court of Justice, Mr. Jones being, at the time the libel was pub lished, on a sick bed in the country. "I have thought of said. his Lordship, " as I.lay on my bed, and have started from my sleep with honor, I have slept again, and 'again have I started, and on my death-bed shall I view such. a proceeding with utter abhorrence." And this (continued Mr. Pollock) is the law, that is called the perfection of }stamen reasoning ; be .should wish a just principle of Jaw to prevail at all times ; he wished for no proceeding but what would receive the approbation of all honest men. He would now call their attention to . a few cases, to .show how easily .an innocent persten might be lad astray. . Suppose a man prepares an article of food in which he mixes poison, and he then orders his serv t ant to carry it to his neigh bour as a present, the servan replies, and the murderer's design is completed. Would any man of common sense consider that the servant was culpable, or feel at all indite nant at the part that he took in the transaction ? Such a conclusion never could be come to, except in China, where blood calls for blood with such blind unre lenting fury. Would he not rather be thought of with commisseration and pity, and who would ever sup pose that the servant had ever been guilty of murder? And yet in the case of an errand-boy, who could neither read nor write, it had been held that he was legally responsible for the lines which he con veyed. Hail it riot been for the respect he felt for the Bench, he should certainly call such a decision nonsense. He wished to treat the venerable Judges with all the re spect their situation called fir, but when he heard them pronounce decisions fraught with so much injury and evil, he could not help von utterance to his feelings. Ile hoped, however, the warmth with which he did it would not lose its eftiect with the Jury, but that they would coolly consider the verdict they were about to pronounce, and that they would administer justice. There was no foundation in the Attorney-Gene ral telling them that this was a libel in law, fir there was no established rule to know what was a libel awl what was not. Suppose a person offered to buy a share in a bookseller's shop, and although he took no active part in the business, yet, according to the Attorney-General he was liable for every work published in that concern. lie knew that he was liable to all losses ; but suppose his part ner was to commit forgery, and by means of a forged power of 'attorney, this person himself, not know that the power of attorney was forged,was to proceed to thellank and s• 11 out stock, would it not be an insult to common sense to suppose that he could be convicted of forgery ? The Learned Counsel then iits:anced several other cases of a similar description, and contended, that he wished the Press to be protected by the same rights as other property. Why should the Press be picked out for punishment t Why should it not have some certain rule of guidance ? The present law was defended on its expediency, but he thought that a poor excuse for suffering such an unsettleed state of things to exist. The Legislature ought clearly to define the law of libel, and he should like to see their individual recorded notes on such a measure. He could fancy his Learned Friend, the Attorney-General—standing in his place in Parliament, and prepoeinse a Bill to the following effect:—cc Mr. Speaker, I hold in my land a Bill, of which the preamble is—' Whereas, knowledge is power, and power is dangerous, be it enacted, that from and after the date hereof, that all publications, either periodically or otherwise, which diffuse knowledge, shill bedeemed guilty of a m'sdeineenour and:punished according as this Act further directs."—(Laughter.)--And, said Mr. Pollock, it would not be an inappropriate title to call it a Bill to Prevent Useful Knowledge.—(Laughter.)—Newspapers were an invaluable property, and if a person devised such a property to his children, why should it not be protected in the same manner as an estate or other funds? Why should there be a different law for this species of property ? The Learned Gentleman then proceeded to contend, that there ought to be a fixed law with respect to libel so as clearly to define it, and concluded with saying that Mr. Gutch knew nothing of the present libel till alter it bad appeared, and therefore could slot be held legally cri minal. If the Lord Chancellor sustained any injury by the publication let bins bring his action, and Mr. Gutch would meet it, and willingly pay the d image which a Jury would sword for the crime of being a Newspaper Proprietor. Mr. Bees Tow, for the defendant Fisher, said he wis instructed to take no psi tin the present discussion. His client would rely on the individual ftcts in his favour, but as this was not the proper time to state them, be should re serve himself for another opportunity. In doing this, he hoped Mr. A!exander did not considerit tended toprrjudice his cause. He would now, however, express Mr. Fisher's sincere regret for what had appeared, but was not now in a condition to ask fur terms of the Attorney. General. He hoped his Lordship would take a note that the defendant Fisher did not go to the Jury. His Lordship said nething, but made the note. Mr. Alsiander then rose, and commenced in a low tone. He said he appeared before the Court this day as his own advocate, for reasons which he would hereafter disclose. But before doing so, he would proceed at once to consider the criminal case brought 'against him by his Majesty's Attorney- General. Perhaps the Jury were not aware that it was now nearly one hundred years since any prosecution of this nature was brought by the Law Officers of the Crown against the public Press. From the time of Lord Chatham's Administration, including all the intermediate ones, down to the Administration of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, no defendant had been charged with a libel tending to bring his Majesty's Government into contempt. Under such circum stances, therefore, he had many difficulties to encounter in offering a few facts to their consideretion not being able to refer to any similar case. This prosecution was one of peculiar hardship. All former publications of a similar nature as the present had been treated with forbearance by former Ministers. The con clusion he therefore Caine to was, that we lived in more perilous times, yet it was a time of profound peace. We had no foreign enemy, why then should a liberal Government lend itself to crilsh the press of a free country ? Much severer articles had been written in former titnee, but the then Attorney-General did not think it necessary to uphold the dignity of the Government by instituting proceed;ngs which must crush humble individuals like himself, for what he had written out of the purest sentiments. The object of the present pro secution was to destroy his property and take away his liberty, and, perhaps, put an erd to his eeistence. But when he had dpne, hop' the 4url wo - irime step in betweep ltitn 'and the GovernMent, and gtve him a fair and honuurable aceuittal. In pursuing his line of defence his first proposition was to spew that we did not live in more dangerous times than formerly.— Some of the Jury would recollect the troubleseme tinter of thirty or f mrty years ago. They woublrenientber that at that time there e;cistcd correspoAcling emmei k ey, and some of the persons whom he theme say'beforelifu, Were metimbet's of that society. Then Oleic was the French ecnvention-e-the Mutiny at the'Nore—the Gordon riots —the Spafiehr4 riots—the Cornierrr riots—the country riots—these times were catnparatively troublesome, and the Government brought forward measures to suppress dangerous associations; but the means they then made use of were much milder, and theme was none of that eteer:ty practiOd as in the proecediege ega,ast hiee rfLeetlre!as, too, attliet Waellnwh ;Maw eiojeat ; it rove's' wee conducted with' less asperity titan at prtsilit. IP OW' tLe difference, he would cAll alo'Uo" to b " - portant trim----he in when her late Majesty Was brought by a Bill of Pains and Peeelties before the House of Lind-. The Jury would recollect that period, and therefore he would not trouLl e them with entering in:o the disgusting statetnente with sylmielt Pees :: Veen. it:mended. It was tree somee pT : m t :t t; (l; p..-seci,,tett,:hitt . the pro seen,ion et it yerldikier.ent nature to the present. Not one of the defendant s was brought to the floor of that Court, charged with Lnim 99 eine the Government into contempt. The greatest rie prevail, t. best persons, and the litte:t of chem Leers were iiimetl e ml, in the most scurrilous nutuner, vet the Attorney-General brought no charge of a criminal nature eg inst them. The Jury were perhape aware that the cemreependentamf newspaper was equally Neale to a criminal prosecution flat any intelligence he might pstmenot to be inserted, with the Editor hitnse:f. Every individual Connected with the supplying of news was equally responsible. Could it be expected that the Editor of a newspaper, whose business it was to supply the public with intelli gence on every subject, and to remark on every transaction of the day, could examine different works fur the purpose of ascertaining how far he might go ? He would, however, call their attention to the lan guage of the press 4.0 years ago, and read to them a paper published by one af the most excellent writers that ever adorned this country—he meant Junius. He then read the letter of Junius to time Duke of Grafton in 1789, libelling in very strong language the Government of thet d ty, (and which occupied nearly half an hour.) Such was the language of the Press forty years ago, yet the author of that letter was never prosecuted. Their own knowledge and experience would tell the Jury Ow di; not mean the language)—hut that there was nothing in the Journals of the present day half NO severe. Yet, amid the Attorney-GeneraLthe licentiousness of the press was so great —itwes so calculated to bring the Government into contempt, that he felt bound to institute several criminal prosecutions. He would ask the Jury, bow was any body to conduct a newspaper? There was no prescribed law for laic govern ment—there was nothing to tell him, " hitherto shalt thou go, and no further." 'there was no landmark, yet he was expected to judge of the writings of himself and others, whether or not the law would designate them libellous. Ifs they looked at history they would find many instances of much stronger language than he had made use of had been used. He had given them a specimen of what took place forty years age. He would give: them one of more recent interest—he meant the speech of the Late Master of the Rolls, in Ireland, by a gentleman learned in the law, who must he presumed to know the law, even to the splits of a hair, and who, therefore, possessed great advantages over the Pm'ess. Mr. Curran took great libertiese and talked with much severit y of the characters of public men, and that too oft e n before their faces. In a speech which he made 17 years ago before the Lord Lieutenant any Privy Council of Ireland, he spoke with the greatest severity of the then Lord Chancellor. He called him a little peevish old man that was blind to the force of any argumente—represented him as a wretched being, who, for any paltry consideration, would violate the very best principles of the Constitution ; that he was the veriest creature of profligacy and avarice ; and this too the Jury would recollect was spoken of the Lord Chancellor. (Mr. Alexander here read Curran's speech at length.) He did not wish to take up more of the time of the Court by showing that the style of writing indulged in by former writers was more severe, though not punished. Mr. Alexander then alluded to extracts from the works of Lord Bolingbroke, Lord Horace Walpole, and the Edinburgh Re view, all of which he characterised at , more severe than the pub ieetion which grave rise to the present proceeding, and contended that the public prints were now conducted with more candour and less virulence than at any fermeer period of history. His next proposition was to skew, that considering the state of the country—the settled state of peace, there was little necessity for any Attorney-General to commence a crusade against the liberties of the Press. The Gentlemen of the Jury would recollect that about the period to which the publication complained of re ferred to ceents that never would be forgotten by the monarchy—events of an extraordinary re volting nature took place. When he became connected with the Morning journal, he thought it consistent with propriety to place his opinions open record. lie then laid down a solemn league and covenant with himself, by which he would stand or fall—and by that covenant he now would and should stand or fell. With the consent of his partners, to the number of six or seven, he drew up time address which appeared on time first appearance of the first number of the Morning Journal, and which he ehould read, with the permission of the Court, to the Jury. It was dated oa the 4th of October, but it appeared on the 6th. Mr. Alexander then read the address that appeared in the Morning Journal, anti then continued—That, Gen tlemen, is nay political feeling, and with that I set out iu the conduct of this Journal. It received the approbation of the gentlemen who were connected with me, and in ad vocating those principles, and in adhering to those princi ples, if I have been endeavouring to hr big his Majesty's Government into contempt, I must have been associated with men of high character and honour, in concoct ' ing this seditious paragraph, against whom the breath of slander has never yet been passed. Gentlemen, I speak of my late partners with the deepest respect; I know them to be honourable men, having nothing in view in patronizing this Paper, but that of maintaining the property which they had purchased from an able gentle ! man, not a member of this bar, but of the bar, and the further object of supporting me in those prin ciples which I avowed, thinking, as I did, that I did right in acting on them most conscientiously. To show you, Gentlemen, that these were not my opinions alone, but that they were laid down for the guidance of this Paper, long before I had any thing to do with it, or was in any way connected with it, I shall take the liberty of reading to you a set of resolutions entered into by my late partners, and directed to be sealed up and pieced in an iron chest, fur the purpose cf showing on what principles the Paper should be conducted. Mr. A'exander then read a string of resolutions, entered into on the 17th of January, 1828, and concluding by stating that time Proprietors shou'd espouse the principles declared by them on that occasion, let the new Administrution be Whig, Tory, or a mixture of both. This document, gentlemen, (continued Mr. Alexander,) was signed by seven persons ; those were my partners at the time the paragraph a; peered which the Attorney-General has charged against roe, as having a seditious tendency. The very individuals to whom I allude are at this moment professors of those principles : they are at this moment proprietors of the Courier newspaper—of that Ministerial and Government Newspaper—of that Newspaper which is considered (I know not how truly) to be the organ of Government, and when I tell you that these gentlemen are at this mo ment such proprietors, I am sure that even the Attorney- General, would not attribute to them the writing of an Article that could have a tendency in any way to break down the Government of the country. On al occasions I have supported the Ministry to the utmost or my poor extent. Put, Gentlemen, there was one mea sure that unfortunately caused great excitement, and I took a course as I was bound to do, of activity with re epect to that transaction, I mein the passing of the Roman Catholic Belief Bill. Gentlemen, although the At torney-General wished to sneer me out of England by imputing to me the crime of belonging to another country, still, gentlemen, I was born in a country on the other aide the Tweed, where I was reared in the religion of my fathers 4t the file, side, where the Morning and Evening Sacrifices saw me out of bed anti saw me in again ; where I had upon my heart a dear and warm attachment fixed to those principles of reformation, established by the wisest tnen, and an equally strong feeling against the profeeeors of the old 'religion, who in former times had persee cuted the Reformers to fare and to blesod—l felt warmly on :that qeestinn, end not being able to chew from my mind the persecutions of former times, when I arrived at years of maturity I was as strongly impressed with the justice of those prejudices — if you are pleased so to call them—as I was when a boy. And when this question was carried—when this question was attempted to be carried, by a desertion of the re cooled principles and opinions of men who had ateTl first in the battle—when it nested hot against the other parties, when the men wl;o Led' beeic'cradloil in the cif lee of the reortnatmon, and helhectiene b Laos: they' were considered to be the honest advocates of a'great cause, when those men deserted their principles and their good conduct, when they left the Church of Eng land, the only strong bold against the powerful inroad of Catholic Saints ; when I saw this - Se strong holds cut down, by the eery individuals who bad been the feesi; to pese:daim that they woeld etee,f cr ,eu lirnahlL r;sett :mw thoee men tw•ditont - r---'to Wray-- LO atesefitilate whit they all times to have - he:el sacred, I of course, though an humble individual. felt warmly, and under these feelings, did I speak and write. I may on some occasions have carried my attacks to an extreme. lam not lucre ttt sustiiy mye self against violent itnpressiees. Weed, t indy 'freely confers thet on many ectee4y timid talc, 'and c Oe c : c i T it 4. ll ° ll.e .s l l t te li t i e ' ri u re r t e( e i tet l 4,e r l t‘ im i d e ti, , w_ite all kvithiiit the 'comp u Slant toy have been 448 e 4 ieteeeismee of Waisisthe at wilk4 I might Eta 4tty very to jiriat, .sea •• • - next merle:llg g use use of. lint I li,w that on this geeund my apology will be satiefactory. Gentlemsn, during the discussion of the Rouse, Catholic Cleestioe, when it was carried on with or es ; e ee , ., I este,k/ed an intimation froze a esetSerel'"asi Arharity, that we e al most tiiSei'edly ' have been Prosecut e d for the at- titcks I had made on the men who h a d totally deserte d t h e i r good cause, had it not been that the tim e s were then so acited that have e such a proceeding would o n l y s fresh Jen tar fliculties ; and I was warned the moat solemn manner, if I afterwards used a 4111de • by th e 9"4 l'eest , • von to the extent of a thousandth atop o f a splittio or u I ~!,,add subsequently be prosecuted that most ,i.,:oredly, wiwn the new Attorney General Wi.F ip!1.11: bill I -h , ON to:liked as the first man to be bronJ tOrward. tit the r vdss of p,serution. I was bound t. I !teieve that a gentleman of high rank, and in daily emr, onoicutlon ": 41 ,1 M Nlinters, was accurate it vhat st 'and via what he communicated to In vas an e.,roest of wh it :-Imuld happen. Still I was benne to say that I could , only proceed with the conduct of -he Morning Journal on the• principles on which I hat'. •et out. Gentlemen, my Noble Friend was right, for On very first word that Sir J. Scarlett uttered in this Court. After being appointed Attorney-General, the very first art he did, alter the forMation of theWellitigton Administration. -vas to appear here and :nave for a criminal information against the Morning Journal for a libel on the Lore Chancellor. When I heard of it I really did not belicvi it, and it was not until I hail seen tie, manuscript of tlo gentleman whom I hail sent here with a report of it that I felt bound to believe it. The Attorney-General took great credit to himself on that occasion for the moderate, delicate, and impartial manner in which he came int, Court to ask fur the information, Gentlemen, I shall take .the liberty of reading to you the speech of Sir J. Searlett on that occasion, Sir J. ScartLETT—Thit is your own ver•ion of it. Mr. Alexander—Why, Gentlemen, I have heard, but I don't know how true it is, that Sir J. Scarlett sent Ili, own speech to the Times Newspaper.—(Laughter. ) One of the Jurors wished to know whether - it Wat competent to the defendant, to proceed reading documents of this kind. The Learned JUDGE iliftiPrVed, that it certainly was not evidence, but as the defendant was upon his defence, he might Nava a right to introduce it into his speech. The same Jurar s tid, hs fe:t disposed to interrupt Mr. Alexander before, when reading the Address in the first edition of the Morning Journal. The Learned JunGv. told Mr. Alexander, that as thr Jury seemed indisposed to hear the speech alluded to, read, and as it could not be evidence, it probably would be better to waive the re odin!. of it. Mr. Alexander did not tender it as evidence ; he only introduced it as an historical part of the case, to show the connexions link by link. The Learned JUDGE considered that it could not have such an effect ; that the only possible mode by which it could be male evidence, was that of calling the gentleman who had taken it down as a witness, to atate that it was what Sir J. Scarlett had uttered. Mr. Alexander did not further press it. After the At torney-General had moved, on behalf of the Lord Chan cellor, for an information against the Morning Journal, be (Mr. Alexander) filed an affidavit, in which he denied in the most positive and unequivocal terms, that the paragraph complained of had any reference to the Lord Chancellor. The consequence was, that although the rule was made absolute, the Attorney-General thought proper to take another course. After taking great credit to himself for his moderation and impartiality in this pro ceeding. As Counsel for the Lord Chancellor he stated th it three informations were filed ex-efficioagainst me in this Court; and that this one, with reference to the Lord Chan cellor was not one of those three. Gentlemen if this be mode ration, I really do not know the moaning- of the term ; but before I was celled on to give bail in the information for the alleged libel against the Lord Chancellor, I was called on is give bail in three other informa tions filed by the Attorney-General tx-offiele.._ Now it is somewhat extraordinary, that having first taken credit fur the moderation of his proceeding, having taken all he could obtain (tom me: after extorting flow the my defence, and getting out of me the truth, he turns round on me, takes advantage of my own evi dence, and comes into this Court with his ex officio informations, whereby be has fir greater privileges th in be could have bad as Counsel for the Lord Chancellor, and which I as a British subject say, was grose oppression, and conduct to be submitted for judge ment elsewhere, for there never was a person treated before in such a way by a Noble person, having had his evidence dragged front him, having been charged with perjury by that individual, and then that the Attorney-General should turn round on that affidavit, give the lie to his own case, by raying the libel had a ten dency very different to what was originally alleged, and commence a corresponding course of prosecution If gentlemen, instead of coining forward, I had allowed this case to come to trial, then, I adroit it would have stood under different circumstances from the mole of trial now adopted. I have a defence to make before you ; hut at the same time I must recollect that Sir James Scarlett has to reply—a gentleman with all the learning o; the lawyer, carrying along with him all the army of the bar. The shrewd keeneses and criticism of art able lawyer, I say, places me in circumstances which, if yon do not extricate me from, Will oppress me most severely. This, gentlemen, is the way in which this case has been carried on against me, from the first step in this Court to the period when Sir James Scarlett ap peared as Attorney-General, down to the last bill of in dictment which the Duke of Wellingten swore at the Old Bailey. There have, Gentlemen, as you - are aware, been three bills of indictment against me, in all of which I am charged with having written articles having e tendency to bring his Majesty's Government into contempt. I trust you will take al; the circumstances of my case into your consideration, and see the dfficuities that oppress and pour in upon me, unless you take the whole dif ficulties of the case into consideration, and contrast them with the merits—unless you extricate me by your verdict, it will be impossible but that my fortune will be destroyed, myself and character ruined, and dis grace attached to an individual who has, all his life, been a faithful and consistent supporter of his Majesty's Govern ment, until this unfortunate occasion. Gentlemen, there is one other subject which I approach with great reluc tance, indeed, I would not approach it at all if I did not consider that the whole aim and scope of this prosecution w a s an attempt on the part of the Government to ruin the person who now stands before - you. You will see the con necting links with which one part of the Government works with the other, all of which are put in motion to bear down and level the property of the person who is now before you. On one occasion there was certainly some ir regularity in the securities and bonds at the Stamp-offiae. About a fertnight ago my printer was arrested an a war rant in chief from the Stomp-offiee ; he was taken and l oc k e d up, I have nn doubt, in order that I should hive every difficulty put be my way ; and not only that, but the eetent in chief was levied against toy goods, to the amount of 4001., at a time when, according to all fair dentine, and the mode in which business is transacted at the Stamp Office with other paper offices, I did not owe more than 113/. My only goods in that place were seized fOr a debt which was not honestly er in geod ;with doe. Now, Gentlemen, I appeal Wynn as Jurymen, I appeal to you as haekers, knowing, as you must well know, how a litila matter will affect the character of a person, I most earnestly appeal to you, if a course like this is not calculated to bring any man to ruin. Gentlemen, I was placed in that situation ; 1 was placed in a most painful situation, and, but for the assistance of feiende, I do not know whether i a1;941 Iwo been her:e to-day to expllio thee . : nigttees to you. Are these gentletnette t.;:,e ;node; of proceeding under a Government sa mild, and whose principles are suited to all times; a Government - so impartial, and su moderate, with the hero of Werth° at its head—l say, Gentlemen, that such a course pursued by such a Government, speaks in the . roundest term., its weakness. I will now, Gentkeuaa, cab your attention to the merits of the lib!4— 01r. a readitri of the information, ard '4lte . ., rtene Marts of' Wheb'creat e d great late,ghier.) Wt h y,' Gentlem n, parties mi - glit lity,6 and sne e r at tits ' but ' I say 'it eves t .- .4anJ the notec? of any inert o good 'feehng. It is true, theit certa're teehle;',%en and gentlemen lear ne d i n t h e law, Triesterz ins Chancery, and to on, have sworn in the box that they believe these articles to apply, and that they are intended to apply, to the Leal Chancellor; but these Learned Genthence, - Ala not seem to be aware 1.1:1 . at theV6 l 'liad . been any judiciel , t . : . :' :,,et:g.iiirigsr ilail t ivith respect to them. A ll4 ':= 7 - 4 .0 l'''. , t , , 4'trter to know that the case had been 11 1' 0 9 1 410 Ow netiee of this Court, nor did they seem to be aware that it had positively been denied 1;;( cite writer of it—they were hound t. , e c .......exe Mat the writer of that paragraph lie.:!: c;teaieti tijon *iialls that he had intended it te epp'e r e to the Viet Chlth&lltir: if it he the me.a . ,, of pr4Ciefing With evld s ;nee on a criminal ; , 1C. , :; cejiling, ' for , Infties 'to 'Apeak . to - a fin:t Of.' velt: l e-li " ;r1;ei knoxVe eeirliing; `if that; cjtrietalel'4 4 hsl the mode ' of cOtehicting: ine,tte7o ii i ; this ijonrt, it eetteinly is a mode , , 3 , ):., ,, ,?t '4,1 41' th:tr i m' G e c' e ' e lti n e r lh aeq l ua l i i ; 4 l v te c tl nr(vithtit":llo least au" tendency of a etnotly. It is an amnsieej, sett of sty-le by which the writer intends to Ilttt ::::o41:1 ik , t . (HI; itill4l ill a l u di crous poi n t ef eieee l 'fhieMiikk a , men, is sierely :, ie,,e6y• c„l gc:era It i s C,!);i te eee el -,-:•-• adieotre t t"language td the Attorney- Cieen.4al c; (A.e. There ze; nothing in it of a serious nature, hoe are any of the parties aliuded to named. (Mr. Alexander here read a further pent of the libel.) Why, the Attorney-General wishes its to hell ve that this tall, broad elteublerel persii n spoken of is intended for the , Sek,lieirees Ca neral. I sho u ld lik e to sue the Le"t'"'d •C;;;;;citu"ehcr"l enn•igetil and UllgOWnvd brought on the table. Why, 1 am sure diet he would lau4ll at such nonsense, This , entlemen, is carrying judicial jokes too far. I, myself 'lave Leen libelled in this m ,tttr, and I consider that wive touch greater e tose Orin my one to complain o' libel. The A , t,wzivy-Gwp r-,; eommitted a mos • tan; ion- libel on my small too , erstanding- He WOW• wish y,:u: to thick that I. did not know that the Lor. ..2,a/teellor had nothing to do with vimintment o Solicitor-General. Its utterly ri fiettlou. to sap ote that the Chancellor has no controul over him, end the gift reclusively of the Legislature. If the Solicitor General were put into the box, he would say 1, - ta:l hi; appointment front the Duke of Wellington •tnd God forbid, gentlemen, that I sheuld sly he bought it from the Doke of 'Wellington, I know h e did rot. In a •tarody, moreover, there is a good deal to be attended t. i t th e particular expressions. You see, gentlemen, her. The word " general" is invariably used—that certainly be• t relation mire to the military department of the Go eernment than the legal. I assert, gentlemen, before you, hat it is altogether a military allusion, and the Attorney- General may, if he pleaces, on that honest and frank Jonfession, file another criminal information against no to-morrow. I never had the honour of seeing the Sobel tor-General before to-d ty, nor the Attornj-General, ,vhotn I hope I never shall see again—( Lauglyer)— nor the Lord Chancellor, whom I hope I shall never know I appeal to yoo gentlemen if there is ma in this produe don, when I quote other writers who hare been ho nourably acquitted, every thing that is harm!, a. old mild ? You will recollect, gentlemen, a per ;on of the name of Hone stood in this Conn defend himself against a charge of having published certain parodies on religion intended to bring it into contempt. In that case every thing that was bail was brought into action, still Mr. Hone was acquitted ; when therefore. Gentlemen, there is a complaint against my harm less arid k useless parody, and when I consoler the biting and stinging slanders in that ease, which were directed against the King—l say, contrasting those two—considering that Mr. Hone was acquitted, 1 slot); he doubly entitled to an acquittal at your hands. When, gentlemen, I sea things of so atrocious a na ture passed by, by twelve Jurymen in that box, can I come to any • other opinion thaw.: this, that case of mine will be flung by you out of Court ? The real question, Gentlemen, is, whether this parody has a tendency to bring the Government into contempt. Whether it has or has not must he inferred from the fact. It is now, Gentlemen, six months since this paltry piece of badinage was published. I am well aware that the Learned Gentleman will endeavour to con vince you that you must not judge of the ten dency of it ; but can you, Gentlemen, upon your oath, say that that will bring the Government into contempt, which for six months has trot done so. I could say much more than this Gentlemen, but I am conscious how long I have already bordered onyour time, and I am exceedingly anxious that you should not be detained your families and your homes longer than is absolute ne• cessary. I put it, Gentlemen, ott this ground, simply after you have taken the whole bering of shis case into your consideratiod, after you have considered the explanations of the inuendoes, bearing in mind that already six persons believe it applies to the Lord Chan cellor, but you mu-t not consider that six men are speak ing the sentiments of the public. I put it to you, whe ther you can consc'entiously upon your oaths say that this libel, as it is called, was intended a:.ainst the Lord Chancellor. Gentlemen, I could have brought individuals: into that box as high or even higher than any that have been produced in it to-day, and I could have brought the letters of others, who would have stated, that at the time they read this allmted libel they did not believe it at all applied to the Lord Chancellor. But I put it most seriously to twelve hottest English Jurymen ; and I trust I shall draw from their benevolence this conclusion, that the defendant if entitled to the verdict. Upon your verdict, gentlemen, depends my character, my fortune, my liberty, perhaps my lire—you have all that is dear to man—you have all that he cares for on earth under your decision. If you pros , ' a verdict against me, I must of course abide time consequences ; Lui Gentlemen, will that Noble person at the head of his Majesty's Government, or the Noble minions that bow to his power, will they sleep for one moment longer on their pillows for having aent me to jail or will they if I should be honourably acquitted, follow their pursuits more firmly. Your decision cannot effect the powe, mm, and I am sure you will not say that time Doke of Wel lington is a feeble man, and that his Government also is feeble. I trust, Gentlemen, you will weigh well this case before you deliver you verdict, and with these considerations, with the utmost reliance I leave my case in your hands. What was his state of health at that time ? It was very indifferent indeed. Mr. Alexander sat down amidst great applause, which was repressed by the Court. The Jury retired for a few minutes, and, Mr. HILL, on behalf of the defendant, Cuteb, calks] Jane Lavender. Mr. Hum.—You are a relation of Mr. Guteh, the de fendant, I suppose?---Yes. Do you recollect seeing the defendant, Mr. Gutch, on the 30th May last? Yes—l dined with him at Common Hill, where he re sides. How lung was he residing at that place before the 30th of May? Now, as far as you know, did Mr. Gutch ever interfere in the conduct of the Moaning Journal? I should say not at all. Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL-What is Mr. Gutch's business ? Ile edits a newspaper at Bristol, and is proprietor of this newspaper in London. Did you say he edited a newspaper at Worcester, or at Bristol? Mr. Alexander declined to call witnesses. The EATTORNEY.-GENKUAL replied, and the Learned Judge summed up, and, The Jury consulted for shout five minutes, and thin roe turned a verdict of " Guilty" against all Oa defendants. Lord TaNTERDEN—WiII you proceed with the other cases to-uiglit, Mr. Attorney-General: Ar,cartNEv-GxxxitAL.—l would rather not until tcwriorrow morning, if your Lordship pleases. Lord TENTE RDEN —Very well, let them stand for to morrow. ST. THOMAS'S DAY, Yesterday great I,:A;st'4;3 prevailed in the city, it being St. Themaes-day, and in consequence ward ruotes were held, according to custom, ut the vari ous precincts for the election of Common Council, men, and other subordinate officers, for tlit; year. _ _ In the following wardt.: alterittion from last year Quecidtithe, 14owgate, Billingsgate, Cheap, Corn -1141, "Ilioad-street, Tower, Lang bourn, Lime-street, Aldersgate, Ctipplegate-wit bout, Coleman- street. Farringdon-without, Cord %%ruiners, Wlllbrook, Candlewick, and 13miishaw. In Aldg,ate Wait], Mr. Javiii y..nk upanioionsl, elected, in the room cli :or, 1 , ..axe11, who resigniid The un . ,0,: i . , i - t - 4, - s ...ntiou„ed t....-ards,%ve);e emite:,ted. Those ;;:itliect tt.i§l, are new candidateg. (-AF..3IE -BAYNAIIII (Rxvvaws TEN.) Mr. D,eputy VtArTtAtwe.....l3 I Mr. Aps ley PeHatt 41 AtAkt-t t - s.i . Atle 43 I W. Pritch ard 41 D. Fenton, jun 42 James liol ye ..... .. 2 44'' ; John Evans 42 I 'Richard filek/ . ..,..., S. Lovegrove 4.2 I ? Wilrl4s.,; k;t*c.Ois ...2 James Toplis 41 11 1 . r. Ne: - ,ily, 11Fik , :AtiseiTliEET s , kir. , Cracklow 19 Legg ... 15 llooper l5 .., Coleman Hallam „ — 4... t oppt . y . "l44tliie S)tilt . tleworth .14 E.AIIikIXR,ON \\' 'elf (11ErtinNs EIGIITE.i.N.) Mr' Dnottet`.. .. . ..... 41 Air. Morcott 3S xi v,t Ke11y.... 4O N Vidiams....“....-,-.,...:T0• De-linty Dave 39 *Fisher. ..... .... .... . 3.4 Deputy Wiliam —39 '''. i'l`' , irz... , ...............s8 .„:?, *ii:::..iipte •• • 3 . 7 Westwood Thompson .-.. .0. Fritelturd 32 1 / 2 1- 1 c •?, i ' ::: v x : ( :; ( ... ;A\ : it .. : .. 3 : 3' s ' Hartley 12, 'Air. Davidson resigne.l. ve*mgned, RETURNs TWELVE.) Mr. Cope I [ l,ridge ...... 1 3, . . ilia Shout. 9 ;„4:. cIIfITLE(3ATE 'WITHIN (11ETuit,.: Mr. I),•puty K-r 1 t I ) ,!iii r -24 I V . ‘«lskive lB 17 11 tan - ? - --3 liral. s *Orcl , art ...,„..,,,...'.4 - 2 I 1 v ~,' 0 0 Richardson l7 i I BASSISHAW ( Mr. Fri,,!,). Shirley 9 1 4, Siiiitli rt ETIJ FINS FOUR.) ° I lok4 , lik • t-, . •-% iticiutray. , _ EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (Flom the liftssager des Chanabres of SaturclAy.) PARIS, DEC. 19.—The official part of the illoniteur of to-day contains a Royal Ordinance in 23 Articles relative to the organization of the Royal Corps of Engineeera. A piece of intelligence of the highest importance to the .neichant: of PAris wac communicated to tts yesterday veliing. The city of Paris will at length enjoy, without restriction, the right of en:repot for colonial rroduce, and 'or ,t 1 articles imported from abroad. The Florence Gazette has a letter from Modun of the •?d October, which says that the arrival of five or six Stall Officers from Paris has been announced to Gencral ichneid,r, whence it is inferred that the troops commanded by him will not yet quit the Morel. (From the Moniteur.) PLTEILSBULG If, Nov. 29.—Though peace is made. ani there is no appearanee that we shall soon have an entory to combat, the new levy of recruits is exeented with :Is !nue!) rigour as last Sear, and the troops employ - e.l iu the 'ate war will remain in their canto,onents in Pu:garid, tlu Principalities, and Bessarabia. 'l'!t. re are persons who affirm that the powers ate not yet agreed re. , :;er ing the limits and the Government of Greece. Perhaps "M. Alatuscrwitz, who is expected every moment, will put an situ to all uncertainty on the subject. l'ams STOCK EXCHANCI. DEC. 19.—Five per Cen;:. LOSE 60e. 108 c. 65c. ; Three per Cents. Sd f.. Sic. 50e. ; Mak Stock, 1,910 E ; Rentes (le N:tpli 92f. 20r.; Royal Spanish Loss+, 831; Iterate I'et-p. d'Espagne, ti4k ; Ilayt an Loan, 425 f. Exel,:znvie ,:a London—One month, 25f. boc. ; three mmths, 25f. :35e. PRIVY COUNCIL. The Lords of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council had a ►neeting► yesterday morning in. the Council Chamber, Whitehall, for the purpose of hearing an appeal of great importance against the Governor of Antigua, by a barrister of that island, who had been suspended, and his name subseqently erased from the li,t of barr4ters, by the Judges of thf.. Court- of Common Pleas in Antigua. The Lords present were Lord Wynford, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, and the Secretary of State for the Colon►al Department. The At torney-General, who had been specially strn►noned to attend their Lordships, to render hii prefeisional ►►ssistnnce if required, was present duri►►g the . pm- ceedings. Previous to the case being gone into, Lord Wyn ford read their Lordships' decision on the case of " White v. Parnther" (from Jamaica), which lad been argued in this Court at their last sit!iog. Die Lordship noticed that an attempt had in-en made to prevent • their getting at the merits of the case, by insisting that the respondents were bound by a decree of the Court of Chancery in Jamaica, in 1791. Lords Eldon and Redesdale had however declared that it was the duty of Courts of Equity to look into the merits of decrees, and tot blindly enforce them %%lieu unjust. The decree in question ordered thut the annuity left to Mrs. Ann l'arnther by her husband should stand instead of a do,vvr„ and should be paid before the debts of her hualkonL Their Lordships were of opinion that the Cottri Jamaica were not justified in allowing the annuity to stand instead of dower, and it would, 1,4 fact, he a fraud upon the creditors ; their Lordships, there— fore, should advise his Majesty to reverse the decree of the Court below, and to dismiss the appeal with costs. Dr. LustliNcroN then rose to open the appeal from Antigua; the appellant was Mr. John Osborn, jun., a barrister of that island. The Attorney- General of Antigua, and three other gentlemen of the bar practising there, had addressed a letter to the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, stating, that during the absence of Mr. Osborn on a visit LSA EnglaNd certain aspersions on his conduct or difr.tent transactions had been cast, which as he hat then returned, required an explanation from him us a member of a liberal profession, and antes;,that was rendered they could not consider his 11b a fit" asso ciate. The Judges sent for four individuals, two of them relatives of Mr. Osborn, who were examined without being sworn ; and, en the statements thus given, the Judges suspended Mr. Osborn from act ing as a barrister until he .had cleared himself frorn the charges brought against him, more particula r ) ) . in one instance of alleged breach of trust. l‘fe, Os born, at a subsequent meeting, addressed the Court in his defence, and argued the illegality tsf his sus eensiun without his knowing who weetAis accusers: Ile Court required his defence te l toe committed to writing. Mr. Osborn accorditteiy gave in an never, turd addressed himself Vtrticularly to exploits the al leged breach of trust. he Judges wrote to frit?' barristers to come forward in the case, or give up the names of the parties possessing knowledge of the fact% The barristers, in their answer, declined all furtLee interference. The Court then issued awt it, 'which was served on four individuals, to compl them to come forward and give etii!coce. Thel were sir eordingly examined, though in one instance deci dedly against the inebriation of tho party giving his deposition. The Court eventvolly ordered the name of Mr. 'John Osborn, jun., tea be erased from the list of barristers, without either prosecutor, accuser, ar witnesses, hasikttg declared themselves; Or, in short, any perso,tt e.,r persons haying come forward to ren der themselves responsible for the p.oeeedings. As to one portion of the accusation against Mr. Os born,—viz., that of altering a, bond front 100/., to be - paid. yearly, to 200/„...,..tw0 uffidavire were read, to show that the pak , ky complaining of the alteration had spoken of ;;try tsond irr question, k high he was about to execute. as one for 2001. The affidavit of oAorn himself. stated thet such Wai the case ; eald the party en whom tire ftautl was pretended Ita have been practised had 'letlared, in a coraversuion, that he considered th:„., alteration was causer] b y a mistake. The Como 3 / 4 4 cangieged in the case hp‘mg addressed the CQOA their Loldships adjourne4 the meeting et Oiock, STATE OF TRATI:e.---HALIFAX.--ThitigS here :ire iu much the dame state as last week. Ou turday rather moti roods were sold, but at extremely low prices. the manufacturers keep their works going, tbAwant of employment is not great, and there are .;t:w additional, applications for parish relief....—H f ahfax si7hronicle. SIXCULAR MATRIMONIAL St'ECULATIONT --The quiet village of Ilebden Hi idce leas lately been (Cm turbed by a matrimonial affair, witieli has caused no antal excitement throughout the v 414 .se, and furnished itll the maids (young and old) with a fruitful subject of tea-tshle conversation. The eirsurnitances are tile.e :—Sonte time ago, Mr. —....-...=- 4 , who has been long martied, but I a I no fatniix, k:11 home upon a visit to one of the sea-ports (Liyetiptiol, we believe), for the purpose of renovating his hea!th. When he had been alai:oat :;bout a fortnio.t, his loving spouse either sent, ea. Kotend.d to. send, a mes senger, with a view to aseertaia the progress of his reenvery , b u t tltQ - 4;4thless (varier, au his rettnn, veportrd that the nbieei of hie seacelt " had riled or, the water r Tha wklu.w put on her weet!s—mount e d the deepest itables-,anci mourned iricertAntly Jro t. day or two. Not, however, having Mort; her er4,, ale pad ohl maxim -4 l'ts good to be merry :uul w4e-- 'Ls good to be noNr;vl AND rater, De sure you be oil' 44 : th the old I,.ye, Before you be wa, with the new— . SLe received the arld,vesors of a worthy snip. Ili, heart was es watt tu a. 1.',3.0wn goose, when heated to 120 degrees ; his wit w4e s.ltaxp, as his needle, and in short, tinier his perew e ive eloquent% the lady waxed so hot for a second huAba,nd, that she exehauged her tawarning into zniztli, threw off her sable dress for that of a bride, and in a fees weeks they were m trried ! Ve4.lleighhnuthood, a, Itlly well be imagined, was scutA tt livs; ty this indecent h,,ste : but still ail went on we!il k ;PO " the nine days reorder" had begun to es.ste,t, About a fortnight ago, Lowevet-, the tailor Ittiv4z . ynn. ow seeking orders, tho first ku•l!and, whR, )itF4, i ooly beca slain for the tirssunt, by the shoe rthalier's report, sate home with increased vigour end teuovateil health !! upon wh'4 , sir there Was tn u ,i, i 0 y i arnoug Lis neighbours, is utA a general il'untinatiu tte.l: place. The eeclttircisseeteto we will not ettempt to de scribe; L ix i. o; ,.. h ear d the intelligence:tut in but snip more gallant silN4,, ea,an he had ever done before, eai:asur- ing his vo--444 ;spun truly scientifiC principles. The wif l / 4 t, At: ever, followed; but h.ts• sioce returned,' :.nd is ages once more settied, with her `• ft:at:love." and - fur ther )our deponent lino:vett riot," This story, siugula , • as it is, is strie:ly true y c tro ein every . ti Chronicle. - .' ' " .. ' ''. - - -