The Express.
London, England, 1863-02-26 00:00:00

COURT Or QUEEN'S BENCH.

After Term Sittings at Nil Prius at Guildhsll.—(Before
Lord Chief Justice Cocklnun and a Special Jury.)

CAMPBELL, D.D., O.

-MAHON ON LIM

*cancer MB " BATVIDAT 1171111."

This Wes an sodas far libel brought by Dr. Canipbelli
proprietor of the Britian EISA" against the defendast, the
registered printer, kr., of the Saturday Review. The da
fondant pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Lush, Q.C., Mr. dor-leant Parry, Mr. Row, Mr. Has&
bags, and Mr. Pater wean comae' for th• plaintiff ; Mr.
Q.C., Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., and Mr. Gibbons were
counsel for the ddondanL

Mr. flerjeant Parry, in stating the plaintiff's cue, mid
that gentleman had been compelled to bring this action to
vindicate his character from a most serious imputation that
tad been cast upon it by the defendant. The plaintiff had
bees for years a minister of religion, and the pastor
of the congregation meeting at the Tabernacle,
is the City-road, whose confidence and affection he had own.
*telly pined. The defendant, Mr. Spottiewoods, is the
registered printer, ha., of the Saturday &view, the reel
defendants being Mr. Beresford Hope and Mr. H. D. Cloak,
the registered proprietors. The plaintiff had throughout
his life been an earnest labourer as a Christine 'madder,
and he bad also contributed to religious Wenders works
that enjoyed the largest circulations, and which the
plaintiff believed bad contributed to the good of his
fellow men. The plaintiff complained of a serious
and gross libel on his personal and Christian character
published in the Saturday Review. The press of the
country wielded an enormous power, having at its com-
mand some of the greatest intellects of the day, and the
Least discussion our not only allowed to them by the
common consent of the people, but was allowed by the law
of the land. There was, however, a limit to that freedom
It was desirable that on all public and political otbjects the
press should have a free and open way before it, but the
law provided that public writers should not invade the &a-
ranter of a private man for the purpose of defaming him and
holding hum up to ridicule or contempt, or for mating
false charge affecting his reputation and career in
life. It was, however, because the Saturday &rim
had innagrased the law, that the plaintiff, who was the
editor of two religious papers having large circulations,
complained and asked for reparation at the hands of a jury,
because the defeadants had not thought proper to retract the
sapersionstheyhadmat upon him. The Saturday Review very
naturally aoitsys a large circulation from the knows ability
of its writers, and therefore the charges made by it against
the plaintiff were the more serious. The plaintiff was note-
rions amongst the nonconformists for his deep interest
. . . . . _

in heathen minion; and early in life he obtained
• prize for • work showing the best agency
whereby the truths of Christianity might be
spread amocipt the Mathes& Stimulated by
that moons he had continued in the same course, and
the coesequenes bad been to bring him into personal cow.
munioation and friendship with the leaders of the non.
conformist party of tank sod positiou, who took an interest
similar to himself in this work. He was the persona
friend of the Earl of Shaftesbury, Mr. Mansard, M.P.,
the Earl of Gainsborough, and others, who, like
himself, were engaged in what he considered
a useful and holy work. The plaintiff was known to Mr.
Thompson, of Prior-park, Bath, who had married the Oster
of the Earl of Gainabotough ; they were enthusiastic in this
matter, like the plaintiff, and had taken up the !subject of
missions to the Chinese. The article in question contained
a sneer at the idea of evangelising the Chinese,
but it did not date to outrage public opinion by
openly condemning it. It might be wall to sneer
at the work as chimerical, but he doubted if the conversion
of 400 millions of Chinese was more se then that of the poor
fishermen of Galilee, whose teaching received the worship
and swayed the minds of the whole of the civilised world.
There was no plea of justification on the record, and the
I defence would be that the defendants had only exercised the
privilege of • public writer in this country, making • fair
and free criticism on the plaintiff's writings and
!abeam as • public minister d religion. He felt certain
that defence would not avail. Had the defendants justi-
fied, the plaintiff would have been able to go into all
the facts; as it was, be should put the plaintiff
into the box, sod produce enter evidence showing the book
fides of the plaintiff's conduct. He should prove the
plaintiffs perfect good faith in reference to the question of
the China minion by his own evidence as well as that of
others. The ;Mintsf was anxious in every way to show
that he bad not done • single thing whisk any
Christian man need be ashamed of. The nab-
tact had been treated by the plaintiff in the Ensign in 1861
in • number of letters addressed to eminent personages of
all denomination', who felt interest in the work of heathen
missions. The lamed counsel read a lotnr, dated Iltk
September, 1861, addressed to the Queen, which was pub.
belied in the Resign, relative to the Chinese Mission, and
it was not tillthe 14th June, 1862. that the defendants
published the libel complained of, which replied to that and
other letters published in the Ensign with reference to the
subscription for copies of the tatter, • penny publication,
foe circulation, in order to tome public feeling in favour of
the missions. The learned mama then read the libel own-
*Med of, the following entracte being relied on as
libelous :
" Fortunately when in • dilemma, Mr. Thompson, of
Bath, is at hand to help him out. The doctor refers fro.
quietly to Mr. Thompson as his authority—so frequently,
that we mast own to having had • transitory mineral that
Mr. T. was nothing more than another Ms. Harris, and to
believe, with Mrs. Gimp's acquaintance, that there ' never
was no inch person.' But as Mr. Thompsou's name is
down for five thou and copies of the Ensign, we must
accept his identity as fully proved, and we hope the pub-
Haber of the Ensign is equally sanded on the point. Cer-
tain it is that Mr. Thompson knows more about China than
anybody else in England."
To spread the knowledge of the gospel in China would
be • good and en excellent thing, and worthy of all prone
and enitouragement ; but to make such a work a mere pretext
for puffing an obscure newspaper into circulation is a most
seandalons and flagitious act, and it is this act, we fear, we
must charge against Dr. Campbell. Buy the letters, sod
save the Mathes. About 25 letters will be ' required ;' they
must be circulated and read, and for this ' 1 am wholly
dependent on the good °Sloss of the friends of the heathen.'
There is no disguise in all this. ' Letters from correspon-
dents, all bearing the mark of one hand,' put the matter on
• very simple Men ' Ah,' writes one, would we have our
great protestant *plea, privileges, and lineman more
widely , and more securely perpetuated, than let
us to • man, willingly, liberally, and prayerfully set up an
Ensign for the mums. The good soul adds, ' put me
down for five hundred copies.'"
" There have been many dodges_ tried to make s losing
paper ' go,' but it remained for • leader in the nonomforniks
body to repreeent the weekly subscription as an act of reli-
gious duty. Moreover, the well-known device is resorted to
of publishing lists of subscribers, the authenticity of which
the public have, to say the least, no means of checking.
' R. G.' takes MO copies, A London Minister' 120, ' Au
(lid Soldier' 100, and so on. Few readers, we imagine, will
have any doubt in their minds as to who is the ' Old
Soldier.'
" For whatever may be the private views of the editor of
the Ensign there can be no questioe that his lollowess are
sinners enough in the confidences they repose in his plan. It

-Ist be • very happy thing to be gifted wits to large a
;rock of faith. It must take the sting out tent many a sor-
row, sad smooth away many • tranbk. Th. peat coanot,
ley sad, nor the future very dread! ul! tri him who has the
espwity for hoping all things and believiag all things without
lesitation. If this temper of mid should lad its pos.
lessor open ooeuionally to the beplements of an impostor,
core than an equivalent is provided in the freedom from
doubts and suspicions, and the sense of security that it
confers. The tendency of observation sod experience of
lie can scarcely be to impart so great a privilege to those
who have it not by nature ; yet it is often by this blind
trust in everything and everybody that much good is
lons. People who never can pismire a difficulty are
say likely to succeed in whatever they undertake. No
doubt it is deplorable to find an ignorant credulity manifested
among a class of the community entitled on many grounds to
respect; but now and then this very credulity ma be
tu. mid to good account. Dr. Campbelf is just now making
use of it for a very practical E. and to-morrow
some other religious speculator will my wars in the
same of Heaven, and the mob will bates to deck him
out in purple and fine linen. When Dr. Campbell has
finished his Chinese letters, he will be • greeter simpleton
than we take him for if he does not farce off another
100,000 copies of his paper by launching a fresh amiss of
tbundmbdta against the powers of darknees. In the man.
while, there can be no doubt that he is =kin% • my good
thing indeed of the spiritual wants of the Chinese."

Tie learned counsel deliberately dated that the article was
written by a man who wilted in every passible way to
wound and irritate the feeliap of another. The writer
of the article was unknown, and in all probakility
would remain so, as writers in the public press
claimed the privilege of being unknown and
relieved from all personal rerpomibility. Into
the question of anonymous writings he should not
enter other than by observing that, unlike speeches deli-
vered in parl•ament and by comma at the bar, which were
subjected to personal responsibility, the writers for the
public press sheltered themselves from impunity under
the reps of the responsibility of the printer and pub-
lisher of such publication. It was proposed to rasa
a subscription for sending mission to China, and,
order to stimulate the feelings of the religious
it was arranged that the plaintiff should write and publish
in the fferige a series of letters, and persons of width an
well as those of limited mauls, who felt deeply on the sub-
ject. were to suberribe for copies and gratuitomi cir-
culate them on the plan adopted by the Be&igicas
Tract Society. The effect of the libel wee to de-
scribe the letter relative to the circulation of copies
of the Ensign as having no real existence, and to
charge the plaintiff with obtaining money under
false pretence*. It might be all very well to sneer at
the mission to China. It was true that the Chimes
had an old literature and philosophy, and that they
IMO the inventors of the printing pram and of gunpowder,
Mg before they were known m Europe, but they were
far behind in religious matters, and it could be no doubt •
Christian duty for a Christian country to endeavour to en-
lighten them upon them.
The learned mined after some further remarks said b
should prove the genuineness of the Letters annoweeisig
tutecriptioas for copies, and with regard to the "CU
boldiiis he should put him in the box, and he would in-
form them that he was an old retired colonr-emposat
who bad served in Wis. He took a deep in-
terest in missions to the heathens, and hal an in the work under the sandien and
authority of the late Archbishop of Canterbury. The plain-
tiff naturally felt wounded at being told by an
writer that he was an impostor, after havinguh=huiss
life to this labour of love as much as of remuneration. If
they thought the libel was written with the deliberate pur-
pose of staining the phintirs fair remind= and of
wounda.ihim to the quick—for almost every anotence
ess a dart—and for the purpose of brining a men in
advanced life, who up to this period had enjoyed the raped
and 04111111111 54 thousands, into contempt and poisoning his
future bappeasseile hoped they woad e. him lounges
with no
A marrthle Saturday Review asatehips the libel was
put in. The correspondence that sawed men it wee also put
wand read. The first letter was hem tbegiainiire attorney
to the defendent, stating that the snide ilkarlikliti
false and seriously prejudicial to the phali.,
a prompt and ample apology far the Mel. It stated
the charges were unfounded, sad that if persisted in pro.
ceed'ass would be taken for rustication of cheractsr.

'Ma'am was proessiiiii rlithia oar mon left] •
COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
(Mare the Jed. Orahozy.)
- Cl/8191 e. D 0421,10111.
- . -

This heard a;as w7a ;pia 1;;Ms d ; sad as it nem
likely SAP! Baum days lascar, sas rasorvs say further
Mat

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

01711.DRALL
colocer•• or ♦ muzimorr YOB BILOXI AID IWDiT.

John lflisiy s ever earrybsg as badness at Ospel
St. Suffeik, was pleeed at the ter far Sail mamma-
lice Were Menem Sala Merged with several ahem
rider *taw likeksetpacy AM of 1861, sad with haves
the emeamitisd wilful and eased perjury mhis examination in
Osurt Bankrapicy.
Mr. af
appeared for the promeatiou, aid
from his eleAmmet, sad the evidence given in
sopped the various chugs% it empire& that the hank-
rapt hed tonaerly carried am bade= at Woolwich.
aad latterly at Caged Saint Mazy, nearlmerielt, sad
that cm being adjudicated • bankrupt in the !attar
part of lad year be filed certain mama* sad in the
course of his examination he dated that on the Slat of June
lad be sold the whole of his stook far about 1501., and that
atter paying some small =mate he repaid a relative
of the name of Joseph Meek, • aura cif IOOL,
whick he alleged he had harrowed of hint in
September, ISIO. It was dawn, however, that
the Moque Meth he received in pursed for kin stook
was embed ce thz 24th of June, whim one 1001. note, No.
SUM the principal amount lavaived fa theme charges, was
paid with otherpr oodda in =Menge far it, &Mad
the hisakrapt uced
he to Reach fora ram= dated September,
whiehw
end another which React gave to him for the
thatount al the 100 L in Jame, It wae farther proved
the dump la quotes were not homed by the govern-
ment until • couple of maths after the date of the receipt
for tie ken, and that the 1001. mote was changed at
the Bank of Englaad after the panes, had bees
adjudicated • bankrupt, sad tore the name sad address
in the beakrupes handwLespgret%ihe Pam= ca=l
What the evidence was axe Mr. Jame for
the committal of the hie for unlawfully °enameling
and embszzliag his estate, far attempting to account for his
yikryby• Actaeon' lone, and for wilful and corrupt
the bankrupt, wheedled that, as
commimicediaadlf a or
conounwat juriebotioa sod had
deal/tad to mimes it in the Fremont edam', that it was
OM a teller in which the magistrate ought to interfere.
Mi. Jesse mid it was true that the New Baakrupiey Act
empowered the commistioner to dad with sin are, but
they bed all ODOM to the determination not to idechas with
theA=rme's juriedicticez
• Rale said this ode appeared very dear to him,
and he should not be guided by what the commissimers had
omitted to do, but would soma the primmer for triaL

SNOOZING DEATH PROM STARVATION.-LIPZ
AND DEATH IN A CARAVAN.

INQUEST—(THIS DAY.)
This looming Mr. John Humphreys, the Mid-
dlesex comer, held an *airy M the Deke's Head Tavern,
Ifigirstreet, Whitecluipel, respeetiag the death of (harp
Kimble, aged 66 years,. who died from destitution in a
amnia under the following eireenistancee.
Emma Staples said that dammed was her ham, and be
lived by himself in • caravan which latterly Mood in Georg..rard„ Brick 1.... H. need to work at • tea-warehouse.
He was latterly In a .We of extreme distrait', and was in
want of food. Tie caravan wee his own, bat witness did
not keel, whether he paid mything for the ground on
which it stood.

Epee Bollard said that deceased ma in • Mote of peat
destitution and was in want of food for • length of time.
The canvass was wheels and witoem was rated at W. per
hiar for it. He mid to pal taxes. They refused to give
m relief in the work house unless he west Wawa
J. Hamer, 26 H, said that dammed sot having been
seen for some dop, he (witness) forced ea antrum into
the caravan oa &today evening. He found deemed 41. g%
deed or the bard; oely • rug covering him
was no fureitare of soy kind io the plasm, sad it had •
most miserable look. There was no Ore or fuel in the
it‘Them was • loaf of bread in a paper, se if it hod
gleass to him wises he was too far gone to eat it.
Dr. Chasspeeys mid that decesasd was most
ga slosoldneiy
the -skin banging loose on the boom There was
notteetl food la the stomach. There was scene dames of
the right keg. Death resulted from waist of the neoeseariss
of life and from the disown of the long.
The Coroner, having summed up,
The Jury retuned • verdict of " Death from dismiss of
the right lung, soosierated by want of food sad other
neceinaries of life.*

The Right Rev. Dr. Thompson was yesterday
enthrosed me Archbishop of York, is the Cathedral at
York. The mos] mom km woo observed, and the clergy
sad lefty &Leaded in cosaideoble ssisten.
Lim, Liner !—ln oar report of the meeting at
Brl7 Bt. lehould's lot week, we alluded toe letter men-
emrsieg the moil marriage from the Awahhhhep d Oster-
bar, Se • &Legroom wbo had eameebed Ids' es the selijed.
We are sow enabled to give the entire merge s—" The
guess quite feels UN didralty there may be mars( hi'
seines mud reLielop during Lost. There an se great
no)otsp et court ; aothieg OK.* then tee Mete amiss,
mad the Qom quite sees the remerablarrald:Bl=
m}mhises is the 'pantry till after grew. 1
to he sr widely holm am peollge."— now