The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-02 00:00:00

COURT OF KING'S 1101C11, FaiDay. JuLy 1.

LIBEL.. j.
11.07 LE v. STOCIMALT.
Mr. JON es, in opening the pleadings, stated that this was an
action brought by the plaintiff to recover from the defendant, who
is a publisher and bookseller in the Itoyal Colonnade, Pall-mall,
compensation in damages for injury sustained by him in conse-
quence of the defendant having publiracch a false and malicious
libel upon the character of the plaiiitiffNw a work entitled The
Memoirs of Hat chile Wiles. The defendant pleaded the gene-
ral issue.
Mr. &art ar.TT stated the case to the Jury. The plaintiff is a
statuary, keeping a shop in Piccadilly, and a tradesman of great I
respectability. The defendant is a publisher of great celebrity, and ,
who has lately acquired new claims to notoriety by his publication '
of the Memoirs of liarriette Wilson. This actin is brought to re-
cover damages fur one of 1111 most gross and unfounded calumnies
that were ever promulgated. Among the persons who flourish in I
.this work is a sister of Harriette s, called Fanny, to whom, at a
time when she was living as the mistress of a Captain Parker, the '
plaintiff is charged, in a letter published in this work, and signed
`• Fanny Parker," in the most gross and flippant style, with Inv- ;
int offered marriage. The Learned Counsel then read the parts of
the letter in question from the work, as follows:
" Apropos! talking of vulgarity. I have had a proposal of mar.
rive, since I saw you, from i%lr. More, the stone-mason, who
keeps a shop in Piccadilly. Parker says it is all my fault, for
being so humble, and civil to every body ; but, you must recol.
lect, this man was our near neighbour, wen we were all children
together. arid I cannot think I had any right to refuse answer.
ing hill first civil inquiry after my health, by which he, no doubt,
thought, as a man of good property, and better expectations, he
skid me honour. Since then, he has often joined me in my
little rural walks, early in the morning. lYlien, first, his two.
venation began to wax tender, I scarcely believed my ears. Bow.
ever, those soft speeches were speedily succeeded by a pro-
mise of marriage ! You know my foolish way of Jaughing at
every thing of this kind, which was what encouraged him to
argue the point, after 1 had begged to decline his polite offer. Look
you. here, my dear lady, said he, these here officers cut a splash I
And it's all very tine being called Mrs. Parker, and the Ulm a
that; but then it's nothing compared to a rate husband. Nowt 1.
means onorable, remember that. I was interrupting him. Comes
I don't ax you, my dear, to make up your mind this moron*,
Marriage it a serious kind of a thing, and I wants no woman for to
marry me, till she has determined to make an industrious, good
wife. Not as I should have any objection to your taking a hit of
pleasure of a Sunday, and wearing the best of every thing ; but at
the same time, we must stick to the main chance, for a hew years
longer, if ever we wishes to keep our a'. a, and be rarely genteel and
respectable. Not but what I've pot, now, as good a shay an oat vii
soy man need to wish for, and an eine over my head, full of hand.
some furniture, acelplenty of stands (statues), still I looks forwards
to better things.
i
" Though it s morally and physically impossible for a woman,'
be site what, or whom she may, to attach herself to any thing so
low and vulgar as this podr Mr. Blore, after she has acquired the
taste, and the habits of good society, still I certainly have a right
to feel obliged to any honest man, who yet considers me worthy to
become his partner for life; and I could not have Raid any citing
cross or harsh to him, for the world. You have no idea what diffi.
ashy I found in making him believe that 1 would not marry him.
" There, my dear, said he, after 1 had assured him, over and
over again, that I must really decline hisriffer, there, my dear ! I
will leave you now. I don't want you to decide all at once ; but
remember, you must not let what I a been a saving about our
minding the main chance, frighten you ; because you'll find me a
very reasonable, good-natured fellow ; and as for going to the play,
if vou are fond of that, I can get orders for the pit venever I like."
The Jury would perceive the extreme ingenuity with which it
was contrived to depredate and degrade the character of this man.
What would they think of a man, whatever be his condition or
circumstances, who should solicit a kept woman or prostitute foe
his wife ? A young man in the spring, tide of passion might fo
himself and make such a proposal, but that a man settled is the
world., having a character to maintain, and advanced in years,
should do so, is imposasible. But the plaintiff's case went a great
deal Pother; this respectable tradesman at the very time had a
wife and a very large family. That he should seriously pro.
pose to offer his hand to any woman, but especially to a oilman
who was the mistress of a military officer, could not be supposed of
any man in a sane condition of mind. In what way was Mr. Stock.
dale to answer this ? Was it to be said that he never read this
book before be published it? lii his opinion, the author of a
libel, writing under the influence of strotig passion, though he
might inflict severe pain on individuals, was, in a moral point of
view, infinitely less criminal than the publisher. But the man
who could descend to such a base, sordid, and detestable act—net
because he had been injured, not because he was swept away with
strong feelings—but, without any such motive, influenced by th
single consideration of filthy
,lucre, was one of the most odious
characters that could exist In society. The miserable wretch who,
under the pressure of hunger, resorts to the publication of such
flagrant falsehoods, such base attacks on private character, was
comparatively innocent. But be the tradesman who he may, how-
ever respectable, he must cease to be so the moment he is con.
owned in such a transsction. The plaintiff; a man, a tither, a
master of a family—what must he have felt when these' infamous
lien were published to the world ? What must he have felt when
he was anonanced to the world as Having offered marriage to
the wretch who had arrived nt her unhappy distinction, by passing
through every scene of profligacy, prostitution, and vice ? What
effect must it have upon his son—what must have been the feelings
of his wife, on seeing her husband, the partner of her choice, her
companion for nearly thirty years, when she found that he had
offered 'his hand to this prostitute? Chaste, tender, dignified,
what Mutt have been her agony ? Such was the complaint of Mr.
Blore; such W 29 the injury for which lie sought damages. Of
whom did he complain ?—Of a bookseller, who had accumulated
thousands by his trader. They had both the parties before them,
and they would judge of the motive which induced the publics.
tion by its character—they would judge of the defendant by his
conduct.

Mr. Smith, examined by Mr. PLATT-1S a linen-draper in
Half-tnoon-street, Piccadilly. Knows Mr. Vlore, he is a statuary ;
has known him many years; he was married when witness first
knew him; his wife Is still living; he has a large family. The
father of the woman called Harriette Wilson lived in Queen-street,
May-fair; his name is Deboucbet ; he kept a small shop. Fanny
Dehouchet's age 1. about 35.
Cross-examined by 31r. Stockdale—The eldest son of 3lr. Blore
may be about two or three slid twenty. Believes this son lives with
his father.

Henry Robinson produced a copy of the register of Fanny
Debouchet, which is In St. George's church, Hanover-square. She
was born ea tile 10th April, 1702, and baptised Bth May, in the
stun? year..

Miry Trigg—l live in Shepherd's-market. I remember Fanny
Debouchet. Heard that ahe was living with a person of the
name of Parker; she went by the name of Parker.
James Barnard—la son of Mr. Barnard. the printer. His
father was employed in printing Harriette Frifont. About 7,0110
copies were printed, and thcre was a great demand for them.
Henry Marshall—ls porter to the firm of Sherwood and Co.,
booksellers. Has been to the shop of Mr. Stockdale. many
times, to bring copies of Harriette Wilson. There was a great
demand for them ; there was at first great difficulty in obtaming
them.

Mr. Stockdalc then rose and read a very long &Wrest; from a
manuscript which lie held in his hand. lie begun by stating, that
unawed by the expressions of triumph and sarcasm which had
been long and risibly, he would not say indecently, playing on the
features of many who surroutsJed him, he still presumes! to be
hit own advocate. in a case on which the Gentlemen of the Long
Robe were aware much more depended than at a first glance
might meet the eye of a less penetrating observer. hhould success
attend the present plaintiff, it would, as was intended, encourage
myriad,' of similar actions ; and that even were the damages
awarded against him id such numerous cats to be reduced to a
single farthing he might,• nay must, as one contending against
many, ultimately fall a sacrifice to the length of a.coinbined purse.
against which no individual resources would be able incessantly
to stand. Never until now had such a combination of wealth
and power been opposed against one individual. The defendant
then **poke of the moral tendency of the Memoirs of Harriette
Wilton. which lie considered the most important work, for its
truth, that had ever appeared. The well-known adage, that the
pleader of his own cause always had a fool lot his client had been
applied•to him. Yet, not presumptuously, but with the moat
awful reverence, he would remind the Jury that thus the Phi-
listines anticipated the destruction of the comparatively defence-
less and dwarf-like David. when lie slew the iron-bound and
gigantic Goliah. The defendant then reverted to the Memoirs
and again spoke of their moral excellence. It was for the fakir
authoress of this work to raise the veil by which it had hitherto
been concealed from the rude and garish eye of day, front all
but the regular and select initiated ; and to prove with the poet,
that—

" 'Tis from high life high characters are drawn."
Ile then diverged towards tht Gentlemen of the Bar a second
time, and said that he had received the moat direct and positive
intimations that they wete all to a man against him. Nor even had
he the chance or a fair Jury, so powerful was the com-
bined influence of those great names which figured in these M emoirs,
together with tie influence of all their connexions to the third and
fourth generations. The defendant next gave a very pathetic
detail of the losses he had experienced by fire and by shipwreck,
and which ended in a bankruptcy, occasionally digressing into
an attack on the public press, Lord Granville this Majesty's Am.
barmador at France), who had intercepted the correspondence of
Marriette Wilson with the defendant, and in particular on a paper
lied the British Lion, which, he said, was established to iffeft
ruin, but which had, it seemed, met its own fate tint. It
v iv circumstance particularly deserving of remark, that of the,
dinheds of individuals who had thus far formed Ilarriette Wil-
son's exhibits, no one had been found hardy enough to figure
before a Jury, save and except Robert More, who was no more
real prosecutor in this action than were the Gentlemen of the
• ; and he was not only to be borne harmless against the ex-
I of this suit, but doubtless be - dd be well paid for again ;
.. - - . . _
• such - -, with
~ping to
sod lead

a number of passages from it, and in particular a letter pur-
porting to be from a Mr. Robinson, recommending those who
hail been injured in this publication to form themselves into a
combination, for the purpose of prosecuting Mr. Stockdale. This
Mr. Robinson was the plaintiffs attorney. He went on to argue
that it was very possible that the person intended in this
libel was Mr. Mote, jun., and not his rasher. He then im-
peached the moral conduct of Mr. Blore, describing him as a
man destitute of every moral principle; and immediately aftcr,
with some degree of inconsistency, praised the act charged in
the libel; and endeavoured to represent his thus offering his hand
to a common prostitute as a most noble and disinterested deed,
inasmuch as he was voluntarily offering to redeem the character and
condition of a woman whose vices had reduced her to infamy and
wretchedness. Ile again justified his standing forth as his own ad.
vocate; reminded the Jur" of the great stand which his tither had
made against Lord Mansfield's doctrine, that "the greater the truth
the greater the libel:" and panegyrized the eloquence of Erskine.
and' his great efforts to maintain unimpaired the rights of Juries.
" The moral character of these memoirs," said Mr. Stockdale
(again reverting to what seemed to be his favourite argument)
" will stand the test of ages. It is a memorial of truth and of
moral Instruction which will last for ever. It is a picture of
the age. It will show what high life is among us." Ile again
`reminded the Jury that he was the victim of a combination;
Irbil a verdict against him with a farthing damages would ruin him ;
, and that he was entitled to their verdict, as well from the men'
of his case as from the peculiarity of his situation.
Robert Blore, jun., was called, and examined by Mr. Stock.
dale—He never saw Fanny Parker ; he never proposed marriage
I to lice. _ .. _

The lion. George Lamb was then called, but he did not ap-
pear; and the defendant proposed to call other witnesses to prove
the truth of different statements in the memoirs ; but he was told
by his Lordship that he would not hear any evidence, except such
as related to the libel the subject of this action.
31r. JONES here called 3lr. John Robinson, to contradict the
allegations of the defendant as to his being the writer of the
letter in the British Lion. Ile did not remember having seen the I
paper, and he had no connection whatever with it.
Mr. JONES then replied tb the defence. lie should not en
far offend the good taste of the Jury, nor waste the time of the
Court, as to follow Mr. Stockdale through his long address and
irrelevant details ; he should only advert to one or two facts. It
SAS said by the defendant, that there was a combination against
him. Not a tittle of proof was given that this was the fact:
the only attempt to prove it was a letter written by Mr. Robinson
to the editor of the British Lien: but the Mr. Robinson, on whom
the defendant wished lb affix this, had denied all knowledge of it.
The letter was plainly an imposture; and if there was any
question as to who wrote it, the Jury would readily perceive'
who the writer was, and that it was withen for the very purpose
of tbia day. What did tine Jury think of a man who was a
bankrupt, and had taken such a means as the publication of these
memoirs to restore his fortunes ? Again, look at his line of de-
fence. Ile had not only libelled the plaintiff; but had even, while
addressing the Jury, sought by every means lie possibly could to
throw additional obloquy and ridicule on him.
The LORD Cuter JUSTICE, in anointing up the evidence, ob-
served that every man was entitled to protection from foul and
indecent slanders, such as those contained in this libel. The Erst
point which they had to consider was, the publication by the de-
fendant. That was not denied ; and if it were, it had been
sufficiently proved. The defendant had attempted to show that
this libel applied to the son, and not to .he father; but he thought
the Jury would not discover that there was any ground for such a
supposition. Then the defendant had t Iresented this as the first
of a series of acts to oppress and ruin him, by a combination of
persons of wealth and influence; but there was no proof any such
combination. In estimating the damages, they would not only
consider the nature of the libel and its effects upon the plaintiff;
but would observe the mode of defence which had been attempted.
The observation, of the defendant were untie of them certainly cal-
culated to soothe the w...undetileelings of the plaintiff; but rather
to aggravate them, as they weft in fact a repetition of the libel.
The Jury, after consulting about ten minutes, returned a verdict
for the plaintift—Dainagcs 300/.

SALES BY AUCTION.

. . . . . •
SMALL FARM, IN THE PARISH OF WOODHAM BEDFORDSHIRE.
WALTER, ESSEX. FREEHOLD ESTATE, TITHE-FREE, AND LA,
By Mr. W. W. SIMPSON, I TAX REDEEMED.
At Garraway's, on MONDAY, the 11th inst. at 12, in one Lot, ! By Mr. W. W. SIMPSON,
by order of the Proprietor, I At Garraway's, on THURSDAY. August 4. 1825, in One
Amall but desirable FARM, comprising a Brick Cot-! A Valuable and Desirable FREEHOLD and TITi
stage Residence, with a garden in front, Isirn, stable, cow 1 .11 FREE ESTATE, situate in the Parishes of Thurl
house, horse shed, corn granary. and fifty-three acres of sound ara- and Clapham, Bedfordshire, and containing Two Hundred
ble and pasture land, called Cook's and Bryan's, situate in the Twenty.four Acres of arable, pasture, and wood land, divided
parish of iVoodham Wither, Essex, and adjoining the Villa Resi- suitable enclosures, and the soil is well adapted to the growtl
dence on Colewort Green, within two miles of Aluldon and eight of wither ; a respeetkble Family Residence, yards, gardens, and'
Chelmsford. ' cultural buildings, equal to such an occupation.
May be viewed, and particulars had of M. Lawrence, Esq. Soli- I Particulars may be had in due time of S. Davis, Esq. Solidi
I citor, Maldon ; of Mr. W. W. Simpson. 24, Bucklersbury, near' Ampthill ; and of Mr. W. W. Simpson, 24, Bucklersbi
the Mansion-house, where a piss of the Estate may be seen. I London.

FREEHOLD AND TITHE-FREE FARM, CALLED
ROCKLLYS, BECKINOHAM, ESSEX.
By Mr. W. W. SIMPSON,
At Oarraway's, on MONDAY, the 11th inst. at 12, in one Lot,
by order of J. Bygrave, Evq, the Proprietor,
A Valuable and desirable FREEHOLD FARM, plea-
I-1 sandy situate in the parish of lleckingbam, a short distance
from the high road leading front Mahlon to Darcy, distant front
the former place four miles, from Witham five miles, from Cogge-
stun seven miles, and twelve miles from Colchester, all goad corn
markets; it tOntailPi 1110 acres of land, seven of which are rich pas-
ture, the remainder is fine arable land. On a desirable part of the
Estate is a Residence, with garden, and a pump of good water;
barn, with attached granaries; a detached corn granary, waggon
and cart lodge, cow house and calf pens, piggeries, fowl houses,
and stablinr.
May be viewed b,y permissinn, and particulars had in due time,
by application to N m. Lawrence, Esq. Solicitor. Maldon ; and at
the Mike of Mr. W. W. Simpson, 24, Bucklersbury, near the
31ansion-house, London.

SALES BY AUCTION.

FREEHOLD AND TITHE-FREE ESTATE.—BEER-
INGHA NI, ESSEX.
By Mr..W. W. SIMPSON,
At Garraway's„ on MONDAY, 11th inst. at 12, by order of Mr.
Jeffery Mayne. the Proprietor, in One Lot,
THAT Valuable FREEHOLD ESTATE, designated
the MANOR of WICKS; comprising a respectuble Family
Residence, fitted up with every domestic convenience, with a moat
of tine water in front, and a well-planted garden, part of whielt is
skirted by a brick wall ; two barns with granaries attached ; corn
granary, on piers ; chaise house, riding and cart horse stables, with
lofts over ; row house, piggeries, warm and well protected cattle
yards, and One Hundred and Fifty Acres of rich Arable and Pas-
ture bar.d, in a very superior state of cultivation, delightfully si-
tuated in the healthy villages of Beckingitam and Tullcshunt
Darcy, a fertile part of the county of Essex, surrounded by good
hard roads, in the centre of capital corn marketa, and at very short
distances front wharfs, where grain may, with great facilttr, be
shipped for the London marketf; the Residence in good repair..
The Estate may be viewed, and further particulars had, • in due
time, by application to W. Lawrence, Esq. Solicitor, Maldon ; and
at the Office of Mr. W. W. Simpson, 24, Bucklersbury, near the
Mansion-house, London.

„_ - r---- r•.,,,, ad 1•01..• ,1113.111111• C V 11.3 naajczty 3 An.
) er
.
'..”:
\ .pint—That the published opinion of Mr. William Bellew will I bassailor at France), who had intercepted the correspondence ol
spew, even to himself, to be totally inapplicable CO the " New ' ,Harriette Wilson with the defendant, and in particular on a popes
Catholic Asaociation." called the British Lion which, he said, was established to affect
-Secondly—That the " Now Catholic Association" shall billiis ruin, but which had, it seemed, met its own tate first. It
femed. and continue its meetings until the next Session of Pay: was a• circumstance particularly deserving of remark, that of the
and esteem
l'sment, and deserve the gratitude anesteem of the Prolestanta hundreds of individuals who had thus far formed Ilarriette Wil.
and Catholics of the British Empire, without infringing any ; non's exhibits, no one had been found hardy enough to figure
• esistiag law, and without any of its members being liable, by any before a Jury, save and except Robert Blore, who was no more
construction, however perverse, to any indictment or other criminal I the real prosecutor in this action than were the Gentlemen of the
i . precredmg. I:Jtvy ; and he was not only to be borne harmless against the ex.
Thirdly—That I will myself collect a New Catholic Rent far '•peenses of this suit, but doubtless be would be well paid for again
Ir "tholie and Irish uneminently eposes, useful, and highly merito- making such a regular fool of himself as to fight those battles, with
nowl
',which he really was the only one named- who had nothing Sc
4-Wilb "4" PIMP. I lake ro,Jesre for theragent moment of .do. The deciding then reverted to the. British Lion, and-read
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