The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-06-02 00:00:00

properly of Allan Macauley. The Prisoner was
found Goi/ty of stealing, but not in the dwelling•
house.

Before the Commox-SeaJEANT, and a Loudon
Jury.
CHARGE OF LIBEL.
THE KING V. JOHN lIKTIINW OVTCH.

This was an indictment instituted at the instance
of James Mills. an engineer, residing near Bristol,
against the Defeiulant, Joint Mathew Gotch, Eat.
for and Proprietor of " Felix Farley's Bristol
Journal," for a false, wicked, and scandalous libel,
published 111 a Noirober of that Journal, on the
18th of July, 1818.
Mr. Hunt, the celebrated orator, appeared to
take an active part in this case, as he has intended
the Court for several evenings past.
The indictment having been read, Mr. Mills.
who bud stationed himself at the Counsel table;
robe to address the Jury, as Counsel would have
been entitled to do, when
Mr. ROLLAND, as Counsel fur the Defendant
(who was permitted to sit in the table), took an ob.,
jection to Mr. Mills addressing the Jury, upon the
score of irregularity. He contended, upon the taw
of England, that a man could not be an advocate
and witness in his own cause ; besides in this ease
the King was the prosecutor, and no person could
appear for him unless he was an accredited advocate.
Mr. Mills, with some warmth, demanded a right
to address the Jury, observing that it would be
extremely hard if ten millions of his Majesty's sub-
jects. who did not wish to squander away their
money in feeing Counsel, should be deprived ante
means of defending themselves against libel. Ile
hail employed Counsel, hut by souse sort of slight
of hand the trial had been put otr from day to day,
and by these means lie had been arrived of his
assistance.

After a reply from 11r. BOLL AND (about the eight
OF %hid), however, Mr. Milk made an -utiliceess-
Jul stand), the COMMON.SEOJEANT held Mr. Hot.-
LAND'S IthieCiloll good, observing, that WI this rase
the only prosecutor known was the King, mid Mr.
Mills, iis a witness, might proceed with his evidence,
but could not, according to the rules of law,.be.
permitted to address the Jury.
Mr. Mills said, if lie were not allowed to address
the Jury, he would forego the prosecution. lie
claimed to be heard before that Jury.
The COMMON SERJ con. would not permit him ;
but, after some peftillill.oll, lie thought proper to
proceed with his evidence. Ile said, he lived at
Cumin, near Bristol ; he was an'engitteer ; but he
114:1 !nothing to say, unless he was first allowed to
address the Jury.
The ComnoN SERJBANT again told him lie bad
•:o r ght to do so.
Kottswo observed, that lie had been sworn
to thetruth and the whole truth.
Nfilis still*claieu:d id bit heard iu his address to
the J
The Cusv-toN Ste.ts.tet told him lie was con-
liiinself most inifernrously, and must and
should take the law from those intrusted toadmi-
ulster it.

Niturs—tt Gentlemen of the Jury, I will
!t• viii ttte circumstances of the Case."
HOLLAND--" I am not to be taken in by
Bristol natii—you shall not address the Jury."
After another admonition from the Bench, Mills
•went on with his evidence. He stated, that in
cointequence of an action of law, which he bad will,
several Gentlemen uf Bristol, on Friday evening,
the 17th July IliklB, he called at Mr. Gulch's of
lire, in Bristol; antldsabAd to *Wow if he had in-
.l.erterl 40 account of his trial in his pewipaper ; sod
itt.cmseequesice of answer, witness desired hi
would itiourb in his piper/ill' affidavit which he had
mode, but he would not without being paid for its,
Witness authorised Inns to insert it, and charge it
to him. Oil the following ntonutig the libel com-
plained of appeared, of whirls the following cont.
paws a principal feature:—
" That mi.. Mills, iii a certain account of a trial, hakes-
ceedeil all those barefaced peoversiouss of truth, *hid; Mee
Guti Is had known hint to make. It upon him to say
lens Is,. could know what hail nut appeared is, part of the iil .
of his paper, and in another part what had nut even
tape the public eye An insolent letter, in a Bristol Paper,
as to it.. gaol Inn:Mess, might, he said, have ingliGell him is
4...ptntg the hardest thug against his character, awl that is
what he did pisillt.li, 1w did not give him slue credit. tsar his
Impartiality, nor, iuderd, Ike mercy lie hail skews buns. He
was at liberty to insert iir reject what he pleased with regard
to his paiwr, and he considered is. columns WO yaluabk to
devote Horan to a vindication of his character."

In his crust-examination, he said, he indicted
Mr. Gutch ;it Bristol, but did nut appear to pro-
:a-cute hitn, being compelled to be in London at the
tio.:e of the Sessions, and that he received notice of
via( I..isly a day before it time on.
Mr. Clnti It. Keisling ars the next witness called,
and prodimed r certificate from the Stamp Office,
to prove the Llelendant sole Proprietor of the Paper
in question.
.Ir. Mills then vut in the Paper, containing the
libel.

Jr. COMMON SFILJEii.,NT said be wanted to know
*here it come from.

Mr. Mills said he brought i% from Bristol.
bill% COMMON SENJEANT-.." That I am afraid
you are the publisher of the libel yourself."—
( Lunglirer.)
44'illiunt rsloorr, the keeper of the tiles at the
Chapter Culfee.house, was then called, to prove
that the pe;ber containing the libel was received at
their bowie ; but this witness did not appear.
Mr. Mills said, lie had been present four days,
and if the Court would wait a short time, he had
no doubt but he would come.

The Court could not wait, and, in the absence
Of evidence, the Jury found the Defendaut—Not

Mr: Mills held the newspaper in his hand, upon
which

The Com moN-Sumusrr observed, " the paper
you hold in your hind was never published in Lon-
don but by yourself."—(A laugh against Mr.

The. Defendant was again arraigned upon a second
indictment, which charged him to have printed and
published other libellous matter against Mr. Mills
WI the (kb of February, 1819, to the following
arrel

" His (Xlles) character rss too well knows to need de-
scription, but that .distant fowlers unglit to know that he was
n modern political dernagogJe. It adverted to certain pro-
ceeilinga in which Mills had been engaged, ancLeoded by a
prayer, that he ought visit she shores of Amesics, the
4i', auks icsurt of refugee patriots, said au Itiugcr distort) the