The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-07-17 00:00:00

11011,I\ CAIIIDZN AND OTHERS.

Mc. TINDALL opened the pleadings.
Mr. ATTOU NEY-Ot ERA'. detailed the circumstance' at great
length to the Jury. The plaintiff had brought this action to vin-
dicate his character teem aspersions cast upon it in a newsparr
called the Times, of which the defendants were proprietors. Ihe
circulatioa of that paper, which, in their own language, extended to
every part of the known world, made a calumny inserted in its
columns peculiarly injurious. The libel arose from the connexion
ot the plaintiff' with the alendicity Society, of which he was first
Howeran Secretary. and afterwards Assistant 31anager. The
latter office was an experiment. and 'he plaintiff held it without re-
si;ning his afire of Hannay Secretary. For his service in the
thauetet of' Assistant Manager, which were mint valuable to the
Society, and reduced the expenses of the Society ter y considerably,
tie Society considered 30U1. a-year justly due. In That capacity he
aced for a year and tight months, and received 31101. A 3lr.
Walla then socceded him. The libel now coniplainedolconsiated
in remarks made upon the plaintiff's conduct and salary in this
etSce. An annual account was published by the Society, in which
the item of Sea was stated for the Assistant Manager. A let:er
in We Tinter animadverted open this charge, and upon the plain.
tit Mr. Bodkin, as receiving this money in disguise for a sinecure
tthce. The Society consisted of the highest and most honourable
individuals; the fluke of York was President, end Lord Suffield
the original founder. Mr. Bodkin had uniformly received the
thmls of the Society, and they had considered 2"01. a-year but a
very inadequate compensation for his labours. Mr. B. sought not
money by this action, but vindication of his character. The de-
fendants had not ventured to enter a justification on the record,
bat pleaded the general issue. Mr. Bodkin, finding this attack
made upon him in a widely circulated newspapm, applied to a pro-
le:nice:ll gentleman to get an explanation. None was given, but
mother article appeared. Mr. Bodkin was al%n Honorary Secretary
fur the Institution for the " Houselem Poor." For this he had no
fee or mid. The lailtutioe was at an end. but there are coo-
miJer.ible funds remaining. The second article in the Times im-
rated to Mr. Bodkin' a deep scheme of transferring the funds to
IRd 1.100-square (the office of the Mendicity Society), and of
Introducing some of the members of the Institution for We House-
less poor into the management of the Mendicity Society, under the
!mpresaion that he was to have a permanent office with a high
salary. In all this there was not a word of truth. These were the
libels complained of. •• Gentlemen.," corainued the Learned
Counsel. "we are all at the mercy of the public press. I mean
not to.complain of the liberty of the press. On the contrary, it is
the best guardian of all our liberties." But it was a runt tenni-
dahle engine when directed against an individual. The Times was
particularly formidable from its circulation. It was widely dif-
nowd. Undoubtedly it was conducted with great talent, and
hence its wide circulation. Money was net the object of tile
pleintiff, but money was the only measure by which a Jury
mold ttrress their muse of. the injare done to character. ''hey
would therefore give web damages as would express their tense
of the injury done to, the character of his very respectable client.
The Honourable Charles Shore, examired by Mr. I: E
laid be had been a mensker of the Illeritheity Society for three years.
11r. lksikin was Honorary Secretary, and also Assistant Manager.
The annual account produced was published by the Society.
Th. account was read in evidence.
. .

WOness----ThetutieTwere vToreiglit houn a day in the summer.
they were of a eerie:duces nature. •
ense-esalnined Mr. SCAR I.ETT-1 was not a mescbcr at the
licarwasoment. I cew lulling of 31r. Bodkin. I have been told
that he acts in a variety of aces. Great pains were used to call
mblic attention to the Society. It was certainly my view that it
*1•• as association of independent gentlemen, who were to devote
their latsars patuimnsly m a great public purpose. The Board of
w 6 acted in enstirin, had the sane d to perform as
the Assistant Manager. Mr. Tooke is Honorary Solicitor, and re-
oistvan emolument whatever. When the Autumn Slanager was
Maimed there were twenty-two 31ana‘-ers Present. It we...nu:done
•puhl:c meeting of the subscriber*. The proceeding was not
pabli•lird. There was no pubilc notice, and no intimation given
tethe pubic that Mr. Bnilkin was appointed Assistant Manager
445 a Wary. There was &so a dinner. 31r. Ikalkin's health was
think cab sp7lsuse. Great pains were taken to publish that.
Vlsy neat Alas were taken by the Managers to vindicate 3lr. Bud.
kin's chuaeor. I think those efforts were successful, and that 3lr.
il?dkin's character-NM completely cleared front any delusion which
1111W3 have exi‘teel respecting him.
emir; appointing an Assistant Manager, the
emir.; roAkt not suortvsfulty glen! against impostures. The sp.
painentot was the mean. of grest saving.
An admission of the deknalr ma being proprletors, publishers. &c.
01 t to T;sc4, was read.
The hist one:charged as libel was read. It was dated January
17. 1821 ;it %WA toms at a letter addr,aed to the Editor, anti
reNreted is atromt terms upon the vote of SOUL to Mr. 'Bodkin. the
Ilderetioy, fur acting as Asaiatane 31arager, at the rate ut 301.11. per
annum. This ass dennotteett a. a thainumuous trick to get 3001. a
year her Mr. Honorary rieas'etitry
The leading 'click of the atone paper. moat cordially recommend-
ng the I eorr of ••.1 hint to Cp.. Pour" to public attention, and
Wan Ti
ItlyettiatlC to the charge of :iteof. as a most flagrant deception, was
d.

. •
alibellous Me. GcovnY wasproceeding to put in the second article charged
shin
111 r. St ant. T objected that there nos no prooaf of the :kW.
haying been voted in point of fut. The lihel only stated that the
item It 3,* rhaf:!cd .n the imbli,hed report, and the published report no proof of the aCtll 41 rote.
sir. Ntephenn, who acted as clerk, read from the books that in
ffioil. 1122, at a meeting, when 31. .Martin, Esq. was in ;he chair,
'lisdtin '1(1‘1"1"1 was, lormed. toting ?11W. a year to the plaintiff: 31r.
rontinem to set till the next November, in aff one year and
tight luoltlei Ile sots paid 290!. for the eight months.
trou-exareirtll—There was ho %peel:a vote for the NO!. There
.Js no tn.,. of :MN. in one sum. 'file checks for the 200/. were
te..!td July for lOW., and in December foe 1001. There were
'47 tso managers present at each time. The minutes set forth
mint% were examined, and the cheeks signed. 1 cannot
ssr.r
;em ••tm account," added to the in July, was written
et t! 't •e.• 1
„:„ •.'• ••
1 Ore la no entry in the boek of any ',articular as
thu cheek+ were stgned. '1 here was un annual
elterx: ere February.
-the checks were sanctioned at the general
tae, 7. it.

• •
3.;. tat cir sithibitttql that there was no proof or the AIM"
-a rer.,,n 0: money, viz. Mil.ll. was voted." 'rite al-
-. ti.ideri:nl by setting forth that the libel was •• of
ti., caulof of
.N'• It it xi'. contended that there etas pruof of Attif. having been
toied•
A% I ivied upon the entry in the report, distinctly
' .* r- 1.1 TT 1.1. DA I.E was of opinion that there was
U.,. idieg.aloa to go to the Jury, and was proceeding
.1, I i.ll—My Lord. lam quite satisfied.
.4.
t i, ncr .
.n...k ettarged is libel WWI then read, dated January
i,11:;.11;ntk was a Manager of the Society for the "11 ou re.
'ltch Mr. Bodkin was Secrcury, without any
—rtao."7.tti—Tite funds were by no means exhausted. They