The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-12-11 00:00:00

Lill' !•L

COUP", OP XING'S BENCH, Fatast, Decennia to.
slerjosirned Sittings after Michaelmas Term &fate
Ckief Jostire Assort and a Special Jary.
CORBETT'S POLITICAL REGISTER. •
WRIGHT V. W. J. I.,LEMEINT.
Thai action cadged muds int.-rest. and was
brought against the Defendatit for iiuldialtint i.'o
alleged libels. contained in Catheter Weekly P..
/ideal Register one on the 4li of itiousry Istl7s
end the other on the ad of Jitly 1818, imputing 1.,
the Plaintiff the forgery of certain letter's, (len.-
11101111wir ander false pretences, &c.
The Plain'iff's ease grab c hides! by Mr.
Scaltldere, Mr. Gu N AY, and Mr. DLX
sad the Defendant's by Mr. A uot.enus and Mr.
PLATT.
Mrg SCARI.ZTT. in stating the cave, observed,
that the Plaintiff was a ions: n well known to the
literary start of the city of Landon, as being the roc-
doctor nn manager of part of the Parliamentary Ilia-
rty of the country. namely, Reports VProeredings
;pi Parliament. published under the c•me of Mr.
..:übbett. The Mendant. Mr. Clement, was a
Geminating well known as the editor or prniirie;,.e
Tke Observer newspaper, mist he (Mr. S.) would say
of that publication, that he believed it to Le it most
remectahle newspaper, awl conducted in such ti
way as to excite very general hy t.tking
MO part in political discuasion, but merely publish-
ing occurrences of the week for the information of
his readers. The publication in which the alleged
libels., which were the bubject of the present action
Were contained, was not one of which the Drfrntlant
meowed himself to be the proprietor, nlthungli it
would be proved that lie was the swot of the pro-
printer. What share or interest lie had iu the sale
of it was aot publicly announced,. nor indeed for
the purpose of the present action was it firer/nay to
inquire. The Jury were informed from the pleading',
that she libels were published in Cachets's Political
Resistor. There was once a connection between Mr.
Cobbest Ind Mr. Wright. This connectioncommen-
ced soon lamellae form. r returned In his native rout,
try from America, in 1800. When that gristlrmult
came to England, he opened a bookseller.* alio!)
us
Pall-Mall, under the emblematical insigni• oh' t e
Bible, the Crown, the Cushion. and the 1111
with the loyal device of " Fear God and IliniaWr
the King." Under such auspicious designating.,
Mr. Cobhett recommended himself to the pulth:
as the publisher of literary works of the hight,t
character. Under such circumstances, nothing
was more likely titan that Mr. NN'right should anti-
cipate the moat advantageous result,. in twilit t.t.
character and reepectability, from a eminrctimi with
this gentleman. so anuotincing himself to wildly
notice. Mr. Cohbett having thus established
• self. sent forth publications which !anew -
ed parity.. some of the best opecintemi of'
style that ever adorned English literature. The
Learned Counsel then proceeded to read an ex-
tract from the Works of Mr. Cobbeit, of that
day, to &hew the horror and contempt which the
author entertained towards Pline. At Ibis petioal
Mr. Wright formed his connection with Mr. Cub-
bett, which continued until the year 1810, duritt4
whielt interval the Plaintiff had been his most use-
ful and active coadjutor. in injuring forth the
Political Registet and the Parliamentary lielmies.
la 1810 Mr. Cohbett was tried and consirtrd
a libel published in his Register, with respect
to military punishments. On that occasion a
negotiation was entered into by Mr. Culibi It
with the Government, for the purpose of arrest-
ing the judgment that awaited him, on con-
dition of his dismntintoing the publication of his
Register. Mr. Wright was his confidential agent
upon that occasion, but the negotiation haring
failed, Mr. Cohbett was sent to New tii
cou-
sequence of this the Register proceeded; but is
the mean time disputes arose between Mr. Cub-
belt and Mr. Wright, tit matters of pecooluy
claims on the part of the latter. which
tint hang after in open hostility. The negotiation
alluded to having failed, it was an object wt. is
Mr. Cohbett, for the preservation of Les publii:
popularity. to keep that matter out of stew.
Mr. Wright was the only depositary of this secret,
except Mr. Reeves, a Gentleman of high character.
through whom the application was mode to Mr.
Primig!, then Chancellor of the Exchequer. This
circumstances however, by some means was ill.
vulged, and Mr. Cohbett attributing the c 111111 l Med.
tion of it to Mr. Wright, published the libel on the
4th of January 1817. which was one of the subjects
of this action. The libel consisted of a letter, putt..
halted in the Register, and was occasioned in coose.
(poem* of certain observations published in 71. e
Times newspaper of the day, concerning Mr. Col!.
beteg application to Government to mitigate the
sentence of the law. That libel. without naming M..
Wright, sufficiently expressed Mr.Cobbett's convic-
tion that that Gentleman was the channel of the
communication, stud was expressed in terms the most
injurious to his character, mud any person acquaint-
ed with the parties and their connexion, must at
once come to the conclusion, that Mr. Wright was
the object of the libel. That Gentleman, however,
thought the subject then unworthy of legal proceed-
ing,. from the obscure manner in which it was ex-
pressed, he being then desirous of withdrawing
himself from public observation. Thus suattgra
rested until the year 1818, when u gmeral election .
took place for the city of Westotitester. for which
there were several candidates. Amongst others, the
late distinguished orsonsead of bis country, Sir
Hasassel Rotailly, Sir Fras Bonlett, Mr. Kitimat!.
mud a Gastineau named Hate.. This latter Gentle-
man was meandered to be a popular cenclidste, and
certainly. iu one senses he aught be considered,
inasmuch as he (Mr. S.) sadristeed. that he was a
very great favourite .swag .the old women stir{
' children, who generally formed his audience. 1t
had, for • minideroble time . before, been the
sway of Mr. Celibate, is his.wtttiugs. to recoils-
' send this geodesists to the femur and good opt-
! lied alt the Mamas ssf Westminster. as a it and
proper tepresessative of their seise in Parlisnaent.
to short, his object wowed says te woe l r.Hust
ee the lisifisiewshatesidtisipsr.ir;,•prinwnt
Yore eke stud eshibiessil Sdashiaress Wesismis-
-10. Owthesesisies isquessisae Ms. Cleory. who
%tweeted *MOW is the. sucese siOw Fragment
Iliildllvi=derabaras as( sioassecihe Signers
IN • litotes milisi.slit Mr. Vebbett
14't (J. ; 4,‘ .
c,Ol )1 !kwni tin c., • • • : •

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