The National Register.
London, England, 1820-11-06 00:00:00

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J. Griffin, a person of sonic celebrity, “rioi:Efutical
the Chairman and constant attendant -
_Anese Session, on an
Meetings, was tried on Friday
indictment for a sedionsltiticteti by Mr. Andrews and
The prosecution rcwat
prosetmtion instituted at the
bYstkitce of ilie Solicitor of the Treasury, against the
defendant, who keeps a .shop iu High Holborn for the
sale of political pamphlets, for buittl the printer um:
publisher of a seditious libel. The libel MS Colliailled
in a letter addressed lo Lord Castlegea-,;11, and pnitorturt
to be found in St. James's-gin:ire. It was aililrew•il to
his Lordship as if front a Iriettil hiin advice :or his
safety to get out of the way oil Imm:whin tetolution.
A considerable proportion of the libel was addrest.rd to
the soldiers, whom it called 'you to take upon them-
selves to be arbiters in the present state of affairs, and
set the nation free. Fur this 'impose the piddicatinis
held out to theta that they should have two shillings pe
day.dut big the remainder of their lives. The libel con-
cluded with the most violent and frothy declamation.
Mr. Holland having commented with great force on
many passages, proceeded to call evidence of the pubr
button of the libel.
The cle:"endatit pleaded his own cause, and in his de
fence made a speech of cansidetable length, in which
he attempted to Justify the tend mcy of the libel, and
the integrity of his motives in writing and publishiug it.
The delence of the defendant displayed none of that
ability for which many individuals, who have recently
stood iu the same situation, have been so conspicuous.
Mr. Coast, the chairman, summed up in an able
and perspicuous manner, when the Jury. after having
consulted for a short time, found the defendant Guilty.
On Saturday afternoon the prisoner was brought up
to receive sentence. The Court, after a short consul-
tation, sentenced him to be imprisoned for 12 mouths
in the House of Correction, Coldbath-fields.
The defendant stated to the Court, that it had been
intimated to him, that he would nut be allowed during
the terns of his imprisonment, the use of pen, ink, or
paper, fire or candle. He wished to know from the
Court, whether he might not have the use of these
articles, and appealed to them for their proration in
this mater.
The Court said, that those were articles of which he
certainly would not be deprived of the use, and that the
Goal Committee of Magistrates who inspected the pri-
sons weidd take care that he bad every thing which his
situation) could require.
The libel upon which the defendant was found guilty
was the same upon which
.a poor man was tried on the
saes day with Waddington, at the last eitarterSessiona,
for having distributed, and who was convicted and sen-
tenced to sic mouths imprisonment. It had beeu moat
industriously distributed amongst the people assembled
at the West end of the town during the proceedings
against the Queen.

Tin NATIONAL LW:WU

Vo!ice.

....._

)w.s.ritt, Er.
On Tne,(l.ly evening:Mr: Pcarmm appeared before Sir
Rour,i li.kkei. u 1 re.serence 10 the care a:cilium El.:10"er,
I;In1, Will Ibe ;(•I Intv ng ll6llUtote took place:
Mr. I)...minu.—lluv.: you twaid any thins of i•

Sir R. Baker.—No, nothing. Sir.
Piarson.—Aie you sore, Sir, that you have heard
nothing?
Sir H. BA:cr.-0.4w sure. •
tlr. Wor.on.—C:l4, Sir, pa bate had letters?
Sir R. B..ker.—Yes, Sir: whit is dui to yon?•
Mr- Petrium.—Did you not say, oat the last Wei'
but two wilic., you nave received iroin Fleicher ack
k.d.d..Ni reosous, and was wrote to
94):1 for :he inerp,sr 0:* potlirelio.s?
S•r 31. hiker.—les, 1 dal.
iltrarooli,—Thett, Sir, I now dare von to mihlish
those le era; and L cliar4e you with bat iuo 6ot• them up
to answer your own purposes.
Sir R. Bat:en—Sir, I cannot keep inv promise ; they
are in ine nand, of it is Mjesty's Law o.l*.cers.
Mr. Pearson.—The Law Oilievr to whom you have
• iten the letter, I koow ;.s en intimate ji iend opci a retalioa
.1:1e4.1 er 8.
Sir honest Raker.—l will say no more. Officers, re-
move Mr. Pearson.
Pearson.—l will give your officers no such trou-
ble. Ina might n know then the man vvho always
queslious your WM. 'en', would never deny your power.
Mr. Pearson then t • the office.
Upon this mysierious correspondence between Fletcher
and Sir Robert Baker, more, we are told is
to 0011IC out
hereafter.