The National Register.
London, England, 1820-03-26 00:00:00

No. 1,229.—V0L. XIII.]

TRIAL OF SIR FRANCIS BURDETT.

LEICESTER, THURSDAY, MARCH 23.
This being the div fixed for the trial of Sir Francis
Bnrdett. on a charge or libel alleged to be contained in a
letter written by the Hon. Baronet, on the 22d August
last addressed to the Electars of Westininster. respecting
the transactions at Manchester, the court was crowded
to excess at a very early hour. About nine o'clock a
loud shoat was beard from the multitude without, and
immediately afterwards Sir Francis Burdett appeared in
coot., and took a seat next to the Associate, under the
bench. Several of his friends nilranceil to the table,
and paid their compliments to him : among them were
Sir George Robinson, Mr. Otwav Cave, Mr. Godfrey
Mundav, Mr. Pack, and Mr. Gishorne. Lt different
Narts of the court we rerovdz•d Lord R Manners, Lady
oel (the mother of Lady Heron), and Lady Elizabeth
Norman. At 10 o'clock 'Mr. Justice Best, who is
much indisposed, took his seat nit the bench. The fol-
lowing gentlemen were then called and sworn, as a
special jury, to try the case :
Edward Farnham, of Quorndon, Esq.
Henry Green, of Rolleston, Esq.
Thomas Wright, of Lubbenhani. Esq.
John Haycock. of Crosston and Newbold, Esq.
'Henry Havie Coleman, of Oadby, Esq.
Valentine Green, of Nonnanton Heath, Esq.
Frederick W. Woollaston, of Shemin), Esq.
Clement Winstanley, of Braunstone, Esq.
Francis Forrester, of Soinerby, Esq.
John Adams, of !Addington, Esq.
Jtimes Pickering Ord. of West Langton, Esq.
ohn Goodacre, of Ullesthorpe, Esq.
The-Counsel fur the prosecution were, Mr. Sergeant
Vaughan, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Reader, and Mr. Balguy
for the defendant, Mr. Denitian and Mr. Pnillips.
Mr. Balguy opened the proceedings. He stated, that
this was au information filed by his Majesty's Attorney.
General against the defendant, Sir Francis' Burdett, for
a libel. The first count charged, that the defendant,
being an ill-disposed person, and intending to excite
hatred and contempt of his We-Ay'. Otwernment, and
particularly among the soldiers of the King, and wishing
to have it believed that certain troops of the King, on
the loth of Angtist, !Sin, wantonly and cruelly cut
down certain ()Ibis Majesty's subjects, did, on the nd
of the same month of August, publish a certain libel.
The count il.eti set out the libel verbatim, which was in
these sword::--
" TO THE ELECTORS OF WESTMINSTER.

s• Gentlemen,--On reading the newspaper this morning,
having anrived late yesterday evening, I was fr.led with shame,
grief, and indignation at the account of the blood spilt at Man-
chester. This, then, is the answer of the bormighmongers to the
petitioning peoples.-this is the practical moor of our standing in
no need of reform—these the practical blessings of our glorious
boroughinonger domination—this the use of a standing army in
time of peace It seems our fathers were not such tools as some
would make us believe, in opposing the establishment of a stand-
ing army, and sending King William's Dutch Guards out of the
country. Yet, would to Heaven they had been Dutchmen, or
Switzers, or Hessians. or Hanoverian,, or any thing rather than
Englishmen, who have done such dees. What ! kill men un-
armed, unresisting !—and, gracious God, women too, disfigured.
manned, cut down, and trampled upon by dragoons ! Is this
England ? This a Christian land ? A land of freedom? ('an
such things be, and pass ns by like a summer cloud unheeded ?
Forbid it every drop of English blood, in every vein, that does
not proclaim its owner bastard! Will the gentlemen of England
support or wink at such proceedings ? They have a great stake
is their country. They hold great estates, and they are bound
in duty, and in honour, to consider them as retaining fees on the
part of their country for upholding its rights and liberties.—
Surely, they will at length awake ! and find they have other
duties to perform besides fattening bullocks and planting cab-
bages. They never can stand tamely by, as lookeri-on, while
bloody Nerves rip open their mothers wombs ! They must join
the general voice, loudly demandingiustice end redress; and
homed public meetings throughout the United Kingdom, to put a
stop in its conimencennnt, to a :eign of terror and of b!no.l. To
&Wird comolation, as far as it can be afronled, and legal rethink.
to the widows and orphans and mutilated victims of this unparal-
leled and barbarous outrage. For this putisise, I propose that a
meeting should he called in Westminster, which the gentlemen
of the committee will arrange, and whose summons I will hold
myself in readiness to attend. Whether the penalty of mar
meting wi:l be death, by military execution. I know not ; hut
this I know, a man can die hut once; and never better, than in
vindietting di, laws and liberties of his coun,ry.
6' Excuse this nasty address. I can scarcely tell what I have
written. It may be a libel ; or the A tairncv-Geneeal may call it
so—just as he pleases. When the seven tashors 'ere tried for a
libel, the army of .I.anes 11.. then encamped on iltionslow.heath,
for supporting arnitrary power, gave three chars on hewing of
their acquittal; the King startled at the noise. ' What's
that?' • Nothing, Sit ! was the answer. • bet the soldiers
shouting at the acquittal of the seven bishops.' Do ye cull that
nothing ?' replied tie ntisgiving tyrant ; ant! shortly after Mali.
cated the government. 'Tis true. James could nut inflict the
torture on his ,addiers !--could not tear the living flesh from their
bones with a !—could not flay them alive !—Be
this as it may, our ditty is to meet ! and' England exi,ects every
man to do his duty !'
" I remain. Gentictuen, most truly and faithfully.
" Your most olaalicrit servant,

" Kirby-park. Aug. 22, I a 19. " F. BUD I/14T."
The leari.ed l,ounse•l .nil, that the intoi !nation eon.
taittud uther la)iag the chit, ge in a tidies pia 111411.
OPT.

Mr. Fzerzeant V41;011%14 Shell addre%l'rd the Jury at
great length. Arles ul•t.h,
Mr. .f. 311111, I ilto.•lM waa called. and e‘amined
by Mr. Clarke. He plated that he lived at No I::I.StrAI.A.
London. He Lnrw the defendant. and nam acquainted
with his baud-writing. On being •Yuan the paper in