The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-03-18 00:00:00

LIBEL ON THE KING.

The Court was crowded to excess this morning to
hear a trial for libel, which excited much attention
this part of the country. It was an indictment
sguinst ►Mr. Mann, a shopkeeper of Leeds, for sell-
ing three numbers of Shersoia's Political Register ;
one of them in particular, the number of Saturday,
the 17th of July, last year. committing most inflam-
matory passages against his Royal Highness the
,Prince Regent (slow the King.) The presages
charged as libellous in the publication were very
disgusting; they were "overgrown pauper," a us,.
feeling wretch." for not relieving the distresses of
his country men, and others of a very violent nature.
. Mr. LITTLEToN opened the pleadings.
Mr. SCARLETT stated the ease to the Jury. He
commenced by declaring the satisfaction he felt at
finding such a trial about to receive the attentive
consideration of so enlightened and honest a Jury.
By a Jury alone did he wish the press to be restrict-
ed, and their verdict war the only censorship which
with his consent should ever be imposed upon it.
It was impossible to read the libellous passages in
tbie publication without at once feeling their
scandalous grossness and injustice. If such pub.
licatistis could for • moment be tolerated there
would be an end to that fine structure. the
frame of civil society. This was the only country
iu Europe in which the blessings of real liberty
were enjoyed, and they were here upheld by the
free souk of the people under s limited mosisrchy.
The bond which held society together was • moral
rather than a physical tie, and it must be dissolved
in a moment if such opinions as were promulgated
in this publication, could for an instant be tole-
rated. They were too directed against royalty at
the moment when it appeared in its brightest form
before the public eye--when it came in immediate
personal connexion with the people through their
representatives. The libel purported to be remarks
upon the Speech delivered from the Throne, bat
the real object was evidently to bring the throne
into contett►pt, and alter the structure of the Exe-
cutive Government. The Learned Counsel conti-
nued to comment with great severity upon the
publication sold by the Defendant, ■nd then left
the whole case to the Jury.
The purchase of the Rcgistrr at the Defendant's
shop, was proved in the usual manner by a con-
stable, who admitted lie was employed by the
Town Clerk for the purpose.
Mr.Serjeant HEMLOCK, fdr the Defendant, made
an ingenious speech, in the course of which he
repeatedly asked, why the original author of the
Register was not attar:ke►t, wiles, he could be had
any day in the week, likAroul of the vender, who
merely sold the work in the course of his trade,
without having lime to look into the contents
of it?

Mr. SCARLET? said it was impossible to get at
the author. and it became necessary to punish the
agents who contribute,' to the sale of such wands.
tons work..

Mr. Justice BAYLEY summed up the evidence
to the Jury, who retired, and after being out of
Court nearly three hour►, returned with • verdict
of Guilty of puhlishettg.
Thr Judge ►ent the Jury back, but they return-
ed a short time afterwards with the same verdict,
which was at length finally delivered at six o'clock
iu the evening in words—" Guilty of
Witting this Publication."
The latexes► of the hour ptevents us from giving
but a brief outline of this trial.

N 'Wel L IMTE I. LIGENCR.

VALMOUTII. WARM 14.

Arrired the Stantw►r packet, with a avail fiewe inalika in
35 ilnys ; ■ud Gem', Thinapsou, from Lander /e► fit: Mary's
(Gambia).
vriirniv, MA AN 15.
_ . .

The following vesaels have sailed to the Greenland Seas ;
Phonix, Da ; Valiant, Agar; Volunteer, Craig ; Man.,
Johnson; Erik, Dumber; James Unictfall ; and Resolution,
licaralry.
-

MAIIIIIOI4 MARCH N.
Arrived the Lady Nepcan packrl, with a mail from
Holland.

maitcn 15.

Arrived the Alice, Porter, from Jamaica ; Nestor, Noble,
from New York, sailed 18th February ; arid Rockingham,
IVillisins, Cron, ditto, sailed 17th February. Chi the 711 r of
Mardi, its lat. 48.30. long. 17. the Nestor spoke the Too-
tiue, from Loudon fur New York.
__

slut., mutes IS.
Come down from the River and sailed the Dionietahire,
I.yde, and Whichelses, Adams, fur St. Reim and Ckisa ;
Venus, Gray, fur the South Seen; Redman, Mainwariss, roe
Antigua ; Trine, Chilton, fur Pernambuco ; sad Sir George
Obborite trasivpint for the Cape of Good Hope.
Arrived and nailed fur the River, the Thalia, Webster,
from Jamaica; Tiffris, Dryden, (rum arrbice ; and Victory,
Cunningham, from Seville.
The Redman, Maiowarine, has sauce got es shore saw►
Duageseus, dining a fog, hut if the weather cootiattes mode-
rate the will be gut of.
A coat km Wes takes from off a wreck os the Goodwin
Freda, is the pocket of which was thorned a .ight•bill of the
Nasty, Comb, of fiyamoth, of 111 toss, which total, it is
fearrd, was lost in the gale of the IN last.

l", e:

.r

. NEW PAIILIAMAiVr.
_

./trent OF POLLS.
..0 • &Mil (Cometi),Marrh IS, second day.--Tatiiistock, 766
666.-Oobansceill.
-7Asiesigil. slows se, orventk slay..--Iliernicks, 777-
LliorabgVlo-iWillipnes. 766—Hows, 701.
Dirfog (County), third any, lialipast twee,. .'clock—
Lainabton,rll76—Powlett, 363—Whartuo, 316.
•
GENERAL ELECTION.
Colosipi Verner is a muidichite for she County of Armagh,
its oppositisia to Colowel Caulfield.
culougz, —lames H. Massy Dawson. F..ari. (tiosi late
member, John Kelly, Esq. kowtow retired) 'km iuldresswl ,
Electors, sail is .:peeled lobe resumed without opposition.
Mr. Wallace declines a npismst for Drogheda. Mr. Met-
calf will be resumed without opposition.
It is said that Mr. Gyk. Eyre is shoat to oppose Mr.
James Daly, for Ike representation of Galway. The return
of Air. Marti. is coasidered certain.
T. Dow. GEOM. Poosooky has offered himself to the
electors of Cork. He is sopported by the Devonshire and
Mier powerful interests.

7'HE TURF.

....m...-
NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING, lIM.

MATCH ES.

MONDAY, •PRIL 3.
IA G. M. Camselieb's c. by Robe's, out of Louisa, apt
)h. Crochfeetra Salsas, So. /lb. cock, A. F. 1,4100 p. h. ft.
Mi. fbaelsois Sam, Sot .71b. apt Mr. loser's Fenny, Set.
A. F. I.op. b. ft.
141 Jersey's e. by Soothsayer, opt Mr. IVortley's Bob
°berry, Set. 41b. each, D.M. 100 p. b. ft.
M. of Poettaairs c. The Skov-Gement, by Walton, out of
Stella, Sot. 311,. apt Gee. ficsosettoes f. Mallooey, by Cherry.
bounce, SC IZM. NOp. h. ft.

• • TVIVIOAT.
LAI Roues ch. c. Hoopoe, by Quiz, eel of Paleface, Riot
Mr. Thorsebilrif cb. e. Sailor, by Saul, sat. 71b. each, R M.

Sir J. /Owners c. Masten, dims by Mhos, out of Mork-
bird's dam, 54.41 b. art D. of Graeae's eh. f. by Mirka-
Bard, out of Proniewee. est. R.N. 20ets Is. ft.
Mr. Charltinis David. est. 71b. apt Major Wilson's iris._
dams, by Juniper, 741. 71b. R.e. Teets. IC ft. or tots. if J.._
flared by the Ist of January ; Ilse latter declared ft. on the
31st December, 1519.

Major Wilson's els. e. by Amassers oat of Tippitywitchm,
Set. 3111. eget Mr. Grehana's b. f. Patience, by Ituterns, not
of a Shuttle mare, 711. 121 b. Ab. U Rep. Is. ft.
Mr. Lesolstoo's Agricola, Wt. 51b. apt Mr. It. Milar's
Murslatrr, 71►.1 Wb. D 31.100 sys.
Mr. G. L. Fun's Merlin, est. 91b. asst D. of Portlantl's
Tiresiaa, Sit. lib. A.k. SOGge. b. ft.

PRI DAY.

D of Orthotes be. e. I.aci, by en► of Piquet,
apt Duke of Portlamre ne.g. Vicar-General, by {{'al►vu,
Set. 41b. suck D.M. 1004.. h ft.