The National Register.
London, England, 1817-05-12 00:00:00

AT.AvPiit.mous Lin Et.

The Attorney General one eil that W. Urine, a hookseller,
in Fleet-street, ;mil the 11!•1 Bailey, should be Moneta up to
plead to a eharee e‘hibited aeainst him of publi•hing a certain
blasphemous and seditious libel, called tt Purodi upon the
Co-
techism.
The defendant appeared in Court in custody, and Mr.
Paltry was proceeding to ri ad the libel ; when
The Defendant addressed the Court—My Lords, before
',the libel is read, I beg to submit that I have been ibegally
dc-
'tained in custody since Saturday night. when I nas appre-
hended upon a Judges' warrant, and am now brought nn to
plead without being inforneA what the subject is to which I
have to plead.
Lard Ellenbaronali-1 ftar the libel read, and you' wits af-
terwards have ail op port itn.ty of stating on :ml;idatil whatever
you wish to state to the Court, as to your illeeal detention.
Attorney-General—My Lords, it may be right I should in-
form your Lordships, that this person is detriotal ileum Iwo
informations, filed by me, ,la his Majesty's Attorney-General.
Lord Eitaiboror gh—Let the alleged libel be read.
The Libel was then read by Mr. Dailey, and proved to be
a Parody upon the Church Catechism.
The Attorney-General, at one port, interrupted the read-
ing, and said, if he had so line, refrained from bringing for-
ward this publication, it was becsie,c lie kit reluctant at com-
posing on the count the pain of hearing it thus publicly rend.
The defendant here again observed, that he did not con-
sider law could now be legally called upon to plead. He bad
been suddenly taken in'o custody of Saturday night, and was
then informed that other warrants were out against him.
The Attorney General bail no ohjectiou to allow the defen-
dant time to plead, on the usual terms: namely, that lie
should in the Wean tone COatilllle in custody.
Lord Ellenbormigh—The defendant has a right to his inn
parlance till next Term, if he thinks proper to claim it.
The defendant said, lie hal no wish whatever but for jus-
tice. He did not wish to impede its course; he only wanted
time to consalt his friends : lu desired to have a copy of the
"information, amid would then Ire ready to plead it to-morrow.
The Attorney General observed, 1w had all eady stair it to
to the defendant, that he was charged with printing and pot,-
fishing a certain wicked and blasphemous libel. To that lie
plight now plead godly or net guilty. His doitm so now
would no'. prevent his amending thst plea upon reflection.
)tut tilt be had pleaded, lie had no right to a copy oldie in.
formation.
The defendant still commuted for the neccce,sitv of itis
having a copy to enable him to plead. He had not heard the
whole of the information read, ilia(' haul bad no time to con-
sider whether it we, a libellous publication or not,
The Attorney General then moved that the information
should be read at length.
'fhc defendant did not desire to take up the time of the
Coot t. He only submitted to their Lordships, that iii justice
he was entitled to a copy of the information.
Lord Ellentiorough—We have no power to give it to you,
we have no funds.
The defendant—My Lords, I have no funds either.
Lord Ellenborough—We cannot make a law for you, which
idoes not exi,t for the rest of his Majesty's subjects.
The defendant—May I not plead to a part of the informa-
-tion ?
The Court—Yon may plead to a part or to the whole.
The defendant—Then I cannot plead until I hate a copy
Mr. Justice Bailey—We cannot give it yeti: you must
Toeml first.
The Attorney General—lf the defendant pleads. he will lie
entitled to a copy of the information, on application to the
Crown-office.
The defendant still declined to plead ; and the Attorney-
General moved that the rest attic information should be read,
which was done ; and the defendant was asked whether lie
was guilty or not guilty.
Defendant —I request a copy of the information.
Lord Lltemihorough—You cannot have it. If you have a
right to a copy of the information, so has every person an-
pleaded for any crime, be it what it may. It never yet was
granted before pleading, and it cannot now be done for you.
Attorney General—My Lord, the defendant has been told
what course lie ought to puistic ;he declines to adopt it. 1
therefore move that he be 110 W charged on manlier informa-
tion.
Daltrey then read another information, charging the
aletimilant aid, printing and 11111,1iSilitla a sernoul wicked and
blaaplienions libel, being a ('arody. uvon the Lana!).
The libel having been read, the defendant was asked.
Gant) or et Guilty ? Defendant—My Lund, I submit the
same a nheation as in the last case.
Lord Etientrorongh—We can only give you the same
ansvver.
Defeo dant—My Lord, I am told the Court Itaa no funds out
of which to furnish me with a copy of the ieformation.
-humbly übinit that the ;Attorney General has funds, not of
which to discharge the expenses of filing the information,
and out of these funds I may be furnished with a copy.
'tile Attorney Genera; —M) Lind, I move that the defen-
dant be now charged alien another infOrtuation.
Mr. D.i,tr. y then proceeded to read a 'Mid information,
chaveing do defendant with beiimg the printer and pulili•liei
of a c -rtaiii wicked and blaspheinons libel, called a Puratly
upon the Creed of St. .4lhaamitra.
To this information toe defendant also said, lie should de-
cline pleading, oidess lie had a ropy of the iiilOrtinitimi.
Th.: A t.• mney General then moved, that as the defendant
bad no hail • mendiug, lie shottid be cenimitted.
The defe Lint wished to sat a few words. He believed
his was peculiarly hard ; he did not believe it had es,
incurred Infir, that a pzusou Lad-butsauddenly lmeu calk d