The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-10 00:00:00

of them alleged In defence their ignotonee of 'the con-
tents sof the publicatioos fur which they wet, mow brought
up to receive the juelgisseet of the Lour, ; but at
was their bounden defy to make themselves acquainted
with the cotimais of the works they euld, and as best little
trouble would he occasioned thereby,they had been guilty of
a criminal negligence its not doing it; swore pailicolarty as
the name of Cackle was on the front of the puldieatious in
nurstiou, mid ought to bare served them as • sort of index
in the contents of the oilier pages.
Nlr. Hour was heard on th► part of Cabose, and partici,-
lariy pressed on the consideration of their Lordships, in
arsessiug she punishment of his Clint, to have regard to the
different degrees of malignity between the amblers and pelt-
listurs *hock weeks and the OMe venders, iu which latter
character Client stood.
The dot.terron-GenattAL in reply said. he ell not mean
In dispel, that the Court should make a difference between
the punishment to be awarded to the Defendant for selling
the week. mod that which ought to be apportioned to the
writer of is, if the latter were standing uss she flour of the
Coats in receive sentence fur the offrote, because, iii fact,
taw ptinishament which it would he in their Lordships' power
to logic,. would be too severe fur the writer of that pnletira-
tion. On the part of his Learned Friend (the Attorney-Ce-
nerei), he would state, that although the writer of the wink
was •saperted, and it was thought not to be Carlile, yet lois
Learned Friend had a4li been ethic so to establish the Net
as to make it proper to bring the part!, before • Jory; and
it could not lie brought evillest the pnblislier Crirlile, who
was already in prison for offences of which he had been
funnel guilty. In the ease of the present Defendant, be
rtioisght that he must he aware of the character of the pith-
licatinel which he had bees one means of dispersing through
the country, therefore he mu-t be coosplered as guilty of at
lout a very culpable degree of negligence.
The other Defendants had put us affidavits to their ebarac•
ter', ee lurk being read, they we re asked by she Court if they
haul noy thing to say in mitigation of punivlimeat.
Robert Shorter stated that he had already suffered ten
weeks entifieensent in the King's Bench prison for want of
std was totally ruined in his business by that and the
expence of this prosecution.
Thomas Whitt horn said thins be was not aware of there
bu'inr any thing hail in the work which he had sold,
John Cilium. left his case to his Counsel.
rbi:'.4, Francis pleaded his izine f the injurious na-
ture- of the pnblicali ttttt and that the Jury hail recommended
hum to mercy, which be hoped the Court would extend to
him.
The other Defendants declined addressing their Lordships.
Tlo SoLicivon.Cl t. did not press for the Judgment
of the Court neaisist Sainsbury, who was discharged on en-
ttrine into his own rreogniztoice.
Ntr. Justice flavii.EY, in passing sentence, observed, that
as this was the first time in which the Court had recently so
distinctly and expressly stated the law as to the liability of
the seller of publications twiug legally responsible for their
contents, it must now serve as a public warning; and it
Mae nut lee thotiglit that should any future offence of the
like kind be bru:eght before it, that the same measure of
puoisl.ment world be deemed sufficient.
The %eidetice of the Court was, that Christopher Harris
should be impil 41 in the Howse of Correction, in Cold
Bath Fields, fir seven weeks, and enter into reeognicinees
fur three years, himself in 50/., and two sureties in 2.51. each.
Robert Shorter, having been f and guilty on two indict.
mews, five the first offence shimlit be imprisoned in the Payne
Place fee three weeks, and at the expiration of that time
should, for the second offence. be further imprisoned for
three weeks Intim, and at the expirstion thereof enter into
the like snore ties.
Wm. Wading to be imprisoned in the same prison fur six
week•, and give similar securities.
Thomas Whitehorn to he imprisoned in the same prison
for one month, isn.: _titer into die like securities; and
Phillip Francis and John Cahmic, each to be imprisoned
in the caul at Horsemonger-lane fur one month, sod at the
thereof to give the like securities.
Hubert IVedelerburo, a man of colour, was brought up to
receive judgment for a blasphemous libel. The libel in
question was delivered at Hopkins-street Chapel, Soho,
which on Ibis occasion was turned into a debating mum,
And the question proposed for discussion was the conduct
of his Lnrehdtip the Chief Justice Abbott, on the occasion
Hose's trial, at Guildhall. The Defendant, in his speech
on that occasion, had made observations Oa the Holy Scrip.
tuna in language too grossly indecorous to be published,
sod for the same reason we omit his remarks on the Lord
Chief Justice fur this offence he was ouw to receive judg.
rtfai.

The Defendant ad.lressed the Court for a short spare of
time, and afterwards banded a paper up, which was read by the
C 1,, of the Court, in which he protested generally against
•II intetferetice it' matters of conscience, and contended ge-
nerally fur pc s feet freeduno of discussion on every topic, and
particularly on the topic of religion, as bei:.g the most ins-
peo !lot of all other,. In support of his reasonings be quoted
from Marhiavel, Bacon, and Shaftesbury.
The SOLICITOLGEN MAL said, that slug r what their
Lordships bad bead of the Defendant's offence from the evi-
cts-ice given on the trial, and what he had offered tu
mitiga-
t.un now, it could not be necessary for him lo make a single
rem*, k, but to call for their Lordships' judgment.
Mr. Justice BAYLVY, in passing sentence, commented
f try 1, I • of suitable severity on the offence of which the
Defendant had heen found guilty. and it was an aggravation
of it that he had delivered his opinions before an audience
of low and illiterate persons, on whom the perverted talents
of the Defendant might well be supposed to have produced
the shoot mischievous effrcts; and though the Christian
re !igloo did not want the assistance of the arm of the law,
yet it was • duty which they owed to that class of society,
who could not found their opinions upon inquiry and coo.
viction, to check the commission of offences like the present.
The Court usually conaidered, in awarding the punishment,
the fact of the party expressing repentance and contrition
fur the offence as a symptom of • change of mind : here
suithitig of that sort appeared to induce a mitigated men-
levee. The sentence of the Court therefore was, that Hubert
Wedderburn be imprisoned two year, in Dorchester gaul,
and afterwards enter into recognizance-a fur three years, him-
self in SOL and two tut riles in 251. each.

TOE BH ITESfi 131:ESS.

LON DON,
WEDNESDAY. MAY 10, 1820.

The Gazette of list night contains a Proclento-
tv, . of whirls we give a copy. announcing the
Coronation of hn Abievty GEORGE IV. on the
ht of August.

Mr. JOHNSON, one of u, NI Ai ESTY'S mr.,enger,,
who arrived in London oti Sunday morning, with
dispatcher from France, left town agaitiin the even.
it:* and sailed from Dover at four a. m. and arrived
at Calais the same morning. It is supposed he was
charged with dispatches of importance.
Mr. KRAUS, a private messenger. also arrived
yesterday with dispatches; and we find there were
repo' ts at Calais that the QUEEN was expected
there yesterday.

Petitions were presented last night in the House
of Commons from peveral persons engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits, praying fur on increased restsic•
lion open the importation of foreign corn. Mr.
HOLM* SuYNSR gave notice that he will shortly
submit this subject to the consideration of the
House in regular form. It is really lamentable to
see the agriculturists so little aware either of the