The National Register.
London, England, 1811-02-24 00:00:00

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MEL IL

MR. FINNERTY.

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Wednesday, a numerous and respectable Meeting of Oa*
Friends of the Liberty of the Press, was held at the Crown and
Anchor 'Tavern, for the purpose of promoting a subscription to
defray the expellees of Mr. Finnerty, during his imprisLeurient
for a libel on Lord Castlereagh.
Sir Francis Burdett took the Chair, and the Meeting being
pretty numerously attended, he openedi the business by address-
ing them. He begun by noticing the efforts that had lately been
made to destroy every vestige of liberty in the country ; and,
among others, that last vestige of liberty in every country, the
Liberty of the Press. On the advantages of tins liberty it was
unnecessary for him to expatiate to an assembly so enlightened •
as that which he was now addressing; but be must make a few
observations on the case more peculiarly before them, which
had so deeply excited the indignation of this country. Mr,
Finnerty, from his honest, manly, and independent conduct, in
the stand he had made with truth on his side, deserved most
fully their support and countenance. But what availed inno-
cence or truth when proseceted in such a manner?
why the very word was unknown to the law, it was not an Ewe;
lish word, and they knew not its meaning. All they knew of tt,
was, that against a prosecution for it truth was no shield. How
it could be called an offence, he could not tell, since no moral
guilt was attached to it. It might be either true or false, and '
imported nothing more than a book, and he defied any map to
spew him in the law of the land any declaration of its crimi-
nality. But it was by means like this that the first men in all
ages had been set out as marks for vengeance. In supporting'
Air. Finnerty, they were supporting the Liberty, of the Press---a.
valuable right, but not of that infinite value which seems at-
tached to it; the great palladium of all our liberties being the
right of the people to appoint their own Representatives in Par.'
liament. Sir Francis then commented upon Mr. Fox's Libel
Act, which, he contended, acted like all palliatives ,rather to in-
creasethe evils, by giving them the shape of Law, than to re-
medy them. e then adverted to Special Juries, which he us-
sorted were notoriously packed in an injurious and partial man-
ner. He again expatiated on the hardships experienced by a
person brought •before such a tribunal on an ex edficio informa-
tion, and insisted that he was thereby robbed of the aids (secur-
ed to him by the Constitution) of a Grand Jury, or even ot a fair
trial by Jury. Even truth was no del'ence, the law was unknown,
and only the cabalistical word Libel rendered hint criminal. He
then noticed thh intention of Lorin-land to bring the subject
before the Legisleture ; but obstrved, that however highly be
esteemed the' talents-antl-letegri ty of that Noble Lord, he .would
rather have the excesses committed to continue as they were,
attended by public indignation, than palliart•tl by any .ct wLich
would give them the least appearance of legal sanction. Sir
Francis then alluded to the practice of sending persons to distant
prisons. To change the custody of prisoners was to deprive
diem of the Constitutional provisions for their safety. It was
the Sheriffs of Counties that were the gaolers, and nut the Exe-
cutive Government; and though the gaols, like the high court's,
the laws, and the people, were called the King's,fiey wee only
so in the sense that the Kink represented the Public, anti revert/-
LA by the laws ; not that the K ing might do with theniwhat he
pleased. The Law was the King, and by the Law the King
and the People must be governed. In the value of the Hen.
Baronet's Address, he read a letter from Mr. Walter Honey.-
wood Yate, in approbation of the conduct of Mr. Finnerty I
also a letter from a Gentleman at Bath, of the same tendency.
Mr. Alderman Woo j said, he was a friend to all peteous in the
situation of Mr. Finnerty; and proposed the following Resolu
tions

" First, That the able efforts of Mr. Finnerty to vindicate the
privileges of his &Bow citizens, deserved the warmest the of
the Meeting."
Secondiy, That in consequence therefore, they felt a firm
belief that it was necessary to contribute to his support, until hii
imprisonment should end.,
" Thirdly, That a Committee should be appointed to dispose
of the money subscribed, in the manner most beneficial;'
Mr. Mallet seconded the Resolutions, and put them to the
Meeting. They were all carried unanimously.
Sir Francis Burdett then proposed the names of Major Cart.
wright, Alderman Wood, and Mr. Mallet, to form the Com-
mittee, which were received, and agreed to unanimously. It
was also resolved that two Gtptlemen should receive subscrip-
tions f ,r Mr. Finnerty at Bath.
Alderman Wood next moved the Thanks of the Meeting
to Sir Francis Burdett, for his able conduct in the Chair.
The Meeting then Adjourned, and we understand a considers
able sum Was immediately Subscribed.

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