The National Register.
London, England, 1822-01-06 00:00:00

•
THE NATIONAL REGISTER

LAW 111'7'ELLIGENCE dr
COURT OF KING'4 BUNCH.
WEDNE,OAV, JAN.
Sittings at Guildhall before the Lord Chief Justice.
LIBEL IN THE JOHN BULL.
TUE KING V. WEAVER, sou:acct., AND ARROWSMITII.
Taos was an pn.inniar.ua exhibited under 11w saiitaitio of
the Cow t of Kola's Bench agailot the three deleodanis,
eisargitie them aOh the puhlicat otti of n libel, it 11,•cting
uu
the elwracter of the Countess tit Jersey.
Mr. Scarlett stated the case. lie said the Earl of Jersey
was the prosecutor. The defendants were the punter and
priipi woos of the Julia Hull .icy paper. He a a to be lold
wit air of the defentlaots was the author of the libel coins
pro.. of. 'rule probability was, IRA the author would
..ever be known to the public. If he SlllOllll U,:eSitec
tedly
have the good Gallone to be recen tat into the society of gen.
Bourn, the discovery of his name nowt iostaialy ex 'hide
Win. There was nothing is the matter Or comoositioia tit the
Lbel to induce posterity to seek out theaothor,llllll 011110111/1,
he would lemato uuku Iwo; but those oho lend tlwinsetves
to the malice of such ; yvuous writers should become
liable to public justice. Malicious libel was a crime the
st infousive to mankind. li' the author of the libel is this
wise could have teen discoveri .1, his mid vice mould have
been to abandon the Inua Como against the d. tenilants
bait inasmuch as they found it advantageous to entice:al his
name, it was fitting they should Rosatr in all the come.
setplis•to es civil and criminal. Ile was sure the Jury nook'
admit that the defendants ought to be respousiale tor the
ollitswe committed in their or a simper. Im all Cie extrava-
gance and math/oily oresa, in all the acrimony applied
111 public eintracteis, no man had been found so void of deco-
ruin, so 1104 lo the feeling of tariety, as to Iti in.: a female I
cam utter berme the public, anti endenvoUr ti blast private
char4,•ter, fur the purpose of promot,ng the inter, St oC poll.
to it paui s. But it a vms, said Mr. Seurlett, an author
has at l,i't been routed capable of wiitiwc for the pui pose of
goring such on object. It seems lie inures:ad a de...go to
caltioinuit• all those who visited her laic Majesty. He
thinks, probably, be serves sonic °eject reconcileahle to bh
ono conscieoce by that species or a bail does lie re-
fleet that those who live under toe same monarchy may form
a similar plan of attack, and if they did so, o gat %olds, be
the stale sit :odes) snail, to Seise the abuse of
any one of the Royal 1•'; tttt iv, consider himself fairly at
Bloat) to attack all thine supposed to stolid in the way ut
his (inject It such conduct was adopted it would nut
li
a„ree with the general °pilau's of utankiail. The Lotion of
the libel also thought that lie was at liberty to traduce the
character of 11,c11, women, and children, tor the purpose at
Putt in an end to ail respect for the wife of the Sovereign.—
lle thought lit to abuse the Ito)itl 1:Y1bl/11,1111d 10 level
this
shafts of malice at every individual who sheaved the least
respect I'm her Majesty. lo that two he held out its hoer•
to attack every oilman is ha had the respect to Wive
low oatmeal her Nlajesty's dot:Ling. Severe inde, d would be
the law, said Ms . Scariett, ;too t..tul would it be to every
Goy eminent, it the pi ovate eh:elm:ter ul persons o het paid
tespect to iatistrious rank, ascir to be considered liable to
the attack of every a WO' Is 110 undertook to ,Uslptlft a par-
With,/ object. The Countess sit Jersey, as hose twine h • had
never Itched 'scolloped without re.pectosas in the habit of vi.
siting her late Majesty, tit a hich the ituthor thought lit to
publish the libel so question Nothing could more distress
the feeling of a lady thao to become Ibe subject of public
discussion. It was putt of the privileges of a female to
n Wuhan from the public eye—
" 'flair very virtues love the shit."
Mr. Scarlet thee' read the libel, which commenced iii these
words —" We Wise received commutiiratities :don't the
Countess of Jersey, sonic of a hICII 511.111 from tone 10 time
amuse our readers. Every sine must have seen we had a
kindness for Lady Jersey, and that we haul spared her; but
this foolish w au of forty has mode heisclt so °Pensive by
taking up the cause of the -- of Beigami, a hen every ore
had dropped, idol she forces herself on our iiiitice, of which
with the tilessinoi of fleas. a, she shall have e gh." The
libel despised the threat of prosecution. nod impaled idle
talk to Lady Jersey, aho was said to be displeased a Olt the
person ago !cot Lord they the Jean Bull declaring that
those who took in the Hull.lould never be odium cal Iu tier
parties. It at ni oil to say, that the conduct of Laity Jersey
to the Qmen (termed the Modern alessalina) compelled her
10 go aiiitiail, and dash she had been received with disgust
and Coldiii,s in society. Lord Jersey would not tallow its
Coutitess to become a Wilma of the villa of Cemo, or the
pet SOll who hired Berg; .''—Thus wits the nature of the
a loch the learued Counsel called t.; tile July to
cowitter a most unjustifiable attack on the Noble Laity, o het
0.01 b. co grossly smodered.
The Biel isitness was Tatourts Wright, clerk 10 the attor-
ney for the pi osecution, oho deposed tout he purchased lite
John Bull cu.ttni wog the libel on the Ist ul June hut, at No.
14, Johnson's-court, Fleet-stitli. On the iloor, be at v. the
160/11e5 Slow kell aud A i 104 Tills 1 4' mad nee ap-
in:M./nee sit it private house. lie did not know tat wr of the
delentinias. W11(1110. 1101 elutt,e.l the paver he braid some
presses at am k. The asihiwss then produced the copy of
an affidavit, signed at Ike stamp-Alice, pus sunlit til a late
Act of Pflrllillllelll, fur the regulation of printers hod pub-
to,hers„ In the said affidavit the defend:lets des, i 'bed them-
selves as winter and 'Hopi ittur ut the John Bull, plotted at
No. 9, I))Es's-butidiags.
The sous am-GI:MIA, for the defendants, lieu submitted
that the paper purchased by WI ight, is Johnson's-cowl,
could IRA to ieeeiVell as eV Weller!, timid the question arose,
helper there was any woof that the deft outlaw, avi in pub.
fishers of the libel. Under the i • • of the At t alluded
to, iitfulav its are norm ed lu be made by the rioter, pro-
prietor, hod publisher, and if any publication which is the
subject of pieseeution or ai holt, (Op responds with ire des-
description in the stfli tav it, the porno, are held
this case it was argued, Coat Bo Jury owl no newspaper
bylaw.: them published in Dyet's•litoltliws, and cowequently
these was tio proof that the drfeidanis acre
IN a mei, whose 101131 e was out oil the 1111.11, out
of the question.
Mr. srarlett admitted the dillicolty occasioned by the all.
settee of plea (hut the paper was published iu J
court, but contender' tout there n eoutig to go to Ike Jury
111•1S4111C11 11 Ilr eln 10 drCille Whh ether t o Lot' the
feeidents, Shoe rritasnoth, is hose
uunays stun'
on ate dour, we ens.
The Lord Chic It e considered this a question orsoine
impoitance, us it Will! the 111b1 which mad °Celli red under
the Act, mud therefore decided tuat it ought to go to the
July.
'fate Solicitor-Genet:it was then heard fur the defeiulants.
—lie contended that till' alleged libel Was nut all attack oil
private clittractet, but dulllaaVa toptctittg the conduct ut

Lady Jersey, who was a pat tizusi during a contest which
a:litsticd the whole country.
The Lord Chief Jost ice in his charge to the Jury, said, as
far as nrspi. cted too of the defendants, Shaekell and Ai rows
swill', they had two questions to cor.dtler. The !list was,
whet der it was proved to their ssitisfact ices, that both those
persons %%me publishers of the paper. If they should be of
opinion they were not, no fat slier question could arise; but
it they thought, ft um Ih.• evidenee laid 'white them, they
ellllOl resisonably conclude that Ihose two persons wet e pub-
lislieis, they would Coen have to considcr whether the pub-
location lie a libel. Wills respect toThomas Wellfef lie was
healed to an acquittal. It is for you who hare heard the
paragraph in question to judge w betties. it is not obviously
meant to hold up Lady Jersey to contempt 15111 ridicule: if
it is 80 inlerlded, it is that sort 11i.Cr1111111:111111111111.1161111 kn•twa
ill law by the tlesiwatt ion of libel. Geuticmen of the Jury,
it is my duty, upon that point atilt. case, to state 10)41U
the opinion which I persom•lly entertain. 011 w ill eser•
coe your own disceetion, and either negative or allitm
lily judgment as )011 may thiiik good :—ttty filmdom is di,-
tiliCll) that the publication is a libel. Gmitlem. nof the Jury,
1 ont.e wore request y our littrUlliht 10 the 111fterellee Itetwtt
the two quest'. isis in the case. The chief, and indeed al st
the only doubtful point is—are you s.itislied laist the tleiese.
dams are the publishers of the paper?
The ditty, , alter about a quarter of on hour's consideration,
said, that they hrhl She publication to be a libel; but upon the
ground or ster..ctivis proof as to the property, they found the
defendants— N of Guilty.
M•. S.:lllms begged that his Lordship (the Chlef Justice)
would fl rnh• that the cause had been tried upou probable
g 1, as such certificate Nis 1111 1011101 it in the mutter of

Tile I ord Chief Justice said it was a case ta Whirls be
should mot hesitate to ccitif,.
THUR.IIAY, JAN. 3.
(Befo►e the Lord Chief Justice and u Special Jury.)

CHIN' (ON.
ALADICE u. JoIINSON.

The plaintiff, a Surgeon in the Slth regiment, serving in
the Eiti4 Indic-, brought hi, ration ;_aril the defendant,
Captain of a Regiment of Cavalry in the same country, to
recover a compensation in damage. fur criminul conversation

with Ills N ife.
The Solicitor-General stated the case.—As far bark as
1813, a marriage took place bet a era the pl. basil- Hod his
ite. She was a lady of great beauty, :old the daughter of
a gentled:au in the • utility of Yolk. At the time of the
marriage the plaintiff resided in this country, and had tin in-
tention of gulag abroad. Tun lady was 1.11111111 .2 or 25
Vise plaintiff iiii;lit be thirty. 1 hey had during live yeast;
our child. Ton arils the end of 1:514, Mr. and Mss. Aladice
w cot to the East Ind.es, atilt the 34th reginiesit. While
they I einsimed in that country they had tall other children.
!hey lived happily, the plaintiff being a food dontesitc
hand —I.. 1620 they %vie at Nlortras, and ilsr•ir youngest
child had a lie% cue illness, uctasiuurd I.y the climate. They
were convequesaly iiiiiucral to send lino home to England
Captaiis Chaim:to, of the Vast India C pita)'s service,
was throat 'Madras, and being related In Mrs. Aladice, au
arrangement NM sonde to send her home with her children
ill I bat slop. It aro also as ranged th .t she aim to it-ide,
her retails to Logland, with her aaaa Bier m Yorkshire—She
accordingly weut on board, and sailed on the voyage home.
The defendant, Cat ii alit Jainism', was a passenger on board
the ship, and, on every °era • lie strewed a marked at-
tention to Mrs. Aladice. It did no appear that lie was
known to the plaintiff. Them wan no evidei.ce tit prove any
criminal intercoms(' bet werin the parties on hoard the ship,
but it would no doubt strike the Jury, when they had all the
facts before them, that all intimacy commenced in the versed
which led to the phontilf's 4.4,110.00 r. On the arrival of the
slip at Southampton, Captain Jiilimson accompanied Mrs.
Aladice to town. She went first to the house of Mr. Ste-
venson, brother of Captain Chapman, and from thence to
lodgings taken for her at Coratn-street. She was there free
ipienty vitiated by Capt. Johnson, who remained with her to
a late Maur. Mr. Stevens made arrangements for Mrs. Ala-
dice to go to Yorkshire. She was accordingly sent °lrby
the coach fir York. About a mil* front the Inn Captain
Johnson got into the coach with Mr, saying he wasgoing to
Seritland. At Yosk he left her, telling the servant he was
obliged to go back to London, having left his money behind.
Mrs. Aludtce then as lit to Whitby, to her mother and ,is-
lets, and iii April following she drternaiutd to return to Lim.
don with her two sisters. Oar ut them Elizabeth Walker,
was ;it that time addressed by a gentleman named Metcalfe.
De volumed she should come to tawn and proceed with 1 -
;aid her two sisters to Ft.-ace. She accordingly came to
loan, 111111 acct tll re side NI Bs ()imams. Captain Johnson
vyited her half au 'tour after her arrival, said was introduced
to tier sistr rs. His sleds acre frequent. About n ha might
after lieu arrival at Brampton a letter vsa, tcceivid fi um the
plaintiff 111 India, stating hits Miriam's to rt turn to Litglasid.
A few day. sal( r her sister a eat tutu the room aim found her
111 tears, and Capt sin 'Johnson in great confession. Mr.
Metcalfe having 'smeared tickets fur the Opera on the night
the King went, invited Mn. Aladite and her sisters to go.-
51rs. A a lice declined the Inv -dawns, and Mr. Metcalfe went
with the two sisters. I)iii log their absence Mrs. Aludice
remained alone with Captain Jainism' all -lie evening. This
took place as the 15th of May last, and she soon altyi rid tier
inteution of going to France with her sisters. She wished to
gu alone. Accordingly towards the latter end of May she
proceeded alone to Dover. She aas met at the inn door by
Capt. J. alto went a ith her to Calais. 10 the ineaiit ttttt • a
marl isige hod taken place between her sister and Mr.Nl (11 alfc,
who were at Lite. She resided in France till the month of
September, a hero she received frequent visits tl Captain
J Wanton. lit the ;mire mouth of September she returned to
Lagliuid, and she iiAaiis took 'urgings in Brompton•row.-
111 October the pl.
ceived by has v. ile, out us Ise hail once been, but under
constraint ;Old Cl/11111125.i. In crow:quell. o of the 11:111.0
of vs hat her staection had been, she fell tutu a tit of
tears. Ali. Aladice attributed this sensibility to her aff_
feetion, and a teport which had liven spread of his death.
He continued to reside with her a fortnight, never sus-
puctiug any impropriety on her vitt. IL happened, how-
ever, that Mrs. Aladice felt that she was pregnant by
Captain Johnson, and that it %vas impo44ble to conceal
it from leer husband. It was a case upon the whole (Mi-
lled to ample d images.
Witnesses were then called, who entirely supported the
statement of the Solicitor General.
After an able charge from the Lord Chief Justice, the
Jury tumid a verdict for the plaintitl.—Datuages 5091.
FRIDAY, JAN. 4.
LIBF.LS ON FIER LATE MAJESTY,
TIIK F. WEAVER AND °THINS.
Title Was au indictment against the defendants, Weaver,
Shackell, and Art utesurith, fur the publication of certain

paragraph'', alleged to be libels on her late Majesty, con-
tained in the papers called John Bull, of the tarals of Feb.
the II Ith of alareli, the nth of April, the 11th of May,
ate, the 27th of May, 1821.
Mr. Tyndall opt ned the pleadings.
Mi. Denman then stated, that this prosecution the law
officers of tier late Majesty hail found it neessary to insti-
tute for the purpose of Iningiag to punishment those who
had dated to publish some of the most atrocious libels
that ever disgraced the Press of this country. If the
necessity of this 'proceeding was felt during the life of
the Quiecia it was not less necessary at the present day.
Those who held the situation of her Majesty's law offiyers,
were discour al at her death. Ile merely mentioned
that circumstance to account for the absence of her late
Alajesty's Attoiney-General, who otherwise would have
addressed the Jtity. They had thought it their duty to
select the five libels which he had to taloa forward, as
publications, which he thought it impussible they could
suffer to escape. Itolependo tot lot attachment to the
Queen, their ditty to the public, and the general interest
I' society, demanded that the delendaists should be pu-
nished. The test libel, in the John Buil of the Tub of
Feloo 'troy, was !Walled by .he name of Mr. Wilberforre,
hid the author. atm professed to have great zeal fur
considered that lie was exercising that zeal by a
furious nitwit upon the teligions feelings of that gentle-
Mall. It Has 1101, however, for the libel on Mr. Wilber.
force that they complained, but it was necessary lois naine
should he noentioned, to convince the Jury that her late
Majesty was the prison pointed nt in the libel. Before
lie stated the libels, !ie was flesh onus of saying a kw words
on the nature of the evidence they intended to lay before
the Jury, in order to make the defendants liable. They
hail groan aloe by experience, and they meant to prove
beyond the possibility of doubt, the coon ,s ion of the
panties, and that they were joint printers and publishers
of the libels. The first question would be, whether any
or all of the paragraphs were libels oil her Majesty.—
With respect to the liability of the detbnolants, they in.
tended to put in the original affidavit at the Stamp-office,
which stated that Weaver was the Printer of the News-
paper called John Bull, and Sliackell and Arrowsmith
sole proprietors: that the Paper was to he printed in
Dyet's-bitiltlines, Holborn, and called John null. The
Jura would tin% the host ten numbers were !minted is
Dyeesbuildings ; the eleventh, contai ii ill g the libel, was
printed no Johnsou's•court, Fleet-street, and it would ap-
pear all the libels were published by the defeudatits at the
shop or office, where two of their names were over the
the door. The defendants were persons jointly liable to
the poor and watch rates in the parish of St. Dunstan.—
Sliackell and Arrovvsmith paid rates for the house in
Johissoies-cuoirt, Fleetadreet, and also for the shop in
Fleetadicet, where the Paper was likewise published.—
The Wee men welc. all active in promoting the pa:shea-
th-Ha It would be in evidence that a bill of exchange
was given in payment for advertisements in the John Mal,
which bill wits illltelscd by Weaver. With respect to
Sklar-II and Artois:moult, the collector of rates would
prove be these defendants paid rates for No. 11,
Johnsmas court ; in shalt, the publication would appear
as cleat as possible to be the joint act of the defendants.
—The Learned Cultusel then drew the attention of the
Juny to the libels. Teat of the 2atla of February, after
mentioning Mr. Weibel tbrce iu deo espeetful terms, the
author adits--" We cannot believe that the only place
where immorilli'y is to be received with deeetoey, Call be
the house of God, and that the only place while lit t Halite
is to be keels ed without a bluish is at the table of the
Lord." The oectoild libel, of the 2.1 of March, 4:alit:tined
the following passage--" Witco' we see old Thames
change his tee' se and flow back fr-tu IVestatinster to
lienlay, we will believe the Queen is looming bark to
the euaditet of a vii towns woman." The line' of the bdu
of Api it slated, that the (literal haul teen deviated guilts
of adultery by the highest tribunal of tile (milky ; hen
name excluded fount the laturgy, amt that site atiuiu :ell
it, and leak the voice GI lien shititte. She aus utakihe
idiots to he rr craved into socitty. That CirCIIIIIStat;Ce
did 110 t se.apnisetlir writer, but they did toot expert Laid
Jersey ;aid Lord (sky would sanetwei the vi-it, of their
Couuitssea to a woman convicted of aolidtery. Them
Welt, aa) women equally pure and virtuous as Lady Jersv,
who would toot visit prolligaca--• • •.—Lady
Jersey was led assay by her respect fur the IVllizs, to
&spreads the isifeetion of Ittandenbureli /tense, .1:c."--
Ito the oral libel ul the I .th of May, the writer oleelaieol
his intention to attack all females uiruliuned in the The
Chronicle and Doe Tinto, as visittiis of the Qoieen. The
paragraph of the 27th of Alay, Onto goal the (leech with
skulking to the Opera, under the name of Mrs. James, in
a state of isiebriety, and of there meeting with the coy of
—Ord/ Off/ alteae/ aje —These insinuatioosis Mr. Denman
&clan it to be false in every respect, tied coucluded by
deprecatioig in the also:ingest terms the atoverai passages he
load Nothing but floe Rifting arm of the law could
deal with the system of ;melt a wt oleo.

Mr. S)kes, Solicitor to the Stamp.odiee, produced the
01141:14 it 4.f the fltree def umlauts.

Alr, 'fabbaril proved the hand is tail% of SliaAell,
AEI ousiniali, old Weaver.
The affidavit being read, proved the defendants were
Pi notes:, and Propriety's of ilieJuhn 111'11. Tile affidavit
1::id nothing to du with another Paper called tilt: Real

Mr. M4liison, the Registrar of Newspapers at the Stamp
(Mice. ',induced No. Id of the John 8011, imblisln it of
Ii•looloaly 111, 1:12I. It pullout led to be pointed by It. T.
Dyer's•lmililings, Holborn, and puulished by
him at No. 11, Johnson's-rum Fleet.stocet. The tut
i.ebT iiouditced No. 11, (Feb. 25, IS21), published lo)
Weaver, fu Jolinsoloo.tooro.
Mr. March, coll. etur of tuxes for Flu:I-strut t and John-
son's-enni I, stated that the person rated t.. the house, No
Joliwun's court, fur watch-rate at the begiaithig of
1621, was William Stoeckel'. The same itereett was rated
lor No. 11, au ihe same euort. imp mail Mink Wirt
Lady Day, lotl. It was made fur the 1:0.11 of Alai
Ile did not know who paid the preceding tats
(larisitehat 10 lady Day, Ira". The tale 1.. r the
fulluw-
teg quarter was 01. to hihlstwhiner, mid Willsaut Shaelbeli
Titunias Ariossuoith wile toted fur NON. tu and 11.
The unties. leceived the rani. On the ;do of May I Ihe
I nth ut (febrile 's- loom Ntr. Stoeckel' soul Mr. Ai towsiiiiim
lie received for two gamins. He did out kilo% %hillier
the names were user the dour. Printing business was
(dotard on in the house. The Julio Lull was *Old iu
Flet2t-sire et. He did not know the 'lumber of the Louse
of sloop. 'the name John Bull Wil!, over the dour. The
witness received rates fur that slop 'rum S'heke'l.
taco, Mr. Sitacimil civic the witness &toilet: of hie

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