The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-11-23 00:00:00

THE KING 13. CHAPMAN.

Mr. SCARLUIT moved the judgment of the
Cou►t on Ow Ucfrndaul, who had been tried before
Mr. Justice at Lancaster, and found guilty of
I•ublishiug a 'Owl of and concerning the atintliiisi
stration of justice at Nfaischrster, and reilecting on
Vie conduct of the Magistrates there. The libel
svaii published in The Manchester Obverver, and
cun•i•ted of observations on a iiial which took place
at the Quarter Sessions at Manchester.

Several affidavits *toe put in and read on the
part of the Defend int. Ills own affidavit stated,
that he had lent the former Proprietor and Editor
of the Paper 1501., fur which, us a security. the
..iiil Proprietor. Mark Writdrll, transferred to
the Defendant's name the property in the said
Paper, bat that in fact lie W.lll Oli:y a mort-
gagee on it, the said %Vardell continuing to act
s Editor ; and that he had no knowledge of the
publication of the libel iii question, till he was
waited on by the agent fur the prosecution to knots
the name of the writer, which lie afterwards offered
to give op on condition that the prosecution against
himself should be suspended. The affidavit fur-
ther stated. that Defendant had been put to gnat
expense in attending thi• Court in Easter Term to
-receive judgment, and been confined since June
'lest in Lancaster Castle, and treated with great
severity there.

Mr. Hove addressed the Court in mitigation of
punishment. He dwelt upon the fact stated in the
Defendant's affidavit, that he was ignorant of the
publication of the libel, being only nominally the
proprietor of the paper iu winds it was publiahed.
He reminded their Lord.hips that they bad slwugs
distinguished between the case of political writrrs
who wilfully and knowingly offend, and those per-
sons who, by construction of law, were rendered
liable.

Mr. SCARLET/ addressed the Court iu aggrava-
tion of punishment, and insisted principally on the
Defendant basing gone d.iwu to trial, where he was
defended by Learned Counsel, yet at the time
nothing wassaid about his being only the mortgagee,
and not the proprietor of the paper iu *hien the
libel was published.
The Defendant then offered to address the Court.
The Loan Curse Jurrice said the Coutt would
hear him, though it was irregular.
The Defendant mid, be hail been defended by
Cognisel at the persuasion of his f,ienda. He as-
sured the Court that he had been most crtirlly op-
pressed, sad cared not what became of hien. lie
bad done hie duty as a periebiosier.a tradesman, and
an Englishmen. If he survived the imprisonment
he was now to have, lie should• consider it his duty
to barrow in the earth by day, and wait by night to
be revenged on his lippreeron. He was persuaded
that if he bed oat done hie duty as a Police t:ossi-
window?. and thereby offended the Borouglireeve.
the present action would not have been commenced.
Them eircumetaares be bad been presented slating
in his affidavit.

The Loau Cuizi JUITICZ—" Yon bate put in
•&davits. aud stabil what you choosy. It waw hro-
b■bly matter of di•cretiou to ousittiug what yuu
now state."

Mr. Justice BAT LIT-" Weals only act on the
affidavit •s it is before us.".

The Defeudunt sdid he might just as well have
le en brought up hut Teem as twee wen incarcerated
fur live menthe se he had been.

Mr. Jounce BATLLT, iss passing sentence, ob-
served, that if the Defrodast, she. applied to, bad
given ap the name of the author without istirsept.
nig so make coodittoos„ he would probably not
kite bo.n proceeded spits*.
Ter Defendant shoved a disposition again to
addrebs Ilse Court.

LORD ClllElrJusesee..." You }hive sifted,'
uaidoed a d tEcult melt epee tbe Court—to hart

irhat pee hove jowl 'WI. De set; imam that
rifcult! by sayiegg rag Wag rasee."
Mr. Jamie, BAUM thou said. the Coed- ta.
jag into is coosideraties all doe eireeneteoesto
artgeoerd hira to he tot prkeued is the Hesse of
Correctioa. Cold B.t for two o.Mbr, end
thea to And awoke for bin good bebwrioar for three
yowl. himself is tool. sod two sereties in 101.
each.

INSOLVENT DEBTIlla' 'COMM

Virreiresay, NOVEIMINIK ft.

Lieutenant-Colonel Gibron. of the Fast India
'Ciiimpeny's service. was opposed by Mr. Hartley, a
creditor, but was discharged on au undertaking to
psy the debt' due to the latter by instalments of
too/. a Tear.