The Sun.
London, England, 1809-02-20 00:00:00

L 4111; REPORT.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Fan. 111.
. ,
FINNERTY b'. TIPPER.
- 'This was an action by Mr. Peter Finnerty, against.
Mr. Tipper, ptiblisher of a periodical work entitled'
The Satirist," fora libel against Mr. Finnerty.
Mr. Swjeant •Besr, ii a Vagy eloquent speech,
admitted the high importance of the Liberty at the
press to the existence of a tree nation. The more
invaluable, however, the advantages to .be deried
front a free and constitutional exercise of
_this grand
ptivilegeawith so met) the more caution must every
abuse of its liberty, every licentiquS attack en,publie
•or private character, be regarded., To make •t`e
liberty of the press truly vain :bit:, or even worth
the preserving, it was essential to prevent its degene-
rating into licentiousness. The libels against .the
Plaintiff in the case were of the most aggravated na'-
two, and called for exemplary damages. In some
of the inubrados, the Plaintiff was represented as
felon, as one of a band of conspirators entertaining
the most hostile views towards the Government' of
the'country. In one particular ,passage, atter re-
presenting the Plaintiff as the author ot-a Letter in
Mr. Cobbotes- Register, equally distill..
guieliable tor its wickedness and lolly,: the publica-
tion complained of proceeds—" We always •knew
the man to be a scoundrel; we did not, till now;
believe that he was a f 001.7 •
The publication of the libel, and that Mr. Tip-
Per was the person by whom it was published;
tog proved, Mr. SHEPHERD addressed the Jury for
the Defendant. This he represented'as one of the
most groundless and vexations prosecutions which
had everheen attempted. The Jiattal 'Oily was
not Mr. Tipper, the. publisher, but Mr. Ali:niers,
the author at The Satirist, whom tie. present Plain„
tiff had libelled over and over again, and in 'whose
own vindication the publication in question had
been made. The- Plaintiff Was the. professed author
olthe•patnphlet against the *Doke of York, pub.;
bolted. under the title of ", Major Hogan's Appeal,"
; Ise was besides a Member, if nut the leading
Manager, of a Debating Society, and as.sueli was
the publisher, 'what amounted to the stune.:•thing,
vas concerned in the publication of a: variety.ot,
libels against. Mr. Manners, any one of whieh.would
fully have warranted the. publication in question.
There were given in •• evidence three 'different
posting bills of 'tlte " 'Old Robiri Hood Society,' in
two.of which the question Was; " Whether George
Manhers,,the Author of the Satirist, or Bill Soarnes,
the Prince'of Pickpockts, was the greater pest to So-
ciety ? Witnesses were also adduced to shew that
Mr. Finnerty attended, these meetings, and took a
lead in the management of their debates.
Mr. Serjeint BEtST, in reply, contended, that the
law of this country did not allow 'of a set-off in
criminal Matters; or in matters of injury as in mat-
ters ofdebt. - If the Plaintiff should be found guilty
of a libel in the publication of Major Hogan's pail:l-
- there was a prosecution against him in 86-
other pike, where he 'wohld be. punished ; but
that was no ground for diniinishing his damages
in the present instance.—That thi connection be-.
tween the" Plaintiff and the Robin Hood Society was
proved to exist;the Learned Counsel contended was
apparent ; but even should the Jury be of a contrary
opinion on this point, Mr. Manners', had his adion
open to hint, and when brought, Mr. Finnerty
should be prepared with en answer. •
Sir JAMES' MAK'sFIRI,D in.charging the Jury, said
the question for them ivas, wlrat daMage the Plain-
tiff had 'sustained, and if the ads of provoiation, in.
the different advertisements published by the Robin
Hood Society, with v.' the Jury could have no
hesitation hi connecting the Plaintikdid'not amount
to' an injury equally great on .the part. of Mr. Man-
ners as any which Mr. Finnerty bad sOstairiC.d. The
Jury, after retiring for a few minutes, found a ver-
dict for the Plaintitf.--;;Damaires °pc

Several thousand tailors n-t he metropolis have.'
been thrown ont,of employment by. the recent-acl-
vance in
.the price of cloth'. Manylper4ous resist the
demand as ,an imposition,
.while others do so front
necessity, added to WiliQh. the trade is always heavy
in Lent.

On SatuOay evening as a young woman, of de-
cent appearance, was crossing. the'enclol' Queen
street, Cheapside, One of the wail-coaches Went over
her. She was taken to the, hospital without hopes
of recovery.
* •