The Sun.
London, England, 1822-04-05 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

MR. EDITOR—I have read in the cork Mer-
cantile Chronicle of the 25th of March, a Publi-
cqtion, purporting to be a charge, alleged to
have been 'addressed to the Grand Jury of the
County of Cavan, by Justice FLETCHER : but
from my knowledge of that Gentleman's sound
clear judgment, great legal information, and truly
constitutional principles, I conceive it to be a
forgery, foisted upon the Public by some evil-
disposed person, .for the diabolical purpose, at
once of bringing into. contempt the Dispensers of
Justice, and of increasing that spirit of discon-
tent and insurrection.that.is now laying waste
the country ; and almost every sentiment it con-
tains, so opposite to those of the learned and ve-
nerable Judge, supports my allegation. Who
that knows that Gentleman's sound judgment, as
I do, can for a moment suppose that he would
introduce into a solemn charge to a Grand Jury
such extraneous and irrelevant matter, to say no
Worse of it, and so very foreign from the business
'of their county ? In the. 'lathe of 'Heaven, what
had 'the Grand Jury of the County gf Cam) in
its ()Vial capacity, to do with " the IHICeIg1110••
66 'lions recall'of Earl TABOT, or the appoint-
" Meta of: the Marquis XS ELEESLEY to. the Go-
" vernment of Ireland ?" Or in what respect
did it concern that Grand Jury; if an Alderman
of the City of Dublin, after. dining upon turtle,
venison; and custard, drank " THE GLORIOUS
MEMORY ?" So far, indeed, these are only.niere
old women's tales, which no person could suppose
Judge FLETCHER would have obtruded upon the
time and attention of a Grand Jury : but what
follows, I conceive to' be. of a most mischievous
nature ; inasmuch as it is the grossest libel. on a
Constitutional Judge that ever issued from the
Press, even 'in its Most licentious'era ; and, not-
withstanding the title prefixed to it, I really ima-
gined it was one of 'those Proclamations which the
Public is sofrequently favoured with ; and I looked
to the conclusion for a well-known name : but I
trust ere long.tO see the Libeller dragged to the
Bar of Justice, for thus prostituting to the cause
of insubordination the venerated, name of Judge
FLETCHER." This libeller makes himstO sat, that
" He had strongly recommended to the Attorney-
" General to file an ex-Officio information against
" the A lderman,plodging himself that, if broUght .
" before him. he would strip him of his borrowed
" plumei-aod his Aldermanic gown."
A Judge goes, or ought to-go, upon the Bench,
with his mind free' from impression and preju-
dice, to hear a cause between party and party,
and'explain points of law to a Jury ; but this
daring libeller presumes to say, that a Constitu-
tional Judge, as every one must allow Justice
FLETCHER to be, had' declared from the Bench,
in the Court House.of the County of Cavan, that
he had tampered with the first Law Officer of
the Crown, by recommending, probably upon
no better authority than a disaffected Newspaper,
him to file an ex-officio information, at the same
time admitting that he had prejudged the cause
without a hearing; and was determined to punish
the offending Toast-master.
Another point is, that this libeller makes him
to say, or to insinuate in pretty broad terms, that
it is a breach of the laws ti? drink the Memory
Of king WILLIAM HI., who established that
Constitution under which his Majesty derives his
Crown, and under which we enjoy the blessings
of religious and civil liberty,—that Constifu-
tion which I.trust will be handed down unim-
paired to the latest.posterity, in despite of Radi-
cals, in whatever garb they ma-y appear.
Though not learned in law, I have no hesita-
tion. in. saying, that a Judge, making such a de-
claration as that with regard to the Alderman,
ought to be impeached before Parliament, and
stripped of.his Ermime. Those who know Justice
:FLETCHER wall not for moment suppose that
fie. ever acted so unconstitutional a part; and
have, to the utmost of my ability, endeavourbd
to clear him from so foul a charge, in. the opinion
of such persons as haie no knon,ledge of his tian-
seendant talents, his unifortiati4onstiitutiOnal
principles, and his manifold virtUfi's.,,,,AfiOrxred as
they are by the most Polished, dignif*,l, and r
conciliating manners. •
Cork, March 28th, 1822. JUNIUS.