The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-16 00:00:00

N.

FRENCH TRIALS.

COURT OF ASSIZE OF PARIS.
SITTING OF THE 13TH OF JANUARY.

CONSPIRACY OF SAUQUAIRE-SOULIGNE,
Among the Witnesses we observed thii names
of the Marquis de la Fayette, and of Count George is Fayette,
his son, of M. Meulhou, advocate, of Mahuel, a man of letiet!s.
Messrs. Lafayette, father and son, did not. answer when called
upon : nor did N. Paulin, or N. Vieux Lamarine.

The Attorney-General observed, that the notices were duly
served on the absent witnesses; that, in fact,.it had not been
possible to find M. Paulin, who had removed several times,.
withoutleaving an address. This eloquent Magistrate is justly
surprised that Citizens called upon to perform duties, should re,
ithem;
se.in fulfil the, and 'should thus, by a voluntary fault, pro-
long the captivity of a woman, who hes a right to demand to be
immediately tried.
M. de Prod, in consequence, required that the trial be defer-
red to the next session ; that the witnesses be condemned to pay
a fine, as well as all the expences which the delay shall occa-
sion, and that in case of a second refusal to appear, they shall
he compelled by the public force.

Duez, Counsel for Mime. Ghauvet, says—his client has
been ten months in prison ; that there is nothing to prevent her
being tried. The written depositions of the witnesses may be
read, who, he is sure, will say nothing more.
The Attorney-General observes, that this is contrary to
the law, and that all the proceedings before the Jury must
be oral.

The Court, after deliberating, accedes to the proposition of
the Attorney-General ; puts off the trial to the first session in
February, and condemns Messrs. Lafayette, Paulin, Vieux La-
marine, and Paquin, to a fine of 100 francs, and the expences
which the delay shalloccasion.

The public officer is enjoined to compel them to appear by
the public force.—The sittings then broke up.

CHARGE OF ASSASSINATION.

The female, Rose Vivier, when brought before the Court and
the Jury, adopted language different from that she used before
the Court of Instruction. After the reading of the accusation,
and recalling of witnesses, her eyes were fixed upon Rene La.
morlette, her lover, whom she had not at first distinguished
amidst the crowd of the spectators. She then burst into tears,
and her sobs were heard aloud. This female, who appears to
belong to the most degraded of her class, has yet left some de_
e
icieonacryseo,fadnedmheearnourt.teraHnecuick. She defended herself with
confidence, and her answers did not want precision or clearness.
Her figureq is not agreeable, her voice is
When she was questioned about her connection. wirh - La-
morlette, she said she was acquainted with him about eight
years ; about weeks since, she perceived his intention
oafaaibnandaonndinsgthinteer ;trsihneketthsenwashikehed hslilten tiolaaretguirvnenhehriamw;atschhe-
presse'd above all things for the performance of the contracts
which passed between them, which he persisted in reject-
ing ; she endeavoured to dissuade hint, from a marriage which
would not scrve. him : they passed• the night together, and
she never spoke of dagger or knife, as he had. said ; when
iihelAnightlha knife,
,she did not aili'faf Otte sharpened at
both sides; it was then her intention to stab herself or to
throw herself into the water ; when she thought her lover was
:(11;lisecsialhiast time that I will speak to you ; come a moment
dead, she was determined to die upon the scaffold : when La-
ohtsiext,neet her at the appointed place, she went to
said he,
found him, and took him by the arm, and said,
with me." tic followed her ; she placed. two glasses of wine
table ; he drank one ; she told him that as he was going
,larried) he ought at least to return her the contract.
showing her the ring which he had in his
,‘ here is the contract ; it is not yours, it is mine ;
wish to sell it; if I could get six francs for it I would have
sold it long since; but they would only give me a hundred sous;
/ must take it to another goldsmith." 'These insulting expres-
,pt::::::: 'tbrkilhinieeehseittasiitt atislet
,ions distracted her ; her first idea was to stab herself ; she
was not mistress of her indignation ; she grasped the cursed
knife, and gave him a blow in.the breast. As a proof that she
did not wish to kill him, in place of plunging the knife in, and
thus destroying him, she drew it quickly from the wound, and
would have stabbed herself if Lamorlette had not held her arm.
The President reminded her that she had given quite a dif-
ferent account of the transaction.
The accused persisted in her statement.
Lamorlette was the first witness called. Ire gave unwilling
evidence against his mistress.—RoAe Vivier asserted that she
loved him too much to kill him, and That she wished to be the
only victim.

'the appearance of the woman Charote, the lawful wife of
Lamorlette, had a visible effect on the spirits of the accused.
The witness having said that she was not acquainted with the
prisoner before her marriage—
Rose exclaimed—" Not know me, wretch ! you are the cause
of all my calamity."
During the entinidiscussion, and until the departure of
the audience, the prisoner kept her eyes fixed upon her old
lover.

The Advocate-General refuted the defence set up by the ac-
cused. He stated, with great force of reasoning, that the fasts
did not leave the least doubt that the murder of Lamorlette was
an act of atrocious revenge long meditated by the prisoner.
The following questions were then put to the Jury :—" is
Bose Vivier guilty of having committed voluntarily, and with
premeditatioa, a homicide upon the person of Rene 'Amor-
lette ? Has this attempt, proved by external acts, and followed
by the commencement of its execution, failed only by fortui-
tous circumstances, and those independent ofthe will of Rose
Vivier ?"

The Jury, after a consultation of two hours, pronounced its
verdict in these words :—" Yes, the accused is guilty of having
committed the crime voluntarily, but without premeditation ;
she has committed it with the last circumstance referred to in
the question." .
This answer excited the astonishment of the Court, which
did not think it sufficiently clear.
The Advocate-General—l think that the Jury ought to re-
tire to their chamber, to give a more positive explanation of the
characters of the attempt at voluntary homicide. The Jury
undoubtedly wished to say, that the attempt took place with all
the characters which, in the eye of the law, constitute the
crime, but it must be positively expressed.
M. La Tenade maintained, on the contrary, that the Jury
only resolved in the affirmative the third question of the at-
tempt, meaning its interruption ; and the other circumstances
being decided in favour of the prisoner, she ought to be ac-
quitted. The declaration of the Jury was in favour of the ac-
cused; it could not be destroyed. He therefore demanded
that it should be maintained ; and he protested against any
thing that may be done to the prejudice of a declaration which
was irrevocable.

The Judges retired to the Council Chamber, and gave the
following opinion :—" That the prisoner manifested her inten-
tion by external acts ; that she commenced the execution ; that
she failed through circumstances fortuitous, and independent of
her will ; and the Jury ought to pronounce upon the last
alone." The Court therefore sent them back to their delibera-
tions.

The President informed the Jury that if they negatived the
premeditation, the prisoner would be acquitted.
M. La Penade insisted upon the first declaration of the Jury.
The President said that every thing which occurred should
be inscribed in the prcces verbal.
The Jury, after a short deliberation, affirmed all the cha-
racters of the attempt.

In consequence, Rose Vivier has been condemned to hard
labour for life,' and to be branded with the letters S. P. • She
heard the sentence without emotion, and' when tlie,gendarnies
were leading her away, she still sought if .her eyes eon}d dis-
cover -Lamorlette, but he had gone away after•the closing of
the debates.
___ .

The Court will occupy itself to-morrow with the trial, of
the enemies of the State. The Marquis de
leiadame Chauvet, accused of conspiring and holding com-
munication with
la Payette is amongst thrwitnesses that ate summoned.

"
;it

•

PRICE SEVEIkTPENCE:

PARIS- PAPERS.

[From. theifoniteur of Tuesday, fax. 13.1

• I

NOTHING OFFICIAL. 4014;•0/litiCIAL PART. "

GIIIRALTAR DE,C. 24 —The number of emi.
, •
grants increases daily. Among them is' Chapa-
langerra Ferer Villacimpa; who is in the Bay.
Airraox, 'Lite. 24.—0 n the *l4tif of this
month, in the.morningl band of 4(J arnica, wri.
appenred,whom the inhabitants thought suspicions.
and `the Prindpal Alcalde went to meat them with
SS Royalists. Having summoned the band to
surrender, a fusilade began between the Royalists
and the- factious, who made agood stand;•lngt•
were forced to retreat, leaving, three
.prisotie4e,.
and two men who lost their-way.-
Crieithelfithi, the 'erne AlcaMe` went, af!qir Air
other band of 16 men, .who appeared at, the -vtL,7
lege of Lamias, and who were put tolight.----
(Restaura4or, Dec. 31.)
(From the Etoile of Wetineedoy,.ian.l4.) • ,
MADRID, JAN. B.—Don Antonio,Salinas, Mi-
litary Governor of Cordova, beittkiAtormed
the Revolutionists in that city ta.kr•hdvantaie of
the night, to put up the most infamous placards,
has offered a reward of fifty doubloons to the per-
sons who shall give information of the authOrs of
this public scandal. As soon as their crime is
proved they will be shot.

. A reward of a doubloon is offered to any ;4;ine
who will give information concerning the horibs
which belonged to the National Militia. •,
Don Joseph Magarassa, Military and
Governor of Badajos, has issues (Dec. 30th-)l,an
energetic proclamation to the iidiabitants,,of
Estramadura, to induce t.141:n to enlist in :The
Royal Volunteers. lie slie4i them that thii
im-
posing force will deprive the enemies of the
Throne of all hope.
The King our Sovereign, desiring to preierve
entire and to place under an analogous regime the
property of all kinds which belonged to theJn-
wiisition, in which are comprehended the'li'ku-
sions and revenues of. the Canons, has taken fior
the Treasury the administration of this property.,
pensions, sc., and given it to the CellectOr4e-
neral de Espalios.
[From the Courier Franqai4.] -
PriteisiNAst, JAN. b.—(Private Letter.)—Tho
Spanish troops of Baron Eroles have left4be
neighbourhood of Tarragonaiand taken a positiOn
near Barcelona, and from the Ist Jan: 'all "the
orders for the administration and governmek..of
the province will be dated from Gracia &dm
mums of Barcelona. It is to be wished that
this measure may put an end .to the disOrtters
prevailing in. That unhappy. country.. Assassina-
tions multiply daily, and the Royalista,even.
are not agreed among- themselves. l'hoseof-the
villages around A bisbal entered that town on:the
2 8 t 11
u t.
JAN. B
and disarmedyan or
dn
all theßoyalistonan ee of
Mi Ii t itai;
PAnis,
7th, the administration of Hospitals and Charities
of the city of Paris, is authorized to accept the
bequest made by M. Lanrhrechts, of real pro-
perty, producing an income of 12,000 francs for
a foundation, in favour of the Poor of the Pro-
testant Religion. M. Lambrechts was Depitty
for the Department of the Lower Rhine, and:lft
on the Opposition Benches.Wohnillye
tsoo
samt:l;
people who have the words morality and religion
constantly in their mouths, seek
their own ambition and cupidity, this modest and
virtuous citizen defended the liberty of his coun-
try. His whole life was given up to his felitivv-
citizens ; his property was the patrimony of The
pour. Thus he left a name preferable toitie
shameful opulence of those who boast of their
devotion, while they fatten on the public purse—
who call themselves religious, and have never
wiped away one tear of the unfortunate. -2-, •

FRENcir FuNnos.--PAnts,Jax.l3.—Fire per Cents. Opened
at 94. 20. ; closed at 94. 10. Bank Stock, 1,832 f. Mc. Loan,
1823, Ai. Neapolitan Rents, 80. Spanish ditto, 254-. 'Royal
Spanish Loan, 1823, 80i. Exchange on London, I Month.
25. 45. ; 3 Months, 25. 35.—( Coors Apthentique.) .::

PARRICIDE.—On Dee. 31s t , towards eight
o'clock in the evening, Barbe Rose Chatelet :pO.
years of age., of the Commune of Dugny, on 4Ve
road from Verdun to Bar, killed her father.bl
firing at him with a pistol. The muzzle of ..(he
piece was close to her unhappy. father, and the
deed was committed at the corner 'of a r4tl,
where she had concealed herse/f,' knowinit
he would pass that way. The baR ;-passed
through the bowels of the old man, who died.sis.
hours afterwards, declaring his daughter
,wds his
murderess. The Procureur dig Rol immeiliaie4
proceeded to Dugny, where this unnaturalttfinp-
ter confessed her crime, and said that. she
,Nr.d
been induced to commit it by a desire to have'-no
longer a pension to pay for 'the" support .Of
Nicolas Chatelet, which she and all his children
paid. She was on the following (lay ccmdbcted
to the gaol of Verdun. The trier,- which
take place at St. Mihiel, will make public al.l the
details of this horrible crime, at - which Are
shudder in recording it.—(Journaldes Pebaisj:

Coal has been found at Whitlee, about twelve
mites from Jedbmgh. The seam is about...lWO
feet thick, and the qualify good. Thefirst cara-
load raised was brought to Jedhurgh, and•buined
or the street as a bon-fire, the bells all-the:v/11)1e
ringing a merry peal. That -town has hitherto
been supplied with coal. from' a place rfearty
double the distance.—(Caledonian illercuro.),*;
We are sorry to observe, that by the •latest
intelligence received from Bristol-, no further.-
formation has transpired, respecting the triyste-
rions disappearance of Mr. CIIA.RLES PtEiteE, Of
that city, which has created So roucti.,auxietY'..kii4
alarm, and which we more particuiiir)v. 0144
to in our Paper of- Wedti'etday. A rewa4 .of
100 guineas is offered for 'his discovery,' dead;
or alive.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHANCERY, JAN. 15.
GOURLAY TIIK DUKE Or SOMERSET.

Me LORD CHANCELLOR promised to give judgment on
Alcnciay.
HARRIS V. BODEXHASI AND OTHERS OF THE HEREFORD

BANE.

The Soutcti on-GurnaALrenewed the argument in this
•case, the hearing of which had adjourned over the holi-
4tyri The rgader will remember that the dispute arose from
lima-jobbing transactions uitieli had gone on between the plain-
tiff and a person of the n:tme of Garrett, late one of the firm.
The bank refused to recognize these transactions, and were pro_
ceeding at law to recover the balance of the running account
-Anwee3 the plaintiff and them, omitting all the items in his
bolk which referred to them. The plaintiff had obtained an
im,-ignetion to restrain the proceedings. The Solicitor-General
new moved to have it dissolved.
TRESLOVE follov:ed on the same side.--.lllr. lionxi
miiied.—Further argument postponed.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, J. 15.
" THE VISION OF JUDGMENT."
THE EIKG r. J. RUNT.

At tan o'clock this ease was called on, and the following Jury
were sworn :--:.
Robert Rogers, Matthew Lloyd, Robert Cook, Richard
Horsepool, and C. Constable, Esqrs.
Mr. ADOLPHUS then prayed a Tales, and the following per-
sons answered to their names e—James Chambers, John,. Iron-
son, William Ilussey, Thomas Jones, Thomas Beatys, George
Dalton, J. Trough, and William Elliott.
Mr. PATTISON opened the pleadings. The indictment was
„substantially as follows :
sae'" Middlesex to wit.l—The Jurors of our Lord the King,
u,tgin their oath present, that John Hunt, late of the parish of
Saint George, Hanover-square, in the county of Middlesex,
'bookseller, being a person of wicked and malicious disposition,
and wickedly, and maliciously contriving and intending to in-
jure, defame, disgrace, and vilify, the memory, reputation, and
character of His late Majesty King George the Third, the
Father of our Sovereign Lord the now King, and of divers
ethers the descendants of His said late Majesty, members of the
Royal Family of this realm ; . and also contriving and intend-
ing to cause it to be believed that His said late Majesty was a
bad King, guilty of misrule and a protector of tyrants, and
that his death wa, unlamented and unregretted even by those
Who attended his burial, and thereby to disturb and disquiet
the minds, and destroy the comfort and happiness of our said
Lord the now Kine, and other the said descendants, and to
aging them into public scandal. infamy, disgrace, and contempt,
with and amongst all the subjects of this realm, on the 2d day
of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun-
'iced and twenty-two, at the perish aforesaid, in the county
Aforesaid, with force and arms, falsely, wickedly, maliciously,
aed unlawfully, did print and publish, and cause to he print-
ed and published, in a certain printed book, to wit, iu a
oertain printed book celled The Liberal, a certain false, scan-
dalous, malicious, and defamatory libel, of and concerning
ilia said late itlaja t a, and also of and concerning his reign,
death, and burial; coetaining therein, amenget other things,
the following false, scandalous. malicious, and defamatory
matter of and concerniaga II i s said late Majesty, and also of and
concerning hie reign, death and burial ; (that is to say), " In
the first year of freedom's
second dawn, died George the
Third ;" (meaning His said late Majesty) " although no ty-
trent, one who" (meaning His said late Majesty) " shielded
tyrants, till, each sense withdrawn, left him" (meaning His;
:aid late Majesty) " nor mental nor external sem ; a better
• farmer ne'rbruelial dew from lawn, a worse King" (meaning
a .worse King than His said late Majesty) " never left a I
realm undone. He" (meaning His said late Majesty) " died,
het left his" (meaning His said late Majeety's) " subjects still
behind, one half as mad and t'other no less blind, He" (mean-
ieg His said late Majesty)" died. His" (again meaning His
:aid late Majesty's) " death made no great stir on earth iHis"
(meaning His said late Majesty's) " burial made sonic pomp;
there was profusion of velvet, gilding', brass, and no great dearth
of aught but tears, save those" (meaning those tears) "shed by
• caa4ualan ;" thereby then and there meaning that His said late
Majesty was a bad King, guilty of misrule, a protector of ty-
rahts, and that his death was unlamented and unregretted even
b 1 those who attended the burial of His said late Majesty :
a'o the great disgrace and scandal of the memory, reputation,
arel character of His said late Majesty ; to the great disquie-
tide and disgrace of our said Lord the now King, and his laws,
to the evil example of all others in the like case offending, and
against the peace of our said Lord the now King, his crown and
etagnity.
" And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, further
pie:cent, that the saki John Hunt, so being such a person es
aforesaid, and wickedly and maliciously further contriving and
intending to injure, defame, disgrace, and vilify the memory,
reputation, and character of His said late Majsty, so being the
.fatner of our said. Lord the now King, and other the said de-
scendants; and also contriving nod intending to cause it to be
believed that his said late Maiesty had been, during his reign,
guilty of misrule, and that he was a person of mean and avari-
diaue mind and disposition, and thereby to disturb and disquiet
Uea minds and destroy the comfort and happiness of our said
Land the now King, and other the said descendants, and to
bzing them into public scandal, hatred, and disgrace, with and
araangst all the subjects of this realm, on the day and year
aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, with
force and arms, falsely, wickedly, maliciously, and unlawfully,
did vrint and publish, and cause and procure to be printed '
sad published in a certain other printed book; to wit, a
certain printed book called The Liberal, among other things
a certain other false, scandalous, malicious, and defamatory
libel, of and concerning his said late Majesty, and of and
cancerniag his said reign, in the form of part of a speech
therein, supposed to be spoken by a being therein called the
Patrice of Air, containing therein (amongst other things) the ,
false, scandalous, malicious, and defamatory matter following,
of and concerning his said late Majesty and his said reign (that
is to say)—" He," (meaning his said late Majesty) " came to
hie" (meaning his said late Majesty's) " sceptre young, he"
Wain meaning His said late Majesty) " leaves it" (meaning
.tna said sceptre) " old. Look to the state in which be
(Meaning His said late Majesty) " found his realm ; (Mean-
,ipg _ this realm) " and left it" (meaning this realm) ; " and
hae ' (meaning His said late Majesty's) " annals to behold :
haw to a minion first he" (meaning His said late Majesty)
1-I.rave the helm" (meaning the helm of government of this
realm(); " how grew upon his" (meaning His said late Ma-
jewl's) " heart a thirst for gold, the beggar's vice, which can
hat overwhelm the meanest hearts ;" thereby then and there
Meaning that His said late Majesty had been, during his said
reap, guilty of misrule, and that he was a person of mean
and avaricious disposition ; to the great disgrace and scandal
of the memory, reputation, and character of His said late
Majesty ; to the great disquietude and disgrace of our said
Lord the now King, and other the said descendants ; in con-
tempt of our said Lord the now King and his laws ; to the
evil example of all others in the like case offending, and
eneitinst the peace of our said Lord the now King, his crown
and dignity.
" And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, fur-
ther present, that die said John Hunt, so, being such person
afureseid, and wickedly and maliciously further contriving and
intending to injure, defame, disgrace, and vilify the memory,
teputation, and character of his said late Majesty, so bring the
Tither of our said Lord the now King, and other the saidsle-
eceadants e and also contriving and intending to cause it to be
bdieved ' that his said late. Majesty was, during his-reign, an
cheery to the liberties of his people and of other nations, and
ghat his said reign was remarkable for great national calami-
ties; area thereby to disturb and disquiet the minds and destroy
the comfort and happiness of our said Lord the. now King, and
etiettathe said descendants, and bring them into public scandal,
infamy, disgrace, and contempt, with and amongst all the sub-
jects, of this realm, on the day and year aforesaid, at the parish
aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, with force and arms, falsely
and wickedly, maliciously, and unlawfully, did print and pub-
, lieli, and cause and procure to by printed and published in a
certain other printed book, to wit, a certain printed book called
The Liberal, among other thingS, a certain other false, scanda-
leneonalicious, and defamatory libel, of and concerning His
lea late hlajesty, and also of and concerning his reign and his-
torg, in the torm and part of a speech therein, supposed to be
spoken by the said Being therein called the Prince of Air, con-
taiaing therein, among other things, the following scandalous,
malicious, and defamatory matter, of and concerning His said
late Majesty, and of and coneerning his reiga ; that is to say—
"'Tis true, he" (meaning His said late al eiesty) " was a tool
from-first to last (I" [meaning the said Prince of Air] " have
the workmen safe;) but as a tool so let him" (meaning His late
Majesty) "be consumed. From out the past of ages, since
mankind have known the rule of Monarchs, from the bloody
rolls amass'd of sin and slaughter, from the Caesar's school,
tie the worst, pupil, and produce a reign more" (meaning
more than his said late Majesty's) " cumbered with the slain.
He" (meaning his said late Majesty) " ever warr'd with free-
dom and the free nations, as tnen ; home subjects, foreign
foes, so that they uttered the word ' Liberty,' found George the
afaird" (meaning His said .late Majesty) " their first opponent.
WhoSetistory was ever stained as his" (meaning liis said late
magesty's) " will be, with national and individual woes?"
(thereby then arid •there meaning that His said late Majesty
will, during fur said reign, an enemy to the liberties of his
'ale and of other nations 4 and that his reign' was remarkable
great nittional calamitiee): To the great disgrace and scan-
.of.the memory, reputation, and character of His late. M-
a-11.
'esty ; to' the great 4iisquietude and disgrace of oar said Lord ,

the now King, and other the said descendants, in contempt of
our said Lord the now King and his laws; to the evil example
of all others in the like case offending, and against the peace of
our said Lord the now King, his crown, and dignity.
" And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oatidaforesaid, fur-
ther present, that the said John Hunt, so being such personas
aforesaid, and wickedly and maliciously further Contriving and
intending to injure, defaine. disgrace, and villify the memory
reputation, and character of His said late Majesty, so being the
father of our said Lord the now King, and other the said de-
scendants, and also contriving and intending to cause it to be
believed, that His said late Majesty was a person of bad and
vicious character, and thereby to disturb and disquiet the minds
and destroy the comfort and happiness of our said Lord the now
King and other the said descendants, and to bring them into
public scandal, infamy, disgrace, and contempt, with all the
subjects of this realm, on the day and year aforesaid, at the
parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, with force and'
arms, falsely, wickedly, maliciously, and unlawfully did print
and publish, and cause, and procure to be printed and pub-.
lished, in a certain other printed book, to wit, a certain printed
book called The Liberal, among other things, a certain other
false, scandalous, malicious, and defamatory libel, of and'
concerning His said late Majesty, in the form of part of a
speech therein, supposed to bespoken by the said Being, therein
called the Prince of Air, containing therein, amongst other
things, the following false, scandalous, malicious, and defa-
matory matter, of and concerning His said late Majesty ; that
is to say, " He" (meaning His said late Majesty) " leaves
heirs on many thrones to all, his (meaning His said late Ma-
jesty's) " vices, without what begot compassion Int. him"
(meaning Ills said late Majesty) " His" (meaning His said
late Majesty's) " tame virtues." Drones who sleep, or des-
pots who have now forgot a lesson which shall be re-taught
them, wake upon the throne of earth; but let them quake;".
thereby then and there meaning, that His said late Majesty
was a person of bad end vicious character : To the great dis-
grace and scandal of the memory, reputation, and character of
his late Majesty ; to the great disquietude anti disgrace of our
said Lord the now King and others the said descendants, ire
contempt of our said Lord the now King and his laws : to the
evil example of all others in the like case offending, and against
the peace of our said Lord the King, His Crown and dig.
nity. '
Mr. Amearlius addressed the Jury, and observed, that he
this day stood before them to ask nothing but a dater to vindi-
cate the virtuous and illustrious dead, and thereby protect the Let's skip a few short years of hollow peace,
living. Upon the veneration of the dead mush of the security Which peopled earth no better, hell as wont,
of the living depended, and the law equally protected both.— . And heaven none—they form the tyrant's lease
And it was necessary it should be so—foit without it men could Witb nothing but new names subscribed upon't ;
not pass through the world, and those whose lot it was to be 'Twill one day finish : mean time they increase,
placed in functions of the highest importance could not other.. " With seven heads and ten horns," and all in front,
wise perhaps so beneficially discharge them. , That the publi- Like Saint John's foretold beast ; bat ours are born
cation to which he would this day call their earnest attention Less formidable in the head than horn.
was a libel no man of sound mind could doubt-s-it was scandal- This was the way, after a reign of 60 years, that this Poet
ous, disloyal ; it was an impious libel eit attacked the dead, treated his subject. The Monarch was reproached for the cala-
whose virtues should have consecrated hint—it attacked the
living, in the person of every individual of his illustrious de- mities with wince he was afflicted by Heaven. Satan is then
brought forward as his accuser :
scendants. It was a libel which, beyond all dispute, could not
be defended ;it possessed a character of the most aggravated He came to his sceptre, young ;he leaves it, old :
and revolting nature, and the utterer of it should not be allow- Look to the state in which lie found hie realm,
ed to go unpunished. He was aware that the usual censure And left it ; and his annals too behold,
would be flung out against the prosecutors in this case; they How to a minion first he gave the helm ;
would be htld up to public odium and contempt; but while How grew upon his heart a thirst for gold.
every man insist reasonably refer to the judgment of public The beggar's vice which can but overwhelm
,
opinion—the honest and the honourable were not to swerve The meanest hearts; and for the rest, but glance
from their duty in order to court its favour. The prosecutors Thine eye along America and France !
acted with honour, and upon principle, and through good report 'Tis true, he was a tool from first to last ;
and evil report he trusted they would never desert them. What ' (I have the workinennafe) ; but as a tool
cause had they to do so ? What had been the result of their So let him be consumed 1 From out the past
labours? They had checked a wild sedition in its career— Of ages, since mankind have known the rule
they had abated the sweling tide of impiety, and they now Of Monarchs—from the bloody rolls amass'd
sought to vindicate the pious memory of their late lamented Of sin and slaughter—from the Caesar's school,
anti revered Monarch. Such effects conferred a benefit on Take the worst pupil; and produce a reign
society, and would leave an example worthy of being fol- More drenchal with gore, more cumberhiwith the slain !
lowed by those who may come after them. It might be He ever warr'd with freedom and the free :
said that had the libel reference to the Royal Family—had they
felt affected or aggrieved by Nations men, home subjects, foreign, foes,
Y" So that they utter'd the word ' Lilserty !'
it—then the Learned Attorney- as
General should have prosecuted. To this his only reply was,
that in many cases respecting the Ral Family ►the Attorney- .
history was ever stain'd as his will be
i Found George the Third their first opponent. Whose
General might not think fit to prosecute; but which men of
public spirit would not allow to pass without inquiry. The With national and individual woes ?
I.
grant his household abstinence; I grant
question here was not who was the prosecutor so much. as did
this libel deserve prosecution ? Beside, what injustice followed, His neutral virtues, which most Monarchs want.
or was likely to follow, from this mode of prosecution, rather The Poem then goes on with a corresponding ludicrousness,
than from one commenced and conducted by the Attorney and, to the end, George the Third slinks into Heaven by stealth,.
General ? The defendant was in fact placed in a better situa- This is the publication on which they (the Jury) were called an
tion than he would have been bad not the present mode of pro- to pronounce their verdict. Of the publication by the defendant
sedition been acted on. .First, a Grand Jury found a Bill; the there could be no doubt; and with respect to his motives it
defendant had the benefit of their investigation, of their doubts f•W"Lias.
not material. It was not necessary to prove that the ge-
if they bail any ; but their finding negatived such a conclusion.
-mit was actuated by personal malice towards George the
To-day again it came before another Jury, but without the Third, or personal hostility towards George the Fourth. If the
weight, the power, or the authority 0,. the Learned Attorney Poem had the effect of making their enemies rejoice, and their
General to support its prosecution. The defendant also had
• friends mourn, it was not die less culpable, whatever might be
other advantages from the course now pursued
for amongst
the motive. He had adverted to the origin of the publication.
others he should state, that if the Crown proleegte'd, the Counsel It was entitled " Verse and Prose from the South ; and it would
for the Crown would have the right of reply,
even if. no eve seem there was some author behind who was not known, and
deuce were called for the defendant ; and as in this case it was could not be reached.. It was no slight aggravation of the de-
very probable that no evidence would be
Counsel employed for him would have theea.liadedva, fondant's °Went*, that he mit forth that which had been sent
of last from a distance, and the real authors of which were safe. if
addressing them. That the defendant therefore had so far no
ntthaegeeminent
there is an author whose talents might have raised him to a
cause for complaint was perfectly obvious, and he Mr. Adol- high rank in literature, and who might have taken his place
plus, rather dwelt upon it now because he was sure it would be among the first spirits of the age, connected with this publica-
eagerly seized hold of and adverted to by the Learned Counsel tion; if there is such a person,
I
he was truly sorry to see him
for the defendant. T
hree two things he thought clear--that the degraded to a level with the basest reptiles. He was truly
defendant suffered no injustice by the present mode the pro-
ceeding; and that thepublication deserved to be condemned,
its utterer punished. Its libels werenot confined to his. Ilai cstY, t° sorry to see a high and glorious name so debased ! to ate
its great talents, that might have been better employed, so oc-
cupied. He trusted that such a use of his abilities was to be
the dead, to the living branches of the late Kin,,, family—hut ascribed to indiscretion, and that the world would still have to
took in society and the State at large. Ire had read to them some
It scandalizes morals— rejoice in their better employment.
insults religion ; it makes no distinctions it levels greatness parts of the poem. Satan was the character, in whose mouth
—despises virtue—every thing kindred to all that ditemifics and. the accusations against George the Third were put ; and it
adorns life or royalty, are scoffed at anti contemned.-- it might might be said, that as Satan is the father of all lies, the fact of
still be that he took a mistaken view of the tendency of this libel, the charges, proceeding from such a source, imported that there
It might not he disloyal, it might not be scandalous—it might was no malice in the breast of the author against the late King.
not be impious ;it might he that those gentlemen who instruct- This might be said, and it would he perfectly true, if the tome
ed him were all mistaken ; and if all that could be shewn to-dav, of the poem throughout corroborated such a view of the case.—
no man would retire with more satisfaction than himself; for But, in point of fact, this was only
a most flimsy disguise, and
then he must be satisfied that the memory of his late Gracious could only Conceal the malice beneath. It might also be said
Majesty was not affected—that the conduct of his life was not that the characters of Kings bhlong to history ; but it is not to
maligned. It must be known to the Jury that His Majesty be said that the character of either dead or living Monarchs is
George the Third died in the year 1820, after a reign almost to be left at the mercy of any daring libeller. If an hisiorian
unexampled, full of goodness—full of virtue, thou for some should write the reign of George 111., and shewed brief charges
years before barred out from those enjovnients which his sub- against him, let him prove those charges, and he will not be
,Jests possessed, in the contemplation of their growing happi-
called a libeller. If, like some Roman Monarchs, George 111.
ness and prosperity. The hand of Heaven struck heavily upon had been an undutiful son, a faithless husband, lost in effeminate
him, and he lost his understanding. At the end of the fiftieth pleasures—if the flame of persecution had raged under his love-
year of his reign, public rejoicings were formed all over the teignty had been arbitrary and —if he had been governed by favourites—if his power
kingdom, in grateful token for a good and honest Monarch's tyrannical—if (as in this poem it was
virtues. And yet such was the man selected for the coarse and directly insinuated) he was ruled by avarice, "the beggar's vice"
indecent libel with which the defendant now stood charged ;
—if this could be said of. him, let him rank with those whose
and such were the circumstances %Shia it contained. In Ordi- names cannot be regarded without loathing. But if he began
nary cases every man's sympathy would be awakened, and his course as a dutiful son—if the whole course of his life was
under such afflictions men's nature must melt with pity. And marked by religion, by abstinence, by generosity—if there was
here those sufferings—those deep afflictions, are made the no moral stain upon his character—if all which this publication
ground-work of the present poem by this libeller. Ile (Mr. said of him was utterly libellous, they, the Jury, would pro-
Adolphus) need not perhaps state, that int certain quarters the nounce upon it accordingly. This was the view that he enter-
plan had for a long time been to make personal attacks upon tained, and lie hoped the would
with which t would not suffer an artful
ought to artful address to
His present Majesty; bat that in consequence of the treatment divest them of that cool judgment
re-
bestowed upon the parties concerned, they relinquished that gard it. Though he should be glad to hays a new light thrown
mode of operation. The living were at hand to punish, upon the subject, in his mind he could not conceive the possibility
and then they thought the dead to be safe game. The
of its admitting any other construction than that he had placed
home trade was not brisk, nor unattended with aveng-
onand with this impression' he submitted it to their serious '
ing danger, and time ' foreign was commenced in a publics_ consideration. The libel had been published some time, and it
tion entitled The Liberal, or Verse and Prose.from the South, might be said that the subject was now stale, and that there was
which appeared about the beginning of time year 1892. The no necessity to revive" it ; butt continued the Learned Counsel,
choice of the term Liberal appeared judicious—it was calculatd the delay ,hael. lieu Wutypi4bleoind was not sewing to any fault
ed to court favour; and in many quarters to obtain it ; the sound
or two ago
on either side. Ie left-now to:the-Jury the case of a libel upon
was specious, and time import alluring. A century
an old man whodeseended toTne grave lamented by all classes
it had a very different acceptation—for then it was used as sig_ —upon a King who justly obtained the title of father of his
nifying irreligion ; and indeed the.same sort of principles as people : the case of a libel affecting British fame and feeling,
were openly professed and supported in this work. It was a on the high point of venerating the memory of their fathers.
production sent forth by those whom distance snakes valiant, Ile left it to them to say, forgetting whether George 111. was
and indifference to character regardless of consequences ; and ever King, whether whet,-he descended into the grave his aches
who, from a spirit of malice, were capable of outraging all feel- Were to be raked up. They, he was sure, would do their duty
ing, and ransacking even the very grave. In time first number on their oaths, and he was satisfied that he had faithfully,
of The Liberal there is a poem, called " The Vision of Judg- though feebly, discharged his duty. The Learned Gentleman
ment." In this poem the author presumes to lay the scene in having thus concluded an able, eloquent, and impressive speech,
Heaven, and with a degree of levity and wantonness—a depth proceeded to call his witnesses.
of impiety that would disgrace a pot-house—shewed an tatir John Purton—l know the house, No. 22, Bond-street ; I
disregard of that reverence which was due to the Supreme went there on the 2tl of December, 1322 ; it is a bookseller's
Being, and a total neglect of the awe which his idea should shop; I saw the defendant John Hunt ; I bought the Liberal
create. When he (Mr. Adolphus) began his address, he was of the defendant ; I paid for it ; there. were a great many
admonished in a whisper not to go beyond the charge in the more copies.
indictment ; but if he found that the libel had had another cite- By Mr. SCARLETT—This is the very copy; I saw the per-
racter besides that ascribed to it in that document, and one that son sitting before you there ; I urn an officer belonging to Bow-
he could only regard with horror, he did not know why he street; I bought a copy for Mr. Murray, and for Mr. Maule;
should not advert to it. He should not have expected from any Mr. Stafibrd employed me to get the copy for Mr. Maule, that
English writer a production of a character as this, in which the was before I bought for Mr. Murray; Mr, Stafibrd directed
scene was the floor of Heaven, and in which the author's profli- me to buy that copy ; I saw Mr. Murray in his own house,
gate muse affbrded a striking example, that— John-street, Bedford-row ;he is not solicitor to the Treasury ;
" Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread." Mr. Murray paid me for loss of time ; he did so several times
before. Mr. Stafford always employed me. I understand he
Time Vision of Judgment begins thus—
is an attorney ; I believe he purchased for the purpose of pro-
" SnexT Peter sat by the celestial gate,
sedition ; don't knew who employed him ; don't know whether
His keys were rusty, and the lock was dull, he is a member of the Constitutional Association or their atter-
So little trouble had been given of late ; ney ; I have been paid too at other times by Mr. Shall) ; I
Not that the place by any means was full, never saw Sharp and Murray together; I might have seen
But since Gallic era " eighty-eight," them together in Court in the very case in which Sharp paid
The devils had ta'en a longer, stronger pull, me ; I believe I did.—Was Sharp a Manchester bankrupt ?
And ' a pull altogether,' as they say Mr. ADOLPIIUS objected.
At sea—which drew most souls another way." The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE thought this begged the ques-
And so it goes on. The recording angel's wings are plucked tion.
to make pens, and he has six cherubims appointed to be his Mr. SCARLETT—I only want to know what is become of
clerks, with a dozen under-clerks ; and in this way does this Mr. Sharp ?—(A laugh.)
libeller proceed. It next goes on to state, that a general noise Witness—l can't tell whether Mr. Murray.is attorney for and rustling is heard, and, en inquiry being made, the answer . the Constitutional Association. I believe lie is. I have not,

is, that George the Third is dead. One of the parties then
gives this account of him—
In the first year of freedom's second dawn
Died George the Third ' • although no tyrant, one
Who shielded tyrants, till each sense withdrawn
Left him nor. mental nor external sun :
A better farmer nc'er brush'd dew from lawn.
A worse King never left a realm undone !
He died—but left his subjects still behind,
One half as mad—and t'other no less blind.

He died !—his death made no great stir on earth ;
His burial made some pomp ; there was profusion
Of velvet, gilding, brass, and no great dearth
Of aught but tears•—save those shed by collusion :
For these things may be bought at their true worth :
Of elegy there was the due infusiorr—
Bought also : and the torches, cloaks and banners,
Heralds, and relics of old Gothic manners,

Forni'd a sepulchral melodrame. Of all
The fools who fluek'd to swell or see the show,
Who car'd about the corpse ? The funeral
Made the attraction, and the black the woe.
There throbb'd not there a thought which pierc'd the pall;
And when the gorgeous coffin was laid low,
It seen-i'd the mockery of hell to fold
The rottenness of eighty years in gold.

This was a handsome board—at least for heaven ;
And yet they had even then enough to do,
So many conquerors' cars were daily driven,
So many kingdoms fitted up anew ;
Each day too slew its thousands six or seven,
Till at the crowning carnage, Waterloo,
They threw their pens down in divine disgust—
The page was so bcsmear'd with blood and dust.

This by the way ; 'tis not mine to record
What angels shrink from : even the very devil
On this occasion his Own work abhorr'd,
So surfeited with the internal revel ;
Though he himself had sharpen'd every sword,
It almost quencl►'d his innate thirst of evil.
(Here Satan's sal• good work deserves insertion—
'Tis, that he liath both Generals in reversion.)

misrule, or was tt protector of tyrants." I don't allude to the,
case here ; but suppose it said of any of the distant ancestors or the King, would any man pretend to say it would be a libel?
Richard Third was characterised a murderer by Shakepeere•
James the First (and his present Majesty is a descendant of
that Monarch) is described by• Sir Walter Scott in one of last Novels—I beg his pardon—an unknown writer describe§
James the First as a most ridiculous and contemptible charac-
ter: and these, according to Mr. Murray, must all be libels.
—Does he know of such a writer as Shakspeare, or that there
was a King called Henry the Eighth ? Does he know that
there is not a writer who does not describe him as a most tyran-
nical monster towards his wives as well as towards Lis subjects ?
Has he read the Memoirs of ‘irahlegrave or Lord Orford ? Has
lie read an account of the funeral of George Second, and the
statements made of the deceased Monarch by person who were
eye-witnesses? I don't believe he has ; but I do believe him to
be in that state of ignorance which could alone justify him in
entertaining any hopes of success in this prosecution. I feel
mixed feelings of contempt and indignation for the person who
could found a charge of libel upon the burial of any King, on
who could have ;he hardihood to say that our lategracious Mo-
narch died uolamented. I know trot if the late sing were re-
gretted; I annneit here to know it—l ani full of respect to his
memory, and think the Poet was wrong in saying that tears
were not shed on the occasion of his death. Many persons re-
gretted his death, but regret springs Irons many motives—frone affection- to the deceased, from solicitude to win the attention of
his successor. The death of Kings is not generilly regretted,
except from political causes. The Ministers of his late Ma-
jesty certainly went down to attend his funeral, there they were
waiting for a few hours to secure their places-Land during that time, I have no doubt, their sorrow was sincere. But
as to the general shading of tears, I have heard of nothing in-
ducing me to believe it. Have you, Gentlemen, i-ead the his-
tory of neighbouring Kings--of Louis XlV—of Louis XV-
who died of the small pox, and who was almost litetally deserted
at his death ? Other Historians too, Gentlemen, wonld :thew you,
that the death of Kings is not generally a matter of deep regret.
Now, Gentlemen, comes the word " thereby" in the indictment,
in order to induce contempt ; and I ask how so Neither treason
nor sedition are charged against this Poem, which must be the
case if it brought into contempt the perean of our King. It wag
not said of the late King that he was a had man, hot that he was
a' bad King; and people say this politically. Many say otherwise:
and it would be just as libellous to say the bad King is a good
one, as to say the good King is a bad one. Men's notions dif-
fer as to what constitutes a good King as well as a bad King;
and in a free State like this you cannot chain up the expression
of men's opinions. Suppose a King's policy disapproved Of by
his successor, would it be a libel to say the former King viol a
bad King ? Suppose an existing monarch to say the contrary,
would you stop the mouth of every man and prevent his saying
that his reign was not prosperous ? Before I twine to the par-
ticular character of this Poem, let us lock at what it says in plain
prose. When George the Third came to the throae, the people
were in a state of prosperity, hoppy and contented. The public
debt was inconsiderable—he had a mighty empire4nd might in
the justest sense be called the Lord of the British Isles ; in a short
time after he placed his confidence in a nobleman, his tutor, who
deceived him, and thence were said to flow the mbst afflicting-
discontents. I am now only saying what the hisiorian would
have to say—A favourite only was then protected. A rude and
violent attack was made upon him by a Paper celled The North
Briton—be was in fact charged with holding a conference with
the Pretender-nand a re-action was by this produced at home,
While we were at peace abroad. The voice of the Stivereign pre-
vailed—the:Ministers succeeded in both houses, and Wilks be-
came the object of attack in his turn. Subsequently he was re-
stored tie something like Court favour, and ceased to be held are an opponent to the Court. America became the neitt subject of
party discussion, and the people as usual at first took part with
the King, and America was lost. Two hundred millions of money
were spent, and Geo. 111. was ultimately obliged to Sign there-
cognition of American independence. Was all that fed to such
a result good policy—was it glorious ? Perhaps you, Gentle-
men, will answer me. The effect to America was that she be-
came free, which no doubt hastened the deplorable event of
the French Revolution. Dreadful as that revolution was, it still ripened the seed;: of freedom. Then followed a 'war, per-
haps necessary, perhaps inevitable; though the period for
declaring it might not have been well chosen. The Historian
might say, that a war should have some definite and known-
cause—either for the Bourbons or the possession of aim island—
but at all events he entered into for some avowed object-
How often were the then Ministers pressed in vain to state
phrase was used to introduce it—
wfohratthaet theyfloasatirdeide,and I
ask,
" .nuemnity for dui past and
. state it to be ? A sort of cant
fled for the past, or have we any security for the future? We
are we either indemni-
have lost
.600 millions of money, and where is the indemnity
for the past ? How much blond has been spria--how many
places depopulated—how many campaigns frustrated /* True, °
site—cuarnitdy
at the period to which I allude, we had naval glories to consoler
us; but where is our indemnity for the past, or our security for ;
the future ? And even now, are men to be accused Of libel,
because they say that we have neither ? The Governinents of
Europe were disjointed we had seditions at home—the
loss of a mighty empire abroad ; taxes were raised to a
degree never dreamt of before—the Habeas Corpus suspend-
ed so often that lam ashamed to repeat it—the laws all
taken away for a season ; and may not all this be said
without a libel? My Learned Friend might write a his-,
tory of all this, and find it right: but other men shouU be also
allowed to find' it otherwise. The King was not personally
blamed for the vices of his Ministers ; they are responsible
but
still posterity ascribes the glories and the reverses of a nation
to its monarchs. Look to the reign of Elizabeth ; though she
had her Cecil, yet not only the philosopher but the bulk of man-
kind look to her as the centre of all the glories of her reign.......
Though George the Third was abundant in private virtue, still
his name will be connected with waste of treasure and of blood
—with foreign wars and with domestic sedition. The name of
Wellington, as a soldier, will grace his country's annals, but
they will be associated with George IV. It never fell to the lot
of man to fight more pitched battles than Wellingtoh. Such a
succession of victories never immortalized any other individual
and as they swell the flood of glory, which 'will flow down to
posterity, they must be connected with the name of George the
Fourth. But suppose another man thought differently, and
wrote or said so, should he be therefore held guilty of a libel ?
I presume, Gentlemen of the Jury, that you are: acquainted
with the literature of the times; that you know sdroething of
the Poet Laureat, and between the contests of theriyal bards
I shall not meddle. But I must tell you that he published a.
poem Called The Vision of Judgment, in a new form of verse,
in which even the great Milton failed. Mr. Southey, however,
persevered, unsuited to our language as hexameter is.--
The subject of his poem is the death of his late Majesty, who is represented as entering the portals of ' He,aven.—
The Almighty himeelf is introduced, certainly not a fit Person-
age for a dramatic representation, though in France and Spain
it is not unusual. A multi faced Damon is also introduced as
the accuser, and he is desired to call his witnesses lie calls
Wilks and Junius who answer that they have nothing to say against the Monarch, as death has put an end to all their ani-
mosity. Washington himself is introduced, though not with
the greatest delicacy, on an occasion of the trial of the ft.,hvvereign
against whom he fought with so much success. Well, then,
Gentlemen' the object of the Poem now called a libel is in
ridicule of Mr. Southey's—it is a burlesque carried on with the
same sort of agency and machinery, though not in the same
verse. Much stress has been laid on the line—"A worse ling
never left a realm undone." But what dbes that mean ?
Why nothing more than the unexampled weight of out debt,
and the expence of blood which was shed in the contests during
His late Majesty's reign. And in that I can see no libel. I
here, Gentlemen, must quote rather a remarkable paseage
which certainly does appear to allude to the present King, ebot
which Ido not find in the indictment. It is in the 12th StaOee,
which I shall read for you :
He's dead—and upper earth with him has done ;
He's buried ; save the undertaker's bill,
Or lapidary scrawl, the world is gone
For him, unless lie left a German will ;
But where's the proctor who will ask his son?
In whom his qualities are reigning still,
Exeept that household virtue, most uncommon,
Of constancy to a bad, ugly woman.

that I remember, been employed to buy a Book, called Southey's
Vision of Judgment. I have read part of that Book.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE wished Mr. Scarlett to point
out a passage.
Mr. SCARLETT read the passage----" Asmodeus carrying
Southey up."
Witness—l never read that, nor heard Mr. Murray read it.
Mr. SCARLETT next read stanza 11)2:
Ile ceased. (Southey); _and drew forth an MS. ; and no
Persuasion on the part of devils, or saints,
Or angels, now could stop the torrent ; so
Ile read the first three lines of the contents ;
But at the fourth, the whole spiritual chew
Had vanish'd, with variety of scents,
Ambrosial and sulphureous, as they sprang,
Like lightning, off from his " melodious twang."
Witness—l never read it or heard Mr. Murray read it. I
don't know that the poem was written in ridicule of Southey's
poem.
Mr. SCARLETT asked if lie knew these two lines—
" But stuck fast with his first hexameter,
Not one of all whose gouty feet would stir."
Witness—l did not.
Mr. SCARLETT—Do you know what an hexameter means?
I believe I am an hexameter.—( Loud laughter.)
Mr. ADOLFnus proposed the passages charged to be read.
Mr. SCARLETT thought the whole must be read.
The LORD, CIIIEF JUSTICE said, the best way would be
to have the passages charged as libellous read first, and com-
pared with the -record, and than the whole could be read, if
Mr. Scarlett wished it.
Mr. SCARLETT agreed, and looked at the Record while the
passages in the indictment were read.—(See indictment.)—He
then desired the whole to be read, though he regretted to have
his Lordship detained so long.
Mr. ABBOT then proceeded to read the Poem from its con
mencement—
Saint Peter sat by the Celestial gate,
• ill i iF •
and finished the perusal with the following address :
Ile Raid—(l only give the heads)—he said,
He meant no harm in scribbling; 'twas his way
Upon all topics; 'was, besides, his bread,
Of which he butter'd both sides ;
.'twould delay
Too long the assembly (he was pleased to dread),
And take up rather more time than a day,
To name his works—he would but cite a few--
Wet Tyler—Rhymes on Blenheim—Waterloo.
He had written praises of a Regicide;
Ile had written praises of all Kings whatever;
He had written for Republics far and wide,
And then against them bitterer than ever;
For Pantisocracy he once bad cried
Aloud, a scheme less moral than 'twas clever;
Then grew a hearty Antijacobin—
Had turned his coat—and would have turned his skin.
He had sung against all battles, and again
In their high praise and glory ; he had called
Reviewing " the ungentle craft," and then
Become as base a critic as e'er crawl'd—
Fed, paid, and pamper'd by the very men
By whom his muse and morals had been maul'd :
He had written much blank verse, and blanker prose,
And more of both than any body knows.
He had written Wesley's life; here, turning round
To Satan, " Sir, I'm ready to write yours
" In two octavo volumes, nicely bound,
" With notes and preface, all that most allures
" The pious purchaser; and there's no ground
" For fear, for I can choose my own reviewers ?
" So let me have the proper documents,
" That I may add you to my other saints."
Buchmaster was called, and spoke to the identity of Mr.
Hunt.

610gs_examined—I am an army clothier; I read The Liberal;
lam not a subscriber to the Association. lam called by Mr.
Murray here.
Mr. Scaar.ETT—And only to say you know Mr. Hunt?
—Yes.
God bless me I thought it was to give your opinion of this
Poem ?—No.
Mr. ADox,yet us said that was his case.
Mr. Scan LE T T then rose to address the Jury.for the defend-
ant. He began by observing, that if he possessed the talents
ascribed by his Learned Friend, this was not the occasion on
which he should feel himself called upon to exert them. He
would not attempt to increase in their minds the ridicule, con-
tempt, and indignation which such a charge as the present
must have excited in their minds, and, in his opinion, in
the mind of every honest man. Never on any occasion had
he lamented more his want of those talents; and if he pos-
sessed them, he never felt more .sensibly that the very energy
of his own feelings would depress the exercise of them.—
Mr. Scarlett continued---" I never expected to hear it gravely
urged in an English Court of Justice, that the publica-
tion of any opinions or sentiments of a deceased Monarch
was a libel,—a libel affecting the living Monarch. My
Learned Friend has very anxiousl abstained from the law of
this case, and with good policy lett the law to my Lord. In-
stead of stating the law, he betook himself to fine fields of de-
clamation, to topics which might raise your feelings, and excite
rwish be had conducted your somewhat of party feeling.
un-
derstandings to a true definition of the law of libel, and pointed
out under what head of that law this prosecution is founded ;
that you might have his notions on the subject, and that I might
have the benefit of ascertaining their value.
He has declaimed
on demerits not in the indictment, but he has left to me the
task of stating the law to you. I trust, therefore, for your
' indulgence, while I at least endeavour to explain this point,
and to prove to you that the record of this indictment is
a disgrace to this Court of Justice. A libel, Gentlemen,
as defined to be a libel, " because it tends to be a breach of
the public peace." Why does it tend to do so? Because it
excites a desire of vengeance inconsistent with the public peace.
If this were not prevented, we should be brought back to a
state of nature. A charge against a living Monarch is not a
libel, because he cannot be supposed to feel a desire to break the
peace. He is entitled to reverence and duty and all outward
forms of submission. Therefore any attempt to bring him into
contempt is sedition, and not because it tends to break the peace,
but to weaken the ties of submission to Government. Govern-
ment is the result of public opinion, and it might therefore be
of importance to check every attempt to bring its head into
contempt. My Learned Friend has said that the good fame of
the dead must be protected on account of the living. It is so,
because attacks upon our fathers tend to excite yon or me to
break the public peace. Can that be said of a Monarch ? I hope
never to see the day when the maxim will be received in a Court
of Justice, that any observations on a deceased Monarch are a
libel on the living, Monarch; because if it be, there is at once
an end of the truth of history, of liberty, of opinion, and of the
very best principles on which social institutions are founded.
When a Monarch dies, then it is of the utmost importance to
have the opinion of the times. Kings are connected with his-
tory; their records are lessons of morality to rulers and na-
tions. The divinity which " hedges in a Kind" shuts out
truth while he lives • but when he is mixed with the earth,
and lies undistinguished in mortality, it is of the utmost im-
portance to mankind, and deeply interesting to yourliberty and
safety as men and Englishmen, that he should be subject to
free and full discussion. But it is only truth that must he said
of him ! If any thing in the least affect his character or
offend his successor, it is a libel ! If so, there is an end
of truth and freedom. If nothing is to be said of a de-
ceased Monarch but what is pleasing to his successor, there
is an end to historical truth. If we are to be condemned
only to panegyrics, what faith is due to those who ga-
ther from the past rules for future Governments ? The
greatest of ancient historians (Tacitus) the most perfect
master of historical wisdom, says that in the time of
Augustus there were not wanting persons who could tell
the truth, but that adulation prevented them. Shall that he said
in this country ? Shall the verdict of a Jury sanction it ? Al-
low me to state, that I may not be misunderstood, that if any
man write respecting a deceased Monarch, with a view to in-
sult the existing Monarch, it is criminal and ought to be pu-
nished ; and if the defendant has done so, I consent to. your
verdict against him. But that is not so. If all the virtues
of his predecessor were stated as a contrast to insult the
living Monarch, it would be criminal. My Learned Friend
has said that this prosecution proceeds, not from the Crown,
but is the effusion of onesef his subjects. I give no opinion
of political characters or measures; but the present King
is surrounded by the advisers whom the late King raised to
office, for time and power. This is rare, if not unexampled.
And I ask to whom ought his memory to be particularly en-
deared ? Certainly to those persons who honourably exercise
the high powers with which they have been so long itivested.
Yet not one of these persons appear to prefer any complain t
This work is altogether for the closet—for the statesman—ru t
for the vulgar mind. There is not one of His Majesty's Mini-
sters but must have read this work, and yet not one of them
have now come forward. The Attorney-General takes no part
here, and in steps an Association to do that which, if' necessary
to be done, would not have been neglected by him. All I use this
for is to chew that no man of letters or of station has ventured a
complaint against this Poem, which has been designated a coarse
and indecent libel. Who is Mr. Murray ? does he know any thing
of this Poem ? I deny it ; and with all his ability in other respects,
I must take leave to say I neither consider him as a Statesman
nor a Philosopher. I have every respect for a Jury ; but I con-
tend that the character of a deceased being, or the criticism of a
Poem, are not proper topics for their inquiry. I deny in the
strongest terms that itis a crime in any man to "intend to have
it believed that a deceased King was a bad King, was guilty of

Now I ask, why were the last three lines omitted ? If the olject
was to punish the Poet for a personal allusion, I see none in the
volume which would sooner have expected to find a place in the
record ; and why is it not ? You, Gentlemen, must find the
reason. In fact, Gentlemen, if this Poem be a libel, Milton
a td Shakspeare, and many of our other grest poets, should have
been over and over indicted for a similar offence.—The Learned
Gentleman then proceeded to contrast the personages of 'tl e
two Poems, and contended, that as Mr Southey had his Astno-
dtug, and es Lord Byron had another, it would be as fair to
punish the one as the other • in neither did he see any god
ground for saying they were 'libellous. The two Poets took
different sides, and the whole object of the Noble Bard was
to ridicule a brother Poet. It is said that the Noble Lord did
not wish to attend here; but• he (Mr. S.) had authority to
say, that if he knew of the prosecution he would have been
here, although he (Mr. S.) was rather confident if the Noble
Lord was here that Mr. :Murray would not have thought of it.
historians and Poets were not to be tried by the same test—,
the Poet at all times was allowed a licence, and he said with
one of them—

•
Gadzooks must we look
For truth in a song ?
He asked the Jury if they were prepared to say that a de-
ceased Monarch must not be talked of; for if they fou;nd s
verdict against the defendant, they would lead to a most dan-
gerous example. The Historian and the Poet must have pato