The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-15 00:00:00

THE LAW OF LIBEL.

(From the Brighton Herald.)
A case that sets in a strong light the abominable
character of the Libel-law appeared in the London
pipers la,t week. Mr. Young, the proprietor of The
Sun, was fined 50/. for having, in a report of a meeting
of the Southampton Duck Company, inscrt,d some ex-
pression, deemed to be libellous, which the Chairman:ap-
plied to the plaintiff. The report was admitted to be
accurate, and Mr. Young offered to insert en apology ;
but it would not do. The press itself must be made to
suffer, and for this purpose the infamous Libel-law
was c,Ped into action. Ti.e. a law by which such
gross injustice as this caa be done should be allowed to
remain on the s atutc-book is a disgrace to a free
country. It lays open the press to constant attacks in
the discharge of its most important duties. It narrows
its bounds of utility, and arrays against it all the chi-
canery of the law. The conductor of a journal finds
himself constantly checked in the honest discharge of his
public duty by the infamous Libel-law ; and it is not
too much to say that daily loss occurs to individuals in
consequence of the press being restrained from raising
its warning voice. A signal instance of this is now
before us. Hundreds of persons have been reduced
to beggary by the roguery of the West Middlesex Com-
pany. Yet that roguery was long known to the press—
it was even made public by a Scotch paper, and pros el
as clearly as facts could be proved. But what was the
consequence of this exposure ? Why, the rogues of
Directors immediately ran to the abominable Libel-
law, and brought their actions against the proprietors
of the paper, imposing on them a great loss. This was
made known to other papers, who, from fear of in-
volving themselves in similar losses, refrained from giv-
ing thet publicity which they otherwise would have
done, in their respective localities, to the exposures of
the Scotch paper. If the execrable Libel-law had not
been in existence, the fact of the West Middlesex Com-
pany being a swindling concern would have bean known
from ore end of the kingdom to the other months ago,
and those who have now to deplore the loss of their all
would been saved from ruin and misery. Nor is there
anything to prevent the public being to-morrow imposed
npon in exactly a similar manner. We see that it is
against the law to report the assertions of one indivi•
dual of another, though made at a public meeting.
Those observations may be acknowledged to have been
correctly reported—that has nothing to do with it—
they are libellous, and therefore redress must be had.
But of whom ? Of the persons who uttered the words,
and who perhaps is able to prove them ? Oh, no ; but
of the paper which was at the trouble and expense, for
the benefit of the public, to report the proceedings.

The absurdity of the law gees still further. As in
the case of the West Middlesex, it was of no use that
the proprietors of the Scotch paper were able to prove
their a.sertions. We all know the wise old saying
that " the greater the truth the greater the libel." This
beautiful proposition is actually carried out in the
Libel I,w, and the question that a careful editor must
put to hiineelf if circumstances come to his knowledge
by the communication of which the public would be-
nefit is, not whether they are true, but whether they
are libellous ; that is, whether such a person or set of
persons, who are in the act of swindling the public, are
liable to be injured by being exposed ! As well in-
quire whether a thief is likely to suffer in character by
being brought before the Judge !
There is a narrow jealousy of the press in the minds
of many that causes them to look on with callousness,
or even pleasure, whilst it is injured or destroyed. With
them it is, as it vtas with the Athenians, a crime to
serve the State too much, and the Libel-law of the
English and the ostracism of the Greeks are about on a
par for justice or wisdom. But every time the Libel-
law is brought to bear upon the press, a severe blow is
struck against the public weal—one of its bulwarks is
thrown down or weakened--not only has an act of in•
justice been committed, but the consequences of that
injustice arc, to inflict an injury upon freedom by put-
ting shackles upon the power in which it is embodied
and through which it is manifested—the press.

THE SHROPSHIRE HOUNDS.—The attempt
to re-erect kennels and establish a pack of foxhounds in
this town, induced a party of country gentlemen and
tradesmen to meet on Monday, to adopt treasures for
fetch( ling the project. Mr. Slaney, M.P., was called to
the chair, and announced his intention of adding to his al.
ready munificent subscription for support of the hounds, if
they were established in this town. The country gentle-
men residing to the southward of Shrewsbury were very
anxious to have the hounds fixed in Shrewsbury, instead
of at Leo Bridge, as the distance put it out of their
power to enjoy the sports, and enable the inhabitants of
only a very limited district to partake in them. Lord Powis,
Sir Edward Smythe, Bart., Mr. B. Borough, Mr. Smythe
Owen, Mr. St. J. Charton, Mr. T. C. Eyton, Mr. Slaney,
and various other gentlemen, were named as willing to in-
crease their present, or begin new subscriptions in sup-
port of the foxhounds, should the kennels be erected in
Shrewsbury. The meeting resolved that committees be
formed to divide the town into districts to be canvassed for
subscriptions for erecting the kennels ; and if such sub-
scriptions were considerable, then the country gentlemen
could see their way, as to what would be required to com-
plete them. Last night another meeting was held, when
parties were selected to ascertain the amount like!y to be
raised in the town, and amongst the farmers around, and
report to another meeting to be held during the Assizes._
Shrewsbury Chronicle.
THE HAYMARKET THEATRE, ITS CLOSING
AND RE-OPENING.-On Saturday right the comedy of
Money was acted for the eightieth time. This evening
the longest season ever known in the history of the legi-
timate drama (three hundred and one nights having been
occupied in one year's performances) will be brought to a
close, for the benefit of Mr. Webster, the lessee. The
entertainments to be presented trill be the Rival% an
original Address, and Speed the Plough, sustained by all
the strength of the company. On Tuesday the enter-
prising commander will proceed to dismantle his little
barque for the purpose of cleaning, renovating, and deco-
rating her, preparatory to her setting sail again on Easter-
Monday, under illustrious and highly-distinguished aus-
pices; and, in addition to her atreedy well disciplined
and regularly organised and • steady crew, she will have to
boast of Power, Buclytift, and the agile and accomplished
Celeste. Macready, a r a short sojourn, will re-appear on
the 3d of May for even nights, and will go through a
li-
mited number of his favourite characters, and on the 17th
of May Mr. Charles Kean is engaged to appear, and will
most probably perform nearly all his Shaksperian charac-
ters, aided by James Wallack, Henry Wallack, and
Phelps. Besides these attractions, Webster has many well-
selected novelties in preparation.
DEATH OF THE DOWAGER LADY Ho,-
NYwooo.—We have to announce the death of lileaobrctvhe
laly, a
which took place on Wednesday lalt, I3ew
House. The deceased lady, whoo
•
was daughter
ratteSir John
in of the
Dowager Lady Cooper, and widow of the
Courtney Houywood, Bart., was her blst year.