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
papers last week. Mr. Young, the proprietor of The
Sun, was fined 501. for having, in a report of a meeting
of the Southampton Deck Company, insertPAl some ex-
pression, deemed to be libellous, which the Chairmanaap-
plied to the plaintiff. The report was admitted to be
accurate, and Mr. Young offered to insert an apology ;
but it would not do. The press itself must be made to
suffer, and for this purpose the infamous Libel-law
was called into action. That a law by which such
gross injustice as this can 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 xonstantly checked in the honest discharge ofhis
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 proved
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 that publicity which they otherwise would have
done, in their respective localities, to the exposures of
the Scotch paper. If the execrable Libel-law bad not
been in existence, the fact of the West Middlesex Com-
pany being a swindling concern would have been known
from one 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
upon 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 goes 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 assertions. 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-Im, and the question that a careful editor must
put to himself 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 was 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 are, to inflict an injury upon freedom by put-
ting shackles upon the power in which it is cuibodtcd
and through which it is manifested—the press.

TII E SHROPSHIRE HOUNDS,--,The attempt
to re-erect kennels and establish a pack of foxhounds in
this town, induced a party of country gentlemen arid
tradesmen to meet on Monday, to adopt measures for
furth,iing the project. Mr. Slaney, M. P., was celled to
the chair, and announced his intention of adding to his al.
ready munificent subscription for support of tie 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 fe r err cti:ig the kennels ; and if such sub- 1
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
paries• were seiectcd to ascertain the amount likely, to
and
i-
„ n-
raised in the town, and amorgst the farmers around=
report to another meeting to be M I i during the Assize`'"
Shrewsbury Chronicle.
THE ITAYNI ARK ET THEATRE,
r the comedy of
AND RE-OPENING,—On Saturday nigimhwe.
This evening
Money was acted for the
eightiethn the history history of the h•gi-
ITS CLOSING
the longest season ever known
ain .
ore cg
i hts having been
timato drama (three hundred
performances)
will he brought to a
occupied in one year's p
resented will be the Rivals, are
eclose,htertafionrn, eisriforrn\'Vehster, the lessee. The
Speed-ree the Plouoh, sustained by all
original Address, and
an .
On 'Tuesday the enter.
the strength of the comp 3. _
etknetsbetonthfiet! cpf
to d• mantle his little
purpose of cleaning, renovating, and deco-
barque for the
preparatory to her setting sail again on Easter_
prising commander will proceed is .
her,
she will have to
rwing
acgreil"e.'and accomplished
y well disciplined
Monday, undnelruidl:(ulisttirerhoustoanhderhaighL..distirsiguished ms-
pices; and,
dt etandey
Celeste. Macready, after a abort sojourn, will re-appear on
baonadstreogfuPloarwler?,rßgauncikestdonaen,dans
the 3.1 of May for eleven nights, and will go through a li-
mited number of his favourite characters, and on the 17,11
of May Mr. Charles Kean is engaged to appear, and will
most probably perform nearly all his Sbaksperian chara • c-
ters, aided by James Wallack, henry Wallick, and
Phrlr. Besides these attractions, Webst(.l. 1. 1 a 11
s many we -
selected novelties in preparation.

DEATII OF THE DOWAGER LADY Ho-
NywooD.—We have to announce the death of the above
which took place on Wednesday last, at hleworth
House. The deceat.ed lady, who was daeghtcr of the
Dowager Lady Cooper, and widow of the late Sir John
Courtney Honywood, fart„ was in her 51st year.

EVENING EDITION.