The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-29 00:00:00

CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION.

OLD BA 11EY 0C T 27.
The KING against Oraux.Es SAUNDEIISON, at the prosecu-
tion of the CONSTITUTIONAL AssociA.riox.
An indictment bad been -found against the
prisoner at the hist Sessions for publishing a.Se-
ditious Libel at the shop of It. Carlile, in Fket-
street, by selling it while acting in the capacity
of servant of Carlile. The prisoner had pleaded
a misnomer, alleging that his name was. Charles
William Saunderson, and not Charles Saunderson,
by which name he had been indicted. To this
the prosecutors rejoined, that he was both com-
monly known by, and had put in bail by the
name of Charles Saunderson, and issue was
joined.—lmmediately after Mr. Justice PARK
had withdrawn from the Court, and the COMMON
SERJEANT had taken his place on the Bench, the
prisoner being placed at the Bar, begged to
withdraw his plea of misnomer, and plead Guilty.
Mr. ADOLPHUS-7-" Charles Saunderson, do you
distinctly understand, that by withdrawing your
plea and pleading. guilty, you subject yourself to
such sentence as the Court may think proper. to
pass on you ?"—Saunderson—" 1-clo, Sir."
Mr. ADOLPHUS—" Then, Saunderson, this is
your-own choice, and you do it of your own ac-
cord ?—you are fully aware of the consequence ?"
Saunderson—" I am, Sir; and I think it bet-
ter for me to do it."
Mr. ADOLPHUS—" Very well ; may it please.
your Lordship, the prisoner, Charles Saunderson,
has pleaded guilty to an indictment preferred
against him for selling and publishing a seditious
and mischievous libel. The prosecutors in this
case are the Constitutional Association, of whom
so much has been lately said. This Society, my
Lord, has already effected so much good, that it
deserves, as it has acquired, the respect and sup-
port of all the respectable,.the moral, and the
religious part of
.the community. It deserves the
thanks, and it has ..received the thanks and coun-
tenance of the most virtuous and most enlightened
men in the country; and it has, my Lord, been
attacked with all the vindictive 'malevolence, and
infamous scurrility, of the wicked and base
part of society—a sufficient proof, my Lord;
of the value and importance of such an - es-
timable institution. I will not now detain
the Court by. a particular enumeration of the
benefits which it has produced to the community;
but its conduct in this prosecution is sufficient
to justify. whatever praise I might bestow on it,
and will afford the best answer to the aspersions
of the malevolent. The libel 'published by the
boy at the bar was an odious publication, alike
offensive to Gon and man, as it was subversive of
the interest and spirit of the Constitution of the
country in which: we live ; but, my Lord, it .has
been discovered by the Constitutional Associa-
tiori, that the prisoner was a tool in the hands of
a set of base wretches, . who have declared that
nothing shall 6,er- stop them from vending the
poison which, for such a continued period, they
have disseminated all over the country. The
parties, into whose' hands the boy unfortunately
fell, have declared, that they never will desist
.from publishing these infamous libels; and-the
object of the Institution is not to punish persons
who act ignorantly, but those who, in defiance of
all land and its consequences, persevere in their
illegal practices
.;.The .prosecutors, therefore,
have diligently. inquired into .the case of the
pris6ner at the Bar. They find that he is
only fourteen years of age; and has been educated
in.one of the National Schools ; that his parents
are. people .of good character, and that he has
always been an indUStrious and well conducted
lad.- In the meritorious endeavour to support'
himself, the:: poor hey Unfortunately entered the
service of a-printer of the name of Mason.. After
two years' service,, this man removed him from
his own employment," and procured hilt .a situa-
tion in Carlile's shop; and he had not been there
Many.weelis befOre he Was arrested for this of-
fence ;. since which, he has , very, properly ab-
stained from•returning tb the business. My- Lord,
the prosecutors are, unwilling to punish this boy
for an offence, into the commission of which they
believe him to have been seduced by others, he
not knowing that he was violating the lawsof his
country. They likewise hope- that a conviction,:
though unattended. with punishment, will ope--
rate as a sufficient. warning to persons similarly
engaged. This is the tint instance of the
kit7d, and therefore lenity may be safely shewn ;
but after the example of this conviction, it
will certainly not he extended to any future
offender. My Lord, the prosecutors be; leave
to recommend the prisoner to the merciful con-
sideration of the Court; and I feel Confident that
while they thus suppress sedition, and yet act
with lenity, their conduct • will obtain the ap-
probation of every virtuous-metnber of society."
The COMMON .ScarEANT.---L" Charles Saun-
derson, you- have met with very merciful prose-
cutors,.andk_hope you will prove yourself 'de-
serving of their lenity. Beware, boy, how you
offend again;. or- permit yourself to be seduced
into the commission of crime. Let him be bound
over to good- behaviour for two years, himself in
401., and two securities of 201. each, and then be
discharged."—The boy bowed.
Mr. Anot.fitus—" I am persuaded, my Lord,
he will bear in mind your Lordship's admonition,
and not offend-again.' 'Some of the gentlemen of
the Association have examined into his character
and conduct, and they. are so satisfied with it,
that they have determined to. provide for' him."
-The prisoner's sureties thenappeared at the bar,
and Mr. Clarke, the Clerk of the Arraigns, en-
tered the recognizances, and the prisoner left the
Court.