The Sun.
London, England, 1821-11-15 00:00:00

ALEXANDER SOUTHEY.

Mr. DEN-3JAN, for the plaintiff, moved for a new trial in
this case, which it will be recollected was an action by tin: plain-
tiff, a Hebrew printer, against the defendant, as. Agent of a
Fire Insurance Office, to recover certain Hebrew printing types
saved from the plaintiff's fire.
The Couity, under the circumstances, were of opinion that
there wss no ground for disturbing the defendant's verdict, and
refused the rule.

•,• CRIMINAL INFORMATION. •
Mr. ScAntryr moved for a Rule to shew cause why a cri-
minal information should not be granted against John Ambrose
Williams for libel. The Loarned Counsel said that he should
proceed to state the matter contained in dip libel, and when
their Lordships had heard it; he was convinced that no other
affidavit would be required, except the one which he spewed,
that the defendant was proprietor and publisher of the newspa-
per in which the libel was contained.

A The CHIEF JUSTICE—Mr. Williams is proprietor of a
newspaper.

Mr: .CARLET T —Yes, -my Lord, and in that newspaper,
published in the county of Durham, August 18, 1821, are
the following remarks, upon • which I do not now' stop to
comment :

" So far as we have been able to judge from the accounts in
the public papers, a thark:of respect to her late NI ajesty has
been almost universally paid throughout the kingdom, when the
painful tidings of her. decease was received, by tolling the bells
of the cathedrals and churches. But there is one exception to
this very creditable fast,which demands especial notice. In this
episcopal city, containing six churches independently of the Ca-
thedral, not a single bell announced the departure of the mag-
nanimous spirit of the most injured of Queens—the most perse-
cuted of women. Thus the brutal enmity of those who embit-
tered her mortal existence pursues her in her shroud."
Had the writer paused here, my Lords, he had, I think,
gone far enough ; but still he was delivering an opinion which,
perhaps, as a public journalist, lie had a right to express ; but
he proceeds--
" We know not whether any actual orders were issued to pre-
vent this customary sign of mourning ; but the omission plainly
indicates • the kind of spirit which predominates among our
Clergy. Yet these men profess to be followers of Jesus Christ,
to walk in his footsteps, to teach his precepts, to inculcate his
spirit, to ptomote harmony, charity, and Christian love! Out
upon such hypocrisy ! It is such conduct which renders the very
name of our Established Clergy odious till it stinks in the nostrils;
that makes our Churches look like deserted sepulchres, rather
than temples of the living Goo ; that raises up conventicler in
every corner, and increas!ls the brood of wild fanatics and enthu-
siasts ; that causes our beneficed deputarics to be regarded us
Usurpers of their possessions ; that deprives them of all pastoral
iaittence and respect ; that in short has left there no support or
prop in the attachment or Veneration of the people. Sensible of
the decline of their spiritual and moral influence, they cling
to temporal power, and lose in their officiousness in political
matters, even the semblance of the character of Ministers of re-
ligion. It is impoSsible that such a system can last. It is at
war with the spirit of the U.f!.f: as .wll as with justice and reason,
and the beetles who crawl about amidst its holes and crevices,
act as if they were striving to provoke and accelerate the blow
which, sooner or later,. will inevitably crush the whole fabric
and level it with the dust."

such are the obstarrations with which this writer sought to
vilify and defame the clergy, and they cannot be paused with-
out a conviction, that it' abase of this kind was permitted', there
must soon be an end to that veneration which ol:glit to be paid
to the established religion. Your Lordship will perceiVe that
it is not an individual who is here aimed at, but that the over-
throw of the Established Church is the object of this individual.
The CIIiEF JUSTICE—You May take a Rule to shew cause.