The Sun.
London, England, 1817-12-30 00:00:00

L 15 LS.

The following is in ex ti act from the American
Law of Libel, :vs hid down by Judge M'KEAN on
the trial of COBBETT, during his former residence
in the lltailed States:—

" Libels, or libelli famosi, taken in the most
extensive sense, signify any-writings, pictures, or
the like; of an immoral or illegal tendency ; but
in the sense we are now to consider of them, they
are malicious defamations of any person, and espe-
cially of a Magistepte, made public either by
writing,
.printing, signs, or pictures. in order to
provoke him to wrath, or to expose hint to public
'iratretl, 'contempt, or ridienle"
" Where Libels are plinted against any per-
sons employed in a public capacity, they receive
an aggravation ; as they tend to scandalise the
Governnient, by reflecting on those who are en-
trusted with the adininist rat ion of public affairs ;
and thereby not only endanger the public peace,
as all others do, by stirring tin the parties imme-
diately concerned to• acts of revenge, but have
:also a direct tendency to breed in the people a
dislike of their Governors, and incline them to
faction and sedition."
• " These offences are punishable either by in-
dictment, information, or civil action.
" By the laW of the Twelve Tables at Ron*,
Libels, which affected the reputation of another,
were made capital offences ; but before the' reign
of Augustui the unishment became corporeal
only —By the laws of Pennsylvania the Authors,
Printers, and Publishers of a libel are punishable
by Fine, and also a limited Imprisonment at bard
labour, and solitary confineme"nt in gaol, as the
Court in its discretion shall:seem proper.
" By this Law and these punishments, the Li-
berty ut the Press, a phrase much used, but little
understood, is by no Means infringed or tiolated."
" TO Otitis!) dangerous or offensive writings,
'which, when- published, shall on a fair and impar-
tial trial, be adjudged of pernicious tendency,
is necessary for the preservation of peace and
good order of Government awl Religion, the
Only solid foutidatioo of civil liberty.".

CERTIFICATED CONVEYANCERS.

LETTER VI.

TO THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF GRAY'S-INN.
GENTLEMEN,—A clamour is gone forth against
a careless admission of unqualified men into your
house ; not as Students fur the Bar, or purchasers
of !Chambers, bur the- business of CoNvEy ANr.E as,
...•Allitick to execute
_rxecisirtn, require's more
study :and judgment. than any other brunch of the
• Law.. *The NeWspapers have rung the loud peal
of conyl:iint against this lax introduction of ob-
jectiOnablechai-acters, who convert an abstruse

. science- into a trade, wherein they traffic as inc-
.._
chanics, often to the loss of their employers, and
.• always in disgrace to a regular practice. The
• . only discovered reason for your conduct in this
which is founded in nothing wilfully
wrOng, i 3 that a modern revenue act imposed a
tax on Attornies, and Draftsmen below the
far ; but it was not intended by the Legislature
for any other description of men, who have very

artfully availed themselves of it, under the coun-
(et felt natne of Conveyancets at Law, to %Oki

„they have no legal title. The Draftsmen below
' tthe Bar havg..ps? other clients titan the Attornics,
but these pretenders who assume an equality with
them, open their shops to the public, and have
• tome an exalted science into pieces. The ex-
ception of such people does not affect any gen-
. tletuan of business, whether as Attornies, or as
Draftsmen, who are really in the profession,
acting with honour and integt ity ; it is only of
a people whose flimsy right is under your admis-
sion, contrary to the caution of the two temples
of Lincoln Inn, and a tax certificate, which, like
a tax certificate to kill game, gives the holder no
qualification, nor exempts him from the penalties.
In fact, they are not in the profession, any more
than Qauck. Doctors ate Members of the College of
Physicians. Were they duly initiated,.they would
be wider controul, and protected ; but while they
run wild and unacknowledged, your admission of
them gives them a false countenance, which calls
fur remonstrance ; ~and it is hoped that you will
give the subject a full consideration, so that
your old respected Society may preserve its
dignity, by rejecting hereafter all persons who do
not offer t►temselves as Students for the bar, or
purchasers of Chambers. Respecting the Tax
Certificate, application will be made to
Pa,la-
enet►t either to explain or ar.►entl the Act t;iat
imposes it, or pass a hew one, that no►►e but qua-
lified persons shall be entitled to any ; and to the
exclusion of awafity-morigers, money-brokers, auc-
tioneers, builders, hackney writers, &c. whose iliac-
tices are an insult to the Law, a scandal to the
Attornies and Draftsmen, and injurious to the
profession at large.

I am, Gentlemen,

with great veneration for the Law,
'Your very humble servant,
AN OLD BAICRISTER.

regret to say, that our respectable Correspondent is
mistaken. Tu. Su?: originally started this subject, so in-
teresting and important to one of the most useful Professions
in Society, and has zealously persevered in supporting the
cause of its regular Members, but not nue Lod.dine Newspaper,
Ministerial or Opposition, has come forward tin the occasion,
though it essentially relates to general principles, to justice,
equity, the security of property, and the welfare of the
community at large. We do not so much pride ourselves in
having taken the lead on this most interesting subject, as in
regretting that there should be so little real PUBLIC SPIRIT
in those 4ournals that profess to act upon PUBLIC PutNcimEs
and a regard for tlin nationaHiappi nets.