Star.
London, England, 1831-06-06 00:00:00

MR. HUME TO MR. CARPENTER.

Bryanstonc-square, May 27, 1831.

Sir—l have perused the report of your trial on
the 14th inst. and must consider your just com-
plaints to be against the law, more than against the
Jury, for their verdict.
It is quite true, that many juries have returned
verdicts against their oaths, because they have con-
sidered the laws too severe, or not suited to the
offences and to the times ; and the jury which de-
cided on your case might, in perfect consistency
with hundreds of precedents, have acquitted you
of the charge brought against you. But on public
grounds, I am not very sorry at their verdict, since
now that juries are not disposed to assist the people
in evading bad laws, the only remaining course is
to repeal them. Yours will, I trust, be Me lust of
the many prosecutions inconsistent with the liberty
of a free state, and when reviewed dispassionately,
will, 1 hope, induce the legislature seriously to con-
sider the justice and the policy of immediately re-
pealing the laws upon which it was founded.
I hope, however, that the Ministers will, of their
own accord, bring in a bill to repeal the whole of
*the remaining six acts of Castlereagh-memory.
If they be desirous to avoid the allegation already
made by many persona, that they have put on part
of the mantle of the Holy Alliance since they
came into power, they will do so. Ido not be-
lieve that there is any such disposition in the Ca-
binet as that above noticed ; and, giving them great
credit for the Reform Bill they have introduced, I
am anxious they should also have the additional
oredlt with the people, of doing so great an act of
justice to the press, and through it, by that repeal,
to the best interests of good government.
I confidently hope for that desirable repeal, and
that Sir Thomas Denman may have the opportunity
of.repeating, in the House of Commons, what is
attributed to him on a former occasion, namely,
" that severe as the Newspaper Stamp Act is, it
does not effect what its proposers contemplated,"
and ought, therefore, to be repealed.
Every sincere friend of his country must hope
that Lord Grey as Premier, Lord Brougham as
Chancellor, and Sir Thomas Denman as Attorney-
General, will see the necessity of emancipating the
press from all the fetters which row restrain it—
being alike injurious to the best interests of the
isgraceful to the Government who im-
and to any other who shall retain

these great statesmen be desirous of pre-
ir high character, they cer-
lot allow such a blot to remain on the

I shall be ready to lend my humble efforts to-
wards effecting that great public good, and hope
you will not, ultimately, be a sufferer by the efforts
you have made to liberate the Press.
I remain, your obedient servant.
JOSEPH -HUME.

PANORAMA OF THE BRITISH

EMPIRE.

such a plc.

The STAR has for several months exhibited
lure 'of the Domestic Events of the Empire, as never
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is a LETTER FROM HOME to every provincial in foreign
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importance the exertions of local talents in every public
cause. Then as this is a duty performed alone by the STAR,
those local patriots would ill deserve their name, if the STAR
and its interests were not reciprocally promoted by them be
every district. We know it has been so in many places, sag
the STAR in principles, and in all the best qualities of a
paper, has justified preference; but we reasonably expect
the same attentions EVERY wrung. as the means of at
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our valuable and exclusive information. We call also on the
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thus illustrate, and invite with 'earnestness their powerful
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Papers in priority of Foreign News, and our display of the
transactions of the country is equally exclusive and pre-
eminent.

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