Star.
London, England, 1820-04-01 00:00:00

WARWICK, MARCH 50.

The trial of the coaspirators w ill certainly not come
on before Monday. The cases of Ilegg. and (Woo no,
ter publishing seeitious libels, present nothing of no-
velty or importance, and will only bring a question
before a Warwickshire Jury, which, within the laA
few months, has been repeatedly disposedsof by the
Juries of other places.
Mr. Wof>lry is here: he intends defending himself,
bat the illffjor avails himself of the asistance
Counsel. Mr. ILIA., a young Barrister, on this Cir-
cuit, is retained ia his behalf. It is not yet decided
whether Edmonds, Lewis, and Madduc.t...v will defend
themselves. The defendants expect that the trial
will oi:eupy more than one day. Though the cvi-
deuce will not take up much time, the length ofthe
speeches made for the defence will probably make an
adjournment necessary.
A.. a quarter after twelve, the Grand Jurors were
called over. Among those who answered to their
names were the Hon. CHARLES GEEVILLE, Foreman,
Sir JAMES SKIPWITH, Sir FRANCIS SIIUCKBURCII,
and Sir THEOPIIII.I.7:s MILLER. A sufficient number
of Gentlemen of the County being in attendance, the
usual oath was administered I and the proclamation
fur the discouragement of vice and immorality hav-
ing been read,
The Learned June. proceeded to give his charge.
He commenced by expressing his weep regret at
finding the calendar, on the present occasion, heavier
titan it had ever been before, and heavier than it had
ever been, even in the largest counties. It was
possible for any humane mind to contemplate that.of
which he had spoken but with feelings of the deepest
sorrow; and they would naturally be anxious to in-
quire, if some course could not be taken, by Which
the aLirniing increase of crime, ia that part of the'
country, might be checked? When he knew that
the same offender came before the Court over and
over again ,'after having suffered a slight punish.
,
ment—when it was proved that such punishment,
instcatt of reclaiinills tended but to harden and to
confirm tl:e parties in their dishonest practices, he
ould venture to say, that if some effectual means for
stoning the progress of the evil were not devised,
that instead ut having the same number of prisonels
that now awaited their trial, within a short period
they would be further increased, so that no jail eould
contain then., ;led no time that could be devoted to
the adnaiiiitration of justrce in thal place would suf-
fice to dispose of their cases. Under theseeircum.
stale:es, it would become a question, whether, instead
of de: puttiAinie.,ts hitherto inflicted for certain of

public-house or .Meetin,g, would,..perhaps, once have
been hardly worthy of notice; butiltoke were difficult •
times; atd if it should he found slot' iir one, but In
severni instances, that a regular and organized system
had been formed, under which persons wete tent to
dirt-:rent parts of the country, to make the lower
ordcrs dissatisfied with the Government, it becaite.
necessary .to consider whether these efforts were not'
inzeti.ded to prepare the way for a revolution, and 'kr-
a revolutioif of no ordinary character, ISltt bye—
that would go. to destroy all morality,- all distinc- •
tions, ail propel ty, and, with them, all government?
When it was found that evil-disposed persons went,
among then lower orders, who were torsufficientlri
informed to detect the misrepresentations with v.hich
they wore abused, in: to he finrtilied against the ef-
fects of the advice they might receive; when it was
found tirat• those of whom he had spoken went
amoug the labouring classes • :to inflame. Weir rnhids

again;t toe 'lice:femme:A, and, by making theen
be-
iacve that the reign of terror had comnienced in this'
country, to excite-them to resistance against the con-
stituted authorities; when such things occurred, the-
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury would feel that the •
subject deserved their most serious consideration ;.
for what spectacle could be more melanchely than -
that Which would be presented, were the mass of the: •
population' su conapleteLyzdettiondized and detaChed.
from the. Go recto/ea which they were botmd to sup.,
port, as to act according op the. views of those wile:
thus attempted to delude them? To..these subjects
he would particularly direct their attention—and 1*
would direct their attentionoo them, not merely while
they were there as Grand Jurors, hut when they;
should leave that Court, and return to the country.
as Magistrates, he hoped it would not be thought.
improper in him to recommend that they should still,
bear them in mind. ht that character, %%hen any
such cases came before them, he trusted that they.
would not fail to Fut the parties in a-state of acctos
sation. They had the power of acting thus I)yr any
person engaged in the disseminatiin of publications
the object of which was to excite disbelief in the
truths of religion, or to alienate the minds of tbs.
people .from the eoablished government. These
were either blasphemous or seditious libels, and Ma-
gistrates might punish them. Ile thought they had
the power of' holding the parties to sliail for their
good behaviour, but that admitted of some dilfer-
lence of opinion. Of this, lovever, he was certain,
' that they might hold them to bail till the ensuing
,!'os.:ions. Performing this imoortant duty, they would
half:oche evil designs of these who alneed the people
with fal.ehoods which they had not the means of
detecting, and which, though refuted over and over
av in, were calculated; 'if vigorous menkutes were
o" -
oot resorted to in iooler to oppose them, to produce
the most injurious effects on the public miad. iie
apologized fbr having detained them so lono,. but
thought the urgency of the case warranted the re-
' marks which lie-had offp-od. . .
LIES 1...--SECORIEH. v. EDMONDS.
The Grand Jury having retired, Mr. Edmonds, the
defendant in this case, appeared in the dock, and
moved t!--.e Coart for an adjournment et' the cause
affil to-morrow (Friday),- in•coasequence cf the ab-
sence of Pearson, his. attorney ; without whose
professional aid he was unable to defend himself.
An of to this effect being put in and ready
' Mr: Justice Best.--.'tart hare no objection to give
you the time you 4k; but 1. think? in the abstract 6f
cases placed before me, your name appears as if you
pteferred pleading in your own defence.
Mr.-Edmonds.—My Lord, I do not think you will
find it so stated. lam not quite certain whether or
not shall defend Myself. At all events, Mr. Pear- •
son, who has been retuned by Mt. Thsot at Yott,
is in po;session of all the papers necessary for my
ofefence. Verhaps, as lam asking for tinorik might
be convenient to the cause for !Ironing en Rant-
day, ai it might save ate Coutillte troalcietolanother
application.
Mr. Justice Bror.—l certainly find that you atie
correct in stating that t? name of. Mr. Pearson ap-
pears in thenbstract as attorney in your case,' anal
beg yoor pardon for the error. • I think there can
no objection to your application to have the cane
postponed till to-morrow, and as we do net sit on
th4t day sooner than two o'clock, pet haps it will' not
be necessary for you to apply fur a further extension
of time. Should Mr. Pearson not a:rite by' that
hour, you • will of co-Lose -be at. liberty to. 4.0 neio
your motion.—:The cause .stand.S for to-mOtroiv.
• • •
•

. -

:t

,

II ,

, '