Star.
London, England, 1820-03-29 00:00:00

SURREY LENT ASSIZES, MARCH 27.

SEDITIOUS AND BLASPHEMOUS LIBEL
THE KING V. PIIILIF FRANCIS.
This Was an indictment against the defendant, for
publishirig No. 3, of Carlile s Republican, containing
alkged seditious and blasphemoas libel, in the
form of a letter, addressed to the inhabitants of Mar.-
Hchester, relating t:) the proceedings which took place'
in that town on the ]6th of August last.
This was one of the class Of cases, of NI. hi ch a great
many were tried at the 3liddleex Sittings after last
Term, against diEerent news-venders. The Learned
Serjea:A (ONstowl stated the case with great ability.
is apcared that ,he defendant, who is an infirm
II elderly man, combines with the business of a shoe-
! maker, at No. 13, Bermondsey-street, that of a
dealer in political and other pamphljs. The libel-
lous pamphlet in question was published on the 10th
of September last, and sold to a person named George
Oddy, who deposed to that fact.
The defendant addressed the Jury to the following
'effect :—" I am a poor ailing man, and if 1 have
been
.guilty of a crime in selling this pamphlet, I do
declare most solemnly, that I did not sell it with any
wicked intention. I looked to the profits of the sale,
as a means of enabling me to get a living, which I
found a difficult thing to do, owing to the badness
of the times, and my own infirm state of health. As
soon as I understood that the number of The Repub-
lican in question gave offence, I desisted from selling
any more. I beg you will not consider me as the
author of the work, ler it is impossible for me to
read all the works Lsell. Gentlemen, lam anxious
to make you believe that I had no badness of inten-
tion when I sold the pamphlet; and far, very far,
was I from thinking that the sale of it would expose
me to the displeasure of the Attorney-General. The
moment I understood, that I was acting improperly,
I desisted ; and I certainly did not sell the book with
any malicious or wicked intention. If you believe
this, you will acquit me. 111 have broken the law,
it was without knowing it ; because I was not aware
of the tendency of the publication, and certainly had
no disposition to violate the.law."
The defendant said he had no witnesses to call.
The CIIU.F BARON charged the Jury, that the de-
fendant's intention was distinctly proved by the libel
itself. His Lordship, as well as the Jury, acted
under the solemn sanction of an oath, and, laying
his hand upon his heart, his Lordship said, " Upon
my oath, I never saw a more atrocious' ibel than
this is." •
The.Jnryammodiately found the defendant Guilty,
but recommended him to mercy on account of his
poverty, and his ignorance of the nature of the libel.
The CHIEF BARON.—" Gentlemen, are you aware
how prejudicial such a .recommendation may be?—
If such a publication as .this finds it way, it will be
productive of the most mischievous consequences.—
Recollect yourselves before Ton give such a recom-
mendation. I certainly shall carry your recommen-
dation into effect as far as I can, but pray recollect
before you give it."
The Jury turned round again in the box, and, after
five minutes' farther consideration, the foreman, Ben-
jamin Barnard, Esq. said—" My Lord, the Jurymen
are not inclined to alter their opinion."
The CHIEF BARON (With some warmth).—" Then
you will send all these publications to the most ig-
norant classes of society."
The Juil was composed of half special and half
talesmen.