Star.
London, England, 1810-06-16 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COORT OF KING'S BENCH, JUNE 19.
•
TRIAL Or MR. WILLIAM OOUITT.
This important case came on to be tried before the
Right Honourable Lord ELLENROROLIGII, at West-
minster Hall, precisely at nine o'clock yesterday.
The pannel being called over, the following were
sworn of the Jury :
Thomas Rhodes, Hampstead-road.
John Davis, Southampton-place, ditto.
James Ellis, Tortenharn-court.road.
J. Richards, Bayswater.
Thomas Marshasn, Baker-street.
Robert Heatbcote, High-street, Mary-la-bonne.
John Maude, York-place, ditto.
Peons Baxter, Church Terrace, Pancras.
Themes Taylor, Red-lion.square.
David Dean, 110, St. John's-street.
William Palmer, Upper-street, lslingteh.
West (Talesman), was about to be sworn; but,

Joseph 1), was about to
Mr. COSIIETT objected to him, and he was with-
drawn without assigning any challenge; on the con-
sent of the Attorney-General.
Henry Faver, a Taluisan, was then sworn, and
made up the twelve.
Mr. CourrT objected to him as being a Foreigner,
but declaring himself to be a British born subject,
Mr. Cobbett apologized for having been misinformed.
The opening Counsel having shortly stated the sub-
stance of the information,
The ATTORNEY-GENZRAL then opened the case on
the behalf of the Crown. He stated, that the libel
having been. published so long ago as July 1809, some
reason would be expected for the cause having been
so long delayed. Mr. Cobbett living at such a dis-
tance, and taking advantage of his just right of de.
ferring his pleadings, the cause was brought forward
at the earliest period that the forms of the Court
would admit. Threatened with invasion, it was
thought proper that a certain portion of the popula-
tion of England should be trained to arms. In 1808,
Lord Castlereagh brought in his Bill by which the
Local Militia might be called out for 28 days, though
they had only been called out 20 days. When the
Cambridgeshire militia was called out, some disaf-
fected persons in the Isle of Ely caused them to mu-
tiny, and it was found necessary to call in the military
in the neighbourhood, and five of the ringleaders were
sentenced to receive 500 lashes, part only of which
they received. The German Legion who were thus
called in, is composed of a body of brave men, who,
when Hanover was over-run, quitted their country,
and entering into his Majesty's service, have con-
ducted themselves with bravery, and it was no dis-
paragement to the British army to say, that the Ger-
man Legion have shared the glory with them. At
the battle of Talavera the German Legion took three
standards. No troops had ever conducted themselves
in a more quiet, orderly, and sober manner, and he
could not find that any complaint had been made
against them. Mr. Wardle in a motion in the House
of Commons, had proposed to disband the German
Legion, against which Mr. Huskisson offered suffi-
cient reasons. A paragraph soon after appeared in
the Courier, June 21., 1809, which he would read :
" The Mininy amongst the Local Militia which broke out
" at Ely, wasferfeeakly suppressed on Wednesday, by the arri-
" val of four squadrons of the German Legion Cavalry, from
" Bury, under the commando( General Auckland. Five of the
" ringleaders were tried by a Court-Marshal, aod settloweil A re-
" ceive 500 lashes each; part of which punishment they receive' iea
WeAesday, and a part was remitted. A 'templet their 'nap-
" Jade was the ground of complaint that exatrsi this awsowo
" spirit, which occasioned the men to surround their officers,
" and demanded what they deemed their arrears. The belt division
" of the German Legion halted yesterday at Newmarket, on
" their return to Bury."
With this paragraph, as a text to a Sermon, had
Mr. Cobbett headed his paper.
'rile A TTO RN EY G ENERAL t hen read the alledgedlibet