The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-02-24 00:00:00

COURT OF NINO'S BENol.—(rsu Dl►.)

TRILL! FPI PVIILIVIIINS SEDITIOUS
Considerable interest was eteited this morning in
consequence of the trialsof Watling', Norris, and other
seitonifil/4 pnbliestioo of seditious libels. The
Chief Justice took firs;itiot•aboot boApis; oiae, awl
iumietliately afteruards the proceediais coolant-heed.
THli EING yfilftlilliz.%
_

Mr. LITTLIM*LIi opened tbt elle. 7-
The ATTOalisr-IiENCI4e. IPII. Sob; Midi% a 'peel,
of some length, addressed the Jety, ..Tbleeprosecutiiiii.
he said, had been order to prevent the fur-
ther publication of those seditious pamphlets which cot:-
stitute the disgrace of the British presi. The • libel it
question would be found one of the worst of these pub-
lications. It was entitled A Inner to the Primee he-
fent, and adverted, in the most audaciuys manner, to
the unfortunate events which well place a: Manchester
on the lath of August last. It would remain for them
to decide whether this letter was not of the most sedi-
tious and insisonsatory devription, and whether the
person whom he shouli prove to have promoted the sale
of that puhlic4tion hail nut committed an offence which
required the interference and visitation of the law.
Itieliard Morris proved, that on the 7th of September,
he purchased a copy of The Iterthliean (in which the •
libel was contained) at the shop of the defendant. The
defendant himself gave him the copy. The price
charged was two-pence. •. •
The defendant declined asking this Witness any
(mentions.
The ATTORNIT-GINERAL, in reply to a question put
by the Court, requested the whole of the libel to be read.
This was accordingly done, and the case fur the pro-
secution closed.

Mr. Watling then addressed the Court in his own de-
fence. From the low tone of voice in which he com-
menced, we were unable to collect his introductory re-
marks. After commenting spots the manner in which
Juries were selected, and of which he timidly complained,
he observed that the book in question had been sold by
bile withoutaNy intention, on his part, td promote the pur-
poses with which he was charged. There could nut be
a greater proof of this than the circuctivance that
he had sold works upon every subject and. advocating
every variety of opinion. In proof of this I:, would in-
stance lAe While Dwarf. a work intended to counteract
the influence of Th. Black Dwarf, and to which he
fate all the publicity in his power; The Ere, 7'he
Cr, ea Bag, Ice. He thought it • case extremely hard,
that himself and a few others—men without education,
and without resources—should be masked out for prose-
cution,whilst Alr.Sheewin,who had for years published the
most obnoxious works, bad been allowed to escape with
impunity. lie would again observe,that it was impossible
for bins to read, or he acquainted with the tendency of
every work which he disposed of. Ile never had sold
the Age qf Rea:011. or the rest of Paine's works, and be
never would, nor would he, in any cue, do any thing
which appeared to him of an injurious tendency. The
defendant then called two witnesses, who did not ap-
pear..
, Robert Wilson deposed, that he had, at different times,
purchased various works of the defendant. Witness enU-
mcrated the works which be had purchased, and which
appeared to be of every description. The de:cnalant he
knew to be an honest and industrious man.—Thin was
the only witness who answered to the call of the de-
fendant.
The Arroes et-0 ONERAL, in reply, brivfly commented
upon the manner in which thedefendant had spoken of the
selection ofJuries. To prove that the statement of the de-
fendant was incorrect, the Learned Counsel entered into a
detail of the process by which Juries are summoned and
selected. He knew the effect which the defendant hoped to
produce by this misrepresentatioa, but he felt convinced
that they (the gentlemen .of the Jury) wonid nut allow
it to make any impression on their minds. ?lie Learned
Counsel then adverted to that part of the delenthint's de-
&wee, where be asserted that he sold publications on the
opposite side of the question. This
.plea was ridicu-
lous ; for would any one suppose that at diminished the
guilt of vending poison, because the defendant oc-
casionally sold itt antidote? The poverty of the
defendant, whatever weight it might have else-
where, ought to have no inductive here. If this
could be urged in extenuation of the offence, it
might indeed .be committed without fear ; but he (the
Attorney-General). would warn all who rested their de-
fence upon that consideration, that in the discborge of
his public duty he should suffer the poverty of no one
to enable hint to practise against the public good. The
Learned Counsel concluded his address by brggiug the
Jury to consider the importance of the question, and to
decade with impartiality and justice.
The Cater JCIITICII summed up briefly, and the
Jury, after a moment's consideration, found the defend-
ant Guilty.
SECOND INDICTMENT.

aea V. HARRIS.
This indictment was similar to the last. After a spe-
cial Jury bail assembled, the AT oaxar-GaNsa.tc. inti-
mated to the Court, that as three of the gentlemen in the
boa held situations under Government, he would pro-
pose that they should retire. This measure was adopted,
and their place was supplied by a tales.
Mr. Summit) opened the caw.
The Arros,scv-thwaiw.,iti wldressing the Jury, ob-
served,. thou it would be unnecessay for him to trespass
long upon their attention, because the defendant,
who keeps a shop in Broad-mart, Covent-garden, was
indicted for publishing the same libel which had given
rise to the prosecution of the last defendant.
Lewis Lewis deposed, that •n the jth of September
last, he purchased at the defendant's shop, the publica-
tion which he held in his haul. The defendant gave
him the work.
Ip erosi-examination by the defendant, witness stated
be had carried the book to Mt. Willie, the 3taltistral"
No bad issued a Siarrint upon it.
The libel was then put is and read.
The defendant, Harrii, cooducte 1 his own defense,
and rested chiefly upon the same -moments which
Wat!lng bad advanced in the forme: trial. He enlittit
no witnesses. . _ _

The ATTORItet-44emiut replied, and after the Cuts,
Juartcs had summed up, the Jury, without betttatiou,
pronounced a verdict of floilty.
The trial of Shorter wu proceeding when we left dm
Court.

NAVAL INTRLLIGEYCE.
HliWlCß,Fan.l3.—Sailed the Henry Freeing packet,
for Holland. and Lord Nielson packet, for Caxh.rvea,
both with mails.
WeITST. Fan. Morriss, which got
On shore an Whitby flock, on the 15th instant, has goon
to pieces. The Mayen ass eased.
Nos?* !Saimaa, Pal. /111.—Tbe !lamer. Wheeler; of
Atinalel, with timber, get upon the IleriFland, to en-
, toting the barboirt during a heavy sec The Crew were
reared by the life-boat, and it is etpectsd the vessel and
carte Will be eased.
ramatoorn, Fen. Ml—Arrived the Jason. Watson,
front Likrbon I. London...44llrd the Market Maid, liar-
Fiona, Aor London.
FA I writ, Pun. 111.—ArriveJ several coasters. The -
folks, r pellets are still detained : Manchester, for
PIMA Adis of Yak. for the Islands; and Lads
1 pi ate
..7AI fist she Segal&