The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-08-03 00:00:00

TRIAL FOR A PUI.IIIc.II, 1.1111. K.

W ARWICK NISI PRIUS COL RT. At.Gi..T I.

Before CHIEF esao,, RICHARDS. Rad a Special Jury.
THE KING r. J. H. ORANDIS.
Mr. itaaor.a opened the pleadings. This was se
d ictuirnt charging the defendants with unlawfully
.riting and publishing a certain scandalous sad sedi-
tious libel of and concerning the government of Nis
and the employment of the King's troops,
and of ansi concerning his Royal Highness the Regent,
the 20th day of December last, in the parish of
irmingbam.
Mr. CLARKE stated the case.—He expatiated, at
•onsideruhle length, on various extracts from the
ibel (which svere afterwards read in evidence), sad
described the whole matter of the publication to be,
the highest degree, libellous and seditious. lie ri-
diculed, in very pointed terms, the folly und presump-
tion of persons, in the low and obscure sphere of the
defendant. setting themselves np as the censors of
Ivernment, the reformers of our venerable Consti-
.ion, and the advisers of their Prince. When he had
?roved the publieatiun, he had no doubt that the Jury
mould find such s verdict as would satisfy the justice
the case—a verdict of Guilty—against the de-
fundant.

The libel, which was entitled " An Address to the.
lioforniers of Birmingham and its neighbourhood,"
gas then put in.
The CHIEF-Hams inquired, whether the defendant
lilted the whole of the publication to he read ?
The defendant answered in the negative.
The Clerk then read the following extracts :
" Fellow Couutrynteu,—A crisis is fast approach-
lg. which, to use the memorable expression of the cele-
trrted Paine, will try men's souls : it is ts crisis
herein the patriotism of all will be put to the severest
and which must fair ever decide the fate of our
.tive land ; it is a crisis big with events of the
greatest importance, not only to this, hot to every
,ucceeding generation ; for upon the issue depends
Phether Englishmen are to enjoy the blessings of
iherty. anti their country be great and free, which
iron, the excellency of its climate, its soil and re-
sources, they had a right to expect ; or whether they
ail aubuiit to a military despotism, accompanied
ith all the horrors of starvation and servitude. Look
tit, situation of unfortunate Ireland, groaning under
i
• iron rod of sointary oppression ; think of the:
Imberless privations and persecutions experienced!
lit ill-fated country: and figure to yourselves!
(our own situation, got erned by a similar system of
3jostice and barbarity.
We have already experienced, in the murder Of
tr countrymen 'at Manchester, and the shameful
of justice N the injured, what we have to es-
poct from the clemeucy of our rulers, when their will
v4;,ersedes that of the law. That never-to-be-forgotten
.ent is a tolerable fair specimen of the manner le
'Lich we shall he treated if they are starred to suc-
ceed in their nefarious warfare against our rights :
I say, should they succeed In this hitt crusade
against you, slavery, more ignominious than even
Kontiars. still be your lot. Rouse then front your
I:mhargic s;ernber, and make every exertion that is
to thwart she ansehleations of your gyre's-
Aura ; trust to some but yourselves ; leer fitteendra•
dent, and your efforts notisteltinsately be crowned with
cess. The moment is now arrived when it is abso-
ur -ly necessary that every Englishman wipe values
t...' prosperity and welfare of his country AIM be at
post.
• •

• • •

" In oar wire the petty satrap. of despotism have
scd are still Ilia/ every exertion in their pow'er to
atcomylish their villainous designs; but I hope the
ties conduct of the people of Birmingham will expose
them to that contempt they merit. Every effort, both
stir and unfair, has been wade by the sleek-headed
trite to get up what they call a loyal, but what I
,houid designate a lying declaration, as it is well
mown that numbers of individuals have been threat-
ened with the loss of their employment, and conse-
inently the means of existence. if they refused to sign
; while ia another instance it is reported that names
leave been allied to this previous document without
.en asking the consent of the persons whose signe-
t-Ire had this been shamefully Lirged ; and this is to
be 'resulted as the petition and sentiments of the
ropie of Birminghans—although I feel conviaced,
were the inhabitants of this town assembled together
express their real opinions upon the substance of
tie said declaration. they 'meld copy the example set
them by a late 'obis lord. and pronounce it as false
• hell. Now I would leave it to any impartial
person to decide who are the greatest traitors to
their Prince—those who would address him is the
basest language of truth, and point oat to him the
precarious F. Gillum in which he stands, anti t stollen
his opine pursuing those neenanree which can only
sod is his owe rein c those wipe .weald represent to
Moo the real situation of the country, and thereby en-
able Ws to escape, before it ir too late, the danger
with which he is threatened; or those who would, by
perverting facts. only stimulate him to. persist in that
career. which must either end is a nstional convulsion,
es reduce the country to the lowest ebb of political tie-
gsodadso (in either of which alternatives he must be-
ern the victim). I think It needs not much penetra-
tie" to decide which of these two is his real friend ;
as/ was the Prince is possession of the least /mere-
Sty. he would know. bow to appreciate the honesty of
his people. Bet, else! the eat 0 royalty is deaf to
the jost•complaists of an oppressed main ; serresaded
Ipf every luxury the smutty can produce, the misery
0 millions Is hrgesks.
" It hos bees throalemd, by mos of the scribes in
the pay of corruption, that if we are sot perfectly
riot, and submit ourselves to be fleeced by the rotes,
without suriturisg, a foreign foics will be I'd:s-
ensed Is compel us. I say, los slim mime i and
oaresd be the iised• that would set grasp the sweep
lot Mei te free his country from Tzsion t Oeold
es bused for their and whoa,
1111 k bout of their dssceat from the illustrious and
.kidoeetel Ilempdes, Bidet!, tad other celebrator
poWiob. mach to a bead if foreign .era
Gold oese Womb to have the maim(
Ark hod ostry &venial by mocha, kind

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