The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-07-19 00:00:00

mate friend of the Plaintiff, and also acinainted
with the Defendant. The message left for Dr.
Bevan was, •! That he might read the pamphlet,.
• and there see what 'a rascal Mr.. Williams was.",
There were manuscript marginataiites in the copy
so left for Dr. Bevan's perusal. The Defendant
also shewed• the witness a large caricature, in
which the Plaintiff s was -represented as passing
from the gallows to the infernal regions.
Dr. 11.. van proveal the writing ow. the copy of
the pamphlet 'left for him to be to this effect : •
" This is the man who said he was practising only'
to keep pettyfeggers and rascals out of the pro.
fession"—and concluded with these words, " Who
is the rascal nun ?"
Mr. Edward Phillips, Postmaster of Mon-
mouth,,• proved that the Plaintiff bad introduced to
his observation a copy of the pamphlet, with mar-
ginal notes hi his own•writing, drawing the wit.
tress's attention to the c tricature print. The De-
fendant observed, " There's Bobby.," meaning
the Plaihtiff, painting him out as one of those whotn
the Dail was driving into • hell. 'rho Defendant •
afterwards took the book, opened it in a particui
lar part, and said, that " they," alluding to the
Plaintiff and others, " were perjured scoundrels,
and not fit to he entrusted by any person."
The Rev. Win. Powell, of Monmouth, also
proved that he had purchased one of the books in
question from the Defendant.
Mr. Allpress, an attorney, at Ahergavenny,
proved, that when he was in Aloninouth prison, the
Defendant hail lent the pamphlet to him, as a thing
likely to afford him amusement. •
Mr. Pawles, a clerk of the Plaintiff, was ad.
ducal, to prove a notice on the Defendant, to
produce one of the large bills, relative to the sale
of the pamphlet, said to have been publicly hung
up in the Defentlaet's Office. On his cross-exami-
nation, he admitted that he had heard the Plaintiff
say, that he, along pith Price and Powell, had
paid 3001. fof compromising an action brought by
Jones against them, for, suing out an Improper
Csmunision of Bankruptcy. .against Jones. •Also
that he had paid the costs in Chancery, and. that
Powell was to bear his own costs in tin:Common
Pleas, even after he bad hoard .a verdict in his
favour; and, that these latter things were done in
consequence of the decision of the Lord Chancel•
tor. lie did• not. understand from the Plaintilfil
however, that • he had raid airy part of the 3001:
to compromise an indictment against liim•for per.
, jury. It was also proved, that the Defendant
hal the posting bill relative to the publication in
question, displayed in the most conspicuous place
of his office.
Mr. Serjeant BEST,. for the 'Defendant, ad.
milted, that nothaving put is a plea in justifica-
tion, he could not. ask a verdict in• his Carotin
It appeared that the paper had been. published'by
the Defendant, and lie was afraid It must be ad.:
milted that the paper, was a libel... His Learned
Friend (the Attornee.General), and he, how-
ever, had very different ideas of-the nature .Of the
off,ttee here committed. Rig Learned oFrieenl had
represented as if. no slim, however.great, not even'
that which miglifibe adequate to the payment of
the national debt, could compensate fur the in.
jiiry which the Plaintiff had sustained. He (Mr.
..Serjeaut Best) contended, that it might be Co-
vered with the coin of the smallest denomitiaaion
known in this country. His-Learned Friend had
even abandoned tee first count in his declaration,
rather than let his Lordship and the Jury have a
peep beyond the curtain on the other side of the
hall. Every body knew that certain high charac.
•ters had said strong things on the subject of the
Plaintiff's conduct—so touch so, that nothing said
In any publication like the present, could add to
the authority of the statement ; and, of course,
if the. Plaintiff had no character to lose, he
could not be injured by the repent publication.
The name of the Author too, was not imaginary ;
and if the Plaintiff had been anxious fur his cha-
racter, -to him, who might have entered a plea in
his justification, would he have gone.
'the order of the Lord Chancellor, superseding
the Commission against Jones, and ordering dif-
ferent parts of the costs both in the Commission
o( Bankrupt, and in differedt actions at law to
be paid by the,Plaintiff, and in some instances by,
him jointly with Powell and Price, was then pal
in and *read.

Sir S.,ltown.z.v, who had been Counsel for
Jones, was then adduced as a witness.
The ATTORNEY GiNensr. objected,. on Ate
ground that nejustification had been entered.
Lord Erzehaiiibban said, this mil only meant
in mitigation, not as a total vindiCation, end it
would ins going too far to huttl that betels'. Otis.
tiication had not been entered, the Eittendant
must stand before the Cour4, as if etery. Ming he
bad alleged was •a fiction. „ '
The Ai-roans.: GENERAL- applied (Oft Bill of
Exceptions, which was allowed him.
Sir Si' RaxictAr was then examincd.—" The'
ease," said Sir Samuel, 64 occupied a caniitteriblo
time. The Lord Chancellor certainly knit:id..
verted onthe conducauf Mr. Williams, I thought,
with severity. • I cannot take on myself to state
any Or the •words histordship used, • but I• think
I can Say they were not the wordiiteted in this,
publication. I • remember perfectly well a good
deal was said aboittafidavits. I think the ford
Ckaneellor said thetiblavits of Williams weeliatit
reconcileable"— • •.•
' The Ai-reit/my Gkrtivtat again objected, but
Lord Ei.t:Ewsoitoatiu could -net see any'. thing
ju the objeetion.-.' ' •
Sir S. Romir.r....r prieWeded—” I think the 1.4.0 rd.
Chancellor s'aid, thlit Itfitlaefis. 'of Williams. were
not reconcileable with some papers which appiared
under his can hand. 'llOalch6-said ''These
were not the words • bat.•this I. ,take 'the
substance,of whit hi;:tordtlip , '
Mr. Patiocs-,-(f•Diti 4140 Atilsbip oy to thing
about an aetion is CcitildePleas?"
• Sir S: Item more...Ai Heidrtaialidid. Thativis
tan impiirtant feature hi tbd,Raile: . Bit h' do dtit.
recollect what he dittswir..”..:,. • • !
Mr. PA mita War ihei.e. spy thing sahribout
the Dokket Bond ?". .; • •
Sir S. Itieatv.z.v-0141failly do not recollect
what he said aboUt it: He certainly spoke about
the•bond given by the petitioning creditor."