The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-07-26 00:00:00

I

Lord here read several extracts from the Repriolinti.)
He should not oppose the prosecution which the Hon.
and Learned 04:ntleman bad introduced to the notice
of the House, but if this course were adopted, be
slo.uld feel it his duty to deliver up these publications,
with sweeping instructions to the Attorney-tieneral to
prosecute them with the utmost severity. He did not
mean to admit %hat if the House did not interpose, these
publicatiefis would not be prosecuted. From the
.I,•r of the libel it was clear that there had bees no

tiii.r to institiire proceedings against it, nor was it
ps acticable (lie !believed) to do so until after the lung
s -*cation. If the House interposed at all, it should
embrace the iy hole sphere and compass of the offences
which bad been committed both on one side and the
other. and riot by selecting a particular offence appear
insensible to4il the rest.
or. I.cantriros*thought it his duty to state to the,
House the reasons which had induced him not to call
the attention of the House to the calumnies with which
her Majesty's character had been aspersed. The paper
ins quest' bad been handed to him some days since
b. an Hon. !friend of his, and had excited so much
indigeation-in his mind, that he had been induced to,
sire particular attention to the subject. When he
came, however, to regret that the libel appeared in an
obscure country' paper, the proprietor of which was
probably is
-very low circumstances; he thought, unless
t!.e greatectell,of the libels contained in the press of
the metropolis were suppressed, it was not consistent
with the dignity of her Majesty that any notice should
be taken 0f41.-• The Noble Lord who represented the
h.srough elf Aylesbury (Lord Nngent) had read to the
House pas{- es from The ifornin4, Post and The
(Lacier, is a 'former of which, the Editor declared
that he cared not' whether her Majesty were got rid of
as a cfilniesior amartyr, and the latter of which eon:
rained par* egoloqually atrocious, and equally eaten-
Lod to stlinthtlet the public to sets of outrage against
the Queen, yet when, these libel* were introduced to
the notice of the House, they appeared to excite but
li:tle attis.ilee. • When he considered that these papers
were generally supposed to he under the indnence, and
. to a certain.extesit, under the controul of his Majesty's'
410% erns/Pint, and that tlicy were suffered to roam at
large titringh every :species Of libel which was calcu-
latesl to injure the cause of her Majesty, he thought it
was not worth while to call down the justice of the
House *mien '/11e Western Luminary. It was better
to tact. t4teMaliee of the wretched ludividiaal who
could composer it to die its its native obscurity, than to
give iti.degree of importance by taking notice of it
in thic! est**, If he had thought that, by any ad-
vice offlis couldbe present her Majesty from being
brAntitd eitE imputations.of guilt, before any judicial
inittiepAett taken place,. however unpleasant it might
Lace biessie call ilr question 'the public press fit that
House, he should still here felt it his duty to do so.
But gas bet Maiestpsisad he imputations cast Noma her
before trial. except in the ordinary publieeffion of
the day ? Did she now go to trial In the seise
predicament, an 4 with the same advantages, es
and ordinary individual whose life or character
was aped Whin the Wren had been treated
by lifs:Ailejeity'a Government as a person convicted--
wheats:lie had hen treated with contumely sad
divas:o.ll their..authority, without trial---when bee
menses'-had bnaterned from the Liturgy previous to
tiial-kvilep an Impression had been' studiously made
isponihe public mind, without confronting her with
her mune, without even furnishing het with the
ordinny.ineans of vindicating her innocence ; he
would ask the House and the country with what de-
terry tempi his Majesty's Ministers come down to the
'IOUs,/ sod •advise the prosecution of The Morning
Pes4 1r Cowries, or the Western Lanninary? (hear,
hear,•bearl, Each were the views which he had
felt to state to her Majesty, when he took
her Meanly', parasite, upoe,tbe subject of therie puh-
licatione.-soThere was another view of this subject
which appeared to him to be of the utmost importance.
lie thilogist Viet *any attempt to restrain the public'
laress';'imid • he .attended with the greatest possible
'Duthie After all 'the violent accusations which had
been tinown*fut against the press, and subject as it
enrinubtedly-was at tines to do infinite mischief, he
still frit that a free and unshackled press was one of
the greatest blessings which'conld be conferred upon
any country. If we once • imposed the slightest re-
strain upon the press,, it would become extremely
41:tfictel; to define the limits, or cakufate the coase-
quenop'of such rent. Sore be was that without
a fretsprese, neither rise libertt, of this nor. any other
enetircould be long •snaintalaetl. Me did not mean
to say. that publication if libellous description
ought not to' be punished,' but he had rather leave
them to the vigour of Ms Majesty's law officers,
sob* might correct the enemies of the Press upon
their. awn responsibility, An to•penose. who were'
net equally capable et forming an accurate judgment
oftewtite.selsject. and who were not responsible. He
perfrealy concurred with the Noble Lord in the pro- ,
peaty of sanding protection to the witness,* on both
aides of the question. Nothing couldbe mote pro-
destined' confusion, more detrimental to the interests
of juelice, or more injurious to the character .of the
antilop. than • that when those witnesses Caine to
ibis country, their live should be endangered, or
their testimony exposed to say Undue bias. With
respect to the varies' publications from which the
Noble lard bad read passage*, be had only one oh-
s natio* 1* make ps•seausely.. that her Majesty bad
never.reed one of them.end that nothing would in-
eneeiser to read one'of them during the whole course
of proceedings against her. He readily admitted to
the Noble Lord, that those publications greatly ex-
nand all the bounds of fair discussion. If, however.
the LaW Mem of the Crests- 'Ladd . have it in
tostenydatios M fess& say legal proceedings upon
them, he eroded diatiekey week' beer is mind the kr
sea that had besa • Ikea ea that sahjert• a kw ran
age —he adireeemL.ln the promotion wises .
Morning CAtoridek fad other Papers, whirls, is con-
wipeesee d pest Oahe, 'Wadi* is the mink- both
of the Jaigeapej.ibe 44efopips se the sakieese. Abe-1
old fried*OlhEorlimilleklneed by veridical .of aegalt-
Isl. hoessaskasst thiswastac ttaght.l. bin opiP4s.
Sekilaidlol4 calseme asses, in which '
Oblatairief Abe • ereiv-seS;lllhdp• •be Piet
WWI • ;. • .
Arroasonvessi MA& Willa to say a hw Rat%
• miseendact or neglect of duty Oa his peril

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