The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-01-16 00:00:00

THE ST/' ESM

Itifey)'and drew forth anlak.; and no
n the parrbf detili, or saints,
r could• stop the torreeil. so
He read the first three lines of the contests ;
But at the fourth, the whole spiritual show
Had vanished, with variety of scents,
Ambrosial and sulphureous, as they sprang.
Like lightning, off from his " melodious I wang.t'
Witness—l never read it or heard Mr. Murray read it.
I don't know that the poem was written in ridicule of
Southey's poem.
Mr. SCARIATT asked if he knew these two lines—
" But stunk fast with his first hexameter,
Nor one of all whose gouty feet would stir."
Witness-1 did not.
Mr. ScaaLaTT—Do you know what an hexameter
means ?-1 believe 1 am an hexameter.—(Lond laughter.)
Mr. ADOLPHUS proposed the passages charged to be
read.
Mr. SCARLETT thought the whole most be read.
The LORD CHIE/ JUSTICS said. the best way would be to
have the passages charged as libellous read first, and com•
pared with the record, and then the whole could be read,
if Mr. &Mien wished it.
Mr. ScARLITT agreed, and looked at the record while
the passages in the indictment were read.—(See

meat.
Mr. &SHUTT then desired the whole to be read, though
ha regretted to have his Lordship detained so long.
Mr. ABBOTT rise and read. All present often laughed
most heartily, especially at the following description of
Mr. Southey's address:—
He said—(l only give the head).—he said,
He meant no harm in scribbling; 'twas his way,
Upon all topics; %was besides, bls bread,
Of which he butter'd both sides; 'twoald delay
Too long the assembly (he was pleased to dread)
And take up rather more time than a day,
To name his works—he would but cite a few—
Wat Tyler—Rhymes on Blenheim—Waterloo.
Ile had written praises of a regicide;
He had written praises of all kings whatever;
lie had written for republics far and wile,
And then against them bitterer than ever;
For pantisocracy he once had cried
Aloud, a scheme less moral than 'twas Clever;
Then grew a hearty anti-jacobin—
Had turned his coat—and would have turn'd his skin.
He had sung against all battles, and again
In their high praise and glory; he bad called
Reviewing " the ungentle craft," and then
Become as base a critic at ere crawrd—
Fed, paid, and pamper'd by the very men
By whom his muse and morals had been maul'd :
He had written such blank verse, and blacker prose,
And more of both than any body knows.
He had written Wesley's life:—here, turning round
To Satan, "Sir, I'm ready to write yours,
" In two octavo volumes, nicely bound,
" With notes and preface, all that most allures
" The pious purchaser ; and there's no ground
" For fear, for I can choose my own reviewers:
" So let me have the proper documents,
"That I may add you to my other saints."
hocks:ester was called, and spoke to the identity of
Mr. Hunt.
Cross-examined—l am an army clothier ; I read the
Liberal; lam not a subscriber to the Association. I am
called by Mr. Murray here.
Mr. SCARLITT—Anti only to say you know lir. Hunt?
—Yes.
GOD bless me! I thought it was to give your opinion of
this poem ?—No.
Mr. ADOLPHUS said that was his cue.
Mr. Scatturie began by saying that if be possessed anv
of that sort of talent which his Learned Friend bad
ascribed to bins, this was not an occasion on which hi
should make use of them. He would not attempt • I.
crease in their minds the ridicule, contempt, and inutorna-
lion which such a charge as the present must have excited
in their minds, and in his opinion, in the mind of every
honest man. Never on any occasion had be lamented
more his want of those talents; and it he possessed them,
he never felt more sensibly that the very energy of his own
feelings would +prep! the exercise of them. alr. S. con-
`tinned—" I never elpect-cl to hear it tritely urged in an
'English Court of Justis.e, that the publication of any opi-
• oleos or sentiments of a deceased Monarch was a libel, and
atibel affecting the living Monarch. My Learned Friend
hakvery anxiously abstained from the law of this case, and
with good policy left the law to my Lord. Instead of mat•
ing the law he betook himself to fine fields of declamation,
to topics which might raise your feelings, and excite some-
what of party feeling. I wish he had conducted your
understandings to a .true definition of the law of libel, and
pointed out eider what head of that law this prosecution
is founded • that you might have his notions on the sub-
ject, and ;hat I might have the benefit of ascertaining
their value. He has declaimed on demerits not in the in-
dictment, bat he has left me the task of s'ating the law
to you. I trust therefore for your indulgence while lat
least endeavour to esplain this point, and to prove to you
that the record of this indictment is a disgrace to this
Court of Justice. A libel, Gentlemen, is defined to be a
libel, " because it tends to a breach of the public peace."—
Why does it tend to do so ? Because it excites a desire of
vengeance inconsistent with the public peace. If this
were not prevented, we should be brought back to a state
of nature. A charge against a living Monarch is lot
a libel, because he cannot be supposed to feel a desire
to break the peace. He is entitled to reverence and duty
sod all outward forms of submission. Therefore any
attempt to bring him into contempt is sedition, and not
because it tends to break the peace bet to weaken the ties
of submission to Government. Government is the result of
public opinion. acid it might therefore be of importance to
check every attempt to bring its bead into contempt. My
Leareed Frienil has said, that the good fame of the dead
must be protected on account of the living. It is so,
liesause attacks upon stir fathers Seeds to excite you or me
th break the public peace. Can that be said of aMo
starch ? I hope never to see the day when HA maxim will
be received in a Court of Justice, that any observations
tin a deceased Monarch, are a libel on the living Monuch.
becaose if it be, there is at once an end of the truth ef
history, of liberty, of opinion, and of the best prin-
ciples on which social institutions are founded.very When a
Monarch dies, then. it is of the utmost importance to have
the opinion of the times. Kings are connected with
ry ; their records are lessons of morality to riders
sat autistic The! dirriety *MO • Met Inas.
shots out truer while fie lives; bat when .he id Weed' with
.the earth, and Iles tadlatioirolsbed in mortality, it Dof
the ;amok' importance to Mankind. sad deeply titereildog
to your liberty and Marty sat am and Zilleb.
meter that be should be Sibiatt to free fin
diecomrion. But It is only truth that most he ahM Of
Mire! tf airy thing in the lea* affect his 0066104 or
offend his' seer:ester, it is a libel I If so, tarn Is in
ad •et truth and femidem. If noting 'lb to
be said df It deceased MlMilitiK but Orbit is isferAtel tb
-. • there is as end twhistorimil troth. rt Wire to
be ceettimalted ooiy t 4 aliestrios4 what faith iselue to
&Rose who loather home the petit, rules for %tire fanerir
es est. :The preterit Of ancient historians (Tieibed, "the
most painfestemnster of blitaideal wisdom, salve, that is the
den of , dolman thin were lot wanting pers.. who
Id tell the troth, boa that &deletion preventea
Shall that be.saii kis WI oalintry 'Shalt the wreaks 41 a'
Tory WOO& Allowjpe ate% that 1 miff :got bel
4515P11, ,a
del'it°ooll,o4 ‘ mom ay m write. respecting s
cargo view to Welt the existing M.
and 1)1Ifilt 6) be. Punished i% sad if
defendant has done 'so. I cniteit to ,yet Tortliat
'Us; lulu. hat that is not so. if all the mute et hie

4)

Ipredecessors were stated as a contrast to insult the living
Monarch, it would he criminal. My learned Friend ha•
saidthit this prosecution proceeds, not from the Crown,
bet is the effoition•of one of big sultjetts." 1 gitg no opi-
nion of political characters or measures ; lint the pretkrtt
King i% surrounded by the advisers whom the late King
raised to'offiee:'This poetriis not for the vulgar, r will
it be read' by them. Not one of his Majesty's Ministers
who has net read it, and who does not feel it a pity to
bring it forward in thisiway. It is not therefore I call
for yout verdict, but I use the argument to show thit no
me of letters,no statesnian,and no man of high station, bas
put the construction on this poem which Mt. Murray. the
attorney; has put upon it. Who is Mr. Murray ? I
you. He has brought into Court what was never prose•
gated before. IVith all respect fora Jury, Ido not con-
sider the character of a deceased being, or a criticism upon
aparma fit subject for a Jury. Mr. Murray may be a judge
of the merits an attorney, but he knows nothing of the
merits of a statesman, a King, or a poet, and he evidently
understands not a word of this poem. I deny, in the strong
rest manner, that it is a crime in any man to " intend to
have it believed that a deceased king was a bad king, was
guilty of misrule, or was a protector of tyrants." If this
be a libel, then to say any thing of the grandfather of
ancestor of the King, is a libel. Shakspeare drew Richard
the Third a murderer. In the opinion of Mr. Murray,
this most have been a political libel. His Majesty is de-
scended of James the First; yet Sir Walter Scott, in one
of his late novels—l beg pardon—an unknown writer,
describes that Monarch in the most ridiculous and con-
temptible character. Does Mr. Murray know that three it
such a hook as Shakespeare's, that there was a King called
Henry V 111? Doeche know that none mentions his reign
without describing his tyrannical conduct? Has he heard
the Memoirs of Waldegrave, one of the late King's tutors?
The Memoirs of George 11. by Walpole ? 1 believed Mr.
Murray was in that state of ignorance that he could not
judge of the poem. Let us now come to the next point—
and it is one that I cannot regard but with mingled elm)•
tions of contempt and laughter. It is quite new to me—
it never was before pretended—that there was any libel in
saying that a King died unlamented. It is a delicate sub:
ject to speak upon. 1 know not whether the late King
died regretted or not. For myself, I entertained for him
the fullest respect; andi think the poet was wrong. But
it is true, that people are not generally much grieved by
the decease of Monarchs ; and why ? The condition that
makes a man a King, plates him oat of the sphere of those
solicitudes, caree, and attentions, which are felt for ordinary
in.tividuals. If Watery speaks truth, tears do not often
fall for Kings. I have heard that on the death of the late
Kin* the persons.who attended at bit funeral expected
they would be displaced in 24 boors ; and it was not Vier!.
fork ptobable they would be so deeply affected as to shed
tears, except those caused by the solemn occasion. When
Loris XV. died of the small-poz, his attendants ran away
from him. The indictment, after setting forth the passages
eomplained of, stated that it was thereby intended to disturb
and disquiet the mind of our Lord the now King,and to bring
disgrace upon the deseendahte of his late Majesty. The
publication is not charged as seditious or treasonable—
land I have no idea of any other libel upon a King but one
of a- seditious or treasonable nature. To say the late King
was a had King (not a bad man), after his decease, is a
libel ; and that the saying this must, of necessity, wound
the peace of the present King, is absurd. Let as put the
charge into plain prose, and let us see whether any one
might not say in that shape what the Poet had said in
verse.—l will now take a rapid sketch of the events of the
la'. King's reign, on which the personal character of his
late Majesty may be supposed to have hal an important
influence. When George the Third came to the Throne.
be found a Government conducted on the principles of
the Revolution, a people in a high state of prosperity. a
country without iocumbrances, and an Empire of vain
extent—Lord of the British Isles, and Lord of the mighty
ocean.
his
that in the course of a short period he
placed his confidence in a favourite nobleman, and that
from thence was said to flaw discontent.. I will then sup-
pose that an individual in a paper called the "North
Briton" m tile a ruite sue. k upon this nobleman, and even
ctiatgeii him with maintaining a correspond-nee with the
Pretender—nay, that 5e prefixed to one of his letters in
thaipaper, the aeatto
"Nil mihi reepon,le, attamen ipse rani."

This publteetion led to a prosecuiee of the suth r. Wilkes,
and for a time the whole object of the Government appe. re I to
he to crush this individual. lie wee expelled from his s al in
Parliament, and it might now be justly said, upon the authority
of the House of Commons itself, that the conduct pureed to-
ward him by that body was erroneous, for it had since ex-
pensed their proceedings against him from their records. T e
proposition to tax America without representation, presented
i fresh Subject of pirty discussion; the predictions of the miller
p aty in the State at that time were realized, and after much
blood was spilt, end much money expended, the American Co.
innies were lost to the mother country. Was it good policy I
Was It good sense? Was it glorious to a free nation to adopt
the course then taken by the British Government? I leave
you to answer these questions. The consequence was the es-
tablishment of a free Government in America ; and this event,
if it did not occasion, U must be allowed accelerated the French
Revolution. It was there, in Aoterica,that the seeds of the Re-
volution were nourished ; when that event broke out, a war was
the result. That war was necessary, perhaps inevitable • bet
the historian, in recording it, would say that it ought to have
been pursued for some known and definite object. Wes ifs
object the restoration of the Bourbons? Was it to recover
some island? Whatever was the object, state it, don't make
war without an object. But it was notorious that every
new Session of Parliament the object was changed, and
the cant phrase of " Indemnity for time past, and security
for the future," was the only answer given to every question
relative to the object of the struggle. Where is the " in•
&sanity for the past, and the security for the future?" Is
it to be found in 600 million' of debt, or in the blood that
has been lavished ? How many parts of the earth have
been almost depOpulsted. sad bow many campaigns have
been fought for this indemnity and security in vain ? It is
true. we bad our naval glories to console us ; but they were
not an indemnity, they were only a small consolation. In
that state of things George the Third died, leaving behind
him hp indemnity and no security. Are those to be pro-
nonwevi guilty of libel, then, who speak their opinions
oe Ellie facts? At this moment the whole of Europe,
except, indeed, this happy country, is unsettled, and no one
of time dreams of those who supported the war has ap-
priemelmed to realisation. Though George the Third may
ban posseesed every virtue, and in a more eminent degree
than ettiser men, it could not be denied that his reign was
Whit WNW and spoil. We lost daring that period
adiebtr eutpire abroad, with an expense of 200 minima
of money; taxation was enormously increased; the Rabat*
(torpor Aet ass repeatedly suspended ; and all the
psieciples, the laws, and safeguards, under which
tlisimmers were accustomed to repose, were taken
stray. Mr.. Adolphus may, indeed, write a history about
it. 'and contend that every thing was justifiable,
amid that lb* *vest was happy. This, Gentlemen. may be
year opinion, and you have a right to held it ; but is it
sat fit that ;deem should have an.equal right to express
their opinions, though they may differ from yours? I
code now to an observation of some importance. Every
man is aware that the public acts of the King's Govern-
ment are net to be ascribed to the will of file Majesty ;
their msperilibility nuts upon his Ministers. Brit such is
dime fate of Kings, that *though exempt, in their life tithe
from responsibility, they cannot escape after retribution.
Look at the reign of Elittabetb ; *be, indeed, hid her
Ceeih dnd her Burieighs ; but posterity points to her name
as the women centre of bur gWy.• Tile reign of George
the Third wits Merited by I Waete of treater', by domestic
Aristan and bloodshed. Towards its cid*, one roan' arose
who threw over it an unexampled degree if histre--Wel-
iington; commencing his easier at the extremity of the

'Continent, be advanced step by step, overthrowin—
g the
ablest Generals in Enrope, and finally ettiliptere.i and
swerwheluaed their master. Such a tau:cession ..1 militare
glories never before fell to the lot rif One M4ll. If the
matter in this publication was put into prose, I repeat
there would not appear any thing its it but what ha l been
often said and felt. His Majesty was brought up in the
true spirit of the Constitution, under tke guidance of a
man now in his grave, and who was never exceeded in his
attachment to the principles which seated his family on the
throne, which I hope they will long continue to adorn,and
could never be supposed to unction sub a prosevution as
this. Let us now look at the Poem, and see whether Mr.
Murray is a better critic than he is a politician and-states-
man. 1 presume you know that Mr. Smithey is Poet
[Aureate; but it •is not my intention td enter into any,
qoestian respecting the merit of riv.l bards. The Learned
Counsel here proceeded to read extracts from the poem,
offering remarks as he went on. The whole object of the
poem, he said, is to render Sonthev's Vision ridiculous;
and that being accomplished, the King goes to Ileav,a.
This was the whole head and front of his offending. 'f tar
attack of Mr. Adolphus on Lord Byron, when be said
that noble person screened himself Loin responsibilitv,
was unjust. He (Mr. S.) was instructed to state that if
Mr. Murray bad said lie would indict that Noble LorJ, his
Lordship would now be here to meet the charge. If the
Noble Lord were here, sure he was that Mr. Murray would
not venture to prosecute this person. It was charged also
in this indictment that the writer said his late Majesty
was a tool in the hands- of others. Snr,ly there was no
crime inlaying this. Ally one might proclaim it without
subjecting himself to a criminal charge. lie had now
perforated his duty; in-doing which he felt he was upon
delicate ground ; but he hoped he had 'acceded is con.
vincing the Jery that they ought to agree with him in
looking upon this indictment with sentiments of indig.
nation and contempt,
The CHIMP JUSTICa summed up; in the course of which
lie expressed his abhorrence of the libel, calling upon the
Jury out to surrender their judgments to either side, but
to exercise them according to their consciences and goal
sense. " Human society is so constituted, that very rarely
is the father disgraced without wounding and injuring
the son. If any thing defamatory of the late King is
contained in these passages is the first-question for your
consideration. It is not remarks or comments upon the
events or the principles of his reign that lain itnestion, for
the verses I have read to you have no connection with
such topics. If they are defamatory, you will consider
whether they are not calculated to wound-the peace and
affect the feellags of his present Majesty. I have only to
say again, that I hope your verdict will be the result of
your own judgment and unbiassed conviction?'
The Jury retired five minutes before two o'clock,
and in less than al hour returned a verdict of-
-I.7ILTr. _ _

CAUTION.—J. ATKINSON, ISpOrfOr of the Genghis Bears'
Grease, respectfully cautions the Public against numerous
Counterfeits of the above Artic:e ; many of there Counterfeite
eve sold as low Is. and are only lard, marrow, &c. mad some
are teev Injurious to the Hair. The Genuine of nis importation
has allear printed on the top of the pit, and a printed dill,
round the pot with his Signature and Address.
The high esNlmation this Article has long held for the Growth
of Hair, and the remarks of a celebrated M.teern Lecturer on
Physiology, that " BEARS. GRIME from the Aniaat is its
native climate possesses very remarkable properties fit reee•
aerating. the Hair," supersedes the-rrecessity of further remark.
J. A. will only add that this is a genuine. article. which he
regularly reteives once in six or eight weeks•frosit his Cerrer
pondents in Resale. It is of the very finest qeelityi, aed very
pietSallt for dressing the hair. making it beautifully sot and
gl is.y. Sold by the Importer, James Atxtoisos, Perfumer,
lb. G d Street, Soho, London, and by appointment; (far
the veuders' na are see adiertisement.)

Yesterday (Timid iy. 13th lost) Thomas Cl Irk, alias
Captain Palkner, was tried at Sumeri.t County Sessium,
for stealing silver spoons and forks, fro:n Julio Thomas,
gig., at Prior park. Ha did not employ Counsel, bat
cross examined the witnesses himself in a most impudent
and artful manner : the result was, that one of the wit-
neries, in :sassier to the prisoner, said, Why, how can
you-say that; 4111 net jou fall down npm your kiwi wino
we caught you, and beg us to let you go, saying, that you
should he transportedg we took you before a Mazistrate?"
The Jury, who were standing up; on hearing this, all sat
down, and a verdict of Ouilty *as returned against the
prisoner. He was sentenced to seven years transportation
beyond the seas stud at the conclusion of the sentence
said, with a most significant look, " and when I cope
hack, 1 will call upon Mr. Thomas again."—(Hath Chro-
nicle.)

The following particulars respecting the attempt to as-
stssinate Mrs. Mitchell, in the Potter ltow, are raid to be
from a respeitable source :—Mrs. Mitchell reii led with her
mother,anil kept a girl in the capacity of a •e• vasit.—
Mitchell used frequently to call at the house, bat hi. wife,
apprehensive of his usage, always refused him admittance,
and kept the door secured against his appro.els.—As it
was necessary to despatch the girl at times upon messages,
it was arranged that, when the girl retiiroest, she elwula
rattle the handle of the deor by way of %igtail to her wise
tress. This came to the knowledge of Michell, who, upon
the evening when the atrocious act was con tiiite!l, and
while the girl was from borne, came to his wife's door,
and making use of the signal, was reassily admitted. He
seised hold of a lighted candle, anti rushed into a back
room, the window of which he threw up with great violence
commanding his wifa at the same time to come end speak
to him. She refused; he approached her, and insisted
upon a compliance .tith his wudies; her mother took hold
of her, to present ber going; upon which Mitchell re-
quired to know whet right she hail to detain his wife from
him. The old woman replied that her daughter was under
her prniectios. " Then," said Miiehell, soon put
'her out of your protection;" and drawing a table knits
frosts hetfea:h his sleeve, he brandished it in her face. M
this time the girl returned: and Mrs. Mitchell, _upon
seeing her, cried to her to roe for assistance.
hearing this,dashed the girl to the ground, end at the
sense islet int plugged the knife into hie wife's side, an l
rustwel out of the house. Mrs. Mitchell is a woman of
superior talents add acepireineets ; and; before the perPe'
tration of toe crime which hint endangered her life, hal
formed arrangements fur tritehing French au& sewing, for
the support of her tied 'anther and infant cbildien.—•
(Sdirebiorgh (Jbeeraer.)

M4RRIED.—On TuesdayA the 13th instant, at Battersea.
Mr. W. Eta-wick; of Great Tower street, to Mary, youngest
daughter of Mr. John Pownes, of the truer place.
Oa Thursday. the 13t11 Instant, at Ryde, isle of Wight, C.
Davison Kerr, Esq. of Hunter Street, Brunswick square, to
Stisanna, second daughter of Josiah Adidas, Esq. of Bordetna•
On the Ith' hist. et Staynton. Geo. L. Elliot, Esq. of the
tL
C. Civil tlervic,•, Bombay, to Thoosssifue. Gertrude, eldest
tkanghtbr of it. Leach, Esq. ofliithird.
On the 14th Init. et St. Mary's, Lambeth. Ada% *liens of
Finsbury Carcbr, thltd son of Ad. Wilson. 'nag. pf
gowego, county of A berdeen,to Martha Teresa, segesaelltetw
ter orate lite WM. Umber.- En.
TdeadaY, the Ilith reit. at Peeklpiat, Sat=
Mary'. wido* of the late Rear Adoilrel Clayton. Po wmin
year of her age.
On the 13th bud. at ll'elphste, near Chichester. the ea. fit
Edward Percent. having beets three days before delivered of
a still born child. --mow*

Loudon : Printed and Pahlinked it the Offle., No. 997, Sinmit
by R. W IRDELL, LL.O. Proprietor.