The recorder. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1802-1803, 1803-04-20
COURT Or KINGS BENCH.
LIBEL AG.4l.Nyf- 8oNAp4RTE.
WESTMINSTER, FED. IL,

NV DNIN!N A"SiNt Lin 'lIOtSusS3d dll-t q pc
cial Jury, the trial Of - Peitier, edi-
TOR OF recent publication, called C L
44mbig4s, on f47Y'anfs5 et 1Htr0cieax Ha-
.'iete5,' tor libel Inherited in the fame,
ana purpory;ng 70 De a defamation of
che general Bnnaparte, tirit contul OF
1ae French republic.
W.. n'55ot, the Junior barriiter in
support Of the proiecurion, ftated the
PlsAdings in full length, and
( ne attorney gsasyol, in a {peech of
conlderab}e point, and replere with
conlttutionai lpirir and energy, detailed
rhe reaIons for infituling the proceed
ings aeaiait the defendant, and the mo-
tives that aGtuatod him, as the frit law
officer Of the crown in criminal proceis,
20 undertake ir. fIc called the atten-
ton OF rac jury TO the libel, as read TO
them by the learned gentleman who op-
cned Che pleadinga; he oblerved 70
Them, that they were in PonelIon of that
libel; they had heard it di'tinctiy ttated
as II vas pu0hihed, and The inple, and
no very difficult queition to decide up
on III the fir!t initance would be, whe-
cher the pcrion accutcd as che author
Thereof, was or was not rightly cogni-
Fable by EngIiih law, and rightly
brought before chem, for their ultimate
deciiion on his cafe. Noticing the gaft
crowds OF perions in court, their ap-
pearance, and their rank in life, he was
naturally led 70 tuppole (andi was i'm
poilibie for him not 10 perceive ic) that
curioljty mujt have been the ruling pria-
ciple rhar collected perions ofiuch ref
pe6ted and respectable confederation
rogerhrr he lhould contcquenrly be
very iorry that luch curiotirv, if there
belonged 60 1t aught that attached TO
hinielt iioouid be disappointed for
nJrhing that conId render it worthy rileir
rine, and ttli Icis worthy their arrcn-
lon, would II the pyeicnr cafe fall from
bln; and they would therefore be milf
ta>eo. His duty and inclination. both
confined, reitH6ted him 10 the div and
duiI 'esalinVciti8ation Of this libel, the
intention OF /, and of is author, and IN
The iefu-i, whether the Jaw vii! reach
lc crlj - tho defence il may be deem
cd innocent, or indifferent for Is 10
the nature q It's application, and The
Pfrionage 80 whom It applies, bQ1h are
10 notorious, and the publication 10 re
cent, that neither the one nor the other
can be mliIaken; and he was firmly
Fcrtuadcd, however tupelior and iDce.
mons were the talents Of the learned
gentleman VINO had the care of the de
PENDANTS cafe depoured in his hands.
rhere was no Jury, no fngljtaman could
FAY ochcTwIte than thar the publication
in qusiiion was libel neither can ali
rba- iaus from him (ifhe confines him
icit 10 the charge ID any other rcfpps
excite cunohly, or c0mpeniacc for io}s
o. unc Esd attentions for If ths DC fen
danJ be proved The author of thar libel,
hc would not certainly, from the can
dor and prudence of that learned cen
t'eman, anticipate chat the defence,
iocantto Be let Up, was to be morning
more than irelh medium for republiih-
ing Char libel, which he aeyer could
inPp ie him capable OF, or of GOING
yer -he lame points drawn forth there
~, for tnen certainly there would be an
e~,eaIlEc field Tor the dilplay ofingenui-
y md tic r&erciie OF his faculties, and
,aroilty might ,.en be himuiared
-a- IS he diu nor anticipate fucn de-
U,aacI, h. could an.Wgr for if there
would be hllie to excite curjoG;v on
tisoer Idc. each Hri9ly conf,dnr
.lnoTi''' VS. &c thc matter Of tall, and the