Seditious Publications.
The Times, 1824-09-16T00:00:00

On Afonday M1r. C. fIalZe of Iar'ueth, formerly. respectable tradeqnrnt in the Strand, 'sas charge(i before Sir J. waEB wu3d the Rev. .J. 3lr:SSrrgo, at the police-office; NVoolwich, witil distribut- ing to rho soidicrs in thwse batrracks a ntimber of seditious publica- tions, tending to excite them to mutiny and r discntent. The prisoner does not. appe3Lr to be more than 30, nod his dress resembled that vorn by the (2Qoakers. He was apprehended on Saturday, in the Ghirrtd Room of the barracks. A nmiber of privates and non- conrmissioned ofli ers avpeared to support the chargeagainst the pri- soner, who, it Waastate, had for the last seven monthls been busily enpaged in writing and distributing pamphlets amongst the soldiers and sailors, at all the barracks and docks within 100 miles of Lon- tlon. MIr. AlFSSITEt toldt tire accused that the charge against him was of a serious nature, as he hadt been actively engaged in endeavouring to induce the soldiery to throw of' their allegiance to their sovereign, antl to rebel against their superiors. MIr. Hale de- niedl that he bad any sucli ihtentiotr. A bont ei *hteen pamphlets wvere produced, and several bundles of sinilar publications itnopened, xvhicir has been taken from the ac- cusel on his apprehenrsion. The bundles were mai-ked " cha- thel," " Masidsrone," " Canterbury," S3andgate." " Dover," and AMr. lExssrITgr told the necused, that hoe was fearfuil he was the tool or ag6nt of a society of persons in London; and asked him if it was not lls intention ,to have distributed the contents of the several parcels to the soldiery at the different places written on each cn. velope ? M1r. Hale ireplied thot there was notling secret about bis cotrhtst, and he did not hlsitate to admit that such was his intention. Mr. Mf rSSTE.-You were down here, Alr. Hae, a few weeks ago, and deliver d painphlets t6 the solliers, wvere yoat not ? Ar. Hale._Yes, I was. Mlr. IMEssITErt.-Tlhese publications, ibbugir tiiey pretend to be reliviouq works, are of the most mischievous tendency. ilfr. fIale.-[ have not wvritter or ptublished a single sentence brit what is fouided in the siered truths of thc Christian religion, mbhicl are tnbe found in the word of God. Mr. 1Iy.SsrTer...Vhatis your object ? Air. Halc.-My object is to put an cnd to war and bloods,hed, and the slaurrhter oT mv fellow-men ; and t advise the soldliers to obey the word of Good, rather than the orders of men. Ir. . trsslTrR._Do you belong to a society of persons in Lon- don callel the Peace Society ? AIr. Hale.-I do not. AMr. MESSITytjt.-[f the soldiers were to follow your advicec, they wouald be guilty of mutiny. Mr. Halc.-If they would follow my advice, they would lay down their arms. Sir J. NWszBn-Your object. Mr. Ilale, geens to be similar to that of.a great ntmmnber of delud&d and wick&rt men, who, about five, years ago, a, tempted to cxcite rebellion thirougbioat the countrv. I I sho'ild lhce to kno.- xvho yost are ? i Mr. Hale.-I reside at N-. 3, Thomas-place, Lambeth7 and I have till lately kept a shne and boot-warchoase in thc Strind, and in New..e-reet. Crvnt-garden. S Sir J. WEgBB.-How long have you been circulating these puibli- cations ? Afr. ITale.-Abontt six months. Sir J. WVFos.-Yorr arc a Imischiievous person, and will find that I you had better have kept to vour trade. A drummnier-boy at the Wnoolwich Barracks was sworn, and stated that the accused, on S :rtrdav rnorningr last, gave hirn five ;amprhlets to distribute to his fellow-soldicrs. lIe produced them : they-were J entitledi ThA Two Opie.ioas. A corporal proved that the accused came to the gate of the bar- J racks on Saturlay afternoon, and asked him if lie mighit go into the barraekrroons and distribute pamphlets? IHc replied, that he had better ask the serceantt of' the guard. The accused therr went inito the guardl-room, and asked the sergeant if lie might distribute some Pamphlets amnongst tire privat^s ? The sergeant replied that hc had better not and at that moment the privates put out their hands,and the accused gave then some of the ws orks, which the witnesses pro- iluced. The Magistrates now called on Air. HIale to find bail. Mr. Hale said *he shoultl not find hail, for he had committed no offence, either legal or moral. The Christian relizion was said to he part ofthe lawr of the land; anmd what lie had written was entirely from Scri tr e, and therefore part of the law of tie larsd. Sir J. w Ens told hiM it WaS tnot for hiin, an ignorant person, to expound. the laws. Ile had violated a statute by omitting the prin. ter 8 name on tilC parmphlets; hvy wltiih he had subjected himself to penaltie aimow'iting to several hundred pounds. n r. Hale referrem the Alagisttrats to the imprint-" Printed for anti ptiblished hy G. H:ale. 3, Thomas's placc, Ltambeth," and said he vas not aware that more was recessary. Sir J WN1Bn.-That shows yorrr ignorance. Who is tIhe printer? Mr. Plite gave the name of a printer in Shoe-lane ; and saidl he k.new they were afraid of meeting 12inn uion tire nierits of his waerks, and if Gio-vernment prosecuted him for tire unintentional omission pointed oitt it was an act most cruel and cowardly. Sir J.. iV'na told hin GoGtrrmnent nas fnclined to act towards him wsithl lerrity, antI the only object was to stop him in so illegal and danzerous a course. IJe wis'hed hnim (Mr. Hale) to say, wic- tilter he would desist from publishing these parnpilrets if he were set at liberty. nrh. Hlale.-." If r vere set at liberty now, I would distribute them agatn, aind am ready to answer for what I irave done before any tribunal1. Answcr rme br arguments, and not by titreats."' The M1agistrate agreed to transmit to the Secretary for the IHome Dep.artment, the documents taken from the prisoner, tolhave the opinion of( overnment iow to proceed : and the accused was re- mantle(l. The magirstrates informed 1Innt that thev shornid not send him to a prison, but ie should romain in custody ofa coirstable at a tavern, as it was far from their wish to p{ace i tman of resrectable appearmnce amonest the wretched creatures in the cage. Mr. Hale thanked the iMagistrates for their gentlemanly conduct. Yesterdlay Mr. 11akc was tgain brouzoit up on tire application of a fiendt ofthe aecused, to obtain the.precise clharge against hint. The magistrates first refised to say what he would be ultimately charged 7ith, whether for sedition or for the omission of the printer's name: tirat it vnould d epend on itnstructions from London. S:rJ. Wxaa said thc magistrates were responsible if they acted illezall, and asked if he was a professional man ? He replied that he was not: hut he should brinig one on behalf of tre Prisoner on the re-examination. Trhe lagiitrates lIad no objection. It was stated rirat Mr. Hale hIad expended in a few months 2001. in bills, placards, and pamphiiets, addressed to the army and navy. Tihe Magistrates tolti him that if lie would find sureties to artswer thIc cliarge, antI fbr his good beliaviour in future, they wouldset him at liberty. Ile refiused to trouble any friend to bail him, and vras remanded for final ex-amiiiation this day. It was stated that the accused had thrown hand.bills with his rooks over the barrack walls at Kensington, Regent's.park, &c. The bill was this-" Soldiers! Listen to the voice of truth, the voice of God, ere it be too late. War Is contrary to God's word and tue Cirristian religion." Sr,DrTIOUS. PU trCAT0T?OAS. 'ILAIUGE OF DISThIBUTI NG TRI1M.AXOMGSTTIIlE SOLDIEBS - AT- WOOLWtCfl* .