Star. — 1819-10-15 (London, England)

CHIEF JUSTICE--" It may be read again, but it is irregular for you to see it."  The passages to which the defendant alluded being• read, Mr. CARLILE thus commenced his defence :  Gentlemen of the Jury—This is the fourth day in which 1 have stood in this• Court to defend myself against a charge of blasphemy. I have contended, and do still contend, that no Court in this Country is authorized to take cognizance of such a charge. I hope, Gentlemen, that you will discard from your minas the verdict of yesterday ; and that in this Court there is still law for a Deist. • On the first day of next Term I shall appeal against the verdict which has been given against me, as contaminated and irregular. The Learned Gentleman has stated, that this was a prosecution instituted by the Society for the Suppression of Vice. Until last night, Gentlemen, I never knew who my prosecutors were, nor do I believe I should then have bacoMe acquainted with their names, but for the verdict of yesterday. He has told you, that the Gentlemen of this Society have conferred many benefits on the country; and, in some instances, I admit it ; but they have carried their inquisitorial conduct too far. In preventing the sale of obscene books and prints, I think the Society has acted laudably, as these are &mambo. ing to all persons of all ages and of both sexes. But are they justified in going so far as to become Censors of the Press, and to judge of books on matters of opinion? Gentlemen, I am no hypocrite ; I avow myself a Deist, believing in one Gon, independent of books, or the opinions of others. This, it must be admitted, is, in the abstract, a *latter of opinion only. If; Gentlemen, your religious opinions are different from ',mine, you will doubtless disapprove and condemn them. By the laws of this country, a fbreigner is entitled to have one half of the Jury his countrymen, or at least of foreigners ; but it is not so with me, I am to be tried by a Jury of opinions opposite to my own, and lam not allowed to justify mine. How far it is necessary that books should be shielded from,  examination by law, or chat Courts of .Justice should take cognizance of such an examination, and not allow the defendant to state his reasons, I will not pretend to determine. The Learned Gentleman has attempted to screen the Attorney. General from the charge I made against him of wishing to excite prejudices against me—but he hue failed. He has also stated, that the book I am charged with publishing, was purchased at the office of the Repolibeau end Deist. Now) Gentlemen, this is a falsehood, as my shop bore no such designation until long after this indictment was laid against me. He calls me an offender ; this at least was not decent, in your presence; for although the indictment charges me with an offence, yet I ought not to be branded as an *fender until. I have entered into that defence of my cauduct, which I am this day determined to do; and no ocher Judge but yourselves, Gentlemen, shall interrupt me; and if I am told by you, that I shall not make such defence, then will the verdict you may give against me be irregular and impure. But the Learned Gentleman has gone further, and corn4sared the publication of a book to equal in offence that of murder, theft, or pocket-picking. Is there the sligh analogy? A book is submitted to the public, purchased by them or not, at their option ;an they read it, they may approve or discard it. They are not deprived of any thing by the act, except the pricp of the book, and this was, on their part) voluntary. In speaking of this book, the Learned Gentleman has alluded to Moses and Ma. hornet; he has told you that Moses was the greatest man that ever graced the earth, and Mabomet the greatest impostor. Now, Gentlemen, Moses formed a law for the people under kW, which he told