A letter to Sir Richard Aston, Knt
Subtitle: one of the judges of his Majesty's Court of King's Bench, and late chief justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland; containing a reply to his scandalous abuse, and some thoughts on the modern doctrine of libels
By: by Robert Morris of Lincolns Inn Esq. barrister at law, and late Secretary to the Supporters of the Bill of Rights. ...
Contributors: Aston, Richard, Sir, 1717-1778, addressee; Pearch, George, active 1768-1775, publisher; Francis Place Library (Columbia University. Libraries)
Publisher: Printed for Geo: Pearch N.12. Cheapside. And sold by all the booksellers.
Published: 1770
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 68
Subjects: Libel and slander; Freedom of the press
Notes: 8vo: [A]² B-I⁴ K². -- Signed $2 (C2,G2,H2,K2 not signed). -- Press figures: "2" p. 6,15,40,62; "4" p. 24; "5" p. 30,56. -- Half-title: Letter to Sir Richard Aston, Knt. Price One Shilling and Six-Pence. -- There is a variant with "late" (late Chief Justice) in italics [in Roman here] and typo "scandalour."

Almon was convicted for selling a copy of the London Museum, which contained a reprint of Junius' letter to the King; Morris gave a deposition at the trial (p.²1-3), which Aston said should be disregarded, thus casting "a very injurious reflexion upon my character."

Rare Book copy: Removed from vol. 20, no. 2 of the Francis Place Library.

McCoy, R.E. Freedom, M518 (3d ed.): Criticizes Judge Mansfield [Chief Justice of King's Bench] for denying the jury's right to accept truth as a defense in a libel trial

English short title catalogue, T91208 var.