not to be endured, that whilst the newspapers
he bait alluded 10 were subjected to so heavy
a tax, the defendant should be allowed to
distribute news for one,
penny.
Was the
determination of the Commissioners of Stamps
to proceed against every (who offend

It

part in reducing them to the necessity of Reform, he has laboured with more than his usual energy and holdness to make the Reform successfuk; but the Whig Ministry cannot forgive him for having made Reform inthey are now pureving & prosecution against him, on the most ridiculous charge that was ever made the the defendant. The learned Counsel here read round of public prosecution that of having the clause in the Act of Parliament applying incited" the farm-labourers to violation of the to the present offence, which stated in sublaws. That the

a

ed against the law imputed to

ed

against Reform,cess of this indirect blow stance that all pamphlets and papers contain

hands of loud but ing public news, and published periodically, reluctant reformers, may correspond with the or in parts or numbers, where such parts or purity and sincerity which have suggested it, numbers did not exceed two sheets, should must be the wish of every friend of freedom be taken to be newspapers to all intents and and justice. ice. In the meantime, we recom- purposes, and liable to the charges for stamp mend to the attention of those who are not duty, aud that any person publishing such satisfied that Reform should be an empty newspaper upon other than stamped paper name, plan, for the settlement of the should forfeit not more than 201. for each nation, which Mr. Cobbett promises to de- offence, to be recovered before two Justices velop in the two next numbers of his Po- of the Peace. The learned Counsel proceedlitical Register, and the first of which is re-ed to read some extracts from the paper, to ceived in Manchester to-day. Do

This is the right nail, and the editor has hit it full on the head.mitt -005 visitz 200 bað 9d", „bus") 1998-00

show that it contained articles of news and comments upon the passing events of the day, amongst which he observed were noted the doings at the Rotunda, in Surrey-street, Blackfriars, and also a humorous attack upon his (Mr. Alley's) old friend, Sir Claudius Stephen Hunter, Alderman, &c. (A laugh.) There was one article, however, which he was very sorry to see, and which he thought the deIt was headed" William Guelph's Birthday," fendant himself must regret the insertion of. and stated that those who had refused to light up for the country and Reform 'illuminated their houses on Saturday night for the King's Birth day, and proceeded to quote a passage from Scarron, a French author, in which it was asserted that Kings seemed to be the peculiar care of the devil; for that a person who had returned from a visit to the infernal regions, declared that all the crowded heads enumerated in history were there, with the exception of about six !" I cannot help, said the learned Counsel, again expressing my regret, I might express stronger feelings, Mr. ALLEY appeared for the prosecution on that the defendant should have dared to behalf of his Majesty's Stamp Office, and speak thus in allusion to one of the best of stated that the first information was exhibited men and the most beloved of Sovereigns that under the 60th Geo. III., cap 9, sec. 15, and ever ascended the British throne. Mr. Alley charged the defendant with printing and pub-proceeded to read another passage from The Jishing a certain newspaper called The Re-Republican, in which the readers were told, publican, on unstamped paper. The learned that they were no more bound to obey the Counsel said the paper was published at the laws of the country than the people of price of one penny only, the stamp duty be-"Japan.'

116226 2006KNOWLEDGE ! sealt hood
following attack on the Press is
of a new sort. The thing took place at
BOW STREET,nd to liveo dhogs ha dudy of
Yesterday, Mr. Henry
HENRY HETHERINGTON,
Printer, in Kingsgate-street, Holborn, ap-
peared before Sir Richard Birnie, Knt., and
Thomas Halls, Esq., to answer to a number
of informations exhibited against him for
printing and publishing certain newspapers
called The Republican and The Poor Man's
Guardian, the same not being duly stamped
according to the provisions of the Act.

ing evaded. He was friendly to low prices Mr. Hetherington here exclaimed," That on all occasions, except when they interfered is true!”

with the just rights of the honest and respect. Mr. Alley concluded his opening of the able tradesman, as was the case in the present case, by observing, that the prosecutors might instance. 'It was well-known that the re-have adopted a much more severe course by spectable newspapers, which they all read, and to which they were so much indebted for information, amusement, and instruction, such for instance, as The Times, The Morn ing Chronicle, Herald, and others, paid upon each sheet a stamp-duty of 4d, being exactly four times the amount of the charge at which the defendant's paper was sold; and it was

proceeding in the Exchequer for heavy penalties: but the milder proceeding was adopted with the hope that the practice would be checked without resorting to harsher measures. The act of Parliament would, however, most certainly be enforced, not only with a view to protect the respectable portion of the Press and the public revenue, but to punish

those persons who presumed to violate the their minds the contents of the paper that had laws, wobenemu? 199112-1991& KOT 114been ready because the defendant was not Mr. James Wintle, Inspector of Stamps, there to answer a charge of dibel on the Gohe went to the vernment, but simply for an offence against

that use ate-street, Hol-a particular statute of the Magistrates de

boru, and purchased three papers called " The Republicum, of the Sovereignty of the People," and paid one penny each. The paper he now produced was dated: Saturday, June 4, consisted of one sheet, and was stated at the latter end to be "printed and published every Saturday, by H. Hetherington, Printer to the People's most excellent Majesty." (A laugh.) The number contained articles of news, and was printed on unstamped paper. The paper was put in, and some portions of it read by the Clerk, Mr. Burnaby.

Mr. Alley said he had closed his case, and, Mr. Arnold, the Council for the defendant, contended that his learned Friend had failed in proving that this was a periodical publication. He had only produced one number, and it would be going a great deal too far for the magistrates to say that this was to be taken as a continuation of a series of the same work, when, if it were so, other numbers might have been produced to prove that fact. Here was no number, nor any other mark on the sheet produced to show it was a continuation, or that numbers of the work had been pub lished consecutively.

Mr. Halls: What do you say to the last words in the paper-“ Printed and published every Saturday?

Mr. Arnold observed in reply, that there was no proof that it did not mean that the identical paper now produced was printed and published every Saturday, instead of forming one of a series published periodically. He admitted this might be said to be a quibble; but the object of his client was to evade the law, which he considered to be unjust, if possible; and therefore he (Mr. Arnold) had a right to take every objection that presented itself. He felt confident the magistrates would be of opinion, that it was not proved by evidence to be such a publication as came within the meaning of the statute.

Mr. Halls said, he only wanted to look at the paper now put in to determine his judgment; for it appeared upon the face of it that it was published at stated intervals.

cided against him, they would extend a justly odious Act of Parliament much farther than was extended by its author, Lord Castlereagh, or than the present Attorney-General, Sir Thouias Denman, said it would extend at the time it was passed.

i.

The defendant commenced an address to the Bench by an allusion to the “Whig" Government.

Mr. Alley told him his conduct was irregular, for nothing had been said about either Whig or Tory Government.

Mr. Hetherington said he had nothing to say against his prosecutors, except they were the paid agents of a corrupt Government, and on that subject he had much to say.

tha

sit

WO

pay

to

T

said

fore

the

def

jail Su

WE

ve

IN

sta

W

CO

Mr. Alley interrupted the defendant, and told him, if he proceeded in the course he was taking, he (Mr. A.) should press the Court of for the higher penalty.

the

Bu

wh

Co

The Magistrates, after some further conversation, fined the defendant in the miti. gated penalty of 57., Mr. Alley stating that he had no wish but to have the practice stopped in the mildest possible way. [A laugh, and as cries, "You won't, though!" among the crowd in the office.]

A second information was proceeded on by Mr. Alley against the defendant, for publishing "The Poor Man's Guardian," a penny paper.

The publication was proved, and, after an ingenious address from Mr. Arnold,

Mr. Hetherington addressed the Bench, He said that he would not pay the penalties, Gl and the prosecutors, might take what course they pleased, for he was determined to resist the efforts of a corrupt Government to sup. press the voice of the people. "If they persist," continued the defendant, "I will throw myself into the gap, and call upon the people to back me."

Mr. Halls cautioned the defendant against such intemperate language.

The defendant said the law was unjust, was wicked, ought to be treated not as law, but as an excrescence, and he set it at defi

The Magistrates inflicted the penalty of 31., as in the former case.

Mr. Burnaby, the Clerk.-Do you mean to appeal?

Mr. Arnold' said that Mr. Alley had com-ance. mented upon the merits of the prosecutors in adopting the present course, instead of going to a higher Court; but he (Mr. Arnold) could see no clemency towards his client in being called into a smaller arena; and (without dis- Defendant.—I do not recognize the law; respect to the Bench) before an inferior tri-and therefore you can deal with me as a powbunal; being thus deprived of the privi-erful man dealing with a weak one, when it lege of the intervention of a Jury, in a ques-is useless to resist. I will appeal if it can be tion which was of great importance to him, and of vast consequence to the public at large; and that, too, under the sauction of a government, one of whose principles it was, that no obstacle should be thrown in the way of the diffusion of knowledge. He trusted the worthy Magistrates would dismiss from

done without money, for I have none, as I have been plundered by the existing system until I have not a shilling left.

Mr. Halls. We can't help the existing laws we have only to execute them as we find them till they are repealed.

Defendant. I know that, and I dare say

R C

C

D

SMITHFIELD-June 20.

7. PAPER AGAINST GOLD; or, This day's supply of sheep, lambs, and the History and Mystery of the National Debt, porkers was rather limited; of beasts, for the the Bank of England, the Funds, and all the time of year, and calves, good. The trade Trickery of Paper Money. The Price of this was, throughout, very dull. With lamb at a book, very nicely printed, is 5s. depression of full 2d. per stone; with beef, | 8. TULL'S HORSE-HOEING mutton, veal, and pork at Friday's quotations. HUSBANDRY; or, a Treatise on the Prin A considerable number of the beasts was ex-ciples of Tillage and Vegetation. With an Inpected to leave the market unsold. The troduction, by WM. COBBETT. 8vo. Price 15s. butchers complain, most piteously, of the trade 9. SERMONS.-There are twelve of being seriously injured by the rage for macka- these, in one volume, on the following subrel, beans, bacon, ham, poultry, green peas,jects: 1. Hypocrisy and Cruelty; 2. Drunken.. &c. Beasts, 2,410; sheep and lambs, 21,310; ness; 3. Bribery; 4. Oppression; 5. Unjust calves, 280; pigs, 240. Judges; 6. The Sluggard; 7. The Murderer; 8. The Gamester; 9. Public Robbery; 10. The Uunatural Mother; 11. The Sin of Forbidding Marriage; 12. On the Duties of Parsons, and on the Institution and Object of Tithes. Price 3s. 6d. bound in boards.

MARK-LANE.-Frid ay June 24.

The supplies are small but there is very little demand, and the prices remain the same as on Monday.

THE FUNDS.

3 per Cents, shut. Consols for Account, 82§.

1. ENGLISH GRAMMAR.-Of this work sixty thousand copies have now been published. This is a duodecimo volume, and the price is 3s. bound in boards.

A Thirteenth Sermon, entitled "GOOD FRIDAY; or, The Murder of Jesus Christ by the Jews." Price 6d.

10. POOR MAN'S FRIEND. A new edition. Price 8d.

11. THE LAW OF TURNPIKES. By William Cobbett, Jun., Student of Lincoln's Inn. Price 3s. 6d. boards.

12. PROTESTANT REFORMATION" in England and Ireland, showing how that event has impoverished and degraded the main body of the people in those countries. 2. An ITALIAN GRAMMAR, by Two volumes, bound in boards. The Price of Mr. JAMES PAUL COBBETT.-Being a Plain the first volume is 4s. 6d. The Price of the and Compendious Introduction to the Study second volume 3s. 6d. of Italian. Price 6s.

3. COTTAGE ECONOMY.-I wrote this Work professedly for the use of the labouring and middling classes of the English nation. I made myself acquainted with the best and simplest modes of making beer and bread, and these I made it as plain as, I believe, words could make it. Also of the keeping of Cows, Pigs, Bees, and Poultry, matters which I understood as well as any body could, and in all their details. It includes my writings also on the Straw Plait. A Duodecimo Volume. Price 2s. 6d.

4. THE WOODLANDS; or, a Treatise on the preparing of the ground for planting; on the planting, on the cultivating, on the pruning, and on the cutting down, of Forest Trees and Underwoods. Price 14s. bound in boards.

13. THE EMIGRANT'S GUIDE. Just now Published, under this Title, a little Volume, containing Ten Letters, addressed to English Tax-payers. A new edition, with a Postscript, containing an account of the Prices of Houses and Land, recently obtained from America by Mr. Cobbett. Price 2s. 6d. in bds.

14. MR. JAMES PAUL COBBETT'S RIDE OF EIGHT HUNDRED MILES IN FRANCE. Second Edition. Price 2s. 6d.

15. FRENCH GRAMMAR; or, Plain Instructions for the Learning of French. Price bound in boards, 5s.

S

CHEAP CLOTHING!! 93, FLEET-STreet. WAIN AND CO., Tailors &c., beg to call the attention of the public to their Large and Fashionable Stock of Summer Goods, which they are determined to render on such terms as shall ensure a continuance of favours already so numerously afforded.

5. The ENGLISH GARDENER; or, a Treatise on the situation, soil, enclosing and laying out, of Kitchen Gardens; on the making and managing of Hot-beds and Green houses; and on the propagation and cultivaI recommend Messrs. Swain and Co. tion of all sorts of Kitchen Garden Plants, and as very good and punctual tradesmen, of Fruit Trees, whether of the Garden or the whom I have long employed with great Orchard. And also, on the formation of satisfaction.

Shrubberies and Flower Gardens. Price 68.

6. YEAR'S RESIDENCE IN AME

WM. COBBETT.

RICA. The Price of this book, in good print Printed by William Cobbett, Johnson's-court; and and on fine paper, is 5s. published by him, at 11, Bolt-court, Fleet-street.