‘The Political Discussion’ by French artist Émile Friant (1863–1932), painted in 1889. The ordeal of John Lambert and the proprietors of the Morning Chronicle began in May 1792, when the Society for Political Information met at the Talbot in Derby and released a statement criticising the Government for its colonial expansion and military interventions abroad, saying that it was the poor who paid most dearly for them in blood and taxes. That Christmas, Lambert reproduced the Society’s complaints in the Morning Chronicle, and early in December 1793 the case came before the Rt Hon. Lord Kenyon (1732-1802). The Government’s position was that foreign affairs were the Government’s responsibility and that public criticism could come only from ignorance or malice; much to their frustration, the Special Jury did not agree.
Introduction
IN 1792, the Libel Act gave the jury, not the judge, the right to decide who was guilty of libel. It was soon put to the test, when the Government charged The Morning Chronicle with libel for reproducing the Society for Political Information’s scathing critique of William Pitt’s policies. The jury acquitted the defendants, vindicating the Society’s feisty defence of free speech, reproduced below.
WE THINK, therefore, that the cause of truth and justice can never be hurt by temperate and honest discussions; and that cause which will not bear such a scrutiny, must be systematically or practically bad.
We are sensible that those who are not friends to the general good, have attempted to inflame the public mind with the cry of ‘Danger,’ whenever men have associated for discussing the principles of government; and we have little doubt but such conduct will be pursued in this place; we would, therefore caution every honest man, who has really the welfare of the nation at heart, to avoid being led away by the prostituted clamours of those who live on the sources of corruption.*
We pity the fears of the timorous, and we are totally unconcerned respecting the false alarms of the venal. We are in the pursuit of truth, in a peaceable, calm, and unbiassed manner; and wherever we recognise her features, we will embrace her as the companion of happiness, of wisdom, and of peace.
From ‘The Case of Libel, the King v. John Lambert and Others, Printer and Proprietors of the Morning Chronicle’ (1794). For a transcript of the trial, see ‘Cobbett’s Complete Collection of State Trials from 1163-1820’ VOl XXII (1817).
* That is, those critics who have a vested interest in supporting current Government policy. “In short,” said the Society, “we see, with the most lively concern, an army of placemen, pensioners, &c., fighting in the cause of corruption and prejudice, and spreading the contagion far and wide.” In this case, pensioners does not mean retired citizens but people on the Government’s payroll.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
In 1792, a political society in Derby released a statement that subjected William Pitt’s Government to withering criticism. Anticipating trouble, the society warned readers not to listen when opponents branded such discussions ‘dangerous’, and hinted that their allegiance had been bought. Calm public debate, said the Society, was dangerous only to those who had something to hide. (57 / 60 words)
In 1792, a political society in Derby released a statement that subjected William Pitt’s Government to withering criticism. Anticipating trouble, the society warned readers not to listen when opponents branded such discussions ‘dangerous’, and hinted that their allegiance had been bought. Calm public debate, said the Society, was dangerous only to those who had something to hide.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, because, just, may, otherwise, since, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Hurt. Sensible. Temperate.
2 But. Happy. Prostitute.
3 Conduct. Her. Little.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Government. 2. Principle. 3. Manner. 4. Fear. 5. Cause. 6. Good. 7. Source. 8. Respect. 9. Hurt.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Feature. 2 Source. 3 Hurt. 4 Pursue. 5 Fear. 6 Recognise. 7 Avoid. 8 Attempt. 9 Place.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
bls (7+4)
bails. bales. belies. blouse. blues. boils. boles.
balsa. bilious. blase. boules.
Post Box : Ask Nicholas
Grok : Ask Grok
You are welcome to share your creativity with me, or ask for help with any of the exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
See more at Post Box.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
Related Posts
John Milton reminded Parliament that the Truth wasn’t what they and their fact-checkers in Stationers’ Hall made it.
Picture: By Charles West Cope (1811–1890), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted August 14 2021
Those in Power may imagine that a docile and compliant public makes Government run more smoothly, but a society of that kind just won’t move forward.
Picture: © Bradley Wurth, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted February 16 2021
Even where freedom of speech and conscience are not curtailed by law, there is another kind of censorship that is just as destructive to progress.
Picture: Justus Sustermans (1597–1681), via the Wellcome Trust and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted February 10 2021
John Milton (of ‘Paradise Lost’ fame) urged Parliament not to fall into bad old habits of censorship, whatever their fears may be.
Picture: By Annibale Gatti (1828-1909), via the Wellcome Trust and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0.. Source.
Posted March 7 2017