The Speeches of the Hon. Thomas Erskine: (now Lord Erskine), when at the Bar, on Subjects Connected with the Liberty of the Press; Against Constructive Treasons, and on Miscellaneous Subjects, Volume 1Eastburn, Kirk & Company, 1813 - Freedom of the press |
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Page xviii
... hand , and the lives and liberties of the subject on the other , may depend upon an enlightened judgment . On this account we have seen , with much satisfaction , the progress of Mr. Cobbett's edition of the State Trials , now printing ...
... hand , and the lives and liberties of the subject on the other , may depend upon an enlightened judgment . On this account we have seen , with much satisfaction , the progress of Mr. Cobbett's edition of the State Trials , now printing ...
Page 11
... hands for protection . Such are the merits of the affidavits exhibited by the Di- rectors ; and the affidavits of the other persons are , without distinction , subject to the same observations . They are made up either of general ...
... hands for protection . Such are the merits of the affidavits exhibited by the Di- rectors ; and the affidavits of the other persons are , without distinction , subject to the same observations . They are made up either of general ...
Page 19
... hands , and I resign him with a well - found- ed confidence and hope ; because that torrent of corruption , which has unhappily overwhelmed every other part of the constitution , is , by the blessing of Providence , stopped HERE by the ...
... hands , and I resign him with a well - found- ed confidence and hope ; because that torrent of corruption , which has unhappily overwhelmed every other part of the constitution , is , by the blessing of Providence , stopped HERE by the ...
Page 21
... hand . THE SUBJECT . BY letters patent of King James the First , the Stationers ' Com- pany , and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge had obtained the exclusive right of printing almanacks , by virtue of a supposed copy- right in ...
... hand . THE SUBJECT . BY letters patent of King James the First , the Stationers ' Com- pany , and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge had obtained the exclusive right of printing almanacks , by virtue of a supposed copy- right in ...
Page 41
... hands : -not so with ME ; - I stand up before you a troubled , I am afraid a guilty man , in having presumed to accept of the awful task , which I am now called upon to perform ; -a task , which my learned friend who spoke before me ...
... hands : -not so with ME ; - I stand up before you a troubled , I am afraid a guilty man , in having presumed to accept of the awful task , which I am now called upon to perform ; -a task , which my learned friend who spoke before me ...
Common terms and phrases
accused acquit admit answer appear argument Attorney authority Bearcroft believe Bishop Bishop of Bangor Bushel's called cause charge circumstances conduct consider constitution Convention Parliament Counsel crime criminal Crown Dean declared Defendant Dialogue doctrine duty England English Erskine established evidence fact Frost Gentlemen give Grindley guilty of publishing honour House of Commons House of Lords impeachment imputed indictment innocent intention judgment jurisdiction Jury Justice Buller King of England King William King's Bench kingdom Landmen learned friend learned Judge libel liberty Lord George Lord George Gordon Lord Mansfield Lord Pigot Lord the King Lordship malicious matter meaning ment mind nation never opinion paper Parliament person petition present principle Prisoner prosecution Prosecutor protection punishment purpose question reason record Registrar Revolution seditious speak statute supposed thing Thomas Paine thought tion trial whole wicked witnesses words
Popular passages
Page 329 - ... devout prayer to that eternal Spirit who can enrich with all utterance and knowledge, and sends out his seraphim, with the hallowed fire of his altar, to touch and purify the lips of whom he pleases...
Page 329 - ... methinks I see her as an eagle mewing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam ; purging and unsealing her long-abused sight at the fountain itself of heavenly radiance ; while the whole noise of timorous and flocking birds, with those also that love the twilight, flutter about, amazed at what she means, and in their envious gabble would prognosticate a year of sects and schisms.
Page 241 - King there inhabiting and being, in contempt of our said Lord the King and his laws, to the evil example of all others in the like case offending, and against the peace of our said Lord the King, his crown and dignity.
Page 462 - The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of a free state ; but this consists in laying no previous restraints upon publication, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public ; to forbid this is to destroy the freedom of the press ; but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequences of his own temerity.
Page 261 - That levying money for or to the use of the crown, by pretence of prerogative, without grant of parliament, for longer time, or in other manner, than the same is or shall be granted, is illegal.
Page 329 - Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant Nation rousing herself like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks : methinks I see her as an eagle mewing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam...
Page 462 - But, to punish (as the law does at present) any dangerous or offensive writings, which, when published, shall, on a fair and impartial trial, be adjudged of a pernicious tendency, is necessary for the preservation of peace and good order, of government and religion, the only solid foundations of civil liberty.
Page 278 - From the moment that any advocate can be permitted to say that he will, or will not, stand between the Crown and the subject arraigned in the court where he daily sits to practise — from that moment the liberties of England are at an end.
Page 343 - Christian fable is but the tale of the more ancient superstitions of the world, and may be easily detected by a proper understanding of the mythologies of the Heathens. Did Milton understand those mythologies ? Was he less versed than Mr. Paine in the superstitions of the world? No; they were the subject of his immortal song; and though shut out from all recurrence to them, he poured them forth from the stores of a memory rich with all that man ever knew, and laid them in their order as the illustration...
Page 343 - And all the rule, one empire ; only add Deeds to thy knowledge answerable ; add faith, Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, By name to come call'd charity, the soul Of all the rest : then wilt thou not be loath To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess A Paradise within thee, happier far.