&

heroes the Order of the Garter; the Order which was founded by the heroes of Cressy and Poitiers the Garter which was worn by Henry the Great and by Gustavus Adolphus, which might now be worn by the HERO, who, on the shores of Syria, the ancient theatre of English chivalry, has revived the renown of English valour and of English humanity-that unsullied Garter, which a detestable libeller dares to say is to be paid as the price of murder.

Zhmbelah ad: to neitogborg L

If I had now to defend an English publisher for the republication of that abominable libel, what must I have said on his defence? I must have told you that it was originally published by the French Government in their Official Gazette, that it was republished by the English editor to gratify the natural curiosity, perhaps to rouse the just resentment of his eathe, English readers. I should have contended, and, I trust, with success, that his republication of a libel was not libellous, that it was lawful, that it was laudable. All that would be important, at least all that would be essential in such a defence I now state to you on behalf of Mr. Peltier; and if an English newspaper may safely republish the libels of the French Government against his Majesty, I shall leave

you

you to judge whether Mr. Peltier, in similar circumstances, may not, with equal safety, republish the libels of Chenier against the First Consul. On the one hand you have the assurances of Mr. Peltier in the context that this ode is merely a republication-you have also the general plan of his work with which such a republication is perfectly consistent. On the other hand, you have only the suspicions of Mr. Attorney General that this ode is an ori ginal production of the defendant.

ala ada di pa dva boil (H

pas But supposing that you should think it his production, and that you should also think it a libel even in that event, which P cannot anticipate, I am not left without a defence. The question will still be open. Is it a libel on Buonaparte, or is it a libel on Chenier or Ginguené ?” This is not an information for a libel on Chenier; and if you should think that this ode was produced by Mr. Peltier, and ascribed by him to Chenier for the sake of covering that writer with the odium of jacobinism, the defendant is entitled to your verdict of not guilty. Or if you should believe that it is ascribed to jacobinical writers for the sake of satirizing a French jacobinical faction, you must also in that case acquit him. Butler puts seditious and immoral

0 2

immoral language into the mouths of rebels and fanatics, but Hudibras is not for that reason a libel on morality or government. Swift, in the most exquisite piece of irony in the world (his argument against the abolition of Christianity), uses the language of those shallow, atheistical coxcombs whom his satire was intended to scourge. The scheme of his irony required some levity, and even some profaneness of language. But nobody was ever so dull as to doubt whether Swift meant to satirize atheism or religion. In the same manner Mr. Peltier, when he wrote a satire on French jacobinism, was compelled to ascribe to jacobins a jacobinical hatred of government. He was obliged, by dramatic propriety, to put into their mouths those anarchical maxims which are complained of in this ode. But it will be said, these incitements to insurrection are here directed against the authority of Buonaparté. This proves nothing, because they must have been so directed, if the ode were a satire on jacobinism. French jacobins must inveigh against Buonaparté, because he exercises the powers of government. The satirist who attacks them must transcribe their sentiments, and adopt their language.

!

I do

I do not mean to say, Gentlemen, that Mr. Peltier feels any affection, or professes any allegiance to Buonaparté. If I were to say so, he would disown me. He would disdain to

purchase an acquittal by the profession of sentiments which he disclaims and abhors.

Not

to love Buonaparté is no crime.-The question is not whether Mr. Peltier loves or hates the First Consul, but whether he has put revolu tionary language into the mouth of jacobins, with a view to paint their incorrigible turbulence, and to exhibit the fruits of jacobinical revolutions to the detestation of mankind.

Now, Gentlemen, we cannot give a probable answer to this question without previously examining two or three questions on which the answer to the first must very much depend. Is there a faction in France which breathes the spirit, and is likely to employ the language of this ode? Does it perfectly accord with their character and views? Is it utterly irreconcileable with the feelings, opinions, and wishes of Mr. Peltier? If these questions can be answered in the affirmative, then I think you must agree with me, that Mr. Peltier does not in this ode speak his own sentiments, that he does not here vent his own resentment against

Buona

Buonaparte, but that he personates a jacobin, and adopts his language for the sake of satirizing his principles,

to

which, generally

-****These questions, Gentlemen, fead me those political discussions, whichgen speaking, are in a court of justice odious and disgusting. Here, however, they are necessary, and I shall consider them only as far as the necessities of this cause require. ADA YA Von D 10 Stromiog Out AL HORN ww betali

not

PeGentlemen, the French revolution I must pause, after I have uttered words which present such an overwhelming idea-But I have n now to engage in an enterprize so far be beyond my force as that of examining and judging that tremendous revolution- have only to conI sider the character of the factions which it must have left behind it. d gooq od dodST

The French revolution began with great
These errors or
These errors produced atro-

and fatal errors.

cious crimes. A mild and feeble monarchy was succeeded by bloody anarchy, which very shortly gave birth to military despotism. France, in a few years, described the whole circle of human society.

All