PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY R. CARLILE, 84, FLEET

STREET. 1824.

OLD BAILEY, NEW COURT.

MONDAY, JUNE 7.

MR. CARLILE's shopmen, to the number of nine, were brought up to plead to the indictments against them for publishing Paine's Age of Reason, Palmer's Principles of Nature, and the Republi

can.

William Haley, was first arraigned by Mr. Shelton, and asked if he wished to traverse to the next Sessions. In an audible tone he said, "I am not guilty, and I wish to be tried at this Sessions."

Michael John O'Connor, on being arraigned, pleaded guilty. Mr. Shelton-My Lord, he pleads guilty.

The Recorder (to the defendant)-You must know that pleading guilty will not weigh with the Court in mitigation of punishment; and by so pleading you give up the chance of an acquittal. Defendant-I acknowledge myself guilty. I wish so to plead. Recorder-Do you do so advisedly?

Defendant-I have been advised by no one. I am guilty of selling the books.

Recorder-That is the very charge to which you are pleading guilty-namely, publishing books containing blasphemous libels. Defendant--I did not know the contents of the books. I never read them. Is selling publishing?

Recorder-Yes, it is.

Defendant-I was not employed by Mr. Carlile, or any one belonging to him; I went voluntarily, thinking it no harm.

Recorder-The Court would much rather you would plead Not Guilty, as it would be putting your prosecutors to the proof of your case; but if you persist in your plea of guilty, the Court will receive it.

Defendant-I wish to explain.

Recorder-We can have no explanations; you must plead one way or the other.

Defendant-I plead Guilty.

Recorder-Let his plea be recorded.

Richard Hassell was then put to the bar.

He pleaded Not

Guilty; and expressed his wish to be tried this Sessions.

John Christopher also pleaded Not Guilty.

James Clarke was put to the bar, and, on Mr. Shelton's reading the indictment, Clark stopped him, and said that his name was John Clarke, and not James.

Mr. Shelton then mentioned the circumstance to the Recorder. Recorder Mr. Shelton, does the Defendant wish to take advantage of his misnomer? if so, he can.

Defendant-I shall not take advantage of it; I wish to be tried soon, and I plead Not Guilty.

William Cochrane pleaded Not Guilty.

Thomas Riley Perry pleaded Not Guilty, but traversed till next Sessions.

William Campion, against whom there are four indictments, and who was out on bail, now surrendered himself. He pleaded Not Guilty, but expressed his wish to traverse to the next Sessions.

On examination, it was found that he had the right of traversing for the two last indictments, and the Court granted him leave to traverse them, but imperatively ordered his trial on the two first indictments at this Sessions.

Thomas Jefferies, the last, was then arraigned, he pleaded Not Guilty, he hoped the Court would allow him to traverse to next Sessions.

Recorder-The Court would be glad to grant it if you can show sufficient ground.

Defendant-I am a poor man, with a wife and family, and I have not had sufficient time to procure money to get up my defence.

Mr. Shelton-You have been already three weeks in prison. The defendant urged for delay, stating he had no Counsel. Recorder-That is not a sufficient ground; you must take your

trial.

The defendants were then conducted back to prison.
The Court was greatly crowded.

TRIAL OF WILLIAM CAMPION,

For the publication of the "Age of Reason," Tuesday, June 8.

THIS morning being appointed for the trial of Mr. Carlile's shopmen, at an early hour the Court and the avenues leading to it, were crowded by persons, who were anxious to witness the trials of so many persons, nine in number, and all young men, who, for the sake of their opinions, were ready to sacrifice their liberty. A host of Barristers, with Mr. Maule, the Solicitor to the Treasury, appeared to prosecute the defendants.

At nine o'clock the Recorder entered the Court, and the defendants were all placed at the bar. A London Jury was then sworn. While the Clerk of the Arraigns called over their names, one of the defendants (who had a list in his hand), as each name was called, nodded a kind of assent; and took no objection to the following persons, who were sworn on the Jury:

John Hornby, William Hopkins, J. David Price, J. Muckle, William Sharpe, Joshua Smith, Samuel Skinner, Thomas B. Percival, John Lane, E. Witham, John Draysey, H. Vollum.

William Campion was then placed at the bar, charged with publishing a blasphemous libel contained in Paine's Age of Reason. The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty.

Mr. Barnard opened the pleadings; he said that the prisoner stood indicted for unlawfully and maliciously publishing a most wicked and blasphemous libel of and concerning the Christian religion, and of and concerning the Holy Bible, intending to vilify and bring the same into ridicule and contempt.

Mr. Bolland said, that by the opening of his learned friend, the Jury were informed that the indictment against the defendant was for publishing a blasphemous libel. He should consider it an insult to their understandings, and a waste of the time of the Court, if he were to dilate upon a subject which had now become so trite. He, however, would remark, that men of their age and understanding must be aware of the necessity of suppressing an evil so pregnant with mischief to the present, and to the rising generation, destroying those props upon which we obtained support and consolation in this world, and hopes of happiness hereafter. For some time, the Jury could not be ignorant, there had been a struggle, and a constant war, between the Government of this country and persons who have attempted to deluge the nation with blasphemous libels, and the Attorney-General had thought proper not to file criminal informations against the parties, but to have the of