Citation |
NHG-P.770.006
16 Mar 1770:11,12,13 (700)
(The following is inserted by particular desire.)
From the Craftsman, a paper lately printed in England.
Extracts from Mr. Hamilton's speeches at the trial of John
Peter Zinger, of New York, Printer.
. . . [56 lines about issues of liberty]
If a libel is understood in the large and unlimited sense,
urged by Mr. Attorney, there is scarce a writing I know,
that may not be call'd a libel, or scarce any person safe
from being call'd to account as a libeller; for Moses, meek
as he was, libel'd Cain; and who is it that hath not libel'd
the Devil? For, according to Mr. Attorney, it is no
justification to say one hath a bad name. Echard hath
libel'd our good King William; Burnet hath libel'd among
many others, King Charles and King James; and Ropin hath
libel'd them all.----How must a man speak, or write, or what
must he hear, read or sing; or when must he laugh, so as to
be secure from being taken up as a libeller?
. . . [2 lines, 79 lines, 66 lines]
|