A Narrative of the Proceedings on Two Informations exhibited in the Court of King's Bench, in January 1787, against Lord George Gordon-One at the Suit of the French Ambaffador, for a libellous Publication against the Queen of France and Monfieur Barthelemy Charge des Affaires from that Court; the other at the Suit of his Majefty's Attorney General, for a libel entitled, "The Prifoners Petition," reflecting upon the Adminiftration of Justice in this Country, particularly with respect to the Transportation of Convicts to Botany Bay, and tending to excite Prifoners to Mutiny.

N Tuesday the 25th of Janu

appeared in the Court of King's Bench, and ftated to the judges, that he had received a fummons from the folicitor of the treasury to appear perfonally in court on Tuesday next after the octave of St. Hilary, to answer to an information to be exhibited against him on the king's behalf, for certain crimes and mifdemeanours. His lordship faid, that he had looked into the popish calendars, and those fort of books, to see what an octave meant; and that he found it was eight days from the celebration of the feaft of the faint; that he had

come himfelf, becaufe he was defired perfonally to appear, and did not intend to be at any expence, or to employ any folicitor or counsel; his reafon for which was, that one learned gentleman, who had formerly afferted his innocence, Sir Lloyd Kenyon, was raised (he was glad to fee it) to a very high fituation; and of the affiftance of the other (Mr. Erfkine) he was depriv ed, he having been retained against him fome time ago. The court informed Lord George of the courfe he muft purfue; namely, to plead in the crown office, and that then he would have regular notice to prepare for trial; upon which he retired. This information was at the fuit of the French ambaffador,

the court of France.

On the day following, at the rifing of the court, Lord George appeared within the bar, with Blackstone's Commentaries tied up in a handkerchief. He faid, that the attorneygeneral had filed an information against him, which blended the dif tinct and different informations, Qui Tam and by the mafter of the crown office, as the judges would perceive, by recurring to the doctrines contained in their good and worthy brother Blackstone. [Here the bar could not refrain from laughter.] His lordship turned round, and told them,

1

20. Lord James Beauclerk, lord bishop of Hereford.

24. Charles, Duke of Rutland, lord lieutenant of Ireland.

Lately in France, George, Earl of Dalhoufie.

22. Hon. George Shirley, only furviving fon of Robert, firft Earl Ferrers.

Nov. 2. Admiral Sir James Douglas, Bart.

3. Dr. Robert Lowth, lord bishop of London.

16. George, Marquis of Tweedale.

26. Hon. and Rev. Mr. Hamif ton, brother to the Earl of Abercorn.

Dec. 1. Sir Richard Sutton, Bart. M. P. for Boroughbridge.

7. Mrs. Mary Pitt, youngest fifter of the late Earl of Chatham.

15. Lady of admiral Sir Edmund Affleck, Bart.

21. John, Earl of Hyndford. 23. Madame Lonifa of France, daughter of the late king.

27. Thomas, Earl of Kinnoul.
Jane, Marchioness of Lothian,

APPENDIX

them, they were ignorant of this diftinction, because it had originated in bad times; and that the only apology which could be made for the attorney general was, that he was equally incompetent on the fubject. His lordship continued, that he did not chufe to join iffue with the attorney general, until he had communed with the court, for that he was bonus et legalis homo, and entitled to all the privileges of other fubjects, notwithstanding he was excommunicated.-The court told him, that the firft ftep was to appear. He replied that he had appeared yesterday. The court then begged his attention; and told him, that the appearance must be filed; that then he might either move to quash, or might demur to the information, if it were defective on the face of it; or he might plead to it, and fo

come to trial.

On the 26th Lord George Gordon appeared again in the court of King's Bench, and informed the court, that he had an objection to ftate to a procefs which had been ferved upon him. Mr. Juftice Buller informed him that he interrupted the business of the court. Lord George anfwered, he was counfel for himself, and was as much entitled to be heard as any king's counfel. Mr. Juftice Buller replied, that the attorney-general could not be heard out of his turn. Upon this information Lord George ftepped within the bar, and took a feat between Mr. Bearcroft and Mr. Cooper. The court having heard the motions of the king's counfel, called on Lord George, who arofe and faid, that the nature of the bufinefs he had to ftate to their lordfhips would render an apology for the interruption he had given totally

unneceffary. There was a misnomer, or, at least, a want of proper addition to-the name inferted in a procefs ferved upon him, of which he did not intend to take advantage, either by moving in abatement, or availing himself of a dilatory plea; for he wished to accelerate his trial, and prove his innocence as foon as poffible. For this reafon he came forward to correct the court, by pointing out the error in their procefs. This procefs was directed to

George Gordon," without any addition whatever, which was an error; the other names were properly defcribed, the chief justice had his ftyle of William Earl Mansfield, and Richard Pepper Arden was denominated an equire. He had as good a right to the additions to his name as either of thefe, or even George Guelph himfelf. This procefs did not defcribe him; it ordered George Gordon to appear in court, but did not fay, whether the George Gordon fummoned was the right honourable Lord George Gordon, George Gordon, knight, efquire, or yeoman. He knew four Lord George Gordons-which of them did this process mean? He knew above a hundred gentlemen of the fame name, to which of them was this procefs directed? For these reafons he called upon the court to correct their procefs, which he knew was wrong, having as competent a knowledge in the bufinefs as any man in court. The court informed the noble lord, that in the present ftate of the business the addition was unnecefiary, but that in cafe of procefs of outlawry, then the additions would be effential to the proceeding. Lord George rofe and faid, that unless the court called upon him by his right name and additions,

he

On the ft of February Lord George Gordon made another appearance in the court of King's Bench, and took the fame exceptions to the fecond fummons as he had to the first. He was interrupted by Mr. Baldwin, who fubmitted to the court, that his lordship ought first to appear, before he could be heard. Lord George defired he would ufe his eyes, and judge whether be did not appear. The court then told him, that formally, it was neceffary that his appearance fhould be recorded; and his lordship faying, that he meant to meet the charge regularly and fairly, the maf ter was ordered to record his appearance to the information.

The information was then read, charging him with inferting a libel in the Public Advertiser of the 22d and 24th of Auguft, on the queen of France, refpecting the affair of Count Cagliostro, with which information his lordship was charged by the clerk of the crown; and on being asked whether he was guilty or not guilty, he attempted to fhow the court, that a confefon ought not to be recorded; and produced some case of adultery. The attorney-general rofe, and candidly fub. mitted to the court, that as his lordship had voluntarily appeared, he was entitled to an imparlance to plead till next term; and his lordfhip making no objection to it, it was granted accordingly.

On the 25th of April Lord George Gordon appearing in the court of King's Bench, and being called upon to plead to the feveral informations exhibited against him, he defired to plead to them feparately; VOL. XXIX.

but this requifition being refused, he pleaded not guilty" to them all. His lordship was attended by a corporal of the guards, who carried his books and papers.

On the 26th Lord George Gordon again appeared in court. He went up to the mafter of the crownoffice, and the fecondary, and told them, that the court had been wrong in preffing him to plead, the day before, to two informations, as Mr. Jones, of the crown-office, had only ferved him with one however, he would speak to the judges at the proper time; and when the other caufes were over, and the court rifing, he addreffed the judges, faying, that yesterday he would not contend with their lordships, as to the propriety of pleading guilty to two informations at once, though he had only been ferved with one, because the court were his friends; and a grenadier having carried his bag, gave occafion to one of the counfellors privately to ask him, if he came to befiege them?" That day he had brought the bag himself, and requested the court to inform him, if he might fubpoena one witnefs, and obtain the authority of the court to recover a letter relating to the firft information, as the niceft delicacy ought to be attended to, great perfonages only being involved in the cause between the court of France, St. James's, and himself.

The court informed his lordship, that the trial being now at issue, the delicacy was out of the queftion; and that he might apply to their proper officers for whatever fubpoenas and papers were necessary for his defence.

On the 30th of April Lord George Gordon appeared in court, with Mr. Wilkins the printer, who published [2]

the