JB/070/174/002

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LIBEL

In the first place what is a Libel - to postpone the consideration of what ought
be reported one, till after this necessary question be determined.Part of the confusion that surrounds me on every side I am almost disposed to envy the uncommon of judgement of those good Souls, who find a ready solution for every difficulty in the infallible integrity of a Jury or the corruption of a Judge

I will give then my definition of a Libel deduced from the decisions on that head
which I will submit to the Reader & who will have them judge for himself how far they
justify it.

A Libel then is an Idea or Ideas, expressed by written or printed words or
by signs, utter'd in disapprobation of the conduct of person in a private
or public capacity, or in short such as a person would not like to have
utter'd of him, or in short such as the Jury who try the case would not
like to have said utter'd of them or the Judge Judges of the Court if the Jury
think proper to submit to their determination.
Every decision of a Jury or a Judge must be an act of particular or Legislation or arbitrary there is no end & guided by no rule.

To expressions of this sort, whose proximity perhaps would in no two be agreed on
Let me adhere merely for the sake of brevity to the first expression. I must pitch upon one at hazard for the sake of brevity
abide by recite Hardress 470

I cannot dissemble but that it grieves me [to the Heart] that I see that Law lie in ruins: & that in it neither can the governors find any security protection against the injuries of the most atrocious calumny; nor the government any security for their Liberties: I do believe them to be secure, but it is not from it's observance, but from its violation If any body does not like this let him say why he does not — if any body
does like it let him say why he does — What expression in the paper let the
last say altho contains the extra? is criminal how does it differ from others that are not a
What alteration let the first say the paper would have made it criminal
which from incorrect as it is at present — wherein in what let each say consists the criminality of this expression
actual in the one case substituted in the other by the presence of which we may in this case, of any others that it is criminal, or by the that it is incorrect?, & what is it that that distinguishes
it from such as are not so? by what marks is an expression to be
to be parallel to it in any future case — or what can be the respect can it be of use <add>to</add>
preserve this decision? in what part of it by what means can it be made a rule
for others? the answer will come to one of those two

LIBEL

Identifier: | JB/070/174/002"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 70.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	070	Main Headings	of laws in general
Folio number	174	Info in main headings field	libel
Image	002	Titles
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	2
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	c1 /
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks	[[watermarks::[gr motif] [britannia with crown motif]]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	23289
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