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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 thisnecessary 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 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 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 arbitrary there is no end
guided by no rule.
To expressions of this sort, whose perhaps would in no two be agreed on
Let me adhere merely for the sake of brevity to the expression. I must pitch upon one at hazard for the sake of brevity
abide by recite Hardress 470
If my body does not like this let him say why he does not _ if my body
does like it let him say why he does _ What expression in the paper let the
last say contains the ? 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 as it is at present _ wherein in what let say consists the criminality of this expression
actual in the one case in the other, marginal note text
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Identifier: | JB/070/174/002"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 70. |
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070 |
of laws in general |
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174 |
libel |
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002 |
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text sheet |
2 |
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recto |
c1 / |
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jeremy bentham |
[[watermarks::[gr motif] [britannia with crown motif]]] |
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23289 |
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