The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

July 7. Yesterday came on in the Court of King's-Bench, Guildhall, (as being much larger) before the Right Honourable the Lord Chief Justice Pratt, the grand Cause, wherein the Journeymen Printers, were Plaintiffs, and some of his Majesty's Messengers Defendants, for seizing the said Printers on account of the North-Briton, No. 45, when, after a long Trial; which lasted from nine in the Morning till eight in the Evening, the Jury which was a special one, brought in a Verdict for the Plaintiffs, with 300l. Damages; and Costs of Suit. On which there were the greatest Acclamations that could possibly be shewn. After the Trial was over; a Bill of Exceptions was brought by the Attorney and Solicitor-General.

The Council for the Plaintiff, William Huckell, a journeyman printer, who cast the King's Messengers, Were Mr. Serjeant Glynn, Mr. Stowe, Mr. Dunning, Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Gardiner, of Boston in New-England. For the Defendants, Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor-General, Mr. Serjeant Whitaker, Mr. Serjeant Nares, Mr. Serjeant Davy, and Mr. Yates. The Attorney for the plaintiff was Mr. James Philips of Cecil-street; and for the defendants, Philip Carteret Webb, Esq; of the treasury, and Mr. Secondary Barnes.

Huckell is the journeyman carried off by the Messengers at the same time with his Master, who, it was afterwards found, did not print No. 45 of the North-Briton.

Yesterday morning about ten came on the cause of James Lindsey, another of the journeymen printers, plaintiff, for false imprisonment by the King's messengers, on a count of No. 45 of the North-Briton: It being agreed by the Council on both sides, before Lord Chief Justice Pratt gave the charge to the jury, that this trial should decide the issue of the 12 actions brought by so many journeymen, that remained to be tried separately, the special jury, after withdrawing about a quarter of an hour, brought in a verdict for the plaintiff in 200l. damages; and full costs of Suit.

July 9. We are assured that Mr. Wilkes's own trial will not come on till after next term. Que. If 200l. damages were given to each of the journeymen printers, who were only imprisoned a few hours, what will be given to Mr. Wilkes, who was 6 days a prisoner in the Tower, and had his house broke open, plundered, and ALL his papers seized.

Mrs Wilkes appeared at all the trials of the printers at Guildhall, and received the repeated congratulations of the public. Many persons of distinction were present. Particular marks of respect were paid to the gentlemen who managed these interesting causes with so much spirit and reputation.

It was observed, to the honour of the attorneys concerned on either side, that these causes were conducted with so much ability, clearness, and precision, that the utmost dignity, order, and decency were preserved during the whole trials. A more glorious contest has not been known for many ages.

It is remarkable that this is the first attack that has been made upon the authority of the Secretaries of State, and will abolish the dangerous practice of issuing general and unconstitutional warrants.

The whole damages given against the King's Messengers in the 14 causes, which have been tried, amount to 2,900l. besides all costs of suit, which will be very considerable.

Nothing could equal the spirit and magnanimity of the jury in their invincible resolution to decide this very important point, and refusing to find a special verdict, though earnestly contended for by the Defendant's Council; and no age has produced a determination of more general and extensive consequence to every free born ENGLISHMAN.
TO THE PRINTER:

As you inform us that a Bill of Exceptions was offered on Wednesday, after the Trial between the Journeymen Printers and the King's Messengers, and as the Issue of that Trial will be of general Concernment, it may not be improper to inform your Readers, who are unacquainted with legal Expressions, of the Meaning and Use of a Bill of Exceptions. You must know, Sir, that the omitting, mistaking, or even transposing, a single Letter in a Law Proceeding, is sometimes so fatal, that a just Verdict is thereby impeached, and often set aside; but the Care and Skill of the Printers attorney has prevented the Messengers availing themselves of so generous an Advantage upon the present Occasion, which has reduced them to the Necessity of excepting to the Knowledge of one of the best, as well as ablest Judges this Constitution ever had. This they have done by offering a Bill of Exceptions, otherwise they could not have brought a Writ of Error. which I presume by their taking this Step, they intend doing, in---, where if the Liberty of the Subject should be thought incompatible with the Spirit of the Law of England, happy for the Subject, he may appeal to the House of Lords, where he need not fear Success, for the Members of THAT House, are by Birth the Hereditary Guardians of the Rights and Liberties of the People.

AN ENGLISH LAWYER.