Mr. Carlile: My wish is to defend my conduct from the imputation of malicious intention. In the course of their practice, these learned gentlemen quote precedents on all occasions; why then should not I quote Sir W. Drummond, a man of great talent and research?
The Chief Justice: His book has nothing to do with the case before the jury.
Mr. Carlile: The authority of Sir W. Drummond is as good as that of Lord Ellenborough.
The Chief Justice: You had better conduct yourself with propriety.
Mr. Carlile: In my mind, the authority of Sir W. Drummond possesses far greater weight.
The Chief Justice: Don't suppose, because great forbearance has been shown, that there may not come a time when forbearance must end.
Mr. Carlile: I don't want forbearance, I only want justice.
The Chief Justice: Justice you shall have, according to law; but to let you proceed contrary to law would not be justice. It is no justification for you to say that others have committed the same offence.
Mr. Carlile: I am not willing to take your lordship's-opinion that it is an offence.
The Chief Justice: I have said, all along, that the character of the publication would be ultimately left to the decision of the jury.
Mr. Carlile was proceeding, but the Solicitor-General again interposed.
The Chief Justice: I say it is no justification; but still I would not prevent the defendant from going on if the quotation be not offensive. I do not know that to be the work of Sir W. Drummond.
Mr. Carlile: It is his, for it has been answered by the Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. That is the best way to elicit truth. Sir W. Drummond's name is to it.
The Chief Justice: No matter by whom it is written. I cannot stay in this place and hear the doctrines of Christianity impugned.
Mr. Carlile: It is not yet proven that I have committed error.
The Chief Justice: I know that--I have stated so all along; but you must not revile and calumniate the Christian religion.
Mr. Carlile: I do not calumniate. I wish to enter on a fair examination.
The Chief Justice: You are not allowed, neither is any man, to read in this place matter calumniating the Holy Scriptures.
The foreman of the jury now addressed his lordship. He said the gentlemen of the jury thought the defendant could not do himself any service by going on with such a defence