He persecution would have triumphed in Scotland; and an almost fatal blow would have been struck at freedom of discussion in that country. went to Edinburgh from a sense of duty, which those who say "He rushed into the lion's mouth," are incapable of feeling. As Mr. Hetherington justly expressed it, "He stopped up the gap of oppression, which other men had not the courage to enter." The Investigator soon announced, that "the man Paterson" was lionizing in first rate style, erecting his mane, lashing his sides and roaring magnificently. Van Amburgh, the brute tamer, who rode into the City a fortnight before, did not excite such general interest as Paterson, the bigot tamer. He took possession of a shop in West Register Street, and on "the third day" opened it and issued the following spirited and satirical placard which merits special record. Under the patronage of the Procurator-Fiscal. PATERSON AND Co. (Of the Blasphemy Depot, London.) "BEG to acquaint infidels in general, and christians in particular, that, in consequence of the immense demand for blasphemous works-the Procurator-fiscal himself, having taken some hundreds of volumes from another shop in this city—they have, with a view to furnish the public with an ample supply, opened a depot, at 38, WEST REGISTER-STREET. "PATERSON and Co. will sell all kinds of printed works, which are calculated to enlighten, without corrupting-to bring into contempt the demoralising trash our priests palm upon the credulous as divine revelation—and to expose the absurdity of, as well as horrible effects springing from, the debasing god-idea. "As the present brisk demand for printed works of the above-mentioned character, has been caused chiefly, if not altogether, by the Procurator-fiscal's anxiety to become possessed of a large number of such invaluable productions, and as that functionary is doubtless eager to obtain more, Paterson and company beg most respectfully to inform him, the following is a list of some of the works now on sale : "Great "The Bible, an improper book for youth, and dangerous to the easily excited brain-with immoral and contradictory passages therefrom." By Allah.-Oracle of Reason (atheistical).—Investigator (atheistical).— "God versus Paterson," the extraordinary Bow-street police report. Dragon Cast Out." "Yahoo." "Existence of Christ Disproved." "The Spirit of Bonner in the Disciples of Jesus," "Palmer's Principles of Nature." New Moral World. "Paley Refuted." Also the works of Mirabaud, Volney, Hume, Paine, Shelley, Dale Owen, Frances Wright, Haslam, Strauss, Carlile, and other common sense authors. "Also, just published, "The Defence of Thomas Finlay," who was charged before the High Court of Justiciary, on the 24th of July, with vending blasphemous works. "The Bible aud other obscene works not sold at this shop." Several of Paterson's bill posters were apprehended, and soon after Paterson himself, and about £13. worth of his books were seized; bail was procured, and he immediately resumed his work. The Oracle, under the head of "Sporting Intelligence," announced the issue of the following placard by him : "Almost thou persuaded me to be a christian. "Thomas Paterson begs most respectfully to thank the Procurator-fiscal for the patronage he has so liberally bestowed upon him, and sincerely trusts by strict attention to business, and by keeping constantly on sale at his shop, No. 38, West Register-street, a great variety of first-rate infidel works, to merit a repetition of past favors. "Thomas Paterson begs also to offer the city police his hearty thanks for the vigorous manner in which they "stretched the law" against his billHis present limited means will not admit of his testifying his gratitude in so substantial a form as they may desire, but all he can, he will do ; stickers! and if an occasional treat, in the shape of a "blasphemous" pamphlet, will suffice, they may command it at any time. "Thomas Paterson has nothing further to add, except that he has now on sale an excellent stock of books, such as the Procurator-fiscal delighteth to honour amongst the rest, "Good Sense," the book of books. (Much needed by the Edinburgh christians.)-here followed the same blasphemous inventory as before." A person named Scott Moncrieff, resolving to play on him the prank of Knight Bruce, of London, came one day and knocked his windows in, and ran off with some books, but Paterson who was out at Bruce's visit, was at home on this occasion, and pursued his pious thief-took him into custody and not content with being his own constable, turned his own lawyer and obtained a decision against his prisoner-and not less of a wag than a hero, he, on his return, put a paper over his broken panes, on which was written, out of the Revelations, "The Seven Seals Opened." More of Paterson's bill-stickers were apprehended, and he continued to issue others of a racy character. He was apprehended a second time, was bailed out again, and subsequently had his head broken at a Public meeting on behalf of Dr. Kalley, and was again taken into custody for a short period for endeavouring to raise his voice on behalf of Dr. Kalley, a fellow blasphemer. He now employed himself with the consideration of his defence until he was brought to Trial, as recorded in the following pages. G. J. H. TRIAL OF THOMAS PATERSON, FOR BLASPHEMY. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY. THOMAS Paterson, charged with selling, or exposing for sale, a number of blasphemous publications, at various periods, during the present year, in a shop in West Register-street, pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. Paterson had no counsel, and with the assistance of Mr. Budge and Mr. Jeffery, two friends, conducted his own defence. James Anderson formerly of the Edinburgh Police, now of the Perth Penitentiary, deposed to purchasing some of the books that were charged in the indictment from the prisoner at his shop. He was desired to purchase them by the Procurator-Fiscal. Mr. Paterson cross-questioned the witness, and attempted to get from him his opinion of the blasphemy contained in the books; but the Court would not allow the opinions of the witness to be inquired into. Alex. Steel went with the former witness to purchase the books, and corroborated his testimony. pur George R. D. H. Mackenzie, Esq., Northumberland Street, also chased some books from the prisoner. Witness asked the prisoner if he was aware he was committing an illegal act, and rendering himself liable to punishment by the sale of such works. He answered he cared not for thatprosecution served only to bring him into notice, and where there was one shop before the prosecution, there would be three afterwards. Witness then went to the Sheriff's office, and gave information. Cross-examined-Witness did not recollect of being in the shop before purchasing the books. Decidedly he did not recollect of the prisoner being obliged to get a man to put him out of the shop on account of his violence. Had not the slightest recollection of threatening to burn his shop, because he never did threaten that. Perhaps he might have said prisoner deserved three years imprisonment, for he thought so. Did not attempt to take away a large board from the door, but he directed the attention of a police officer to it. Does not know an individual of the name of Finlay of this town. No elderly gentleman ever took him by the shoulders, and requested him to go Did not harangue the people out in the street-nothing of the kind ever occurred. No one sent him to purchase the works. His reason for purchasing was to suppress the sale of such works. Witness had not then seen the works; but he considered their titles and the placards at the shop sufficient to show their nature. Witness considered he was doing his duty out. as a citizen in the part he took in this case. He considered also that he was doing his duty as a christian. Is aware there is a passage in the New Testament which states, "Swear not at all." Mr. Paterson wished to know if he might ask the witness how he reconciled this with his taking the oath. The COURT-Not at all, Mr. Paterson; for if you were a witness, and did not come within the exceptions from taking oaths which the law provides, I must compel you to take the oath, or commit you to prison. We sit here to administer law; and I cannot allow such a question to be put here. John Kerr, John Robinson, and Michael Kerracher, bought books on three different occasions from the prisoner. They were sent to make the purchases. Hutton Wilson, in the Sheriff-Clerk's Office, deposed to going over to the shop and seizing a quantity of books. Abijah Murray, a Sheriff Officer, deposed to going with the former witness. The declaration, which was proved by Mr. Sheriff Tait and others, was then read to the Jury. He admitted the sale of the books, and he disclaimed any christian name. He signed the declaration " Paterson." In the second declaration he called himself "Thos. Paterson.' There were no witnesses for the defence. The LORD-ADVOCATE then addressed the Jury. He said it had been decided by the court that the sale of works tending to villify or asperse the Christian religion was a crime. The questions for the Jury to consider, therefore, were-first, did the prisoner sell such works; secondly, did he do this wickedly and feloniously; and third, were the works of the character libelled? With regard to the sale of the works, the evidence was conclusive. With regard to the character of the works, that was a question for the decision of the Jury. The works were before them for their inspection. Here he read several passages which were contained in the appendix to the indictment. There may be matters in regard to discussion and controversy, and with these the authority of the law will not interfere; but if the object be evidently to asperse, villify, and ridicule religion, then that cannot be allowed to go on. Now, with regard to the motives of the prisoner in selling these works, there could be no doubt that he sold them with the view of disseminating the blasphemies they contained. He concluded by asking for a verdict of guilty. Mr. Paterson then commenced his defence, which he read to the Court. It occupied about four hours in the delivery, and was as follows: MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY.-I stand charged with publishing works intended to asperse, villify, ridicule, or bring into contempt the word of God according to Christians, and the religion they call holy. My indictment admonishes me, that albeit by the laws of this, and of every wellgoverned realm, the wickedly and feloniously publishing, vending, or circulating, or causing to be circulated, vended, or published "Printed works " so intended, are crimes of an heinous nature," &c.; but with all due respect to Her Majesty's advocate, I submit, or rather insist, that the works of which he complains, were not published by me with evil intent, neither are they profane, impious, or blasphemous, unless wholesome truth be so, and as to the unsupported dictum about the "the laws of this and every other 66 |