"WHEN YOU COME TO SEE AND READ IT, I HAVE NO DOUBT YOU WILL THINK IT IS A VERY HEINOUS LIBEL INDEED": FIRST EDITION OF THE WHOLE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE ASSIZES AT SHREWBURY, 1784

(SHIPLEY, William Davies). The Whole of the Proceedings at the Assizes at Shrewsbury, on Friday August the Sixth, 1784, in the Cause of the King on the Prosecution of William Jones, Attorney at Law, Against the Rev. William Davies Shipley, Dean of St. Asaph. For a Libel. Dublin: Printed by P. Byrne, 1784. Octavo, later marbled wraps; pp. 114. $1000.

First edition of this important work about the 18th-century seditious libel trial of the Rev. William Shipley, which raised important questions about freedom of the press and the right to a jury trial.

"The seditious libel trials of the 18th century constitute an important chapter in the history of freedom of the press and the growth of democratic government" (Green, "The Jury, Seditious Libel, and the Criminal Law"). The Rev. William Davies Shipley, the Dean of St. Asaph, had distributed a pamphlet entitled, "The Principles of Government, in a Dialogue Between a Scholar and a Peasant," published anonymously but actually written by William Jones, Shipley's brother-in-law. The pamphlet advocated for a number of democratic reforms in parliamentary representation. Thus, Shipley was indicted for seditious libel. The famed barrister Thomas Erskine represented him in August 1784 at a trial that "was to become one of the most noteworthy libel trials in British history… Erskine's eloquent arguments for the expanded rights of the jury in libel cases" were rejected (McCoy S342). The jury found that Shipley had published the material, but that it was not libelous. Unsatisfied with the outcome, the judge, the Hon. Francis Buller, exercised his authority and overruled the jury to find the material libelous. Shipley was found guilty. However, the trial had brought the issue to light. Shipley's trial proved to be a crucial first step in reforming England's government to provide greater, democracy-enhancing freedoms such as freedom of the press. With two pages of publisher's advertisements at rear. Without half title. This is the first and only edition, one of three issues, priority unknown. ESTC T127194. Very faint ink and blind stamps; ink shelf number on title page.

Very occasional foxing and marginal dampstaining to text, slight staining to title page, light wear to edges not affecting text. Very good condition.