The Attorney-General: I object to such observations.
The Chief Justice: They are indeed very offensive. I caution the defendant against taking that course of defence.
Mr. Carlile: If it be in opposition to the sense and feelings of the jury, I only do myself harm. I wish to-show that others wrote on this subject as well as Paine.
The Chief Justice: That is not the question. The question is whether the book published by you is a blasphemous libel.
Mr. Carlile: I know of no law that takes cognisance of blasphemy.
The Chief Justice: There is such a law.
Mr. Carlile: Then I wish your lordship would define it.
The Chief Justice: I have done so, and will not again.
The Attorney-General: The defendant ought to know, or those who advise him ought to have informed him, that he will have an opportunity of appealing to the Court out of which this process proceeds—the Court of Kings Bench—and, if he pleases, to the last resort in the country, the House of Lords. There he may discuss whether the charge be or be not according to law. This is not the place for that discussion. To the charge preferred against him he has pleaded "Not guilty", and the question now is, whether he be or be not guilty.
Mr. Carlile: I must, as it is necessary for my defence, go through these books.