rmine, by the punishment that shall be inflicted, the importance of
this assembly, and the value of the collective character of this house.

It therefore concerns us, in regard to our own dignity, and to the
privileges of our successours, that we retain the cognizance of this
crime in our own hands, in which it is placed by perpetual prescription
and the nature of our constitution.

[The house agreed to this, and the libeller was sent to the common jail
of Middlesex, by warrant from the speaker.]

Sir William YONGE then spoke to this effect:--Sir, I am pleased with
finding that the malice and indecency of this libel, has raised in the
house a just resentment, and that the wretch, who, with a confidence so
steady, and such appearance of satisfaction in his countenance,
confesses, or rather proclaims himself the author, is treated as he
deserves. But let us not forget that the same degree of guilt always
requires the same punishment, and that when the author of scandal is in
prison, the printer and propagator of it ought not to be at liberty.

The printer of the daily news is surely the proper object of your
indignation, who inserted this libel in his paper, without the fondness
of an author, and without the temptation of a bribe; a bribe, by the
help of which it is usual to circulate scurrility. To this man the
expense or labour of aspersing the government was recompensed by the
pleasure, and he could not prevail on himself to omit any opportunity of
incensing the people, and exposing at once the whole legislature to
censure and contempt.

Those, therefore, that have concurred in the imprisonment of the author,
will doubtless join with me in requiring the attendance of his officious
accomplice, and I cannot forbear expressing my hopes, that he will not
meet with kinder treatment.

It is far from being the first offence of his licentious press; and the
lenity of the government, by which he has been so long spared, has had
no other effect upon him, than to add confidence to his malice, and
incite him to advance from one degree of impudence to another.

He has for several weeks persisted in misrepresenting the intention of
the embargo, by letters pretended to be written by friends of the
government who are injured by it. He has vented his insinuations
hitherto, as without punishment, so, as it appears, without fear. It is
time, therefore, to disturb his security, and restrain him from adding
one calumny to another.