ernments that the People should have a good Opinion of it. And nothing can be worse to any Government, than to endeavour to procure Animosities ; as to the Management of it, this has been always look'd upon as a Crime, and no Government can be safe without it be punished.
'Now you are to Consider, whether these Words I have read to you, do not tend to beget an Ill Opinion of the Administration of the Government? To tell us, that those that are employed know nothing of the Matter, and those that do know are not employed. Men are not adapted to Offices, but Offices to Men, out of a particular Regard to their Interest, and not to their Fitness of the Places ; this is the Purport of these Papers.'
Mr. Hamilton, I humbly beg Your Honour's Pardon ; I am very much mis-apprehended, if you suppose what I said was so designed.
Sir, you know, I made an Apology for the Freedom I found my self under a Necessity of using upon this Occasion. I said, there was Nothing personal designed ; it arose from the Nature of our Defence.
The Jury withdrew, and in a small Time returned, and being asked by the Clerk, Whether they were agreed of their Verdict, and whether John Peter Zenger was guilty of Printing and Publishing the Libels in the Information mentioned? They answered by Thomas Hunt, their Foreman, Not Guilty. Upon which there were three Huzzas in the Hall which was crowded with People, and the next Day I was discharged from my Imprisonment.
[A Brief Narrative of the Case and Tryal of John Peter Zenger, Printer of the New-York Weekly Journal], (no title-page, New York, 1738), 10-30 passim.
