Page:Nil Durpan.djvu/161

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seen sitting each under his own banyan-tree reading the publication to their wives and children. His learned friend had also stated that this drama was a libel on the Government, and the Civil Service as well as the Indigo planters. If this were the case, why had not the parties presented their own indictment? This question seemed to have puzzled his learned friend. He could not answer it. It was perhaps because those persons had taken competent legal advice, and found that the matter was not libellous. He did not assert that this had been the case, it might or it might not have been so. There was another point which greatly affected Mr. Long's position. It was said that he skulked behind others, and he had been termed an anonymous libeller. At Manuel's trial, Mr. Long was most anxious to have his name given up as having ordered the printing of that pamphlet. There had not been the slightest attempt on the part of Mr. Long to shield himself; on the contrary, he had put himself forward as much as any man could do, and most certainly did not deserve the reflections cast upon him. The Jury might remember that Manuel on his trial said he had not been pressed to give up Mr. Long's name. Did Mr. Peterson expect Manuel to come forward and make gratuitous statement? There was no concealment, the case was all the other way, add if there was a libel, Mr. Long had certainly not hesitated to acknowledge the share he had taken in it. His learned friend had said a great deal about the author and translator. Mr. Long was neither the one nor the other, but that was quite immaterial. If he was the publisher, that would be sufficient for the Law if the publication was a libel. If there was any necessity, Mr. Long would at the proper time divulge the names of both author and translator provided his Counsel should consider it to have a bearing on the verdict. Before entering into the gist of the question, he would do what might be considered presumption on his part, namely, to tell them what in his opinion were their duties in this case. First, they had to decide whether or not Mr. Long is the publisher. On that point he thought the evidence clear and conclusive. That fact is sufficiently established by the order given to Manuel for the printing, and the portion of the list admitted to be in his hand. Mr. Peterson had indulged in some remarks on this point with a mysterious commencement, a mysterious end, and a mysterious middle,

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