20) 
17th ‘The triennial Eton festival 
“was celebrated with great 
splendor. - Their majesties and the 
princesses, accompanied by the 
prince of Wales, went to the col- 
lege at half past one, when the 
procession of the: young gentlemen 
began, preceded by the prince of 
Wales’s band of music. ‘Their cap- 
tain, Mr. Whitfield, being the se- 
nior seholar, led the van, ‘with their 
serjeants,searjeants-major, colonels, 
corporals, ensign, lieutenant, pole- 
men, musicians, &c. Messrs. Pole- 
hampton and Halifax, with twelve 
servitors, acted as salt-bearers, and 
by their legal depredations on the 
public gained a liberal supply to- 
wards sending their. captain into 
the world with a good grace, 
When they came to Salthill, they 
were met by the king and prince 
“of Wales on horseback, attended 
by general. Gwyn and ‘colonels 
Garth and Greville: her majesty 
and the princesses, with lady Har- 
rington and her son, were in the 
royal coaches. The king took on 
himself the orderiny and marshal- 
ing the multitude in such a manner, 
as the procession might pass freely 
round the carriages of the royal 
family ; many, however, notwith- 
standing, pressed so close, that his 
majesty was one to call them to 
order, and ask those he thought 
were Londoners, ‘* if they were 
members of Eton, as he could not 
recognize their persons sufficiently 
to recollect them,” Af the close of 
the procession, ensign Tlatch went 
to the top of the hill, and displayed 
the flag in avery masterly style, to 
the satisfaction of every person pre- 
sent. When the Montem = was 
over, the king requested that,: 
their return home from the Wind. 
mill-inn, where an elegant dinner 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1796. 
was provided, they might appear 
on Windsor terrace, which they did 
in the evening. The royal family, 
after having given their usual do- 
nations, returned to the lodge to 
dinner, The fineness of tlie day 
also drew an immense concourse of 
persons on foot and horseback to 
view the sight, which afforded, 
according to Mr. Halifax the salt- 
bearer’s account, on being asked 
the question by his majesty, a very 
profitable barvest, 
This day came on the trial 
20th. ~ 
of John Reeves, esq. for 
libel, before lord Kenyon and a 
special jury at Guildhall, This- 
prosecution was instituted ; in con- 
sequence of a resolution of the 
house of commons, on account of 
a pamphlet published by Mr. R, 
enttled, ‘* Thoughts on the English 
Government ;’”’ and in which were 
the expressions, ‘* that the kingly 
government might go on, if lords 
and commons were lopped off;” 
and such other expressions as were 
deemed a libel by the house, 
The attorney general stated the 
case on the part of the crown, and 
leftit to the jury to consider, whe- 
ther the expressions alluded to were 
merely unadvised and erroneous ; 
or whether, considering the whole 
context of the pamphlet, they were, 
as charged, libellous, and tending 
to villify the constitution, 
Mr. Piumery in bebalf of Mr. 
Reeves, admitted the fact of pub- 
lication; and contended, from the 
whole tenor of the work, and the 
known character of Mr. Reeves, 
and his enthusiastic admiration 
and support against democracy, of | 
the British constitution, that no 
imputation of libel could be fixed 
on him, 
Lord Kenyon delivered an ad- 
mirable 
