i'jgl. the court of the frefs. 2^^ 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE COURT OF THE PRESS. 

 ASCRIBED TO THE HONOURABLE BenJAMIN FrANKLIN, ESC^. 



Power of this court. 



It may receive and promulgate accusations of all kinds^ 

 against all persons and characters among the citizens of the 

 state, and even against all inferior courts j and may judge, 

 sentence, and condemn to infamy, not only private indivi- 

 duals, but public bodies, is'c. with or without inquiry or 

 hearing, at the court's discretion. 

 In whose favour, or for whose emolument, this court is- 



establifljed. 



In favour of about one citizen in five hundred, who, by 

 education, or practice in scribbling, has acquired a tole- 

 rable stile as to grammar and construction, so as to bear 

 printing \ or who is pofsefsed of a prefs and a few types^ 

 This 500th part of the citizens have the privileges of ac- 

 cusing and abusing the other 499 parts, at their pleasure y 

 or they may hire out their pens and prefs to others for 

 that purpose. 



Tract ice of this court. 



It is not governed by any of the rules of common courts- 

 of law. The accused is allowed no grand jury to judge 

 ©f the truth of the accusation before it is publicly made j. 

 nor is "the name of the accuser made known to him ; nor 

 has he an opportunity of confronting the witnefses against 

 him J for they are kept in the dark, as in tlie Spanifli court 

 of inquisition j nor is there any petty jury of his peers- 

 sworn to try the truth of the charges. The proceedings 

 are also sometimes so rapid, that an honest good citizen 

 may find himself suddenly and unexpectedly accused, and, 

 IB tbc same morni:^g, ju Jgcd, and condemned, and sentents 



