•Z.^6 the court of the prefs. Teh. i^ 



iiecefsity of checks, in all other parts of good government, 

 has been so clearly and learnedly explained, I find myself 

 ■SO far enlightened as to suspect some check may be proper 

 in this part also •, but I have been at a lofs to imagine any 

 that may not be construed an infringement of the sacred 

 liberty of the prefs. At length, however, I think I have 

 found one, that instead of diminifhing general liberty, fhall 

 augment it j which is, by restoring to the people a species 

 of liberty, of which they have been deprived by our laws, 

 I mean the liberty of the cudgel ! In the rude state of so- 

 ciety, prior to the existence of laws, if one man gave ano- 

 ther ill language, the alTronted person might return it by a 

 box on the ear •, and if repeated, by a good drubbing ; and 

 this, without offending against any law •, but now the right 

 of making such returns is denied, and they are punifhed 

 as breaches of the peace, while the right of abusing seems 

 to remain in full force \ the laws made against it being 

 rendered ineffectual hy the liberty of the prefs. 



. My proposal, then, i§, to leave the liberty of the prefs 

 untouched, to be exercised in its full extent, force, and vi- 

 gour, but to permit the liberty of the cudgel to go with it, 

 pan pafsu. Thus, my fellow citizens, if an impudent wri- 

 ter attacks your reputation, dearer perhaps to you thaa 

 your life, and puts his name to the charge, you may go to 

 him as openly, and break his head. If he conceals him- 

 self behind the printer, and you can neverthelefs discover 

 who lie is, you may, in like manner, way-lay him in the 

 night, attack him behind, and give him a good drubbing. 

 If your adversary hire better writers than himself, to abuse 

 you more effectually, you may hire brawny porters, strong- 

 er than yourself, to afsist you in giving him a more effec- 

 tual drubbing. Thus far goes my project as -to private; 

 resentment and retribution. But if the public (hould ever 

 happen to be affronted, as it ought to be, with the coii.- 



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