Bill' paffed, permitting the truth to be given in evidence, and referring it to the jury to decide whether the defendant was actuated by malice, or by a defire for the good of the community. Thefe fucceffive alterations of the law are now admitted to have operated beneficially-not only being favourable to free difcuffion, but really tending to reftrain the licentioufnefs of the prefs. Candour however requires the confeffion that they were attended with some hazard, and we must not confound exceffive caution with bigotry or a love of arbitrary government. The great problem for free states now to confider is, how journalism is to be rendered confiftent with public tranquillity and the ftability of political inftitutions. A licenfer can never more be endured: and against a journal which daily excites to infurrection and revolution, a prosecution of the proprietor or printer for a libelto be heard before a jury after the lapse of several months— affords no adequate remedy. If the great capitals of Europe are to be constantly in a state of fiege,' we may be driven to regret the quiet old times when Royal Gazettes, announcing court appointments, were the only periodicals."-See Lord Campbell's Lives of the Chief Justices (Lord Mansfield), vol. ii. p. 544.

APPENDIX.

"Mr. Milton's Agreement with Mr. Symons for Paradife Loft. dated 27th April, 1667. (The original is in the poffeffion of Mr. S. Rogers.)

TH

HESE Prefents made the 27th day of Aprill 1667 between John Milton, gent. of the one part, and Samuel Symons, printer, of the other part, wittnefs that the faid John Milton in confideration of five pounds to him now paid by the faid Samuel Symons, and other the confideracõns herein mentioned, hath given, granted and affigned, and by these pñts doth give, grant and affign unto the faid Sam" Symons, his executors, and affignees, All that Booke, Copy, or Manuscript of a Poem intituled Paradise Loft, or by whatsoever other title or name the fame is or fhall be called or diftinguished, now lately licensed to be printed, together with the full benefitt, profit, and advantage thereof, or weh fhall or may arise thereby. And the faid John Milton for him, his ex's and adm's, doth covenant wth the faid Sam" Symons, his ex's and afs that he and they shall at all times hereafter have, hold and enjoy the fame and all impreffions thereof accordingly, without the lett or hindrance of him the faid John Milton, his ex's or afs3, or any perfon or perfons by his or their confent or privity. And that he the faid John Milton, his ex's or adm's or any other by his or their meanes or confent, shall not print or cause to be printed, or fell, difpofe or publish the faid book or manuscript, or any other book or manuscript of the fame tenor or fubject, without the confent of the faid Sam" Symons, his ex or afs3: In concideracon whereof the faid Samell Symons for him, his ex's and admTM doth covenant with the faid John Milton, his ex", and afs3 well and truly to pay unto the faid John Milton, his ex's, and adm" the fum of five pounds of lawfull english money at the end of the first Impreffion, which the faid Sam" Symons, his ex", or afs3 fhall make and publish of the said copy or manufcript, which impreffion fhall be accounted to be ended when thirteen hundred books of the faid whole copy or manuscript imprinted, fhall be fold and retailed off to particular reading customers. And fhall alfo pay other five pounds, unto the faid John Milton, or his ass3 at the end of the second impreffion to be accounted as aforefaid, And five pounds more at the end of the third impreffion, to be in like manner accounted. And that the faid three firft impreffions fhall not exceed fifteen