Pages 158-161. H Hobhouse to William Bedford, Birches Green, Birmingham. Sidmouth...

Pages 158-161. H Hobhouse to William Bedford, Birches Green, Birmingham. Sidmouth acknowledges his letters of 11 and 12 March, and advises that for the present the attorney general has abstained from proceeding against those who were prosecuted before Hone's trial for circulating parodies. Other publishers are not exempt from prosecution. Happy for prosecution of James Russell to proceed, and to show that he has been selling pamphlets since Hone's acquital. Asks Bedford to try to confirm this point before the assizes, and Sidmouth will involve the Solicitor of the Treasury to prepare a proper indictment. The prosecution should be a private one, and the defendant must not be arrested until after the Bill is found by the Grand Jury. The depositions are returned to Bedford since he has not retained copies.