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Courtroom Scene, Sydney: 'the Philo Free' civil libel trial, 1 December 1817

Courtesy of Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales | Out of copyright

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Date

1 December 1817

Artist

Edward Charles Close (1790-1866)

Collection

State Library of New South Wales

Image Link

https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/15rjecp/ADLIB110339254

Description

Inscribed: `G. Allen’ (upper right, vertical); `G. Crosley’ (upper right, vertical)
The ‘Philo Free’ trial took place in Sydney in 1817 and was the first libel case heard in the colony. In this matter, Rev. Samuel Marsden accused Colonial Secretary John Campbell (no relation to Sophia) of libeling him through a letter published in the Sydney Gazette which suggested that, under the aegis of the Missionary Society, the ‘Christian Mahomet’ had operated as a gun-runner and moonshiner in the Pacific islands; includes caricatures of several notable figures including Marsden at the right, the defendant Campbell on the left and possibly Judge-Advocate John Wylde behind him, as well as the lawyers Frederick Garling, William Moore, George Allen and George Crossley
Album details: Edward Charles Close - New South Wales Sketchbook: Sea Voyage, Sydney, Illawarra, Newcastle, Morpeth, c. 1817-1840
More details about the album and its contents can be found on the collection website.

Image Licence

Out of copyright

Image Credit

Courtesy of Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Location

Sydney, NSW, Australia

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© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform