Note 286 — Chapter IV · Limitations on the Postal Power

Cooley’s Blackstone, Book iv, pp. 151, 152. Lord Kenyon’s view was practically the same. He said: “A man may publish anything which twelve of his countrymen think is not blamable, but he ought to be punished if he publishes what is blamable.” Rex v. Cuthill, 27 St. Trials, 675. Cf. Professor Dicey’s classic statement: “Freedom of discussion is, then, in England little else than the right to write or say anything which a jury, consisting of twelve shopkeepers, think it expedient should be said or written.” Law of the Constitution (8th ed.), p. 242.