On Wednesday, Mr. E. W. Pugin was convicted by a
jury—who found their verdict after deliberating for two minutes in the box —of a series of "false, scandalous, and malicious" libels on the character of a man whose name is not only one that makes English art honourable and venerable, but who was his father's early, zealous, and faithful friend_ On Thursday, Baron • Bramwell administered to that "prisoner at the bar" true justice, considerate and severe. His lordship stated that
he and the Recorder had almost resolved to send Mr. Pugin to prison for six months, and to fine him £500; and the sentence would certainly not have been excessive, when the virulent and unscrupulous character of the libels is considered, and the perverse ingenuity with which for months past Mr. Pugin devoted himself to harassing and insulting Mr. Herbert, his family, and friends. But in consideration of the most ample and humble apologies, of his solemn undertaking utterly to abandon such practices, and to pay the costs, not merely of the trial just con- cluded, but of that for which he had a claim against Mr. Herbert in consequence of the extraordinary verdict of a previous jury, Mr. Pugin was allowed to leave the Court, with its sentence suspended, but liable to be instantly inflicted, should he ever again in these matters offend. The true moral ends of justice are, to oureninds, satisfied with an exquisite perfection by-this course. The condition of Damocles is just the condition that suits such an offender as Mr. Pugin.
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