At the Dolgellan Assizes, Richard Jones, a minister of the
Cal- vinistic Methodists, was indicted for administering to Catherine Ed- wards a decoction to procure abortion. The prisoner read to the Jury an eloquent appeal, in the Welsh language. Mr. Justice Vaughan wished to hear it translated; but, upon a suggestion that this could be best done by the Reverend Mr. Phillips, a neighbouring clergyman who was in Court, Sir Robert Vaughan rose, and thus addressed his Lordship, with great solemnity—" Your Lordship will allow me to make an observation. It would be highly improper for a clergyman of the Church of England to read any thing coming from a Dissenting minister, in these days of Liberalism."—The defendant was acquitted. [This is characteristic of the bigoted old Tories, of whom Sir Robert' Vaughan is a fair specimen. Rather than allow a clergyman of the Church to read a document drawn up by a Dissenting minister, he would seriously endanger the life of an accused person on his trial! It is observable, too, that the Judge did not understand the Welsh language : should not Mr. John Jervis bring forward a bill making it imperative on Welsh Judges (as well as Bishops) to understand the language and habits of the people among whom they are to dispense justice ?1
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