looked upon as the Legree of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The learned Counsel proceeded to read extracts from the Nil Durpan, and to comment thereon. He pointed out passages in which Indigo planters were well spoken of, in order to show that if this pamphlet fell into the hands of the ryots they would know that there was a bright side to the picture as well as a dark one. His learned friend had observed that there were other parties maligned in the Nil Durpan besides the Indigo planters. It was self-evident that strong remarks were made in that publication with reference to missionaries and the civil service, but those remarks were quite different from such as would constitute a libel or justify the jury in returning a verdict of guilty against the defendant. The learned Counsel's fourth reason for denying the libel was the question of malice. In Law, if a person was found guilty of a libel, that was prima facie evidence of a malicious intention. If, notwithstanding Mr. Peterson's observations, the Jury were of opinion that Mr. Long had no cause of complaint against the Indigo planters, or any motive to traduce or injure them, there had been no malice proved. He submitted with perfect confidence the fact that Mr. Long approached his subject with a perfectly unbiassed mind, and had done merely what he had been doing for many years in this country. He had had much to do with the Native community commenting on their publications as a proof of their style of literature and thoughts. He preferred to leave this part of the case to the work itself, and probably Mr. Long's feelings were best conveyed in the preface, which is expressive of a desire for conciliation between planter and ryot. His learned friend had made some very severe remarks which were not justified by the evidence. Mr. Long repudiated several notions contained in that pamphlet, and he had only become the publisher of that work with a view of illustrating the Native opinion. The learned Counsel felt strongly on this case, and must say that if the Jury gave a verdict of guilty, they would be carrying the law further than it had ever been done. This was a case of the last importance to Mr. Long; it was likely to interfere with his prospects as a clergyman, nor was it a less important case for the country generally. Therefore he hoped the Jury would not be led away by any remarks, but give the subject their calm and temperate consideration with regard to the evidence and the work
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