I can imagine that if there were a parliament of aesthetic gentlemen, and Mr.Oscar Wilde were made Prime Minister, some such arrangement as that would find weight before the jury; but, in the present state of enlightened opinion, I do not think that any such arrangement would be accepted by you.

Now, gentleman, I shall call your attention first of all to a book which is published by no less a firm than the old and well-established house of Longmans.

The author of the book---- Mr.Justice North: What is the name of the book?
Mr.Foote: The book is the 'Autobiography of John Stuart Mill.' Mr.Justice North: What are you going to refer to it for?
Mr.Foote: I am going to refer to one page of it, my lord.
Mr.Justice North: What for?
Mr.Foote: To show that identical views to those expressed in the cheap paper before the court are expressed in expensive volumes.
Mr.Justice North: I shall not hear anything of that sort.

I am not trying the question, nor are the jury, whether the views expressed by other persons are sound or right.

The question is whether you are guilty of a blasphemous libel.