48

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XIV.

J689.

Other at-taindersreversed.

Case ofSamuelJohuson,

self, attempt to throw dishonourable imputations on anillustrious name, and to apologize for a judicial murder? Hewas forced to sit down, after declaring that he meant only toclear himself from the charge of having exceeded the limits ofhis professional duty; that he disclaimed all intention of at-tacking the memory of Lord Russell; and that he shouldsincerely rejoice at the reversing of the attainder. Before theHouse rose the bill was read a second time, and would havebeen instantly read a third time and passed, had not some ad-ditions and omissions been proposed, which would, it wasthought, make the reparation more complete. The amend-ments were prepared with great expedition: the Lords agreedto them; and the King gladly gave his assent.*

This bill was soon followed by three other bills which an-nulled three wicked and infamous judgments, the judg-ment against Sidney, the judgment against Cornish, andthe judgment against Alice Lisle.**

Some living Whigs obtained without difficulty redress forinjuries which they had suffered in the late reign. The sentenceof Samuel Johnson was taken into consideration by the Houseof Commons. It was resolved that the scourging which he hadundergone was cruel, and that his degradation was of no legaleffect. The latter proposition admitted of no dispute: for hehad been degraded by the prelates who had been appointed togovern the diocese of London during Compton’s suspension.Compton had been suspended by a decree of the High Com-mission; and the decrees of the High Commission were uni-versally acknowledged to be nullities. Johnson had thereforebeen stripped of his robe by persons who had no jurisdiction

* Grey’s Debates, March 1C8||.

** The Acts which reversed the attainders of Russell, Sidney, Cornish,and Alice Lisle were private Acts. Only the titles therefore arc printed inthe Statute Book; but the Acts will bo found in Howell’s Collection of StateTrials.