A TREATISE ON THE LAW OF DEFAMATION: WITH Forms of Pleadings. BY GEORGE WINGROVE COOKE, ESQ., OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW. LONDON: OWEN RICHARDS, LAW BOOKSELLER AND PUBLISHER, 194. FLEET-STREET. 1844. PREFACE. THE important alterations which the act of the last session has made in the Law of Defamation was the inducement to prepare the following Treatise. The ground for a comprehensive and philosophical work upon this alluring department of law and jurisprudence has been already occupied by Mr. Starkie. With that gentleman the compiler of the following sheets does not presume to compete. The usefulness of Mr. Starkie's treatise as a practical work has been lessened by time; its value in a higher point of view must always be unimpaired. To supply this deficiency by a book which in small space should comprehend a succinct account of all the decided Points, a copious collection of pleading Precedents, the Statutes containing the Statute Law upon the subject, the Opinions of those of our Judges who have expressed themselves as to what the Law should be, and a full Index affording immediate access to the information which the volume contains, has been the only aim of the writer. The recent agitation of the subject offers many inducements to depart from an exposition of what the law of libel is, to a díscussion of what it should be. It is hoped that the learned reader will find in this little treatise no instances of such deviation from the practical object in view. 9, Inner Temple Lane, April 1844. CONTENTS. Page Sect. 4.-Of Imputations in respect to an Office, Pro- Sect. 5.-Of Imputations in respect of Inheritance - -Of Communications absolutely privileged Sect. 4. Of Speeches in Parliament Sect. 5.-Of Parliamentary Papers Sect. 6.-Repetition of Slander Chap. VII.-Of Defamation as a public Wrong |