This was a case about defamation. It stemmed from an ecclesiastical proceeding in which parishioners of Gorbals accused their minister, William Anderson, of adultery. The ecclesiastical case advanced to the General Assembly, where Rev. William Porteous gave a speech defending Anderson and attacking the complainants. A version of the speech was subsequently printed in certain Edinburgh and Glasgow newspapers, with Porteous’s assistance. The complainants published a rebuttal in a Glasgow newspaper, accusing Porteous of calumny and abuse, and threatening to expose his own “curious tete-a-tetes.” Porteous sued the complainants for defamation. However, the complainants argued that they were merely responding to Porteous’s provocation.

Published Reports

William Morison, The Decisions of the Court of Session (1811), pg. 13937
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Locations

Session Papers

Information

Information for The Rev. Mr William Porteous, one of the Ministers of Glasgow, Pursuer; against John Izat Maltman in Gorbals, and others, Defenders

 		12 Oct 1781
Petition

Unto the Right Honourable, The Lords of Council and Session, the Petition of John Isat maltman in Gorbals, Preses, James Baird, manufacturer, John Shiells weaver, Robert Corbet gunsmith, John Black thatcher, Andrew Hozie weaver, Malcolm Macleod merchant, James Pollock vintner, Managers of Gorbals, and Peter Tait bookseller in Glasgow

 		21 Dec 1781
Answers

Answers for The Rev. Mr William Porteous, one of the Ministers of Glasgow, Pursuer; to the Petition of John Izat Maltman in Gorbals, and others, Defenders

 		31 Jan 1782
Information

Information for John Isat maltman in Gorbals, preses, James Baird manufacturer, John Shiells weaver, Robert Corbet gunsmith, John Mann gunsmith, John Black thatcher, Andrew Hozie weaver, Malcolm Macleod merchant, James Pollock vintner, managers of Gorbals, and Peter Tait bookseller in Glasgow, Defenders; against The Reverend Mr William Porteous, minister of the gospel in the presbytery and city of Glasgow, Pursuer

 		12 Nov 1781