Porteous v. Isat and Others

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1781–1782

DefamationMinisters

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.

Documents in this case (4)

William Porteous v. John Izat Maltman — information, 12 Oct 1781
Rev. William Porteous sues John Izat Maltman and others for malicious libel, slander, and ecclesiastical malpractice in Gorbals parish, stemming from false accusations against minister Mr. Anderson.
John Ifat, James Baird, John Shiells, Robert Corbet, John Mann, John Black, Andrew Hozie, Malcolm Macleod, James Pollock, and Peter Tait v. William Porteous — information, 12 Nov 1781
William Porteous sues Gorbals managers/tradesmen for libel over a letter attacking him, defended on grounds of self-defense against prior public attacks by Porteous.
Isat — Petition, 21 Dec 1781
December 21, 1781 Memorial of John Ifat maltman in Gorbals, Preses, James Baird, and others, arguing that the defenders were acting in self-defence against a malicious attack by the pursuer Mr Porteous
William Porteous v. John Izat — answers, 31 Jan 1782
January 31, 1782 Answers by The Rev. Mr William Porteous to the petition of John Izat Maltman and others, defending his speech in the General Assembly and the publication of its abstract.