In 1774, the Edinburgh Magazine and Review published a paragraph criticizing an essay sent to the editors for possible publication. Although the Review did not print the missive, the editors noted that the essay was written in opposition to a ball held in the town of Whitburn, and that it exhibited “alternate strokes of superstition and blasphemy.” The Review further stated that the essay was signed by one J---D--NE in Bathgate, who was a school-master, and that it had been approved by a popular clergyman. In response, Bathgate schoolmaster Walter Jardine raised a libel action against the Review’s printer, William Smellie, and publishers William Creech and Charles Elliot. Jardine alleged that based on the information printed in the Review, the essay would be widely attributed to him; however, he denied being the writer. The defenders argued that the paragraph did not refer to Jardine, and that it merely contained matters of opinion.
Documents in this case (2)
- Walter Jardine v. William Creech, Charles Elliot, and William Smellie — Information, 26 Jan 1775January 26, 1775 Information of Mr. Walter Jardine, School-master at Bath-gate, arguing that the defenders published a libel which damaged his reputation
- Walter Jardine v. William Creech, Charles Elliot and William Smellie — Information, 7 Feb 1775February 7, 1775 Information of Messrs William Creech and Charles Elliot Booksellers, and William Smellie Printer, arguing that a paragraph in their magazine did not point to the pursuer as author and was not actionable
People & places in this case
People involved
- Walter Jardine — Pursuer
- William Creech — Defender
- Charles Elliot — Defender
- William Smellie — Defender
- Alexander Belsches, of Greenyards — Advocate for Pursuer
- Andrew Crosbie, Esq., of Holm — Advocate for Defender
- Robert Bruce, of Kennet, Lord Kennet — Lord Ordinary
- Adam Wedderstone — Named in case documents
