In 1820 Burdett had again come into serious conflict with the government . Having severely censured its action in print with reference to the Peterloo Massacre , he was prosecuted at Leicester assizes , fined £ 1,000 , and committed to prison by Justice Best for three months for the crime of " composing , writing , and publishing a seditious libel " with explanation : My opinion of the liberty of the press is that every man ought to be permitted to instruct his fellow subjects ; that every man may fearlessly advance any new doctrines , provided he does so with proper respect to the religion and government of the country ; that he may point out errors in the measures of public men ; but he must not impute criminal conduct to them . The liberty of the press can not be carried to this extent without violating another equally sacred right ; namely , the right of character . This right can only be attacked in a court of justice , where the party attacked has a fair opportunity of defending himself " . After the passing of the Reform Act 1832 , the ardour of the veteran reformer was somewhat abated , and a number of his constituents soon took umbrage at his changed attitude
Peterloo Massacre
Peterloo Massacre
Francis Burdett