Prosecution for seditious libel was one of the most effective tools the state had in suppressing the opposition press. While between 1790 and 1832 there were only 73 indictments and 166 ex-officio informations for seditious or blasphemous libel filed at the King's Bench, a substantial increase over the previous period, the mere threat of prosecution had a cooling effect on radical publishing. The government defined libel, in effect, as any form of writing the ministry felt they could convince a jury might have a tendency to provoke a breach of the peace. The line between libelous and licit writing was extremely vague. No publisher could know for certain where the line lay. The very arbitrariness of the law made it an effective tool to intimidate writers and publishers. Historian Michael Harris has pointed out that within the book trades "a high proportion of the personnel was involved in legal proceedings at some stage in their working life." Lord Folkestone observed, in 1811, that even treason suspects were treated more leniently by the courts than those accused of libel.

Examples of the stifling of "democratic" debate:

William Hone, pamphleteer and bookseller, prosecuted for blasphemy for writing political parodies of the "Book of Common Prayer."

Tom Pain, convicted in absentia for writing the "Rights of Man."

William Skirving, convicted of sedition, sentenced to 14 years transportation. Died shortly after arriving in Botany Bay.

Maurice Margarot, convicted of sedition, sentenced to 14 years transportation, served 16 years.

Thomas Muir, convicted of sedition, sentenced to 14 years transportation, escaped, wounded during a battle with a RN ship, eventually died from his wounds.

Thomas Palmer, convicted of sedition for having written against the war and taxation, sentenced to 7 years transportation. Died on his return from Australia.

Joseph Gerrald, convicted of sedition, sentenced to 14 years transportation, died shortly after arriving in Botany Bay.

Daniel Eaton, printer and bookseller, tried 8 times, including for having alluded to the King as a "tyrannical gamecock," convicted for having published Pigott's "Political Dictionary," Convicted for publishing Iliff's "Duties of Citizenship," convicted of publishing Paine's "Age of Reason" for which he was sentenced to 18 months and the pillory, convicted of publishing d'Holbach's "Ecco Homo."

Richard Carlile, Journalist, sentenced to 4 months for publishing Hone's parodies. Tried an additional 3 times on similar charges. Sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and a £1,500 fine for publishing Paine's "Age of Reason" served 6 years due to inability to pay the fine.

Josephy Johnson, bookseller and publisher, convicted of selling Wakefield's "Reply to the Bishop of Llandaff", six months in prison.

George Mealmaker, pamphleteer, charged with sedition, transported for 14 years.

Daniel Holt, printer and bookseller, sentenced in early 1793 to 6 months in prison for libel, sentenced again in late 1793 for 2 years.

John Knight, editor of the "Manchester Political Register" and "Manchester Spectator" sentenced to 2 years in prison. suffered three additional arrests.

John Almon, bookseller and newspaper proprietor, served 2 years for publishing a pamphlet on the King's insanity. Spent the remainder of his life under "threat of sentencing."

Joel Barlow, poet and pamphleteer, sentenced in absentia for publishing "Advice to the Privileged Orders."

Richard Phillips, journalist and publisher, 18 months in prison for selling Paine's "Rights of Man."

Henry White, newspaper editor and publisher, sentenced to 3 years for libel, 1808-11. Soon after his release he was prosecuted again for libel.

John Binns, newspaper editor, arrested in March 1799 and held to 1801 under the Suspension of Habeus Corpus Act, not charged. Went into exile after release.

Benj. Flowers, journalist and publisher, sentenced to 6 months and L100 in 1799 for libelling the Bishop of Llandaff, a supporter of the Irish Union.

John Bone, bookseller, imprisoned 1798-99 for sedition.

Thomas Evans, imprisoned for three years under the Suspension of Habeus Corpus Act (1798-1801) and again in 1817-1818.

Archibald Hamilton Rowan, sentenced to 2 years and L500 fine for seditious writings.

John Gale Jones, convicted of writing a placard critical of government officials, sentenced to 1 year in prison and a total of L1000 in surety bonds.

Joseph Gales, journalist, indicted for "conspiracy" went into exile.

Richard Hodgson, pamphleteer, held but not charged under the Suspension of Habeus Corpus Act for 3 years.

Thomas Holcroft, pamphleteer, held but not charged with treason, 1794.