Freedom of Speech under attack, page-35

What happened between 1742 and now in Britain?


https://monadnock.net/hume/liberty.html

"Nothing can impose a further restraint but either the clapping an imprimatur upon the press, or the giving very large discretionary powers to the court to punish whatever displeases them. But these concessions would be such a barefaced violation of liberty, that they will probably be the last efforts of a despotic government. We may conclude that the liberty of Britain is gone for ever when these attempts shall succeed."