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The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry for libelling Mr. Oscar Wilde, the well-known literateur and dramatist, was continued to-day.

Mr. Oscar Wilde, the plaintiff in the case, was submitted to a stringent cross-examination by counsel for the defence, with a view of showing that the book entitled "The Picture of Dorian Gray" - which was originally published in Leppincott's Magazine, and afterwards re-published in book form - and other articles in the same magazine which bore the nom-de-plume of "Chameleon," and which counsel for the defence connected together, inspired criminal practices.

The plaintiff, however, insisted that the true interpretation of the book and articles referred to were merely an expression of artistic faculty.

The letters to Lord Alfred Douglas which were produced, and the prose poems, of which it was alleged that he was the author, might perhaps be characterised as extraordinary, but they did not justify an immoral interpretation.

He admitted that he gave one alleged blackmailer a sum of money amounting to £21, and afterwards had lunch with him in his private room.

It was also elicited in cross-examination that the plaintiff had admitted to terms of intimacy with two lads who were not his social equals, and that he had given them expensive presents, and considerable amounts of money at various times. The plaintiff's plea was that he did so simply on the grounds that he liked them.

During the examination of Mr. Oscar Wilde, his extravagant gestures and postures, and his epigramic and paradoxical style of replying to counsel caused a vast amount of amusement in the Court.

At the end of the day the Court adjourned, the Judge granting bail to the defendant for his subsequent appearance.

The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on the charge of having criminally libelled Mr. Oscar Wilde, the well-known author and dramatist, was commenced to-day.

From the social position of the parties the case has excited unusual interest, and immense crowds assembled at the court during the proceedings.

Lord Queensberry was committed for trial on March 9, when he declared that he wrote the alleged libel on a card and left it with the hall porter at Mr. Wilde's club with the view of bringing matters to a head, and in order to save his son, Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas, who is 24 years of age, from Mr. Wilde, in the interests of morality.

Evidence was given to show that Mr. Wilde had paid heavy blackmail in order to recover certain letters written by him in a very gushing strain to Lord Alfred Douglas. These letters had been found in the pockets of some old clothes belonging to the latter which had been given away.

The case for the defence is based on the revelations contained in these letters.