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Untitled Article
politics of the world , we should say , that such glaring defects , as have teen detected in the present system of representation , could
not resist any longer the general opinion , Success in war was announced on the opening of the regency by the fall of the isles of France and Banda to our arms *
The former island has been very injurious to the commerce of the East India company , and on that account is a valuable acquisition ; and , if it is retained in time of peace , it may be made the means of useful intercourse with the
eastern coast of Africa . But humanity has also obtained asuccess , which we hail with satisfaction . An East In diam an was shipwrecked on the coast pf Ftance * near Dun .
kirk , and very few of the crew were saved ; but they were kindly treated by the inhabitants of Dunkirk , and the emperor has restored them without ransom to their
own country . We understand that our government has not been behind hand in acknowledging the kindness , and has restored several French prisoners to their homes . We wish that these alleviations of
the horrid state , in which the sins of the two contending nations has placed them , may be mare frequent ; that they may soften all parties ; and bring them to a aease of their duty to the God of love and peace .
The law courts have afforded much J&atter for animadversion . Cases of libels have been frequent , and one pa Lord Castlereagh brought forward several affidavits on the
tortures used in Ireland , which are shocking to humanity . Another case related to the punish * inent of the military in this county * on which a newspaper seems to have inveighed with great
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warmth against so severe a punish * , ment , as that of one thousand lashes . On this subject , if we would appeal merely to worldly authority , we should refer to the testimony of one of the bravest men and best soldiers in this
country , Sir Robert Wilson , whose pamphlet deserves a perusal from all , who regard military honour * but we look much higher , and when the Supreme Being himself has deigned to give a reason
against the inflicting of such a punishment , what are we , that we should permit our judgment to enter into competition with his ? Forty stripes , says the
divine law , thou mayest give , T ) Ut not more , to an offender ; lest thy brother be rendered vile in thy sight : and let those who have witnessed the lacerations of the
human frame , the distortions of the countenance , the agonies of the patient , and carried their ideas still farther , where he lies for weeks perhaps in an hospital , declare to us some limit , which they
think better than that prescribed to the Jews . The case w ^ s ably argued . The Judge declared the defendants guilty of a libel , the Jury acquitted them . The question deserves the serious attention
of the legislature , and we hope that it may be soon brought forward there , and discussed as becomes men and Christians . Another case might afford irianj melancholy remarks , and we must
grieve thflt in a Christian country , an application of such a nature at a court of justice should be necessary . We recommend it to the particular attention of JMr . Fuller
and his friends at So ham , that they may see to what excesses human passions may arise , when a prejudice exists in them against a
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State of Public Affair * . 119
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1811, page 119, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2413/page/55/
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