On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
tntiefy do riotf orea ^ j ^ in every page , 4 he doctrine of patience and long-suffering towards Jhose ^ 4 rh \ $£ <> ff and tevUe bar faith * 1 can tfply say ^ ^ fyatl know nothing of the doctritfefs wh ^ they do teach , and that I eir in congou with some of the greatest men who , ' ever lived !"—Pp . 14 ; 15 . ^ r - - ' v ¦ .
Qur notice qf th& j ^ blication is proportioned to its imneartance rather than its bulk . We sho ^ M be gla d tp see it generally cireuIat ^ cL persuaded that wherever it is care ^ l ^ y and dispassionately read , it will ; mjpdace a conviction of the folly and m |§ chief of
prosecutions for opinions . 0 $ e have no predictions for unbeUev # j ^ much less for scoffers : it is becau £$ \ pe are opposed tp them , that we would not afford them the advantage , at ^ a Inflict upon Christianity the oalum , $£ their legal persecution . Let the reader weigh well what the editor of this second edition says on this subject in his advertisement :
" Much irreparable evil has arisen from the late prosecutions for Deistical publications . Asf an instance of this , ff is proper to statf , that two of the four pjprsons who have lately be ^ en prosecuted for selling the paltry pamphlet which was the subject or this trial , were , previously to the prosecutions of Carlile and his family , industrious mechanics in the north
of England , respectably educated and connected . Their attentiou was first attracted by those prosecutions to an examination of the obnoxious doctrines ; they naturally concluded , that such
opinions were only opposed by force because they could not be answered by argument ; and they felt that prejudice in favour of the promujgators , which always arises iu the human mind in behalf of the supposed
victims of oppression . They , therefore , studied the writings of the opponents of religion , under circumstances very unfavourable to the formation of a Just and impartial judgment ; and the consequence was , a resolute persuasion of the truth of the cause of Infidelity . They then ,
with an energy of purpose which would have done honour to a better cau ^ e , forsook their former employments , and came to London in order to continue the publication of the proscribed pamphlet , without prospect of pecuniary emolument , and * n the full expectation of suffering and disgr ace .
" Let t ^ ose w ^ q iq stitute these prosecutions , draw tfy $ . proper inference frpni r ^ t * * ct * - ^* 1 # ^ . P * USC before tjaey . stnke / and consider tlitat every prosecutiou may produce a simUar effect ; that
Untitled Article
they cannot cfu ^ sh even their immediate victim , Vj that they •> may carry scepticism aud infidelity into societies which would otherwise have never been cqntaininated J ) y them ; and thus , as , friend ? , an 4 advo ^ cates , produce more deadly mi ^ hief t $ the cause of Christianity , than Its most malignant and inveterate enemie ^ " . ^—Pp .
111 . IV . . ; . Great praise is due to Dr . Lushington ( to whom we cannot help returning ) for bringing this matter before the House of Commons . His observations on the nature of the punishment affixed to the reputed and undefined crime of blasphemy were poorly met by the § blicitor-General , who would have shewn himself more woj %
thy of his past professions , if , lrke the Attoraey ^ Geueral , lie fyad \> ee $ k ? ilent , or rattier had indjgaaa $ ly declaimed all prosecutions of . this deiacription . The Morning- Chromefe made a remark or two at the ^ time , * upon this part of the debate , which we put down in conclusion :
. c * It , would : be difficult , perhaps , to satisfy the Solicitor-General now , that any degree of punishment is disproportionate for £ uch an offence . * Lord Chief Justice Halej' he tells us , * who could not be
considered a cruel judge , had , in such a cuse , not only sentenced the defendant to fine , imprisonment and hard labour , but to give hia own security , and to find the security of others , for hip good behaviour for life . If the honourable member for
Norwich had happened to live > in that merciful judge ' s days , when Uujtarianism was blasphemy , according to the SoUcitor-General , he might have esteemed himself happy in escaping with imprisonment , aggravated by hard labour , B \ it we would point out a more congenial case ,
tried also under most merciful Judges , since the glorious Revolution ^ namely , that of a youth , also under 18 , named Aikman , actually hanged for Unitarianism , ( then blasphemy , ) to the great
edification of the orthodox . This , to be sure , took place on the North of the Tweed ; but we have no doubt the Bridge Street Gang would be glad to see this wholesome rigour introduced among ourselves . "
;— , . . : —¦¦« *« .. » .. M . — ? March i 2 # . By ^ ac Ptrauge oyerjuglit in this pubricaUQp ^ jtbef'e i ^ na , fttatQmeuti of the itn ^ j * f ) & $ | # eihdi ^ year ^ when the > tgriai ^ OQk ?" pl ? M ? e , i
Untitled Article
Review . — Trial ofjoftn Burkley for Sedition . 63 d
Untitled Article
VOL . XVII . 4 M
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1822, page 633, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2517/page/49/
-