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    roity of a solemn , public appeal to Heaven in attestation Qf what waa utterly false , and koowa to be so by the appellant . To \ yhafc higher decree of iniquity thaathis can any man nroceed ? What addition of

    criminality can be made to such behaviour > What more flagrant example can be adduced of impiously hurling defiance against the authority of the Almighty ? 4 It is manifest that in this case oti * juration was resorted to from ^ sus - picion that asseveration of itse | f > hawC ever strongly worded and boldly pi * o * nounced , would be insufficient to convince those whom the speaker was roost anxiotis to convince ; and it 19 much to be feared that a suspicion of this kind lurks in the breast of all

    who imitate this example . Some , indeed , may be indited to carry their fears even farther , and think there is some ground to apprehend a want of that integrity of which a truly honest mind is conscious , and a desire to conceal it from others the more easily and securely to carry on the work of deceit and dissimulation . The third

    case was accompanied with circumstances so different from those of the preceding ones , as to preclude any palliation of it on the score either of youth , or the dread * of death . Th $ juror was mature in-years , well

    experienced in the ways of mankind , not accused of any offence , moving in a very exalted sphere , and enjoying privileges which fall to the share of a very small portion of the human race . Could such an one feel within himself

    a distrust of the people ' s reliance upoi > his word , especially when every word proceeding out of such a mouth must be a word of honour ? Or shall any one presume to indulge a thought for a moment that there existed the slenderest degree of conscious insincerity ? Now , as the declaration referred to a

    line of conduct designed to be taken and persisted in for the future , it may without any impropriety be viewed in the light of a vow , or an engagement entered into with the Powers above jor a special purpose . But it might have occurred to the prince , thjtt , * t s we are all the creatures of

    circumstances , no one can tell under what Vl he may behold the very same ca $ e , accompanied , as it eventually Im * y be , with extremely varied circumstances . It i » impossible to ascertain

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    the evils that may arise from the declaratioii of a purpose never to be altered 5 evils both to ethers and the pa ^ f ^; 'ltimseffX ^ li : ;' iiri ^^; ' may in * volve posterity in tfee most fearful calamities , and occasion infinite re- *

    gret to the author of ttieui . Wfeea men are cut off from all hope of at ~ tailing advantages to which they deem then&sglws' justly entitled , they are sometimes driven to measures of which they would not have entertained the inost distant thought so long as the sm&Best glimmering of hope remained . Despair prompts them to outrages of the most alarming fcind ; they believe that , let them act as they will , their condition cannot be

    deteriorated , and in such a state it affords them pleasure to be able to revenge themselves upon their opponents , though without the least chance of benefiting themselves . It is a consideration of the most serious n ^ ture >

    that if so tremendous an evil as war , for instance , should be exbitMfcy the refusal of just and reasonable claims , the horrible consequences of it must be chafge&fole on him from Whom this refusal emanates . It is scarcely possible to concede too much where the

    concession would insure peace and prevent ; the calamities of . bloodshed ; but it is a most melancholy thought that wars have arisen , and may again arise , from a . partial leaning to one set of men , and a denial of common

    justice . tor others . The illustrious personage who confirmed his determination io resist the petition of millions feeling themselves aggrieved and injured by the language of an oath , will , most probably , one day regret

    his precipitancy , his violation of that simplicity of language which religion enjoins * , his countenancing by his example an unnecessary and therefore irreverent appeal to Heaven , and his pledging himself to a course of conduct which he . cannot reconcile to

    the principles of the faith lie professes , and from which he cannot recede without violating his word , staining his honour * and exposing * himself to the pity of some , the contempt of others , and the concurrent disapprobation , of his countrymen and his own conscience . OTAIOTPAINAINAIOS .

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    " Str h * Jp nit , G # dJ » 39

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1825, page 397, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2538/page/13/