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    A second witness , William M'Pherson , was then called , whose conduct gave sufficient evidence that he was disgustingly coarse-minded , as well as absurd . He also stated that he was an Atheist , and the remainder of the trial was as follows , according to the * Times . ' 4 Mr . Phillips , ( with great energy , ) Begone , Sir ; I will not , after the

    disgusting exhibition made to-night , degrade myself by asking you another question , nor will I disguise the answer you made to me in an under-tone ( when I asked you if you had been sworn ) that ' * you had gone through the ceremony . " I will not * insult this Christian jury and assembly by putting another question to you . Begone , Sir .

    ' It was some minutes before silence was procured , so general were the expressions of execration at the declaration and demeanour of the witness , who left the court amidst hisses and loud cries of * Turn him out , ' in which several of the jury joined . 4 Mr . Alderman Brown then said , addressing Mr . Phillips , u The public , Mr . Phillips , owe you much for the course you have pursued . *'

    * No other witnesses answering when called , the Rec . order proceeded to sum up the evidence to the jury . He was satisfied they would not suffer the prisoner to sustain any prejudice in their minds from the exhibition which had just now been made in court . It would hay / perhaps been well if the court had' used its authority to repress the

    disturbance which that exhibition had occasioned , but he could not help saying , however irregular the conduct which flowed from right princiciples might be , it was most pleasing to witness with what disgust and execration the declarations of a party ( whether real or affected ) that he was not dependent upon a Supreme Being , were received in a British assembly .

    ' The jury , after a short consultation , found the prisoner Guilty , but reeommended him to mercy , believing this to be a first offence . 1 The Recorder told the prisoner if he had respectable witnesses who could depose to his character and mode ef life , he would hear thefc evidence before he passed sentence . 4 The prisoner said he had such friends , and * that he had no notion that the witnesses he had called would have been guilty of such conduct /

    In commenting upon this , I shall render justice , so far as my reason will enable me , to all parties . Henry Berthold was clearly guilty of the crime of stealing the boa , and the recommendation to mercy was moat ill judged . Infinitely greater was his crime than a similar offence committed b y a private individual . He had set himself up as a teacher of the people , and an advocate of their political rights , therefore it behoved him to be of

    irreproachable life and morals , even if his intellect were infirm , and if he erred through want of intellect ; still more certain should be his punish ' merit , in order to prevent other half informed men from lightly arrogating to themselves the office of moral and political teachers as a mode of getting their daily bread . The principle of the bloated churchman , 4

    do ye even as I say , and not as I do / should not be allowed to gain ground amongst those who profess themselves patriots . Children who play wantonly with fire are punished on account of the risk that mischief may occur , and he who sets up for a public teacher , should , when he errs , be more severely punished than an obscure man , for hi& sphere of evil is greater . I have not read any of the writings of Henry Ber-

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    82 ttote * on the Newspapers .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1834, page 82, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2629/page/84/