that all the maritime powers were ex- to see Mr. Madison deposed; therefore they hausted by the war; that they stood in wished to see an aristocratical faction need of long repose to recover themselves ; raised up against the Republican Governthat, in fact, their fleet and seamen were ment; they thought, that war, necessarily nearly all gone; that now! now! NOW producing taxes heavier than the RepubOR NEVĚR! was the motto; that, by licans had ever been used to, would fura good hearty exertion, this Repúblic, this nish the aristocratical faction with a plaudangerous example to the world, might be şible ground of complaint; they were in for ever got rid of. There were many hopes of thus producing, first, violent oppoamongst these publishers and their patrons, sition to the war; next, something like who hoped for, who expected, and who en-open REBELLION; next, a division of couraged the notion of, a re-colonization of the States; and, last, the conquest or overthe Republican States. They openly pro- throw of the whole. This was the main claimed this; and, indeed, I verily believe, ground of hope with these malignant pubthat, about four months ago, a great part lishers; these enemics of real freedom ; of the nation had been persuaded, that the these sons and daughters of Bribery and project would be accomplished very speedily. Corruption, whose hearts overflowed with This was the war rendered popular; and gall, whose eye-balls were seared by the $0 popular, tbat, even in the city of London, sight of a people, who chose their represenand at a Common Hall, a motion for a pe- tatives every twenty-four months, in the tition against the continuance of the Ame- choosing of whom every man paying taxes rican war, though coupled with a call for had a voice, whose chief magistrate even the discontinuance of the Income Tax, was chosen from amongst his fellow-citiwhich that war rendered indispensable, zens every four years, without any pecucould not obtain a moment's hearing. The niary or religious qualification ; and whose people were worked up to a senseless spirit whole Government, civil, judicial, military, of resentment, while those who had so and naval, did not cost above a tenth part worked them up, bad in view the utter sub

as much as the amount of the Civil List version of the American Republic, and alone in England, though the population with her, the last remains of political li- of the country was nearly equal to that of berty.

England. This was an object that blasted Here, then, we have the real objects of their sight. They could not endure it. They the friends of tyranny; the sons and were mad at the thought of its being left daughters of corruption; the race who never in existence. They saw that, while this can be at heart's case while the sun spectacle was in the world, they were never shines upon one free country; upon one safe. It was useless, in their view of the nation happy in the enjoyment of liberty. matter, to have restored the Bourbons, the These people had seen liberty, and the very Pope, the Dominicans, and the Inquisition, hope of liberty, destroyed in France; their while America remained an example and long existing hopes of seeing that object an asylum for the oppressed of all nations. accomplished had been just fully gratified; Hence these malignant writers left nobut they, who are as cunning as they are thing undone to urge the nation on to a wicked, clearly saw that nothing, and, per- continuation of the war. Every art was haps, worse than nothing, was done, unless made use of to encourage an acquiescence the free Constitution of the American Re- in the project. Mr. Madison was held up public could be destroyed. The sons and as the basest of men ; as a traitor, who, daughters of corruption foresaw, that, while at a moment when England was in great this Republic existed, nothing was done; danger from the designs and the power of that the “ example,” to use the words of Napoleon, took advantage of our embarthe Times, “ of the existence of such a Go-rassment, and declared war with a design “ vernment,” would keep Bribery and Cor- to assist him in totally ruining us. But ruption in constant dread and constant the great inducement, the great ground danger; that the example of a people living of hope of final seccess was, the expected under a Government such as that of Ame- division of the States. It was well known rica, without tumults, without commotions, that there was an aristocratical faction in tvould always be a handle for the friends the four States, called the New England, of reform to lay hold of; and, therefore, or Eastern States; that some very artful they anxiously wished for the overthrow of men, in that part of the Union, had stirred that Government; therefore they wished I wp a sort of rebellion. The influence of

a

these nien was magnified ; and a belief | pay my part of it with a great deal less was created, that a division would take dissatisfaction. The following is the arplace. This hope, however, has failed; tícle :-" The reports of the intended marand you will have the pleasure to see, in riage of Mrs. Perceval are, we believe, a short time, this faction plunged into irre- “ quite unfounded. They have arisen from trievable disgrace and ruin.

s her intercourse with a neighbour's faHaving now endeavoured to place in a mily, that of the Rev. Mr. Carr, the clear light, the cause of the war, and the Clergyman of Ealing, where Mrs. Percouscs of its continuance after the Euro-1" ceval lives. Mr. Carr has sopie charm. pean peace, I shall, in another letter, state I

" ing daughiers, and to them Mrs. Perthe causes of the peace, and its probable ceval lias within the last two months important consequences:

" shown particular attention, visiting, and In the meanwhile I remain, with the " having them at home with her frequently. greatest respect, and most sincere attach- “ The Rev. Mr. Carr has two sons, one a ment, your faithful and obedient servant, “ Colonel, the other a Major in the Army. WM. COBBETT.“ The latter, now at home, is a remark

“ably handsome man, about thirty, and he MRS. SPENCER PERCEVAL.

" is the person whom the town tattle has

“ destined as the bridegroom, merely beYe lovers of cant! Ye hypocrites,

cause, on his sisters' account, he has religious, moral, ands political ! Draw" shewn becoming respect, which has been near and regale yourselves with a treat. “ becomingly received by Mrs. Perceval. Here is one who surpasses you

all. 66 But Mrs. Perceval is twelve

years

older The following paragraph from the Courier than he is, with twelve children, the of the 4th instant, on the subject of " chi'dren of our late excellent Prime this lady's reported intended marriage, Minister, who fell by the bands of an will make every man of sense and sincerity 66 assassig. Mi's. Perceval's love of her laugh. It is clearly discernable, that the " children, ber reverence for the memory of canting fellow believes the report to be an adored husband, whom she lost under true, and that his object is to frighten the circumstances so awful, would be sure safelady with the condemnation of public opi- "guards for her conduct, even if it were posnion. Ladies, in such cases, are not so "s sible to forget the exalted place she occueasily frightened, let me tell him ; and “pies in the eye of society. The heavy grief, they would be fools if they were. “ The “ turning he almost to stone, which she felt

country has voted a large pension.” He “ for the loss of her husband, the conspimeans the Members of Parliament. 'But“ cuous part she has taken among the most what then? Was it made a condition, that “ religious, moral, and amiable class; theexshe should not fall in love with

6 hand

ample

her conduct has set in all respects, some Major .?” Away, you paltry, snivel. f“ renders it impossible to believe she will ling hypocrite, whoever you may be ; and, “take a step so contrary to the course she perhaps, you may be a rival of the lady. " has hitherto pursuell. The Country has Things much more unlikely have been ; “ done every thing kind and honourable tricks more strange have been played off" to her, voting her a large pension during through the press of London, which has life, providing for her children, &c.

“ f:equently been made the tool in the hands" Among the children of her late Lord, of those who wished to break off

, or to “ she finds the highest consolation for his make up matches.Well, Madam, (for, “ loss, and she is the last person who will I am sure, you are no man) suppose the " forget him so far as to throw herself into Lady is twelve years older than the Major, " the arms of any other Gentleman, howe could you not have left him to find that "eter deserving."

suppose

she has twelve children, did not the Major know that, think you?

GERMAN TROOPS. No ; no ; you'll never persoade the lady, Mr. COBPETT,- To comment upon the that her reputation will suffer from marry employment of German troops is liable, in ing a handsome

young man.

The public some cases, to give offence ; bare will pay her pension as cheerfully when she cital of facts, without obscrvations, surely is Mrs. CARR, as if she had renained Mrs. no l'easonable being can object to.

ImERCEVAL ; and, for my own part, I shall pressed with this idea, I conceive I may be

;

а

а

out? And

but a

re

sure.

permitted to state, that the people of this | riot in question. And it ought to be fur. town did not shew

any extraordinary ther recorded, that the sailors confined symptoms of joy, on the arrival here of the their proceedings solely to the objects Brunswick Hussars, who were called in connected with their dispute ; namely, the by the Mayor to assist in quelling the late preventing mariners from proceeding to riot ;-and several very respectable inha- sea at the reduced wages, and the liberatbitants, who had been summoned, and had ing their comrades who had been taken attended, in aid of the civil power, declined into custody ; and that, in every other regiving any further assistance when the spect, they avoided offering the slightest foreign troops arrived, assigning, as the insult or molestation ; for when, in the reason, their disapprobation of the mea- struggle to effect the release of their com

,

I do not pretend to say, whether panions, they had overcome every effort of these persons thought or acted right or not; the civil power to resist them; when they neither shall I undertake to decide with had thus become, as it were, masters of the whom originated the seyeral disputes in place, they immediately retired with their which the Germans were engaged whilst rescued brethren, and the town became as here, but shall conclude my narrative by peaceable as if nothing had occurred. It stating, that some very unpleasant occur- is but justice to make these facts public; rences having taken place in the evening for, though the circumstance of breaking of Tuesday, December 13th, the Hussars open the prison cannot be denied, yet it is hastily and unexpectedly took their final loped the above considerations may plead, (but very abrupt) departure from the town and plead strongly, in mitigation of punishabout midnight! To the events of that ment. The writer in the Courier observes, evening is to be ascribed the circumstance " that the Mayor and other Magistrates alluded to in the following paragraph which“ deserve, from.every poaceable and wellappeared this day in the Norfolk Chronicle “ disposed inhabitant, the most sincere and Norwich Asercury newspapers, under " thanks, as their conduct was greatly to the head of Lynn news :

- The private

« be admired.” Now, Sir, though all belonging to the 5th Dragoon Guards, this may be true, and though I believe the “ who was seriously wounded here a short mass of the inhabitants of this town to be “ time since, in a fray with the Brunswick as peaceable and well-disposed as most “ Hussars, we are glad to find is in a fair people, yet they seem not, at present, to way of recovery. I am, &c.

have caught the enthusiasm of the Courier's Lynn; Dec. 31st. A BY-STANDER. correspondent. They feel attached to the

character of the British seaman, with all Riot At Lynx.

his faults, and with all his errors, they enMr. COBBETT, -In your second Letter tertain a respect for some political opinions “ to the Cossack Priesthood of the State of their ancestors; but the “ sincero u of Massachusetts,” inserted in " thanks” for the much-to-beadmired conREGISTER of Dec. 24th, you favoured duct above-mentioned, are yet to come. them, and the world at large, with two ex- Though by no means deficient in the rights tracts from the Courier newspaper, respect- of hospitality, yet no expressions of their ing the late riot in this town.- -Though admiration have hitherto burst forth at the all due deference should be paid to the jovial entertainment given by the Mayor Courier's Lynn Correspondent, who evi- (at his own house) to the German Officers, dently writes in a tone of dignified hateur, the day after their arrival. Now, Sir, and with a proper contempt for those below as animadverting upon certain local politihim, yet certainly the great majority of the cal occurrences, is sometimes a ticklish inhabitants of this populous town, do not point, which no man can more feelingly de. appear to have imbibed his conception of scribe than yourself; and as placards and the subject.-As some of the sailors, or, sarcastic hand-bills are posting and flying (as this writer calls them) “ poor deluded about here in various directions, it would

FELLOWS," are to be tried for their lives, be friendly in you to act as a Monitor to it should be made known, that the mer- tbe " deluded” inhabitants of this town, chans and ship-owners have voluntarily lest, peradventure, through any mistaken acceded to the terms which these “ deluded zeal for the constitutional notions of their “FELLOWS” first demanded, and the re- ancestors, they should fall into perilous fusal to comply with which occasioned the error, by murmuring when they should

a

а.

a

your

66

never

such a

offer their “ most sincere thanks," and by them, ought we not to have a still greater censuring proceedings which are “ greatly tenderness for what we consider their lost * to be admired!"I remain, "Sir, à condition, instead of despising, rejecting, 6 a friend to the real British Constitution, and punishing them?

Priests may say and to social order, though

what they please, but disinterested men Lynn, Jan. 2, 1815. No GERMAN.

will

agree

to their positions as to

people" turning a deaf ear,” being “ wilOx RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

fully blind,” or “ hardening their own LETTER IV.

hearts against the truth.” It would be the Nothing is more contrary to Religion than con

grossest presumption in us to arrogate straint."

ourselves. Whatever Justin Martyr; Lib. 5.

power over

appertains to us must be an effect, of Sir,HELVETIUS remarks “ That which God, or the Devil by his permis

Governments are the judges of actions, sion, is the cause. And would it not be «i and not of opinions. If Faith (says he) much more consistent with Christian cha“ be a gift of Heaven, they who have it rity, to view the different notions of our

mot, deserve to be pitied; and not pu- brethren in this favourable light? Those “nished; and adus, “it is the excess of who avow sentiments contrary to popular “ inhumanity to persecute an unfortunate superstitions, and thus incur that contempt

person.” Every age and country fur- and opprobrium which the bigotry of the nish uś with proofs, that it is possible for vulgar always bestows, are by far more persons of opposite opinions to live in har- likely to be in earnest than they who conmony together, and with abundant testi- form to general customs and commonly monies that people entertaining the great- received opinions; and what impartial est diversity of terets have been alike man can doubt the sinceriiy of the Deists good husbands, fathers, children, and citi- in their religious professions more than zens.---Governments are instituted for the any other class of people ? preservation of social order, consequently The reason why the mass of mankind they have a right to look to our conduct, | doubt whether there be such persons as which, if they are wise, they can suffi- fervent Deists, is because they are not ciently regulate by proper civil laws aware of their mode of reasoning ; or, if founded on the nature of man, his inte- they are, they do not feel its force ; and, rests, and his wants. If we deport our like the Deists, cannot draw the same conselves in a manner compatible with the clusions from the same premises that they good of society, neither legislatures nor do. Deism has had nearly as long standindividuals have a just pretence, authori- ing in this country as the Reformation. tatively, to interfere with our opinions, let It was first promulgated in the reign of them be ever so ridiculous or absurd. As Queen Elizabeth, and is said to bave to Faith, I would say the same of it as La been imported from Italy, perhaps from Rochefoucault says of Love, it is perfectly the circumstance of this country being involuntary, and therefore it is no more in about that time honoured by the visit of our power to believe or disbelieve, than it several eminent Italian philosophers, amang is to love or to let it alone. Why, then, per- whom we can name the celebrated Doctors secute a person for a defect in the under- Lucilio Vanincand Giordano Bruno, both standing, or a bias he cannot help?-Will of whom w ultimately led to the stake

we any reasonable person assert that man and received the crown of martyrdom; the ever chooses evil for the sake of evil? or first at Toulouse, through the good offices of embraces error because it is error ? No! an Attorney-General, and the last at Venice, tre make choice of bad through our de- from the hands of Inquisitors, for stedpraved taste, and we receive false doc- fastły adhering to the Doctrines they had trine because we think it true. If this be broached.* The first English writer upon admitted, onght not those who deem others the subject was Lord Herbert, of Cherbury, wrong, and conceive themselves to be whose book, “ De Ventate," was published blessed with a knowledge of what is right, in 1624; since which they have had to have compassion for such as have the mis among their number many of the greatest fortune to be deluded with mistaken notions ? and if their faculties should be so benumbed * See the Lives of Bruno, Vanini, Spinoza, with prejudice that we cannot convince

Bolin, and Campanella, in Bayle's General Dietionary.

us, that

66

and best men this country has produced. " ism, and bring

ism, and bring on the ruin of their pompWithin the last twenty years Deists

ous ceremonies."'~When we consider have become

very numerous; probably the change which time makes in every more so than is generally suspected, as thing; when we reflect upon what Chrismany thousands of them do not openly tianity then was, and what Deism is now, avow their convictions on account of the shall we wonder if the Deists, at the preprejudices excited against them by the sent day, apply these passages, in their priesthood, who, of course, cannot be inuch schools, to their own unfortunate case. attached to persons whose opinions are op- They, like the early Christians, are moral posed to their interests. But whether they and sincere ; but their mo:ality and sinmake a public profession of their sentiments, cerity is no protection. Who shall decide or only impart them to the liberal minded, in matters of opinion ? Not the law : it I have generally found them to have a will justify the Jews against the Chrisstricter sense of justice, lionour, and mo- tians, and they will have cause to comrality, than, I am sorry to say, the greater plaiu. ,

A little further Mosheim says,

, part of my fellow-Christians possess.-

to The Christians persecuted by the priests, Whether their general good conduct arises

" and the people set on to persecute them. from their consciousness that the Philistines

66 in the most vehement manner.”—The keep a jealous eye upon them, and would Deists may, for aught I know, rank some take a malignant pleasure in magnifying of our priests with the savages of those their indiscretions ; or whether it is a days; but I should be sorry to go so far consequence of the morality taught by the myself. religion of NATURE being unsophisticated

In the same chapter he tells by dogmas, creeds, or the mysterious Nero was the first Roman Emperor who wonders of faith, I will not pretend to de-enacted laws against the Christians, and termine; but merely, as an humble aspirer says, “ The principal reason wliy the Roto the charity of Jesus, bear witness of mans persecuted the Christians, seenus the fact, and doubt not of my testimony

" to have been the abhorrence and conbeing corroborated by every unbiassed ob-"tempt with which the latter regarded the server of man.

religion of the empire, which was so inHaving said thus much, and having intimately connected with the form, and, my last given a slight sketch of the plain

" indecd, with the essence of its political and simple tenets of these people, might I

* constitution.”—The Jews and the Ronot ask, whether the conduct of Christian mans, like us, had costly temples, altars, States in persecuting the Deists, does not sculptures, paintings, solemn forms, grand subject them to the same reproaches which ceremonies, sublime mysteries, innumerthey have bestowed on those who persecuted able priests with fine garments, expeasive their predecessors ? To illustrate this ques- offerings, tythes, and rates; but the early

S tion, I shall occasionally make a few ex- Christians, like our simple Deists, did tracts from the pious and learned Dr. not know the inestimable value and imMosheim, late Chancellor of the Univer- portant advantages of these things, sity of Gottingen, who stands without a which the Romans seemed duly to apcompetitor as a writer of ecclesiastical preciate, as appears by the following: history. When treating of the calamitous - Another circumstance which irritated events which happened to the Church," the Romans against the Christians, was during the first century, he has these re- the simplicity of their worship, which re

“ markable words : *" The innocence and “ sembled in nothing the sacred rites of any “ virtue that distinguished so eminently other people. The Christians had neithir

“ “ the lives of Christians, and the spotless sacrifices nor temples, nor images, ror

purity of the doctrine they taught, could oracles, nor sacerdotal orders ; and this “ not defend them against the virulence was suficient to bring upon them the re" and malignity of the Jews ;” and again,"proaches of an ignorant multitudie, who “ This odious malignity of the Jewish " imagined that there could be no religion “ doctors was undoubtedly owing to a secret without them : thus they were looked

“ apprehension that the

progress

of Chris“ upon as a set of Atheists.”_" But this tianity would destroy the credit of Juila- " was not all; (continues Mosheim) the

“ sordid interests of a multitude of selfish * Vol. I:cent 1. part 1. chap. 9.

and lazy priests, were immediately con

66