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PUBLIC EXECUTIONS.

THE following letter from Mr. Charles Dickens appeared in the Times of Wednesday, November 14:—

SIR, I was a witness of the execution at Horsemonger Lane this morning. I went there with the intention of observing the crowd gathered to behold it, and I had excellent opportunities of doing so at intervals all through the night, and continuously from day-break until after the spectacle was

over.

I do not address you on the subject with any intention of discussing the abstract question of Capital Punishment, or any of the arguments of its opponents or advocates. I simply wish to turn this dreadful experience to some account for the general good, by taking the readiest and most public means of adverting to an intimation given by Sir G. Grey in the last session of Parliament, that the Government might be induced to give its support to a measure making the infliction of Capital Punishment a private solemnity within the prison walls (with such guarantees for the last sentence of the law being inexorably and surely administered as should be satisfactory to the public at large), and of most earnestly beseeching Sir G. Grey, as a solemn duty which he owes to society, and a responsibility which he cannot for ever put away, to originate such a legislative change himself.

I believe that a sight so inconceivably awful as the wickedness and levity of the immense crowd collected at the execution this morning could be imagined by no man, and could be presented in no heathen land under the sun. The horrors

of the gibbet and of the crime which brought the wretched murderers to it, faded in my mind before the atrocious bearing, looks and language, of the assembled spectators. When I came upon the scene at midnight, the shrillness of the cries and howls that were raised from time to time, denoting that they came from a concourse of boys and girls already assembled in the best places, made my blood run cold. As the night went on, screeching, and laughing, and yelling in strong chorus of parodies on Negro melodies, with substitutions of "Mrs. Manning" for "Susannah," and the like, were added to these. When the day dawned, thieves, low prostitutes, ruffians, and vagabonds of every kind, flocked on to the ground, with every variety of offensive and foul behaviour. Fightings, faintings, whistlings, imitations of Punch, brutal jokes, tumultuous demonstrations of indecent delight

when swooning women were dragged out of the crowd by the police with their dresses disordered, gave a new zest to the general entertainment. When the sun rose brightly, as it did, it gilded thousands upon thousands of upturned faces, so inexpressibly odious in their brutal mirth or callousness, that a man had cause to feel ashamed of the shape he wore, and to shrink from himself, as fashioned in the image of the Devil. When the two miserable creatures who attracted all this ghastly sight about them were turned quivering into the air, there was no more emotion, no more pity, no more thought that two immortal souls had gone to judgment, no more restraint in any of the previous obscenities, than if the name of Christ had never been heard in this world, and there were no belief among men but that they perished like the beasts.

I have seen, habitually, some of the worst sources of general contamination and corruption in this country, and I think there are not many phases of London life that could surprise me. I am solemnly convinced that nothing that ingenuity could devise to be done in this city, in the same compass of time, could work such ruin as one public execution, and I stand astounded and appalled by the wickedness it exhibits. I do not believe that any community can prosper where such a scene of horror and demoralization as was enacted this morning outside Horsemonger Lane Gaol is presented at the very doors of good citizens, and is passed by, unknown or forgotten. And when, in our prayers and thanksgivings for the season, we are humbly expressing before God our desire to remove the moral evils of the land, I would ask your readers to consider whether it is not a time to think of this one, and to root it out.

I am, Sir, your faithful servant,
CHARLES DICKENS.

Devonshire Terrace, Tuesday, Nov. 13.

The Rev. S. G. Osborne, (S. G. O.,) commenting upon the above letter, in the Times of this morning, writes, "I am afraid he (Mr. Dickens) was not so placed that he could look into the rooms, &c., of Winter Terrace, where the outfall of the moral sewerage of what is called respectable society found. its vent, where respectable (?) persons used opera glasses to assist their sight in watching the agonies of a man and his wife strangled a few yards from them, where champagne and

eigars helped to while away the hours of this respectable company, just as porter, tobacco, pipes, ribaldry, and indecency, helped the nonrespectables to kill the hours they were compelled to wait, thirsting for the toll of the bell which was to invite them to the exhibition they so desired to see. I, like Mr. Dickens, have seen something of what is called justly the awful condition of those who live lives of utter degradationopen, undisguised vice. I have seen what ignorance, the result of neglect and depravity, taught from the days of childhood, can do to level men to scarce an equality with brutes in brutality; but neither reality nor fiction ever yet pictured to me such utter absence of all humanity, such an utter contempt of all decency, so gross an outrage on all which is held to be right by even men of very low moral standard, as this conduct of these opera-glass creatures; and yet I fear it will be found that some of them were men of note in the world, men familiar with the best society in London, men of rank, men some of whom, perhaps, are members of the Legislature. I trust this is not the case, for God help the aristocracy if such a crowd is to witness such a sample of them; if it is the case, I trust the public voice may demand their names, and public opinion yield them the execration they deserve."

NOTHING IS LOST.

THE drop that mingles with the flood, the sand dropped on the sea shore, the word you have spoken, will not be lost. Each will have its influence, and be felt till time shall be no more. Have you ever thought of the effect that might be produced by a single word? Drop it pleasantly among a group, and it will make a dozen happy, return to their homes and produce the same effect on a hundred perhaps. A bad word may arouse the indignation of a whole neighbourhood; it may spread like wildfire to produce disastrous effects. As no word is lost, be careful how you speak; speak right, speak kindly. The influence you may exert by a life of kindness, by words dropped among young and old, is incalculable. It will not cease when your bodies lie in the grave, but will be felt, wider and still wider, as year after year passes away. Who, then, will not exert himself for the welfare of millions!

ILLUSTRATIONS OF PASSAGES IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT,

WHICH REFER TO CLIMATE, OFFICES, SENTIMENTS, MANNERS, AND
CUSTOMS AMONG THE JEWS IN THE TIME OF OUR SAVIOUR.

LUKE II. 46, "They found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions."

In what part of the temple was Jesus? and how could he be sitting in the midst of the doctors?

We answer the first inquiry by giving a general idea of the construction of the temple :—

This superb edifice was divided into three principal parts. The first was the most holy place or the holy of holies. The second was the holy place, where the priests every day, morning and evening, offered incense at the hour of prayer, and lighted the lamps. The third was the court, which was divided into two parts, one of which was occupied by the priests, who offered the sacrifices, and the other by the people. This great court was surrounded by porticos, in which there were various apartments for the ministers of the temple, for the sacred vessels, the sacerdotal habits, the offerings of the faithful, and for the doctors, who assembled there to give lessons to their disciples. It was in one of these apartments that Jesus was found by his Mother.

The expression of the Evangelist, that Jesus was in the midst of the doctors, means no more than that he was with them. Philo says, that the doctors sat in the synagogue on elevated seats, and their disciples or scholars at their feet, on benches or mats. Paul makes allusion to this custom when he says, that he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, (Acts xxii. 3). It is probable that Jesus, in the same manner, sat at the feet of the doctors, so we find Mary sitting at his feet, to hear his word.

It was permitted, and was customary for pupils, or for any one who was present, to propose to the ruler, or to the whole Sanhedrim, any doubts of which they would obtain a solution. No questions, indeed, could be more idle, and no doubts more absurd, than those which were often proposed on these occasions. From the days of Moses, say the Rabbins, to the days of Gamaliel, disciples stood while they learned the law; but when Gamaliel died, the world became sick, and disciples sat while they were taught. Hence the tradition, that when Gamaliel died, the glory of the law departed.

All who were under twelve years of age, were called by the Jews little children. A child at that age became a son of the commandment, because it was the time at which they required him to enter upon the study of the law. Hence probably the custom of carrying children at that age to the passover. At an earlier age, Jesus would not have been received among the doctors; but the simple fact of his proposing questions to them, excited in them no surprise, as the privilege was, at that age, allowed to all.

We are not informed what were the questions, which Jesus proposed to the Rabbins; but the object of their studies was the law and the prophets; and this was the only knowledge which was valued in the nation. The question which was then deemed the most important of all, and which was agitated in their schools with the greatest interest, concerned the Messiah. Next to God, he was the principal object of their faith and hope. It is probable, therefore, that he asked, when they thought the Messiah would appear? what would be his character? what the signs of his coming? how he would be known? what would be the nature of his kingdom? and what were the blessings which he would bring to the nation? But, whatever were his questions, they that heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers. [See Beausobre's Diss. 12, sur les evenemens les plus memorables du Nouv. Test.; Lightfoot's Hor. Heb. in text; Wotton's Diss. on the traditions and usages of the Scribes and Pharisees, vol. i, pp. 193, 194.]

READINGS WITH THE EARLY METHODISTS.

No. IV.

MR. WESLEY ON HERESY AND SCHISM.

London, Sept. 10, 1749. REVEREND SIR,-Yesterday I received your favour of July 9. As you therein speak freely and openly, I will endeavour to do the same; at which I am persuaded you will not be displeased:

1. Of the words imputed to Mr. Langston I said nothing, because he denied the charge. And I had not an opportunity of hearing the accused and the accuser face to face.

2. That there are Enthusiasts among the Methodists, I doubt not; and among every other people under Heaven. But, that they are "made such either by our doctrine or discipline," still remains to be proved. If they are such in spite of our doctrine and discipline, their madness will not be laid

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