The National Register. — London, England, 1813-12-12 00:00:00

t f T Ik,s. dn• Insensibility to avowed abuses has been the invariable in. siicator of revolution. This species of indifference, which was so fatally characteriitic of our times, may be traced in almost ever y ramification of the subject now before us. It is the voice of the people, however, and it is the voice of their God, that again calls, perhaps finally, on the protectcd minister . ; of our national religion, each and all, to shew themselves earnest in the faith once delivered to them, and to work while it is day ! Surely it is no expecting too much of the Clergy of the Church of England, especially at this conjuncture, when " England expects every man will do his duty," that they, of all other men, will not continue wanting in those solemn services which they are thus empha tically called upon to -perform ; that, on the contrary, an swering the just expectations of their country, they wilt dis charge their duty--not formallv,but feelingly, not cautiously, but co nscientioUlly—with simplicity of mind, with integrity . of heart, and with irresislable impression. ONESIMU.II. BIBLE ASSOCIATIONS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Sett,--I have read with attention the observations of Onesimsn 1 Its Bible Associations, and.'passing over all extrane ous mattear- I plall briefly examine a few of his remarks on trite Christian princi woes. When he says that " the expediency of Bible Po- , sociations is attempted to be illustrated by repeatim , a series of gossip stories," and then refers to a tole about a poor boy who bought a Bible with the money which he had saved for other purposes, and to accounts 64 of wives who have left off scolding in consequence of taking to read the Bible," I feel inclined to believe that the individual who exclaims against the pions labours of a clergyman in striving to en. kindle some spark of holy and benevolent feeling, by Winging for ward the example of a poor boy, would have been equally dis gusted, if he had lived in our Saviour's day, with the parable of the Sower. But such clergymen in promoting Bible Associations, like their great Master, skew their willingness to be servants to all, and to do good by the most humble means. . Were I the husband of what Onesimus calls a scolding wife, who. had been reclaimed by reading the Bible, I should put a greater' value on domestic happiness than to think lightly of such an effect, as I art of opinion . that domestic discord is one of the greatest woes of human life. It. is a very easy matter to ridieule 'audible exer tions, as Onesimus does, by his remarks on the advice given at Bible Associations, to diminish the consumpam of tea, suntr, &c. ; but when we have this fact stated by a worthy Beslmp, that Bible So cieties have done more for us as a nation th a n fleets aeol armies, I almost fear that I am wasting time in noticing in any way the re marks of Onesinms. I agree whit him that 64 clergymen should be solicitous to preserve the regard that attaches to their pro!essiqn ;' but when any of such a profession " thrust thenexlves forward in the public eye" among horse-racers. they in every " sense put thenL selves out of the prote6tion of their cloth."—" Pulpits are sacred' things, and shield those who till them," ''but when the pre at her descends from the pulpit" into the playhouse, and is pleased by the harangues of lieentiousnens and ribaldry. " his auditors" will " be come" more than " his eept..ls' and will " determine that he ha. no " merit" at all. • Many preachers are not suffeiently aware " how miserably num bers of their profession figure at" balls, assemblies, and cant rities by whicii they become " unfitted" for their ministerial timetions, and lose 44 that personal reverence which stems essential to their impression." Have " preachers" so much " business" at balls, plays, or horse races, as they have on what One:slums styles a" platform" or a" pavement?" I wish Onesinsns to notice these observations that he may be in duced to mark by which sort of preachers the above place s are most frequently atten ded, those who 64 sometimes think poorr to harangue on the floor, er on the platform, or those who never" de scend from the pulpit" to the pavement." Till this is decided, I shall suspend my judgment whether the former or the jostler pay the greatest regard to " their bubvidnal reputation and Ow respecta bility of their church," by holding op the best standa.td of the pu City of that gospel whirls they profess to Jisseminate. Way. ft 6; tat,. crritotactis. , COURT OF KINGS •—■10118111w"- - The above Court was occupied 'ismer& of four hours on Mon day, in deciding the right to the possession of a fine N ewfoundland dog ; the plaintit was an equa.fortis manufacturer, the deti.tulant a potatoe-suerchant, and resided at Ncwgate market. The action wiss brought to recover, in dawuges, the value of a Newfoundland dog taken from the plaintiff's servants by the defendant. Eleveu witnesses were called, who swore the dog was the plaintiff's—an& on the other hand,iliteen as strongl) maintained that the animal Was the property of defendant.—Lord Eleoborough said there was no ' doubt each litigating party believed the dog to be his, and that the witnesses on each side believed what they swore ; he consdere d the plaintiff's proof, however, to be the clearest, and the Jury returned their verdict accordingly. ,NCH. OLD BAILEY. Monday, Thomas Rhodes was put to the bar, charged with the murder of Samuel Presto. The indictment having been read, Mr. Abbot described the case on the part of the prosecution, which, being so fresh in the recollection of the public, we forbear hereto repeat. The learned counsel stated, that there were two distinct questions for the consideration of the Jury : one, as to the 'letzten of guilt of the prisoner, if he were a moral and accountable agent ; and the other, whether the prisoner were in such a state of mind as to make him amenable to any tribunal for any part of his conduct. ' The last question had been before juries in two cases, stilt freslr its the recollection of every one • -and at an earlier period in t he y ear 17:?4, in the case of Edward Harlow, who had fired at a noble Lard. As all punishment was for the sake of example, it was self-evident, that no one deprived of reason could be a proper subject of it : but the plea of insanity deserved to be well -weighed, otherwise it blight serve us a screen to the most atrocious crimes; and it must bellis tinctly ascertained, that the party, at the commission of the crime, was unable to distinguish betwixt right and wrong. Ti proof of in saeity, the commission of the crime could 'level . be admitted. The learned counsel then proceeded to call his witnesses. George Metcalf and Mr. S. Hao were first examined. - Their evidence was the same as given on the Coroner's Inquest i n o ur last. George Lowther stated himself to ben pawnbroker, in Totten- • ham-court-road ; had never seen the primmer till the SOth of To vemher, between 10 and 11 o'clock, when he bought a pair of pistols, for which he paid 11. tss. The conversation turned upon the Mode of loading them ; and as be would make no abatement in the price, prisoner pulled out two il. notes, and he gave him the change. Miss Harriet Riley (this witness was so overcome by her fedi/ere that she feinted. and was examined in one of the side boxes), had known the prisoner six years. He had called upon her on the 30th of November, about ten o'clock, and had conversed with her shout an hour. Met him coming up stairs to her bed-room, which be had never done before ; desired him to go to the drawine-romn, nhich he did, and spoke several times of his uncle, Mr. D. Haigh: said h: had been there that morning and was going there again to settle an account ; prisoner seemed to think his unc l e had done hen an injury, and would have justice. Witness wished him to apolOgi:•s , to his mock ; but the prisoner said it was not the fashion to be io. jnred and to apologise : mentioned that he had escaped, and whezo he was going. • Being cross•examined, said, she had not known that prisoner• l;:kd been in confinement ; his behaviour was melancholy in the extreme ; and his sentences ineoheregt. • In answer to a question frowo!Mr. Abbot, said, he was not collected, but could not judge if he were or were not insane. 4 Mr;llaniel Haigh was next examined : was nncle to the prisoner who bad been some time 'in his employ ; his comities bad been good sip to October twelvemonth. The first change in it, appeared from a letter he had received from him when at Ramsgate, dated Oct. 8, 1813. • The letter was rend in court, and stated, that he• must quit his service for that of his country. and for the benefit of the linnet° race ; but that he would not quit it like a tk!arter, and hoped he would take Isis brother in his house in his stead. A printed paper was enclosed, bearing, that a man • born in England would procure an universal peace, anti would fulfil the language of scripture, in turning the swords into plongleshares. and the spears into pruning. hooks : enquiry to .he matic for T. Rhodes, Aidernombury, The witness went on to state, that he came home on the 13th of October. tlltt, and asked prisoner to dine with him on the Sunday fallovtieg, when he wished to learn the particulars of his -casein, but prisoner • said it was a secret, and could not be divitioul at present. Being asked what means he designed to employ to bring *boat bus p1.t.4. • • A