The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-11-29 00:00:00

CONOEM NED SERMON.

I.eng hefore usual hoar, the public entrance to the
prison of the (Ydßailey was crowded by those who felt
us to wit:m*l the Ise public &retinal office per-

I formed by this unfortunate gentleman. The tickets issued
for admission were, we believe, mere numerous than the
chapel could conveniently hold, but horn the precautions
and measures taken by the officers of the establisittsent
neither accident not confusion of the s;iglite-st de.,;ree fol-
lowed. It was generally rumoured dire:writ tire prison,
we believe generally credited, that the unfortunate gently-
, man had signified his intention ot nut appearing in public:
the tilicrM:t had, it was said, received this intimation, arid
did not think themselves justified in taking measures to
comps] his presence. Various reasons were assigned
for this conduct of the condemned. Some said that be
wished to he spared this public act of devotion, which
,mist appear to him, in some shape or other, as a public
exhibition. This, for obvious recsors he, was moat
anxious to aveid, and he natorally wished to reserve his
strength and fortitude for the closing scene; it w also
more than insinuated that it was communicate,. oi the
prisoner, that the sermon to he preached by the oi,:inary
was intended to he more than usually caustic and severe ;
that the Rev. Gentleman, in the wholesome di.,charge of his
sacred functions, propos-el to apply the pungent remedy of
invective; and, no doubt fOr the purpose. of stimulatins to
repentance, to probe to the quick the torten', cl feelings of
the unfortunate man. Whether there opinions were well
or ill founded, we cannot take upon us to decide,
but to the last moment the visi!ors of the chapel
were in a state of doubt as to the appearance of the
principal actor in the melancholy scene. The toiling of
the prison bell at length announced the time of prayer,
and immediately after a rush was made into the Chap, t by
the various descriptions of prisoners. who occupied the
prescribed stations, according to their situations with regard
to the outraged laws of theer country. Those who were
reported and respited,occupled a large scat at one side ; and
those who are yet for trial were placed opposite. We
noticed Carlisle's coadjutors in a large pew, reserved, we
believe, for the more decent order of prisoners. Harris,
whose case, though reported to the King in Council, has
not yet been decided, made his appeal ance, and took his seat
in the condemned pew,upon the seat res.:tweet for convicts in
his situation. At this moment all uncertainty respecting the
presenceof the unfort una te victim of his guilt was terminated.
A group of six gentlemen entered the chapel, in the midst
of whom Was Mr. Fauntleroy ; all eyes were fixed upon
him, placed in the most calamitous situation that tongue
can tell or imagination can suggest ; against whom all
earthly hopes are closed for ever ; whose days are num-
bered by the voice of his fellow-wen. Ile advanced with
a rapid, though firm amp, and occupied the seat reserved
for those who are doomed to expiate their guilt with their
lives. Amongst the gentlemen who attended him during
this trial we recognised the Reverend Mr. Springctt,
the Reverend Mr. Baker, and Mr. Forbes. One of these
gentlemen sat at rich side, the other in front of
their unfortunate friend, and by this kind and pub-
cions precaution they protected hint from the glance of idle
and unfeeling curiosity. From the view we were enabled to
take of him, dejection and despair teetotal to have full
possession of his countenance. lie appeared almost insen-
sible to the yawing scene, and never ter a moment raised his
eves from the book of prayer, which lie held in his hand.
Upon the Ordinary commencing the service, the condemned
appeared to us to become more collected, and joined in the
responses with fervour, and in a tone of voice almost
audible in the gallery. After the usual church service
was performed, the Rev. Gentleman called upon the con-
gregation for their prayers in behalf of the unfortunate
man, who was waiting the awful execution of the law. In
this supplication, the afflicted individual and the entire as-
semblage appeared to joint with the ma atest fervency and
devotion. After this, the preacher ascended the pulpit,
and gave out the text front the lOth chapter, 12th verse,
of the Ist Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians,
" Let him who thinketh that he stand take heed lest he
fall." Upon this text he preached, and said the history of
society showed to them all, that °Mauls of a roost serious
and important nature had been repeatedly brought to light,
of such peculiar extent anti :darning magnitude as to call
down the severest chastitennent of the law. The transac-
tion which had been lately discovered, and for which it
was deemed requisite to make the individual before them
a melancholy example, was known to them all. A solemn
inquiry and judicial investigation were had, a trial had
taken place, a careful jury had returned their unarthrinus
verdict, and the local consequences were now to take their
dreadful effect. There was never, perhaps, an occasion
upon which the preaelier had to ascend the pulpit under
the Influence of more various and embarrassing feelings.
1 Upon other occasions naughty men, the sons of crime,
had been, for murder and robbery, standing before him
for condign punishment; but the deep interest felt by
the public upon this occasion required that lie should
notice it with the gravest attentions. The persons found
guilty of enormous crimes were generally of die lowest
order; but here is a person who moved in the rank
of a gentleman, and whose diameter until lately stood so
high, that men of the highest rank in the country came
forward, with tears in their eyes, to testify the kind, amia-
ble, and highly correct way in which he demeaned himself
through the course of his life. iVhen this is recollected,
the mind becomes paralytic'', the tongue refuses to fulfil
its office, and it was to lie wished that it were allowed to
Christian charity to throw a veil over the case., through
pity for the offender ; but we should take entre, lest in to
doing we did not act in a manner unsuitable to the magni-
tude and nature of the offence, and neglect those duties, for
the performance of which they were that day called toge-
ther. 'fine spectacle before them was shocking to humanity,
and revolting to their feelings, but it nevertheless afforded
testimony of the impartial exercise of the laws. A mis-
taken clamour, the effect of kindness and compassion, was
raised: many individuals besieged Government on behalf
of the unhappy man; it retrained uninfluenced and steady;
it neither went to the right nor to the left ; it kept the even
tenor of its way, showing that in the administration of
juatiee it did not regard the persons of men—it executed
the wrath of God against evil doers, and did not bear the
sword in vain. Though we may lament the stern decree,
we must admire the firmness aria nerve of the Government,
which gave an example to the country that none were too
high to escape punishment, and none too low to share its
attention and meet its mercy. Out of the thirteen persons
who were capitally convicted there was but one on whom
it was determined the law should take its course ; and those
who were shielded from puniahment by Royal mercy were
from the lowest order of the people, the abj.ct and the mean.
In making these observations, tine preacher did not mean
to undervalue the voice of the public—lie did not mean to
set at nought the sympathies of the people, which ever cor-
responded with the best feelings of our nature. Tine opi-
nion of the people of England was entitled to the highest re-
spect—they were generally right when they pronounced
their opinions calmly, and were not artfully excited ; hut
it was to be recollected, that the public voice was trot in the
present case unanimous ; a few only expressed their wishes ;
the great majority acting with prudence, and accord-
ing to their duty, left the entire matter in the hands
of the law, relying confidently on the well known
mercy of the Crown, in cases where life and death
were the questions at issue. But, as upon the one part,
feelings cf a nature too favourable were attempted to
be excited, so there were others too eager to press nisei
a fallen brother, as if they were exempt from that to ,•liielt
he was liable, as if it was impmeaible for them to fall if they
were placed iti similar circumstances. These had not
scrupled, with their unfounded statements and unthinking
assertions, to aggravate the severity of his sorrows, acid
sharpen the bitterness of death. It was for the purpo,,e of
noticing such conduct, the ptvaelter had chosen the text of
the day, as conveying a lesson salutary and just, and nes or
out of season. The Apostle Paul 0 cites the crimes of the
Jews and th...ir punishment : he gives adinon;tiots to the
Gentiles that they may serve as examples both for them
and us. in the Collect rf this try lie censures and con-
amnia the Jews for the habit of jindoing others, and de-
sires them to seardi iierrowly ism their °Au !mitts.—
lle tells them. •"fhent art Meseosable, Oh, nand! who
jitelsest and condeninest others, and dent the same things
thyself." In this precept the: Apostle Paul had two oijr;:b
in view ; last, that we should know ours, ivies, and seeoeidly,
that we should be cautious how we passed severe and
jtielgteemts upon others. We are told by a elbtingentsh,4
and eloquent prelate of our own church, that he was 30-
ga:init.(' with an emblem author who nicror saw a crinno.al
drays:, ti to execution tbat
lie did not inquire, ir; man
n: more bisoable thee' I r This ass a e action we tirolea
repeatedly tick on::lver, when we saw a D111:1:*1. Ca i

to punishment. The pnnisliments inflicted on others
sitmehl be humeri to our own advantage. They sbooll•
t. eel) its to repent our treusgressioos, and make as
inquire if we line not committed crimes which cheerio
the red, ten! escape is came they are net known. Ines
we see a sinus cnnvieted and exposed, we congratulate
onowlves, stud, in the words of the Pharisee, " give
God thanks that we are tint like this men." Harr
net you committed acts highly deserving of peadeis-
ment % Core ult 'lntro lf, and answer if you cal, tee yew
fun- that, if you were placed in the same circumstances,
you world not fall like him ? This may sot *loot who .
wit% your pr. server?—feud. ! Give glory, then, ea doe
lice! who sayal you in the day of your trial : you may fiat-
ter •ottrs:ll,.it that your sins are not known to the world,
but they are known to Goil : he looks down from heaven
upon ail those on earth : your hearts are open to hint—all
your deeires are known to him: he is acquainted with
your uprisines and downsittings : he is about your paths
PrY4l near your buds : he spies all your ways : 6;IN or ban:
eamea secure von from him : darkness cannot hide you :
there is no darkness for him, fright is to him as day : thee
act, of our lives are registered before bim : everything is
notic.:l ley him, whatever we say—whatever we' do.
Wli. et, therefore, we consider that God knows ail those
act which are unknown to the world, ought novur ears
to tinele and our cheeks redden, and ought we wilt to take
heed lest we fall ? The second caution given us by
the Apostle, is to beware of rash and Beim.judg-
ments : there is nothing which we are more in the !Malt
of doing than passing these judgments; there is oo
proceeding in which lass diffidence is showed, even by
those who are apparently religious ; and yet if we went
to reflect a moment upon the conduct of our great ex.
emplar whilst he was upon earth, we should find that
he entreated, guided, encouraged, ieatructed, taught, but
he neither condemned norjtielorel, save the Son of Perdition.
Even in the case of the woman taken in adultery, though
the crime was great, be pave her reazon to expect mercy at
his hands. and said, " Neither do I condemn thee, go ated
sin no more." He, indeed, censured the fashionehla vices
of the age—the hypocrisy of the sects ; but be censure n,
individual. This was.his conduct, and are we as well quali-
fied to judge as be? do we possess as much zeal in the
service of God? If we do, let us show it by giving good
example, by pitying the weaknesses, and bearing with
the infirmities of others. We had neither the means
nor the capacity of forming a correct judgment. We
formed rash opinions by appearinett—we decided od
conduct by hearsay, and on the intentions of the parties by
events, without reference to motives. We could give evi-
dence of the example set to our capacities by God Al-
mighty himself : he said with respect to the cities of old ;
" Though the guilt be great, and the cry be loud, I will go
down and see if things be so." This, therefore, was enforced
by the example of God himself, who 'could not be supposed
to want information, and who acted in this manner to be
an example to us. Such was the conduct of God, when the
report was strong and the cry great: and Christian charity,
that dial not delight in eail—that did not rejoice in in-
iquity—that learned all. and hoped all, would act under the
influence of this example. It should be also remembered,
that as we sow so should we reap, and the judgment we
meted out to others should be meted back to ourselves: if'
they, in allottitig the punishment of sin, weighed other,
in the balance, in that same balance would others weigh
them. It was to be recollected, that when harsh and se-
vere judgin' nts were censured, those meant were pri-
vate ones; but when the offence was greet, the nett
of judgment was proved: it then became a dirty to
the public weal, and a debt to public justice. With re-
gard to the amount of the secniatioo their
erring brother, it was such as would ear, anti
create incredulity, and would of course ansaerctin wherever
it should fall ; but eventually it would fell upset the tnaeto
opulent Company ih the world. The Bank, that
humanity and feeling so peculiarly their own, the con-
sented to scimburre those individuals who had beets de-
frauded. Many years had elapsed since a circumstance
like this had b;•en brought to light ; and notwithstanding
the false impressions that were endeavoured to be excited,
he trusted the sad event would operate as a warning to all,
, and impress indelibly the solemn and impressite maxim:
that the wages of sin were death. Neither let thole
inhabitants of this =nitre, who shall hear elfltilit tram'-
action, behave like the Pharisee, and give their thanks
to God that they are not like other men, nor venn this man.
This may be so, but the speculations resorted to for the
speedy acquirement of riches, even by the seemingly
religious, and the engioements, which can be hardly
called equitable, enter, d into in this metropolis, and in
which it abounds, led hint again to the application of his
text, that he who thinkcth he stands, should take here/
lest he fall. The love of money is the root of all evil,
and yet those who acquire it know that the pursuit has
filled them with trouble, and pierced them with many sor-
rows. In the case before us, a false and mischievous
apology was attempted to be made about the purpose for
which the money waa procured, and to which it was ap-
plied. This wee said by those who ought to knoerbotog
things, as if the end could sanctify the means. This was a
doctrine at war with every moral principle, and in:mical ter
every thing virtuous and good. Wealth, acquired by these
ungodly means could not prosper. No ; though it were
expended most munificently in works of charity—though it
reared its head amid lanes of devotion. It was his duty tv
add, that when the law required such an example to be made
as that before tbeno the preacher should have the sante
object ; and though the remarks and observations he had
made would not come well from any other pulpit, they
came from that pulpit with peculiar propriety. Ile wishea
once more to impress upon the congregation, that GM.
would bring all their acts to light, and work a judgment
upon them, whether good or evil. But time now admo-
nished him to conclude ; and he would addreo harself to
his misguided, though he trusted penitent, brother.
lie would say—" My brother, there is now nothing for
you but the rich covenant of Grace contained in the
New Testament ; this is your only hope. Pray to you'
God : remember that Christ descended from the bosom o'
his Father, and suffered the penalty of our crimes ; that
ter us he took the shape of man ; for us he was bruised.
and suffered persecution, anti by his stripes we were !ualt i.
Th, re are two 'pentode by which ear can eo;oy the helmet
of this saerifice—hy sincere and hearty repen:areo arts
perfect reliance on the merits of this sacrifice. Befere
Christ suffered for us :re were stray sheep, but by ta .•
proof of (Ilenne love a Saviour was ititerpoled, whose de-..t%
upon the crews was an oblation, a west:actin:l. 3 sa natio.
look up, then, mortal, vend your sins, though merle. V
be forgiven you ; your Got awaits yeu, and will no: den•
you salvation, if your repentance be sincere and hearty :
do, then, repeat, and let thejudoment of this day be blotted
out by your sorrow ; little now remains for you to do ire
sight of man, to testiO, your repentance; but let this little
be done: you have be::ore been admonished privately; let
me now edit:clash you, thus publicly, to make :my die-
closure that may he ti:tessary, in conseepteure of any in-
trietcy iu your affeirs that you alone may be :Ode to
plain. It is your du;y to do this before You leave life. 31:y
God breathe iteo you a feeling of this justice, aril tr.:
you exhibit :leis et idence of a new and sancliaed htsa
Brother, farewell—and when you retia: froita s-le,r-.
seivice to the privacy of your r-!iniartit, cry c.lt to ti,e
Mighty God. of whoe• assistance you helve nod : pray t:.
Fin for merry ; he eau supply you with even Pion: tlla%
you a-L with faith in Christ, and lie nil:
' carry you titrott7h the %Alley of the shadow of death, owu
place YOU in the nians,.nt; of the blest. set ;apart fcr tic
truly 11/4;:iz,:nt, v.:), n he caries, as the Correa of the d 55
expo: sea it. in glorious Nl:tieqy, to ju,lize the •-iLt.:k av•ti
the ant t:;1:. you a!so ri,r in glory earoitgli the
and undivided Trinity, to whom a:I pr.t:s.., author:ty, a ei
glory ter e!;:: eete aml for ever:n(4*P. -

This thsz.r.trar was listened to with titr.rylf.t rrofound
attt•ntion, as well by tic- eottgrention as by the it:trout:-
at:to rcrson wit.) wag its inettewate subject, and :t)
it c....ts more partictdarly• addrcesed. mot/nine
after the pri,oticrs Wo'o Vilr t't!, the cou:reption re-
tired, critien:ly ittu..h a'ret,tcd by the awfttl they
ha.l %viol:awl Upon leaving tit' chapt.l. Mr. Ettnttit.re •
aititearmi in a state of emitplett.• exhaustion, ettr,t),:.".•
:o etdirt.i.. butt. anti he was ht•rte
stti..,),lrt:d by the friends nit.) atter.dcd it;an
ctrcniory.

' .
On Ftii!av inornine. his Aitirsty s sug-acznas hunts;
in the inighhinik.:od iVinther.

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IIIEaOCIATIONS WITII TAF. THIPI-ES I'o3 THE

RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY.

Scarcely a succersful robbery to any extent OMIT, of late, hot it I
A immediately followed by negociationa with the thieves for the I
recovery of the property, and the only difficulty is. as to the
amount of the sum upon the payment of which they will undertake
to retitore it, it being considered by the potties robbed, b-tter to
submit to the degrading condition of compromising wiih the
Moves, than to a total loss of the whole property • aril al:hougit
the Act of Parliament under which Jonathan Wild wa4 executed.
KM made fur the express purpose of preventing such torsetices, and
Is still in full force, the instil:l is notoriously continued, and con-
cluded on the pion of the thieves with so.zh caution and dexterity.
that there is no instance on the books of any coloviction under that
statue since leis time. A case has, however. occurred, which, it is
to be hoped, may at length tend to put some stop to this growor.g
and also oni:ig evil.
Lilly II the last week, Mr. J. C. rtampiri, of the firm of Charter_
worts and Crampin, ailkonen, No. •21, Wood-street, Chestsside. an-
poliodro Mr. Alderman Cox. the tinting lilsgistrate for the week,
at.the JdfliCe-rOJITI, foradvice and assistance in a case of
this dercription.
](r.NEwsisir, the City Selieltor, was consuked, and, at his
auggention, Mr. Cnunpin errs desired to draw up a written detail of
she circumstances as they escorted, and he accordingly furnished
the folios log