The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-08-12 00:00:00

. •
SUPPRESSICV OF VICE.

Ilsr the peppreesion of Vice.; inuitubeel fa the putt .pose
se giving efts" to the LAWS etude for the Pratectioa 01 Re.
asio .And Mush% Faso frteoily admonition bas of
ineceris
A... correspondence. Which hie lately passed b.-
mien the Committee of the shave Society ama
Charles Cockerell, Esq. of Hyde Park Corner, has
found its way into some of the public prints ; and
as the gi minds on which the Committee have aced
do nut sufficiently appear in the correspondence so
published. the Committee feel it to be due, not only
to therocilves, but also to the Society which has ho.
floured them with its coafidence, to enter into the
following explanation:
Intimations hail been given to the Committee,
from various quarters, that two figures. contained
in a piece of sculpture, in bas-reliet, in the trout of
Mr. Cockerell's house, had for some time. and cape-
'jelly since the distressing trials at Lancaster, much
ezeited the public attention, on account of an allu-
lea which the Seers were supposed to bear to the
i detestable crime which gave occasion to those trials.
The Committee used all the means of inoffensive
inquiry which they could command, in order to
ascertain how far such intimations were deserving of
attention; when they found, that the intormation
they had received was saltily coated, and that the
populace, even io groups, compottat of both sexes.
were freqeently seen to gate at the Stares in qua.
non; welch, in consequence of the impriseiim they
had excited, were become the subjed of tree con-
ve, sAtion, at public hr. u te-, and tip ding the origin
of which, a vulgar story wis squally current. Be
sides this, some Memliers of the Ssciety. in whose
lodgment the Committee reposed gr-at confidence,
jee:ree
drequested t 3 examine the scut; true, which ap-
• to them fully to justify the construa.un
that had been put upon it. Under the Maples
skins then conveyed to the minds of the Com-
mittee, they addressed a letter to Mr. Ceckerell,
stating, in general terms, the tad, that cc; lain
figures, in has relief, in a very indecent situatius,
in the front of his house, had lately mucn excited
the public attention," and presuming *. feet such
an exhibition was unknown to him." itt answer to
which, they received a letter, whereby NV. Cocke-
tell expressed a desire to learn the mussel of the
i:enilemeu of die L;ommittee from whom the ippli-
cation hid proetetted tor the purpose, as Oe said,
of elucidation. Upon the delivereof thit letter, it
Was immediately opened by the Secretary, who, ob-
serving teat ine hearer had tne appearance of a gen.
densini, foal him, verbally, that he tould not,
without the authority of the Committee, give any
particular names. as require t; but intormeu AM, at
t ,1 same time, of the day and hour of their weeloy
meetings, at the Society's holm, when All. Coca-
ere* might, if he pleased, have an opportutiety et
conferring with them ('his verbal ;tiny was se-
ported to the Committee, sad by them Approtest;
alter which a full month elapsed, without Incur
either seeing or hearing from Mr. Cockerell. Con.
eluding, from this circumstance, that the requisitsoo
which Mr. C. had made for t:.eir imates. was pro-
duced ins by a desire of explanation, than oy
wish to make Car matter personal, in .ome cote:lave
way, to the Meashers of the Com:muse ; conc.iv-
ing, also, that tneii application 11.1,1 tonally tatted.
they 'prised hens et the steternsinaumi uay H&J
t Ikea to inquire whether the laws of -the country
WOW I tolerate an evil, so injulious, as they consi-
dered the au in question to rte, to toe public sweat,.
Such a dmerrntocion was i s precise tootorasity
with the oiled of their institution,. which is merely
to .etereite, as a bo.,y, the unsi sestiortable right be-
hinging to error individual in a tree state, to appeal
to the laws which at made for the protection o. the
public- morals. That the :vats in which taat %tete,-
mmetio • was conveyed have given Gagne,. to Ale.
C. bra eireneestauce which they sincerely regret.
With regard, however, to the math quesuou. the
props iety set then original appheation to Mr C., it,
indeed, any doubt can be entertained upon moat
question. they think it necessary to observe, mat
their interference was occasioned, not by any hasty
surmises or loose comjedures, respeding the figures
in the front of Mr. C's house, nor even by any con-
etrudion whichaiev had put upon those hares.. bat
oy the cffea which had actually been produced oy
them upon the public mind rho ciicurnstaece of
such an aka having been pros/acid was a f. 4
which they had ascertained. by the most detiocrate
inquiry, before they applied to Mr. C.; vnit toey
are confident that every candid person will feel Witt.
them, that this fad, with relation to as übjedt of such
singular delicazy, and t e most distant aitusien to
which is repudrant to British feelings, fully au-
thorised its communication to Mr C. nay, met they

should have been deserving of censure if they had-
not communi:ated it. Whatever .night Ise the
original design of the sculpture, and odsrever cir-
reft or elassicJ Its Application, the true and only
questiss, with regard to he public, tespehed the
manner in which it was understood by those whose
education did not quality sista, Its li.ok upon it nab
a classical eye, and on whose ruin& the attitude
of the tigures c3iitaived in it, especially us the
el-stated situ.o.•:na its which they .re placed, was
t icus. %I to mate the impression which it aCtually
did pros. It ought lot. however, to pas sena-
out °burr. in, that it . v come to the Anowicage
of the Cotrumttee, that oie..rs individuals, of
su-
penwr rank and education, d : van the scholars in
a gteat seminary in this men o, sits, have been Ac-
customed, fcr yeats, to view the .',T,ures in the same
odious light in which they hav t L. en generally mom
by the lower classes.

'The Committee lament the w 'salty they are en-
der of entering into «9, explana• a upon
of such a nature, and tdey wish saltine the circu-
lation of sen to iLe channels in • ich the corre-
spondence has found its way. 'ft !rim that, uu
account of their interference on the , .env occasion.
no less than of their general est rtic.,..ien the eau-e
of public Sin, lily, due ado 411111C1';,eing syade tor
the inspritte.ion of all human agents. 'hey shall be
tutuul deserving. in some skgree, St the 4140114.440111
and countenance ot use vs • and the good. and, in.
deed, of the gratitude of their consul, to whose
highest wellare their dkAowseslcd eervices are
devoted.
._—Errezingaismisa
I. Wt. Rit•M•rtll,4, Esq. Depv.y Recorder of the
borough ot :...i,nford. is appointed Der,uty Re-
corder of Miiiii,ruptnn. in cleat u. the K•gat
StINCSIL Placavat, teaieski.