The National Register.
London, England, 1812-05-31 00:00:00

TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

26

6 '

House of Commons relative to the treatment received by Mr. Peter
Fin•erty, and to which he attrihtited his release from solitary confine-
n ient, pr..ying that the House would ti.l.• the same into their consider-
atioii.
The Petition being read, upon the question fur its lying on the
t ible,
M.r.
meteunt rose and begged leave to state a circumstance which
had coe has knowledi,,e only that moriiiii4• It was the case of ano-
ther prisoner confined for debt in the same goal. The unhappy man
was seized with a violent complaint in lass bowels on a Saturday night,
and the gaoler re p;,
I.ini 2ny medical i-once, he contrived however
for the time, to ably the pain by the apOlcation of spirits, but on the
onday, even that ' ernedy was taken froni him by his unmerciful
- keeper. On that night the disorder returned with redoubled violence,
and his pieecing screams awoke his fellow prisoners, who came to his
Assistance. Tile gaoler refused to call in Medical assistance, or to dis-
turb the Governor, but after some persuasion, he at last consented to
call the Governor, and in the mean time, the poor man died. A Co-
roner's Inquest was held on the body, and he (Mr. B .) was greatly sur-
prised to find, that the Coroner, whom be had known to be a most re-
prised ectahle person, had condescended to take the pannel of the Jury fur-
nished by this very gaoler. The Coroner gave his charge, the facts ap-
peared in evidence, and the Coroner told the Jury they were to consider
whether the man had died through the negligence or improper conduct
of tie gaoler, or by the visitation of God; and the Jury brought in
theo- verdict, "rka hy the Visitation of God." eid
be e not menquirean tod
impeach the verdict, but thought it a very proper cHased to
into, and hoped tide those of his Majesty's Government undur whose
eognizerce C.Lis partment fell, would take it into their ton-
ti drat ion.
The i'eti.ion WAS then ordered to lie upon the Table, and
Sir beau ea. Reaticev gave notice that he should on Monday the 10th
June move that the sarne betaken into consideration..
After s. me routine business, the House adjourned to Monday.
-----------

k

I

PERCEVAL.

The More More we scrutinize, the mote we look e
into
entethe d
cPoharrcevacter al, and
examine the daily proceeding; of the ever to b lam wit
a microscopic eye, the more are vs e lost in admiration and wonder, and
wo can scat eely withhold oursebtes from comparing the exquisite beauty
a d order ot his well regulated minds, with the anatomy and astonishing
mechanism of the human body. But are theyGo not alike fated mronant the
after hi-
der-working hand of the Almighty ? " And d cres
own image." This we knew; we know also, alas! with no less cer-
tainty, that man afterwards became a fallen creature. Nevertheless, it
might he the will of our all-bountiful Creator, in compassion to his crea-
tures, to let them still see, notwithstanding their disobedience and
llowing
fallen
state, to what degree of perfection they relight yet attain, by fo
the
m Divin precpts and iustructi.sns that he hath been pleased to
Jesus
t
us,e through the Saviour of mankind, his only Son Jesus
Christ. It is not the few simple facts that we are about CO state that call
forth in us these remarks—this just tribute—but it is that accum
llow
ulation
co highly meritorious details that hourly unfold themselves, as we fo
this great and good man into those private recesses? which we should
have never sought, nor continued to explore, but for that delight we have
experienced in tracing the perfection of human nature to the utmost
twits, and to shew to what extent it may be carried, when guided by
tor principles ot pure religion and sound morality.
Mr. Percevars attention to the education of his children, was carried
by bun, probably to greater lengths than by any other man in so arduous
and elevated a situation. In root of this, young Mr. Yerceval regular-
ly transmiiret! to his father, from Harrow, his daily exercises, and this,
too, notwitt staiding Dr. Butler is his private tutor, and who consequent-
ly devotes to hi if as much of his time as is in his power. It is almost
ueedkss to add, that Mr. Perceval lost no opportunity, either by precept
or . sal it I It-, CO inculcate upon the minds of les children every m
beings was
oral and
religious duty. On the very day that this best of human
snatched from this world, previously to his setting off for the House of
Commons, ke went up to his children's room, and kissed them • and
th Sis at the very moment when his nand must have been perplexed' wit
nth
oil the e.:res and vexatious of parliamentary bthiness. uch was is
remitting applications to public afiairs, that he thodght no sacrifice too
great when put in competition with them. It was from a strict adhe-
rnice to this rule, that some of his nearest and dearest relatives, though
at tached to him as closeiy by the tits of friendship as those of blood, had
not the satisfaction of enjoying his amiable society shove twice in the
whole course of a year; nay his very meals afforded hint no escape from
ness
the pressure of busi ; and we call upon Mr, Palmer, as the last
person who can, to a certain degree,now afford strong presumptive proof of
t iis issertion,
Mr. Palmer, the son of the Lite Mr. Palmer (to whom this country
curl foul wilr ever stan indebted for his inenious arrangements reectin
111.-coaches d
), having again brought forward his father's claims, Mr. g
Yerceval was arothaus to give him that support which justice demands.
Vol' this purpose, he appointed three o'cltelt (the very day on which he,
met his fate), ais the most convenient hour for seein instantly, This
Gentleman, npon entering the room, drew back supposing
that he had been introduced into the d;ning parloar by yoistake ; hut
our indefatigable Miuister had him re:,alicd immediately, saying, with

MAY 31

his usual complacent smile, " I hope, Mr. Palmer, if you will not pin-
take, you will not Objt ct- to the Even of the dinner ; this is, in fact, the
only moinent I could give y(,u a faiv and comfortable hearing." Could
any thing add to the merit of this trait, it is the certainty of hit not hay.
Mg had leisure to visit for a few nioinents, during the whole morning,
the very tender object of his affections, that beloved wife whom, alasi
he never more beheld.
We trust that we shall not be accused of puiitanism or methodism, if
we beg leave to add by way of commentary on the above interesting de.
tails, a short extract of an admirable sermon, preached by the Rev. Wm.
lluti?lits, M. A. at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, on Thursday,
May 16, 1811. In this will be f ,und an all-powerful argument for sub-
mitting, with pious resignation, to the unerfing wise decrees cf an all.
bountiful and all-inerciful God, in whom we live, move, and have our
being ; an argument which, blessed be God, now sustains the otherwise
unhappy and disconsolate widow, the loss of whose virtuotia and match-
less Lord, the mass of the nation now justly deplores.
" Many of the valuable qualities of the heart are to be best acquired
bnyi i
st,lise‘svandic,
hbuetleinvsattreusctthiveesoleuslsoabnos
voef adversity.
despicable cares
act
afraeitstioifntiGleotp,
r'sepseront•
world, to the momentous concerns of futurity—that steady equanimity,
which knows not what it is to despond under misfortune
underh t—tat pious
re-
signation to the w ill of Heaven, which supports us he severest Trials of temporal affliction, and which enables us to regard them as the
salutary corrections of fatherly affection, are sentiments which cannot be
inspired, without imparting signal and lasting benefit to those who
A
11.
tain them.' _ —