The National Register.
London, England, 1817-04-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

TION h necessary ; so that we ►nay relieve and disincna►be'
the mind of all selfish and irritable feelings ; and cherish by
daily habit, gentle and conciliating niannrrs, forbearance to
our equals, kindness to our dependants. attention to the poor,
and all the other dearest charities of life.—l ant therefore in
practice a Pythagorean ; and before my karlar devotions at
night, I strictly examine my conduct during the day ; and if
I have been peevish or perxersc, or have done amiss, consider
how I may make amends the next morning."

We have no room for farther extract, but trust we
have given sufficient to excite an earnest wish in the
minds of the reader, for speedy perusal of this valuable
little book.

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

(FITOM a LIVERPOOL tArrn.)

LIVPRPOCIL, APRIL l4.—Last week Mr. Richard Wright,
who has of late delivered religions lectures, mid held meetings
for worship on Unitarian principles, in the Lung Room, Mar-
ble-street (a place which has been frequently ocempied by
different denominations of Christians during the last 20 years),
was summoned, on three intiirmations, to appear before the
Magistrates, on the charge of holding meetings for worship
in a place duly registered. Mr. W right attended at the Town
Hall on Saturday last, at the appointed time, when the. Mayor
(John Wright, Esq.) and Alderman Nicholson, took their
plates as the sitting Magistrates. They were afterwards
joined by Alderman Sir W. Barton.
The first information was then read, relative to a meeting
for worship being held in the Long Hoorn, on Tuesday, the
Ist of April.
The informer on this charge was Reece Davies, of the Li-
rerpoul Courier (.flee; w hot being sworn, gave evidence of
the statement in the information.

The second information Wail then read, which made a
• lar charge for Stiintay, the tith of April.
The informer on this charge also was Reece Davies, of the
Lireepoot Courier Once; who, being again sworn, gave evi-
dence of the statement in that information.
The third information was then read, which made a similar
charge for Tuesday, the nth of April.
The informer cm this charge also was Reece Davies, of the
Liverpool Courier Office; who, being again sworn, gave evi-
dence of the statement in that information.

In answer to some questions from the Bench, and Mr.
Statham, Town Clerk, as to the nature of the prayers, &c.
Reece Davies stated, that they were similar to those usually
made in other chapels.
Mr. Wright being then called upon for his defence, stated,
that in a life of mere than fifty years, he had never knowingly
violated any of the lams of his country. He had reason to
believe that the room in which his meetings were held was
duly registered, as it had been used for worship about twenty
years; and halted, he conceived, that if the place were not
registered, yet, as he had always been informed that it was.
he coulo sot be supposed to have offended against the statute,
as its penalties were directed against those who losnwingly
hold meetings for worship in places not registered. He then
produced some written evidence from a most respectable
quarter. stating at what time, and by whom, and for whom,
the place bad been certified to the Bishop's Registrar at
Chester. 'there had not been sufficient time allowed to pie-
cure a oesti6eate from Chester, but he doubted not he could
do so In a few days. The Bench then agreed to adjourn the
business to that day week, %hen the official evidence was to
be produced.
The penalty ineurred in this case would be, not exceeding
201. on each information, not less than 205.---one halt to the
informer.

Duriug the above examination, Mr. Wright, alluding to
some disorderly conduct in the Long Room (lurk)g worship,
on Tuesday, the Bth, stated, that the individual whom he
meant to charge with that disorder, had refused at the time
to give his address. He had since learnt, however, that his
name was Scott, and he would now ask Reece Davies whe.
ther lie knew that person. Being answered in the affirmative,
lie farther demanded his full name and address ; when Scott
himself, being in the court, was required to give it—which
was, James Scott, of Liverpool, merchant, No. 11, Clayton-
square. Mr. Wright then declared his intention immediately
to prosecute him, under the 12th clause of an Act 52 Geo.
111. fur disorderly conduct during worship on the above even-
ing.
The business on which Mr. Wright was snmmoued being
now, for the present, concluded, Mr. Wright was about to
depart, when Mr. Statham rose and informed him lie had
now to bring forward a charge of a more serious nature.
Mr. Wright.-1 was summoned for a particular purpose,
which I have attended to, and am not bound to attend to any
other business.

Mr. Statham.—Sir, this is an information upon which you
will now be taken into custody. You are charged with blas-
phemy.
He then read as information on the evidence of James
Scott (the identical person Mr. Wright had just stated his
intention to prosecute for disorderly conduct), which, being
duly sworn to, charged Mr. Wright with having expressed
and conveyed to his hearers the idea " that a belief in the
doctrine of the Holy Trinity was absurd and ridiculous—that
it was folly to believe in what was called the atonement by
the death of Jesus Christ, as it was impious to suppose that a
good being would take an innocent victim to atone for the
sins of the wicked—that as the idea of the soul surviving the
hotly was an absard And ridiculous mental delusion, the idea
of a Cloture state was mittally so." Mr. Statham then informed
Mr. Wright, that his proceedings had beck watched ; that
the Mayor had sent persons for die purpose to the Long
Room every eliciting, since he had advertised his meetings in
the Liverpool Me-entry of the 2istli of March ; and that it was
at the Mayor's instance that the informer oil this charge
(Scott) had now attended to give evidence.
Mr. Wright.—Why, Sir, the sentiments /delivered are legal
by Act of Parliament; and the last charge is an entire false-
hood, and contrary to all my sentiments.
Mr. Statintia.—That you must show in another place. You
must give bad fur your appearance at the nest Assizes at
Laucaster s yourself m ;mud. and two sureties in HMI each.
[Mr. Wright was limn placed in custody of the constables,
and put to the liar as a prisoner.)
Mr. Wright.—Bia,Sir, I must know under what law I am
charged with this.
Mr. Statham.—Underne particular Act, but under tie law
attic land.

Mr. Wiight.—Untler what law of the land?
Mr. Stathain.—Under the common law?
Mr. Wright,-•Udder what CO11:131311 law ? Have you never
seewthe Act of Parliament, lately posed, which
the exercise of religiem opinions, which were before lAA
peranttedi—Ta tbis no answer w& given.

APRIL M.

Mr. Wright.— But if I he arrested, anal livid to bail. cons
arary to the provisions of an Act of Parliament, can I not
claim indemnity t
Mr. Statham.--You can adopt what steps yon think proper.
Two friends of Mr. Wright, ss ire happened then to be
the court merely as spectatots, offered themselves as sho
regoircd bail. One of them (Mr. P. B. Wright) in describ-
ing his residence, stated, that it was near Anne's Church.
The Mayor and Mr. Statham instantly asked was it not Saint
Anne's Church? Mr. P. B. Wright said he had spoken of it
in the tesual way, and bad casually omitted the word Saint.
tic did not know of such a Saint in Scripture, nor did he
believe such an omission was criminal. Mr. Statham said,
" Sir, I suspect you purposely omitted the word.' Mr. P.
B. Wright here claimed the protection of the court.
Mr. Wright.—! have now, Mr. Mayor, offered any bail, sad
of course claim my liberation.
Mr. Statham.—Yon must give tvrenty.four hours' notice of
your bail, and ia.quiries must he made into its sufficiency.
Bail is not a matter of course. You may he kept iu custody
a week, Sir, for aught you know.
Mr. Wright.—!l am certain, Sir, that if a short time were
allowed, so that this business could be made known out of
doors, I should have bail offered which the Mayor must know
would be sufficient.

Here another friend of Mr. Wright stepped forward anti
said, Mr. Mayor, if only a few minutes be allowed before
you leave the hall, I am sore I can produce fur Mr. Wright
the most respectable bail to any amount.
Time was allowed. Mr. Wright was removed in custody
to the Jury Room, having objected to be sent down amongst
persons charged with crime ; and, in about fifteen minutes,
Mr. Wright's friend returned with two gentlemen, whose
surety was not a moment objected to. Mr. Statham asked
them if they were acquainted with the nature of the charges
against Mr. Wright. He then read the information. One
of the gentlemen remarked, that with Mr. Wright's religious
creed he was not acquainted, but on his integrity he would
enture his property. The other observed, that he agreed
in the sentiments imputed to Mr. Wright, with the excep-
tion of the last, which he did not believe Mr. Wright ever
espoused.
Mr. Wright was then liberated, and his departure front (he
Hall was only impeded by a number of other friends, eagerly
pressing in to otter themselves as his bail.

We have given the proceedings which the Mayor
of Liverpool has thought it his duty to institute against
the Rev. Richard (the Liverpool Paper calls him, by
mistake, John) Wright. We regret exceedingly that
the spirit of party should prevail so strongly as it does
in that extensive town. We fear the Magistrates will
not add to their respectability by their measures against
Mr. W. This gentleman we happen to know very
well; and though we differ from him greatly as to
many of his religious tenets, we know him to be a sin-
es re Christian, and a zealoi:s and faithful Minister of
Religion, inculcating what he conceives to be truth
with great zeal and earnestness; but withal, in a
manner not calculated to inspire any feelings of resent-
ment in the breasts of the liberal-minded of other de-
nominations. Mr. Wright is a good scholar, but a
better man—his integrity of character is such as en.
titles him to the profound respect of all those who
have any means of knowing and appreciating it.

A Serjeant in the army, dressed in his regimentals,
with the Waterloo medal pendant at his breast, preached
a sermon to a crowded congregation on Geod Friday, at
the Dissenting Chapel at Gravesend, from the 19th
chap. and 30th verse of St. John.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

WEDNRSDAY, APRIL 16.

Earl 13kTnt'nST laid on the table certain arts of the Letis-
latures of Jamaica and other West India Colonies relative to
the registration of slaves, pursuant to his notire when the
subject wa. mentioned by Lord Grenville before the recess.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE moved for accounts relative to
the national debt.—Acconnts ordered.
LORD SIDMOUTH'S LETTER.

Earl GRAY moved that a copy of Lord Sid Mouth's letter
to the lord lieutenants of counties relative to the circulation
of seditious pamphlets, be laid on the table. To that he un-
derstood there was no objection. He thought, however, that
in order to have full information on the subject, their lord-
ships on7ht to have before them the case submitted to the
law officers of the Crown, and the opinion given upon it,
retiffred to in that letter. There was some doubt, however,
as to the propriety of the production of these latter pa-
pers, and he would postpone moving for them till another day.
The letter, and the opinion referred to, lie considered as
very extraordinary, and well deserving their lordships' notice.
'lite letter ordered to be produced.
Earl GriLs, then moved for an account of the nett amount
of the consolidated fund in April ISIS, 10, 17. Ordered.