The National Register.
London, England, 1819-10-17 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

against the peace of our said Lord the King, his Crown and
digni.y,
second and other Counts charged the publication of the
several libels which they respectively ~ct forth, in similariensw
" I )id the book called the Bible" (meaning that part of the Holy
Bible which is called the Old Testament) " excel in purity of
ideas and expreasion, all the Woks that are now cxtaht in the
world, I would not take it for my rule of faith as being the word
of Cod, because the possibility, would, nevertheless, exist of my
being imposed upon ; but when 1 see, throughout the greatest
pan of this book" (meaning that part of the Holy Bible which is
called the Old Testament) " scarcely any thing but a history of
the grossest vices, and a collection of the most paltry and con-
temptible tales, I cannot dishonour my Creator by calling it by
his name" (meaning and intending thereby, that throughout
the greatest part of that part of the Holy Bible which is called
the Old Testament, there is scarcely any thing but a history
of the gloat% vices, and a collection of paltry and contemptible
tales.)
_ . . . _

Third Count.—" To charge the commission of acts upon the
Almighty, which„ in their own nature. and by every rule of
moral justice, are crimes, as all assawinaffin is, and more eve-
cadly the assassination of intknts, is matter of serious concern.
The Bible tells us that those assassinations were done by the
express command of God—to believe, therefore, the Bible to be
true, we must w,believe all our belief in the moral justice of
God, for wherein could crying or stalling infants offend? And
to read the Bible without lioreor, we mast undo every thing that
is tender, sympathising, and benevolent in the heart of man.
Speaking for myself. if I (meaning the writer of the aforesaid
libel) hail no other evidence that the Bible is fabulous than the
sacrifice I (meaning the writer of the said libel) raw make to
balLve it to be true-, that alone would be sufficient to determine
my choice." And in another part thereof according to the tenor
and effect following (that is to say.) " I have now gone through
the examination of the four books ascribed to Matthew. Mark,
Luke, and John" (meaning the kin. Holy Gospels, in that part
of the Holy Bible which is called the New Testament.) "and
when it is considered that the whole space of time from the cru-
cifixion" (meaning the crucifixion of our hless.sl Saviour and
Redeemer, Jesus Christ,) te to what is called the Accusation, is
but a few days. apparently not more than three or four, and
that all the circumstances are reported to have happened nearly
about the same spot, Jerusalem, it is, I believe, impossible to
Lind in any story upon record, sit many and such glaring absur-
dities, contradictions, and falsehoods as there are in those
Woks."

Fourth Count—" It" (meaning that part of the Bible which
is carted the Old l'estainent) •` is A book of lies, wickedness, and
blasphemy."
Idoh Count—" As it is nothing extraordinary that a woman
should be with child before she was married, and that the son
she might bring forth should be executed, eves: unjustly, I see
no reason for not believing that such a woman as Mary" (mean-
ing the Blessed Virgin Mary,) •• tent such a non as Joseph and
Jilll/4" (meaning our Saviour Jesus Christ) existed ; their
mere existence is a matter of indifference, about which there is
no ground either to believe or to disbeleive. and which comes
under the common head of, It may be 60, and what then ? The
probability, however, is, that dicer were such persons, or at
least such as resembled them in part of • the circumstances, be-
calm almost all romantic stoats have been suggested by some
actual circumstances, as the adventures of Robinson Crusoc, not
a word of which is true, were suggested by the case of Alexander
Selkirk. It is not. then the existence or non-existence of the
persons that I. trouble myself about, it is the fable of Jesus
Christ, as told in the New Testament, and the wiltband visiona-
ry doctrine raised thereon, against which I contend. The story,
taking it es it is told, is blasphemously obscene ; it gives an
account of a young woman engaged to be manied, and while
under this engagemew t she is to ei.eak plain language, debauch.
ed by a ghost, under the impious pretence (Luke, chap. i.• see.
350 `r that the holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the pow-
er of the Highest shall overthrow thee."
Sixth Count—a` What is it the l'estionent" (meaning that
part of the Holy Bible which is called the New Taaanient)
" teaches us ? To believe that iii Almighty committed de-
bauchery with a woman engaged to be married ! and the belief
of this debauchery is called faith."
Seventh Count.—" Rut the case is, that people have been
so long in the habit of. reading the books called the Bible"
(meaning that part of the Holy Bible called the Old Testament)
`• and 'testament" (meaning that part of the Bible called the
New Testament) t• with their eyes shut, and their senses locked
up, that the most stupid inconsistencies have passed on them for
truth. end imposition for prophecy. The• all-wise Creator bath
been dishonour:al by being made the author of fable. and the
lout-in mind degraded by believing h." And in antalteepart
thereof, according to the tenor and ettlas following (that is to say)
.• I forbear making any remark on this elan:M.lde imposition
of Matthew" (meaning the Holy Evangelist Saint .11... thew),
" the thing glaringly speaks for itself : it is priests and eonimen-
utters that I rather ought to censure for having preached false-
hood so lo g, and kept paw le in dasktiesa with respect to those
impositions. I and not contending with those men upon points
to do...trine. for I know that sophistry has always a city of refuge;
I sin speaking of facts : for wheretar the thing called a filet is a
falsehood, die faith founded upon it is delusion, and the doe-
nine raised upon it no: true. Ali ! reader, put thy tut tin thy
Creator and thou wilt be safe, but if thou trustest in the Book
celled the Scriptures" (meaning the Holy Scriptures) " thou
ti ui test to the rotten stelf of table and falsehood." And in an-
-o,ller part thereof, according to the tenor anti tafect tidlowing
(that is -ay', I have now, reader, gone through and examio.
ed all elle ptiesages which the fon books of Matthew, Mark.
Luke, and John" (meaning the four /lob Gospels) " quote
from the Old Tiatainent, and call them prophecies of Jesus
Christ- When first I bet down to title cxamination, I expected
to find cause for sonic censure, but little did I expect to find
them so utterly des:itute of truth, and of all pretensions to it, as
have sliewn them to be; the practice which the writers of the :e
hooks eitqAtly is not more false than it is absurd , they state some
trifling ease of the person they call Jesus CArist, and then cut
out a sentence front some poesage of the Old Testameat, anal call
it a prophecy of tl•at ease. But when the words thus cut out are
restored to the place they arc taken hom, and read with the
words before and atter them, they give the lie to the New 'tea ts-
ment : a short is or two of tais a iil suffice for the wholes"
And in another pot tieretsf, according to the tenor and effect
following .that is to say). •"these repeated forgeries and falsiti•
cations create a well-founded suspicion. that all- the cases spoken
of concerning the person called Jesus Christ, are mall, cases on
purpose. to lag in, and that very clumsily, sonic broken sentences
trout the Old l'estanient, and apply them as proplieciee.of those
cases, and that so far from los being the mai of God, he did not
even exist as a non ; that he is merely en imaginery or allego-
rical character, as A polio. Jupiter. and all the Dvaties
a antiquity were. 'there is no history written at the time Jesus
Christ is said to have lived, that speaks Ut Ric existence of such
a person, even as a man. Ilid we find in any other books ors-
tending to hive a system of religion, the falselioteis, falai:nations,
contrettictiose, and absurdities it loch arc to be met a ids in al-.
most every page of the Old and New T.slaineut. ail theriesl4
of the present e.ay who supposed themselves eapa'ale, .e041(1 tri.
uniphantly skew their skill in criticism, and cry it down as a
most glaring inspe4tion ; but, since the banks in anestion beleng
to their own inuie and !were sito, ther. or at least many of them,
seek to stifle every impury into them. and abase these who have
the !moldy and courage to do it." And in :mother part thetetof,
according to the tenor and (street thllow lag (that is to say) •• They
tell us that Jester ruse from the dead and ass:email into !leaven ;
it is very easy to say so ; a great lie is as easily told as a little ere ;
but it he had done so, these weald have beta the circuottitan-

sic

ces re..,peedn t would Eav- direred font the common set
et' ....an, and to:.. iently die only es,e that would apply eselu•
si rely to hint prophecy. would be ionic passage in the 011 Testa-
slant that foretold such things of him : but there is nut a passage
in the ()Id Testament that speaks of a person, who, after bein„st
crucified, dead, and buried, should rise from he dad and ascend
into Ileaven. Our prophecy mongers supply the seenee; the
phi Testament guards upon such thing‘, by telling us, of pas- •
saws they all prophecies, and that falsely ; so about Joseph's
dreams, old clothes, broken bones, and such like trifling stuff:
And in MIMIC,
part thereof, amording to the tenor and ett:s..t
followins: (that i. to say). ** Now had the news of salvation it y
Jesus Cfitiasbeen inscribed on the iibee of the sun and moon is•
char:utters that all nations would have understood, the whole eart
had known it in twenty-four hours, and all nations would have
believed it. Whereas, though it is now almost two thousand years
since, as they tell u , Christ came upon earth, not a twentieth
part of the peove of the earth know any thing of it, and among
those who do, the wiaest part do not believe it. I have now,
reader, gone through all the passages called prophecies of .IC6UA
Christ, and shewn there is nu such thing. I have examined the
story told of Jesus Christ, and compared the several circam •
stances of it, with that revelation, which, as Middleton wisely
says, God has made to us of his power and wisdom in the struc-
ture of the universe, and by wham every thing rasa ibed to him
is to be tried. 'l'he result is, that the story of Christ has not ont-
trait, either in its character or in the means employed, that brae:
the least resemblance to the power and wisdom of God, as de •
tuonstratal in the creation of the universe. All the means are
human means, slow, uncertain, and inadequate to the scam •
plishment of the end proposed, and therefore the whole is a fabu •
loua invention, and undeserving of credit. The priests of tla
present day profts to believe it. they gain their living by it, arm
they exclaim against something they call infidelity. I will detinv
whet it is: he that believes in the story of Christ is an infidel t 3
God." . .

Eighth Count—" These repeated forgeries and falaificatiors
create a well-founded suspicion that all the caste spoken of we..
coming the person called Jesus Christ, are made cases on purpoie
to lug tn. and that very climisily, some broken sentences trot
the Ohl Testament, and apply them u prophecies of those case,.
and this: so far from his being the Son of Goa, he did not ealo
even as a man that lie is merely an imaginary or allegories!
character, as Apollo, I leretslea, Jupiter, and-all the deities i t
antiquity were. There is no history written at the time of Jest.*
Christ is said to have lived that speaks of the existence of such a
person, even as a ma... Did we find in any. other book, pre-
tending to give a system tit religion, the falsehoods, falsiticatiutia,
contradictions, and absurdities which are o.‘ be•niet with in alum t
every page of the Old and New 'festament. all the priests of.the
present day who stv,.posed themselves capable, would triunipl
antly show their skill in criticism, and cry it aos•n as a mu t
gla. Mg imposition; but since the books in question belong to
their own trade and profession, they, •or at least many of theta.
seek to stifle every inquity into them, and abuse those who have
the honesty and the courage iota() it."
Ninth Count—" Now had the news of salvation by Ilan
Christ been inscribed on die fate of the sun and moon, in cha-
racters that all nations would have understood, the whole twat
had known it in twenty four hours, and all nations would have
believed it; when.aa, though it is now almost two thousand
years since, as they.tell us, Christ came upon earth, nut a twen-
tieth part of .the people of the earth know any thing of it, anid
among those that do, the wiser part do an believe it. I have
now, reader, examined the story told of Jesus Christ, and stiewn
dine is no such thing. I have eitaminea the story told of Jesus
Christ, and compared the several tin:natant...cur of it with that
revelation, which, as Middleton Wisely says, God has made use of
his power and wisdom in the structure of the universe, and by
which every thine ascribed to him is to be tried. The tesult is,
that the story of Christ has not one trait either in its character ur
or in the means employed, that baara the least rthenthlance to the
power and wisdom of God as denominated in the creation of the
universe. All die means are human means, slew, uncertain,
and inadequate to the accomplishment of the end pr0p0,..11, sod
theretOre die whole is a fabulous invention and tool:eery:Jig of
of credit. The priests of the present slay profess to believe it,
they gain their living by it, and they exclaim against something
they call infidelity. I will define a hat it is : he that twilevot iu
the story of Christ is an infidel to God.
Tenth Count —" lior toy own part, I do not believe there is
one word of historical truth in the whole hook".lniemiing that
pan of the Holy Scriptures called the New Tegument.) I look
upon it at best to be a romance, the principal personage of which
is an imaginary or allegorical character founded upon same tale,
and in which the mural is in many Fula good, and the narrative
part very badly and blunderingly written."
Eleventh Count—" flat die case is, that people have been so
long in the habit of reading the books called the Bible and 'fee-
tanient with their cyth shot, and their senses locked up, that the
MO it stupid' incon.sistencie, hare paiised on them thr truth, and
imposition fur prophecy. The all-wise Creator has been dish°.
homed by tieing 'made the author of fable, and the humors
mind degraJotl by believing it." And in another part thereof,
according to the tenor and effect billowing (that it, to Lay), " As to
the New 'Testament" trneaning that pert of the Holy Scriptures
=lied the Ne-a Testament). " if it be atuaght and tried by End
staudatd, witich, as Aliildleton wisely says. God has revealea
to our senses of his almighty aetwer and wisdom in the creation
and government ti: the veible univer,e. it will be found equally
a. tike, paltry, atali absurd as the Old" (meaning that part iLf
the Holy Sumter.. called the t Testament).- to the high the.
pica .tire of Almighty Gixi, to the great scandal of the Christian
acligium to the evil example of all others,. and against the petite
of uur said Lord the King, his crown and darnity. ‘Vhereupan
the wad Attorney-General of unr said Lord the King, who not
our said I .and the King in hii behalf' pro•ecuteth for our Rad
• Lord the King, prayeth the consideration of the Court here in
the premises, and that- due process of law may be awarded
against ldtii the said Richard Coble in this behalf, to make hint. .
answer to au said Lord the King, touching and concerning the
premises aftweanal.
tlr. Carlile admitted that the passages in the book corm.
ponded with the passages set forth in the information, and adadl
that it was unnecessary to read the Massages twice over, as he
should read the book himself as pan of his defence.
roving the reading oh' the inti 1111 l atimi, the Archbishop of
Canterbura entered the Court, and took his seat beside the Chief
Justicta
. Mr. limit, Mr. Carlile. and some other persons, friends of
the latter, were busily engagnal in taking.no.es of the Attom.y
General's speech, and of the evidence.
The case for the prosecution having been dosed,
Mr. Carlile then rose to make his Defence.
Gentlemen of time J ury.—ll now rise so make my daffinee against
,
the enarge ex:alined against me by the Attorney General, and
believe me t am deeply inipttairea with the great impotnuice
the subject.. Of deep imperiance, indeed, it is: for it is no has
a question than to try, wiusher a mart eta", or ifray not be tole- -
rated in indulging whatever creed or opinion he pleases in nal-
rug. afEtirs. AtturricysGeneral has boasted much of
teeny of the presa, anal of free disc:swarm ; but I do not think
that he his ennead much of this spitit of libeioli•y rot ti:e prate-t
occasion. it is my desire, therefore. Gen:rennin, to go into thie
case Ilene Sully than lie has done. anti to cx‘unine it in all : a
bearings, for I think it a question if the first magnitade. I
doing this, I shall entheivour to co.,cince you, Genticitten, of c
alone what were my motives far l'aine's Age of
Reason," but what were the motives of l'aine iiinwelf, in ti.e
original publication, 1 soil spew you, also. I sin sure it is rot
that blaspheme:is work it is deecribtal to be ; nor sin 1 that
, impious and wicked individual acidified in the Attorney-
-1 Geticrara ihtganeuetu. Thee thirty-nine Arti:le:i et time Claxibusis

;~I

R~?

I digiot,, it was true. contained the doctrine of thc. Trinity, the
vary titst Article in is esitur. It was well known, howsver, that
in order to relieve individuals from prasecuminn, who did scot
ishreve in the Trinoy. them was a Toleration An. Tnis was as
just as it was rat:opal, for the article mentioned was altogether
anceoncilahle, one pan describing the Demty, as a being without
-übstance or natter, and the other bhewinv that there was an
vanity of three persona, with substance and nuctter.—The Act of
Toleration. he conmended, went to the repeal of din veryartielc.
. because men were allowed, by law, to worship God, without be-
.ing called upon to believe in the Trinity. . The Attorney-Generat
then-fore, in saying that the Christian heiigion was the law of the
land, night Love added that Ileisin was also the law of the land;
I.r the Act protected those who did not helieve the Christian
doctrines. 1 here as, no law he Iceew,of, wire!, detined or took
eignizattee of blissohemy ; and it was therefore Le felt himself
justified in puble Ming •• l'aine's Age of Reason." Ile denied
that lie had any ni:..lvitics or impious intention, as alleged against
him, and. reminded ,he •Jury that the Jews considered the
. Christian rel.cion a cheat ; the Christians thought the same of
the Jews; both thought a like of the Hindoos. and all thought
the religion of the Alahometans a cheat. In the case of Williams,
the first alum puMmlished the •• Ace of Reason" Mr. Kidd, his
ere:natl. was not allowed by the Court to enter upon a justification
of the alleged libel, and consequently the question was never
f srly considered. With respect to Eaton, who was tried in BIIt,
that person had not the physic ii power to defend himself. Ile
wain very old Iran, bending under infirmities, aml Was crushed
at once by thelate Lord Chief Justice. He might fairly contend
that the question had never been fairly brought before a Jury
lie realty and conscientiously believed the writer of the work
, vtis Infirienessl only by the best motives. His own motives were
good. Ile did not feel that he haul published one blasphemous
word as stated in the iratiinnan-m. The eyes of the country were
on the Jury, and they were expected to come to an honest decision.
He had received congratulation and condolence upon the occasion
from so many persons, that lie was convinced from that citron)-
: seance alone the, the publitation had not demoralized the mind of
svi,y man. Thoueatirls were looking fora verdict of acquittal,—
Ttio-e who called for a verdict of guilty were like the men who
lighted the fires in Smithfield. Mr. Cathie then stated, that our
Christian Religion declared that there was but one God, of infinite
J amer, wisdom, and goodness ; and that in. the unity of this
ts.ultiout there were Three Persons. It could not be tlenitd, he
earth that this was thunder, upon the Trinity ; lire, without thal
admission, Christiality could not be admitted. Now, an Act
Lad passed lately ter the relief of persons who had impugned the
In... Anne of the Holy Trinity; and it bad been passed on the beat
orMeiple.—thaw, he begged to know, could the first article of the
....liristan Religion be ter ...wiled for enrolment in the mind of any
seasonable creature, when it id in one place that there is but
one God, and in another that there went 'firer Persons, all of
, wqoal power, and all of course Gods. This was part of what the
Attorney-General called the law of the land. Mr. Carlile then
read the Act of l'arliament in &vor of the Unitarians, and said
that Act was. in fact, nothing lees than a repeal of all former
Acts upon the subject of holding doctrines at variance with those
of die 'trinity, and of all Acts in support of the established reli-
gion of the country, for if one Act of Parliament aliened another
. n any Shape, it went to repeal that Act. The Attorney-General
had said that Christianity was part of the law of the land. He
(the defendant) must declare, deer !Seism was also part of the law
or the land, tsail that those publishing Deistical' doctrines were
protected by the Statute Law, and secured from all the punish-
ment that might have been inflicted previously to the. passing of
the Art to which lie alluded. All laws shopld be understood.—
There thould be a written Cotle,,by which thepcpple might be
informed of what it. might be nerwssary to adopt and reject.—
Tbere was no written law to authorize the present prosecution.—
' Ila ',Mr. Cathie) did not know what religion the Attorney-
General :login now possess, hut he believed Ise once professed
:Unitarianism, which was the religion of his father and family,
.and that he had held up his hand in that cause. The Attorney-
. General had stated that Paine, in his calmer moments, had con-
:fisted the truth of Christianity ; but he (Mr. Camille) doubted
u, truth ; and lie was confident Paine had always doubted M—
lle contended that there was not an immoral paswe in the
tnibleation for which lie was now on bis trial. lie courted can-
dour and publicity only.
Here Mr. Carlile produced twelve copies of Paine's Age of
licason, and was going to hand them to the Jury, when he was
interrupted by
'lire Lord Chief Justice, who stated, that he did not wish to
prevent the Jury from having every means of judging of the
question; but as the books in question were not produced in
evidence, the
.utcarediro was irregular, and he did not wish to
do any thing which might be afterwards quoted as a precedent.
Besides, what proof was there of these being copies of the work,
for the publication of which this prosecution had been comnien•
cod.
;Mr. Catlin: pledged himself they were the same.
The Lord Chief Justice said, if the Jury wished to have copies,
he did not object to it.
Carlile presumed his Lordship had given his consent,
and copies were immediately handed to the Jury. Ile then pro-
ceeded to read the title of the work and the preface, in which he
had stated his motives for publishing the work, as truth was
his only object.
The defendant then read the Preface to the Second Part of
" The Age of Reason," and recited the composition which denies
that Muses wax the author of Genesis.
In the passage where Muses is censured for ordering the male
children and mothers to be put to death, and the young women
to be given to the lust of the Israelites, he observed, that Mr.
l'uin. had omitted to state that the )Bests took 51 of those wo-
men to themselves. The ttaasaction was so horrid in itself, that
had lie published any thing like it, he could not have expected
any favour from the Jury.
at halt'-past five his Lordship called for candles.
The defendant expressed a hope that his Lordship would now
adjourn the Court; he felt hi, se,lf much fatigued with the ex-
ertion, having now been reaching upwards of five hours.
The China Justice said he could not adjourn the Court at this
early hour. It' the defendant wished it. he might retire for a
short time to take any refreshment he re.immired.
The defendant, under this permission, quitted the Court, and
was absent about ten minutes. He then returned, and resumed
ids reading. On that part of the work contained in the infiwnia-
tion relating to the miraculous conception and birth of our Sail.;
our, the defendant expressed great empiric that the Attorneys
General should have observed w with EV much severity on this
part, Fiaec the sem called Unitarians had dissented from this
• history. and ns lie had before stated, the Attorney-Clemsonl was,
or at least had been, an Unitarian.—
' The defeodam then proceeded to read the third part. of " The
Age of Matson," which is principally made up of observations
on the proplieces,Ac. relative tdo our Saviour's appearance. lie
concluded reading at ten o'clock, and observed, having now
stated to the J,ery the whole subject of the information, he
wool pot it to than to sa:., if there was any thing crt an Mono-
eal.:ss'clenoy hi ir. The author had not perhaps spoken always
in the most it:spectful terms Seripture.; hut, It should be
teeolleetal, he considered them ar flatlet. With respect to him-
self, he was completely exhausted, and hoped Ins Lordship
would now adjourn the further pmeeedings till to-morrow, as he
had still nuttier to submit to the Court and Jury, which would
occupy till Saturday night, in soling, if his strength was equal
to it.
The Chief Jinni-me said he should be sorry to curtail him in
any thing he considered necessary for his defence, and therefore
wrould now adjourn till tomorrow, at half-past nine o'clock.
The Court adjourned accordingly, at a quarter past ten o'clock.
All hush and palisagely as well as Guild•hall Vaud, were crowd-

THE NATIONAL REGISTE:t.

with the populace, who reale"! C,•ttile, accompanied u, Is—.
and Lime, who left the Court at the iiame time the defendant
ded, with loud cheers and acclamat:ons.

(scoot Dag.)
Wednesday morning, he resumed his defence, justifying
the '• Age of Reason,' and Adasph? 1111 l nsly Mg
the Ilitsiv to be nothing more than a .collectiost of falsities.
We, cannot pul late our pages by giving his defence, which
nag infinitely utilise than the wuik, for which he was in-
dicted, and called fur lie not only the frequent interruptions
of the Judge and the AttorneysGenerrE bin at last a de-,
Chlr•tiell front the Jury of their opinion of so infamous
int. of defence.
A fief' much further observation of this kind, Mr*Carlile said
he had a great deal of iniporttuit matter to introdUce in hie de-
fence, but that the interruption he had experienced had derang-
ed hint. Ile was also quite exhauskil, having taeted nothing
but water all day.
The Lord thief Justice said, he could not adjourn unka the
defendant showed that the matter he wished to introduce was
relevant to his defence. He was placed in a very painful shun-
'lon between his wish to grant indulgence to the defendant, and
the consideration that, as an English Judge, he could not sutler
the truth of the Christian religion to be impugned. The defend-
ant had, untiirtimately, amsiumed his strength in a struggle to
introduce into his defence matter which wits inadmissible.

After some further conversation, the Lord Chief-Justice in•
quired whether the Jury wished to adjourn. The Jury intima-
tot, that they did. An adjournment was then consented to,
upon a pledge being given by Mr.' Cathie, that hu :weld not
seek to introduce into the conclusion of his defence any matter
which had been decided by the Count to be admissible.

. (THIRD DAY.)
The Court was opened this morning at the usual hour, there
were very few persons present at the commencement of the
.proceedings, but the crowd‘midually increased. In the anticipation
that Mr. Carlile would shorten his defence, and that the case
would in consequence be brougl.t to an early eenclusion. the
Juno; on the infonoations for the seditious libels, and on the
three indictments for blasphemous libels, were summoned to
attend. A rumour was circulated in the course of the morning,
arising, it is said, from an expression usel by sonic of the de
fondant's friends on the preceding night, diet he had gone off
to Dover on his way to France. This rumour was in some
measure supported by the nonappearance of Mr. Carlile, until
after the hour appointed for the sitting of the Court, and until
the Attorney General and the Counsel for the Crown bad arri-
ved s..but at 53 minutes after 9 he entered the Court, accompa-
nied by Mr. Fry, and bringing with him several book%
Sheriff Parkins immediately addressed Mr. Carlile, and
begged to ask him a question: he said lie understood that he
had been interrupted in his entrance into the Court, and that till
had been deprived of some books. considered such conduct
to be very improper, after the pains that had been taken to keep
order.

Mr. Garble said, both himself and his friends had found difi-
culty in gi,ining admission to the Court ; and some of the book
had got into the hands of strangers; lie afterwards ascertained
that two of his parcels of books had been left in the coach.
Mr. Sheriff Bothwell then addressed Mr. Cable. and said—
You will be pleased to recollect that I cape:mm:lla desire you
should receive every accommodation.
Mr. Carlile assented to this declaration.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the High Priest of the
Jews, were in attendance soon after 9. and were seated together
in a small room behind the Justices seat. _

The names of the Jury having beer, called over.
Mr. Carlile then proceeded on his defence, in which he went
over the same ground as on the preceding day, only with less
indecencies ; and addressing himself to the Jury said, .• Though
lie had scarcely any hope that lie had made such all impreesioo 0
his ease on all their minds as he wished to produce, yet he hoped
he had made such an impression as would, in the event, entitle
Win to their verdict of acquittal. All he could not hope to im-
press; fur he had heard, and he was sorry to say it, that one of
them had said publicly on the precening night, that he should
like to give that Carlile five pairs' imprisonment, and bread
anal water list all that time. (There now arose a tumultuous cry
Name, name," from all puts of the Court. A strong feel-
ing of indignation appeared to be excited, and -" Shame" was
reiterated among the spectators. So far as our situation under
the box allowed us to judge, we believe the gentlemen of the
Jury themselves joined. in the exclamation of .• Name, name."
The accusation appeared to cause the uunost astonishment and
disgust to every juror.)
The Lord Chief-Justice (interposing.)-ob, no, I hope you
will not allow any think so indecorous, gentlemen.
(It is proper to remark, that the det.endant once CT twice
expressed his concern that he had been prematurely betrayed
into the declaration of the intelligence he had mentioned, and
appeared solicitous that the circumstance should not prejudice
him with the Jury.% It was a maxim of English law, that
where twelve men were formed into one body as a Jury, and it
should happen that while a portion of that body were willing to
return a verdict of guilty, there yet remained a doubt of the
guilt charged on thc.accused in the mind of only one individual
of that Jury, the doubt should entitle such accused party to a
verdie, of acquittal : and it was, he believed, admitted also,
that it was better that ten guilty men should escape, than that
one innocent man should be condemned. Applying these °beer •
vations to his own case, he argued that if only one of them
should entertain a doubt whether or no, he (Cathie) was to be
brought in guilty, then that doubt, it was to be remembered, was
the doubt of the whole Jury, and was to be construed to his be-
nefit. The sum and substance of his argument was, that the
charge bad, no foundation in the common law, and that the only
statute which made it au offence, had been superseded by a sub-
sequent and recent one: and under this last statute he trusted
that through their means he should find protection.
[lt was about 3 o'clock wheat the defence closed.]
Previous to calling witnesses, Mr. Cathie time again,
and wished to explain whit lie understood to hive pissed
on his subject the night hi tore.
'Die Lurd Chief .1 WU iee.—Tell rue for what purpose and
to %sisal points t on wish wittiessea to br examined.
Ali. C.schle said, he had intruded to rail sevrrisl of the
leading persons of did( relit Christian sec's, in order to
show the wide diversity of opinion which prevailed among
them ; that smile of them approached vet y nearly in creed.
to himself; and as they st ere all tolerated, so ought lie to
be.

The Lord Chiefitist ice.—That is your object, is it?
Mi. Cathie had a ism ilier one, but lie feel ed it would be
objected to : it air: to obtain the opinions ut the sectaries
on cei ta in wit ts of the Bible.
The Lord ChielJustire.—liave yen any fel titer object?
Mr. Cailile.—That was the chit•t object, as he coo-
eel) !•il 0141 he could sliuw by these means that each seemly
would gisr a different account of the various pails soh-
witted to I • . It bad been also his introinsu to inquire,
whether they thought ilie Christian faith could he inci-
muted by any aid timii the secular aim.
The Lind ChiefJustice.—As you have now stated the
purpose• for which you wet e desirous of examining these'
witnesses, I have to declate my clear opinion that their
evidence is inadmissible. The truth ut the Holy Scrip-
lutes is not the question to be tiled here. It is well
known that elisions denominations of Christians differ in
their tenets and at tides of faith, auti it would be most in-

OCT. 17.

decorous and improper in stes .• ii upon persons rn lbw
Cones to glee an account of their !chemise principles. 1
ceitainly cannot receive opinions: it is for the Jury
decide. The defendant might otherwise call half the city
tit' London, it such a COlll se were &MOWN,.
(Shiite then signified that he should only call witnesses
to lois moral character.
The Lord Chief Jaatiee.—Mr. A tternerGeneral, yait
have no objection to this?
'Else A tositicy ficneral answered ill the Iterative.
William Cumming was then relied and examined by the
Coml.—He stated, that he had known the defendant IS
years ; the latter having served his apprenticeship to him
His general character was extremely good.
fir. Cathie wished the witness to he asked one or two
questitms, as to his having an aged mother who—
The Lord Chief Justice.—Nu all questions as to moral
chat icier ere genet al lairticulars cannot be entered into.
James Vann, a person retired front b11.1111V13 WAS next
caned: he had known the defendant six years, tinting
which time he had always bootie an excellent character.
'Thomas Walk. r, a messeeger of the .Navy.office, hid
known the defendant 4or 5 yeti's; he had lodged with
witness,•was always considered at an limiest, industrious,
sober man, and one who paid his way.
Alr. Cathie wished it to be understood, that with these
persons lie bad lodged since his first apprenticeship 11:1 lie
became a housekeeper.
The Ac:urney btietly replied, in doing which
he took a review of the ameliorations afforded from tune
to time to conscientious dissenters on particular points,
hut asserted that sneli concessions could never be itittanit-
ed, or allowed to be converted, into a slicker for blas-
phemy and impiety.
The Lord Chief Justice then slimmed op at great length,
and with honourable impartiality, and having stated with
psecision the substance of each count in the information,
as the offence charged was differently describes', referred
to the several points on which eie defence had been rest-
ed. Muth had been to get' in the course of that defence
of which all who heard it must disapprove; .bust the Jury
were not on that account to suffer any prejudice to unit-
draw their consideration from the simple question on
which they had to decide. It had been nue:stet' in the
progress of this ititriry, that all that had been minty,' of
the Sciipinres aim published by the defendant was jar.
and tine, fit and peeper to be so published. The defend-
ant had united to read other writers, who mailstaineslais
miler opinions., though nut expressed ha so strong, or pet
leaps.so coarse a inatisetr. lie hail also desired to call wit-
nesses to speak with regard to the differences prevailing
ammog different religious sects. His Lordship had felt it
his duty maturely. to consider and it would hardly be
supposed 11... t Callle to a trial like this, wi hoot pre-
viously nutting his thoughts to the subject, to inforni
his timid as to what eoutse he oittlit to plastic iii the
different circumstances which might be expected nu
arise ; he had then determined, atid he did wit regret
sh it deterininalion, that it was not petent li. a
Christian caratitry, in a court of law, to rise up 31111 say,
alit the Christian ridtAititi was hot a religious of truth.
It would be strange, indeed, if such a 1111C311011 were 10
be pot in issue, its order to Ire tried before this tribmi.d.
lle hail resisted, therefore, every attempt to introduce
such a discussion, and should have felt that he was
tlisgr..,..in; his situation if he had acted otherwise.—
Another topic of defence, strenuously and in some de-
gree properly urged, was the danger of restraining free
discussion and free twin rv. God forbid that any such
restraint should take place ! But they had to distill.
guish, ci nether the present pehlic.,s ion teas an instance
of that free ;itquiry.and discussion oh a work of mere
calumny and ridicule. There teas nu inilisidual and no
subject, to whose, oharacter or whose merits, reviling%
and calumnies culd be lawfully applied. The exercise
of reason was allowed in the fullest manner by the law
of England, because it was a law of public liberty and
freedom. T 1.4 law hail adopted into itself, and was
ft/11111kd in a great degree on, the Christian religion ;
an i front this source it seas, that its principles of li-
heraiity and humaitity, the spirit that influenced and
gitaleil the adi ss i tt istration of justice in this country.• were
drawn and derived. Hut though as a law of Airway it
allowed perfect freedom of opinion, and inteafered with
110 man's private belief,; it did mot allow to every man to
do what seemed poi in hisewn. eyes, if it were inju-
rious to society. They had then to consider the charac-
ter and tendency of this wet k, for with regard to ititen-
tem they had nn tneatts.ofjudajog, and could hot decide
niton the motive of atiy act except from the nature of the
act itself, stippmita,:, it to be deliberately performed.—
The purpose conteutplated 11015 t be itilserred from the
natural, obvious, and direct tendency of the act, unless
by tonne extraneous prow it could he shown that the
agent had a different intention. The Christian religion
hunting part of the law of the land, it was not tit mat
he or any other person should openly deny its truth.—
That must lie taken for granted in a court of justice.
But in the consideration of ttio;:ses, it was not unrea.
sortable to look at the object assailed, and compare
it with that which it cc-as proposed to substitute.—
The Christian religion had advantages which never
existed under any other religious system. By the
institution of the Sabbath, a st .!eel day of rest was
afforded ; and he could not allude to this stilject„
without expressing that this alone had ahsvacs
appeared to him to be strong evidence of its this
vane ()rigid. Man never had heen so kind to man, as
the author of our religious had been in establishing this
regulation. Christianity likewise gate the best suppoit
to the afflicted, taught them to bear their sufferings wall
patience and with resignation, in holding out to them a
hope of the highest kind—that of an eternity of joy
hereafter. Now, before any 111311 assailed an establish-
.iient thus offering blessings to all classes, without dis-
tinction of rich or poor, powerful or weak, learned or
unlearned, he might lie expected to pause and consider
what he would substitute for that which he was anxi-
ous to destroy. The Jury, and slot he, were to decide
this question; but he thought no man wishing well to
his fellow creatures would approach the subject without
awe and reverence of feeling, without decorum both of
thought and of expression. let them consider for a
moment what was this creed of I)eisiii which had been
so eulogised. Christianity was addressed to ail; it was
intesidcaler all, aDd ciPccially for the poor and humble.

ocr. 17.

IV hat did Deism present to them as expounded by the
author of this work? Cold, proud, and presumptuous,
it reserved the blessings and honours of a future state
fora few, and condemned the great body of mankind to
merciless annihilation, saying that they were neither
woi thy of being damned nor saved. Such a system en-
abled all those who had the vanity to conceive that they
had done great good in their generation, to aspire after
eternal blessings, while it set aside the great mass of
Mankind, those who be their situation in life could nut
distinguish themselves, however faithfully they discharg-
ed their duties, as too insignificant fur the Creator of the
world. It Was teittarkable, too, that the better part of
the defence winch turned upon the danger of vstrsitiing
free discussion was all taken from the works of those
who where either Christian divines, or professed believ-
ers in Christianity and who, according to this publica-
tion, were Itifideb to God. ‘Vitli regard to the Future
colidition of the defendant himself, whica be had
brought nailer their colisideration in representing him-
self as abort to he handed over to a merciless ti ibunal,
it was a matter whieli he did not wish to withdraw from
their consideration. It was for the July to say, whether
Ir. farmer cases of conviction for miskineatiours, the
Judges. had deserted a r..proacli of thia nature. It had
been argued, that Christiantiy did not requite the aid of
the Cast! Government. lie tor one, firmly relied on its
divine character, and believed :t would go on till it com-
prehended, in G.n.l's good time, the whole of tile human
lace; but although it clubd not be extirpated, it might
for a Mlle lie superseded. They had seen an example
of this in a neighbouring country, where it had formedy
been set aside. All the bonds of society were immedi-
ately loosened, and a dreadful anarchy took place. The
vs hole tpie,tion turned on the character of the work, and
that initst now be collected from it as a whole. Was
it a fair and candid inquiry? Look at those epithets
applied to the Scriptures—" a book full of lies," "a
dangerous heresy," " an impious falsehood." These
were a few speciinetts, and he had found none oilier to
soften their &vet, or that indicated any other object
to defame the Bible, and bring it into universal
disbelief and contempt. So, thinking it was Ms ditty,
sitting w lucre he did, to express his opinion to the Jury;
arid that opinion was, that this publication was a work
of calumny and scoiling, ant therefore all unlawful pub-
lication. lie desired them, however, to think and
Judge for thenisebes. O hadther Juries thought is ith
tsitn. but they were to forum diet,- own verdict, without
any reference to former decisions. Some wituesses
had been.ealled, the relesancy of whose evidence might
well be doubted, because moral character had no gene-
ral connexion with profane publications. lie doubted
nut that their verdict would be such as their judgements
dictated an 1 their consciences approved.
The Jury withdrew, but shortly atter expressed a desire to,
see a copy of the statute of dte.:34,1 of the King, upon which the A
Chief-Justice desired their attendance in Court, and after no-
ticing his own omission, explained to them the whole centaur of
the Act of William, as altered and modified by two Acts of the
present reign. The jury ists retired.
The jury, after beinteed about half an hour, returned
to Cc tut, and pronounced a verdict of—Gear-TY.

(FOURTH DAY
~out PUBLISHING
•' PALMER'S PRLNCIPLE IV4TURE..'

A cutbiderable cram acw•mbled Oa> moral:it, for the
purpose of hearing Mr. Carideo recupuirrial, fur the pulali-
eirthiu of another deistical *oak.

The defrodaot, who was taken into custody last night,
lowa after the verdict of guilty was recorded against him,
entered the Court, attended by rwu 1,111Ce1%, at 2i.).-minutt •
after nine, . lie looked extremely ta.. lie Nll3 scemu.
paoied by u friend, who assorted I • in arrangiiig 011 the
title a great iturulwr of volumes.. fur. Ilunt joined him soon
afterwards.

Chief Justice Abbott took kis seat on the Beoch at half-
past nine. The Lot d Alayor took his ratiou near
The cisme uf " The K isig v. Cathie" h.tv lag been called,
111. tivilsairproceetled to read over the list of toe Special J ory
uf »ham only the three to lowing geutlesusu ausuered to
t!tei. 'taws.

3. Saaiider.on, of Itnaad-street-buildings, merchant.
J. Christlybei, or New Broad-street,nerc Liam.
W. Linwood, of Billiter-square, merchant.
Mr Gurney pris)cd a tales, aud.the folio% mg individuals
41Cre 5W0111:

J. Mt siger,
C. Lettermen, bookseller,
1 drtntd I's octet, glazier,
C. Grossen )1, viritiallsr,
W. Youn;:„ jeiseller

tiertjamin Denham,
Jaws Wurnieb, baker,
W. liuideli,boirkbi.idcr,
J. Robins, currier,

li hen the ii.toure were ealle..l over—

II!. titrlile 'me mid said—Before the Jury are sworn, I
ruler my I .0 against the legal potency of the •Court
•u thy I believe Liao I have a right to reject
same of I he lisksmen, if I think proper.
The Cilia tut tte Vm, if you have any legal cave to
assign:
Mr. Carlile:—!his is a cuesti,os of opin:on—and, if I know
that there id • man on the Jury opposed to iay upiiiiiiii-
attat is suifi. tent enu.e.

The Chief J itstice..—lt is not a sufficient enlist in law, in
a rase of this end.

The Jury were then FROM
Mr. A rriott opened the ph saints., Ry the•imlietruent
the defendmit, Richard Cathie, wits charged o ith usilnwfully
:sad wic edly publishisy, 11 o lased,
and prof ne I, of and Concerning the Holy Scriptures ; to
hich indictment he had pleaded Nut Gailt%.
tourney add.esseti the Jury, and called Thos. Pair,
who proved that lie had purr bas^d Palm, is P. inciples 4
Ashore, at the shop of the Defendant, No. Fleet Street,
on the 19th of March last. 1. he Defendant handed loin the
book, for wui. I. he paid 7s.

The tndictsticut was read—which doted the coat: fur the
pc:wry i
Mr. Cathie then rove and nclilrested the- Jury. Ile ex-
Prc,ved Itiv intent iiiii of appealing tt. the Cour. stl
nelllll, 011 the first A ty of atext terns, a,,,at0.: the verdict of
the iireciality, evening. the trial Irving itreguhar and the
verdict thetebv cuutu iii i i toted. Il.• tlerlitrtd his revotuti 4444
to ;o thron:t is the whole Olt Ilk 1114.1.110., to 110). 0 111nh It •
bed beet. prey. Pled front demur, in Ike cower tit Mr I'm net
triad., Ile would ttut how tu the no rrupitons '4ll J ,
wed. if the J UrY stated that the) would nut hear INN (wiener,
4Would ompe.slagaittst thy • whole proct.eding lls irrce,ular.