The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-09 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY NEW COURT.

CARLILE'S SHOPMEN.—(FIIIITHER PARTICULARS.)
Yesterday Wm. Campion, a youth apparently
of about the age of 19, was indicted for having published and
sold, in the shop of Richard Carlile in Fleet-street, a book
called Paine's Age of Reason, in which was contained certain
libellous and blasphemous passages, disparaging and insulting
to the Christian religion, and injurious to the public morals.—
The prisoner having pleaded " Not ~ruilty,"
Mr. HOLLAND (with whom was Mr. BERNARD) stated the
case to the Jury. He then called a police-officer to prove the
' purchase of the book mentioned in the indictment of the pri-.
soner. The passages set forth in the indictment were read
from the same book, and this having been done, the case for
the prosecution .was concluded.
The RECORDER told the prisoner that he might ask the
witness any questions, hut he declined to do so.
The prisoner then entered upon his defence, which he read
from a manuscript of considerable size. It occupied more than
au hour and a half in reading, and consisted merely of a
repetition of the diatribes which aave been published by Car.
file and his adherents in support of their opinions. It began
with an assuranceby the prisoner, that in the publication for which
he was now indicted, he was solely actuated by a desire for the
moral improvement of mankind, by directing the human mind
to the pursuit of truth. He then went to examine the truth of
religion, by negativing in gross all the facts upon which it is
founded, and denying all its evidences, historical as well as re-
vealed. At length, the course which he had been advised to
adopt became so offensive to Sir C. HUNTER, who sat on the
Bench, that he stopped the prisoner. While the Alderman
was conferring with the RECORDER, one of the Jury said--
" My Lord, are we to be compelled to sit and hear this ?"
The RECORDER said he was willing to suffer the prisoner to
go on uninterruptedly, that there might not be a pretence for
saying that he had experienced a denial of justice : at the same
time be could not but observe to the prisoner that he was not at
all advancing his cause by such a line of defence.
Sir C. S. HUNTER said, that while the defence was within
the bounds of common decency, no man could be more unwill-
ing than he to stop it ; but he would not sit there to hear the
indecent blasphemies which had lately been uttered by the.
prisoner.

The prisoner said then he should abandon that part of his
defence; and, turning over a leaf, he proceeded to finish, as
well as the hard words would permit. him; the stuff which had
been put into his hands, and of the import of which the unfor-
tunate lad was evidently ignorant.
When he had concluded the RECORDIER summed up, and
the Jury retired to consider of" their verdict. After being ab-
sent more than an hour, they returned to the Court, and the
Foreman announced that they had found the prisoner Guilty.
The RECORDER then passed upon him the sentence of the
Court, the severity of which, he said; had been enhanced by
the defence he had been persuaded to make, and the resolution
he had expressed to continue, as far as he should be able, the
practices which had brought him into his present situation.
He was then sentenced to he imprisoned in the gaol of Newgate
for the term of three years, and at the end of that period to
enter into his own recognizance to the amount of 1001. to be of
good behaviour during his life.
Thomas Jecreys was next put to the bar charged with a si-
milar offence.

- The Counsel .for the prosecution, who were the same as in
the last case, stated the particulars to the Jury, and called a
witness who gave evidence of the publication.
Mr. FRENCII was retained for the prisoner, and made as in-
genious a defence as the unpromising nature of the case would
admit. The main argument which he urged was, that while
the doctrines of Unitarians, which he insisted were essentially
blasphemous; should continue not only to be tolerated, bit
their professors invested with offices of authority, it was un-.
just to visit with punishment the offence of the prisOner, which
was not more_hnstile to the Christian religion than those com-
mitted with impunity by the Unitarians.
The Rx cORMEn Nuynmed up, after which the Jury, without
retiring, found the prisoner Guilty. .
The RE:CO/it-4ER then Sentenced him to 18 months impristm-
ment, and to give his own security in 501. for his good beltzt-
viour during his life.
John Christopher was then brought up, charged upon three
separate indictMents for offences similar to the last.
Mr. C—PifiLlors,- for the prisoner, objected to his being
tried by the same Jury, on the ground that they had already
made up their minds on the subject, as was proved by their
last verdict. This objection was allowed, and the Jury was
about to be dismissed, when a suggestion was made by the psi-
soner to his Counsel that he was willing-to plead guilty, and to
throw himself upon the indulgence of the Court. After a few
minutes' conference with his client, Mr. Phillips said the pri.
soner had resolved to do so, and his plea of Guilty was accord-
ingly recorded by the Clerk of the Arraigns.
The COURT then passed upon him a sentence of imprison-
ment for the term of two months on each indictment (making
together six months), and to enter into his own recognizances
for his good behaviour during life.

AWFUL CONFLAGRATION.—New: Brunswick
Papers to the end of April contain the following
account of a dreadful fire in that Province :-
4" ST. „Tomes, Aram I 3 a very early hour on Tues-
day morning last this city presented such a scene of devastation
and horror as was never. before witnessed in the province.—
A most alarming fire was soon after midnight discovered to
have broken oat in a building at the farther end of the wharf,
and a range of handsome stores, warehouses, &c. in Water.
street, belonging to N. Merrit, Esq., which, in consequence
of the lowness of the tide and a strong westerly breeze,
soon spread and communicated with the opposite site of the
street, bidding defiance to every exertion on the part of the
military, fire clubs, firemen, and inhabitants generally, to
repress its progress, and Prince William-street did not long
.remain safe from the conflagration, and in the course of a few
hours the whole range of buildings, from Mr. Nichol's to Mr.
Lovat's wharf on the west side, and from Mr. Johnson's ware.
house to Mr. Saward's shop on the east side of the water, in
St. John's-street, from Mr. Wheeler's to Mr. Johnston's
dwelling-houses on the west side, and from Dr. Boyd's to Mr.
Lovett's on the east side of Prince William-street, were reduced
to a heap of smocking ruins.—Upwards of fifty buildings, of
one description and another„,have been either reduced to ashes
or thrown down for the safety of the others; and the loss of
property on the occasion has been estimated at upwards of
30,0001. little insurance has been effected on any part of the
property consumed. We sincerely sympathise with all the
sufferers, and particularly with those who have thus suddenly
and unexpectedly been called to sacrifice the fruits of many
years of industrious exertion."

ExEcurrioN.—On Wednesday John 111'Creevic
was executed at Glasgow, pursuant to his sentence, for house-
breaking and theft. He was doomed to suffer along with
M"reague, who was executed on the 19th ult., but owing
to some strong representations of his innocence which he
made, a respite of a fortnight was applied for,• and procured,
in order to give him time to substantiate the solemn assevera_
tions which he had constantly continued to make from the period
of receiving sentence. Unfortunately for ill'Cre.evie, and in sonic
degree for those who interested themselves in his favour' he
completely failed to, make good the statements which he had
previously made, although he still continued to declare, in the
most positive manner, that he was not guilty of the crime for
which he was about to suffer. After his final doom was
made known to him, he continued in a very weak and agitated
state of mind, and-could not be brought to converse about his
situation with any degree of calmness. At ten minutes after
two o'clock, the magistrates came into the Hall, and the un-
happy prisoner was immediately brought up, supported by some
of his friends, and passed slowly along to the foot of the scaf-
fold, where he again declared that he was altogether innocent
of the crime for Which he was about to die. He then shook
bands with one or two of the Magistrates, and thanked them
for the kindness and attention they had shewn him; he also
expressed his gratitude for the humanity with which he had'
been treated during the period of his confinement. M'Creevie
was then supported to the scaffbld, where the Heir. Mr. Muir
offered up a prayer in his behalf. The apparatus having been
adjusted, the unfortunate man was engaged for a few minutes
in prayer for himself, which he did in a loud and fervent man-
ner, frequently ejaculating, " 0 Lord, receive me ! 0 Christ,
he that died for me, receive my spirit." He then gave the sig-
nal, and in the course of a minute his sufferings were at an end.

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

ON THE BEST MEANS OF RENDERING CHA-
RITABLE INSTITUTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE
POOR.
TO THE CHURCHWARDENS AND OTERSEERS OF

THE► POOR, IN AND NEAR LONDON.
[From. the Gentleman's Magazine.]
It has occurred to me that the laws and regu-
lations of the numerous Public Institutions with
which this vast Metropolis abounds, for the relief
of the sick and maimed poor, are very defective
on the most important point for which these In-
stitutions were originally founded ; namely, that
except in cases of accident, no person can be ad-
mitted a patient to the hospitals or dispensaries
without a letter of recommendation from a Go-
vernor or Subscriber.
From the great difficulty daily experienced by
the poor in procuring such letters for any parti-
cular Institution, and from which the sick indi-
vidual is desirous of receiving the relief of which
he stands in need, it has occurred to me that
this grand defect in all our Hospitals and Dis-
pensaries may very easily be remedied without
any expence to the poor—a mere trifle, and that
only in the first instance, to the parishes, and to
the charities themselves no additional expence
whatever will be incurred. On the contrary, I
hope to be able to skew that the plan I awn
about to submit for your consideration will en-
sure the means of immediate relief, will tend in
same degree to lessen the poors' rates of the nu-
rnerous parishes in London, and will eventually
increase the funds of these charities by an addi-
tion to the list of benefactors and subscribers,
supposing such to be necessary. If, then, these
three great objects can in any way be effected,
surely .nuch good will have been done, and I do
conceive that individual charity is already
exerted to a sufficient extent, if general effect
could be given to such efforts, by making the
poor better acquainted with their legitimate re-
sources.

As surgeon to the most extensive charity of the
kind in London— the Westminster General Dis-
pensary—l have but too frequent opportunities of
learning from the patients the great difficulty
they experience in obtaining letters for that and
other charities, in consequence of their ignorance
of the names and residences of the Governors—
that such inquiry is attended with great fatigue,
loss of time, and neglect of the sick, and in some
instances the writer has even known death to
have ensued before such recommendatory letter
could be procured : whereas, on the otherhand,
if the disorder have proved infectious, early re-
medies, or removal to an hospital, might have ar-
rested the progress of such disease, and possibly
been the means of restoring a parent to the
maintenance of his family, which, in the event of
a protracted sickness, or of his death, must of
necessity depend upon the parish.
The plan I have to submit is shortly this :
That in the vestry-room of every parish church
throughout the Metropolis, or in such other place
as may be deemed more proper, a copy of the
Governors and Subscribers names to each and
every public Institution should be lodged ; that
the lists be street lists, corrected yearly, with the
view that the inquirer may fix upon a few names
in the immediate vicinity of his own abode ; that
the Clerk of the parish, or some fit and responsi-
ble person, be required to attend a certain num-
ber .of hours every day, Sunday excepted, for the
purpose of giving to the poor the information de-
sired, and that intimation of such a regulation
and attendance at the Vestry be stuck upon the
Church-doors for such time as may be deemed
necessary, until this arrangement be generally
known.
It may be urged, and with" some, appearance
of truth and justice, on a prima facie view of the
case, that the Hospitals and Dispensaries them-
selves are the fittest places for the poor to apply
for the information required ; but the thorough
knowledge I possess of the manner in which
these Institutions are constituted, enables me to
state most decidedly that such is not the fact.
The superior and inferior officers are, as they
ought to be, too much engaged in the duties
of their respective offices, for which these
charities were originally founded, to have
their attention diverted to other objects or
concerns ; and these officers, from the highest
to the lowest, become, from attachment, but
too sensible of the superiority of their own Insti-
tution over that of every other of a similar de-
scription, so that if a poor person were to inquire
for the names and address of the Governors of
any other charity, it is not likely, in such case,
that the inquirer would be well and kindly re-
ceived. But, independent of these arguments,
there are others against the admissibility of such
a measure, still more cogent, which prudence, on
the present occasion, bids me refrain from ad-
verting to.
It has been already stated that the above re-
gulations, if adopted, would much more effec-
tually answer the ends for which these In-
stitutions were originally founded, namely,
the insuring prompt medical and chirurgical
aid to the poor, and that they would tend
very materially to lessen the poors'-rates--as,
also, increase the funds of the Charities them-
selves. The first is answered by the greater fa-
cility this plan offers to the poor in ascertaining
the names and residence of the Governors or
Subscribers. The second, by procuring more
early assistance to the father of a family, for
instance ; for in that case the disease with which
he may be attacked will be the sooner sub-
dued, and will also enable him the sooner to
provide for that family, which, during his illness,
is, it, most cases, of necessity maintained by
the parish. Numberless are the instances of this
nature which have fallen under my own observa-
tion, and on this point I have farther to refer you
to the concurrent opinion of the profession, par-
ticularly those members of it who are attached to
such charities.
Surely, then, if self-interest do not call loudly
u forile r theo u s
orea lnide f rfersotmri ctthi oenns
against such coif
patients
t
charities in London, humanity will; and I am
confident of the fact, that an appeal like the
present need only be mentioned to Englishmen to
insure the establishment of some plan, like the
one described, having for its object, as that has,

the amelioration of the condition of the poor in
sickness.

The plan I have ventured to suggest, is that
which appears to me the best calculated to rernedt
the evil, for it is simple, is easy of execution, and
will eventually be attended with no expence, and
very little trouble. The detail of the plan, and
arrangements, I shall leave to the Vestries of the
different Parishes, with this intimation, thil
should any difficulty be started by individuals, I,
shall be most happy to offer to them the result of
my experience and reflection on the subject,
either verbally or in writing, as may be most con'
venient to the parties seeking it.
Thirdly and lastly, to increase the funds of
the charities.—We have only to mention the
fact, that as matters now stand, many subscribing
members who reside at a distance from the 100'
tution to which they contribute, are yearly with
drawing their names and support from them, be'
cause they are not aware of the extensive benefits
they are conferring, owing to their not being
applied to for letters of recommendation,
application being principally confined to
such subscribing members as reside nearest
to the Institution. Whereas, if the plan
suggested be adopted, there is not any pall
of London, or of the suburbs, where sub'
scribers do reside, that will not be visited by the'
neighbouring poor, for the purpose above advert"'
ed to, and thus the subscribers will become tha'
more sensible of the charitable purposes for which
they hare given away their money. Besides,'
from local circumstances, the subscribers will ne'
cessarily be better acquainted with the eharAc'
tern of the applicants, and which latter circum.
stance will likewise afford to them, or to their
wives, the opportunity of occasionally contribut#
ing to the domestic comforts of the poor labouring
under sickness and disease.

The publicity thus given to charitable Instiat.
tions would, by demonstrating their usefulness to
the Subscribers, induce many to add their dons•
tions; and others to become subscribers who
were before doubtful of the extensive benefit

they thereby rendered society, and, in additios
to which, it would lessen that degradation of
spirit which is attributed to receiving parochial
relief ; for it must be apparent to most men, that
when the mind has once determined to receive
such parochial relief, it is no easy matter to
in-
duce such individual to return to habits of le'
bour and industry ; but you, Gentlemen, to
whom this letter is addressed, are better ac'
quainted with this part of my communication
than I can have any pretensions. to.
The case of the industrious sick mechanic
and labourer is one that ought to awaken the
feelings of all men, and I am quite sure that I
have now only to request a patient and attentive
perusal of this letter, and of the plan suggested;
to the Gentlemen to whom it is addressed, to
insure its adoption, or the adoption of some other
to answer the end in view.
A. COPLAND HUTCHISON.

Early on Thursday morning a lamentable oc-
currence took place in Leven-street, near to- the
Links. An old maiden lady, who was reduCO
to extreme destitution, she having sold ofrpit-ce•
meal the whole of her effects to support !fir
wretched existence, formed the singular resolu-
tion of letting herself down from the window of
her house on to the pavement. As an accompa-
niment to this rash act, she twisted a
hearth-rug round her person, and fastened one
end of it to the window. Whether despair
had prompted her to self-destruction, while fear
had led her to adopt this method of defeating her
own purpose, seems very uncertain; but suppos-
ing her to have been insane at the time, such an
inconsistency, the result of two opposite and con-
flicting principles, is not improbable. However,
the unhappy woman fell upon the ground; and.
when she was found by her neighbours, it was
discovered that her skull was fractured. Surgi-
cal aid was immediately procured ; but her case
was hopeless, and she survived only an hour,
during which time she never spoke.—(Scotsman:)