The Sun.
London, England, 1828-08-16 00:00:00

CORDER.

1 t is desirable, before tl►e Phrenologists can
sit as a Jury upon the head of this miscreant,
or interpose their sophisms between the public eye
and his heart, that his real character should be
embodied. The subject is, indeed, revolting,
but it may be rendered instructive. Many of
the facts of the case are fraught with weighty
and solemn warnings. What could more clearly
demonstrate an overruling Providence than the
ground taken by Corder for his defence ? He
was not ignorant of the difficulty of identifying
the body of his victim. That ground of defence
if not tenable, was tempting, in a case so despe-
rate ; whereas the pretence of suicide had, in the
form he advanced it, all human probabilities against
it. And yet this cool, calculating villain was not
permitted to see this self-evident fact. The
God who de►►ounces murder in his Word, pre-
vented, by his Providence, the murderer from
escaping ; and made that line of defence which
convicted him, the means of bringing him to
confession. The idea of leaving the odium of
self-murder on the memory of his victim, found
one unbroken chord in his conscience, and wrung
from it, in spite of all his hardened effrontery, a
fidl acknowledgement of his guilt. Is not this
the finger of God ? Men may flatter themselves
in an opinion, that they could resist or evade
any process of conviction in the case of an un-
witnessed crime ; and, had the Omniscient Wit-
ness no power over the strength and stratagems
of a vitiated heart, they might, at times, defy
detection. But all hearts are in the hand
of God, and he can turn them from their
purpose in a moment. By recalling an old
feeling of past times, or by awakening a
new fear of eternity, he can make the most col-
lected and callous sink like Corder, or start up in
their true character, like Satan at the touch of
Ithuriel's spear. "Be sure your sin will find
you out," is one of the general laws of the
Divine government, which neither felons nor
fiends can resist, when the moral purposes of
that Government require their confession or ex-
posure. Corder could out-brave his conscience
at Ealing, although, like the retreats of Nero, it
must have rung with the shrieks of his victim by
night and by day ; he could outface all the
soleninities of his trial and condemnation, and
attempt to play the hero before scowling thou-
sands ; he could cant against popery, and express
his scorn for Methodists, (save the mark !)
whilst the sentence of death was on his head ;
but one simple and natural thought—the blasted
memory of his victim, broke up at once the
whole prison-house of his desperate soul.
Much has been said as to the moral influence
of the speech addressed to Corder by the Judge.
The hope that a better world was opening to
receive the murderer, if penitent, has been
arraigned as unwarranted, and as necessarily in-
jurious to society. And it certainly was unwar-
ranted by any thing in the character or spirit of
the murderer. He had manifested no signs of
penitence or principle at the time. Indeed, all
penitence, in such cases, is a Very equivocal
thing. The duty cannot be too warmly, if wisely,
pressed upon felons: but the less they say about
the symptoms of scaffold-repentance, the better.
The Saviour alone had a right to say to a dying
malefactor, " This day shalt thou be with me in
Paradise." It must be admitted, however, that a
Judge is placed in a peculiarly delicate position,
when passing sentence of death. Were he to
manifest no sympathy, he would be regarded as
unfeeling. It should, however, be rigidly confined
'to wishes, prayers, advices, and warnings, and
never become the open expression of hopes.
Hoping may allowed to alleviate, in the
mind of the Judge, the pain with which he per-
forms his trying duty ; but he as much owes it
to his country to keep his hopes within his own
bosom, as to himself to indulge them for his own
relief. The public need no help in the matter
of hoping the best. They will go quite far
enough in that exercise without an example from
the Bench. That example is, of course, always
well meant, however unwisely shewn. It is not,
however, the only thing connected with the
death of felons which requires to .be modified ;
for, if the hope expressed by the Judge tend to
lessen public horror or dread of felony, what
must the administration of the Holy Sacrament
suggest ? It is, us appointed by Christ, the
emblem, pledge, and seal of eternal salvation ;
and whilst that is given to felons, it is worse
than folly to condemn the warm-hearted
hopes of a Judge. This act would defeat
any impression that a Judge could make on
the public mind, were he even to express
the strongest fears of the final state of the
murderer. Whilst the Clergyman is bound to
carry the Sacrament to the cell, it is of little
consequence what is said on the Bench,—unless,
indeed, the Bench should thunder a solemn pro-
test against this use of the Sacrament. When
it does that, it will be echoed back by louder
thunder from all the Oracles of God !

One thing must be added to these hints.
Who was the first seducer of Maria Marten ?
Is he alive ? Has he a conscience 2 The Red
Barn is the goal of that career into which he led
her ! He thought not of this, nor intended it.
True : but it is not less true that all seduction
tends in some way to this issue. And what a
hell on earth must every man endure who lives
to see the victim of his lust become the victim
of another man's blood. thirstiness, and that man
hurried into Eternity to meet the spirit, which
he hurried into it more suddenly ! Truly the
way of transgressors is hard ! And by nothing
is this more clearly seen by realizing what must
be the conscience of a seducer when his victim
is murdered, and her murderer executed.—The

TUE H A RVEST.—The weather, we are sorry
to say, continues unfavourable ; very few of the farmers in
our vicinity have made wheat-ricks. We still believe that
the injury sustained is not extensive. At Mark-lane on
Monday, the sales were very languid. The prayer " for
fair weather" has been read in some of the Churches of
this city and neighbourhood, The Assize of bread has
been raised here one penny in the quartern loaf.— Worco---
ter ,hurnal,