The Sun.
London, England, 1818-10-15 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

...Erirroa—l beg to- address to you a few lines
with respect to a letter which appeared in your
Paper of the 7th -of this month, signed G. M., and
calling upon My. D'OYLEY, as Chri•~ian Advo-
cate for the University of Cambridge, to interfere
in the behalf of Mr. JOHN BELLAMY, and rescue
him from the attack of the Quarterly Review. A
more extraordinary appeal I think 1 never heard,
b would be rather hard Upon the Christian Advo-
cate, if he were required to protect every theolo-
gicll writer who n►ay,fall under the lash of a Re-
view. And if it be replied that Mr. Bellamy's
merits are such as to claim a peculiar favour, ihat
surely is begging the question. What right has
G. M. to take for granted that Mr. D'Oyley is
convinced of the superiority of Mr. Bellamy's
cause, that he Would deem the strictures alluded
to "a most shameful and illiberal libel ?" If such
►hey be, why should nor the author stand tot ward
to defend himself ? Who so competent and pro-.
per, as one who has " dedicated thirty years of
his life to the study of the Hebrew language ?"
But the fact, Mr. Editor, I believe to be this,
that the observations in,TheQuarterly Review, upon
Mr. Bellamy's Translation, are for the mosi part
'‘as'sailable. lie stands convicted of mis-state-

ents, perversionß, self-contradictions

and ever,

notwithstanding all his boast and parade of learn
jog, of ignorance itself. No one, who is evet
moderately versed in the -Hebrew language, can
read the censures, either of the dna-Jacobin or
Quarterly Review, on this subject, without sub-
scribing to the truth of this remark.
In addition to the critical obser,ations which
have appeared upon the text, I would subjoin one
or two other considerations, and am surprised
that they have not been suggested before. Mr.
Bellamy deities the propriety of the usual inter-
pretation of that passage in Genesis, which is
supposed to describe the lormation of the woman
out of man. What, then, becomes of the inspi-
ration of St. Paul, who has directly confirm-
ed such an intel-pretation,." Tie man is not of the
woman, but the woman of the man?" 1 Cor.
xi. 8. Mr. Bellamy denies that Abraham had any
idea of literally sacrificing his son. How grossly,
then, are St. Paul and. St. James mistaken, when
they unequivocally assert the fact ? See * Heb.
xi. 17. James ii. 21. Is this the way,
tor, to " overthrow those Socinian, UnMitariaEdi-
n,
and Atheistical principles, which disgrace our
age and nation ?"

Of Air. Bellamy himself 1 know nothing, and
nal in no way personally interested either for
or against him but as soon as 1 found him pro•
ceeding on the principle of discarding all the
ancient versions, and setting at nought all the con-
centated learning of Commentators and Critics,
I was at once convinced both of the presumption
and the futility of the undertaking. 1 consider it
as fortunate for the literary and theological world,
that.llr. Bellamy's work Comes out itl farts, as it
will enable his numerous and dignified subscribers

* I am here taking for granted that the Epistle to the
Hebrewswas written by St. Paulo the kroufs of which arc to
my multi quite satisfactory.

to appreciate the labours which they have honour.
ed with their support.
I have been the more induced to send you these
remat ks from a faint recollection, (I beg your
pardon if I am wrong), that you yourseP , Ali .
l?Aditor, a month or two ago, gave publicity to
some of Mr. Bellamy's Translations, and nil
tioned then, with considerable approbation.
Your constant Reader, .
October IY, 1818. VINDEX CLERICUS.

*** The purity of theme. H►►LY SCRIPTURES is
so much importance to mankind, here and here-
after, that all ►luestions of temporary policy sink
into nothing in comparison with those awin► in-
terests. We are, therefore, disposed to regard
with particular attention the controversy to
which the preceding letters relate., As the
ESTABLISHED CHURCH is really in danger
from the progress of Scutsm, in various
directions, and the daring p;etensions of PoPERT
to political power, we rejoice in the title of
The Persons' Print, which has beets asrgned
,o our Paper, as it chews that our zeal l►as been
duly appreciated by our clerical Correspondents,
son►e ot whom we can venture to assert are in
higl►_Ecclesiastical Stations.—Their support of this
Paper may be found still more necessary on the
opening ot Parli►►ment, as some recent occur-
rences in Ireland plainly slim that the Papits of
that Country arc determined to renew their claims
for privileges wholly inconsistent with tl►e safety
of the Constitution'in Church and State.—lio.

IOR THE SUN.

OF IMPRISONMENT Foil. DEG'', AND THE ACT OF
INSOLVENCY.
[LETTER VIII)
Let it not he understood that because the laws
of arrest now in force produce odimis conse-
quences, no provision should he made against the
fraudulent designs of those who artfully procure
credit, willow an holiest intention to discharge it.
The misfortune is, that Debtors of integrity are
too much in the power of Creditors. It tway he
argued, that in a country where trade is increase
ed, as in England, the slow means of compelling a
defendant t►r appear in a Court of Law, and an-
swer the charge of a complainant, would be in.
sufficient for the propose; yet preserving it siS
a fotindation, and for manifest reasons known in
the profession, if no writ or process whatever
were to issue in an action of debt for something
certain, under 501. and none in an action for
simple contract requiring bail, except under an
order by a Judge, it might do away the evil which
daily stares us in the face.
Under the usurpation of Cromwell, no person
could be held to bail for less than 201., nor can
any now in IVales and the County Palatine. The
only novelty in the Act of the 12 Geo. 1. is that
part which requires an affidavit of the debt,
and which, to the gross abuse of justice, was made
in a case as follows :—A Gentleman put a hood
in suit, and when lie called on the Sheriffs-officer
to know whether he had met with the defend •nt-,
Ire was himself arrested by him for 1201. He en•
quire(' at whose suit, and never heard the name
before, hut was taken to Newgate for want of
bail. He remained there 163 days, and being
pressed to deliver up the bond he bad so put in
suit, which he refused to do, his complainant's
action was superceded for want of prosecution,
and he was discharged. No such person existed,
though an affidavit of a debt had been swor❑ in a
fake name against him for 1201.
Undoubtedly something is imperiously requisite.
for the honour of justice, arid the relief of the in.
jured. At present, original Writs are a heavy
tax on a distressed Debtor, and produce no good.
They are issued to support judgments by detault,
which would be better supported by bail to 1311
►wee the condemnation money on a writ of error
brought. They would then in common cases be
in a degree useless, though not destroyed on spe-
cial occasions. The same process way'exi3t as at
present. The original, the summons, the attach.
newt, and distriugas against Peers, privileged
persons, and to the end of an outlawry. The
Capias of the Common Pleas,. the Bill of the
King's Bench, and the Subpwuu, venire, and quo
minus of the Exchequer to the end or an attest,
when the action is in debt o.► b.md, or other
specialty, to the amount 431501. but taut for any
actions on simple contract.

If a reform of this kind should take place, the
property would be more the object of pursuit, to
satisfy property than the person. The wreck and
demolition of those Attornies, Sheriffs-officers,
runners, followers, and retainers, who, like 'vul-
tures -on a day of carnage, live on the vitals of
the distressed, would be as glorious among Bri-
tons, as was the expulsion of Satan from above.
The honourable, the liberal Creditor would con-
sider the true condition of. his Debtor, and con-
sulting a reputable practiser who has a character to
. .

rejoice in, and fears to lose, would act accordingly,
But if the Legislature should have.no induce-
went to prevent the abuses illustrated in the
course of these letters, which breathe a sigh for
the - sufferers, we must.conclude, that " par-
tial evil is universal good," and suppose that the
distress of improvident Debtors in a prison may
deter those %vim are in the enjoyment of their li-
berty front outliving their weans, and subjecting
themselves to the loss of it in a similar way, and
that it is better to pass by their miseries without
concern for the benefit of trade and commerce,
than to affect them by any innovation; but we
ought never to be torpid over the means of pre-
vention, in cases of private fraud or public crime,
Which the common infirmities of human nature,
in the absence of reflection, and tinder the force
of present temptation, inevitably produce to the
injury of perional liberty.
AN OLD BARRISTER, of the Inner Tewple.
gu be euneluded in tho'next.)