The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-15 00:00:00

of am

without my knowled,

,criptures on the Lord's Day.
The impressions likely to be prod

se very simple harmless words, which, when they
1 by the magistrates in committee, called forth no
that. I have ever heard of either towards myself, Miss
)r any of the female officers. The entry might have
t leading to any results, had not
:riminatory evideuoe against the
licity had been used towards the

n search c
sted that d

. _
magistrates rthat the Society for Promoting Christian Know-
ledge had been dishonoured ; that the matron, and her sub-
ordinate officers, had been dreadfully outraged in their feel-
ings. My conduct cannot, after all, be so greatly depraved,
when such an apology for a charge, such a phantom, is
dressed up in the solemn language of accusation. Ex his
disce omnes.

I have said that the impressions likely to arise from this
entry were twofold. First, that a book which the chaplain
thought not fit for Sunday reading, and not so suitable for
prisoners as the Bible, was in use in two wards. Secondly
that the book, such as it v

Captain Williams asset

as, was there contrary to his will.
s that Dr. Buck well knows the
which is

contents of the tale, called the two shoemakers

)ositively contrary t

Buck, a gentleman of the highest emi-
e town, who has read this tract as it is called—
though it is in reality a story book of 76 pages, pretty closely
printed—states, that the work can in no proper sense be called
a tract, in the modern use of that word ; it is a mere tale of
amusement.* Another friend, upon whose judgment he can
fully rely, has read the work at his request, he not now hav-
ing time to do so ; that friend assures him that the publica-
tion neither deserves the name of a moral nor religious tract.
It is a mere tale, a common story book ;and what some
might call its religious reflections

One friend of I)

matron

Captain Williams a

Are generally most unserip-
or imparting useful infor-

mes that Dr. Buck knew that it was

published by a certain society, which also was not a proper
assumption, as the chaplain only learnt that circumstance
by the evidence produced against him. He assumes also, that
what this society publishes must necessarily be good, and
ought to be received as sterling by every clergyman, whereas
the chaplain is one of a large body of the crgy who think
that that society issues a great deal of error, opposing the
spirit of the Scriptures, and the doctrines upheld in the 39
Articles and in the Liturgy of the Church of England.
To understand this matter fully, I read the following ex-
tract from my journal, dated 14th February, 1838, " Mr. D.
Hodgson, V.M., here this day. Declined the assistance of a
ested by Miss H., as also any dis-
s, on the ground of every inmate of
earing, some portion of the Word of God explained
• •I

committee of ladle

the place 1-

'The rule there laid down has been the rule there recognised
by me, and was well known to every officer of the prison.
The use of books beyond the limits of the boys' school is

only of very recent introduction, and only extorted from me
byfrequent importunities against my better judgment.

- I will now call your attention to the introduction of a col-
lection of tales and tracts, the unauthorised use of which in
the prison has led to the present charge.
A lady well known to hold religious sentiments, removed
to the greatest possible extreme from those of the established
church—whose creed, being rather negative than positive,
may be thus understood,—The writings of the old and new
testament are not the inspired work of God the Holy Ghost.
Jesus Christ is not the eternal God. Men are not pardoned
only through the atoning efficacy of the blood of Christ, nor
jusihed in the sight of God by his imputed righteousness.
The Holy Spirit's agency is not essential to Divine instruction.
There is no state of eternal torments. A lady, I say, with
this negative creed, so adverse to the opinions of every
honest churchman, accompanied by a magistrate of this bo-
•ough, of the same religious opinions as herself,-j• wished to
,stribute amongst the female prisoners- a certain number of
and actually did give one or two into the work-
)fficers to read to the prisoners, (I have quoted
''-) without the permission or
knowledge - chaplain, he 'being the only person autho-
rised by the law of the land to di_tribute books for general
reading amongst the prisoners. _ _

publications,

words on
of t'

Miss Davies

,erefore, whethe

e under the ch

;ood, bad, or indiffe-

rvation, under very sus-
that no nergnn

firmly believir

truly,holds to any creed without wishing that that creed may
be extended, and be received by others.

knowing

the vestry

duties, be al]
The lady t

law, collected the books, and brought them into
She knew she could not, in accordance with her
lowed to be read by the prisoners.
before alluded Ito paid a second visit to the nrison•
••• , •

rs to have

pri-
ery properly interfered and
advised her to see the chaplain ; she added he had not allowed
the others to be read. The chaplain was accordingly sent
for, and had some disputation on the subject—but fully and
firmly declared (and in the presence of the matron,) his un-
willingness to have any tracts distributed. He would, how-
ever, examine them, and if unobjectionable, allow them to be

read on the week days. The lady left the publications in the
hand of the chaplain, expressing her hope that be would exa-
mine them and allow them to be used. She thought them
more calculated to do good among the prisoners than the
bible. I dissented from that opinion, and laid the tracts on
my shelf, intending, whenever I might have leisure, to read
them, and then to act as my judgment might incline me.
Now, gentlemen, you have it in evidence that bliss Davies.
well knowing my objections, did contrary to my known will,
enter my vestry, take a copy without permission granted,
(there must, indeed, have been more than one copy taken,
as.l found two in use at one and the same time in different
parts of the prison on the same Sunday, when the bible should
have been the only book in use,)--that. Miss Davies gave it
into the possession of a prisoner, and that in going through
two of the three day rooms, i. e., two thirds of the female
prison, on a Sunday, he found two books being publicly read
to the assembled prisoners, to the exclusion of God's word.
He ascertained at the time that the title of one of these books
was " The two Shoemakers," a production be bad never
read, but which naturally appeared to him to be a mere book
of amusement, something to gain the attention—but as much
fit for comparison' with God's revelation as darkness to light,
as sin to holiness, as error to eternal truth.

I refer you to a part of my quarterly. report, dated January
14, 1839.

" I would suggest to the magistrates the propriety of
allowing some small portion of each day-even if that time be
limited to five minutes—in which the prisoners might, if they
wished, have the permission to read the scriptures : for so
strict are the rules, that no man under confinement has,
oaring this season of the year, the power or permission to look
into any book. That a system so restricted should be ad-
vantageous to the moral improvement of the mind no man
can suppose. Ido therefore trust the magistrates may deem
it advisable to correct what I must designate this great evil."
Distressed at finding many immortal souls immured in a
prison for crime, occupied in reading a light and miserable
tale, instead of the scriptures, during that small portion of
the Sunday which constituted the chief time they could by
possibility devote to reading,—to hearing the'word of God,
to considering the love of God to man ; with indignation at
this profanation of God's day, your chaplain ordered the
books to be removed, and entering his vestry in much distress
of heart, at the reflection of the awful ignorance of those by
whom he was surrounded, and the obstacles thrown in his
way when sincerely attempting to lead prisoners to read the
word of God, he made the following entry .
" Visited every part of the prison, and saw, I believe, every
person in confinement,—the hospitals, girls' school, and all
the wards. Found the women in the untried ward and in the
vagrant ward reading a story book by way of amusement.
These books have obtained an entrance without my know-
ledge, and are no proper substitute for the scriptures on the
Lords day."
Is there a word in the entry concerning Miss Davies's
conduct in acting contrary to my orders? In breaking through
the proper rule of her duty ? Nothing of the kind; but simply
such an entry as the circumstances of the case called for :
for the gaol act commands me to make entries in my journal
of all such things as arise out of my performance of duties as
chaplain in the prison ; and no one will deny but that this
was abuse against my office, coming under my personal ob-
servation in the performance of my duty of going through the
flay rooms to ascertain that prisoners were properly employed
on the Sabbath day.

1 have not heard that Miss Davies or any of her officers
have been rebuked on the subject, or even warned not again
wilfully to oppose the chaplain's undoubted right to regulate
the general reading. No : the only person to be censurod
is the chaplain, because he opposes, all reading except the
word of God amongst the prisoners on the Sabbath day.
His religious views are not liked—his reverence for the scrip-
tures not approved—his zeal for the welfare of souls deemed
absurd. The opinion of the matron of the prison as to what
constitutes proper reading for female prisoners on the Sun-
days, is to be regarded as of more importance than his who
is sent of God, by the laws of the land, and under the sanction
of an 'express act of parliament to make known to perishing
sinners the way of salvation.
The supposed outrage of the matron's feelings is to be
atoned for. The real outrage committed on the chaplain's
in ascribing to him an intention to mislead the magistrates is
only a necessary part of the important and most honourable
office of
charge i
ofaninss in m
pectoryof prisons !
estimation so frivolous—so vexatious,
that I am astonished it should have found its way before you.
The person who can say that under all the circumstances of
suspicion by which these tracts found an entrance into the
prison, the surreptitious abstraction of them from my vestry,
the use of them in preference to the word of God amongst the
vagrant classes and the untried females of a prison on the
Sabbath day—the person who will say that my simple inoffen-
sive entry deserves to be represented as a wilful, a corrupt
misleading of the magistrates, really must form an opinion
very different to that which would be arrived at by most
of his fellow men.

In t
their I
sions c
ter the

derstai
even tl
most ,

been 1

writers
pends
motive

men a
opinion
pervert

Such i

speakii
ments

removi
talente
quiry I
your e
dence

notwit

every
that y(

the «•o
halve!
preach
the ser

posed
that t

many
but arr

deuce
rank o
belief,
tent a

up) to
ruin a

of his
tion ol
Psalm
meats
non te
Yoe.
know

could
The
admit
1 do u
Yoi

durin;
light
guilt,
pressi
suppo
scale.
these

port
port.
know
Bard t
Ler h
swear

Dr,. E
was s
Put in
at the

Th
me at
ittol
three
the Tr

Dr.
coma
gistra
June,
it,
contr

vern
told
told

eso
the
I 14
fier
my

ha
ar
(la:
an

In the one case turnkeys state the impressipns made on
their minds nearly two years since; in the other, impres-
sions committed to paper 18 months ago, some short time af-
ter the expressions were uttered.

We all know th;t nothing is
derstanding of sentiments utte

more common than a misun-
ecl extemporaneously by

even the best and most acctirate orato
e most correct speakers in both houses of parliament hay
s been unintentionally mis-stated, though attempted to b
taken down at the moment by the .most skilful short-han
writers—men whose business is to report, whose bread de
6
Li 4 pends on their accuracy, and wb
motive to be strictly correct
a
1 men and public speakers,

the opinions of the

ave every coneeivab

You yoursel

expressed

rters entirel

opinions have been by honest and upright r
perverted ; that you have been represented by such persons
"•

as stating the very opposite of what you had really sal(
Such inaccurac

f such frequent, su,

recce, that you must b,

'ell aware, espec

in forensi
r the state

speaking, that the constant practice is to ref
ments taken down at the time to the speaker,

lat he may

proceeth

down every word,

nd real ad

or

1 cau tic