The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-08-18 00:00:00

- THE STATESMAN:

A PRoPHECY FULFILLSD.

ferdatben ; and its his issue male has failed, it ,may
be fr ,ed

TO TIIE EDITOR OF TIM STATESMAN..
Sitt,—Being a few days since musing in the corner
or a retired coffee-house, I overheard a discourse be•

tween two learned men, and being struck With its
singularity, with the aid of steno/go-Dishy, f am enabled
to state the outline, which, if it be worth a place in
your Independent Journal, it is at your service. It
is pfnper to remark that one of the Gentlemen had
the nmes in his boat!, end la) ing aside his Spectacles
he thus addressed the other t—The scurrilous lan-
guage of 044 Journal midi respect to BONAPARTE,
and frequently aided by Fetiteticei taken from pro-
phetic writings, has led me to consider, and perhaps
I am not the only one who does so, whether that ex-
traordinary man is not an instrument in the hands
of Divine Justice to correct the miseries which
the Royal Fandly of the Csev:xs have entailed
on the world by their strict adherence to those
bigotted tenets of Popery which the enlightened
Catholics of the present day view with horror and
disgust : I mean the persecutions which have beets
fomented in Europe against the Protestant by thnt
bigoted race of Monarchs, who for nearly a thou-
sand years have been the servants of their Ilolinesses
the Popes, the supporters of their power, the Minis-
ters of their vengeance, a nd,conseq uen tly, the scourges
of the world. 'lids short historical account, chiefly
collected from Bower's Lives of the Popes, will, per-
haps, elucidate what I have advanced, and may prove,
whether the great succession of Kings, named Louis,
on the throne of France, is not pregnant with mystery,
particularly as they are universally known to have
been at all times more intimately connected with the
Popes than any of the other Sovereigns of Europe.
In the year 755, PEPIN, King of France, gang the
Pam the Esarchate of Ravenna, aid afterwards the
Dukedom of Rome, before which time the Pore had
only a titular sovereignty.
CHARLEMAGNE (the prototype of BosAp.vivrx) re-
ceived the Imperial Crown at the hands of the Poet,
who in return confirmed to him the actual sovereign-
ty of the City of Rome. The Pore then became a
temporal Prince •.
Lunovicus I. in 814, prostrated himself three
limes to the earth before Pope STEPHEN IV. at
Rheims.

Ltinoncus VI. called the GROS, supported Pope
CALTXTUS 11. in his claim•to the Right of Investitures,
by zchich means the Port's supremacy over all the
Clergy in Europe was by degrees established. This
King patronised the. sentence of ex-communication,
fulminated by the POPE, at Rheims, with the cere-
mony of burning torches against the Emperor and the
subjects who adhered to him (or asserting the rights of
his crown. Thus, rebellion was fomented, anal en.
couraged by the head of the chnrch.
LuDovictis 11. met Pope ALEXANDER 111. two
leagues from Paris, attended by all the Chief Nobles
of the kingdom—be dismounted from his horse so
soon as his Holiness appeared, and having kissed his
foot, walked by his side, holding the stirrup. In his
time that hellish Canon was made at Tours against
the Waldenses (the Protestants of the time), which
continued with unabating fury up to the reign of
Lunovicus VIII. ; and Luaorictis IX. surnamed
" the Saint" even proclaimed a Crusade by the
Pores consrnand against his own people, and caused
it to be executed with such savage fury, that it is sup-
posed no less than a million French Protestants were
slaughtered.
Fuastcts I. having formed an alliance with the
GRAND SELGNOR against the Emperor Cuatuts V.,
his religious principles were suspected ; but being
willing to vindicate his reverence for the Church, the
(allowing occasion enabled him to show it :—The in-
discreet zeal of some of bis subjects, who had im-
bibed Protestant opinions, had affixed to the gates of
the Louvre and other public places, papers contain-
ing indecent reflections on the rites and docuities of
the. Popish Church. Six of these persons were dis-
covered and seized. The King, in order to avert
the judgments which it was hinted by the clergy
their blasphemy might draw down on the na-
lion, appointed a solemn procession. The holy
Sacrament was carried though the city in great
pomp„—Faascis walked bareheaded, bearing a
torch in his hand: the Princes of the Blood
supported the canopy aver it : the Nobles marched
in order behind. In the presence of this numerous
assembly, the King declared, that if one of his hands
was infected smith heresy, he would cut it off with
the other, and would not spare even hie owls children, ,
if found guilty of that crime. And as a proof of his
bring in earliest, the six unhappy persons were pub-
lids burnt before the procession was /mi.-hell, with'
circumstances of the most shocking barbarity +.
The remaining part of the 16th century *as chiefly
employed in wars and tumults about religiou. But
HENRY IV. s lin was bred a Protestant (but appa-
rently turned Papist) put an end to them, and esta-
blished Popery in France, for political reasons ; but
at the same time, by the Edict of Nantz, he tolerated
the Protestants; hence arose the popular cry of
rive Henri Qualm.

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An the Princes from his death have borne the name
of Luoovicus. Louts XIII. revoked the Edict of
Mintz, and in obedience to Pope GRtGORY XV.
made war against his Protestant subjects.
Louis XI V . added still more severe edicts against
them, which drove them into foreign countries
In the days of Louts XV. and to the Revolution
in the reign of Louis X VI. these severe edicts still
remained in force—the Edict of Nalitz was still re-
voked ; so that it will be seen, that persecution on
account of relieiow, ezisted by the law of France
against the heretics (the Protestants),up to the time of
the Revolution in 1793, though certainly not often
put in force by that weak monarch Louts XVI,
His blood being shed, it has been thought by many
devout persons, that it was ordained as an atonement
to his people, for the errors end persecutions of his

666

REkentr PRisONS.

,~.:

_ lairly presuiro.-.1 hat the family hath limits race. • •
That the genealogical tree bath ceased to put forth . . •
~
•., looter:lstvan.]
its fruit, and has beeno holly rooted up by the con- . [As the Report of the Committeoef $e Bosse of
vulsious which followed his demise. Families and Commons on the Xing's Bestcho Prisons, &toile
empires are like trees, they die Aryl wither away. important mod interesting, information, we. coutinee
Did not France cease to be a kingdom and become' an 'our extracts from :in a foresee Patiero will .be
empire? a new dynasty pretaiied—n new tree was
found the facis which it states. w ith
planted, and it has borne (rust. .regardtho
N*ll° has a right Marshal arid the eubordstiele officers employed about
to gather it, but the French.people!---!Many
I ' the King's Bench ,Pricon. • • We now oubjein those
nent divines, and others, look forward, with parts of the iteport.that refer to its internal arrange-
satisfaction, to :he good effects the lite mews and aecomniodatiosts.] . . •
'troubles ae have witnessed (though boilibleaciattink I , The prison contains within .tbossalls altimit WO
of) will -produce to the world, in a civil and rooms, eight of. which are called state soomslsod are
Cos point Of view. The absurd notions of the age i lett for 2s. Gd. each, per week,. ustfurisiobed p the re-
of reason are exploded, the seeds of tine liberty mining 192 are (or ought .to be) occupied by the
,
they y destroy ed, for the more
cannot easilprisoners, who are rompeiled to pay .weekly stk. for
the e single room, also nisfureisheil.; if tvro.persens• live
iroots are disturbed, the more they will propagate.
.n the same room; 6,1. each •if three 4d Boothe
Bigotry also lied from Fla"ce o snout as Marshal states that. he never demands any rent Onus
liberty held up her mirrot. The host; therefore; those who ale unable to pee.
.On a. prisoner's ars
being carried in procession through Paris, the edght7 rival at the gOte; he is called. upon to pay his commit,
tionS at the shrine of Sr. Lutes, the ftill-dreM
' digs and embroidered gowns of the tisints and client fees; wlitch amount on 10'. Gil
tee were assured that whether the fees he paid, or Hot,
Sointesses*, witnessed in 1811, ill accord with the he receives on dens., ld wehum-ticket (as it is called)
sentiments of the generality of the French peo-
ple, who are of a different nature to what they eloich is a ticket of admission on. some iennolei the
. were prison. The Committee, however,. ohs—ring that
30 years since; and nine out of ten sari-
the M
Ibute these ceremonies to the effect of weakness •rshal seemed to consider that he ead a right
of intellect, and not to its true CO OSP) a bigoted to refuse the ticket if the fees lie net pale, thought
it essential to remark, that a question as !r
education, handed down from father to son, to the
pH's' of such a refusal was put to Mr. Templer, who
present generation, from the humble Louis I. Hence visitant in 1791, and 1,i.; ausner was, that any person
the danger of resorting to the like absurdities. They immediately upon going into prison has a right to ti
say that the Protestants now labour under a perse- roam, or a part of one, if nay shall be found capable
rutin', in the south of France—it is reported that of receiving him, althoug:; at such time he should be
600 were lately butchered at Niomes, and their linable to pay ally fees. The principle UPOn hielt
he USCS pillaged—that others have fled to the moon- this ohummage takes place may be thus explained
tains of Cevennes, pursuer)by bands of volunteer supposing the 192 rooms in the prison are occupied
Itoyatists (the Papists), who serve *about pay, and by one prisoner each, and there is an sit of tresb
have hem, organized by the Duc d'Anooutonat: !!! po sous, ws'ch in term time often occurs, to the number
This is scaocely credible; if it be true, who can of 20 or 30 of a night, and chum-tickets are demand-
wonder at the convulsive state of the country. ed of the chum-master; if the prisoiser.so d•onandieg
Louis XVIII. is said, and generally believed, to a ticket, is of decent appearance, and has the air of
he a mnit of sense, but void of vigour; and, perhaps, good circumstances, one is given bins upon a room
he is too zealous a Cath,:lic lu judge for hinaelf in already occupied by one in his station of life : if the
mutters of religion—treiding hi the steel: of his an. ' applicant be poor, he receives his ticket upon one
rectors by adhering to the errors of Monkish times, ! who is able to pay him out ; that its, to give hint so
instead of being guided by his ();i n good sense, ab- much per week, which generally amounts to 53.
bisected from P. riestci an, which will render his Throne whereby he yields to the existing occupier the whole
instable. Perhaps he does not knot: that his verst i sight to his room, and pays for his lodging with per.
; ,wme is clothed z:ith nsysiery.—LuDovicus is as am.; sons of his own etas, and situation : so that it is ant
racteristic of France, from the great succession of ; uncommon to find six or eight persons of the poorer
Monarchs of that name, as the Pita ROAlla and anises sleeping two in a bed, or on the floor in a
PTOI.O3ItES were of Egypt ; and that in hints ! room of the dimensions of sixteen feet by thirteen
or his late lamented brother, may be fulfilled feet. Some also of these sleep at the tap, on benches
that prophecy which is contained: In verse Lehi. of and tables, and as many as 48 have slept there at ono
chap. 13. of the Revelations, which his so much time. The choice, therefore of the chummage is per-
, perplexed the learned of all ages. The words fectly optional with the chum-master, who is one of
are these:—" Here is wisdom, let him that hath un- the turnkeys, and has the sole management of the
derstauding count the number of the Beast, for it is business, as far as the ordinary rooms are concerned ;
the number of a man, and his number is GO." Here but those of a better description, from their situation
the Beast means a kingdom, governed by a man are considered as being at the disposal of Mr. Broo-
whose number is G6G. What man's name beareth shooft, the first clerk to the Marshal, end whp has,
'that numlwr ? You will be surprised alien I show in point of fact, the direction and management of the
it—behold it ! 1 whole prison. The prisoner aho has sold his share
of his room is considered ins entitled to re-enter when-
ever he chooses to break the bargain, it lasting only
for one week; but it appeared iu evidence that this
right has been denied or is evaded, end that persons
who have interest with the's:Ace's of the prison may
either keep a room free from chummage, or prevent
those who are chummed upon them from returning to
their rooms, if the payment of ss. per week be regu-
lei ly made : ip this latter case the person insistino
on his right to return, is shifted front his own room
and chummed upoifiriether.
No care is taken to aceaaint the pelts:mess on their
first entrance of the prison, that I chum 'ticket is .1
be obtained on•applicistion. Some hale hem, several
days within the walls, paying a heavy sent for their
losighigs, before they !pained from their fellow-
priaustera that they had a legsil right to a share of a
room. Persons left in this ignortint'e have paid 85.
and 10s. a eight for abed on some occasio.to ; but the
usual price is (ruin 14s. to 11. Is. per week.
The rule of cliummage is, that the persori who* has
been longest in prison keeps his room free from tho
intrusion of another prisoner, till all the rooms
held by those of a junior date have a prisoner chum-
med. The system thus purports to be One of rota-
tion.
Committee sat several days within the prison,
and endeavoured to understand the manner of deli-
vering the chum tickets ; but though there be a rule
stated to exist by which this delivery Ii regulated,
yet it appears that so many exceptions are made to it
that the whole system seems to be One of favouritism
and, partiality, and liable to grist those. It is in
evidence that contrary to the orders, and, what is
more extraordinary, without the knowledge of this
Marshal of the King's Bench, the turnkey criers,
waiter at the coffee-house, &c., hold rooms widths
the prison which they furnish and let to prisoners,
the criers and waiter of the coffee-i:tiuse having no
wages or salary but deriving a portion of their in-
come from this resource. It was also admitted by
Mr. Morris, the Chum Master, and confirmed by
kr. Brooshooft, and by souse of the parties them-
selves, that a person of the name of Gore was pri-
soner within the walls of the prison, that as such his
was chummed ort a room, that he pis, out hi. com-
panion, that he furnished the room and let it ; and
that though he now b 9 out of the prison, living with
his wife within the rules, being also no assistant
tipstaff, he was permitted to keep possession, of his
room, mid to let it to prisoners at the rite of 20s. per
week. It appears also, that Mr. Morris end Mr.
Brooshooft were both acquainted with all the ciro
enmstatices of the case, and voluntarily winked at.
the abuse.
' The Committee have to observe, that the slate
management of this branch of the economy of the
prison is most defective. Though the Marshal hiss
not be made by one prisoner on another, and no at.
published an older, that extravagant demands Alta
terations shall be attempted in any of the rooms, and
Ithat a system of ancient date for the successor to a
room to buy the fixtures, and ply for the alters-
, lions of his predecessor, shall be broken through,
and no longer permitted to exist ; yet the practice is
most prevalent, and several witnesses have declared, •
that they have paid considerable sums of money for
fixtures. Great abuses prevail in theswhole system,
and the orders and regulations of the Marshal ere nu-
gatory. .01 the 19`2 rooms in the
_prise% theseh