Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-20
MISCELLANEOUS.


The following letter from the prosecuted DR..
King, addressed to his personal friends in this
city, has been obgngly furnished us:
In THE Prison OF ATHENS, CALLED
MEDREssE, 9th March, 1852.
am now IN prison, and my name is insclib-
ed among the vest maefactors Of Greece, in
book Kept for the purpose.in which The names
of all who enter are written. with the age. de
scripion of their person. and the crime Of
which they have been guilty. Mine is that of
preaching the word ofGod.-That of two 9th
ers, here in chains, is the murder of seventeen
persons.
The prison is called Medresse, which is
Turkish word meaning school; and this is so
called because it vas formerly used By the
Turks as school. And is indeed snch school
as that in which prophets and apostles ere
tormely taught. Do not think that ! am sor-
rowfll. BY no means-my soul is full Of JOY
unusual joy. Before leaving my house.
read the llth, l2ih and l3lh chapters of the
Epistles 10 the Hebrews and poured out my
soul before God. not in supplcaiions for de-
iiverance. but in thanksgiving for his mercies,
and that he had given me the privilege thus to
suffer shame, and contempt, and imprisonment,
for the name of the Lord Jesus, and the truths
which he has taught. consider this one of
the brightest and happiest days Of my life. In
all the aglating scenes that have taken place
within a few days past, have felt that God
was with me in peculiar manner. Ny heart
was tranquil. trusting in God. felt that if my
life should fall sacrifice TO the rage Of my
enemies. had hope Of better house, even a
'.bulding of God. house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens"
Last Friday, Just before went 10 my trial.
I read the 12lst Psalm in the presence of my
family. offering a short prayer. and took what
| thought might be final leave of my wife,
Mary, and my sweet little infant babe; and
went without trembling, feeling great conf
dence in Hum who has SO often delivered me
in times af danger. Wilinm took with me.
because wished him to see the court. before
which his father was arragned, and that lin
case my life should be taken) he might have a
more vivid impression of me in his memory
After hearing my condemnation TO imprison-
ment and exile, | returned to my house. where
l was permitted to remain a short time before
going TO prison. The next day felt now and
then pang at the thought of leaving my faIni-
ly, and | cannot say that no tear came into my
eyes when thought that the exile from the
field of my labors might be perpetual. The
second day, which was Sunday. found com
fort in looking to Him who " as with John in
his exile at Patmos. "for the word of God
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" The
third day. that is on Monday. sent word
to the Kings attorney that | was ready TO go
to prison, and the arrans ement was made for
me TO enter this morning. But Of this prison
and the state of the prisoners l must give a
short description.
Besides myself there are one hundred and
twenty-five persons. A few days since there
were one hundred and eighty. These occupy
eleven small rooms. eight Of which are about
ten or eleven feet square, in each of which are
from eight to twelve persons. The other three
rooms are perhaps two or three times as large,
and in each are confined twenty-five persons
From these facts you can judge Of the accom-
modatons enjoyed here. Most of them have
10 beds on which to sleep, and some not warm
1y clad. 1t is enough to make ones heart ache
to see them. The sig ght OF them made me feel
that nv trials and troubles were small De-
cent looking men, and the vilest malefactors;
men not yet tried, and who are perhaps nno-
cent, and those who have already been con-
demned for piracy, rape and murder; the youth
who has committed perhaps his FIRST crime, or
no crime at all; and those who have grown old
in inquity, and whose conscences are scared
as with hot iron. are here crowded together
in one common me SIS, from which proceeds an
odor by no rleaps agreeable. even now " hen
the weather is COOL and wbich,as the weather
grows warm, must become intolerabIe. And
just think of sleeping in li'tle room, about ten
feet square, with ten or eleven others locked
in with you for the night. and only small
window in the door for air, and one ly the SIDE
of it for light, ,darkened by lis thick, heavy inro
gates and looking upon small court within.
After made my appeal to the Areopagus,
the Kings Attorney, at the request fmy law
yers. ordered the keeper Of The prison to con
duct me to the police office. where | am to re-
main imprisoned ill the cour, aforementioned
shall decide my case.
The director of the police treats me very
kindly. and all my friends are free to call on
me whenever they please, without a permit
from the Kings Attorney.
Yours truly.
JONAS KING.