The Rev. Mr. Fletcher's A...
The Times, 1824-12-14T00:00:00

Mr. Fletchber's ' Appeal to Public Opinion," of whieh we yesterday promised. a short notice, will be found in amany respects a very curious production. Whether tlle tribunal to which he addresses himself will pay any atten- tion to his suit, or grant him a fresh hearing, ii a different question. "Publicopinion," perhaps, tihinkswith us, that so far as its jurisdictioni-extends, or its ear ean be obtained from weightier matters, the cause has bean already decided-the verlict recorded-the parties removed out of Court-an* a appeal barred,; except upon new matter alleged. AndI Pan new matter be brought forward to clear up a love-afflir, which has already been discussed, in five diffipr6nt Courts- legal, equitable, and ecclesiastical ;-which antered the King's Bench before " strange lawyer?," and came out a compromise;-which passed the-ordeal of the Associate Presbytery, and came out areference;-whicl. occutpied the deli4erations of the Edinburgh Synod, and ended (like some Old Bailey cases) in a sustpenvion ;-whicb entered the Court of Chanicery, and came out like the fortune of some suitors-nothinng.-which has engaged the deliberative wis- dom of Kirk-sessions, congregations, meetings of managers, and consultations of 'lawyers-which has been resolved about-written about-preachedabout-and prayed about- and which, finwlly, leaves Miss Dick with her character vindicated in Glasgow, and Mr. Fletcher the unsuspended minister of Albion Chapel? But thb pamphlet is in- teresting froma theexhibition which it affords of strong character and violent passionlS, modlified by cant, sharp- ened by opposition, and exalted by fanaticism. We liave scarcely ever examinedl a more frightful por- traiture of ua uncanlid, rancorous, and revengeful spirit, wearing the garb of sanctity, and calling for the construc- tions of clharity. Insteadl of acknowledging with Christian humility theerror of which he had been gutilty,and making allowance for the natural indignation which his conduct was calculated to e4eltc in awonian whose affictionis he had outraged, and a family whose honourable feelings lhe had insulted-instead of submitting to just censure, and op- posing only unreasonable exaggerationis-in short, instead of permitting, as he ditl, in the Kin-'s Bench, to have the judgment of impartial ;.l-an recorAtid against him, and eudeavouring only to regain the gootl opinion of his friends, and to avert the hostility of his enemies, Mr. Fletcher all at qnee turns round, anti from thie defendant becomes the assailant-declarinig himself the iNjured and perse- cuted party-scattering his impotent abuse, and vent- ing his pointless malice, against his once " adlorable Ellza," and all ber partisans; including, among suclh parti- sans, the Synodl of his " mother ohurch," and all those here- tiCs who refuse to adopt, asan article of their creed, the evan- gelical purity of the minister of Albion Chapel. " I now call upon upon the Synod," says he, " first, to rescind their sentenice pronounced against me; secondly, to bring before their tribunal the Rev. Dr. Dick (thea father of the young lady), for his open andl flagrant violation of the aposto- lical precept, I Corinthians, vi. 3.; and to apply the discipline of the Church to their own two delegates and all the imiinisters of the Presbytery of Lond on, for giving their active assistance to obtain tnagisterial autho- rity to enforce a spiritual sentence." And whly call upon them to do so? Because their erring brother has made reparation for his allege(d transgression, or proved his boasted ilnocence ? No ; but because Mr. Fletcher chooses to proclaim himself in the right, and. his opponents in the wrong. Is the reverend gentleman to be immediately exculpated, because his conduct has provoked propor re- taliation from persons whom he has injured ? We shall say nothing of the private feelings or behaviour of the family whose regard Mr. Fletcher till a very late period seemed so am!Witious to acquire (as we know nothinig of them but froni the published documents before us) ; but what shall we thinl; of the heart of that man, who, without any other provocation than a demand of legal redress for acknow- ledged wrong, could conclude the following apostroFhe of ironical pity with the form of ablasphemous prayer?- Amiable family! is this their bliss? *Will this dispel the gleomy clouds which surround a death-bed ? Will this soothe the soul amid the pangs of dissolution ? Vill this prepare for man - sions in the sky ? 0, Thou (;od of mnercy, Thou fountain of ten- derness and compassion-Thou stay of the perseeuted, and coni- forter of the bowed down, enable me amidst the agitation of tlomul- tuoius passions. with tranquillity of heart to pray respecting all the AGGeESsoas referred to in this book-FAT'HEa,, FORGIVE rsIE.,r 1" Nor is this the only instance in which such a mode of disposing of an adversary is adopted, or such a sanction in- voked. All the enemies of M;r. Fletcher are the enemies of God, and he himself is thc chief object of Divine protection' In speaking of himnself and the member of the Presby- tery wvho published what is called his trial, he thus piously writes : " If I excite a smile, I shall be satisfied that in may humble per- forinance I have done more than has been done by him who styles himself 'a Aember of the Associate Synod ! but wlho could not style himself a brother in the tncenetr of the Gospel, ora disciple of THE LOWLY JESUS, who haR delivered a religion founded on mercy. Really it would have been too much to have gives hihself such tender-hearted designations; with all his fortitule, he has not con4idence to usurp such undeserved honour; with all his presump- tion, his presumption could not carry hitn so far as this.- He- his shown himself to be inore qualified to act the chief part at a Spanish Iauto-def6,' than to act the humble, gentle, compassionate, and forgiving spirit of a disciple of Christ. I ought to say, I Father fiorgive hnim !" He is unable to excuse the commencement of a second corraspondence, after the terrnination of a first, ten yeats anterior to it; but here, agait, lie calls in the agency of Providence:- "Though I take aU the blame to myself of the renewal of the second correspondence, I cannot deny, that divine Providence per. mitted this unaccountable suspension of the rememnbraisce of former feelings, for ends wrhich I am atraid yet remain to be developed." After describing the circurrstances in which he wrote the tvo letters, which were considered by the lady's family as tentding to a breach of his engagement, he thus places be- fore us the reprobate claimants of justice, and Lhe heavenly favoured violator of proniises a- ,Little did I imnagine, that in writing and sending the two fol- lowing letters, I was approaching the precinctq of a territory where nothing was to be heard but the vociferating noise of thatndering de- nunciation, and nothing to be seen but a formidable array of coni- batants, Trarshalled under the direction of the former object of my regard, and ready to enter upon aR enterprise of destruction, which could not have failed in bringing mne to the dust of death, nlet#ss Hr who'its in the heavetis and laughs at lhe machinations of nisguid. ed rnortar, had surrounded mc witht the arrn of his almiglahy protection." lWhen ihe inclinations of lhis mnind, or the eircumstamices of his situation, indsuce him on any occasion to alter his purposrs, or to change his conduct, we are sure to be treated to a lesson of piety, as may be seen in the following familiar note:- "Ar dear Madanm,-You must not consider theexpression of my SCletiments in this note as in the slightest degree disrespectful to you, who have invariably taken an initerest in my vwelfare. As I find Prnvidence evidently frowning on the measures lately adopted, mea- sures sonie of which nmet with my concurrence; as I sce even by friendly interference matters are getting rapidly worse instead of better, I have fonnea a fixed and unbiLssed resolution that all inter- ference, even the most friendly, thall cease, and that I shall receive no communication either by word or letter from any individual. Ac- ce,tof my thanks for your affectiouate wishes. I wilt seek the coun- sal of Rimn who cannot err, and who will in wisdoin accomplish his own purposes. 1 remain, vtnrs sincerely -S " ALEXANDE R FLETdCHmt2 We have only room for one instance more of this blas- phemousfamiliarity with God and Providence, mixed with rancorous hostility to his former friends and intended rela- tives. Speaking of Dr. Dick, and bis threat of suing for legal redrcss, he says- I The representative of that inost meek and amiable familv, eqnally beyond praise and blame, had already communieated to niy brother-in-law his purpose, not to stand i, the rank but in the 'front ranAk of my opponents, therefore I certainly began to believe they had formed plans which they were determined should be car- ried into execution. I compared the power of God, with the threats of men-the mercy of God, with the severity of man-a_nd found the comparison not only profitable, butt consolatory. When I perceived that motbs and worms had contrived anrl plotted my ruin, I remena- bered the words of the Psaltmist, and placed my confidence in God; He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh, he wiUl hold them in derision. He wiU make the wrath of man to praise him, and the re. rMainder of his wrath he will restrain." Xn these sperimens of cant there is mixcd up a large por- tion ot'gall; but there are other passages in which the lat- ter ingredient predlominates in a revolting degree. He calls the presbytery of London the Inquisition-the Star Cham - ber-tellug us that the passions displayed in it filled him, with horror and disgst, and will follow witlh infany to the grave txose under their don~iniqn." In anQther place he tells us, that his enemies would be drownsed in the Red Sea of their own pTesumption ; and as he generally clothes his rancour with the form of prayer, adds- " This expedient is tbeir last, their dying struggle 1 it is a pow. erful convulsive movement, buxt it is the harbinger of dissolution. Join with me, indulgenit reader, in wishing, that when they sliBI ?nd the inefficasy of this their last attempt, tlhat enmity may expire, which has stimulated them in all their projects, and not attend them to amot/hes' world, where, like the vulture, it will prey upon the vitals of those who have s rrendercd themselves to its dominion in this" Speaking of his intended father-in-law, and thli letter in wbich he resented the slight put on his daughter,he uses the followink charitable expressions:- "I am blamed with treating the reverend writer of tbe letter with cosntsnpl and scorn. Hisletter I did treat with contempt and scorn, and will treat it with contempt and scorn while I live and breathe. It is worthy of the heart which dictated it; and I shall ever rejoice that my existeiice shaU not be inibittered by being related to olle whose dispositions I hold in such de%er7ed detestadon ! 'Heaven grant i may iever meet him ons eartlk,till the asperity of hig nature IS softened y thc resistless influence of the rzligion of peace "' But we shall conclude this unpleasing exhibition, and produce no further instances of this frightfrl piety, wlhich would Deal damnation round file land, On each he thinks his foe." The nost prominent feature of. this production, neixt to those whicli we have described, is its shuffling tergiversa- tion, and apparent dishonesty. The reverend gentlemani, in his protest, had challenged all the lawyers of Eingland to produoc from his correspondence, the evidence of a breach of promise of marriage. He had subsequently been told teat hc had gone too far, and he now retracts, explains, and shuffles; telling us that " ?kis reatfion was tbe objpct of the letters thlroughout, whether literally expressed or not.' ,ike Biran in Love's Labozer Lost, Having sworn too hard a keeping oath, " He studied to break it, and not break his troth;" but finding that impossible, he is obligedtoallow that " marriage was implied, if not positively expressed." Can any thing more be required to decide on the nature of this appeal," and the character of this appellant? Having now tdone with our remarks on the spit and temper of this publication, we shall treat our readers to the only new correspondence of any interest whieh it contains. It will be recollected, as was formerly stated,. that Mr. Fletcher had formed an early attachment to MIiss Dick, which had been broken off ten years ago, and this rupture was ascribed to the unwarrantable interference of the reverend gentleman's sister. The epistle of this sister is here published, and a nnore vulgar impudeut production probably never issued fromsa the press. WFe wonder that the young lady (Miss Dick) didel not consider herself as having, made a providential cscape from the contact of such a falnily. 4c TO MISS DICK, GLASGOW. "'M adam,_-ly broiher has just now related Ito me the treat- ment ne has received from you. The reason of being here, whrch needs n1o explanation to your entitles me to the informaton thus confidlentially given. I was exceedingly surprised this morning when my brother told meyou have declined coming to London at the time airreed upon, and have consulted your own interest, and have put it ofl'for three years. " I I will give you a correct picture of your conduct, which I can asqure you is quite original. First, Air. Alexander Fletcber writes to Miss Dick, wishing to open a correspondence with her on a certain subject. She answers him, ' I have received your's, and consulted my parents: they leave me to the freedom of my awn will, but X declirne corresponding with you.' The matter breaks orT. Nearlv two years after this, rMlr. F. was preach- ing in Ar. Thompson's chapel, in the Gorbals, G(lasgow- was taken ill after service-was taken in a post-chaise to Dr. D.'s house-was attended by Mms. and Mliss D. The correspond- encce is again renewed.marriage is aereed unon. rir. Fletcher is settled in London; shortly after M.iss D. declines having him, stat- ing she has no obiections to him, but his relations were not respect. able, and she coutd not think of entering into the connexion on that account. The aillIr is broken oflt'ain. " ' The following summer lilr. Fletcher goes to Scotland to visit his father's family, when lo and belild he receives a letter from illiss D., addressed to the care of the Rev. William Fletcher, Bridge of Teith, father of this disrespectable clan * this family, rot fit to be collateral connexions to the writer of the letter! saying, the family in (3lasgow woutld be happy to see him. He goes to Glasgow-dite aifairr is begun again-the time of marriage is appoint. ed-his sister goes to London to prepare matters for the lady'a recep. tion by.and.by she writes to him ngain, that his income is not what she expected; that ghe could not think of running into poverty witlt her eves opeli, that if it came on after marriage, it ought to be stibmitted to; but that she was at present in the bosom of an affectionate father's family, in aflluenee and com- fort, and she had consulted her own interest, and resolved not to come to London for three years. " ' f woultl really like to know what entitles AMiss D.,of Glasgow, to airs of this kind-treatnent which a countess woould not give to a clown. Is it her pcrs9e, her pursc, or accomp1ishvzwntsr? Is this treatment likely to secure the affections of an equal for three years to come ? h': I would ask, wherewithal can he be bound three years to afflict him ? My own opinioui is, that you are as ignorant of these mneans as Delila was with respect to Sampson; anl that you would mnake the same use of them, were they in your power. "'JEAN F.' " hliss D.'s answer was not sent to me, neither did I ever read any ofher letters. Her answer to Alexander was as follows:- "c' Sir,-.I have just received a letter from a woman calling her. selfJean Fletcher. Who is this woman. who is in possession of this minute statement of facts ? No doubt some miscreant walking the streets of London. NVhli gave her this minute statement of facts ? Is it the honourable man whom she calls her brother ? If she is your sister, thank God she shall never be umine. "'E. D. " I answered as follows:- ' Aldanm,-_ am aUtonished votn can give me a name so abo- minable, for relating what you confess to be a minute statement of faCts. "' I beg to warn you, that if slander, thie daughter of malice, should cqLt her venom on rne, I will make her wipe it off with the mzautle of prtzdenice, with whvich she attempts to adorn herself. Nemo sae impune IacessiL " ' JEAN FLETCHER.' " Has Mr. Fletcher consulted the interests of his family in pro(lucing such a correspondence ? We have now done with this reverend gentleman and his affairs, professing to know nothitng of him or of them but what has been forced upon our notice by the publications of the parties. The Synod, we observe, has suspended him on two grounds-that of a breach of a marriage engagement, and an undue adminis- tration ofthe sacrament-grounds so distinc-, that'they put us in mindl of the case of a young lady mentioned in French comedy, who is said to have " died of love, and water in the chest." Tfl REV. MR FPLRTCHE.Z'S APPEAL.