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haps with some desire to amuse; but since I find nothing opposed to my arguments but a mere joke, I shall begin to think that I have not only given amusement, but "some conviction too."

To conclude, I would recommend to her, on some fine night, to divest herself of her amiable levity, and just contemplate seriously for a few mi nutes, the seemingly innumerable quantity of glittering stars, that are spread over the vast expanse, then mentally to put the question to herself, whether it be inconsistent with, or derogatory to, the reasoning faculties possessed by the emmet man, to consider them as so many existent beings, who act and keep their stations, by virtue of their own inherent powers. July 1st, 1828.

TO THE REV. ROBERT TAYLOR.

D. D.

REV. SIR,-You will herewith receive the contribution of a few friends to the cause of free discussion, who have taken this method of testifying their approbation of your strict and unbending adherence, to the liberties and rights, which are necessarily attached to it.

We do not wish to add either our assent or dissent to your opinions, on various topics; but we do wish to place upon record our detestation of that spirit, which, by persecution, would crush all inquiry, and consequently all mental improvement. It is, indeed, a poor weak mean device, when the props, to support falsehood and error, are composed of the most tyrannous and unjust materials that could disgrace human nature; and sufficiently indicative of the baseness of the upholders, disciples and supporters of such a system.

Although we feel indignant, that this age which has been called liberal, and this country which has been designated, the "land of liberty," should have afforded such melancholy instances of mental depravity, as to persecute men for an honest expression of opinions; yet we feel some small gratification, that Champions have arisen, yourself, Mr. Carlile and others, who have shaken the proudest bulwarks of inquisitorial craft, and who also, threaten most portentuously, its final overthrow.

We had hoped that some of the sects, who are denied, by their cotemporary sects, the name of Christian, to which they think they are entitled, had benefited so far by having been the victims of an intolerant church establishment, as not to let their actions be also under the influence of that visiting sin. But it seems, that, with some of that sect, this is not the case, although, for the offence of one, we would not condemn the whole. A Reverend gentleman who presides over the spiritual concerns of the ancient Unitarian Congregation in this town, on your case being mentioned to him, said that if a farthing would save you from persecution, he would not give it, but, that if he had it in his power, he would persecute you still farther.' We make no comment on this; it speaks volumes for the Reverend gentleman's claims to the liberality, usually allowed to be possessed by Unitarians.

**

We cannot allow this opportunity to pass without noticing our admiration of your varied talents, matured and brought into the sphere of active utility by the most unceasing industry, and the exercise of the most unbending independence. We feel a confidence, that you will continue an advocate of man's dearest rights, despite all the attacks of ignorance and fraud, and that you will be cheered on in your present course by the

plaudits of your fellow citizens. At all events, if you are conscions of deserving, you will be ensured, the approbation of all good men, however they may differ from you in opinion.

Wishing that your energies and health may pass the ordeal of persecution uninjured, and that you may rise, if possible, a more strenuous advocate of the rights of the people, and of the cause of truth. I subscribe myself, for friends,

Your well wisher,
ALEXANDER HARDY.

THE PERSECUTED CAPTIVE,
OR, CHRISTIANITY'S PRISONER.

A VOICE has

gone forth from the strong holds of gloom,
Where the infidel smiles at his merciless doom,
And 'spite of oppression, do all that it can,
He dares to assert the true freedom of man.
"Tis his home, for a prison it never shall be,

While throbs in its bound, but one heart that is free.
Persecution may fetter; but where shall it find

A chain for the chainless omnipotent mind?

But a voice has gone forth! and that voice has been heard,
By those who rejoice at each luminous word,
And a far distant day in the records of fame,
Shall add yet another all glorious name.
For why is he sever'd from all we hold dear?
Why is he apart, like a corpse on its bier ?
What-what is his crime? Hath he taken away
The widow's, the orphan's, the destitute's stay ?
Has he tax'd the distressed? has he taken the bread,
From those who were starving, to pamper the fed?
And, at last, when all famished and hopeless they lay,
Has he dragg'd from them dying their pallet away?"
Oh no! the sole crime that their hate can make clear,
Is this that he has been, and still is-sincere!
The tissue, that guilt and hypocrisy wove,
He has dared to unravel, and sought but to prove
His claim to be heard, and his claim to reveal,
What nature and reason have taught him to feel.
Are we men? and as slaves shall we tamely resign,
Our rights and our reason at bigotry's shrine?
Are we hunted like brutes, by the saints of the word?
In prisons and bonds must we perish, unheard?
That the Christian may offer us up to the Lord!
No! his altar of blood, and his altar of flame,
May reek or may burn, still the truth is the same;
And that truth shall be heard, when pale bigotry's sway,
Like a monstrous birth, shall be hid from the day.

I. W. IMRAY.

Printed and Published by RICHARD CARLILE, 62, Fleet-street, where all Communications, post-paid, or free of expense, are requested to be left.

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The Lion.

No. 2. VOL. 2.] LONDON, Friday, July 11, 1828. [PRICE 6d.

PETITION OF THE REV. ROBERT TAYLOR TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY, JULY 8.

THE following Petition, after three months holding, was presented to the House of Commons by Mr. Hume, on the behalf of the Rev. Robert Taylor.

TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

The petition of ROBERT TAYLOR, prisoner in Oakham Gaol;

With sincere deference, sheweth,

That your petitioner, after having for seven years officiated with great acceptance, as a minister of the church of England, was induced, by the perusal of what are called infidel books, to believe himself to be in most sacred duty bound to give up the valuable preferment he then held, and his prospects of advancement in the church: Which accordingly he did, from the purest motives of piety to God and charity to men, preferring poverty and affliction, with an approving mind, to emoluments and honours which were only to be retained by the suppression of his convictions and the compromise of his conscience.

That your petitioner had by the exercise of his talent of declamation, and by vast exertions of mind acquired a popularity, which induced many persons wholly unknown before to your petitioner, to purchase for him an elegant chapel, subsequently called THE AREOPAGUS, in which your petitioner, as its avowed orator, continued for the third year, to hold those free and public discussions, on the evidences of the Christian religion, which had been allowed for so long a time, under the knowledge and observance of the magistrates of the city of London, without any intimation of intended interference, or the least hint given to your petitioner, that such meetings were objectionable or could possibly be conducted with greater propriety and decorum than they were. All ministers and preachers of the Gospel were earnestly and respectfully invited to take part therein, agreeably to the declared practice of Christ,

Printed and Published by R. CARLILE, 62, Fleet Street. No. 2.-VOL. 2.

D

and his Apostles, and to the duty which they themselves confess to be incumbent upon them.

But upon the coming into power of Mr. Anthony Browne, as Lord Mayor of London, he being a Dissenter from the Church of England, a crusade of persecution was commenced against your Petitioner. Three indictments, for Blasphemy alleged to have been delivered in your Petitioner's orations before the Areopagus, were entered against your Petitioner, in the third of which six other persons were involved upon the charge of conspiring to blaspheme. Two of these indictments are still hanging over your Petitioner; he hath upon one of them been convicted, and was sentenced upon the seventh of February last, to be imprisoned for one year in his Majesty's Gaol of Oakham, in the county of Rutland, and at the end of that time, to find securities for his good behaviour, himself in £500, and two sufficient persons in £250 each, for five years. It being well known, that such persons as would be judged to be sufficient must necessarily be unwilling to give the required security, seeing that for much less indication of good-will to your petitioner, six other persons are already under prosecution: and it being absolutely impossible, that a man, having the proper spirit of a man, and being conscious that he hath never said or done any thing worthy of punishment, should consent to accept liberty upon so degrading and unjust a condition, that liberty being kept from him, only by a continued crime.

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The Judge himself who passed this sentence upon him bearing testimony at the same time in favour of your Petitioner, that he was for "reverence to God, and had inculcated the duties and obligations of moral righteousness.' Your Petitioner therefore prays, that your honourable house will take his hard case into consideration, and put an end to this barbarous persecution, by deterging from English Law, the disgrace of punishing a man for his religious opinions, and of treating as a felon and a culprit, one whose case is in so many points analogous to His, of whom the Chief Priests said, "He hath spoken Blasphemy," and the people said, "Let him be crucified," and Pilate said, "I find in him no fault at all," though Pilate "gave sentence that it should be as they desired." And your Petitioner shall, as in duty bound,

Oakham Gaol,

Monday, March 31, 1828.

ROBERT TAYLOR.

On the presentation of this Petition, the following report is made in the Morning Chronicle.

RELIGIOUS PROSECUTIONS.

Mr. HUME rose to present a Petition from the Rev. Robert Taylor, confined in Oakham Gaol, on a sentence upon a prosecution for blasphemy. The Petitioner was prosecuted at the instance of a Dissenter-an Alderman Browne-who was then Lord Mayor of London. The Petitioner maintained that it was disgraceful to the age, and contrary to justice, to prosecute any man merely because he differed on speculative points of religion from the mass of the community. He had been sentenced, at the end of his imprisonment of one year, to be bound himself in £500, and two sureties of £250 each, which he thought excessive bail. He thought it wrong on the part of Mr. Anthony Browne, who was himself a Dissenter, to institute such a prosecution.

The Petition was brought up and read.

On the question that the Petition do lie on the Table,

Mr. W. SMITH was surprised that such a prosecution should have been instituted by Alderman Browne, who was himself a Dissenter; but perhaps he felt that, as a Magistrate, it was his duty to do so.

Mr. LESLIE FOSTER thought the Lord Mayor had acted rightly in prosecuting a person who gloried in being not only a Deist, but an Atheist, and who published his opinions in violation of the law of the land.

Mr. Alderman WooD said, that the prosecution had been instituted by the then Lord Mayor, and not by the Court of Aldermen. He believed it had been instituted by that Gentleman, because there appeared no disposition in the Secretary for the Home Department to bring the subject forward. He thought it would be better to let such prosecutions alone, as by doing so the doctrines and opinions of that person would be prevented from getting into circulation.

Mr. Secretary PEEL observed, that the Hon. Alderman had correctly stated that there was no wish to interfere on the part of Government, not because the impropriety of that person's conduct was not felt, but because prosecutions on such subjects involved a very difficult and delicate question. That person had, however, been guilty of a shameful violation of the law, and the then Mayor felt it his duty to proceed against him. He repeated that he thought prosecutions ought to be seriously considered before they were instituted."

After a few words from Mr. HUME, the Petition was ordered to lie on the Table.

The report of The Times agrees with this of the Morning Chronicle; but the report of the Morning Herald makes Mr. William Smith and Mr. Alderman Wood, to be the defenders of the late Lord Mayor Browne and the advocates of the prosecution; so that it is impossible to comment fairly on the subject, unless one had been in the gallery of the House of Commons to have reported on his own responsibility. Mr. Hume is not reported to have stated any thing more than the heads of the petition; but Mr. Peel's observations are interesting, inasmuch as they exhibit the effusion of a mind that has been beaten out of a darling object. Infidelity is a very bad sort of thing, a daring violation of the law; but it had better not be prosecuted, cries Mr. Peel. This is the language of a minister! He has laws which he thinks should not be enforced. Then repeal them, and get out of the anomaly of administering, or professing to administer, that which is not fit to be administered. But the fact is, Mr. Peel, there are no laws of the kind to be administered or to be repealed, and I charge you with the utterance of a falsehood, when you stated in the House of Commons, that Mr. Taylor had wantonly or sufficiently offended the law to justify the prosecution. You know better. You know, that you have no law but that of prejudice, no custom but that of religious persecution, no right but that of might in your case. you have law, I am an offender of that law, and I call upon you, as a minister of the crown and the law, to put that law in force against me.

If

Talk not of your delicacy or your expediency. The whole question is one of verbal discussion, of truth or falsehood, of right or wrong. Is your Christian religion founded in physical, historical, and moral truths? If it be, your law is not wanted to show it to be so; if it be not, your law cannot make it to be what

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