[800 degrading an idea that is essential to the exist-offended God. We do not take his life as an atonement for his crime. - No! we are taught by for that. our region that he will be tormented hereafter from society, as a dangerous member of it, upon We only, from necessity, remove him the same principle that we would amputate a of terror, to act upon the motives of mad as a ne mortified limb, and hang him up as an example ence and credit of our holy faith, that it should be amalgamated with the inventions of men. is a libel upon the great Author of Nature, to suppose our religion a revelation from him for our salvation, and yet that it needs man's assistance to keep it from perish-cessary agent, that he may be excited to obey the ing. If I believe it an emanation from the How presumptuous and how arrogant then are Laws, and deterred from the infraction of them à Almighty, it will be much more for ine to agree with Soame Jenyos, “That puretrically opposed to such conduct. Does not the consistent we, we persecute a person on the score of his/ "and genuine Christianity never was, nor ever Almighty act as a Father over all? Dars he religion, when every precept of Christ is diame can be, the national religion of any country deal out the bounties of Nature with a more nig upon earth. It is a gold too refined to beardly hand to the Jew, the Turk, the Persian, “worked up with any human Institutions with- among the innumerable sects of Christianity, has or the Indian, than he does to the Caristian? And "out a large portion of alloy; for no sooner is ever evinced a partiality for any one in particu "the small grain of mustard seed watered with on them peculiar marks of his favour? Does not. lar? Are they not all satisfied that he showers "the fertile showers of civil emoluments than it our Saviour tell us, that God maketh his sun to shine grows up to a large and spreading tree, under on the evil and on the good, and sendetħ the rain s "the shelter of whose branches, the birds of rious bigot whether faith is not a gift of heaven? on the just and on the unjust. Let me ask tire fi "prey and plunder will not fail to make for And if so, whether the want of it can be a vice? themselves comfortable habitations, and thence We did not frame our intellectual faculties, nor deface its beauty and destroy its fruits."ing, which is completely passive, and modified can we command the decision of our understandWhat a contrast is here, between the sentiments of the defender of Priests, and all the appendages with which they have loaded religion, and those of the advocate of Christianity in the purity and simplicity in which it is represented to have been first propagated; and how much more congenial the opinions of the latter with the idea of a system instituted by a Supreme Being-in which light, in the present instance, I mean to consider that which was taught by Jesus as the will of his Father. 46 entirely by the impressions we receive from exthe misfortune to err in judgment through their ternal objects. If our friends or neighbours have confined views or prejudices, we ough kindly, to argue the matter with them, using wild perinstead of rancorous abuse and virulent depresuasion, and the best reason we are possessed of, cation. But should our charitable solicitude for we ought then, if we are real Christians, and the good of their souls ultimately prove abortive, have a greater respect for Jesus than for Calvin,, that God might give them grace, faith, and dis vine light, to comprehend his inscrutable myste Luther, or Arminius, to pity and pray for them, ries, which too often confound the fallible reason of us short-sighted mortals. For If all good Christians admit the Divine origin of their religion, (and, I believe, there are none Thinking," are only of consequence as they Opinions," says the author of Materials for that dispute it) they mast, at the same time, acknowledge that their God is capable of protect- decidedly inimical to persons being persecuted "lead to actions." And it appears that many of the most learned and pious Divines have been ing and supporting the revelation of his com- for their religious opinions. Dr. Watson, the tands, in whatever manner his infinite wisdom venerable Bishop of Landaff, who, like Dr. deemis best, because they ascribe to the Deity, declares to Mr. Gibbon ;—“ It woul ́ ́give me Blackstone, wrote a very ingenious among various other attributes, those of Omni- much uneasiness to be reputed an enemy to free "Apology potence, Omniscience, and Prescience. How enquiry into religious matters, absurd, then, by their general conduct to belie | mal malevolence against those who differ from being animated to any degree of persoor capable of this profession of belier; for, if God is all-me in opinion. powerful, all-wise, and fore-knowing, how is he on the right of private judgment in every On the contrary, I look capable of receiving an injury? How can he prior to the controu! of human authority; and concern respecting Gop and ourselves, as su want the assistance of such pigmies as men? Or have ever regarded free discussion as the best when and where did he ever appoint any of us his means of illustrating the doctrine, and estacounsellors, that we should presume to know his blishing the truth of Christianity. Let the folmind, require us to be arbiters between him and lowers of Mahomet and the zealots of the Church our neighbours, or executioners to destroy each of Rome, support their several religious systems other for offending him? I am aware that the by damping every effort of the human intellect. learned and elegant Dr. Blackstone, in his inge- to pry into the foundations of their faith; but nious Apology for the Laws of England, devotes never can it become a Christian to be afraid of a chapter to Offences against God and Religion, being asked a reason of the faith, that is in him! and 'entinerates the various punishments which nor a Protestant to be studious of enveloping the Legislature, in behalf of the Almighty, have his religion in mystery and ignorance." thought expedient to indict for the commission of them. But he does not state from what part of Sacred Writ they derive their authority for so doing. When we execute a murderer, or a housepreaker, we do not pretend it is because he has portunity, I beg leave to subscribe myself your London, 16th Dec. 1814, Printed and Published by J. MORTON, 94, Strand. i. VOL. XXVI. No. 26.] LONDON, SATURDAY, DEC. 24, 1814. [Price 1s 801] LETTER V. TO THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL, [802 continuation of the Income Tax, seeing that, when called on for the money, he sometimes forgets the delight of seeing others suffer, which he has enjoyed for his money. "bothered" out of it at last, as we were in the case of the French war. MY LORD,-The nation begin to suspect, at least, that this American War But now, my Lord, leaving wise Johnny, amiable and honest Johnny, to his taxes may prove an unfortunate thing. If your Lordship recollects, I taunted Johnny Bull, and his ropes of giving the Yankees a flouted him and gibed, when, at the out-set drubbing, permit me to remind your Lordof this war, he crowed and cock-cock- ship, briefly, of the origin of this war ; for, caw'd, at the idea of giving the Yankees a if I have life to the end of it, this origin good drubbing. If your Lordship recol-shall not be forgotten. It is necessary, at lects that I flouted wise John, and told every stage, to keep it steadily in view; him, that, at any rate, I hoped, if he was for, unless we do this, we shall be wholly resolved to enjoy this sport, he would never let me hear him say a word about the Property Tax, or, what he vulgarly calls the Income Tax. I knew, from the beginning, that I should see him galled here. I knew that I should bave him upon this hip; and here I have him; for he is now crying out against the Tax, as loud as a pig under the knife of a butcher, though he, at the same time, seems to have no objection to the work of slaughtering going on. In short, so that he is safe himself, and pays nothing, his delight is in seeing war desolate the rest of the world. But he does not like to pay. Rather than pay, he would give the world a chance of being at peace, and of ceasing to bleed. Dases, The war against France was a war against principles at first; it then became a war of conquest; and it ended in being a war for deliverance. We set out with accusing our enemy with being dangerous, as disorganizers of ancient Governments; and we ended with accusing them of being" dangerous, as despots. The French were too free for us at the beginning, and too much enslaved for us at the end; and it was so contrived as to make more than half the world believe, that the Cossacks were the great champions of civil and political liberty. So, that, when we came to the close, leaving the French nearly as we found them, not seeing tythes, monks, game-laws, gabelles, corvées, bastiles, or seigneurial courts re-established, we had spent more than a thousand millions of pounds in a war, of the first object of which we had wholly lost sight. We will not have it thus, my Lord, with regard to the American war. We will not suffer its first object to be lost sight of. Nobody, as to this point, shall be able to "bother? any historian, who is disposed to speak the That so amiable a personage should meet with any rubs or crosses in life must, of course, he matter of regret with his friends, and must remind them of the maxim, that, as virtue alone is not, in all sufficient to insure happiness in this world, the virtuous afflicted ought chiefly to rely on the world to come. This sort of reliance is very suitable to Johnny, at this time; for he has not given the Yankees a drubbing; and yet the Income Tax sticks to him like bird-lime. The Times news-truth. papers cheer him, indeed, by telling him, that he is causing the Yankees to pay taxes; that, though he so sorely feels himself, he does not suffer in vain; for that he is making others suffer too. To be sure, this is a consoling reflection; but still it is not quite sufficient to reconcile him to the The war with America arose thus→→ We were at war with France, America was neutral. We not only exercised our known right of stopping American merchant ships at sea, to search them for enemy's goods, for troops in the enemy's ser vice, and for goods contraband of war which species of search, and of seizure, in case of detection, Mr. Madison did not oppose either by word or deed. This was a maritime right, sometimes disputed by Russia, Holland, Denmark, and Swedea; but never given up by us, except for awhile, at a time of great danger. This right was never disputed by Mr. Madison during the French war. The Members of the Congress do not purchase their seats; no seats can be bought or sold; none of the Members can get any thing for themselves, or families, by their votes. So that, when they decide, it is, in reality, a majority of the people who decide; and, the people did decide, that they would resist, by force of arms, the impress'The exercise of it he sub-ment of their seamen. mitted to without complaint. This was our "right of search" and this right was enjoyed by us, without any complaint on his part; and this is the right which many people think he opposed, and upon that ground they have approved of the war. The people here generally believe what that infamous print, the Times newspaper, tell them, that the people of America never complained of such impressments; but the truth is, that, long before, years before, the war was declared, complaints, and most bitter complaints, had rung through the But the war had nothing to do with this country, against these impressments. Letters right, any more than it had to do with our from the impressed persons were published right of bringing coals from Newcastle to without end. Afidavits proving the facts London. The war was declared by Mr. Representations enough to make a nation Madison against us, because we stopped mad with resentment; enough to drive American merchant ships upon the high even Quakers to arms. None of these scas, and impressed people out of them. We have our newspapers ever copied. None said, that we did this in order to recover of these have they ever made known to our own seamen, who were frequently their readers. They have published the found serving in these American ships; harangues of Goodloe Harper, H. G. Otis, but it was notorious, the fact was never poor Timothy Pickering, and other woulddenied, and never can be denied, that we be Noblesse. They have given us every impressed thus great numbers of native thing from the free press of America, at all Americans, forced them on board of our calculated to cause it to be believed, that ships of war, and compelled them to sub- the war is unpopular there; but not a mit to our discipline, and to risk their lives word on the other side; not a word to let in fighting for us. These are facts which us see what were the real sentiments of the can never be denied. Mr. Madison, for majority of the Republic. I will now lay years, called upon us to cease this practice. before your Lordship some of the comWe did not cease. He repeatedly threat-plaints of the impressed Americans, as ened war, if we persevered. We did per-published in the American newspapers; severe; and, after years of remonstrance, he, or rather the two Houses of Congress, the real Representatives of the people of America, declared war against us. Here, then, is the cause of the war; the sole cause of the war; war, long threatened, and, at last, frankly declared, previous to any hostile act or movement on the part of Mr. Madison, or rather the Congress. For, my Lord, though Johnny Ball, wise Johnny, whose generosity would put all other nations into his own happy state; though wise and generous John talks about Mr. Madison's hostility, it is, in fact, the hostility of the Congress; that is to say, the hostility of the people; because the Congress are the real, and not the sham, representatives of the people; and, because, the Congress, who declared, and who now support the war, have been chosen during the war, and just before it. for, I am convinced, that even you are not acquainted fully of the nature and tone of those complaints; and, at any rate, the publications should, if possible, be rebutted on our part, seeing, that they must produce such a hatred of us in the minds of the people of America, as will, if not, by some means, mollified, lead to a never-ceasing hostility. Your Lordship will perceive, that these statements are sent forth with all the forms of judicial acts; that they consist of statements made on oath; that these statements are certified by legal magistrates, whose names are affixed to them; and that, of course, they are calculated to have great weight with the public. It is not a bad way to make the case our own; to suppose such complaints to be made in our papers against America, or any other nation; and, then, to judge of the effect that those complaints would make on the people of England, recollecting that the Americans are not base and cowardly more than we are. From the Salem Register of Jan. 9, 1813. 66 IMPRESSMENT. 66 "master-at-arms to take me on deck and "give me two dozen lashes; after receiving them, he ordered him to keep me in irons, "and give me one biscuit and a pint of water for 24 hours. After keeping me "The following deposition of Mr. Isaac" in this situation one week, I was brought "Clark, of this town, who has been torn on deck, and asked by Captain Elliot if "from his family and country, and for "I would go to my duty-on my refusing, "three years compelled to serve on board" he ordered me to strip, tied me up a se"his Britannic Majesty's ships of war, is "cond time and gave me two dozen more, "entitled to an attentive perusal. Those" and kept me on the same allowance anoAmericans, who can read this narrative" ther week-then ordered me on deck "without the strongest emotions of indigna-" again, and asked if I would go to work; "tion and wrath towards the insolent and "I still persisted that I was an American, haughty oppressors of our brave and ho-" and that he had no right to demand my "nest mariners, and commisseration for "services, and I would do no work on "their sufferings, or who can attempt to "board his ship. He told me he would "justify and palliate the atrocious conduct" punish me until I was willing to work; "of our man-stealing enemies, can be fit" and then gave me the third two dozen of "only for slaves to the *** Court of St." lashes, ordered a very heavy chain to be "James's, and had better take refuge with put round my neck, (such as they had used "their favourite "Bulwark;" they are "to sling the lower yard) fastened to a "unworthy to breathe the pure air of Li- ringbolt in the deck, and that no person "berty.This narrative affords a most except the master-at-arms should speak "striking and affecting view of the suffer- "to me, or give me any thing to eat or ings which not only our townsman Mr. "drink, but my one biscuit and a pint of "Clark, but thousands of American sea- water for twenty-four hours, until I 66 men have endured, and which all have "would go to work. I was kept in this "been liable to endure, by this infernal" situation nine weeks, when, being ex, practice of impressment on the high seas "hausted by hunger and thirst, I was "from our vessels. But the day of retri- obliged to yield. After being on board "bution will come, and it ought to be the "the ship more than two years and a half, "determination of every patriotic Ameri- "and being wounded in an action with a can to compel the enemy to abandon this "French frigate, I was sent to the hospi"most insufferable and degrading prac-"tal. When partially recovered, I was "tice, or, in the language of the Hon. "Mr. Mason, to nail our colours to the "mast, and sink in the effort.' 66 66 66 66 "sent on board the Impregnable, a 98 gun " ship. My wound growing worse, I was "returned to the hospital, when the Ame "rican Consul received a copy of my pro 66 IMPRESSMENT. From the National Advocate, May 4th, 1913. I, Isaac Ciurk, of Salem, in the county of Essex, and commonwealth of Mas-"tection from Salem, and procured my dis"sachusetts, on solemm oath declare, that "charge on the 29th day of April last. "I was born in the town of Randolph, in "There were seven impressed Americans "the county of Norfolk; have sailed out on board the Porcupine, three of whom "of Salem aforesaid about seven years; "had cutered. ISAAC CLARK.", "that, on the 14th day of June, 1809, I "was impressed and forcibly taken from "the ship Jane, of Norfolk, by the sailingmaster (his name was Carr) of his Ma- "The following documents are worthy jesty's ship Porcupine, Robert Elliot," of attention, as illustrating practically "commander. I had a protection from "the subject of impressment :"the custom-house in Salem, which I "shewed to Captain Elliot; he swore I was an Englishman, tore my protection to pieces before my eyes, and threw it overboard, and ordered me to go to work. “—I told him I did not belong to his flag, "and I would do no work under it."He then ordered my legs to be put inboard, and after taking out the crew, "irons, and the next morning ordered the "fired and blew up the ship. The eight capture of the Java, and was sent on "board that vessel, and after the crew "were removed, set her on fire and blew "her up. Amongst the crew of the Java, "thirteen impressed American seamen "were found, three of whom had entered "the British service and were left, the "other ten were liberated as Americans. "Poughkeepsie, April 17, 1813. "Read over and signed in the Dutchess County, ss. 66 " presence "Joseph Harris, "John S. Frear." "James Tompkins, being sworn, saith, "that he is a native of Ulster county, op "Dated Poughkeepsie, April 16, 1813. posite Poughkeepsie; that he sailed out "B. V. HOFFMAN."" of New York in the month of Apri, Dutchess County, ss. "1812, in the ship Minerva, bound to "Richard Tompkins, being sworn, "Ireland; that on the homeward-bound "saith, that he is a native of New Paltz," passage, in July after, this deponent, "opposite Poughkeepsie; that he sailed" with three other American seamen, "from Winnington about the 28th of" Samuel Davis, Wm. Young, and Joha "April 1810, on board the brig Warren, W. Brown, were impressed and taken on Kelly, captain, for Cork. On the home-board of the British ship Acteon, David "ward passage, in September following, he" Smith, captain. We were taken on Satur was impressed and taken on board the day evening; on Monday morning we "Peacock, a British sloop of war, and "were brought to the gangway, and in"compelled to do duty. That while on board" formed we must enter on board ship, and "that vessel he made many unsuccessful" live as other seamen, or we should live attempts to write to his friends, inform-" on oatmeal and water, and receive five "ing them of his situation. He further" dozen lashes. This deponent says, him"saith, that after he had heard of the war, "seif, and the other three impressed with "himself and two other impressed Ameri- "him, did refuse to enter, and each of can seamen, who were on board the Pea" them were then whipped five dozen lashes, "cock, went aft to the captain, claimed "On Wednesday following we were again “to be considered as American prisoners" all brought up and had the same offer “of war,and refused to do duty any longer." made to us to enter, which we refused, "They were ordered off the quarter-deck," and we were again whipped four dozen and the captain called for the master- "lashes each. On Saturday after the like at-arms, and ordered us to be put in" offer was made to us, and on our refusal irons; we were then kept in irons about " we were again whipped three dozen "twenty-four hours, when we were taken "lashes each. On Monday following, stil out, brought to the gangway, stripped of" refusing to enter, we were again whipped our clothes, tied and whipped, each one two dozen each. On Wednesday follow“dozen and a half lashes, and put to duty."ing we were again whipped one dozen "He further saith, that he was kept on "each, and ordered to be taken below and "board the Peacock, and did duty, till the "put in irons till we did enter: and the "action with the Hornet-after the Hornet hoisted American colours, he and the other impressed Americans again went were then put in irons, and laid in irons to the captain of the Peacock, asked to "three months. During the time of our "be sent below, said it was an American" impressment the ship had an action, ard ship, and that they did not wish to fight" captured a French ship. Before this against their country. The captain or- "action we were taken out of irons, and dered as to our quarters; called midship-" asked to fight, but we refused; and after man Stone to do his duty; and if we did "the action we were again ironed, where 66 not do our duty, to blow our brains out— we remained till the ship arrived at "ave! ave!" was answered by Stone, who "London. After arriving there we first then held a pistol at my head, and order-"heard of the war with America, and "ed us to our places. We then continued that the Guerriere was taken. This at our places, and were compelled to fight" deponent took his shirt, Samuel Davis 4 66 66 ill the Peacock struck: and we were "and Wm, Young took their handker |