On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    A t ^ rtj . " ' debttte ??• *** House givesrise to many melancholy reflections , and this was introduced by a member mentioning' the nurober of persons confined at present in Newgate duder sentence of death . This is © wing * o the i * ate of those convicted at each sessions , * ttot having- been regularly laid before the Regent in council , so that bis next determination will be upon an

    accumulation of sessions . This destroys a great deal of that solemnity which ought to attend every execution under criminal law j and it becomes cruel at last to execute persons , who have been for a great length of time in suspense between life and death . The language used in the House of Commons upon this occasion will prevent in future the recurrence of a similar

    evil . All accounts of France concur in their accounts of its degraded state . We may jndge of their views of justice in that country by a prefect declaring his determination whenever a riot takes place in his district , to send out some one principal man from the class of agitators . By this title the prefect probably means some possessor

    of national domains , whom he may thus get rid © f . We have an instance of the king ' s clemency in the pardon of General Boyer , who had hoisted the tri-coloured flag in the West Indies , on the news that the king baft absconded , and Buonaparte had taken h i * place in tb ^ Thuilleries . The guilt of the general is' very problematical ; but however the Court-martial sentenced him

    to deatfry and ; dut of regard to the many services * of theJu-eneral's family , and some good deeds * wf'his own , to his evident contrition and Various other items , the king commutes' this sente ^ e of death to imprisonment for twenty yei * t % . We need not wonder at the sentences of imprisonment fou ^ ire ^ revertj ten and more years , so

    continually occurring in their tribunals . In filo $ it seems to be true , what ihey say of themselves , the nation is demoralisee- the same want of humanity prevails in all classes . Expatriations are very numerous , and the horrors of Europe will be the cause probabjy of a numerous establishment on the banks of the Ohio .

    ^ Th © House *> f Commons at Paris is engagwd in ^ a similar manner to ours . They TONtainteM the-minister's budget with a deffaje of-attention , which mig-ht be well iHittata } betfe . ' JSv * ry » artic ! e goes through ^ edttrtnitteev ) I tems are not passed in the laito p * - " Remarks are made upon each ;

    Ap 4 if a saving * can be made there is no dfrfteultyitt suggesting- it . AH this it is * £ ijte pb «* uv « d i » done not , by the opposi"Jjtyaag * Wttut * be the case in England , TO % jbMrwiJAiMjr , toy that body of overz ^« # ** oytdi&a ; foho ^ tfrV for making- the * $ **^™* yVti * H £ j y * their superabundant if a » il ? ttre attacking its influence in the aaoit yiolent * itf&ifriefV At present no

    Untitled Article

    idea can be formed of the future government of this strange people , which after such great exertions will probably fall back into its ancient frivolity , and be the jest of surrounding nations for its grand moiiarque and its wooden shoes . Our countrymen have not yet been brought to their trial : but it seems that the plan of trying * them for high treason did not succeed . It is a case of

    misdemeanor only . The curiosity of the public is great both as to the supposed offence itself , and the manner in which Englishmen will conduct themselves in such strangely constituted courts ; courts in which every man is considered guilty till his innocence is proved , and every step in favour of innocence is resisted with the most indefatigable industry .

    In France the tribunals are at any rate open . Spain retains its horrible Inquisition , and the inquisitor-general has issued a proclamation of no small import to that miserable country . It is probable , that this infamous tribunal could not have entered upon its functions , without creatingtoo great a ferment in the country , and its

    prisons would not have been sufficient to contain the victims , that would have been brought in the first week within its grasp . An unexampled degree of clemency is therefore displayed . After deploring the wretched state to which the country had

    been subjected for so many years by the heretics contaminating its soul , and pointing out th © necessity of a thorough cleansing- and expiation , the falsely-called holy office allows a term for all that have lapsed in any degree from Catholic purity to return to the bosom of the church . This

    term expires with the close of this year , which will consequently be a busy one , and one very profitable to the Priests . Every one , tvho is conscious to himself , that he has used any free expressions , must make his bargain with his . qpnfessor , and they two together will settle an

    explanation with the Inquisition . Numbers will act in this manner , and be esteemed g * ood Catholics . No small quantity will free themselves from trouble by becoming * officers of the Inquisition , and probably at the end of the time many really g-ood Catholics will be thrown into prison froni the calumnies of their enemies . A total

    purgation of booksellers shops takes place immediately . This is one of the wretched effects of what has been called the deli , veranee of Europe . Of the remaining countries of Europe Prussia occupies most attention . The

    spirit of inquiry is there much alive , but before they can establish iheir desired co&-stitution it roust be seen , how it will s ni ^ the different parts of this strag-g-ling * kingdom . They are dividing their country into departments , such as that of Saxony , Which being dissevered from it * former

    Untitled Article

    State of Public Ajffairs * 18 f

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1816, page 187, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2450/page/59/