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thrown on them: and as men we must appear on the great day, it will then remain for the searcher of all hearts to show the collective universe who was engaged in the most virtuous actions, and actuated by the purest motives. [He was interrupted, and told to listen to the sentence of the law.] My Lord, will a dying man be denied the legal privelege of exculpating himself in the eyes of the community, of an undeserved reproach thrown upon him during his trial, by charging him with ambition, and attempting to sell his country to France? Ambition! Oh! My country! Was it ambition influenced me, I might now rank amongst the proudest of your oppressors, Sell my country to France! Oh, God! No, my lord; connexion with France was intended only when mutual interest was considered; were they to assume any authority inconsistent with the purest independence, it would be the signal of their destruction: I would fight them with the sword in one hand and the torch in the other; I would burn every blade of grass in the land, sooner than let any foreigner tyrannize. If the spirits of the illustrious dead can witness the scenes of this transitory life, dear shade of my departed father look down with a scrutiny on your suffering son, and say has he a moment deviated from those moral and patriotic principles which you taught him, and which he now dies for. I am charged with being the key stone of this conspiracy, or, as your lordship expresses it, the life and blood of this conspiracy. I only acted a subaltern part; there are men who manage it, that are far above me, or even you my lord, and all your fancied greatness; men, who would not deign to call you friend, who would not disgrace themselves by shaking your blood-stained hand. You, my lord, tell me I am accountable for all the blood that has and will be shed on this business. I do not fear. approaching the omnipotent judge, to answer for the conduct of my short life; but, my lord, were it possible to collect all the innocent blood, that you have shed, in one great reservoir, for great indeed it must be, your lordship might swim in it. Here he was again interrupted.] My Lords, I have but a few more words to say; I am now going to my cold and silent grave; my lamp of life is nearly extinguished; my race is finished; the grave is open to receive me, and I will sink into its bosom; I have but one request to make, at my departure from this world, it is the charity of its silence; let no man write my epitaph; for as no inan, who knows my motives dare now vindicate them, let no prejudice or ignorance asperse them; let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times and other men san do justice to my character; when

my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written.

A correct copy, Dublin,

He was executed in Thomas-street,

INTENDED PUBLICATION OF MIRABAUD'S SYSTEM OF NATURE.

Ar a time when we are on the eve of an important change in our political affairs, which must evidently lead either to the recovery and re-establishment of our liberties, or to a military despotism, those who are connected with the press ought to use every exertion to eulighten their fellow-citizens, and to assert their right of canvassing in the most free and unrestrained manner, every subject connected. with the happiness of Man.

The Priesthood have ever been convenient tools in the hands of tyrants, to keep the bulk of the People in a degraded servility. By the superstitious and slavish doctrines which they infuse into their minds, they prevent them from thinking for themselves and asserting their own independence. At a moment when National Schools are erecting in every quarter of the country, not with a sincere desire of enlightening the rising generation, but with the insidious design of instilling into their minds the doctrines of "CHURCH AND KING," in order to bolster up a little longer the present rotten, tottering, and corrupt system; at a moinent, too, when thousands of fanatic preachers are traversing the country with a view to subjugate the human mind to the baleful empire of visionary enthusiasm and sectarian bigotry, to the utter extinction of every noble, manly, liberal, and philanthropic principle;---at such a moment as this, we think the "SYSTEM OF NATURE" cannot fail to render essential service to the cause both of Civil and Religious Liberty. No work, ancient or modern, has surpassed it, in the eloquence and sublimity of its language, or in the facility with which it treats the most abstruse and difficult subjects. It is, without exception, the boldest effort the human mind has yet produced, in the investigation of Morals and Theology-in the destruction of priestcraft and superstition-and in developing the sources of all those passions and prejudices which have proved so fatal to the tranquillity of the world.

The Republic of Letters has never produced an Author whose Pen was so well calculated to em.Ecipate mankind from all those tranimels with which the Nurse, the Sehoolmaster, and the Priest bave successively locked up their noblest faculties, before they were capable of, reasoning and judging for themselves. The frightful apprehensious of the gloomy Bigot and all the appaling terrors of Superstition are, here utterly annihilated, to the complete satisfaction of every unbiassed. and impartial reader.

We have been led to make these observations from perceiving the intended work announced in a cheap form, and trust it will meet with that encouragement, which every publication of its nature demands, from a liberal and enlightened Public.

Printed and Published by T. Davisov, 10, Duke Street, Smithfield.

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Cap of Liberty.

A London Weekly Political Publication.

No. 6, Vol. 1.]

Wednesday, October 13th, 1819.

If Humanity shows to the God of this World,
A sight for his fatherly eye,
'Tis that of a PEOPLE with banner unfurl'd,
Resolv'd for their FREEDOM TO DIE.
"Tis a spark of the Deity bursting to light
Through the darkness of human control,,
That fires the bold war arm in Liberty's fight,
And springs from the Patriot burning and bright,
Through the eye of an heavenly soul.

[PRICE 2d.

C. PHILLIPS.

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION.-No. I.

IMPORTANT TRIAL OF MR. CARLILE FOR PUB-
LISHING PAINE'S AGE OF REASON.

Ar an early hour yesterday morning we repaired to Guildhall, to witness the Trial of Mr. Carlile, but on attempting to enter the Court we were opposed by a posse of constables, who, by the orders of Lord Mayor Atkins, prevented the admission of the Public to an open Court. This poor crazed, expectant Baronet, has assumed a most extensive authority, but were we in Mr. Carlile's situation, we would in the first instance protest against the unfairness and illegality of filling the Court with the insolent myrmidons of a few fanatic bigots, to the exclusion of his (Mr. C.'s) friends. Such unwarrantable conduct as was displayed by these Jacks in office, we never before witnessed, and were glad to perceive a few spirited individuals taking down their names, for the purpose of trying whether Sir John Atkins has the power of shutting the doors of a Court of Justice on all but his own friends and dependents.

A few minutes before nine, the doors of the Court were thrown open, and Mr. Carlile, accompanied by Mr. Hunt and other gentlemen, came up to the door in several carriages, containing an immense quantity of books, papers, &c. As soon as way could be made through the crowd, Mr. Hunt and the other Gentlemen entered the Court, when shortly after Chief Justice Abbot took his seat.

About half past nine, the Attorney-General, the SolicitorGeneral, Mr. Gurney, and Mr. Littledale, the Counsel for

T. Davison, Printer and Publisher, 10 Duke Street, Smithfield,

the Crown, arrived and took their seats. Comparative order was now restored, and the Court being full, the obtrusion of other persons was prevented. It appears from the list of the Sheriffs, that the five charges against Mr. Carlile stand upon the paper in succession for trial.

Mr. Carlile made an appeal to Mr. Sheriff Parkins, and stated that his friends were not admitted. Mr. Parkins addressed Mr. Collenridge, and desired that his orders should be attended to.-Mr. Collenridge, "Mr. Carlile has already five friends in Court."-Mr. Sheriff Parkins, “I suppose, Mr. Carlile, those persons are necessary to your defence."-Mr. Carlile," They are laden with books, to which I shall have occasion to refer."-Mr. Sheriff Parkins, "They must be admitted."-The names of the four persons were then given in, and they were ordered to be admitted. The cause of "The King against Carlile" was then called

on.

Mr. Hunt instantly rose, and adverting to his own cause against Stoddart and others, stated that he had understood. from his Lordship that no cause should be taken out of its turn. His cause stood before that now called on, and he claimed his prior right.-The Chief Justice desired Mr. Hunt not to interrupt the Court, but to be silent and depart. -Mr. Hunt, "Be silent and depart! Your Lordship said no cause should be taken out of its turn."-The Chief Justice, "I never said any such thing. I said that the causes should be taken as near as possible in their order. You were cousulted on the fixing of your own cause, and I understand from the officer of the Court that you have chosen next Thursday, for which day your trial stands appointed.' -Mr. Hunt, "I am satisfied with your Lordship's explanation, but five causes are now called, which may last three weeks or a month. Will your Lordship allow my witnesses to retire?"-The Chief Justice, "You may have your trial put off to a more distant day, if you like."-Mr. Hunt, "If your Lordship pleases, for a week or ten days."-The Chief Justice, "You will settle that with the Solicitors on the other side."

The list of Special Jurymen was then called over, and the following persons answered:-Charles Wood, Abchurchlane; Robert Hutchinson, Clement's-lane; John Hanson, Crooked-lane; George Harvey, Lawrence-lane; Arthur Chichester Allen, Ironmonger-lane; John Wilson, Queen-street; Richard Chambers, Dove-court; William Parker, John

street.

Mr. Bellamy was then about to swear those Gentlemen,

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When Mr. Carlile submitted that this Court was not competent to try the charge against him.-The Chief Justice replied, "The Court is competent to try any criminal information filed by the Attorney-General.”—Mr. Carlile: “I submit there is no law which applies to this case."-The Chief Justice: "If there is no such law, you will be acquitted."-Mr. Carlile: "I protest against the proceeding." The Chief Justice: "You protest. Very well."

The Attorney-General then prayed a tales, and the Jury was made perfect by the following Common Jurymen; R. Plant; G. Coates, baker; J. Triggie, chairmaker; Matthew Holyer, glazier.

The Jury having been sworn, Mr. Campbell, who was also retained for the Crown, shortly opened the pleadings. Mr. Carlile now addressed the Court, and required that the Information should be read at the proper season.-The Chief Justice: "You must not interrupt the proceedings of the Court. This case shall be tried in a similar manner with all others."-Mr. Carlile: "I only requested that the Information might be read, in order that the Jury might understand the question which they are about to try.' The Chief Justice: "The Information shall be read at the proper season."-Mr. Carlile: "That is all I desire."

The Attorney-General (Sir R. Gifford) then addressed the Jury, and after a long and laboured speech, which lasted nearly an hour, concluded by calling on the Jury, if they were satisfied of this being a libellous publication, to acquit their consciences, and find the prisoner guilty.

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ཝཱ

The Solicitor General now called Griffin Swanson,* who, on his being sworn deposed that he was Clerk to the Solicitors of the Treasury. On the 17th of December he went to the house of the defendant in Fleet Street. He saw the defendant himself, and asked him for Paine's Age of Reason.' He delivered it to him, and charged him for it 10s. 6d. They had very little conversation. Mr. Carlile knew witness to be the Clerk to the Solicitors of the Treasury, and sent his compliments to Mr. Maule, adding, if he would allow him to eat his Christmas dinner at home, he would be prepared to meet him.

* This person is a native of Lynn, in Norfolk, where for some years he resided with a pettifogging, attorney but not exactly contented with the profits of his office, we understand he granted protections to seamen, emanating solely from his own authority, for which, we believe, the town has lost the benefit of his legal services. In the course of the proceedings we shall be able more fully to illustrate the merit of this important and convenient personage, he being the same individual to whom Mr. Hone is indebted for his present good fortune, for giving the information relative to the Jeu d'esprits for which that Gentleman was tried and honourably acquitted.-What a pity that the cause of Christianily should be reduced to such a dilemma as to seek support from a character like this!

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