of an illiterate humble mechanic like myself, without having recourse to the arm of power? Let them come forward and convince us, that the many thousands of pounds they receive from the public, obtained by the sweat of the labourer's brow, are not undeservedly given. If they can refute my little book, would it not do those men of God more honour and give them a greater triumph than casting me into prison, without convincing me, or any one else, that I was in the wrong? The pain and mortification I must unavoidably feel at being refuted; would be punishment enough for me: even worse than imprisonmeat can be to me now, while I have a conscience void of offence toward God and man. I believe there are seventy thousand ministers belonging to, and dissenting from, the established church in this kingdom, and if they are willing to yield to a fair combat, and will desire the civil authorities to stand aside and see fair play, I will engage the whole seventy thousand, upon any terms; and, am moreover willing, that his Most Gracious Majesty George IV, as he is styled a defender of the faith, shall sit as arbitrator, if he will condescend to accept the office and take the trouble, when and where his superior judgment may think proper, either through the medium of the press, or in his most august presence. But to make the civil powers parties in this our quarrel, and to bespeak them, right or wrong, to favour their side, is unfair and unjust. As it is natural for persons to wish to promulgate what they think true, in opposition to that which they consider erroneous, I have published a book containing what I conceive to be truth, and if my little book speaks truth, for books are nothing more than the human voice reduced to signs on paper, if it speak truths, no harm can be done, neither can it be considered a libel. If it speaks false, it will be, as it ought to be, exposed. But who are to be the judges? Surely, the people are able to judge for themselves what is right or wrong, what is true or what is false, or Jesus would never have given that command in Luke, chap. xii. ver. 57, if it was impracticable and could not be obeyed; he upbraids them and says, "yea, why even of yourselves, judge ye not what is right?" Paul himself tells them to "prove all things," which cannot be done without they examine all things. What does Locke say, a man who was and is considered to have been endowed with extraordinary talents, and whose writ'ings are often quoted by theologians as well as philosophers; be says, "that whatever God hath revealed must certainly be true. So say I; but Locke says, "whether it be a divine revelation or not, reason must judge." Now, this book,

or these scriptures, as they are called, were written by men, and by men handed down to us, for no man has presumed yet to say it was given him by an angel, as the Koran is said to have been given to Mahomet, therefore, the writings or words of man, can no more be the writings or words of God, than the works of men, can be the works of God. Those writings, in this book, cannot be proved to be the words of God by any man whoever he may be or have been. The word of God in this book is called God himself. Read John chap. i. ver. 1, it says, "in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God." Now, without you admit this book to be God himself, you cannot call this God's word. And if this book be God himself, or even God's word, as you say it is; no writing of mine, nor of any other man, can destroy it, or do it any harm; for it must endure for ever, even the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Why afraid of my little book then? Is not the "foolishness of God wiser than men," read 1st Corinthians chap. i. ver. 25. If this book be founded in truth, it must prevail over all opposition, if false, surely, no man can calmly see his fellow creatures a prey to such groundless terrors and base deception, without endeavouring to remove them. It is also impolitic on your part to prosecute me for publishing my opinions; for opinions can do no harm, it is only the opposition to those opinions, which causes people to suspect that this book contains more than you would wish them to know. If you are fearful that the Christian religion will suffer by tolerating free discussion, you acknowledge and discover its weakness; but will morality suffer with it? No, Gentlemen, morality is founded on the common interests of mankind, and needs no other protector. Morality is not founded on this book; there is no morality contained in this book, but what is taught us by the book of nature. As a proof, examine the morality of all countries, and see if the moral principles are not nearly the same. It speaks in all nations the language of reason, justice, and utility, which is a proof that these principles are fixed and indispensible in their nature, and require not the aid of religion. If morality doth abound in this book, immorality aboundeth much more. It has been stated by M. A. Taylor, the honourable member for Durham, that if our opinions were promulgated, he would despair of the morals of the lower classes of society, as they would be left without protection against the basest and mischievous schemes; by which it appears evident to me, what

ever pretensions the honourable member may make to Christianity, that he is no Christian; for Christianity consists in visiting and relieving the lower classes of society, which that gentleman could not have done, or he would have discovered that the morals of the lower classes have been greatly improved since those opinions have been propagated by that preacher of morality-Richard Carlile. As a proof of this, I will read an extract from a still cheaper publication than the one my prosecutors complain of, a twopenny book, Gentlemen, called the Moralist, No. 9. I sent this morning to 84, Fleet Street, for two of them, from the shop where blasphemous publications are said to be sold, and they have just come to my hand, since I have been in court; so that I have not had time to select any particular passage. For those moral books, I have no occasion, baving the principles of morality grafted in my nature. The first, I see, is No. 9, on swearing. (The defendant then read about two pages of that number, and taking up No. 15, said it was tantamount to the other, it appeared to him to shew the direful effects of anger, but would not take up their time in reading it.) Enough had been shewn to prove that the publications from that shop could produce none but moral sensations; and such was the impartiality of the Editor of this blasphemous book, (taking up the Republican) that it actually contains a letter from a Methodist parson, which my persector's council has cunningly taken no notice of. But, Gentlemen, since those opinious (which you now prosecute) have been propagated, I could give references myself to upwards of one hundred persons, within the last twelve months, whose cases have come within my knowledge, who, instead of being drunken idle Christians, as they formerly were, are now sober and moral philosophers; and the only reason so much immorality doth exist among the lower classes of society, is the scarcity of moral preachers like Mr. Carlile, and the means taken to prevent them from reading and receiving those opinious for which I am prosecuted. This, Gentlemen, is the "base and mischievous scheme," the keeping the lower classes in mental darkness; while the higher classes monopolize the bounties of nature. But if that honourable gentleman conceives the lower classes in society (in consequence of their weak minds and limited education) would be the sooner deceived and deluded, than the honourable HIGHER classes, why might not we suppose, by the same argument, that to have been the case in the days of Christ; for we find, that none of the ru

lers or higher classes of his day believed those things, but only a few weak minded and illiterate men?

The writer of this letter, contained in this my little book, is personally unknown to me, but I am informed he is a namesake of mine, of which I am exceedingly proud; and viewing him through the medium of his letter, by his liberality of sentiment and philosophical arguments, I consider him to be an ornament to society, and have no doubt, if his moral character was strictly investigated, he would cause many professing Christians to blush before him. Even those who are esteemed great in the Church, proofs of which I suppose unnecessary, have their lives and characters well known; and convinced I am, if a wise man were to choose his religion by the lives of those who profess it, Christianity would be the last he would choose. By conversing or corresponding with a man, I am enabled to judge of his character, if I find he is of a reflecting mind, void of prejudice, bigotry, and superstition, although, like myself, he may not have received a classical education, I consider he is or will be a moral man, because his reasoning powers being independent, he is at liberty to judge for himself, consequently must see the necessity of performing certain duties towards his fellow creatures, in order to obtain their assistance with their friendship. The non-performance of these duties, he will discover,. not only deprive him of their assistance; but will render him an object of their hatred and contempt; he, therefore, sees the folly of those vices, which Christiaus call crimes, and which crimes, as Newgate proves, Christians daily commit; for their reasoning powers not being their own, but slaves to the education they may have received with the manners and customs of the country in which they were born, they cannot discern the folly, nor yet the consequences of those vices called crimes. Neither do they know the natural relation which subsists, or ought to subsist between man and man; the torments of hell fire, being so far distant, so very precarious, so many chances of escape; in fact, there are so many great and exceeding previous promises, to that effect, in this book, by and through the blood of Jesus Christ, that it cannot, and as a proof it does not, prevent them from committing all manner of crimes-drunkenness, lying, uncleanness, gaming, swindling, robbery, even murder and unnatural crimes.

The Editor of this little book, is Mr. Richard Carlile, a man whose character is well known, and acknowledged even by his enemies to be not only a preacher but a practioner in the strictest rules of morality, notwithstanding the statement

of Sir Thomas Lethbridge, the Honourable member for the County of Somerset, who would wish you to believe his conduct was the subject of "universal EXECRATION;" had be said UNIVERSAL ADMIRATION, he might have obtained credit. The various petitions, numerous correspondents, and voluntary subscriptions, are a convincing proof of the universal opinion entertained of him. Such a man as this I consider my friend; and as MY religion teaches me to do as much good, with as little injury as possible to all mankind, I consider I was obeying this precept, when I entered the shop of Richard Carlile. Seeing his property unprotected in the midst of surrounding enemies, I took possession of his shop and property, intending to render unto him a true and faithful account of my proceedings; and to prevent any obstacle which might be raised against it by "wicked and designing men," I removed those books which I knew had been prosecuted, and which my persecutors' honourable servant has acknowledged before you this day; I, therefore, considered that I was not only acting in a friendly manner, but in a lawful manner; and I believe it is not expected that a bookseller should read every book before he vends it, and even if he did, he might not be competent to judge whether it would please or displease George Maule, Esq. But, Gentlemen, I have a book here which is publicly sold at almost every bookseller's shop, and of which, if report be true, George Maule, Esq., has a copy in his possession; and this book (holding it up in his hand) is suffered to be published with impunity. Why is this, Gentlemen? is it not because this book (as well as many others I could have brought before you) is considered to be beyond the reach of the lower classes owing to the abstruse and philosophical arguments which are cousidered above the comprehension of those classes, and the high price at which they are generally sold at, these are suffered to adorn the libraries of almost every nobleman and gentleman in the kingdom; and the venders of those books are suffered to carry on their business unmolested; while I, for selling this little sixpenny book, am brought before you to be incarcerated in a dungeon.

The Recorder said, it was no excusé for men to plead that other persons had committed a similar offence, or that he had not been treated with impartiality.

Defendaut-I will read a few extracts from this book, which is the second volume of Burdon's Materials for Thinkiug, and then, Gentlemen, judge of the impartiality of my persecutors.