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best answer: but I could not refrain from laying this one case in contradiction before the British public, as I felt a wound from his description of the general character of my countrymen in this instance.

I heartily congratulate you, Sir, on the flattering prospect of a speedy promulgation of the principles of the immortal Paine throughout the unprejudiced part of the British people; and, at the same time, look forward with hopes of their being able to act upon them; let these hopes cheer you up in your present situation, and when you are at liberty to face the enemies of humanity and your country, in a more conspicuous point of view, they will animate you to prove, that Liberty wants not the aid of would-be popular men to settle her on a firm and solid foundation. With my greatest respects and well wishes to Mrs. Jane and Miss Mary Ann Carlile, and all incarcerated friends, I subscribe myself yours,

W. H. MYERS.

Note. The above formed but a small portion of Mr. Myers' Letter, but as the omitted part was an attack upon Mr. Cobbett and Mr. Hunt, upon Republican principles, I have thought it prudent not to give the whole insertion for reasons before stated, or because I wish to exclude all attack of that nature but what I write and sign myself.

I have expected and do now expect that persons acquainted with the United States, or some of the inhabitants of that country, will notice and repel the extreme fanaticism and intolerant character in which Mr. Cobbett has depicted them, by giving me a ride in "tar and feathers."

R. CARLILE.

To the British Patriots and Deists, Holmes, Rhodes, Barkley, Jones, Wright, and the nameless Man, in Newgate, from a Friend to Dumb Animals-6s.

ON THE ABSURDITY OF RELIGION.

(Written for the Republican.)

IN those dark ages of the world, when Religion reigned in all her native gloom and terror, without even a solitary being to oppose her misery-producing progress, the human mind seemed as if it were changed to an unexpressive blank-a lamentable indication that the Priest, with the aid of Religion, can reduce the faculties of man almost to annihilation. If we take a retrospective view of the state of man in those ages we shall perceive that he faithfully observed the duties, implicitly obeyed the dogmas of a supernatural system, founded entirely upon a vague and gratuitous hypothesis, which hath no relation to Nature; nor can we deduce from it any reasonable inference. Yet the Priests, the supporters of Religion, demand the greatest confidence in every creed they hold forth, pretending that Reason may lead us astray; that at best she is but a frail guide; that their holy books are, in every point of view, superior to the productions of man; because, forsooth, Jehovah inspired his Prophets and Saints to write them. But, if we examine these writings, we shall find that their authors were not inspired with talent, with wisdom, or with truth; but, on the contrary, with ignorance, with folly, and the most egregious falsehood. A more absurd and contradictory work never issued from the pen of a modern novel and romance writer. Thousands of men in the present day are both able and willing to write a truer history of the events related in the Bible, and accompany it with reflections more solid and sublime, comprising a better moral code, were they not deterred by the dread of fine, imprisonment, and the most glaring robbery. Still the advocates of Religion are continually eulogising this Book, at the same time vociferating the words-sin, redemption, grace, Jesus Christ, God, glory, and a multitude of other phrases equally unintelligible. They demand that faith the most profound, belief the most conscious, should be given to these fallacious and contradictory doctrines, assuring their deluded hearers that this blind and senseless faith is the certain passport to a heavenly kingdom, which they have fabricated for the base purpose of imposing on them in this.

Thus are they in possession of that which Archimedes only wished for, another world to move this about at their own will and caprice. The saints and disciples of the fictitious Saviour of the World were incessantly preaching about this heavenly Kingdom, this Elysium of the Christians, wherein they were to enjoy uninterrupted felicity in the company of their crucified God; who, when on earth, frequently promised them it should arrive at a stated period: but at the appointed time at which the promises and assurances of

Christ should have been fulfilled, and the hopes of the Jews realized

"Oh! what a falling off was there!"

No Kingdom of Heaven appeared, consequently the Jews disbelieved the existence of Christ, and rejected the doctrines which his followers held forth; and had it not been for the crafty disposition of Kings and Priests, his name and his system would long ago have been consigned to the shade of oblivion. But I cannot believe that the reality of the Christian tale ever occurred, because history is silent upon the subject. It appears to have been fabricated by prophets, seers, or priests, to enable them to live upon the charity of the credulous multitude. If we attempt to trace its origin, we shall find that the writings of Plato were the source from which, in all probability, it has been drawn; since Plato had depicted a character similar in all its parts. The visionary and delusive doctrine of the immortality of the soul flowed from, or at least was greatly modified by this distinguished dreamer, Probably, the Christian would only say,-Have you read attentively the writings of Plato? I answer, that I have carefully perused some portions of his work, which warrant the conclusions I have drawn. Voltaire says, his works swarm with fables and fictions which abound with notions erroneous and puerile. Lord Byron too, in his Don Juan, inveighs very strongly against him and his fabulous theories, thus:

"Oh Plato! Plato! you have paved the way
With your confounded fantasies, to more
Immoral conduct, by the fancied sway
Your systems feign o'er the controlless core
Of human hearts, than all the long array
Of poets and romances ;-you're a bore,
A charlatan, a coxcomb, and have been,
At best, no better than a go-between."

But it matters little who were the founders of these fabulous theories, it is sufficient if we can prove them unreasonable and absurd. This has been ably done by various authors; and were they not protected and enforced, by the iron arm of despotic law, they would vanish before the increasing power of scientific knowledge, like the dew before the morning sun.

That system must be false and corrupt which needs the aid of fine and imprisonment for its support. If nothing but the most cruel persecution can support Religion from being overwhelmed by the inroads of Science, then, I say, let Science pursue her onward march; let her maintain her peaceable course till Religion loses its power, and persecution falls nerveless to the ground: let the standard of Science and Philosophy be raised in every country of the globe let the sons of Liberty rally round and support it with all their strength: let them never cease their glorious exertions, until the hideous fabrics of Monarchy and Religion be crumbled into harmless dust, and nothing of them remain but their scattered ruins,

:

to tell a tale to after ages that they once insulted the dignity of man. This state of things must arrive before the sons of Freedom will have gained ought worthy of their sacred name. The exertions of the intrepid Carlile, have advanced the standard of Nature and Reason, further than those of any other Englishman of the present day; the principles he so nobly advocates are the only artillery with which we can safely war against all delusion. The base of a pure Representative Republic, is the safest ground for man to rest upon, Monarchy hath ever been his greatest foe; but it is a consolation for man, that it is now fast losing ground, being entirely dispossessed of its power in some countries, whilst others are preparing to drag it from its blood-stained throne; where it hath so long reigned in gloomy triumph, over a fallen and degraded world. Newton, near Manchester, May 14, 1822.

EPICURUS.

BOLTON LAW.

So great is the alarm existing among the Hays, the Ethelstones, the Fletchers, and the Hultons, of this town, at the decline of idolatry, that the inhabitants are actually forced into the Church by violence, and the women who remain at home to provide dinner for their families are denied water from the wells during the hours the Priest is holding forth in the Church. The industrious artizan, who is confined to his room or his factory 14 or 16 hours each day for six days, is denied the benefit of fresh air on the seventh, and is threatened with penalties and persecutions if he does not enter the pestilential atmosphere of the Church. This is one way, indeed, to prop Christianity! In the reign of Charles the First, to keep up the farce, the people were allowed to have books of sports and pastimes read to them from the pulpit, and a proclamation was issued by the King that his good people of Lancashire should not be denied the amusement of cock-fighting and bull-baiting on the Sunday. The Blessed Martyr's scheme having failed, the supporters of his successor are trying others, and now, like the Dutch Parson to his sleeping congregation, if the good people of Lancashire will not willingly hear the word of God, they are to be made to feel it, not by throwing the Bible or sermon at their heads, as the Dutchman did, but by putting a sentinel over each of the wells and over each infidel, and forced into

the Church to see that he listens!!! Go on, Priests, and, above all, you the respectable unpaid Magistracy, do your duties, and Christianity shall not fall!

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The Letter from Mr. Thomas Shepherd, of Huddersfield, has been received, and shall be duly noticed with the last of Mr. Humphrey's.

Total amount of subscriptions towards Mr. Carlile's fines up to May 18, 1822-£541. 11s. Id.

END OF APPENDIX TO VOL.. V.

Printed and Published by R. CARLILE, 55, Fleet Street. All Communications (post paid) are requested to be sent to Dorchester Gaol, until a further Address to some House or Shop be given.-Orders, with remittances, or references for payment, will be punctually attended to. Country Agents will find the most liberal Terms for prompt Payment.

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