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The pith and marrow of these matter-of-fact remarks are intended for the poor deluded creatures who may be on the point of suffering themselves to be wheedled into banishment to enrich a few rascally transport owners. They have examples to forewarn them, that all who bind themselves for a term of years to these brutal carriers, in consideration of their passage, are sold by them as soon as they set foot on the soil of exclusive freedom. As to runaway traitors, and other rogues, great or little, the surest way to retard American prosperity is by conniving at their escape across the Atlantic. The policy which should turn the tide of emigration in a reverse direction from westera allurement, need certainly not meddle with the common sewer that continues to disburden its foulness where it for ages has been wont.

Some good souls in this country have, in their weakness, fallen into the American snare of terror, because unable to laugh at its hobgoblin bait of prediction. Because they have been haunted with a hue and cry of danger, in good sooth what must they do but strain their eyes till they fancy it before them. Till the

Exchequer of the United States command a little more than four or five millions sterling per annum-till democracy cease to split and subdivide 'interests-till "the Union" be an union in fact, not merely in word-till power to make it such centre in some focus of absorbing influence-till a national religion be acknowledged and promulgated-till the Cabinets of Europe declare war against Kingly Government, and abet democracy in its intermediate efforts to prostrate their own power and prosperity-till Englishmen turn cowards, and Americans become any thing but what they are;-till this concurrence of circumstances put them on something approaching to an equal political footing with ourselves, we have as much cause to fear their impotent bellowings as to dread the outrageous denunciations of strait-waistcoated insanity.

A vain self-conceit is the ladder to Quixotism, and often to madness. Let Transatlantic Nationality beware how it tilt with the whole earth; it cannot but be worsted; and if improper aggrandizement be its object, it will speedily prove the Old World none other than a hornet's nest. It never can fight for conquest

against selected foes; such an attempt would arouse unanimous indignance, and precipitate it into condign destruction.

Having expatiated at such length on my three first topics of news, I have only room to bulletin "all as well as can be expected," with reference to the last; and am, as usual,

JULIUS.

1

THAT

LETTER XVI.

TO THE EXETER JURY,

CONVICTED JAMES TUCKER OF PUBLISH-
ING A BLASPHEMOUS LIBEL.

GENTLEMEN,

January 22, 1820.

You have just convicted James Tucker, of your city, of publishing a Blasphemous Libel, contained in a parody on the Church of England Catechism; you have likewise convicted him of a Seditious Libel, contained in the same parody; but with your latter verdict my remarks have no concern.

Gentlemen, by the first verdict you have rendered your country a most signal service; in the name of that country I stand forth to return you its most grateful acknowledgments. You have given us a practical consolation in our distress, and taught us that the triumph of traitors shall not last.

When the Middlesex verdict of acquittal restored the villain to his work-shop, and enabled him to extend fourfold his limits of operationwhen the titled and distinguished turned almo

ners to atheism, and paved the way into the temple of lucre through violation of the laws, then, gentlemen, the people were appalled; they shuddered at acquittals which made emulous blasphemy the surest passport to extraordinary reward, and dreaded convictions perverted from their natural purposes to become the title-deeds of munificent remuneration. I scruple not to avow that the Juries which acquitted Hone, did more to paralyze public confidence in the almost immaculate infallibility of trial by Jury, than could ever have been effected by all the efforts of despotic packing. Their motives I have no right to arraign ;—error might have influenced their fiat, but events have proved it was woful error indeed. Not only did that fiat advertise and promote the sale of blasphemy and sedition, but it rendered outraged justice unwilling to apply for redress where alone it can be found, for fear of further and more ruinous repulse. This is not a theoretic surmise, but a lamentable fact, that Parliament deplored, and for which it was compelled to legislatę....

I call the parodies, under discussion, blasphemous, because you, gentlemen, on your oath

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