Vide Panorama, Vol. I. p. 255, 543, 759. In the Consistory Court, Doctors' Commons, May 13, his Majesty's Procurator-General instituted a prosecution against Rev. H. Stone, Rector of Norton, Essex, on charges of having preached a visitation sermon, in the church of Danbury, before the Archdeacon of the diocese, and the clergy, in which he denied the doctrines of the Church concerning the Holy Trinity, the divinity of, and atonement by, Christ. The facts were clearly proved, and undisputed by the defendant. gentleman thought fit to revoke his opinion; and to enable him to do this, Sir William de ferred giving sentence until next Court day. May 20. This being the day appointed for the Rev. Mr. F. Stone to revoke certain doctrines which he had preached and published, contradictory to the established religion, an immense concourse of people collected in the Court room and hall adjoining. At half past 9 o'clock Sir William Scott took his seat, and Mr. Stone placed himself at the bar. Mr. Stone, on being called upon, produced a paper, which was read, and which he offered as a revocation of the doctrine which had given offence. In support of these charges, the testimony In substance it was, that he was unaware of the Archdeacon and four other clergymen of having contravened any Act of Parliament present on the occasion, also the evidence of relative to religion, but that he had always Mr. Joseph Johnson, of St Paul's Church-made the Holy Scriptures the rule of his bevard, and Mr. Staines, of Chelmsford, book-lief. He confessed that at an early period of Sellers, were read to the Court, to prove the his life he had subscribed the 39 Articles, and printing and publishing thereof. had since uniformly supported their spirit. Sir John Nichol and Dr. Lawrence, for the prosecution, stated, that the statute 13th Eliz. enacts, that if any person shall advisably maintain or affirm any doctrine contrary and repugnant to any of the Articles of Religion, and shall persist in the same, and not revoke his error, he shall be deprived of his ecclesiastical preferments. Mr. Stone presenting himself in his own canse, Sir W. Scott jatimated to him, that his only legal defence would be by shewing that he had not published doctrines contrary to the Church. Mr. Stone read a defence which occupied nearly two hours, resting principally on this fact, that when he was ordained by the Bishop of London in 1792, all that was required of him was, according to the established forms of interrogation, that he should teach nothing but what was consistent with the Holy Scriptures; and he asserted that he had acted conformably to this solemn engagement! he trusted, therefore, he should expose himself to no ecclesiastical censure; and he maintained that his docirine, however opposite to the Articles of the Church, were not inconsistent with the Scrip tures. Sir John Nichol, the counsel for the prosecution, in reply said, that this process had issued to compel Mr. Stone to do what it was his duty to have done of his own accord, namely, to resign the emoluments which were granted on certain conditions, which he thought fit to disregard. Had he, like others, given this proof of his sincerity and integrity, however mistaken he might be, he would have been entitled to the respect of his country. Sir William Scott said, that this case was so directly applicable to the statute 13 Eliz. that he could not avoid giving the sentence of privation against Mr. Stone, unless the Rev. Sir John Nicholl then made a speech of considerable length, wherein he animadverted, in very severe terms, on the unaccountable conduct of the Reverend Gentleman, who, instead of apologizing for his error, after the lenient indulgence that had been granted him, still persisted in maintaining his heretical doctrine, under the plausible pretext of a revocation-Dr. Lawrence followed on the same side, and prayed the sentence of the Court. Mr. Stone continued to adhere to his dis inction already taken; and considered his adherence to his sense of Scripture as a complete vindication of his conduct. Sir William Scott said, he did not require any formal revocation, in writing, of the doc tries he had preached, but to acknowledge them verbally and openly in Court, and io declare his belief in the 39 Articles of the Church of England, as established by law. Mr. Stone said, he would not by any means sacrifice his duty to God, nor could he agree to the terms prescribed to him by Sir William Scott, unless with a salvo of conscience. Sir Win. Scott observed, the law permitted himself of the present opportunity of revoking no salvo of conscience. If Mr. S. did not avail the error, no alternative was left to him, but to certify his case to the diocesan Bishop to whom he belonged, who would pronounce the sentence of the law. The Bishop of London, attended by his Dean and Chapter, and several Prebends, was then introduced, and the case being reported by Sir William Scott, the Rey. Prelate pronounced his sentence of deprivation against Mr. Stone, according to the forms prescribed by the law, depriving him of the benence of his living of Cold Norton, in Essex. It is understood that Mr. S. has a family, The living is said to be worth 5001. per annum. PRESENT STATE OF THE COUNTRY, BY MR. Our attention has been particularly directed to develope the views of the enemy in their attempts to complete the destruction of England; not with a hope of establishing permanent peace, but with the evident intention of for ever subjugating us to their usurpation and tyranny, and rendering us completely slaves. As fully corroborating all our ideas on this subject, we now present our readers with the well-timed observations made by Mr. Wilberforce in the House of Commons, on Monday, May 2, on the second reading of Lord Castlereagh's Local Militia Bill; first premising that the latest accounts from the Continent inform us, that while Buonaparte made a short stay at Bourdeaux, on his way to Spain, he was waited upon by a deputation of the merchants of that place, with a petition, praying that the decrees relative to trade lately issued by the French government might not be acted upon to their fullest extent against neutrals, for that the total annihilation of commerce would inevitably involve hundreds of families in ruin; when he indignantly answered, "that * he knew of no neutrals, and if they meant "by a relaxation of his decrees to favour England, they would find themselves disappointed; for he would assure them, that "however rigorous the measures he had "adopted against that country might be con"sidered, yet they were trifling in compa"rison with others which he had it in con"templation to promulgate and carry into "effect; that in three years time he should "have conquered India, and thus force the English to ruake a commercial and mari"time peace."-Our readers will recollect that this upstart held a similar language to the peaceable Hamburghers, just as he had robbed their cloaths off their backs. But to return to Mr. Wilberforce. "He considered the country to be in the most alarming situation in which it had ever been placed; and the danger was the more serious, as it was not properly estimated either in the House or out of it. If the danger was properly estimated, some of the debates about matters of personal interest would be put off till the country should be in a state of safety. Year after year the power that menaced us had been accumulating, but in proportion as it rose to a more tremendous height, having washed away before its devastating tide all the other nations, we seemed to view it with greater indifference. The extinction of the naval power of the enemy gave us but an imperfect security. It was the opinion of the best naval officers that the enemy may effect a landing, and this country would not have done its duty unless it placed itself in a condition not only ultimately to conquer an invading force, but to prevent its making an impression in any quarter. Providence had placed invaders under this disadvantage, when compared with those who acted on the defensive, that they could make use only of regular soldiers, while the others could use every description of force in its proper station. But unless we took measures for an effectual and permanent ample force for defence, we may be attacked when we would least expect it, and overwhelmed by any immense military power, while we would be debating on the details of an inadequate peace establishment. The measure before the House did not come up to his idea of what was necessary to the public defence. He felt, however, for the difficulties of his noble friend's situation (Lord Castlereagh). When proscription, and the other hard terms applied this night, were dealt out with so little hesitation, it was matter of difficulty and terror to prepare and produce any plan for the public service. What he thought necessary was, that the whole population of the country should be so trained, that when brought forward in the manner his Majesty, under the prerogative, may think fit, they may be able to give the regular army such aid in opposing the enemy, as would not allow him to make any progress. He wished the noble Lord had come forward with some appeal, that would remind the British people of the glories of their ancestors, and the value of their inestimable constitution; telling them, that they must make up their minds to surrender all these dear pledges, which he was sure they would never do, without striking a blow, or resolve, as was more congenial to their spirit, to shed the last drop of their blood, or conquer in their defence. Such an appeal would fay ground for an exertion adequate to the exigency, as he thought this When the French troops entered Hamburgh it would go. He also approved highly of the was not. He applauded this measure as far as to make that people happy, they had scarcely plan of defence proposed by another noble any clothing on their backs, most of them pre- ford (Earl Selkirk), and wished it was car senting a picture of dirty misery too disgusting ried in'o effect. The volunteers were not into describe. Every thing, of course, was put into terfered with by the present measure, which requisition, and within two days they were all went only to provide a supply in the event of dressed in coats, long or short, some in green, their falling off. Every one who had consisome in red, blue, in all the colours of the rain-dered the subject allowed the difficulty of bow, just as their plunder could pick up in the houses of the inhabitants.-An Eye-witness. * Compare Panorama, Vol. IV. p. 443. keeping up a great standing army in time of | hurl" foul scorn" at the ferocious dis peace. It therefore became necessary to haye a large subsidiary force, which may, if necessary, be easily transferred to the regulars. A varied force was fittest for this country, all the branches of which would act with proper emulation. He trusted Parliament would provide a defence adequate to the exigency; and that long contemplation of the danger would not cause it to be undervalued. The enemy had no longer powerful nations to dread; the loss of an army was less material to him, and he was less exposed to revolt at home. These were all additional temptations to undertake the enterprize against us. But our great, free population, if government and parliament would avail themselves of them, afforded ample means to render attack hopeless, and peace secure." turber of the peace of Europe, and convince him his threats were for ever vain. This should be the example set in every school in this kingdom where boys have past their 19th year, and it should be followed up in the manner of the Helvetians, but with more vigour and regularity.-Something of this kind of plan should be put into practice independently of all other military establishments for more mature age; so that when they became members of them they would be in a great measure" to the manner born." We close these remarks with an extract from a little tract* which, with timely precaution, advised, in March 1804, this national military education, as the only means of gaining a sure, solid and permanent peace. "The present times call loudly and imperiously Thus far Mr. Wilberforce, the propriety for such a measure, as they cannot be com of whose observations, and the purity of pared to any former period in the history of whose intentions, no one can doubt. In Britain; and if vigorously met, if proudly taking a survey of our external situation we borne, will enable us to ride triumphant must add that the whole Sea-coast of Europe through the storm, ensure our future tran(not forgetting even the Caspian and the quillity, and exalt the British name-renSea of Azoff) including the Black Sea, dering it a terror to wicked ambition, and and the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, the a sure scourge to the restless tyranny of in French side of the Channel, the German terloping foreign usurpation. Can we, even Ocean, the North Sea to the utmost bounds for a moment, forget that it is a time for of the White Sea, as well as the better half unparalleled exertions-that we never were of the Baltic,-forming an extent of more so energetically called forth to defend every than 20,000 miles of Sea-coast, are now thing that is worth existence. In other wars united in general confederacy against us, with we have had to combat with monarchs and a population of more than one hundred and generals who were guided by some huforty millions, which can easily furnish more manity and religion-the contrast need not soldiers than the entire population of the be mentioned: all Europe resounds with it. United Kingdom, even including women Let every man, let every boy, therefore, be and children. Along such an extensive coast, impressed with the idea, that his single arm the fishermen alone turned into sailors and will save the country rom the grasp of annihiaided by an equal number of landsmen, must lation; that the nature of the enemy we have be sufficient to man a navy of the greatest to contend with is such, so unbounded is magnitude; and we must surely be worse his ambition, that, if it were in his power, than dolts and ideots to imagine that our he would strike flat the thick rotundity of implacable foe will not build along such a the world," rather than not enslave us range of coast an immense number of ships to lose this glorious opportunity of establishof the line. This idea alone therefore oughting ourselves a military people would be fatal, to call forth not a part, but the whole mass as it never can return for, as Shakespere of the rising generation to form themselves expresses it, as if he foresaw our situation, into an impregnable military phalanx.- There is a tide in the affairs of men, Should there not be passed a law for forming ALL the males into a system of military national education, which might be preserved inviolate, and persevered in for ever, the sacred guardian of our liberties and independance?-Even " from their boyish days," yes, in their vacant school hours, or at least once a day-they should all be taught the use of arms; this should be a science purely appropriated to the love of their country, the protection of their parents, relations and friends-such a national education would make them love their native home still more, make them "cling closer to the land where lie their forefathers' graves"-They might then that Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Is bound in shallows and in miseries- OR LOSE OUR VENTURES.". The fate of Prussia, Holland, Switzerland, and more especially Spain, and Portugal, will surely exemplify the necessity of our remarks. Addressed to the St. Giles and St. George Bloomsbury Volunteer AssociationIt is noticed in Panorama, Vol. II. p. 911. Tables exhibiting the Population of Great Tofal Males of the age Counties. Bedford. 63,393 3,476 2,316 Cumberland..... 117,230 6,429 4,286 Ayr Huntingdon.. Banff.. 161,142 8,838 5,898 4,756 Forfar Lancaster... 208,557 11,439 7,626 Haddington. Middlesex.... 818,129 44,873 29,914 Inverness.. Monmouth.. Norfolk...... 45,582 2,499 1,666 Kincardine....... Northampton. 131,757 7,226 4,816 Kirkcudbright... Aberdeen 6,882 Argyle. 123,082 6,750 4,500 Clackmannan 5,744 Lanark................... Nottingham 5,132 Linlithgow.............. Oxford.. 4,008 Nairn.. Rutland. Salop. 16,356 896 167,639 9,194 596 Orkney&Shetland 46,824 6,128 Somerset Perth... Southampton Stafford... Suffolk... Surry Sussex 159,311 8,737 5,824 Stirling.. 5,070 277 184 1,856 Warwick 208,190 11,418 7,612 Sutherland... 41,617 2,281 1,520 Wigtoun....... Ditto North ditto 155,506 8,529 5,686 England................ Ditto West ditto 503,953 30,932 20,620 Yo al England.. 8,331,434 456,918 304,508 Wales....... Scotland......... 1,599,068 87,677 58,428 8,331,434 456,918 304,598 541,546 29,691 19,786 10,472,048 574,496 382,812 Number of Offenders committed in 1805; also Northumberland 38 15,307.10 8,443 7 100. 20,534 16 Leicestershire.... 47 19,154 15 Warwickshire.... 160 30,200 15 Norfolk Circuit. 1.13,044 Average 11. During the seven years of peace which preceded the war of 1756, the number of criminals executed within the city of London and county of Middlesex, was on an average forty-three a year. In the seven years of war which succeeded, they were reduced to about fifteen a year. In the seven years which followed the peace of 1763, the average number was twenty-six. In the seven years, from 1770 to 1776 inclusive, which was likewise a period of peace, the average number increased to thirtyright. From 1776 to 1783, during which period the country was at war, first with America, and afterwards successively with France, Spain, and Holland, the number increased, the average being during these seven years, about thirty-nine. From 1783 to 1790, a period of peace, the average continued increasing to fifty-four. In 1785 the number was ninety-seven, in 1787 it was ninety-two. From 1793, to the present period, the numbers have progressively diminished; within the last seven years the average has not been twelve yearly, This period has, with the exception of one intervening year of peace, Average been a period of war; but, during that year, though the militia was disbanded, some part of the army, and a considerable part of the navy reduced, the number of capital convicts does not appear to have increased. 15. 9 424 Bucks.. 33 19,650 18 Huntingdonshire 15 4,746 13 Cambridgeshire.. 40 11,294 13 Suffolk 109' Norfolk........ :{ Berks..... 62. 22,088 21 The number of murders, from 1771 to the present period, has remained nearly the same, but was considerably more on an average, in the twenty years preceding. A most important change has taken place respecting the crimes of burglary and highway robbery. Those offences in their aggravated character, in which it is found necessary to apply capital punishment to them, have nearly disappeared within the county of Middlesex. The Northern counties appear to possess a very great advantage with respect to their small number of offenders and paupers, compared with the rest of England. This observation Average applies, not only to the counties within the Northern circuit, but likewise so far as relates to paupers generally, to all the more Northern counties. The counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, and Rutland, the most Northern counties in the midland circuit, and those of Staffordshire and Shropshire, the most Northern in the Oxford circuit, are in this respect, in the same com166,532 {Average paratively favorable situation as the counties within the Northern circuit, when compa red with the more Southern counties of England, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Corn wall alone excepted. |