his time when his companion the soldier was waiting for him by appointment. Such a question would be equally disagreeable to some of the minor clergy, from accounts of a more recent date.

The next question is, "How are you about to spend that day, which, by way of distinction is called the Lord's day?"

The writer has forgotten to inform us, who the Lord is, how he exists, where the place of his abode is; and as we cannot form correct ideas of a thing of which we have no conception, and which cannot be brought within the limits of our comprehension, we must, instead of the Lord's day, render it the Priest's day; to which word we can attach some ideas.

The Priest's day is the seventh day, set apart for the express purpose of plundering the people of a portion of their earnings in the six. Without an institution of this kind, the people would not be contented to submit to every deprivation of which human nature is susceptible, to support an insolent priesthood in idleness, luxury, and extravagance. It seems strange indeed, to the impartial man, how credulity can so benumb every reasoning faculty. While the priest is continually exclaiming against riches, he is the first to procure them. He will tell his hearers, that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven," although, they see him sacrifice all hopes of the heavenly kingdom, to obtain the riches of this. They suffer his mysterious jargon to lull all their reasoning faculties to sleep; and consequently, they are the more easily robbed and plundered of their property. As a recompence for the losses they have sustained, he is to pilot them to a place which has no existence except in their bewildered imagi

tions.

66

"Are you about to devote it to your own pleasure?" is the next question. I answer, I am. As I am obliged by custom to refrain from my regular employment, I devote it, either to the reading such books as "Paine's Age of Reason," and "Rights of Man," " Palmer's Principles of Nature;" "Mirabaud's System of Nature;" "The Republican," and " Moralist," or to the enjoying myself in the open air, where I can contemplate the greatest variety of real and natural beauties, far superior to the finest traits, the most refined theologians can depict. I consider this preferable to being shut up in the unwholesome atmosphere of a church or chapel, where I should be obliged to hear human nature insulted, the rights of free discussion and of private judgment violated, and every thing denounced that accelerates the moral improvement of man, or raises his character to its proper dignity.

"Are you forgetting whose day it is, and for what purpose it was given?" I do not know for what purpose it was given more any other day; but I know for what purpose it was instituted as a sabbath, which I will briefly state.

than

Profit being the most prominent feature in every species of

priestcraft, it became necessary to establish the observance of a particular day, in a certain number of days, to attain that particular end. If the mind of man was left unshackled, he would soon clear it of the rubbish with which priestcraft had infected it, and then-adieu to its emoluments. The observance of the priest's day is, so essential to his craft, that he dreads its non-observance; for robbery will not pass for any length of time, without glossing and colouring, or in other words, without making use of a train of verbiage that will distract and bewilder the imagination.

"O pause! Turn not the day of God into folly and sin." If we insert the word Priest, instead of the word God, we understand it, but not without; and all that can be gathered from it is this: "turn not this day, which is set apart forour particular interest, into such fully and sin, as reasoning and judging for yourself in theological matters."

"The sabbath is one of the greatest blessings, if improved; but the abuse of it is ruinous to the soul." It is admitted that the sabbath may prove a blessing if improved, but your way and mine of improving it, is essentially different. While you would have the people attend to your contradictory and mysterious harangues to promote your interest, I would have them attend to natural philosophy and the useful arts to promote and secure their own interest The latter part of the sentence needs no comment; by omitting the word soul, and inserting the word priest, it will read so as to be understood. The abuse of it is ruinous to the priest.

The remaining sentences may be made plain, by a few omissions and alterations, which I will take the liberty to make.

"The priest will call you to an account for your sabbath hours; what reply can you make to him your judge? O, consider this! and if you had proposed to spend this holy day in pleasure and forgetfulness of him, your priest, receive this friendly caution against conduct so displeasing, and so dangerous to your mortal souls! Retire; search the scriptures; attend the house of the priest; behold the wolf in sheep's clothing which taketh away the good things of this world."

Wisbeach, June, 1824.

W. C.

Note-We insert the foregoing, at the request of a few Wisbeach friends, to shew how easily such Trash Tracts, as the Religionists circulate, may be superseded. They are spending thousands of pounds every year, with a hope of making ignorant people adhere to Christianity, or Priestianity;

* When we have searched the scriptures, we are punished for saying what we think of them.

but the only effect they produce is, to agitate torpid minds, and to excite an inquiry as to what all this anxiety for Christianity means. Viewing their conduct in his light, we rejoice at their every effort, and wish prosperity to all Bible, Missionary, and Religious Tract societies. EDITOR.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL CARLIIE,
DORCHESTER CASTLE.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,

AFTER the Proclamation issued from Head Quarters on the twenty-first of May last, and the brilliant success it met with in raising recruits round the standard you hoisted, it may be as well to publish the following Bulletin, that the result of the campaign may be preserved, à la militaire.

On the seventh of June our army was drawn up in a line, which seemed to put the enemy in a tremour, as could be perceived by their motions. The right wing advanced, on the eighth, commanded by Colonel Campion, who, after a gallant and brave resistance until near evening, was made prisoner of war. Lieutenant Jefferies advanced to his post; but not being able to bring up his whole force (owing to your Excellency's instructions) the enemy carried the point, by a coup de main. Ensign Christopher, who brought up the rear, being a novice in the field, was soon captured. He is perfectly aware of the manœuvre he ought to have effected in military tactics, called a ruse de guerre; but it was too late to rally after the surrender. Upon the whole, this was a hard day's battle.

On the 9th Captain Hassell advanced with a strong force, and made a vigorous and brave resistance. Even the enemy acknowledge he fought manfully. An Irish subaltern fell wounded by his side, whom the enemy have carried off, and placed in one of their own infirmaries. I understand he is now in a state of convalescence, and is determined to study our tactics better. He has refused to fight under the enemy's colours though an offer was made to that effect.

On the 11th, the enemy experienced a galling fire from Captain Clarke's Artillery, he having possessed himself, by a manoeuvre, of one of the enemy's posts, which was a small eminence called Bible Mount. This put them in considerable confusion; and by spreading disorder and havoc through their lines, enabled Captain Clarke to hold them in actual engagement longer than he other

wise would have been able. He fought manfully, and was not captured, until he fell entirely exhausted with fatigue and hard fighting.

On the 11th, Colonel Haley of the Fusileers brought up the heavy Artillery. He advanced with confidence to the post of danger, and with undaunted bravery and resolution, poured some heavy firing among them, which made terrible havoc; but, at last, was overpowered by numbers.

The division under Ensign Cochrane would have had better effect, had your Excellency assigned him a different post under his entire command, in which I have no doubt he would have acquitted himself to the satisfaction of your excellency, as well as to that of the whole army.

Your Excellency is already acquainted with that part which I had the honour to conduct; I have only to add, that the army is recruited, and that we are stronger in numbers than ever,-all ready for action as soon as the enemy dare make another ad

vance.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED ON OUR SIDE:

The enemy has not published a Bulletin on the subject; but the slaughter has been tremendous-and the horrid yell set up by the wounded is a proof of the effect and temper of our

weapons.

I cannot conclude without strongly recommending to your Excellency's notice the following Gentlemen for promotion:

LIEUTENANT JEFFERIES.

ENSIGN COCHRANE.

ENSIGN CHRISTOPHER.

I have the honour to remain your Excellency's most devoted, most obedient, and most obliged humble servant,

Done in the Enemy's Prison

Depôt, July 28, 1824.

LIEUTENANT PERRY.

Subscriptions of a few Friends near Red Lion Street.