THE FLEET PAPERS. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY JOHN PAVEY, NO. 47, HOLYWELL-STREET, STRAND. THESE Papers are principally intended for the perusal of the friends of Christianity, and the Constitution; particularly the Clergy and the Aristocracy, and of all persons who are possessed of Property. The object of the writer will be to explain the reason for the present alarming state of English society, and the consequent insecurity of life and property: also, to offer some remarks upon the folly and wickedness of attempting to uphold our institutions, particularly that of Private Property, by the unconstitutional means of Centralization, Commissioning, Espionage, and Force; finally, to state his own views on the best mode of restoring Peace, Contentment, Security, and Prosperity, to every rank of the people of England. The author is perfectly aware of the fact, that every Parliamentary leader is now only attempting to legislate for the present moment-putting off the evil day -making laws" from hand to mouth," in the hope that some unforeseen, fortunate event may enable succeeding Statesmen to legislate for permanency. He is also convinced that there is a mode of successfully re-establishing our institutions upon their original foundation-Christianity;—and that that is the only way to preserve them from the encroachments of political partisans, who are now only paving the way to universal Ruin, Anarchy, and Despotism. PORTRAIT of Mr. THORNHILL'S PRISONER, IN HIS CELL, FLEET PRISON, Will be Added to Number 12, OF THE FLEET PAPERS, To be Published March 20, 1841, PRICE 2d. Portrait of Mr. THORNHILL, VIEW of FIXBY HALL, and of the FLEET PRISON, will follow in the course of the year. In consequence of the increased circulation of the Fleet Papers, Mr. Oastler is happy to inform his friends, that no extra charge will be made for the Portrait. A second edition of the back numbers of the Fleet Papers, is now in the course of printing; persons wishing to have them, will please to give their orders immediately. The number printed, will be regulated by the orders received. The Fleet Prison, Feb. 8, 1841. NOTICES OF THE "FLEET PAPERS." "The FLEET PAPERS, No. 9, by Richard Oastler, London: Pavey, Holywell-street, Strand This number of the Fleet Papers' is almost entirely occupied with instances of attentive kindnesses received by Mr. Oastler, in his confinement,-a confinement which, we repeat, confers no honour upon his former employer; and from which, if Mr. Thornhill consulted his own honour, his own character, and, we should think, his own happiness, he would speedily release him.......The conclusion of the number is occupied with observations on the factory bill; and the following note, which we find at the close of the letter, is well worth the consideration of the landlords of the United Kingdom." * Hull Packet, March 5, 1841. "The FLEET PAPERS.-A portrait of Mr. Oastler In his cell in the Fleet Prison' is promised as a gratuitous accompaniment to No. 12 of the Fleet Papers.' The portrait, we understand is a good one, and we hope the public will avail themselves of this opportunity of possessing themselves at so cheap a rate of a portrait of the good old King.'-Halifax Guardian, March 6, 1841. · NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. All communications must be post-paid. Anonymous writers may be saved much trouble, by being informed, that without reading them, their papers will be burned. If it should so happen, that these Papers should be noticed pro, or con. by any organ of public opinion, R. O. will be grateful to any friend, who will send him a copy thereof, to the Fleet, London. In consequence of many complaints that the blue cover interfered with the distinctness of the ype, and annoyed the readers, a change is made this week, which it is hoped will be satisfactory to Lose friends who have been thus inconvenienced. In ADDRESS, written by W. Hulke, Huddersfield, and recited by Mr. L. Pitkethly, at a Ball given for the assistance of Richard Oastler, a prisoner in the Fleet, on Wednesday, Feb. 3rd, 1841, at the White Hart Inn, Huddersfield. "The Sun has spots upon his Disc, we know, At least, Astronomers informs us so; But what those spots are, these Star-gazing fellows How dark these keen philosophers may find 'em, "Within the limits of our hemisphere A Brilliant Sun was destin'd to appear Call'd Rogue' and Villain' by the Northern Liars,' Their foul hypocrisy stood full expos'd; Unfit to bear the brilliance of his light, Dazzled they cower'd in the shades of night, (Like Moles, who shun of light each glorious spark, But do their dirty work within the dark), From each dark lair their venom'd slander cast, To right the injur'd and repress each wrong, First fram'd their falsehoods, then pronounc'd them fact. And fondly deem'd his brilliant course was run. -'T was but eclips'd-surpriz'd they view his rays, Nor can their envious cobweb clouds, combin'd, 'T were needless here, his noble acts to sean; To yield assistance to the poor man's friend.' One balm for sorrow, one relief from pain. And ever will till life itself shall end; And when it ends, enroll'd in deathless fame Shall live for ever OASTLER's honour'd name." From a Clergyman. "Leicestershire, Feb. 24th, 1841. "My dear Oastler, "I was incessantly engaged on Monday and Tuesday, or you would have had a Letter from me, to tell you of the high privilege I enjoyed on Sunday, of officiating in the Evening Service, and preaching to the inmates of the H- Union poor-house. "It is a noble building, and worthy of a great country, had it been an asylum for the poor and destitute, and not a prison-had its object been to foster the children of sorrow, and to reward the labours of the industrious poor, by affording them an honourable support in their declining years. "It was half-past six o'clock-the inmates were assembled to about the number of 140 men, women, and children. The greatest order and cleanliness prevailed. The chapel is a spacious room, and would not have disgraced the mansion of a nobleman. All the authorities appeared in their appointed stations; and the master acted his part, as usher of the rod, with as much state and dignity as he of the House of Lords or Commons. "All was attention and silence, and the service began. The Prayers the Lessons-the Psalms, all seemed more beautiful than they had done in my own church in the afternoon. It was the effect of sympathy. It was, you know, Quinquagesima Sunday, on which day our holy and venerable Mother, the Church, teaches all her children to pray for that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before God.' "In following out the prescribed course, I discoursed from the 1st verse of the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians-Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not CHARITY, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.' "I showed them, that the end of all true religion was to make them like God; and, if our religion failed in accomplishing this, whatever might be our knowledge, and with whatever fluency we might be able to talk about it-even with the tongue of men and angels'-it was of no worth-it was an empty, unmeaning noise, like 'sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.' "I showed them, that by the Charity' of the text was meant likeness to God; and, that unless we possessed that, all our pretences to religion were vain. It was to accomplish this, that God had sent his Son into the world-it was for this end that Christ died and rose again-it was for this that God the Holy Spirit had become the Sanctifier of the Church. "I showed then, that the great God could not love anything that was not like himself-that he had, at the first, created man in his own image'-that this had been destroyed by man's sin-that he had lost the divine likeness, become degraded and wicked, his whole mind and soul black and peformed by sin, so as to become the enemy of God, and, instead of loving, fearing, and serving him, to forsake, resist, and disobey him. "Now, the design of the Gospel, I observed, was to recover him-to bring him back from his lost estate, and to restore him to the divine image, which was Charity' or Love. This, I showed, was stated in another Scripture to be the character of God. Saint John had told us, when speaking of the divine nature, GOD IS LOVE,' or Charity, for they mean the same thing. He is Love itself- Charity' itself; and from the very nature of God, it was absolutely necessary that we should become partakers of it, if we are to enjoy the presence of God here or hereafter. "I then showed them, that the apostle had not left us in doubt as to the character of this charity. It was long suffering-kind-felt no envy-did not boast-was not puffed up with pride-behaved itself with propriety, in whatever station of life it was placed-did not seek its own, to the exclusion of the welfare and happiness of others-is not easily provoked, and so sincere, that it thinketh no evil of others-rejoices not in sin, but in the progress of truth, for the sake of which it beareth all things-respecting which it believeth all things-and for the extension of which it endureth all things.-Verses 4, 5, 6, 7. "This was CHARITY, of which God was the perfection and essence, and which he required to be formed again in us in its principles; and that we should be every day becoming more like him, and approaching nearer to the glorious image of the blessed God. Nothing, I showed, would do instead of it. Learning would not do-the knowledge of religion would not do-the gift of prophecy would not do-kindness would not do-nay, a man might give all his goods to feed the poor,' and it would be of no use, unless he was daily growing like God-nay, he might become a martyr for the truth of the Gospel, and give his body to be burned,' and yet be rejected by God. "It is the renewing of the mind-the changing of the heart-the building up of the man in the image of God. All must have it: and with respect to it, all stand upon the same level. The provisions and promises of the Gospel are equally free to all. You, my hearers, are as free to all the privileges of Christianity, as the most learned, the noblest, and richest im the land. "Tell me, were you not baptised in the same name? In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost? Has not God in that ordinance undertaken to become a father to you? Will he not fulfil his engagement? Has he not shown his willingness, by giving up his son as the ground of your recovery? Has not Christ undertaken to become your Redeemer and Saviour? Has he not given himself, that your sins may be forgiven, and yourselves restored to the divine favour? "Has not the Holy Spirit undertaken to sanctify you, and to restore you to your first estate-the image and likeness of God? What! I said, do I hear some of you saying this is too much for us? Will the great God, indeed, look down upon such a poor, destitute, despised creature as I am? Can I be pardoned my iniquity, and changed into the image of God? "Yes, you may believe it. He is God, and changeth not. He will do what he has undertaken. He is Charity' itself. You may depend upon what he has said, and are as welcome to all the treasures of his house as the most exalted creatures upon the earth. If you see the worth of these treasures if you feel your need of them, they are freely offered to you. Whosoever WILL, let - him come and take of the waters of life freely.' Surely this is a promise extensive enough. You may become new creatures, restored to the divine image. However dark and ignorant you may be, the Spirit of God, who brought this world out of confusion and darkness, will shine into your hearts to clothe them with light and beauty, restore them to the likeness of God here, and prepare you to dwell with him for ever. "With many such words did I speak to my most attentive audience; and I thought in your love and benevolence for the poor, you would like to hear how the Union was going on last Sunday evening. "I know I could make these places just to your mind, if I might have my way with them. You say, in your vehemence, Pull them down.' No; I would make them the ornaments of the country. I would turn them all into Greenwich Hospitals. I would make them the abodes of peace and happiness. I would set them apart for the reception of the widows and widowers who had behaved well in their station of life, brought up their families with decency, and served their generation with industry. They should have a common refectory, and an honourable maintenance. This would be worthy of our country, and would bring down the blessing of Him who careth for the widow, the stranger, and the fatherless.' He would, then, be a refuge for us in the time of trouble; He would, then, cover our heads in the day of battle. "I hope, in this great and difficult work which you have undertaken, of speaking to a whole nation, you will be guided by wisdom and prudence, and above all, Charity-that you will bring a railing accusation' against no man-but that you will shew that you are (as I believe you are) impelled by a love of your country. You will then be applauded and encouraged by all similarminded men; and by none more than by "Your old and faithful friend, BRITANNICUS." The Balsam has been found by experience, to be the most soothing and restorative Medicine ever discovered. Its virtues have been long known to the New World, and its powerfully healing efficacy is now a lasting blessing to this country. An American Physician, of extensive practice, having assured the Proprietor that it is a certain cure for each of the above complaints, and that even the wasting of the frame, and the incipient stage of Consumption had been arrested by it, it may be taken without the least danger by the most delicate Child. It gives immediate ease to all the above disorders, produces rest and sleep, strengthens the constitution, and enables it to resist the attacks of the insidious destroyer, and entirely restores the patient. It is necessary the body should be kept gently open, for which purpose, Paul's Dr. Baillie's Pills are recommended. Sold in Bottles at 1s. 1 d., 2s. 3d., or six small Bottles in one for 4s. 6d. and in Family Bottles, containing three 4s. 6d. for 11s., by C. King, 232, Blackfriars Road, London; Barclay and Sons, Farringdon Street; Butler, Edwards, Newbery, St. Paul's Churchyard; Sutton and Co., Bow Churchyard; Hannay, 63, Sanger, 150, Oxford Street; Woolley, 35, Piccadilly; Johnston, 16, Greek Street; Prout, 229, Strand; Johnston, 68, White, 24, Cornhill; Main, 41, Blackman Street, Borough; Hunter and Mason, Webber Street, Blackfriars; Bell, Walworth; Dunn, Camberwell; Willoughby, Bishopsgate; Drew, Heyward and Co., Trinity Lane. Ask for PAUL'S AMERICAN BALSAM. Printed by Vincent Torras & Co., 7, Palace Row, New Road. |