publicity which I expected. So by the advice of my friends and Counsel, I was induced to plead guilty of selling the books libelled; which, indeed, I had no wish to deny. Every chance of the proceedings of the trial being published, was then at an end, which no doubt gave the Court much satisfaction, and the Lord Justice Clerk had previously cautioned the newspaper reporters concerning what they reported about the proceedings, and to make no extracts from the indictments. This they punctually obeyed, as very little was said about it, and none of the newspapers, so far as I know, so much as mentioned the titles of the books, for the sale of which I was indicted.

After a long lecture from the Lord Justice Clerk, concerning the enormity of my crime, and the injury which my conduct was likely to have done to society, I was sentenced to three months imprisonment in the Goal of Edinburgh, and afterwards to give a bond for my good behaviour, for the space of five years, in £100. I was taken away to the Gaol, and put among a number of criminals, who were either guilty or suspected of various crimes. In the Gaol, there are seven day rooms, each of which has a yard belonging to it. We are confined to the day rooms during a part of every day, either in the forenoon or afternoon, and in the other part we had the liberty of walking in the yard. About sunset we were locked up in our cells, and kept there until next morning about seven o'clock. We were not allowed to go near our cells through the day. I was allowed a cell to myself at night, the liberty to fit up a bedstead in it, and to get in my own beds and bed clothes. The Gaoler also gave me all the little indulgences he could consistent with his duty. Tuesdays and Fridays, from eleven to one o'clock, our friends and acquaintances were allowed to come into the Gaol, to see and converse with us, through two iron railings, about nine feet asunder; but no private conversation could be carried on at such a distance, and among such a number. The day rooms are plentifully supplied with Bibles, Evangelical Magazines, and other Religious books, some of which are well calculated to make the ignorant prisoners believe that the more wicked they have been, the more likely they are to become Saints, which doubtless pleases them; especially, when it is confirmed by the writings of the insane apostle Paul, who has said, "where sin aboundeth, grace much more aboundeth.”

The prisoners were taken to the Chapel in the Gaol every Sunday. I was asked to go the first Sunday; but I told

the Gaoler, that I could not, consistent with my present opinions, join in devotion with those who worshipped Jesus Christ as a God. I was never again asked.

The pious Chaplain frequently visited the different day rooms, to pray and lecture to the prisoners, and in some of his first visits to the day room to which I belonged, be attacked me privately in the yard, as I never attended his prayers and lectures, about the folly of my opinions, and endeavoured to shew me the advantages, as he was pleased to call them, of the Christian system; but he very soon found, that he was unable to withstand the combat, so gave it up, and troubled me no more; nor indeed did he come much more to our day room. In his last visit, some of the prisoners told me that they asked him what was the reason that I did not come in to prayers, nor attend the Chapel ppon Sunday. He told them, that I was an infidel, and did not believe in the divine authority of the holy scriptures, but they must be aware of the danger of such opinions, and avoid them, if they wished the salvation of their own souls. He exhorted them to endeavour to excell me in good morals; for fear it should be said, that infidels were better moralists than the Christians.

Some time after my imprisonment, the governor of the Gaol, and one of the City Magistrates, called upon me to say, that information had been given, that I read my books to the prisoners, and was endeavouring to convert them to my way of thinking. I replied that it was a mistake, a falsehood, that I had not read any books to them, nor even lent them books. That did not satisfy the men in authority, they expressed a wish to see what books I had in my cell, to which I readily consented. Up stairs then we went. The Gaoler opened the door to give us admittance. I presented what books I had in my possession, which were the first and second vols. of "Goldsmith's History of the Earth, and Animated Nature," improved by Dr. Turton, "Saint Ronan's Well," "Tristram Shandy." the "Apocryphal New Testament," and a number of "The Republican,' containing the treatise on Mercury. After this inspection, the Magistrate said, that he was happy to think that the report, so far as he could learn was without any good foundation, and trusted, that whatever my opinions were, I would not endeavour to disseminate them among the prisoners. told him, that I was not in the habit of obtruding my opinions on others: nor of attacking individuals concerning theirs; that my present companions, so far as I had observed, seemed to know nothing about opinions that were contrary

to the belief in Christianity, and I assured him, that it would be the last of my actious to endeavour to unsettle their belief. That I had certainly endeavoured to defend my opinions, both in public and private, among sensible men; the individuals with whom I was then associated, were very unfit to discourse or debate on speculative opinions. That their belief qualified them to be Christians; but their immoral conduct completely prevented them from being countenanced by men of Deistical opinions, or of being admitted as members of any Deistical Society, that I had exchanged as few words with them as possible, and intended to continue in that line of conduct. After formally bidding me good day, they left me, and I heard no more about endeavouring to convert the criminals. Indeed, it would have been a pity to wile such worthies out of the Christian communion. It is there that they ought to remain, as their belief will make them acceptable to Jesus, who I understand, is glad of any kind of characters.

It is truly astonishing, how much the worshippers of Jesus are afraid of losing one of their believing brethren. Murder, robbery, theft, and all other crimes which they commit, seem to be nothing in their eyes, when put in comparison with a disbelief of their absurd Mythology. When one of them is condemned by the laws of his country to suffer death, for some diabolical crime, they are satisfied, that if he believes in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, and is sorry for the evil he has done, that he will no doubt be an heir of glory. Then they thank their God that the villain is not an infidel! If their heaven admit of souls and bodies of such rascals, it is utterly unworthy of the aim of good men.

When I was taken to the Gaol, and put among the common felons, I resolved to observe what influence the Christian religion had on their morals; and from the observations that I made, on their conduct and discourse, I could perceive, that they were all believing Christians. They seemned to consider morality of little consequence. In fact, Christianity seems to be the principal cause of their immorality. If we look at its effect, since it got footing in the world, we shall be convinced, that it has not produced the moral improvement which its priests and votaries wish to make us believe. It is science and general knowledge which makes mankind intelligent and moral; not a belief in absurd dogmas which they cannot understand. I also observed, that all the criminals with whom I was associated, were ignorant of Deistical opinions; but were in general acquainted with the tenets of their own holy religion. Some of them, indeed,

seemed to know little about it, and nothing whatever about any other system of Religion; but they were all firm in the opinion that believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, and repenting of their sins, would procure eternal salvation for their souls. They were satisfied, that those of their companions were condemned to suffer death, would obtain salvation if they believed, and repented after they were condemned, which no doubt they would, as they were always well attended by the clergy.

Another tenet of their belief, and which I am sure has had a bad effect on their morals, is this, that good works are considered as filthy rags, and make men boast of themselves; that it is by faith and repentance alone, that man can be saved. Some of them are true disciples of the notorious John Calvin, and mentioned that every thing "whatsoever comes to pass," was fore-ordained by God, before the foundation of the world, and those whom God had fore-ordained to go to heaven, could not by any means bring themselves to hell.

You would have been diverted to have witnessed the conduct of these desperadoes. Some of them regularly asked a blessing to their victuals, and would immediately commence swearing and boasting of their unworthy deeds. Some of them read their Bibles, and prayed regularly evening and morning in their cells; but through the day, their conduct betrayed symptoms of depraved morals. Some of them would not play at cards upon a Sunday, as they considered it sinful; but they read the Bible and other religious books, and at the same time would make riotous mirth and abuse their weaker companious. Some of them that played cards upon the Sunday, would not pare their nails on that day, but were often very busy in robbing and stealing from their fellow prisoners whenever an opportunity occurred. Every one of them seemed to consider his own crime as nothing in comparison to that of others; and I am sure, from what I heard, that my crime, the sale of blasphemous books, as they are called, was considered by the whole of them, worse than all their crimes put together.

The above, Sir, is a brief sketch of what has taken place here, within the last seven months, as connected with myself and the Christian spies, authorities, judges, and criminals, the last of whom exhibit a complete picture of wretched wickedness, mixed up with a sincere belief in the doctrines of Christianity; from which it is plain, that the Christian religion has no influence in the forming of a moral character, nor in the preventing of those who believe in its doc

trines, from acting in the most immoral manner. Indeed, it is rather an encouragement to vice, and always will be so, as long as faith is considered more essential than good works.

I would wager all that I am worth, that if all the criminals, in all the different Gaols in this Island were examined, not one them, except those who are confined for the sale of Deistical books, would be found to be of Deistical opinions, or that had read and understood books which treated on speculative subjects. I sincerely wish that one of the members of Parliament, would make a motion next session, to ascertain from the criminals who may be in prison at the time, what has been the causes of their immoral conduct, and whither any of them were unbelievers, or had read and understood Deistical books. But none of the members will make such a motion, they dare not do it, as they know that it would expose the inefficacy of their boasted religion, with all their pretensions to its divine origin.

I would have written to you before this time; but while I was in prison, I did not think proper to write, as all letters to and from the prisoners were inspected by the Gaoler, or his assistants; besides there was very little convenience or composure for writing. But, as I was liberated yesterday, I have taken the opportunity of writing to you this day. With best respects, believe me, Sir, a true and anxious friend to free discussion, and

Your sincere well-wisher,

JAMES AFFLECK.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE REPUBLICAN.

Edinburgh, August 27, 1824. As the spirit of persecution has ceased for a time, in London, perhaps the friends of free discussion may be anxious to know the particulars of the late prosecutions for Blasphemy in Edinburgh. Though not a party immediately interested, yet all those particulars are, to me, well known; and no one who is at all acquainted with them will think, that he, who has most suffered by them, has acted an inconsistent part in any thing he has done.

Though Mr. James Affleck was convicted of "selling blasphemy," yet he commenced business with the fixed de