1801.] 
from the time of his refidence at Liver- 
pool, had begun tu imbibe a deteftation of 
that policy which trampled upon the rights 
ot mankind, and was’ founded upon un- 
feeling avarice and unprincipled ambition. 
His fiudy of Chrittianity more and more 
convinced him that the maxims of the 
world and thofe of religion were in direét 
eppofition: and, in common with many 
other excellent and learned men, he be- 
came perluaded of the abfoiute incom pati- 
bility of War with the Chrittian chara&ter. 
He had moreover received thofe princi- 
ples of the origin and end of government, 
which, howeyer they may now be regard- 
ed, were once thought fundamental to the 
Britith Conftitution, and the bafis of all 
civil liberty. He had occafonally, mthe 
political contelts of his country, publicly 
expretied his opinion, upon thefe fubjects ; 
but the French Revolution was an event 
calculated to call forth all his ardour in the 
caule, His fanguine temper Jed him to con- 
fider it as the uadoubted common cement of 
a b tter order of things, in which rational 
liberty, equitable policy, and pure reli- 
gion, would finilly* become triumphant. 
He watched its progrefs with incredible 
intereft, excufed its unhappy deviations, 
and abhorred the combination of arbitrary 
power which threatened its deftruction. It 
was impoffible that he fhould refrain from 
employing his pen on the occafion, or 
that ne fhould do it with a * cold and un- 
performing hand.” In his ¢* Remarks on 
the General Orders of the Duke of York,”’ 
he had arraigned the juttice of the war 
with France in terms which are fuppofed 
to have exercifed the utmoft forbearance 
of the Miniftry. But in his “ Reply to 
fome Parts of the Bithop of Landaff’s 
Addrefs,”” he paffed thofe limits. From 
that fyftematic progrefs in reftraining the 
free communication of political opinions 
which may be traced in the a&ts of the 
late Miniftry, it is not unreafonable ta 
conclude, that a victim to the liberty of 
the prefs, of name and character fufficient 
to infpire a wide alarm, was really defired. 
Yet, as the Attorney-general folemnly 
protefted that his profecution of this pam- 
phlet was fpontaneous, and folely dic- 
tated to him by the heinous and danger- 
ous nature of its contents, is would be un- 
candid to call his affertion in queftion. A 
man of fenfe, however, may be allowed to 
fmile at the notion of real danger to fu- 
preme power, fupported as well by public 
Opinion, as by every active energy of the 
ftate, from a private writer, areuing upon 
ptinciples fo little applicable to the prac- 
A Tribute tothe Memory of Mr. Wakefield. 229 
_tice of the world, as thofe of ‘the Gofpel. 
Further, a man of a truly liberal and ge- 
nerous mind will perhaps view, not with- 
out indignation, the thunders of the Jaw 
hurled upon a head diftinguithed for vir- 
tue and learning, without any humane al- 
lowance for well intentioned, if mifguided, 
zeal. The attack commenced, not againft 
the principal,who boldly anc honeftly came 
forward to avow himfelf, but againft the 
agents ; andthe grand purport of it was 
fuiiiciently declared by the {fuperior feve- 
rity with which a bookfeller was treated, 
who was not the editor, but only a cafual 
vender of thé work; but who had long-becn 
obnoxious as a diftinguifhed publither of 
books of free enquiry. Mr. Wakefield him- 
felf next underwent profecution ; and his 
fentence, upon conviction, was a two year’s 
‘imprifonment in Dorchelter gaol. There 
exifts no other meafure of punithment in 
fuch a cafe than comparifon, and perhaps, 
upon the application of this rule, it will 
not be found inordinately fevere. I'wo 
year’s abode in a prifon is, however, a 
mot ferious infli€tion ! it is cutting off fo 
much from defirable exiftence. Mr.Wake- 
field, notwithftanding his natural fortitude, 
felt it as fuch. Though, trom-his habits 
of fobriety and feclution, he had little to 
refign in refpett of the erdinary pleafures 
of the world ; his habits of pedeftrian ex- 
ercife, and his enjoyment of family com- 
fort, were effentially infringed by confine- 
ment. He likewife found all his plans of 
ftudy fo deranged, by the want of his li- 
brary, and the many incommiodities of his 
fituation, that he was lefs able to employ 
that refource againk tedium and melan- 
chely than might have been expected. 
One powerful confolation, however, in ad- 
dition to that of a good confcience, at- 
tended him. A fet of warmand generous 
‘friends employed themielves in raifing a 
contribution which fhould not only indem- 
\nify him from any pecuniary lofs conle- 
quent upon his projecution, but fhould ai- 
leviate his cares for the future fupport ef 
his family. The purpofe was effected ; 
‘and it is to be hoped that Englifhmen will 
ever retain fpirit enough to take under 
their protection men who have faithfully, 
though perhaps not with due prudence 
and confideration, maintained the noble 
caufe of mankind againft the frowns of - 
authority. 
At length the tedious period elapfed, and 
the latt day of May, inthis year, reftored 
him to liberty.. He was received by his 
friends, many of whom had vilited him in 
prifon, with the moit cordial weicome. He 
was’ 
