The Battle of The Press

I shall anxiously wait, my Lord, to see whether in the executive and administration of the present Government there is sufficient respect for the laws and justice, to enforce them against the magistrates of Manchester; or whether the Executive and Administration will make the cause of the magistrates of Manchester their cause; in either case, my Lord, as an individual, living in a country where the laws will not protect the subject, I shall feel it my duty to make the best preparation for the defence of myself, family, and property, against the attack of a magistrate, police officer, or a troop of Yeomanry Cavalry, who begin to show a contempt for those laws which they are commissioned to respect and enforce.

Your Lordship's Fellow-Citizen,

R. CARLILE.

APPENDIX III. DEDICATION.24

To Posterity.

The first publication in which free discussion has existed is not a publication for the present generation, but for posterity. Others must feel the benefit, though the merit of introducing it be ours.

In such history of man as we have, we have no proof that free discussion is older than the present fourteen volumes of the Republican. In its fullest extent it had scarcely been contemplated. The question, What is God? was never before broadly asked and answered in print. Idolatry being a habit on which the mind spiritually feeds, but few will thank one for destroying the source of their devotions. "I have lived fifty years with these impressions and never before had them questioned," cries an old man or woman, "and am I now to yield them to the discoveries of a mere boy? They have been my comfort through life, and though I cannot defend, I will not forsake them." This is ever the reasoning of deep-rooted prejudice. The mere antiquity of error is to such minds a proof of its divinity. Younger folks come on, less ignorant from the new motions given to mind, and they easily discard the follies of their parents.

Thus it is that the Republican, though admired by many, and useful to many, has not extended its influence throughout the whole community, in consequence of its unparalleled shocks upon old systems and deep-rooted prejudices. The next generation will grow up acquainted with its doctrines, and those doctrines will most certainly be adopted for practice.

There must be a beginning to all systems and all changes in human action, but it does not follow that he who begins will see the end of his work.

Admirable changes have taken place in public opinion upon the subject of religion within the last ten years, but we feel it rather in the cessation of persecution than in any application of the change to the lessening of religious burdens. Such a legislature as that of this country will ever be the last part of a nation to learn a new doctrine, and a nation is not to be instructed as you would instruct an inquisitive individual. Were a statesman in advance of the knowledge of a nation he would find insuperable obstacles in attempting to act up to the extent of his knowledge. Mankind as a body is ungrateful, and will not thank you for benefits conferred nor see your good intentions to serve it, if you step out of the beaten track. The sound reformer has no other encouragement than to bequeath his merited caresses to his senseless memory, or to enjoy them in anticipation. His patrons live not with him, but are to be his posterity, and from those persons with whom he lives he finds more of insults than of gratitude. They see not the end of his reformation; they appreciate not his motives. It is consolatory to be able to say that, while the foregoing is true of mankind as a body, it has, like every general rule, its exception in a part of that body. The life of a reformer would be intolerable if there were not some keen-sighted individuals who can see his ends and appreciate his motives and who are bold enough to encourage him to proceed, and honest and benevolent enough to assist him. His state would indeed be intolerable but for these exceptions, for his proposed changes constitute an arraignment of all existing political and prejudicial powers, and those powers naturally make war upon him while he is weak enough to suffer from their influence. To posterity, then, I dedicate the fourteen volumes of the Republican, and to posterity I appeal, to say whether or not I have done my duty as a Reformer. There are thousands living who will say that I have done it. But I aspire to the approbation of mankind as a body, and that I know must be the approbation of a future generation.

RICHARD CARLILE. 62 Fleet Street, December 28th, 1826.

APPENDIX IV. LIST OF CARLILE'S IMPRISONMENTS

1817 (August 15th – December 20th)

Eighteen weeks for selling the Parodies (on the Book of Common Prayer). Compter.

1819 (November 16th) – 1825 (November 18th).

Three years for selling the Age of Reason and Palmer's Principles of Nature.

Three years more exacted for non-payment of fine of £1,500. Dorchester Gaol.

1831 – 1833.

Three years for an article in the Prompter at the time of the Agricultural Riots. Compter.

1834.

Four months for resisting Church Assessments.

Compter.

The actual time of imprisonment undergone was nine years, seven months, and one week.

1

Larned's "Encyclopaedia and Topical History".

2

Eliza Sharples Carlile ("Isis").

3

Carlile's son.

4

William Gifford was the Attorney-General who entered into the prosecution of Carlile with such unaccountable and unusual malignity as to call forth the bitter satire of the latter, who in return teased and taunted "His Majesty's Attorney-General", addressing to him the most sarcastic and open letters; sporting with his name and reputation till he became to be called his (C.'s) "own Gifford". He most assuredly deserved all the punishment he received from Carlile.

5

Parodies on the Book of Common Prayer.

6

On the way to and from the scene of the trials Carlile was followed by multitudes of people, who cheered him lustily. There was always a large crowd of sympathetic people around the shop in Fleet Street, and at the close of each day's proceedings the rush to purchase the prosecuted volumes was something marvellous. Everything in sight found ready sale.

7

William Cobbett disinterred the bones of Thomas Paine and carried them to England.

8

Dr. Rudge was a clergyman of the Established Church who sent Carlile Soame Jenyns' "View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion" shortly before his sentence. A long correspondence was kept up between Carlile and the Doctor, which was published in the Republican.

9

Lord Brougham declined to serve, and the will was administered by the widow.

10

Among them Henry Hunt, Wm. Cobbett, Daniel O'Connor, Feargus O'Connor, Gale Jones, Julian Hibbert, Rev. Robert Taylor, Robert Owen, Rowland Detrosier, Richard Carlile, and later on "Isis ".

11

See Prompter, Nov., 1831.

12

This is pretty nearly the state of America at the present day. – Ed.

13

Madame D'Arusmont, who was then lecturing in America.

14

The Prompter, April 9th, 1831.

15

The Gauntlet, London, April 21,1833.

16

By this time Carlile had been formally separated from his wife for two or three years by mutual consent. He had settled an annuity of £50 a year upon her for life, and had given her books enough to start her in business for herself as well as all the furniture belonging to them mutually, leaving himself nothing but the "debts and the business". This arrangement was final and perfectly satisfactory to the first Mrs. Carlile, who was tired of the uncertainties of a reformer's life. Had there been a possibility of legal divorce they would eagerly have availed themselves of its benefits, but failing this they made as definite and satisfactory arrangements as could be done for the honor and satisfaction of all parties concerned.

17

Miss Newell was the artist who painted the portrait of Carlile while in the Compter. She begged and received permission to paint the portraits of Carlile and Rev. Robert Taylor, and gave them each a painting, and kept one of each for herself. Carlile was so pleased with his own that he urged her to paint the portrait of Isis. But this, she said. "was a different matter, and she should require her regular fee of ten guineas". This was agreed upon, and she painted the picture of Isis. These portraits are as fresh and beautiful to-day as they were when painted over 60 years ago, and are copied for this work. Necessarily the copies lose much of the beauty of the painting, as the delicate beauty of the coloring is all lost. It is most noticeable in that of Isis, in whose complexion the purity of the lily and the warmth of the rose were marvellously blended. The abundant hair curled naturally, and was of a soft pale auburn. The eyes a violet blue, with a mild but intelligent expression. The head, features, and face were of perfectly harmonious outline, each part perfect in itself, and perfect as a whole. The figure, too, was naturally perfect, tall, and slender, with a very graceful carriage; shoulders thrown well back and head well poised. Her neck and shoulders were beautifully moulded, and her waist, though innocent of stays or corsets, measured but 18 inches. Her hands were very beautiful, with long slender fingers, and the skin of such delicate texture as to appear transparent. In after years it was a favorite amusement of her children to try and look through their mother's hand by holding it up to the sun or lamp. Add to this that she was well bred, well educated, well read, and possessed of a fine singing and speaking voice. She was very neat and stylish in her dress, and it was no wonder then that she turned the heads of many of the younger men of liberal principles at the Rotunda, when she stepped upon the rostrum to fill the gap made by the imprisonment of Carlile and Rev. Robert Taylor.

18

This giving a flitch or side of bacon to that married couple who had lived the whole year in harmony together, is an old English custom, and was religiously carried out in the village of Enfield, to which Carlile removed his family immediately after leaving Giltspur Street Compter. Carlile and Isis, or rather Mr. and Mrs. Carlile, were unanimously voted to be the happiest married pair in the village, and entitled to the flitch of bacon. All sorts of sports prevailed at this festivity, and the whole village turned out en masse.

19

This is the Joseph Harris mentioned in the sketches of Carlile's friends who helped.

20

The Scourge, November 29th, 1834.

21

This idea of a travelling name seems to have been to save unpleasant notoriety or attention.

22

Julian and Hypatia Carlile. Theophila was not born at that time.

23

The home of Mrs. Chichester, Park Place, Ham, near Richmond-on-Thames.

24

Prefixed to the fourteenth and final volume of the Republican.