birth have belonged to another and rival Christianity; but nothing is too absurd for a Jesuan to say.

When Paul and Barnabas were in the Isle of Cyprus, the governor sent for Paul and Barnabas, hearing that they were conjurors; for he had got another man of the same art, named Elymas, most probably, that they might contend together in the exhibition of skill for his amusement, c. 13, v. 6—11, and Paul was so mischievous as to inject some subtle powder into Elymas's eyes and blinded him, v. 11.

Here is enough said, to show, that the Acts of the Apostles is too valuable to the disbelievers, for them to wantonly reject the book as spurious: especially as there is not a shadow of a proof to sanction that rejection. I come fourthly to the fragment of Celsus contained in Origen."

If Mr. Taylor wishes to maintain that Celsus is a forgery, he ought to show who forged it.

Or else, secondly, to show, that an Epicurean, like as Celsus was, could not have written it.

To show who forged it, he has not attempted.

He has offered a feeble reason, why Celsus could not have been the author, which shall be noticed.

But I must premise, that, if Celsus be a forgery, then the bulky apology of Origen must have been written for no other object, but to prove that Jesus did exist, when nobody appears to have ever questioned Jesus's existence: a cumbrous labour without an object.

Mr. T. says (Syntagma, p. 115), that Celsus "never would have made so foolish an admission, as that Christ wrought real miracles by the power of magic."

The words of Celsus, B. 1, p. 30, are "mistharnesanta eis Aigypton dynameon tinon peirathenta eceithen epanelthein.

This does not imply that Celsus meant to say, that there was any thing supernatural in Jesus's miracles. That he acquired that ability in Egypt looks rather as if his art was only that of a conjuror; for Egypt was celebrated for that art. But supernatural power could be no more acquired in one country than another. Therefore there is nothing in the passage, which an Epicurean, totally free from superstition, might not have written. So that there is not any thing advanced here, that will warrant a denial that the fragment of Celsus is genuine.

The fragment of Celsus is valuable to disbelievers; because he gives us some account of Jesus, without weakening the credit of it by the insertion of miracles.

The Epicurean philosopher, Celsus, lived in the reign of Adrian, and, therefore, near enough to the time of Jesus, to be enabled to collect some authentic account of him. The book of Celsus, from which the fragment is extracted, is called Alethes logos, or True Discourse t. I will next week embody the extracts.

* Origen, B. 1, p. 8.

+ Or. B. 1, p. 14.

To the Editor of "The Lion."

SIR, The very admirable jesting of your female correspondent, in your last number, under the head of "The Animal Earth," has, I may say, perfectly astounded me. By the bye, the lady discovers something very masculine in her ideas, and, between you and me, I think it does not

require a more than ordinary share of discernment, to detect a pair of unmentionables beneath the thin-spun veil of the petticoat. But, however this may be, her jesting, I repeat it, has perfectly astounded me, and undoubtedly, a good joke like the one in question, must be far more convincing than a whole volume of argumentation. I can now clearly perceive how erroneously I judged, in supposing that a subject so frivolous, so unimportant, as that concerning the Earth's animation, could be at all interesting to your readers. To be sure, I did attempt, as I thought, something like argument in my first communication on the subject, by drawing certain inferences from the state and appearance of our globe, but it would appear, that to reason on such a subject, is equivalent to not reasoning at all. In my last communication, too, though I did indulge in a little imagination, just to keep, as it were, the faculty awake, I con ceived that I had rather extended the notion, by founding an original argument on the theory of M. Cuvier, whom I then considered as a person not entirely destitute of truth or talent, especially, as he had been so highly extolled by Mr. Lawrence in his Lectures. It seems, however, I was deceived, and that his celebrated system is a mere romance, that the science of geology, when it would seem to prove a state of things at variance with the ideas of certain persons, is not to be relied on, and, in fine, that the notion adapted by Kepler, M. Patrin, and many other scientific men, as well modern as ancient, that the Earth contains the principle of its motion within itself, is unworthy of notice, further, than by being made the subject of a very "excellent joke!"

To make, however, no further joke of the joker, I must declare, "in serious mood," that under the pretended show of unbounded liberality of sentiment, there appears to be a deal of bigotry still lurking, which particularly exhibits itself in the continual endeavour to establish at all events, the system of mere matter and motion. Of course then, there must be a decided objection, to any theory or speculation, that would go to prove, that there is a state of existence superior to that which man possesses, although man is, comparatively, but as a moving point. There also appears to be a great antipathy, to any argument that tends to limit the age of the Earth, as an habitable planet. Thus, Mr. Mackey is a favourite author; because, in his attempt to investigate this subject, he has thought proper to assign it a period of, I believe 470,000 years; and his proofs, as it appears to me, have no other foundation whatever, than the mere fanciful conjectures of his own mind. He might have saved himself a deal of needless toil in his airy speculations, if he had first perused some such treatise as Cuvier's "Researches in regard to the Age of the World, and of the Human Race."-Undoubtedly the age of the world, as respects the accumulated materials which compose it, may be extended with propriety to an indefinite period; but as regards its being inhabited, and especially by man, geology furnishes insuperable arguments in favour of its comparative recentness.

But to return to your fair correspondent, I would advise her to pause, ere she decides so dogmatically on the demerits of any theory that she may not have well considered; because, though she has pronounced mine to be a strange and useless conceit, it does not at all appear from the nature of it, or from any opposing argument, to be such. I must confess, I began the subject of the earth's animation, with a degree of hesitation, and per

* It is not so, if D. D. will call, or depute a person to call on me, I will produce the original paper, with a satisfactory explanation. R. C.

+ Aye, and forty such periods! R. C.

haps with some desire to amuse; but since I find nothing opposed to my arguments but a mere joke, I shall begin to think that I have not only given amusement, but "some conviction too."

To conclude, I would recommend to her, on some fine night, to divest herself of her amiable levity, and just contemplate seriously for a few minutes, the seemingly innumerable quantity of glittering stars, that are spread over the vast expanse, then mentally to put the question to herself, whether it be inconsistent with, or derogatory to, the reasoning faculties possessed by the emmet man, to consider them as so many existent beings, who act and keep their stations, by virtue of their own inherent powers. July 1st, 1828.

TO THE REV. ROBERT TAYLOR.

D. D.

REV. SIR,-You will herewith receive the contribution of a few friends to the cause of free discussion, who have taken this method of testifying their approbation of your strict and unbending adherence, to the liberties and rights, which are necessarily attached to it.

We do not wish to add either our assent or dissent to your opinions, on various topics; but we do wish to place upon record our detestation of that spirit, which, by persecution, would crush all inquiry, and consequently all mental improvement. It is, indeed, a poor weak mean device, when the props, to support falsehood and error, are composed of the most tyrannous and unjust materials that could disgrace human nature; and sufficiently indicative of the baseness of the upholders, disciples and supporters of such a system.

Although we feel indignant, that this age which has been called liberal, and this country which has been designated, the "land of liberty," should have afforded such melancholy instances of mental depravity, as to persecute men for an honest expression of opinions; yet we feel some small gratification, that Champions have arisen, yourself, Mr. Carlile and others, who have shaken the proudest bulwarks of inquisitorial craft, and who also, threaten most portentuously, its final overthrow.

We had hoped that some of the sects, who are denied, by their cotemporary sects, the name of Christian, to which they think they are entitled, had benefited so far by having been the victims of an intolerant church establishment, as not to let their actions be also under the influence of that visiting sin. But it seems, that, with some of that sect, this is not the case, although, for the offence of one, we would not condemn the whole. A Reverend gentleman who presides over the spiritual concerns of the ancient Unitarian Congregation in this town, on your case being mentioned to him, said "that if a farthing would save you from persecution, he would not give it, but, that if he had it in his power, he would persecute you still farther." We make no comment on this; it speaks volumes for the Reverend gentleman's claims to the liberality, usually allowed to be possessed by Unitarians.

We cannot allow this opportunity to pass without noticing our admiration of your varied talents, matured and brought into the sphere of active utility by the most unceasing industry, and the exercise of the most unbending independence. We feel a confidence, that you will continue an advocate of man's dearest rights, despite all the attacks of ignorance and fraud, and that you will be cheered on in your present course by the

plaudits of your fellow citizens. At all events, if you are conscious of deserving, you will be ensured, the approbation of all good men, however they may differ from you in opinion.

Wishing that your energies and health may pass the ordeal of persecution uninjured, and that you may rise, if possible, a more strenuous advocate of the rights of the people, and of the cause of truth. I subscribe myself, for friends,

Your well wisher,
ALEXANDER HARDY.

THE PERSECUTED CAPTIV E,

A VOICE has

OR, CHRISTIANITY'S PRISONER.

gone forth from the strong holds of gloom,
Where the infidel smiles at his merciless doom,
And 'spite of oppression, do all that it can,
He dares to assert the true freedom of man.
'Tis his home, for a prison it never shall be,

While throbs in its bound, but one heart that is free.
Persecution may fetter; but where shall it find

A chain for the chainless omnipotent mind?

But a voice has gone forth! and that voice has been heard,
By those who rejoice at each luminous word,
And a far distant day in the records of fame,
Shall add yet another all glorious name.
For why is he sever'd from all we hold dear?
Why is he apart, like a corpse on its bier ?
What-what is his crime? Hath he taken away
The widow's, the orphan's, the destitute's stay ?
Has he tax'd the distressed? has he taken the bread,
From those who were starving, to pamper the fed?
And, at last, when all famished and hopeless they lay,
Has he dragg'd from them dying their pallet away?
Oh no! the sole crime that their hate can make clear,
Is this that he has been, and still is-sincere!
The tissue, that guilt and hypocrisy wove,
He has dared to unravel, and sought but to prove
His claim to be heard, and his claim to reveal,
What nature and reason have taught him to feel.
Are we men? and as slaves shall we tamely resign,
Our rights and our reason at bigotry's shrine?
Are we hunted like brutes, by the saints of the word?
In prisons and bonds must we perish, unheard?
That the Christian may offer us up to the Lord!
No! his altar of blood, and his altar of flame,
May reek or may burn, still the truth is the same;
And that truth shall be heard, when pale bigotry's sway,
Like a monstrous birth, shall be hid from the day.

I. W. IMRAY.

Printed and Published by RICHARD CARLILE, 62, Fleet-street, where all Communications, post-paid, or free of expense, are requested to be left.

The Lion.

No. 2. VOL. 2.] LONDON, Friday, July 11, 1828. [PRICE 6d.

TUESDAY, JULY 8.

THE following Petition, after three months holding, was presented to the House of Commons by Mr. Hume, on the behalf of the Rev. Robert Taylor.

TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS OF GREAT BRI-
TAIN AND IRELAND IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

The petition of ROBERT TAYLOR, prisoner in Oakham Gaol;
With sincere deference, sheweth,

That your petitioner, after having for seven years officiated with great acceptance, as a minister of the church of England, was induced, by the perusal of what are called infidel books, to believe himself to be in most sacred duty bound to give up the valuable preferment he then held, and his prospects of advancement in the church: Which accordingly he did, from the purest motives of piety to God and charity to men, preferring poverty and affliction, with an approving mind, to emoluments and honours which were only to be retained by the suppression of his convictions and the compromise of his conscience.

That your petitioner had by the exercise of his talent of declamation, and by vast exertions of mind acquired a popularity, which induced many persons wholly unknown before to your petitioner, to purchase for him an elegant chapel, subsequently called THE AREOPAGUS, in which your petitioner, as its avowed orator, continued for the third year, to hold those free and public discussions, on the evidences of the Christian religion, which had been allowed for so long a time, under the knowledge and observance of the magistrates of the city of London, without any intimation of intended interference, or the least hint given to your petitioner, that such meetings were objectionable or could possibly be conducted with greater propriety and decorum than they were. All ministers and preachers of the Gospel were earnestly and respectfully invited to take part therein, agreeably to the declared practice of Christ,

Printed and Published by R. CARLILE, 62, Fleet Street. No. 2.-VOL. 2.

D

F