elive, between whom and his protec- Webb's, in Thayer-street, where he tor a degree of coolness had taken had previously been invited. About place. Thus terminated an inter- half-past seven o'clock Jackson came course to which, however flattering personally to Mr. Acres, and said he in its commencement, Jackson after- would be certain of the money next wards ascribed his acquaintance with day at twelve o'clock, if Mr. Brown many of those resources he finally would allow him to have possession adopted, when the tide of fortune be- of the bills again next morning at nine gan suddenly to ebb, and he found o'clock; and that he (Mr. Brown) himself as it were stranded on an un- might depend upon getting the moproductive and inhospitable shore. ney by twelve o'clock that day (SaHe now became a money-broker, turday, March 17.) As Mr. Acres or discounter of bills; an occupation had an appointment at ten o'clock always dangerous, as it holds out in- that day, it was impossible for him to numerable expedients to the needy, be at home to re-deliver the bills at the adventurous, or the hopeful, nine, and therefore he told him that against which integrity is not con- he had better keep them in his own stantly proof, and by which inexpe- possession. They agreed to meet rienced and ardent minds may be again at Baker's coffee-house, at twelve casily betrayed into error and destruc- o'clock on that Saturday, and Mr. tion. Such then was the unfortunate Acres gave Mr. Brown information result of this his new avocation to to that purpose. On the 13th of the Jackson!

same month, Jackson communicated While in the profession of a money- his desire to raise some money to a broker, Jackson was brought acquaint- Mr. William Coomb, a warehouseed, through the intervention of a per- man, in Queen-street, Cheapside, son named Acres, with John Brown, with whom he had been acquainted Esq. a West-India gentleman, who had about three weeks. He told Coomb, come to London for the purpose of that the gentleman for whom he purchasing an estate, and who was wished to raise the money was a redesirous of raising 2,500l. to assist spectable West Indian, and that he him in paying the value of it. Jackson was so desirous to have the sum of accordingly met Mr. Brown, March 2,500l. against a certain day, that he 16th, 1804, at twelve o'clock at noon, was willing to allow him fifteen per at Baker's coffee-house; when he re- cent. if he could procure it for him, ceived two bills of exchange, drawn and that Mr. Brown would give bills by Mr. B., and accepted by Messrs. accepted by Messrs. Learmouth and Learmouth and Lindsey, amounting Co. for that amount, at nine months to 2,5001. For these bills Jackson date. Mr. Coomb did not think he granted a receipt, and engaged to could procure the money for him; bring a person at five o'clock in the but there was a certain description of evening who would discount them goods which he might purchase with upon their being indorsed over to him these bills, and sell them again at a by the drawer: they were both un- very small loss: Irish linens were the indorsed. He did not attend at the goods alluded to. Jackson agreed to hour appointed, but sent his clerk, this proposal; and, having satisfied about six o'clock in the evening, with himself of the respectability of the a note to Mr. Brown, alleging, as an drawer, he made application to Messrs. excuse for his non-attendance, some Webster and Cobbet, in Friday-street, slight indisposition, and disappoint- who agreed to give goods to the amount ment in not seeing the person from of one half of the sum, when they were whom he intended to procure the satisfied of the acceptances being just. money. Mr. Brown, who had re- Coomb accordingly informed Jackson fused an engagement to dine near of his success, who told him he would Manchester-square, in order to meet give him a share in the transaction, as concerted, was somewhat exaspe- and that Mr. Brown would not scruple rated at this disappointment, and sent to accommodate him in the same back a verbal answer to the note, re- manner with some thousand pounds quiring the return of the bills, and more. Goods to the amount of the then left Mr. Acres to go to a Mr. bill for 1,300l. were accordingly pur

Jackson solemnly declared his innocence as to the crime of forgery, but confessed he acted wrong in having eloped with the money. He alleged that he had procured the indorsement of Mr. Brown at a particular appointment for that purpose; and complained none of his witnesses had attended; and that Mr. Brown had not been examined, so as to prove his innocence of the crime charged against him. He concluded by appealing to the feelings of the jury; and said, that though his character by this transaction was already totally ruined in this world, yet he had a thousand ties to make him wish for existence-a wife, an infant child, and a parent who would be rendered miserable. Whatever might be their verdict upon this occasion, he hoped that his innocence would be made manifest at a higher tribunal.

chased by Coomb, and the other bill hand-writing, and others shewed the was employed in paying for a similar impossibility of its being his signature, purchase from the house of Edwards from his having been engaged in and Co. Cheapside. The bills were company at a distant quarter of the restored to Jacksou upon the 16th of town during the very space of time March, and he agreed to procure in- when that indorsement must necesdorsement that same evening, and sarily have been written. Jackson bring them immediately to Coomb, was soon after apprehended at Innisto pay them over to these merchants killin, in Ireland, and was confined before the goods were delivered. That in the Newgate of Dublin, from evening he met Coomb at the City whence he was brought to London Coffee-house, and gave him the blils by one of the city marshals, sent he had got Mr. Brown to indorse on over for that purpose. the Saturday morning, The goods purchased for these bills were delivered at Mr. Coomb's warehouse in Queen-street, between the hours of six and seven, at which time Jackson attended. By a previous agreement, Messrs. Rickarby and Co. of Gracechurch-street, were to purchase the whole quantity of linens at 20001.Jackson went along with the carts to superintend the delivery to that company, and Coomb followed. As the goods could not be all examined sufficiently early to entitle Jackson to immediate receipt of the whole price, he was contented to receive 1,8001, the remainder to be paid when the examination was complete. He received a checque for that sum on the house of Newnham, Everett, and Co. about half-past twelve o'clock. Instead of going towards Baker's coffeehouse (where he was to have met Mr. Brown and Mr. Acres), Jackson, on He was informed, that it was in his leaving Rickarby's, turned down to own option to have adduced Mr. wards London-bridge, saying to Brown, the prosecutor, as a witness Coomb, that he was going to see his in exculpation; and had his counsel wife off in the stage-coach to Maid- judged it prudent, they surely would stone. He did not appear willing that have advised him to do so. Coomb should accompany him, but peared that Jackson had endeavoured, agreed to meet him at the Antigallican when in prison, to persuade a person coffee-house, near the Royal Exchange. of the name of Daniel Symond MerCoomb, however, conceiving some cery to swear that he was a witness to suspicions, followed him for a short Mr. Brown's siguing a receipt for distance, and perceived him turn 500l. alleged to have been paid as down Canon-street, where he soon part of the money procured for the after lost sight of him. His not ap- bills; thus committing, as it were, pearing at any of the places where he had formed engagements, soon produced the discovery of the forgery, but too late to effect a stoppage of the checque. Coomb met with Mr.Brown (whom he had never before seen) at Baker's coffee-house, and told what had passed between him and Jackson. Several witnesses proved that the indorsement was not of Mr. Brown's

It ap

one forgery in order to screen the other. Although Mercery had really been a witness to a person of the name of John Brown, at the time and place mentioned, yet he swore positively that Mr. John Brown, the prosecutor, was not the individual whose signa ture he had been called on by the prisoner to attest.

The jury, after a short consideration,

found the prisoner guilty of uttering law, in the usual way, before Newthe bill for 1,300l. (the only one gate, a few weeks subsequently to his charged in the indictment) knowing trial, at about the twenty-third year the indorsement thereof to be forged. of his age. He left a widow and one There was found in his pocket- child, concerning whose fate he apbook, at the time of his apprehension peared extremely anxious, but of at Inniskillen, a private memorandum whose subsequent condition I am inor diary, kept by Jackson, from the capable of giving any account at this day he absconded. This paper suffi- time. ciently testified the horror he felt in Having impartially narrated the histhe situation to which he had brought tory of a youth, whose memory, howhimself, and the sincerity of his at- ever melancholy the catastrophe of tachment to his wife, for whose cir- his days, I wish to preserve a little cumstances it contained the strongest longer among men, it remains to and most affecting expressions of con- state his pretensions to poetical discern and remorse. Indeed, after the tinction, on which ground alone I can commission of the forgery, his mind now solicit for him the applause seems to have been in a state little usually conferred on merit. short of madness. What but mental His poetry calls for little commeninfatuation could induce him to ex- tation. He who shall peruse the pect in Ireland a secure asylum from Ode to Beauty,' remembering, at the the vigilant pursuit of English jus- same time, that it was almost the first tice? How often are we reminded effusion of a youth of seventeen years of the celebrated maxim of a heathen of age, and then deny to its author poet, that Heaven first blinds those the praise of poetic genius, must be whom it purposes to destroy! critically cynical indeed. Some imiThe close of the life of Joseph Jack- tations might be pointed out in this son cannot be recorded without emo- production, and several trifling inactions of poignant regret. He died, as curacies; but these defects are such he had lived, in the comfortless doc- as will not be permitted to invalidate trines of scepticism. His fortitude, the general merit of this Ode, which during the final scene of his unhappy displays a richness of fancy and harcareer, was the effect not of philoso- mony of numbers that are not always phy but of stupefaction; he had pro- to be found in the compositions of the cured and taken such a quantity of established habitants of Parnassus. laudanum as rendered him nearly in- I accurately recollect the personal sensible to what was passing around appearance of this ill-starred son of him, even when he ascended the plat- the Muse. He was somewhat short form for execution! He made no of the middle stature, but his limbs avowal of his criminality, he expressed were active and well formed. When no hopes of pardon and immortality: a meer lad, his phisiognomy was full he seemed, indeed, to shut out the of character; and his eyes, which light of honourable conviction, deter- were large and vivid, perfectly intimined stubbornly to persist in his mated, to an observer of countenance, first protestations of innocency, and a confident and aspiring disposition, in the opinions which he had so un- bent on acquiring distinction in sofortunately imbibed from the authors ciety, in spite of every obstacle that to whom he dedicated his early lite- might thwart his ambitious designs. rary hours. There is reason notwith- His voice was powerful rather than standing, as was stated in the com- sonorous, and his speeches, at the mencement of this biographic me- School of Eloquence' which he fremoir, to believe that, at last, he se- quented, partook of the qualities of cretly lamented the destructive prin- his mind and temper. He was bold, ciples on which he had acted; but ardent, rapid; if, therefore, he did his vanity and obstinacy of spirit not argue with precision and convicwould not permit him openly to acknowledge and deprecate his errors. Something like confession, once or twice, escaped his lips.

tion, he often declaimed with vehemence and with effect. He was not logical, but he was generally popular. His imagination, which was highly He suffered the sentence of the poetical, constantly supplied him with UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIL

2 E

a brilliant assemblage of figurative mass; this ridicule had alienated allusions and illustrations, which he numbers from the opinions instilled poured forth with such velocity as into them in their youth. But, as sometimes bore down upon the judg- these writers were employed solely ment of his auditors, and enlisted in rooting out false doctrines, and them on his side against the percep- were not capable, and indeed took tions of reason. He knew, indeed, no pains to instill true ones, it is no to avail himself of this mental artil- wonder that infidelity gained ground; lery. and there was, at one time, reason to What generous person but must apprehend, that the faith in Christilament, that such talents were be- anity might for a long time have been stowed on their possessor in vain? trampled under foot. Policy has He who once promised to live an or- done, what right principles ought to nament of social and polished life, have effected. It has restored the was violently ejected, in the morning Christian faith; but, alas! it has of his existence, from the disencum- brought back with it all the ancient bered lap of society! His fate-if errors. However, the change has that result can be justly ascribed to been productive of good, for tolerafatality, which is the necessary conse- tion is now not only allowed, but the quence of erroneous opinions and worship of protestants is entitled to misconduct-his fate holds out a salu, its peculiar privileges, and no one is tary lesson against presumption on deprived of the right of saving his the one hand, and indiscretion on the country on account of any religious other. Natural abilities induced Jack- opinion.

son to expect too much for himself; The number of protestants in and, when disappointed in his imma- France, before the revolution, was ture anticipations of worldly success, not very considerable, but yet not so his lax notions of moral right fortified inconsiderable, as is generally ima him in that line of conduct which he gined. We have no opportunity of afterwards expiated on the scaffold. Judging, at present, what their num Without concealment or palliation bers are: but they have consistories to his faults, I have endeavoured to in various great towns, and their charender justice to his talents. Since pels are numerously frequented, and he has atoned to man for his trans- in them are to be found the municigressions, let his memory experience pal officers of the district. A consismercy from mankind. tory of this kind is at Rouen, in Nor mandy; or, in other words, there is a meeting or meetings of protestants under the direction of a committee, going by the name of the Consistory. To understand this term, it is necessary to observe, that the major part of the protestants in France belong to the church of Geneva, or sect of Calvin; many in Alsace and Lor raine are Lutherans. The Calvinists. hold episcopacy in abhorrence, and

Feb. 24, 1807, Tavistock-street.

AMICUS

[The poem entitled an 'Ode to Beauty,' with some other effusions of Jackson, I defer for future consideration.]

STATE OF RELIGION IN FRANCE.

To the Editor of the Universal Mag.
SIR,

HE revolution in France has exchanges, that might be expected to much in the same manner as the take place in the religion of that church of Scotland: but they give country. It is well known, that be- the name of Consistory to the com fore the revolution the faith of the mittee of elders, which possesses the Romish church was not held in high executive and deliberative govern estimation by the upper orders of so- ment. ciety. The ridicule cast by Voltaire These consistories are just as dogand his colleagues on the leading doc- matical as the presbyterians in Scottrines of that church, such as the per- land, or the heads of most of the petual virginity of the mother of God, meetings of independents in England. the making of a water into God, and To call in question any article of faith eating him as is done every day at is as bad as higlr treason. You must

believe exactly as they believe, or essences in the godhead, are all chipretend to believe;-that, is exactly merical notions, of which the scripin the form prescribed in their cate- tures take no notice, and that their chisms, or there is a hue and cry language is plain, clear, and decisive, made after you, and you are pointed that one single person only is God; out as a scabby sheep, as one repro- and that there is no other mediator bate, and to be abhorred. In short, it between him and man but the man is in France as in every other place, Jesus the Christ. The notions, which where Calvinism is professed; the christians maintain about three permind is subjugated to the abominable sons being God, he contends, are de doctrines of that abominable man, rived from Homer and Ovid, particuand popery would be far preferable larly from the former, from whom to his system, if it did not take away Plato borrowed his opinions, and who the scriptures from the people, and describes the trinity of the heathen perform its worship in an unknown world in the persons of Jupiter, Neptongue. Subjection to a distant pope, tune, and Pluto. and a priest appointed by him, is far better than subjection to a self-formed committee of inquisitorial neighbours, who are perpetually harrassing you about your religious opinions.

Whether he is right or not in these opinions, is a question to be discussed with calmness and impartiality. I am inclined to side with him; and I wish that every writer in every kingIn Calvinistic meetings in England, dom upon earth could use his lanthe mind will sometimes break loose guage, as it stands in the following from the galling chains, with which passage: "Whatever may be the init is fettered. We need not then be terpretations, which we give to dif surprised, if the same event some- ficult passages in Holy Writ, it is the times takes place in France; but it is privilege of protestants, as the memcurious, that it should have led to a ber of the consistory of Rouen has discussion, which points out in a strik- had reason to observe, to examine for ing manner the freedom enjoyed in themselves the word of God. It is France upon the subject of religion. an inestimable privilege, and we canA member, it seems, of the meeting not sufficiently testify our gratitude at Rouen, not being perfectly satisfied to God, that we irhabit a country with the opinions maintained by his where the admirers or the opposers of brethren,called some of them in question. This roused the indignation of the sacred consistory. The treasurer was appointed to answer them; and he, in the usual high style of these peremptory gentlemen, treats the enquiring brother as a heretic, endeavouring to introduce into the church antiquated exploded notions, and acting contrary to the confession of faith of the reformed churches.

the trinity may equally claim the protection of the laws, and enjoy the same advantages under the shield of a protecting government. Hence they, who, by an examination of the holy scriptures, are led to opposite results, may, whether catholics or protestants, publish with entire security the fruit of their researches, without any apprehension that power will interfere to disturb them in any inquiry conducted by good faith and the love of truth. The spirit of persecution, which wishes for protection only for We have not, thanks be to Heaven, any more Calvins, and none of us dread the tragical end of Servetus."

The treasurer's conduct has excited an abler opponent at Paris to take up the pen and, in that city, where, twenty years ago, a similar publica- itself, exists no longer. tion would have been followed by perpetual imprisonment in the Bastile, the writer advances notions equally repugnant to the faith of Could Louis the fourteenth be both the protestant and the catholic raised from the grave, how would he churches of France. He contends, be astonished to read the above para. that the doctrine of the trinity is an graph. He, who, by his cruel deinnovation unknown to the primitive cree, exterminated or drove into baages of the church; that all the disputes which harrass Christians about the persons, distinctions, divisions, and

nishment nearly a million of his protestant subjects. His proud spirit could not brook contradiction; and