to shew, that if we cannot get what we ought, we should take what we can get, observes, that it is upon this principle that I prefer publishing part of the truth to a suppression of the whole, in the weekly columns of my Register. But, this is not a case in point. By publishing under such laws as ours I do not render the lot of any writer worse, or more hopeless, than it was before. Having now gone through the letter of TRANQUILLUS, I have only to add, that I shall be happy to hear from him on the remaining topics mentioned in his letter. W. COBBETT.

Bolley, 30th June, 1813.

religion, and belong to her from political motives?—Think not that I attach to the phrase infidel, any of those obnoxious meanings which it is but too often made to convey. As used in my last, I contrasted it with superstition: Infidelity and disbelief I consider as synonymous terms; I call superstition an excess of belief, and infidelity a total deficiency. He is a superstitious man who believes with a previous determination, every word to be inspired that is between the first chapter of Genesis and the last of Revelation; and he is completely an infidel who disbelieves the truth of every word lying in the same space. I use it not as a term of reproach, for it generally bespeaks an honest man, as he certainly must be most likely to be ho

SECOND LETTER OF TRANQUILLUS ON THE nest, who, after searching in vain for the

TRINITY.

evidence of any popular opinion, fairly states his disbelief of those opinions; especially when a little cant or so would have foisted him into popularity with the secta

the

SIR, I apologize to you for not answering your question in Register, June 5th, but, being from home, I did not catch sight of the number till yesterday.Irians, or when he might, with prudent feel myself much obliged by the fair and silence, have taken credit for an establishconcise manner, in which you have given ed religionist. By way of distinction, for the substance of my letter in your three the future, I shall call the infidels a relipropositions.There are so many prin- gious sect who disbelieve in toto what many ciples on which we agree, that I will con- other sects disbelieve in part, giving them fine myself to those points whereon we full credit for their total disbelief, as I do differ. As I was the aggressor, in wan- others for their partial disbelief. That I dering to the subject of tithes, I will quit may be kept from wandering, I will conit for the present, and, at no very distant fine myself principally to the plain questime, endeavour, to shew the injustice of tion you wish me to answer. "Are the making Dissenters support the Church old and new Testament the word of God?" by payment of tithes, that the operation of and endeavour to give my reasons for being tithes is a general evil, and that their in favour of a partial repeal when a comabolition would be an universal benefit. plete, and universal one is impracticable. Meantime, let me explain any ambiguous In answer to the first query, are phrase, and answer those questions on old and new Testament the word of God?" which you require my decision. Before II may fairly infer that two others may improceed, allow me to remark, that you ap-mediately be put by you. If they are all peared, in your first letter, in a double inspired, which I suppose you mean by character, viz. That of a member and de-word of God," how dare I object to a fender of the Establishment, and an infidel ridiculing those fundamental doctrines which compose the vitals of the Church. It is not fair to get behind the battery of an establishment, to work the artillery of infidelity; but manfully take your ground, in the Church or out of the Church, and prepare to support her against the clamour of her enemies, or defend yourself against the venom of her tongue, as well as the stings of the enraged Sectarians.You will, I am sure, answer this question with candour,-Are you a Churchman, believing the religion of that Church, as expressed in her Creeds, Articles, and Prayer Book; or, are you a disbeliever of that

single word of them? If they are not, why do I not believe thein to be all fiction? I take the books and read them; mind, I do not take them with a previous determination to bolt all, excepting the lids, as the word of God, or treat it as all ficion; if I did, I might as well slut my eyes and lay aside that reason God has given me to discriminate between truth, fiction, and falsehood. I find in them facts related which I believe, because those facts, are supported by evidence internal and external facts related which are to be found in other histories that had no interest to support them, therefore may be cousidered as impartial: prophecies, the truths

.

t

favour. I say, let them accept this relief, call it boon if you please, and the more easy circumstances they find themselves in,' in the better condition are they for demanding that part which is still in the hands of government. The more government gives, the less it has to give, and of consequence the fewer boons it has to offer for the allurement of that individual sect, and the more independent must that sect necessarily become.

As to justice, I think it is entirely on the side of a partial relief, though it would certainly acquire a larger extension by an universal repeal. Before I proceed further, let me quote one part of your paper, which serves to shew, that your notions of fairness on this part of the subject are not so correct as they usually are. "I am

of which I cannot dispute, because their fulfilment is manifest to me every day. It contains principles, truths, and directions for my conduct, which I believe not only on the credit of the historian, but on their own purity and sublimity, the truth of which is exemplified every day by those persons who make them the rule of their conduct. The answer to your question is this that the books of the old and new Testament are not in the gross the word of God, but contain some divine truth's which we are bound to believe, not only from their own excellence, but the evidence that is given of their authenticity. Till you give reasons that shall convince me other wise, I must think you have treated this book unfairly, in previously determining it to be inspired or fictitious; if the Former opinion prevail, the consequence" sure no fair man will say that any man would be horrible; if the latter, we should "ought to be punished for publishing a lose all the advantages we have derived work, intended to inculcate a belief of from Christianity, excepting that portion "the falsehood of certain parts of the which rests in the habits of the present ge-Scriptures, if the Unitarians are allowed neration... My reasons come next "to publish works intended to inculcate a for preferring partial reform or repeal when" belief of the falsehoods of other parts of an universal one cannot be obtained. You" those same Scriptures. I am quite sure who appear to belong to the Infidel, or the "that no just man will say this. What! Established sect, which of the two it is not while the Freethinking Christian is alfor me to say, for you have not yet expli- "lowed to say in print, that the Scriptures eitly avowed, seem to grudge the Unita-" contain corruptions, forgeries, lies, and rians the little relief they are endeavouring "impious inventions, shall other men be to obtain. I believe I am right in quoting punished for speaking in the same strain correctly your sentiments contained in your of other parts of those very same writfirst letter, when I say that you wish the "ings? Ought not the law to operate on Jaw to stand as it now does, rather than all men alike?" This is not the fair way any partial alteration should take place, if of putting the question. It would be very every body may not speak and write what capricious and unjust to enact that 'one sect ever they please about religion," that is to should be punished for doing what another say, you wish to see the oppression of others is permitted to do. I say this would be a Continued, because you may be under un capricious and unjust enactment; 'but, when just restraint yourself. I will not give you oppressive laws have been enacted, and credit for the spirit, though I must for the bear hard on all, surely it cannot be called utterance of this morose sentiment. When- injustice to relieve any one from a part of ever government oppresses many sects, the its pressure. No! the injustice consists in oppression is felt individually in propor- the imposition, not in the relief. If ten tion to its pressure; and it certainly is the slaves were each wincing under a galling more particular business of each sect or weight, and each cursing the oppression of party, to get relieved from a part of its his taskmaster, if he, from any motive, own individual sufferings whenever there chose to relieve one of them from the pains is a fair opportunity; and I should call of his burden, 'the remaining nine would them bad politicians if they did not take exhibit but very imperfect dispositions not advantage of every circumstance that oc- to express joy at the sight of one poor curred, to rid themselves of part of their wretch relieved from his oppressions. They burdens. There are times when an op- would shew but imperfect notions of juspressive government, embarrassed in the tice, if they thought it unjust to relieve mazes of its own crooked policy, finds it him. No, no! the injustice consisted in necessary to court one or other of the sects imposing the burden on the ten, and conit has long been oppressing, and offers a tinuing it upon the nine, but not in reliev partial repeal of the penal statutes in its ing the one. That the law ought to ope

The line of the French army also setting out from the frontier which touches Bohemia, shall pass through Serffershauf and Altkanmitz, follow the course of the small river which falls into the Bober, not' far from Bertelsdorf; afterwards from the Bober to Lhan; from thence to Newkeek

rate on all men alike, as a general princi ple, I allow. But your humanity must acknowledge, the fewer an oppressive law affects, the better. This, Sir, is the sketch of my notions of the policy and justice of partial reliefs and reforms. It is an universal principle acted upon in life; it is on this ground that the creditor takes eigh-upon the Katzbach, by the most direct line, teen shillings in the pound, when twenty is from whence it will follow the course of his legal due. It is on this principle you that river to the Oder. The towns of Parchcarry on your register, by giving publicity witz, Leignitz, Goldberg, and Lhan, no to ninety-nine truths altho' you are obliged matter on what side the river they are situ to suppress the hundredth; and how ated, may, as well as their suburbs, be ocmuch more benefited is the nation at large cupied by the French troops. All the by the publicity of the ninety-nine,than if you territory between the French and Combined waited for years till you could publish all Armies shall be neutral, and cannot be octhe hundred at once. Now give me leave cupied by any troops; not even by the to notice one or two of your remarks. "He Landstrum. This disposition consequently surely did not think well of what he was applies to the town of Breslau. From the saying, when he said, that the greater mouth of Katzbach the line of demarcation part of the landed proprietors in this shall follow the course of the Oder to the kingdom look upon the church creeds as frontiers of Saxony and Prussia, and join worse than nonsense; by which I may the Elbe, in passing the Oder, not far fairly presume that he meant them to be from Muhlrose, and following the frontiers dissenters; for, if not, he must look upon of Prussia, so that all Saxony, the country them to be amongst those whom he calls of Dessau, and the small States surroundinfidels, a word, the meaning of which he ing the Princes of the Confederation of the has not explained, and in that case they Rhine shall belong to the French army, and could be entitled to very little of his com- all Prussia shall belong to the combined miseration." I trust, I have given you a army.The Prussian territories in Saxsufficient explanation of the term infidel. ony shall be considered as neutral, and shall The expression "worse than nonsense" not be occupied by any troops.The appears to be hasty, but on further conside- Elbe to its mouth fixes and determines the ration I cannot find a better. I applied the line of demarcation between the belligerent term to churchmen in general, and not, as armies, with the exception of the points you might fairly presume from the ex- hereafter mentioned.The French army pression, to dissenters only. In another shall remain in possession of the isles, and part of your paper, you hint at the in- every thing which it occupied in the 32d consistency of Unitarians in belonging to military division, on the 27th May (8th Bible Societies; and if you have no objec-June), at midnight.--If Hamburgh is tion to such subjects cumbering your Register, I can have none, if you wish to offer my reasons on the consistency of such Unitarians as aid in the circulation of corrupted versions of the Scriptures, and in defence of my, perhaps, too virulent phrase

4 worse than nonsense."

TRANQUILLUS.

OFFICIAL PAPERS.

NORTHERN WAR. (Continued from Vol. XXIII, p. 928.) Strieganerwasser to Gauth, and get in the Oder by passing through Bettlern, Olfaschin, and Altholf. The combined army shall be at liberty to occupy the towns of Landshut, Rudelstadt, Bolkenhagen, Striegau, and Gauth, as well as their suburbs.

only besieged, that town shall be treated like the other besieged towns. All the articles of the present armistice which are relative to them, are applicable to it.The line of the advanced posts of the bellige rent armies at the epoch of the 27th May (8th June), at midnight, shall form, for the 32d military division, that of the demarcation of the armistice, with the military alterations which the respective Commandants shall judge necessary. These alterations shall be made in concert with an Officer of the Staff of each army, upon the principle of perfect reciprocity.

V. The fortresses of Dantzic, Modlin, Zamosc, Stettin, and Custrin, shall be revictualled every five days, according to the force of their garrisons, through the care of the Commanders of the blockading troops. A Commissary appointed by the

VI. During the time of the Armistice every fortress shall have behind its walls an extent of a French league. This ground shall be neutral. Magdeburg will conse-press Queen and Regent has received the quently have its frontier a league upon the right bank of the Elbe.

XII. On both sides two Commissaries, General Officers, shall be appointed to watch over the stipulations of the present Armistice. They shall remain in the line of neutrality at Neumarkt, to decide upon such disputes as may occur.--These Com-burgh was retaken on the 30th, by main missaries shall proceed there within 24 hours, in order to expedite Officers and orders that may be sent in consequence of the present Armistice.

fence. Denmark acted with us; the Prince of Eckmuht ́intended to march upon Lubeck. Thus the 32d military division, and all the territory of the Empire, is delivered from the enemy. Orders have been 'given to make Hamburgh a strong place it is surrounded by a bastioned rampart, having a large fosse full of water, and can in part be covered by inundations. The works are so constructed, that at all times the communication with Haarbourg can be maintained by the Isles.The Emperor has ordered another fortress to be constructed upon the Elbe, at the mouth of the Havel. Konigstein, Torgau, Wittenberg, Magdebourg, the fortress of the Havel, and Hainburgh, will complete the defence of the line of the Elbe. The Dukes of Cambridge and Brunswick, Princes of the House of England; arrived in time at Hamburgh to give more eclat to the success of the French. Their journey was reduced to this they arrived and saved themselves. The last battalions of the Prince of Eckmuhl's five divisions, which are composed of the 72 battalions, and at their full complement, have set out from Wesel.

Since the commencement of the campaign, the French army has delivered Saxony, conquered the half of Silesia, reoccupied the 32d division, confounded the hopes of our enemies.-(Moniteur, June 14.0

Copy of a Leller from the General of Division Count Vandamme to Marshal the Prince of Eckmuhl.-Haarburg, May 13, 11 o'clock in the morning.

was put in the most complete rout.
The enemy abandoned all his artillery, his
cafssons, his ammunition, and re embarked
in the greatest disorder, leaving some pri-
soners, and a great number killed, among
whom were found many Danes.-Gene-
rals Dufour and Gengoult conducted them-
selves perfectly well in this affair.-I
decided to make Reuss's brigade pass to the
isle, which I destined to occupy Altwerden,
Kattwick, Rosmeuhof. Scarcely had I dis-
embarked the troops, when I learned that'
the enemy attempted a fresh disembarka-
tion at the point of Ruperstiogerland, from
which it appeared he wished to march upon
the point of my passage.A brisk fire
commenced, and the enemy seeing he could
not surprise us, precipitately retired, with
the loss of some killed, wounded, and pri-
soners.I have established the 152d in
reserve, and in observation, at the castle of
Wilhelmsbourg, in order that it may be
enabled to march to any part. Foreseeing
fully a new attack, I ordered the 37th,
which was upon the causeway, to march.
A serious fire took place; I did not hesitate
in ordering the 37th to retire slowly, de-
fending the causeway, and to allow the
enemy to advance, so as to be able to cut
off his retreat, or vigorously pursue him.
I immediately ordered two battalions
-I
from the right of the division, Dufour, to
directly proceed to the bridge, where the
enemy had passed, whilst I directed Prince
de Reuss to precipitately march upon the
enemy with the two battalions which were
in the castle of Wilhelmsbourg.The
fire then began, and as we could only pro-
ceed by high causeways, I ordered the
troops to cease firing, and beat the charge.
from all parts. The enemy was obliged to
retreat, and pursued for an hour at the point
of the bayonet.- -Never was confusion
more complete. All who threw themselves,
into the boats were drowned or killed. 400
men, who were not able to re-embark, laid
down their arms. I cannot sufficiently
praise the valour of our troops. I do not
recollect ever having found more ardour
among our old bands.- -Several officers,
of all ranks, have particularly distinguished.
themselves.

The day before yesterday we were imperfectly established in the Isle of Wilhelmsburg. The night having arrived, it was necessary to confine ourselves to keeping it in a military point of view.Yesterday, the 12th, at eight in the morning, the enemy began by disembarking 1,000 or 1,200 men, in front of Hamburgh. A brisk fire of musketry took place with the light infantry brigade, commanded by General Gengoult. I went to exatnine the affair, and seeing that the enemy's column was waiting to be supported, made a feint of pretending to quit the isle. -The enemy at first pressing his attack, gained some advantage, and advanced in force with the Paris, June 14.-Yesterday, at six in the artillery he had disembarked. At that in-morning, discharges of artillery announced stant, I ordered the three battalions of light infantry to turn en masse, supported by the remainder of Dufour's division. I ordered the charge, and in a quarter of an hour all

(Signed) Count VANDAMME,

the ceremony of Te Deum, which was sung in the metropolitan church, on account of the victory gained by his Majesty the Emperor and King, at Wurtchen, over the