christianlike conduct at the Manchester Massacre, that we merely notice him; not because we have any thing new to offer in addition to the accounts of his unfeeling character, but merely to give him a place amongst the rotten sheep of the Lord's fold; to hang him up in effigy along with his brethren, of whom he is a worthy companion. If Fame says true, this reverendly furious man of God rode about like death upon the pale horse, with a naked weapon in his hand, exclaiming, in his heart if not with his tongue, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon :" and the words of the Prophet Isaiah might then be well applied to him, "I make peace and I create evil," for with the words of humanity on his lips, he was promoting cruelty. From the spoils of the enemy, Gideon of old made images of gods, after which "Israel went a whoring," and they became " a snare unto the house of Gideon ;" so, perhaps, the rewards Mr. Ethelston has received for his furious and implacable zeal manifested against "the poor in heart," may be a snare to entwine his soul in the bonds of eternal damnation; when he drew his sword, he should have recollected the reproof the blessed Jesus gave to St. Peter, who" smote off the ear of the high priest's servant," and reflected that if he prayed to God," a legion of angels" would be sent if the cause he was engaged in were just, and that his arm was impotent alike to succour or save when he had not the fear of God before his eyes. Mr. Ethelston possibly compared himself, in this instance, to the cherubim with a flaming sword, purging the garden of Eden of original sin; but I believe Scripture makes no mention that the serpent was driven out along with those he had tempted, but remained behind; so, when Mr. Ethelston had cleared the garden at Manchester, he himself remained behind to eat the fruit at his leisure. Such a man as this intemperate fellow Ethelston would do well in Turkey; he would make an excellent Mahomedan Priest, to spread the religion of his Prophet by the sword; but, as the expounder of his doctrine, who preached peace on earth, and good will to man," he is more unfit than Elyamas, the sorcerer, whom St. Paul struck blind for assuming a false character.

W. Benbow, Printer and Publisher, Castle-street.

BRIEF NOTICE OF

JOHN ATHERTON.

Lord Bishop of Waterford, executed on Gallows Green, Dublin, for an unnatural offence, Dec. 5th, 1640.

"The Lord shall judge thee, thou whited wall."

There are precedents for every thing, if they are diligently searched for, and a precedent for the crime of Clogherism is to be found in the life of John Atherton, a wretch who will ever be remembered for his infamy. We do not intend to disgust our readers by a minute relation of all this fellow's enormities he had nearly been forgotten, when the Bishop of Clogher revived his case for public abhorrence; it is singular, that both these rotten pillars of the Church were Bishops in Ireland, a country where the men are famed for their devotion to the fair sex.

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John Atherton was, however, born at Bridgewater, in Somersetshire; and was well educated at a country school, from which he went to the University of Oxford, and was soon transferred to a benefice, when he was married.

The daughters of his parishioners became victims to his lust, and his wife was neglected for society the most low and infamous; having debauched his wife's sister, he was compelled to fly to Ireland, where he was not known; he insinuated himself into the favour of Lord Loftus, then Chancellor, who promoted him rapidly in the church; he betrayed his patron to the Earl of Stafford for which service he was made Bishop of Waterford and Lismore; he now threw off every appearance of virtue, and openly boasted of his amours. The daughter of his friend and the wife of his neighbour were alike victims of his baseness; he lent money to the poor and needy man, for which he made his wife pay the price of her virtue. In Ireland, to this day, the collection of tithes is left in the hands of a fellow, called a proctor, who exacts much more than his due in order to profit himself. A miscreant, named John Childe, was Tithe Proctor to the Bishop, in every respect as complete a villain as his master. A description of the vices to which this obedient servant was pander would occupy a volume; over scenes, disgraceful

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to manhood, and revolting to human nature, we draw a veil, unwilling to shock and disgust our readers.

The discovery of the unnatural connection betwixt these two monsters, was so very clear on every point, that both were instantly committed for trial. It is a recorded truth, that every exertion was made by his clerical associates to stay the progress of justice, with respect to the Bishop: from a fear, that his disgraceful death would inflict a death blow on the reformed religion in Ireland.

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His wealth enabled him to provide Counsel of the first talent and John Atherton was arraigned at the bar of justice, for a crime of which the frailties or weakness of nature affords no palliation, and from which all men turn with sickening disgust.,

His trial excited more interest than any other before or since. The sensation evinced in London when the Bishop of Clogher was detected, did not equal that in Ireland, when John Atherton was found guilty; the verdict was hailed with approbation by cheers in the court, which were echoed throughout the land The degraded wretch was nearly murdered on his way from the bar to the gaol. From Cork, he was conveyed to Dublin, where on the 5th day of December, a life of crime was terminated by a death of ignominy, amidst universal execrations. He was dressed in a suit of mourning, and appeared not in the least intimidated; but even smiled when the populace shouted with indignation as he ascended the scaffold.

The Proctor about the same time was hung at Bandon Bridge; and thus the world was rid of two monsters, who left behind them no parallels in guilt and infamy. Such examples are almost sufficient to make a Christian turn Infidel, did he not know that man is a free agent, and in the world to come will be rewarded according to his works in this. There have been more lengthened accounts of this monster published, but we have given all that can interest. The church is a strong and beautiful building: and will stand more secure without the ostensible support of such rotten pillars as Waterford and Clogher, who have done more harm to the established religion by their infamous example, than a century passed in purity by all its ministers will be able to repair.

VILE ACTIONS OF

THE REVEREND SEPTIMUS HODGSON,

Child violator, formerly Chaplain to the Orphan Asylum, Westminster Road.

"Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.

The asylum of which Mr. Hodgson was an unworthy Chaplain, educates and provides for numerous female orphans, who otherwise would be consigned to lives of infamy and ruin.

Mr. Hodgson was celebrated as a preacher, and noted for the uncommon sanctity of his manners; he had a fine person, and always assumed such a sincerity of heart in delivering his exhortations from the pulpit, that the chapel was crowded to an overflow whenever he preached; but alas! he was fair without and foul within. The Monk of Lewis's novel was not more infamous, and whilst outwardly attending to the salvation of the helpless Orphans' souls, he was inwardly meditating the ruin of both body and soul.

From his situation, he had access to the Orphans, at all hours, and a little child, named Fox, about thirteen years of age, was selected by him for the object of depraved debauchery.

In fact, he violated the hapless Orphan's person; to call it by the name of seduction would be untruth: for surely a child at her time of life could only be a passive instrument in the hands of one whom she had been taught to look up to with fearful obedience.

The pregnancy of Fox, as a natural consequence of illicit intercourse, ensued, and she, most probably tutored by the artful and lustful priest, delivered herself in a certain office in the chapel yard and there left the infant, which she imagined would never be heard of. Suspicions, however, were imme diately awakened, and the infant was found, and as a natural effect of contrition and fear, Fox pointed out the father of her offspring. The Governors and Committee were horror struck at the Reverend Divine's hypocrisy and depravity; but they had no power to punish him beyond dismissing him from his office, and striking his name from the list of Chaplains, which was instantly done, in as marked a manner as possible.

The Reverend Violator, incredible as it may appear, was sulfered to retain his gown; and we cannot help reflecting that the good bishop Porteous, then in charge of the Metropolitan see, must have been very strangely misinformed respecting this hideous transaction, or he would never have permitted the criminal to escape with impunity.

Mr. Hodgson now resides on his living at Thrapston in Northamptonshire; we are sorry for it, he merits the severest punishment; penitence, it is true, can atone for any crime, but few repent in affluence and prosperity: it is poverty and obscurity, disgrace and obloquy, that wring the sinner's soul, and make him sensible of all he has lost upon earth, and the little he has to hope for in heaven.

Such corrupt pillars only for a time uphold a fabric by deceitful support, that it may fall unexpectedly with more tremendous ruin: and they should be at once levelled with the ground, never more to rise in a conspicuous situation.

If we hear any thing more of this fortunate sinner, it shall be recorded-such a person cannot remain long in security-success will throw him off his guard at last, and the punishment so long delayed come with tenfold vengeance on his head, when the stings of a guilty conscience are made additionally severe by the bodily pangs of old age.

ACCOUNT OF

THE HONOURABLE AND REV. WILLIAM CAPEL. Rector of Watford, Hertfordshire,

Bon Vivant, Fox-hunter, Farmer, Crop-buyer, Horse-dealer, and General Lover.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods."

It is to be presumed, that all Parsons are honourable men: at least it would be dangerous in any but a scientific man to doubt it; he would be apt to receive conviction from arguments of a more striking nature than those drawn from Scripture; and no member of the church is more ready to use his horsewhip than the Parson under consideration.