To The Editor Of The Time...
Sir,-The foilowlhg remarks are by no mnans designed to discourage or disparage the charitable exertions of the religious and the benevolent, but are made with a view of calling Upon suchI persons to look a little carefullyto their motives, and to indace themn to inquire svhether they have in a recent instance actedl with that eonsistency which be- comes the character they bear. These worthy persons.cannot fail to be aware, that there seldom occurs an interval of many weeks, in wbich there are not to be found witlhin the gloomy cells of the gaols, numerous wretebed beings under sentence of death; some of whom have been solemnly warned by the Judge to be- ware of indulging a hope of escaping the extreme punish- ment of the law, for that the crimes of which they have been convicted are deemed of a nature so aggravated as to admit of no mercy. These unhappy creatures are of course considered by every one as doomiled to inevitable death: they have, it may be, been nurtured in vice, and have led a life of vice unreproved by virtuous example or admonition. Are not such as fit objects of commiseration 2s can be found within the range of bumanity ? But who are they that throng to the prison gates with ofbrs of assistance and condolence ? Are not these poor wretches left to the care of the person officially authorized to af{ord them instrucriora- and consolation, who, by the way, is sometimes a mere frigid formalist, without any peculiar interest or inquiry beinf excited. But if it happen that one who has occupiel a superior rank in the world, whose mann4ers and address may bave been somewhat engaging, and who has enjoyed the advantages of a moral education, should be found guilty of crimes by which his life is for- feited to the violated lawsot his country, on such occasion are not the rays of most intense interest and sympathy im- mediately converged to a focus, and shed upon the head of one such individual, to the neglect of the ninety and nine other condemrned criminlds? The services of the Uhaplairof the Gaol or the private friends of the prisunrtre not then accounted adequatc-spiritual auxiliariestender their assist- ance, eveni to redundancy-good books and letters from male andl female correspondents are forwardedl without number; and some pious person, perhaps, goes so far as to advertise fbr the simultaneous prayers of Christians at a given hour in the morning, for the welfare of the fbvkored suffirer, without glancing at the equally pitiable Fe of his brethren iu affliction. But let it not be understood that these observations are offered with the invidious dtsign of pouring coitempt and ritdicule on the zealous, and, no doubt, well-meant exertions of the religious ; they are suggesto( for the purpose of pointing out the very olvious inconsis- tency of making a distinction so partial in a matter where all mankind are on a level. If an individual who has been accustomed from his station in society to the enjoyment of the comforts and superfluities of life,be unhappily convicted of crirme, it may be a question whether such an one should not be indulged with some extraordinary portion of accomi- modation dluring his imprisonment, and be subjteted to no unnecessary degradation: but surely it wll not be con- tended that he is entitled to superior privileges in reference to a preparation for that state where we have been taught to believe that " the rich and the poor meet tozether." ERASMUS. TO TIlE EDITOR OF THE TIMg.