June 5 because they were less guilty, for they did not stand trial to convince the world that such was the case; not because their merits entitled them to preferable clemency, for equal guilt deserved equal punishment; but because such was the pleasure, such the will of government> Such reasons may be coloured over with the specious appearance of mercy, but it is in reality no less than cruel inhumanity, justifiable neither by the laws of a well regulated polity, nor by the dictates of a charitable and well grounded clemency." Nothing can be so destructive to the cause of freedom ás an interference of the executive power in the distribution of justice. And jurymen ought to be ever on their guard neither to be influenced by judges nor by ministers, to do what their own sober reason would dictate as right. But jurors are nothing more than men; and as such they are liable to be actuated by prejudices when the tide of passions run high. On these occasions lefser deviations from strict justice will occur, and it will be in vain perhaps on some occasions even to remonstrate against them at the time. But when the tide has subsided, these deviations from rectitude ought to be pointed out, to guard against similar errors in future being carried too far. That the power of pardoning criminals is vested in the crown, will not I believe be doubted:—and a glorious and valuable privilege it is; because a power is thus granted to mitigate the severity of justice on many occasions by mercy. Nor fhould it, for very obvious reasons, be curtailed: unless in prosecutions by impeachment, where the crown may be often considered as a party, and is therefore justly excluded in these cases from the power of pardoning. In other cases this power may perhaps be improperly exercised; but that can seldom be productive of much evil. What is more reprehensible in the above case is the bias that the jury seem to have felt from the interference of extraneous influence. A correspondent to whom the Editor lies under great obligations, writes thus: "Your correspondent M. in your Number of the Bee which I received to-day, 122. is an arrant plagiarist; his blind boy is stolen from an old ballad of my tutor at Eton, the late Dr Roberts. This ballad was entitled the "Beggar's Petition," and it begins with, Pity the sorrows of a poor old man, Whose trembling limbs have borne him to your door; Oh give relief! and heav'n will blefs your store. These tatter'd clothes my poverty bespeak, These hoary locks proclaim my lengthen'd years, Yon house, erected on a rising ground, Hard is the fate of the infirm and poor! Oh! take me to your hospitable dome! A little farm was my paternal lot, Then like the lark I sprightly hail'd the morn, My daughter, once the comfort of my age! My tender wife, sweet soother of my care, Andleft the world to misery and me. Pity the sorrows of a poor old man,&c. I did not know I could have recollected it when I began; but your correspondent when he imitates should name the original." TO CORRESPONDENTS. BOTH Benedict's favours are received. The first was altogether satisfactory as to his claims being well founded; and the premium was accordingly paid to the person who called for it. The hints it contains fhall be attended to; but the Editor has doubts about the eligibility of the plan proposed. The second letter, containing corrections, fhall be given in the writer's own words. SIR, "Please correct, or inform your readers of the following typographical errors in the Bear Leader printed page 106 of your 229th Number. Line 54th of the poem, for their read these. Line 55th, for muir fowl read moor fowl. Line 63d for muir read moor. In line 72d in place of the semi-colon at said, put a full point: put an inverted comma at nane, that being the end of the old woman's speech. What follows from, ye know, including these words, to the end of line 77, is an apostrophe of the author to the reader, and ought not therefore to have been printed with inverted commas. These particulars may perhaps appear minute; but to the anxiety of a rhymster they seem important; and, at any rate, no inconsiderable part of the excellence of verses depends very often on little circumstances." The favour of Amonitor is received. The tendency of his piece is excellent. But it is drawn out to too great length. The Editor is much obliged to Eusebius for his very friendly notices; but circumstances make the Editor suspect the person animadverted on is not so much to blame as this friendly monitor supposes; but this case could not here be fully explained. How much of the ill nature that prevails among mankind would be annihilated did they but know all circumstances fully! to. The essay by I. S. is received, and shall be duly attended Thanks are due for the valuable communications by C. respecting the parent of the gooseberry catterpillar; which fhall be inserted with the first opportunity. No branch of the science of nature is better worth the cultivating than that of entomology. Were every individual who is hurt by a vermin of any sort, to bestow as much attention to discover the natural history of the pernicious object as this attentive investigator has been, we should be easily able to remove many of those evils which have long distressed us. It is a pity the fly has been so much crushed as not to admit of a proper drawing to be made from it. 132. THE BEE, OR LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12. 1793. CHARACTERISTICAL SKETCH OF JOHN KNOX THE REFORMER, HOR. Nullius addictus jurare, in verba magistri. AMONGST mankind we may observe some, who, from a happy concurrence of time and circumstances, have immortalized their names, that might at another period have stepped off the stage of life without the least observation. John Knox is a remarkable instance of the partiality of fortune, in selecting the period when he was to act, and the character allotted to him. When we reflect upon the power and influence of the Roman See at the period when Knox flourished, considering that their authority was so firmly connected with religion, (a tie superior to every other obligation,) and sanctioned by a long succefsion of ages, we must allow a remarkable ardour of mind VOL. XV. B B to the person who attempted such a revolution. Knox was undoubtedly sensible of the opposition hẹ had to encounter, and with a degree of sagacity, foresaw that the popular phrenzy ought to be made subservient to the cause he had undertaken to support. Upon this ground he formed his plan; and surely no man was ever better calculated to work upon the minds of the people. By continually brooding over the corruptions of the church of Rome, and the severity with which they enforced their authority, he no doubt insensibly became touched with the same feelings he wished to promote in others, and it will be generally allowed that a strong tincture of enthusiasm was blended in his character. A daring resolution and intrepidity of mind, is the most conspicuous trait in his character. It was of that kind which knew no restraint, and, like the törrent when checked in its course, seemed to gather strength from opposition; a penetrating judgement, added to a warm and enterprising genius, susceptible of the most vigorous exertions, engaged him in an affair which a more mild and pafsive character would probably never have attempted. From nature he inherited great abilities, which were cultivated by a good education and enlarged by his travels and acquaintance with men of eminence abroad. A strong and retentive memory joined with a quick and discerning judgement were qualities which he pofsefsed in an eminent degree: But with these perfections were united the most rigid austerity of manners, and a most unaccountable want of com |