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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 1

Addenda to Popery at Madeira

page 16

Addenda to Popery at Madeira.

We subjoin the following extract from a letter, received from Dr. Kalley since the publication of the foregoing, and dated the 10th of February, 1844:—

"Though it be now within a few minutes of the hour when the mail is to close, I must find time to inform you of my liberation. The order for it arrived on the first day of this year, and on the evening of the same day it was put into execution. The bail required was fifty dollars, which is rather less than ten guineas; and the surety is a person who is not even a householder, and was merely employed to carry the petition to the Judge. They seemed to feel as if they had caught a hot poker, and were glad to get rid of it as fast as possible, without standing upon ceremony; and now, the enemy is very quiet, for there is a general expectation among all classes that the British Government will demand the dismissal of those who have been foremost in attacking or denying British rights. I have no doubt that the British Government will fulfil its promise, that if it were proved that the denial of bail was unjust, or any long imprisonment without trial inconsistent with British privileges, it will use all the means at its disposal to obtain for me ample redress and compensation for all losses and injuries. I trust that such steps will be adopted as shall secure British subjects from being maltreated in a similar way for the future."

We subjoin also the following from a communication just received from a friend at Lisbon, and dated Feb. 12, 1844:—

"You are of course aware of the persecution of Dr. Kalley, who at last is out of prison. He has fought his way nobly in the cause; but had he not been a British subject, whose Government gave him protection, he must still have groaned under despotic oppression; it would have been difficult to have found a lawyer who would defend his case. When his appeal came to Lisbon, it was put in the hands of a lawyer who was considered of very liberal principles, and consequently the most likely person to undertake it; he first examined the documents carefully, and then said, he would undertake the defence only, as it would be all documentary, and another person would be got to sign instead of him, for though the cause was just, he would not have defended it if it had been necessary to do it in public; and the same feeling would prevail with the judges, who would, as far as possible, throw the decision from themselves upon others. No one would like the odium of favouring a cause against the religion of the State, the Church, and the Government, nor would they like to give a decision so contrary to the liberal opinions so generally expressed throughout Europe at the present day. If an Englishman, strongly backed by his Government, should be confined page 17 so many months in prison, and with sufficient pecuniary means, what would have been the fate of a Portuguese without such protection, and perhaps in low circumstances? This is a difficulty which, at the present day, cannot be easily overcome."

With reference to the decision of the Court of Appeal at Lisbon, by virtue of which Dr. Kalley has been liberated on bail,—a hostile writer, signing himself W. A. H., says, in a letter from Madeira, January 8, 1844, and published as a tract:—

"This decision makes not the slightest difference as to the final issue. For blasphemy, heresy, and the promotion of apostasy, Dr. Kalley was arrested,—for blasphemy, heresy, and the promotion of apostasy, he is still to be tried."

Thus, from this display of bigotry, we very well see that, if the British Government and the friends of Dr. Kalley withdraw their vigilance and protection, he may yet be a victim to the fury of his persecutors.

Indeed, Popery, unchecked by the presence of superior light, or overawed by superior power, will be found pretty much the same all the world over. Equally cruel, equally superstitious, equally erroneous in her principles, and dangerous in her practices. Dr. Bonavia, a convert from Popery, and a catechist of the Colonial Church Society, with others, are at this moment bitterly persecuted by the Roman Catholics at Malta. As soon as sufficient information on this case can be gained, it is, we believe, intended to publish it as a tract, by the title of "Popery at Malta,"

Temple, Feb. 26, 1844.