About the middle of the first day's imprisonment I was startled by the sonorous voice of the street cryer, passing near the walls of the gaol, crying with a loud voice--'Howitt's correct list of all the cast, quit, and condemned;' and specifying, with marked emphasis, far above that bestowed on two cases of _wilful murder_, the case of George Jacob Holyoake, for uttering certain Blasphemous words against God, and of and concerning the Christian Religion.' The above words and specification are to be found in the said 'Correct List,' which a turnkey bought for me at my request, and which I still have. On the second morning after my sentence, I was sitting by the (very little) fire in the common room, contemplating, with very critical air, a can of somewhat indifferent gruel, which I had not the slightest disposition to eat, when the prayer bell rung, which did not at all improve my temper. Where the gaol was situated, I enjoyed such a propinquity to dock bells, basin bells, cathedral bells, and gaol bells, that had I been inclined to _rebel_, it would have chimed in with the others. Upon the aforesaid prayer bell ringing, all my fellow-prisoners made a rapid escape. I could not tell what had become of them. Over my head was a large grating, for the convenience of gaolers overlooking the room. Down this grating there came a tremendous voice, shouting 'Holyoake! Holyoake! Holyoake!' The voice belonged to Ogden, a man whom Carlyle would have delighted to honour. Nature made him for a gaoler. Looking up, I said 'What do you want?' 'Did you not hear that bell?' 'Yes,' I said; 'what of that?' 'All the other prisoners are gone to prayers.' 'Well, let the poor devils go, if they like it.' 'I can't be talked to in this way,' he roared out, in his surliest tones; 'you must go.' 'I am afraid that is a mistake of yours.' 'Don't you know where you are?' 'Yes; I'm in Gloucester Gaol, sitting over a can of very bad gruel.' 'Don't you know you are a prisoner?' 'Oh! yes; I am quite sensible of it.' 'Well, you must do as the others do, and you must go to prayers.' 'Then you must carry me.' 'I'll report you to the clergyman.' 'Give the clergyman my compliments, and say I'm not coming to prayers.' He stalked away with the air of one whose dignity was greatly outraged. During the time of this colloquy prayers were suspended, and the clergyman was waiting my arrival in order to begin. As soon as prayers were well over, an order came for me--'The clergyman wanted me.' 'Well, Mr. Holyoake,' he said, when I met him, 'how is it you did not come to prayers?' I answered, 'You cannot expect me to come to prayers; you imprison me here on the ground that I do not believe in a God, and then you would take me to chapel to pray to one. I cannot prevent your imprisoning me, but I can prevent your making me a hypocrite, and must.' 'But if you attended the ordinances of grace, it might lead you to believe in the Christian religion.'