The History of the Last Trial by Jury for Atheism in England: A Fragment of Autobiography Submitted for the Perusal of Her Majesty's Attorney-General and the British ClergyHolyoake, George Jacob
Philosophy
The History of the Last Trial by Jury for Atheism in England: A Fragment of Autobiography Submitted for the Perusal of Her Majesty's Attorney-General and the British Clergy
Holyoake, George Jacob
Atheism -- England; Holyoake, George Jacob, 1817-1906 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Blasphemy) -- England
After a few weeks of my imprisonment had passed away, hint--words came
of Madeline's failing health. Out of some money sent by my private
friends, John Fowler and Paul Rodgers, of Shefield, to buy better food
than the gaol afforded, I saved a guinea and sent it to Birmingham to
purchase Madeline a winter cloak--it was spent in buying her a coffin.
Though of perfect health and agility, she was one of those children
who require entire preservation from exposure, want, or fatigue. On ten
shillings per week, which was all that the Anti-Persecution Union could
provide, this could not be done, as Eveline, then in arms, left her
mother no opportunity of increasing that small income. Cold succeeded
cold, when want of more means caused them all to go to live in a house
ill ventilated, and where several were ill of fever, which soon attacked
Madeline.
Mr. Chilton sent me several intimations to prepare for the worst, should
it happen. But I could not believe in the worst happening, and indeed
I had yet to realise what the worst implied. At length one morning
the heavy corridor door grated on its harsh hinges, and the morose
turnkey--fit messenger of misery--put a letter into my hand. As it had
been, as usual, broken open--for there is no feeling, not even that of
affection and death, respected in a gaol--Ogden knew its contents,
and in justice to him I must say he endeavoured, as well as one whose
ability lay in his moroseness could, to speak a word of apology and
sympathy. The strangeness and awkwardness of the attempt drew my
attention to the fatal black border, which gave me sensations such as I
never received before and never shall again, for the first death of one
dear to you, like that of the first love, brings with it a feeling which
is never repeated. I remember that some prisoner came and covered me
with a coat, for I had walked into the yard without one. Captain Mason
and two friends came round, but I could not speak to them. He addressed
a few words to me, but I turned away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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