house, the bloodhounds of government found a number of the fuppofed libel in a room which the prifoner acknowledged to belong to him; on which he was carried before the fecretary of state, who committed him to Newgate, on his refusing to give up the author.

When Matthews was arraigned at the bar, Vezey swore that the prifoner brought the form, containing part of the book, to the prefs, and bid him pull a proof of it; which he did, and that the prisoner afterwards caine down to him, and faid that the pages had been transposed, but he had now put them right; and he then pulled him another proof; he faid that then the prifoner defired this evidence to come early in the morning to work off the fheets, faying that he himself would take care of the paper, and that every thing should be ready.

Accordingly Vezey went early one morning, intending to call up William Harper, the apprentice; but the prifoner came to the door, let him in, and called Harper, who affifted Vezey in working off the fheets, Matthews ftanding by, and taking them from the prefs, for the greater expedition and when the work was done the prifoner paid Vezey for his trouble. This evidence was likewife confirmed by Harper, as far as he was concerned in the tranfaction, and he added that he saw the prifoner compofing the matter from the manufcript copy.

The council for the crown exerted their utmost

*"Compofing the matter" is a term with printers, which fignifies picking up the letters, and arranging them in proper order for their being worked off by the printing-prefs.

abilities

1

abilities to aggravate the crime of the prisoner, and the king's meffengers fwearing to as much as they knew of the affair, Matthews was found guilty, and fentence of death was paffed on him.

After condemnation he was attended by the Reverend Mr. Skerrett, who alfo accompanied him to the place of execution. His whole behaviour after fentence was such as might be expected from one who had too mnch sense to expect favour from the people then in power: for it was not customary with the minifters of George the first to extend mercy to perfons convicted of treafonable offences: but perhaps their feeming want of humanity will appear the more excufable, if we reflect on the fatal confequences that might have enfued from the rebellion in 1715.

But nothing can excuse the method they took to obtain evidence in this cafe. It is but of late years that the iffuing of general warrants has been legally condemned; and Englishmen are not a little obliged to a man, who (whatever his faults may be) has procured the condemnation of these warrants. Happily, we can now fit quietly, and write our fentiments in our own houses, without being liable to have our papers feized by the arbitrary mandates of a fecratary of state. While we recollect that we are obliged for this favour in a great degree to the perfeverance of Mr. Wilkes, we should not forget that the judicial determination of Lord Camden perfected the plan fo happily begun, and fo fteadily purfued.

The above-mentioned John Matthews was executed at Tyburn on the 16th of November, 1719, before he had completed the 19th year of his age; and was pitied by every one who had not loft the common feelings of humanity.

Ii2

From

From the fate of Matthews young gentlemen in the fame line of business should be taught to be cautious how they engage in the printing of political pamphlets; for though, to the credit of the good fenfe and humanity of the prefent age, there. is now much lefs danger than there formerly was, yet recent experience has taught us that great trouble and expence may enfue, where all rifk of life is out of the question.

We fhould all pray that we may live to fee the time when the liberty of the prefs will be eftablifhed in its fullest extent; and when no villain will dare to be guilty of an attrocious action, but fome honeft man fhall dare to tell him of it in public. By this, however, we do not mean to encourage the licentioufness of the prefs-Detefted be the heart that fhould dictate, and the hand that should write a line to deftroy domeftic happinefs, or corrode the mind of one worthy individual: but the public villain fhould be ever held up an object of the public fcorn and cenfure!

1

Account of the Life and Trial of THOMAS BUTLER, Efq. who was executed for a Robbery on the Highway.

MR

R. BUTLER was a native of Ireland, his father being an officer in the army of king James the fecond; but king William having defeated that prince at the battle of the Boyne, young Butler and his father went with James to France: but when the rebellion broke out in Scotland the young gentleman was employed as a

fpy

fpy in the family of the duke of Ormond, for which he was allowed 201. a year; but he hereby loft the favour of his friends and relations, who efpoufed a different intereft. From Paris he went to Holland, where he foon fpent moft of the money in his poffeffion, and then embarked for England.

On his arrival in this country he commenced highwayman, and went out frequently in company with a man whom he called Jack, and who occafionally acted as his fervant; and they jointly committed a great number of robberies near London, particularly in Kent and Effex.

When they were in London, and sometimes in a country town, they had the genteeleft lodgings, and then Jack wore a livery, while the 'Squire was dreffed in a most elegant manner, and had all the appearance of a man of fortune.

By this ftyle of living they continued their depredations on the highway for fome years; but Butler being at length apprehended, was brought to his trial at the Old-Bailey, in January, 1720, when he was indicted for robbing Sir Juftinian Ilham and another gentleman on the highway, of a gold watch, a filk night-gown, fix Holland fhirts, and other valuable articles; and was convicted on the cleareft evidence.

The circumftance that led to his detection, was, that offering fome of the effects for fale to a jeweller, he refufed to purchase them unless he knew Butler's place of refidence, which the 1:tter readily told. him; and when his lodgings were fearched, Sir Juftinian's gown was found, and was produced in court. Butler's companion, or fervant, was in Ireland at the time of his detection, by which he escaped the fate he had deferved.

While Mr. Butler lay under fentence of death, he behaved in a very penitent manner. Being a Roman Catholic, he received the facrament from a priest of his own perfuafion. It had been reported that he had eight wives; but this he folemnly denied, declaring that he was legally married to only one woman.

This malefactor was executed at Tyburn on the 8th of February, 1720, at the age of 42 years.

There are few highwaymen who have lived in fuch a style of elegance as Butler; and by his mode of proceeding he eluded juftice for a confiderable time, as he used to dress in black velvet, laced ruffles, and all the other apparatus of a gentleman. Yet juftice at last found him out, and detected him while in the full career of his wickedness.

Hence let those who are tempted to the commiffion of acts of illegality, learn that the fteps of justice, though they may be flow, are fure; that it is almoft impoffible for guilt to escape detection, and that vengeance is the more terrible the longer it is dreaded, and the longer it is delayed.

Amidst all thofe gaieties of life that may be procured by fraudulent means, the heart must be perpetually corroded by grief, and agitated by fear. The life of honefty is the only life of peace or fafety. Let us never forget to " Do juftice, love mercy, and walk humbly with "God."

Account