“Haste, escape for thy life, tarry not in all the plain.”—See Gen. xix. 17.
Great credit is due to Mr. Patrick for the perseverance he has manifested in bringing this hypocritical wretch to justice. Unmindful of the threats and abuse of a party, and not to be deterred by the heavy expences attending such a prosecution, he has, at length, finally triumphed over all the arts and intrigues that had been practised against his obtaining the desirable end, namely, in tearing off the mask from this _pretended pious_ preacher, and rendering him amenable to the offended laws of his country.
It may not be improper to state one of the tricks made use of to throw the prosecutor off his guard. A limb of the law it appears, of the _Jewish_ persuasion, _gratuitously_ offered to conduct the prosecution for the young man; but upon a refusal being given to him, on account of Mr. HARMER being selected for such purpose, it was ultimately discovered that this _philanthropic_ Israelite had been exerting himself towards exculpating Church, with all the ingenuity he was master of in his defence, from the heinous offence alledged against him. The “law’s delay” was resorted to, but only to put off the trial till the next assizes, but the expences materially increased, as a means of deterring the prosecutor from proceeding. It is however lamentable to observe, that the charges in bringing such a wretch to justice, should amount to eighty or ninety pounds!
The wife of Church, upon being made acquainted with his diabolical propensities, became distracted, and was in a continual state of intoxication, till death relieved this unfortunate woman from her troubles. But it appears that since he has been charged with the above detestable offence, in order (we presume under the mask of hypocrisy,) to rescue in some degree his character from the public odium with which it had been marked, induced him to marry a respectable woman, who kept a seminary for young ladies at Hammersmith. The verdict of “Guilty” had been scarcely pronounced, when the relatives of the children, with the greatest promptitude possible, took them all away from the said school.
Notwithstanding the above confessional letter, (see page 14,) for the authenticity of which we can vouch, having the original in our possession, on the Sunday after it was sent, he had the audacity and wickedness to stand up in his pulpit, and endeavour to calumniate his accusers and assert his own innocence; but this effrontery, it seems, has at length left him, since the verdict of twelve impartial men have pronounced him guilty, that on Sunday last (Aug. 17.) he had not the temerity again to face the numerous audience that had assembled both within and without the walls of his chapel.