a patron of
piety, especially when it takes the form of aggressive polemics. Some
time afterwards he joined a committee, with the late Lord Shaftesbury,
Lord Mayor Fowler, and other religious worthies, whose object was to
raise a testimonial to Samuel Kinns, an obscure author who has written a
stupid volume on "Moses and Geology" for the purpose of showing that the
book of Genesis, to use Huxley's expression, contains the beginning and
the end of sound science. It thus appears that a Christian magistrate
may subscribe (or, which is quite as pious and far more economical,
induce others to subscribe) for the confutation of heretics, and
afterwards send them to gaol for not being confuted. What a glorious
commentary on the great truth that England is a free country, and that
Christianity relies entirely on the force of persuasion! Fortunately,
however, our case was not tried at the Old Bailey. Mr. Bradlaugh
obtained a writ of _certiorari_ removing the indictment to the Court
of Queen's Bench, where our case was put in the Crown List, and did not
come on for hearing until two months after I was imprisoned on another
indictment. Mr. Bradlaugh obtained the writ on July 29, 1882. It was
during the long vacation, and we had to appear before more than one
judge in chambers, Mr. Justice Stephen being the one who granted the
writ. I remember roaming the Law Courts with Mr. Bradlaugh that morning.
We went from office to office in the most perplexing manner. Everything
seemed designed to baffle suitors who conduct their own cases. Obsolete
technicalities, only half intelligible even to experts, met one at every
turn, and when I left the Law Courts I felt that the thing was indeed
done, but that it would almost puzzle omniscience to do it again in
exactly the same way. Over seven pounds was spent in stamps, documents,
and other items; and I was informed that a solicitor's charges for the
morning's work would have exceeded thirty pounds. Securities for costs
were required to the extent of six hundred pounds, and of course they
had to be given. Yet we were merely seeking justice and a fair trial! As
I walked home I pondered the great truth that England is a free country,
and that there is one law for the rich and the poor; yet I reflected
that as only the rich could afford it, the poor might as well have no
law at all.

I have already referred to our printer's defection. Acting under advice,
Mr. Whittle declined to print the Comic Bibl