Transcribed from the [1817] T. Kaygill edition ,. Many thanks to the Bodleian forallowing their copy to be consulted in this transcription.
THE
DEVIL
AND
PARSON CHURCH;
OR,
BIRDS OF A FEATHER.
A WHIMSICALAND SATIRICAL POETIC EFFUSION,
Illustrative of a
DARK TRANSACTION,
Lately brought to Light;
IN WHICH, A WELL KNOWN
POPULAR PREACHER
WAS A
Principal Performer,
WITH INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
“We’ll have thee—
Painted upon a pole, and under written,
Here you may see the Monster.”Altered fromShakspeare.
London:
Printed by T. Kaygill, 36, Frith-Street,Soho;
And Published by Kaygill, 12, Benjamin-Street,
Clerkenwell.
May be had of all Booksellers.
Price 2d.
p. 2THE heroof the subjoined poem, has for many years been suspected of beingguilty of the most abominable and atrocious practices; hisintimacy with the Vere Street nest of miscreants is too wellknown to be again repeated, as are also his detestable letters,sent to men, to entice them to participate in his guilt. Atthe Middlesex Sessions, July 12, 1813, he was tried for anattempt on William Webster, but acquitted; from which time, hehas been considered innocent by his misledfollowers. But on the 26th of September, 1816, he made anassault on Adam Foreman, (apprentice to Mr. Patrick, potter,Vauxhall,) with an intent to commit a vile act; for whichattempt, by the laudable exertions of the lad’s father, andMr. Patrick, he was indicted at the Surrey Assizes, Croydon, onSaturday, Aug. 16th, 1817, and found guilty; he will be broughtup the first day of next Term to receive judgement, in The Courtof King’s Bench. Mr. Gurney undertook his cause withreluctance.
While the prosecution of Church was pending, one of the parishofficers of St. George’s, Southwark, was applied to by Mrs.Church for the relief of a man who was in distress at Mr.Church’s house. The officer waited on the man, and oninterrogating him, in the presence of Mrs. Church, and a daughterof Church’s, by his first wife, (an interesting female,about seventeen years of age;) he confessed he had been confinedin Newgate one year and a day, for an assault of an abominablenature, and was partly supported there by Mr. Church; uponhearing which, Mrs. Church was so much affected, that she waswith difficulty prevented from throwing herself out of the windowof the room. As soo