Guy A. Aldred Archive
Written: 1912.
Source: RevoltLib.com
Transcription/Markup: Andy Carloff
Online Source: RevoltLib.com; 2021
Throughout these proceedings Carlile had been loyally supported by his wife, Jane Carlile. The latter was seven years Carlile’s senior, and had made his acquaintance whilst he was on a visit to Gosport in 1813. They were married after a courtship of only two months’ duration. Finding that their temperaments were incompatible, they had wisely agreed to separate early in the year 1819. But they postponed putting their determination into effect owing to Richard’s imprisonment and the necessity of continuing the publishing business. At last the authorities-—who had wasted .a great deal of time in threatening, arresting, and then releasing Carlile—-brought the various indictments against her to "a trial" in January, 1821, the result of which was a verdict of “Guilty” and immediate removal to Dorchester Jail, where. she shared Richard's cell. During this united imprisonment the one theme of conversation between them was the question of separation. This was finally carried out in 1832.
Jane Carlile’s place was taken in the shop by her sister-in-law, Mary Carlile. Being in her turn sent to jail, she was succeeded, in the order given below, by the following lovers of liberty, all of whom not only volunteered for the task, but defended themselves in order that their defense might evince their defiance :—
Name. Date of Conviction. Length of Sentence. Susannah Wright Nov. 14, 1822. Two years. James Watson April 23, 1823. Twelve months. Richard Hassell May 28, 1824. Two years. William Campion... June 8, 1824. Three years. John Clarke June 10, 1824. Three years.
Besides these, Joseph Harris and T. R. Perry toed the line, and were sent to prison for acting as Carlile’s shopmen. In each case the charge was either based upon the sale of Paine’s much dreaded writings, or Palmer's work, or a current issue of the Republican. Besides these shopmen andshopwomen there were booksellers up and down the country—making in all 150 persons-— who were indicted for selling Carlile’s publications.
Before Clarke had been sentenced Jane Carlile had been released, and was back at the post of danger. A year later-on November 18th, 1825, to be exact——Carlile himself was suddenly freed. Without any compromise on his part his recognizances had been abrogated, and he had been swept out of jail bag and baggage. This quitting jail meant no more to him mentally than a change of lodging. He resolved that his course should be onward, and that he would continue the same disposition unimpaired, with which he began his pioneer career—a disposition to suffer fines, imprisonment, or banishment, rather than any man should hold the power and have the audacity to say or decide that any kind of public discussion was improper and publicly injurious. He confessed that, as he had touched on extremes in the past, he would do so in the future, since he thought it useful to habit the Government -—and the people themselves—-to all extremes of discussion of impropriety from the media which were most useful.