A full and authentic report of the trial of Jonathan Martin at the Castle of York, on Tuesday, March 31, 1829, for setting fire to York Minister; with an account of the life of the lunatic. The destruction of the choir of York Cathedral, on the second of February, 1829; the flight and apprehension of the incendiary; his examination and commitment to York city gaol; the proceedings at public meetings held at York, in consequence of the fire; embellished with a striking likeness of Martin and a ground plan of the minister.

Date:: 1829

Credit: A full and authentic report of the trial of Jonathan Martin at the Castle of York, on Tuesday, March 31, 1829, for setting fire to York Minister; with an account of the life of the lunatic. The destruction of the choir of York Cathedral, on the second of February, 1829; the flight and apprehension of the incendiary; his examination and commitment to York city gaol; the proceedings at public meetings held at York, in consequence of the fire; embellished with a striking likeness of Martin and a ground plan of the minister. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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the land of Egypt, and his oavii father's house from.the effects of the seven years famine, of which I had so often read. A wide range of buildings was pointed out to me by the Turks, and which they said formerly held the corn preserved by Joseph. Reflecting on these things, led me to review my mis-spent life, and to see how often God had preserved me in many dangers, and how ill I had requited him; so that my thoughts troubled me sore, and I resolved anew to amend my life. I began to be comforted by reflecting, that he preserved me for wise purposes, and that I should live to praise him. Blessed be the name of the Lord, I was not disappointed. Martin here relates several occasions in which the Lord, in an especial manner, shewed, that he was under his care. The following is a specimen of this part of his narrative. At another time, being on our main yard, and losing my balance, I found myself falling; there seemed nothing to save me from being dashed to pieces, the loose end of the tracing line about an inch thick was hanging near me; I got it round my left hand, and grasping it with my right, the swing of the rope, together with my weight, threw me overboard; and I remained suspended by my arm, within a few feet of the sea, until my shipmates came to my assistance; and I praised God that I received no material injury, (except my arm being a little wrenched by my weight.) Again,,falling by accident out of a gun port, my shipmates suc- ceeded in rescuing me when not able to help myself. And being on the top gallant yard, the topping-lift broke, and the end I was on went down like the end of a beam; in my fall I grappled with the backstay, and brought myself up, and landed on the cross trees; thus the Almighty preserved me from death, when there was no other hope, the height from the deck being about 80 feet. There is nothing extraordinary in this : those who go down to the deep in ships, are daily witnesses of preservations equally, or more remarkable : that they do not make the impression they ought upon the giddy thoughtless seamen, affords no reason for Martin's thinking that he was under the particular care of the Most High, who intended him for some great work • which seems to have been the impression on his mind : at any rate, it is that he wished to convey to his readers. Martin does not tell us how long he remained in the trans- port service; but when he was paid off], he proceeded to Newcas- tle to visit his parents; and then went to work with Mr. Page, of Norton, in the county of Durham, at his employment as a tanner ; and here he observes, commenced that series of trials, which almost obliterated the remembrance of his former difficulties; and which, were they not well-known to many now living, might appear to border on romance. In reading his life, however, we can find no traces of e( trials, which were not brought upon him- self; and there is very little of the romantic about them. A few months after his residence at Norton, he married ; and shortly B 2

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