tempestuous. Though all concurred in the general object, violent disputes arose on minor points, which distracted the discussion, and rendered it a scene of tumult and uproar. Such, of late, has been the general character of public meetings at Bristol. For my part, I never attend them. Indeed, the complaint in my back renders it impossible for me to stand; and to lie down would neither be decent nor practicable.

Conversation is almost entirely occupied by the allabsorbing theme of politics; nor is it to be wondered at, when we consider the equivocal and anomalous state of this and of almost all other countries. Some great crisis appears to be approaching, which will probably shake Europe to its centre, and produce some entire new order of things. Shall we ultimately escape a war? I have great confidence in the pacific views of our present ministry, but less in their continuing in power; nor do I perceive what measures they can adopt, that will materially alleviate the distress of the lower orders; and, unless this can be done, a [great convulsion] is, I fear, inevitable. At all events, one great source of consolation remains: "the Lord reigneth; and blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

By the way, it gives me pleasure to find that attempts are making in London to dissolve the union between the orthodox and the socinian [dissenters.] I most heartily wish them success.* It is

Mr. Hall here alludes to the union of what are called the "three denominations" of dissenters. This union (which, however, is never pretended to be religious) commenced at a time when the Presbyterians, most of whom are now Arians, or Socinians, were

a most unnatural and preposterous union, and tends, above any thing else, to give an imposing air of importance to the socinian [party], which, but for this coalition, would sink into insignificance. It is odious in the eyes of pious churchmen, and tends to throw a disguise over the real state of the dissenters, in relation to their religious tenets. But I must close, and am afraid I have already occupied too much of your valuable time.

Mrs. Hall and my family are in tolerable health, and desire to unite with me in most affectionate regards to you and your family, and to your dear brother and his family, Mr. and his lady, &c. &c. I would just add, that I [derived] considerable benefit, in relation to the determination of blood to the lungs, [from] my visit to Cheltenham. I remain, my dear Sir,

Your most affectionate and obliged Friend,
ROBERT HALL.

almost universally Calvinists. Some persons have supposed, on account of Mr. Hall's strong language in this case, that he would have joined those who wish to exclude all but the orthodox from the British and Foreign Bible Society, and have aimed to introduce an extra-scriptural phrase as a bond of union in a benevolent institution. But they who have thus fancied, neither duly meditate upon the essential difference of the two cases, nor upon Mr. Hall's principles of action with regard to the Bible Society, so forcibly depicted in vol. iv. pp. 372, 373.-Ed.

* This letter was written only four days before Mr. Hall's last illness, and sixteen before his death.-ED.

END OF VOL. V.