is made to the services of the Church of England; while an attempt to establish the Liturgy, as the standing service amongst the Wesleyans, at a Conference in the North, was rejected by no great majority.'

"All this is very consolatory. What a strange compound the comforts of some people are, Mr. Editor! The old Presbyterians are dead,--that is a comfort. If any remain, they are degenerated to Arians and Socinians,-that is a comfort. The Quakers, unhappy wights, cease to quake, and are stationary,'--that is comfortable. The modern Independents are just like the Methodists; and the Methodists are just like the Church, that is comfortable. But, after all, Sir, the whole, Presbyterians, Baptists, Independents, Quakers, and Methodists, are Dissenters; and Dissent is increasing-rapidly increasing,— very comfortable, no doubt!

"Notwithstanding the restorative powers of this elixir, the Reviewer continues to labour under great prostration of spirits, and I almost fear, as is not unfrequently the case, attended by slight incoherency of mind."

* *

"The Clergy, the Reviewer says, cannot get forward, because their benefices are poor; yet Dissent is making progress with no benefices at all. This is very peculiar! The Clergy, he insists, are very poor; yet the people persist in thinking them very opulent. Very strange and provoking this! It is in vain, he continues, to detect the grossness of exaggeration, which is so greedily swallowed; and yet he proceeds to make the attempt immediately. Well, we must follow him, and observe what he will make of his argument, with Despair for his companion.

"It is not fair to decide on the wealth of the individual by the items of his income. A man in one situation of life is far richer with £500 per annum than another with £1000. In order to estimate this point with justice, then, we must take into account the great expenditure of the clerical education, as well as the manner in which the Clergy must live to keep up their respectability, we may add, their usefulness."

"The mode then prescribed for us to judge of the poverty of the Church, is by comparison, for if even it should be found to be wealthy in the positive degree, it might still be shown to be poor in the comparative. Let us ascertain the result. Is the Episcopal Church of Great Britain and Ireland poor in comparison with the Dissenting Church? The question, Mr. Editor, almost offends you. Is it poorer than the Scotch Church? Certainly not. Is it poorer than the Catholic Church? No. Is it poorer than the Greek Church? -No. Is it poorer than the Mahomedan Church? No. Then we arrive very plea

santly at one of those enigmatical conclusions, in which your Reviewer has such dear delight;-that this 'poor,' 'ill-paid,' over-worked' church is only just the richest in the known world."

THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE DEAD THAT DIE IN THE LORD: a Funeral Sermon occasioned by the lamented Death of the late Mrs. Rachel Harbottle, with a brief Memoir of the Deceased. By W. Roby.

CRITICAL RESEARCHES IN PHILOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY. Glasgow, 1824. 8vo. 7s. 6d.

REMARKS ON PROFESSOR LEE'S VINDICATION OF HIS EDITION OF JONES'S PERSIAN GRAMMAR, published in the July and August Numbers of the Asiatic Journal, 1824. Glasgow, 1825. 8vo. 4s.— Both these works are by the same author. They display no ordinary attainments in oriental literature, and bear very hard on the pretensions of Professor Lee, of Cambridge. To the first the professor replied in the Asiatic Journal, which has produced a rejoinder in the second pamphlet, just published. We cordially recommend both to the students of eastern philology, and particularly of the Persian language.

FRAGMENTS OF WISDOM: a Cabinet of Select Anecdotes, Religious, Moral, and Entertaining, many of them Original, and not to be found in any former Publication. With a beautiful and striking Likeness of the Rev. Rowland Hill, A.M. Minister of Surrey Chapel, Blackfriars, London. In one volume 18mo. Price 4s. 6d. boards.

FOR MISSIONARIES after the Apostolical School: a Series of Orations in Four Parts.-I. The Doctrine.-II. The Experiment.-III. The Argument.—IV. The Duty. By the Rev. Edward Irving, A.M. The First Part, containing Doctrine" in Three Orations, is now ready. Price 4s. The proceeds of the sale are for the widow of Mr. Smith, late Missionary at Demerara.

"the

Zabii, or Ante-Mosaic Idolaters-The Worship of the Ass-The Character of Mary Magdalene-The ancient Christ Watch Nights-The Sortes Sanctorum of the ancient Christians-The Agapae -The Terms "Jethus and Pisculi," as used by the ancient Christians - The College de Propaganda Fide-The Prohibitory Indexes of the Church of Rome -and the Progressive Diffusion of the Gospel. All these subjects are treated in a manner worthy of the learning and research of the author of the Biblical Illustrations.

CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES AND DUTIES, or the Minister's Preaching and the People's Practice: a Farewell Sermon. By J. Leifchild. Price 1s. 6d.

WORKS PREPARING FOR THE PRESS.

A History of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren, by the Rev. J. Holmes.-A Manuel for Church Members, by Dr. Newnan, of Stepney.--Memoirs of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, &c. &c., by Miss Benger.--Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, adapted for Families and Young Persous, &c., by Thomas Bowdler, Esq. F.R. S. &c. -Sketches of the Character, Manners, and present State of the Highlands of Scotland, &c. by Col. David Stewart, Third Edition.-Conversations on the Songs of the Greeks, translated into Evidence of Christianity, &c. in 12mo. English Verse from the Romaic Text, edited by M. C. Fauriel, with additions by Charles B. Sheridan, Esq. 2 vols.

a

A Hand Bill on Slavery.-The following hand-bill, has been extensively circulated. The subject has consequently been topic of conversation, many families have ceased to use West India sugar, and it is confidently hoped that their number will continue to increase throughout the kingdom, till the planters be compelled to yield that, from necessity, which humanity and sacred justice demand in vain.

"There are, at this moment, eight hundred thousand of your fellow-creatures in a state of degrading and miserable slavery. These unhappy beings, or their parents, were kidnapped, and driven like herds of cattle to the shore, crowded in the most cruel and revolting manner in the slave ships, transported to the West Indies, and there brutally exposed for sale by public auction! The purchaser, at these disgusting scenes, claims the wretched victims of rapacity and injustice, as his property, and has, generally, the initials of his name burnt in them, on the shoulder, or some other conspicuous part. They are driven in gangs to their bitter and unpaid-for toil, by the stimulus of the cart-whip, and are treated, with rare exceptions, rather as brutes than men. These are notorious facts, which offend the light of heaven every day;-facts, which are the foulest blot on our national character. We boast of our excellent constitution; we are preeminent for our benevolence and charity; we glory in our land as a land of freedom; and yet we are supporting Negro Slavery, that complicated and enormous system of crime-for though by law the Slave Trade is abolished, yet Slavery is still carried on with undiminished, if not augmented vigour.

on

"The humane instructions sent out b Government to lighten their burdens, ar d relax their bonds, are treated with insolent contempt; and the delay consequent our attempts at the gradual extinction of the odious traffic, has only given opportunity to the oppressor, if not to make the bondage of the poor African more intolerable, to render his freedom! nore difficult and hopeless.

"Our hearts are moved, and our eyes weep for the hapless lot of our sable brethren. But, can we do nothing more than pity? Must this detestable and monstrous tyranny, this shameful waste of buman life, be permitted for seventeen years longer? Must we wait the tardy operation of parliamentary enactments which are violently opposed by a formidable array of interested men, who are menacing, and aiming to intimidate the government, and deceiving the public by misrepresentation and falsehood? No!there is, in our own power, a more concise and effectual method of redressing their wrongs in ABSTAINING FROM THE USE OF WEST INDIAN PRODUCE, of which suGAR

IS THE LEADING ARTICLE.

-

"READER, Are you aware, that if you consume this produce, you are giving your individual support to this infamous system ? Are you conscious that the sugar that sweetens your tea is the price of the poor slave's blood? Will the sanction of the multitude make you less guilty? O my soul, come not thou into their secret, unto their assembly mine honour, be not thou united!' Every reader of this Appeal, whether rich or poor, master or servant, parent or child, is affectionately and earnestly called upon, if he wish not to be par

taker of other men's sins, and to be free from the charge of blood-guiltiness, to refrain instantly from the use of West Indian sugar, and to BUY THAT ONLY WHICH IS PRODUced in the East INDIES, BY FREE LABOUR."

The State of Ireland.-The following extract of a letter received by the Rev. J. Bulmer, from J. D. La Touche, Esq. of

va

Dublin, will show, that the work of instruction advances in that country in defiance of clamour.-" We have great reason for thankfulness, that, under all the circumstances of the country, institutions, such as those we assist, increase, not only in number, but in influence; and it argues well for the future, that no attempt to do us good fails of prosperity. Much has been done; much still remains for us to do; and there are many adversaries; but if God be for us, who can successfully oppose us? He has already prospered us, in the improved and increased religious feeling of our nobility and gentry, and of several of the middle class in Ireland, in the desire for instruction, which more and more manifests itself among our people, in the "ious institutions which are furthering scriptural instruction amongst us, and the prog ress which, from year to year, they all make, in the sympathy felt for Ireland in the other parts of the empire, and the liberali ty which is extended to any measure for her benefit. All these may be accounted for separately by second causes; but it is the pleasure and delight of the Christian to refer them to the God and Father of all, in whose hands are the hearts of me, and who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. This persuasion adds sweetness to his labour, as he feels that the Lord hath done great things, whereof he is glad; and this feeling also adds swiftness to his zeal. May it be so amongst us! And while we humbly and simply wait on Him for strength, may we be stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in His work; and we shall never find that our labour in Him has been in vain."

Unitarian Encroachments.-Our readers are generally aware, that a spirited controversy has, for some time past, been carried on in the columns of the Manchester Gazette and the Sheffield Mercury, respecting Chapel-funds and Endowments, originally the property of Orthodox Dissenters, but which are now in the hands of the Unitarians. This discussion, it appears, originated at a public dinner which the Unitarians of Manchester gave to the Rev. John Grundy, who for upwards of ten years preached Socinianism in Cross-Street Chapel, Manchester; which was originally built for the Rev, Henry Newcome, a very eminent Trinitarian

minister. On this occasion about one hundred and twenty Socinian ministers and gentlemen sat down at the convivial board; and upon the health of the Rev. George Harris being drank, that Rev. gentleman favoured the company with a long speech, which was received with thunders of applause. After the tumult had subsided, the Chairman discreetly solicited the use of the manuscript, from which it was delivered, for publication, and consequently it was "gazetted ;" and the following extracts will be sufficient to prove, that its publication was a deliberate insult to every other denomination :

"I am confident that I am addressing men of liberality and intelligence-mea freedom, and the happiness of the race of who are anxious for the improvement, the which they form a part; and, therefore, I am the more desirous of impressing on your minds the vast and unspeakable importance of Unitarianism, as a means of human civilization and instruction. This is a point of view in which, I think, it has not yet been sufficiently considered, even by its friends; but it is one of which, I think, it is admirably deserving, and which will appear the more clearly, if we contrast, for a moment, the spirit which the two opposing systems are calculated to generate. For what is the spirit of Orthodoxy? Is it not a slavish spirit? But the spirit of Unitarianism is one of rational and enlightened liberty. The spirit of Orthodoxy is a mean spirit; for it bends before the dictation of a worm of the earth, and its essence consists, as its own advocates aver, in the prostration of the human understanding;' but the spirit of Unitarianism is open, generous, liberal. The one is partial and capricious, viewing the favourites of heaven only in a selected few; whilst Unitarianism sees in every man a brother, training up for the glori ous importance which awaits all the family of the eternal. The spirit of Orthodoxy is a cruel and vindictive spirit: witness its excommunications and its inquisitions. The spirit of Unitarianism is merciful and benevolent-anxious for man's rights, and detesting revenge. The spirit of Orthodoxy is one of persecution: look at the Athanasian Creed, and Test and Corporatian Acts; see the unbeliever-oh! shame and scandal!-even in the nineteenth century, dragged before the tribunal of man, to answer for his supposed want of faithand behold Judges, acting under the abused name of that Christianity which they say is part and parcel of the law of the land, inflicting sentences which even the worst of crimes would scarcely sanction; but Unitarianism is free as the winds of heaven, and desires that every human creature may be so too. Orthodoxy says, it encourages inquiry; it may do so to a certain point, but when a human being ar

rives at that, it is the language of its deeds, Hitherto shalt thou go, but no further: Unitarianism, however, has no land marks on the shores of knowledge; like the swelling waves of the ocean, it is spirit and it is life. Orthodoxy would strip a man of the name of Christian, and would shut him out from all the rewards of heaven, unless he can pronounce the Shibboleth of an intolerant party; whilst Unitarianism affirms, that in every nation, age, and in every sect, he who feareth God and worketh righteousness, shall be accepted of him. Orthodoxy is bound up in creeds, and confessions, and articles of faith, with inky blots, and rotten parchment bonds: but Unitarianism, like the word of the everlasting Jehovah, is not, and cannot be bound. Orthodoxy is gloom, and darkness, and desolation: Unitarianism is light, and liberty, and joy. The influence of this system on kuman civilization, human liberty, and human happiness has already been tried; it has been tried for ages, and its direful and demoralizing effects may be read in the history of every nation under the sun. It is, has been weighed, Sir; and has it not been found most miserably wanting? Let the statecraft and the priestcraft, the war and the slavery, by which mankind have been cursed for ages, answer the question."

The effects of this harangue have illustrated the saying of Solomon, that "He who is first in his own cause seemeth just, but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him." Ministers and laymen amongst the Orthodox Dissenters replied in the Journals, and have attempted to show, "that by a deficiency of integrity, the Socinians have in many cases possessed themselves of property never designed for their use. This has led to the publication of lists of the chapels in the midland and northern coun ties which are now in the occupation of Unitarians, marking the number of those which were erected by the Orthodox, and those which have been built by Socinian liberality for the use of their own body. We insert a Summary" of all the lists, which certainly "presents, not merely a melancholy display of the gradual and extensive substitution of error for truth, but of the deficiency and obliquity of moral principle by which, in many cases, substitution has been effected."

that

The whole controversy will be speedily published, with an introduction by a gentleman well acquainted with the discussion.

Monthly Meetings.--January.-The subject of this month's discourse,

was

The Faithfulness of God the ground of Confidence and Prayer." The preacher was the Rev. John Townsend, of Bermondsey, well known for his philanthropic and successful exertion on behalf of the deaf and dumb. The meeting was held on the 6th, in the Rev. Mr. Wall's Meeting, on the Pavement, Moorfields. Mr. Townsend selected for his text, Gen. xxxii. 12. "Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good." The faithfulness of God was well illustrated from the Scriptures by the venerable speaker, whose age and tried fidelity gave additional effect to all he uttered. That faithfulness was the ground of Christian confidence, and the encouragement to prayer, was recommended, both from the consideration of the doctrine of Scripture, and the history of the experience of the people of God.

Feb.--The monthly meeting took place on the 10th, at the Rev. J. Davies's Meeting, Hare Court. The Rev. Mr. Washbourne ought to have been the preacher, but in consequence of indisposition, the Rev. Mr. Chapman took his place, aud delivered anexcellent discourse, on" Christian Meekness," from Matt. xi. 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; for ye shall receive rest unto your souls." Mr. Chapman illustrated the nature of christian meekness from the example of our Lord, pointed out the means of acquiring it, by taking his yoke upon us, and enforced its cultivation from the consideration of the blessedness connected with it, in the rest of soul which is experienced.

Pembrokeshire Itinerant Society.-The Annual Meeting of this Society was held at Narberth, Jan. 25, when several of its members were gratified in finding that its affairs had proceeded satisfactorily during the past year. It appeared that, in one village especially, a proper disposition had been manifested on the part of some of the more respectable inhabitants, to provide for the permanent enjoyment of the means of grace. Some measures have, in consequence, been already taken for the erection of a place of worship, and liberal subscriptions promised. The only thing to be regretted was, the backwardness of some of the country churches in affording pecuniary support to the Society, several having done nothing at all, and others having presented only half, or less than half the yearly sum of £2. originally requested from each of them, and which would be amply sufficient for the support of one itinerant.

A CLERICAL APOLOGY. Some months back, two persons, named James Horner and William Wood, teachers of a new sect called Baptist Revivalists, visited the town of Newport Pagnell, with a case, soliciting subscriptions toward the erection of a place of worship for their use. They went from door to door, and received the smallest sums. At length they arrived at the residence of the clergyman, the Rev. William Marshall, who instantly gave them in charge of the constable, and they were taken before a clerical magistrate, the Rev. Mr. Lowndes, who, upon the oath of Mr. Marshall, that they were rogues and vagrants, committed them to Aylesbury jail, where they were kept on the Tread Mill for more than twenty days, until the health of one of them became seriously affected, when the Hon. Robert Smith, member for the County, hearing of the transaction, interfered, and the illegality of their commitment being apparent, these unfortunate men were released. J. Wilks, Esq. the indefatigable Secretary of the Protestant Society, however, took up the business, and Mr. Marshall has consented to the publication of the following apology, which has appeared in two other papers beside the Northampton Mercury; and also to pay a sum, including expenses, which we understand must amount to nearly £100. However illiterate, or even fanatical, these individuals may be, we cannot but rejoice, that they have been thus delivered from the intolerance of a clerical magistracy, and trust that this will prove a seasonable admonition to gentlemen of that temperament.

To the Printers of the Northampton Mercury. SIRS,- With reference to the charge preferred by me, against Mr. James Horner and Mr. William Wood, before the Rev. Mr. Lowndes, one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Buckingham, in the month of July last, in consequence of which they were committed to Aylesbury gaol; I think it but justice to the parties to admit, that the charge was preferred by me under a mistake as to the meaning of an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, and that I am now satisfied these persons were not impostors, nor acting in an illegal manner, and sincerely regret the imprisonment and many inconveniences they suffered in consequence of that mistake.

WILLIAM MARSHALL.

Newport Pagnell, January, 1825.

Chapels opened.-On July 6th, 1824, Kipping Chapel was re-opened for divine worship, after having been thoroughly repaired, and considerably enlarged. Three sermons were delivered on the occasion.

In the morning, the Rev. John Ely, of Rochdale, preached a very interesting and instructive discourse, from Matt. xvi. 18, 19. In the afternoon, the Rev. Dr. Cope, of Wakefield, preached from Isaiah xxxv. 1.; and in the evening, the Rev. Joseph Cockin, of Halifax, from 1 Thess. iv. 15, 16. All the services were highly pleasing, and the collections liberal. The cause of the blessed Redeemer, in this neighbourhood, has prospered amazingly, during the last twenty years. Kipping chapel, situated in the village of Thornton, in the parish of Bradford, in the county of York, has been twice enlarged within that period; and, notwithstanding there is in the village a large church-chapel, and a Methodist chapel is now building, is capable of containing nearly 400 more hearers than the population of the village. When the Rev. Joseph Cockin, who had laboured in this place fourteen years, left it, and removed to Halifax, many of the neighbouring ministers, as well as the people, concluded that the interest must decline, and the cause dwindle into ruin. But, after a period of four years, the people were again comfortably settled with a minister. Under the ministry of the Rev. John Calvert the cause revived-the truth prevailedthe chapel became too small, and was enlarged in the year 1807; and many were added to the church. This holy man was suddenly removed by death, on the 26th of March, 1816, and entered the joy of his Lord, aged 69 years. Since his departure, the congregation has greatly increased. Nearly 100 have been added to the church, and a great number of young people are now taking the kingdom of Heaven by violence," and anxiously inquiring, “What must we do to be saved?" The present chapel seats upwards of 1,100 people, and is generally well filled. The people, who are, with a few exceptions, the poor of the world, have contributed very largely of their little savings to maintain the cause of genuine religion amongst them. The chapel was built, and enlarged the first time, without any assistance from the public but what they obtained at the openings; and although the congregation erected a large and substantial school-room, altogether detached from the chapel, capable of comfortably accommodating 300 Sabbath-scholars, in the year 1819, yet they intend to defray the expense of the present enlargement themselves. May He whose glory they desire to promote, still continue to bless them. May "his work appear unto his servants, and his glory to their children."

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Jan. 28.-The chapel at Epsom, Surrey, which will contain about 500 persons, was re-opened, when the Rev. George Clayton, preached in the morning, and the Rev.