The National Register. — London, England, 1818-01-05 00:00:00

JAW. X. TUE REFORMATION. Wednesday, a very numerous meeting assembled at the City of London Tavern, to commemorate the tri-cente nary of the Reformation. The Rev. Dr. Collyer informed the meeting, between t'2 and l o'clock, that his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex was expected to pre side, that he had not yet arrived, and that he would therefifre propose that a Clegymen of the Established Church should take the chair pro ternporc. After waiting some time, the Rev. Mr. Simeon, of Cam bridge, took the chair, apologising at the same time Mr his incapacity to preside over such a meeting. The Rev. Mr. Cox, of Hackney, rose to move the first resolution, expressing the right of every man to worship God according to his conscience Having taken a part in the formation of the Committee, it seemed proper that, in bringing forward this resolution, he should state the motives and principles by which those who called the meeting had been guided. No thing could be more remote from their views than to promote any thing like party feelini,ni by the notice which had been given of this meeting through the medium of the newspapers. Their cause was indeed truly popular; but he wished to be regarded as only, in that meeting, advocating human rights, in so far as those rights involved freedom of conscience. That freedom was the true principle of the Reformation and Protestantism. It was the character of all intolerant religions to maintain an equal enmity to the persons and principles of those who maintained other opinions. It was their maxim to exterminate at once the heretic and the heresy. This was the real character of all false religions ; they were like two-edged swords, made to cut at once both against the heads and consciences of their victims. It was thus the Romans had en deavoured to exterminate the early Christians. Such also was the character of the Nlahometans. True reli gion, like the sun, enlightened and animated the earth; but persecuting religion was a firebrand of destruction. They had, however, met on that day to celebrate the Lligion of love—a religion which presented to man the olive branch, which with angel voice proclaimed peace on earth and good-will to men. He might be told that reformers did not understand their own prin ciples, and that they had in their turn become perse cutors. If he should grant this, what was the conse quence ? That meeting was not. assembled to vindicate every individual act at the reformers. It was to be hoped, that They who had now met to celebrate the Reformation understood their own principles, which in culcated this maxim—that the spirit of 'Christianity is in contradiction to every kind of persecution. Ile con cluded by moving the first resolution. Mr. J. Young seconded the resolution, and while addressing the company, the Duke of Sussex entered the room amid loud applauses. He made an apology for his delay, stating, that his carriage had broken down under him. Dr. Collyer moved the second resolution, declaring that Religion was not intended for an engine of State. Mr. Henry Weymouth moved the third resolution, 4 ' That the Scriptures, as the only fountain of religion, ought to be acce'siblc to all." John Mackenzie, Esq. moved the fourth resolution. against all authoritative expositions of Scripture. 1)r. Rippon moved the fifth resolution, expressing, that the violation of those principles caused multitu dinous evils. The Rev. Dr. Vowls moved the sixth resolution, and represented, by strong rhetorical figures, the fas cinations the delusions, mid the impositions of the Ro mish superstition. John vs , ilks, Esq. moved the seventh resolution, expressive of grateful remembrance of Wiekliff; Je rome, and Huss. The Rev. Dr. Newman moved the eight resoln tion, purporting, that the objet of the meeting was to celebrate the tri.centenial period of the Reformation of 1617. The Rev. Thomas Styles and Alexander Fletcher explained the ninth resolution, which enumerated the political and social benefits that resulted from the Re - formation, though they had not yet attained that state which piety must desire, and philanthropy approve. Mr. Ivermy moved the tenth resolution, ranking Luther and his associates in the Reformation as great among the greatest of mankind. His Royal Highness having repeatedly requested greater brevity, now iiirected that the five remaining resolutions should be moved at once. Mr. Davies accordingly moved five resolutions, the 11th commemorating Knox, Tyndale, Latimer, and other martyrs ; the 12th rejoicing in the similar re spect for the Refinmation proclaimed in Germany ; and the 13th exhorting European and American Protest ants to guard the principles of the t,efbrmation now that monastic institutions and dangerous societies were revived, and inquisitions were continue,, or re-estab lished ; the 14th and I.3th deprecating persecutions and uncharitableness. The ltev. Jas. Townsend seconded these resolutions, and animadverted on the ingratitude of the Pope, and tie want of gratitude and gaud faith in Louis XVIII. who not only refused to protect, but persecuted Pro- 1 4 111: NATIONAL RTAITSTEIL testants, though the Protestants of England restored hem. Those several resolutions were carried with accla mations. The Rev. Matthew Wilks moved the 16th resolu tion, expressing thanks to the Royal Chairman, and amused the assembly with his very eccentric and an tithetical mode of representing the merits of his Royal Highness. Mr. Frend, in seconding the motion, said, his Royal Highness studied the Scriptures in the original He brew, and thus by his example encouraged the know ledge of them. The motion was carried with rapturous applause. The Duke of Sussex expressed his gratification at the honour which had been done him, though for what ever had been done, the meeting had to thank them selves, not him : for he always considered it his duty to attend wherever it appeared his presence would be advantageous to the public interest. When he was applied to by the Committee, his first object was to examine the resolutions, for he felt that when one of the Royal Family came forward and presided on such an occasion as this, it gave a certain sanction to the pro- ceedings. He had accordingly well weighed the re solutions, and he could declare that he heartily approv ed them. If, therefore, any persons wished to raise alarm, and to excite a fear of anarchy and confusion, he should tell them to come there, and witness what passed. If in any discussion which might arise the proceedings of that meeting should be blamed, he would treat the censure with contempt. Fair investigation was, however, always to be desired ; for, if the press was not free, there was an end to all civil liberty, and consequently to all religious liberty. If any one should take up a contrary principle, and argue against that liberty, such a person could be no friend to the coun try, and, if possible, still less a friend to the Royal Family. It had been well said, that the bill of settle ment was a part of the principles of the Reformation. By that Act his family had been called to the throne, he said, called, not put upon it ; for it was upon the ground of mutual advantage they came to this country, and upon that basis the compact between the Sovereign and the Sabject rests. When he wa *called upon to g ive his opinion on such an occasion as this, it was always his wish to state that opinion freely and openly. lie would ask, could there have been that feeling of independence, that practical freedom which now exist ed, had it not beer. for the Reformation ? There had been, it was true, opposition to Sovereigns in Catholic times, but the true princiale of resistance, founded on the . just rights of the people never acquired any con sistency until after the Reformation. That great event awakened men's minds, and the institution which in terposed a shield for the protection of the innocent, was the great security of civil and religious liberty. The people of this country had been charged with disloy alty ; but recent events had proved them to be as well informed respecting their rights, as firm in support of them. It would be recollected, that when his Sovereign ascended the Throne, in the first speech he addressed to the Parliament, he declared that, having been born a Briton, he was proud of the name of a Briton. And he was justly proud of that name, for with it was connected his own, as Sovereign of a great, a free, and independent people To be called the King of such a nation, is far more glorious than to be called Autocrat, Emperor, or any other title assumed by man. Through life his Majesty had preserved those princi ples which he avowed on ascending the throne ; and he had, in return, been rewarded by the constitutional support of a loyal people. He had, through a long reign, been beloved, venerated, nay, he might even say, adored ; as a King who reigned by law and in the ' hearts of his people deserved to be. In his attendance on the present meeting, he had been highly pleased and gratified: he had also received much information : in deed he might say, with a reverend gentleman, that he had been electrified ; for he had heard many truths in that place which did not easily find their way to a Court. if any attempt should be made to spread the idea, that in consequence of this ineeting the Church was in danger, that any confusion was likely to take place, their answer would be, that they were met in the cause of truth. However different their opinions might be, they were all united in the conviction of the great benefits this country and mankind had derived from the Reformation, and to declare their opinion of those advantages was the object of their meeting. If any attack on the proceedings of their meeting should conic from any dissatisfied individual, he for his part, would disregard it. tie trusted that any such attack would only animate them to greater exertions in sup port of the principles they had that day avowed. All unjust insinuations he should despise, anti leave to time to prove their falsehood. While lie supported the rights of the people, he should - always at the same time resist all undue encroachments on the throne ; for the rights of the Sovereign anti the People wore insepara able, and ought to be held equally sacred. He was not to be deterred ;rum what lie considered his duty, by any fear of consequences. They were contending for the rights of conscience ; and when a mau considered himself following its dictates, he might despise the greatest tortures No one would be found to suppor more firmly than he Would, the constitutional principles which had placed this fetidly on the throne of these realms. They had heard of an L ssociation of Sove• reigns called the Holy Alliance; but if there was to be such a unicn of Courts, he trusted there would also be a holy alliance of nations, which was more likely to (rove favourable to the peace and happiness of the hu. man race ; and. he, being a peaceably disposed man, would wish to give all the supporthe could to the latter alliance. There were still two or three resolutions re lative to the publication of the proceedings of the day, and after he had put them he would take his leave of the meeting. Mr. Marsden moved resolutions for defraying the ex. pence of publishing the resolutions, ikc. and thanks were voted to Mr. Cox, after which the 'meeting broke up about five o'clock. THE DRAMA. COVENT-GARDEN. A new Tragedy in these times is so great a novelty that it naturally excites considerable interest, not only among those who are called play-gping folks, but also among those whose regard for the interests of literature males them anxious about every addition which is made to our stock of national poetry. This feeling suf ficiently accounts for a numerous audience at this house, on Thursday evening, to witness Retribution ; or, the Chiff?ain's Daughter. The story is supposed to be in the fourth century. The following are the most strik ing features of the plot :—Yarancs, King of Persia has two sons Chosroo and Homed, who are both en amoured of Ziinra the chieftain's daughter. I lanzed is the favoured lover, but Chorroo considers himself cer tain of success, from the power he possesses over the life of her father Sullies, whom he has recently taken prisoner in an expedition against one of the mountain tribes. The rivalry of the two brothers, one impetuous, unprincipled, hesitating at no means to effect his pur pose, the other less powerful and more virtuous, and aided by the love of Zimra, occupy great part of the drama ; but the interest of the piece, rests in an equal degree on Varanes, who, agitated by the conscious guilt of having murdered his brother and preaecessin. Sapor, confounded and perplexed in all his actions by the fear of discovery, joined to the mystery in which the event is involved, exhibits a fine moral le-son, and afForas some striking opportunities for the display of talent, to which Young did great justice. The outline of the plot is sufficiently simple, but is involved in its conduct in much unnecessary intricacy : except in the first act, the events do not t a llow each other by a nice adjustment of cause and effect, and there has been an evident de. sire to spin out the materials to an undue extent. We are yet unable to judge with accuracy on the merits of the language, but we suspect it is better fitted for the closet than the stage. There are many things which to the eye of the spectator appear like deviations from nature, as well as from dramatic unity and effect, we trust they appear so, from the dialogue having been but imperfectly heard. For instance, no good reason ap pears to justify the sudden return of Suttees to reason, in the prison scene in the fifth act. The supposed mur der of the King, by his son Chosroois involved in much obscurity. The order for the death of Zimra, Homed, and Sullies seems most unnatural, and the sscceeding scene, were these persons dispute about taking prece dency in death is faulty both in mutter and manner.— We do not mention these as important failings, nor are we quite sure that they are failings at all, we only mention the effect which they produced upon us, Aids an acquaintance with the text would probably have re moved. In our next number we shall enter more at length into an examination of its merits. The following is the list of the drain:ids pers:me Varanes, King of Persia Mr. Young. Chuang, s ( Mr. M•Cready. 1. his Bone Hamed.. Abdus, a Persian Lord Mr. Egerton. Had ~ his son Suthus, a captive Chieftain Mr. 'ferry. Sohrab, the King's Chau:berlain liodad, Confident to Chosroo Mr. Coiner. Devah, Slave to Cho.rou Mr. .1 (Allies. Zulus, daughter to Suthts Miss O'Neill. SMALL Pox.—ln the general bill of all the christen. ings and burials from Dcc. iO, 18 t 6, to Dec. 16, 1817. The report of Deaths occasioned by the Small Pox, is one thousand and fifty one, which is au increased num ber of six hundred and fifty three, as stated in tits preceding annual report A poor sailor in distressed circumstances, a few days ago was sent to the Small Pox Hospital at Pancras in an advanced state of confluent Small Pox, from Cannon Street Road, St. George's in the East, but ha was so much exhausted, that he died a few minutes after his admission. This is much to be lamented, as we know that Patients arc admitted every day anti hour, by a recommendation signed by a Governer, and all requisite intOrmation is given at the Hospital to any person who may apply. Lord Courtenay, since he left Eng-lantl, has received, by the sale of his property in Ireland alone, nu less is sum than 650,0001.