The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-05-15 00:00:00

PROTEST.INT SI)CIP7'T FUR THE PXOTECTION OF !MIAMI/US LIBERTY. . - _ On Satunlay the fifteenth Anniversary Meeting tithe Protestant payee for the Piuteetton of Religtren litheety wan held at the City o r i i ,don Tanen. The great moos was filled to excess' at an early meshy a most respectable assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, e !vhom mine upressly flan distant pans of the country, to mind the merit". A te kteu o'clock (being an hour berm the appointer! time for t eeing the business) !Inhere Pt e, Req. toot the Chair, corm . . by t he investion of the toomiinet.untW the JaSquis of banstiowit ' bold strive, wile bad premised to preside on this ocroalots. The Cuatastax (pro tempura) proceeded to tow the objects f „.hi e l t they were asseniblid, the first botagebat of bearing the g r oin of the preeredings of the peat year, to which tie would entreat aye silent and part itular attention of elf Sln Pv.I.I.ATT. one of the Seefehitieit, then read dieting 'onion ca the Ileum which tea* eery voltmiinons. At twelve o'clock thelllstquis of Lonstiown entered the roam, s ecipsnied by Lind Dac-:e. Their Lordships were received with w ry warm apd garret applause. It was then moved that the remaining portion of the Report should be deflected by the other Secretary of the Society, in the pare of the speech which it was num' fur him to make on these canons. 31r. J. %Cites then mac and was received he the Meeting with the mot enthusiastic cheering, which co ntinu ed for • enveidemble dins The reefing. having at length subsided, the Secretary ad. * r ued the Assembly for upwards of three hour'. in aspeteh which ass alike remarkable for the energy with which it was delivered sad foe the very great eloquence •hich it throughout displsyed. /fur limits will not permit us to do more than give a bare outline of thme numerous details, and of that wide and 'alevines field of eiseIVIIIiOII end reasoning. wh'cis it emlitaced. The beamed Oen. demo commenced by observing that he felt himself on this ocea. non anoustly oppressed. He resembled one, who had been long absent from bie native ralley, but who was about to return to that cAler which he loyal PO well. To hie mitt and li-art its licence fed heen awed. however remote his wanderings. He had sidled on die bosom of the quiet lake whose waters laved a distant shore, had vorseed over the etorm.tonni sea; he had sojourned in the fertile vale of 1.711a - onuny, and had climbed the glorious summit of Muni Blare; but whenever he was—whethella silence he mad the teem of eftesewouil eier, awe Now mimeo* etslssamsid, w. pt • the sublime rains of sane ancient temple, in the clasJe and amidst all ?brie scents, his risen, vatic! woe ever otreeitt to his nand. Various as was her loveliness, t h e re were amidst her sylvan scenery two figures, which had i.e.m sketched by his vivid imagination with a pencil that hot made them prominent in his pornsitore. There wa a venerable beech and an eget, ottlt, fine as ever lerenished en e'en h::11 Of in their valleys, beneath whose wide-spreading brindles the youth had learned slalom and oh! there rood the ancient and proud mansion of hi. tsthers. The wanderer retorted to Ins ; her ruin was lovely ; it was a foie sunny nice. • the foyers were blooming. and the blossoms there were full; but though rank and intellect dwelt in her Inanition, still, when he Le heal has former home, eminent aittcted his imagination, and his heart was oppressed. Alas! the spoiler had been there ; —the beech tree had been uprooted by the tempest the spotter had been there,—the aged oak had laid his honours to the dust. (Cheers.) come. and those whom I have been accustomed to %re here—those who were our ornament and pride (elieen)-1 behold no more. Here had I seen our Townsend, his locks spreading indeed in oil. very aid benevolent loveliness —he to whom we loved to listen. whoa worth were wisdont.—and kr is here no mo•e ! Anti here too lad I beheld our Plogue,—thuteaD beneath whom molt Oulu here proem loved to repose: he was wont to be here. He is even now rehired to my imagination and my heart am real em ever. Oft this o w he stood, like the proud oak. before us. I still behold him. with his noble and bighouched brow, and with his hoary locks and manly form. pouring forth the riches of that mind sn full of wis dom. and Wattling the aspirations of that heart so devoted to the cane of liberty and truth. (Loud cheers.) But he is cast away and I cannot, cannot, but feel with you on this occasion, a mourn. Velum and sad commiseration. We too soon forget the dead, and while they live and are present with us, too often we do not enough esteem theta. ()not went the 'intim of the kindly benevolent Townsend. and long shall his memory dwell with us! And never byme shill Bogue be anneered. He who stood, as it were. amongst at, forming the link of the present generaton with that of our fate. father—throe brave puritans and noncontormista, to whom this ecountty owe, Mee liberty from religious thraldom, and whose his. tory he orate with an eloquence and power that shall confer on his name imperishable renown. (Chun.) Oh ! how I now wish that os my bean was Inscribed every word he uttered, and that I could tell so others how he taught the irseparable cannezion levers dell and religious liberty I—how he opened his hive to tell us that there could be neither true piety nor national greatness Ohre these were unknown ! Ah ! his words are still present to in., memory. never to be forgotten. Though this subject is of sad &elk still we will not despair for the great UMW, but will emulate !nose mighty sgnrin that are gone. We will not weep, but we will gv st tut to the monument of those illustrious men, and there, again and again.will we renew our pledge never to desert the cause they eadeatrintred to suppoet. hut Mat we will transmit to future ages the maned !lone of freedom unestinguished and ualeesened, to lea mei tvideignits4vresubdadui r. .4 lord ahem., Miss Lemont tientiereeniii totrti — greelreg the o pereeedinge of the Veiny during the past year, In eomenuatico of the Re peat which had beep psrly read by the other Hon. Secretary. He Newt alluded to those cases which, at the last annual meeting of the So ciety, were in an undecided state. He would, he said, on this Dee'. son, mention one which had made a deep impression on the minds of the assembly last year, and also on the whole body of Protestants Dissenters. The) world recollect that it was the case of a refusal to celebrate the marriage ceremony at the parish of Llangain, in Wres, where the clergyman connected with the Established !lurch had allowed himself—instead of being, as he should have Nei. the fader in midst of his parishioners, delighting in their iesengs, keying in their joys, and in the union of love that was &beat to be formed—to be their meth and persecuting opponent, for betting to consecrate Met union. tiniest the female *mild forego the doctrines she had been taught by her forefathers. Principle tn.:oohed over dove, and amide, a multitude of .friends who had r in.. to bring their greetings and their presents, she was applauded slide she refused to saerifine her conscience to the frown of power. TN., till went easy, the mother of the maiden being the first to lipp'utut her fur offering herself a victim at the shrine of truth and nei loth, rather than comply whit a demand which humanity oal;',lt not to have dictated, and which the laws of the country ought not to have allowed. He would not detail the whole of the circumstances that occurred. but he would just state that the father of the young woman was present on the occasion, and naturally enough expressed his displeasure and disappointment 43 no mea sured tone. For this conduct, dal very clergyman hurl prosecuted him in the Bishop's Court at Carmarthen, for bawling on the omit. snn. The meeting would not wonder that the Comun'ttee pledged themselves to have this clereyman taught his duty try law, and Chet the shield of this Society should be spread over the peasant's head. The whole year had passed away without either of these camel being determined. And what could better prove the need of such an inaMution as this, when he stated that in theme local courts the whole of the c:crgy exercised a power uncontrolled ? The Society had, therefore. removed the procrediegs into the Arches Court of this metropolis, for the benefit of better counsel, and both cause' re mained in a state that he could riot predict when a judgment would be pronounced. Rut for the wealth of the Society, therefuee, this etas man, who though strong in right, was weak in law, would hare had a. redress. It was things like these which occasioned to the rni::d great regret and pain ; but he was proud to say they were net frequent , and formed th e exce p t i on , an d not the rule (cheers); nee were they mach as the mans of the intelligent and great among the Established Church could approve. Ve nous applications had been made to this 'tumuli= during tee pest year, which ought not to have been made. He had before requested gentlemen in the country not to write to the Committee on any subject which had nothing to do whatever with the purposes for which this Society was established.— Applies:Mos were made for contributions to build chapels, and in deed on any subject that struck the writers as improvements. With fespect to peel:Mary grievances cognisable by this institution, he use glad to sar they had been declining in number Once the ex. reamer of the Society. t was pleasant to find that their labours *" . e tot nithout some advaotage, said that in distant parts of the ontntry persons were beginning to know better bow to respect the righ:s which this Society maintained and defended. Throe hail, h "'"er, been some application mode to the Society respecting the right of ex-mption front turnpike tolls, in going to places of wor ships burnt bees violated. At 'fermium', near Lincoln, a toll was deeigi,gtd at I,joc,tlp.bar, from the wife of Mr. Thorold ; and he Society had been as k e d whether she wee liable to pay lt. Karr to g th a t ren,,,t ot hod a right, as well as men, to worship 00d in Weil manner as the:r consciences directed, the Meeting would sot doubt that he should have replied that the same exemption which the husband claimed for himself the wife also had a tight to ( "dui. Teo other complaints had been made on the mine sub kn. but he tasted the letters addressed by this Institution to the parties wunid in the future prevent their recurrence; ard that it would be generally known. that all persons might enjoy err right, without payment of double tolls, to worship God in ntrit places an their corn-ir:es directed. On the qaestion of the Pates rata, he footed, on the whole that there was less (Imposition to wren the Dessenters than ha d been known in former time'. The Rev. lie ChapPel. of Votler, in Huntingdonshire. had einem to state. that • a chapel lately erected at Stilton had been rated, but when application was mettle to have it disallowed, the the:parties were informed that a Session had intervened. and that their appal was therefore.too late. It was nem-awry that persona should time. that in any appeals against rate* on places of worship not asse.sttile it was indispensable that application shuuld be Miele before the next Session arrived, for if a Session was allowed tr, intervene, the injustice of the ease could not be brought into hid penile; and although the person who thought a wrong been dune•wen precluded from a remedy which greater vigi- Isau world have prevented. At North Crawley. in Bucking. nateshire, and at Chertsey, in Surrey, two Cllnell of assessment lld been abandoned in conseq uence o f t h e i nterference of this Society. Upon this euhject he would state generally an unitise distinct profit teethed to the Minister or Trustees. f '''n any place of religious whrship, no charge for rate' could be and if made could not be sustained. On the subject of rates bo.liling new chapela, connected whh the Established Church. _ fr :etil'applievi.ine hbeen made during th e , Seeideo of Par.' II nom. And he J uliti not wonder at it. AR Oiseesitens. they did fat satriphun tha• !her had to rear their own las,s of worship, and t 2 provid e few th e support of -the mini.,. ', of their own choice. fist when they found they had to rontriteite not only to the mew ' s rays: but Nitta* a body paid no leant arum than LIM Ot/01 fne the. erosion of new e difi ce' esc l us i ve l y for the If..tshlksh a d (thumb , mg beaten all this, they should have to pay towezdethe repairs these erections ; they Meld not but feel, that having ninthly con tributed so aliteetantly. it was a hard and unjust demand. But it was a tax , thrush a grievous one. anth they nitut snake tip their Minds to enliven it. The Committee had received an applicarion Corn the Bee. Mr. Fry. of Kidderminster, stating that tie had been rated etr the erectien of a new chapel tbr the Established Church, which they were splendidly ornamenting with organs. end • ?misty of other devices, tint deemed by hint to be necessary to. the 'Tinton! worship of the Eternal. He (Mr. Wilke), however, recommended him not M make any re‘ietance to the charge. On the subject of the Footle offering+ many applications luul been made to the Society. He would advise the members of the tabliehest Choreb to thrego tlitse petty and velatiotneesamions, whit h widest little to their wealth, but which detracted greatly from their *noir. it was these pelity and irritating trifles, that like a canker ate up all the 'Menge, destroyed thelmehreee of the bowers, and contented that which ought to be to then) a home of fertility, solitary duet No Ilistarfce, no quietness of retirement could pro. tart the DIMIPOOM fere Mom Mile annoying clams. which. he would repeat, added notllline so the honour. and little to the wealth of those who essteted them. He het had letter after letter upon this subject: One stated that within this fortnight ten end twenty petsona had been summated up together err surefire of these duo'. before the very clergyman (though not a Magistrate) who claimed them. One man was sum moned foe two years' dwee 4d. each year. (Hisses and laughter.) Another three years at Id. each year ; and then came '• your deugh. tee 24.1. etch year." But this was not all ; far the person; whose arrears fur three yeses amounted to is had 4e. to pee for expenses (Cries of "Shame ! shame !) and after ell the poor man was cons. pelfra to pay theee sums at instalments of sixpence a wee!: (Shame, shame!) and yet this' very clergymen was no clergyman, and be. inlet, which his whole conduct was illegal, for the law of Eneland forbade the clergyman to make any demand after tNo years. (Dear, hear, hew.) Thereftwe this very 'nary was rendered amenable to the laws which he had violated, and liable to be pimished at the instance of soy person who chow! to inform epeeist him. It war greatly to be wished that the enlightened, the educated, nod, he would add, the well-paid clergymen of the Eatablished Church would not thus seek to satisfy their mates, but would adopt a mere !mooting 'rode. In this very treetrre.tois there was a pariah the income of whose Rector was 2,0P 1 /. a year, where the Curate, on making upplicatina for further payment. was told that lie must Mks the:Lama dues. The honour of the Established Church wax sawel thswo peaMem eiela pea Me leisatm tet. .ttlitresnit leseives that endangered the etebility or the Church ; it has such wings as these which turned the people against them, and that ennoded those friendly fe:linge which must otherwise ne cessarily occupy the heaths of the multitudes by which they were surrounded. (Cheers.) Upon the subject of the mortuary dues, two eases had occurred. These old exploded demands, anutinting to PO little, but to vexatious. had eiristed ever since the reign of Edward V. According; to them the clergyman was entitled to fit. W. or 3a. 4d. according to the rank of the person who died. But in order to claim it it was necessary Yor the der. gyntan to show that it hail existed immemorial In the parish, otherwise he had no right to take it. • The Rev. William Marshall, of Newport Pagnell, was a name not unknown to the ntee.ing. He was the person who apprehended and caused the committal of a man to Aylesbure gaol, because the man knocked at his door to ask fora contribution towards building a chapel. Untaught by experience, he had claimed foe the burial of a corpse, which was interred in the Dissenting meeting-house of that town. Si. &I.; 2s. for going to church, Is. for reatliug the service, lid. for clerk's fee, and 2s. for gravedigger and parsing. hell—total 5..6:1.; although the man never went to church, no service wee read, no clerk nor grave.digger assisted, and although no peaeing.bell was tolled. When this clergyman was applied to on the subject, he said he thought his cenduct was right, and that the burial ground of the Dissenting meeting ought not to deprive him of his fees. Proseedings. however, being threatened by the Society. the money was returned. Another ease was mentioned where, by the intervention of this Society, the clergyman had de. foisted in making hie claim. Upon the subject of these claims, it was to be desired that those who could exercise an influence over the Established Church would do it. Milton had raid that the beet mode to keep tto a division in the Church was to exact these dues. Even scolding to the Council of Trent, the opinions of many of the Fathers of the Cethsilic Church, ninny Learned Judges. and of Selden himself, theca claims oo the part or the clergy for the adtninistration of any of the Sacraments were considered simoniacal. This would tea eh them how tney yielded to the first innovation of a wrong. (Hear, hear.) It was thus that the voluntary offerings of affection had been converted into a demand; and that that which had been first given in love ended In being extored with the grasp of power. As to the disturbances at places of worship, he was inure disposed to attribute them to local prejudices, low pensions, and indtvidual excitement, than to any thing like a general wide spread disposition to prevent dissenters from enjoying that freedom of religious worship which this Institution was desirous to protect. At Hedge-End, to the parish of South Stoneham, near Southamp. ton, a case had occurred. however., io which it was necoutary to ' take some proceedings. The I(ev. IlleDraper had there established • Bennet chapel. Several persons, atter the Minister had retired, remained in prayer. Two men disturbed them, and, on being ap prehmaltd, one was bailed, and the other committed for want of bail. 'l'llesee min at tint treated the &Cif with indifference, but on reflection application was made on their behalf, es know if, upon a unable aairmegiedgessesse proceedings would be dtecominued. At. ways came and attentive to any thing that hreathed out contrition, the panne were dismissed ; and glad was he to pay, that the man who was imprisoned had since become a most constent fregtienter of that very chapel. (Cheers.) Upon the subject of out-door preaching, the Committee had been much occupied. as it was a subject involved in meat difficulty. At West-End. in Middlesex, they regretted to find the Clergytnan of the Established Church interfering and preventing persons from anneisting together on a green, for the purpose of' religious instruction. On one occasion, the parties thus interfered with retired to a cottager's dwelling. In consequence of this, the poor cottager was threatened to be not only no longer employed, but that he should be removed from the perish. A similar case of interruption had occurred at huckleberry, by the interference of the clergyman of the adjoining parish, although the clergyman of the parish in which the parties had assembled counte nanced their proceedings. on this subject he apprehended it was necessary, whenever persons wished to •ieemble, to give notice thereof, and to obtain the consent of the nwr.er of the place where it was intended the meeting should be held ; and from that period they were entitled to assemble. But if no consent were obtained, they could not be taken into custody, as it did not amount to a breach of the peace, but only to a trespass. At Winchester a poor man had been guilty of preaching in the streets, for which he was committed to prison by the Mayor of that ci'v, because lie would mum enter into ■ recognizance of 2011!., and find two emetics in 50!. each, that he should not preach anywhere out of doors for two years. The poor man said he was exercising a duty dictated by his conscience, and that he must submit to imprisonment, for fie could not bind himself under a penalty that he would not do what had been done by Whitfield. by Wesley, and by the Saviour of Man kind himself. He was, therefore, still suffering the infliction of the law. It certainly did appear to him that in this case, if the Mayor 1 of that ancient city had dismissed the man with a rebuke, it would have been much more consonant with the spirit of Christian cha. city, than to commit him among men who were guilty of those crimes which be wu desirous to terminate, and for breaking that peace which be. though having nominally broken it, was desirous to preserve. The refusals to bury the dead was another subject which had often otenpied their attention, and which must speedily occupy the attention of the Legislature. The meeting was aware that the clergy in various parts of the country had repeatedly re d fused to bury those who had not been baptised by a mmtster of the Established Church. On this subject the law appeared to be per. Pertly dear. Some doubts were entertained previous to a luminous decision by Sir John Nichol!, in 1795, whether lay baptism had any legality. The clergy availed themselves of these doubts, and held ! that persons were obliged to have their children baptised by a minister of the established Church. ft was, however. determined by Sir J. Nichol, that lay baptism was valid, and that I the Ministers of the Established Church were bound to perform the rights of burial upon all those who had been baptised, although by Dissenting :Ministers. Rut, notwithstanding that decision, there was a great tenacity on the part of the clergy still to withhold that which their duty and the law required then, to do. Ahßudwich, in Essex, a child named Etheineton had been baptised by a Dissent ing Minister and died. Application was made to the Vicar to per form the burial service, but he refused. The parents accordingly gave him regular notice of the time they should attend, and they attended accordingly in sad procession. The clergyman, however, was determined in his refusal, and as the mournful group passed along they saw him driving by in his chaise, smiling indignantly upon them. The child was then taken a distance of tune mile', and buried, at great inconvenience and expense. He, (Mr. Wilke) however, wrote to this clergyman, and the result had Chown that I that man, whose brow was the most Inuring, and who seemed to look upon his fellows in a lower sphere as reptiles too contemptible for his care, was not the nun who had the true and manly spirit beating within him when danger drew nigh. How easily might you outbrag such braggarts, and nutrate such raters !—. 'lles very men, as soon as he was threatened with su r) pe. eion front his living for three months, wrote to the poor peasant to say, that he should be -perfer.ly willing and happy at any day that was convenient to biro (loud cheers) to attend the burial of the child. The pa.ents took him at his word ; they took up the coffin of the child, brought it back again to the parish, and compelled this clergyman, whatever might be hie reluctance, to read the burial service over it. (Tremendoue cheering.) There wail, however, a circumstance in which no efforts on the pert of the Society could prevail, nor possibly teed assistance to those who complained. He referred to thoac circumstances which applied to a vastly extended body of Protestant dineenters—the Baptists. Where children had been baptised by a dissenting neniater„ the law entitled it to burial by the ritual of the Established Church, hat where the children had not been baptised at all, then, ac cording to the present state of the English law, no clergyman could be compelled to perform the service. This affected no lees than four or five hundred thousand iestividuale, composed of many of the volt respectable, intelligent, and highly honourable persons in the country. He had, therefore. during the last few mmithe, felt it his telly to communicate with Lord Liverpool on this subject. Tne communication related to two points—the first was the power which the Clergy claimed to refine the adtitittance of the corpse into the Church. and thus to omit the finest part of that most beautiful composition, the burial service. This subject certainly appeared to be inn stare of obscurity and in for some parts of the Rubric appeared to give the Cl e e z rg P y li n v i lie s b n; discretion. however, would say, that it was an ! authority which the Clergy ought not to 1141%wrtli. and that the Le ', gislature should interpose. The other more important point, how. ever, wart, that situation in which he had stated all the Baptists througlinut England and Wales to he pteetel. The Leather, Secre tary then detailed several cases of refusal* on the part of the Clergy to bury children h.cause the; !:,td not been baptized. In ens can THE BRITISH' PRESS. which occurred at I,landttlas. in ‘S'nleti. the Clergyman would not nermit the child tube buried except seconting to form preicribeJ by the sheen , relating to pereeis on whonr a verdict of felt) de at had been teisined. The chib.l was fltraHy hurled in tworher parish. It was high time that the law, a. regraded this'elara of Christians, should be altered ; and Lord Liverpool had not discouraged them from hoping that upon ,this subject some relief 'cold be efFirded. ((heerio.) He had promised to consult the Ai.eithishops and Bishops on the tinhjeca, and he I.llr. Wilke) belied, in the course of nest Session, the Bautista would le released from the opiates- Ision they now complained of. Willi respect to this gondol', he was glad to have the opportunity dal thittig justice to at least ode member of the Established Church. Dean Wend had ten sed to bury if child becalm baptised by a Steihodist. Upon thatautiicee the Bishop .ef Nnrwith arms the Dean a letter. which he (Air. Wilke) would reed, because it did credit to the l'etholic spirit of its revered cud venerable author, and would endear him still more, who was already NI dear, to all enlightened cheers.) Jiir—" Days leapt JO) should speak. Red multitude ti' years sho u ld teach wisdom." Now far Dean Wood cony acccsie to the retch mf this remark, sa applicable to ow, I dare not venture pe. remprorily to decide. Hot lem Inclined to believe, from the inter courfe whit% has passed between as on former occasions, he will not be indiapoeed to pay some deference to the opinion of a brother Clergrman, who is row in the ilthl year of his age ; and l have no hesitation in stating most unequivncaliy shot that opinion is. The decision or an well.tnformed a Civilians as Sir John Nichol!, jus tifies, I think, any slittister of the Established Church in pur suing that line of tendert torrents Diseenters of all denominations, which candour. and meekness. and nuideradun, and Christian chit rity, must make him anal:net to parsue nn nil ocessiona, especially upon so interesting a ones as that mentioorl in your I,PCI, and In behel,f of am individual belonging to a sect reinatic.ittly peaceful, pious. ind inoffensive. lie so good ea to show the Da t a whkt I have written, he may, perhaps, be induced to respect my atlases lions. I. am, Sir, yours'. &e. To the Rev, Time. Rowe. H. Notterten. Wesleyan Minister, Lynn. After reading this letter. the Learned Gentleman passed a most eloquent cuing um on the venerable Bishop, arid onseved that if ell the 'norther% of the Established Chnrch wan imbued with ON spirit. no person would regret to see them in the enjoyment of all that wealth and splendour which kliey now possessed. He then pmeeeded to recommend a plot he •nleli he thought many of the vexationslt.ttstrearroasesderogegjenaepuedesteeeimikaa& fox Dirt 'enter% to procure burial emu nth, or their own. He wen atom duo le the country the expose et reining a eliepel often esti:meted their finances, but he thought that whendver a new chapel was erected, a piece of ground !Mould, if possible, be porouriated for a eeele tery. Such bad been done at Manchester. ° The benefits that could wipe from ouch a plan were obvious. Mary miscellaneous sub ject* hail come under the notice of the Society. They hat received a letter Irmo the Rev. Mr. Thorpe, stating that a chapel being about to be built at Mangotelitild, the clergyman hail threatened to pull it dime if it wire erected in a situation so approximate to the Established Church. The Committee replied that the chapel ought not to be erected so near se to give neediess offence to any pious members belonging to the Established Church, These thing, were certainly little in themolves, but it was the aggregste of tittle thine' rho mnde dupe great. The spirit of persecution was manifested by them, and ,hewed that, though that spirit was manacled by the law and the opinion of the public, still the send existed, which .hewed the necessity of that law being upheld, and the public opinion expressed. The Learned Secretary then made observations on the eon-Liability of Dissenting Ministers to serve on Juries, under the new Act, provided they did not follow any business; also the exemption to which such Ministers were en. titled, though following the buisinees of cultivators' of land, farmers not bees' traders s.ithin the Bankrupt Laws. and therefore such occupations did not deprive Direentieg Ministers of any privileges which they enjoyed under the Toleration Act. He also mentioned several cases relating to the necessary forms to be °braved in obtaining cenificatea from the Registrar for legalizing pieces of religious worship; and lie stated that it appeared to him, in order to render such documents official it was necessary they should be signed by the Archbishop, his Secretary, or of the regular official registrar appointed by them. When the registra. (inn had been made, either with the civil or ecelesisetical authority, all was done that the law required. In the bile of Man a Mr. Dalrymple had established a Sunday school in his own house, which the Bishop had attempted to suppress. Every thing eclat ing to that island was involved in mystery. The Bildern claimed this power ender some old Act of Tynwald, passed in IPA and said that the Toleration Law heal no power in the Isle of Man. If that wee so. then the Legislature ought to interfere, and not ander that little isle to form a dark spot unillumined by th it light which beamed over all the other parts of the empire. It Canada it was known that the Catholic religion was the ntabliehed religion. After the alteration had taken place, many Presbyterians settled there, and an Act was passed to allow Protestants as well as Ca tholics to celebrate marriage, burial, and baptism. Subsequently several Methodists and Calvinists settled there and enjoyed this right ; but lately the Chief Justice lead refused to sign their books, as required by the statute. An appeal WWI made to the courts of law, when it was decided that Dissenters were not Proteststots. The consequence was, the Metlpdists and Calvinist, were precluded from the right they had bere enjoyed. An Act had, after a second attempt, passed the tied Houses in Canada to rentektbie defeet. but the Anorney.Geereal tied Chief Juetlee tlecfinell to ratify It until it should be appreend 04aad continued by his Ma. jestee Government. It woo under these eircutostattees that the Canadians had applied to this Society for its interposition melte. behalf. The Attorney-General and' Chief Justice.of Canada had transmitted with the Bill a protest against its being plowed into a law. [The Learned Secretary then proceeded to read the protest, and to comment upon and point nut the futility of its rep_ Boning'. He next adverted to the necessity of some tin enactment respecting the registration of baptisms and birtlie:l It bad hitherto been supposed that regietratioti by a Dissentin g Minister was equally valid as that by a Minister of the Established Church. but the contrary bad been determined by a decision of the Court of Chancery as well as by the Ecclesiastical Courts. and, in consequence, great dismay had been spread among the diuseming congregations throughout the couniry. The registrar's, (A.. Wil. hams) library alto was so imperfect, that it might be neonsary, after a considerable lapse of time, to prune the hand-writing of the parents and ()there, whose signatures were affixed. In con sequence of there inconveniences, it had been the (Meet/ of the Committee last year to communicate with Governmen e e to appeal at once to those who had the management of Of sirs in their hands, and to seek their protection and support. TI ,e Committee sought, while they contemplated bringing the subject before the Legislature of the country, to obtain the patronage of enlightened noblemen. and of the most distinguished senator., of the Lower House of Parliament. The nuode by which he proposed to remedy those ills was simply te consider the registration, not as an ecclesiastical, but an a civil matter (applr,use), so that all, without reference to their religious tenets, or the habits of their mi nister'', should equally have the right of inserting the names of their children and of securing die means of authentication, sib proposed also that the clerk, of the peace she old be the officers en trusted welt the care of those records. Weser ] lie ment i one d his proposition to Lord Liverpool. that Noble. Lord declared that the measure appeared to him desirable, and thee he was willing to lend it his enncurrence (appleuse); but at the •rarue time intimated that it was a measure which belonged more voticularlv to the province of the Secretary of the Home Department. He (Mr. Wilke) therefore waited on Mr. Peel, and he etruld not say that lie was re ceived by that Right Hon. Gentleman with the same cordiality as by Lord Liverpool. Mr. Peel heeitused much about the expedi ency of the proposed alterations ' • he said ha s hould b e o bli ge d to consult many erratum. Ile said he could not legislate on so im. pertant' a matter in a hurry, and he said what he (Mr. Wilks) could not coincide in, that the thing ought to be made compulsory. While Mr. Peel doubted, on one 'mod, whether any alteration were desirable, he thought, on the outer, that any mode of proceeding which might be adopted ought to be made obligatory on all the parties. The result was his ph anise that when the Parliament was dissolved, and he should have some leisure, he would give the mat. ter his attention, and make melds mind either to brit.g it forward in the course of the next Session or or *lse to apprise the Society of hi s ob. jections. The Committee leeld slot) caul Bred ii their duty to make an application to Parliameree on the subject of negro slavery. That was a subject on which all/Protestants should befunaniutous; and a petition was In consequence presented, praying that negro slavery. should be abolished fur ever. (Applause.) It might be doubted whether that question Cats of too political a nature to be the object of a Society horned for the protection of religious liberty. But the question whetter 83,000 fellow.creatures ought to remain slaves or not, aopear to the Committee to involve many religious as well as moral coroiderations. It war the greatest blot in the history of this wintery that slavery bad been permitted to exist so long The cause of the abolition was a glorious cause ; but at the same time they would not be friends to the neemes—they would nor be friends to the country who should attempt pre cipitately to mill down an edifice, which, however wrongfully erected, must .lee allowed to involve in its existence much property and comfort. (Applause.) The declaration of the inten. tious of Ministers, and the expression of public opinion, would, he hoped, utren ithen the hands of those liberal persons who wished to effect a change which was too long procrastinated. The Committee bad been aetuatal by the belief that the guinea ought to be brought forward again and again. It was not by adopting the sentiments and cool reasonings of Adam Smith that any good was to be effected, there were many persons, who, though they pretended to humanity: yet cared snore for a prick in their finger than for the pangs of thousands; who, if they were tall of an earthquake, would exclaim “Altes 1" and talk again of the festering of their linger. (Applano.) But gond could lei expected only from those who, while free from the pains of others, sympathised with the agonies which rend their hearts. With respect to the Test and Corporation Acts, the tat. ease circumstances of the country. and the stiortnessof the See. Otto, nrodered it unfit to address the Legislature on the subject., It was therefore ;emptied. with the conviction that whenever it was brought forward it eltould be brought forward as a great subject. It was only by speaking firmly that the dissenters could hope to be freed from those vexteitess laws. He hoped that they would be true to themselves. He trusted that in giving their votes at the emitting election they would n o t crouch to powereior be swayed by interest, but cunt they would vote Our congenial spirits, who would pledge theowelves to promote. here and everywhere throughout the world, freedom, truth. and liberty of ceeseleice. He would here relate an anecdote of is Gentlemareof the noblest principles.who was at present Member for Surrey when asked by a freeholder. on one occasion. what he thought of Bible Secietio, of popular education, end i d the Test Act, that Honourable Gentleman replied diet he was President of a Bible Society in the comity in which he lived ; th a t he maintained a school in the North of England, at his own ex. pence aud that, with regard to the Test Act, he considered it a disgrace to the Established Church. (Applause.) If the Protestant Dissenter, were true to thenotelyee—if they would show their re. apectabilityottength, and tletaminaikta, ha trusted that they would be relented from the degradlow neneesify of an annual Act of in demnity. end from the Innumerable petty vexations which might be aleeignated ineulterathof then-wrongs, He Bunted that they would thus gain artentitin and struggle into command. (Great applattee.) He was really compelled to go into many deed's. too speaking as he WI/ with the knowledge that the Nodle Cli Armen win &Aged to go at an early hour. he would endeavour to be brief. He hoped he would be Permitted to state that lie received optooriptiope and cienmeniestions from Scotland, which were highly. hononwilele to that country as well as to the Society ; his co rtespondent expecemel hie surprise that such differatein should exist between renneuernittelpeparsted only by the Tweed. In the Nneth, they said, they were treed from vexations laws ; but there wee • time when dark cloud• hung over themselves ; they pro. .11/iPCCI their amebae:Be to the Diseenf era of England in such a man ner ea to remove the slur of selfishness which bail been east on the inhabitants of the North. (Applause.) He ( Mr. Wilke) was not one disposed to envy the revenues of the Esteblielied Chattel ; 'these who accused the Dissenters of envy, eutigeit, he believed, front themselves. Llnitghter and applause ) Tee mirtoers of the Protestant Dissenters did not yield to Rey, he was convinced, inodity and teaming ; and when they--obliged as they were lo liveten the love uPtheir parishioners—passed by the palaces of hi. shops, it was their fervent prayer, he was sure, that those Prelates might have, obit theft increased means of liberality, that literality of heart- which could *Pine toinctiiy the means. But with what feelings mold the ingenuous and educated youth of Dissenters look at theaneignerable edifice.. in this country, which were thought to Metro !. the deep and sacred spriegs of teeming ? He hail hitneele wandered along the streams of the Cam and the Isis, and he bound himself. on those hallowed batiks, estranger in Ms nauue land, and on the borders of • Paradise which he amid not Met. DiSOCltars could not be admitted into those Universities, utilege by apoetaciam from the principles of their forefathers. and by the admission of principles which their consciences raj acted. They co Id not gather the laurels which grew teem, without signing article, of faith. These were odious diatinctiopa, and he was glad of anythiag which could do away with them. He am glad that men of influence and of unbounded ability were endeavouriog to Mond in London a University, in which Protestants and Catholics, Jews noel Chris. tians, to t ell reed* mama I toftivation, without ssiy reference to religious breeds. OpPlattets.) fir hoped that similar Colleges would be nun hsaliteegreateistea,ehmoghoutthernaotry,andthatthe causesotfreligfon and lileflity *weld go on triumphantly together. He was deeirohs tie 4 *iwint: to trance : although a greet pm thfn dr Ktie pent& atter I•PrdnerY•wateroillmosetell ep most Imputation.. and although some bigoted !Immune, had been sallipted there. Wadi were familiar to tyranny in all parts of the worltl, yet there were' evidences of growing knowledge in France which could not be overiooked ; the general enthusiasm cynical the ease of General ' Foy, and in the cause of th e G ree k s ,' w as rite Heat budding et a Reins, which, be triteted, would ore long blossom and bring forth 1 fruit. With regard to America, there weewo country in which the peeanns at the head Orating were more determined to support the cease of liberty. He then adverted ro the conduce of Don Rodri- i guez. Phut distinguished individual had rived how much might be done by persevering efforts. H e had ta t t during forty-one rears at it the college of Lim.* ; and when at the eof eighty, venerable by his yeses and by his nentlmenta,he. *is led into the hall bf demi ! ties ; Its there advociued the principlief of religloue liberty; he beg. gad the deputies to repudiate from their counsels the doctrine that the Roman Catholic religion was tees religion of the State, and he declared Ills willingness to write in 'his dying blood that the religion of Jesus Christ was the religion oCthe State. Such was the protest of that great man. and it was rertarksble that among the persons who signed that protest there w,te nine Catholic Priests. in 3letele a. the same spirit prevailed. although strenimusly opposed by the Priests. It wits the deternii Astir.° ef the Meaican Government, however, that in every village of that great State there should be a school and a er:roing-press ; and if schools and printing-presses were countenanced by the (internment, the power of &Antes must yield to the growing illitmi cation of truth andhnowledge ( Applause.) ' With respect to the Society. it was perpetually afteallal by letters and by pamphlets, some of whi c h condescehded to attack the'', humbfe individual whorthen addressed tile assembly, but he MIN not at all appalled by dense attacks ; on the contrary, complaints of the bigoted and the eWejudiceil always inspired him with fresh hopes • they seemed to him a criterion of the success of the Society. But the hostility of /ouch persons did not diminish the patronage which the Society vawyed, and which was displayed at their &afloat meetings. On one of those occasions they had been Immure(' wi.lt the presence of his' Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. (Great ' applause.) On Leather occasion they had Mr. John Shilih. the general friend of t um tnity and of liberty (applause) ; they had had a descendant of (te House of }tureen (applause) ; they had bad a Noblemen (Loa. Deere) who was then present, and whom he hoped often to see spin. whose unsolicited attendance evinced a cordiality which deserted the peculiar gratitude oh the assembly (great ap plauve); they had had, too, a Nobleman (Mr. Wilk* here turned to the Chairmen. the Marquis of Lareelowit) whom, days were devoted to the aerate of his rountry,who laboured without remuneration, and who env /tell with his whole heart in every question that concerned the peont i e or conesitutiottal liberty. (Immense applaute.) Well might lie two° be •• rirtute non verbis!" It was not by eloquent pretensions. hat by courage manifested In the defence of right, that he solght to earn the gratitude of hi e coun t r y ; n or wou ld Ids cow* prove ungrateful to him : he would live in the page of his. tory l e _ he was one of whom it would he s a id, i s: wink l e/e a w h o p rvirs y-iintr when dead deplored. (Immense applause.) But lie (M.s. Wilke) would tell that nobleman, that it was not reserved for 1 KIVA statesmen to direct the destinies of the country. They might Ming to a focal point the light which wan diffused among the people; they might give a splendor to their arguments; but in the present state of society everything depended oat knowledge; from f true principles flowed true prosperity. Knowledge was rapidly advinci.lg. and then, with such commanders, and with such a host, far be despair from their spirits. (Applause.) But they ought not to allow their own happy circunietances to create in them an apathy with regard to the situation of foreign countries. Greece had excited a strong sympathy through all Europe ; distinguished ladies ie France had bestowed their jewels to aid that glorious caner: and he would bay, when addressing an aaeembly composed of Christians and of females, that in England there had been too much indifference to that cause. The creeks, it was true, were called insuigents, but they were not ea that account to be cnitdenined: what ware the Reformation ? what was the Revo- lution ? what was the extortion of the great charter by the Herons? were not all these insurrection,? (Great applause.) What was light hut an insurrection from darkness? (Applause.) The Greeks were insurgents, it was true, but they were insurgents in their na. live land, struggling to be free from tyrannous itivaders. He trusted that they would have timely succour, and would finally prevail ; the moat adverse circumstances ought never to give birth to despair ; the example of Holland struggling against the power of Spain. or even of this little island contending with the migin of Europe. ought to convince them of the truth of that tnaxim which the sages of old had inculcated, that good efforts were never lost, but that they would ultimately spring up and bear fruit. It could not he denied that in spite of the difficulties of their struggles, the Greeks were now approaching to the possession of their liberty. At bliasolonghi, children of ten years of age, ma tron*, and wives, fought by the aide of their fathers and hus bands. With such a spirit, success was inevitable; the Cross would never be trodden down ; Freedom and Christiaeity would again celebrate their triumphs, and the peals of the rejoic ing Greeks would echo from the rocks, and electrify. the unieene.—(lmmense applause.)—From their history we might learn not to despair on account of difficulties in a good cause, nor to relax in prosperity : we might also learn to cherish liberality and religious freedom; we might learn the truth of the maxim. Refigio non pnfrst cuyi, a sentiment which lactamius taught 1600 years ago ; tor he saw the folly of legislating on matters of religious belief—he saw the fully of Teat and Corporation Acts, and of all similar laws, which might force men to dissemble, but could not convert them. Who could allow such a presumptuous intrusion between his conscience rind his God ? 'flue right of such inter ference did not belong even to tire loftiest spirits. 'Whenever such an interference with his conscience should be attempted, he would lay his hand on his breast and exclaim, " Here I am, and here I will be free."--(Great applause.)—But they ought to remember that it was their privilege and their duty to sympathise with the afflicted in all pare of the world. They were assailed by only petty wrongs, but the world was now approaching the state of one great faintly. A little pebble, dropped in one 'part of the ocean of human society, soon caused a generel undulation over the whole surface. Wherever a spirit was trembling to be free we ought to aid and encourage it by our approbation. He reprobated the eel (Winers which sometime* influenced Pmteseent dissenters—which induced than to bring their children to the parish churches, or to send them to the Universities. He lamented the conduct of Moe persons, not because they diminished the numbers of the rnniety, but itecauee they sacrificed their honour, which was dearer than life. They ought not to allow the spirit of selfishness to operate on them; nor, when emerging from the cave of thraldom, nun breathing the sweet air of liberty, ought they to be forgetful of others who were labouring in afHiction. If he were able to show selfishness in all it, deformity, he was sure that those who were niost under its dominion would ehrihk from the monster. If he could depict it with the hideous aspect in which it attracted the young and the old, bentmebing and infusing into their hearts the poison of apathy ; all, he was persuaded, would resist its iefluence, and would continue etedfast in the attachment which had grown grey wi,h many who were grey around him. But he would not despair while the love of liberty increased ; with that the enters of their cause was indissolubly linked; end if he were asked what ought to be the motto of their Society, ge would reply, in the lan. lower of the immortal Locke, •• Liberty, absolute liberty, just and true liberty, equal and impartial liberty, is the thing we need." (Enthusiastic plaudits accompanied the conclusion of the eloquent 1 Secretary'. speech.) The Rev. Jodi' Mounisoti, of Chertsey. then rose to propose the first resolution, which asserted and deprecated any interference with the rights of conscience. lie could not conceal the satist4ction he felt at seeing a distinguished Nobleman in the chair. lie had been always accustomed, as a Briton, to look on the aristocracy as the common property of the country, not to be noinopolized, there fore, by any one sect 01 party. He would take that opportunity of telling his Lordship that the Dissenters were the most loyal portion of the community—loyal, ht meant, to the civil part of theConstitu. tion ; he hoped Mat those who dissented from the ecclesiastical part of the Constitution would not on that account be deemed disloyal to th e cou nt r y. But he did not wish to detain the Meeting; he wo u ld only say. that if they were arrived at the period when no such de. tails coeld be furnished as hail been heard that morning —derails heard with run by v./cry generous mind—they would not even then be justified in giving tip the Society; for if it were given up th e s ame evils would immediately recur. The bigotted were awed. by the reflection that if they departed frail,' the ways of liberali., and justice, the eyes of the Society were on them. They feared not imprisonment nor amercenient, but the move liberal punish. merit inflicted by die opinions of 16 Ira people. (Applawic) The resoludoit s t r4iielt wean:tended by lie Rev. T. Welker, new then reed. and ' d unanimously. card theilist*t e w i' l l( ile t ri tem uf en t4 ;el 6 l Li t ilin he ill ettstin 4"e uaa' W ee, P b r y w row " . o th f e rel7- gion Th e e d i i: ' ii V n . L . rmif ' , and the met esite of stab supeediee the not-jeep. wHheickhlthethwar4thaeime7lgutlitto offer „r ap , o h lo t tr umeni fier t b h ir e , d bu lts t tr. y lit : :‘ ,3 e n e t v e at t i i o n t: he felt that it would be a dereliction of his duti base tiffiressi tie and a Pro:Went Minister, if were to reinlii3 sifevit: . ..t was au im minent nbservation, . oat by his:ory, t;tet kpowledge, though tartly and at times apP• try retrograde, was tot tfieditole mistral i iel its ptuevene; public opinion, het the fabled seve res t 'ine qu ity, m i g h t enmesh:bee disappear and run under gioutul: but it would emerge again and fertilise the mewl through which it fiewrl. Formerly; godlike men were compelled to reach by stealth, biu now truth :night' dare to come forth, and to ad venre anmegst men, with a maker, tuts(' grandeur rettliarly her own. Mut'e bad been done, but much siel) remained to do; vexatiene, however iiicesesidevel.le they might be, were repugnant to the principles of liberty ; the ptieoner. Ina Hants his dungeon to breathe the tree air, would not feel lee r ier ye **tied while he carried a single manacle on his arm. He 'tuba therefore express his conviction.. that as lure sh a eingle reetriction re. mains' on freedom ofeonscience. sit Itn.g the end of that Society, tie attainmsnt of true liberty, was not accomplished. It Was someway* said the Prates:ant Dissenters were the ettrocatee oflibeityon iy eeemsfle they were the lowest class of tiociey ; and that if tluy bedroll/ix the, would soon become tyrants; but he appealed W e _hirtgay foreige proof, that in all circumstences of p owe r as Weir aj advarsity. the Protestant Dissenters had been the steadfast. eyeless/ode arieocater of religious liberty ; let timee who thought othetsitee rigid Procile,g Answer to Hornse„Godurhe'r liirtnry ry die Rtpubfic., or the Meanies of Castel Hutchinson, written by his Limners') wit. He gloried in the name of a Protestant Di etentor, or Pectestane Mlntiter. Let Indivldsals marmot their efiatieuteohtshled by the indusety of their patents, end rile to am ship 10 the Establiehee Church ; he would willingly east off sack incumbraimeca, eethhilhesnt that the symmetrical faits of a religious society, when uhaderned ' with curb characters, wax adorned the most.. Thh•Disienters' were governed only-by couviction e clear arguments alone milli weigh with a rational mind ; persecution would al wart.heedlefeatests it called forth the latent energies of men. Pereenstign wee new Mall Of Arm mind as feathers to the oleic, which:thump" they had come weight in themselyee , . eie make a e r srorossie pisioa, and enabled' him to fleet* co o s ' Le tram softie) hero /alb Inok down with troetempt nn Outran/Ir' Welt crawled lehew. It war ice superiority in liberal ,en , derhieh made this century oesigi eke creligrii Mirerlifider et thw ' 'MB dlaillidian 4 liberality were gener a lly' diff - sirkil Belvet l i r re hisses of society. end cnnfined t o th ' tie Med fere other& the object of the So c i e ty would Mit rre iv a : (A oPlidle.) stel w The Rev. W. PLATT fecnildeal the tesolstioti.' atria was ther • reed and carried uranimottoly. The Rev. Mr. M. Wfens roue to propose a.resollition *high he was sure would be carried unanimously and enthnelisticedly ; it was a resolution of thsnkti me thee illustrious Chairman. (Greet apedaueu.) He had beets Called on to propose a Resolution rotative to the Test and Coltionition Acts. for which ,he gl:wlit substituted that which he row proposed. He heft(' the; the Noide Lord would allow the respectability asel intellect (int/played in that *Numbly to weigh with hies—that be would accept their acknowledgments and gratitude—and that, "bile they pledged themselves, on one herd, to seek the abolition of those 'te atimes Acts. the Noble .Marquis would not refuse them tly aid of that eloquence *Mee so often enlightened, not only ;he Heins* ef . Parliament. but all Europe. (Applause.) it The Rev. It. Dame. of Cumberland, seronded the reedistieri e which was carried with great acclamations ;it whit as fellness : • Resolved, That this Meeting rejoice its an opportunity publicly to express their prof/nand and grateful respect to their Noble their. man, the Noble Marquis of latnedown, which has been inspired by his private charateer Ord pubee worth, and assure him that lelt dedication of high talents to the welfare of his country, to the maintenance of f . , sod' to a general anielioratioa of the des tinies of man, has ob fi ned foe him admiration and love, confidence. renown, anti unporc tile praise. The Mat ;tie of west:low, certainly felt that it wo u ld b e te e . possible for him to Mt that room without expensing the deepens., which he entertain of the much tno fl ittering terms in witch that , Me of thaski the!, kindness had dietitted,'lted been moved by the r7 a eloquent and Rev. Gentlemen who had just addressed them. Tltd only return that he could make for that kindness was to state (which he (lid with that sincerity which had justly been described as the first or virtues) dee real and heartfelt sattsfaclon with which he found himself I - manure(' by the situation in which he new stood. in a meeting' dedicated to the noble purpose, of supporting and pro tecting relietotiN Sherry. ((.'heers.) And he requested this &seem bly would feel assured that if he had come there to-day by invita tion. not an unwilling isticisiant to their proceeding—on a day which might perhaps rather be considered as one of exercise and recreation, he should not be found wanting among therb, without invitation, on the ifey of peace; for he would not honour with the name of cordlict that setjee of petty persecution*, that little Yea/fare of hostile. but he trusted impotent, religious in -I Utterance which had heed described and stated in thespeech el' their most eloquent and able Secretary. He wnuid nut allow himself te think that they were endangered from that fire of petty musketry to those sufferings to ehich they had, indifferent times and in de fence of their eeligionl their comm . ' bees eeposed, front the heavy can fired' and"NrecietTfth , an lifetent. higieted, and per secuting, and therefore wicked hovernment. (Cheers.) In this country, to a great eaten . they had the lair of the country with them, and he trusted they Id balm it still more. And while her certainly should not be ex in this place to give a particular or detailed ofinion, with respect to any meaaure which he might be called upon to vote, as a Member of the Legislature of the coun try, after having heard all that could be said for or against them, he trusted he might appeal to the conduct of his public life, in order to ask this Meeting whether they did not believe that that conduct would appear to he determined by a desire or every occasion, as the opportunity arose, to preserse and secure the most ietertimable blessing which a onbjeet of a free country could enjoy ? He saw with pleasure the meeting of this day, nos only because it afforded a great and useful facility for procuring information which was essential to:hem all, and aiding to obtain the enjoyment of that right common to them all, but because he thought the free in tercommunity and exchange of opinions between persons differing in some shades in their religious opinions, but uniting in the worship of one Saviour and one Uod, was in hock attended not only with great temporal, but. if he might be allowed to sac so, with great spiritual advantage. He believed that, tinder these circumstances, they did not learn to cherish theirown peculiar principles less, but he believed they learned to respect the principle, of others more, and to devotee! , those great principles in which all who addressed one Providence must he united. He had there fore only to repeat, that in every relation whet. he co u ld till in society, he still wax proud to find himself here this day. As a man, he felt anxious to contribute initegarding and preserving that right to others which he wished to preserve for himeelf—a fees exercise of his own intellect, the first great gift of Providence so man. (('heers.) As a political member of society, he felt anxioott that the blessings of the Constitution under which be lived should be extended without distinction to all ; and tint the attachment u( all—its subjects should be rivetted by that which could alone rune secrete and confirm attachment—a participation in all its rights and privileges (cheers); and such a participation he would extend se all, to those who differed front him most he would extend it in the greatest degree ; because he, believed that that partici p a. tion was to be finally the greatest corrective of all false opinions, and the bond by which all Opinions might be bound to. gether in the common cause of Christianity. He had said thee much as a man, and as a member of the political society in which he lived. But he felt also that he was a member of the Church of ' England ; and, as a member of the Church of England, having told them what hr felt in other relations• he must add, that he most particularly felt that her interests were concerned In connecting her existence with the sanction of a free exercise of religious worship tnroughout the empire. And far from thinking that she could with propriety, oreven with safety. rely upon the rotten prop and the tree cherous defence of penalties imposed upon conscience, and premiums, held out to hypocrisy (cheers), she owed it not less to her safety, 1 than he was sure she did to her fame, to rest her existenre(protected as she ought to be since estabiished bylaw) upon the breast basher re ligious freedom, upon the free access ro the throne of God by every man through that medium which he might think best calculated its the honour of his name, and, anove all, by securing every comsat of men's lives that right, and seeking what was of most value, that liberty of cur science and liberty of thought, which need not now be said, in the language of the most amiable of writer*, was a liberty by poets left unsung end senators unexpressed, but which they might always continue to add, is a l'bertyll which, " whose tastes can be enslaved no more." (Cheers.) He would now take his leave, which he should not have done so early, were it not that hie family was in the country, and that he had attended with some in convenience to hitnself. Deeply impressed with the able and forcible arguments that he had heard employed by the (Semis:nen near him (Mr. iVilke), and the multitude of feces trench he had stated, there could, he thought, be but one conclusion drawn—that the importance of the callow which this Sosiety advocated added to the safety and prosperity of the country. (Cheers.) . Mr. WI Les said, he wax sure the Meeting would be ahem pointed if they were allowed to depart without haring the opporea nity of expressing their grateful feelings to the Noble Lord now present (Lord Dacre), who had, on a former occasion, at their peas titular request, favoured them with preoidirg at their anneal Meeting. Unsolicited, on this occasion, the Noble Lord favoured them with his company, and they could not allow him to depart without expressing their regard and gratitude for his eontinued sap. port to this great cause they had met to protect, and of their cones dence that he would live and die the friend and advocate of Carl and Religious Liberty throughout the world. The foamed Oen denten then moved a vote of thanks to his Lordship, cob aiu as with the :tenements of his speech. Lord Dec RE shortly returned thanks. and usured the NI of his determined support being at all times given, to the orm e ll i 3' ' his power, to the great principles which this Society moment to up. holi. With respect to the 'fest Act, he onnsidered it to be one of the greatest blots nn the Statute Hie*, and to which it behoved A the friend* of Civil and Religious Liberty to address their best at tention and energies. If they did so, he was sure they would ulti mately succeed in getting it removed from the code of British Laws. lie received with gratitude the testimony of .betr appett betinn. The Marquis of ',wittier and Lord Dean now left the rooms and were greatly cheered as they mused. Mr. Stephens was again called to the Chair. Dr. DROWN than rose to move several other reaolutioros which the lateness of the hour made it necessary should be moved se raise, in doing which he impressed upon the:Sleeting the heeessite 1 of entering the births of their children In thee family Bible whigt ' would prevent the necessity of their going to the EstmdemsdChursh `for the purpote of b apt i sm , w hi c h h e understood was frequentln done under the apprehenaioo that it was requisite, in order Memo woo Itgalweidessoot . tho blab sod parentage of choir obilekten. All