The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-30 00:00:00

....wiled b;yand sit . rep qattou _
Gentlentin with tepid to his Conduct. whiclarail caused the
Synod of Scotland to suspend hint front his sacred ditties foe six
months- It was given nut that the meeting would take place at
six o'clock ; but lung before that hour the thews were beset by a
great number of persons, anxious to gain an early aintisition for the
purpose of procurinq sea s.
A little after sit o clock we observed Mr. Fletcher in the chapel.
endeacmtring to make the hest arrangentemis for the accommoda-
tion of his follotr-rs. and the strangers who had been led by curio-
shy to the chapel to hear the proceedings of the evening.
At about half-past 'six a hymn was sung by the congregation,
and as extemporaneous prayer delivered by the Ilea. Mt. Castleton.
After the perfortumat of this religious ceremony—
Mr. Jotts addreltsell the Meeting. He stated that it was not
the first Congretpitionsl Meeting that had been held in that chapel.
Trot that it was by far the most important one. and is they lead be-
fore called gentlemen to the chair who had refused to take it, and
afterwards been obliged to have leonine to the services of their
worthy pastor. lie should Move. in the tirst instance, that the 11ev.
.tlexautler Fletcher do take the chair.
This resolution being untoimoualy agreed to, Mr. Fletcher en-
tered the clerk's desk, which was corsidemil the chair on the oc-
casion.

The Ctt at a Df AN then observed. that for the sake of their friends
in the gallery, he should be anxious the shut detail. that he should
lay before them should be distinctly heard, and therefore, after the
preliminary business was gone through at the desk, he should then
gn up to the pulpit. and give the statement which was no necessary
nv hi+ own vindication. against those abominable chores which
were intended to injure his character and prevent his iisefulnev .
Ile then read the requisition, signed by several of the congregation,
for calling the meeting.
There wan a conniderable noise in the gallery at this time. itpon
which the Chairman said, .• I anticipate that thin will he one of
lho most orderly mecringl ever held in the metropolis; if you
should cause it to be otherwise, 1 can only say that 1 ant veal,
deceived."
31r,_JoN it then waved—

the Rev. Alexander Fletcher, whom we have chosen to
be our Minister for the last thirteen years, be still considered by us
as such, notwithstanding the unfounded invidious attack made by
his enemies against his moral character, aid the unparallrled—un-
christian seiner ste passed by the United Associate Synod of Edin-
burgh on the lath instant, suspending him from preaching to us
for silt months to come; being fully convinced that his persecution,
in this instance, originated in malice, was carried on by envy, and
the decision accomplished by the force of false testimony."
After Mr. Jousts had read this Itesolution, he observed. that
Ebenercr Erskine seceded 97 years ago, Mr precisely the saute rea-
sons that they now were about to secede front this secession church;
but he thought the Synod, on the lath September, overstrained
their mark, and at no distant period they might find that they had
I done so. _ - _

The t'NaIAaLAB, nn haring the Resolution which Mr. Jones
had just read given to him to put from the Chair. said, that as it
referred entirely to himself, it might not be delicate toe him to read
it. and therefore he molt desire Mr. Junta to put it ; which he did,
and it teas carried by acclamation.
Mr. Ft.xTCHEtt then stated, that as he was the servant of Lon.
don. he shodil have great satisfaction if his friends in the gallety
would hold up their hands in testinony of their good opinion of
At this request almost every Iverson in the gallery held up
their hands.]—The Rev. Gentleman then said, that he had to ex
ress to the seat-holders, in the presence of the Searcher of Hearts,
his unfeigned gratitude for their kindness and Christian love
towards Inn, w Melt caused him to any, in the language of Ruth to
Naomi. " With yoU I will lire, with you I hill die." He con-
sist:Nil himself as the property otf the metropolis. Never had there
been an occasion when he could serve the charities of London. and
particularly School Institution, that he ever was found wanting.
and lie never would be, so long as his heart beat in his bosom and
his tongue proclaimed the messages of
Mr. 1/0176t.Att was happy to stand pesos.
free-born Britons to
use his efforts in resisting oppression. The congregation had suf.
feral by an act of tyranny with the Minister, and therefore it was
their cause as well as hi.. He would now offer to their notice a re-
solution that he hoped would be received with unanimous appro.
hation; it was—

"That we, as Protestant dissenters, enjoying evtry protection
and indulgence from our benign Sovereign. consider a a duty we
owe to lam, under God, to obey. those laws enacted by hint in
Council, and to resist every description of tyranny and oppression
not sanctioned by the wholesome laws of this happy island ; and
we consider it s cruelty the most extreme to he thus deprived OF the
Minister we love, and at the same time to be robbed (as is the
design of a few only) of our place of worship. which, by our
voluntary contributions, we erected for the purpose of his preach-
ing to us the everlasting Gospel."
lie had no hesitation in saying. that the Synod had been duped,
and they had been prevented from giving a candid hearing to both
sides. " Gave your signatures to the petition been surreptitiously
obtained i" A general cry n( " No. no, they hire nit." lie
might express henna, warmly, but be hepfd nut unbecomingly
so ; for it' the present generation did not remit such an act of op-
yression as this on 'latish land the spirits of their forefathers would
cry out against them.
The motion was then pat x 65 osti r ; and-- -
Mr. Jones, in seconding it, said, that ail individual in the
Synod had asserted that the signatures to the petition had been stir.
reptitiously procured; but that was false. lie. Watigles congrega-
tion had signed the petition against the Presbyters of Loudon, fur
' not abiding by in arbitration.
An allusion was here made to same person in the gallery bolding
up his hand against the passing of the firsttevolution.
Mr. FLETCII4:II, in reply Mr. Junes, who noticed it, said
he had no doubt it was a Mistake.

A person in the gallery said—" I beg leave toasty that it was not
a mistake."
Mr. Firtecit In—" My friend!. I beg to assure you that flentle.
man is • most worthy person. Ile was the first who 'Mewed me
hospitality on my arrival in this'capital. Ibis was the first table in
London that I ever sat at. /lie was the first bed here that I ever
slept in. With Into I first prayed in this great city. I believe
him in my heart a most excellent man; but I txlieve him to be de-
ceived. I wish no more disapprobation to be %hewn towards hint.
I A person in the body of the Chapel then got up and said \(r.
Fletcher should have gone round to the houses of the members;
the Church of England 3linisters would have done so; instead of
that none of tea lisiVe been called upon."
A ikelaration was then read, whielt, it was slated, would lie for
signature* in the vestry. It was to the following effect:_
That the undersigned aympetbisett with the Rev. Alexander
Fletcher at the treatment he had experienced, and the calumnies
he had been subjected to; that they were anxious to continue him
as their Minister, in order that he might open en them the oracles
of divine truth; that the facts stated in the (7ourt of King's Peach
ought to have satisfied the minds of the members of any Church
'mitt. and that the ontutoet of the Presbyters of London and Synod
of Edinburgh was oppressive and unjust; that the keeping of the
communion plate. and the trying, Co force another Pastor upon the
Chapel, was highly improper conduct, and 'hewed that the mem.
bets of the Synod were no longer ft to act in that cansei!r ; that
the unit:coigned protested against the decision of the synod. and
they would not allow their Minister to lie removed ; and that it was
the firm purpose of their hearts to have no other 31inister.-
I)iced London, Sept. i 9. 1g24.
Another Declaration, to be signed by youths above 11 years of
age. who may choose to subscribe to it, was then read. It was to
the following effect :
That they had a sincere regard for the (tee. Alexander Fletcher,
from whom they had received instruction, and it was their anxious
hope that he would long continue their Minister to instruct and
comfort them.—This was also dated the 29th Sept. Ile4.
Mr. JON El then moved, that a Committee of Managers he ap-
point to draw up a statement to contradict the assertions of 3lr.
Kirkaldy, and others, at the Synod, that they might he sent forth
t o the public through the press ; fur the Papers had already had a
share in the transaction, and he was happy they hail, for it was the
pride and glory of Britain that her press was free.
This motion being regularly put, wns unanimmtsly carried.
Mr. Fi.rTcnEß. by this time, having got into the pulpit, ob-
served that it might be expected of him to give is lengthened history
of his unworthy life; but be should only touch on a few particu-
lars immediately connected with theobjmt of their meeting, as it
was his intention to semi forth to the religious and British commu-
nity, • printed paper that would explain most fully every trans-
action upon this subject, that was so important to their interests as
well as his own. fle was happy at being a Briton, from whose
country freedom went to all the ends of the earth, and he
was glad that be was in the capital of this great and
flourishing country, where persecution never could exist; and he
was above all happy that his case waa in the band* of a free
press. The Great God of !leaven and Earth had hitherto pro.
toned him; but he could not yet say that the !tattle was over.
There wax • sort of immortality about malevolence that mails it
diffieult to say when it would end ; but he place*: his confidence in
Gial and his strength, without fearing matt. There were several
particulars to which he must advert, which it would be distressing
to hint to divulge even to private friends. How much mote dig.
denting then must it be to divulge them to so large an assembly ?
In April last an action was raised against hint in the Court 9f
King's lknch ; and the question now to be considered was, not
whether It was merited, but whether it could be avoided ? lie
was, in saying this, allowing the extent of his guilt. The parties
to this action were, a Professor of Divinity at Glasgow, and himself.
a minister in the metropolia. If it were asked whether it would not
have been better that this action haul been avoided, no Christian in
England would say No." For the purpose of keeping it out of
Court, an arbitration was proposed. Ile could not tell whether this
history of facts would go forth to the public from the sacred place
they were then in ; but he would take care that it should be made
public. Ile received a letter on a S3llltd:iy, thee ifhe did not
marry • certain individual in September. an action would b raised
against him. At that dins he was a most miserable WWI. lie
never feared man, but lie was free to 161 y. that he was in the extreme
of agony. Great was his affliction when a beloved sister died. to
whom he hail been a constant attendant ; great was his affliction
when • revered mother expired, who had erudition beyond any wo-
man he had'vver met with, praweasing historical lore, anti scriptural
knowledge of vast extent ; great was his atlfictitto when hi's father
hreathed his last, and left his younger children under his care.
The agony of mind was great—the suffering of his mind
scramble before he received this letter. Ile kmiw the individted
who wrote the letter was irascible. and he thought he war tinder a
mistake; for the female in question was the object of his love;
but there was a harrier to the consummation of Ins happine,
with her. In the vestry-room of the chapel he was met by one of

THE BRITISH PRESS.-
..•
MiIETING AT THE REP'. ALS'. FLiTCHER'S
mnbled
CHAFE,. IX -3100REIELDS.
Last night thie chapel, antTr e avenue" that lethil to it, were
id tiro- crowded beyond all former precedent, to hear the (mei:latices of the