The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-05 00:00:00

THE QUARTERLY REVIEW'
THE DISSENTERS.

,~.

D

lir the last Number but one of the Qua: terly
.Revicas,
which ileeitlOut has just thrown in my way, there is an ex-
traordin.iry assertion as to the Church, which it seems
right to notice, not only because it is proper that praise or
blame ilienld rest in the quarter to which either is due,
but that the Choreb, or those of its friends who take
their cue from the Qadrierly Review, should not be de-
ceived as to whom they have to deal with, namely,
whether with a few skilful Unitarian agitators (as 1t
would assert), or with masses of persons, less skilled ana
prudent perhaps in their operations, but in other respect!
more formidable adversaries. The passage to which 1
allude is this This was the growing temper of the Church
till the movement of the Reform Bill. Then all at once
Dissent assumed a new Lone. A section within it—
tbat
which had gone fo-thest f, om Christianity, and therefom.
was imbue(' with most wilfulness, and aversion to restraint
—assumed the lead. This consisted mostly of Unitarians,
men not without education, &e," whose influence and its
causes and consequences the Reviewer proceeds to de'
scribe in language which might be more appropriate
if there was fact at the bottom of it. But it WWll-
larly enough happens, that riot only is this theory lun-
true, and without foundation, but the 'reverse is exac,tt
the fact. It might with considerable with be said, Ina
the Unitarian Presbyterian body of Dissenters for 50 yea"
perhaps bcf,re the repeal of the Test and Corporation itet!'
(or before the Reform Bill, if the reader chooses thattletel
preference), did take a certain degree of lead both in and. o!lt
'
Parliament in managing the general Dissenting affairs, Ili
eventually obtaining complete success in what they had cots;
sidered as their aims. Not only their personal talents el:
c ipacity for business, but their comparative property
social station, and their lead in municipal and parliamental
representation, induced tl.ii state of things. But the dire
reverse has been the case from the time the Reviewer da,,,ee
as the period when their assumed influence commenced. ieo
the change which then took place several eircumstefleer
contributed. Unfortunately the successful assbrtion hele
Dissenting liberties, which relieved the parties frog' t.ty
bond of common pressure, and ended the pressing fleece° ,I
felt by the popular sects for the active business, habits, a°l
proficiency of these its allies, gave free scope to theologiee
and doctrinal antipathies, which now for the first time int....er
fered with the harmony of the united bodies, and overca":.
old associations and gratitude for past services. Moreo
the opportunity was taken, by some zealots, for legal Pro'
.0
ceedings, which, in their harassing and injurious effects
one party, and the passions they obviously tended to We
in the other, have produced alidnation in other resPelb
Again, the Reviewer might surely have seen that the iro
creased influence of popular bodies in the large towns hi
had a completely contrary effect to that which he asserißi
for it has proportionally brought forward the weight ,ses
the popular sects, and made less prominent ill..
weight of property and station, and the moral infinel:,
of those who formerly took the lead. There has also bee:
difference of opinion among those who used to take an e..
Live part in Dissenting affairs as to the policy of
nually urging upon Administrations placed- in trying
cumstances, the pressure of measures which were probswrie
beyond their strength to carry through, and which /1%
calculated to arouse old and deeply rooted antipatbils
interests still very powerful, and perhaps under-rated 'it',
many who were for warfare on all points. However, erbe
.
ever the reasons, the fact is directly the reverse of the PI
viewer's assumption. Since the repeal of the Test ASO
Corporation Acts, and the passing of the Reform Bill'
parties to whom he gives the lead have gradually withdreelj
or been discarded (if that be the more correct phrase)' ell;
have taken, it may be said, no part in the operations of rio
central bodies, except in seeking the extension of liberty it
the Catholics, and in continuing to press on, give all t,,b;(l
assistance and support in obtaining, the Acts lately' pa'
for the redress of the great practical grievances with reg
to the Marriage and Registration Laws.
A PRESBYTERIAN UNI'r'ARIAg•

EXCEPTIONS from the EXCLUSI
PRIVILEGE of the POST-OFFICE.

Letters sent by a private friend in his way, jourriel',l".
travel, so as such letters be delivered by such friend to 4"
Part thom they shall be directed. the
Letters sent by a messenger on purpose, concern.og
private affairs of the sender or receiver thereof.
Commissions, or returns thereof, and affidavits or wriftl;
processes or proceedings, or returns thereof, issuing out°
court of justice. to
Letters sent out of the United Kingdom by a prigs
ves.sel (not being a packet-boat).
Letters of merchants, owners of vessels of merchandis4.6
or the cargo of loading therein, sent by such vessels of in'o
chandise, or by any other person employed by such own:. fi
for the carriage of such letters, according to their respeo:oo
direstions, and delivered to the respective persons to vvu
they shall be directed, without paying or receiving hire
reward, advantage or profit, for the same in anywise.
Letters concerning goods or merchandise sent by cf.A
mon .known carriers to be delivered with the goods 010
such letters concern without hire or reward, or other Pip
or advantage for receiving or delivering such letters.
But nothing herein contained shall authorise any rit•
to make a collection of such excepted letters for the r
pose of sending them in the manner hereby authorised.
sr.
SPECIAL PROHIBITIONS.—And the following persooecop
expressly forbidden to carry a letter, or to receive or 1,0
lect or deliver a letter, although they shall not receive ""
or reward for the same ; (that is to say)
Common known carriers, their servants or agents, es ov
a letter concerning goods in their carts or waggons, of
their pack-horses, and owners, drivers, or guards of swr
coaches. es°
Owners, masters, or commanders of ships, vessels,s,_,.t 000
boats, or boats called or being passage or packet-7, p
sailing or passing coastwise or otherwise between por"
places within Great Britain or Ireland. or between t:fri,
from a port or ports within his Majesty's dominions or t, of
tories out of the United Kingdom, or their servansof
agents, except in respect of letters of merchants, owner
ships or goods on board. f
Passenger, or other person on board any such shiP'
sels, steam-boat, passage or packet-boat. bosstl
The owners of, or sailors, watermen or others, on siot
a ship, vessel, steam-boat, or other boat, or barge, P4tei
or reps-sing on a river or navigable canal within the u
Kingdom, or other his Majesty's dominions.

Incsn Pooß.—Colonel Thompson suggests Oil'
examination whether the great chance of relief for the 0,0
ner% e and sinew now running over for want of occupation, °boll
not be in the removal of the bars to English industry 'cot,
are created by the prohibition of commerce through the eted
Laws? If the demand for muscle were decupled at njetli
commercial and manufacturing town from Glasgow to I,°',
where could it be found ready.-made ?
0,
PATENT LEVER W A TC1:11690 ati
With silver deuble.bottom cases 6 16 a
With silver hunting cases
This celebrated construction (the most accurate on cot,
watch can be made) is offeted, with the latest improve.'aool,
i. c. the detached escapement, jewelled in four ;,40.er
hand to mark.the seconds, hard enamel dial, and maintainiqi
to continue going while %villain.-° up, at the above price, 1)1
I'. COX SAVORY, A
Working Silver and Goldsmith, 47, Cornliill, Low.°
N.B.—Second-hanl, Watches purchased in exelia:E.e.;,.."