Star.
London, England, 1825-08-23 00:00:00

THE QUAKERS' ANNUAL EPISTLE, 1825.

The Epistle from the Yearly Meeting of " The So-
ciety of Friends," held in London, by adjournments
from Jur.e to July, lBts, and addressed " To the Quar-
terly and Monthly Meetings of Friends in Great Britain,
Ireland, and elseahere," is just issued.
After alluding to the " loss of some of their dear
and honoured friends, whose labours in the woe k of the 'I
LORD had been blessed," since the last Meeting, and
expressing the hope, at some length, and with much
religious feeling, that " their elder Brethren and Sisters,
who have passed and are passing through many tribu-
lations and conflicts, may continue to trust in the
LORD ;"—the Epistle proceeds—" And may we all be
manifesting our attachment to the genuine, unchange-
able principles of the Gospel. An adherence to its
doctrines has been the support of our predecessors ;
both of those oho were the instruments of gathering us
to be a distinct Religious Society, and of their faithiUl
successors down to the present time. These principles
(continues the Epistle) embr:fce faith in that redemp-
tion which comes by Jesus CHRIST, who ever liveth as
our Intercessor with the FATHER, and in the immediate,
teachings of the Holy Spirit."
Having adverted to the duties of those who "profess
the name of CHRIST," it proceeds—" In this day of
comparative outward ease, and of exemption from
great suffering in the support of our views of the pure
and spiritual nature of the Gospel, it especially behoves
us to be on our guard that we be not gradually drawn
aside from the simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus. It
is upon this principle of simplicity that our testimony
to plainness in speech, behaviour, and apparel, rests.—
We would exhort all our Members to an entire consis-
tency on those points. But we would remind you that
this simplicity includes something more; it is also in-
cumbent on us to consider whether we are not in danger
of following the vain fashions of the world in the deco-
ration of our houses ; and whether, whilst given to
hospitality, we are sufficiently careful to observe due
moderation in our manner of living ?" Having dwelt
at considerable length on this point, and urged friends
not too earnestly " to fix the heart on temporal bless-
ings and fading treasures," it pointedly says, a if any,
whether of the more affluent, or of those who cannot be
ranked in this class, are deviating from safe and regu-
lar methods of business, if they are carried away by
uncertain and hazardous, though plausible schemes for
getting rich, if they yield to a desire rapidly to enlarge
their possessions—such are in imminent danger. They
cannot justly expect the blessing of the MOST Htau on
such pursuits : their spiritual eye becomes dim," kc.
Having recommended very earnestly the " cherishing
of a disposition for active benevolence," the Epistle
states:—" No subject of this description has more in-
terested our feelings than the continuance of the Slave
Trade, and the degraded condition of those who are
kept in bondage. In the course of our present delibera-
tions, the cruelties of this horrid system of injustice
have afresh called forth our deep commiseration ; and
we earnestly desire, notwithstanding the slow progress
that is made in this great cause, that no discourage•
ment may prevail, but rather that all may be incited to
labour with greater zeal for the utter abolition of the
Slave Trade and of Slavery."
The conclusion of the Epistle is also curious-, as well
as interesting:—" In connexion with the usual pro-
ceedings of this meeting, it has been reported, that the
sufferings of our Members, including the charges of dis-
traint, have amounted to upwards of twelve thousand
nine hundred pounds. With a very few exceptions they
have been incurred in support of our Christian testimony
against tithes, and other ecclesiastical claims."—Signed
JOSIAH FORSTER, in and for the Meeting.

SAussuny, Auo.2O•—Wednesday, General PEACHY
and HENRY MERVYN BAYLEY, Esq. arrived in Taunton,
for the purpose of canvassing the Borough, as candi-
dates for its representation in Parliament. After shortly
announcing to the Electors their political sentiments,
and timing that they had been induced to present them-
selves, in consequence of the invitation of a large por-
tion of the Electors, the new candidates, attended by a
number of friends, with blue favours, commenced an
active canvass. Sir T. B. LETHBRIDGE accompanied
them to the Maiket-house, from wh.ch place those
Gentlemen delive►ed their address.

Thursday, as Mr. GEORGE BALDING, bargemasterc
Newbury, was returning bum Readinp, accompanied
by his hother's wife, who bad just before alighted, the
horse set off at full speed, and coming in contact with
a post in the turn of the road, near the Blue Ball, Mr.
B. was thrown with such violence from the chaise, as
to fracture his skull; and he died in a few hours alter.
Ile was only in his Iffith year.
Satins,fay, as the J.,len Bull packet was proceeding
horn Thorn to Mill, slim struck upon a sand-bank with
such vi,.lriao, that M.o. Wyatt, one of' the performers
Siitr Hie. is availing 'lie me, was Oman over the side
411,00.1"1, the WI has nut liven found. The
ptge,r wins s 4ftng unto a child in her sums, but
11,01,1,y, LNltfolf writ* rtvethAnd, she threw the infant
films I,tr, i• *sr eitaght by one of the passengers.
A noshintlinly ileghteht 'happened at Brackla Distil;
limy, beat Nairn, tin lontday week. Jan Macdonald,.
employed in the bittilitly, overbalanced himself. and
fail into the math son t he was speedily taken out by a
I,trio,n with whom he had been talking when ke fell, but
ho wa; it, dreadfully scalded, that he only survived till
the following day in great torture.
Tumday week, a young man, apprentice to a black-
smith, at Langwith, near Cucktiey, Notts, slightly
scratched one of his fingers with a rusty ruil, which very
s•aui ciitised an estraordin try degree of inflammation
along the arm. In a few days the complaint reached
his be.td, and he died on the Sund.ty following.
The flourishing city of litvlson, in the fi ate of New
York, has been almost totally destroyed by fire, which
is supp..sed to have been the work of some incendiary.
A great many private dwelling-houses wure burnt
down, besides stores, barns, and outhoutes. Ere
commenced in a stable.