Star.
London, England, 1811-05-17 00:00:00

T a GENERAL MEETING of the DEPU-
Ttas a fir supporting the CIVIL RIGHTS of
PROTESTANT InbIENTERS, held at the King's Head
Tavern in He Poultry, Lention,ithe 15th of May, 1811 ;
WILLIAM SMI TH, Esq. M. P. in the Chair,
Resolved, 'lilac Liberty of coitocience, comprehending the
Prineleat of publieiesseesbiths far reiiiimis worship add. instruc-
tion, in sett ms, aid under such teachers as men shall for
themselves svrove, is the inalienable right of all; in the peace-
able exercise of which they are net justly tontroulabln by the
civil Magistrate. -
Resolved, That this liberty has been generally recognised in
the practice of the Be.t.sh,Government, since tlw gra of the Re-
vislution, under the construction of the statute.ennimonly called
the Toleration Act. 1 but whai ever may have been the letter
of the law, the spirit of toleration ha; been extended, and a large
portion of religion; liberty actually enjoyed.
Resohred, That we hive b:-held with great concern a Bill lately
brqpght into Parliami nt, designed, as appears to us, to arldge
such rel.glous liberty, and having a tendency to deprive the lower
classes of the community of those opt ortuuities which they have
ea long-eninyea. to attend public worship and religious instruc-
tion under teachers of their owe choice.
Resolved, .1 hat as deputed by Large and respectable bodies of
protestant Dissenters to attend to their civil rights, it becomes
our bounden duty immediately to pretest against the principle of
such a measure, and to point out the unjust and vexatious opera-
tipa of theiduresaid Bill, as now brought into Parliament.
Resolied, That a Petition against the saidellill, grounded on
the principle& of the foregoing Resolutions, be .signed by the
Members of this Meeting, and presented to the Legislature.
Resolved, 1 hat the foregoing Resolutions be signed by the
Chairman and inserted in all the public Papers.
WM. SMITH. Chairman.

11. That, from the risible deelaration of the ilheraambided and
illustrious Prince Weger.t of the Empire, that he will deliver up
the Constitution unaltered to his POyalfather, this Meeting are
encouraged to indulge a confident hope, that meaning so in-
novating and injurisus can :lever obtain the santeon of his high
authority, and that they also rejoice that it has not been intro-
duced by his Majeety'. Government ; and that respectful appli-
cation he therefore made to them for their wise and continued
protection. That a Petition to the Hoene of Lords against the
Bill be signed by all the Peewins present at this Meeting ; and
that all Congregations of Protestant Dissenters, and other Friends
4W-IReligiousleiberty throughout the Empire, be recommended to
present similar Petitions ; and that a Committee, con dining of
Persons resident In Londoe, and in the Country, be appointed to
effectuate these prectediegs, and to adopt any measures they may
deem exptelient; to prevent the successful prosecution of this Bill
—and that such Committee may increase their number, and that
any three Members be competeet to act.
9. That these Resoletinns be cimmie I ielt etihy tile Committee
now appointed to the Cornmitt. e tor guarding the privileges of
the Methodists, and to the Deputies and Ministers of the COn•
gregat inns of Protestant Dissenters of the three denominations hi
or near London; and that their co-operation and assistance be
respectfully invited.
10. That a Sebstription he entered into to defray all expellees
which may be incurred; and that all Friends to Religious Liberty
' throughout the Empire be invited to contribute ; and that such
Subscription he appropriated at the discretion of the Committee.
11. That Subscriptions be received by Mews. Robarts,Curtis.
and Co. I ombard-street ; and Sir James Eadaile and Co. Lein-
bard-street:
That Thomas Pellatt, Esq of Ironmongers' liall,and John
Willis, Esq. of liexton-squaie, be solicited to act as joint Secre-
taries to the Committee.
13. That the acknowledgements of this Meeting be presented
no the Geetlenten by whom it was convened, for the vigilance
meritoriously displayed, and ter their prompt attention to every
attempted infringement of the Invaluable and long-established
rights of the Protestant Dissenters.
14 That this Meeting present their ardent Thanks to the
Chairman, for the attachment to Religious Lelerty which he his
displayed, by consenting to preside on this occasion, and for the
attention rid ability which he has manifested,
13. That their Thanks be also presented to John Wilks, Esq
for the ability and real which he has manifested as teeisnraty Se-
cretary, and for his eloquent and useful exertions at this Meeting.
Is. 1 hat these Resolutions be published in the Newspapers
signed by the Chairman, and that measures be adopted by tine
Committee, necessary to give then requisite publicity.
SAMUEL. MILLS, Chairman.

.. -
MEETING OF PROTESTANT IfIeSENTERS.
AT a numerous and most respectable MEETING
of PROTEeTANT'DIeSENTERS of various denomina-
tions, and other FRIENDS to RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, residing
In different pars of the United Empire, held at the London Ta-
vern, isishopstee-street, on the 15th of May, lei i,
• SAMUEL MILLS, Esq. Chairman,
The following Resolutions were agreed to:-
1. Teat tkis Meeting believe that there are at least two mil-
lions of Proicuant Dissenters in the Kingdom of England and
Wales, including persons of opulent fortunes, high literary at-
tainments, and =tee benevolence; teat their exertions have
contributed to promote industry, knee/ledge, good morals, social
order, and public prosperity; that they are not inferior to any
fellow 'subjects in fervent love to their country, nor in ardent
loyalty to their venerable Sovereign, whose early promise to
" ' TRUER'S TPIr TOLILUTION ACT INVIOLATI; has made an
indelible Impression on their beards, and that any means which
might excite their discontent and enfeeble their attachment,
would therefore at any time, and especially at this period, be in-
onnsistent with the national interest, and with wise and liberal
policy.
Q. That although this Meeting consider the right to worship
Goo according to individual judgment as an inalienable right,
superior to all social Regulations; and although they have long
anticipated a period when all Penal Laws for worshipping GOD
according to their consciences would be abolished, they have
been unwilling to agitate the public mind for the attainment of
heir hopes, and presuming that no person would in this age ven-
are to assail the .1c; of Toleration after the ever memorable
declaration of the King, they have been content to regard it with
grateful emotions, and to esteem it as an effectual protection from
the recurrence of former persecutions. ---
9. That the persons assembled at this Meeting have received HOUSE OF COMMONS.
with great anxiety the communications frequently made by the The Beard of Controul Bill was read a .first time, and ordered',
Right Hon. lord Viscount Sidmouth, of his intention to pro- to be read a second time tomorrow.
pose legislative Enactmenis interfering with the laws relating td The East-India Bend BiU was read a first, and ordered to be•
Protestant Dissenter'; that they did hope the applicationshe has read a second time.
received, and the information communicated, would have pre- The Report of the Irish Militia Volunteering Bill was brought
vented his perseverance; but they have learned the disappoint- np.—Amendmints agreed to.
ment of their hopes, and have ascertained the proyision of the
at
Bill which he has length introduced into Parliament with ex- The Resolutions of the Committee of Supply, 14 the Canada
Runt Committee, and of the Comtoltteee on Cotton-wool, Pot-
trense regret, and with peintill appreheneion. ash, Irish Prizage, Irish Salt Provisions, and Irish Lighthouses,
4. This this Bill declares that all the provision relating to
Dissenting Ministers contained In the Toleration Act, and in the were reported, and Bills ordered.
On the motion for the committal of this Bill,
subsequent Act for their further relief, were intended to be Mr. ARAM, adverting to the additional duties about to he
limited only to Ministers of separate Congregations, and enacts. Imposed by the Spirit Duty Bill, suggested that the wash prepa-
1. 'That such Ministers, upon being admitted to the peaceable
red before notice of this duty should be exempted.
possession and enjoyment of the peace of Ministers of a separate •
rhe CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that notice
Congregation, mar, on a cerificate in writing, under the lands had been gives in the Bill that was lost; and that the duty would
of several substantial and reputable Householders belonging to not take place before the time when that BJI, if not lost, might
such Congregation, signed in the presence of some creditable have
been expected to pass.
witness, who is tsetsake proof of their signatures upon oath at a The Bill was then committed, and a clause added, exempting
General Sessions of the Peace, be permitted to take oaths and to
all wash of which an account had been taken in the Excise-books
sign the Declarations previously required, and shall then, and previous to the 15th of this present month.
then only, during their continuance to be Ministers of such sepa- The Spirit Duty Bill, after some further observations from Mr.
rate Congregation, be entitled to all the privileges am) exemptions was
which the forn.er Acts had conferred. Ild. That any other per- ee:, was ordered dered to be committed on Mondai .
son who may desire to qualify himself to preach as a Dissenting GRAND JUNCTION CANAL WATER-WORKS.
Meister, must procure several substantial and reputable house- Sir JOHN COX HIPPISI.EY moved the further considers-
holders, being Dissenters of the same Sect, and of the same Con- tine of the Report of the above Bill, which was opposed by Sir
gregation, to certify on their consciecces, in writing, to his being W. Curtis, and Sir J. Anstruther, who moved that it be post-
e Protestant Dissenting Minister of their Sect, and of the Gime Polled to this day three months.
Congregation, and to their individual and long knowledge to his After a further conversation, in the course of which Mr. Si-
sobriety of conversation, and to his ability and fitness to preach; rneon and Mr. Shaw Lefevre spoke against the original motion,
and that such Certificate must be proved as before stated, before and Mr. Pole Carew in suppntt of it, a question arose as to the
be he pertained to take the oath and subscribe the declaration propriety of disallowing the Votes of Members, personally hoe.
before he be exempt from the pains, penalties and punishments rested; upon which the Speaker rose and referred to two cases,
to which he would otherwise be liable as a Dissenting Minister, one in 1800, and au antecedent one in 1797, when this deserip-
And S. That any person of sober life and conversation admitted ties of Votes had
seenb he w rejectould not vote en this question after
ed.
to preach on probation to any separate Congregation must pro- , Mr. WARDE
duce a Certificate front several Dissenting Ministers, who have what had fallen from the Speaker, but expressed a wish that the
taken the oath (to be also proved on oath at a General Sessions) point should be clearly decided.
of his life and conversation, and to their long previous knowledge, Sir J. NEWPORT observed, that such a principle might be
before he can be admitted to take the Oaths and subscribe the extended to any length, and quoted the instances of questions
Declaration, and that he may then, during a limited period, to be connected with the public funds, the encouragement of corn, &c.
specified in the Certificate, officiate as a probationer to any Die- Those who had an interest in opposing, by the same rule, ought
'tenting Congregation, and be, during a limited period, exempt to be excluded.
Irons prosecution and punishment; but neither of theewo last Mr. HUSKISSON thought there was no danger to be appre-
mentioned class of persons will he entitled to any privileges or hended on that head. No question could arise on the valieke of
to the exemptions front offices conferred on Dissenting Ministers any Member's vote, except upon a particular challenge,. of the
by the Toleration Act. justice of which the House must finally determine. The rule
f. That the principle assumed as the foundation of the Bill laid down by the Speaker had been applied in 1797, with respect
Is incorrem. .1 bat the Toleration Act authorised any persons to the Loyalty Loan, lie had himself then been challenged, and
to become Dissenting Ministers, who conceived themselves to justified by disclaiming the possession of any personal interest.
be called and qualified to preach, upon giving security to the Mr. FULLER assured the Honourable Member (Mr. P. Ca-
State tor their Loyalty and Christian Principles, by taking car- rew) that if he should vote on the question, he (Mr. Faller)
taro Oaths, and by subscribing certain Declarations, and not would challenge
his v
ngote.
only prevented tht it prosecution under Laws made in times less eeheelouse then divided—For the original Motion 65—Against
favourable to civil end religious liberty, but conceiving their it SO—Majority for the Report 23.
labours to be of public utility, granted to them exemptions IRISH BREWERS.
from aU parochial offices and other deues which might inter. Mr. GRATTAN moved that the petition from
fere with their more important exertions—that such construction
the Irish Brewers, praying that the Duty of 2s. 6d.
of the Oath of Toleration has been sanctioned by the general
as never Steen infringed by any dice. 'upon- Spirits be restored to the former rate of ss. Bd.
practice of a century, and h
*ice: in a superior. Court of Law; and that it even such construe. per galloa, be referred to the Committee of the whole
Lion be incorrect, and Legislative eapositiou be required, such de. House. He read extracts from the several papers, to
(amatory Bill ought to follow the intention of the only Act which Drot.e the growing dissoluteness in the manners of the
,bas subsequently passed: and should extend, and not contract; •
common lash,
protect, and not impair tbe relief afforded by the former ancient in consequence of the cheapness of
nab venerable statute. ardent spirits. He contended also that the tax had
6. That the lull introduced Into Parliament is not justified by failed in point of reveue.
any necessity, and will be highly injurious; that it is unnecessary Mr.
SHAW (of Dublin) seconded the motion.—
because the evils presumed to result front the Ouse* of the te-
nting laws by few persons who may have impruperly taken the He said that of the exi4tence of the evils complained
oaths required from Dissenting Preachers and 'leacheei; sto out of by the Petitioners • there could be ilio seasonable
exist but to a most inconsiderable extent, and because the eaten- doubt, and when they considered what must be the
skin of all such abuses hes been aexiously, and would be efface '
inevitable consequences of not timely remedying those
Wally discountenanced by every class of Protestant Dissenters,
evils, and also how fatal their longer continuance
ham that it must be injurious, because it will introduce forms un-
aisessdented, inconvenient, or impracticable—will render hint- must be to 3 trade of such weight and extent as
east Preachers, Students of Divinity, Mivieters on Probation, that of the I3rewers, it really appeared to him
send many persons, to whose ardent piet y and disinterested labours as if the present question was in effect, whether it
.eausiitudes are indebted for Religious lustructiom, liable to serve
.wasfor the of Ireland thattheßreweries of
interests
all Civil Offsces; aqd will expose all Ministers or the ViltDelliCS .
otopilbe Certificates to be harnessed by repeated attendances at dile , mat country should be allowed by the Legislature to
,Assent Sessions, and to capricious riaminations and unlimited ex- exist at all ? It aught surely to be a principle in im-
.
"! pages bec-eioc by limiting the right of persons to become Du- nosing taxes, that as far as it could possibly be done
-owsbillibuisters hi obsdathet to their consciences, it will im- r
we should avoid injuring the morals of the people.—
spew Wei. restriettons on toleration, and because it will create a . .
•peeresdent for *future attempts at even snorts dangerous or fatal , Indeed, in his view of the question, he thought that
eePertanents against religious liberty. morals shouletiMer be sacrificed to revenue. (Hear).i
..; T. That although meat teltte.ant to interference with politica! —Since the great reduction of the duties on spirts
affairs, they therefore cannot regard the present attempt with- , est
al illed- in Ireland, he believed there was no Gentle-
Wes peculiar sensations of alarm, mid that veneration tor their
Man who had been for any time in that country since
. teseiesers, regard to ill* pus teeity, respect for rights which they
can sever abandon, slid tilt enured obligations which they feel, that peri •
od, who must not liar been sensibly struck
will thsrietare conipet client 'tie 'ell:regard all deco inal and actual with the rapid and lamented change in the general
effistineelonseand to spite, by every legitimate effort, to prevent habits and morals of the lower orders of the people.
the Pending bill traitu'oassitig
.19N a Law, sa4
tie
oppose the habits
i
L steeliest dimwit:cum of the privileges secured by the Act of Toe He spoke from his own knowledge, when he said
that that charm had been felt among the lower or.
:711 "" • )census• ,af . . ._. .. ... " • •
.....-

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 16.
BERKELEY PEERAGE.
The Socicyroa-Gawsaec this day addre-sed the Committee
of Privileges, for several hours, in answer to the arguments of Sir
Samuel Romilly an I Mr. gerjeant Best. The Learned Solicitor
then proceeded to call several witnesses, whose evidence went to
prove the mode pursued in respect to the second mars iage, the re-
gistering of the•third son's name, and the situation of Lady Berke
ley in 1784. About seven o'clock the Committee adjourned tiU
two o'clock tomorrow.
The Five Million and a Hall 5 per cent. Loan Bill was read a
second time, and committed for to-morrow. •
After forwarding the several Bids on the table, the House ad-
journed till to-morrow.