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tendency of the doctrine of the Trinity. By the report of the Committee it ap peared that the funds of the Society were in a flourishing state. The following resolutions were passed unanimously:-That Is. L. Marsh, Esq. and Mr. Edward Taylor be continued in the offices of Treasurer, and Secretary for the year ensuing. That a number of Tracts, at the discretion of the Committee, be placed at the disposal of the different ministers in the association. That the next yearly meeting be held at Framlingham, on the last Wednesday and Thursday in June, 1917, and that Mr Scargill be requested to preach. members and friends to the Society afterwards dined together at the Bear and Crown, Mr. J. D. Harmer in the chair. The toasts and sentiments which were given, called forth observations from several gentlemen present, particularly Mr. Rees, Mr. Toms, Mr. Harris, Mr. Scargill, Mr. Fullagar, and Mr. Taylor. On the memory of our departed friend, Mr. Jovce," being given, Mr. Rees took occasion to pay a just and affecting tribute of respect to the character of that excellent man, and steady friend to the cause of civil and religious liberty. Several subjects connected with the spread of Unitarian principles in this district were discussed, and some measures adopted for the attainment of so important and highly desirable an event. The greatest cordiality and harmony pervaded the meeting, and the company separated with feelings of Christian affection and sincere pleasure.

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North-Eastern Unitarian Association.

This Association comprehends the Unitarian Churches in Wisbeach, Lutton, Boston, and Lincoln. They held their annual meeting at Wisbeach, on Wednesday, June the 26th, and Thursday the 27th. Mr. Platts, of Boston, preached on the Wednesday evening, "On Salvation by Jesus Christ, on Unitarian Principles." On Thursday morning Mr. Wright, the Missionary, preached the Association Sermon, On the Import and Practical Tendency of the Doctrine of the Unity of God:" after which the Annual Business of the North-Eastern Unitarian Book Society was transacted. At two o'clock more than 100 friends

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dined together; after the dinner a number of sentiments were given, which called up different speakers, and the afternoon was spent in an animated and truly Christian manner, much to the edification of the whole company. At seven o'clock the congregation re-assembled, and Mr. Hawkes, of Lincoln, preached "On the Nature of Heresy." The public services were nume rously attended. The Unitarian cause in this district is still advancing. The Association will be held next year at Boston.

R. W.

Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, &c.

Association.

At Nottingham, on Friday, 21st of June, 1816, was holden the Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Ministers of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and the Southern part of Yorkshire. The devotional service was conducted by the Rev. J. P. Wright, of Stannington, near Sheffield: and the Sermon was preached by the Rev. John Williams, of Mansfield, fron Matt. xiii. 52.

In this Sermon, which produced a strong impression on the audience, the preacher pointed out the necessity of a well-educated ministry; and shewed what qualifications are essential to constitute a well-educated minister. Much general knowledge, and especially a thorough acquaintance with the Scriptures in the original tongues, he deemed indispensable to a scribe thoroughly instructed unto the kingdom of heaven. He concluded with a display of the advantages resulting from such a ministry: adding, that from an ill-educated ministry, much positive evil results to religion and society.

The number of ministers present was small; yet, by the respectable attendance of lay friends, a company of about thirty lay-men and ministers dined together. The place of meeting announced for next year is Sheffield,

Devon and Cornwall Annual Meeting of Unitarian Christians.

July 5. The Annual Meeting of "the Association of Unitarian Christians in Devon and Cornwall, established for the purpose of promoting the cause of Christian Truth and Prac tice, by the Distribution of Books, and effecting a more intimate Union among the Professors of the Unitarian

1

Intelligence.-South Wales Unitarian Book Society.

Doctrine in those Counties," was held at Moretonhampstead, on the ad in-, stant, when the Rev. T. Cooper opened the service of the day, by reading a palm, which was sung in an excellent stile by the choir, after which the devotional service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Carpenter in his usually impressive and serious manner. The annual Sermon was delivered by the Rev. I. Worsley, founded on the 40th chapter of Isaiah and the 18th verse, To whom then will ye liken God?" The discourse was somewhat original and highly impressive, and pointed out some of the various erroneous notions entertained by reputed orthodoxy concerning the Divine Being, and his messenger of love to the human race, the holy Jesus. After the conclusion of the service, the members of the Association went through the business of the day with zeal and unanimity, which was highly edifying, and admitted several new members. After a very plain dinner, at which nearly 60 members sat with apparent satisfaction, the memory of the late venerable Dr. Priestley was solemnly drank, standing; nor were the names of Lindsey, Kenrick, and Toulmin, and some others still living for the benefit of the cause of religious truth, forgot. ten; and with a feeling which was, affecting and impressive, the members were reminded of their obligations to. "the friends of Unitarianism both in and out of the establishment," who, though they have not yet avowed themselves as such, have by rational instruction and virtuous examples, been for years rooting out the weed, and preparing the ground, in which the enlightened Unitarian is now encouraged to sow with diligence the good seed, which, by producing an abundant crop, will ere long cause the nations of the earth to rejoice; and, by one respected member of the Society, the effects of the improving liberality of some of the most distinguished advocates of reputed orthodoxy on the cause of Unitarianism, and of the exertions of the friends of the latter on the former, were with Christian benevolence pointed out as tending to spread religious enquiry and the cause of divine truth, as well as to diminish and prevent asperity, on both sides of the question. In short, the zeal and liberality displayed by

427

every speaker, seemed to give delight
and animation to all, and to prove the
happiness which brethren, who in
some respects differ in opinion, may.
enjoy, when they meet together to
promote the cause of divine truth and
religion.
J. 1.

South Wales Unitarian Book Society.

The Annual Meeting of the SouthWales Unitarian Book Society was held at Swansea, on Wednesday the 26th, and at Gellyonen, on Thursday the 27th of June. The Rev. J. Rowe, of Bristol, preached, on Wednesday morning, from John xx. 31, a very manly and seasonable Discourse, which he was afterwards requested to print, but declined. The Rev. D. Davis, of Neath, followed him, in Welsh, from 1 Tim. ii. 5.: and in the evening the Rev. J. Evans, of Carmarthen, delivered, in English, a very ingenious, Discourse, from John i. I. Between thirty and forty gentlemen dined together at the Bush Inn, and sixteen. new subscribers were added to the Book Society.

On Thursday morning, at Gellyonen, the Rev. Thomas Evans, of Aberdare, preached from Colossians iii. 4.; and the Rev. J. Evans, of Carmarthen, the Sermon before the Society, from 1 Cor. vii. 6. The Rev. Mr. Thomas, a pupil of Mr. Evans, of Islington, and the Rev. B. Philips, of St. Clear's, conducted the devotional part of the Service. The whole of the Services of this day were in Welsh; and Mr. J. Evans's Sermon, at the request of the Society, is to be printed.

When the business of the Book Society was closed, the attendants, who were very numerous and respectable, and among whom were eighteen ministers, formed themselves into "A Meeting of Unitarian Christians from different parts of South Wales," ar which

GEORGE THOMAS, Esq.

Being in the Chair,
IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED,

“]. That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Rev. Thomas Belsham, for his seasonable and very useful pub-, lication, entitled, "A Letter to the Unitarian Christians in South Wales.”

"2. That it is not known to this meeting that any injury whatever, but on the contrary very eminent service, has been done to the " Cause of Uni

tarianism in Wales" by Mr. Belsham's writings.

"3. That the Chairman be requested to transmit the above Resolutions to Mr. Belsham.

"4. That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Rev. Richard Awbrey, for his several excellent publications in defence of Unitarianism.

"5. That the Chairman be requested to transmit the last Resolution to Mr. Awbrey.

"(Signed) GEO. THOMAS, "Chairman."

MISCELLANEOUS.

must see that the King had no authority, no army, here. There were details in the management of government, of which no man sitting here tranquilly in parliament could form a judgment. "A considerable number of houses were plundered and burnt; and though there was little doubt that encouragement was given to these crimes, yet many of the magistrates were disposed to resist but they were provided with no military force. Matters stood thus, when on the arrival of Prince Stahremberg in August, measures were taken, by which a general distrust was excited among the Protestants; they were

Debate in the House of Commons on the 120,000 in number, and it was in vain

French Protestants.

[Concluded from p. 365.]

Lord CASTLEREAGH continued :The Protestants had risen to power since the revolution, and had secured to themselves the majority of public offices. [A laugh.] This power they enjoyed under Bonaparte, while the return of the Bourbons gave the Catholics hopes of supplanting them, which from their numbers, loyalty, and patriotism, they considered themselves justly entitled to do. The Noble Lord then proceeded to read many more passages, among which the most striking were, "that previously to the return of Bonaparte several songs had been sung, insulting to the feelings of the Protestants, and exciting rancour and animosity. The Duke of Angouleme, who was then in the country, hastened to meet Bonaparte at Lyons, but he was stopped by the treachery of General Mallet; his followers then dispersed, and fell victims to the fury of the Protestants or the adherents of Bonaparte." Mark the synonyme, said Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY, the Protestants, or the adherents of Bonaparte.] "During the four following months the Protestants committed great excesses on the royalists; at this period commenced the reaction, and the excesses were retaliated after the news of the battle of Waterloo: the disturbances at Nismes were carried to a perilous extent, but those who committed them were of the lowest class of Catholics; the richer Protestants suffered in their property and houses. However, the crimes were greatly exaggerated, and many accounts in the English newspapers were entirely forged. The number of lives lost in the department were under 1,000, and at Niemes ander 200." The House

to expect tranquillity at once. The officer best qualified to restore peace was General Lagarde." This did not argue illiberality in the government to choose a Protestant for the command of the province, and, therefore, it did look a little as if the Honourable and Learned Gentleman was seeking for a case, when he attributed to a general want of toleration measures taken for one troubled district. "General Lagarde's assassination was considered a public calamity; the Protestants had lost a friend who alone could give a free opinion to the Duke of Angouleme. The neighbouring departments, and the Protestants in them, with the exception of Cevennes, were in a state of tranquillity; and, after every inquiry, it appeared that the disturbances at Nismes were a local and partial feud." This then was the error of the societies in this country; they took the matter up as a general disturbance, and sent out their papers to places in perfect tranquillity; they further sent a respectable clergy. man to the disturbed district, he published a pamphlet, which the Honourable and Learned Gentleman repeated, and this was the way in which it was attempted to harrow up the feelings of the House. "In the neighbouring districts there was no disturbance; in Montpelier there was no interruption of the communication between the two persuasions; intermarriages were celebrated between them, and the Protestant public functionaries continued in office. In Lyons there was no interruption of peace, and there was one minister of the reform church so admired, that many Catholics attended to hear him." Did this savour of general intolerance, or did it warrant the interference of the city of London? "It could not be

Intelligence.-Debate in the House of Commons on the French Protestants. 429

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wondered at, that in the department of the Gard the King should not choose to place authority in those hands which had so lately been raised against him. There was not a conscientious Protestant who expected more liberality than had been exercised towards them: his Majesty was surely justifiable in refusing to place power in the hands of the Protestants at the present crisis, but it would be proper for him to adopt mild and conciliatory measures." If this was the case, our interference was more likely to produce evil than good. "The disturbances were quite local, and had been greatly exaggerated." The Learned Gentleman would not recommend prosecuting one side, without also attacking the other [Loud cries from the Opposition]; he had admitted that no outrages had occurred since December, and he now wished to revive the disputes; but by making ourselves a party, we should only increase the evil." There was no hope of tranquillity without a change of ministry." But with this parliament could not interfere."A late communication from Nismes complained of severity towards the Protestants, and assigned as a reason the letters received from the Protestant Society in London." [Hear, hear!] "They caused a strong feeling of dissatisfaction and uneasiness among the Protestants themselves." It was impossible that foreign interference could produce any effect but the contrary of what was wished: the present had been productive of injury, by exciting false hopes on the one side, and jealousy on the other; and the best informed Protestants, though they respected the motive, dreaded the consequences of such interference. The House would see that there was no ground to charge the French with systematic persecution and intolerance; that the disturbances were completely local, and the depart ments on the very borders of it were tranquil and unaffected: he had reason to hope, therefore, that this serious mischief would soon find an end. He did not deny that the mischief was serious; but it was not by blowing a trumpet, and telling a tale, to make people believe that we were returned to the bigotry of the 9th century-it was not by highly colouring the violences of one party, that we could put an end to these religious struggles. It was on these grounds-on a persuasion that the French government had but one feeling

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and one interest (for who would be benefitted, or what rational object could be gained, by fomenting these disturb ances?)-that he thought any proposal impolitic which would lead parliament to interfere, on the notion that we stood in a relation with respect to France, which justified our demanding some concessions. He denied that we stood in any such relation; we were obliged to keep a military force there, because we were persuaded that the government of Louis XVIII. was the most likely to ensure peace. We were pledged to support him against any revolutionary spirit that remained, but we had not given a pledge that we should interfere or administer the internal jurisprudence of France: we were the protectors of our own rights, not of the government of France. He hoped, and was indeed satisfied that the Honourable Gentleman could have no design to cast obloquy on the members of that government; but he knew that there were others who promoted such designs: there were spirits abroad who were anxious to overturn the power of Louis XVIII. and the peace which had placed their prospects at an immediate distance. He warned the country against the proposals that had been made: there was no prospect of happiness but in peace, and no peace but in the present government of France. He acquitted the Honourable and Learned Gentleman of any bad intentions, but his speech would certainly be attended with had consequences, containing, as it did, such exaggerated statements, dressed up with all the eloquence of which the subject was capable. His Lordship would not give his consent to a motion so injurious. [Hear, hear!]

Mr. BROUGHAM complained that the tone and manner of the Noble Lord was not at all justified by any thing that had fallen from his Honourable and Learned Friend (Sir S. Romilly.) He begged leave to put in a distinct disclaimer to the objects and principles imputed by the Noble Lord-first, as to the hostility of the supporters of the motion to the family of Bourbon; next, as to their wish to disturb the peace of Europe by destroying the tranquillity of France; and thirdly, as to their intention of enforcing a direct and offensive interference with the internal regulations of the French go vernment--an interference alien to the plainest principles of policy, and upon

a subject that could be touched only with a most cautious and delicate hand. For the information of the Noble Lord, who appeared to be most singularly ig norant upon this subject, he begged to state, that it was possible to moot à question of this kind, to ask for accounts of the state of our persecuted Protestant brethren, and what steps had been taken for their relief and protection, without danger of exposing the country to the calamity of a new war. The whole scope of the proposition was to obtain information, that, if deemed necessary by parliament, steps might be taken: and although the Noble Lord night refuse his assent, a very important object had been accomplished, for in the course of his speech the Noble Lord had given most ample and valuable information, which more than confirmed the statement made of the horrible atrocities of which the deluded CathoTics had been guilty in the department of La Gard. While the Noble Lord, with such exultation among his friends, was reading the statement, which he had produced to the House, every man, not blinded by admiration of the stupendous abilities of his Lordship, must have seen that it completely proved the case in favour of the motion; the Noble Lord was partially aware of the fact, and had interlarded his document with such observations as he thought calculated to remove the unfavourable impression. So far from showing that the assertions of the Honourable Mover had been exaggerated, it proved directly the contrary. The House had heard with astonishment, that no less than 1,000 murders had been committed, a number far exceeding the calculation of other men. The Noble Lord had next endeavoured to alarm the House, by referring to a period not long past, when religious controversy had produced unhappy consequences in the county of Armagh; but did he mean to say, that even during the rebellion of 1798 and 1799, the outrages had "equalled those of La Gard? [Lord Castlereagh said across the table that he did not refer to the date wentioned.] If the Noble Lord did not allude to the rebellion, his argument was the weaker; for if not during the period of rebellion, where could be found any thing like a parallel to the horrors of La Gard? Within the space of three months a thousand murders had been committed: where could similar atro

cities be found in the history almost of any country? What had fallen from the Noble Lord regarding the ten thousand men who had oppressed a part of France by their adherence to Bonaparte did not at all apply, because at that period hostilities had not ceased. The motion did not require that this country should draw the sword in favour of the Protestants: other means of redress were in our hands, which might be used without any breach of amity. It was the duty of England to use them peacefully, and delicately, in proportion to the importance and delicacy of the subject. It was the duty of government to make such representations to the authorities in France, as became the situation of that country, and the attitude we were entitled to assume. A renewal of hostilities would not necessarily be the consequence: on the contrary, in former times, when we had felt called upon to interpose in favour of those who were unjustly suffering, our sympathy had been frequently rewarded by the accomplishment of the desired object. The Noble Lord had frequently reverted to a favourite topic

the injury done to the cause of the Protestants by the humane interference of their brethren in this country; and the example of those benevolent persons was held up as a warning to the House. "Though your ancestors have frequently interposed with effect, you must not think of endeavouring to rescue these unhappy people from destruction," said the Noble Lord; and what was the reason assigned?" I admit (added his Lordship) that their persecutors inflict upon them inhuman cruelties; that they are tortured-that they are murdered; that in three months 1,000 murders for conscience-sake have been perpetrated, and not one offender executed or even brought to trial: but you must not interfere, because the generous sympathy of the people of England will only draw down upon the Protestants of France new calamities." [Hear, hear!] Such was the argument of the Noble Lord: and he (Mr. Broughan) had heard it with more regret, because it was not the last time it would be employed. The subject of the Slave Trade was shortly to be brought before the House: another attempt would be made to ameliorate the condition of those with whom we had, in common, neither manners, language, religion, nor complexion ;

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