The other Resolutions were moved by Gen. Neville, Capt. Basilgates, R. N. Dr. Collyer, Ald. Key, &c. and seconded by the Rev. Messrs. Ivimey, Gilbert, &c. The 4th Resolution was as follows:"The new plans named in the Report, of a Seaman's Library, a Poor Sea-Boy's School, and a Register-Office for Sailors of good character, are highly worthy of general patronage, support, and prayers.' The meeting was closed in the same manner in which it was opened. COPY OF THE PETITION OF PROTESTANT DISSENTERS. Referred to in our last Number, p. 425. To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled, To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled, The Humble Petition of the undersigned Persons, being Protestant Dissenters, and Members, respectively, of the several Congregations of the three Denominations in the Metropolis and its Vicinity, RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH, THAT your Petitioners are the successors, and in many instances, the lineal descendants of those persons, who, though dissenting from the ecclesiastical establishment of the country, were ever found among the most strenuous defenders of its constitutional liberties; who were universally zealous in assisting to establish the glorious Revolution under King William the Third; and who invariably evinced their devotion to its principles, and their sincere loyalty to the illustrious family which in consequence of that event was seated on the British throne, during every one of those unfortunate and criminal struggles which were subsequently made in favour of the rejected dynasty :-And that your Petitioners, trained in these principles from their earliest youth, have ever cherished them with the warmest attachment, as the only solid and rational ground of union between the Sovereign and the subject, in the reciprocal bonds of generous confidence and affectionate duty. That your Petitioners have, in particular, been always accustomed to consider the exercise of private judgment in religious affairs to be among those absolute natural rights which are entitled to man's first regard, supremely important as affecting his highest in terests, and strictly inalienable as involving his most sacred duties; to be also co-extensive with those duties, and, therefore, necessarily to include the liberty of publicly maintaining the opinions he entertains, and worshipping in the mode his conscience approves; without which, indeed, no religious free'dom could be said to be granted; for thought being incapable from its nature, of being brought under the cognizance of human tribunals, freedom of thought cannot possibly be the subject of concession from human governments. That your Petitioners bow down in the sincerest thankfulness to Divine Providence for having so accelerated the progress of light and knowledge in the world, that these truths, which, but a few generations ago, could not have been asserted but at the risk of personal liberty, and even of life, are now almost universally and completely recognized in all Protestant and in many Catholic states. That your Petitioners are farther desirous of acknowledging with grateful satisfaction the large improvement of their legal situation in this country during the reign of his late Majesty, in which more was done than under any preceding monarch, since William the Third, to emancipate religion from the civil thraldom in which it was held by unjust and persecuting laws. That nevertheless, this freedom cannot be complete, as far as respects your Petitioners, while they remain subject to disabilities and consequent degradation on account of their non-conformity to the national church establishment. That while such non-conformity was held legally criminal (however unjustly) it might consistently, at least, be visited with punishment. But, since the religious rights of your Petitioners have been acknowledged, and their profession and worship legalized, the continuance of punishment on these aecounts, in whatever shape or under whatever pretext, is not only unjust in itself, but inconsistent with all those relaxations in their favour, which from a just respect to conscience, the Legislature has been induced to grant. That your Petitioners are not ignorant of the pleas on which their requests have been resisted; but they flatter themselves that the justice and liberality of the present times will no longer urge against them, that to be debarred from the common advantages enjoyed by other innocent citizens is not punishment; especially, when such degradation is indeed well known to the law, but in no other character than as the appropriate penalty upon heinous and disgraceful crimes. They trust that eligibility to office will no longer be refused to them when asked as a common right, from the mere mistake of confounding it with the actual possession of office, which latter could not be asked from the Legislature without absurdity, and which the Dissenters could not hope to obtain otherwise than in the same course with their fellowsubjects; but in their claim of being at liberty so to obtain it, are corroborated by the well-known declaration of King William III. "That he wished a door should be opened for the admission into his service of all Protestants who were able and willing to serve him:"-and when it is obvious that the principle of the arbitrary exclusion of some from all offices of power, trust, and emolument, for the imagined security of others, may be used to justify every other species and degree of severity, extending even to imprisonment and death, if a prejudiced and misjudging majority should deem such extremities necessary for their own comfort or the safety of their religion; a case which experience has proved to be more than imaginary. And your Petitioners conceive the infliction of any of these evils, in their higher or lower degrees, on account of religious persuasion or profession, to be, according to the most acknowledged definitions, persecution, and that for conscience sake. That with respect to the relief afforded them by the Annual Indemnity Act, said to amount to a virtual repeal of all the disqualifying statutes, your Petitioners decline entering into discussions of its extent or efficiency; nor will they inquire whether it be not more wise (as it certainly would be more magnanimous) at once to repeal laws whose operation is asserted to be thus kept in continual abeyance. It is enough for them to observe, that a partial and discretional indemnity against penalties left to be incurred, is neither constitutional security nor equal justice. They well know that though these Acts do, in fact, afford incidental protection to them, as well as to those in whose favour they were meant to operate, yet that for their ease or relief they were never intended; and the injury which your Petitioners most deeply and universally feel is of a different nature; they complain, not merely that a very small proportion of their body partici, pate less than they perhaps might do under other circumstances, in the positive advantages which society has to bestow; but that they all, indiscriminately, are held up to public odium as persons unworthy to be admitted to such participation; and they ask, from what portion of this dishonour can the Indemnity Act relieve them? Or how does it restore them to that their just station in society, from which,'for no crime either proved or imputed, they have been so harshly thrust away? That your Petitioners humbly conceive, that, even allowing the right of defending an establishment by such restrictive laws, it would be difficult to prove that they confer any security whatever, and far more to such a degree of it as to justify the means; but that, on the contrary, justice and liberality are the natural sources of strength and safety, while danger is the far more common result of suspicious policy and oppressive conduct; in which sentiment, your Petitioners are again supported by the same royal authority before quoted, recorded in your Journals, "That granting ease to Dissenters would contribute very much to the establishment of the Church." That the specific test actually imposed is in itself particularly improper, as being liable to the imputation of profaning a solemn rite of Christian Worship, to the great disgust of many religious persons, and to the scandal of religion itself. And that it is farther objectionable, because it can only deter the conscientious, while it is no bar to the unprincipled and ambitious. But that on such arguments, as affecting themselves, your Petitioners are the less disposed to insist, because, by any other impediment equally efficient, they would still deem themselves subjected to similar oppression; and that for the impropriety of the test, those who ordain it, and not those who suffer under it, are responsible. On the whole, your Petitioners humbly pray this Honourable House to take the premises into their serious consideration, and to grant them relief. And they persuade themselves, that the former successive relaxations of harsh and oppressive enactments against religious liberty, so far from being considered as a reason for their being expected to continue to suffer in silence the grievances to which they still remain exposed, ought rather to be regarded as an en PROVINCIAL. ASSOCIATIONS. THURSDAY, May 29th. The Twentyseventh Anniversary of the Somerset Association was held at the Independent Chapel at Ilchester. Mr. Paize, of Milborn Port, began the morning worship; Mr. Lane, of Wells, prayed before the sermon; Mr. Pittard, of Rodwell, preached from 2 Sam. xxiii. 3, 4; and Mr. Blair, of Milverton, concluded. In the afternoon, Mr. Trego, of Martock, prayed; Mr. Luke, of Taunton, delivered the discourse from Matt. xxv. 40; and Mr. Cave, of Nether Stowey, concluded the service. The sermon in the evening was preached by Mr. Lewis of Glastonbury, from Acts xvii. 11. and Messrs. Lewis of Chelwood, and Vickery of Compton, engaged in prayer. For the convenience of the brethren, the meeting for transacting the business of the Association was held the preceding afternoon at Mr. Jukes's, at Yeovil; after which a discourse was delivered by Mr. Golding of Poundisford Park, from 2 Pet. i. 19. In the hope that through the divine blessing, it may be the means of reviving the cause at 1lchester, the Association were unanimous in opinion, that it is most advisable that a home missionary should, at present at least, reside in the town, and to divide his labours between that and other destitute places in that part of the country. ON the morning of Thursday, Oct. 2, a Theological Examination of the Students took place at Spa-Fields Chapel, in the presence of the Trustees, the Committee, and several ministers, which was highly gratifying to all present, and reflected honour both on the Tutors and students. In the evening was held the Autumnal Meeting; the public service commenced at six o'clock with prayer by Mr. Platt of Holywell Mount. The Rev. W. Kemp, Divinity Tutor, introduced the themes, which were delivered by two of the senior students: the 1st by Mr. Sanderson, On the Ruin of Man; the Wednesday, Sept. 10. The Associated 28 by Mr. J. Parsons, On the Recovery of Ministers of Sheffield, Wakefield, DonMan; after which, the Rev. E. Parsons, caster, &c. held their Half-yearly Meetof Leeds (formerly a student at Tre-ing at Salem Chapel, Wakefield. Two vecca), preached from Mark iv. 26-30. and closed with prayer. Barbican Chapel. OCT. 2. Barbican Chapel was re-opened for public worship, (having been shut up for repairs,) when two sermons were preached; in the morning by the Rev. H. F. Burder, and in the evening by Dr. Collyer; after which, liberal collections were made towards the expenses. The Rev. Spedding Curwen commenced his stated ministry at the above place on the following Sabbath. THE HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY Has, during the past month, been favoured with ONE THOUSAND POUNDS, unsolicited, a sum which has seasonably relieved the Committee from a heavy urden, and enabled them to resolve on m ploying two additional Missionaries. VOL. I. discourses were preached in the morning; one by the Rev. Mr. Docker, of Sheffield, on the "Sacrifice of Christ," from Isa. liii. 10; and the other on Dedication to God," from Ruthi.16,17. by Rev. H. Richards of Attercliffe. Rev. Mr. Moorhouse of Melton, read and prayed. In the afternoon the Ministers assembled for business in the vestry of the Chapel The evening service commenced with prayer and reading by Rev. Mr. Boden of Sheffield. Rev. Mr. Dixon preached from Acts xi. 23. The Lord's Supper closed the services of the day. Mr. Boden presided, and Dr. Cope, the minister of the place, addressed the spectators. The Rev. Mr. Woodwark preached the preceding evening from 1 Cor. xii. 13. The next Meeting is to be held at Sheffield. The Northamptonshire Association 2 U held their Half-yearly Meeting at Mar-cestershire, 38 feet by 30, with galleries. ket Harborough on Thursday, September 25. Two sermons were preached in the morning, by the Rev. B. Hobson, Wilford, and Mr. Morgan, Kilsby. The afternoon was devoted to business, the chief objects of which was the reorganization of the County Missionary Society. Mr. Robertson, of Stretton, preached in the evening. The Dorset Association of Independent Ministers and Churches held their First Half-yearly Meeting at Lyme, Oct. 1. The Rev. Messrs. Hannaford, Hall, Humphrey and Saltren preached; and the Rev. Messrs. Bailey, Evans, Barnes, Hyatt, Croom, Jeanes and Wayland led the devotional parts of the service. Shaftesbury is the place fixed on for the Easter Meeting. ORDINATIONS, CHAPELS, ETC. JULY 24. The Rev. R. Littler was ordained to the pastoral office over the Congregational church assembling in Lower Chapel, Darwen. Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool, delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Charrier, Liverpool, offered the ordination-prayer; Mr. Roby, Manchester, gave the charge; Mr. Coombs, of Salford, preached to the people; and Messrs. Harris, Fox, Carnson, and R. Fletcher, of Ebenezer Chapel, Darwen, conducted the devotional exercises. Mr. Ely, Rochdale, preached in the evening. Aug. 21. The settlement of the Rev. S. Bell (late of Wrexham) over the church and congregation at High-street Chapel, Lancaster, was publicly recognised. Mr. Grimshaw, of Garstang, commenced the service; Mr. Payne (principal of Blackburn Academy) delivered an introductory discourse; Mr. Charrier, of Liverpool, implored the divine blessing upon the connexion; Mr. Parsons, of Leeds, addressed the church and minister; and Mr. Edwards, of Elswick, concluded. Mr. Lowell, of Bristol, preached in the morning; Mr. Winter, of Bristol, in the afternoon; and Mr. Thorp in the evening. The devotional services by Rev. Messrs. Daniell, Griffiths, Brown, Rodway, and by Messrs. Burchell and Mursell, of Bristol Academy. The congre'gation and friends have raised 2001. towards the expense. The ordination of Rev. John Blackburn over the Congregational churcă, East Sheen, Mortlake, (six miles from London), took place Sept. 9, when the following ministers assisted: Mr. J. Thomas, of London, commenced the service; Mr. Henry, of Tooting, delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. W. Seaton, of Wandsworth, proposed the usual questions; Mr. Washbourn, of Hammersmith, offered the ordinationprayer; Mr. Leifchild, of Kensington, gave the charge; Mr. Morison, of Brompton, addressed the people; and Mr. Knight, of Kingston, concluded. Mr. Sept. 16. The Rev. R. May, from Hoxton Academy, was ordained over the congregation of the Independent denomination, at the Old Chapel, Stansted, Mountfitchet, Essex. Jennings, of Thaxted, commenced the service by prayer, &c.; Mr. Hunt, of Chelmsford, gave the introductory discourse, and asked the questions; Mr. Thornton, of Billericay, offered the ordination-prayer; Dr. Harris, tutor, gave the charge; and Mr. John Clayton, Jun. addressed the congregation. Mr. Chaplin, of Bishop Stortford, cluded. con Sept. 17. A new Independent Chapel was opened at Grantham, Lincolnshire. Mr. Alliott, of Nottingham, preached in the morning; Mr. Jean, of Market Harborough, in the afternoon; and Mr. Parsons, of Halifax, in the evening. The following day, the Rev. Alfred Dawson, late of Hoxton Academy, who has been instrumental in raising the present interest, was ordained. Mr. Sept. 3. A neat Independent Chapel, Soper, of Louth, commenced the sercapable of seating nearly 400 persons, vice; Mr. Webb, of Leicester, the inwas opened at Staithes, a populous fish- troductory discourse; and Mr. Alliots, ing town about ten miles from Whitby, of Nottingham, the ordination-prayer; Yorkshire. Three sermons were preach Dr. Harris, of Hoxton, gave the charge; ed on the occasion, by Mr. Blackburn of and Mr. R. Hall, of Leicester, preached Whitby, Mr. Hinmers of Guisborough, from Rev. xxii. 17; Mr. Jean, of Market and Mr. Young of Whitby. Mr. Haigh Harborough, concluded. In the even(Home Missionary) engaged in the de-ing, the Rev. Dr. Harris preached from votional parts of the service. The collections amounted to 131. On the same day was opened a new Baptist Meeting-house, Hillsley, Glou Isaiah xii. 3; the Rev. Messrs. Roberts, IRELAND. IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY. THE native preachers of the above Society are promoting its important obects with unwearied devotedness, and very encouraging success. The following account of One Week's labour is taken from their journals for the last Quarter, and may be regarded as a fair specimen of their regular and habitual course. "June 23.-Travelled fifteen miles this day, and preached the word in Purtaghmore, Killeen, Lisrewes, Pullshaskea, Liskea, Ballinashraighamora, and Cruckawnawhoga; the average number of attendance at each place was from sixteen to twenty, all Roman Catholics, and very seriously attentive.-24th. Travelled sixteen miles, and read and expounded the scriptures at Kruckawn, Cloontime, Cloonfour, Cloonwirra, Classkerroe, Classeghbeg, Ballinastack, Curaghnhakawntha, and Curraghawirrah. Not a Protestant to be found here. About sixteen or eighteen hearers attended in each place, excepting that last mentioned. On entering this village I was first noticed by some of the inhabitants who were cutting turf; immediately they threw their implements into the bogholes, and ran to the village to know what I was about: curiosity induced others to run, until I was actually surrounded by upwards of 120 people, all Roman Catholics. I took out my Testament, and spoke on the word, in Irish, for nearly two hours. They listened with the deepest attention, and were delighted to hear of what the Saviour had done and suffered for lost sinners. They expressed their wonder that the priest had never told them these things, and avowed their anxious wish that I resided near them, and they would come to hear me every time I would read and explain that book which told them such things. I left a few tracts among them, and proceeded, rejoicing that the gospel is indeed win ing its way through the ro mantic wilds of the West.-25th. Expounded the word in Russtale, Tumeraccorn, Pullnhacallie, and Bunarowa, a distance of fifteen miles. Not a Protestant could I meet with, and in point:ing these votaries of superstition to the Saviour, some said I was a Protestant minister, others said nay, for if so, I should not be able to talk the Irish language so fluently, and so easily to be understood; but others said, if I were a priest I should not warn them against praying to the saints and angels, doing penance, &c.; still all agreed that what read for them was very important, and they appeared to be deeply interested in the discourse. There were eighteen or twenty hearers in each place, besides private exhortation in various other places during the day.-26th. Travelled thirteen miles, reading and explaining the scriptures in Gurthnhacaitree, Ballinwootha, Ballacalthy Gurthuhadeagh, and Nhurrone, exclusive of private teaching at different cabins. I had fourteen or sixteen hearers in each place: still could not find one Protestant. All appeared very desirous to hear of Jesus Christ in their native tongue, and had never heard the Testament read or expounded before. 27th. Laboured at Roachtown, Ballinagoul, Ballinshrawhain, Priestown, and Ballintrean. The people at these places live in the most abject state of penury, having but a very scanty supply of food, and destitute of all comfortable clothing. But it was delightful to see these poor creatures as they sat down around me to hear the gospel. I endeavoured to show unto them the dying love of the Saviour for wretched and hell-deserving sinners : soon the big round tears stole down their sorrowful countenances, the word evidently came with power to their mind, and at length some of them cried aloud to the Saviour for the pardon of their sins. Good saints and angels appeared to be wholly forgotten, while with humility and fervency they called alone on Him who is mighty to save. This day I was truly encouraged and delighted, though after all its labours, including a journey of seventeen miles, I was obliged, as has often been the case, to stretch my body on a little straw, or on a few stools opposite a bad fire, with my clothes on, till the next morning.-28th. Preached and expounded the word in Ballinagroun, Ballinamore, Currahamore, Ballinakill, Chapelafinahty, The Plantation, and Askenagh, including a journey of thirteen miles, and presenting an average of twenty-four very attentive hearers in each place. 29th. Laboured at The Four Roads, Cappaghmore, Ballincastle, Ballinscole, and Kilieragh. In these places I found the Roman Catholics greatly delighted to hear the word of life. About fifteen or sixteen hearers in each place, excepting Cappaghmore, where there were upwards of forty; I was delighted with the number, and the nature of the questions they proposed to me, as showing a most enquiring and earnest desire to become acquainted with |