Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

"Jesus the only begotten Son of God:
Observations on Mr. Davies's Sermon at
Belper, entitled Jesus of Nazareth the
Son of Joseph,' in Seven Letters to a
Friend."

INTELLIGENCE.

DOMESTIC.
RELIGIOUS.

Halifax, 20th January, 1817.

As I presume the subscription towards defraying the debt (350) upon the Unitarian Chapel at Newchurch, in Rossendale (M. Repos. X. 313), may be considered as closed, it becomes my pleasing duty to lay before the subscribers an account of the manner in which their liberality has been appropriated. Amount reported in M. Repos. . XI. 558....

Mr. Mace, Tenterden... Thomas Hardy, Esq. Walworth

From this deduct

Four subscriptions reported twice: com

274 5 .0

1 0 0

[ocr errors]

2 2

0

[merged small][ocr errors]

The debt upon the chapel of 3501. was
due in the following proportions to the
following individuals, all of whom, ex-
cept one, held promissory notes, bearing
These
interest for their several claims,
notes have been given up to me, indorsed
with a receipt in full of all claims, except
in the case of the two last, who have only
been paid in part, but have indorsed the
notes which they hold with a receipt of
such part, and have also given a separate
receipt for the same...

Unitarian Chapel at Newchurch,

To James Ashworth..

Edmund Ogden........

Abraham Lawton.......

James Holt....

Jonathan Rudman..

Ditto, ditto... ......
Henry Whittles.....

DR.

[ocr errors]

0

60

[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

pare M. Repos. Vol.

X. 596, 461, 527,

XI. 124...

14.5 0

Error in Bristol ac

count, X.

527,

viz. 14. 1s. for 1.. 010

Error in Newcastle

account..................

010

14 7. 0

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Jonathan Rudman..........
Ditto, in part of 60%......
Henry Whittles, in part of 807. 20
By debt still due upon the
chapel.......

(COPY.)

Of the sum of 2631. (the total of actual
subscriptions, as reported in the M. Repos.)
the sum of 2611. 6s. 8d. has been received
by me and paid in liquidation of the debt
(8501.) as stated above by Dr. Thomson,
which, with an account of 1. 18s. 4d, for
parcels of
postages, and carriage of
tracts, makes up the sum total of 2631.
JOHN ASHWORTH.
(Signed)

(Witness) JOHN BEATTIE.

January 16, 1817.

It results from the statement above,
that by the liberality of the Unitarian

8 public, the oppressive debt upon the cha-
pel of 3501. has been reduced to 884. 138. 4d.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.

6

1 13 4

263 0 0

JOHN THOMSON. Mr. Ashworth's pamphlet will be put to the press on the 1st of February, 1817.

[ocr errors]

Liberal allowance will be made to tract societies, or to individuals taking 25 copies or more. It is intitled, “An Account of the Rise and Progress of the Unitarian Doctrine in the Societies at Rochdale, Newchurch in Rossendale, and other Places, formerly in Connection with the late Rev. Joseph Cooke. In Ten Letters to a Friend." By John Ashworth, price 1s.

Erratum in Vol. XI. p. 124,

For "W. Jones, Esq. Manchester, 51." read" Samuel Jones, Esq. Greenhill, near Manchester, 5l.”

Manchester Quarterly Meeting. The last Quarterly Meeting of Ministers generally denominated Presbyterian, in the district of Manchester, was held on the 2d January, 1817, at the chapel of the Rev. Wm. Hawkes. Seventeen ministers were present at the chapel, and the number of hearers, though not large, was perhaps rather greater than generally assemble on similar occasions. The Rev. T. C. Holland, of Preston, introduced the service, and the Rev. Jos. Ashton, of Dukinfield, preached from Hos. vi. 6. At the close of the service, the ordinary business of the meeting was transacted, and a new member was added to the association. The dinner at the Bridgewater Arms was less numerously attended than usual, only thirty-one gentlemen being present, whereas on some occasions we remember to have seen between sixty and seventy. But this circumstance did not by any means diminish the interest of the meeting.

On the evening of the same day a sermon was preached by the Rev. Wm. Jevons, of Altringham, on behalf of the Lancashire and Cheshire Unitarian Book and Tract Society, -The introductory parts of the service having been kindly undertaken by the Rev. W. Turner, of Newcastle. At the close of the service there was a collection for the benefit of the said society. The sermon and collection are intended to be yearly continued.

On the next day the annual meeting of the Book and Tract Society was held. Besides various other ordinary resolutions, which, as they are necessary to the successful operation of every such institution, it is not thought unnecessary to detail, it was resolved unanimously, that Mr. Jevons be respectfully requested to print in a cheap form, at the expence of the Society, the sermon preached on its behalf the evening before; and he kindly consented to comply with the wishes of the meeting. The sermon will be published in a very -short time, and will be inserted in the So

There

ciety's Catalogue for this year. can be no doubt that this institution, since its first establishment, about six years ago, has done great service to the cause of pure Christianity, and aided the progress of religious truth and righteousness; and the best thanks of the friends of truth are owing to those persons who first contrived, and have since conducted, an engine of so mighty a power in the operations of intellect and reason. May its operations be carried on with still increasing effect.

Since the forementioned meetings were held, an Unitarian Fellowship has been formed in this town, the specific objects of which are, first, to extend the operation of the Book and Tract Society, by the payment of small subscriptions at short intervals (one penny a week) so as to enable the poorer classes of society to avail themselves of its provisions, by purchasing books to the amount of their subscriptions; and secondly, by means of donations (every excess above one penny per week being considered a donation), and unclaimed subscriptions, to create a fund for general purposes in aid of the Unitarian cause. At the time of the constituent meeting, which took place last week, the number of members amounted to between thirty and forty. The general meetings of the Fellowship will be held once a quarter, of the committee once a month. A meeting for religious purposes, to be denominated the Religious Meeting of the Fellowship, will be held once a fortnight.

Manchester, Jan. 1817.

W. J.

MISCELLANEOUS. Deistical Principles a Disqualification for Parental Duty.

[We copy the following from the newspapers, reserving our comments, if any be required, till the Lord Chancellor has pronounced a judgment. ED.] COURT OF CHANCERY, FRIDAY, JAN. 24. Westbrook v. Shelley.

Sir S. Romilly moved for an order to prevent the defendant exercising any guardianship over his children, on the ground of his Deistical principles. It appeared that the defendant bad some time since written a book, called Queen Mab, which openly avowed the principles of Deism; and in such a case he could certainly not be considered a proper person for educating youth. The interests of soeiety would obviously be endangered were persons of these principles permitted to instil them into their children. Interference in such a case was peremptorily called for, and he (Sir S.) had no doubt,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

OR,

The Christian's Survey of the Political World.

BEFORE this meets the public eye, the parliament will have resumed its discussions, and a more important session has not been holden for many years in the country. It meets under very particular circumstances. The distresses of the nation are now completely unfolded, and with them the truths that have so often been expressed in the House of Commons, and which, to use the Speaker's language, are as notorious as the sun at noon day, have made their way into every cottage, and are understood and felt by the peasant as well as the peer, by the commonest labourer and manufacturer as well as by the greatest adept in political economy. How far universal opinion will have an effect on the House of Commons, as it is at present constituted, time will develope. It is impossible that affairs should be managed as they have been for some years past, but which party will gain the ascendancy it is not easy to determine. One particular feature in the history of these eventful times must not be passed over unnoticed.

The great question at issue is the reform of the House of Commons, and it is argued that this House no longer answers the end for which it was established, namely, the interference of the people in the affairs of government: for the voice of the people, it is said, has not its due weight in that House, being overwhelmed by that of the oligarchists, or the proprietors of boroughs, who can, when united, carry every thing before them, or a majority of them, by uniting, as it suits their turn, with the popular or government representatives, determine every thing as they please. Hence both prince and people are shackled. The prince is hampered in his choice of individuals for the public service, as he must attend to the solicitations of those families who have so great weight in the House of Commons, and sharing with each other the places of government, it is turned too much to their private advantage. This is felt by the people in the increase of their

taxes, as due care cannot be taken of the expenditure, when it is the interest of so many persons that it should not be too diligently inquired into. To these complaints on the state of the House of Commons, which has grown out of particular circumstances, it is observed that sufficient attention is not paid to the increasing population as well as general improvement of the country. Whilst time has been decreasing the population of some towns and boroughs, villages have grown into opulence, and present the aspect of flourishing cities. But the deserted towns continue to send their quota of members to parliament, whilst the new population is denied any share in the legislature.

To remedy this evil, an extension of the right of suffrage is called for, but on its limits many doubts are entertained. Some are for its being extended to all who have arrived at the age of maturity fixed by our law; others would exclude servants and persons subsisting on alms; others would confine it to householders paying parish rates.

On the mode of election, also, is a difference of opinion: some would have it by ballot, others by open votes; and the opinion seems to be general that an attention should be paid to the situation of the voters, so that no one should have far to go from his home to exercise his right. It is presumed that by this increase of the number of voters, the present notorious corruption in the House of Commons would be abated, and that persons thus elected would pay a greater attention to the public than to their private interest.

The above sentiments have been discussed in public meetings in various parts of the United Kingdom, by county meetings, meetings of corporate bodies, and assemblages of the people in different districts collected together for the express purpose of petitioning parliament for sa reform. Of the latter meetings, that which has occasioned the most remarks, was holden in Spa Fields, near London, at

1

!

which it was supposed between thirty and forty thousand persons were present. Two meetings have been holden at this place, and at the latter of them, or rather before the business of the day took place, a circumstance occurred which might have been attended with very serious consequences.

A number of persons went from the ground in a tumultuous manner, and marched through the city with banners. The first outrage committed by them was at the north end of Fleet-market, where they broke into a gun maker's shop, seized some arms, and wounded dangerously a person in the shop. Thence they paraded by the Exchange, where several were taken, and went into the Minories, where they broke into the houses of several gun makers, and provided themselves with arms. The appearance of the military occasioned a hasty retreat, and they very soon slid away, leaving no other trace of their passage, than the scattered arms, which they threw down in their retreat.

The government papers laboured hard for a long time to construe this tumultuous march into a preconcerted plot of insurrection, and to connect it with the meeting in Spa Fields. But nothing appeared either in the previous examinations, or the subsequent trials of these rioters, to countenance such an opinion; and it was evidently a hasty proceeding of miserable sailors and riotous people, knowing not what they were about, and intending only temporary outrages.

The meetings in the Spa Fields were conducted with a degree of propriety that was hardly to be expected; and this bas been the case in general in every part of the kingdom. The persons who conducted them usually applied first to the magistrates of the district, who took the precaution of strengthening their hands by an additional number of peace officers to prevent tumult: but this now appears to have been an unnecessary precaution, as the persons assembled dispersed themselves quietly, as soon as they had passed their resolutions, and prepared their intended petitions. The city of London has taken the lead on this occasion, and recommended similar proceedings in corporate bodies; and Cornwall has done the same for the counties, but their calls hitherto have not been attended with much success. On the whole, we may observe that, from what has been done, it is evident that the sentiments of the Speaker of the House of Commons are now generally diffused, that the populace or mob, as it is called by the government writers, are much better informed than is generally imagined; and whether their petitions are attended to or dismissed with contempt, many important results may be

expected. We shall observe only, that unless the people are as virtuous as they are well informed, it is in vain to expect those advantages which are presumed to be the effect of an extension of suffrage; and if the respectable part of the community remain silent, they will have only to blame themselves, if measures should be adopted, that may increase instead of diminishing the present ferment in the country..

In the midst of these meetings for reform, it is some satisfaction to observe that the work of charity goes on with a considerable degree of alacrity. All minds seem to be deeply impressed with the calamity that has befallen the country, and every where the hand of benevolence is open to alleviate the distresses of our fellow creatures. Whilst this is the case, we may reasonably hope that a similar spirit may be imbibed by those who are to decide upon the great questions now brought before them; that they will consult the temper in some degree of the people, and rectify those abuses, which no honest man can palliate, and which every good man would wish to see removed.

In France they have been deliberating on the representation of the people, but all the experience of the past unhappy times seems to have been lost upon them. A dread of the people prevails, and they do not consider that the lower classes of the present day are very different from what they were in the times of that horrid monster Louis the Fourteenth. Instead of increasing the right of suffrage, they have done every thing in their power to diminish it; and the future representatives are to be chosen by a number of persons not equivalent to a two hundred and fiftieth part of the population. Still such a representation will make an essential difference in the government of the country, which canuot be carried on as it was during the usurpation of the Bourbons. For, it must ever be recollected that it was the Bourbon dynasty which destroyed the meetings of the states, overthrew the ancient checks on the monareby, and established a military govern

ment.

They are equally afraid of securities for personal liberty, and their regulations tend to bring that within narrower limits. It is natural also that to such persons the liberty of the press should appear in a very dangerous and odious light, and they are preparing to bring their newspapers still more under the control of government. These attempts are, however, vain; they may succeed for a time, but information has gone abroad, and knowledge cannot be suppressed. The people have learned a bitter lesson, and they have nothing to do but to remain quiet. The time will arrive,

as it did after the tumults in our country, when the government will be placed on a proper footing, and such landmarks will be fixed upon as shall secure to the people those rights, which no precedent of time, no decrees of assemblies, can take from them. It will by degrees be known, that government is not intended for the interest of a few, but for that of the many, and that the pretended plea of legitimacy cannot authorize a violation of the laws of society.

It is said that the finances of their country are in such a situation, that they cannot go on without a loan, and that they have turned their eyes towards the wealth of our monied men for a supply of their wants. Whatever is done, it is to be hoped, that this will be a private concern between the lenders and the existing government, and that ours will not interfere to guarantee the payment of the interest. If our people shoose to lend their money, let them do it; let them take what security they please; and if they lose the whole, no one in this country except those who are interested in it, will regret their loss. ・・

In Germany the discussions on liberty and political economy continue on a very enlarged plan. Their diet does not seem to make any great progress, nor is much to be expected from it. But in the mean time knowledge is gaining ground very fast among the people. They have their eyes open to every step taken by the governors; and they who fought so valiantly to shake off the yoke of one despot, will not easily bend to that of petty ones, who for so long a time misruled that extensive empire.

Spain is going on in its old course. The Jesuits are gaining a fast hold in it, and the inquisition will take effectual care to shut out light from that unhappy country. Their wonted cruelty continues to be exercised in their Américan colonies, but they have received such a check in the Caraccas, as promises to demolish entirely their sovereignty over that part of the southern continent. There is unhappily a dreadful spirit of revenge, excited by the alternation of success, so that death reigns there with all the savage ferocity inherent to the Spanish name, since the establishment of their inquisi

tiou. The black government of Domingo is now firmly established, and affords & proof, that all the reproaches of the whites on the want of capacity in their brethren of a different colour, are ill founded. A gazette from that island, displaying the process of the taking of the oath to the constitution by the president, is not inferior to any that ever proceeded from the cabinets of St. James's or Versailles; and these quondam slaves acted the parts of grandees with as much propriety and dignity as any assemblage of knights of the garter at Windsor, or of the holy ghost at Versailles. In the affairs of government it is probable that they will not be found inferior to the counties of Europe, but, whether they will discover the same duplicity and versality and intrigue, time must develope.

The congress of the United States is re-assembled, and the president has for the last time addressed it in the language becoming the head of a free people, and with those sentiments of respectful gratitude on the approaching cessation of his office, which naturally flows from a mind sensible of the dignity of his si. tuation, and of his return to the body of the people, whose interest it had been his constant employment to support. Whilst Great Britain is disputing on the subject of representation, the United States afford a practical lesson of its expediency and facility. The election of a president, for which many hundred thousand votes have been given, has been carried on with not a hundredth part of the confusion or expence, as that for the election of a representative for Yorkshire. The votes are taken with the utmost facility, and no one has far to go from his residence to give it. Bribery and corruption car not take place, for no purse could support the expence for it; nor can any treasury mandates there influence a voter on one side or the other. The practicability of universal suffrage is thus manifested to the world; and perhaps it will be found, that the greater part of those who argue against its expediency in any country, do it from antient prejudices rather thau sound principles of political reasoning.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
« ZurückWeiter »