regarded as one of the brightest orna ments. He was followed to the grave by à long train of mourners of all denominations. What his theological sentiments were, in the last years of his life, we regret to say, we do not precisely know. Probably we shall learn from the Funeral Sermon by Mr. Aspland, which we expect will be printed with the Oration delivered by Dr. Thomas Rees day of the interment. at the chapel in Jewin-street, on the The late Dr. Rees was, for many the Regium donum to dissenting miyears, the receiver and distributor of nisters in England and Wales-of late years made annually a parliamentary grant. The writer of this article happens to know, that the Baptist denomination has been, in this matter, very much indebted to his liberality. We shall be happy to receive a Memoir of this very eminent man from any one of our correspondents who was sufficiently acquainted with him to be able to furnish it. Review. Remarks on Volney's Ruins, or a Survey of the Revolutions of Empires. By W. A. Hails. Octavo, Pp. 390. Price 10s. 6d. London, 1825. INFIDELITY is more extensively spread than many would imagine. It is not confined to "the wise of this world," but it spreads its baleful influence to a considerable extent in the humbler walks of life. Hence the infidel press teems with cheap editions of the more popular publications of the "Satanic School;" and but for the power of that NAME, which it is the object of these publications to blaspheme, they would cover the land in its length and breadth. Volney's "Ruins" have, for some years past, been a sort of væde mecum among students of law and medicine; and we regret to know, that they have not been confined to this very important class of society, and the consequence of their free circulation has been dreadful. VOL. XVII. We have long considered Volney as the most daring writer of all the mo dern infidels; and have often wonder.. ed how his groundless speculations should have become oracular, until turning to that Book which it is their aim to destroy, we have learned that because men like not to retain God in their thoughts, they are given up to a reprobate mind to believe a lie. The "Ruins" have, by a strange fortuitousness, been permitted to have a mighty circulation in France, and also in England, without any person, competent to the task, attempting a regular reply. The Rev. P. Roberts, it is true, published a few letters on this subject; but it does not seem to have entered into his plan to trace this literary Proteus in all his changings. The work of Jouvin is only addressed to Volney's notions on liberty and equality; and the Bampton Lecturers," who have condescended to notice him, have been contented with giving him 2 D a passing thrust, scarcely deeming him worthy to measure their lances with. Dr. Priestley's remarks on Volney were such as might have been expected from a Theologian of his school. And Volney has had little else to do than quietly to pursue his widening way to the chambers of death, having, we fear, myriads in his train! The Author before us has, in this Volume, pursued Volney through all the devious paths in which he wanders, and, in our judgment, completely obviated all his objections against Christianity. The Work consists of two partsthe first part, after a brief character of the "Ruins," and a short notice of the chapter entitled " Meditations," with remarks on Volney's spectral companion, contains an Investigation of the Truth of the Mosaic History, and of the Divine Authority of the Jewish Institutes, with a general defence of the Character of Moses; points out the absurdity of Volney's charge, that Moses practised at Horeb "artifice which the vulgar were unable to penetrate;"-Internal Evidences of the Truth of the History and Authority of the Institutes.-Collateral Evidences. —Unreasonableness of supposing the Books of Moses to have been forged. -No possiblity of such a Forgery having been made subsequent to the time of Moses.-The Divine Authority of Judaism does not militate, as Volney asserts, against the truth and Divine Authority of Christianity.-Absurdity of Volney's attempt to parody revealed religion, by pretending that both Judaism and Christianity are derived from the Parsees, or that they are only Modifications of the Magian superstition invented by Zoroaster.-Inquiry respecting Zoroaster; his time, and who he was.-The Jews did not receive any of their opinions from him, nor are Judaism and Christianity derived, either proximately or remotely, from the Parsees or Magians-Examination of Volney's assertion that the religion of Moses is that of the Soul of the World" YOU-PITER." - Volney's incapacity as a Biblical Critic.-Notices respecting the Zodiacs of Dendérá and Esnè. 1 The second part contains a review of Volney's Atheistic Notions respecting the Original State of Man in the Universe, Principles of Society, Source of the Evils of Society, Origin of Governments and Laws.-His assertions respecting these subjects are shewn to be entirely conjectural, unsupported by a single historical notice, contrary to every principle of sound reason, and, in many instances, an outrage offered to the common sense of his readers.Remarks on bis allusions to the French Revolution.-Inconsistency of his political Notions, and of his Estimate of National Glory and Felicity.-Review of his grand attempt to shew the fabulous and imaginary Nature of all Religion.-Unparalleled audacity and folly of the 13th Section of his 22nd Chapter, that Christianity is "The Allegorical Worship of the Sun, under the Cabalistical Names of CHRIS-EN, or CHRIST, and YES-US, or JESUS."-The folly of his confident assertions exposed.-The Necessity and Reasonableness of Miracles.-Concluding Observations. From this summary of contents, it will appear, that the field which Mr. Hails has undertaken to dispute is wide and difficult, involving much of Biblical Criticism-Ancient HistoryAstronomy - Chronology- and Politics; but he appears fully equipt for the undertaking at all points, and in his Herculean grasp the bones of his antagonist are heard to crash. We extract the following passages, to shew the style of our Author. "A few more of Volney's vagaries on this part of the subject, may be briefly noticed: In vain did Moses wish to blot from his religion whatever could bring to remembrance the worship of the stars. Pray, how did Volney come to the knowledge of this? If Moses was so desirous to obliterate every thing from his institutes that could preserve the rehim from doing it? Could the daring membrance of Sabaism, who prevented leader, who practised at Sinai artifice which the vulgar could not penetrate,' not refrain from committing himself when he wrote his laws? Had Volney informed us whence he drew his information, we might have weighed its authority; but if he has no other reason for what he asserts, but that' a multiplicity of traits, in spite of his exertions, still remained to point it out,' and if these traits are the seven lamps of the great candlestick, the twelve stones, or signs of the Urim of the noxes, the ceremony of the lamb, or High Priest, the feasts of the two equicelestial ram, then at its fifteenth degree,' we can only perceive the pravity of Volney's imagination, and the insufficiency of his premises, for such a conclusion as he draws; for, if he supposes that the seven lamps represented the seven planets which move round the solar globe of light, we are certainly at liberty to require his proof that there were seven planets known at that time; nor are we afraid to assert, that, unless the fact was revealed to Adam, and the knowledge of it transmitted by tradition to the men of that age, Saturn is so distant, and its periodical time so great, that men who were destitute of optical instruments can scarcely be supposed to have had any acquaintance with its motion round the sun. The Georgium Sidus is a very modern discovery, as well as those smaller planets which move between Jupiter and Mars. Neither is it at all probable that they were acquainted with the true solar system, or that they ever dreamt of the five other wandering fires, that move in mystic dance,' around the sun; and, least of all, that the globe which we inhabit, moved along with them around a common centre. This is, therefore, like many of the assertions which he makes, a gratuitous assumption; and one which we can not admit without sufficient proof." Pp. 124-126. We are glad to notice the patronage which the highly respected Bishop of St. David's, and the venerable Bishop of Durham, have given to this learned production of a Nonconforming schoolmaster. This is just as it should be, and affords another pleasing indication of the decay of that narrow spirit which has so long considered all worth and all excellency to be confined within the bounds of its own circle. In conclusion, we would recommend to Mr. Hails the propriety of publishing a cheap abridgment of this very excellent book, for circulation among the lower classes of society, where cheap editions of Volney have deposit ed their moral virus. The Committee of the Protestant Dissenters' Grammar School, at Mill Hill, brought to the Bar of the Dissenting Part of the religious Public. By the Rev. John Humphrys, late Principal. THIS pamphlet is written for the avowed object of calling upon the Committee of the Mill Hill Grammar School, to justify themselves in compelling the resignation of Mr. Humphrys, late the principal master of that school. It shortly states the history of the establishment from its commencement in the year 1807, till the 12th day of April, 1819, when the author accepted the station which he has been obliged to relinquish. It appears that his situation was filled to the satisfaction of the Committee till the year 1824, as in that year the examining Committee, in its report, expressed its approbation of the manner in which the young gentlemen of the first class had been instructed. After this period, it seems that some reports had been circulated, reflecting on the competency of Mr. Humphrys as the principal of that establishment. Mr. Humphrys supposes these reports to have originated, from the boys informing their parents by letters, which they have the privilege of writing home without being subject to the inspection of any one belonging to the establishment; but no instances are adduced to warrant this assumption. However, though the source may be doubted, there can be no question that unpleasant rumours were afloat. It conse quently became the duty of the Committee, as a public body, to inquire into them, and the only question is, whether that duty has been properly performed, respect being had as well to the principal, as to the establishment. It The plan adopted to obtain Mr. Humphrys' resignation, appears to have been, the informing him, that it had been resolved in the Committee, to sever the offices of principal of the school, and that of pastor of the church connected with the Institution. was proposed to Mr. Humphrys, that he should continue his station as the latter, and quit the former. Mr. H. requested to be informed of the grounds on which they acted, naturally suppos ing, that he was considered unfit for the station of principal; and anxious, as any man in such circumstances would have been, that if no imputation of that kind were meant, it should at once be disowned, and if it were, then that he should be put to the test and examined as to his competency: till this were agreed to, he peremptorily refused to comply with the proposed terms. The members of the Committee appear to have considered, that they were not bound to accede to either of these requests, and, consequently, Mr. Hum phrys hastily left the establishment on the 22nd day of March last. These are the principal features of this case. As the title of the pamphlet treats it as a "Trial," and the public the tribunal before which it must be argued, we may be permitted to say, that it is impossible to come to a correct decision till we hear what may be alledged in defence of the Committee. Our opinion is, that the known respectability of the author, the circumstance of his being requested to take the situation, (for he did not intrude himself into it,) the justice due to himself and his friends, require from the Committee an explanation of these transactions, and, till then, we give no opinion as to the justice of them. Some persons, perhaps, would have been glad, if parts of the pamphlet which appear egotistical, had been omitted; or that they had been the testimony of some one else; as also other parts which are of a personal nature; however, great allowance must be made for a gentleman evidently anxious that a well-earned reputation should not be relinquished on slight or unknown grounds. The Funeral Sermon, preached by the Rev. Robert Hall, M. A. occasioned by the Death of the Rev. Dr. Ryland. Memoirs, &c. of the late Rev. Stephen Morell, of Norwich; by the Rev. Mr. Binney, of Newport. 1 Vol. 12mo. A Volume of Sermons on important Subjects: chiefly intended to aid the Devotion of the Closet, and the religious Exercises of the Family: by the Rev. John Bruce. The Negroe's Memorial, or the Abolitionist's Catechism, by an Abolitionist. Stowell's (Rev. W. H.) Lectures on the Ten Commandments. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Sketches of Sermons, furnished by their respective Authors. Vol. VIII. and last. Intelligence, &c. Religious Tract Society. THE Twenty-sixth Anniversary of the Religious Tract Society was held at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgatestreet, on Friday, 13th of May, 1825, at half-past six in the morning, as usual. An abstract of the Report was read, from which it appeared, that the operations of the Society had considerably increased, the grants of paper, tracts, and money, to foreign Societies, Missionaries, and gratuitous issues at home and abroad, during the past year, with the attendant expenses, exceed the sum of £2800, being more than the whole amount of subscriptions, donations, legacies, and contribu. tions, during the same period. The report also referred to the attention given by the Committee to increase the number of their publications upon the doctrines and truths of the reformation, and noticed the considerable grants (exceeding 70,000 tracts) for circulation in Ireland, at the present important period. The resolutions were proposed by Alderman Brown, Rev. E. Bickersteth, Rev. T. Mortimer, Rev. R. Pope, Dr. Morrison, Rev. J. Clayton, S. Dwight, W. Reeve, S. Kilpin, W. Urwick, J. Hooper, and others, who referred to the operations of the Society, and pleaded its cause with much earnestness; but the most important and interesting events of the day arose from a circumstance quite unexpected, as well as novel, in the anniver saries of these Institutions. A few Roman Catholics repeatedly endeavoured to interrupt the proceedings, but were told, that not being members of the Society, they could not claim any right to take a part in the business of the Society, and were prevented from proceeding by the general expressions of indignation manifested at their interference. At length, however, on their vociferating against some arguments and facts brought forward by the Rev. R. Pope, and the Rev. W. Urwick: those gentlemen promised to stay after the regular business of the meeting was gone through, and if the Roman Catholic gentlemen then wish. ed to state their objections, they would reply. This course was adopted; when the business of the Society was concluded, Joseph Reyner, Esq. the Treasurer, left the chair, and Alderman Key was requested to act as chairman. The two Roman Catholic gentlemen who had been most prominent in obtruding themselves upon the meeting, a Mr. Fitzgerald, and a Mr. Rolph, were admitted to the platform, and allowed to address the meeting as long as they pleased, and to bring forward all the arguments and assertions they thought proper to advance, and were encouraged to state them with the utmost freedom, except on political points, which were carefully avoided. They were severally replied to by Mr. Pope and Mr. Urwick, who, in the spirit of Christian meekness, and in the most able manner, refuted the miserable sophistries and misrepresentations of their opponents, and fully exposed to the light of day the system of Popery, as opposed to the fundamental truths of the gospel. It is impos. sible to notice the particulars in these pages, and is the less necessary, as a sketch of the proceedings will be published in a few days, by the Religious Tract Society. The result was highly gratifying to the numerous assembly (about twelve hundred persons) who listened with the utmost interest and attention to this discusssion, which lasted for more than two hours after the meeting had closed, so that the whole proceedings were not terminated till after twelve o'clock, when Alderman Key shortly addressed the meeting, thanking them for their attention to both parties, and remarked the conviction which appeared to be brought home to all present, of the value and importance of the truths of the gospel, as set forth by the advocates of the Reformation. The result of this meeting, we trust, will satisfy Roman Catholics as to the impolicy of continuing to obtrude them. em selves upon Protestant assemblies, to embarrass and interrupt the proceedings. It will also be a means of making the ac tive proceeding of the Religious Tract Society more extensively known, and of producing increased assistance to its funds, which is the more necessary, as the total amount it received from the public the last year, did not exceed £2300; a sum utterly inadequate to the extensive operations of the Society in disseminating divine truth both at home and abroad, and especially in the sister kingdom. The publications of the Religious Tract VOL. XVII. Society, during the past year, exceeded one hundred, many of which were upon the important subjects just adverted to, and may be procured at the Depository, 56, Paternoster-row. General Meeting of the Deputies from Dissenting Congregations. At a special General Meeting of the Deputies from the several Congregations of Protestant Dissenters of the three Denominations, Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist, in and within twelve miles of London, appointed to protect their civil rights, held at the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry, London, on Friday, the 29th Day of April, 1825, Wm. Smith, Esq. M.P. in the Chair; Resolved, That this Deputation is anxious to disthe petitions lately presented to Parlia avow any concurrence in, or approval of, ment, (purporting to be from Protestant Dissenters,) in reference to the claims of the Roman Catholics for relief from the operation of existing laws; and that it will continue, at all seasonable opportuit has hitherto done,) the impolicy and nities, to urge upon the Legislature, (as injustice of every sort of penalty or disability, civil or political, for conscience' sake. Twenty-first Anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. ON Wednesday, May 4, 1825, The Right Honourable Lord Bexley in the Chair. His Lordship was supported by the following Vice-Presidents of the Society, viz.-The Earl of Harrowby, Lord Presi dent; the Earl of Rocksavage; the Earl of Gosford; Lord Calthorpe; Lord Gambier; the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry; the Dean of Salisbury; Sir T. D. Acland, Bart. M.P.; Sir R. H. Inglis, M.P.; the Honourable C. J. Shore. 2 E |