that religion, the want of which has caused all the calamities which have befallen that unfortunate island. He considered that the Society tended to abolish that superstition which prevailed so lamentably throughout Ireland, where popery reigned in its most odious and degrading forms. He exhorted them to persevere in their estimable work, and eventually they would emancipate the country, in a sense far more important than that which many of her deluded population sought with so much anxiety.

Rev. Mr WYNN, rector of Belturbet, said his family had the satisfaction of witnessing the first exertions of this Society on the family estate; he thought it his duty, therefore, to bear testimony to its valuable results. The objects of the Society were the noblest that the heart of man could suggest, as its designs tended to the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ, and not to the advancement of a sect. In embracing such an extensive work they must be aware that adequate means are necessary, and he hoped that the details of the Report would increase its funds.

W. WILBERFORCE, Esq. M. P. felt truly gratified in taking a part in the proceedings of that day, because he considered that it was the duty of England to make some reparation to a people whom she had so much oppressed. He observed that a dark cloud had long hung over Ireland, and was eyen now brooding over that unfortunate country; but he hoped that the exertions of his Christian friends would disperse it, so that a remnant of it may not be seen. The Irish, he observed, were, a generous and affectionate people, who well deserve our attention, and will not be backward in appreciating the benefits they receive from us. He was glad to see such a union in. this country, for the benefit of Ireland, and for the glory of God. It was a triple cord, that could not easily be broken; he was only sorry on his part that he could do no more for so excellent an institution.

Hon. and Rev, Gerard Noel.

Superstition, he said, has long been prevalent among the Irish; but they.. had been long neglected, and such neglect was enough to cause a blush upon the cheek of every Englishman. Those who are, benevolent to these unenlightened people, are benevolent to themselves; they are promoting the work of their heavenly Master, who watcheth over all their actions, and who will judge every man according to his work; he could not help thinking how much indebted we were to those good men who had come from Ireland, who at our religious meetings in the preceding week, had so nobly pleaded the cause of religion, and of their country; they had fully impressed upon his heart the claims which Ireland has upon Christian sympathy. Charity, he remarked, was, in the. language of a great poet, "twice blessed; it blesseth him that gives and him that receives." He trusted that there was a spirit at work in this country, that would not let them rest while their fellow creatures were without the blessed truths of the Gospel.

Rev. HENRY FOSTER BURDER gave his cordial approbation to the efforts of the Society, the results of which were ominous of their complete success. He could not but, think that this also was predicted by the increasing prosperity of all other religious institutions. Nearly fifty thousand children had been instructed last year, and might we not hope that all these would become instructors of others? that they may impart the knowledge they had received to those adults, who have, been too long destitute of that valuable blessing? A. poor boy had received a Bible, the priest found it out, and persuaded his mother to give it up, under the threatening that he would curse her children; but the boy applied for another, and declared they should never get it. from him again; for he had never been happy since he had lost it. Mr B. considered such instances indicative of increasing usefulness,

W. BLAIR, Esq. had, for some years, been a subscriber to this valuable Institution; but he regretted that through other business he had not been able to give it more of his services. He deplored the destitute state of the Irish poor in many parts of London, but he hoped that a reformation was begun. The willing

ness of parents that their children should receive education was truly pleasing, and many instances had occurred, in which the children had been instrumental in imparting knowledge to their parents.

About L.150 were collected for the Institution.

Second Annual Meeting, May 3, City-road Chapel, Joseph Butterworth, Esq. in the Chair.

The Chairman, after giving an interesting account of the Metho.. dist Missions, rejoiced that God was now opening fields of missionary exertion, and raising up labourers, amongst all denominations, and gave to them all the right hand of fellow. ship in the most affectionate man

ner.

Rev. Messrs Watson and Bunting read the Report. Their missionaries last year amounted to above 100, besides those employed in Ire. land, and on the Continent of Europe.

Wm. Wilberforce, Esq. felt it a great honour to be present at such a meeting. He rejoiced in the success of their missions; and that not one act of imprudence appeared to have heen committed by any one of their missionaries. He wished to bear his testimony to this fact, by moving, that the mission to the West Indies had a strong claim to public patronage.

Rev. Mr Brown, from Hayti, gave numerous instances of the gross darkness and superstition of the Catholics in that island. They know scarcely any thing but that they are to make the sign of the cross, He never heard of a sermon there. The prie's sing in Latin, which the people do not understand. Sunday is their market day. They are altogether in a state of worse than brutal ignorance,

J. Dyer, Esq. of the Admiralty : "The Catholics say, that Protestants cannot be the true church, be. cause they have no visible extension over the earth, and because of their internal divisions. We admit that there are little differences among wise and good men; but they are generally overruled for the extension of the cause of Christ. We all agree in the great importance of missionary exertions. The Moravians and Methodists were the first; the Baptists caught the flame, and were abundantly succeeded; next rose the London Missionary Socie. ty, which has sent forth missionaries in every direction; last of all arose the Church Missionary Society, and some others, all burning with holy zeal, and exerting themselves to cooperate in this great work. know of no rivalship, no one seeking to establish its own reputation at the expense of others. We adopt the language of Abraham, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we are brethren. I rejoice in the progress of Missionary Societies, because they approximate Christians together. It is desirable that they should lay aside their little differences, and harmoniously co-operate in the great work of carrying the gospel to the farthest parts of the globe.”

We

Lancelot Haslope, Esq. shewed the value of religious consolation to. men, women, and children, torn from their families and connexions,

from their husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and all that was near and dear to them in Africa. He had witnessed the cruel treatment of slaves, while they were des. titute of that consolation which religion only can afford; and he had seen them at places of worship with tears trickling down their cheeks, and those who had been remarkable for wickedness, eminent for piety.

Rev. Jos. Taylor produced testimonies in proof of the great improvement of the negroes in the West Indies, in consequence of missionary exertions, from persons of high respectability.

Rev. J. Hawtrey was highly gratified by the prospects in Ceylon, and in the West Indies. The progress of religion too in France was encouraging. Many of the Catholics there, are determined to hear the word of God. The most intelligent read it. He had preached in Normandy to crowded congregations, and found himself in the midst of Methodism while in France. "Our views of that people," said he, 66 are not correct. They have tried infidelity, and have found it to be a delusion; and now they are ready to receive the gospel."

J. Wood, Esq, had heard of pious heathens; but what piety there was in the religion of the heathen world, he knew not, unless it was the wor. ship of devils, with bloody rites and sacrifices. "When," said he, " we find heathens fearing God, and working righteousness, then we will admit that there are pious heathens; but if there had been such, our missionaries would have found them out, and would have rejoiced at the discovery. Nothing can raise them from this state but faith in the Son of God. But how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? If the world is to be saved, it must be through the instrumentality of the word of God." "God

Edward Phillips, Esq.: raised up John Wesley. When it was the Divine pleasure that Baptist missionaries should go to the continent of India, he raised up a weaver's boy, and a poor shoemaker; who are now two reverend doctors, great, good and useful men. And I trust that in France God will raise up suitable instruments."

This interesting meeting lasted above seven hours.

On Saturday, May 15. the An. niversary Meeting of this Society was held at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate-street.

Sir James Mackintosh, M. P., took the Chair. After which, T. Pellatt, Esq. one of the secretaries, proceded to read the Report of the Com mittee's proceedings. This Report contained a multitude of cases, which had occurred in the past year of acts of oppression and persecution in various parts of the kingdom, chiefly by clergymen of the establishment. It is utterly impossible to give an abstract of these cases.

All of them were disgraceful to an enlightened age and nation, and many of them were affecting in a high degree; especially such as related to depriving of paupers in workhouses of their ordinary allowance of food, (which at best is not superabundant,) for the high misdemeanor of attending a dissenting place of worship!!

After the reading of the Report, John Wilks, Esq. the other secretary, proceeded to comment, in a speech of above two hours, on the various classes of cases which had been detailed. Our limits prohibit

us from following the learned gentleman through his most powerful and eloquent address.

Various resolutions were then moved and seconded by the Rev. Dr Bogue, Messrs Orme, of Perth, and James, of Birmingham, Collison, M. Wilks, and G. Sloper, Esq. whose speeches we should be happy to detail, were it at all practicable; but we shall, we trust, be excused for passing them over, that we may give publicity to the truly enlightened and eloquent address by the chairman.

Sir James Mackintosh rose amidst the loudest plaudits, and spoke to the following effect:

"After the approbation of one's own conscience, I certainly consider, as the best reward of any human action, the approbation of wise and good men, highest among whom I must place the friends of civil and religious liberty.

"Gentlemen, for every reason, but for the mere performance of duty, I should now be silent. Every thing which truth could say has been already urged. Every thing which I could say, did I possess the talent, or the health, has this day been far surpassed. I declare, that I never, in the whole course of my life, heard, in any assembly, a speech more conclusive, more enlightened, or more eloquent, than that which I have this day heard from your ex. cellent Secretary. And I have been also astonished, as I followed the admirable speech of the eloquent and reverend gentleman, Mr James. It is my duty, in the first place, to return my thanks; and then to make some general observations on the principles in support of which we have all assembled.

"It is also my duty to say, that I am here, in consequence of the indisposition of my beloved friend, Lord Holland, who, although precluded from being present, I need hardly say, is always present in heart and feelings, whenever the cause of civil and religious liberty is to be sustained; who inherits and acts

upon those principles which reflect: splendour upon the name of Fox; and who, following the example of his illustrious uncle, has invariably advocated the rights of his fellowmen, to worship God after the dictates of their conscience.

"Gentlemen, it affords me pleasure to succeed a Royal Duke, in this situation, as it reflects additional honour on the House of Brunswick, when its princes act upon those principles which placed their family upon the throne; and they could not act more consonantly with those principles, than by placing the great body of Protestant Dissenters, who are the friends of their royal house, who assisted in placing the crown of England firmly on their heads, in the enjoyment of those privileges to which by reason, as well as by right, they are unques. tionably entitled. For my own part, from my youth, I have been devoted to the sacred cause of civil and religious liberty; and I cannot but feel high honour, in the singular gratification of presiding at a Meeting of a great body of Dissenters, the most Protestant part of a Protestant world, the authors of the principles of religious liberty among mankind, the fosterers and preservers of the English constitution.

"This has been well stated by the Reverend Gentleman on my left, (Dr Bogue,) when he bore a testimony to the virtues and firmness of these individuals, a testimony which was reluctantly extorted from Hume, that great historian and philosopher, but enemy of civil and religious liberty. You have also heard the unspeakable value of religious liberty. No man, or body of men, can be justified in infringing on the privilege of any human being to worship God; and that man who presumes to take such a course, acts not only contrary to the dictates of common sense, but in opposition to the great and divine attributes of Christianity. But it has also been truly stated, that civil liberty cannot exist without religious liberty

and I would state, that civil liberty is also indebted to religion. To the progress of that spirit of justice and paternal benevolence, which religion inculcates, the safety of civil liberty is to be attributed. The spirit of religious liberty went forth at the Reformation. The contests which then took place, although ardent, were unsuccessful. Religious liberty did not appear with that lustre in the eyes of the Reformers which it has since assumed. The Reformers, however, ought not to be accused of intolerance, inasmuch as having gained the one great object of their pursuit, they were justified in supposing that all else would follow.

"I was proud to hear the learned observations of my countryman, Mr Orme. The first person, he stated, who maintained the true principles of religious liberty in this country, was Dr Owen, the preceptor of Mr Locke. I can confirm his testinony. I would also mention another individual greatly entitled to our admiration, and who ably developed these principles,-Sir Harry Vane. His writings are little known to the majority of readers; but he is alluded to disrespectfully by Hume, though his book contains the principles of religious liberty in three or four pages, in a manner more clear and irrefragable, than I ever remember to have seen.

"As to that part of the Revolution of 1688, in which the privilege of religious liberty was for the first time asserted by law, we find, at that glorious period, that security from persecution was the first object which was obtained. Certainly the Act of Toleration was imperfect, yet it is a subject for congratulation, that the unceasing exertions of your ancestors accomplished the greater part of this Act. I must, in justice to the memory of King William, say, that if this Act was not more perfect, it was not his fault. If the wishes of King William had been complied with, you would have obtained all you desired. King William was himself a Calvin

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ist: he did not, however, come to England to attack the members of the church of England. He had far nobler objects in view, and yielded his own private feelings to matters of more vital importance. He was a great and excellent man, and no doubt anticipated all that the Dis. senters could wish and all that a belief in Christianity could warrant, under him, would eventually have been obtained. It is well known that he wished all distinction among Protestant sects to cease, and that, with great reluctance, he was compelled to acquiesce in the imperfect scheme of toleration.

"I must express my surprise when I see the Bishops of the Protestant church publicly preaching that a man is not entitled to the privileges of a Christian, unless he unequivocally accords with the Liturgy of the Church. This certainly appears to me extraordinary in a Protestant country; indeed, it would seem that the only difference between the Church of England and the Church of Rome, as a wit humorously said, is, that the one was infallible, and that the other never erred. As long as persons, entertaining such doctrines, obtain high preferment, it will continue our meritorious duty, as the friends of religious liberty, to watch over their conduct; and until the rights and privileges for which you are now contending are attained, I shall say that the ends of the Revolution are incomplete, and the constitution imperfect.

"I have heard with infinite pleasure the resolution you have passed, with respect to the Test Act. I do hope it is not a mere annual formality, but a resolution deliberately formed. And I think those will render the greatest service to the public, who will join in endeavouring to effect the full and unshackled enjoyment of civil and religious liberty throughout the empire.

"Now, gentlemen, I cannot but think it part of my duty, to state to you a principle, which was lately urged in a place of great importance,