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zealous for the abolition of slavery, stating-and we thought justly— that they could not attend a meeting at which his Lordship should take the chair; and even of the members of the British and Foreign School Society, many considered it extremely injurious to their institution, as one for " scriptural education," to identify their cause with his Lordship's patronage; this was before that coalition with them, by which he guaranteed to make the reading of the Bible a part of his Education bill. Mr. Macaulay, being resident abroad for his health, might be more calm than those who were near the scene of action; and who thought some really desirable measures were placed in hazard by the untoward blending of political party with religious, ecclesiastical, and moral questions. This was our position; but we are far from defending any unne. cessarily irritating remark; and none can feel better than those who have to do with the periodical press, how difficult it is, in writing under the impression of passing scenes, never to use any word which will not appear as fitting in retrospect as at the moment.*

• The remarks in the text remind us of some features in our friend's character which ought to be noted; especially his repugnance to harsh words in controversy; and his great modesty in reference to his own opinions or writings, and his openness to conviction;though from his penetration of thought, his patience of research, and his calmness of judgment, those who knew him always regarded his conclusions with great deference. It may not be amiss briefly to illustrate these observations by two or three fragments from his letters; but we could easily adduce much more. Thus, for example, upon our sending him some animadversions -in our opinion squeamish and unmerited-upon the reprehension with which he had spoken, in the AntiSlavery Reporter, of the conduct of the French government respecting the

With regard to Lord Brougham's Discourse on Natural Theology, which we reviewed at length in our November, December, and

Slave - trade, though he was not really more severe than Lord Londonderry and the Duke of Wellington in their diplomatic papers, he says: "I return Mr 's note, for which I am sure I feel obliged to him. So few will take the trouble of amicably telling us our faults in prithose who do. The conduct of the vate, that we ought to feel grateful to French, however, respecting the Slavetrade, seems to me a case sui generis, and certainly affords strong ground for language stronger than Mr. Wilberremonstrance and reprobation. Is my force's in his speech, or in his letter to the Emperor Alexander ?"

The following is a fragment of salutary advice with which he favoured us in September, 1819, upon perusing our remarks upon the riots in the manufacturing districts, and the since wellknown Manchester meeting, the cha

racter and results of which were very like the late insurrection at Newport. We had spoken with reprobation of the incendiaries who were stirring up the people to sedition and felt as strongly as we could do, he did rebellion; and though Mr. Macaulay not think that good was ever effected by a denunciatory or declamatory style of vituperation. He might also at that time be the more sensitive; because, long after he had ceased to be Editor, he was apt to be blamed for what was not his doing; and even innocent Mr. Wilberforce would now and then have a paragraph of the Christian Observer fathered upon him. The following was Mr. Macaulay's delicately-kind but very significant admonition:

"To your remarks in last month's Number, I see no substantial objection, but I could have wished there had been less of the appearance of warmth, indicated by a few hard words -as malignity, malignant, &c. The article however does not offend very greatly in that respect, although its effect is weakened by it. I think, with this exception, you have taken a good, safe, sound line."

This great calmness of spirit, with his correctness of judgment, his caution in statement, and his long habits of careful writing for the press, might reasonably have made him somewhat tenacious of what he had penned; and yet scarcely did he ever send us a paper

Appendix Numbers for 1835, we spoke in no stinted terms of the ability displayed in it; as well of

without some such note as the following: "Exercise a calm and impartial judgment, and just do what you may deem necessary. I repeat, that after much consideration, I most unfeignedly distrust my own suggestions, and abandon them wholly to your criticism, adoption, modification, or rejection." So again, in sending us his valuable paper, before referred to, in 1819, upon Mr. Owen and New Lanark-though he was an incomparably better judge of what was proper, than an unfledged editor could be, he says, with his usual self-diffidence: "I have hastily put down something like what I had intended to say about Mr. Owen. Pray use your discretion with what I have sent you, and insert it or not as you think best-altering, subtracting, or adding also as you may see cause.'

Mr. Macaulay was often said to have the pen of a ready writer; which, in one sense, was true; but such an ex

pression does not do justice to the
toil and patience which he exercised in
collecting his facts, and weighing his
arguments; and even, where requisite,
particular words or expressions. Thus
he says: "I quite feel with you about
expressions in the Anti-Slavery Re-
porters, and yet what can we do?
I brooded for hours over certain words
in this one, and yet I found it was best
to use the expressions of the official
documents in cases of so grave and
atrocious a nature. I had thought of
putting the words in Greek, but the
very enquiry such a thing must cause
was undesirable. Even a blank which
In
I tried led to the same result.
short, I did not see how the expres-
sions could be changed, without failing
in giving a clear and adequate impres-
sion of the enormity of the case. Still
[he adds with his usual diffidence] I
may be wrong, and should be glad to
re-consider the subject.'

This last remark shews how willing
Mr. Macaulay was to re-consider his
conclusions; and we have noticed this
feature of his character the rather,
because persons who did not know him
well, might think him rather pe-
remptory. He says to us on another
occasion: "If you can make any thing
of the enclosed, you are welcome to it.
But we are generally very bad judges
of our
own composition; therefore
pray alter it, or lay it aside, as you
think fit." This was his constant
habit.

its great utility to the judicious
Christian student, and of the so-
lidity of many of its arguments;
but we differed from our departed
friend in this, that he considered
like Paley's
it as clearing the way,
work of the same
name, and
others, on the evidences of what
is called "Natural Religion," to
the study of the proofs of a Di-
vine Revelation; whereas we
thought that its tendency was to
shew that nothing beyond Na-
tural Religion is attainable; so
that unrevealed theism was ar-
rayed against Christianity, not
made a handmaid to it. Such was,
and is, our impression; but it
would be a satisfaction to us if we
were judged to be mistaken.

We cheerfully do justice to
Lord Brougham's zeal to promote
popular instruction; and we will
go farther by saying that origi-
nally he was disposed to promote
it in a manner which the friends
of the Church of England ought
in the main to have approved, and
to have cordially laboured to per-
fect. We believe we violate no
confidence in saying that Mr.
Macaulay's suggestions had consi-
derable weight with Mr. Brougham
in inducing him to give to his
bill of 1820 a form which he
thought might fairly satisfy the
Church, while it was not unjust
to the Dissenters. By that bill
he proposed that the incumbent
or resident clergyman, or two
justices, or five householders, or
the grand jury, might complain of
the deficiency of the means of
education in a parish; that the
complaint being substantiated, a
school should be built from the
national purse, and the master be
maintained by a local rate.
candidate for that office was to
be a Churchman, and a Commu-
nicant, (the sacramental test was
afterwards relinquished as too
much secularising a sacred ordi.
nance); that he was to be recom-

The

mended by the clergyman and three We thus conclude our desulhouseholders; that the vestry tory notices. Not wishing to should elect, but the clergyman attempt to supply the want of was to have a veto on the appointment; that the Scriptures were to be taught, and no other book, religious or not religious, without the consent of the clergyman; except the Church catechism, to which half a day every week was to be devoted: the children of Dissenters attending or not, as the parents thought proper. Had the friends of the Church, and what is now called the Conservative body, amicably taken up this bill, and matured it by such improvements as their wisdom and experience might suggest; they could have carried it in a desirable form triumphantly against the Dissenters;

but in distrust of Mr.

Brougham, his political opponents coalesced against it with the Dissenters, who were enraged at its placing public education effectively in the hands of the clergy, and having the Church catechism taught; and thus it was crushed between two millstones. Mr. Macaulay, in speaking of what he thought was due to Lord Brougham, referred to this his original design; and not to those later plans of neutral religious education which he had proved, as long ago as the early days of Lancaster, to be contrary to sound principle, and incapable of being reduced to practice. We have already seen his unanswerable reasons for considering that popular education, aided by the public purse, should be in connexion with the Anglican Church; and that this is not merely because it is Established, but because of its intrinsic excellence. *

We could not write more significantly of Lord Brougham than Mr. Macaulay did six and thirty years ago, in reviewing his " Colonial Policy" in the Christian Observer for 1803. On the

African slave trade," said he, “Mr. Brougham has taken the side upon which the disciple of Christ (ignorance of facts excepted) will always be found; but of the precepts of religion, as such, Mr. Brougham has made no use; neglectful of their proffered alliance, he has brought into the field only the arms of human wisdom and morality. The observation of this defect lessens our surprise at the inconsistencies we must proceed to notice. Philanthropy, not rooted in a sense of duty to God, is like a statue removed from its pedestal and placed upright on the ground. It appears to stand upon its feet, but the cement is gone; the base is too narrow for its stable support, and the first adverse blast overthrows it

effects, &c.

Mr.

B.'s feelings for the oppressed African. are not perhaps his leading motives cool politician he sees its pernicious of hostility to the slave trade. As a In his reasoning, the question of moral duty is wholly omitted. Of that pernicious school wherein political expediency usurps the chair of conscience, Mr. Brougham appears to be so confirmed a graduate as to think its lessons undeniable." His logic is described as being a little ricketty;" and he is justly censured for his sneer about " canting philanthropy." Mr. Macaulay, doubtless, in future years, considered him more warmhearted in the matter; but powerful and persevering as were his exertions, we never could thoroughly divest ourselves of Mr. Macaulay's original impressions.

66

We have avoided personal anecdotes, with one honourable to Mr. Macaulay, but we think we may conclude this note

and which Lord Brougham has no occasion to be ashamed of. Many years ago, we think it was at Mr. Henry Thornton's funeral-Mr. Brougham remarked to the effect that when he first came up to London he had been a good deal accustomed to hear the doctrines of Christianity spoken of in a sceptical manner; that Mr. Wilberforce's loveliness of character said much for religion; but Mr. Wilberforce would have been all that was good and amiable in spite of his creed, as well as by means of it; but that when he saw such dispassionate hard-headed men as Thornton and Macaulay all in the same story, it did strike him that there must surely be more in it than the Edinburgh wits dreamt of.

such a memoir as we hope will still be furnished, we have avoided minute details of personal narrative; nor have we followed our friend to the domestic circle, which he gladdened, adorned, and edified; to the morning and even

ing sacrifice at the domestic altar, or the devout observances of public worship. A frail memorial is to be raised to his memory in Westminster Abbey; but his record is on high;-he has entered into the joy of his Lord.

VIEW OF PUBLIC

WE have not left ourselves much space for a review of public events; but it is the less necessary, as we have touched upon some matters arising out of them in our Preface and elsewhere. May the Queen's intended union with the young Protestant Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg, be a blessing to themselves and to the nation! To the special prayers so perseveringly urged by our respected friend Mr. Stewart for the commencement of the new year, one on their behalf should assuredly be added. In Scripture the close relationship of kings to their subjects, as respects the divine blessing upon nations, is clearly expressed, though it is too much forgotten in these days of practical scepticism in regard to the overrulings of Providence. There was no mention in the Queen's communication to the Council that her intended husband is a Protestant. It seems unlikely that the omission was casual, and if it were designed, whether as considering the statement unnecessary or invidious, it is a sign of the times, and of the feelings of Lord Melbourne's ministry and the court circle, which ought not to be overlooked by protestant England. As to its being invidious, the solemn act of legislation which placed her Majesty's dynasty on the throne, was so invidious as to exclude papists from it; and those who do not think it invidious must be very thoughtless if they consider it unnecessary.

The premature insurrection of the Chartists at Newport shews that we are reposing upon volcanos which may burst out without warning, and work dire mischief when we least expect it. We trust that the lurid light thrown upon this treasonable conspiracy will be the means of arousing the nation to a sense of its dangers and its duties; and that the Queen's government, instead of coquetting with crime, will take means effectually to prevent or repress it.

The splendid success of her Majesty's
CHRIST. OBSERV. APP.

AFFAIRS.

arms in the heart of Asia has removed for the present some of the causes of apprehension for our oriental territories; and we shall rejoice to hear that the East India Company has endeavoured to express its gratitude to God, by ceasing to patronize that sin which most he hates-idolatry; and by promoting the religious welfare of the people under its sway, which it may do to a wide extent without any undue or unwise exertion of its influence.

As a step towards the introduction of the general Penny Postage plan, a temporary arrangement is to commence from the fifth of December, with a view to accustom the post-offices and the public to the plan of paying by weight before the influx, which must arise upon the reduction to a penny. Letters not exceeding half an ounce are to be charged one rate; above one ounce, two; above two, four; and so on, adding two rates for every ounce, up to sixteen, beyond which no packet is to be received. The single rate is fixed at fourpence: except where it is at present under that sum; in which cases the lesser rate remains undisturbed. All extra charges for delivery, including the two-penny post charge near London, are to be abolished. The London 2d. and 3d. post to remain as it was both as to charges and weight; except that by pre-payment letters not exceeding half an ounce will be charged only one penny.

In alluding, in our Number for last February, page 124, to Sir H. Jenner's strange decision, that praying for the dead is not contrary to the principles of the Church of England, we observed that if so, immense masses of forfeited property held by cathedrals, colleges, municipal corporations, endowed schools, public companies, and private individuals, ought to be restored to chantry priests to perform the conditions of the trust; and we mentioned that a case was before the Master of the Rolls in which a clergyman (Mr. 5 M

Thelwall,-John Hampden, not Algernon Sidney) maintained by his counsel that some property held by one of the London companies, as forfeited by being mixed up with superstitious uses, ought to be restored, for this, among other reasons, that praying for the souls of the dead is not a superstitious use. We rejoice to say that Lord Langdale has decided that by the laws

of England and we are sure by the Church of England-it is so accounted.

The Chinese authorities have effectually destroyed the opium smuggled into their port; and deserve much praise for the proceeding; and our own cabinet has acted rightly in refusing to apply to parliament to indemnify the owners of the contraband article.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A President of a Temperance Association; B. and G.; M. A. E.; W. T. ; W. W. P.; A Well-wisher; Senex; Irenæus; F. S.; R. W. J.; N. B.; A Searcher after Truth and a very old Friend; J. H.; and several CONSTANT READERS; are under consideration.

Dr. Wolff wishes to add, that he does not prefer the Jesuits to the Jansenists; for that he considers the latter "pious, upright, holy men ;" and the former "a set of hypocritical, in politics meddling, mental-reservation banditti;" and that all he meant to say was, that the Jansenists" are not consistent Papists;" for that he "cannot imagine that a person can be a Papist without believing the infallibility of the pope." His book certainly gave the impression that he regarded the Jansenists as a very shuffling set of people, looking one way and rowing another, and the Jesuits as acting up to their convictions like honest men; but we readily insert his explanation.-By the way, though with deference to Dr. Wolff's propaganda lore, we submit that the seat of infallibility is as much disputed among the Romanist doctors as that of life among the physiologists. Some say it resides in the pope inherently, some ex cathedra, some only when he ratifies the decisions of an ecumenical council. Well said Chillingworth, in his refutation of the claims of Tradition, "I see popes against popes, councils against councils, fathers against fathers, and the same fathers against themselves, a consent of fathers of one age against a consent of fathers of another age" so that the "by all and at-all-times" rule is as inapplicable in practice as it is unscriptural in principle.

In reply to two correspondents, we observe that we are well acquainted with Dr. Hawker's excellent sermon preached before the London Missionary Society in 1802: but this was before the institution of the Church Missionary Society, the Bible Society, and the Jews' Society; and Dr. Hawker did not in his latter years speak of Missions in the glowing language of that sermon. He there said that when he beheld that numerous assembly, and remembered the grand object which it proposed, and called to mind the promises of God, he felt convinced that the promised extension of the Redeemer's kingdom in the latter ages was fast hastening on. "While I see," added he, "such an assembly of the faithful gathered from every part of the kingdom, as if moved by one and the same principle to follow up their Lord's command, and to send forth his everlasting Gospel from pole to pole, and from the river even unto the ends of the earth, I feel animated in the delightful prospect; and I begin to anticipate the dawn of that happy day whose sun shall no more go down; and behold already in idea Ethiopia and Seba, with the multitude of the isles, stretching forth their hands unto God." "And do not forget that the same Gospel which points to the Spirit's work as the sole cause of glorifying the Lord Jesus, naturally implies that God carries on his designs by human instrumentality; so that while an entire dependence is founded on the power of God, the province of man is as clearly defined. Hence there is a call upon every heart, to co-operate in so glorious a design, whenever a Mission is undertaken for the promotion of Christian knowledge." These statements were scriptural and encouraging; but he fell afterwards into a very different vein.

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