generality of men should rather be regarded as in a healthy state, ready to receive and to improve them for their intellectual illumination and nourishment.

The second difficulty he enumerated was, that the interests, as well as the feelings, of men was opposed to the reception of Unitarianism. This difficulty arose principally from connecting the doctrines of religion with temporal advantages, and protecting the opinions of a favoured class by civil rewards and punishments. Wherever there was a church defended by tests, and by civil emoluments and penalties, there must always exist obstacles to the reception of religious truth. Such distinctions encouraged an uncharitable spirit towards those who dissented from the privileged creed, gave occasion to railing accusations against them, subjected them to the charge of schism, and to the denunciation of the pains of hell. The preacher then applied these statements with great force to the state of religion in this country, and the difficulties in which it involved Unitarians.

A third difficulty arose from an opinion generally prevalent, that the free exercise of inquiry on religion is dangerous to our future salvation. It had been customary to connect salvation with certain opinions. It had been held by the Church of Rome that there was no salvation out of its pale. Every Protestant church had kept to the language of the Roman church on this point as nearly as it could in consistency with its professed principles. Each had assumed that it alone was the true church, and all churches had held as necessary to salvation the opinions to which Unitarianism is opposed. Sects which did not possess the influence of churches established by law, had equally denounced Unitarianism as a dangerous system, and excited a prejudice against it by misrepresentations. He considered no obstacles so strong against the progress of truth as this doctrine, that there is no salvation but in the belief of particular tenets. After illustrating this remark the preacher stated a fourth difficulty to be,

The prevalent opinion that Unitarianism leads to infidelity. This opinion he considered under its various modifications, and disproved by the most convincing reasons; and concluded his argument by shewing that some of the ablest defenders of Christianity had been found in the ranks of those who had departed from the orthodox standard of faith.

The preacher then remarked, that the number of Unitarians was not to be correctly estimated by those who openly professed the Unitarian doctrine. It was well known that many thought with them who did not deem it necessary to act with them; that many adhered to the national church because their interests were connected with it; and others, because they considered the maintenance of a national church necessary to the interests of religion.— The hopes of Unitarians must rest on the advancement of knowledge. Religion must be progressive. It would be modified by the intellectual state of the world. Every step in the improvement of the understanding, he considered a step in the advancement of a more pure system of religion. The hope of better things was also encouraged by the intellectual activity already devoted to religious and scriptural inquiries. The increased attention to biblical criticism, of which an example had been set by other countries, could not fail to produce the happiest effect in leading to the true knowledge of the meaning of the apostolic writers.

In conclusion, the preacher, adverting to the Association, remarked, that he considered that part of its constitution peculiarly excellent which proposed to diffuse religious truth in a popular form through the medium of the pulpit and the press. It was of great importance thus to instruct the lower classes. Whatever they were in their principles and practice, such would be the nation of which they form the substantial part. The result of the labours of the Association were not, he said, to be judged of by what might appear in the comparatively short period comprehended in the life of man, but by what they would ultimately be in the completion of the great year of the Almighty, in a future and remote period, which was known to Him alone. If, therefore, its present success should not equal the wishes of its friends and advocates, they ought not to be discouraged, but trust their cause to him who disposes of all events according to his own pleasure.

In the afternoon the subscribers and friends of the Association, to the number of about two hundred, dined together at the London Tavern, in Bishopsgate Street; G. W. Wood, Esq., of Manchester, in the chair.

After the usual loyal toasts had been drunk, subsequently to Non nobis Domine being sung, the Chairman said, that the next toast that he was about to propose,

was one that had long been a standing toast among Protestant Dissenters. An Honourable Member of Parliament, and one who now belonged to the Upper House, had said, at a late meeting, that it was a sentiment which the Opposition had been in the habit of appropriating to themselves, but that he did not know why such an appropriation should exist; and he therefore proposed, that the Tories should receive it with as much enthusiasm as the Whigs. Since then the toast he had to propose was no longer peculiarly appropriated to them; they were at least bound to shew in drinking it, that they had lost none of the zeal which they formerly entertained for it, because they found that others were desirous of sharing in the honour. He begged pardon for intruding on the company with these introductory remarks, and would conclude with proposing, "Civil and religioas liberty all the world over."

The toast being drunk, the CHAIRMAN said that he had been requested to announce, that a petition to both Houses, in unison with the sentiment which he had just proposed, had been prepared, and that it was now lying in the room for signatures from such gentlemen as might be willing to subscribe it; and as it might be interesting to all to know its contents, he would request Mr. Edward Taylor to read it to the company.

Mr. E. TAYLOR then read the following petition:

"To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled.

"The humble petition of the undersigned, being persons assembling as individual or representative Members, at the Annual General Meeting of the Unitarian Dissenters of England, " Sheweth,

"That your petitioners are, in common with other nonconformists, declared by law to be unworthy of occupying any place or office in the government or corporations, and of trust under his Majesty.

"That in all the efforts which, as Dissenters or as a particular branch of Dissenters, they have made or may continue to make, for their emancipation from the penal enactments which more immediately affect themselves, your petitioners value any success which may follow their exertions, in the exact proportion in which it may conduce to the assertion and establishment of the most extended principles of religious liberty, and as it may tend to defeat and render odious that unjust, absurd, and impolitic exercise of power, by which the community is divided into oppressed and oppressing classes, and religious opinion is made the pretence for civil disabilities, preferences, and exclusions,

"That your petitioners have zealously concurred individually, and in their immediate circles, in petitions and remonstrances against the enactments by which Protestant Dissenters are with peculiar injustice and inconsistency made to feel the weight of insulting and degrading laws, avowedly directed to other objects, and now preserved only by prejudice or misconception; but they gladly avail themselves of the opportunity afforded by the meeting of some of their brethren from all parts of the kingdom, thus to record, as a body, their solemn declaration, which they are convinced would be echoed by the vast majority of their dissenting brethren of every denomination-that their desire for the blessings of liberty is limited by no reserves or qualifications; that it is clogged by no exceptions; that they seek to vindicate for conscience, and therefore for true religion, the free and unbiassed exercise of the judgment and understanding; and that every where, and in every shape they deprecate, as alike futile, impolitic, and unjust, the principle of persecution, or the assumption of a right either to reward, to tolerate, or to punish, in matters which they believe to be too high for human controul.

"Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray your Honourable House, as the prayer most consonant to their feelings and understandings, most worthy in their judgment to be uttered by a Christian and a well-wisher to his fellowcreatures, to discard for ever the wretched relics of ignorant and misguided zeal, by abolishing all penal laws in matters of religion, and, by placing all the members of the community, in that respect, on an equal footing; to heal the divisions and distractions by which Catholic and Protestant, Churchmen and Dissen

"That your petitioners were, on account of their religious opinions, subjected, until lately, to laws conceived in the bitterest spirit of persecution, but from which they have been relieved by a more just, humane, and enlightened policy, whose existence and progress they gratefully acknowledge.

'ers, are seduced into the unchristian habit of regarding each other with feelings wholly inconsistent with brotherly kindness and charity; and to legislate upon those sound and enlightened principles of freedom which can alone secure to any community peace and harmouy, and prosperity and honourable fame.

"And your petitioners shall ever pray."

The CHAIRMAN said, that having paid their respects to the Sovereign as loyal men, and to the cause of civil and religious liberty as good subjects of a free state, he would next call their attention to the particular object of the day; and in so doing would give them, for the next toast, "The British and Foreign Unitarian Association."

The toast was drunk with loud cheers.

The Treasurer, JOHN CHRISTIE, Esq, said, that in connexion with the toast which they had just drunk, he would say a few words relative to the funds of the Association. The present was the first anniversary of this institution, which united in itself all the former Unitarian Societies, and by which union it was expected that more good might be done than by keeping them separate. With respect to their finances, they had received various sums from the Unitarian Fund and Civil Right Association, and a valuable stock of books from the Unitarian Book Society; so that, at present, their funds and property were in a most promising condition; and he had no doubt that he should be able to announce, in the course of the evening, that the funds had derived a still further augmentation from the bounty of those gentlemen who were present.

The CHAIRMAN begged to propose the health of his friend on his right hand, the Rev. John Kenrick, with many thanks

to him for the excellent discourse which he had given them that morning.

The Rev. John KENRICK begged leave to return his most sincere thanks for the kind and flattering manner in which they had drunk his health. He could truly say, that no one could be better convinced than he was himself of his own deficiency in many material points necessary to grace the cause which he had undertaken to advocate; but he nevertheless held it to be a part of a Christian's duty, however humble his talent, to comply with the demand made upon him, lest he should bring on himself the imputation of being a slothful servant in

the vineyard, like that one who, because he had but one talent, would not trouble himself to lay it out to his master's advantage. Under this conviction, he had undertaken the task imposed upon him, though he felt that it had been imperfectly executed in his hands, and to their kinduess it was to be ascribed that so favourable an opinion of his services had been formed: but though he felt his deficiency in this, he would yield to noue present in the firmness of his attachment to, or in his strong persuasion of the final triumph of, Unitarian principles. In the distant situation iu which his avocations placed him, it was only in his power to cooperate remotely; but he could assure the Meeting, that whenever it was within his compass to aid the cause, they might rely on his most zealous support.

The CHAIRMAN said, that the next toast which he had to propose, was an old standard with the Society: "The memory of our departed worthies." Drunk in silence.

Mr. WOOD then begged to propose the health of his friend on the left, a younger, but not less zealous advocate of the Unitarian cause he proposed, "The health of Mr. Tagart, and thanks to him for his excellent discourse of yesterday evening."

The Rev. EDWARD TAGART said, that he had been unexpectedly called upon to offer the best services in his power, but as he was unaware that such a demand would be made upon him, he had been wholly unprepared to meet it in such a manner as to do it that justice which he could have wished. And on the present occasion, though his experience had made him somewhat better acquainted with the pulpit than with a seat so near the Chairman, yet, he should not be doing justice to himself, were he to let slip the present opportunity of telling the meeting how entirely devoted he was to the Unitarian cause. He could not,' however, but lament, that his being call ed upon arose from the absence of so many older ministers than himself; in consequence of which, the choice had fallen on one so incompetent to support it. He would have been glad to have. seen more of their brethren from distant parts rallying round them in the support of that standard, near which the staff of Unitarianism was to be found; but though some were deserters, he was happy to find that there were many who held fast to the faith and with respect to the absence of the others, he was in

clined to adopt the sentiment of King Harry, who, when Westmorland wished that they had more men in their distresses, said, "No, good cousin; if we are to die, there are enough to do our country's work; and if we live, the fewer there are the more the honour." If, then, the Unitarians, as some say, are going headlong to perdition, they surely could not wish to have others united with them; but if they were really pursuing a system likely to lead to a better arrangement of things, their paucity of numbers should only make them the more staunch and firm. The present Association naturally asked for support from all the ministers of its persuasion; indeed, it was certainly eutitled to claim the support of every Unitarian throughout the country; for when auy should ask its ministers what were its objects, and what it was doing, it would be enough to put into their hands the Report of last year, and still more, the Report that would emanate from that Meeting. Such services as he was able to render, either here or hereafter, were entirely at the command of the Association; their religion was not to be considered as the religion of a Belsham, or a Priestley, great as those men were, but as the religiou which was to be found in the pages of the New Testament, the religion of the life eternal, of the living God, and of Jesus Christ, whom he had sent among us for our salvation.

The CHAIRMAN said, that his next toast was one which had lately excited a good deal of discussion; he meant "The Test and Corporation Acts;" and he was glad to perceive that the Protestant Dissenters were beginning to rouse from the lethargy in which they had so long been wrapped, to express their feelings on the subject. In what had been said on the previous day, he heartly concurred. He hoped that the question would not again be abandoned till the rights of conscience were fully conceded. There was nothing now belonging to the question about which they need feel uneasy, for the Dissenters were every day justifying their characters as loyal servants of the crown, and good subjects of a free state; the only thing that the question had in it hurtful to the country, was, that such a question should exist at all, for it was a stigma upon England, and at once placed it behind most of the other countries of civilized Europe. While they said thus much for themselves, they were bound to support the same rights of conscience for all, and if

he were consulted, he would say, they ought to receive it on no other condition. It was, therefore, with great pleasure that he proposed "the health of Lord John Russell and Mr. J. Smith, and a speedy Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, which were a scandal to the conscientious churchman and a dishonour to the nation."

Mr. BoWRING said, that he trusted his rising would not be deemed intrusive; but, connected as his name had been, and in no friendly spirit, with this important question, he was most anxious to justify the course he had recommended and pursued. Undoubtedly he had not been convinced by the arguments of those who thought that longer delay should be added to the too long delay already incurred in bringing forward claims which only wanted open and constant advocacy to force their way into every honest mind. He thought that the hesitation and doubt which, for nearly half a century, had paralized the exertions of the Dissenters, had been injurious to their cause and their character. To argue, that because they had sinned for forty years in negligence and carelessness they might go on and sin a little longer, seemed to him neither a wise nor a virtuous resolution. It would better become them to enter upon a course of penitence and reform,-it would better become them to perform the duty they had so long forgotten, and to give evidence of the interest and confidence they felt in the triumph of their principles, by submitting them to discussion whenever they could find any to lead or any to listen. He saw not how the Catholic claims could be injured by bringing forward the claims of the Dissenters, both being founded on the same great principles. When the Prime Minister had stated that the grievances which oppress the Dissenting body are theoretical grievances, not a day, not an hour should have been lost in demonstrating that those grievances were practical and real. It had been said we should embarrass the Government. He did not think we, as Dissenters, had any thing to do with the political changes of the State. Even those among our parliamentary friends who were most urgent for delay had distinctly told us, that no such consideration ought to influence us. In truth, the question never could be brought forward without embarrassing the Government,-without exciting the hostility of those who would make peculiar privileges the reward of peculiar opinions. If we continue inactive

because our enemies applaud our inactivity

"If we stand still,

In fear our motion may be mocked or carp'd at,

not attempt any eulogium on the character of a man who at all times had been the eloquent and intrepid defender of Unitarianism. He proposed "the health of the Rev. W. Johnson Fox,

or sit

State statues only."

State statues, indeed, we have been too long, and it was high time that the old spirit of dissent should be a Promethean fire to give us life and energy. The opinion as to the necessity of now proceeding-nay, more, that the present was a singularly auspicious moment for proceeding, had gathered strength from every thing he had seen,-and assuredly he was not the man to be influenced by such attacks as had been directed against him. His motto was "Onwards," and all the waters of bitterness which might be poured upon him would only refresh and invigorate him to say with bolder determination, "Onwards." If the grievance exist, all times are fit times to remove it; and if not to remove, to attempt its removal. His pedigree was of "Old Dissent," and ten generations of Nonconformist blood in his veins might excuse a stronger feeling than inspired others equally sincere. In the cause of truth and freedom he had suffered, and so had his forefathers; but if he knew himself he should not shrink back from the arduous strife, and would do his best, whether subdued or subduing. The Dissenters had lost many a year, but he considered the last year as one by which and in which they had gained much. It was consolatory to see how strong and generous was the sympathy which had been excited in their favour; while one obscure petition, from a place and persons equally obscure, was as yet the only evidence of a disposition on the part of the public to oppose the Dissenting claims. He hoped the relics of past barbarism and intolerance would soon be swept away; but whether that was the case or not, it was delightful to reflect, that though the burning place and the faggot might remain, no one could be found to drag the martyr to the stake.

The CHAIRMAN said, that his next toast was the health of a gentleman who, much to his regret, was absent through indisposition; he meant the Rev. Mr. Fox. For himself, he had not the honour of more than a very slight acquaintance with that gentleman, but he was well known to most of the company present, and he should, therefore,

of his health."

Mr. CORDELL returned thanks in Mr. Fox's name, and in thanking the company, begged to inform them, that the last accounts of that gentleman's health were most favourable, and that there was a prospect of no great period of time elapsing before he would be able to resume his professional duties, and give the advantage of those talents which he so eminently possessed to that cause in which he had laboured as assiduously, and perhaps as successfully, as any man now alive. Some of the former friends of the Association had in the course of the last year seceded, and others abandoned the cause; and therefore it occasioned additional regret that the health of Mr. Fox had been such as absolutely to preclude his activity. He, (Mr. Cordell,) however, felt convinced, that the cause in which they were all engaged, would not fail. Truth was the great weapon to which they trusted for success-truth was a celestial weapon, and though it might be wielded by weaker or stronger hands, yet he felt assured that it must ever go on and prosper.

The Rev.B. MARDON, of Maidstone, said, that he could not leave the room without declaring, that whatever inconvenience might arise from the illness of some, and the secession of others, it was nevertheless his firm conviction, that Unitarianism was the doctrine of the Gospel, and would stand as long as Christianity lasted; it was a religion founded on a rock, against which not even the gates of hell would be allowed to prevail. The preacher who had addressed them that morning, had pointed out in forcible language the difficulties against which they had to contend; after which he thought that the wonder would not be that they had not made greater progress, but that they had made so much. It was one of their peculiar misfortunes to have to contend against various kinds of opposition, so that now, that the spirit of persecution was withdrawn, and that the enemy could not have recourse to this method, there were other courses adopted more secret, and consequently more fatally hostile. There was one simple fact, which had lately occurred in Kent, which would illustrate this: a Bible Society was formed there, the object of which, of