xcite an apprehension of insincerity: yet peace is so delightful a sound, that the very naming of it affords joyful expectations. What will posterity think of these long and bloody wars, in an age pretending to be enlightened! Could the prince give peace on a solid foundation, what an honour to the regency! Spain has been doomed to present, besides the various acts of marauding parties, two splendid achievements. In the one, the French; in the other, the English, were victorious. The latter took a town, the former subdued a kingdom. Valencia is one of the most beautiful and fertile provinces in Spain. Its independence rested on the preservation of its capital, but the defeat of the Spanish army, under Blake, left it without any other resource, but what was within its own walls. No army arriving to relieve the place, it was compelled to capitulate, and the French obtained there an immense booty, and took a vast number of prisoners. Such an acquisition gives them incalculable advantages, which are feebly balanced by the prowess of the British troops, in the taking by storm of the city of Rodrigo. By all accounts, this was a most gallant action; but its effects on the war cannot be great, unless Lord Wellington could, from that quarter, force an entrance into Spain. The capture of the place has, however, added new dignities to the general. By the English Regent he has been created an Earl, and by the Spanish Regency a Grandee of Spain, and Duke of the city of Rodrigo. A change has taken place in Cadiz, and a new regency has been appointed, in which the Duke of Infantado, the ambassador here, has a place. It has addressed the nation with great energy; but its language will not be heard in many places. The common people do not seem to require much addressing, but the Cortez has not yet shewn men by whom a falling country may be preserved. If we had seen a manly edict, declaring the fall of the Inquisition, some hopes might be entertained of them; but it is a melancholy reflection, that our arms may be a means of restoring that iniquitous power, which, wherever the French appear, ceases to exist. In Portugal also, the edict on censorship gives little encouragement to expect, that our intercourse with that unhappy mation has tended to introduce the manly sentiments of freedom, for which our country has been distinguished. In Sicily, the British interest has prevailed, and discoveries have been made, which will prevent the island from falling into the hands of the French, and secure such an authority to the country party as ensures a much better government for the future. The Turks and Russians carry on the war more languidly. French troops are increasing in the North of Europe, and rumours continue on float of a rupture between France and Russia, but the foundation on which they rest grows more and more precarious. In the United States, as far as words go, the aspect of affairs is not pleasant; but still an absolute state of war is remote, though apprehensions of rupture increase! How happy would it be for the world, if, in the negociations of states, the maxim of doing to each other as they would wish to be done by, could be more generally applied. In the Spanish Colonies every thing wears more and more the appear ance of independence. We do not speak this of one, but of all: and Mexico, in which the power of the mother country is the strongest, will probably, before the end of the summer, shew itself far from having been subdued by the late defeats of the insurgents. In Parliament, the chief debate was on the subject of Ireland, which occupied several days, and gave opportunities for a declaration of sentiments in both houses. In the upper house, a division in the cabinet was perceived by the avowal of Marquis Wellesley of favour to the catholics, and, in the other house, the general current of opinion ran on their side. Their opponents supported themselves by very feeble arguments, and every thing wears an appearance of increased toleration; and, if it is true, as recently reported, that it is no longer to be a cabinet question, we cannot doubt, that religious differences will cause less confusion, in future, in the united kingdom. The minister triumphed completely in all his arrange ments for the regency, and has found no difficulty in those relative to finance. The disturbances at Nottingham occasioned some debates, in which, notwithstanding the severity of the measures proposed, on account of the urgency of the case, the arguments used by Sir Samuel Romilly on the necessity of improve ment in the criminal law, seemed to have superior councils. It would be worth an effect on the house. The application of death to such a number of offences makes us appear n very strange colours in fore gnn tions, and we are in this case a remark ble contrast to the Chinese, who are so extremely tender on this head that sentence is not passed till the whole has been revised by the while to have it ascertained, whether, in that very populous nation, uninfluenced by the principles which we derive from revelation, the number of cri. minals bar any thing like the proportion to their population that it does in our supposed enlightened country.' ..NOTICES. The Rev. Thomas Belsham will shortly publish Memoirs of the late Rev. Theo philus Lindsey, M. A including a Review of the Controversies in which Mr. Lindsey was engaged; a General Accoat of the Progres of the Unitarian Doctrine in England and America, in consequence of Mr. Lindse's Writings; and many interesting Anecdotes and Letters of Eminent fersons lately dec.as. d. The London Unitarian Book Society are about to put to the press, a new and cheap edition of 'illiam Penn's Sandy Foundation Shaken. An ther Tract, by the author of Witliam's Return, The Twin Brothers, &c. entitled "An Affectionate Addres to the Poor," is printing by the Christian Tract Society. Dr. Toulmin has in the Press, a Third Edition of his "Manual of Prayers for the closet." CORRESPONDENCE. Although our present No has run a half-sheet beyond our usual quantity of letter-press, we find ourselves unable to introduce se eral articles that are pressing for inser ion On the ub ec of the Toleration Act, which we s and pledged to take up it m y, perhaps, suffice for the present to observe, that the matter is sub jadice; and that a decision will be made next Term, in the mon h of April,) on the wo following mportan poin s, viz 1st. Whether the Acs of William and Mary, and the th of the K, e tend to any but the settled ministers of separate congregations; and rd. Whether they warrant magistrates in demanding from persons, applying to qualify, under the above-mentioned sta utes, certificates of theircing the settled ministers of separate congregations. If the decision of the court on hese points, be in favour of the Dissenters, the law as it now stands, is sufficient for their protection; if otherwise, constitutional measures will doubtless be taken to gain and secure a legal toleration. We await the determination of the court with some anxiety, and till it is known shall suspend our strictures. In answer to an inquiry concerning the contributions to the resistance to Lord Sidmouths Bill we can only say, that we suppose the Two Societies will, in due zime, publish their Reports, including statements of their funds. ERRATA. p. 45, Col. 1, et passim, for "Bowyer" read Bouyer. 51, Col. 1, 13, for "1812" read 1811. 64, 3 lines from the bottom, dele comma after Dissenters, and insert a colon. Correspondence between the Rev. dressing a Catholic, would not J. Berington and the Rev. J. use. Then why--as you profess Evans, with Remarks by the latter: [Extracted from the Appendix to a Sermon, by Mr. Evans, at King's Lynn, Norfolk, Jan. 5, 1912, just published.] LETTER L To the Rev. J. Evans. REV. SIR, HAVING often heard your Sketch of the Denominations of the Chris tian World much spoken of, I lately purchased a copy of the last edition, and immediately-as was natural-turned to the article Papist. The word was repulsive; but I proceeded, and having read it through, I exclaimed-Si sic omnia; —one edition surely might have satisfied the public curiosity, for a more loose, unsatisfactory, and, in many points, a more un. fair statement of our opinions was never given! And yet, can it be thought that the religion of Fenelon, and of so many great and good men, in all ages and all nations, did not claim a candid and correct exposition-? We object to the word Papist. You know it to be a term of reproach, not used in good society, and which you yourself, in ad moderation--write it? The legis lature, in its late acts, has relinquished the term, adopting that of Roman Catholic. This last is our family name, come down from the earliest ages. We do not ob. ject to the adjunct Roman, because it shews the connection we hold with our ecclesiastical head; otherwise the single word Catholic ever has fully distinguished us from all other Christian societies. Chris. tianus mihi nomen est, Catholicus vero cognomen, was said by a Spanish bishop, arguing against the Novatians, as far back as the fourth century. This "You strangely confound in fallibility and supremacy, calling them a leading tenet.' The first, as applied to the Pope, never was a tenet of our church. Some divines have maintained it, as their opiniɔa; but do opinions, or divines, think you, form the church? church alone, the assembly of all the faithful, we believe, from the promises of Christ, to be secured from error, on all essential points of doctrine. To the Roman bishop, the first pastor, or head, of this church, we ascribe supremacy; re or, perhaps more properly, prima. whereas, the plain fact is-the cy; his government being limited Jansenists, who were condemned, by, and controuled by, the canons excepted-they maintained differ of established discipline. To re- ent opinions, as they might, ad. present this primacy as extending bering all to the same faith.-As to prince because such has been you mention the council of Trent its abuse- argues utter ignorance, and the creed of Pius, let me reSome divines have said it: the quest you to sketch your next church never. Your third division Papist from those repositories of of Catholics on this head, is a his doctrines. And thence you mere fancy. Every Catholic ad. should have drawn your account mits the primacy of the Roman of indulgencies, and not from bishop. Our opinions are various; Robertson, whose statement 2our belief, or faith, one, Show bounds with error. As to the me from the council of Trent, or form, you subjoin; if Tetzel, in the creed of Pope Pius, or any the extravagance of his own fancy, public acknowledged rule of Cath. proclaimed it--which I doubt olic belief, that we speak your you may be assured it is not Cath. language, and you will have done olic. There is no remission of Something. And this you should sin, nor of the consequences of do, would you sketch a true por sin, without sincere repentance. trait, and not a car.cature. Gilray The present state' of our would beat none of you in this ligion, is to be collected-as it ar'. We do no pay divine wor- always was-from our catechisms ship to he host or consecrated and books of public instruction, wafer The worship we pay is and not from the opinions of to Jesus Christ whom we believe any individual, such as Dr. Mil. to be really present, under the ner. We value his miracle as little mystic signs or forms of bread as you do. and wine.-As to your works of On the Greek church you are supererogation, I know little about no more correct than on ours. thm, only that they serve your What can you mean in saying, purpose. Some schoolmen may that the Greeks or Russians have talked about it; and I be- ject images in the worship of the lieve, if a man sells what he has, Deity,' when you cannot be igand gives it to the poor, he does norant that on the subject of more than is required from him, ima es, they are particularly cenas a disciple of Christ; but if in surable; and this yourself shew this, or in any other good work, in the following page.—Consubthere be any merit, which can be stantiation, with the Lutherans, applied to himself or others, all they do not admit; but a real its value must arise from the change of the elements, as we do; superabundant merits of Christ; and this your Greek pupil, if he by which alone the actions of knew any thing, could have taught man become good, and find ac- you. It always has been, and ceptance with God.--You then is notorious, to men that will see, proceed to confound points of dis- that both churches, on all points cipline and belief; and speak of of faith, have thought and do different schools as so many sects; think alike; the primacy of Rome re and the procession of the third imperiously to controul, but to person from the Son excepted. direct the conscience, in the choice In discipline we differ. of what may most conduce to eternal happiness. Both these articles are compiled in the most slovenly manner: in. That through the long progress deed, I must say, without the of ages, there have been among smallest knowledge on the subject, us absurd opinions; and in our as if, in your opinion, the Jumpers practices. superstition; and in our in Wales, and the Shakers in conduct, bigotry and intolerance, America, had a claim to more no Catholic will deny: but our attention. The minds of you ALL faith, throughout, has been one 'overflow with prejudices; you and unchanged, such as the aposcopy from one another; deign tles taught, and their successors not to look into Catholic writers, in the ministry have brought down in whom truth might be found, with them. Again, we allow that and modestly insist, that we do in our discipline are many things not know what our own belief is. -such as the use of the Latin I can, therefore, with truth say, tongue, the dress of the ministers, that from the time of your boasted and many ritual ceremonies-not Reformation to the present day, agreeable to modern taste and no writer, as far as I have read,, manners; but we received them has been, or is free from the charge from venerable antiquity; and, of the grossest misrepresentation. therefore, we preserve them. Had Having completed your Sketch our religion been modern, modern of opinions, you say: To a would have been all its outward thoughtful mind they exhibit a garb and expression. melancholy picture of the human I make no apology for these understanding, misguided through strictures on your Sketch, nor for passion, and warped by prejudice' their occasional asperity. It is Indeed it is so; but what then hardly possible to reprobate too must the same thoughtful mind strongly the conduct of men, who, think of that leading principle of when truth lies open before them, your Reformation-trom which turn aside to the sources of error, all the evil has flowed--which in. thereby to perpetuate their own vites the most ignorant man to in- prejudices, and the prejudices of terpret the scriptures as he pleases; their readers. And by what thence to form his own religion; casuistry, let me ask, can such and to become the teacher of conduct be here justified, which, others? To this principle we oppose on other occasions, the plain dicthe commission of Christ to his tates of honour and honesty must apostles, Matt. xxvii. 19, 20; condemnn? Had I undertaken to Mark xvi. 15, 16; while reason compile such a work as yours, I and common sense tell us that should have procured, from every no rule can be so safe and so society, that statement of opinions philosophical as that of authority, which was deemed by them most sting on the promises of our correct; and then bave submitted master, and the uninterrupted each article to the inspection of, tradition of ages. This principle the most intelligent man in each of authority, however, is not meant society I could have found, with |