indeed knew no other fear." At into bills depending in Parliament, an interview with Mr. Perceval, for the regulation of the LOCAL they therefore remonstrated against such proceedings, and obtained his promise to prevent the recurrence of a persecution which he could not but disapprove.

MILITIA, and for the PRESER-
VATION of PARISH and OTHER
REGISTERS, and the success which
had attended their interposition.

To the efforts which had been TO INDIA also the Society had made to procure the consent of endeavoured to extend the benefits Government, to a bill for the EXof religious liberty. They had EMPTION of all places exclusively hesitated whether such an effort appropriated to RELIGIOUS WORwas compatible with the objects SHIP from PAROCHIAL ASSESSof their establishment.-But they MENT he next alluded; and excould not long hesitate.-They re- pressed his hope, that although remembered the myriads of inhabi- luctance had been manifested to tants which peopled its plains, that claim, which the recent detheir horrid superstitions, the evils cision in the case of "the King inflicted on them by European against Agar and others," had avarice, the benefits which Chris- rendered necessary, it would be tianity had conferred on other na eventually conceded. For when tions, the arbitrary power possessed he considered that such places had by the East India Company to ex- not been charged-that if meetingclude Christian missionaries under houses and chapels were rated, the existing law, the disposition episcopal erections, tythes, pews which had been manifested to ex- rented in churches, &c. must also ercise that power, and they soon be assessed-that the total proceeds perceived that it was their duty to of such assessments would not endeavour to obtain the insertion amount to 10,000l. per annum, of provisions in the charter of that out of the sums collected for the company when renewed, which poor, amounting annually to six should secure to suitable instruc- millions sterling-and that discontors, the power to evangelize the tent, litigation and numerous innations of the east. The postpone conveniences would result from the ment of that renewal had prevented withholdment of so small a boon ; any decisive result; but he could he could not but anticipate that state that if Mr. Perceval had the liberality and prudence of survived, he would have afforded government, would induce a comto all missionaries the same rights pliance which would perpetuate of residence, and the same pro- domestic peace, and produce extection, which it was his intention tensive satisfaction. to confer on all those, who, for But the principal measures, commercial purposes, should visit which had occupied the attention those distant regions of the world. of the Committee, were connected He then communicated the pro- with the new expositions attempted ceedings which had been adopted to be introduced of the ACTS or by the Committee, to procure the TOLERATION. The effects of the amendment of certain provisions, attempt made during the last Sesinjurious to the rights and honour sion of Parliament, had survived of Dissenting ministers, introduced the defeat of that attempt: as the

agitation of the ocean will be per- been thrown down by magistrates, petuated after the tempest has sub- and by periodical assailants, to sided, by which the agitation was litigate these expositions in the produced. The magistrates in courts of law, and if foiled in such many counties were deceived by litigation, to apply to Parliament the statements which had been for relief. For legal discussion made in Parliament, and by a re- they selected three cases. By one, port eagerly, but incorrectly cir- the case of Mr. Ellington, of culated, of a case, rather incon. Mildenhall, in Suffolk, the regular siderately submitted to the Court preacher of a separate Baptist conof King's Bench, by some country gregation, they intended to ascergentlemen, against the justices of tain the right of magistrates to Denbighshire, for refusing to per- demand certificates; and by the mit David Lewis, who stated him- other cases, of Mr. Packer of self as one who preached to several Dursley, a respectable layman, congregations of Protestant Dis- who itinerated to various congre senters, to take the oaths, &c. gations, and of Mr. Brittan, of specified in the Toleration Act, Bristol, who had been a student in William and Mary, c. 18, and two dissenting academies-they inwhich produced a decision, that tended to ascertain, whether under the words "teacher or preacher of the comprehensive designation of any congregation of Dissenting Protestants," contained in the 8th clause of that Act, meant the teacher or preacher of a separate congregation. These magistrates, therefore, resolved not to permit the oaths to be administered to any persons who were not ordained ministers of separate congregations, and who did not prove their appointment by certificates, or by such evidence as the justices at their sessions might require. These After great expence and much resolutions the Committee perceiv. delay, the Committee had, in the ed would practically repeal the case of Mr. Ellington, obtained a Acts of Toleration, would exclude satisfactory triumph, and the court all teachers of Sunday schools, was understood to have decided, students, probationers, itinerants, that the claim of certificates was Calvinistic and Wesleyan Metho. unwarranted by law. On the dists, from the protection of the other cases they had also obtained, law, and would invest magistrates at least, a nominal victory; for with judicial authority and discre. their applications were granted, tionary powers, incompatible, not and mandamuses were to issue to only with the natural and unalien- the justices of Gloucestershire, to able rights of man, but even with administer the oaths to both the the most restricted toleration. They gentlemen for whom the Committherefore resolved to take up the tee had applied. The doubts, gauntlet of defiance, which had however, intimated by the chief

"persons pretending to holy orders," in the Toleration Act, all persons aspiring to preach, and, especially, all students, were not entitled, by taking the oaths and making the declaration prescribed in that Act, to exempt themselves from the penalties, imprisonment and proscription, to which, under the odious Five Mile and Conven. ticle Acts, they would otherwise be exposed.

ing to twenty-five mithons sterling, would, in one year, be incurred by Dissenting teachers-and, by the activity of informers, the pul pits would be depopulated and the prisons must be filled.

justice, in the judgment, before porary purposes, to trample on inserted, as to the decision which the laurels of the illustrious dead. he should eventually pronounce, If, however, such construction and the opinion which he intimat- should be adopted, the most alarm. ed, that the words " pretending ing evils would result. Every to holy orders" meant " pretend- teacher or preacher, every occaing to have received holy orders, sional exhorter, every student, or to have been previously ordain every person who was not the ored,' clouded the lustre of success. dained minister of a separate conThat such would be the ultimate gregation, even although he had decision of the court, he could taken the oaths, would be liable not, however, believe. Such con- to penalties and to imprisonment if struction was libellous on the he ventured to teach; and if the memory of the illustrious men by present system of religious instruc. whom the Act of Toleration was tion was continued, fines, amountprepared. It was now decided, that this description was the only de scription in the act which could apply to students, to probationers, and to persons who were not settled pastors of specific congregations. And as, at the Revolu- Some gislative enactment tion and at every subsequent pe- would then be necessary to legalize riod, ministers were elective among the ancient practice, and to annul Protestant Dissenters, the result a construction equally disastrous of that construction must Le this and absurd. To the attainment absurd proposition,-that Dissent- of such parliamentary assistance, ing teachers, who are all elected if it should become necessary, the teachers of separate congregations, Committee had long directed their in consequence of their ascertained attention. They determined in capacity to teach, who cannot le- these times not to agitate the coungally try or ascertain their capa- try by requiring their civil rights, city until they have taken the but to be content with protecting oaths, &c.must continue liable their religious liberty They alo to punishment, during such trial, resolved not to become the tools or must be chosen by a congrega. of any political party, but to con➡ tion who have never ascertained ciliate the esteem and invite the them. The absurdity of such pro- support of the existing governposition must prevent its adoption. ment and of all illustrious men in Such was not the proposition both houses of parlament, who which William the Third would were friendly to civit and religious have approved-which Lord So- freedom. On these princi: les mers would have prepared-which they applied, on December 6th, the Dissenters would have accept to the late Mr. Perceval; they ed. The imputation to them of obtained an interview with him, such ignorance and injustice must at which they explained the situaexcite the indignation of every tion of the Dissenters and solicited man who revered their memories, his aid; and, at his request they and who would disdain, for tem- transmitted a written statement of

the apprehensions they entertain- terposition, hostile to the rights of ed, and the interposition they re- worshipping his Creator according quired. To that application they to the dictates of his conscience, received in April the frank and li- which every professing Christian beral reply before stated, and they was entitled to claim. In the acquiesced in his suggestion that pursuits of that end difficulties an application to parliament might arise difficulties which should be postponed until a deci- might demand not only the enersion in the courts on the depend. getic exertions of the Committee, ing cases should be obtained. but the concurrent and immediate When that judgment was pro- efforts of every congregation of nounced, during the present Dissenting Protestants, and of month, on the cases of Mr. Packer every friend to religious liberty. and Mr. Brittan, it was commu. If such necessity should occur, nicated to Mr. Perceval, and an experience demonstrated that such interview occurred in the morning aid would not be withheld; and of the day on which he fell, gene. that in their just claims and prurally and justly deplored, by the dent labours, the Committee would hand of an assassin. At that in receive, not only the strenuous as. terview he expressed his convic- sistance of the numerous members tion that parliament ought to in- of their own society, but that unaterfere, to protect the Dissenters, nimous support which would proand his inclination to ensure to bably prove a torrent sufficiently them all the relief which the coun- irresistible to bear away every obteracting prejudices of other per- stacle which timidity and preju sons would permit him to recom- dice might collect. mend.

After this exposition by Mr. Wilks, which excited much attention and produced much pleasure, but of which only an imperfect

lowing Resolutions, proposed by the Rev. Messrs. Collison, Bogue, Griffin, Cockin, Slatterie, M. Wilks, Thomas (of Chelmsford), Townsend, Dr. Nicol and others, were unanimously adopted.

Under existing circumstances, Mr. Wilks could not venture to prognosticate what proceedings would occur. He would not as- sketch can be introduced, the folsist Dissenters to rear a structure of hope which might not be realized; nor would he agitate them by apprehensions which might be equally chimerical. As soon as a new administration was formed, the applications of the Committee I. That an abstract of the satiswould be renewed, and some mea. factory statement of the proceedsure would be probably submitted ings of the Committee of this Soto parliament during the ensuing ciety be prepared and circulated session. The Committee desired to all the members with all conto obtain relief by the repeal of venient expedition.

all statutes interfering with the II. That this meeting highly freedom of religious worship; and if that could not be obtained, they at least would not concur in any measure which shall not legalize the past practice, and effectually prevent any novel magisterial in

approve of the conduct of the Committee during the past year, and the zealous attachment to religious liberty which they have displayed. That they particularly applaud the liberality with which

they defrayed all the expences in- restrictions as public security and cident to the prosecution of the the national welfare imperatively rioters at Wickham Market; their demand. vigilant attention to the individual

IV. That this meeting consider and local applications for redress the exemption of all places excluwhich they have received; their sively appropriated to religious interference to prevent the acts worship, as a measure calculated for regulating the local militia and to prevent vexatious charges and the registration of births and bu- litigations, to afford universal sarials in England, from containing tisfaction, and to promote morals clauses injurious to the rights of and piety by the encouragement Protestant Dissenters; their efforts of public instruction, without imto ensure liberty to missionaries posing any new burden on indivito promulgate Christianity to the duals or on parishes; and that nations of the East; their promp. the Committee be therefore also titude and perseverance in resist- instructed to endeavour to obtain ing the attempts of magistrates an act for that purpose. in Suffolk and Gloucestershire to V. That the experience of the violate the provisions of the Acts past year having demonstrated the for Toleration; and especially the necessity and advantages of this energy and prudence with which institution and the excellence of they have hitherto conducted their its plan, this meeting recommend exertions to obtain the legislative to every congregation of all denorepeal of all penal laws affecting minations, throughout England religious worship, and to exempt places appropriated to that purpose from parochial assessment.

and Wales, to become members of this society, and to perpetuate or to afford their support.

VI. That the part of the original plan for electing the Committee, be dispensed with for the year ensuing, and that the former committee constitute the London Committee for the ensuing year: and that as all country members and deputies are members of the Committee, they be particularly requested, when they visit Lon don, to attend the regular monthly meetings, on the last Tuesday evening in every month at this place.

III. That this meeting learn with much anxiety the opinion respecting the construction of the Toleration Act, as to persons pretending to holy orders, intimated by high legal authorities, and being convinced that such explanation will expose thousands of pious and useful ministers, students and other persons to ruinous penalties to an immense amount, and to the horrors of imprisonment; and be ing firmly attached to religious liberty, they instruct the CommitVII. That but for the mournful tee of the ensuing year to persevere, by every legal means, to obtain catastrophe, which has excited the repeal of the Five Mile and their sincere regret, and has preConventicle Acts, and every other vented the exercise of their wishes, statute which prevents any indivi- this meeting would have been most dual from worshipping God ac- happy to have expressed their cording to his conscience, and public acknowledgments to the from promulgating his religious late Right Honourable Spencer opinions subject only to such Perceval, for the prompt and po