sion of those sentiments which, from the most deliberate investigation, they consider to be pure Christian truth.

An account of the origin and progress of Unitarianism in Devonport, may be seen in the Christian Reformer, Vol. VI. pp. 350-353; Vol. XII. pp. 110-112, 184, 298-303; and Vol. XIII. pp. 184-188.

A GENERAL meeting of the friends and supporters of Unitarian Christianity in Calcutta, took place on Sunday, the 30th of December; THEODORE DICKENS, Esq., in the chair.

A report from the Unitarian committee was read by Mr. Adam; it was of considerable length.

The design of the report was stated to be, to communicate information to Unitarian Christians in different parts of the world, respecting what has been done, what is doing, and what is proposed to be done, for the promotion of Unitarian Christianity in India. The first endeavour of the committee after its institution was to secure foreign co-operation, in which they state they have succeeded to a considerable extent; both American and English Unitarians have contributed liberally to aid them in their labours.

The first object accomplished by their united means was the employment of a Unitarian missionary; and another object, for the attainment of which a public subscription has been opened, is the erection of a chapel for English worship in Calcutta. The latter object was especially urged in the report as essential to give full efficiency to the mission. After detailing the proceedings and intentions of the committee, for the diffusion of religion and knowledge by means of lectures to the Natives, schools, tracts, &c., a summary view was given of the state of the funds, which were classed under three separate heads the permanent fund amounting to sicca rupees 25,000, the interest of which is applied to the support of a missionary; the chapel fund, having a cash balance of about sicca rupees 9000 in its favour, after the purchase of ground for 12,000 rupees, besides Calcutta subscriptions still remaining unpaid to the amount of 5000 or 6000 rupees; and the general fund, or fund for contingent expenses, which consists of annual, quarterly, and monthly subscriptions and donations amounting to 160 rupees per month. Adverting to the defective organization of the committee occasioned by the peculiar circumstances in which it had taken its origin, the gentlemen composing it recommended a more complete organization under a new and more comprehensive name, that of The British Indian Unitarian Association, and with that view proposed a series of resolutions for the consideration of the meeting, which were agreed to. Amongst the Natives present were, Raminohun Roy, (who

was labouring under severe indisposition,) Durakanath Thakoor, and Tarachand Chuckraburtee..

FIRST FRUITS of REPEAL OF CORPORATION AND TEST ACTS.

At Leicester Castle on Tuesday se'nnight, Josh. Grundy, Esq., of the Oaks, qualified as a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of that county. Being a Protestant Dissenter, Mr. Grundy subscribed the Declaration lately passed, in lieu of taking the Sacrament at the Established Church as previously required.-Stamford Mercury, July 25.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

IRELAND is the topic of greatest domestic interest at the present moment. The effect of the late cruel disappointment to the hopes of the Roman Catholics begins to appear. The mass of the Irish people are in a state of deep discontent; they are in the hands of the Catholic Association, through the natural influence of the priesthood, and are ripe for any measure in which they may be instructed. The late proceedings in the county of Clare are a fearful exposition of their feelings and purposes One of the members for this county, the Right Honourable W. Vesey Fitzgerald, having accepted of a place under the present adminis, tration, vacated thereby his seat in Parliament, and was obliged to appeal again to his constituents. He has been always a warm and steady friend to the Catholic Question, but his joining the present administration was felt by the Irish to be an unpardonable offence, and some other political sins were remeinbered against him, and especially his voting against the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts. To mark their displeasure as well as to shew their power, the Catholic Association determined to set up Mr. O'Connell against Mr. Fitzgerald. The representation of Clare has been from time immemorial in the undisputed possession of the aristocracy of the county, who, both Catholics and Protestants, Whigs and Tories, united to support Mr. Fitzgerald and to keep out the man of the people: -but all in vain; O'Connell was returned by an overwhelming majority. Ireland has in consequence been in a state of universal agitation, and the favourite orator has moved from place to place in triumphal procession, accompanied and cheered by the whole population. He is a Roman Catholic, and will not take the oaths which are administered to a member of Parliament on his taking his seat; but Mr. Butler and other eminent lawyers are of opinion that by the Act of Union the oaths cannot be enforced on an Irish member. At the opening of the next Session this question will be tried; we cannot doubt the result: the affair will, however, influence, and perhaps more than is generally foreseen, the great Catholic question.

The incessant rains have excited fears for the harvest, but we hope, that through the goodness of Divine Providence, a speedy change of weather will put down all gloomy predictions.

FRANCE is every day proving that her revolutions have created a people: her House of Commons is discussing the question of the impeachment of the late ultra-royalist ministry for various infractions of the constitution. SPAIN is for a time blotted out of the map of Europe. Don Miguel has turned traitor and proclaimed himself King of PORTUGAL: the constitutionalists set up a faint resistance, but were soon overpowered: it remains to be seen what Don Pedro, the emigrant King, who is Emperor of the Brazils, will do with his rebel-brother. The war between RUSSIA and TURKEY is raging; the Russians are on their advance to Constantinople; the Greeks have in consequence a little breathing time. The SOUTH AMERICAN republics are not yet at rest; and the approaching contest for the Presidency threatens to throw the UNITED STATES into factions.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

THE subscribers and friends to the British and Foreign Unitarian Association are informed, that the Third Annual Report is just published, and will be forwarded for general distribution. It may also be had, free of expense, at the office of the Association, 3, Walbrook Buildings; or of Mr. R Hunter, 72, St. Paul's Churchyard; of Mr. David Eaton, 187, High Holborn ; and of Messrs. Teulon and Fox, 67, Whitechapel, London.

PASTORAL CHARGES.

The Rev. Dr. CARPENTER, who resigned his pastoral charge at Bristol, on account of health, is invited by his congregation to return to the pulpit.

The Rev. JAMES GILCHRIST has retired from Newington Green, where he preached in the morning, and from Worship Street, where he preached in the afternoon. The Rev. Dr. PHILIPPS, of Sheffield, is invited to Newington Green, but has not yet given a definite answer to the invitation. Mr. D. EATON has been chosen at Worship Street by the afternoon General Baptist congregation, as their pastor, and has accepted the appointment.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Communications have been received from Messrs. Turner; Foster; Naish; Cree; Dixon; T. Paine; and E. Paine; and the obituary of P. Hughes.

We have received a "Further Reply to Mr. Wright from the Trowbridge Committee," but it contains nothing new that is important, and in our judgment the controversy had better cease.

The extreme length of Lord Holland's Speech, which we are persuaded our readers will thank us for reprinting, and which we thought it best to give entire, has constrained us to defer several communications marked for insertion.

THE Catholic Question, as it is termed, though, in itself, extremely simple, has numerous and important bearings, and should be viewed with reference, in particular, to the conduct, opinions and situation of the petitioners, to the interests of the Protestant religion, and to the peace, security and happiness of the empire,

Who objects any thing against the Catholics of the United Kingdom, except their religious creed? They are not arraigned, they cannot be arraigned, for civil disaffection. Are they worse neighbours, worse servants, worse children, worse heads of families, worse soldiers and sailors, worse citizens, than their Protestant fellow-subjects? This will not be pretended. Whatever we may think concerning the tendency of their theological belief, yet if we look to their overt acts-their demeanour-the only legitimate criterion of their civil merits, we find them as much disposed as ourselves to give due obedience for protection. So far, they deserve not the brand of political ineligibility.

It has been said that the characteristic faith and discipline of the Catholics are unfavourable to social freedom. But on what facts does this statement rest? If we look back upon the history of our native laud, we shall meet with periods and conjunctures, in which public liberty owed much to the efforts of our Catholic forefathers, who were often in the first ranks of its defenders against both. foreign and internal foes. Should we glance at other countries, we shall perceive that a firm attachment to the see of Rome does not, of necessity, forbid the exercise of an enlightened patriotism. Let the annals and the condition of some of the Swiss cantons attest the correctness of the remark: even the Gallican Church, which has partial

ly shaken off the Papal yoke, must yield to these, in respect of its auspicious aspect on Civil Liberty and Independence.

The nobility and higher gentry of the Catholic denomination in England, merit particular esteem for their virtues in private life, for their cultivation and patronage of useful knowledge, for their undeviating obedience to the laws of their country, and for their dignified submission, under disabilities of an extremely revolting kind. I cannot boast of a personal acquaintance with any of their body: what they are, however, I know on the authority of unexceptionable witnesses. That such men are not eligible to weighty and honourable offices in the State, is disgraceful to our age and nation.

1

Hereafter, I shall more than touch on the circumstances of the Catholics in Ireland; circumstances which give a fearful and commanding interest to the present discussion. I shall, in the mean time, maintain that this class of people are not less dutiful and loyal than their Protestant neighbours allowance being made for the difference of numbers, they are quite as orderly and peaceable.

But "the principles of the Roman Catholics," we have been told, are unchanged and invariable: what they were in former periods, they still remain, and will ever remain; and political ineligibility should attach to those who hold them, lest political influence and power follow." Such assertions are confidently reiterated; while the evidence alleged in support of the charge, possesses neither clearness nor strength.

It is always hazardous and inadmissible to argue from the theological sentiments of bodies of men to their deportment and character in civil life. Every religious communion naturally supposes its own creed to be scriptural, and this perhaps exclusively; while it views the symbolic articles of other communions as unscriptural, if not indeed hurtful. Man, from the imperfection of his nature, cannot now hope to acquire truth, without any of the alloy of error: on the other hand, he is seldom so much in error, as to be destitute of some portion of truth; nor can he be a competent judge of the real influence of opinion upon the heart and the behaviour. Such is the number of accidental and foreign impressions to which we are subjected-such their variety and force, that the demeanour will seldom fail of being modified, in a great