lesson inculcating a charitable judgment of their fellowcreatures, but has also admonished them against this very habit of drawing inferences against men's characters from the calamities which are suffered to befal them. (Luke xiii. 1-5.) On this, however, as on so many other points, the majority even of the Christian world are slow to hear "the Wisdom of God." Tell them of "the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices," and ask them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?" or tell them of those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew them?" and ask them, "Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?"and if they have been accustomed to dislike and censure the opinions or the manners of the sufferers, they will instantly and confidently answer, YEA-as if in opposition to the Master's voice, who selected the cases for the sake of the answer,—I TELL YOU, Nay.

SPEECH OF LORD HOLLAND AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE

ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROTESTANT SOCIETY," HIS LORDSHIP BEING IN THE CHAIR, ON SATURDAY, MAY 17.

(From "The World.")

Mr. Alderman WOOD having put a resolution of Thanks to his Lordship,

Lord HOLLAND rose amidst deafening bursts of applause, which continued for two or three minutes, and were again and again renewed; when, at length, they had subsided, he spoke as follows:-Gentlemen, I really am afraid that I shall not be able to address you. I feel myself so overwhelmed with emotions of gratitude for the manner in which you have greeted me this day, and in which you have now received the mention of my name, that I really fear, in attempting to address this meeting, my voice and my whole frame will fail. However, I will begin by stating, that when the too favourable, and I may almost say, the too partial judgment of your estimable Secretary, and of the Committee of Gentlemen who manage the affairs of this Institution, offered to me the honour of again presiding at this meeting, I had some hesitation and scruple as to availing myself of what I considered so great a favour. In addition to those considerations of personal habits and

personal health, which are fast advancing, and fast proceeding to disqualify me from attending meetings so vast, so intelligent, so animated as this-exclusive of them, I felt there was some sort of arrogance and presumption in rising, for the third time, to return you my thanks. (Very loud cheers.) I felt that to preside three times at these meetings, partook a little of the nature of that monopoly against which we have directed our energies, and which, I may say, we have almost, in principle, exterminated and destroyed. (Great plaudits.) Gentlemen, these considerations, perhaps, were such as should have induced me to decline the honour. But when I reflected upon what would probably be the main business of the day, I confess frankly— pardon the weakness-I could not resist the pleasure-the delight (cheers) of standing up in this place, and in this Society, for the Protection of Civil and Religious Liberty, and congratulating you upon the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, now happily achieved. (Very loud cheers.) I feel, indeed, that the share your kindness and partiality have ascribed to me, is considerably exaggerated, (Cries of No, no.) Such are my feelings. (Continued cries of No, no). But, at the same time, I am not made of such stone and wood as not to feel grateful for the kindness you have expressed. (Plaudits.) I feel that your success is to be ascribed in some greater measure, perhaps, than you are aware, to the sentiments which were so beautifully expressed by Mr. James at the commencement of this meeting, and which, I can assure you and him, were more gratifying to my heart than any personal eulogies that could be pronounced; I mean the sentiments of respect and pious regard to one who scattered those seeds of which we now reap the fruit; for the seeds were sown by one whose name I can hardly trust myself to mention, even at this distance of time. It was indeed Fox who sowed these principles in gloomy, and many times in seasons of trouble, misrepresentation and calumny; but who was not deterred from acting consistently, uniformly and steadily, to promote the harvest we this day enjoy. (Much applause.) Hence arises the deduction, that we should not neglect to sow the seeds of good principle, deterred by inclement seasons or tempestuous skies; for when the seeds are implanted, and especially in the bosoms of Englishmen, the period will at length come round; the tree will ultimately bear the fruit, and our posterity shall have the

And

benefit, and bless our names. (Long and much applause.) Gentlemen, I receive with heartfelt gratitude the thanks you have expressed. (Cheers.) I will say more-I will say, that if constantly to have had this great object in view; if to have kept the eye fixed upon it; if to have exerted every little energy I had for its attainment; and if you value the motives and conduct that come from the bottom of the heart; if these wishes, these emotions, be deserving of your thanks, even your thanks I have deserved. (Enthusiastic cheers.) It will be a satisfaction to the latest hour of my life, to have been allowed to fight in the ranks upon such an occasion; and that you should have imagined that those endeavours had been useful, is a source of more rapture to my heart. But I cannot think that those endeavours, however zealously and unremittingly devoted to the cause, have been quite so necessary as you suppose. The real cause is due to another source. The main cause to which success should be ascribed, is the justice of the cause. (Cheers.) Truth, consistently and steadily pursued, always gains the victory. The next thing to which the success is owing, is the wise, the judicious, the temperate, firm and loyal conduct of the Protestant Dissenters. when I utter this expression, I entirely agree with the Reverend Gentleman to my right, (Mr. Adkins,) who said, that wherever a Protestant Dissenter was to be found, or wherever, in other words, there was a Puritan Dissenter, there was to be found a friend to civil and religious liberty -a friend to the excellent constitution under which we live. (Cheers.) To their judicious, liberal and consistent conduct the success is greatly due. But it is still more owing, perhaps, to the general improvement of public opinion, to education, and the liberal principles that diffusively prevail. (Hear, hear.) These are the three great causes. But if any part of the success be attributable to individuals, I must say, that to Lord John Russell it is more due than to any other man. It required all the energy of his unblemished character-all the firmness of purpose which is hereditary in his noble race (vast cheers) it required all the sobriety of judgment, the moderation of temper, as well as the ability and profound constitutional knowledge for which he is distinguished, for carrying successfully such a measure through the Commons' House of Parliament. (Hurras.) To him, therefore, as an individual, I think you are under the greatest obli

(Cheers.) The

gation. (Cheers.) I will not enumerate many other persons, though I cannot help expressing the satisfaction I feel that you have named in your Resolution my worthy and excellent friend Mr. William Smith; whose parlia mentary career, I will venture to say, is equal to any which the annals of Parliament afford, for steady, uniform and honourable conduct. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I have told you what it was that induced me to accept the honour you have conferred. It was the pleasure of congratulating you upon the great event, and in congratulating you upon that event, it was my intention to have explained the nature of the evil happily removed; but that has been done so much more ably and eloquently in the Report, the Resolutions and the Addresses you have heard, that it will be unnecessary for me to dilate upon that theme. He takes a very narrow view of this subject, who imagines that it is the mere act of the repeal, the mere benefit which directly flows from the event, at which we alone rejoice. Not Protestant Dissenters only, but the public have gained by the event. The consequence of the existence of those laws, as it has been stated and eloquently described, was "hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness." principles upon which these laws were founded, were the principles of intolerance and persecution. (Immense applause.) They were a disgrace to the statute-book. Had the common law and constitution of England been consulted, they would never have existed. They were foreigners to the glorious principles of native Englishmen. (Many cheers.) To the ancient law of the land they were unknown; and I firmly believe they were as repugnant to the principles of religion, as to all the principles of civil right. In God's name, then, let us rejoice that they have fallen. (Loud and continued cheers.) I will not follow up the general principle so far as to affirm that no exception can exist; but the burden of proving the necessity for that exception is with those who maintain its being. It is not necessary for a man to concur with the opinions held by the rulers of the state, to entitle him to his rights as a subject. The principle laid down in the canon of Inspiration is, "Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things which are God's." But what man shall tell me, that Cæsar is to interfere with the things of God? (Immense cheers.) In rendering "to God the things which are God's," are we to be injured in our li

berty for the manner and mode in which we render them? (Cheers.) There may be exceptions, I might allow, but all the exceptions which now exist seem to me unjust and directly contrary to the fundamental principles on which we profess to act. But they are merely exceptions, and as mere exceptions they must henceforth be strictly argued. (Cheers.) For myself, I am quite certain, that these principles are not only to be found in the ancient law of the land, and in the principles of every free government, but above all, they are written in the hearts of those whom I address. (Much applause.) A French gentleman (the Rev. Mr. Scholl), in a very interesting as well as clever speech, said, he knew little of this Institution, but by name. I think we can say, this Institution has earned and well deserved its name. (Cheers) But when I come here to say, "I congratulate you upon the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts," I congratulate you, not merely as Protestant Dissenters, but as Englishmen, as Christians, as men. If I congratulate this Institution, I congratulate it because I think it has been a fellow-labourer in the vineyard, and has considerably contributed to the triumph we have obtained. I congratulate this Institution because it is founded upon principles that go to the destruction of all exclusive laws. It is called "The Protestant Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty." It is not called "Protestant" from an exclusive feeling, either to Jew, or Mahometan, or Papist; but because it is founded on the very principle of Protestantism itself; namely, the right of private judgment in matters of religion. To the principle-the principle, we must recur then. We must make no distinctions. If I have a right to private judgment, I have a right to surrender my will, or to withhold it, as I choose. All we mean by maintaining the right of private judgment in matters of religion is, that the strong arm of Cæsar shall never interfere with God. (Loud cheers.) With respect to the origin of this Society, since our friend (Mr. Scholl) has said he is ignorant, I will take the liberty of saying a few words upon the subject. Gentlemen, about seventeen years since, there was an intention somewhere [laughter] of interfering with the Toleration Act, of requiring securities (for some people are fond of securities) before a man could be allowed to preach to his fellow-subjects. This originated somewhere [laughter], and I will imitate a man who said, "More I