revenues of the Dutchy of Cornwall were brought before the House. They gave rise to a long and animated debate. The claims of the Prince were supported by Mr. Manners Sutton, Sir Ralph Milbanke, Mr. Erskine, Mr. Fox, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Tierney, Sir Francis Burdet, and several other speakers. They were opposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Master of the Rolls, the Attorney General, Lord Hawkesbury, Lord Temple, and Mr. Ellis. The debate was opened by Mr. Manners Sutton, who, in a long and able speech stated the claims of the Prince of Wales. He concluded by moving, "That a Committee should be appointed to inquire what sums of money had been received, and by whom, on account of the revenues of the Duchy of Cornwall, from the period of the birth of the Prince of Wales till his attaining the age of twenty-one years, and how the same had been applied; and also of the sums advanced to his Royal Highness to the 27th of June, 1795, inclusive. The Motion was seconded by Sir Ralph Milbanke. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER in a speech of great length, opposed the Motion. The greatest legal opinions were adverse to the claim; it had no authorized precedent. At all events, he thought the step proposed to the House was improper to be taken. A petition of right was, he understood, the proper mode of proceeding in such a case. He concluded by moving that the other Orders of the Day be now read. Mr. Erskine rose to support the original Motion In a speech of some length, he went over the arguments which had been urged by Mr. Sutton.. The MASTER OF THE ROLLS replied to Mr. Erskine, and was answered by Mr Fox, who asserted the claims of the Prince of Wales with great force. The Attorney General, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Sheridan, Sir Francis Burdet, Mr. Ellis, and two or three other Members, delivered their sentiments. On the division taking place, there appeared for the Order of the Day 160, against it 103. April 2. Mr. Canning rose to make his promised Motion on the subject of the Island of Trinidad. This Motion, he stated, was only preliminary to another, respecting the cultivation of that Island, and the question of the Slave Trade, though he did not then mean to discuss that question. He had never heard any one maintain, that if the Slave Trade did not now exist, it ought to be commenced. The House had voted for the gradual Abolition of the Slave Trade; but it must be allowed, that if the whole Island of Trinidad were brought into a state of cultivation, it could not contribute to that abolition. The Right Honourable Gentleman then entered into a calculation of the number of acres contained in the Island of Trinidad, and the number of Negroes which would be required to work them. He concluded by moving, "That an Address should be presented to his Majesty, praying that there should be laid before the House,copies or abstracts of all letters and information received from the Governor of Trinidad, since its capture, relative to the cultivation of this Island; and an account of the different classes of inhabitants; and likewise of any allotments of land made since the capture; also copies of all orders sent to the Governor of the said Island, relative to the settlement of the same; and also an account of the lands resumed, with the reasons of such resumption." After a few words from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, assenting to the Motion, General Gascoyne rose, to notice some observations of the Right Honourable Mover. The Right Honourable Gentleman had, he said, affirmed, that were the Slave Trade not in existence, there was no person who would venture to recommend its establishment. This he denied.-Knowing, as he did, the advantages produced to this country by the Slave Trade, and feeling his duty as a member of Parliament, he would say, that if the Slave Trade had never existed, it ought immediately to be commenced. This gave rise to some little debate between the Honourable Member, Mr. Wilberforce, and Sir William Young. The Motion was then put and carried. duties 56,445,000 0 - 862,500 0 0 48,041 5 0 13,658 2 0 431,043 0 5 112,222 12 6 97,934,437 10 3,211,203 00 The Right Honourable Gentleman then entered into the particulars of the terms of the loan, which he contended were highly flatterwhich were requisite for the pay the taxes to ing and advantageous; and also of the taxes interest.* The whole amount of be imposed would, therefore, be four millions, which would be an excess above the sum wanting of near £.800,000. The Right Honourable Gentleman then stated to the committee the outline of a plan for consolidating, into one fund, the two sinking funds which were established; the one, for the purpose of paying off the national debt, and the other for the extinction of every new loan. By their consolidation, they would acquire such an increase of power, as to enable them to discharge the whole debt, of five hundred millions, in forty-five years. The Right Honourable Gentleman, after recapitulating the whole of his statements, and expressing his hopes that by prudence, and vigilant economy; by a firm and temperate system; by being prepared to vindicate and maintain the blessings of peace; we should ensure to ourselves tranquillity and ease, as well as security and independence, concluded by moving a resolution for raising the sum of twenty-five millions by way of loan. He was followed by Mr. Whitbread, who, in a speech of considerable length, opposed that part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's plan which proposed a tax upon malt, hops, and beer. The present tax would press most enormously upon the brewers; and not only upon them, but upon the lower orders of the people. Mr. Pitt rose to reply, and in a very long and animated speech defended the taxes proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and his own measures, during the period he was in office. He was answered by Mr. Grey. After some observations and animadversions from Mr. Vansittart, Mr. Alderman Combe, Mr. Jones, and some others, the Resolutions were put and agreed to. 1,713,016 13 4 LAST week, at Belchington, Oxfordshire, Mr. Lately, at Strabane, Sir John Stewart Hamilton, Bart. many years Member of Parliament for that town. April 20, at the Priory, at Hitchin, Herts, Lady Penelope Farnaby Radcliffe, widow and relict of the late Sir Charles Farnaby Radcliffe, Bart. April 24, in Newman-street, in the 84th year of her age, Mrs. Elizabeth Henry, of Hawthorn Hill, Berks. * See Christian Observer, p.273. April 25, at Wentworth Castle, Mrs. Hatfield Kaye, sister of the late Earl of Stafford. Same day, at Hambledon, Bucks, in the 76th year of her age, Mrs. Surtees, relict of Aubone Surtees, Esq. of Benwell, Northumberland, and mother-in-law of the late Lord Chancellor. April 26, the Rev. J. Russel, B. D. Rector of Helmdon, Northamptonshire, of Ilmington, Warwickshire, and formerly Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. May 3, at Brighthelmstone, in the 67th year of his age, Mr. Peter Elmsly, formerly a Bookseller in the Strand. May 12, at Boskenna, in Cornwall, the Rev. Thomas Wells, B. A. aged 62, many years minister of Silver-street and Islington chapels. Lately, at Norton, John Awdry, Esq. the oldest Magistrate in the county of Wilts, and Lieutenant-Colonel of the Yeomanry Cavalry. At Berwick-upon-Tweed, aged 72, Mrs. Elizabeth Renwick, daughter of the late Sir William Purvis, of Purvis Hall, Bart. and niece of the late Earl of Marchmont. Last week, in the 100th year of her age, the Widow Pilmer, of Stamford Baron. Her brother and sister died this year, the former 75, and the latter 87 years; two brothers died last year, the one 95, and the other 77 years old. The father attained the age of 103; and the surviving brother has withstood the blasts of eighty-eight winters. May 18, at his brother's house, in Great Marlborough-street, the Rev. Edward Cranmer, Rector of Quendon, in Essex, and Rector of St. Bride's, London. May 4, suddenly, at Stamford-Hill, Colonel Justly Hill. May 5, the Rev. Thomas Bradbury, Vicar of Bradwell, Bucks. Lately, at Durham, the Rev. John Robson, Vicar of Stockburn. May 11, at Whitcombe Park, Gloucestershire, in the 87th year of her age, Lady Hicks, relict of Sir Howe Hicks, Bart of that place. May 25, at her father's house in St. James's square, in the 20th year of her age, Miss Thornton, eldest daughter of Samuel Thornton, Esq. M P. She caught cold, about a fortnight before her death, which brought on a fever, apparently mild in its nature; but af ter a short time, a delirium came on, which continued, with few intervals, to the time of her dissolution. This young lady was possessed of those engaging and valuable endowments which endeared her to her relatives, and secured to her the respect and affection of those who knew her. She had cultivated those usual elegant accomplishments, which are deemed necessary in the superior ranks of life: but though accustomed to appear in the higher circles in the Metropolis, she preserved a remarkable simplicity and purity of mind. She felt an indifference for the pomps and vanities of the world, preferring study and retirement to the tumult and dissipation of a fashionable course of life. This disposition was connected with that fear of God, which constitutes the ornament and crown of all human excellence; and without which, indeed, no external or intellectual acquisition is of any real value. Many useful reflections might be suggested to our young readers on this awful and affecting event; but the limits of our work will only permit us to offer one or two with great brevity. 1. The subject of this article was summoned into the eternal world in the prime of her youth; and she was in the full vigour of health when it pleased God to visit her with this mortal disease. Let this teach the young, the healthy, and the gay, that no period of life, no strength of constitution, no vivacity of mind, can justify the least presumption of security against a call from God, equally early and unexpected. The language of this dispensation of Divine Providence to the young is this: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth:"-and to all, of every age and under every circumstance-"Be ye also ready Prepare to meet your God." 2. This young lady was very little capable of exerting her mental powers during the progress of her disease. The consideration of this circumstance should operate as a loud and impressive admonition to those inconsiderate persons, who postpone the great work of repentance, and preparation for death, to the supposed leisure of a sick-bed. Amongst various and conclusive arguments which might be adduced, to shew the hazard and folly of such procrastination, the probability of an early and permanent state of delirium, ought to subvert the very foundation of all such delusive reasoning, and dash in pieces the presumptuous hopes of every self. deceiver. To-day, while it is called to-day, harden not your hearts." The messenger of death, who is commanded to enkindle the flame of a fever, may be at the same time commissioned to touch the secret strings of reason and intelligence; and how often this is inflicted judicially upon those who deliberately defer the works of conversion to a deathbed, is only known to God, who can never want the means of punishing those who abuse his mercy, and insult his patience and forbear ance. 3. This event may afford to parents a striking lesson of the importance of educating their children not merely for this world, but for that eternal state to which they may perhaps be no less suddenly called away. Of how little moment are those qualifications now become which fitted this young lady for the admiration of the world; and of what infinite importance those Christian graces which form the preparation for heaven? ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 66 WE intimated in our last Number, that we had received a letter from Mr. DAUBENY, COMplaining of unfairness in the representation given of his sentiments at page 177 of No. S. It is there said Mr Daubeny has maintained, that the spirituality of divine worship is not essential to the being of the Church of Christ.” The passage in Mr. Daubeny's writings, which gave occasion to this remark, will be found in his Appendix to the Guide to the Church, page 482, and is as follows, viz. "That the spirituality of divine worship is essential to the very being and constitution of a Church, is more than will be granted, because the Church of Christ has at different times been permitted to exist without it.” Considerable light seemed to us to be thrown on the author's meaning, in the above extract, by what he says at page 404 of the same work. He there observes, addressing himself to his opponent, "I mean neither to disparage nor offend you, when I take upon me to assert, that you are but a sciolist in theology, if you are yet to learn, that however bold the position may seem, that may be a true Church in which the pure word of God is not preached.”* It will scarcely surprise any unprejudiced person, that, on the authority of these passages, which are in unison with the general tenor of Mr. Daubeny's book, we should have asserted (an assertion which Mr. Daubeny has not contradicted) that his opinion was; that "the spirituality of divine worship is not essential to the being of the Church of Christ" Nay, it may even be fairly inferred from his writings, that while he regards an episcopal form of government to be essential, he considers sound doctrine and spiritual worship, as not essential to the being and constitution of the Church. We had no intention of imputing to Mr. Daubeny that he did not consider both sound doctrine and spirituality of worship to be of very high importance, and even, to use his own words, essential to the perfection of a Church, but merely, as we have distinctly stated, that he maintained that the spirituality of divine worship is not essential to the being of the Church of Christ. Wishing, however, to furnish Mr. Daubeny with the opportunity he requests, of publicly and effectually counteracting the prevalence of that most fatal delusion into which unguarded language may have been instrumental in leading his readers, we fully intended, even before we were favoured with his second letter, to lay his explanation upon the subject before the public. It is as follows:-"I say, Sir, that the spirituality of divine worship is essential to the perfection of the Church; so far then from Christianity being an external thing, a mere form, or the spirituality of divine worship a matter of no great importance,† I consider that the spirituality of it is that thing of primary importance which the Being of the Church was designed to preserve; that valuable kernel, if I may so say, of which the constitution of the Church is the shell; and, consequently, (to make use of your own words on the subject) that 'every kind of religion but spiritual, is not only defective but ruinous." " Our wish to decline all personal controversy, prevents our making any comment on the preceding explanation, which is given in Mr. Daubeny's own words. It is with the same view, as conceiving it can answer no good purpose to any of the parties concerned, and not from any disrespect to Mr. Daubeny, or from any desire to avoid doing him, (as we trust we have already done him) the most ample justice, that we decline publishing his two letters. A COUNTRY CLERGYMAN; C. I. H; PILGRIM; A FOE TO BRIBERY; L. I. H.; G. on a We are obliged to apologize to our valuable correspondents, the authors of Hora Vectenses, and Thoughts on the Sabbath, for the delay which has unavoidably taken place in the insertion of their communications. A Friend to Humanity, who writes respecting the Vaccine Inoculation, has pointed out to us some mistakes on the subject, in our first number, page 37 and 45, but there is nothing in the first-mentioned passage inconsistent with his information, that near 200 persons have subscribed for the purchase of a piece of plate, to be presented to Dr. Jenner; and the second passage 'merely mentions the Report of the Danish Commission, which we think highly honourable to Dr. Jenner. We are happy to learn that that Commission has since borne a still more unequivocal testimony to the utility of his Invention. We are certainly very willing, at the request of PHILALETHES, to disavow all intention of hostilities to any body of Christians; and we do not scruple to express our regret, if through our means, that Charity should have been wounded, which it is our great object to promote. We decline, however, asserting the negative proposition contained in his letter. We wish it to be fully understood, that it is altogether foreign to our purpose to make the CHRISTIAN OBSERVER an arena for any thing like personal controversy and debate. This remark will serve as a reply to many of our correspondents. * Without meaning, at present, particularly to examine whether Mr. Daubeny be right or wrong in the sentiments contained in the above extracts, we think it right to request our readers to compare them with the nineteenth article, which contains, as we have already said, our opinion upon the point. "The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the true word of God is preached, and the sacraments be duly minis. tered," &c. Neither of which opinions have we attributed, or even had any intention of attributing to Mr. Daubeny. No. 6.] THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. JUNE, 1802. RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS. THE LIVES OF JAMES AND JOHN, THE APOSTLES. J AMES and JOHN were sons of Zebidee, and inhabitants of Bethsaida; they were also the friends of Simon and Andrew, and partners in their fishery. By their mother Mary, surnamed Salome, they are supposed to have been related to our Lord; a distinction which can confer no additional dignity on men who were avowed by him as his chosen Apostles. A tradition, on which the gospel throws no light, reports the younger brother John to have been that other disciple of the Baptists, who, together with Andrew, upon his testimony, followed Jesus, and was satisfied with the credentials of the lowly Messiah. John's connection with Andrew inclines us to think that all these friends were of the same school, and renders, therefore, this tradition less improbable. The sons of Zebidee were called to be Disciples of our Lord at the same time with the sons of Jonah. With them they were witnesses of the miraculous draught of fishes, and from that time forsook their ordinary occupation, that they might learn of Jesus to be fishers of men; and when the Apostles were chosen, they were next in nomination to Simon Peter. With that great man they were the depositories of those secrets, and the witnesses of those private transactions of our Saviour's life, which were not confided to his other Apostles; such as the re-animation of the daughter of Jairus, the exhibition of the glories of Emanuel on Mount Tabor, and the sorrows he experienced in Gethsemane. Like Peter, they also received from the Lord, a new and illustrious name, that of Boanerges, or Sons of Thunder. An appellation probably descriptive not so much of their constitutional fire and vehemence, as of Christ. Observ. No. 6. [N° 6. VOL. I. the undaunted courage and zeal of their ministry, and the energy of their eloquence, which, like the bolt of heaven, should flash conviction on the darkest minds, penetrate the most obdurate hearts, and bear down all opposition before it. The first incident in which St. John is brought forward to particular notice is the following. John said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us, and we forbad him, because he followed not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not, for there is no man shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us, is on our part. It is here acknowledged, that the person in question cast out devils in the name of Jesus, thereby glorifying the Redeemer, as the gracious source of the power he exercised. What offended the Apostles seems to have been, that this worker of miracles acted under no public commission from Jesus, and tended by his successful labours to depreciate the high powers delegated to themselves: in a word, this well meaning man was guilty of irregularity. We say, well meaning man, for otherwise, his conduct would have been equally liable to reprehension with that of the sons of Scæva. (See Acts xix. 16.) But what excited the indignation of the Apostles was tolerated and excused by the expansive wisdom of their Lord: nay, it could only have been through his cooperation that the miracle was at all effected. The ejection of devils, in the name of Jesus, plainly evinced the finger of God, since Christ himself shews the absurdity of supposing that Satan will be an agent in subverting his own kingdom. How much more strongly will this reasoning apply to 2 Y |