Useful Knowledge to dissenters, when, to say nothing of laymen, a bishop and several clergy have actually been on the committee from the first? This appears rather ungrateful to these gentlemen, the more, as one of them, at least, has written a most laborious and learned work for the Society.

SPECIMENS OF THE LOVE OF TRUTH EXHIBITED IN THE CONTROVERSY OF DISSENTERS AGAINST CHURCHMEN.

(From the Cambridge Chronicle.)

THAT your readers may judge correctly concerning the truth of the assertion made by the dissenters at Haddenham, I just mention that one of the speakers gravely told the meeting that the students of Cambridge got drunk all the week, and were compelled to go to the Sacrament the following Sunday. The folly and falsehood of this declaration scarcely deserve a contradiction, for every one at Cambridge knows that no undergraduates are compelled to take the Sacrament; no more than that men are drunk all the week.

(From the un-Christian Advocate.)

On Sunday week, at a church within ten miles of the town of Nottingham, a very ludicrous and singular affair took place. As is usual on Easter Sunday, a respectable congregation had assembled after service, for the purpose of receiving the divine sacrament. The sacred form was duly administered by the priest-the money was gathered-the paupers of the parish, in all anxiety, were waiting for the bountiful distribution of the gift; but, alas! the money was not forthcoming. The bustle this extraordinary circumstance occasioned was great; the people called upon the clerk-the clerk upon the parson; but the worthy member of the cloth was out of hearing: he had skipped off with the cash unobserved, much to the annoyance of the parishioners. It is needless to add, the clergyman was sent for back, who, much chagrined, reproduced the money, at the same time remarking, "he knew not but it was the property of the priest !"-Nottingham Review.

TESTIMONIES TO THE CLERGY.

(From the Poor Law Commission Report.)

1.-The same observation applies to a very beneficial mode of assisting the poor, by letting them small plots of land-a chain and a quarter or more to each man, which has become almost universal in Northamptonshire; the clergyman of the parish being in general the person who has set the thing on foot.

2. I have now to give a detailed account of four parishes, two of which were remarkable for an exaggeration of the general features of mismanagement and pauperism, while the other two were in a course of a gradual steady improvement, under the direction, in one case, of a clergyman and active magistrate (to whom I am very much indebted for facilitating my inquiries throughout the country), and in the other, of an active overseer.— Report of Poor Laws, pp. 406, 407, J. J. Richardson, Esq.

3. Cranbourne, as a parish, lies under great disadvantages; its population is 2158, and scattered over a wide extent. There is a large parish church at Cranbourne, a chapel of ease at Farewood, and the same at Boveridge. These are all to be served every Sunday; the poor, so numerous, are to be visited at their homes, and their temporal as well as their spiritual wants inquired into. The great tithes, which are principally in the hands of Lord Salisbury and another person, amount to 2,500l. per annum. I have universally found, that of all the blessings of a parish, few, indeed none, are equal to the pastoral care of the clergyman, and his advice and guidance in the temporal concerns of the poor, whom circumstances render so helpless.—Appendix A. to P. Okedon's Third Report, p. 18.

MR. DREW ON THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

WHETHER Mr. Drew was of opinion that a state religion in the abstract is desirable, we have not sufficient evidence to shew; but like his friend, Dr. A. Clarke, he uniformly maintained, that in England the national establishment, with all its alleged defects, had been a national blessing. "From all that I have seen," he has more than once remarked, "there is no section of the church universal that would have used power with such moderation as the ministers of the church of England; and the day which shall transfer their power to any Christian sect, with its present prejudices and prepossessions, the nation will long deplore."—Life of Mr. Samuel Drew, a Wesleyan preacher, pp. 491, 492.

THE UNITED COMMITTEE.

(From the Patriot.)

MANY of our country readers have expressed a wish for more distinct information respecting the constitution and proceedings of the committee so often referred to under the above designation. The following Resolution, extracted by permission from the minutes of the Committee of Deputies, will explain the origin of the United Committee :

5th March, 1833. At a special meeting of the Committee of Deputies,Resolved, That it is expedient to form, and that there be now formed, a committee to be called, The United Committee appointed to consider the griev. ances under which Dissenters now labour, with a view to their Redress.'

"That such United Committee consist of the Committee of Deputies appointed to protect the civil rights of dissenters, and also of delegates from such of the undermentioned societies in London as may be desirous of acting in unison for this purpose, viz. :—

"Body of Ministers, 12 Delegates.

"United Secession Presbytery, 3. "Protestant Society, 3.

"Wesleyan Conference, 3.

"Society of Friends, 3.

}Declined.

“That the United Committee have power to add to their number.

(From the Patriot.)

The dissenters of the metropolis have hitherto abstained from holding any general meeting for the purpose of petitioning Parliament on the subject of their claims, for this reason among others-that they have deemed themselves efficiently represented by the committees to whom has been entrusted the protection of their civil and religious interests, and in whom, we venture to say, their confidence has not been misplaced. It is from no abatement of that confidence that we now avow our conviction, that the moment for a more decisive demonstration of the general sentiment has arrived. The metropolitan dissenters would, in the eyes of the country, stand charged with supineness or treachery, if, while Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, and Bristol, are sending in their petitions signed by twenty and fifty thousand, no similar expression of public opinion were to be put forth by them. Had the conduct of Government been less ambiguous and unsatisfactory,—had the United Committee been able to obtain, even at the eleventh hour, any explicit intimation of an honest and resolute purpose on the part of the cabinet to act up to their liberal professions, it might have been advisable still to defer con vening a meeting, at which it is easy to foresee that the feeling of disappointment is likely to vent itself in the language of indignant remonstrance. We VOL. V.-May, 1834. 4 G

are quite aware that dissenters, in assuming an attitude of opposition to the present administration, would be placing themselves in a false position. But this, we fear, will be the inevitable result of that false position in which Government have placed themselves. No minister can serve two masters. He must choose between the church, as the patrimony of the oligarchy, and the people. If Lord Grey has not firmness enough to make his decision, he must make way for a bolder, if not a better man; for one who will have courage enough to carry through the great reforms upon which the nation is intent, or temerity enough to refuse all concessions, and to attempt to coerce the House of Commons and the people into acquiescence in the restored reign of toryism.* This could not last long; but alas, for the country! should the imbecility of a well-intentioned, patriotic administration lead to even such a temporary experiment upon the patience of the people. Lord Grey is, we fear, bringing on the very collision which he is sincerely anxious

to avert.

DISUNION AMONG DISSENTERS.

(From the Liverpool Standard.)

WE give below the reasons assigned by the Rev. Dr. H. F. Burder, for withdrawing from the general body of the three denominations of dissenters who meet, or rather who lately met, at the institution in Red-cross Street, London. We recommend them to the attentive perusal of the leading orators of the Manchester dissenters, who but the other day joined the Unitarians in a most sweeping and revolutionary attack upon the church. Dr. Burder is evidently a conscientious man, and we admire his candour, rectitude, and strict adhercnce to principle. We wish we could say as much of his ostentatious, but less exemplary brethren. He who touches pitch must be defiled; and they who make war under the banners of the infidel or the antichristian, inflict a mortal blow on the faith they profess, and turn their own tenets, for upholding which the martyrs suffered, into ridicule. We say again, to all who are sincere and conscientious amongst the dissenters-read the reasons assigned by Dr. Burder (as given in the un-Christian Advocate).

SECESSION FROM THE THREE DENOMINATIONS.-The following are the reasons assigned by Dr. II. F. Burder and others, for withdrawing from the general body of the three denominations at Red-cross Street:-1. Because the union in question is merely civil and political, but expressly and avowedly of a religious character-the parties composing it being constantly described in the public documents addressed to the legislature, and read throughout the world, as "Christian Ministers," "Ministers of the Gospel," and "Ministers

The Patriot is the organ of the moderate dissenters, who, for two months, have endeavoured to keep the violent party in some check. Having failed, they now, in this their organ, have begun to hold out the same threats to the ministry as the others, and thus the whole party are now using the same language, and making the same demands. A most atrocious pamphlet, called "A Serious Address to Protestant Dissenters," goes in virulence beyond almost any of them, and calls for the spirit and the practices of the puritans. This change of tactics accounts for certain changes elsewhere within the last six weeks. There is nothing more curious than the resolution of the dissenters to mix up politics and dissenting claims, and bold out to the ministry, as their papers and pamphlets do, that they owe much of their strength to them; that they will desert their banners, and appeal to the people against the ministry as traitors to reform, if they protect the church and resist the aggressions of dissent. Is it not marvellous to see such things have any effect? The un-Christian Adrocate, when Sir John Campbell was beaten at Dudley, unhesitatingly asserted at once, that his defeat was owing to the dissenters, though it was proved that every dissenter but three voted for him. Truth is a matter of no import to these persons.

of the Gospel of Christ,"-designations which I cannot conscientiously apply to those who deny the real and proper Deity of the Son of God, and reject the great doctrine of atonement through his blood. 2. Because the Unitarian members of the general body are improperly described when denominated Presbyterians, it being a fact commonly known, and acknowledged even by themselves, that they have no right whatever to that designation, and it appears to me inconsistent with a just regard to truth to sanction a perpetual misnomer, which can answer no other end than to mislead. 3. Because the Unitarian body at large are impeached before the public of misappropriating certain valuable endowments which have long been under their control and management; and, while such a charge remains unrefuted, and nothing is done by the influential ministers of that body in London, to remove the odium thus publicly incurred, it would betray an indifference to moral integrity to retain a connexion with them. 4. Because the continuance of such a con nexion has a direct and obvious tendency to diminish, in general apprehension, the importance of the great Evangelical doctrines which the Unitarians reject and despise, whereby the awful danger attending a denial of the mystery of godliness is kept out of view, and the community at large, both at home and abroad, are in danger of mistaking our sentiments, and charging us, however erroneously, with a laxity of attachment to Gospel truth. 5. Because, while I recognise, in its fullest extent, the great principle, that every man is accountable to God only for his sentiments respecting matters of faith and duty, I conceive we are bound, as we regard the eternal interests of Unitarians themselves, and desire their salvation, carefully to avoid any step which may, directly or indirectly, confirm them in a spirit of apathy and indifference, while they are entangled in the mazes of what we conscientiously hold to be the most pernicious and dangerous errors.

DISSENTERS' AGITATION MEETINGS.

To the Editor of the Cambridge Chronicle.

SIR,-In reading your report of certain meetings of dissenters, I perceive that at the meeting at Warboys, Jonas Tebbutt, Esq., was called to the chair. Again, at the meeting of dissenters of Haddenham, Jonas Tebbutt, Esq., was in the chair. Then next we hear of Jonas Tebbutt, Esq., being in the chair at the meeting of the dissenters of Cottenham. Now, I would ask, does this person reside in all these places? or how comes it that properly he can class himself with the dissenters of three different towns? I observe, also, that a Mr. J. D. Paul spoke at two of these meetings. Can any one tell us whether these gentlemen signed all the petitions, or only one? There was, too, a Mr. Squibb, (query) Rev. from Ely, speaking at the meetings, both of Haddenham and Cottenham; and Mr. Bailey, (tailor,) Baptist minister of Haddenham, was also speechifying at Cottenham. Probably all these persons signed all the different petitions; if so, we may imagine how the numbers have magnified. I am informed, by a person who was present at the meeting of Haddenham dissenters, that whilst the baptist minister, Mr. Bailey (the tailor,) was speaking at Haddenham, some one called out, I down with the church of England!" and the reverend tailor immediately responded, "yes, to-morrow !” Yet, in this very place, Haddenham, the late vicar, the Rev. Mr. Breay, now at Birmingham, for six years laboured with unremitting zeal among his parishioners. For instance, he had three services (and three sermons on Sunday) -one service in the week-a reading, in addition, at an extreme part of the parish; a class of girls also for an hour at his house, on Sunday; an adult school once a-week; a meeting of persons who received the sacrament one evening in the week; a writing-school once, if not twice, a-week; a school of industry every day, all at his own house, at no expense whatever to the parish.

He also established the infant school. All these admirable arrangements his worthy successor, the Rev. Mr. Meller, of Trinity, carries on in full force; and, in prosecution of which, he was compelled to resign sitting for a Fellowship, and yet at Haddenham the dissenting minister can cry" down with the church to-morrow!" It is somewhat remarkable that this same Mr. Bailey assumes to be on friendly terms with the incumbent of Haddenham; for instance, he comes frequently to his house to arrange a distribution of tracts, and outwardly would bear a benign aspect towards him!

SLANDER OF BISHOPS.

"WORTHY OF IMITATION.-The Rev. Richard Thomas, rector of Llanfairfechan, in this county, late head-master of Beaumaris grammar school, prompted doubtless by the humane and benevolent feeling which has distinguished him through a long life, has recently erected four neat cottages, with gardens attached to them, on a piece of land, the property of Sir R. B. W. Bulkeley, Bart., M.P. for Anglesey, and which he has presented to the overseers of that parish, and their successors, for ever, for the use of such poor and infirm paupers as may belong to that parish. We understand that it is the intention of the reverend and venerable gentleman, if Providence spares his life, to add two more to the number. This excellent divine has not hitherto been one of the highly-favoured sons of the church; therefore his example is the more worthy of the imitation of those who had the benefit of better emoluments; and we hope to have to record many similar acts of benevolence. This learned and pious divine has been upwards of fifty years in the church, forty of which he served as the curate of Llanfair and Penmon, and as master of Beaumaris grammar school, during which time he wrote several volumes of excellent Welsh sermons. Though most exemplary in the fulfilment of his clerical duties, he was not promoted to a living until about three years ago, being at that time upwards of seventy years of age."

This is from the Carnarvon Herald. This journal forgot to state, that, in 1810, the living of Llanllyfni (nearly of the same value as what he now holds) was offered to him, in the most handsome manner, by the Bishop, on the ground that a living held by his father would be acceptable to him; that this prelate was made Bishop of Bangor only in 1809, so that he lost no time in marking his sense of Mr. Thomas's character; and that he finally, in 1829, gave him the living which he now holds.

ADMISSION OF DISSENTERS TO THE UNIVERSITIES.

TO CHRISTIAN PARENTS.-In some cases where argument is useless, authority avails, and if it is sufficient, it ought to avail. Where practical persons, either under entirely different circumstances, or directly opposed to one another in opinion, and persons who, being in very different stations of life, have opportunities of looking at men and things in very different aspects, and whose high reputation for ability gives weight to their opinion,-unite in the assertion of the same broad principles of action, surely there is that sufficient authority. Let us see, then, how the case is, as to the admission of dissenters into the universities, and whether we have not a concurrence of all these authorities on the point.

I. AUTHORITY OF PRACTICAL PERSONS.

1. Declaration of Tutors, &c., at Oxford:

"The undersigned members of the University of Oxford, immediately connected with the instruction and discipline of the place, make this public declaration of their sentiments concerning the admission of dissenters among them.