will not reproach them, for he is dead and gone long ago. And if this word of exhortation should be wholly useless, it is a fate so common to unasked advice, that the author must bear the slight pa tiently, if he can. His regrets will soon be over too; but those occasioned by slighting his counsel are likely to be lasting. 1.* T. Aungre. AN INQUIRY AND ANSWER RESPECTING DR. DODDRIDGE'S To the Editors.-In the Eclectic Review for November, at the close of the article "On Doddridge's Correspondence," there occurs the following passage: "Dr. Doddridge died at Lisbon, where, till very lately, his simple tomb-stone stood disregarded, and the dilapidations of more than half a century had nearly destroyed it, when the venerable Mr. Taylor, formerly pastor of Carter Lane Meeting-house, his last surviving pupil and friend, on learning its state, took measures to have it renewed in a durable and handsome manner." Will you allow me to inquire how this statement is to be reconciled with one given, on unquestionable authority, in your number of February, 1820, page 119, and which avers, that the tomb-stone of Doddridge had been very recently repaired, and its letters recut by the desire, and at the expense of, the then Chaplain of the British factory at Lisbon, and now the vicar of Dedham ? Is there a mistake as to the authors of the improvement in question, or has there been a new tombstone erected subsequently, by the Doctor's last surviving friend and pupil? An answer to this inquiry will oblige some of your readers, among whom is Your humble servant, Dedham. N. S. No. 67. viting our attention to an apparent discrepancy between the statement made in this Magazine and that recently published in the Eclectic Review, as it is in our power sa-, tisfactorily to explain it, and to do justice to the liberal-minded clergyman who sought out the place. of Dr. Doddridge's sepulchre, when it lay waste, and at his own charge generously rescued the interesting spot from forgetfulness. The truly venerable Rev. Thomas Taylor, now in his 93d year, were he capable of the ungenerous act, feels too grateful to that gentleman for the interest he took in the grave of his earliest and most honoured friend to attempt to deprive him of the credit he thereby acquired with scholars and Christians of every party; and he has, therefore, enabled us to explain the case, we trust, to the satisfac tion of all. In the year 1815, we understand, some surviving relatives of Dr. Doddridge inquired, through a commercial house having correspondents at Lisbon, respecting the state of their revered ancestor's grave. Application was, consequently, made to the Rev. Robert M. Miller, then his Majesty's Chaplain at Lisbon, but since vicar of Dedham, upon the subject, in consequence of which he wrote the following interesting letter: "Lisbon, Dec. 28, 1815. "A clerk of Messrs. A. and Co. having called upon me this day with your letter, recently ad3 A dressed to them, relative to the late Dr. Doddridge, I considered that it might be more satisfactory to the friends of that great and good man, that the circumstances connected with his memorial should be detailed by me. "About eighteen months since, having for the preceding two years and a half endeavoured in vain to ascertain the precise spot of interment, I found, on an upright stone, in a very imperfect state, the following inscription :- Philip Dod. dridge, D.D. died October the 26th, 1751, aged 50. And as I could not but feel that the name of so venerable a divine ought not thus to be obliterated, I caused the stone, at my own expense, to be thoroughly cleaned, and the original words to be completely and deeply re-cut. In this condition it now stands; but should the friends of Dr. Doddridge wish that a more extended memorial might be erected, I request them to believe, that in the furtherance of this object, my services are perfectly and fully at their command." From some cause, not to us explained, this obliging offer was not accepted, and the grave-stone remained in the state in which Mr. Miller's repairs had left it, save that the progress of vegetation, during fourteen years, had enveloped it with luxuriant shrubs, which well nigh concealed it again from view. A gentleman, in the commissariat department, however, visited Lisbon with the British expedition, at the close of 1826, and being known to the family of the Rev. Mr. Taylor, kindly engaged to execute any orders that gentleman might give respecting the Doctor's grave. A handsome marble obelisk tomb was therefore erected, at Mr. Taylor's expense; and he, not being fully aware of the facts, sent an order from London, that the following incription should be placed upon it: "Philip Doddridge, D.D. died Oct. 26th, 1751, aged 50.' "With high respect for his character and writings, this stone of remembrance was raised upon a former one in decay in the month of January, in the year 1828, at the desire and expense of Thomas Taylor, of all his numerous pupils the only one then living." The gentleman to whom the business was committed, inscribed these words upon the new tablet, but with great propriety left the original stone, which Mr. Miller had repaired, undisturbed, until time shall complete that "decay" which Mr. Taylor imagined had already passed upon that memorial. EDITOR. SUGGESTIONS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED CONGREGATIONAL UNION. IT affords us peculiar satisfaction to observe, that the subject of a general Union of the Congregational Churches of the United Kingdom, is now obtaining a firm hold on the attention of many influential ministers and lay gentlemen in various parts of the country, who, in private intercourse, and by their more formal and deliberate communications to us, have expressed their anxious wish to see that measure accomplished. Four papers have already appeared in the present volume, on this subject, all written by correspondents residing at great distances from the metropolis and each other; and we have now before us several other letters on the same question, from remote and opposite parts of the kingdom. We feel it due to the object to state this, because there has existed, in times past, a natural and salutary jealousy of the influence which the pastors and churches of the metropolis might obtain, unfavourable to the entire independency of our provincial churches; and had this design originated in London, similar suspicions might have been again excited. pro Our limits will only permit the insertion of those passages from the letters before us which appear to us best adapted to facilitate the object. We must premise, however, that some of our correspondents have spoken of "a union of Dissenters," &c.; now we are persuaded that if the ject succeed, it must be strictly a denominational union, and formed on principles which shall be in complete accordance with those on which our churches are founded. One most respectable minister, of extensive information and experience, has done us the honour to suppose that it is in our power greatly to facilitate the measure: most happy shall we be to find his prediction realized. "I am also sanguine enough to pronounce the work half done, if you accede to the following proposal; and I am fully convinced that other important objects of your valuable miscellany will be rather promoted than retarded by the measure. "It is founded on this principle. That the only valuable general union of our body must be through the sympathetic, unassuming, voluntary, unpaid, and persevering activity of our local associations, whether monthly, as in the metropolis; or quarterly, as in some districts in Wales; half yearly, or annually, as in various counties. "Deeply assured of this from our scriptural discipline, from ecclesiastical history, and from facts collected during above thirty years' observation of our churches, allow me to hope that, as tried friends to our congregational order, you will listen to the following suggestions: "1. To open an immediate corresponminational associations, whether of minisdence with each secretary of our denoters or churches, requesting them, immediately after each meeting, to transmit a brief memorandum of it, under the fol lowing heads : "(1.) Religious Services. 66 (2.) Business. (3.) Occasional Incidents. "2. To devote exclusively to our denomination a portion of your Periodical, as a register of these memorandums, under some definite appropriate title, as "Record of Congregational Associations," in which the returns should appear the first month after their transmission. 66 By adopting this plan, you will make us acquainted with each other's state and affairs. Knowledge will beget sympathy, tion, and thus you will be the important sympathy will awaken benevolent exerorgan of impelling life and vigour throughthe blessing of the great Head of the out our denominational system, under church. You will do that for us which authority and wealth, which Primates, Convocations, and Presbyteries, have been unable to effect; yes, not one, but many generations will call you blessed." As to the first of these sugges tions, we trust that a Provisional Committee will soon be organized existing associations, on the practo open a correspondence with the ticability of the measure, cordially inviting their full and frank opinion, with such suggestions as may occur, and we hope, in an early number, to exhibit an accurate list of the existing associations. With respect to the second, we may say, that it has always been our anxious wish that this magazine should form a repository for those facts and principles which must be interesting and valuable to our brethren. The objection which our Csteemed correspondent anticipates on our part will not be urged, especially if the officers of the respective bodies keep in mind the suggestions which the following specimens afford. To prevent the objection of the room it would occupy in your publication, allow me to observe, as all praise of the "Allow me, Sir, respectfully, to conjure you not to reject this plan, arising, I trust, from a view to the glory of the Saviour; the greater prosperity of our dislocated denomination, and compassion for many of our little sister churches, who require the sympathies of local and general union for their invigoration. During seven years residence in this neglected corner, two links for the chain of our future union have been formed, in Monmouthshire and in Herefordshire, and I was twenty years a member of the association in Hampshire, where I witnessed the great benefits accruing from our rotary half-year meetings; therefore you will excuse my urging this affair so strongly on your notice. Recollect also, by pursuing this plan, you will ultimately unite our whole body, which you profess to have in view, and raise a valuable Chronicle of the Independent churches and ministers from the year 1830." Another respected Correspondent, who signs himself Moriniv, has offered various useful suggestions, some of which, however, we presume to modify, as we are most anxious only to present those suggestions which appear to us unexceptionable in principle, and easy of execution. "That an assembly of pastors and laydelegates of orthodox Congregational churches be annually held in London, and five other large towus--the meeting in the metropolis to be triennial, for the sake of its local advantages. "That every county association do send, as delegates, two or more ministers and laymen, to be chosen annually for that purpose, on a scale proportioned to the number of churches included in it. and "That pence per mile be paid to each delegate for travelling expences, during the sittings of the Assembly by shillings per diem be allowed their respective associations. "That the Assembly annually appoint a Moderator, a Preacher, and a Clerk for Records, and a Clerk for Correspondence." It has been very properly observed by another writer, that there must be no attempt at legislation, and that the most scrupulous regard must be paid to the independency of individual churches. Amongst the subjects which have been enumerated, as appropriate for discussion in such an assembly, we may name-the best means of diffusing our principles, and increasing our churches-the formation of a system for the regulation of chapel cases throughout the kingdom-the modification of the marriage laws, as they affect all Protestant Dissenters respondence with other bodies of Dissenting or foreign Protestants, &c. - cor Although we are the steady advocates of our church polity, as it at present exists, yet we think that the Congregational Assembly, held at the Savoy Palace, London, September, 1658, when Owen, Goodwin, Howe, Caryl, Greenhill, and many other leading Independent ministers assisted in its deliberations, must prove that, in the judgment of the foun ders of our churches such a combibination was lawful and necessary. Our readers will perceive from "the American Record" in this number, that the Congregational brethren of New England have an extensive system of organization. May our Churches and Associations speedily follow their example. EDITOR. ORIGINAL LETTER OF THE LATE REV. THOMAS SCOTT. As every thing which tends to illustrate the character of the late venerable and excellent Thomas Scott, must be interesting to Evangelical Christians of every denomination, we cheerfully insert the following letter, addressed to one of the poor of Christ's flock, while resident in an alms-house, the original of which is in the possession of an esteemed correspondent. * Aston Sandford, Dec. 31, 1808. DEAR HANNAH COLLINS,When I first received and began to read your letter, I could not at all recollect any thing about the name, &c., but the mention of the Chace, brought all to my remembrance. I am truly thankful that you hold on your way in the manner which you describe, and which appears to me highly satisfactory. I remember the sermon which you mention on prayer at Weston very well. It is now more than twentythree years since I preached it, but the recollection of these times among the people in the neighbourhood of Olney, in which then much love and zeal were manifested, excites in my mind a pleasure mingled with regret. I have since been far otherwise situated, and I fear have not wholly escaped the contagion of that lukewarm spirit which prevailed all around. At length however, I am placed in a small village, to which numbers from all around throng to hear the word of life, and I again witness some measure of a fervent spirit, and hope many are truly converted, though my numerous engagements (as writing a comment on the scriptures, and other books) with various concurrent reasons, prevent my going among them in the manner which I did near Olney. Should I live again to see Northampton, Yardly Chase, Northamptonshire. unto I will endeavour to call on you; but whether we meet on earth or no, let us pray for each other, that we may meet where sin, and sorrow shall be known no more. Your letter opens me no door for particular admonition or council, I can only say whereto you have attained, walk by the same rulepress forward-get all the good you can, do all the good you can, and so wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ eternal life. I have delayed in answering your letter for an opportunity of sending you some books with it, which may be acceptable to you, and if you lend, or give them, they may, by the blessing of God, be useful to others also. Therefore lend them freely to all who will read them, and when they are worn out, or lost, send me word, and if I am spared I will send you some more. small ones may be given away. I look out for opportunities of attempting to do good in this way, and if you can help me, I shall rejoice. I never had good health when I was young, and I have not very ill health now I am old. Blessed be God, I can still go on with my labours almost as well as formerly, though many things remind me of old age, and that my time is short; may it be well spent, and ended, I know you will say Amen. The I am greatly blessed in my fa |