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The Petition to Parliament for the Abolition of Slavery was read; of which the following is a copy:2The humble Petition of the undersigned Protestant Dissenters, being Deputies from the several Congregations of Protestant Dissenters of the Three Denominations, Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist, in and within twelve miles of London, appointed to protect their Civil Rights;

Humbly sheweth,-That your Petitioners have, in the course of their duty, been frequently compelled to appeal to the justice of His Majesty's Government against the oppressive acts of the West Indian Colonial Assemblies, and the popular violences committed in those islands, in contempt of the provisions of the Toleration Act, and of the established rule by which the laws of the mother country are acknowledged to be in force there, unless expressly altered by competent authority.

Your Petitioners are enabled to state, with grateful satisfaction, that in all instances their applications have been successful. The just and liberal feeling of the British Councils has uniformly yielded to their representations, and expressed strong disapprobation of such injurious conduct. They regret, however, to say, that defeats have not subdued the spirit of intolerance, but that on the contrary, renewed attempts have recently been made to impose still severer restrictions on the religious instruction of the slave.

They had flattered themselves that the Toleration Act was of too weighty and important a character to have admitted of any attempt at its abrogation by any mere local legislature, however consequential in its own eyes. They had thought, and still think, that in the mild and temper and peaceable submission inculcated by Christianity, (and by none of its teachers more than by those who have been made the objects, in some instances, the martyrs of persecution,) even slave-masters might have discovered

a

more effectual protection from the legion of dangers which despotism raises against itself, than in the heaviest shackles which power can impose on the defenceless. But they are compelled to acknowledge their mistake. By painful experience the conviction is forced upon them that the pretensions of the slave-masters are irreconcileable alike with the precepts of

Christianity and the laws of justice; that slavery can never be upheld but at the tremendous sacrifice of the most sacred principles of our religion, and the most imperative of moral duties, and is therefore equally a reproach to our national character, and an anomaly in our constitution. That its effects are every way pernicious, debasing the slaves below the standard of their rational nature, and degrading slave-masters beneath that rank which they might otherwise hold in the scale of civilized communities.

Your Petitioners read with unfeigned gratitude, the resolutions passed by the British Legislature in the year 1823, for ameliorating the wretched condition of the slaves; but from the failure of that measure, are now fully convinced that nothing short of the entire and unqualified abolition of the system of slavery can ever attain the object which, as men, as Britons, and as Christians, it becomes them to seek.

Your Petitioners therefore beseech your [Right] Honourable House without delay, to adopt efficient measures for this abolition; and that amongst them you will especially be pleased to make provision for declaring free all the children of His Majesty's subjects who shall be born after an early day to be appointed by Parliament, and for effectually protecting such children from any claims that may be made to them as slaves.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray,

&c.

tition now read, be approved, and adoptResolved unanimously, --That the Peed, and signed by all the Deputies now present, and that the same remain at this place until Tuesday afternoon next, at three o'clock, for signature by the other Deputies.

Resolved,--That the Right Honourable Lord Calthorpe, be respectfully requested to present the Petition to the House of

Lords, and William Smith, Esq. M.P. the

Petition to the House of Commons.

Resolved, - That a copy of the above Petition be sent to the Anti-Slavery Socitey, and that a copy thereof, and of the Resolutions of the General Meet

ing of Deputies, on the 28th ult. be inserted in the usual periodical publications circulated among Dissenters.

LADY HEWLEY'S CHARITIES. Many of our readers who have felt justly indignant at the gross perversion of the large charities of Lady Hewley by Unitarian Trustees, which we have again and again exposed in the pages of this Magazine, will rejoice to know that decisive measures are at length taken to bring that

question before the Court of Chancery. A most elaborate case has been drawn, the best opinions have been obtained, and some distinguished Pleaders secured, and the respective Trustees served with those summonses which announce that the necessary documents have been filed against them. A few months will therefore bring this case fully before the public.

NEW INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, BRISTOL.

On Tuesday morning, June 15th, a new and elegant chapel, situate near Bedminster Bridge, Bristol, (a considerable distance from other places of worship,) was opened; when Mr. Leifchild began the service, by reading and prayer, and Dr. Chalmers, of Edinburgh, delivered a very impressive discourse from Romans x. 4.; and at the close of the discourse he made the following statement:

"I have first to announce that this chapel has been built at the sole expense of one of your fellow-citizens, (John Hare, Esq.) and that the whole has been accomplished at the cost of nearly £4000. It is at this moment putting under trust, and is now presented as a free-will offering for the moral and religious good of the surrounding population. But all who have had experience in the erection and management of a chapel, know well that, after being conducted thus far, it has still farther and formidable difficulties to contend with. The fabric must be maintained and repaired, and this can only be done at a considerable charge. There are also certain subordinate offices, of an inferior kind, which must be kept up; and above all, a decent maintenance must be provided for the minister himself, which ought to be greatly more liberal than it usually is. All these expenses will accumulate into a large yearly cost, for meeting which an appeal will this day be made to the liberality of those who have any love to the souls of men, or, even apart from all spiritual considerations, feel how important it is to the wellbeing of society that the outcast population of a greatly over-peopled parish should be recovered to the services and observances of a Christian land. vain imagination that these heavy expenses will be met by the annual seatrents. I happen to be one of those who are unfriendly to the system of gratuitous remuneration, and who consider that the yearly contributions of the regular sitters form the legitimate fund, out of which the minister should be paid. But I speak the result of experience when I say, that the filling of a chapel with hearers is generally a work of slowness and difficulty. We owe it to the rarely exemplified mu

It is a

nificence of one individual, that interest for the money advanced does not form one of the charges to be provided for. From this you are entirely and for ever relieved. I do assure you, seated as this chapel is in the midst of a large population, which requires to be trained up in the habit of church-going, that the pious and patriotic enterprize for which I am now pleading will require the utmost liberality, ere the ministry of the Gospel in this place can be established on a sure and permanent basis. It is not necessary to repel the vulgar calumny of this being a speculation on the part of the individual referred to; and the ungracious and ungenerous expectation that he is to do more than he has already so well and so munificently done, I feel assured, can have no place in any rightly constituted mind. Is it not the Christian policy of a Christian public, instead of attempting to stifle and render abortive such an undertaking, to welcome and help forward to the utmost those lofty aims which have produced so noble an effort of the purest and most enlightened patriotism?

In the evening, Mr. Percy, of Warwick (a supply at the Tabernacle) prayed, and Mr. George Clayton preached.

This building is conspicuously situated at the entrance of the Coronation Road, and is calculated to seat upwards of 1000 persons, exclusive of children, for whom a distinct gallery is provided. Excellent rooms under the chapel are constructed for prayer and social meetings, and for infant and Sunday schools. This freewill offering of a grateful heart, to the glory of God and the salvation of souls, is built in a very increasing and hitherto neglected population. May this noble example bej followed by opulent Dissenters throughout the kingdom. May they be disposed to make retrenchments and sacrifices, in order, on a larger scale, and without delay, to promote the Redeemer's kingdom. The adjoining ground is well suited for interments.

ORDINATIONS

The

On March 17, 1830, the Rev. E. H. Nolan, was ordained pastor over the Christian Church, in Youghall, Ireland. The services were commenced by the Rev. W. Owen, of Mallow, who read suitable portions of Scripture, and offered the introductory prayer. Rev. W. H. Cooper, of Dublin, delivered the introductory discourse from Acts xxviii. 22, "For as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.' The usual questions were proposed by Rev. J. W. Massie, of Dublin, who delivered the charge, founded on 1 Tim iv. 12-16. The Rev. Dr. Town

ley afterwards addressed the church and congregation from Titus ii. 13, 14.

In the evening, a meeting was held for the formation of an Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society. The whole of the services were highly interesting; and the church now rejoice in having a pastor who, they trust, will walk in the footsteps of their former beloved minister, the late Rev. T. Gordon.

On Thursday, April 8, the Rev. Richard Adams, late of EastCowes, and formerly Assistant to the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, was recognized as the pastor of a newly-formed church, at East End, Hants. The Rev. Thomas Mann, of West Cowes, Isle of Wight, stated the nature of a Gospel church; the Rev. D. E. Ford, of Lymington, preached to the people; and the Rev. Messrs. Turquand, of Milford, and Cope, of Lymington, conducted the devotional parts of the service. East End has for many years been a village station, in connexion with the Congregational Church at Lymington.

On Tuesday, April 20th, Mr. Humphreys was ordained to the pastoral office over the Independent Church, Redditch, Worcestershire. The Rev. T. Davies, of Stourbridge, commenced the service with reading the Scriptures and prayer. The Rev. J. Dawson, of Dudley, delivered the introductory discourse, proposed the usual questions, and received the confession of faith. The Rev. Dr. Ross, of Kidderminster, offered the ordination prayer. The Rev. G. Redford, M.A. of Worcester, delivered the charge from 1 Tim. iii 2. "A bishop, then, must be blameless." The Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, preached to the people from 2 Cor. i. 11, "Ye also helping together, by prayer for us. The Rev. J. Parry, of Broadway, concluded with prayer.

On Thursday, the 29th of April, the Rev. Daniel Jones, late of Neuadlwyd Academy, was set apart to the work of the ministry, over the Independent Church and Congregation, assembling at Moriah, Carnarvonshire. The interesting service was opened by prayer and reading of Scriptures, by the Rev. W. Davies, of Nevin; the Rev. D. Griffith, of Talsarn, delivered an introductory discourse, from the words of the Apostle, Acts xiv. 23; the Rev. D. Griffith, of Bethel, proposed the questions; the Rev. W. Hughes, of Sharon, offered up the ordination prayer; the Rev. D. Griffith, of Bethel, gave the charge to the newlyordained Minister, from 2 Tim. ii. 15; and the Rev. Josiah Jones, of Carnarvon, addressed the church and congregation from those words, "Do not kill," Exod.

xx. 13, and closed the interesting solemnities with devout supplication and thanksgiving to the Most High.

On Tuesday, June 15, the Rev. R. Fletcher, late of Highbury College, was ordained to the pastoral office over the church and congregation assembling in the Independent Chapel, Southend, Essex. The Rev. John Garrington, of Burnham, eommenced the services by reading the Scriptures, and prayer; the Rev. Robert Halley, Classical Tutor of Highbury College, delivered the introductory discourse, on the nature and constitution of a Christian Church; the Rev. G. Harris, of Rochford, proposed the usual questions, and received the confession of faith; the Rev. R. Fletcher, sen. of Bicester, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. Thomas Lewis, of Islington, delivered the charge; the Rev. T. Craig, of Bocking, preached to the people; and the Rev. A. White, of Southend, concluded with prayer. The Rev. J. Hunt, of Chelmsford, preached in the evening, from Acts ii. 1-4. The services of the day were particularly solemn and interesting, and we trust that their beneficial influence will be long felt and manifested in the increasing prosperity of the cause of the Redeemer in this place.

DEATH OF GEORGE THE FOURTH.

The sympathies of the British nation, which for many weeks have been powerfully excited by the protracted sufferings of a patriotic monarch, are at length relieved; for GEORGE THE FOURTH

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sleeps with his fathers." This lamented event occurred at the Castle of Windsor, on Saturday morning, June 26th, in the 68th year of His Majesty's age, and in the 20th of his government as Regent and King.

Whatever opinions may be formed of his early history and private life, we have cause to be grateful, that under his sceptre the nation triumphed over the most formidable confederation that was ever arrayed against her; and under his rule beheld the rapid progress of arts, literature, and general knowledge, and the yet more glorious achievements of religious liberty.

At a recent period his late Majesty became the patron of certain clergymen of evangelical opinions, who were raised by him to some of the highest dignities of the national church: we should have been happy to have known that they had ministered around his dying couch. But the curtain of mortality has fallen around him, and we will not attempt to raise it up, even to conjecture the state of his spirit, when returning to Him who gave it,

RECENT DEATHS.

Died after a few days illness, at Lindfield, in the County of Sussex, on the 22d of May, 1830, aged 82, Mr. STEPHEN WOOD. Of this estimable man it might be truly said, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace. Mr. Wood was formerly a resident at Brighton. His loss will be sensibly felt by the county, to which he was a munificent benefactor by the erection and endowment of several chapels, where the Gospel is now preached with success. While contributing to the cause of God with an unsparing hand, he was at the same time humble, unassuming, mild, gentle, like his Lord and Saviour, to whom he showed his love by his works.

It is with sincere regret we announce the death of SAMUEL FAVELL, Esq. the senior Deacon of the Congregational Church at Camberwell, (late under the pastoral care of the Rev. Wm. Orme,) Treasurer of the Mill Hill Grammar School, and for a long course of years

a distinguished and patriotic member of the Corporation of the City of London.

This mournful event occurred suddenly on the evening of Lord's Day, June 20. He entertained a young Irish minister at his house, and attended public worship thrice during the day, partook of an early supper with cheerfulness, and retired soon to bed, but was shortly after the subject of a seizure, the result of ossification in one of the arteries of the brain, which produced immediate insensibility, and terminated his earthly existence before his usual medical assistant could arrive.

This honourable and eminently useful Christian citizen had attained his 71st year, and is gone to the grave-yard, where but a few weeks ago we saw him stand a sincere mourner over the remains of his beloved pastor and friend, Mr. Orme. They have now arrived at that country where sorrow and death are alike unknown. We expect to furnish our readers with a more detailed account of his useful life.

IF it be true that the memory of the just is blessed, a sketch of the history of this church, connected as it is with the names of several eminently devoted individuals who suffered in the cause of nonconformity, cannot be uninteresting. The piety and worth of such holy confessors is now frequently acknowledged, and we feel the justice of the concession, when tracing the origin of our dissenting churches. There is little doubt but the interest of dissent in this town may date its rise from the Act of Uniformity in 1662, as there is no account of any separate body of Christians existing here anterior to that event. Then the line of distinction was drawn between the Established religion, and that of the Protestant Dissenters, and then those principles began to be asserted, which have since been more fully developed, and increasingly diffused to the present day. The authority of Christ in his church, was indeed recognized by some of the Reformers and Puritans long before the period to which we refer; but the principles of civil and religious

VOL. XIII. N. S. No. 68.

liberty, when compared with the present advanced state of knowledge, were but imperfectly understood. We must, however, admire the over-ruling providence of God in permitting the harsh measures that were then employed against the nonconformists, to be the means of bringing us to a better acquaintance with our duties and our privileges.

The earliest account of the congregational church in this town, may be traced to the labours of Mr. JOHN HUMPHRY. He was ejected from the vicarage of Frome on St. Bartholomew's day, in common with his nonsubscribing brethren. His cotemporaries describe him as a man of parts, learning, piety, charity, and industry, and was living when the history of the nonconformists was first published. Dr. Calamy wrote to him for an account of his life, and of his writings, which were very numerous, intimating that a wreath of laurel awaited him, to which he modestly replied, that he desired nothing more than to go to his grave with a sprig of rosemary. One fact related by himself, de

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