52 Intelligence.-Persecution of the French Protestants. 9. That a copy of these Resolutions be sent to the Lord Lieutenants of the Ridings of the County of York. 10. That a copy be also sent to the Members for the County of York, and to the Members for this Borough, with a request that they will use their influence with his Majesty's Miuisters, and their efforts in Parliament, in furtherance of the object desired. 11. That a copy of these Resolutions be inserted in the Courier and Morning Chronicle, London Newspapers; in the York Herald and Leeds Mercury, and in each of the Hull Papers. 12. That the Bankers in this Town be requested to receive Subscriptions. 13. That the Gentlemen who signed the Requisition be appointed a Committee, to carry these Resolutions into effect. 14. That the Thanks be given to the Right Worshipful the Mayor, for his promptitude in calling this Meeting, and for his conduct in the chair. Gosport, Dec. 19, 1815. At a numerous and respectable Meeting of the inhabitants of this Town, held at the Star Iun, and convened by public advertisement, The Rev. JAMES COLLINS, A. M. in the Chair, Resolved unanimously, That this Meeting cannot but express its horror and concern at the existence of Religious Persecution in France, and that the Protestants in any part of that country, should be the victims of dreadful massacre, pillage and desolations, and have their places of worship destroyed or shut up. That sympathizing as men and as Christians with the Protestants thus suffering, and observing that a Fund is already opened in London for their 'succour and relief, we are also willing to contribute our aid, and that a Sub'scription be immediately opened for such benevolent purpose, at the Banks in this Town. That deriving the liveliest gratification from learning that the ministers of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, have supported and asserted the principles of Religious Toleration and Liberty, in their recent communications with the government of France, and are using their best ef'forts to arrest the progress of evils they most deeply deplore; this meeting cannot, therefore, but cherish the most sanguine hope, that the noble exertions of his Majesty's government on behalf of the suffering and persecuted Protestants of France, will at length meet with complete success. That a dutiful and loyal address be presented to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent from this town and neighbourhood, expressing our horror at these persecutions, and humbly praying his Royal Highness to continue his influence, and the adoption of such measures as may effectually remove and prevent the recurrence of such enormous evils. That the petition now proposed is approved, and remain for the signature of the inhabitants, at the Star Ina, during the present week. That Wm. Chute, Esq. and T. E. Heathcote, Esq. our county representatives, be requested to present the same to his Royal Highness. That these Resolutions and the Address be inserted in the Courier, the Morning Chronicle, and the County Newspapers. That the subscriptions be paid to the Chairman, and after defraying the expenses of the advertisements, that he remit the balance to one of the Banks in London, appointed to receive the Fund for the relief of the suffering Protestants. JAMES COLLINS, Chairman. That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Chairman for his very able, liberal and impartial conduct in the chair. To his Royal Highness the Prince Most humbly sheweth to your That your petitioners having learnt with horror the cruel and inhumatt persecutions which the Protestants in France have been doomed of late to suffer, by the merciless rage of infuriated bigotry and superstition, do most humbly pray your Royal Highness to continue your gracious influence with his Majesty the King of France, and to adopt such other measures as will most effectually repress and utterly prevent the repetition of such outrages, and in the end secure Intelligence.-Persecution of the French Protestants. to our Protestant brethren there the andisturbed enjoyment of the unalienable rights of conscience and religious worship. And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. Meeting of Roman Catholics of the Counties of Northumberland, Durham, and the North Riding of Yorkshire. At a most numerous and highly respectable Meeting of Roman Catholics as above, holden at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on the 27th of December, for the purpose of taking into consideration the Persecution of the Protestants in the South of France, and their own condition as Roman Catholics and Subjects of Great Britain, G. SILVERTOP, Esq. in the Chair, The following Resolutions were Cunauimously adopted: Resolved-That attached as we are to the faith of the Catholic Church, we do maintain the right of every individual, in every age, and in every country, to judge of the reasonable ness of bis belief; and we do moreover maintain, that no man can be deprived of this sacred, inalienable right, without injustice or oppression. 2. That attached as we are to the sacred cause of religious freedom, we should be undeserving the name of Christians or of Britons, if our philanthropy and the feelings of our sym-pathy did not extend to all who suffer for conscience' sake; and if we did not regard religious persecution, by any sect, or by any power, or by any people, as a horrid and detestable crime. 3. That maintaining, as we do, *.these principles, we have beheld with the deepest sorrow the misfortunes and persecutions of our fellow-christians, the Protestants in the South of -France, and whilst we regret that religious rancour has bad its share in -instigating these atrocities, we are, willing to believe and hope, from the best information we can obtain, that they are less to be attributed to religions than to political hatred; arising as it has done, from animosities between citizen and citizen, and proceeding from the varying and protracted scenes of the French Revolution. 4. That we anxiously look forward 53 to a speedy termination of these atrocities; but if our hopes shall be disappointed, (an event which we should most sincerely deplore,) we shall consider ourselves called upon by every principle of Christian charity and benevolence, to co-operate with our Protestant countrymen in extending to the Protestants of France the same relief and assistance, which, under similar circumstances, we should be ready to afford to persons of our own persuasion. 5. That these, together with the subsequent Resolutions, be made known, signed by our chairman, to his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, requesting the Noble Viscount to accept and to convey to the other ministers of the Prince Regent's government, our most unfeigned thanks for the assurances made by them to the deputation of the Protestant Society for the protection of Religious Liberty, stating, “That it has been the invariable object of the British government and of their allies, to support, and on every occasion to assert the principles of Religious Toleration and Liberty; and that, in their recent communications with the government of France, they have brought forward these principles as the foundation of their policy aud of their just expectations; and that they are, therefore, using their best efforts to arrest the progress of evils, which they most deeply deplore." 6. That we have seen with singular satisfaction, not only the declaration of the Congress of Vienna, relative to Religious Freedom, in the different States of Germany; but we have likewise beheld with real pleasure the Declaration of the Constitutional Charter of France, by which every Frenchman, whatever may be the principles of his faith, is equally entitled to the liberties and privileges of his country. 7. That contemplating as we have been the misfortunes of our fellowmen, nature forces upon us the melancholy idea of our own degradation. Britons and Englishmen as we are, and we glory in the name and in the happy Constitution of our country, although we are by law, for conscience' sake, shut-out from every one of its political privileges; taxed without the power of choosing our repre Intelligence.-Persecution of the French Protestants. sentatives; willing and anxious to risk our lives and shed our blood in defence of our Protestant King, we are, by law, precluded from holding a commission in his service; every civil office and situation is by law denied us; all means of attracting the notice of our country, or the favour of our Sovereign, are placed beyond our reach; and we are thus permitted to drag on our existence, as alieus, on this our native soil. 8. That assembled as we are this day together, for the first time in our lives, we feel it a duty we owe to ourselves, to our fellow-citizens, and to our posterity, to state candidly, and openly, and honestly, our objects and our wsihes. They are these:-That every inhabitant of this United Empire, who will swear allegiance to his King and to his Country, who is equally taxed with his fellow-citizens, and who is willing to risk bis life and to shed his blood in defence of his king and his country, should be equally entitled to the enjoyment of the rights and privileges of the British Constitution. 9. That in looking forward to the happy moment of our entrance into the temple of the British Constitution, we do most solemnly assert, that we entertain not a wish or a view to interfere with the Protestant establishments of these realms. That if the legislature of our country require any further security than that of our oath, the greatest and the strongest, we consider, that can be given by man --such legislative provisions will be made, we are persuaded, in a spirit of non-interference with the faith and security of our Church-and thus formed, will be accepted by us, in a spirit of conciliation, calculated, we sincerely hope and trust, to meet the fears, to satisfy the scruples, and to remove the prejudices of every individual of the British Empire. 10. That an Address to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, together with a humble Petition to the Legislature, be prepared-that Edward Jerningham, Esq. of Lincoln's Inn, be requested to prepare the same-and that a copy of these Resolutions, signed by our chairman, be sent to him; and that our thanks are hereby given to him for his great and various exertions in our behalf. GEO, SILVERTOP, Chairman. The Chairman having left the Chair, resolved, that the cordial thanks of the Meeting be given to him for his able conduct in the Chair. At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, convened by public Advertisement, to take into consideration the state of the Persecuted Protestants in the South of France, held in the Town Hall, on Thursday, December 28, The Right Worshipful the MAYOR in the Chair, It was unanimously Resolved, 1. That, having learned from our holy religion, and from happy experience, that liberty of conscience and of religious worship is one of the best blessings of the Almighty Creator, this meeting had hoped, from the known inefficacy, impolicy, and impiety of persecution, and from the spread of knowledge throughout Europe, that the time was at length arrived, when religious liberty was universally admitted to be the inalienable birth-right of every human being. 2. That this meeting, deeply impressed with the afflicting details which have now been laid before it, respecting the persecuted state of the Protestants in the South of France, desires to express its cordial sympathy with them, in the sufferings which they have now for many months experienced. 3. That this meeting desires to express the liveliest sentiments of satisfaction and gratitude, for the prompt and explicit assurances of his Majesty's government, "that they feel the deepest regret at the dreadful scenes lately witnessed in France, and that they are using, and will continue to use, their best efforts in their communications with the French government, to secure to all classes of French subjects, whether Protestants or Catholics, the full enjoyment of the advantages which the Constitutional Charter provided for them." 4. That this meeting desires also to express its ardent hope, that the Ordonnance lately published by the French King, will prove the commencement of vigorous measures for the punishment of those who have so long harassed and murdered the Protestants with impunity. 5. That, in the mean time, it ap Intelligence.-Persecution of the French Protestants. pears to this meeting highly necessary, that some effectual measures should be taken for relieving our brethren in France from the losses which they have experienced in the destruction of their churches, and the spoliation of their property. 6. That a subscription be entered into for this purpose, and that the. following gentlemen be appointed a Committee for the management of this benevolent business, in such way as they shall see most expedient, viz: The Chairman, Archibald Reed, Esq., James Losh, Esq., William Batson, Esq., Thos. Henderson, Esq., S. W. Parker, Esq., Stephen De Mole, Esq., James Potts, Esq., Mr. Hugh Spencer, Mr. Joseph Clark, Mr. John Fenwick, Mr. Benj. Brunton, Mr. W. H. Angas, Rev. John Parkin, Rev. William Turner, Rev. David M'Indoe, Rev. James Pringle, Rev. R. Pengilly, Rev. George Mann. That William Batson, Esq. be requested to act as Treasurer; and the Rev. William Turner, as Secretary; and that the several banks be requested to receive subscriptions. 7. That copies of these Resolutions, signed by the Chairman, be transmitted to the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, the Lord Lieutenant of the county, the Hon. and Right Rev. the Bishop of Durham, and the Members for Northumberland and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. HENRY CRAMLINGTON, Mayor, Chairman. 8. It was moved by Mr. Alderman Reed, and seconded by Mr. Losh, that the thanks of this meeting be given to Mr. Mayor, for his readiness in calling the Meeting, and for his able conduct in the Chair. Glasgow, Jan. 3, 1816. At a Public Meeting of the Inhabitants of Glasgow, called by Advertisement to express disapprobation of the Persecution of the Protestants in France, WILLIAM MUIR, Esq. one of the Magistrates of Glasgow, in the Chair; It was Resolved unanimously, 1. That, as Protestants, we cannot but feel a brotherly sympathy with Protestants, and a profound interest in that great and common cause on account of which they have been Made so often to suffer. 55 2. That we have heard with deep concern of some late movements, on the part of the Court and Church of Rome, indicating a design to sup press, wherever their power may ex tend, the right of private judgment, and the religious liberties of mankind, particularly the expulsion of the Pro testants from the Papal dominions and adjacent territories of Italy, the revi val of the abhorred Inquisition, and the restoration of the Order of the Jesuits which had been abolished by the common consent of all Europe. 3. That our sorrow and surprise have been heightened by the intelligence of the sufferings of our Protes tant brethren in the South of France, intelligence, the truth of which has been admitted by the highest autho rities, both in France and in this country, and confirmed by the most authentic private information. 4. That while we reflect on all circumstances, we cannot but be convinced, notwithstanding the attempts which have been made to disguise or deny the facts, that these sufferings have arisen, in a great degree at least, from religious prejudices, and partake of the nature of persecution for con science' sake. 5. That the inhabitants of this country will, we have reason to be lieve, be greatly disappointed and afflicted, if the result of that struggle in which the nation has been so long engaged, and in which so much treasure and blood have been expended, shall have been to place the Protes tants in France, with whom we are united by the ties of a common profession, and to whom we owe so much in a religious view, in a worse situation as to liberty of conscience than they held under the preceding go vernment. 6. That, recollecting the many effectual interferences of the government of this country on behalf of persecuted Protestants on the Continent of Europe in former times, and, contemplating the peculiar relative situa tion of Great Britain and France at present, we conceive ourselves authorized and called upon to remonstrate thus publicly against the violation of what we deem the most sacred of all rights the right which every man has to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience-and we feel entitled to expect that the go 36 Intelligence. Persecution of the French Protestants. vernment of France, which owes so much to this country, and is upheld at present in part by the British arms, will speedily adopt the most energetic and efficient measures to repress this spirit of outrage, and to secure to its Protestant subjects that full freedom of worship, and of the public and peaceable profession of religion, in every respect, which is guaranteed to them by the Constitutional Charter. 7. That we regard with the liveliest satisfaction the assurances early and promptly given by his Majesty's government to the first application made to them, on behalf of our Protestant brethren in that country "That they feel the deepest regret at the dreadful scenes lately witnessed in France, and that they are using, and will continue to use their best efforts in their communications with the French government to secure to all classes of French subjects, whether Protestant or Catholic, the full enjoyment of the advantages which the Constitutional Charter provided for them," and contained also in a letter from Lord Liverpool, in reply to another interposition in their favour from a most respectable quarter, "That the Prince Regent's government are using their best efforts to arrest the progress of the evils, which no persons can deplore more deeply than themselves ;"—and we trust that the British ministry will redeem this sacred pledge, and will continue to exert themselves for the Protestants of France, with that propriety and energy which become their character, as well as the cause, and which may be so justly expected from the government of one of the first Protestant States in Europe, and one which has been so signally instrumental in accomplishing the recent Revolution in that kingdom. 8. That our warmest thanks are due, and be given to the Dissenting Ministers of London, and to "The Protestant Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty," who so promptly took up this subject, obtained from the British ministry the communications quoted above, and besides have been at such pains in exciting the attention of the public, by their Address and Resolutions, as well as by the circulation of other important and authentic documents relating to zuatters of fact. 9. That the thanks of the meetingbe also given to the Corporation of the City of London, and to such other public bodies and individuals as have manifested their sympathy with the Protestants of France, and their present afflictions. 10. That, desirous of keeping the interesting object of this meeting in view, till it shall have been brought to a favourable issue, we appoint a Committee to watch over it, to follow out such measures as may appear to be necessary to give effect to these our Resolutions, and (if it shall seem to them expedient) to call us toge ther again at any future period, to express our sentiments regarding circumstances which may occur in the progress of an interposition, the success of which must be near the heart of every affecting and zealous Protestant. 11. That the Chairman be instructed to trausmit a copy of these our Resolutions to his Majesty's government. (Signed) WM. MUIR, Chairman. The Chairman having quitted the chair, and Mr. Mathew Urie being called to it, the unanimous and warm thanks of the Meeting were given to Baillie Muir for his conduct in the Chair. (Signed) MATHEW URIE.. Borough of Plymouth. The Worshipful the MAYOR, in the Resolved, That we are deeply impressed with the high value of that Religious Liberty, which the subjects of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland enjoy under the auspicious reign of the House of Hanover; and we are grateful to Almighty God for the possession of so inestimable a privilege. Resolved, That it is our persuasion, founded on the very principles of the |