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your

rder to pray for the Emperor must be intimated to them by some spirital sovereign.] You want to be obstinate citizens: I have the proofs of it in my pocket. If you maintain such principles, your lot will be punishment in this world, and eternal damnation in the next. You,' said he, turning to the Apostolic Vicar, who had addressed him, are the Apostolic Vicar. Who appointed you to that office? The Pope? he has no right to do it. I create bishops. You will not, said he, turning to the rest, pray for the Monarch? Perhaps, because a Romish priest excommunicated ne but who gave him the right of excommunicating a sovereign? Why did Luther and Calvin sepárate themselves from the church? Your infamous sales of indulgences caused them to revolt, and the German princes would no longer bear your sway. The English acted wisely in renouncing you. The Popes, by their hierarchy, set Europe in flames. Perhaps, it is wish to re-establish scaffolds and racks; but it shall be my care you do not succeed. Are you of the religion of Gregory vii. Boniface VIII. Benedict XIV.or Clement XII. I am not. I am of the religion of Jesus Christ, who said, Give unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and agreeably to the same gospel, I give unto God that which velongs to God.' I bear the temporal sword; 1 know how to guide it. God placed me on the throne; and you reptiles of the earth dare not oppose me. I owe no account of my administration to the Pope; only to God and Jesus Christ. You, perhaps, think me created to kiss the Pope's shipper. If it only depended on you, you would cut off my hair, put on me a cowl, or would, like Lewis the Pious, place me in a convent, or banish me to Africa. What ignorant idiots you are! Prove me out of the gospel that Jesus Christ has appointed the Pope his substitute or successor of St. Peter, and that he has the right to excommunicate a sovereign.' [From these repeated expressions ne is led to suppose the Pope

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has actually excommunicated the Emperor.] If you care about my protection, then preach the gospel as the Apostles did. I will protect you if you are good citizens; if not, I will banish you from my empire, and will disperse you over the world like Jews. You belong to the bishopric of Moulines: appear before your Bishop; make your confessions to him, and sign the Concordat. The bishop will inform yon of my will. I will appoint another Bishop at Herzegenbuch. Is there a seminary at Breda?" An affirmative was given. 'Well, then, Mr. Prefect, you will make the necessary preparations that these people may swear to the Concordat.

nary, and be it your care that the Attend at the semiorthodox gospel be preached there, in order that more enlightened men should come forth than those idiots, who preach a strange kind of doetrine.'

The formula of the Pope's excommunication of Bonaparte is said to have been lately read by the Archbishop of Paris at the cathedral; in consequence of which he was removed from his See: but the Pope has refused to confirm his successor; and on account of this want of confirmation, the Prelates and other Dignitaries have declined canonical obedience to the new Archbishop.

Scarcity of Priests.-Paris, Apr. 5. Cardinal Maury, acting Archbishop of Paris, has recently issued an ordinance prohibiting preaching, confession, and the administration of the sacraments, in private chapels, on pain of interdict ipso facto, in regard to the chapels; and of suspension, ipso facto, in regard to the priests. The motives to this ordinance are stated in the preamble to be The scarcity of priests, the urgent necessities of the parishes, the number of domestic chapels, which is now greatly increased, the serious inconvenienees which arise from the longer toleration in private houses of domestic preachings, &c.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

The following Papers, relating to the opposition made to Lord Sidmouth's Bill by the Deputies, and by the Society who assembled at the London Tavern, are inserted by the Request of the respective Parties; together with the Plan of a New Society, for the Protection of Religions Liberty:

principles which (in their judgment) human laws ought never to controul.

Resolved, That the following Address to the Protestant Dissenters of England and Wales, now read, be approved.

Resolved, That the said Address be signed by the Chairman, and printed for general circulation.

To the Protestant Dissenters of
England and Wales.

THE ADDRESS OF THE DEPUTIES.

WHEN, in the years 1787, 1789, and 1790, the Dissenters applied to the Legislature for a Repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts, it was not surprising that, on a subject so deeply interesting to them, considerable warmth should have exhibited itself both in discussion and in action Disappointed at last in expectations which they thought reasonable, and therefore dissatisfied, in their own opinion justly, they have yet forborue since that period to renew their application, unwilling uselessly to revive animosities; and pre erring to wait till time and reasou should have overcome prejudice and fear. In this interval, instances of local intolerance and vexation have frequently happened; which, when without legal remedy, as in some cases, have been patiently endured; or, as in far the greater number, by the attention and interference of the Deputies, have been quietly and legally suppressed; but, as no general or prevailing disposition to abridge the religious liberties or disturb the peace of the Dissenters has been manifested, nothing has occurred affecting them as a body to excite much general interest, if we except a late pertinacious attempt to withhold the rites of burial from all such as bad not been baptized according to the forms of the Establishment; which, by the same interposition, having been brought to trial in the Court of Arches, where it was decided in their favour, has been laid before the Public.

And much longer might this state of things have lasted, but for the recent proposal of Lord Sidmouth; which indeed excited a very great and general alarm, the reasons for which will ap pear when we advert to the previous situation of the Dissenters, and examine the Provisions of his Bill as offered to the House of Lords. The amend ments which it might have received in its subsequent stages, are here out of the question, because, however they might have improved the original ineacure, or how far soever they might

have exculpated the noble mover from having been disposed intentionally to infringe on religious liberty, it was impossible to calculate on such alterations: nor could they, even in their. greatest extent, have prevented all violation of the first, great, and leading principle on which all Dissenters found themselves, and which they never can concede,The right of every man to teach to others those religious opinions which he himself entertains. Freedom his power to control; it is only in ab. of thought the magistrate has it not in staining from interference with the communication of opinions, that he has the opportunity of proving his wisdom or his justice.

The Dissenters cannot be supposed to have regarded the Toleration Act itself as satisfying their just claims. It was indeed scarcely to be hoped have proceeded on those sound and that a law enacted at that period should comprehensive views of the subject, dispassionate discussion have since afwhich deeper examination and more forded. Still even by that law much was gained: — and though it was then deemed expedient to demand Subscription to the Articles as the condition of its protection, yet from the imperfect records of the debates in Parliament, it seems probable that Subscription was of preventing writings against the required rather under some vague idea Establishment, thau with any deliberate intention of limiting Toleration to those only who believed all the doctrary, the description in the Act of the trines of the Church. On the conpersons entitled to avail themselves of its protection is most comprehensive; first, it has been almost uniformly adand the spirit in which, from the very ministered, strongly confirms this view of its design. Still, however, further spirit of religious inquiry rendered Sublegal relief was wanting: the growing day more burthensome; while the Le scription to Creeds and Articles every injustice of impositions not countergislature became more sensible to the vailed by any corresponding and pecu liar benefits. Then came the Act of 1779, and, by the joint operation of the agreeably to what appeared to have two Laws, interpreted in unison, and tical religious liberty has been ever been the original spirit of both, pracsince enjoyed in this country, uninterrupied, till of late, but by accidental ebullitions of imprudence or malevolence. In this state of things it was which did not profess to abrogate one not possible that Lord Sidmouth's Bill,

penal law, and which did enact new restrictions, should be favourably received: unfortunately for its popudarity, it was the first attempt of such an aspect since the accession of the present Royal Family; nor, however innocent or even beneficial it might appear in the eyes of its author, was it free from great and obvious objections: it contined the protection granted by the Toleration Act within matrower limits than what either the words of that law, its original object as collected from history, or the uniform practice upon it would justify: - it broke in afresh upon the principle of religious liberty, and it opened a door for the exercise of discretion by the magistrate in cases where hitherto he had been bound to act only ministerially: a change so important, as, if once permitted to creep in, would rapidly destroy every vestige of religious freedom, and place every future candidate for admission into the Dissenting Ministry in dependence on the pleasure of a Quarter Sessions.

That such is the apparent tendency of some parts of the Bill, as introduced, cannot be denied; and, notwithstanding the present imperfection of our religious liberties. that a measure in its principle sapping their foundation, and particularly restricting them in practice, should have been warmly opposed, is extremely natural. Nor do we believe that any Dissenters encouraged his Lordship to imagine that such infringements on their ancient and accustomed possessions could ever meet with the approbation of their body. Their objections have also been further strengthened by the deficiency of adequate cause for legislative interference, the evils complained of as arising from the preaching of persons alleged to be improper or ill qualified for the function, being rather assumed than proved; and the inconvenience to the State of exemptions from burthensome services having been obtained by some few persons not entitled to the privilege, being already remediable, and in most cases, actually remedied by law: to which it may be added, That such unwarrantable claims have not been sanctioned by the Dis

senters.

On the prompt and unanimons feeling so favourable to the maintenance and advancement of our common interests and liberties, which this attempt has excited, and on the success of our resistance, we most cordially congratulate our brethren; and we

think we discover equal cause of safid. faction in those unequivocal declarations against every species and degree of persecution, against every intolerant principle, which in the course of this discussion, short as it has been, have been drawn from persons of the highest rank, the brightest talents, and the most efficient public stations in the country.

ing, in our opinion, not from any acciFrom symptoms so favourable arisdental circumstance, but from the gradual and silent increase of just and liberal sentiments, we cannot but augur the happiest results. that the present laws will continue to We trust be administered with that liberality which we have so generally and so long experienced. We cannot but anticipate the speedy approach of that fortunate period when the Legislature shall expunge from that Statute Book which they now disgrace, — al! Penalties, Restrictions, and Disabilities on account of Religion: and we earnestly hope that nothing will occur to defeat these expectations, or by exciting a hostile spirit, even to postpone a consummation on every account so devoutly to be wished.

Signed, by order of the.Meeting, WILLIAM SMITH, Chairman. London, May 28, 1811.

of the Deputies, from the year 1732, An Abstract of the Proceedings will very shortly be published.

At a General Meeting of Protestant Dissenters, and other Friends to Religious Liberty, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, on Friday, May 24th, 1811, convened to receive the Report of the Committee appointed at a former Meeting, to prevent by every Legitimate Effort, the successful Progress of a Bill introduced into Parliament, by Viscount Sidmouth, relating to the Acts for Religious Toleration,

S. MILLS, ESQ. IN THE CHAIR, The Committee reported, — That by great exertions, aided by the generous sentiments which were universally excited, they had obtained, in 48 hours, 336 Petitions from various Congregations within 120 miles of the metropolis, signed only by Males exceeding 16 Years of Age (exclusive of many Petitions that have been subsequently received); that those Petitions had been presented to the

House of Lords on Tuesday; and that, in consequence of the number and respectability of the Petitioners, - of the attention of his Majesty's government, and of the assistance of many liberal-minded Peers, the Motion that the Bill should be read for the second time was negatived without a division; and the Bill was consequently rejected.

constructions that have been put on the Acts of Toleration, ➡ the assumption by Magistrates of judicial authority in the execution of some of the provisions of those Acts, as to which their power is only ministerial, the recent violent outrages which have been committed. against their Meeting houses and Preachers in Suffolk and Kent, ― and the harsh revival of the intolerant provisions of the Conventiele Act in Berk-. shire, against persons guilty only of assembling to pray to God, induce this Meeting to recommend that a Society be formed of the Ministers of Congregations of Protestant Dissenters, and of other persons assembling under the Act of Toleration throughout England and Wales, to defend themselves against these evils; and that any balance of Monies which the Committee, appointed

Resolved,-I. THAT the Report of the Committee is highly satisfactory to this Meeting; that loving Religion, Liberty, and their Native Land, they rejoice at the speedy rejection of a Bilt which would have limited the diffusion of Religious Light, have enfeebled the energy of Freedom, and by producing internal dissentions, have inflicted upon their country a dangerous wound; and that they particularly re-by the former Meeting, may eventually joice that this effect has resulted from the zeal displayed by the Friends to Religious Liberty of every denomination, and that complete success has conferred on their labours an adequate reward.

II. That this Meeting congratulate Ministers and other friends resident in every part of the empire, on this memorable result, on the just displeasure they have manifested at the first effort of reviving intolerance, -on their consequent attention to the recommendations of their former Meeting, — on =their liberal promises of pecuniary aid,

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and on the pledges they have given of their determination to resist any encroachments on the Acts of Toleration, and every future attempt to restrict use. ful and pious Teachers from dissemi. Anating Christian Principles, and thereby promoting the salvation of men.

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III. That anxious to vindicate Protestant Dissenters from the unmerited imputation of having acted with insincerity or from caprice, this Meeting declare that all communications alleged to have occurred between individual Dissenters and the Framer of the Bill, were unauthorized by any body of Protestant Dissenters, and that any favourable opinions of the measure which such persons might avow, never have obtained the sanction of general approbation.

IV. That the inconveniences which have long resulted from the want of union and co-operation among Protestant Dissenters for the Protection of their Religious Rights, the necessity which has been demonstrated for the appointment of persons authorized vigilantly to watch against innovation on their privileges, as well as the

retain, be applied by them towards the Formation and for the purposes of such Society.

V. That the same Committee be requested to prepare the plan of such Society, to invite the concurrence of every congregation assembling under the Acts of Toleration; and to carry any plan they may deem eligible into effect.

VI. That, as expences have been unavoidably incurred to an amount certainly great, altho' not ascertained, all Gentlemen present at this Meeting be requested to subscribe such sums as their liberality may suggest; and that all Congregations be requested to transmit their collective contributions, or individual assistance, to the Treasurer, Robert Steven, Esq. at 101, Upper Thames Street; or at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street; or New London Tavern, Cheapside; or to Sir James Esdaile and Co. and Mess. Robarts, Curtis, and Co. Lombard Street; and Mess. Down, Thornton, and Free, Bartholomew Lane, without any avoidable delay: and that the Committee appointed at the last Meeting be solieited to continue to execute all the powers with which they were then invested, and which they have so usefully employed.

VII. That the energetic and judicious exertions of that Committee, who have awakened with so much advantage a laudable spirit amongst Protestant Dissenters and the Friends to Religious Liberty, merit the highest Approbation, and present an example for universal imitation whenever the smallest infringement of the most extensive Toleration be hereafter attempted.

VIII. That the Thanks of this Meet