of Mr. Potter, of Manchester, as local Treasurers of the Association, was drank with great applause.

The CHAIRMAN next proposed "The health of Lord Holland, and the Members of both Houses of Parliament who have supported the cause of Civil and Religious Liberty."

In introducing this toast the Chairman took occasion to pronounce a high eulogium on the Rev. W. J. Fox, who, on its being drank, was loudly called for from different parts of the room.

The Rev. W. J. Fox rose amid the cheers of the company, which continued for some minutes; when they had partially subsided, the reverend gentleman adverted to the state of his health, and said, that nothing but the direct and irresistible appeal which had just been made to him by the chairman and the meeting, would have induced him to address them. He had been involuntarily absent two successive anniversaries of the Association. He had been in a state which one of his worthy friends had called "being buried alive," but he had been called upon in a trumpet voice to rise from it, and to the utmost of his power he would obey the call. With regard to the subject of the last toast, he should confine himself to that portion of it which shewed its connexion with the proceedings of the present meeting, and the objects of the Institution. He regarded the recent change in our legislation not merely as a political triumph; not merely as the triumph of religious liberty; but, in his judgment, and in his conscience, he considered it as an Unitariau triumph. It had been said that Unitarians were doing little. Whether this were true or not, their principles were doing much. He considered the passing of the Catholic Relief Bill a Unitarian triumph, because it appeared to him that universal and unqualified religious liberty was one of the distinguishing and most glorious tenets and principles of Unitarians. He would appeal to facts in proof of his statement. Who were they that advocated the measure most consistently, that advocated the measure universally? Who were the foremost in the field? Who fired the first shot? And who remained most active in the field till the fight was won? He would reply, without fear of contradiction, the Unitarians of this country. Taking any statement which he had seen of the number of petitions from Protestant Dissenters for Catholic Emancipation, it was an undeniable fact that the great majority were the petitions of Unitariaus. Indeed, to decide whose prin.

ciples were those of religious liberty, we had only to look to the state of religious societies. See spiritual despotism pervading them, from the followers of the Pontiff, who thunders forth his anathemas in the Vatican, to the village Diotrephes, who excommunicates his fellow-worshipers in a barn. It is with us, that every man may be fully persuaded in his own mind, and speak his conviction. Here then he saw Unitarian principles advancing in the advance of religious freedom. Looking in another direction he saw that if Unitarians were doing but little, their principles were doing much. He looked to the laws, and he watched, and watched with delight, as every friend to human kind in this country must, the progress which was making towards the simplification of the modes of legal procedure, towards the prevention of crime, and the reformation of criminals; and what was that but the application of the great Unitarian principle, that the proper end of punishment was not revenge but correction? As the state of society advanced, the theological opinions which corresponded with it must advance also. When laws became more righteous and more merciful-when the courts of law admitted of procedures more consistent with common sense-then must men be weaned from a theology which by the imputation of righteousness and guilt held out a more monstrous absurdity than the worst legal fictions of our law courts in the worst of times;-then would men be weaned from a belief that the wise and merciful God punished vindictively as to the principle, and eternally as to the duration. He would say again, that if Unitarians were doing little, their principles were doing much. He now particularly alluded to the spread of knowledge and education. When he heard of the "march of intellect" he rejoiced therein, for what was intellect but a herald to prepare the way and to make a straight and broad path for the triumphal chariot of pure religion? (Cheers.) It had been said that the schoolmaster was abroad-he rejoiced therein, for the schoolmaster was neither more or less than a Unitarian Missionary. As he communicated facts, and exercised the faculties of his pupils, he was providing for the future detection of error and reception of truth. When he found rival colleges about to rear their heads in this metropolis he rejoiced therein. them rear their heads ever so proudly, if men were there taught scientific truths, and the principles of sound logic, those two rising Institutions would but be

Let

concluded by a short address. It is gratifying to witness the progressive increase of the attendance at these local meetings, 209 having taken tea, being a greater number than at any previous time.

comed him after his absence. He looked upon that absence as presenting to him an additional stimulus to propagate the true principles of Christianity; those principles which not only seemed powerful and glorious in the season of social communication and excitement, but preserved all their lustre in the time of sickness and solitude; which were not only a panoply of proof for the conflicts of controversy, but a staff of support for the tottering steps of sickness and age; which, when our way of life was in the night and through the wilderness, were a pillar of fire for our guidance; and which took their stand, like the angel at the tomb, pointing from the dust to heaven, and declaring a resurrection. "The health of Mr. Richard Wright, and our Missionaries," was next pro posed.

Mr. WRIGHT acknowledged the compliment, and declared that he considered it one of the happiest circumstances of his life that he became connected with

this Institution.

The concluding toast was "The Rev. James Yates, and the Stewards," which was drank with a burst of applause that testified the obligation the company felt to those gentlemen, who, by their excellent arrangement, had so much contributed to the harmony and conviviality of the evening.

The Rev. Mr. YATES having suitably acknowledged the cordial manner in which the toast was received, the Chairman vacated his seat, and retired amid continued cheering. The company then separated.

Annual Meeting of the General Bup

tists of Ditchling.

THE Annual Meeting of the General Baptists of Ditchling and its neighbourhood was held on May 31, 1829. The services of the day were conducted by the Rev. S. Martin, of Trowbridge. The chapel was much crowded, and at the afternoon service upwards of forty were obliged to remain without. After service the friends drank tea together in the chapel as usual, and the meeting was

Unitarian Baptist Chapel, at Dover, erected A. D. 1820.

SIR,

Vol. XV. p. 318.)

THE Congregation of Unitarian Baptists at Dover beg leave respectfully to lay before the readers of the Repository having made great exertions at the time the state of their chapel debt. After pressed with a mortgage of £500, of the chapel was built, they are still opwhich they regularly pay the interest. Besides which, they have recently formed 251. per annum towards the liquidation a plan, from which they expect to raise of the principal; but they will feel very grateful to the gentlemen who have the management of Fellowship or other funds, if by their contributions they will enable them to relieve themselves more

promptly. They have ventured already

to send circulars to some ministers and zealous laymen; and they intend to transmit circulars to others as soon as They are happy in being able to speak they can procure the proper addresses. favourably of the number composing the congregation, and of the probability of efforts, proportionate to their means, increase; and they can safely affirm that guish a great part of the original debt. have been made by themselves to extinSigned on behalf of the Society,

G. CHAPMAN, Secretary. ceived by Mr. Horwood, No. 2, WalSubscriptions will be thankfully rebrook Buildings, Walbrook ; Mr. G. Smallfield, Homerton; or by the Secretary, G. Chapman, Printer, Dover.

testation of a Unitarian minister, who The Society beg leave to add the athas lately been among them:

"Having recently been present at au Association held at Dover, and having had ample opportunities of observing the state of the Society there, I have complete satisfaction in bearing testimony to the importance of the above case, and hope that the zealous friends to Unitarianism throughout the country, and especially the conductors of the Fellowship Funds, will bestow upon it their particular attention.

"BENJAMIN MARDON. "6, Goulden Terrace, Pentonville."