then, on his own shewing, is obvious and irresistible. Nothing more is necessary to shew the impropriety of the practice which he wishes to defend. But Mr. Aspland (speaking of his own sect, which Mr. Norris thought ought to be called Socinians) ventures to say, "We approve of the name (Unitarian) because it is purely and justly descriptive of our faith." I am really surprised that a man of "frankness and discernment" should hazard such an assertion. But since it is made, and repeated by quotation, I appeal to the writer's honour and candour, and ask him, How is it possible that this name should be considered as descriptive of the faith of those commouły called Socinians, when it is known to refer to only one point in which they agree with several other classes of Christians, without the most distant allusion to their peculiar faith, or that which distinguishes them from all other Christians? I venture to assert that it is as purely and justly descriptive of the faith of other sects as it is of that to which Mr. A. belongs; and of those too, who differ from him in very momentous articles. Some of the writers belonging to those sects have been among the first luminaries of the Christian church, and have most ably argued in defence of doctrines which Mr. A. spends his life to oppose. Therefore reason, truth, propriety, common sense, all concur in prohibiting that appropriation of the name against which I remonstrate. It ought not to be so appropriated any more than the names Christian and Protestant, to which Mr. A. very justly compares it. What then are they to be called? I really do not know. It is for them, if they please, to assume a proper appellation, which they have never yet done. And until they do, I appre hend they will continue to be called by most people, Socinians; not because it is correct, but because it is more so than their favourite appella tive. For let it be remembered that the difference between them and Socinus, is far less than that which subsists between them and most other Unitarians! A fact this, which demolishes a great part of Mr. A's. long quotation from his " Plea." I confess however that I have not hitherto been forward to describe them by that ap pellation, because I wish to avoid the use of words which are not approved by those most concerned. But if a more correct one be not chosen by themselves than either Unitarian or Socinian, I believe the rest of the world will in general continue to use the latter. With regard to myself, I shall in future feel less reluctance to designate them as Socinians, because since I began writing these remarks, I have read the following judicious observations of Mr. Yates, one of the best writers and ablest champions of their cause. After stating that the objections to this appellative appear to him groundless, he adds, "for as,. when we call our orthodox brethren Calvinists, we never mean to insinuate that they make Calvin their master instead of Christ, or that they approve of the murder of Servetus, so we need not fear that, by allowing ourselves to be called Socinians, we shall be charged with looking up to Socinus as our spiritual guide, or with adopting the sentiments favourable to persecution, which have been extracted from his letters." I never understood, Sir, that this sect were ever in danger of being "called upon to map out and give names to the various sections of the Christian world." Mr. Aspland, however, seems to deprecate this hard treatment, and I can assure him with the most perfect good humour, I shall, for one, entirely exonerate them from such labour. But I do call upon them, as just and reasonable men, not to "map out" any thing for themselves which equally belongs to their neighbours. Permit me to close by relating a fact. Some time ago a new chapel was erected, hard by an old one, in which an excellent and valuable minister officiated, who was well known to be an Unitarian; a believer in "one God, in one person;" just such an Unitarian as Mr. Aspland describes. This doctrine he preached and defended. But in most other points he differed from those who built the new chapel. They were not separated by any differences respecting the Divine Unity, but solely by other points; which, however, both sides justly considered as very material ones. Yet the worshipers in the new chapel chose to give it, and themselves, the name of Unitarian! Thus perversely distinguishing their society by that very appellation which marked their agreement with their neighbours, instead of one that contained any appropriate description of themselves! This, Sir, is a case in point. I leave your readers to judge whether it be possible to justify such a misapplication of words. PASTOR. Remarks on the Bp. of Lincoln's Norfolk, June 30, 1815. ing it possible, that the Bishop of Lincoln, as one of the appointed and zealous guardians of the sacred interests of orthodoxy may keep a vigilant eye upon the most notorious vehicles of heresy and schism, the following questions and observations are written: Are we to understand, that his lordship's holy ire is excited against the learned and worthy Bishops of N and St. D for contributing more extensively to circulate the authorized version of the New Testament? And is his indignation roused because this version contains a verse which he and a large majority of scriptural critics have pronounced an interpolation, and of course no part of the genuine word of God? Even then we are in meekness to rebuke those, who countenance what we deem to be error, and especially should this temper be shewn by those who, upon an accurate scrutiny of their own conduct, must be compelled to acknowledge some little inconsistency in themselves. To illustrate my meaning, I will suppose a case, the application of which not only the bishop, but your readers will be at no loss to make. Suppose one of his episcopal brethren, whom he severely condemns, should, on the eve of Trinity Sunday, for the sake of the retort courteous, enter one of the venerable cathedrals, where the Bishop of Lincoln has a stall; conceive of him, as opening his lordship's Prayer Book, and where the 8th verse of the vth chapter of the 1st epistle of John now stands, with a scriptural pen inserting these words of our heavenly Master, acknowledged by all his followers of undisputed authority and solemn obligation, "First cast the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Could the bishop be longer seriously angry, and could he wish to have the former reading restored? We have too good an opinion of his understanding and temper to believe either. While the of ficiating clergyman was reading as the true word of God, what his lordship has pronounced not to be so, he would be treasuring up most importaut and evangelical directions for the composition of his next episcopal charge. May I be further indulged with a remark or two on the very employment of the bishops, of London, Lincoln and Peterborough, to "consolidate into one clear, perspicuous act the laws respecting the residence of the clergy and the stipends of curates"? If their lordships proceed with perfect harmony and good understanding and a corresponding expedition in rendering this important service to the church, may it not with great propriety be said, that in the whole business they were ONE? No person of reflection would draw a wrong or ludicrous inference from such language.-Far be from the author of these observations any personal antipathy to the Bishop of Lincoln, but their plain and obvious design is to check intolerance, to discountenance bigotry and to contribute to put to shame and confusion all illiberality, which dishonours the church of the living God. CLERICUS. Address to his Excellency the Earl of Moira, Governor-General of the British Empire in India. [From the Joint Boards of Managers and Visitors of the Belfast Academical Institution.] MY LORD, AN address from a stitution in the North of Ireland, to the Governor-General of India, might justly be deemed irregular and intrusive, had not the directors of that institution previously reflected, that one of our earliest, yet most ineffaceable impressions, is, the love of native land: that, most particularly in the greatest and best minds, no eminence of station, nor distance of place, can expel or alienate this sweetest of remembrances: and, therefore, that the wish now to be expressed, of conferring an essential service upon his country, will be transmitted aloug a great diameter of the globe, as along a musical chord, which, lengthened as it may be, from Ireland to India, will still vibrate at its farthest extremity, firmly attached there, to the heart of Lord Moira. It has, my Lord, been the peculiar good fortune of the British Empire in the East, that the personages most eminent in the law and state departments, have been, at the same time, distinguished for their literary zeal, taste and talents. When the Governor-General is heard discoursing, with eloquence so energetic, and with such emphasis of the heart, on the interests of literature, as essentially connected with the common weal of mankind, and the true science of go. verment, the Directors of the Academical Institution, in the town of Belfast, resting on such high authority, are led to believe, that national education forms, in itself, a common country, of which all lovers of learning, however distant, are fellow-citizens; thus again approximating India and Ireland. Hence, we infer the pleasing probability, that the same patriotic, philosophic, and philanthropic spirit, which inspired your Excellency in your animating address to the College at Calcutta, will lead you to look with benignity upon a collegiate institution in your native land; of which establishment we now beg leave to express the ultimate object, and the actuating principle. That object is, not merely to commence, but to complete a general course of useful and liberal instruction, corresponding to the population, the property, and the prospects of the North of Ireland-to form a collegiate establishment, with such deviations from ancient institutions, as are justified by recent improvements, and by the increased light of the times —to aftract, as to a central point, the best and most approved teachers, not only in classical learning, but in the different departments of polite literature, science and philosophy-to afford these professors and teachers such permanent, yet moderate endow ments, as may still keep their chief prospects directed to an increased number of pupils; without suffering genius, from too ample revenues, to rust in long and listless vacation; but to be kept bright by use, and thus rendered more and more radiant, by the necessity of an honourable popularity, and that professional celebrity, which can alone, and perhaps ought alone, to give literary men a constant employment, and their labours au adequate remuneration. The actuating principle which pervades this Establishment, is, the desire of its Directors to nationalize instruction by including all religious persuasions, in the common, civic concern, of a good education, whether as preceptors, or as pupils to open the gates of the institution as widely as the directors do their hearts, to the free and unquestioned admission of Catholic as well as Protestant scho-lars; thoroughly convinced as we are that the rays of pure religion, like the solar beams, while they contain an assemblage of distinct colours, afford light and heat to the world by their intimate coalescence; and are all derived, as they all tend, to the same great and glorious source and origin. With such objects in contemplation, and such principles in action, the Joint Boards of Managers and Visitors cannot repress their sanguine hopes, that your Excellency will deign to give their Institution the same patronage and protection, which it has already experienced from persons of the first distinction in Ireland. Among a great number, we shall only particularize the Marquis of Donegall, President for life; the Marquis of Downshire, late Vice-President, and our permanent friend; the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor, Honorary Visitor; and Lieutenant-General Lord Stewart; who have all occasionally visited, and warmly approved of the system of instruction adopted, the plans proposed, and the organization of the whole establishment. The Institution has been incorporated by act of parliament. It has been honoured by a parliamentary grant of £1500, in the last session, through the recommendation of the Irish government. From its opening, in February 1814, it has advanced with most rapid and extraordinary progress, until, at the present date, it contains between three and four hundred pupils, daily increasing, and fully evincing its wellgrounded popularity among all ranks of the community. Yet, my Lord, we often consider with anxiety, that voluntary subscriptions, which raised the edifice, (at an expense of more than 15,000l.) are, at best, but a precarious support of an establishment, designed to be permanent. We consider that the zeal which begins such undertakings, is too apt, particularly in this country, to flag before the plan is completed; and that there is no assurance of the renewal or increase of Parliamentary bounty. We consider, also, that the means are still greatly deficient, not only for the endowment of permanent lectureships, but even for the completion of the edifice, and the supply of the various accommodations requisite for literary purposes; those adjuncts to a Collegiate Institution, (such as philosophical apparatus, library, &c.) which may be considered as the effective tools and instruments, in a great manufactory of mind, necessary to give full perfection and final polish to the raw materials. Thus, animated by hopes, yet occasionally depressed by these fears, the Directors of the Academical Institution naturally look around them, far as well as near, for assistance. We have had lately some grounds to believe, that a subscription in aid of this Seminary, among the British and Irish residents in India, particularly those connected with the Province of Ulster, might be put forward, with a probability of success; which would become an absolute certainty, could it secure the sanction of your Lordship's approbation. Such an aid would quickly convert a yet local blessing into a great national good, by supplying the means of collecting into one focus of intelligence and information, an assemblage of learned men, emulous to excel in their respective departments of instruction; bringing, in consequence, a full and frequent flow of ingenuous youth, to receive that instruction; and creating, in the last result, an educated population, the grace and glory of a state, always supplied from a head-level of mind, which will circulate the blessing of knowledge, first through the province, and finally through the whole kingdom. We conclude with intreating, that the honest motive will plead our exeuse, for thus intruding upon your Ex eellency's more important avocations; taking the liberty to observe, that this address is accompanied with documents, which particularly detail the history of this Institution, its origin, its opening, its progress, its present condition and its future prospects. We indulge the hope, that Lord Moira will find an hour's leisure to look over these papers, perhaps in some evening, when the burning sun of India is hastening to set in the West; and while it revisits the Green Island, the spirit of his good wishes may attend the progress of the beneficent luminary. We distrust, my Lord, the exaggerated expressions of the East; although that great man, of various erudition, Sir William Jones, has declared the strong affinity which prevails between the Indian San-scrit and the ancient language of Ireland. But your Lordship has taught us that there is sufficient virtue and vigour in our vernacular language, to express every emotion of the human heart; and, among the rest, those of our sincerest regard and most profound respect. And, my Lord, with the proud consciousness of being your countrymen, we trust, that while the magnificent Lotus of India, either in reality or in emblem, continually presents itself to your eyes, the humble Shamrock of Ireland will still live in your memory, and continue to be associated with your dearest affections. February, 1815. T Mr Graham on the bad Effects of the present System of Tithes. Berwick upon Tweed, August 5, 1815. HE system of Tithes has been so long acted upon, and sanctioned by such high authority, that many people consider it, both in a religious and political point of view, as so interwoven with the constitution of our country, that any alteration in the one would endanger that of the other. I am, however, of a very different opinion; being fully persuaded that, unless some modification or entire alteration takes place, the present system of tithes will sooner or later shake the pillars of the church to their foundation, if not endanger the constitution itself. To prove the truth of my position, I will first consider the effect which the present system of tithes has on the morals and religion of the pes ple; in the second place, the effect it has on agriculture; and, in the third place, I will consider it in a political view, and point out a few of the dangerous consequences which will certainly be sooner or later the result of the tithe system, if the same is continued as at present. Whoever has lived in any of the small country towns or villages in England can scarcely miss having observed the effect of the tithes, particularly on the lower orders of the people. In place of looking up to the minister or parson of the church with that respect and esteem which are due to the character of a priest or minister, and listening with attention to his instructions, they in general consider him as their greatest enemy. Passions the most inimical to the practice of a Christian are constantly kindled in the human heart; nor is it possible to be otherwise, when those articles, which are so essential to the poor, and often constitute a great part of their living, are forcibly taken from them. So very extensive, and sometimes undefined, are the laws relative to tithes, that I believe, wherever they have been contended, the church gains nine causes in every ten; so that there is not an article on which the parson cannot lay his hands: the poor man's potatoes, turnips, peas, cabbages, all must pay tithe. Of fowls of every kind, viz. hens, ducks, geese, &c. and of pigs, the law demands one in every ten; but the general practice, as far as my observation has served me, is, the parson takes one of every kind, however small the number. I would now ask any calm, unprejudiced person, if it is possible, under such circumstances, for any good understanding to take place between the parson and his hearers. I well remember, when very young, being some time in a village, not ten miles from the Tweed, where the antipathy of the people against the minister of the church was carried to such a pitch, that it was often said, the first words that children were taught to utter was to curse the parson. I, however, cannot help at the same time observing, that even the minister himself is placed in most uncomfortable circumstances; for if he is a pious, humane man, he is sure to lose more than the half of what the law says is his right. If he is an austere man, or if the necessities of his own family urge him on to greater acts of severity than he would otherwise pursue; in that case he is an object of suspicion, hatred and ill-will. The fatal consequences of such things require very little illustration: the morals of the people are corrupted, no early impressions of piety are fixed on their minds, religion becomes a mere mockery, and the church is only spoken of with contempt and ridicule.—I will now consider the effect which tithes have on agriculture; and here a more extensive field presents itself to the contemplation of every inquisitive or impartial observer. In the former ages of darkness and superstition, when the parson of every church was supposed to hold the keys of heaven and hell, when indulgences could be bought with money, and the prayers of the priest were believed to shorten and mitigate even the sufferings of the wicked in a future state, and a bequest to the church was accounted a sure passport to heaven: -when the people were under these impressions, it is no surprise that they cheerfully submitted to every demand, and made a willing sacrifice of not only the tenth of all they possessed, but in many instances of nearly the whole of their property; but in this age of general information, when every man is taught to think and judge for himself, to continue the same system appears to me extremely unaccountable, and I have long considered it as a most. dangerous infatuation; for it is now no longer a matter of choice or a voluntary sacrifice, but it is become a matter of severe coercion, and can only be enforced by the execution of laws made in the ages of ignorance and barbarism. I believe there is scarcely an individual in the kingdom, however much he may be attached to the church, but who feels a disagreeable if not an indignant sensation when he sees the tithe-gatherer collecting his tenths from the whole produce of his lands. But if this is the general feeling under such circumstances, what must be the sensations produced on the laborious cultivator of waste lands who transforms a barren wilderness into fruitful fields and luxuriant meadows? With what severe regret and high indignation must he survey the collector of tithes carrying off the tenth of all his toil and tillage, whilst he has not contributed one fraction to any of his improvements? Is there a man in the country but who deplores this as a great evil, and a most severe |