sequence of serious examination, at length became a steady and consistent Dissenter. And, to the praise of his good sense and moderation, it ought to be mentioned, that after becoming a Dissenter he continued to cherish the same good-will towards the worthy members of the Establishment which he entertained towards them while he remained in their communion. When he first began to suspect the truth of the notions which he had imbibed from education, he occasionally attended the religious services of that excellent man the late Dr. Price, and perhaps his just veneration of this eminent Christian contributed to fix him for a time in the belief of the Arian hypothesis which he embraced upon giving up the opinions of his youth. But the same inquisitive spirit which caused him to think for himself on the subject of religion, and led him to discard the prejudices of his early years, prompted him to inquire still farther, and shortly conducted him to what has of late years been generally called proper Unitarianisın, of the truth of which, from the time when he first felt the force of its evidence, he does not appear ever to have entertained even a momentary doubt. Nor amidst the revolution which took place in his religious opinions was the steadiness of his faith in revelation ever shaken, a faith which he prized as of the highest value, and which he experienced to be the source of rich consolation under the trials and vicissitudes of life. In his belief of Christianity he was strongly confirmed by the argument from prophecy as treated by Mr. Evanson, in which argument, indeed, he placed such confidence as to prefer it to the direct proof of historical testimony, It will be readily supposed that he who was a Dissenter upon deliberate conviction was also a firm friend to civil and religious liberty. But it was liberty that he loved, not licentiousness. He wished to see all men enjoying all the freedom which is consistent with good order and the best interests of society; but he did not wish to see old institutions rudely overthrown because they were confess edly imperfect, nor to behold untried theories rashly carried into effect, to the demolition of ancient usages and castoms, while it remained problematical what good would result from the change. Though, as was remarked above, he spent all the years of his life in the occupations of commerce, he found leisure for mental cultivation, and so improved his understanding by habits of reading and reflection, as to have rendered himself no uninteresting companion to men of great talents and attainments, some of whom he had the satisfaction to rank among his personal and particular friends. He was a frequent contributor to the Monthly Repository, under various signatures, and the Memoir of his respected friend Mr. Evanson, inserted in the two first numbers of that work, proceeded from his pen. He was a truly amiable and upright man, and was held in great esteem by all those who were acquainted with his worth. How he sustained the relation of a parent, the respect in which his memory is held by his surviving family, and the sorrow which is felt by them upon the loss of his society, sufficiently declare. Amidst their regret, however, they have the satisfaction to reflect that their father, after having lived as long as life is usually desirable, departed without exhibiting any appearance either of bodily or mental pain. They moreover cannot fail to derive consolation from the assurance," that light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." E. C. [Mr. Spurrell was buried, on the 8th inst., in his family-grave in the burialground of the Unitarian Church, Hackney, of which he was the oldest member; his friend Mr. Belsham officiating, in the absence of the minister of the place through iudisposition, on the occasion. In his connexion with the Gravel-Pit congregation, Mr. Spurrell studied invariably to render himself useful. No one ever took a livelier interest in the concerns of a religious society, or manifested a more conciliatory and Christian spirit. By the whole of this congregation he was highly esteemed and respected, and his loss will be long lamented by all the members of it, as it is particularly by the individual who adds these few sentences to Mr. Cogan's just and interesting obituary tribute.] mented, THOMAS, youngest son of Mr. June 12, at Sibton, in Suffolk, deeply laThomas GILES, of Woodbridge, after a long-protracted illness, borne with exemplary patience and cheerful resignation. Lately, at Coston, near Buckminster, in the 73d year of his age, the Rev. WILLIAM HERVEY, rector of that place, and nephew to Hervey, the author of the "Meditations." Lately, in Newman Street, aged 78, Mr. S. VARLEY. Born in humble life, and brought up at a village in Yorkshire, Obit.-Mr. Peter Finnerty.—Hoh. Wm. Pickney.-Rich. Beadon, D.D. 377 he there distinguished himself by his scientific pursuits, and was actually driven thence by the vulgar, under the character of a conjuror. In London he became a public lecturer on natural and experimental philosophy, in which capacity the clearness and simplicity of his demonstra tions gained him the attention of many who have since moved in the higher walks of science. For many years, he was the scientific associate of the late Earl Stanhope, and through life maintained the deserved character of a philosopher and a Christian.-Month. Mag. Lately, in Westminster, aged 56, Mr. PETER FINNERTY, a writer and reporter in the Morning Chronicle, well known to the political world. He was of Irish parentage, the son of a tradesman of Loughrea, in Galway. At an early age, he was cast upon his fortunes in Dublin; and having been brought up as a printer, in 1798, he succeeded Mr. Arthur O'Conner, as the conductor of the celebrated paper "The Press." After a series of persecutions, he removed to London, and entered into engagements as a Parliamentary reporter. Having become acquainted with Sir Home Popham, when the expedition to Walcheren took place, he sailed with Captain Bartholomew from Woolwich, for the purpose of writing the history of that expedition. A strange exercise of power, however, prevented his carrying that object into effect, and after a delay of some weeks he returned to England. He now attacked Lord Castlereagh, (the present Marquis of Lon. douderry,) whom he regarded as the author of his disappointment, and freely exposed the supposed enormities of the administration of which his Lordship had made part in Ireland. He was immediately prosecuted for this as a libel, and, being convicted, was sentenced to a long imprisonment in Lincoln gaol, where he is said to have experienced harsh treatment by order of the magistrates. He was a man of more feeling than discretion. It is not discreditable to him, that he was pursued by the malice of the conductors of a periodical publication, called The Satirist, which, like The John Bull of the present times, was set ou foot by the hungry underlings in office, for the sake of running down every man deemed to be an object of dislike with their patrons. Lately, at sea, on his passage to New South Wales, whither he was proceeding for the benefit of his health, and the acquirement of information relative to the British settlements there, Mr. EVAN REES, late of London, and eldest son of the late Mr. Evan Rees, of Neath. He was a much-esteemed and useful member of the Society of Friends, and proved himself " the friend of human kind," by his exertions to promote various plans of philanthropy and beneficence. Lately, at Baltimore, the Hon. Wм. PINCKNEY, senator in the American Congress, from the State of Maryland. In the decease of this eminent jurist, eloquent advocate and enlightened statesman, America has sustained a loss which will be universally felt and deeply deplored. He was buried in the capitol, at Washington, and both Houses of Congress attended his funeral. Lately, RICHARD BEADON, D.D., Bp. of Bath and Wells. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, of which college he became a Fellow and rose to be Master. The present Duke of Glouces ter being sent to study at that college, was placed under the care of Dr. Beadon, who attended so closely to his pupil, that his conduct procured him the favour of the late King. His first preferment of any importance was the archdeaconry of London. In 1789, he was nominated to the See of Gloucester, and in 1802 translated to that of Bath and Wells. His only publication is a Fast-Day Sermon preached before the House of Lords, in Westminster Abbey, April 19, 1792. Lately, in Russell Square, aged 64, S. Y. BENYON, Esq., Vice-Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Recorder of Chester, and his Majesty's Attorney-General for the Chester circuit. born at Ashe, in Shropshire, and bred a Mr. Benyon was Dissenter. In politics he was attached to the Whigs, and he was always a steady friend to the civil and religious rights of his countrymen. mirer of the late Sir Samuel Romilly, and He was a warm adzealously advocated his plans for the reformation of the criminal code, and the amelioration of prison discipline; and as a judge, in his office of Recorder of Chester, he always evinced his anxiety to apportion punishment according to the degree of actual rather than technical criminality. Of a man of such principles and practices, it is difficult to speak in adequate terms of praise.-New Month, Mag. INTELLIGENCE. General Baptist Assembly. ON Whit-Tuesday, May 28th, this Annual Meeting was held at Worship Street, London. Mr. Chapman, of Billingshurst, offered up prayer, and the remainder of the service was conducted by Doctor Evans, of Islington. The preacher chose his text from Matt. xxv. 21: “Well done thou good and faithful servant," &c., and, in illustrating the passage, paid a well deserved tribute of respect to the memory of two very old members of the Assembly, the Rev. Stephen Philpot, of Saffron Walden, and the Rev. Sampson Kingsford, of Canterbury. These gentlemen died within the same month, each in the 70th year of his age, after having endeared themselves to their congregations, the former by thirty, and the latter by fifty years' faithful services. Dr. Evans alluded to the loss of his son, the Rev. Caleb Evans, whose ministerial course had been terminated by death, in the short space of one year. On this affect ing event, the bereaved parent touched briefly and delicately, but with a fortitude and resignation which sensibly affected his bearers. The Report of the Committee contained some pleasing intelligence of the success of Mr. Harding's Missionary labours in Kent and the Eastern part of Sussex; and the letters from the churches at York and Selby, spoke of a considerable accession of new members. This increase had taken place chiefly at Selby and in the neighbouring villages. Two of the churches reported to the Assembly that they admitted Open Communion, and that in one instance, some who had previously been communicants had submitted to the rite of immersion; and in another, that they had baptized more since than before they allowed the communion to be free. Thus the church at Dover, last year, and those of Godalming and Selby this year, have reported that, though they regard adult Baptism as an ordinance of divine appointment and still binding on believers, they do not consider themselves at liberty to exclude from the LORD's Table those who cannot view the subject of Baptism in the same light with themselves. Two churches in Kent-those of Chatham and Bessels Green, were reported to be in want of ministers. The former had hoped to obtain the services of Mr. Squier, from the Unitarian Baptist Academy, under the superintendence of the Rev. James Gilchrist, at Newington Green; but Mr. Squier has accepted an invitation from the Unitarian congregation at Edinburgh, in the hope of being able to prosecute his studies there advantageously, in addition to the discharge of his ministerial duties. The funds of the Academy were again stated to be lowand the fact that the three Students who have recently quitted it to settle with congregations were found to be acceptable occasional supplies in and about the Metropolis, and the consideration of one of them being about to occupy for some time a station of considerable importance to the Unitarian cause, may, per haps, be thought sufficient to justify an earnest appeal to the friends of that cause, on behalf of the Institution at Newington Green. The ministers and their friends afterwards dined together at the White Hart Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, Mr. Gilchrist in the chair. In the course of the even ing several gentlemen delivered addresses to the meeting on subjects connected with the peculiar objects of the Baptist cause, and on the great and interesting topics of civil and religious liberty. Unitarian Fund Anniversary. The THE Sixteenth Anniversary of the Unitarian Fund was held on Wednesday, May 29, at Parliament-Court Chapel. Rev. George Kenrick, of Clifton, and the Rev. Russell Scott, of Portsmouth, conducted the religious services previous to the Sermon, which was preached according to appointment at the former Anniversary, by the Rev. Dr. Morell, of Brighton. This Sermon, as might have been expected from the preacher, contained many valuable remarks. We especially notice, and our limits will allow us no more, a very luminous representation of the distinct properties of zeal and intolerance. We trust that the unanimous wish for the publication of this truly appropriate discourse, will be speedily gratified. • Contributions or Subscriptions might be transmitted to the Treasurer, John Treacher, Esq., Paternoster Row, London; or to the Secretary, Mr. George Smallfield, Homerton, by either of whom they would be thankfully received. Intelligence.-Unitarian Fund Anniversary. The Rev. J. Gilchrist, of Newington Green, is invited to be the preacher on the occasion of the next Anniversary. At the close of Divine Service, Edward Taylor, Esq., of Norwich, was called to the Chair. After the customary confirmation of last year's minutes, and the Report by the Treasurer, the Committee's Report was read by the Rev. Dr. T. Rees, in the justly-lamented absence, from severe indisposition, of the Rev. W. J. Fox, the Secretary. The Committee, in their Report, congratulate, rather than condole with, the Society on the "considerable expenditure" of "the past year," as it has also been a year" of unusual exertion;" the Fund's Missionary labours having 66 never been extended over a wider field," nor, in the Committee's opinion, "ever been more successful." Relying on a prompt and adequate pecuniary assistance from the friends to their great and holy cause, the Committee justly remark, that "the design of the Unitarian Fund is not to accumulate money, but to diffuse knowledge; not to realize an increasing balance in the hands of a treasurer, but to advance the best interests of society, by disseminating that truth which is the bread of life. The first article of information communicated in this Report, is the Fund's principal Missionary" Mr. Wright's Summary View of a very laborious and important journey in Lancashire, and the adjoining counties." Mr. Wright also during the past year, "visited Sheerness, spent some time at Colchester," preached "at Wisbeach," &c., and "in the intervals of these excursions, at the different chapels and rooms for Unitarian worship in and about London." The next subject of the Report is "Mr. Cooper's settlement at Newcastle, in Staffordshire, with a view to his acting as a Missionary in its thickly peopled neighbourhood." Mr. Cooper has been lately introduced to our readers, as the zealous, kind and judicious, but, thanks to the demoralizing influence of commercial avarice, the disappointed instructor of Negro Slaves in Jamaica. We rejoice in his present fairer prospects, and that "so far as this experiment has yet been tried, the result is eminently satisfactory." Next follows a gratifying relation of Mr. F. Horsfield's preaching" at Battle and its vicinity," and of the zealous co-operation of the Unitarians "in this district." 379 largely quoted in the Report, to have already greatly promoted, and to promise still further to subserve the objects of the Fund. "In about five months Mr. Harding travelled between 700 and 800 miles, and preached 74 times." Among his stations, Sheerness appears prominent. There he has eminently succeeded in reviving that spirit of religious inquiry, first excited by the Fund's early, judicious, and exemplary Missionary, Mr. Vidler. The journal of "Mr. Smethurst, of Moreton Hampstead," engaged by the Fund on "a Missionary Tour in the North of Ireland," opens agreeable prospects in a new direction. We are gratified to learn from "subsequent communications" made from Ireland, of the interest excited by Mr. Smethurst's preaching and conversation," and earnest wishes for the Fund's continued "attention to that country." "In Scotland, a short Missionary Tour" has been volunteered "by Mr. Holland, of Edinburgh." From his subsequent report to the Fund, "it appears very desirable that an active minister should be settled at Dundee," from whence he might occasionally itinerate. This object to which the Fund are most willing to contribute, appears to be in a way of accomplishment, through the attentions of that veteran of the Unitarian cause, "Mr. Millar, of Dundee." The pious and interesting "William Roberts, and the Native Unitarian Christians of Pursewaukum," have not been forgotten. A sum has been remitted to Madras for "the support of the schools and public worship," and hopes are entertained of directing towards these Unitarians" the friendly attention of persons of influence, and of liberal opinions, resident in that part of India." "The Expositio Brevis on the History and Opinions of the Unitarians of this Country," mentioned Vol. XVI. p. 374, has been sent not only into Europe generally, but also to the East Indies and America. A highly interesting result of this attempt to make British Unitarians known to foreigners, has been "a letter from Clausenburg," or Colosvar, in Transylvania. This letter, signed by "Lazarus Nagy, member of the Unitarian Consistory," was read to the meeting, and we trust its valuable and satisfactory information will soon be more widely published. Our readers, in the mean time, will be gratified by the information, The accession of "Mr. Harding, late that in Transylvania, Unitarianism "conof Bessels Green," to the Unitarian Mis-、tinues to flourish in 120 churches, comsion, in consequence of an appointment prehending 40,000 souls," and that there by the Keut and Sussex Unitarian the Unitarian religion enjoys equal Association," appears from his journal, rights and privileges with the three other 66 66 religions, (the Roman Catholic, the Reformed Calvinistic, and the Augsburg Lutheran,) in admissibility to all the state offices of emolument, even the highest, and of what nature soever." Such is the brief, but, we trust, not uninteresting sketch which our present limits and leisure have allowed us to offer of this Report, hoping, hereafter, to offer a fuller account. For the method and arrangement of the Report, the Committee, at the con clusion, acknowledge themselves almost entirely indebted to the Secretary's "cooperation, rendered from the chamber of sickness." They conclude by a wish for the Fund's justly-valued officer, in the spirit which dictated one of the subsc. quent resolutions of the General Meeting "that the Supreme Disposer of events may restore to him the blessing of health, -that he may long be preserved to dispense the glorious gospel of the grace of God, in its native simplicity and its saving power, to multitudes, in his own day, and to generations yet unborn." The Committee for the ensuing year consists of the following gentlemen ; JOHN CHRISTIE, Esq., Treasurer, 52, Mark Lane. THOS. HORNBY, Esq., Deputy Treasurer, 31, Swithin's Lane, Lombard Street. Rev. W. J. FOX, Secretary, Dalston. Mr. JOHN BOWRING, JAMES ESDAILE, Esq., The subscribers and friends to the Unitarian Fund dined together, at the London Tavern, the same day, Wm. Hammond, Esq., M. A., formerly Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, in the Chair. The interest of the Meeting was chiefly kept up by speeches from the preacher, Dr. Morell, the Treasurer, J. Christie, Esq., Mr. Frend, Mr. R. Taylor, Dr. T. Rees and Mr. Wright, who, in an animated address, congratulated the company on the promotion of intellectual improvement by all sects and parties, justly auguring the increasing influence of scriptural Christianity from the daily accelerated progress of that irresistible power, Universal Education. Mr. Rutt who spoke immediately after "the better health of the Secretary" had been received with every mark of friendship and affection, referred to the very fair appeal from the congregation of Parliament-Court Chapel. He recommended to the attention of the Meeting the design of that congregation, should their own efforts be kindly assisted, to erect in a very public and peculiarly accessible situation a commodious chapel, which, as that they now occupy has ever been, would be freely offered for all the purposes of the Unitarians at large. Mr. R. remarked, as a striking coincidence, that just by the spot where, 160 years ago, Biddle found a grave, his only refuge from persecution for the Unitarian doctrine, there would thus arise, as his proudest monument, a chapel, in which the doctrine for which he suffered would be taught with an impressive eloquence which probably that learned and pious confessor never possessed. Mr. Cordell, Treasurer of the Parlia ment-Court congregation, was afterwards called up to address the Meeting on the subject of their project, in which we venture to promise ourselves, that the Unitarian body will soon practically discover a generous interest. The gratification of this Anniversary was lessened by the absence, under the pressure of severe illness, not only of the Secretary, but of the Rev. R. Aspland, a valuable member of the Committee, the wish for whose complete recovery, proposed by the Treasurer, was most affectionately received. Dr. Thomas Rees justly described how deeply the members of the Unitarian Fund bad been indebted to his friend, who had been their Secretary while his engagements would allow him to hold that office. At the close of the Meeting, there was an amicable discussion between Mr. R. Taylor, Mr. Hill and Mr. Rutt. The latter, contrasting his friend Mr. Fox with modern Christian persecutors, had, in the opinion of the former gentlemen, too severely censured the present Common Sergeant. Mr. R., indeed, had not scrupled even to class that criminal judge with his predecessor, for his very recent conduct on the trial and condemnation of an Unbeliever, as that trial was reported in the public prints. N. L. T. Unitarian Association. THE General Meeting of this Association was held on Thursday, the 30th day of May, at the London Tavern: Mr. Rutt in the Chair. Owing to the Treasurer's absence, his |