"When in Calcutta, it was my good fortune to enjoy an intimate intercourse with the author. He was sent to India as a Baptist Missionary, by the Society in London, and had, subsequently to his arrival, proved himself to be judicious, well-informed and pious. About six months prior to my departure, he engaged with Rammohun Roy, as an instructor in the Greek and Latin languages; but being at the same time employed with him and another gentleman of the same mission, in preparing a translation of the New Testament into the Bengalee, the subject of his conversation with Rammohun Roy alone, was most frequently one which had been suggested or discussed at other Meetings.

"In consequence of these conversations, the instructor was led to doubt, to examine, and at length, to renounce his previous opinions; and on the occasion above-named, he made his first public confession of the change which had taken place in his belief.

"The Society is not regularly organized, nor have they a proper place of worship; but Mr. Adam intended to appeal to the benevolence of the public for aid in erecting a chapel.

"It would give me pleasure to be able to state, that this difference of opinion had not affected his standing in the good opinion of his brethren of the mission and the public; but in this, as in almost every other instance, a difference in religious opinion has succeeded in destroying Christian charity.

"A letter from a friend, himself a Missionary and a Trinitarian, speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Adam, acknowledging that in his view, he appears to be as pious and as sincere as at any former period of their acquaint

ance."

are neither honourable to him that makes them, nor convincing to those against whom they are directed. Firmly to believe, boldly to avow and zealously to propagate what is believed to be the truth of God, the author conceives is perfectly consistent with the most unfeigned charity and meekness towards those from whom he differs; and he is the more confirmed in this, from recollecting how conscientions he himself formerly was in the belief of the Supreme Deity of Jesus Christ —a doctrine which he is now satisfied has no foundation in Scripture."

The sermon is taken up in explaining the author's views of the offices, person and character of Christ. We cannot but look upon this discourse as portending much good to the cause of pure Christianity in India. Should a Unitarian Society be established in Calcutta, it will at least afford an opportunity of ascertaining whether the simple truths of the gospel, as believ ed by Unitarians, may not be introduced to the natives with better hopes of success, than the dogmas of orthodoxy; which, in the space of twenty years, have scarcely secured one unwavering convert. In this point of view, an institution of this sort, rising up at Calcutta, ought to be regarded with more than common interest by all Unitarians.

Toleration in New-York,

[As the subject of the BlasphemyLaw in the United States of America has been brought into discussion in the present Volume, pp. 224, 585 and 690, we think it right to insert the following paper, which we confess surprises us, from the Baltimore "Unitarian Miscellany" for January, 1822.]

tian temper.

"He would respectfully suggest to those who differ from him, that the exercise of Christian charity even towards such as himself is not forbid den, that hatred even of enemies is not enjoined, and that fierce declarations of eternal vengeance proceeding from the mouth of a human being,

York, we find that the learned judge, "in his charge to the jury, instructed them, that although by the constitution every man in the country had a right to entertain any religious op nion, and all sects had free toleration in their respective modes of worship; though the Unitarian, Jew, Mahometan and Pagan remained here free from persecution, yet it was contrary to the principles of the common law for any

man to revile the religion generally prevailing here, or its author; or to impeach or call in question the attributes of the Deity. "While, on the one hand,” the learned judge continues, "we say to Unitarians, Jews, Mahometans and Pagan, Enjoy your own religious notions free from restraint, so on the other we say, and such is the language of the law, Revile not the religion which we profess, or its author." As a reason for this language of the law, he goes on to say, that "it is from religion that oaths in court derive their efficacy; and to undermine the religious opinions of men would deprive us of the security we place upon oaths in judicial proceedings and others, and would finally operate to the subversion of civil society."

The words witnessed against the defendant were sufficiently blasphemous, but the learned judge said, considering the testimony adduced on his behalf-"the testimony of his good character, and his peculiar religious opinion, it was hardly possible that he could have uttered the words laid in the indictment."

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Qf his peculiar religious opinion, it appeared in evidence that the defendant had often been heard to express his I conviction of the truth of the doctrine of universal salvation." It is only necessary to add in the history of the case, that he was acquitted.

The reporter, at the head of the article alluded to, lays it down as the law, probably from the decisions of the learned judge in the case, that where it appeared that blasphemous words "were uttered in the course of an intemperate political dispute, by one who belonged to a church and frequented it, who had a sense of religious obligation, and otherwise sustained a fair character, it was held that he was not guilty. It is wonderful that it was not also given as a reason, why a man uttering blasphemous words should not be held guilty of blasphemy, that he was a man of good education, and moreover belonged to the prevailing political party. I will not undertake to say how far the part the defendant took in the political dis

* New York City Hall Reporter, Vol. IV. p. 40.

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pute which gave occasion to the blas phemous words in question, mitigated his crime in the eyes of the learned judge and intelligent jury; but I am at a loss to conceive in what manner "a sense of religious obligation," or belonging to a church," could absolve from the consequences of such a crime in a civil, any more than in a moral point of view.

My principal object, however, is not to question the correctness of the decision or the law in this case, but to warn our friends of the First Congregational Society in New York, who may not have seen the Report, of the dangerous ground on which they stand. It is not to be regretted, that, not belonging to any Christian church, they may not blaspheme, in the usual sense of the word, with impunity in this world, and we presume they do not expect, as the defendant in the present case, an unconditional acquittal in the next. But let them beware of calling Jesus Christ, in the language of Peter,

a man approved of God," for "in the language of the law," this would be blasphemy; it would be "to revile the author of the religion generally prevailing" in New York, which considers Christ, and commands us to worship him, as God. They must not call in question the underived existence, the almighty power, the eternity of Jesus Christ, since, by the same standard, this would be to impeach the attributes of the Deity himself. If they do not believe, they must not teach any thing in contradiction to the doctrine of universal salvation, of the Thirty-nine Articles, or the Assembly's Larger or Shorter Catechism, or other symbols of Christian churches in this land of religious light and liberty, for this would be to " operate to the subversion of civil society." And let them no longer blame the angry polemic, or the bigoted professor, who denies them the name of Christians, since they are, even from the bench of justice, in the very metropolis of our country, the seat of religion, of learning, and the arts, ranked with unbelievers, and assigned only a precedence in the enumeration with Jews, Mahometans and Pagans.

ART. I.-Remarks upon the Consumption of Public Wealth by the Clergy, &c.

(Continued from p. 625.)

HUNGARY contains about 8,000,000 of people, of various sects, living harmoniously together under the regulations established by the Emperor Joseph II., who laboured most laudably and, as the event in some parts of his dominions has proved, successfully, to eradicate intolerance and banish discord. The sects of Hungary are-the Catholics, Latin and Greek, estimated at 4,750,000; the Greek Church at 1,150,000; Calvinists at 1,050,000: the Lutherans at 650,000; the Unitarians at 46,000; other sects and Jews at 200,000.-In the Latin Catholic Church of Hungary appears one of the greatest instances, on the Continent of Europe, of the abuse of Church property: e. g. to about 4,000,000 of hearers there are 5,469 clergymen, including three archbishops, 18 bishops, 16 titular bishops, and 274 prebendaries and canons. The Church revenues are 320,0007., being 80,000l. per million of hearers of this, the archbishops and bishops receive 96,000l., and the prebendaries and canons, 58,000l., leaving only 170,2147. (or little more than half the amount) for 5, 158 working clergy, whose incomes average 331. per annum. The explanation of this disproportion in the distribution of the ecclesiastical revenue is, that the richest benefices are considered as a provision for the junior members of the great Hungarian families.-The Calvinistic Church of Hungary has 1,384 clergymen to 1,050,000 of hearers: the income of this church is little more than 60,000l. per annum., being an average of 447. to each minister. The Lutherans are more economical in their ecclesiastical arrangements, having only 456 clergymen for 650,000 hearers, the highest clerical stipend being 807, the average 557., and the expense being at the rate of 40,000. per million of hearers.-Of the finances of the other sects, the particu

lars are not known. By a law of the Emperor Joseph, no man is obliged to pay tithe or tax to a religion to which he himself does not belong. The chief University of Hungary, that

of Pest, though founded for Catholics

only, is now attended by all Christians and even by Jews.

The estimate of expenditure on the clergy in the United States of America must be in a great measure conjectural. The author sets down the hearers at 9,600,000, of whom he reckons that there are 1,600,000 people of colour and blacks, and the clergy at 8,000, with a total income of 560,000l., i. e. about 701. for each, which is at the rate of 60,000l. per million of people. The United States have no established church, and yet religion is popular and fashionable. We are told by this author that an assessment on every man for some place of worship to be named by himself, was enforced for some time in a few States, but the clergy joined in getting the law repealed, for it was found that in the States which left the contribution free, places of worship and clergymen were more liberally supported than in the others.

In Italy we should expect to find the clergy most richly endowed, but here the French Revolution extended its anti-priestly influence, and national sales have been made of church-property. Our fleets protected, for a time, the lands of the church in Sicily, but since the peace, these, being the choicest in the island, and nearly one-fourth of the whole, have been guaranteed to the holders of the Sicilian loan of 1821. The hearers in all Italy are estimated at 19,391,200, and the clergy at 20,400, including pope, 46 cardinals, 38 archbishops, 62 bishops, 853 other dignitaries, and 19,400 working clergymen. The ecclesiastical income is rated at 776,000!., being 40,000l. per million of hearers. The tithe is a fortieth, and is taken in kind: a prosecution by a clergyman for tithe is nearly unknown. There are no pluralities, and residence is strictly enforced. The lowest regular

stipends in Venice are 301. for a rector and 177. for a curate. The ordinary income of a cardinal, who is next in dignity to the pope, is from 4007. to 5007. per annum. Instead of 70, the full number of cardinals, only 46 places in the sacred college are filled up, of whom, it is conjectured, one third are supported by their respective nations. The number of bishops is arbitrary and is lessening. The monks and nuns are dwindled to a small number, who are extremely poor.

In Austria, properly so called, there are 18,918,800 subjects, and 19,000 clergymen, with an income of 950,000., or 50,0007, per million. Here the Emperor has the power to tax churchproperty as he pleases; so that benefices are not to be taken at their nominal income. This remark applies also to Hungary and Austrian Italy. The Emperor Joseph set the example of suppressing the rich ecclesiastical establishments and equalizing the incomes of the episcopal and parochial clergy. Monasteries in Austria are few and not rich.

The population of Switzerland is two-thirds Calvinists, and one-third Catholics. Hearers are estimated at 1,720,000, the clergy at 1,700, with an income of 87,000/., or 50,000l. per million. In many parts of Switzerland is to be witnessed the edifying spectacle of the two Christian sects, the Calvinists and Catholics, using the same church alternately at different hours; there being a communion-table for the Protestants and an altar for the Catholics. Here it should be observed, that in statistical nomenclature, the Calvinists signify not the believers in the doctrines of Calvin, but the Reformed who are not Lutherans.

Prussia is computed to have 10,536,571 hearers, of various sects, and 9,578 clergymen, with an income of 527,000/., being at the rate of 50,000l. per million. Here all religions are on an equal footing, and all subjects are equally eligible to civil and military offices. The population is classed into six millions of Lutherans, four millions of Catholics, and 300,000 Presbyterians, of which last denomination are the King and Royal Family, and many of the nobles. In Silesia is an admirable regulation, established by Frederic the Great, that

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no clergyman is admissible to a cure who does not produce attestations of his having learned and practised the system of education for the people, introduced by Felbiger, the Augustinian monk.

The German States, exclusive of Austria and Prussia, are supposed to contain, 12,763,500 people, with 11,600 clergy, having an income of 765,0007., viz. at the rate of 60,0007. per million of people. In Saxony the people are Lutherans; the royal family, who are extremely beloved, Catholics. In Brunswick and Hanover, Lutheran countries, the clergy are said to be best provided for. There is a regulation in Hanover that a clergyman shall not go from one living to another, unless he has been seven years in his first parish.

The number of hearers in the kingdom of the Netherlands is estimated at 5,000,000, of whom the Dutch, one-half Calvinists, one-fourth Catholics, one-fourth other sects, are 2,000,000, the Flemish, all Catholics, are 3,000,000. For these, there are 4,540 clergymen, whose income is 265,000l., being at the rate of 80,000!. per million of people of Holland, and of 35,000/. per million for the Flemish. Both the Dutch and the Flemish are remarkably religious, steady, industrious and cleanly. The Emperor Joseph II. cleared Flanders of a host of idle clergy and monks.

The Danes, who are all Lutherans, amount to 1,700,000, and have (including six bishops or superintendents) 1580 clergy, whose income is 119,000l., being at the rate of 70,000l. per million. The richest benefice in Denmark is the Bishopric of Copenhagen, which is about 4001. per an

num.

Sweden and Norway contain, the former 2,700,000, the latter 700,000, hearers, making a total of 3,400,000, for whom there are 3,100 clergymen, with an income of 238,0004., being at the rate of 70,000/. per million. All here are Lutherans. The only archbishopric of Sweden is that of Upsal, which has a revenue of 400. per annum.

The subjects of Russia amount to 43,800,000, but of these 1,800,000 are Mahometans. The Greek Church is supposed to contain 34,000,000 of hearers, the Catholics, Latin and

Greek, 5,500,000, and the Lutherans, 2,500,000. The number of clergymen is computed at 74,270; viz. for the Greek Church 67,000, for the Catholics and Lutherans 7,270. Ecclesiastical Revenue is assessed at 910,0007., making in the Greek Church 15,0001. per million, in the Lutheran and Catholic Churches 50,000l. per million. The bulk of the clergy in Russia are in a very abject state. Some have rated the monks as high as 7,300, and the nuns 5,300.

The Christians in Turkey are estimated at 6,000,000. The income of the clergy is reckoned to be 180,000l., being 30,000l. per million.

The estimated expenditure on the clergy in South America is 450,000%. for 15,000,000 of people, being at the rate of 30,000l. per million.

One sweeping estimate of the author's sets down the rest of the Christian world at 3,000,000 of people, and their allowance to the clergy at 150,000, being 50,000l. per million. The author next proceeds to the Church of England, "the only grand monument of church wealth remaining in the world to shew the influence and dominion over the minds and property of men, which the clergy have had the power to exert, in the ages of darkness and superstition, before the art of printing, and the consequent diffusion of knowledge and education."

The population of England and Wales is estimated at 12,000,000, of which the author allots one-half to the Church of England, and one-half to the remaining sects. This is an evident miscalculation, which he candidly acknowledges in a circular to the periodical publications, and which, we presume, he has corrected in later editions of the pamphlet. Owing to this error, we cannot safely quote all the statements of the Church of England tables. The number of regular clergymen is 18,000, including 2 archbishops, 24 bishops, 60 archdeacons, 27 deans, and 544 canons and prebendaries. The income is 7,596,000l., which, on the calculation of 6,000,000 of hearers in the English Church, would be at the rate of 1,266,0007. per million.

Let this sum be reduced as much as the error before pointed out requires, and it will still appear enor

mous: yet it is moderate compared with the ecclesiastical revenue of Ireland, which exhibits the greatest extravagance that was ever put down in figures. Ireland has a population of about 7,000,000, of which the religious distribution is as follows: Roman Catholics, 5,500,000; Presbyterians, 800,000; Church of England and Ireland, 400,000; Methodists and other sects, 300,000. For the 400,000 members of the Established Church there are 1,700 clergymen, including 4 archbishops, 18 bishops, 33 deans, 34 archdeacons, and 500 canons, prebendaries, &c. The ecclesiastical revenue is 1,300,0007., being at the rate of 3,250,000/. per million.

On the erroneous estimate of 6,000,000 of hearers in England and Wales, not of the Established Church, it is calculated that for 4,670 clergymen there is an income from voluntary contributions of upwards of 500,000l., being at the rate of 1107. for each clergyman, and of 85,000!. per million.

In Scotland, the Dissenters are computed at 500,000, their clergy at 400, with an income of 1107. each, amounting to 44,0007., or 90,000l. per million.

Hearers in Ireland, not of the established religion, are estimated at 6,600,000, for whom there are 2,378 clergymen, viz. Catholic, 1994; Presbyterian, 239; other sects, 145; having a total income from voluntary contributions of 261,580., being at an average of 110/. for each, and of 40,000l. per million. There is a yearly parliamentary grant to Protestant Ministers in Ireland, as follows: Presbyterians, 8,6977.; seceding Presbyterians, 4,0341.; other Protestant Dissenters, 7567.; making in all, 13,4871.

In one sum the author sets down the result of all his calculations, which cannot be much affected by any error that may have crept into his statements. The clergy of all the Christian world, except Great Britain and Ireland, the whole population being 198,728,000, receive 8,852,000. per annum: the clergy of the Established Church of England and Ireland, containing 6,400,000 hearers, receive 8,896,0007.!

The total of Christians in the world, viz. 219,728,000, pay to their clergy 18,762,000, of which England, for