DOMESTIC.

The Owens' College at Manchester. We have been favoured by a friend who is one of the Trustees of the late Mr. John Owens, with a printed pamphlet containing "Extracts from the Will of John Owens, late of Manchester, Merchant, deceased, relating to his Bequest for Education." Of this we propose to give a brief abstract, and to quote one or two of the more important passages.

The testator bequeaths all such parts of his personal estate and effects as are capable of being devoted to charitable purposes, to George Faulkner and Samuel Alcock, upon trust, to convert into money, and authorizes them, after paying debts not paid out of his other estate, and certain legacies to local charities, to hand over the residue to Trustees for educational purposes, to be appointed under the provisions of his will. The testator then appoints these Trustees, and provides for the filling up of vacancies in the Trust, &c., and proceeds to direct them to apply the residuary charitable Trust fund to the founding within the Parliamentary borough of Manchester, or within two miles from any part of the limits thereof," an institution for providing or aiding the means of instructing and improving young persons of the male sex (and being of an age not less than 14 years) in such branches of learning and science as are now and may be hereafter usually taught in the English Universities, but subject, nevertheless, to the two fundamental and immutable rules and conditions hereinafter prescribed, namely, I., That the students, professors and teachers, and other officers and persons connected with the said institution, shall not be required to make any declaration as to, or submit to any test whatsoever of, their religious opinions, and that nothing shall be introduced in the matter or mode of education or instruction in reference to any religious or theological subject which shall be reasonably offensive to the conscience of any student, or of his relations, guardians or friends under whose immediate care he shall be." The second rule and condition prescribes that in case the number of applicants for admission shall be more than adequate to the means of the institution, prefer

ence shall be given, first, to children of parents within the borough of Manchester, or two miles therefrom, and, secondly, to children of parents residing within South Lancashire. But, apart from this limit, the institution shall be open to all applicants for admission, without respect to place of birth, and without distinction of rank or condition in society.

The Trustees are empowered to declare the trusts and regulations concerning the Trust fund and the management of the institution, and from time to time to make such alterations in the trusts and regulations as shall be consistent with the fundamental rules and conditions.

The following important clause follows:

"And I direct, with reference to and by way of explanation of the first of the aforesaid conditions, but subject to the power of the said Trustees for the time being, by any such deed, to alter this present provision, that any matter or thing shall be deemed reasonably offensive to the conscience of any student, which, upon complaint thereof by him, or on his behalf by any person under whose immediate care he shall be, as aforesaid, shall be declared by one-third in number of the said Trustees for the time being, by writing under their hands, to be in their judgment so offensive."

The testator proceeds to give power to the Trustees to hire buildings, and (when legalized) to apply part of the Trust fund in the purchase and erection of land and buildings for the purposes of the institution. Auditors are to be appointed, and the accounts audited by them to be published. In default of the appointment of auditors, the Town Council is empowered to appoint and publish the accounts. Such are the principal provisions of Mr. Owens' will. We now proceed to lay before our readers some particulars respecting the progress of this Trust, for which we are indebted to the Manchester Guardian.

"The property was not a round sum in hand, but, beyond a large amount invested in railway stock, which cannot be expected to realize any thing like the sum once reasonably estimated, much of the property was in merchandise and securities in foreign and distant countries, especially in Brazil and

in China. The first duty of the Trustees under the will was to realize this property, and we learn that, to a very considerable extent, they have done so, and that the great bulk of the personal estate and effects of the late Mr. John Owens, capable of being devoted by will to charitable purposes, is now invested in Consols. The process of collecting and realizing the remainder is still proceeding satisfactorily, considering the depression of the times, and commercial difficulties both at home and abroad. The qualified and acting Trustees are about ten in number, and a few weeks ago, just before the departure of Mr. James Heywood, M. P. (one of their number) for Canada, they assembled to consider whether any and what steps could be taken to promote the object of the testator's bequest. It was unanimously acknowledged that these were not the times for any appeal to the public liberality for donations and subscriptions requisite for the erection of a suitable edifice for the intended College. In the present state of the law, the will of Mr. Owens states, he intentionally abstained from directing the investment of any part of his said residuary charitable Trust fund in the purchase or erection of any lands or buildings for such institution; but the will gives the power to hire buildings for the purpose. It was stated by one of the Trustees that he doubted not, when prosperity should again visit our commerce and manufactures, there would be found at least a hundred gentlemen in Manchester who would each contribute £1000 to a building fund; and it was decided that towards the accomplishment of this part of the object nothing could be done at present. Meantime, a draught scheme for the proposed College was laid before the meeting, and it was agreed that a printed copy of it should be furnished to every Trustee, in order to give to each the opportunity of making suggestions as to any alteration, addition, or improvement; the draught being prepared merely as the nucleus round which the suggestions of the different Trustees could be collected, for future deliberate and mature consideration. This draught scheme has been printed, and a copy furnished to each Trustee; and we believe that when Mr. Heywood returns to England, the Trustees will be again called together for its further consideration, and also to consider the propriety of hiring some building which, by the will, must be within

the Parliamentary borough of Manchester, or within two miles from any part of the limits thereof'-for the temporary purposes of the new College. The will appoints as one of the Trustees, the then Dean of Manchester, since dead, and it appears that the present Dean is not legally constituted a Trustee. We learn, however, that a deputation from the Trustees have waited on the Lord Bishop of Manchester and on the Very Rev. the Dean, requesting to have the advantage of their advice and assistance in the consideration and adoption of the scheme for the government and regulation of the new College; and that both dignitaries have expressed their willingness to aid in the promotion of so important and desirable an object as the establishment of a collegiate institution on the broad and liberal basis indicated in the will of the founder. The draught scheme is not a mere outline; but, we understand, comprises the general details of the proposed institution. Speaking without any authority, but only from what is believed to be the general desire of the Trustees, we may say that there is a strong probability that, in the course of the next few months, measures will be taken to hire a suitable building, to engage the different Professors, and to open, on a scale of usefulness worthy of the founder's liberality, and of the city wherein this seminary of learning is to be seated, the Owens' College, Manchester.

Unitarianism at Devonport.

It is with much pleasure that we report a very happy revival of the Unitarian congregation at Devonport. The substance of the brief report of a meeting of the Plymouth and Devonport congregations held on Monday evening, December 11, 1848, is taken from that liberal and spirited journal, The Devonport Independent.

The meeting was held at the Mechanics' Institution. The Rev. J. C. Woods, B. A., occupied the chair, supported by the Rev. W. J. Odgers, of Plymouth, the Rev. W. James, of Bristol, Captain Parker and other gentlemen. The tea having been concluded, a resolution was proposed by Mr. Perry and seconded by Mr. Rundell, congratulating Mr. Woods on his ministry in Devonport, and the congregation on his coming among them, at the same time referring in the kindest terms to Mr. Gibbs. In returning thanks, the

Rev. J. C. Woods said-"I am sorry that the bad state of his health prevents my venerable friend Mr. Gibbs from Occupying the position which I now hold, as Chairman of so large a meeting as the present. I cannot fail to feel highly gratified by the resolution which has just been proposed and seconded, and received with such manifestations of sympathy by all. I am delighted to hear the terms in which you express your regard for my worthy, amiable and respected friend Mr. Gibbs. It would be absurd that I, who am a comparative stranger among you, should point out the reasons for your honour ing my esteemed predecessor; for, when I know that although engaged in a laborious and arduous secular profession, he has devoted for many years almost all of what might have been his leisure hours--in sickness as well as in health, in good report and evil re. port, in prosperous and in adverse times-to the promotion of your moral and spiritual improvement, and that he did this without remunerationaye, without even the desire of thanks -I say, when I take these things into consideration, I feel that the individual who would not reverence such a character as this, must be void of all perception of the beautiful and the noble in human conduct. I am consoled in the regret I feel on account of the absence of Mr. Gibbs from this meeting, by the fact, that I have been enabled to refer to his merits; for his modesty, which is one of his chief characteristics, would have been offended, had he been here, even by the truth which I have spoken. I am extremely grateful to you for that part of the resolution which is couched in language so flattering to myself. When a man feels most deeply, he is often least capable of giving expression to the emotions of his heart. I thank you most sincerely for your kind wishes for my happiness and success. I trust in God that, while I am among you, I may be able to promote your religious improvement. Separated as I am from my family, my only hope of happiness is the prospect of increasing that of those committed to my charge. I believe that there is great scope for ministerial usefulness in this town-and that, if we are only true to ourselves, our cause-the cause, I am convinced, of truth, of Christ, and of God-must advance, as it has advanced already far beyond my most ardent expectations. I fear not the

attacks of any opponents, though I confess the indifference of friends would be deeply wounding to my feelings. The cause of our principles is a common cause. It is not mine, any more than that of every individual of our communion present. It is not that of the minister, any more than that of the people. Think not I wish to complain. On the contrary, I have reason to rejoice, and I do rejoice. But let us all be more zealous than we have hitherto been. Let us all consider ourselves as Christian missionaries. Let us all feel that we have a great work to do in the world, and let us do it. Let us feel conscious that if we do not win success, we have at least endeavoured to deserve it. There are many prejudices against us. Most people prefer to go to a more fashionable church than ours, although I fear they cannot find any fashionable way to heaven. Let us, however, continue firm and steady at our post of duty, uninfluenced by public opinion, when we think this public opinion is wrong. Let us endeavour, with all our might, not only to preach down, but to live down these prejudices. Thus we shall enjoy both the felicity which is ever possessed by those who do good, and the satisfaction of knowing, that by the manifestation of the beautiful fruits of our Unitarian principles, we may have been the means of diffusing more widely around us peace, truth, comfort and happiness."

The Rev. W. James and the Rev. W. J. Odgers, Mr. Harris, Mr. Sanders Harris, Mr. T. Gould, Mr. Rundell, Mr. Edgcumbe, Mr. J. James, and other gentlemen addressed the meeting, and resolutions and sentiments referring to the means of the social and intellectual elevation of the people, were proposed and adopted. Among them was the following: "Honour to the good and the true who, in every age and in perilous times, have stood forward as the dauntless defenders of Civil and Religious Freedom. And in this tribute of our homage, most fitting is it that we should particularly mention those who in our day nobly risked power and place in the successful endeavour to secure the passing of the Dissenters' Chapels Act-a measure which, in the words of the eloquent Sheil, was intended to secure the property of a comparatively small and unpopular Christian denomination from the nefarious designs of orthodox solicitors, and the rapacity of acquisitive divines.""