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ing, when the address should be presented | cree in its effects upon those upon whom it mediately or immediately operates, we cannot but consider that it will be still more disastrous in its influence on generations yet unborn.

and a committee nominated. Several other gentlemen addressed the meeting, and a gentleman stated that a meeting of Christians would be convened in a few days, to take the subject into consideration.

The Chairman returned thanks; observing that his wish was to rouse once more the spirit of nationality in his brethren. If this could once be done, their oppressions would

cease.

This second meeting of the Jews was held as proposed, on Wednesday, the 19th.

E. Levy, Esq. having been again unanimously voted into the chair, after some ineffectual opposition from the two gentlemen who figured in the minority at the former meeting, requested Mr. Israel to read the Russian ukase, and the resolutions of the last meeting.

This having been done, the Chairman stated that, pursuant to their directions, he had prepared an address to the synagogues of Great Britain, which he now proposed for their adoption.

"If the dispersion of our nation and the calamities we have endured are the result of our departure from the laws of our Almighty King, what must be the condition of those who will be reduced to a state of ignorance and degeneracy unexampled in the history of our nation, when deprived of religious instruction?

"If we and our forefathers, blessed with the means of acquiring knowledge, have been too much estranged from our God, what will be the condition of those who are to come after us, if such persecutions should become general ? and if one potentate can thus cruelly persecute our race, what is to prevent the imitation of his example, but our appeal to those feelings of compassion, and that sense of justice, which belong to civilised man?

"What but humble and contrite supplication to that great Being who hath succoured our Mr. Israel read the address, and moved people in all ages, and who hath often turned that it should be received and adopted. the curses and oppressions of man into the The following address was read in para-means of making to himself a glorious name, graphs, every one of which was unanimously agreed to.

"To the Children of captive Israel, inhabiting the Dominions of his Britannic Majesty, whom God preserve. Amen. "Peace and safety be unto you, from our God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and

of Jacob. Amen.

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Keenly do we feel that part of the said decree which, while it tolerates, under some marked restrictions, the settlement of a certain class of our brethren, excludes from the benefits of such toleration all their religious functionaries.

"Most deeply do we lament this regulation, as depriving such families of all religious iustruction and consolation under their sufferings, which will unavoidably produce woful consequences upon their moral and spiritual character; thus spreading the contagion of infidelity among a people hitherto characterised by devoted adherence to the religion of their forefathers.

"But, alarming as we consider this de

as our preserver and deliverer?

"Calamitous and distressing as this particular persecution is, its force is greatly increased when considered in conjunction with other persecutions which have operated within these three years past. to the injury of our afflicted brethren in different parts of civilized Europe; such as those in Lubec, Bavaria, Duchy of Altenburg, and that in contemplation at Darmstadt; the different oppressive edicts of the Pope; and, lastly, the cruel and demoralising laws which are even now operating in Frankfort.

"All these persecutions manifest a prevailing spirit, which should alarm the Israelites of all countries and climes, and incline us to rouse our hitherto but too dormant feelings, and to search our ways; that so, by tracing effects to causes, we may attempt to find a remedy for the accumulated evils which have befallen and still surround us; that we may acknowledge the justice of our Creator, even the King of Israel, and own that these, as well as all other chastisements which have been heaped upon our devoted heads, are, as it respects the Almighty, merited by our sins and those of our forefathers, as denounced by our lawgiver and prophets.

"This meeting do therefore think it a solemn duty, which they owe to themselves, to their children, to the whole house of Israel, and their God, to call upon their brethren in Great Britain to assemble, ia order to consult upon the best means of arousing the attention of the whole house of Israel to the cause of all its evils, to ascer

tain their extent, and to point out the most likely means of alleviating the sorrows of our brethren; averting further persecutions, and uniting ns once more as a family dear to one another, and beloved of the God of heaven and earth."

Mr. Israel, Mr. Tobias, Mr. Lyons, Mr. Samuel, and several other gentlemen, addressed the meeting, and urged the Jews to arouse their dormant energies, and to present themselves to the different governments of the world as men meriting and claiming equal rights with their fellow-subjects. Several instances of the persecutions to which the Jews were even now exposed were mentioned by different speakers, and the following resolution was proposed by Mr. Israel, seconded by Mr. Lyons, and carried unanimously:

"Resolved, That our nation having, for more than two thousand years, been subject to dreadful persecutions from all the powers and states of the earth, it is right and proper that, at every favourable opportunity, we protest against such persecutions, and earnestly call on governments to render us equal justice."

Mr. Levy was then requested to forward the address to the different congregations of England, which he engaged to do, and expressed his conviction that the Christian states of Europe only required the Jews to regenerate themselves, to arouse their latent energies, and to show symptoms of life and nationality. He hailed the present movements as an earnest of much better things, and expressed his conviction that when the Jews were once more brought to a right spirit, and nationally associated, they would be made by their Almighty King a blessing

to mankind.

Mr. Charles Samuel, in a very interesting speech, expressed the obligations he felt, in common with his brethren, to the chairman, to whose disinterested and patriotic exertious the present movements among the Jews were owing, and proposed the thanks of the meeting to him.

This was seconded by Mr. L. Solomon, and being carried by acclamation, the meeting was adjourned.

The political condition of the Jews, to which our attention is directed by the above article, is a subject of painful interest, whether we revert to the elevation whence they are fallen, or contemplate the state of degradation and oppression in which they are sunk amongst the nations of the earth. Measures of even a more harsh character than those of the Russian Emperor are said to have been adopted towards them in other quarters. The most absurd of these is a regulation of the Governor of Frankfort, by which not more than fifty out of a thousand are allowed

to marry in a year. In England, the home and the nursing-mother of all that is noble, good, and free, they are subject to but few disabilities; yet we could wish to see them removed, nor are we aware of any danger, real or problematical, that should bar the way to their removal. None, at least, of the arguments which are urged against the Catholics can be urged against the Israelites. They acknowledge no foreign influence; they offer no divided allegiance. Turning, however, from their political to their moral condition, we are happy to find that there are individuals amongst them who have discovered the link in the divine dispensations which connect the two; who trace their sufferings to their sins; who are coming forward, and in public assembly acknowledge that, in relation to the FIRST CAUSE, their persecutions are just. Thus did David their father. When Shimei cursed the monarch of Israel, and cast stones at him and his servants, the latter were incensed against him, and proposed to go immediately and take off his head; but the king heard in his reproach a voice which they heard not; "So let him curse," said the monarch, "because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David." Could we see a sense of their guilt (which was expressed at the late meeting) deeply felt and widely spreading among the descendants of the house of Israel, then should we hail it as a favourable omen that the promises long on record, and which await but this moral transformation, were nigh to their fulfilment.

"And it shall come to pass when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and thou shalt call them to mind among all the the curse which I have set before thee, and nations whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee. And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart and with all thy soul: That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have comthee from all the nations whither the Lord passion upon thee, and will return and gather thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee. And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, that thou mayst live. And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.”

36

MONTHLY REGISTER.

FOREIGN.

degraded envoy, Baron d'Ottenfels, to Greece. Nothing decisive has yet the office and state of Privy Counsellor, arisen out of the battle of Navarino," in consequence of his able and zealous mentioned in our last. Political opinion diplomatic services, in keeping the peace continues to vacillate between peace and of the Levant." This is the enigma, the war, influenced by the adverse rumours solution of which we must refer to time, which reach us from various quarters. the safest and most successful expositor A collateral incident has, however, sprung out of it, as singular perhaps as any which the history of diplomacy can supply.

In the Gazette de France is an official document, addressed by the Austrian Minister, Prince Metternich, to the Internuncio, from the Court of Constantinople, chiding him in the severest terms with ignorance or wilful violation of his instructions; letting him know that the EMPEROR and KING "blamed him and disavowed him;" imputing to him motives that could not be comprehended, for refusing to co-operate with the other great powers, "in making the Porte desist from its obstinacy, and obliging it to accept the salutary measures lately proposed to it by Russia, France, and England." For this his (ignorance and disobedience of orders-orders of which he had been in possession since the month of December last year he is commanded to go himself and apologise to the gentlemen of the other nations, and to promise them his co-operation in future; "the wishes of his Imperial Majesty being entirely conformable to those of his august allies, for the preservation of general peace, and the re-establishment of order and security in the East."

There are some remarkable circumstances relative to the date of this despatch, but the principal and most puzzling part of the strange story is, that, bearing the same date as that which is affixed to this disgrace of Baron d'Ottenfels in the German papers (viz. the 30th November), there appears in the Vienna Gazette an Imperial instrument, an order proceeding from the EMPEROR himself, advancing this same

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of political mysteries.

South America.-Brazilian papers to the 24th of October have arrived, but contain no intelligence respecting the war with Buenos Ayres, and indeed no political news. In the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, on the 10th of October, Senor Freigo, a member of the Ecclesiastical Committee, offered a separate vote on a motion of Senor Ferreira Franca, and requested that he might be excused from reading it, and that it might be printed. This request not being granted, he proceeded to read a very long paper, the object of which was to call on the Government to apply to the Pope to relieve the clergy from the penalties which at present attach to their marrying, and at the same time to state to his Holiness, that, even if his consent should be withheld, the Assembly could not avoid revoking the law of celibacy.

We should not wonder if his Holiness were sometimes a little perplexed by these things, if it were possible for perplexity and infallibility ever to be associated in the same mind.

DOMESTIC.

One of the most interesting features in our domestic affairs, of an ecclesiastical character, is the stir among the metropolitan Jews, occasioned by the persecutions of their brethren in Russia, the particulars of which will be found among the articles of intelligence.

Lord Goderich is understood to have tendered his resignation to his Majesty. The motives which induced this step, with its collateral bearings and ultimate results, remain to be developed. Parliament re-assembles on the 22d inst.

IRISH CHRONICLE,

JANUARY, 1828.

THE Baptist Irish Society has received from the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society a grant of Bibles and Testaments, both in the Irish and English languages, amounting to the sum of 285l. 18. 3d. The Committee take this opportunity of publicly returning thanks for this and many former instances of prompt and liberal assistance which they have experienced from the Society.

The Edinburgh Bible Society has also granted its kind assistance, in sending Testaments to the amount of 100l., for which the Committee feel truly grateful. The following letter, addressed to the Rev. John West, Dublin, contains information on this subject:

Edinburgh, 19th November, 1827. REVEREND SIR,

By the Erin steam-vessel you will receive four bales, containing three thousand brevier New Testaments, 12mo. quires, being the amount of two votes of our committee, in favour of the Baptist School Society for Ireland, to enable that institution to supply schools with New Testaments for the use of the children while attending school, with liberty to take them home to learn from, and to read for the instruction of their parents and others who may be willing to listen. I am, Reverend Sir, Your most obedient servant, W. ARNOTT.

Letter from the Rev. Mr. Thomas.

Limerick, Nov. 16th, 1827.

To the Secretaries of the Baptist Irish Society
MY DEAR FRIENDS,

poverty, and dirt. At the entrance of their miserable hovels there are pools of stagnated water, into which they gather their pigs' dung from year to year, and which frequently breeds fever in their wretched dwellings: it is sufficient to communicate contagion through the country, were it not that it is greatly counteracted by the purity of our atmosphere.

You are not at a loss to ascertain the cause of all this ignorance and misery. I am sure had our society been established years before it was, these grievous miseries would have been prevented.

Cammass is the estate and residence of our worthy friends Mr. and Mrs. B., the only Protestants, except Mr. B.'s sister, in the parish. It is two miles west from Bruff. Nothing can exceed their exertions in the cause of truth, since Mrs. B.'s conversion from infidelity to the saving knowledge and service of the Saviour. They collect the poor people morning and evening, to instruct Since my last letter I have been at Bruff and to read the Scriptures for them. In fact, and Cammass, in the county of Limerick, they never cease to proclaim the truth, dark, dangerous, and dreadful places. The though they have received notices to prepare former is a small town twelve miles south of for death, and their relatives repeatedly inLimerick, on the Cork road, involved in ig-treated them to give up, fearing the threats norance and wretchedness, though in the should have been executed; but they are centre of the county of Limerick, and, I be determined to persevere, though they should lieve, the richest land in Ireland. There fall victims to Popish persecution. She is are but three or four Protestants in this quite willing, and said she would wish to die place, browbeaten and carnalized by the in-like a soldier in the cause of the great CapAuence of priestcraft, where no person was tain of her salvation. O, what a mighty

ever encouraged, nor dared to stand to pro- change! What is it that divine grace canclaim the Gospel. On the north entrance not accomplish? She who was once a ridiculing there is a filthy village of the most wretched scoffing infidel, employing her highly cultihuts, called Palatine Lane, where there was, vated mind and great abilities in the service in the time of Queen Anne, a colony of Ger- of Satan, making proselytes for hell, is now man Protestants. Their descendants have the subject of the Redeemer's spiritual all become Papists except one individual, kingdom, and the devoted servant of the and are immersed in indescribable ignorance, Lord.

I was for four days, about a fortnight ago, | at Cammass. From the time I arose in the morning until a late hour at night, I scarcely ceased to speak the truth, which was shown from the Scriptures, and contrasted with the doctrines of Popery.

Some opposed and were silenced; some acknowledged the truth; all, except one, most willingly wished to hear. But the fear of scandal, abuse, excommunication, destruction, and terror of the priests, greatly prevailed, while they seemed convinced of the truth and importance of the matter. This is a new thing with them, and I hope they will get strength. When I retired to bed each night it was with little expectation of seeing another day. We were not protected by any civil or military power; our confidence was in the Shepherd of Israel, who never slumbers nor sleeps.

Some persons came from Bruff to hear; they received a great reprimand. One Roman Catholic said he would not give up his Bible, and desired the priest to come and show him if there was any thing bad in it; until then he was determined to keep it. There was a meeting of priests to suppress the business, if possible; but it must pre vail. He who has all power in heaven and on earth said it should, and that is enough to

ensure success.

I have just returned from Nenagh, Clough-jordan, Palas, and other places in the county of Tipperary, but neither paper nor time will allow me to enter into particulars. I am industriously circulating the excellent and suitable tracts sent me by the Society. You will see by Bushe's Journal, which I send with the other itinerant Irish reader's journals, what a demand there is for them, particularly for the Scriptural Reasons for separating from the Church of Kome. Another box of suitable and beautiful Bibles and Testaments, also sent me by the Committee, bas come safe to hand, which I am very glad of, and they will make others glad also. I was teazed for them: I shall soon want more, as they will last but

a short time.

WILLIAM THOMAS.

To the Secretaries.

Sligo, November 19th, 1827.

MY DEAR BRETHREN,

I herewith forward to you the journals of the readers in my district, which correspond very much in their statements with those of the last two or three months, as to the opposition that is given to our operations in general, and yet confirming the fact that the people are determined to hear and read the Scriptures for themselves.

As the children have been so fully em

ployed for the last three or four weeks, in the fields, I have nothing particular to say respecting the schools.

With respect to myself, I have been principally engaged, since my last, in preaching in the Independent place of worship in this town, and to the sailors on board the vessels at the quay, where there has been a very good attendance.

I was yesterday fully occupied, having, early in the morning, baptized two persons in the neighbourhood of Boyle, preached at ten o'clock, after which I received the newly baptized persons into the church, administered the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, and then travelled fourteen miles to preach at Ballinacarrow, where I had an unusually large and very attentive congregation.

J. WILSON.

To the Secretaries.
Ballina, November 15, 1827.

MY DEAR BRETHREN,

Though nothing extraordinary has occurred since my last, yet I have the pleasure to inform you that the plans of the Society are still in successful operation. The schools are well attended, the readers are actively employed, and I am fully occupied in preaching, as opportunity offers, with pleasure to myself, and (permit me to add) with acceptance to my hearers. Our meeting-house here is now literally crowded, so much so, indeed, as to occasion considerable difficulty and exhaustion to myself in conducting the services. But all these inconveniences are nothing, compared with the bare possibility of being instrumental in the conversion of one soul to Christ. One other individual, Tally Haran, has been added to our little church since its formation, and I expect, on next Lord's day week to baptize his brother Pat in the river Moy, which runs through this town. I have not been anxious either to keep the matter secret or to make it public, and yet the report of it has obtained circulation far beyond my expectatious or my wishes, so that I suppose a great multitude will be assembled; and if they behave with decorum (of which I have no doubt, unless they are excited to do otherwise) I shall endeavour to preach unto them Jesus.

1 forward you the journals of the readers, which, I think, are, upon the whole, satisfactory.

I also forward you a letter addressed to me by Richard Murray, teacher of the school lately established in Carrapadan. He put it into my hand last Lord's day evening, after preaching, and it afforded me some encouragement, as I trust it will you and the Committee. I believe he is thoroughly convinced of the errors of Popery, and I have frequently observed him, when he has at

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