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and we are now about to lay beside him his friend, his successor in the pastoral office, his fellow-labourer in the cause of divine truth, and his affectionate biographer. Amiable and venerable were they in their lives, and, agreeably to their mutual wishes and pledges, in death they are not divided.” After a brief narrative of the leading events in Mr. Belsham's life, the address closed with this sketch of his character:

"When Dr. Priestley left his native land, he publicly confided to Mr. Belsham the defence of Unitarianism. Our friend and brother modestly but resolvedly accepted the charge as from the hand of Providence. During many years he was the incessant, the unwearied, and, may I not add, the successful advocate of divine truth. Being dead, he yet speaketh,' and his various works will long live to attest his learning, his laboriousness, his zeal, his fearless devotion to pure Christianity, and his benevolent anxiety for the moral and spiritual interests of his fellow-creatures.

"As a writer, our departed friend was distinguished by the clearness of his conceptions and the perspicuity of his style. He possessed beyond most authors the happy art of simplifying a difficult subject, and of making even abstract and metaphysical propositions intelligible to the unlearned reader. There were occasions on which he did not disdain the ornaments of composition; and passages might be quoted from his writings as examples of felicity of diction, and of a chaste but fervid imagination.

"In the pulpit, there was in our friend the dignity that belongs to manly simplicity. He practised no arts in preaching. There was an interesting repose in his manner. A distinct enunciation, and a clear and steady tone of voice, allowed the hearer to receive calmly and to meditate freely upon the matter of discourse.

"Mr. Belsham professed to follow Dr. Hartley as a metaphysician, and, with few exceptions, he adopted and maintained the theological system of Dr. Priestley. As an expounder of these masterly writers, and a commentator on their best works, he is beyond all praise.

"From the decisions of his own powerful mind, as well as from early connections, Mr. Belsham was the consistent and zealous friend of civil and religious liberty; and he lived through a period when the patriotism of every public man was severely tried.

His

"With remarkable decision and boldness of mind, especially as a theologian, our departed friend united the greatest gentleness and courtesy. Persons knowing him only as a controversial writer, often expressed their surprise and delight on first feeling the attraction of his urbanity of manners. native kindness of heart imparted a pleasantness to his countenance and voice in the social circle. His sympathies were quick, and many were the occasions when he could not conceal in public the tenderness of his feelings. He was unostentatious in his virtues; but I have reason to believe that his private charities were answerable to the known generosity of his heart."

The members of the Gravel-Pit congregation, holding in respectful and grateful remembrance Mr. Belsham's pastoral labours at Hackney from 1794 to 1805, requested Mr. Aspland to preach a sermon on the occasion of his death. He selected the appropriate subject of Courage and Confidence in the Cause of Christian Truth; and the discourse was afterwards, at the request of his hearers, printed.

While death was thus thinning the ranks of his friends and religious coadjutors, Mr. Aspland was consoled by the conviction that Providence would, in every emergency, raise up champions equal to the defence of truth and righteousness. He was deeply interested in the important struggle for religious freedom made by the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster; and when the Rev. Henry Montgomery, the intrepid and suc

cessful leader of the upright band of Non-subscribing ministers in the North of Ireland, visited England in the beginning of the year 1829, Mr. Aspland incited a number of "the friends of religious liberty,” including Calvinists, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics and Unitarians, to welcome him at a public entertainment. The meeting was remarkably successful, and, being timed at a most critical period, answered a more important end even than the well-deserved recognition of Mr. Montgomery's public services.

He had, shortly after, the satisfaction of still further strengthening the bonds of union between the friends of Unitarianism in England and Ireland. Reference is made to this circumstance in the following letter, addressed to the writer, by Rev. William Hamilton Drummond, D.D. "Dublin, Sept. 5, 1849.

"Dear Sir,-As every occurrence recalling the memory of your excellent father may form an item in the Memoirs with which the Christian Reformer is enriching its pages, you may not deem it altogether uninteresting to learn that I have in my possession three letters of his addressed to me, bearing date June 27, 1828, May 1 and May 11, 1829. The first contains a copy of a resolution of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association, to ask Dr. D. to preach their anniversary sermon, in order to testify their sympathy with him, and to draw into closer union the Unitarians of Great Britain and Ireland.' It then proceeds to state that a measure had been urged on the Committee by several correspondents in Ireland, which might be found useful—viz., a visit to that country on the part of some of their most respected members-that such a visit might lay the foundation of intercourse and united exertion by the Unitarians of both islands.' Though no regular plan was then devised or matured for carrying out the design thus suggested, there has not ceased, ever since, to be a cordial fraternal intercourse between the brethren. We in Ireland have profited much, and I confidently trust shall continue to profit more and more, by the visits, the preaching, the writings and friendly correspondence of English Unitarians.

"In a subsequent letter he says, 'I am pleased with the account of your present engagements. Your Archbishop (Magee) is quite au fait at epithets ; but I have heard my Lord Holland apply one to his Grace, founded upon his evidence before the House of Lords, in the Irish Inquiry Committee, which neither you nor I would consent to provoke by our conduct for archiepiscopal honours and emoluments. The point of the evidence in question was, as you may recollect, the Athanasian Creed.

"We cannot regret that your time in London will be somewhat shortened by your visit to Bristol, since we are assured that both you and Dr. Carpenter will be mutually delighted by your interview, and that you cannot meet each other without strengthening one another's hands and hearts for our common cause, which, saving Dr. Magee's authority, I must continue to believe to be the strong and immoveable cause of Christian truth and divine wisdom.'

Of this interesting meeting a brief report appeared in the Monthly Repository (N.S.), III. 141-148. Mr. Aspland expressed, in a very glowing speech, his admiration of Mr. Montgomery and the estimable body of men with whom he was associated in the defence of the rights of conscience, from amongst whom he especially selected Mr. Porter, whose integrity of conscience had proved itself invulnerable, and who had shewn himself ready to sacrifice every thing for truth and liberty.

† Dr. Drummond was at this time engaged in the composition of two letters of rebuke to Archbishop Magee, who had contemptuously styled Unitarianism a" feeble and conceited heresy."

"These extracts, though other documents were wanting, would suffice to shew Mr. Aspland's earnest zeal to promote the cause of Unitarian Christianity both at home and abroad, and his firm belief that it is the strong and immoveable cause of Christian truth and divine wisdom.' With a heartfelt conviction of the same belief, I remain, dear Sir, very faithfully yours, W. H. DRUMMOND."

In the autumn of 1828, Mr. Aspland visited some of the principal Unitarian congregations of the North-west of England, as a deputation from the Unitarian Association. On this mission he preached at Northampton, Liverpool, Manchester, Bolton, Chowbent, Dukinfield, Hyde, Chester and Warrington.* At Manchester he was the guest of Mr. G. W. Wood and Rev. J. G. Robberds, and at Liverpool of Mr. Freme and Mr. Ashton Yates. At the house of the last-named gentleman he had the pleasure of meeting a distinguished member of the Jewish sect, well known to the public by his enlightened mind and generous spirit, and since distinguished by a mark of his Sovereign's favour. This gentleman, together with his daughter, had been a hearer of Mr. Aspland, a day or two before, at Paradise-Street Chapel. On that occasion the xith chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans was read in the introductory service; and the sermon, founded on the concluding words of Peter's first sermon to the Jews at Jerusalem (Acts ii. 39) was a cheering statement of the prospects of the human race, founded on the providence and immutable perfections of God. His candid Hebrew auditors, at that time little accustomed to the mode and forms of Christian worship, listened to the preacher with gratified attention, and the elder of them took the opportunity, at Mr. Yates's table, of expressing his sense of the liberality of spirit which pervaded the service. He added, that "he was especially struck, as coming from a Christian teacher, with the generous and hopeful spirit evinced towards the people of Israel in the shorter sermon." Being asked to explain his meaning, he referred to the preacher's declaration, that "God had not cast away his ancient people, but that all Israel should be saved." Mr. Aspland then explained that what he had listened to as a shorter sermon was, in fact, part of a letter of Paul to the Romans, and that he welcomed with inexpressible delight, and infinitely more than he should any compliment personal to himself, this unconscious testimony from an intelligent and candid Hebrew to the liberality and love towards the Hebrew race of a Christian apostle.

* At each of these places a collection was made in aid of the Association, and in several of them the names of annual subscribers were obtained. The following table will shew what were Mr. Aspland's labours, and with what immediate success they were rewarded:

Sept. 21. Northampton

Oct. 12. Liverpool-Paradise-Street Chapel

19. Morning-Manchester, Cross-Street

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28. Hyde

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Nov. 2. Chester

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The sermon is printed in the volume published in 1833.

In 1829, Mr. Aspland, for the first and only time, visited Paris, in order to fetch home a daughter, who had been finishing her school education there. He stopped several weeks in that interesting capital. The extracts now offered from letters written in and respecting Paris, while they may amuse by their earnest admiration of almost every thing French, disclose the keenness and accuracy of his perception of the tendency of national events in that country, which was on the eve of another revolution.

66

Rev. Robert Aspland to Mrs. Aspland.

Paris, Sept. 21, 1829. 'My dear Wife,-I am more and more pleased with Paris. Six months would scarcely be enough to get a thorough knowledge of it and its environs. The English appear to me to know little or nothing of the French. They are certainly far above us in many important respects. I have been disappointed in nothing, and agreeably surprised in almost every thing. Caroline is afraid I should become a Frenchman. She is home-sick, and cherishes all her English prejudices. So, probably, should I, if I were shut up for months in a pension.

“M. Babinet and I have met and are meeting. He appears to greater advantage at home than he did at London, pleased as we were with him there. He has sent for his mother-in-law from the country to give me a dinner chez lui, on Thursday. Last night he introduced me to a soirée at the house of M. L. Aimé Martin, one of the literati of France. There I met Count Lainé, pair de France, and several distinguished men. Madame Aimé Martin was the wife of St. Pierre, the beautiful writer, and I was introduced to a daughter of St. Pierre's, by a former wife, as the Virginie of the pretty story which you recollect. She accepts the distinction. She is the wife of the Commandant of Paris. The Madame, a fine woman, with little or no appearance of age, and with much wit and philosophy, kept my French and English on the stretch for two hours. She inquired after ma femme. I told her you had been a reader and admirer of St. Pierre, and she has sent you a copy of Paul and Virginie inscribed with her hommage. I was complimented, I sure you, on my French, and flattered in a variety of ways.

ROBERT ASPLAND."

Rev. Robert Aspland to Mrs. Aspland.

as

"My dear Sara,-Since I wrote this morning, I have been to l'Institut, and seen (I cannot say assisted at) one of its seances. The only individual whom I could make out was Cuvier. They are fine creatures here. I had only to announce myself at the doors as an English man of letters (I suppose there is nothing wrong or vain in this description), and was instantly admitted to the sitting and to the library, where there is a statue of Voltaire which I shall never forget.

66

Leaving the Institut, I sought out Gregoire, l'ancien Eveque. It took me a long time to find him. A priest and professor whom I accidentally met assisted me, and though close by him, did not know whether he was in Paris or in heaven or- -he did not say the rest. The ex-bishop was delighted to receive me. He is a beautiful character. I was introduced to his sitting and bed-room. Over the bed was a figure of the Crucifixion. You may imagine him all you have ever conceived Fenelon to be. He took care to apprize me both of his orthodoxy and his philanthropy. I hope to see him again.

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R. A."

Hackney, Oct. 20, 1829. I am a complete convert to France. Almost every thing was better than I expected. The English, at least at home, appear to me to be unjust

to the French, with regard to their character and their institutions. In both, in the latter especially, they are, in some respects, far before us. Caroline, however, will allow nothing of this. I assure you that my Gallic predilections expose me to a constant and hot fire amongst all my acquaintances. Paris is truly a fine city-its churches, its palaces, its gardens and its fountains, never fail to recreate an unprejudiced English eye. Every thing seems to be accommodated to public enjoyment, and strangers are treated as a privileged class. The people are proverbially temperate and well-behaved. I observed little of the levity here attributed to the French character. I should rather say it was marked by sobriety, and even seriousness. But then it must be remembered that this is a critical moment-politics engross every mind. The eagerness for the journals is wonderful, and the whole nation seem bent upon the preservation of the liberty assured to them by the Charter. My opinion is that the people will triumph over the Government: should the Court be obstinate, that fine country, and with it all Europe, may be involved (which Heaven forbid !) in the horrors of war.

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"I was fortunate in some of my French introductions. A M. Babinet, a Professor in one of the Colleges, had been over here just before my visit, on a sort of Unitarian mission. In him I found a useful guide, a delightful companion, and an active, zealous friend. He introduced me to some of the literati, and, amongst others, to M. Aimé Martin. I met also Viscount Lainé, one of the peers of France, the joint leader, with Chateaubriand, of the liberals in the Upper Chamber. He is a venerable man, and the utmost confidence is reposed in him by the friends of liberty. Upon the political will probably depend the religious condition of France for the next century. Unitarianism, if I do not deceive myself, is upon the point of breaking out; the better sort of minds are disgusted equally with the Roman Catholic absurdity and foolery and with the heartlessness and dreariness of scepticism. They will not become Protestants, but they must be, sooner or later, Catholic Unitarians—a new denomination, in which I sometimes amuse myself by thinking that mankind will at length find all that they covet for the understanding, imagination and affections.

"There are still good and steady Roman Catholics in Paris. By some of these, through the kindness of Mr. C. Butler, I was welcomed as an old friend. I had two delightful interviews with Bishop Gregoire, whose fine face and noble mien and fascinating manners I shall never forget. We conversed a good while upon the French Revolution, in which he was one of the actors, and one of the few whose hands were never stained with cruelty. He still boasts of being a republican, and is quite content with the state of persecution in which his political integrity has placed him for the last thirty years. You may suppose that my recollection of the great and strange events that have occurred in France within the period just mentioned increased not a little the intenseness of my feelings on looking around me. I gazed till I forgot myself on some of the epochs and buildings celebrated for good or ill deeds. One constant feeling of regret with me, I confess, was that NAPOLEON was no longer visible. Without him, France, and especially Paris, sometimes appeared to me as a mighty body without a soul. It is well, you will say, that this sheet is not to pass through the scrutinies of the Bourbon; and perhaps my political heresy may be bolder than would be tolerated in many English circles. My excuse must be that of Bishop Gregoire-' I cannot see with any eyes but my own.'

Soon after his return home, Mr. Aspland communicated to the Unitarian public (though without his name) some of his impressions respecting Paris and the French. The article will be found in the Monthly Repository, N.S., Vol. III. p. 777.

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