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fice had undertaken the labour of disentangling the web of mingled sophistry and misrepresentation, which Mr. Norris had employed so much time and trouble to weave. From the name, however, announced, we expected much; and we are bound to own that even those expectations have been exceeded. The object to be attained was, a clear statement and explanation of a confused heap of doubtful criminatory evidence; and a more consistent, intelligible, or satisfactory vindication than Mr. Scholefield has produced, has certainly been rarely given to the public eye.

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We cannot enter upon the details of a subject so comprehensive and diversified, nor transplant into our own columns many specimens of the clearness and precision with which this author has developed and laid open the exceedingly involved charges of his opponent. It is Mr. Norris's constant plan, "to advance a terrific group of indefinite horrors," in the hope make a breach in our hearts, through which the most undisciplined rabble of arguments may enter in triumph." But when his antagonist attempts to grapple with these portentous appearances, they vanish like phantoms into thin air, and leave nought behind, but a conviction of their unreal and unsubstantial nature. The recapitulation of Mr. Scholefield's triumphs over such complicated nonentities, and such alarming phantasies, can be of little interest to our readers, especially as a great portion of Mr. N.'s serious and public charges against the Society are founded upon-newspaper paragraphs and anonymous letters!

One or two instances, however, of the obliteration with which Mr. Scholefield has visited the Curate of Hackney's work, we shall venture to give, and then leave the work in the hands of our readers, who will do well to consider how

they may best further the end for which it was published, namely,

that no single individual may be deceived by Mr. Norris's statements, whether wittingly or otherwise, without at least having a full and sufficient reply and justification placed within his reach.

I cannot but compliment Mr. Norris in the outset on the extraordinary diligence he has displayed in collecting together every thing from every quarter, which could pospression unfavourable to the Bible Society. sibly contribute towards making up an imHe seems to have written his book, as the great historian did his account of the Peloponnesian war, ἀρξάμενος εὐθὺς καθιςαμένου; and through the whole of this protracted

conflict he has carefully noted down every circumstance and every expression which

could serve his purpose; and has employed,

as it should seem, correspondents in every part of the country to pour in their collected information, only taking care to report nothing which even negatively might tell in the Society's favour; the columns of every newspaper have been ransacked for the details of its proceedings, and nothing overlooked which was capable of being tortured into something culpable or ridiculous: so evidence is now before the public, and that that we may safely conclude, that the whole nothing worse is to be found in the whole diversified ramification of the Bible Society, than what is offensively dragged to light in the pages of this extraordinary book.

And amidst the mingled feelings with which I contemplate this performance, one of the most prominent is that of unfeigned surprise, that in an Institution so extensive, comprehending so many dependencies and has been with such unsparing jealousy, and such multifarious agency, scrutinized as it put to the very torture to compel a disclo

sure of all its secret mischief,-so small a contingency of evil has been discovered; that that infirmity of human nature, which

mixes itself up with every good thing under the excellence of this great object, and dethe sun, has done so little towards marring feating the purposes of Christian benevocence. Not but that Mr. Norris has brought forward a case quite as black and terrible as any enemy of the Society could well desire: but this case is so utterly unsupported by any proofs that can carry conviction to a

candid and liberal mind, and rests so almost exclusively on bold assertions, ridiculous distortions, and unauthorized insinuations, that it cannot stand the test of even a cursory examination.-Pp. 6, 7."

Mr. Norris says in his first page, that the

speech in question* "was in circulation at

* Lord Liverpool's speech at the Isle of Thanet Auxiliary Bible Society.—See our Number for January, p. 32.

Warwick, and left in the shape of a handbill at every house in the town, preparatory to an attempt to bring that county under the Bible Society's Auxiliary system." Now, it is a singular fact, that the meeting at Warwick was held on the 2d of October, and the speech was not delivered till the 17th of the same month!-P. 12.

Before I dismiss this question of the mission to Buonaparte, it may not be amiss to place it upon its right grounds. Mr. Norris originally made the accusation on the authority of the Cambridge Chronicle. Mr. Dealtry, in a note on the subject, asks, "Is it exactly true, that any newspaper ever made this assertion?" Mr. Norris, I suppose without any further examination, repeats the story as follows: "It is remarkable how accurately the date of this edition synchronises with Mr. Steinkopff's mission to Buonaparte, the circumstances of which were submitted to the Cambridge Auxiliary Meeting in December 1812, and detailed in the Cambridge Chronicle of the 18th of that month and year." Norris's Letter, p. 194. I have been at the pains of extracting from the paper referred to the original statement, from which it will be seen what reason Mr. Dealtry had for asking the above question. The statement is as follows:

"One circumstance has transpired of so interesting a nature, at this moment, that we trust we need make no apology for its insertion. The French Emperor, Buonaparte, from whom this nation were certainly not prepared to expect patronage for its religious institutions, has thought proper to countenance the object of Mr. Steinkopff's

mission."

And

In a preceding part of the same account the editor had mentioned, that Mr. Steinkopff had been on an expedition to Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and France. these are the details, 'which Mr. Norris says the Cambridge Chronicle gives of Dr. Steinkopff's mission to Buonaparte!-Pp. 21, 22.

It is conceded, then, to Mr. Norris, that these objects are excellent: it is conceded also, that "the Bible Society limits itself to the first" of these objects. But when he amplifies this point by stating, that "it discards both the teacher and his commentary" (p. 22), it is surely a mode of speech somewhat ungracious. It no more discards them than it discards food and clothing: it never had any thing to do with either. Nor must Mr. Norris think to surprise your Lordship into the conclusion he draws from this statement, which is as mere a petitio principii as ever was called in to the aid of a faltering argument. He "entreats your Lordship's attention to the comprehensiveness of [the] one Society, and the re

strictiveness of the other, and therefore to the superior claim of that whose cause he has undertaken to advocate, on the score of the greater measure of good service done, and of its more varied usefulness." (p. 22-3.) More varied, and therefore, he would argue, greater in the aggregate; an inference which no thinking man will grant him, since it might easily be demonstrated in the same way, that to feed ten men with bread and meat would be doing greater good than to feed a thousand with bread only.-Pp. 37, 38.

It cannot for a moment be denied, that of that mass of quotation with which Mr. Norris's notes are crowded on this subject, though some is comparatively innocent, much is exceptionable in the highest degree: it ought never to have been spoken, and perhaps never was spoken. For, again and again it is necessary to warn Mr. Norris's readers, not to place too implicit a faith in the evidence of newspaper reports. Carlisle Patriots, Chester Chronicles, Salopian Journals, &c. are all, for any thing I know to the contrary, very respectable newspapers, but they really are not the most proper vouchers for the proceedings at Bible meetings. What shall we think of the accuracy of one paper, for instance, which could represent Mr. Hughes, one of the Society's Secretaries, as saying, "Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking, &c.?" Or of another, which reports the same gentleman to have said, "The British and Foreign Bible Society and the British and Foreign School Society are now identified?" But I doubt not your Lordship is well prepared to appreciate the value of this kind of evidence, from the liberties it has often taken with the proceedings of a higher assembly. And yet Mr. Norris relies on such documents as these; and when the persons concerned assure him that he is misled by inaccurate reports, as has above appeared in one instance, and might be made to appear in more, he merely throws it into the scale as so much evidence on the other side, leaving it to the jury to decide between the credibility of contradictory witnesses ! And is controversy sunk to such a depth as this? And is there in this "lowest deep a lower deep Still threatening to devour us?"-Pp. 93, 94.

But we must cut our extracts short, again recommending to our readers the examination of the work for themselves, and its circulation, wherever opposition is yet given to the great designs of this glorious institution.

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NOTICE OF VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

THE approaching season of the year usually reunites those members of a family who have been on various accounts dispersed; and inquiries are then frequently made for suitable books to put into their hands we have attempted, therefore, to select a few interesting works, which we are unable to notice in any other way, and to arrange them in classes, in the hope of assisting the parent, teacher, or friend, in forming a suitable choice.

First, books calculated for scriptural instruction.

1. The Christian Youth's Instructor; or, Bible Class Book. By the Rev. A. E. Far2s. bound.

rar.

2. Select Passages from the Bible, arranged under distinct Heads, for the Use of Schools and Families. By Alexander Adam. 4s. Boards.

3. The Church Catechism illustrated, in a Series of scriptural Examinations on its various Doctrines. By Joshua Dixon. 2s. 6d. Boards.

4. The Bible Catechism, arranged in forty Divisions, all the Answers to the Questions being in the exact Words of Scripture. By W. F. Lloyd. 2s.

5. The abridged Bible Catechism. By W. F. Lloyd.

4d.

6. The original Collection of Lessons for the Instruction of Adults; or, an Introduction to the reading of the Sacred Scriptures. By the Committee of the Bristol Adult School Society.

Secondly, books of religious instruction, in which the authors do not confine themselves to the very words of Scripture.

1. The Child's Manual of Devotion By a Lady. 6d.

2. Familiar Questions for the junior Classes of Sunday Schools. By the Rev. R. Marks. 3d.

3. Bible Rhymes. By Hannah More, 2s. 4. Seven Sermons on Baptism, Confirmation, and the Lord's Supper. By the Rev. John Scott. 2s. 6d. Boards.

5. A Scripture Help; designed to assist in reading the Bible profitably. By the

Rer. Edward Bickersteth. 5s.

6. A Treatise on Prayer. By the same

Author. 5s.

7. Abridgments of the two last Publications. Price 6d. each.

8. A Treatise on the Lord's Supper. By the Rev. E. Bickersteth. 5s. Boards.

9. A Companion to the Altar, being an Abridgment of the above. By the same Author. Price 2s. 6d. bound.

10. Four Sermons preparatory to the Administration of the Lord's Supper. By the Rev. R. P. Beachcroft, A. M. 2s. 6d.

Thirdly, real and striking narratives of religious persons of different situations in life.

1. Some Account of the Character and happy Death of Miss Sarah Jane C. Edited by the Rev. John Scott, M. A. 6d.

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2. A Sermon on the Death of Mary Ann Davies; with Extracts from her Letters, Prayers, and Meditations. By the Rev. James Williams, A. B.

3. Memoir of Elizabeth Moulder, who resided nearly thirty Years in the Family of the Rev. Thomas Scott. By Mrs. Scott.

4. The Narrative and Extracts from the Journal of Miriam Sheriff, late Servant to Mrs. Austen, of Colchester.

5. Memoir of the late Thomas Bateman, M. D.

Fourthly, Histories chiefly fictitious, but in some cases founded on facts, and which combine considerable interest with important instruction.

1. The Two Friends. 9d.

2. The Military Blacksmith. 9d.
3. Lily Douglas. 1s. 6d.
4. The Catechist. 1s. 6d.
5. Tales from Switzerland.
6. The Jewish Boy.

3s.

Our readers may safely commit these publications into the hands of their friends. We have read them with great pleasure ourselves, and should be happy if our limits allowed us to expatiate at length on their varied excellencies. It would be saying more than the infirmity of human nature would justify, to assert that there is nothing in any of them we could wish to be altered; but we are fully confident that the general tendency of the whole is to promote pure and undefiled religion.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

BIBLE SOCIETIES.

CITY OF LONDON AUXILIARY.

THE Tenth Anniversary of this Institution took place on Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Egyptian Hall, at the Mansion House. The Lord Mayor entered a little after twelve. The Hall was crowded in the extreme; and numbers of respectable persons were unable to obtain admission.

The Lord Mayor having in a few words opened the business of the meeting,

The Rev. Mr. Dillon (one of the Secretaries of the Society) read the Report, which being concluded,

Sir Claudius Stephen Hunter, in moving the adoption of the Report, congratulated his Lordship on sitting in the chair on such an occasion at the close of his mayoralty. He then touched on the inestimable blessings which result from being engaged in such services. We were taught as schoolboys to read the Scriptures; but such meetings lead us not only to read but to think. The spirit of benevolence goes abroad; men are led to associate to contribute to the temporal wants, and seek the spiritual blessings of their fellow men. The Bible Society promoted industry and loyalty among the poor, its benefits extended even to foreign countries, and were at this moment especially visible in France.

Alderman Venables, in seconding the printing of the Report, justified the repeating arguments in favour of the Bible Society; and remarked, that the opposition it met with should neither astonish nor grieve us. Such had been the case with every useful and benevolent undertaking. The invention of printing-the Protestant Reformation-the abolition of the slave-trade, had all met with opposition. Truth can only be propagated and understood by sifting and examination.-He then noticed the extent and stability of the Bible Society, and the firm root it had in the affections of a large part of mankind.

Dr. Thorpe remarked that the hall in which they were assembled, displayed a scene worthy of the greatest city in the world. England herself, pre-eminent in liberty, prosperity, and happiness, now proved that it was not to herself that she wished such blessings to be confined; conscious that it was to the precepts of the Holy Scriptures that those advantages were to be traced, she candidly proffered those precepts to the acceptance of all the world. While the British and Foreign Bible Society advanced the glory and fortune of a state, it tended

DECEMBER 1822.

at the same time to the happiness of the meanest individual connected with it. The Society had been attacked in various quarters: even during the last year a blow had been aimed at it; but the first minister of the country-and the country was indebted to him for his conduct-had not refused to stand forward in its defence. The Society had been formed in a period apparently unfavourable to its extension; but it had overcome obstacles which nothing but true principle could have surmounted. While the Continent had been closed against every other class of British produce, British Bibles had still been freely admitted, and the agents of the Society had uniformly been received with kindness and respect. It had been predicted that Bible Societies would decline when their novelty ceased. But eighteen years had elapsed, and each succeeding year saw them increasing in influence and in numbers. Dr. Thorpe then adverted to the lamented death of the Rev. Mr. Owen. From an intimacy of long standing, he was qualified to bear witness to the admirable character of that regretted individual, to the excellence of his private conduct, to his constant exertion for the interests of the Gospel, to his uniform charity and piety, and to the entire absence of bigotry from his heart and feeling. He then adverted to the state of Ireland. The sympathy shown by this country to their sufferings had found its way to the hearts of Irishmen in general. The charity of England had not only accomplished the relief immediately contemplated, but it had gained to her the confidence of the people whom she assisted. As an Irishman himself, he was free to declare that the road to an Irishman's understanding was through his heart; and many of the Irish had been heard to protest, that they were ready to die for their benefactors: one effect is, that the Irish are beginning to receive your Bibles, being convinced, that you give them the Bible not to take away their religion, but to afford them the opportunity of using their own understanding.

Dr. Thorpe was followed in succession by the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, G. Clayton, Mr. Favell, Dr. Goode, the Rev. Mr. Dillon, Dr. Steinkopff, D. Wilson, G. Rogers, E. Irving, and Dr. Carr; when Sir C. S. Hunter acknowledged a vote of thanks as chairman, and the meeting broke up highly gratified.

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REGISTER OF EVENTS.

HOME.

ANOTHER month has passed without an occurrence of any importance. The winter, however, approaches, though with nearly imperceptible steps; and the political arena, the House of Commons, will soon be again crowded with the contending parties of the state. His Majesty has suffered a few days' indisposition, but is said to be perfectly recovered. He held a court on Friday the 22d of November, returned to Brighton on the following day, and on Sunday attended Divine Service at the Chapel of the Pavilion. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Pearson.

There have been several trials and convictions, within these few weeks, for seditious and blasphemous libels. In one instance, a woman, carrying a child in her arms, and attended by other females, attempted to read as her defence an attack on Christianity, so audacious as to compel the judges to order her recommittal.

The notorious Hunt has left Ilchester gaol, the term of his imprisonment having expired. A triumphal entry into London was attempted, but failed most miserably. In fact, the cheapness of provisions has greatly abated the discontent of the lower classes; and although there were many spectators, they were almost universally silent and unmoved.

The Cambridge Election has terminated. At an early period of the month, Mr. Shore resigned his claims in favour of Mr. Grant. That gentleman continued his canvass up to the very eve of the election; but being disappointed of the support of some friends, who hesitated on the ground of his bias towards what is called Catholic Emancipation,—he also resigned. It is much to be lamented that such a man should have been lost to the University; and we the more regret the circumstance, as arising wholly from a conscientious tenacity in opinions, which we cannot help regarding as mistaken.

The candidates then rema ning in the field, were, Mr. Scarlett, a member of the Opposition; Lord Hervey, a young man of estimable character, and connected with the Administration; and Mr. Bankes, son of the Member for Corfe Castle, favourably inclined towards Ministers, but only pledged to the one point, of support to the Protestant cause.

This being the choice presented to the University, we certainly think that the members have done right in fixing upon the last named gentleman. The votes given, were— for Mr. Bankes, 419: for Lord Hervey, 281: for Mr. Scarlett, 219.

IRELAND is more tranquil. It is said that the system of police, lately introduced, has partly tended to produce this effect. The annual insult offered to the Roman Catholics of Dublin, by the celebration of the birthday of King William, their conqueror, and the attiring his statue with ribands, &c. has been this year prevented by the interposition of the Lord-Lieutenant and the Mayor of that metropolis. The thanks of the Government here have been given to these Authorities for their exertions in putting down this offensive custom-and we think deservedly given. We should dread the return of the Papists to power; but while it is necessary that they be deprived of the means of persecuting us, it is unmanly to insult them with continual memorials of their deprivation.

The bishopric of Clonfert in Ireland has been filled by the nomination of Dr. Jebb, author of "Sacred Literature." This and several other of the late appointments have laudably deviated from the practice which has too much prevailed in Ireland, of appropriating the higher stations in the Church to the younger branches of noble families.

FOREIGN.

The principal sovereigns in EUROPE, the kings of England, France, and Spain, excepted, have now been for some time assembled at Verona. Little or nothing can be known of their deliberations. Various reports have been circulated; one of which, in particular, of hostile intentions towards the present Spanish government, was made great use of to depress the value of Spanish securities in the principal marts for those com

modities.

Some rumours of the illness of the King of FRANCE have been circulated: and without doubt the death of this monarch would produce important results. His brother, and apparent successor, is said to be an admirer of the regime of Louis XIV. and would therefore, in all probability, plunge into a war with Spain, which might eventually shake his

own seat.

In SPAIN, matters appear to wear an unfavourable aspect towards the " Regency:" they have quitted Urgel, and moved nearer the frontier, probably from some fear of being surrounded by the approaching forces of the Constitutionalists.

Various parts of the immense SOUTH AMERICAN Continent are still ravaged by the Scourge of war and intestine commotion.

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