Page images
PDF
EPUB

God's word, that children, which are baptized, dying before they commit actual sin, are undoubtedly saved?" How this could be affirmed, if the framers of our Liturgy intended to own the hypothetical principle, I leave it to Mr. Scott to explain, and shall only observe that it is rather singular he should omit all reference to the above declaration, especially as he has formally noticed the Office to which it is appended, and since his opponent has mentioned it as giving the doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration its great practical importance. What does Hooker, the best interpreter of the Church of England's meaning, say on this subject? I could adduce many passages from his immortal work, that directly favour our view of it, but must content myself with one. "In our infancy we are incorporated into Christ, and, by Baptism, receive the grace of his Spirit, without any sense or feeling of the gift which God bestoweth :" (Ecclesiast. Pol. Book 5th, p. 237.) Here the instrumental conveyance of the Holy Spirit, in Baptism, is clearly asserted, and that with regard to subjects incapable of repentance and faith: there is nothing hypothetical in the words; the assertion is peremptory. Whether, by being "incorporated into Christ," Hooker meant only an external and relative justification, in the sense of Bishop Hopkins and Mr. Scott, let those determine who are most familiar with his writings. One word more, Mr. Urban, and I have done: a great deal has been said as to the pernicious tendency of the doctrines I have been defending; we are gravely told that they lead to the destruction of spiritual religion, and check the growth of true piety; that they cause mankind, as it were, to settle on the lees, and to mistake formality for holiness. To all this I have one short answer to make; the cause of truth can never beserved by the propagation of error. The question resolves itself into this; Is not the doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration fairly deducible from the criptures, and manifestly recognized in the Liturgy of the Church of England? If this be the case, it is our duty, as Ministers of that Church, to teach it, and not to attempt, by any expedients of our own, an improvement on the Divine Counsels. What

[blocks in formation]

Aug. 16.

YOUR Correspondent, Aristippus,

p. 22, misled printed account of a meeting held at Brecon on the 25th of June last, into a supposition, that the Welsh Clergy and Laity, assembled on that occasion, concurred with the resolutions of the Castle Cary Clergy; though even that account might have convinced him of the contrary, by the loss of the motion of thanks to the Castle Cary Clergy, proposed by the Chairman. That the printed account was a very defective and partial one, you may judge by the following occurrence at the Meeting. In the discussion which followed the Archdeacon of Brecon's speech, Major Price (a highly-distinguished officer, who, after a service of more than 20 years in the East Indies, where he lost a leg, has retired to his native country) rose and addressed the Chairman in nearly the following words:

"I object to your proceedings, as deficient in due respect to your ecclesiastical superiors. I belong to a profession, in which I have learnt to appreciate the necessity of strict subordination. An attention to subordination must be equally essential to the respectability and well-being of our admirable Church Establishment. I am decidedly for subordination."

Major Price of the East India Company's service, and late Judge Advocate of Bombay, is the Author of the "Chronological Retrospect of the principal Events of Mahomedan History."

Mr. URBAN,

T

IRENÆUS.

Aug. 17.

HE following Anecdote reflects so much credit on the good sense of the Personage there mentioned, and bespeaks so tolerant and Christian-like a spirit, that it deserves a more lasting record than the pages of a Newspaper:

During the late short stay of the King of Bavaria at Bergzaboon, his Majesty, on entering the House of the Justice of Peace, where he re

sided, addressed to the Clergy of the three religious persuasions (Lutheran, Calvinist, and Catholic), the following remarkable words: "I am indeed a good Catholick, but I consider that Religion to be the best, which leads men to the performance of their

Duties."

I

Mr. URBAN,

N Pollexen's Reports, p.

J. S.

Aug. 4. 606-613,

a Case is reported respecting the Hundreds of Gartre and Guthlaxton, in Leicestershire, which has escaped the notice of the inquisitive and very accurate Historian of that County. The subject is an action brought by William Cole, Esq. Sheriff of that County, 29th Chas. II. against Ireland, Bailiff of the said Hundreds, claiming the fees and profits arising from the several Courts there held. It appears from the evidence stated in a special verdict, that our antient Sovereigns had been in the practice of granting the said Hundreds to special Bailiff's either at will, for term of years, or for life. King Edward II. a. r. 12. grants the Hundred of Gartre to John Sadington, at will, under the yearly rent of 161. payable at the Exchequer; and he commands John De-Traydston to deliver the Hundred then in his custody ex commissione Regis, to the Grantee, to be kept in form aforesaid.

66

King Henry IV. by his Letters Patent, a. r. 1. grants the same Hundred, with the courts and profits to the Hundred belonging, to William Highwick, for the term of his life, any slalute to the contrary notwithstanding." King James I. a. r. 15. grants the custody or farm of the Hundreds of Guthlaxton and Gartre, with the offices of Steward and Bailiff of the Stewardship and Bailiwick, with all profits to these offices belonging, together with the execution of all writs and mandates to be exe

cuted within those Hundreds, and the holding of the Leet and Sheriff's Tourn there, and all amerciaments, fines, and profits of courts, parcel

ofthe antient possessions of the Crown, to William Ireland, father of the defendant, for 21 years, under the rent of 171.; viz. for Guthlaxton 71.; and for Gartre 10l.; "any statute to the contrary notwithstanding;" and King Charles II. by Letters Patent a. r. 13. commits to the defendant, - Ireland, the custody or farm of the said Hundreds, and the offices of Steward and Bailiff of the Bailiwick of the said Hundreds, with all offices thereto belonging, with the execution of all writs, processes, and precepts within the Hundreds, and the holding of the Leet and Sheriff's Tourn there, and the Courts of the said several Hundreds, and all fiues, amerciaments, and profits of Courts, under the rent of 181. 18. 5d. The non obstante Clause * in the patents of Henry IV. and James I. are very remarkable, as the grants thereby made are in direct violation of the Statutes 2nd Edw. III. and 14th Edw. III. whereby it is ordered that the Hundreds which had been lett to farm by the King, whether for life or otherwise, which were sometimes annexed to the farms of the Counties, should be again joined to the Counties, and that such Hundreds and Wapentakes should not from thenceforth be given or severed from the Counties. The reason was, that in old time the Counties were assessed at a certain farm, and all the Hundreds and Wapentakes in the Sheriff's hands were rated to his farm; but afterwards approvers were sent into divers Counties, who increased the farms of some Hundreds, and the King had granted parts of those Hundreds for the old farms, and of late the Sheriffs were charged wholly with the increase, amounting to a great sum, to their disherison. After hearing the arguments of counsel on the special verdict, the Court of Common Pleas was of opinion, that the leasings and grantings to farm of Hundreds and Wapentakes was against the Statute, and consequently judgment was given for the Plaintiff. Yours, &c.

J. B. R.

* The non obstante Clause was first inserted in protections and patents by King Henry III. in imitation of the Pope's Bulls, but it was not employed to elude or dispense with any Penal Laws or Acts of Parliament till after the Statute of Mortmain 7th Edw. I. The Patent and Charter Rolls in the Tower from that time till the dissolution of Monasteries abounding with special licences to purchase or hold lands, notwithstanding that Statute. See Prynne on 4th Institute, p. 133. GENT. MAG. August, 1816.

Mr.

130 Mr. Fincham's Life-Boat.--Distresses of Labouring Poor. [Aug.

I

Mr. URBAN,

Aug. 13. BEG, through your Magazine, to return P.E. thanks for his communication of June 4, published in your last Supplement, p. 582, in answer to my request for particulars of the plan of Mr. Fincham's Life-boat. I regret, however, that the cause assigned should prevent Mr. Fincham from communicating his plans; and beg to suggest that that gentleman would certainly further his interests by making the publick acquainted with the merits of his invention, and the obligation rendered them through his ingenuity, more than by secluding it under the idea of a reward for communicating it. There is nothing, we can suppose, in Mr. Fincham's plan, that must not be discernible on a view of the boat fitted up and constructed with it; and no doubt those who have seen the boats with which the experiments mentioned were made, or those used on-board men of war as stated, could give an account of the construction. We hope the humanity and liberality of mind of Mr. Fincham, who has turned his thoughts to the welfare of his fellow-creatures, will be above all selfish considerations in a subject where there is no requisite of superiority of genius for contriving schemes and plans to effect the objects under contemplation: Mr. Fincham

already given

a subscription to induce Mr. Fincham to communicate freely his plan we can no more approve, than we think it reasonable he should refuse the more free communication of his plan.

Mr. Fincham should consider it is

not Ingenu genuity that is wanted to supply plans that will effect the object of safety, but the inducement to people, in defiance of old habits, to adopt that which is evidently for their benefit, particularly sea-faring people. The boxing-up the sides of a boat hollow and water-tight; and the double boat, after the fashion of a double canoe, but made to fit with close hatches and proper contrivance, would, if not Mr. Fincham's plan, effect all his plan now does, as described by P. E.

As a spirit of free communication of all plans that are for public benefit, can alone effect that, and are alone consistent with professions of humanity, I should hope Mr. Fincham, on reading this, will do justice stice by by the publick, and give them his plans. Both Mr. Greathead and Mr. Lionel Lukin have given their plans to the publick gratis. G. G. V.

ADDRESS; and the reward

by the

Board of Admiralty, stated in P. E.'s first letter (200 guineas), as well as the supply of boats to Government, we should think is the remuneration

of the Nation to Mr. Fincham for, at least, a liberal communication of his plan. However well we wish Mr. Fincham, and that he should be liberally rewarded, if deserving, we do not see that there can be any superlative merit needed to contrive boats that will have the advantages of safety; and the plan, if the Boat has been exhibited, or has been brought into that general adoption in the service, as stated, is already sufficiently so well known as to render secrecy ridiculous; but the more free communication of the plan would tend more speedily to adoption of the improvement, or to help the suggestion of any addition that might be advantageous, from greater security, or more desirable, from greater simplicity in construction. The hint of

*** We have much satisfaction in extending the circulation of the following and earnestly hope that it may have a good effect on the minds of the many Thousands who have saved the heavy imposition of the Property Tax. A twentieth part of the sums so saved would ease the suffering of many an aching heart.

THE Committee of the Association for the Relief and Benefit of the Manufacturing and Labouring Poor cannot but entertain a confident persuasion, that this renewed appeal to the approved liberality of the publick will find its complete justification in the existing distresses of the Country. It can scarcely, however, be necessary for them to declare, that they never entertained the presumptuous hope, that to evilsso great and various, any exertions they could make would afford an adequate remedy. But besides, that inability to relieve the whole of any given measure of distress can never be admitted to be a sufficient

justification for not affording relief to the utmost amount in which it can possibly be administered; the greatness of any distress, to the honour of British feeling, has commonly had the effect of stimulating the efforts of benevolence,

instead

instead of producing despair and consequent inaction. The Committee are happy to have it also in their power to state, that, in administering the contributions formerly committed to their management, it was abundantly proved, that funds manifestly disproportionate to the entire extent of the distress, might be productive of a far greater measure of benefit, than the most sanguine expectations had originally ventured to anticipate. - Still more - Experience soon convinced them that it was not only on pecuniary contributions that they were to rest their hopes of benefiting their fellow-subjects; on the contrary, they found, and they owe it alike to the publick and to themselves to make the declaration, that they should often serve their Country most effectually, by cheering the despondency and aiding the efforts of benevolent individuals in the distressed districts, who had till then remained inactive, from diffidence of their own powers; but who, when thus encouraged, set themselves in earnest to the important work of investigating the circumstances of their several districts, and of ascertaining and carrying into execution the most advisable methods of relieving the existing distress. Under these impressions the Committee now confidently and earnestly appeal to the public liberality. In many of our great towns and populous districts Committees for the Relief of the Poor have been already formed, and when once it shall become generally known that an Association has been set on foot in the Metropolis for the purpose of aiding the endeavours of the Country, many benevolent individuals will doubtless come forward in other districts, in which, without some more effectual means of relief than they possessed within themselves, the attempt to relieve the existing distress may have been deemed unavailing. With these benevolent men the London Committee, so far as its funds may enable them, will be happy to co-operate, acting in general on the principle of proportioning their assistance to the exertions made in the neighbourhood for its own benefit. The Committee will be especially disposed to communicate with the Magistrates, Clergy, and Vestries of the Country, and while the Institution formed in the Metropolis will become the general depository for the subscriptions of all those, however widely dispersed in point of residence, who may wish to contribute towards the relief of their suffering countrymen, the local associations will be most competent, both to ascertain,

and relieve, the local difficulties and distresses of their several districts; not merely from being more intimately acquainted with their different circumstances, but also because, from knowing the characters and conduct of families and individuals, they will be able to direct their chief attention to the more industrious and deserving members of the community. With respect to the best modes of administering relief to the existing distress, the Committee think it unnecessary to enter into particulars. The varying wants and circumstances of different districts will best prescribe the course to be pursued. It is undeniable that the want of employment is one of the most pressing evils of the present period. The Committee have therefore heard with no small pleasure, that many masters, who had numerous bodies of workmen in their service, have judiciously, as well as most humanely, continued to employ them all at moderate work, rather than a reduced number of hands in full occupation. Again: It can scarcely be necessary for the Committee earnestly to recommend a general attention to all practicable means of providing new labour, of a beneficial kind, for those whose labour is become redundant in its ordinary employment. In many districts it is probable, that an accurate inquiry might suggest various agricultural, and other improvements, and works of general utility; to which, in the actual circumstances of the country, such labour might be directed, both with present and permanent advantage; and it can scarcely be necessary to declare, that in cases of this nature, it will afford peculiar satisfaction to the Committee, not only by their funds, so far as their resources will allow, but also, by their established connections and correspondencies, to forward the accomplishment of such useful undertakings. On the whole, the Committee are persuaded, that the liberality of the publick, judiciously applied, in aid of such plans as shall be locally adopted, may produce extensive and beneficial effects, in multiplying the occupations, supplying the wants, and diminishing the sufferings of their fellow-subjects during the present severe pressure. On these grounds the Committee now confidently appeal to the known benevolence of the publick, and venture to request that the desired assistance may be granted with that distinguished liberality which has often relieved the sufferers of other Nations, and with that promptitude which the present exigency so urgently requires.

Mr.

Mr. URBAN,

H

66

Aug. 6.

OWEVER well H. B. may suppose he is acquainted with the intentions of the "Architect," Part I. p. 584. in regard to his monthly labours wanting rest and revision;" I hope I may be allowed to explain with more reasonable confidence what is most likely to be his real object. The truth is, he discontinued his description of Blenheim for several months, wanting the proper opportunity of surveying the buildings on the spot; last week gave the time required, the whole business being gone through under the immediate auspices of the Noble Possessor. The illustration will of course be entered upon this month, in continuation, as promised in Part I. p. 136. The "Architect's" proposal at setting out, on his History of the "Rise and Progress" of our National Architecture, was to commence with the earliest specimens, and bring them down to the present times, or else, how unsatisfactory, how unpleasing, how reprehensible would be his conduct, when no pecuniary aid was necessary (as in my unfinished work of engravings of the "Antient Architecture of England," an absolute supply being wanting, which however I do not yet despair of obtaining, and then for the use of my "Burin" if you please,) to stop by the way, would be leaving Readers "in the lurch" with a witness. No, I can assure H. B. that to remain silent, and sculk behind the bush of servile complacency to the Architecture of the Reigns succeeding that of Anne, would be in the "Architect" an absolute desertion of the cause, and render him liable to forfeit whatever credit he may have derived for his elucidation and defence of our Antiquities; indeed the end of all his labours would be frustrated. I am

therefore authorised to state, that the "Architect," if not prevented by some unforeseen occurrence, means now, as the principal link of his chain of illustration is firmly riveted (Blenheim survey), to proceed regularly in bringing forward his stock of long-selected, well-seasoned materials, together with those rising before us, in their styles (if possessed of any) and their features, whether strange or otherwise.

In a Miscellany like this, calcu

lated for the express purpose of furthering the study of, and veneration for our Antiquities, to find a Correspondent, Part I. p. 600, come forth, and, with unblushing front, notwithstanding his plea points to the augmentation of Churches at the West end of the town, pronounce that "transepts (in a Church) are very objectionable; monkish whim, in giving it the form of a cross, proofs of a vile taste in Architecture, and rather excrescences than ornaments!" What, does this Christian kick at the symbol of our Lord's Passion? Should this true disciple be suffered to pass unheeded, he would next, in his suggested Pagan "temple," propose the doing away the font, sign of the cross in baptism; instead of gallery and pews, an amphitheatre display of tribunes; and for pulpit, a rostrum; for ailes, " corridores;" and for the table of the Holy Sacrament, a sacrificing tripod, with sculptures of fire, knives, pateræ, and libation cups used forswilling over the smoking victims of mythological ignorance and barbarity; "a vile taste" indeed! it is enough that the manners of the times connive at the erecting a Parish Church North and South, (St. Mary-le-bone), rebuilding another (St. Botolph), Pantheon cast, removing pulpits to block up the communion-tables, introducing chimneypieces, buzaglio-stoves, &c. &c.; without falling into new errors by attending to the orthodox opinions of R. H. In a word, let St. Paul's be reserved alone for the memorials of Battles, victorious Generals, and the long train of events which have raised the fame of Britain to the highest summit of renown and glory!

B

Yours, &c.

J. CARTER.

ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION.

No. CCVIII.

Progress of Architecture in England in the Reign of ANNE. (Continued from Part I. p. 136.) LENHEIM-HOUSE in continuation. At length, after a lapse of five months, the season has arrived when we have gathered our longexpected harvest, and, though delayed, not the less abundant; the stock is complete, and full of every article necessary to perfect our stores for National benefit; the Noble Owner of the princely domain smiling over

the

« PreviousContinue »