PROTESTANTS IN FRANCE. Measures adopted by the Ministers in London on behalf of the French Pro. testants. WILLIAMS'S LIBRARY, Red London, Nov. 28, 1815. SIR, Alarmed and afflicted as we have been for several months past, by reports of the revival of religious intolerance and Catholic persecution against the professors of the Reformed Religion in France, we are persuaded that you must have participated all our sentiments and emotions, to the full extent of your information, We have, however, thought it due to ourselves, and to the general interests of Truth, that we should neither communicate with you, nor adopt any public proceeding, without mature reflection, and after a careful investigation of the reality and extent of those evils, the existence of which we had too much reason to apprehend. During the present month, we have been occupied in collecting intelligence from numerous private sources, and in authenticating the details which have appeared in the journals, and other minor publications. The result is melancholy indeed ;-since we have ascertained, with a precision too accurate for our wishes and hopes, that for a long period our Protes tant Brethren have been exposed to merciless persecution, by the agents of a despotic and cruel fanaticism. With such facts before us, as Protestant Dissenters, and the descendants of men who atchieved the liberties of Britain, and diffused through Europe the most enlightened principles, we could not mistake in deciding, that it was our duty to give a distinct and public expression of our sentiments-to use our influence with the government of our own country-and to demonstrate to our distressed brethren in France our sympathy and regard, by contributing, according to our ability, for their temporal relief. Under this conviction, an extraordinary General Meeting of the Mi nisters of the Three Denominations was convened on Tuesday, Novem ber 21st, at the Library in Red Cross Street. On this occasion nearly one hundred Ministers assembled ; and, after long and solemn deliberation, they determined unanimously to adopt the Resolutions which are annexed; and to appoint a Deputa→ tion, consisting of the Rev. Robert Aspland, the Rev. Mark Wilks, the Rev. William Newman, and the Rev. Thomas Morgan, the Librarian and Secretary, to confer with his Majesty's Government, and to request their good offices with the Court of France for the liberty and protection of the Reformed. The Conference was obtained on Saturday, November 25; and the strongest assurances were given by the Earl of Liverpool of the deep regret experienced by the Ministers of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, at the horrid scenes which have been lately witnessed in France, and of their disposition to use their utmost efforts for the support of the freedom of religious faith and worship. The Report of the Deputation was communicated at a Meeting summoned for this day, November 28; and the satisfaction it afforded, you will learn from the Resolutions which followed. It was also intimated, that since the former Meeting, an Ordonnance had been issued by the French King, occasioned by an assault on a Catholic Officer at Nismes, which we hope will be obeyed, and prove the commencement of vigorous measures on the part of the French Government, for the punishment of those who have so long massacred the Protestants with impunity. While, however, the churches and habitations of our fellow Protestants are ravaged and destroyed-while many pastors are without asylumand without bread-and others, long in arrears for their salaries, are doubtful whether they shall not be compelled, for mere subsistence, to quit their country, or to exchange the ministry for some secular and less offensive profession-and, while many wandering relicts of the victims of an infuriate bigotry, are destitute of the most common alleviation to their complicated miseries, we feel that we should be equally unworthy of the inheritance of our fathers' name of the esteem of Christians of all denominations-of the respect of posterity-and of the favour of the Almighty; were we not to contribute ourselves, and to request your contributions also, as early as convenient, for the relief and support of those, of whose offences we are guilty, but whose calamities we have happily escaped. We do not doubt that our prompt and decisive efforts will meet your approbation; and that you and your congregation will feel that in inviting you to remit to the Committee the amount of your collection, we have acted with propriety and respect. We hope, also, that the early, liberal, and firm conduct of the Protestant Dissenters, will excite the efforts of others- will arrest the progress of superstition and tyranny will alleviate the sufferings, and secure the liberties of a large proportion of the human race; and will preserve for future generations the example of our principles and char acter. * Future arrangements will ensure the wise and faithful application of the Funds, and furnish you with full particulars; and, requesting that all your communications, enquiries, and remittances may be forwarded to the Library, Red Cross Street, We remain your affectionate Brethren, THE COMMITTEE. (Signed) THOMAS MORGAN, Librarian and Secretary. LIBRARY, Red Cross Street, At an Extraordinary Meeting of the General Body of Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the three Denominations, convened to receive the Report of their Deputation, appointed on the 21st instant to request an interview with his Majesty's Government, on the subject of the Persecution of our Protestant Brethren in France. The Rev. A. REES, D. D. F. R. S. F. L. S. in the Chair. It was unanimously Resolved; 1. That this Meeting receives with the highest gratification the assurances of his Majesty's Government, to the Deputation from this Body; that they feel the deepest regret at the dreadful scenes lately witnessed in France, and that they are using, and will continue to use, their best efforts in their communications with the French Government, to secure to all classes of French subjects, whether Protestant or Catholic, the full enjoyment of the advantages which the Constitutional Charter provided for them. We purpose very speedily to supply you with authentic details of the miseries, which we request you to relieve; and, in the mean time, we 2. That deeply compassionating the shall be thankful to you for the circase of our French Protestant Brethren, culation of the contents of this letter among the ministers in your neigh- who have been despoiled of their goods, bourhood, with whose names and and deprived of their houses of prayer, we recommend it to our Brethren, and address we may possibly not be proour Congregations throughout the Unitvided, but which we should be hap-ed Kingdom, to raise pecuniary contripy to receive. *When this information arrives, we will communicate it to our readers. butions for the relief of these sufferers for conscience sake, INDEX. ANECDOTES & MIS. CELLANEOUS. conduct of, 20. executed for forgery, late Rev. Mr. 96, 180 illustration of, 394 19 BIOGRAPHY. 335 Fuller, Mr. Andrew, 238, 260, 327. Robertson, Mr. John, 121, 161 Simpson, Rev. David,M.A. 1, 41, 81 Sutcliff, Rev. John, Olncy, ESSAYS, &c. 379, 93 Revelation, Public man- Extract from, 95 L- Reflections sug- Luke x. 27.-Remarks on, Pastor of a church, Address Paul, Remarks on the con- Sabbatical Institutions, Pa. JUVENILE DEPART- MENT. for supplying the Poor LITERARY INTELLI- GENCE. List of Works lately OBITUARIES. QUERIES. How the Ancient Jews RELIGIOUS INTELLI- GENCE. Anderston Charity School, 148 Baptist Missionary Society, Twenty Third Annual Deaf and Dumb Institu. Hamburgh, Visit to by Mess. North Berwick Bible So. Visit of Mess. Campbell, FOREIGN. Baptist Mission, 77, 117, 156. 190, 279, 403 tion, Meeting of, 113 Youth's Bible Associa tion, Report of, 319 Ceylon, Conversion of a tary to Corresponding |