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Slavery still continued in our colonies till 1823, when a movement in favour of negro freedom was made by Mr. Canning's resolutions; these resolutions fell far below the motion which Mr. Buxton had brought forward--but they were carried, and the nation seemed content. Humanity was silent, and men almost forgot that mitigation was not abolition. The grand principle, that the colonists (whatever was the colour of their skin) were British subjects, and as such had a right to personal liberty, personal security, and personal property, seemed almost lost sight of. But, as if slavery would work out her own emancipation, she at this particular time crossed the missionary in his path of mercy, and dared to impede the messengers of peace as they went among the negroes heralding the glad tidings of salvation; and Mr. Brougham, now the Lord Chancellor, brought the case of the martyred Smith before the country. From that period the voice may be said to have gone through the land, "Let my people go, that they may serve me." No longer did petitions ask for a little more food and a little less work, milder treatment and fewer stripes--- No : they recognized in the negro a man and a brother, and claimed for him the right of equal law, and equal justice. The African historian, when he records the progress and final termination of this great question, will not fail to number among the benefactors of his race the names I have already mentioned; while those of Stevens, Capper, Denman, Macauley, Smith, Evans, Edwards, and others, will be remembered as long as gratitude finds a place in an African breast. Who can look at the momentous interest involved in this great question without feeling the liveliest emotions of thankfulness to our beloved king and his ministers for having brought it to a happy and peaceful termination. Some, I know, object to the £20,000,000; but when the liberty of 800,000 of our fellow-subjects is to be secured, I heed not the amount. I would use the language of one who always was the negro's friend, and say, Shame! that any should think lightly of liberty, whose worth is so testified, whose benefits are so numerous and rich! Moralists have praised it-poets have sung it--the gospel has taught and breathed it-patriots and martyrs have died for it. As a temporal blessing, it is beyond all comparison, and above all price. Without it, what are honours, and riches, and similar endowments? They are the

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Dr Andrew Thompson.

trappings of a hearse-they are the garnishing of a sepulchre. And with it the crust of bread, and the cup of water, and the lowly hovel, are luxuries which it teaches and enables us to rejoicein. Why, slavery is the very Upas tree of the moral world, beneath whose shades all intellect languishes and all virtue dies. Disguise slavery as you will-put into the cup all the pleasing and palatable ingredients which you can discover in the wide range of nature and of artstill it is a bitter, bitter draught. You may wash the sepulchre-you may put upon it many adornments that fancy can suggest; you may cover it over with all the flowers and evergreens that the garden or the field can furnish, so that it will appear beautiful outwardly to man, but it is a sepulchre still-full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness: and if you would get quit of the evil, the foul sepulchre must be taken away. The cup of oppression must be dashed to pieces. The pestiferous tree must be cut down and cast into the consuming fire, and its ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven. I have detained you so long that I can say nothing upon the highly interesting objects for which this building is to be appropriated.

I trust the widows will find this asylum a Bethel, and that all the children educated in these schools will be taught of the Lord.

Mr. Pownall having concluded his address, the chain was broken by Robert Smith, by repeated blows of a sledgehammer on an anvil. The slave-chain being broken, this sable son of Africa held up a part in each hand, exclaiming, "The chain is broken--Africa is free.' The company loudly testified how fully they shared in the free man's exultation.

The congregation then united in singing the following stanza:

"Sable Afric, aid the strain;
Triumph o'er thy broken chain;
Bid thy wildest music raise

up

All its fervour in His praise." The Rev. William Knibb then took the pieces of the chain, and said, he had seen a female of his congregation working in a heavier chain than that, to which she was condemned for praying to her God. She wore it still, but, thanks to God, she should not wear it much longer. Mr. Knibb then indignantly threw the pieces of chain into the hole made for them.

William Williams now cut up the terrific cart-whip with a hatchet, and

Mr. Knibb, addressing the meeting, said he had seen the deacon of his own

church flogged with a whip, even worse than that, for having dared to pray in his (Mr. Knibb's) house while he was dangerously ill, that he might recover! The time for such abominations was now, blessed be God, passed away for ever.

The pieces of the whip were then thrown into the same hole with the chain.

The Secretary then exhibited to the company a glass bottle, which contained an account of the undertaking, the names of the committee, and a list of the subscribers, which he deposited in a cavity in the stone.

Every preparation having been made, the stone was lowered to its place under the direction of Mr. Burstall, the builder, and Mr. Pownall having given it three strokes, in the usual manner, declared it to be fixed, adding, that it was the pleasantest day's work he had ever performed in his life.

The congregation then united in singing an appropriate hymn, and thanksgiving having been offered up to God, the ceremony concluded, and the company departed, no doubt, highly delighted with the pious and benevolent work in which they had been engaged.

ORDINATION.

PEMBROKE DOCK.

October 9th, Rev. J. W. Morgan, late student at Horton College, Bradford, Yorkshire, was ordained pastor over the Baptist church at Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire. The service began at six o'clock in the evening, when the Rev. D. Owen, of Pope Hill, commenced by reading and prayer; the Rev. Mr. Combs, of Haverfordwest, explained the nature of a gospel church, and asked the usual questions; the Rev. J. H. Thomas, of Moleston, offered up the ordination prayer, accompanied with imposition of hands; after which, the Rev. B. Thomas, of Narberth, delivered the charge to the Minister, from 1 Tim. iv. 16; and the Rev. J. H. Thomas preached to the church, from 1 Cor. xv. 10, "See that he may be with you without fear." The attendance on the occasion was very numerous, and the interest manifested was peculiarly pleasing.

CHAPELS OPENED, &c.

COVENTRY.

CASE OF THE NEW BAPTIST CHAPEL.

This chapel was opened for Divine worship by the Rev. J. G. Pike, of

Derby, and the Rev. T. Stevensons, of Loughborough, in April, 1825. In February, 1828, the present minister, Mr. J. Peggs, late Missionary at Cuttack, in Orissa, was stationed at Coventry; and, to liquidate the heavy debt upon the chapel, he has published two editions of "India's Cries to British Humanity," each consisting of 1000 copies. The former edition was published in February, 1830, and realized for the above object 162; the latter, the third edition of the work, was published in December, 1832, with a book on colonization in India. At a meeting of the trustees, held November 14th, in consequence of the mortgagee peremptorily calling in his mortgage of £800, it was arranged that £600 should be taken up on the chapel, and a note for £200 be given, signed by each of the ten trustees. It also appeared desirable that the efforts of the minister to liquidate the debt should be stated, and an appeal made to the churches for assistance in the present circumstances of the chapel.

The receipts for the new edition of "India's Cries," published in December last, have amounted to 198, leaving about five hundred copies of the work a clear profit. The respectful and earnest request of the trustees, church, and congregation is, that one individual or more, in each church and congregation, would kindly undertake to procure a few subscribers for the work, which is published at 8s. common, 10s. fine copy, and transmit their names to the Author, at Coventry, or Mr. G. Wightman, Paternoster Row, London.

The circulation of the above copies, at a small expense, would realize £200; and the Author is willing to devote this sum towards the liquidation of the chapel debt. It is presumed this plan will be most economical to the friends of religion, and will prevent the suspension of those ministerial duties, so important to the prosperity of a church. The Author's personal and family afflictions, which have been of the most serious. and complicated character, have unfitted him to travel to procure subscribers for the remaining copies. Applications for the work, or subscriptions to promote its gratuitous circulation among influential persons in this country and in India, will be thankfully received.

Signed, on behalf of the trustees,
JAMES PEGGS.

Coventry, Cosford Green,
Nov. 15, 1833.

NEWPORT, MONMOUTHSHIRE.

The fourth anniversary of the English Baptist chapel in this town was held July 28th, 1833, when three sermons were preached on the occasion: in the morning, by the W. S. Miles, afternoon and evening, by the Rev. R. Roff, of Swansea. Collections were made in aid of the debt after each service. Shortly after the erection of this chapel, the pastor of the church, the Rev. T. Davis, died, and for two years the church was without a regular pastor, and the heart of the people began to grow faint. In these circumstances we were directed to a pastor in the Rev. W. S. Miles, of Buttle Lane, under whose care the cause has again, through the blessing of God, prospered. A Sabbath-school is connected with the chapel, where 130 to 140 children are every Sabbath day taught.

The teachers, twenty in number, have lately united together in forming a library for themselves by a subscription of sixpence per month, by which means many useful works are introduced to their notice. One evening in the week is set apart for reading the Holy Scriptures. During the last and present year, three of the teachers, two males and one female, have been added to the church.

MAISEYHAMPTON.

A small neat place of worship, built at the sole expense of an individual, a member of the Baptist church at Fairford, was opened for public worship in the village of Maiseyhampton, Gloucestershire, on Thursday, Sept. 26th; on which occasion three

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preached by the Rev. D. White, of Cirencester; the Rev. D. Wassell, of Fairford; and the Rev. B. H. Draper, of Southampton. The attendance was very large, and all appeared to take a lively interest in the services of the day.

In this village a Baptist church and congregation met in a private house for many years; and an ancient burial-ground belonging to them yet exists, where there are several stones of early date. Many of the congregation visited this relic of nonconformity, with solemn interest.

When a Baptist church was formed at Fairford, about the year 1723, the members at Maiseyhampton transferred themselves to that church; but preaching was continued in the same private house until prevented by the intolerant interference of the incumbent of the parish. This gave rise to the new building.

EAST HARLING, NORFolk.

On Tuesday, October 1st, 1833, a new Baptist meeting-house was opened for public worship, at East Harling, Norfolk. In the morning, Mr. John Clarke, of Shelfanger, preached from Luke x. 11; in the afternoon, Mr. John Cooper, of Wattisham, Suffolk, from Isaiah liii. 10; in the evening, Mr. Charles Hart, of Wortwell, from Jonah ii. 9. Other ministering brethren (Green, Smith, and Turner) assisted in the services of the day. The place was well attended. A small church was formed consisting of seven members, and it is hoped that the little one may eventually become a thousand. Harling is the only markettown in the Guiltcross hundred, with a goodly number of inhabitants, and several villages near without the gospel.

ARLINGTON.

The old Baptist chapel in the village of Arlington, Gloucestershire, being inconvenient and much too small for the accommodation of the congregation and a flourishing Sunday-school, a new and neat building has been erected, which was opened for public worship on Wednesday, Oct. 2nd, on which occasion there were three services. The Rev. R. Price, of Coate, preached in the morning: in the afternoon the attendance was so large that it was found necessary to form two congregations; the Rev. B. H. Draper, of Southampton, preached in the chapel, and the Rev. J. Kershaw, of Abingdon, in an adjacent baro: the Rev. Jenkin Thomas, of Cheltenham, preached in the evening. The day was remarkably fine, the services unusually interesting, and the collections good. There has been preaching in this village for upwards of 80 years. The Rev. D. Williams, the respected pastor of the Baptist church at Fairford, has laboured there for 40 years; and it must have been peculiarly cheering to him, in his declining years, as it was to many present, to witness the promising aspect of this important station.

TIPTON, STAFFORDSHIRE.

On the 13th and 14th of October, 1833, a new meeting-house was opened, for the use of the Baptist church, in Tipton, Staffordshire.

Sermons were preached by Messrs. Brindley, of Stourbridge; Marsden, of Wednesbury (Wesleyan); Waldron, of Bilston; Rogers, of Dudley; Pool, of Bilston; Jones, of Darkhouse, Coseley. The devotional services were conducted by Messrs. Brindley, Marsden, Waldron, Rogers, and Bissell. The services were interesting, and the collection good.

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The Rev. John Cocks, late of Minehead, has accepted the unanimous invitation of the Baptist Church at Twerton Chapel, Bath, to become their minister. This chapel has been recently enlarged, but is still too small for the increasing congregation and flourishing Sabbathschool.

RECENT DEATHS.

MRS. WINTERBOTHAM.

August 25th, 1833, died at Tewkesbury, aged 65, Mrs. Winterbotham, widow of the Rev. W. Winterbotham, late pastor of the Baptist Church at Shortwood, in the parish of Horsley, Gloucestershire, and formerly of Plymouth.

MRS. S. M. BLOTT.

Died, on Monday, September 30, 1833, at Great Staughton, Hunts., in the forty-fifth year of her age, Sarah Maria, the wife of Mr. Thomas Blott, deacon of the Baptist Church, Hail Weston. The Christian career of this amiable woman was short, but useful and honourable-her death, to her friends, unexpected and painfully sudden. It is but little more than three years since she was baptized and admitted a member of the church at Weston; from that period she served the Lord with diligence, hough often with much fear and trembling. By her death her bereaved husband has lost an affectionate and active partner-her pastor a tried and steady friend-the poor of the church a sympathising and benevolent sister. In the morning of the day on which she expired, until about eleven o'clock, she was attending to her domestic engagements, with her usual cheerfulness, and in perfect health; but, while kindly ministering to the comfort of the writer and a near relative, who were on a visit at her house, she was suddenly seized with apoplexy-very soon deprived of all consciousness-and, by the evening, was numbered with the dead. On the Lord's day following Mrs. B.'s pastor addressed the crowded congregation assembled at Weston on the mournful occasion, from Gen. xviii. 25: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

REV. D. CLARABUT.

Died, 24th October last, at his residence at Tring, Bucks, the Rev. D. Clarabut, aged 41, pastor of the Baptist Church at New Mill. We hope to give a memoir of him in a future number.

INDEX.

ASSOCIATIONS:

Bedfordshire, 428

Berks, and West London, 35, 474

Buckinghamshire, 428

Kent and Sussex, 330

Lancashire and Yorkshire, 428
Midland, 474

Monmouthshire, 329

North and East Riding, Yorkshire, 330
Oxfordshire. 474

Southern, 376
West Hants, 230
Western, 427

Distribution of Profits, 36, 332

ESSAYS, &c.

American Colonization Society, 310
Christian Beneficence, 358
Christians United in Christ, 253
Claims and Encouragements, 208

of the Heathen, 406

Church Establishment, 597

Colonial Calumnies Refuted, W. and B.'s
Letters, 109

Deacons,-right of a church to dismiss
them, 501

Dissenters, their condition and Duties, 97
Eclipse of the Sun, 316

of the Moon, 550

Future Punishment, 543
Gospel Glad Tidings, 149
Import of Zech. xiii. 7-9, 450

xiv. 1-5, 492

Importance of clear conceptions of time,
156

Inspiration, organic or verbal? 205, 258
Is a Slave-holder a consistent Chris-
tian? 101

Is the occupation of a Beer-house a suit-
able situation for a Christian? 354
Jehovah's Declaration, "I am what I
am," 62

ESSAYS, &c.-Continued.

Jehovah's sacred names, Jehovah and

Jah, 103

June Meetings, 260

Kneeling in Prayer, 553

Leadings of Divine Providence, 596
Letter from the Rev. Mark Wilks to a
young Minister, 357

on attending a profitable Mi-
nistry, 107

Lord Brougham's Testimony in favour
of the Missionary, 411

Moral provision for Emancipated Slaves,
453

New Year's Reflections, 12

Offences among Christians, 358
Pastoral Claims, 455

Positive Institutions, 595

Prayer Meetings, &c., the obligation to
attend them, 13

Propriety of Public Thanksgiving for the
Prospects of the Mission, 349

Abolition of Slavery, 455

Queries, 161, 412, 456

Reflections for the Missionary Anniver-
saries, 308

Registry of Births and Burials, 359
Remarks on Sunday School Recollec-
tions, 548

Sermon, late Rev. A. Fuller, 301
R. Hall, 407

Sincerity essential to acceptable prayer,

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