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while others are under the direction of the Rev. Alphonse Laharpe, of Bordeaux, who has lately accomplished an interesting and useful necessary excursion in these countries. The increase in the number of our agents requires increased exertions on our part to procure funds wherewith to sustain them, and increase of prayer towards our God and Saviour, that they may be guided by the light of the Holy Spirit, and not by the faint glimmerings of human reason and human views, in directing faithfully the

work entrusted to our care. It is with thanksgivings towards him we receive marks of sympathy from our dear brethren may they also, by his blessing, not only continue steadfast, but grow more and more in grace, zeal, charity; and to God alone be glory!

Your brother in Christ,

MERLE D'AUBIGNE. To the Rev. John Brown, D.D., Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

DOCUMENTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE TREATMENT WHICH THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS HAVE EXPERIENCED OF LATE YEARS FROM INDIVIDUALS BELONGING TO WHAT IS TERMED "THE HIGH-CHURCH PARTY."*

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DEAR SIRS,-On my return from America, by the steam-ship "Caledonia," a few days ago, communicated to the Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society the particulars of the voyage homewards, and stated the pleasure I felt in conducting devotional exercises on board, not only on the Sabbaths, but also each week-day evening. The latter, or week-evening services, were held in the fore-cabin; and the attendance on them being entirely optional, it was encouraging to witness so many of the respectable passengers and crew present on an occasion so suited to the circumstances of those who " go down to

the sea in ships." The passengers, in general, expressed their acknowledgments for the opportunities thus afforded them of spending, day by day, a portion of their time so seasonably and profitably; nor did it ever enter into my mind, that I was transgressing any law of God or man by thus exercising my ministerial office. Some steam-boat agents, however, think differently; and, since I wrote the account above noticed, facts have come to my knowledge of a character so utterly at variance with the religious light and liberty of the nineteenth century, that I feel it a duty alike to intending voyagers across the Atlantic, and the Christian public generally, to request that this communication may find a place in the "Watchman.”

Instructions have been drawn up by the agents of the Atlantic Royal Mail Steamers, of a nature too singular to per

* We have a twofold object in giving insertion to the documents now before our readers. The first is to keep on permanent record the intolerant, unrighteous, and contemptible proceedings of these steam-boat agents, and those of the owners of the "General Kyd." Our ink is not black enough to give such actions a name sufficiently descriptive of the character which they merit: we leave them in the hands of the religious public, who will not fail to pronounce a just verdict; while our pages shall carry an account of this wretched intolerance, exhibited in the nineteenth century, to the four quarters of the globe, and to the isles of the sea, where such instances will meet with deserved reprobation and disgust. Our second motive is to show that the spirit of the British Government is opposed to such transactions, and that it recognises the ministration of other than Episcopal Ministers, as far as the department of the army is concerned. If Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington can order that a Wesleyan Minister should have unlimited access to visit a military hospital, in the exercise of his ministerial functions, with regard to certain inmates, when hundreds of the episcopally-ordained Protestant Clergy, as well as many Popish Priests, were within call, and also a Government Chaplain, officially appointed, who paid his daily visits to the wards of that asylum; how comes it to pass that this Captain Kennedy cordially unites with the Commander of the "General Kyd" in sealing the lips of Mr. Cryer, the only Minister of the Gospel on board a vessel containing six hundred souls, by declaring that the Articles of War expressly forbid his allowing any of his men to attend a meeting of any kind, except in the regular service of the Catholic or Protestant Churches? Fudge! We certainly consider Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington a far superior expositor of the British constitution, and of these Articles of War, than Captain Kennedy!

mit any one acquainted with them to keep their contents secret; nor can any breach of confidence be charged on me for making them known, inasmuch as a copy is placed (or to be placed) on board each of the four Cunard steamers; and it must be the desire of the agents, that intending passengers may not take their places expecting a degree of liberty which will not be allowed them. In referring to the Bull from this Liverpool Vatican, I must cite from memory, and cannot therefore give the exact wording of the astounding document; but I affix my name to this, as a guarantee that I am substantially correct; and if, by the agents publishing the original instructions unaltered, I am found in any serious misunderstanding, I shall be the first to acknowledge and lament my

error.

These steam-boat agents now grant permission to any passenger, who is a Minister of the established Church of England or Scotland, to conduct divine service once on the Sabbath-day. Hence all Ministers, in either country, who do not belong to those Establishments, are, by the Liverpool steam-boat agents, deprived of their ministerial office, or at least suspended from the exercise of its functions, while privileged with the high favour of a passage (dearly paid for, and not the most comfortable) on board one of the Cunard steamers. Should Dr. Wardlaw or Dr. Harris, Dr. Cox or Dr. Bunting, or, in fact, any other equally distinguished Minister of Christ, be allowed to cross the Atlantic in one of these High-Church steamers, they must, for the time being, forget their duty to preach the word, "being instant in season and out of season," because, forsooth, the vendors of steam-boat tickets have placed their interdict on such operations. Nor is this all. As in the United States of America there is no established Church, and yet American Ministers, as well as laymen, have taken, and are yet expected to take, a passage on board these steamers, not one of all the distinguished men who proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ in America, and many of whom are welcomed to prominent pulpits in England, can be allowed to conduct divine service on board the Boston mail-boats. Indeed, if I am not misinformed, it was the fact of a Prelate of the American Episcopal Church having been (in the estimation of these agents) righteous overmuch, which gave rise to the unparalleled instructions now in question. Should no such Minister be on board, the Captain

is required to read the Church Service, whether he approves of it or no, once on the Sabbath; and, at its close, to place on the table a volume of sermons which has received the sanction of these theological agents, requesting any of the passengers who may feel so disposed to read one; but should no one offer, the book is to be left in harmless quiescence on the table. From the manner in which the Church-of-England Service is connected with the Sunday exercises, the Captain may consider it his duty to insist that the Minister of the Church of Scotland who may be allowed to officiate shall read this Service. I fear many eminent Divines of the last-named Church would scarcely know how to go about this, to them, strange work.

Beyond this no service, nor meetings of a religious character, are to be allowed on board, in any circumstances. Even should imminent danger threaten the souls on board, no Minister who does not belong to either of the above Churches can be allowed to exhort his perishing fellow-men to "flee for refuge to the hope set before them," or lead their devotions at the throne of grace. Truly, steam-boat agents lose themselves when they venture beyond their proper and legitimate line of things. But this is not all. The Captain is to be deputyInquisitor on board, and carefully guard the persons belonging to the vessel from any sectarian influence that might be exercised over them, by Ministers or others, who may be passengers, lest any of the swearing, drunken sailors should become "converted and healed,"-as has often been the case when pious servants of God have talked to, and prayed with, them, during a lengthened voyage. The Captain is also to see to it, that no tracts, not included in the permitted index of this new Inquisition of steamboat agents, are given by any passenger to the crew; and, for himself, the Captain is not to convey Reports of Societies, tracts, religious books, &c., from the one country to the other. Tracts on slavery are specially mentioned; by which it creeps out, that these superabundantly zealous steam-boat agents design to defend America from an influx of tracts, Reports, &c., which might be hurtful to that country. Why did they, then, give a passage to Mr. Sturge, for example? Surely, the living agent is more dangerous than the silent tract! Perchance, if as much passage-money were paid for the books as for the man, a point would have been stretched.

I could go on, but the details are truly

disgusting; and I make them known, that these men may be taught, by a healthy public sentiment, that they can have no authority, and that they will not be permitted, thus arbitrarily to prescribe the kind and amount of religious liberty to be enjoyed by Christians of the present age.

One painful result of this strange proceeding has, I believe, already appeared; namely, the resignation of the Captain of the "Caledonia," against whom no charge can be preferred, but that he is a devoted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. He, as a decidedly pious man, could not sail under instructions which he knew he could not keep,-which he felt he ought not, as a Christian, to be subjected to; and he has, for conscience' sake, relinquished a respectable and lucrative office. Verily, he and those who have forced him to this praiseworthy step shall alike have their reward. I hope this statement may reach America, that the many attached friends of Captain M'Kellar, in Boston, may know why it is that he does not return with the vessel. I deem it proper to say, that Captain M'Kellar knows nothing of this communication; and would, I feel assured, as a man of peace, dissuade me from forwarding it; but having, I conceive, a public duty to perform, he will not, I hope, misunderstand the act.

In a few hours I leave this for my post in Sweden, to which place I return greatly encouraged by the results of my visit to the American churches.

I am, dear Sirs,

Yours, &c.,

GEORGE SCOTT, Pastor of the English Congregation, Stockholm.

Hull, Oct. 30th, 1841.

II. FROM THE REV. THOMAS CRYER TO THE GENERAL SECRETARIES OF THE WESLEYAN-METHODIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Madras, October 13th, 1842. VERY DEAR FATHERS AND BRETHREN,-Once more on Indian soil, I take the first opportunity of informing you of our safe arrival. We praise God for his preserving care over us during this long voyage, and for the many and great spiritual blessings he has vouchsafed unto us.

Our voyage has been tedious, but not more so than we expected when we left England we have had a good deal of

The

rough weather, especially during the time we were in south latitudes. We have had much more cause for complaining, however, of overflowings of iniquity among our fellow-voyagers, than of the ragings of the natural elements. Committee are aware that the owners of the vessel resolved, previous to my embarcation, that I should not be permitted to conduct any religious service on board, nor to take any active measures for the dissemination of religion. This restriction was not laid on me till I had actually taken possession of our cabin, and till the passage-money had been paid. The only reason assigned by Messrs. Manning and Anderton was, that they were conscientious members of the Church of England, and consequently that they could not permit a Minister of another denomination to officiate on board one of their vessels. This announcement was a painful one at the time, but mitigated by the expectation that of course there were conscientious Churchmen on board, who would make up for a little exclusiveness by a conduct becoming Christianity. In this, however, I was disappointed; for the overwhelming majority of the six hundred persons on board were most profane swearers; not even omitting the gentleman appointed to conduct service on deck on Sunday mornings. I had many private conversations with individuals, and I have no doubt in some instances good was done; but that only extended to partially restraining the overflowings of vice. I tried to lead the Captain to converse on the impropriety of keeping me tongue-tied under these circumstances; but in vain. At length, after we had lost two men overboard in bad weather, I addressed to him and to Captain Kennedy, the officer commanding the troops, the following letter, and received from Captain Onslow the annexed

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III. FROM THE REV. THOMAS CRYER то CAPTAINS ONSLOW AND KENNEDY.

On board the "General Kyd," August 10th, 1842.

GENTLEMEN, The situations in which divine Providence has placed you, -the one as commander of the vessel, and the other of the troops,-are highly important and responsible; and, independent of the esteem I feel for you in your individual characters, I honour you for your office' sake. May He who has put you in those situations long preserve your lives, and make you a blessing to those under you!

I believe you are both acquainted with the restrictions laid upon me by Messrs. Manning and Anderton, preventing me from exercising my ministerial functions on board this vessel during our voyage to India. I never felt any restriction to lie so heavy as this does; and the awful visitations, which have taken into an unalterable eternity two of our crew, unwarned, and, it is to be feared, unprepared, have constrained me to call your attention to the propriety of removing, in some degree at least, this restriction.

I need not remind you that the rest of the ship's crew are exposed to continual hazard, nor that the troops are on their way to a heathen land, a land where the waste of life is great and rapid: circumstances which render it exceedingly desirable that they should, while there is opportunity, be urged to 66 prepare to meet their God."

I do not wish to interfere with the Sunday morning service, as hitherto conducted; but I do request that a convenient hour may be appointed on some other part of the Sabbath, in which I may be permitted to explain the word of God to the sailors, soldiers, and as many of the passengers as choose to attend. I would take my stand on the forecastle or poop, or any other convenient place, in fair weather, and in bad weather on the gun-deck. Í should also prefer, if agreeable to you, that there should be no mustering or parading of the men, but that they should be permitted to stand or sit according to their own choice. All that I wish on this subject is, that it may be known that what I do has the approbation of the officers in command.

Should you object that the restriction was put upon me by the agents of the vessel, and that you cannot interfere, I would bring to your recollection, that it was stated to our Mission Secretaries that I should be permitted to conduct service on board the "General Kyd,"

according to the forms of the Church of England; nor was this statement contradicted till after my passage-money was paid, and I had actually taken possession of my cabin. Permit me to call your early attention to my request, and to ask for as early a reply as may be convenient.

In the mean time, believe me to be, with kind and respectful regards, Your obedient servant, THOMAS CRYER,

IV.

FROM

Wesleyan Missionary.

CAPTAIN ONSLOW ΤΟ

THE REV. THOMAS CRYER, IN

REPLY TO THE FOREGOING.

"General Kyd," August 11th, 1842.

MY DEAR SIR,-On the receipt of your letter last evening, I consulted with Captain Kennedy. Nobody can feel more than I do the awful warning we have had in the loss of our two men; and nobody can be more inclined to call the attention of the rest of the men to a knowledge of their present state. You are fully aware that the owners of this ship, Messrs. Manning and Anderton, are very averse to the allowing any one who is not of the English Church, to have anything to do with the men; and without their interference, I should not think myself justified in allowing it. Captain Kennedy agrees with me in these opinions; and even if he did not agree with me, and was inclined to allow it, his Articles of War expressly forbid his allowing any of his men from attending a meeting of any kind, except in the regular service of the Catholic or Protestant churches.

As to your having been told that you might act as Minister on board the ship, it was a mistake of mine, supposing you to have belonged to the Church Missionary Society, and to have been regularly ordained as a Minister of the Church of England. I hope that these will be reasons sufficient, and that you will not again put me to the painful necessity of refusing you a request of this kind.

Believe me to be, &c.,

EDWARD ONSLOW.

V. FROM THE REV. E. HOOLE, ON
BEHALF OF THE GENERAL SE-
CRETARIES OF THE WESLEYAN
MISSIONARY SOCIETY, TO MESSRS.
MANNING AND ANDERTON, THE
OWNERS OF THE "GENERAL
KYD."
Wesleyan Mission-House, Bishopsgate-
Within, December 13th, 1842.
GENTLEMEN,-I beg to forward to
you a copy of a letter received from the

Rev. Thomas Cryer, Wesleyan Missionary, who was a passenger to Madras, by the "General Kyd," Captain Onslow. The facts stated in that letter have occasioned great astonishment and pain of mind to the Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society; and they are persuaded that the Christian world will share largely in their feelings when the facts shall be made public, as they necessarily must be, unless good reason can be shown to the contrary. The Secretaries would be glad to know, whether the instructions given to Captain Onslow, in direct opposition to the stipulation and agreement made with myself, both by Captain Onslow and the gentleman whom I saw at your office, are given to the Captains of all the vessels which you may charter, as in that case they will have a plain duty to perform.

It is only justice to say, that in all former instances in which the Missionaries of the Society have sailed in your vessels, (and those instances have been many,) there has been no cause of complaint, but, on the contrary, great satisfaction; and we shall be truly gratified if it can be shown, that in this case Captain Onslow exceeded or mistook his instructions; while, at the same time, our regret must remain unabated, that by any cause six hundred men, exposed to all the perils of voyaging by sea for three months, and among whom the grossest immorality and impiety openly prevailed, should not be allowed to have the warning and instruction of a respectable and experienced Christian Minister, because he had not received episcopal ordination.

Waiting your reply,

I am, &c.,

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Mr.

New-Bank-Buildings, Dec. 16th, 1842. SIR, We have been favoured with your letter of the 13th instant, enclosing a copy of one from Mr. Thomas Cryer, with copies of correspondence between himself and Captain Onslow, in command of the "General Kyd." Cryer is correct in saying, that we had intimated to him our wish that divine service should be performed only in conformity with the Rubric, and that he should exercise no ministerial office. This was our instruction to Captain Onslow on board, which appears to have

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MY LORD DUKE,-I think it proper most respectfully to lay before your Grace the following circumstances:I am a Wesleyan-Methodist Minis ter; and, in the course of my pastoral duties, at the written request of Serjeant a member of the Wesleyan society, and a patient in the hospital of the I went, on Friday, the 11th, and on Wednesday, the 16th, instant, for the purpose of visiting him; and on both occasions I have been refused admission: on the latter I was abruptly told, that, though I was a Wesleyan Minister, I might seek admission on Sundays, as other visiters. Your Grace will readily perceive, that this would neither be convenient to any Minister, whose employments on the Lord's day occupy all his time, nor would such a visit be all that might be required by a sick or dying man.

I beg permission to remind your Grace, that an opportunity of visiting a member of his flock is regularly granted to any Minister of the Romish Church; and I am at a loss to conceive on what ground it should be denied to Ministers of other religious communities.

I am unwilling to believe that the interdict of which I complain, as to my self, can have been sanctioned by any order from the authorities of the army; and I trust I have only to bring the matter under the notice of your Grace, as Commander-in-Chief, to obtain for myself and for other Christian Ministers, and for all such soldiers as may not be members of the Church of England, those privileges, which, while they are freely conceded to the members of the Church of Rome, ought not to be denied

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