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tion, and one other person belonging thereto, and chosen by them, shall be members of this society.

V. That as the existing committee possess the power of adding to their number, they, together with such other persons as may be chosen by them, shall be the committee for the current year. VI. That on the Saturday after the second Wednesday in the month of May in every year, this society shall hold its annual meeting, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside, when a treasurer shall be chosen, the accounts presented, and a report of the proceedings in the foregoing year shall be made; which report shall be afterwards transmitted to every congregation contributing to the society.

VII. That at every such annual meeting a committee consisting of thirty persons resident in London, or within five miles thereof, shall be chosen from the members of this society; one half of whom shall be ministers, and the other half laymen; one third of whom, who shall have been least frequent in their attendance shall, at the end of the year, retire from the committee, but shall be re-eligible after the expiration of one year, and that the said committee shall be open to all the members of the society resident in the country, whenever they attend the same, and that they shall be entitled to vote at any of the meetings.

VIII. That the committee shall meet on the last Tuesday in every month, at six o'clock in the evening, punctually, or oftener if necessary, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside.

IX. That the committee, for the time being, shall elect all the officers except the Treasurer, shall decide on all applications which shall be made to them for protection; shall conduct all the affairs of the society, and give such directions therein, as they, or the major part of them present, at any meeting duly convened, shall resolve, and that five of them shall be competent to act.

X. That the treasurer annually chosen by the general meeting, shall be a member of the committee for the time being.

XI. That there shall be one or more secretaries, who shall gratuitously answer all letters, and in all cases of emergency convene special meetings of the committee.

XII. That persons subscribing the sum of 11. 1s. per annum, shall be honorary members, during the payment of

such subscriptions: and that every person making a donation of 107. 10s. shall be an honorary member for life and that such honorary members may attend the general annual meetings of this society.

XIII. That all investments of money in the public funds, or other real securities for the use of this society, shall be made in the name of four trustees to be appointed by the committee, who shall execute a deed of trust, declaratory of the trust confided to them; and upon the death, resignation, or incapacity of either of them, another trustee shall be forthwith appointed by the committee.

FORM OF A BEQUEST.

I give unto the Treasurer for the time being, of a certain voluntary society formed in London, in the year 1811, called The Protestant Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty, the sum of

pounds of lawful English mo

ney, to be paid within months next after my decease, out of such part only of my personal estate, as shall not consist of chattels real, upon trust to be applied towards carrying on the purposes of the said society; and I do hereby direct that the receipt of the treasurer of the said society for the time being, for the said legacy, shall be a sufficient discharge to my executor for the same.

N. B. Devises of land, or money charged on land, or to be laid out in land, are void; but money or stock may be given by will, if not directed to be laid out in the purchase of land.

Contributions from individuals or congregations, will be received by Sir James Esdaile and Co. Messrs. Robarts, Curtis and Co. Lombard Street; Messrs. Down, Thornton and Free, Bartholo mew Lane, London; Robert Steven, Esq. No. 101, Upper Thames Street, the Treasurer; and by the Secretaries, Mr. Thomas Pellatt, Ironmongers' Hall, and Mr. John Wilks, Hoxton Square; to either of whom all applications may be addressed.

BONAPARTE'S CONFERENCE WITH THE CATHOLIC AND PRO. TESTANT CLERGY AT BREDA.

[An Account has been published in the Gazette of Dorpt, a town of Livonia, of an audience granted by Bonaparte to the Catholic and Pro

1811.] Bonaparte's Conference with the Catholic and Protestant Clergy. 391

testant clergy at Breda, on the 1st of May, 1810. It professes to be an accurate report of what passed on that occasion; and we conclude, that in the present state of the continental press, no gazette would dare to attribute to Bonaparte sentiments materially different from those which he might deem it politic to avow. The account follows: -]

After Bonaparte had made the customary tour, he said a few words to the president of the court of appeal, took a view of the different collegiates, and at length stopped opposite to the catholic apostolic vicar, who, with his manuscript in his hand, complimented the monarch in the name of the catholic clergy. His Majesty did not deign to give any answer; but asked, Where are the reformed clergymen ?" Whereupon the Prince of Neufchatel presented them to the Emperor; and Mr. Ten Oever, of the Walloon congregation, received permission to address his Majesty. The discourse was short; and contained, among the rest, the following words :-- "It is the immutable principle of protestants, in every thing that happens, to address, Providence, and to render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's."―The Emperor listened attentively to this speech; and answered, “You are right: I protect all religions. Protestants and catholics enjoy equal privileges in France: it is but just that the protestants in this department should have equal prerogatives with the catholics." His Majesty asked Mr. Ten Oever, "Why, Sir, are you in your full dress?" Sire," answered Ten Oever, "that is the rule." "Why, yes," said the Emperor, "it is the custom in every country; but,' continued he, turning to the Roman catholic clergy, who were not in their full dress, (6 Why have not you your cassocks on? You say you are priests. What are you? Attornies, notaries, peasants?

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come into a province where the majority are catholics, who, in former times, were oppressed,-who, after the revolution, acquired more liberty, and upon whom the king, my brother, bestowed many favours. I come, in order to make you all equal to the rest; and you begin by forgetting the respect due to me, and complain of the oppressions that you suffered under the former governments. Your conduct, however, shews how well you deserved them. The first act of sovereignty which I was obliged to exercise, consisted in the necessity of arresting two of your contumacious priests; even the apostolic vicar: they are imprisoned; and shall continue under arrest. On the other hand, the first words I hear from a reformed priest, are to render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's. This is the doctrine you ought to preach. From that gentleman," pointing to Mr. Ten Oever, "you ought to learn it. I have always met with faithful subjects amongst protestants, have I had occasion to complain of any of them. You have calumniated the protestants; by representing them as preaching doctrines dangerous to the state; but the best subjects I have are protestants. In Paris I am partly attended by them: they have free access to me; and here a handful of Brabant fanatics attempt to resist my designs. Had I not met, in Bossuet's Doctrines and in the Maxims of the Gallican Church, with principles that agree with mine, and had not the concordat been received, I myself should have become a protestant; and thirty mil lions of people would have followed my example. But what religion do you teach? Do you not know that Christ said, "My kingdom is not of this world?"--and would you interfere in my concerns? You will not pray for a sovereign." [Probably, the catholic clergy in these new provinces had partly declared that they would

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29th Aug." Yesterday, in a short conversation, Lord Wellesley "told me, that my notes resepcting "the Berlin and Milan decrees should "be mentioned to his colleagues today, and that I should have an immediate answer; that the affair "of the Chesapeake should be settled

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7th Nov.-" I mean to mention "again to Lord Wellesley the appoinment of a minister, which not"withstanding his written and ver "bal pledges, he seems to have for"gotten!"-The first mention of it was in January, 1810, and Mr. Fos ter was not appointed till after Mr. P. had demanded his audience of leave in Feb. 1811.

14th of November, and its postscript of the 15th.

He appears to have lost all confidence in Lord Wellesley's promises; determines not to write as he thought of doing respecting the minister; that he hears nothing from Lord W. as to the orders in council; and adds, "It is impossible for me to "look back, and to place much va"lue on conferences."

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14th Dec." The general impres sion as to the orders in council is, that they will do nothing. My letter (of the 10th) was written (as my verbal communication had been given) under a persuasion "that they will do nothing if they can help it. A very firm tone ought now to be assumed with this "government."

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(6 to my satisfaction; and that he "believed he should recommend to "the King the appointment of a mi"nister either this week or the next; that he had two persons in his eye, both men of high rank. I urged promptitude on all these subjects as indispensible; but you will per"ceive, notwithstanding past promises, nothing has yet been done; " and there has been no security that "we shall have any thing but pro"mises: I am truly disgusted with "this, and if I followed my own in"clination, would put a speedy end " to it."

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4th Sept.- I mean to confine myself to written intercourse with "Lord W."

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28th Sept.-No notice has been "taken of the residue of my letter

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23d Dec.-" No answer of any sort has been given to my note of "the 21st of Sept. on the subject of "blockades. I have urged in my "letter of the 10th instant, the revo"cation of all the blockades to "which my note of the 21st of Sept. "related."

What apology can be made for such conduct on the part of the Marquis Wellesley, it is difficult to conceive; but it is hardly possible that upon such documents, the as

sertions so repeatedly made by his Majesty's ministers that no conciliatory effort towards America had been neglected on their part, can be founded. Common courtesy appears to have been wanting on the part of our government!

PETITION FROM THE FRIENDS
OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AT
THE LONDON TAVERN.

To the Right Honourable, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in parliament assembed:

The humble petition of the several persons whose names are hereunto subscribed, being protestant dissenters, or friends to religious to leration, residing in various parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

That your petitioners have been informed that a bill is depending in your right honourable house, entitled, "An act to explain and render more effectual certain acts of the first year of the reign of King William and Mary, and of the nine.teenth year of the reign of his present Majesty, so far as the same relate to protestant dissenting minis

ters:

teenth year of the reign of his pre sent Majesty, to extend towards such persons further relief.

That your petitioners apprehend that the said bill is inconsistent with the principle of the before-mentioned acts, and will greatly diminish or entirely subvert the privileges and exemptions which those acts have so long usefully conferred--That your petitioners conceive that such bill is not justified by necessity, nor can produce any advantage, but that it will occasion great inconvenience and distress to many of your petitioners, and to many hundred thousand loyal, virtuous and religious inhabitants of this realmwill injure the public peace and prevent national prosperity-and will contravene the object of the first before-mentioned statute as declared in the preamble thereto, by tending "to disunite his Majesty's protestant subjects in interest and affection."

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the said bill may not pass into a law, and that they may be heard by their counsel or agents against the same.

Signed by about 600 persons.

PETITION OF THE MINISTERS OF THE
THREE DENOMINATIONS.

May it please your Lordships,
We, whose names are subscribed, be-
ing psotestant dissenting ministers of
the three denominations, residing in and
about the cities of London and West-
minster, beg permission most respect-
fully to approach your lordships, for
the purpose of expressing the deep con-
rused a bill now before your right ho-
cern and alarm with which we have pe-
nourable house, intitled " An Act to
explain and render more effectual cer-
tain acts of the first year of the reign of
King William and Queen Mary, and of
the nineteenth year of the reign of his
present Majesty, so far as the same re-
late to Protestant Dissenting Ministers."

That your petitioners humbly represent and submit to your lordships, that it was the object and meaning of the before-mentioned act of the first year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary, that all persons being dissenting protestants, who conceived themselves to be qualified to preach or teach, and who thereby pretended to holy orders, and who demonstrated their loyalty and christian principles, by taking the oaths and subscribing the declarations thereby required, should be at liberty to teach and preach, under the regulations thereby enacYour petitioners conceive the princited, and that it was also the declar-ple of that bill to imply an invasion of ed intent and meaning of the said inalienable rights pertaining to the dearbefore-mentioned act of the nine- est interests of man, nor can they con

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not receive any orders on spiritual fant idiots you are! Prove me out subjects from a temporal power of the gospel that Jesus Christ has the order to pray for the Emperor appointed the pope his substitute or must be intimated to them, by some successor of St. Peter, and that he spiritual sovereign.] "You want to has the right to excommunicate a be obstinate citizens:-I have the sovereign." [From these repeated proofs of it in my pocket. If you expressions one is led to suppose the maintain such principles, your lot pope has actually excommunicated will be punishment in this world, the Emperor.] "If you care about aud eternal damnation in the next. my protection, then preach the gospel You," said he, turning to the apos- as the Apostles did. I will protect tolic vicar, who had addressed him, you if you are good citizens; if not, are the apostolic vicar. Who ap- I will banish you from my empire, pointed you to that office? The and will disperse you over the world pope? he has no right to do it. I like Jews. You belong to the bishopcreate bishops. You will not, said ric of Moulines: appear before your he, turning to the rest, pray for bishop; make your confessions to the monarch? Perhaps, because a him, and sign the concordat. The Romish priest excommunicated me: bishop will inform you of my will. but who gave him the right of ex- I will appoint another bishop at communicating a sovereign? Why Herzegenbuch. Is there a seminary did Luther and Calvin separate them- at Breda?" An affirmative was given. selves from the church? Your in- "Well, then, Mr. Prefect, you will famous sales of indulgences caused make the necessary preparations that them to revolt, and the German these people may swear to the conprinces would no longer bear your cordat. Attend at the seminary, and sway. The English acted wisely be it your care that the orthodox in renouncing you. The popes, by gospel be preached there, in order their hierarchy, set Europe in flames. that more enlightened men should Perhaps, it is your wish to re esta- come forth than those idiots who blish scaffolds and racks; but it preach a strange kind of doctrine." shall be my care you do not succeed. Are you of the religion of Gregory VII. Boniface VIII. Benedict XIV. Clement XII. ? I am not. I am of the religion of Jesus Christ, who said, "Give unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's;" and agreeably to the same gospel, I give unto God that which belongs to God." "I bear the temporal sword; I know how to guide it. God placed me on the throne; and you reptiles of the earth dare not oppose me. owe no account of my administration to the pope; only to God and Jesus Christ. You, perhaps, think me created to kiss the pope's slipper. If it only depended on you, you would cut off my hair, put on me a cowl, or would, like Lewis the Pious, place me in a convent, or banish me to Africa. What igno

or

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I

NEW

REFLECTIONS ON THE
PENAL CODE OF FRANCE.

[From the Monthly Review.|

That branch of the Napoleon code, to which we are now about to introduce our readers, may justly be considered, in the solemnity of its sanctions, in the lasting consequence of its decisions, and in the tone which it naturally imparts to the moral character of a people, as the most important portion of the duty of a legislature; and finishing, as we now do, an attentive perusal of this system, we cannot refrain from expressing our admiration of the general principles on which it is founded, our satisfaction at the salutary reforms which it has pro

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