at least all the money subscribed? What but the most egregious folly prompted them to build the Rodney Street Church so large as to accommodate 1800 sitters, when they had only a congregation of 600 to begin with, and, properly speaking, only a Scottish population to look to for supplying them with more. What, in such circumstances, but the most egregious folly prompted them to raise a clamour about my doctrines, almost as soon as our religious society had been formed, and at a period consequently, when common sense, and a due regard to their own interests, would have dictated silence, even supposing me to have been wrong? What but the most egregious folly prompted them to obtrude upon me a colleague, with out having any funds distinct from my stipend to pay for his support, and in opposition to the express wishes and remonstrances of the congregation, whom the measure was calculated to irritate, and whose interests certainly it was not likely to promote? What but the most egregious folly prompted them to shock the prejudices of the religious public, and deprive themselves of the prospect of receiving any additions to their congregation, by removing the seats allotted to the poor, and shutting up the seats that remained unlet, almost as soon as the Rodney Street Church had been opened? What but the most egregious folly has prompted them to transact all their business without keeping regular journals, and entering regular minutes, thus rendering all their procedure questionable. But I have done. The glaring folly exhibited by those who take the lead in my place of worship, and their constant departure from the maxims by which men of common sense regulate their conduct, are circumstances too well known to the Liverpool public, to require any lengthened comment of mine.

I have just hinted, that the introduction of a second minister into the Rodney Street Church was, in the circumstances of the case, a proof of egregious folly on the part of my accusers ;-but this is not all;-the manner in which it was carried into effect was a complete abandonment

a direct violation-of the grand principle upon which our religious society was originally formed. Taught by experience the evils which result from proprietors being able to set the wishes of the people at defiance,* our Rodney Street society was founded upon the expressly recognised principle,—whether right or wrong, is not the question,-of the majority of the congregation, meaning thereby the shareholders, seatholders, and sitters, being entitled to interpose and direct in all cases, except those where pecuniary matters alone were concerned. So careful indeed were the original framers of the constitution, to place our society upon a decidedly popular basis, and to guard against the possibility of measures obnoxious to the congregation ever being resorted to or adopted by the proprietors, that they concluded the last series of their resolutions (the same principle being understood to apply to the rest) by declaring, that "these also should form part of the constitution and be embodied in it, and that when so embodied, it should not be competent for the shareholders (i. e. the proprietors) to alter any of them without the consent of a full meeting of the congregation, called together in the most public manner.” The security which such lan

*The Rodney Street congregation left the Scotch Kirk, Oldham Street, in 1823, simply upon the ground of a small majority of the proprietors of that Kirk having obtruded a minister upon the great majority of the people, in opposition to their wishes.

guage seemed to afford against unpopular measures,-combined with the apparent frankness and liberality by which the transactions of our rulers were at first distinguished,→ was the great lure which induced many to join our infant association. But alas, what are the fairest promises, when interest, or the indulgence of rancorous feelings stands in the way of their accomplishment. Ere a twelvemonth had elapsed, the rulers of the Rodney Street congregation were found occupying the very ground, and avowing the very principles, a practical enforcement of which had been the grand cause of so many departing from Oldham Street. Dissatisfied with me, and especially displeased at the determination with which I had repelled their encroachments, they wanted to introduce a second minister, but as the majority of the congregation were known to be favourably disposed towards me, and averse to the measure, it was resolved to carry it into effect, independently of them, and without paying any regard to their remonstrances. This, after the statements already made I need scarcely remark, could not be done agreeably either to the letter or spirit of our constitution. The people, as may naturally be supposed, felt extremely indignant at such a flagrant and illegal breach of the fundamental principle of their association ;—a principle too, which scarcely a twelvemonth before had been so formally and solemnly recognized. They met and passed resolutions upon the subject-they entreated the Committee of Management, in the most respectful terms, to abstain from the introduction of a colleague, as they were perfectly satisfied with me and with my ministry,-or if the Committee were inclined to persist in the measure, they urged the necessity, according to the forms of the constitution, of submitting it to them for their deliberation and determination. But all in vain. To concede did not suit the pur

F

poses of those who had the management of affairs in their hands, the application of the people was treated with contempt, the lowest quibbling was resorted to for the purpose of shewing that the proprietors alone had a right to decide in a case of this kind, and the obnoxious measure was pushed through in spite of the people, and in the face of protests both by myself and others against it. It may be said, that the congregation had their remedy by an action at law. True, but will any man, who knows the loss of time and money which such an appeal demands, and the un

* It is obvious from this, that the introduction of the second minister, as well as other important alterations in the constitution, having never yet been confirmed according to the prescribed forms, is open to be attacked at law, whenever it may suit the convenience of parties to do so. It may be alleged that the people have acquiesced in all the changes alluded to, by appointing the second minister, but this is erroneous, for, first, the congregation, when summoned together on the 5th of November last, had not the proposed alterations submitted to them for their approval, but were simply called upon to elect the minister;—and a gentleman, who attempted to shew that such a step could not be taken until the preliminary question, whether there should be a second minister or not, had been settled, was prevented speaking,- -a circumstance which induced him to enter against the whole procedure of the day, his most decided protest ;— and, secondly, scarcely one half of the congregation voted, either in person, or by proxy, on the occasion alluded to, the rest chusing by their absence, to evince their dissatisfaction with the whole business; the majority contained a large proportion of children under age,-persons who took seats merely to qualify them for voting, without meaning to attend regularly afterwards, and of clerks, who by taking seats in their own names, enabled their masters, in opposition to the spirit of the constitution, to give double and treble votes. A piece of more complete trickery,-a more complete farce than the whole business, was, perhaps, never exhibited.

christian spirit which it is calculated to produce and foster, be surprised at their submitting to the wrong? Besides, they perceived, that by allowing the scheme to go forward, their rulers were made the instruments of eventually punishing themselves. Instead of a respectable congregation which, but for their dissentions, would speedily have been formed, it was evident to any discerning mind, that the election of a second minister would pave the way for its destruction. That the reader may be enabled to judge for himself, I have furnished him with a series of documents, illustrative of the facts mentioned in this paragraph, in the Appendix, No II.

It would not be doing justice to myself were I to stop here, and not present to my readers another feature of the characters and procedure of my opponents-without it, indeed, the portrait which I have just attempted to draw would not be complete. At the very moment that the leading persons in opposition to me were taking measures apparently for the election of a second minister,—were professing to entertain towards me sentiments of the highest respect,―and were loudly proclaiming that their only object in all the course pursued by them, was to promote the peace and harmony of the congregation,—they had actually laid before the Solicitor General a series of queries, having for their object to ascertain whether or not they could by any methods, forcibly or otherwise,-get rid of me. This piece of duplicity when known did not, as may well be supposed, tend to increase the estimation in which they and their schemes were held. The opinion returned by Sir C. Wetherell, in August last, was unfavourable to them, and finding themselves thus obliged to come to terms with me, the scheme of a colleague, which for some time had been al