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    those who ranked under one of the divisions of their tripartite flag ; and another association ( the Protestant Society ) was inconsequence formed , which , though in some things active and energetic , has added , we fear , nothing to tlie prospects of the main cause ;—^ the ouly one , in fact , interesting in a popular ana

    enlarged view of the political state of the Dissenters . It is not very creditable to modern zeal that a new society—an avowed improvement—should shew less disposition even than the old one to grapple with any but those petty grievances which are the mere excrescences of a system of oppression , and which exist only in feelings and prejudices which mere discussion would go far to dispel .

    General Meeting of the Deputies of the Three Denominations of Dissenters , King * s Head , Poultry , December 15 , 1826 . Wm . Smith , Esq ., M . P ., in the Chair . The minutes of the preceding General Meeting and the intervening Committee Meetings were read , by which it appeared that , in pursuance of the directions of a former General Meeting , a petition to

    Parliament against the Test and Corporation Acts had been presented last session , but that it had been thought adviseable to take no other proceedings ; - ^ that consideration had been given , in concert with a deputation of the Ministers , to the subject of the Registry of Births at Dr . Williams ' s Library , anc ) opinions had been taken from Mrf Tindal , Mr . Shadwell and Mr . Bickersteth .

    . The minutes being confirmed , the Committee ' s report and the resolutions to which it refers were read as follows . [ We gave the substance of the resolutions in our last Number . ] The report shortly congratulated the Meeting on the absence of any cases of oppression or annoyance requiring the exertions of the Society , and also on

    other symptons of increasing liberality on the subject of the claims of Dissentera ; and it concluded with statipg at some length the circumstances under which the London University was proposed to be founded , and the unanimous recommendation of the Committee to the Deputies to invest a portion of their funds in ten shares of that Institution .

    The Chairman begged to say a fev ^ words in explanation of the Committee ' s recommendation . The subject was one of very great interest . The effect of the subscription required at our Universities had always been felt as a great hardship on Dissenters . They must forego educa-

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    tion and academic honours , or do what was repugnant to their consciences . Feeling this , many had warmly concurred in establishing an University in London , which should afford , at least / several of the benefits of education at a small expense , within the reach of all , and

    unfettered by any religious proscription . The Deputies' funds had of late been very lightly drawn on . There had been no legal proceeding for two years , and they were therefore at more liberty to consult their feelings . The Committee recommended the investment of a portion of their funds in the shares of this

    tJriiversity , being unanimously of opinion that such a measure was in perfect accordance with the objects of the Society , and would have a most beneficial effect , and would recommend them strongly to many persons who thought they bad not shewn so much interest as they ought on so important a matter . A resolution for the purpose would be moved after the reception of the report .

    The question as to receiving the report being first put , Mr . Montgomery stated , that he had always objected , and should do so , to receiving any report unless it was accompanied by a statemeut of their funds . He had been a Deputy twenty years , and could never learn what funds they had , if any ; and he considered such concealment a stigma on their proceedings .

    The Chairman said , he had been a Deputy forty years , and for the first twenty was equally iguorant as to their funds . He thought the question of publicity of little importance ; but one thing he would observe , that he hoped real advantage would ensue if publicity was required * and that if congregations called for accounts , they would contribute . If only those inquired whose contributions gave them an interest so to do , they would be found to be very few * The report was then received .

    Mr . Edgar Taylor saip , that it had been entrusted to him to move the resolution as to the London University ; but as a preliminary objection had been raised to discussing it before the production of the accounts , he should ( although the next Meeting was a fitter occasion for

    discussing that point ) move , tjiat the accounts be produced , in order that the sense of the Meeting might be at once fafcen pn tfiat head , which wight otfoeriwise perhaps embarrass his other motion . He had always advocated t | ie production of thev accounts . Pr . 3 rpwn had doubts as to the expediency of publicity , He was wpfc prepared

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    Intelligence . —Proceedings of the Deputies . 135

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1827, page 135, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1793/page/55/