steadfast and practical belief of them. "I have not shunned to declare to you all the counsel of God," as far as I have been able to discover it myself; and on a review of my labours in this town, I rejoice to find that something has been done to promote the cause of our common Master. Still we are "a sect everywhere spoken against;" nor does the present state of opinion afford any reasonable prospect of a change for the better, as regards our position in the religious world. Many are prevented from embracing our views by an ignorance of their real nature; and others, by whom they are secretly held, refrain from an open avowal of them. In all this there is undoubtedly matter for regret, but no just ground for despondency; for if, as we are conscientiously persuaded, our religious opinions rest upon the firm basis of reason and Scripture, we need entertain no fear respecting their ultimate triumph. It is something to be enabled to say, that, amidst many discouraging circumstances, our cause in this neighbourhood has neither retrograded nor remained stationary. Gratifying instances have occurred, during my connexion with the Unitarian body in Chesterfield, in which prejudices of long standing have been removed; and in which the vacancies occasioned by death, and other unavoidable causes, have been supplied, by the accession to our numbers, of pious and estimable individuals from other religious denominations. On my removal to other scenes of labour and usefulness, it is a source of no small satisfaction to me, that I leave you not less cordially united, as a band of the great Christian brotherhood, than I found you; and it is my earnest prayer at the throne of grace, that the same spirit of unanimity, by which you have hitherto been distinguished, may continue to animate you, and that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may aid you in the faithful discharge of your duty, and crown with his blessing your efforts to know and to do his holy will. Remember, that a correct faith will avail but little in the absence of a corresponding practice; and rejoice not in the spread of any religious opinions, however rational and scriptural, so much as in the diffusion of a Christian spirit, and in the promotion of that "holiness" of heart and life, "without which no man can see the Lord." The faithful minister of Christ, although he may

feel it to be his duty occasionally to dwell upon the doctrines of the Gospel, will be more particularly careful to enforce the observance of its precepts, and will make it his habitual aim to encourage among his hearers, the formation and growth of the Christian character. Such, I believe, you will all bear me witness, has been the principle by which I have been actuated, as your minister. "But to err is human;" and none of us can claim an exemption from this common infirmity of our nature. There have doubtless been times, when I have fallen short in the performance of my duty, and failed even to realise my own conceptions of the office of the Christian ministry. I can truly say, however, that I have laboured, to the best of my ability, to deserve well at your hands; and that, in all things, it has been my prevailing desire, to show myself "approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” In the selection of a future pastor, your choice has fallen upon one, whose family has long been attached to the Dissenting interest, and who reckons, in the line of his paternal ancestors, an individual, who was honourably known as the colleague, first of the Rev. Samuel Bourn, and afterwards of the Rev. Dr. Priestley, in one of our most flourishing congregations, more than half a century ago. I may be excused too when I state, that my successor received the principal part of his school education under my own roof; and that the favourable opinion which I had been led to form of his qualifications for the pastoral office, from my own knowledge of his disposition and character, has been amply confirmed by the reports which I have received, from other quarters, of his talents for ministerial usefulness. I trust that your advancement in Christian knowledge and piety will be steady and progressive under his ministry; and that the sacred relation, which he is about to sustain towards you, should it please God to bless him with the requisite degree of health and strength, will extend through many, many happy years. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified." Accept my parting wishes for your prosperity as a congregation, and for your happi

ness as individuals. In one word, FAREWELL!- -In the few remarks which I have now made, I have purposely. confined myself to those who have been regular attendants upon my ministry; because it is to them that I am indebted for the beautiful present which I have just received, and because this meeting is so far a strictly denominational one. But I see around me, in the capacity of visitors, others, with whom I have been in the habit of interchanging the offices of kindness and of friendship. To those I beg now to offer my thanks for this parting mark of respect. My best wishes attend them, and all with whom I have lived upon terms of intimacy or of civility, during my residence in the town and neighbourhood of Chesterfield, of which, I trust, I may venture, without profanation, to say, as was said by the Psalmist of old, in reference to his beloved Jerusalem-" for my brethren and companions' sakes, peace be within thee!"

A Purse, containing twenty sovereigns, was afterwards presented to Mr. Woodhead, who for many years has filled various important offices connected with the Congregation, in testimony of the high approbation of the Congregation for his very efficient services.

After the presentation had taken place, some of the company walked in groups about the beautiful grounds which had been thrown open for the party with so much frankness and cordiality by their generous owner; others remained at the tables in conversation. At a later period several appropriate hymns were sung, which, from the "stillness of even," and the interesting nature of the meeting, had a very pleasing and solemn effect. Great praise is due to the ladies and gentlemen who undertook the management of the arrangements for the evening; everything having been conducted so as to prevent the slightest confusion, and to secure the comfort of every individual, in so large an assemblage. About nine o'clock, the company separated.

On Tuesday morning, Aug. 11, the Rev. R. Wallace, with his family, left Chesterfield for Manchester, where, in a short time, he will enter upon the duties of his new and important office, as Theological Professor in the Manchester New College.

GREENOCK UNITARIAN CONGREGATION. This congregation held a soirée on Wednesday evening, the 19th August, at which nearly ninety persons were present, consisting of the members, and friends, and visitors from different parts. On the motion of the Rev. Thomas Cooper, minister of the congregation, the Rev. George Harris of Glasgow was called to the chair, who opened the meeting with prayer. After coffee, the Chairman returned thanks for the honour conferred on him, of presiding on the occasion. He said, he was glad he was always glad to unite with his brethren in the promotion of a good work. He remembered the last time he was present in that hall (the Gardeners' Arms), he then witnessed a very different scene from that now before him. He then listened to the incoherent rhapsodies and pitiable ravings of fanaticism. He then heard Armstrong of British Reformation Society notoriety, and Tait, and others. He witnessed their writhings of body, and contortions of countenance, and outcries wild, and wailings, and denunciations of all, save their fraction of Christendom. He impugned not the honesty of the men's motives. On the contrary, some of them had shown, by their relinquishment of former stations in the Church, that they preferred their convictions to a life of honour, emolument, and ease. Yet such a miserable scene of delusion and fanatical extravagance, he hoped he should never have the misfortune to witness again. He now stood in a very different scene. He was surrounded by men and women, met together to spend an evening in rational communication of thought, and social cheerfulness. rejoiced at such meetings, because they were calculated to disprove the false and injurious notion, that religion was necessarily a gloomy subject, and forbade innocent pleasure. He was reminded also of the first time he came to Greenock, about quarter of a century ago, to preach Unitarianism. He then knew not a single professor of Unitarian sentiments. And now, though his ardent wishes for the future increase of believers in that pure and ennobling faith, had not been so completely realised as there seemed reason to expect, yet, on contemplating this comparatively large and respectable assembly, he could not help being sensible how much had been done;

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he could not but feel that they had reason to thank God and take courage. Mr. Harris then, with his usual emphasis, expounded, in a short address, the advantages of Unitarian Christianity, as a free, an elevating, and generous faith; and concluded by calling upon Mr. John Henry to propose the first resolution, which was seconded by Mr. M'Intyre:-"That the Greenock Unitarian Congregation welcome the Rev. Thomas Cooper as their Minister, and earnestly wish success to his labours to promote pure Christian doctrine and practice,—to teach, after the model of Christ's teachings and the example of that righteous One, a rational, comprehensive, and practical religion, suited to the wants and capacities of humanity; producing peace on earth, and rendering glory to the Almighty Father; forming its subjects for the proper reception and employment of the gifts and facilities for happiness of the present life; fitting them for enduring its evils and overcoming its temptations, and preparing them, by patient perseverance in well-doing, for future glory and immortality."

To this Mr. Cooper replied as follows:-Mr. Chairman, I beg to assure you, and this respectable company, that it is with great and heartfelt satisfaction that I rise to acknowledge the sentiments of good-will and Christian sympathy contained in the resolution now adopted. They are not mere words of course which I now use. I speak nothing more than I really feel and literally mean. We are met, on the present occasion, to speak the truth, and not to pass empty compliments. The welcome thus publicly given to me by the Unitarian congregation of this town, is most grateful to my feelings; and I beg to return my most cordial thanks to that Christian body, for this mark of their favour and approbation. They have called me to fill an important and highly responsible situation; and though our engagement is, of necessity, of a temporary nature, I hope and pray that it may result in good. I am deeply sensible of my defects, but I promise that no effort shall be wanting on my part to make up for the deficiency. I came to this country a perfect stranger, and it is only now that I begin to see and feel my way. Time will give me experience; and I hope, with the blessing of God, and the zealous co-operation