In various parts of the country the Church-rates have been
refused. At Northampton, it was attempted to impose a rate of fifteen pence in the pound ; but, out of a large assemblage, only a dozen persons voted for it. A Dissenting Minister, Mr. J. Bennett, seems to have made an energetic and telling speech against the rate-
" You speak of the expense of maintaining this church ; but if it is difficult for you, what is it for us ? The congregation that I have the honour to pre- side over is poor—it is small. Within the last fortnight we have had to raise '701. for the payment of a debt, and we have now to raise 501. to paint and repair the chapel, besides having to meet other expenses. There is another chapel in the same parish, where the people are, by great effort, paying 50!. a year for their school-room, and they still have SOU to pay. We are a poor congregation, you are a rich one. We are not attacking you—we are only acting upon the defensive. It is not us pour that come to you rich, but it is you rich that come to us poor, and say that we have salaries which we wish you to pa "
y.
Every Churchman with a grain of decency in his composition must feel grieved and ashamed at the indescribable meanness of those mem- bers of a wealthy communion, who, taking three or four millions a year from the country, would yet force the Dissenters to pay their pew-openers and organists.
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