Cbr aletropoItti.

A preliminary meeting of about 400 delegates from Dissenting Soci- eties and Anti-Church-rate Associations was held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, on Wednesday ; and on Thursday upwards of 1,400 persons assembled at the City of London Tavern, to petition Parlia- ment for the total abolition of Church-rates. Mr. Charles Lushington presided ; and near him on the platform were Mr. Hume, Mr. Ward, Mr. Gillon, Mr. Han, Mr. Sharman Crawford, (who on entering the

room was warmly cheered,) Mr. Harvey, Dr. Bowring, Mr. Hindley, Mr. T. Duncombe, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Baines, Mr. Wilks, .Mr. Alston, Sir Culling Eardley Smith, and Mr. Eusthope. Mr. Lusbington dwelt on the display of strength and number

which the meeting afforded- • " England has sent her delegates congregated from her far-separated counties ; Wales, where benighted ignorance and the destitution of Christianity are deeply and everlastingly indebted to Dissenters, and whose Bishops the House of Londe have exempted from the duty of acquiring the vernacular language of the Prin- cipality-the only proper medium through which they can communicate with their flocks, ascertain their wants, and inquire into the possible complaints which they may have to make against their immediate pastors-has contributed to the associated strength ; and Scotland, though not subjected to similar exactions under the direct name of Church-rates, vet mainly apprehensive of aomeinsidious plan of commutation, and warmed with a friendly feeling towards their Dissenting brethren, have joined the strenuous league and covenant ire defence of religious freedom. Ay, and among these are men from Glasgow, too, taintless from the fallacies of recent sophistry, and undazzled by brilliant lau- dations of an hereditary and irresponsible representation, and of the harmo- nizing and dovetailing perfections of Episcopacy and Presbyterianism."

Mr. Ward moved the first resolution-

" That the exaction of a Church-rate fur the support of the fabrics and worship of the Church of England from those who conscientiously dissent fiord its communion, is unjust, because it compels them to pay for an institution from which they derive no benefit ; is dishonourable to the Establishment, since it implies a suspicion of the zeal and attachment of its members; is un- necessary, because the Church possesses property originally granted for the pur- pose, and now amply sufficient to maintain its buildings and its worship. It is injurious to the interests of true religion, as it blends worldly power with the maintenance of Christianity ; and is unscriptural, since it is opposed to the Voluntary support which is recognized by the doctrines and principles of the New Testament, and sanctioned by the practice of the primitive churches. That the imposition and exaction of Church-rates create divisions and aMmo- sities in nearly all the parishes in the kingdom."

He was bound to tell them, as he would never conceal his opinions, and did not intend to make merely an ad captandum speech, that there was one part of the resolution in which he as an individual did not en- tirely coincide- lie saw nothing unscriptural in the majority asserting their right to form an establishment ; though lie admitted that, when the feelings of the majority changed, they should also change the nature of that establishment. That was the only sentiment to which he did not at once subscribe. lie admitted that the Church-rates were unjust; that they were dishonourable to the Church itself ; that thee were unnecessary ; and that they were injurious to the inte- rests of true religion. In all these he most cordially concurred. Ile not only coincided in these feelings, but be agreed in the expediency and necessity of bringing them prominently annul unequivocally forward. as they were doing at the present juncture. Fur although he had the most confident belief that the bill about to be introduced by his Majesty's Government would be a good bill, and calculated to give them all full satisfaction, still it was on the continuance of their exertions alone that any expectations of ultimate success could rest. It was in the continuance of those exertions that they must look for a guarantee, in the first place, that no bill should be introduced that would disappoint their just expectations ; and if the bill should be what he expected it would prove to be, then, in the second place, he hoped the Government would have through them the means of carrying it. Let them recollect the peculiar position of that Govern- ment; let them recollect that it 1/i11 not rest upon the basis on which the Go- yr romenta of former days had rested-upon a factitious power in the State ; let them recollect that it looked in vain for support to the Church, the Aristo- cracy, or the Court, and that it must rest alone upon the confidence turd affec- tions of the People. (Loud cheers.) Let them recollect this, and they would want no exhortations flout their worthy Chairman to continue their present organization until they had it security that all their just demands would be conceded. When he said that he believed the bill of the Government would be a good bill, lie sufficiently implied his belief that the prin- ciple on which the former bill was funded would be entirely abandoned ; that not one-hall of the Church-rates, nor one-twentieth of the Church. rates, nor any fraction of the Church-rates, would be charged upon the Consolidated Fund. Ile looked upon that as the only good ba-is On which any bill could be founded ; and if the bill which Lord John Russell had announced it to be his intentton to introduce on the :21st of this mouth should not be laureled on that basis, he should feel himself, however reluctantly. compelled to oppose it. (Laud and luny-continued cheering.) Ile should oppose it, because he was confident that any other principle would not only be unjust but useless. It would be wrong morally, and it would be wrung politically. It would be break- ing up a political party ; for it would mo-t certainly be the utter ilt,tructiort of it. Any other principle than that he had laid down would be unjust and useless. Ile had explained how it would be useless. It would be unjust, be- cause it would place the pksenters, as regarded Church-rates, in a worse posi- tion than at present. Any transfer of the Church-rate to the Consolidated Fund would deprive them of dirt corm 01 which they now possessed over it ; because they all knew that a Church-rate could now be opposed, modified, cut down, or rejected altogether, if a majority of the parish were disposed to du so. And this was nut a theoretical, not an abstract power ; it was a power which

they had exercised. Ile therefore said, it would be highly unjust to assimilate that which was not a Parliamentary burden-that which they were not re- quired by a general statute at all times and under all contingencies to pay-with the general taxes of the country, and thereby deprive them of that just control which they now had over Church-rates.

Among the arguments advanced against the abolition of Church- rates, was one by a writer in the Quarterly Review, of so pitiful and contemptible a nature that he could hardly allude to it without disgust -he meant the argument of exclusive dealing.

As a member of the Establishment, he deeply regretted that any man should use such an an argument, at the same trine calling himself a friend of the Church. What was the proposition ? That you were to huckster away the rights of conscience-to submit slavishly to an impost which you firmly believed to be unjust in principle and oppressive in operation, inn order to propitiate the clergyman or the squire. It was asked by the reviewer, whether in the towns and villages that system would not succeed to check opposition, because the Dissenting tradesmen could not afford to suffer by it. Ile could not conceal the shame and reluctance with which he adverted to the use of such an argument by members of the Church to which he Iiiinaelf belonged, as being applicable in any way to the great question they were then discussing. If such a plan could be coutemplated to be put in operation to any eateut by the members of the Establishment, lie would say that there was nothing which was so certain to insure its speedy and utter catinctien.

Sir Culling Smith seconded the resolution, and expressed his claire concurrence inn the views of Mr. Ward.

Mr. I fume assured the meeting, that the 'Ministerial Bill would be a satisfactory measure. Ha wend say confidently, that the bill about to he introduced would hot throw one shillwg of charge on the ConsulidatedFund. (Lend duets.) The

Members of the House of Commons would out he railed upon, therefore, to rye their opinion on that question ; but they weeld be called Open to give their be assistance to the 31mistry to carry the bill. He could nut herk to the proceedings of the past year without some suspicion that the same power which had already etrangled many got and beneficial measures would be brought into action on the present occasion. He lees satisfied that the conduct of the Ministry could only be strengthened by all friends to thehnestion being mated ;

and he coogratulated the friends of civil and religious liberty on seeing such a nailed and strong body before him. Their exertions in the country during the past four months must have removed any doubts which might have lingered on the minds of the Ministry with regard to the feelings ut the People on this subject. It would, however, require all their assistance to carry this measure through.

Mi. Charles Hindley, as a member of the Dissenters' Committee of Manchester, referred, as a proof of the spirit that prevailed in that place, to the petition for the total Abolition of Church-rates, with 38,700 signatures.

He felt deeply interested in this question. They were told, to Why make such a fuss about it ; the tie is of small amount ; nobody feels it:" Why not, we reply, if it is so light and trivial, why not bear it yourselves? He could give them an instance of the weight of the tax, from the district of the county in which he resided. He lived in the township of Duckintiehl, which contained about 20,000 people; all of whom were supplied with spiritual food from pastors of their own appointment, and who were paid by themselves. They lived seven miles from the parish-church of Stockport ; whose hells they had never heard—whose minister not one of the people of the township had ever seen, except when they were about to be united in the bonds of holy matii- 'Loony. Yet in 1812, (he did not know whether his honourable friend the Member for Middlesex was then in the House,) a party of Churchmen emir from Stockport, and obtained a bid from Parliameut to build a church in Stockport, or rather to pull down the old church and rebuild it, and they eh- taMed 12,000/. for this purpose, which they got the people to pay. This was • not enough in those palmy days of Toryism, when the Churchwardens tort over their wine and discussed the merits ut the National Church. A few years afterwards, they obtained another bill for 12,000/. mere; hat this wee nut enough, and they paid, and continued to pay, and they were &mei ea es: fling to pay, that actually, without taking the trouble of applying for an act f Path:l- ament, they came tot 9,0001. more. Still their spirit was not roused, and they paid the money. But in the first Reform Path:anent, when their High Church friends came forward to obtain a hill for 7,00(1. additiunal, they were determined not to pay ; and, to the homier of the Refermed Parliament, the bill could not be obtained. ( Great chteriog.)T1wir opporeots withdrew ; and they took tome legal opinions upon the clauses in tile former bin, which ailuweil them interest, and su forth ; and they sought upon the strength of this to levy the 7,0001. They hada meeting, and determined to resist ; but ultimately they settled the matter by paying ten shillings in the pound sterling; giving ztereie, hut letting them know that they were more careful of their 11110110'. All this was HA by Stockport ; and the township of Duckiofield never derived ally Lenart Irmo the Natioual Church, or any return for their outlay el several thousends of pounds; and yet this was what was called a small inquiet, which noinnly could Justly giumble at.

Mr. Alston mentioned several facts to the meetitee, which proved

how unpopular Church-rules were in Hertferrd-bire. 1.k own parish, of which he was chief proprietor, he shoell certeinly te de- feated were lie to propose a rote, though the church was 111 a dilapi- dated state. As a Member of Parliament, he vvetthl say, that if Ministers did not propose a measure of full and entire relief, they should not have his support.

Mr. (Alma described the harsh conduct of the Edinburgh clergy in the collection of the Annuity.tex. The ancestors of his country inen knew what. Church-rates were— It was only by their ancestors taking the decided step of turning rot on the hill-tops, by their undaunted eourare, by the effusion of the bleed of ehstets, that religioue liberty had been established in that conetay. They hnew.in- deed, something of the Episcopal Established Church. They hid endured the heavy hard and felt the iron rod of Episcopacy : therefore the people of Scot- land warmly sympathized with the Di”eutere of England, who now protested against some of the exactions of the Eatablishael Church. And what they Mel deputed him to do was, to call on English Dissenters to see:Tv:dee with the Scotch in their grievances in return—to ask, that while they denemded fir themselves the abolition of Church-rates, they would, either in the b'll now about to be brought forward, or by some subsequent measure, take care that the Scotch should also be relieved from the burdens which they endured. He had the greatest pleasure in communicating to the meeting the wale, ,endette of the Scotch. He was ignorant, of course, of the exact nature of the bill about to be brought forward by his Majesty's Ministers; tut he ni!ght find it expedient to move the insertion of a clause to exempt his cm:tee:mu from the burden : yet he should not do that without first consulting witli those is whom he had contitence, that he might be quite certain that he dill ee with a view to benefit even his own con:demon which might in:t in peril the success of the great object of the English Dissenters. ( Groet eluerin Mr. Hall told the meeting some facts connected with the state cf the Church and of Dissent in Monmouthshire— In the county: of Monmouth, out of a population of 98,000, 4n,e00 or 48,000 were Dissenters ; and in the two parishes with which he was more im- mediately connected, which contained 10,600 inhabitants, he might sefely sly that only 140 belonged to the Church. lie was proud to Rate that, in the West el 31ennioutin every Dissenter had the meatus of worshipping his God according to his own creed, mid the pour inhabitant had the coneolatien and gratification of receiving religious solace in that language which he undersh and almost superstitiously revered.

31r. Hawes said, that it' Church-rates were abolished, there were ample funds in the Church to replace them. After detailing several instances of pluralism, he said— There were no returns of the real amount of Church property. There was no statement of the amount paid for tines, which was very considerable; few the Dean of Lincoln received last year no less than 14,0001. in tine.. He would say, then, that if the Church-rates were abolished, there were two sources open to them for replacing the amount—Church property Wilt Churchmen ; but in his opinion Church property ought to be looked to first. lie wished before he 1.■■•%Vn to say a few wends upon another subject. In abolishing Church. rata., Le presumed it was dietiuctly understood—and he spoke ter a large body of Lis constituents—that the rates imposed by lo• cal acts of Parliament under which new churches were built would be M. tufted in the abolition. ( Cheers.) Ile was bound to say, that the grernet possible injustice bas been committed under these acts. in his ho- ruugh there were three parishes, Kennington, Camberwell, and Lambeth. Lambeth, which hada population of 90,000, had been divided into five parts; and Dr. D'Oyley (of whom he wished to speak with the greatest respect, as it most humane, benevolent, and chat itable man) had had four parishes added to his own, and was enjoying a large income, while the curates had scarcely so much as supported them. He believed he was very much within the mark when he stated that the Rector of Lambeth enjoyed an income of 2,500/. per annum. He therefore hoped that as many of his constituents were suffering under the pressure of rates imposed by local acts of Parliament, it would be distinctly understood, that for them, and the public generally, he claimed the entire abolition of these rates.

Mr. Sharman Crawford, Mr. Conway, and Mr. Mark Phillips then addressed the meeting. They were followed by the Reverend J. Burnet, delegate from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Mr. Burnet deli. vexed a long and eloquent speech ; of which the following passage trial particularly well on the meeting-

" I have perceived—I do not know why it was-.perhaps I might guess the reason—that when any thiug was said about Church rates connected with Glas- gow, there appeared to he a smile on the faces of all present ; there seemed to be a general feeling that there was something about Glasgow that made the con- nexion between Church-rates and Glasgow a sort of oda! match. Now I cannot think why Glasgow should be thus treated. It does nest appear to ine that Glasgow has sunk itself or that it ever sunk itself; suer do I think it will ever sink neelf. There were days in the olden times of the Covenant when Glasgow and its vicinity stood high as a bulwark against eceleaiaatical operesaion. Glasgow has never sunk since ; and to the present moment it stands foremost in Scotland, or at least amongst the foremost, to resh.t oppression. A few days days ago, when 1 was in Glasgow, a petition on the subject on which this meeting has met was put in circulation. It had been in circulation for two or three days; it was still going its rounds ; yet there 11:1(1 been already subscribed to it fifteen thousand names. Fifteen thousand mune- !—fir what ?—to tell the British House of Commons not to oppress their brethren in England by en exaction of Church rates ! Nov a certain gentleman, elm has receetly paid a visit to Glasgow—( Great lanLihkr)—having bad au addles, got up and pre. seated to him with: some 2,000 signatures, talks ale-ut getting it framed and glazed, and of handing it down to his funily as an heir-loom, to he kept by them to the end of thus l As so much is made of this :Wiese, what are we to say of the petition, which, in two of three ally,, received 13.0t10 signatures, and which, before it be finally tilled up at Gtoteow, will, in all probability, be signed by double that number of Anti- ('1.1:re'll- rate '.cu? Ile saw a smite upon their countenances when he spoke of this petition. If he trans- lated right, that smile was caused by tine failure of the attempt to Torifv that city, and to prevent it ever thlrF.m g of Engliah Chet ch•retes, o Church-rates at all, except to ply them. hat petition was gut up, and ran the extent be hail stated ; it had reeeivel that nember of eigliatmes even before the Prebtox n down. ( Great /aughter.) The Pavilion still stood as a

mom:meta cf the to iumph Toryism;' yet. the petition had circulated

round it, and gathered it, thousands of signatures. ( Cheers and laughter.) It had been b!acii in Glasgow. that a national religMn is necessary in order that the nation may have an oppertunity of iug homage to Christianity— that, its effect, Church .rates are te, ire ecnaidered as an homage to Christianity; so said the man %elm once wes in pewee. ( Cheers out/ farehter.) Now if he were to ask the honourable Member for et hat he thought of the ho- mage ;in:acme:el to Christianity by the coercive system in Ireland, the mind of

tile lee: able geteletran weed,' iinn•ediately t. rent to the murder of the Ilyans.

( Great ( 1,141;a.) Was that an homege to Cbristieuity ? What did the lemouralde 211ember thihk of the (listless wart ante, and the execution of them? Whet did he think of the various nets of rebellion?—writs of rebellion he ineent ; but it runic to the same thing, the terms were pretty well convertible once. (Lanf,httr.) Were these acts cf homage paid to Christianity ? Was this the Imalage t a he presented to t'ee groat Anther of Cie seated on 1,:e throne of pow( r and glory—to Iiiin ..chi preached nut a:rife, but peaue on eerth and good-wilt among seen? Was this the homage due to that Chris- tianity which its divine author had sealed with his own blood ? The man who could assert that such was the hemage (het to Christianity could not have kveited to think whet Christianity wee."

Mr. Alersell from Leicester, Colonel Moxon from Birmingham, and Mr. Childs from Bungay, addressed the meeting. The whole of the resolutions having been unanimoesly passed, thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the assembly broke up.

Yesterday the Delegates proceeded to Downing Street, to have an interview with Lord Melbourne. They walked in double file from the Crown and Anchor ; and the army excited much attention as they passed /done. At Lord Melbourne's house in Downing Street, they were jellied by Mr. Hume, Mr. Baines, Mr. Putter, Mr. Hindleni and Mr. Drotherton. Lord Alelhourne presented himself, and, after nit iwpresaive statement from Me. Burnet, assured the Delegates, that the Government measere of Churcloratee would be satisfactory to them, and that he irdividually ceeetirred in the principle they advanced. He also eomplimented Air. iiui"tct on his temperate manner, and tie:liked the Delegates for their es:hie:Fe:en of confidence in Ministers. The Delegates thee returned to ti:c Clown and Anchor, in procession as be tote.

It is stated i t the Standard, that the Church party have engaged I Freeineeone' flail for a counter-maolfeetetion.