under the will of the late Mr. Richard Cooke, well known as a liberal contributor for many years to Unitarian charities. Unfortunately, the will was drawn up by himself, and is thrown into the Court of Chancery, under the plea that part of the bequest is void under the statutes of Mortmain. This, it is feared, is the case; but a Government annuity of £300, having some years to run, will probably, as the Committee are advised, be secured to the Association.-The Report on the Book department, contained the pleasing intelligence of a correspondence with one of the ministers of the Reformed Church in Paris, at his own solicitation, having for its object to enable him to employ the press of France for the defence and promotion of Unitarian Christianity. The reprint of the New Testament in Greek, after Griesbach's text, was announced as nearly ready for publication. A large portion of the Report was devoted to the history and present state of the Madras Mission, which is suspended, in order to await new and better opportunities of carrying it on effectively. Various grants, some of them large, to congregations were detailed. A respectful and affectionate notice was taken of the deaths of Mr. Edgar Taylor and the Rev. Dr. Carpenter. A recommendation was made by the Committee, of soliciting the Rev. Dr. Channing's services as a preacher, occasioned by the pleasing rumour of his intended visit to England-a rumour, we are sorry to learn within a day or two, without authority. The Report concluded with the suggestion of several new measures for the revival and spread of Unitarianism. -Agreeably to a recommendation in the Report, the Association commenced the resolutions with one declaratory of their joy and gratitude at the late preservation of Her Majesty, the Queen, from attempted assassination. In conformity to the expressed opinion of the Committee, the scale of the Officers of the Society was reduced, and the following gentlemen were chosen into office for the year ensuing, viz. Mr. Hornby, Treasurer; Rev. R. Aspland, Secretary; the Revds. Dr. Rees, E. Tagart, B. Mardon, and James Yates, and Messrs. Richard Taylor, H. B. Fearon, J. H. Ball, and John T. Hart, of the Committee; Mr. E. W. Field, Solicitor; and Messrs. Richard Martineau, G. Bracher, and Richard

Tayler, Auditors. Various gentlemen spoke upon the several resolutions, viz. the Revds. W. Hincks, E. Talbot, W. James, and Messrs. Rutt, Young, D. B. Price, and others.

This meeting was followed by a Public Breakfast, for ladies and gentlemen, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand; John Taylor, Esq. F. R. S., in the chair. Sentiments of loyalty to the Queen, and of attachment to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex and "the rest of the Royal Family in England, one in heart with the people," which were happily introduced by the Chairman, were hailed with enthusiasm. The Rev. S. Bache, the preacher of the day, was thanked in more than the usual way, and in acknowledgment delivered an impressive and most useful speech. The usual expression of good-will to the Unitarian Association, was responded to by Mr. Richard Tayler, acting by desire of the Committee for the Treasurer, Mr. Hornby, unavoidably absent on important professional business in Ireland, much to his own regret and that of the meeting.-The memory of Mr. Edgar Taylor, proposed by the Rev. R. Aspland, and that of Dr. Carpenter, supported in an affecting manner by the Rev. Dr. Hutton, were honoured by the whole assembly rising and standing for a minute in silence. The Chairman was proposed early, on account of his being under the necessity of leaving the meeting some time before its termination, by the Rev. Dr. Rees, who expatiated, with a feeling in which the company partook, on the obligations of the Unitarian public to various members of Mr. Taylor's family. Good wishes for the French brethren were re-echoed by the Rev. E. Tagart; and sympathy with the American brethren was suitably enforced by the Rev. T. Madge. The Rev. John M'Caw spoke in answer to an offer of respect to the friends in Ireland. In conclusion, the company thanked the stewards heartily for their zealous attentions; and the compliment was acknowledged in an energetic parting speech by Mr. H. J. Preston, Jun., one of their number. The company consisted of 300. The arrangements were upon the whole good; the proceedings were throughout harmonious; and expectations were generally expressed of an equally numerous and pleasant meeting at the next

Anniversary, which it was intimated would probably be holden at Hackney.- Christian Reformer.

THE Twenty-eighth Anniversary of the East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Unitarian Association, was held at Thorne, on Thursday and Friday, June 18 and 19, 1840. The introductory service was performed by the Rev. W. Duffield of Stockton-on-Tees; after which, the Rev. W. Worsley, of Gainsborough, preached from John xix. 14, "Behold your King." On Friday forenoon, the Rev. E. Higginson, of Hull, introduced the service; and the Rev. W. Duffield preached from John xviii. 1, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." At the close of the service, the members and friends of the Association met to transact the business of the Society, when the Rev. R. Jackson was called to the chair.-The public meeting took place in the Unitarian Chapel, at half-past six in the evening, which was opened with singing and prayer. The religious services were conducted by the Rev. R. Jackson, minister of the congregation. Mr. Watson of Hull, one of the oldest members of the Association, was unanimously requested to preside on the occasion. The meeting was consecutively addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Worsley, Higginson, Duffield, and Jackson, who responded to the following sentiments:

1st, "The connection between Unitarian belief and the hope of salvation."

2d, "How far doctrinal religion and practical virtue are connected."

3d, "The scriptural character of the Unitarian faith." 4th, "The propriety of extending that section of the Christian Church designated Unitarian; and the means of accomplishing that object."

Although the meeting of the Association was held at a season of the year when many of the friends are particularly engaged in their agricultural pursuits, yet the services were well attended, especially at the public meeting; notwithstanding the Branch Bible Association was held at the same time in the town, yet we had our full share of attendants. The Rev. E. Higginson concluded with prayer. The Rev. W. Duffield preached again on

the Sunday evening following, from Ps. cix. 9, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his ways? By taking heed thereto according to thy word;"-when a collection was made in behalf of the Sunday-school connected with the congregation. R. J.

PUNISHMENT OF DEATH FOR CRIME BY BRITISH LAW. We rejoice in the success which has attended the introduction of Mr. Fitzroy Kelly's Bill in the House of Commons, intended to abolish the punishment of death for fourteen offences to which that penalty has hitherto been attached. That Bill may not become the law of the land during the present Session of Parliament, but there is manifestly a growing conviction in favour of the principles which that Bill asserts; and those principles, being founded in reason and Christianity, they must ultimately be successful. A petition was presented by Mr. Kelly, on the 23d June, from our esteemed and venerable friend, Mr. Alexander of Yarmouth, on this great question, which is so truly excellent that we have great pleasure in transferring it to our pages:

"To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled, The Petition of the undersigned Inhabitant of Great Yarmouth, and Freeholder of the County of Norfolk,

"Most humbly sheweth,-That the peculiar circumstances of your petitioner, in two several instances hereafter referred to, conjointly with a feeling in the country, now very generally expressed, on the severity of legal punishment for criminal offences, renders it an incumbent duty to state with all due deference,

"That, in the humble opinion of your petitioner, the first and legitimate end of punishment is the reformation of the offender.

"That the punishment inflicted for the commission of crime in civil society, should in all cases be of such a nature, and in such proportion, as would most effectually tend to eradicate from the mind of the offender the propensity to the crime committed.

"That it is as unreasonable in itself as it is unjust to the criminal, to inflict upon him a greater degree of pun

ishment than would otherwise be awarded, in order to prevent the perpetration of crime in others.

"That, in the humble but decided opinion of your petitioner, punishment in itself just and adequate, being alone consonant to the Divine will, would also be the most powerfully efficacious as an example, and, therefore, perfectly coincident with the doctrine of utility, to deter and prevent the commission of crime by others.

"That your petitioner, from his own experience, knows that excessive punishment defeats its own end.

"That, in the opinion of your petitioner, the infliction of death as a punishment, is not only unjust, but vindictive and excessive, and, under any merely human legislature, indefensible.

"That your petitioner, having been stopped on the King's highway, his property demanded, and, with a sword suspended over his head in the hand of a ruffian, his life deeply threatened; and having also, a few years since, detected a forgery committed upon himself, which he brought the unhappy culprit to confess, was absolutely and entirely precluded instituting any legal proceedings against either culprit, both by his insurmountable abhorrence of vindictive punishment, and by his decided conviction, that the infliction of death is in all cases unwarrantable.

"That your petitioner, having learned religious and moral, as well as civil obligation, from the New Testament, happily finds himself instructed not only to honour the King, but likewise to revere God; and while taught to 'render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's,' is at the same time enjoined by the Great Legislator to 'render unto God the things which are God's.'

"That your petitioner is, therefore, constrained by a paramount allegiance to the Supreme Moral Governor, and an irresistible feeling of duty, never, under any circumstances, to become an agent in depriving a human brother of the invaluable boon of life, and thereby violating and wantonly destroying the most sacred relation between man and his Maker.

"And, being fully and firmly convinced that the Creator has the sole proprietary right in that life which none but himself could give, your petitioner feels himself em