man is of the same high stamp, but he sinks under the evil system, and is sucked into the gulf of parish pauperism. We have also a pragmatical fellow of a village apothecary-a long-winded orator, who declaims in the beer-shop against the vices of the rich and the hardships of the poor; and whose orations, it is shrewdly intimated, led the way to some stack-burnings, as well as a little poaching. Now, we think a good deal of this is overcharged-coloured beyond nature, in order to have a fling at that forum of village eloquence, the beer-shop; and there is a lurking sneer or two besides, at the political discussions of these horny-fisted rustics, which might have been spared. We have said, there is fire-raising too in the tale, to fill up the measure of village horrors. The stack-yard of farmer Goldby is burned, in revenge, it is understood, of his firm and enlightened opposition to the overgrowing abuses of the system, fostered by the booby squire we have already mentioned, and an interested vestry-clerk, a shopkeeper in the village. Poor Goldby is ruined; the scene of his last disaster, we, extract for the gratification of our readers-being one of the finest pictures in the volume, and every object in it brought out with that force and clearness, characteristic of this powerful writer.

They (the flames) spread up and down and on each side, and ran along the ridge and eaves of the stack as if a rocket had skimmed them; and the yellow glare instantaneously brought into strong apparition the thatched cottage of Goodman, close at hand; the gleaming windows of Ashly's dwelling, a little further retired; the gnarled roots of the ancient trees jutting over the sullen pond; and the diversified paling which surrounded the stack-yard. At a considerable distance, the shadowy house, mantled with its vines and trained pear-trees, began to appear as the flames shot up, and cast their radiance over the low buildings which intervened. In these buildings, the cattle began to stir. The pigeons came out upon the roofs, and flapped their wings. A bat, more blinded than Ruth herself by the glaring picture which had suddenly come out of the blank darkness, flew low, and blundered against her face. Half-stunned, she rushed on at no very steady pace; and at the first corner where she turned into comparative darkness, she ran up against a man.. He was completely dressed, and had evidently come forth that very moment from a shed; which circumstances left no doubt in Ruth's mind of his being the incendiary. In a passion exalted by her previous fear, she seized him by the collar, and swayed him to and fro with no contemptible force, while she reproached him with all the vehemence of a woman's anger, for having ruined her master, and wishing to burn him and his family in their beds. Halliday-for it was he

threw her off as soon as he could recover himself from the sudden attack, and ran towards the house, shouting "fire" with all his might. Before he could be persuaded to cease clattering at the doors and windows with his stick, and screaming the names of the master and mistress, the ready Mrs. Goldby was half-dressed, and the farm-servants came pouring out, to get as near the fire as they could without being burned, and to gaze upon it with eyes and mouths expanded at the utmost width practicable without dislocation. There were two ponds gleaming within a few yards; and a range of buckets had hung before the men's eyes during every meal that they had taken in the farmer's kitchen since they entered his service; yet no one did any thing effectual towards putting out the flames. All ran hither and thither, jostling and overthrowing one another. Some remarked how the fire ran along the dry litter on the ground from one stack to another, like water in trenches; and others followed with their eyes the wisps of burning straw which were carried up by the wind, and fell thick upon the thatched roof of Goodman's cottage, and upon the ' surface of the pool which slept at the foot of the old trees. These last went out as they touched the water. It would have been well if the former had been equally harmless: but the thatch was kindled before a bucketful of water had been procured; and almost before the labourer's winking and scared children could be brought out, the little dwelling was wrapt in flame.

Ashly was absent on guard as well as the farmer; so that the whole direction of affairs seemed for the moment to rest on Goodman. When he had lodged his wife and infants under Ashly's roof, and assured Susan, that, standing to leeward, it was in no danger from the fire, unless the wind should change, he appeared, with a face deadly pale, but a composed manner and steady voice, to do what could be done in so apparently desperate a case.

It was in vain to make any effort. The farm-servants were bewildered and helpless;-not made so by the surprise alone, but by the conduct of the people who came thronging from the village, some of whom were only in too directly opposite a state. There were many present who showed neither alarm, nor indignation, nor sorrow. They looked on at their ease, talking about the many reasons which might account for this calamity, and speculating upon whether the injury was aimed at the farmer or the landlord. One offence after another was brought up, which Goldby had committed against the interests or the dignity of the poor of his parish, of so much of whose maintenance he had borne the burden so long. In vain did Goodman look round for more than one or two who were willing to help the farmer, instead of insulting his misfortunes. There were but very few such friends present. The reason of this was, not that Goldby had scarcely any friends, but that all the more respectable part of the parishioners were engaged at the fire at Bingham's. If they had known as well as some of their neighbours, that there would be two fires this night, they would probably have divided their numbers, and afforded Goldby his proportion of assistance.

THE CHRISTIAN PIONEER.

GLASGOW, AUGUST 31, 1833.

Opening of a place for Unitarian Worship at Middlesbro'.-Middlesbro' is a small town which has been built within the last three years, at the termination of the Darlington rail-way, on the right bank of the river Tees, about four miles below Stockton. It is a principal shipping port for the coal district connected with that rail-way; and notwithstanding its recent origin, it already contains above 700 permanent inhabitants, while its population is frequently raised to above 1000, by the sailors and other parties connected with the vessels frequenting it. Until lately, no suitable place for public worship and religious instruction had been provided by any party at this little town; and the Unitarians of Stockton knowing that some zealous advocates of their sentiments were to be found among its inhabitants, have been induced to supply this important desideratum. For this purpose, they have erected a set of small cottages, with a large room above them, which may serve for a place of worship and school-room;-the rent at which the lower tenements will let, being such as will materially lessen the permanent expense that would otherwise have been incurred. The upper room being neatly fitted up with forms, was opened as a place of public worship, on Sunday, June 30, by William Duffield the Unitarian minister at Stockton. The services were in the afternoon and evening, and on each occasion there was an attentive congregation of above 150 persons. In the afternoon, Mr. D. preached from 2 Cor. iv. 6, and attempted to show how ample a supply of spiritual knowledge, of holy influences, and of religious hopes, is furnished in the Gospel;proving that Christianity, as held by the Unitarians, is fitted to the intellectual and moral nature of man, and that it affords to him every religious instruction and assistance he requires in this state of being, in addition to such as he may derive from the teachings of nature. The evening discourse was from Isa. xl. 31, and in it the preacher explained the true nature of what are usually called the instrumental duties of religion, dwelling especially on the importance of public worship, as an essential means of preserving the power of religion over the private character of securing the spiritual welfare of families—and of promoting the moral improvement of society at large.

The sum of £6: 4: 1, was collected at these services, toward defraying the expense of erecting and fitting up the meetinghouse.* Since the opening, a Sunday-school has been established,

* In reference to this subject, it is proper to observe, that £56 had been previously raised for these purposes at Stockton and Middlesbro', in private subscriptions. A further sum of £21 has been subscribed at York, Hull, and by a friend from London: making in all, £83: 4:1 already received. It is hoped, that the friends of rational Christianity and religious education in general, will afford additional assistance to an undertaking, which has been so spiritedly supported in the immediate neighbourhood.

and public worship has been conducted on the Sunday mornings, by a member of the congregation, and in the evenings by the Unitarian minister of Stockton. We are happy to state, that these exertions have been attended with the most pleasing results, and that there is every reason to hope that this undertaking will be crowned with complete success, in reference both to the school and also to the congregation. It may be proper to add, that the Wesleyan Methodists, who for some time had held their meetings in a private house, have, since the Unitarians commenced their labours, also erected a meeting-house, which was opened on Sunday, July 21, so that Middlesbro' is now provided with two places of public worship. May they be the means of increasing a sense of religious duty, and of diffusing the blessings of religious education.

THE Manchester Unitarian Village Missionary Society is pursuing its enlightened and benevolent objects with steadiness and perseverance. From its published Report, we learn that at Astley and Swinton, both the schools and the public worship have been well attended throughout the year. Our friends at Padiham have adopted the Scottish plan of receiving every Sunday the voluntary contributions of those who attend. That plan has been successful; and we are persuaded, could it be generally introduced into our congregations in England, it would do much for the support and the increase of our common faith. The exertions of the Missionary Society in Derbyshire have been very useful. The following instance is highly interesting: "Flagg is a small village containing about 500 inhabitants. It contains no place of worship, and no Sunday-school. The inhabitants propose to erect a building capable of containing 150 persons, to be devoted to the worship of the Father of Jesus, as the only God, and to the instruction of children in a Sunday-school. They have no doubt, that when the building is erected, there will be a good congregation, and no lack of either Sunday scholars or teachers. The expense of the building, in addition to the free labour which will be given by the farmers, is estimated at from £60 to £70. The inhabitants request assistance to the amount of £30, and engage to furnish in addition whatever may be necessary to the completion of the building. This they have in public meeting agreed to raise, by a voluntary rate upon themselves.' The Committee unanimously voted the £30. The circulation of tracts and the volumes in the different libraries, have been extensive.

THE Third Anniversary of the Scottish Unitarian Christian Association, will be held in Glasgow, on Sunday and Monday the 29th and 30th September. There will be three religious services on Sunday; and the subscribers and friends will meet on Monday afternoon, at six o'clock, at a social entertainment. The Rev. John Scott Porter of Belfast, and the Rev. Dr. Drummond of Dublin, are expected to preach at this anniversary.

THE Rev. Archibald Macdonald of Greenock, has accepted the invitation of the Unitarian Congregation at Royston, Hertfordshire, to become their pastor; and intends entering on the duties of his office, on the first Sunday of November.

We are happy to learn, that Dr. Bowring has in the press, the two first volumes of Jeremy Bentham's posthumous works. The subject of these volumes is Deontology, or the Science of Morality; in which the harmony and coincidence of Duty and Self-interest -Virtue and Felicity-Prudence and Benevolence, are explained and exemplified. The first volume will contain the theory of the Social Science, and the second volume the practical part.

WE remember well, that when the Liverpool Unitarian Tract Society was formed, an objection was made by one individual to becoming a subscriber, that these little tracts were like musquitos, buzzing and stinging; but if one large book could be written which would settle the controversy, he would willingly contribute his aid. Such a book our respected friend, the Rev. Francis Knowles of Park-Lane, Lancashire, has long been engaged in preparing. He has lately issued a Prospectus respecting it. He proposes to publish, by subscription, in three volumes 12mo. (probable price 3s. 6d. per volume) "The Balance of Scriptural Evidence on Unitarianism and Trinitarianism, with the explanations and arguments usually advanced in support of the two systems. The work contains three parts, and each part will form a volume. Part I. On the Divine Being.-Part II. On Jesus Christ.— Part III. On the Holy Spirit. Each Part embraces the whole of the evidence which is contained in the New Testament, on that particular branch of the subject to which it refers; and has its appropriate titles running along the heads of the pages, with the names of the various books of the Christian Scriptures. The left hand page is appropriated to Trinitarian evidence, and the right hand page to Unitarian evidence; and in proportion as one side has a preponderance of evidence, the other side will appear blank. The work, therefore, will present Trinitarians and Unitarians in contrast, under the leading doctrine of their respective systems, and appealing to the Scriptures in their support.'

Deeming the work to be an important one, knowing the labour which has been employed upon it, and persuaded that it will be faithfully executed, we strongly recommend it to our readers, and shall be glad to receive the names of subscribers.

SINCE the article on Church Establishments was printed, Mr. Tait, the proprietor of the Edinburgh Magazine, has been put in jail, for refusing to pay the Annuity Tax to the Edinburgh Clergy. He has addressed the following letter to his persecutors:"To the Reverend Messrs. G. H. Baird, James Marshall, Andrew Brown, Robert Gordon, John Hunter, Alexander Brunton, John Lee, John Inglis, R. Anderson, Daniel Wilkie, David Ritchie, A. Grant, James Martin, Henry Grey, William Muir,