must, of course, obey the laws of the imperial dynasty, this shews that you have respect and veneration for them, therefore I have directed to you this chop, with all the efficacy possible, to open yet a way for you, but after this dispatch, if your admiral and you all will not change

your sentiments, and if you send any more letters, I have given or ders that they shall not be received.

In the 13th year of Kia King, 21st day of the 10th moon (7th Dec, 1808.)

[Received on the 9th Dec. 1808.]

CONSECRATION OF COLOURS.

SIR,

Although the ceremony, the heathenish, the profane ceremony of "consecrating," (as it is ususally termed) the ensigns of war, bloodshed and desolation to the service of the God of peace, and of that Saviour, the prince of peace, at whose birth peace was proclaimed by Angels, and who at his death bequeathed this blessing to his disciples, as the choicest he had to bestow:-Although this ceremony was in frequent use during the last war, the offence it occasioned to the christian world, and the disgust it gave to every one who understood the New Testament, would, it was hoped, have prevented the repetition of a farce so disgraceful. But by what follows the public will perceive, that the town of Halifax has again been degraded, owing to the officious zeal of a priest who has been equally distinguished, by his regard to the ceremonial parts of our established church, and his love of war and bloodshed. I hope Sir, you will not deem an account of the military-politico-religious farce which so recently passed at this town,, improper for insertion in your Monthly Register; as it may serve as an instance of the servility, the pharasaism, and the hypocrisy of the day, and as a warning to others how they wound the cause of christianity, and expose themselves to the ridicule

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given to the regiment who were "in quarters at Pontefract on the "10th of June last, by a deputation consisting of the Rev. Dr. COUL "THURST the vicar, and W. Norris, "and J. Smithson, Esqrs. the con stables, accompanied by several other gentlemen."

I shall, Sir, pass over the address presented to Col. Horton the commanding officer, together with the colonel's answer, as they contain nothing but the mere common place professions of loyalty, and of the "holy ardour of patriotism," which have been so often displayed at such consecrations, and immediately afterwards at the most essen, tial part of the service of the day, the consecration dinner; on which important occassion, feasting, wine, revelry, and numerous toasts drank with three times three, have so suitably followed the drum-head prayers, and afforded the most com plete demonstration of the "holy

ardour," (as Col. Horton expresses it) which flames in the breasts of these christian heroes: but the res

mainder of the account I beg leave to give you in the language of the official document already quoted.

After Colonel Horton had with his "suual animation" replied to the address. The Rev. Dr. COULTHURST then made the following oration and

prayer.

COLONEL HORTON,-I cannot presume to add to the many commendations which you have already received from those, who, by reason of their exalted rank of professional experience, are worthy and able to appreciate your military services, and I can have as little cause to doubt the sincerity of such commendations, as the skill of those who bestowed them.-Yet I may be allowed to join with the worthy gentleman who has officially addressed you, and in the name of my parishioners, to thank you for the honor which you have done to the parish of Halifax, by your very early alacrity in tendering your services as militiamen, and with a zeal which even anticipated the wishes of government. We thank you also for your spirited and disinterested patriotism, which greatly to your credit, has totally exempted your friends and neighbours from the trouble and inconvenience of military servitude -For your effective and even instant assistance so cheerfully offered in the moment of anarchy and alarm,and for your thus rescuing a very populous district from all the horrors of civil commotion--and thereby pledging yourselves to the country that the same spirit of valour and enterprize so eminently successful in defeating and subduing the internal enemies of the kingdom, will be nobly displayed in resisting, and we trust, under divine Providence, in finally overthrowing every foreign invader, however boisterous his menaces or formidable his arrangements.-These things are praiseworthy and I hope you understand that a life of active beneficence for the good and happiness of others is far more honourable and even more comfortable than a state of mercenary selfishness, or censorious indolence. I will not dwell upon these topics. I proceed to that part of my office which is more adapted to my pastoral connections with you, and I think, I may say, more congenial to my own disposition-and to invoke the blessing of Heaven upon these your generous exertions.

LFT IS PRAY-O everlasting God,

who in the secret counsels of thine adorable wisdom, hast permitted nation to Man hast sent forth the sword and every rise against nation, and for the Son of inhabitants of the earth, humble us we deadly instrument of war amongst the beseech thee before thy divine Majesty for this thine awful dispensation; and if we go forth to battle, we would go forth in the name, and in the support of a righteous cause, and in the use of those means which thou in thy mercy hast prescribed; and since thou wast pleased to command thy people of old, that every man should pitch by his own standard, by the ensigns of his father's house, we would duly obey this thy heavenly in junction; and here we solemnly conse crate as in thy presence these banners of our warfare, the tokens of our dedication to thee, humbly imploring thy gracious aid and assistance in this momentous controversy, where we, WITH OUR ALLIES, are most deeply involved; for if thy spirit go not with us, carry us not up hence. -Be gracious we beseech thee, to our Sovereign Lord the King, to the royal family, to our governors and superiors, and to all that bear office in the realm, in matters ecclesiastical, military or civil.-We humbly beg thy blessing upon this company now assembled in array before thee; upon the officers, the cap tains and the soldiers, upon their wives, their children, and their kindred-and upon every member of that vast and extensive parish to which they belong, beseeching thee, also to pour down thy blessings upon this ancient town wherein they are incamped.

"Lastly, We humbly beg for thy di vine influence upon all men, that we may thankfully receive thy good things, and patiently endure thy correction that we be not sullen in adversity, not discontented in prosperity; that we may be delivered from the filthiness of all those selfish passions which bring misery and ruin upon the world—from the furiousness of ambition, from the gloom of avarice, and from the rottenness of envy and grant that we thus walking in stedfast obedience to thy holy will may be delivered from affliction, and (what is a far greater deliverance) from the fear of affliction-and when this ty ranny of man shall be overpast, may wẹ at the last, for Christ's sake, enter into the life and light of God, into the kingdom of thy son, the blessed kingdom of innocence and peace, where every bat

the regiment, and congratulated the Doctor and himself (a heavy shower of rain falling during the whole of the ceremony) on the complete wetting they had experienced, from which he augured that the service of the regiment under these colours would be fortunate, reminding the Doctor of the drenching they had received at the consecrating of the colours presented to the late volunteers, under which they certainly had prospered.

"The gentlemen from Halifax, together with the mayor and vicar of Pontefract, afterwards dined at the mess of the regiment (under the compliment of the ringing of the bells of the town) with a cordiality, a harmony, and a patriotism which the tyrant of the continent can never experience or know how to enjoy!"

On this curious farce I beg leave

to add a few remarks.

A christian minister, before he presumes to address heaven in the language of confidence, ought to be well assured within himself that his cause is just. When the volunteers so "instantaneously" offered their services, it is much to be feared they had not a serious thought respecting the justice or injustice of the war. Men who rush into military life are seldom remarkable for their wisdom, or virtue but something different is to be expected from a man who calls himself an ambassador of the prince of peace. Dr. Coulthurst is pleased to thank Col. Horton for his ready assistance at all times in subduing the "internal enemies of the "kingdom." Who are these" inter"nal enemies," and what have been their proceedings the Dr. has not informed us but to me, and to many others of his Majesty's subjects it is

mies," would to God the efforts of volunteers, local militia, or any other description of men could save us.

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The doctor in his address to heaven, with confidence in his "righteous cause," the present war, uses language, as abhorrent to common sense as to christian piety. "We solemnly consecrate," (prays the Dr.)" as in thy presence, these banners of our warfare, humbly im ploring thy gracious aid and assis "tance in this momentous contro« versy, where wE WITH OUR ALLIES, are most deeply involved!" Our 66 allies" at the time the Dr, was offering this prayer were, the Emperor of Austria, Ferdinand of Spain, and the Pope of Rome. Ta preserve the Roman catholic religión entire, and to suppress all heresy, that is all protestantism was the avowed design ofour Spanish" allies." To restore the power and authority "temporal and spiritual" of the Pope of Rome, was the equally avowed design of our other “ ally," the Em peror of Austria; and a protestant divine offers up his carnest prayers to God that the cause in which "with our allies," the Emperor of Austria, Ferdinand of Spain, and the Pope of Rome, are most deeply involved, may be attended - with success! And yet this very protestant divine not long since joined a faction in this kingdom, who too successfully opposed the progress of toleration, and the restoration of the civil rights, not only of Roman ca tholics, but of protestant dissenters, and shouted with the generality of his order--No popery!-So much for the consistency, the integrity, and the liberality, as well as the

66 we

of the state. But we are willing to hope that the conclusion needs not be pushed so far; and we shall, for the present, confine ourselves to the position, unquestionably supported, not only by the foregoing statement, but by facts within every man's knowledge that we have now arrived at the point where the attempt to raise one tax, will only lower the produce of another - that a man cannot pay the full amount of his property-tax, and at the same time consume as many of the articles which pay duties to government, if these duties are raised; and, vite versa, that he cannot consume as much of those articles at the former duties, if his property shall be taxed more heavily.

If the nation has at last reached, this point if the revenue of the people is now made to pay as much towards the revenue of the state as any human means can extort from, it-if the natural period of taxation. is at length arrived--by the public income outstripping that of individuals (and, surely, when we reflect, that besides twenty-two millions borrowed, above seventy millions sterling are at present raised within the year by taxes, we cannot marvel at this crisis being come*); -how clearly must every thinking man perceive, that the whole system of our policy depends, for its existence, upon the continuance of our commerce,that inextricable confusion will arise from any considerable diminution of the income of the country, and that the only means of augmenting the public revenue, must be sought in the ex

*The revenue raised by Great Britain, in 1809, is estimated at 65,835,3451. including the surplus of 1808, and exclusive of money raised by loan and exchequerbills, to the amount of 18,660,000l. The net revenue of Ireland, in 1808, exclusive of about 4,000,000l. loans, was 4,571,2501; so that the revenue of the empire may be reckoned at 70,456,6921.

tension of the revenue of the people; by opening new channels of employ ment for their capital at home and abroad, while we carefully preserve those which are already accessible. At the same time, every practicable method should be resorted to, of diminishing our expenditure, by a rigorous and discerning reform of abuses. We are persuaded, that, (we will not say, a great, but) a very considerable income may be derived from this source. Let any man reflect on the remark which he must so frequently have made while passing through the halls, the chambers, the offices, and the gardens of an English grandee's palace, and, still more, while considering the manner in which his estates are ma naged-" The loss and the waste of thousands by the year," is the thought which ever and anon presents itself. Who can doubt, then, that much is wasted in an establishment which costs above ninety millions a yearwhich is spread over many thousand, square miles- entrusted to multitudes who have no interest in being economical, and watched over hastily, incidentally, and according to rules devised when it was in the bud, by a few persons who volunteer their services, change every day, and must see all abuses at a vast distance, if they see them at all? In the present state of our affairs, we may be well assured, that the danger which chiefly besets us is not that of parsimony. From this source wo can descry nothing to appal us, except, perhaps, the risk of bringing the cause of reform into a temporary discredit, by too rash and indiscri minate a pursuit of it. But, from a continuance of our present scale of expenditure, coupled with what is infinitely more ruinous-a contempt for the only means of meeting it;-from a disinclination to retrench whatever is useless in our outgoings, and, still more, from an aversion to those conciliatory measures, which,