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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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rnptiag , vebcnaent ^ nd tumultuous . George * Stevens r the principal offender , was apprehended . After that apprehension , the windows of two other meeting-houses in that parish were destroj ^ ed . From respect to a suggestion from Lord Carring'ton , who manifested that just indrgnation at such conduct , which his known benevolence
aad liberality would ensure , and from information of the poverty of the supporters of religion in that district , the Committee had also undertaken that prosecution . An indictment had in that case been preferred aad found , and remained for trial at the next sessions for that county . The Rev . William Seat on , and the friends of piety
at Aitdover , in the county of Hants , had also justly complained of riots at Abbotts Ann , a village on the great western road , within three miles of that place , even more systematic , outrageous , and alarming than had occurred during many years , and which required proportionate and energetic resistance . —On March 2 d , 1815 , thirty
persons , headed by the bailiff and the clergyman of the parish , and a magistrate for the county , assembled before the meeting-house with horns , fifes , kettles , tambourines , and pieces of iron , disturbed the congregation , a ad followed the minister and people after the conclusion of the service for two miles , not only insulting hut assaulting them with stones and dirt .
These offences and assaults were renewed vrith augmented violence on March 9 th , 1815 . A supper for some of the rioters was provided at the house of the clergyman : a lanthoru was knocked from the
hands of one of the congregation , and kicked to pieces ; an elfig-y of Mr . Seaton was exhibited , rotten eggs and stones were thrown into the place and at the people , aad the coat of Mr . Seaton was torn , and his head beaten with a stick . Encouraged
and emboldened by impunity , on March 17 th , the violence of the party was increased . Mr . Seaton was so much beaten and kicked as to he unable to preach on tHu " ensuing sabbath-day . The assaults on sor . ie of the people endangered their lives , a ? id inflicted wounds from which they have
iho-t yet recovered , and scenes were ex-Hfoiied for several miles in the public tiirnpike-road , which it was not possible to describe . To such complaints the Committee had afforded the most prompt and auxious attentioiv . Three indictments have been preferred at the last sessions for the cv . jnty of Southampton : one against ten
persons , another against sixteen persons , and the third against twelve persons , who had been engaged in these atrocious proceedings . AH the indictments were found and removed by certiorari . Notwithstanding the apathy and opposition of the magistrata 3 , all the offenders have been apprehended ; and although the expenses of-the prosecutions will amount to several
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hundred pounds , the Committee had determined to persevere , until the most complete justice shall he procured , and the most perfect security and tranquillity shall be obtained . From events so distressful , Sir . Wilks referred , with satisfaction ,
4 . To the efforts of the Committe e to obtain an Actjfor exempting places exclusively appropriated to Religious Worship from assessment to the Rates for the Poor . The evils resulting- from such assessments had been repeatedly stated by
their correspondents , and declared by the Society . The Committee had manifested great anxiety upon that subject : to various congregations , as well Methodist , Baptist as Independent , they had given advice and assistance . They had incurred the
expense of successfully resistingthree attempts to assess Surry Chapel to those rates ; hut as the law was uncertain , and such proceedings were expensive and vexatious , they had , during * the last session of parliament , procured the insertion oi clauses of exemption in several local acts .
and by the advice of government had also introduced a general clause of exemption into a bill for amending the Poor Laws , submitted to parliament by Sir Egerton Brydges . That bill , however , did not succeed ; and even to a clause so just and equitable , great opposition appeared .- — They became convinced that the avowed
interposition of government would most effectually promote their success . They had prevailed upon the present administration kindly to introduce the bill which he read and explained , and bad also prevailed upon the principal members of the opposition in parliament , also , and with
equal kindness , to promise their support . With such sanction , that bill had been on the preceding * Wednesday , read in the House of Commons , and as persons ot the greatest influence with all parties had expressed their approbation , a successful result- notwithstanding individual opposition ,
was confidently hoped . As those hopes might , however , be disappointed , no exultation should he displayed , and even success ought only to excite addition * - gratitude to that Divine Protector who liad so conspicuously prospered the past endeavours of the " Committee , and cro wned
them with his benediction . 5 . To the exertions of the Commits * to prevent the insertion of clauses prejudicial to dissenters , to ministers , » n < i ( public worship , in Turnpike and Loca . Acts , by watching- their progress , g expense ; whereby they had in ma « y 1 !' stances not only averted meditated ^ 'J" ^' but established precedents calculated to
future utility . * e 6 . To their interference to preven . ^ MISAPPROPRIATION OF PROPERTY " ft trust for congregations , which in 6 CVt
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S 84 Intelligence . — Protestant koctety
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1815, page 384, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1761/page/56/
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