REGISTER OF EVENTS. PARLIAMENT has been incessantly occupied since the recess with discussions of varied importance. The Residence of the Clergy-the Composition of Tithes-the Building of Churches, &c. have been in different ways brought before the House of Lords. While the Civil List, the Budget, the propriety of a National Fast, &c. have occupied the attention of the House of Commons. Lord Althorpe proposed to reduce the Taxes on Tobacco, Newspapers, Coals and Slate, Candles, Cottons, Glass, Auctions, &c. to the amount of £4,080,000, and to add Taxes on Timber, Cotton, Exported Coals, Steam Passengers, and Transfers of Stock, to the amount of £2,740,000. He has been induced, however, to relinquish the Tax on Transfers of Stock, and has in consequence signified an intention of retaining the Taxes on Tobacco and Glass. The Ministerial Plan for a Reform in Parliament is intended to be brought forwards early this month. Mr. O'Connell has pleaded guilty to the charges laid against him by the Attorney-General in Dublin, and is to be brought up for judgment in the next term. Mr. O'C.'s friends appear anxious to compromise with government, but their offers appear to be treated with the contempt they deserve. Had similar firmness been exhibited in the case of the Catholic Association the pernicious measure of Catholic Emancipation need never have been adopted. A very serious disturbance took place at Paris, in consequence of the celebration of a Mass for the repose of the soul of the Duke de Berri, when strong expressions of attachment to the exiled family were evinced. Affairs indeed appear in a very critical situation in that country, and great apprehensions are entertained of fresh revolutionary efforts. The Belgians have elected as their Sovereign, the Duke de Nemours the second son of the King of the French. Philip has, however, refused to ratify this election, though some doubts may not unreasonably be entertained of his sincerity. The Russian army has entered Poland in five divisions. An insurrection appears to have taken place in the Duke of Modena's territories in Italy; and strong reports are circulated of fresh disturbances at Lisbon. The funds of some of our valuable institutions are at present very much exhausted. The London Hibernian Society is, we understand, prevented by want of pecuniary resources from embracing some most promising openings for usefulness among both the English and Irish speaking peasantry of Ireland, an inability the more to be regretted, since so large a proportion of the persons desirous of scriptural instruction are Roman Catholics. Notices and Acknowledgments. Received-A. E.-E. M.-H. M.-A CUMBERLAND CURATE. AMICUS. J. S. We rather think our correspondent of February 17, is right in the postscript of his letter, though we cannot at the moment speak decidedly; but he is certainly mistaken on some points, and in none more than the supposition of any intentional disrespect. At the same time, we cannot always absolutely determine what line shall be adopted, with respect to a particular communication; nor is it at all times easy, and indeed in many instances it is far from advisable, to assign the precise reasons which influence our decision. Those reasons, however satisfactory to ourselves, would not always be approved of by the authors of the rejected addresses. We shall be happy to receive the Curate's Sermon, but cannot, a priori, decide how far its insertion in our pages may be advisable. We have not seen, much less read, some of the works to which G. H. M. refers ; were he however a constant reader, he would perceive that some other of the works to which he calls our attention, have already been reviewed in our pages. ERRATA. In some copies of our last Number, page 58, lines on the Snowdrop, verse 5 line 4, for "breaks" read “makes”—verse 6 line 4, for "E'er" read "E'en." CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN, AND Church of England Magazine. MAY 1831. MEMOIR OF THE REV. RICHARD CECIL, M. A. That It is a common and trite remark, that the lives of many eminently valuable and useful characters may be described in a very narrow compass" He walked with God, and was not, for God took him." The most eventful part of their history is often past, before the individuals begin to excite attention. period of time in which they walked according to the will of the flesh, is to themselves indeed a subject of painful and humiliating review, but affords few particulars requiring or deserving distinct record; and when once recovered to God, and engaged in his service, the labours and employments of one week, or one year, so nearly resemble the avocations of another, that the faithful history of even a short period comprises all the more important particulars of many years. Such ideas have been reluctantly awakened in the mind, while endeavouring to obtain information concerning the distinguished minister whose history we now proceed briefly to record. Though eminently and extensively useful in his day and generation, the facts of his history lie in a narrow compass, while the striking features of his character, and the writings which he published, deserve, and will well repay the most serious contemplation. RICHARD CECIL, the subject of our present memoir, was born in MAY 1831. Y London, November 8, 1748. His father, a descendant of the celebrated Cecil, Lord Burleigh, was engaged in business as scarlet-dyer to the East India Company; his mother was the only child of Mr. Grosvenor, brother to Dr. Grosvenor, a distinguished non-conformist, and descended from parents eminent for their piety in many generations. At the time of her son's birth, Mrs. C. was fifty years of age, and, having experienced the blessedness of true religion, was most desirous that this child of her old age, should be taught as soon as possible to inquire after God. Hence she early communicated to him religious instruction, and among other means, placed in his hands that valuable little work, Janeway's Token for Children, the perusal of which deeply affected his mind, and induced him to cultivate retirement and prayer, that he might experience the same gracious influences with which those children were favoured. I was much affected by this book,' said he, and got into a corner where I prayed that I also might have “ an interest in Christ," like one of the children there mentioned, though I did not then know what the expression meant.' The impression was however only transient, and appears after a short time to have been almost entirely effaced. On more than one occasion, while yet a child, Mr. C. was exposed to the most imminent danger. The intervals of school hours were usually spent in the extensive premises occupied by his father. In the grounds were several large backs of water, one of which was sunk in the earth, and in winter frequently covered with ice. While amusing himself at this spot, young Cecil suddenly plunged in, and was taken out, apparently dead, by one of the workmen, who perceiving somewhat scarlet at a distance, went to see what it was, and was thus instrumental in rescuing his young master from an untimely grave. About the same period, young Cecil was caught by his coat in the cogs of a mill-wheel, and must have met with an appalling death, had he not, with surprising presence of mind, thrust his foot against the horse's face, and thus succeeded in stopping the machine. his Mr. Cecil wished to bring up son to business, and in consequence placed him in a considerable house in the city, from which he was removed to another. This however he was compelled to leave through illness, and returned home with an utter aversion to trade, and an ardent desire for literature, the fine arts, &c. He was especially attached to painting, attended exhibitions and picture sales, and painted at home; and at length proceeded so far as to leave his father's house, and visit France, without the knowledge of his parents, in order to see the paintings of the great masters. would even have proceeded to Rome, had he possessed the requisite means. His father at length perceiving his intense desire to become an artist, made some arrangements in order to meet his views, but which were providentially disappointed. He His situation was at this period most unpromising. He had no regular employment. He had become acquainted with some persons of infidel and licentious principles, and was carried away so far as even to seduce others also into infidelity. An injudicious friend had taken him in early life to the theatre, under an idea that a glance at the evils which there abound, would naturally produce disgust. The effect was however, diametrically contrary. He was seduced by the fascinations of the stage, and entered heartily into this and every other amusement, to the utmost extent of his means and opportunities. His natural talent, decision of character, and personal intrepidity rendered him always a leader among his companions, and to his latest days he mourned over the mischievous effects produced in others by his exertions in this early part of his career. Yet he was not without the most serious checks and misgivings. The pious instructions, and the holy example of his excellent mother, continually retarded him while proceeding in a downhill course. Where parental influence,' says he, does not convert, it hampers. It hangs on the wheels of evil. I had a pious mother, who dropped things in my way. I could never rid myself of them. I was a professed infidel: but then I liked to be an infidel in company, rather than when alone. I was wretched when by myself. These principles, and maxims, and data, spoiled my jollity. With my companions I could sometimes stifle them: like embers, we kept one another warm. Besides, I was here a sort of Hero. I had beguiled several of my associates into my own opinions, and I had to maintain a character before them. But I could not divest my self of my better principles. I went with one of my companions to see The Minor.' He could laugh heartily at Mother Cole: I could not. He saw in her the picture of all who talked about religion: I knew better. The ridicule on regeneration was high sport to him : to me it was none: it could not |