1824. 
by the payment of fees, listen to 
prayers and a liturgy to which his heart 
is indifferent, and be united to the 
object of his affection by one whose 
authority as a Christian minister he 
disputes. We thank heaven we live 
not in the times when Christians were 
forcibly compelled to enter the temples 
they abhorred; but why do we retain 
any traces of the same spirit? I meddle 
not with the question, whether the 
establishment or dissenters are right in 
doctrinal sentiments; but surely, in 
this respect, the church does not prac- 
tise the moral precept of Christianity, 
“Do unto others as you would they 
should do unto you.” 
Regarding Unitarian dissenters, the 
ease is one of still greater hardship. 
The dignitaries of the church will not 
deny, that a virtuous and pious man 
May sincerely disbelieve the doctrine 
of the Trinity ; and yet do they persist 
to wound his feelings, by compelling 
him to take part in an act in which 
this doctrine is plainly recognized. In 
the marriage ceremony it forms a 
leading feature: the bridegroom places 
the ring on his bride’s finger, repeating 
the words, “In the name of the Fa- 
iher, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost.” A form of expression which 
occurs but.once in the New Testa- 
ment, and, if not an interpolation, has 
heen considered one by many. Those 
Unitarians who practise baptism hold 
it genuine, but do not consider it 
implies the Trinitarian hypothesis. 
The Church of England however does; 
it propounds it in that sense. It is 
therefore only by a kind of mental 
reservation that Unitarians can avoid 
the guilt of hypocrisy. In the form of 
benediction, the Trinity is still more 
clearly set forth: the Unitarian has 
not indeed to pronounce the words 
“God the Father, God the Son, and 
God the Holy Ghost;” but, if we give 
him credit for consistency of sentiment, 
what can be more offensive to his ears? 
Supposing, sir, his views to be incor- 
rect, and inimical to the Christian 
faith: is this course calculated to excite 
conviction, or to place the opposite 
opinions in a more attractive light? 
or, allowing the correctness of the doc- 
trines of the church, is a greater impor- 
iance to be attached to a belief in the 
Trinity than to the practice of that be- 
nevolent and tolerant spirit which is 
breathed in every part of Christianity ? 
How long shall difference of opinion. 
in the religious world be the fruitful 
On Mental Alienation. 
35° 
source of hatred and persecution? 
How long shall the Priest and the 
Levite despise the heretical Samaritan, 
see him in distress without affording 
him relief, and preserve the dignity of 
their office, by ‘passing by on the 
other side?” How long shall the 
bigoted attachment to creeds and 
articles of faith swallow up brotherly 
kindness and liberality of sentiment, 
and wholly supersede that all-impor- 
tant principle, on which, we are told, 
hang the law and the prophets: “‘ Love 
thy neighbour as thyself?” 
I trust that the duration of these 
things will not be long; and that com- 
mensurate with the diffusion of know- 
ledge will be the improvement in the 
policy of both church and state. In 
short, sir, I hope that another session 
of Parliament will not elapse without 
the removal, either wholly or in part, 
of that grievance on which I have thus 
briefly laid my sentiments before you. 
June 14, THETA. 
—= a 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
OBSERVATIONS 02 MENTAL ALIENATION. 
EW objects take a stronger hold 
of the imagination, or strike with 
deeper and more awful impressions, 
than that which is exhibited in the 
view of mental alienation. In this 
case the patient may be considered as 
no longer alive to what passes around 
him. Every pursuit and example of 
mental ability, the strength of concep- 
tions, the refinements of intellectual 
power, the dexterous achievements of 
taste and mechanical skill, with the 
extraordinary operations of genius, of 
whatever rank, is high in the great 
scale of human ingenuity,—all these 
undergo a kind of death in the mourn- 
ful history of the exalted human cha- 
racter thus faded and abased. 
Retired misery of this kind is often 
hid and thrown into shadow; and many 
will not give themselves the trouble of 
going from the high-way, and observing 
it, in its bye-places, forthe purpose of 
relieving it. It is a cause, however, 
which a thousand generous hearts 
should advocate, so that one suffering 
under such embarrassments may never’ 
want that assistance which his wretch- 
ed fate most obviously and importu-' 
nately calls for. 
M. de Ladebat, a gentleman of 
talents, experience, and public spirit,’ 
has devoted much time to the interést.’ 
ing and extensive labour of collecting’ 
materials relative to the treatment of! 
mental 
