FRENCH PROTESTANTS. Tar Cowoutter of the Dissenting Ministers, who first ventured to At a Meeting of the Committee of the Pro- It was unanimously Resolved, THAT the Committee, at length, feel it an imperious duty to declare publicly, that they have never had any connection with the Association denominated, "The Protestant Society;" -that, from sufficient evidence, the Committee can assure the Public of the correctness of their published Statements;-and that the Contributions which have been, or still may be, entrusted to their care, continue to be highly necessary, and will be appropriated to the efficient Relief of the Protestants in the South of France, whose sufferings have not only equalled, but exceeded, the representations given by this Committee. THOS. MORGAN, SEC. these means, and alt means that tuky tur comp "I cannot report any legal proceedings against the anthors of these atrocities; but when Count la Garde received a wound by an infamous assassin, instantly the Government, in the name of the King, cry out for justice, in a proclamation ! Lately an assassination was committed at Alais. The assassin was a Catholic. Immediately the authorities are in motion,-the prefect goes to Alais. But what. Collections, &c. for French Protestants. 8. School Meet. Haycs, Sussex 6 0 0 Rev. Dr. Collyer's Con. Peck- ham £. s. d. 40 15 0 Itan Do a a FRENCH PROTESTANTS. THE COMMITTEE of the DISSENTING MINISTERS, who first ventured to esponse the Cause of the persecuted Protestants, and who have for some time stood forward alone, for their protection and relief; congratulate the Friends of Religious Freedom on the gradual ascendancy of truth, and the dispersion of ignorance and prejudice too long confirmed by the conduct of those by whom they ought to have been assailed. Had the Committee only succeeded by their constancy, in restoring the British Public to its habitual candour and generosity, they would have rendered an important service to their country; but when they have been able, in addition, to collect resources for the destitute and oppressed, they feel satisfied that their persevering efforts will be ultimately and permanently approved both in England and in France. In spite of the universal terror which suspends in France ordinary correspondence, and the special apprehension which prevents all free communication on the part of the Protestants, though persons are exposed to sudden aud arbitrary arrests, - though letters are opened at the post-offices, and packages are stopped by the police; yet every week furnishes the Committee with fresh proof of the past suffering and the present insecurity of the Protestants,-of the spirit of persecution which actuates the authorities, and of the beneficial effects of the continued efforts of the Committee, in diminishing the evils which such a spirit would produce. From various articles of information the tollowing Extracts are selected. "THERE were many Protestants, and almost all those of the class called Gentlefolks, who were as much royalists as Louis the 18th; and though it is true, that many of the lower orders were for Napoleon, it is a fact to be accounted for from the unhappy and irritating circumstances in which they were placed. "The government is become extremely jealous of the interference of the English in this affair: it made enquiries in the provinces for the letters that had been sent, and it restrained all correspondence between the Ministers of England and those of France; and the letters of those who have sent them, were written either under the command of government, or in its views, and with a design to flatter it. Such are the letters of M.- Pasteur de -, and of M.- - Pasteur de - which have been published in the Moniteur. The first excites my indignation by its tone, and the second by its falseness. A letter was also sent from hence; the writer of that deeply regrets now a phrase which he used,-a word at least, which wants exactness but which he then belie ed to be just. "At present (says he) the protection of government, is fully exerted in favor of the Protestants." The word fully ought to be replaced by partly. The massacres and pillages have ceased, and one can go to his temple without death,—that is all : a malevolent and a revolting partiality continues to prevail against the Protestants!" “More than two thousand persons have been plundered and subject to forced contribations,—more than ninety country-houses, belonging to the Protestants, have been destroyed or burnt,-more than one hundred and fifty houses have been pillaged in the city of Nismes, more than thirty females have been stripped of all their garments in the street — when naked, have been whipped till the blood ran down, and so dreadfully wounded that eight are dead. The immediate agents of the horrors were taken from the lowest classes; but they have been enlisted by officers with epaulets. The city of Nismes having been taxed 400,000 francs, for its part of the contribution of 100 millions, a list of 174 persons who were liable was made in which there were 147 Protestants, 10 Jews, 17 Catholics. They endeavour, by these means, and all means that they can employ, to make Protestants Bonapartists, on purpose to have a pretext to persecute them.” "I cannot report any legal proceedings against the authors of these atrocities; but when Count la Garde received a wound by an infamous assassin, instantly the Government, in the name of the King, cry out for justice, in a proclamation! Lately an assassination was committed at Alais. The assassin was a Catholic. Immediately the authorities are in motion,-the prefect goes to Alais. But what does it signify?-it is only vile Protestant blood! that may be shed without any risk! Judge from these facts, which I know with certainty, of the truth of the Letter of "They now design to deprive the Protestants of two temples, national property. They talk of indemnities and equivalents." Time has also produced, both in France and England, new advocates, whe have greatly contributed to shame cowardice and to silence slander. The celebrated Miss H. M. Williams of Paris, has published “a Letter, dated Feb. 10, on the late Persecutions of the Protestants in the South of France,” which fully confirms, as far as her testimony may be valuable, the accounts which have been given by the Committee, both in their character and extent. "The persecutors of the 19th century (she says) have marked their victims; have plundered and murdered as their fury directed, wherever they found Protestunt property and Protestant faith. Protestants alone have been the victims-had it been a local insurrection, as in the time of the revolution, the assailants would not have been so discriminate. It is on Protestants alone that the rage has fallen; and this appears as an unequivocal proof that it was an organized religions persecution. "Their foulest enemies can bring no charges against the Protestants. Their conduct, since the epocha which confirmed their rights, should have disarmed their most rigorous foes; they shewed no exultation, and sought po private advantage. “But by an oversight in the King's charter there was mention of a State Religion, and the Protestants were obliged to sink back to toleration. The Charter had been less favourable than the Concordats. "When Buonaparte returned, his presence affected Protestants in no other manner than all other Frenchmen. After the second restoration of the King, partial insurrections took place; but when they were hushed, horror hung over devoted Nismes; massacre and pillage prevailed; the National Guard, composed of respectable citizens, was dissolved, and a new one was formed, six times as numerous, and of which many were fanatics. Here, and here only, that guard betrayed its trust;-Protestants invoked their aid in vain—their murderers were undisturbed. At length England fixed her eyes on the south. The high-toned and generous resolves of the Three Denominations were heard-the sound in Paris was noble and persuasive; it glided over the south like that sacred harmony of the heavenly hosts, which spoke to the watch of shepherds of peace and good-will." On the 27th of February, that virtnous and enlightened senator, Sir Samuel Romilly, in his place in the House of Commons, gave the sanction of his knowledge and respectability to the statements and proceedings of the Committee; and after reciting many melancholy details of cruelty and persecution, made the following remarks:- "What was the conduct of the English Goverument in consequence of the outrages committed in the year 1780? The offenders were prosecuted without delay, and promptly made to feel the just severity of the law; and even the First Magistrate of the City of London was proceeded against for cowardice, in not having sufficiently exerted himself to bring the disturbances to an early termination. Had any thing like this occurred in France? Was it not notorious, that even where the General who was sent to quell the riotous was shot, nothing had been done by the Prefect of the Department. The assassin had never been brought to justice, though he was well known. His name was Boisset; and he was a Serjeant in the Royal Volunteers. After shooting at the General, he had retired into a neighbouring department. A reward was offered for his apprehension; but those among whom he resided, had pretended not to know who he was. He had thus been suffered to escape; and the Mayor, under whom he had becu sheltered from jus tice, had not been removed. The interference of the people of this country, in behalf of the French Protestants, which had been censured, he believed to have been attended with the happiest effects; to that he believed those unfortunate persons owed what they now enjoyed of toleration. This, however, could hardly be called such. The Protestants formerly possessed two churches in that part of France which had been the seat of the late persecutions. One of these had been bought with their own money; the other had been a grant to them from the Government. These were now taken away from them, and they were allowed the privilege of building others; and the Duke d'Angouleme had very generously subscribed a sum of money in furtherance of this undertaking. It ought to be known, that at the time those churches were taken from the Protestants, a Catholic church, which had formerly belonged to a Monastery, had ceased to be used for religious pur`poses, and had been couverted into a place for the sale of fish and meat; and this those Catholics could contemplate without emotion, whose piety would have been shocked, forsooth, at seeing it in the hands of the Protestants." A Letter, published by the Committee last month, stated, that the Schools established in Paris had to contend with great difficulties from the opposition of the Romish Clergy. They have now to announce the complete triumph of intolerance, and the most perfect evidence of the spirit of the French Court, in the dismissal of those Protestant Gentleman, who had nobly and successfully labored to form and extend these Schools. Paris, March, 1816. "THE School at Popincourt was established. The monitors performed their duties correctly, and rivalled each other in zeal and application. The numbers of scholars increased from day to day; so that in the space of 10 days, from 30 they amounted to 120. The Catholic clergy, struck with the rapidity with which the system was propagated, and the number of children increased, took alarm, and finding that the directors were Protestants, sought to injure them, The school saw its numbers diminish every day. The girls' school, which the Society of Paris was about to establish at St. Elizabeth, was prevented by the priest of the parish. The Society of the Sisters of St. Joseph, were prevented by a similar hindrance, from realizing their plan for establishing a school for girls in the centre of the capital. However, the clergy had no plausible reason for such opposition; for the scholars were instructed in the ceremonies of the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion. They were taken to mass on Sunday, at morning and evening, they said the prayers which are used in all the other charitable institutions supported by government. In the school of Popincourt, and that of the Duchess de Duras, the scholars were taught the Catholic Catechism; in fine, all the schools were directed by Catholic teachers, excepting that of Mr. Bellot. Messrs. Martin and Frossard, were employed generally in forming the schools. "Astonished at the perseverance of the teachers, the priests were determined to destroy them entirely, and laboured at this incessantly. The persons who were indisposed to the schools, thought that the mere presence of the first founders of the schools, might have an unfavourable influence on the minds and hearts of the children, because they were Protestants. In consequence, steps were taken with the government to get rid of them; and on the 7th of February, a letter from the Archbishop of Rheims to the Prefect of the Seine, forbad, in the name of the King, that the elementary schools should be directed or superintended by Protestants; so that Mr. Martin has now no right to enter his own school. "Mr. Frossard and Mr. Bellot, finding themselves, in the same situation, could not direct the schools they had founded, becanse they were protestants. Mr. Frossard has received orders to tender his resignation; and Mr. Bellot Jikewise. Since the Ordonnance of the King, no one can direct an elementary school who is a Protestant; and thus these young men are driven away without having been able to accomplish so great an object for the good of the country, as the education of its people." |