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exemption is said not to apply to any turnpike within five miles of London.

THE Unitarian Society has resolved to reprint RAMMOHUN ROY's religious tracts, as soon as a complete collection can be obtained. This is an act of justice to that distinguished Reformer, since the Baptists, with censurable partiality, have republished Dr. Marshman's part of the controversy with RAMMOHUN ROY, on the subject of the Trinity.

PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF COMMONS,

JUNE 27, 1822.

Resolutions on the Slave Trade, moved by Mr. WILBERFORCE, and seconded by Mr. W. SMITH,

<< Resolved, nemine contradicente, That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, to represent to his Majesty that the deep interest which this House has so long taken, and still continues to take, in the abolition of the Slave Trade, has led us to peruse with no little solicitude the papers relative to that subject, which by his Majesty's commands were lately laid before us; nor could we forbear indulging a hope that his Majesty's renewed representations and remonstrances would have at length produced the desired effect of causing the various governments by whose subjects the Slave Trade was still carried on, seriously to consider the numerous and powerful obligations under which they lay, to co-operate with his Majesty, heartily and efficiently, in order to put an end for ever to this enormous evil.

"But that we have learned with grief and shame, that, with very few exceptions, every hope of this nature has been altogether frustrated, and that we are still compelled to witness the strange and humiliating spectacle of practices which are acknowledged to be made up of wickedness and cruelty by the very governments whose subjects are nevertheless carrying them on upon a great and continually increasing scale.

"That we observe, however, with satisfaction, that the powerful reasoning and continued expostulations of his Majesty's government, enforced by the strong and persevering remonstrances of his Majesty's Ambassador at the Court of the Netherlands, have at length produced an admission of the just construction of the treaty with that Power.

"That we are glad to see that some

of the abuses have been corrected which had prevailed in the conduct of the courts of mixed jurisdiction at Sierra Leone, but that experience has proved the necessity of altering that provision, which renders it necessary for the slaves to have been actually on ship board to justify the condemnation of the vessel, and of allowing due weight to be given to that decisive proof of the object of the voyage, which is afforded by the peculiar mode of fitting and equipping slave vessels.

"That it is some alleviation of the pain produced by the almost uniform tenour of these distressing accounts, to learn that the Cortes of Spain have subjected all who should be found concerned in Slave Trading to a severe punishment; and that with this evidence of a just estimate of the guilt of the crime, we cannot but hope that they will not rest satisfied with a legal prohibition, but that they will provide the requisite means for carrying their law into execution.

"That we find with concern that the vessels of Portugal, so far from gradually retiring from the trade, have been carrying it on with increased activity, more especially on that very part of the coast which is to the north of the Line, in direct violation of the treaty by which she had stipulated to confine her trade to the south of it.

"That we cannot but cherish the hope that the new Government of Portugal will manifest a warmer zeal for enforcing a treaty which every law, divine or human, binds her to observe; that we have observed with no little pleasure the zeal for the abolition of the Slave Trade that has been manifested by the commanders of the ships of war of the United States of America, employed on the coast of Africa, and the disposition they have shewn to co-operate with the officers of his Majesty's navy for their commou object; but that we are concerned to have perceived in the American Government no disposition to give up the objections it formerly urged against the establishment of a mutual right of examining each other's ships on the coast of Africa. That we had hoped that the powerful arguments used by a committee of the House of Representatives in favour of this arrangement would have their just weight, more especially that which points out the difference, or rather contrariety, between this conventional and qualified system and the right of searching neutral vessels, without any previous treaty, as claimed and practised in war. Above all, that the consideration so strongly enforced, that it is only by the establishment of some such system that the trade

can ever be effectually abolished, would have induced the American Government to consent to it, when the object in question involves the rights and happiness of so large a portion of our fellow-creatures. "That with the deepest concern we find, as in the last year, vessels under the French flag trading for slaves along the whole extent of the coast of Africa: at home and abroad, proposals are circulated for Slave-Trading voyages, inviting the smallest capitals, and tempting adventurers by the hopes of enormous profits. That the few ships of war of that country stationed in Africa, offer no material obstruction to the trade, nor do the governors of her colonies appear to be more active; and all this while the French Government reprobates the traffic in the strongest terms, and declares, that it is using its utmost efforts for the prevention of so great an evil. That it is deeply to be regretted that a government which has been generally regarded as eminent for its efficiency, should here alone find its efforts so entirely paralysed. That, meanwhile, we can only continue to lament that a great and gallant nation,

eminently favoured by Providence with natural advantages, and among the very foremost in all the distinctions and enjoyments of civilized life, should thus, on its restoration to the blessings of peace, and to the government of its legitimate sovereign, appear, in fact, to be the chief agent in blasting the opening prospects of civilization, which even Africa had begun to present, and in prolonging the misery and barbarism of that vast Continent.

"That on the whole we conjure his Majesty to renew his remonstrances, and to render it manifest that his interference has not been a matter of form, but of serious and urgent duty. That this country will at least have the satisfaction of knowing that we have been active and unwearied in making reparation to Africa for the wrongs with which we ourselves were so long chargeable, and we cannot doubt that we shall ultimately be able to congratulate his Majesty on the success of his endeavours, and on his having had a principal share in wiping away the foulest blot on the character of Christendom."

CORRESPONDENCE.

Communications have been received from Messrs. Theophilus Browne; T. C. Holland; Joseph Jevans; and J. W. Pigg: Also, from F. S.; I. B.; T. G.; S. C.; and I. B. (Sheerness).

The continuation of Discipulus has come to hand. His other proposed communications will probably be acceptable.

We design for an early Number the Essay on the Principles of Criminal Law from the author of "A New Version of some of the Epistles of Paul."

In our next we propose to insert Colonel Stanhope's further Letter on the subject of a Free Press in India.

X.'s Letter shall be sent to Mr. Wellbeloved.

The Letter on Bible Societies has, we fear, miscarried.

Mancuniensis is put into the hands of the Gentlemen referred to, as is also H. W. By an accident, the continuation of the Review of the work on " Church Property and Church Reform" is deferred.

Letter II. from the late Rev. James Nicol was mislaid, but is recovered, and will be brought into the next Number.

We have the pleasure to announce that the UNITARIAN FUND Committee propose to print occasionally a paper to be stitched up with the Monthly Repository, containing a REGISTER of their proceedings, and the most interesting articles of their Correspondence, especially the Foreign. This Register will contain more or fewer pages, according to the matter on hand. It will, we are persuaded, be very acceptable to the Subscribers at large. A letter from Mr. ADAM, the Unitarian Minister at Calcutta, (see pp. 682-690 of the present Number,) to Mr. Fox, the Secretary to the Unitarian Fund, will, we understand, be introduced into No. I. of the Register.

Various Subscriptions have been received by Rev. R. Aspland and Mr. Smallfield, for repairing the loss of the Rev. L. KIRBY, (see p. 647,) which have been remitted, according to their design.

THE

Monthly Repository.

No. CCIV.]

TH

DECEMBER, 1822.

ITALIAN REFORMATION.

Select Memoirs of Italian Protestant Confessors.

No. III.

Olympia Fulvia Morata.

Εἴ ΣΑΠΦΩ δεκάτη μεσαων εςιν ἀδόντων,
Ενδεκάτη γράφετ' ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑ Θειοτάτη.

HIS learned and accomplished woman was born at Ferrara, in the year 1526. Her father, Fulvius Peregrinus Moratus, was a native of Mantua, and esteemed one of the most learned men of the age. He filled the office of public lecturer on the languages and polite literature in some of the principal cities of Italy with high reputation, and superintended the education of two of the sons of Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara. The early indications of superior talents, accompanied by an unusual fondness for study,t which he observed in Olympia, induced him to devote particular attention to the cultivation of her mind;

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and such was her progress, especially in the acquisition of the classical languages, under a master who united the affection of the parent with the skill of the accomplished teacher, that in a short time she became the object of universal admiration. The fame of her genius and acquirements procured for her the notice and patronage of the Princess Renata, consort of Hercules the Second, Duke of Ferrara. Duchess had a daughter, Anne d'Este, nearly of the same age, but rather younger, who was then pursuing her education at home under eminent masters. In order to relieve the irksomeness of solitary study, and to place near her a companion who might inspire her with an honourable emulation, Olympia was invited to become her associate. She accordingly took up her residence at the palace, where she remained for some years, rapidly advancing in knowledge and reputation. Cœlius Secundus Curio, who was at this time residing at Ferrara, sharing the protection which the Duchess extended to the Protestant refugees, speaks of her learning and talents in terms of high commendation, and states that she might with advantage be compared with any of which she was thus so honourably the females of antiquity. + The career pursuing, was suddenly suspended by the illness of her father, which obliged

*

See Mon. Repos., the present volume, p. 91.

+ His words are—Ibi (in aulam) audivimus nos eam ita Latinè declamantem, Græcè loquentem, Ciceronis Paradoxa explicantem, ad questiones respondentem, ut cum veterum puellarum quavis, quæ quidem ingenii laude excelluerit, conferri posse videntur.-Olymp. Opera, p. 97.

her to return home to assist in the duties of a sick chamber. His death followed shortly after; but the state in which her family was now left would not allow of her resuming her situation at the palace. She was the eldest of the children; and her mother being sickly and infirm, she felt it to be her duty to remain with her to undertake the charge of their domestic concerns, and to educate her brother and sisters.

Not long after her father's death, and whilst she was thus laudably employed, she lost the friendship of the Duchess Renata, and her intercourse with the court was in consequence entirely broken off. She mentions this event, in a letter to Curio, as one which had given her great concern, and occasioned some inconvenience to her family. The cause is no where fully explained. She merely hints that it was owing to the malicious detractions and misrepresentations of some unworthy persons who had prejudiced her benefactress against her. But this circumstance, which at the time she regarded as a severe calamity, she afterwards viewed as the most fortunate occurrence of her life; since it led to a marriage connexion that was most agreeable to her feelings, and to a steady adherence to the doctrines of the Reformation, to which she ascribed her chief happiness. Whilst she was living in the seclusion of her family, she formed an acquaintance with Andrew Gruntler, a young German, eminently skilled in the Greek and Latin languages, who was then studying medicine at Ferrara, and afterwards took the degree of doctor in that faculty. Congeniality of tastes, and similarity of attainments, produced a mutual attachment, which terminated in their union. Of the disinterestedness of his affection for her, Olympia speaks with lively gratitude,-observing, that neither her destitute condition, nor the frowns of the court, could restrain him from seeking her hand. Her marriage took place about two years after the demise of her father, and when she must have been twentythree years of age. She soon afterwards removed with her husband into Germany, leaving with her mother three marriageable sisters, and taking with her her brother, then about eight years old, in order to educate him un

der her own direction. After a short stay at Augsburg and the neighbourhood, where her husband was engaged professionally, they fixed their residence at Schweinfurt, in Franconia, which was Gruntler's native place.

As the Duchess Renata was warmly attached to the cause of the Reformation, and persisted, notwithstanding the opposition of the Duke, who was a zealous Catholic, in educating her children in the principles which she had herself espoused, there can be no doubt but that Olympia must also have embraced them whilst she resided at the palace. The subject of religion had, however, she confesses, occupied but little of her thoughts, and she congratulates herself that by her seclusion from court, she was led to consider it more attentively, and to embrace, with a firm conviction, the doctrines of the Reformers. After her settlement in Germany, she devoted herself with great earnestness to theological studies, and occasionally employed her pen in the composition of devotional poetry in the Greek and Latin languages, which every where breathe a fervent spirit of piety, and display talents of the first order. The high and unmixed satisfaction which she derived from her new principles, doomed her to a perpetual exile from her native country. For, ardently as she was attached to her mother and sisters, of whom she always writes in the most affectionate terms, she would listen to no overtures to return to their society, with the certainty of being restrained in the public profession of her religion. She embraced, likewise, every opportunity to press upon the attention of her Italian friends the importance of the principles she had adopted, and to urge them to receive them with a faith equally firm, and maintain them with a constancy equally unwavering. Writing to an intimate female acquaintance in Italy, she thus expresses herself: "I send you some of Luther's writings which, when I perused them, afforded me very high pleasure, in order that they may comfort and delight you also. Place your dependence upon God in these studies; implore him to enlighten you with true religion: you will not be repulsed." She seemed particularly anxious that Luther's works should be more generally known in her native

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country. In a letter to Matthias Flaccius Illyricus, she urges him to undertake the task of translating some of them into the vernacular language for this purpose. She prefers a similar request to the celebrated Vergerius, who had recently joined the Reformers, with respect to Luther's Catechism. "As you have bent your whole heart," she writes, "to the spread of the Church, I beg you would translate into Italian Luther's book, intituled the Larger Catechism, rendered into Latin by Vincentius Opsopæus. Of how much service it would be to our Italians, especially to the young, you will perceive from the book itself, if you will carefully peruse it." Olympia's zeal in the cause of the Reformation may also be seen in an admirable letter addressed by her to the companion of her youthful studies, the Princess Anne d'Este, who had married Francis of Lorrain, Duke of Guise, celebrated in the annals of persecution as the author of the massacre of the Protestants at Vassey, in the South of France. Olympia first earnestly recommends to her to study the Sacred Writings, which alone could unite her to God, and administer consolation to her under the afflictions of life. She then entreats her to look with a favourable eye to those excellent persons who were suffering persecution in France on account of their religion, and to be their advocate with the King, even though she should by such a step offend her husband, and subject herself to the royal displeasure t

Bock has inserted this letter in his Historia Antitrinitariorum, Vol II. p.

402.

+ This advice, it would seem, was not lost upon the young Duchess, for a few years subsequently she interceded with Catherine of Medicis on behalf of the Protestants of France, whom she was then persecuting with infuriated zeal. "Anne d'Este," writes Thuanus, (ad Ann. 1560,) "the wife of the Duke of Guise, a woman of a mild temper, and who, from her infancy, had been brought up at Ferrara by her mother Renata, in the doctrines which were then under persecution, for which purpose she had given her for a companion, Olympia Morata, a lady of distinguished merit and learning, is said to have been the only person

Whilst Olympia was thus engaged in recommending the principles from which she was herself deriving increasing satisfaction, a civil war began to rage with great violence throughout Germany, which soon furnished her with an occasion of bringing their efficacy and power to the severest test. In the contest which divided the heads of the different states, Schweinfurt had the misfortune to fall beneath the displeasure of the stronger party, and to be devoted to complete destruction. The Marquis of Brandenburg having seized upon the town, and garrisoned it with his troops, it was quickly besieged by the army of his opponents, Maurice, the Elector of Saxony, the Bishops of Wurtzburg and Bamberg, and other princes. The siege was carried on with great vigour, the artillery playing upon the place day and night without intermission. Owing, however, to the nature of the fortifications, but few lives were lost from the firing of the besiegers. But the presence of so many soldiers, pent up in a small space, produced a violent contagious disease, which com mitted great ravages, and carried to their graves nearly one-half of the inhabitants. Gruntler, in attending professionally upon the sick, caught the infection, but though his life was for some time despaired of, he ultimately recovered. After holding out for fourteen months under these calamitous circumstances, the Marquis quietly withdrew his troops, and, under cover of the night, escaped without molestation. The inhabitants now hoped for a cessation of their miseries, as the object of attack had reundeceived. As soon as the departure moved; but they were soon painfully of the Marquis was ascertained, the besieging troops entered the town as if it had been taken by storm, and

who did not refrain from tears, and to have advised Catherine of her own accord to give orders to desist from putting innocent people to death, if she wished well to the King and to the kingdom." At a subsequent period, however, the Duchess of Guise took part against the Protestants. This change in her principles and conduct is ascribed with great probability to the assassination of her husband by Póltrot.

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