timental and spectacular worship of the papal church, to which their author belonged, Fenelon's dialogues on eloquence contain much valuable thought; and display, in relation to the subject, a power of philosophical analysis rarely surpassed. Fenelon, in his estimation of pulpit oratory, attaches an undue importance to its power of moving the passions. Where this is accounted the chief end of public speaking, too much is left to the speaker and too little to the audience. No effort of thought is required of the listener; he is too strictly passive in the orator's hands and the result is, that with equal passiveness he yields to the influences which soon supervene, fitted to remove the impression he

had received. In proportion as an audience becomes enlightened, such appeals to the passions become less powerful and are less esteemed.

The Preliminary Essay by the translator, brings the work to bear upon present times and prevailing modes of public address. By quoting examples of incorrect writing from published sermons, by some of the most popular preachers of the day, he puts in a striking point of view the maxims and rules he is inculcating. The book, altogether, is highly worthy the attention of those pulpit speakers who are not so far gone in a faulty style as to have lost all hope of amend

ment.

REFLECTIONS ON THE CAFFRE WAR.

Among the reflections suggested by the preceding narrative, the moderation of the Caffres deserves prominent notice. When, according to international law, the chiefs were not obliged to indemnify the colony for offences committed even by their own subjects on our side of the border, they undertook this responsibility. They were not ignorant of the risk, and pleaded for three days with Sir A. Stockerstroom against the injustice of the demand; but at last consenting, they remarked handsomely, that the kindness of government in giving them back the neutral country, deserved some concession on their part too. Nor should it be forgotten that they did indemnify the colony in every clear case of theft committed by Caffres; and when Sir P. Maitland arrived on the frontier and abolished the treaties, there was not a claimable debt against them. The accounts were squared. Was there no forbearance in their sitting still, prepared for extremities, after war had been proclaimed, and the troops had invested the country? They neither hurled an assegay, nor levelled a musket, till the invading army set fire to the kraal of Sandili, the paramount chief, or, in other words, burnt the capital; for, however despicable the place may be in the eyes of a supercilious civilization, it is the "great place" notwithstanding of a free nation. And when they visited the colony, to repay our visit to them, did it evince no moderation that, with confessedly greater powers of mischief, they destroyed less, and killed fewer, than in the inroad of 1834? Were I not afraid of exceeding the limits of a running letter, it were easy to cite examples of their

sparing life when the pillagers' policy would have been to destroy it. I witnessed a gratifying proof of the confidence of the colonists in the honour and self-restraint of the Caffres, when Sir P. Maitland proclaimed, in November last, a truce of fourteen days for negotiations with the enemy. I met, all the way from Port Elizabeth to the general's camp, a distance of 160 miles, solitary travellers like myself, and single waggons, where before it was only considered safe to travel by escort. I asked the reason of this return to peaceful wayfaring, and was uniformly told, that surely the Caffres would not take advantage of his Excellency's truce. Nor did they; a fact complimentary to the good sense, and something better, that governed both sides of the border, notwithstanding all the ungenerous epithets exchanged in the conflict of human passion between "the blacks and whites."

What avail treaties with Caffre chiefs, it is asked, when every tribe on the frontier, in separate treaty with our government, espoused the side of Sandili, Botma, and Tola? From them alone the governor demanded satisfaction for the rescue of the prisoner who had stolen the axe, and for the murder of the Hottentot who had him in custody. We reply, what were the treaties here referred to, entered into with the ten border clans? They were not the treaties mutually agreed to between the lieutenant-governor and the representatives of the Caffre nation in December 1836. These the chiefs respected, as (to use the language of one of them) "the word made when they touched the pen, and called on the great Spirit." Even when the contract was vi

tiated, both in principle and detail, by Sir G. Napier, the chiefs treated it as a covenant to which they were bound; and if they tampered with the authorities in sometimes evading its serious responsibilities

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rogue money," the agents could rally them back to duty, by an appeal to the "word." And if there be any truth in the imputation, that the native authorities care not for treaties, the highest British functionary in the land-her Majesty's representative-took to himself the inglorious pre-eminence of teaching them that public men could treat such compacts as worthless. In 1844 the then governor abolished the existing treaties in Grahamstown, and marched into Caffreland with treaties of his own! and wondered that the former contracting parties were not satisfied on being told, that though "his Excellency" had broken the old covenant without their consent, he considered their signatures necessary to the ratification of the new. And if they were at last brought "to touch the pen," one of them had the manliness to let the governor know, he regarded him not a little in error in respect to the nature of treaties, as he called out, when putting the pen on the governor's paper, "I sign for the old treaties." What influence "military backing" had on the chiefs at this time, may be gathered from the remark of a chief who was concerned on another occasion. When, after his return, the agent expressed his surprise on his refusing to carry out the provisions of the treaty he had signed-"Do you think I was such a fool," said he, "as to say no to the governor, when there were so many naked swords around me?" or words to that effect. If, therefore, the Caffres are to be accounted too depraved and faithless to be trusted in any solemn voluntary compact with a neighbouring nation, the proof must be adduced from some less exceptionable case than that of 1844, which neither a shower of treasury shillings, nor a show of swords, with the promise of more for compliance with its provisions, could render respectable in the eyes of the Caffre chiefs.

And is it correct to affirm that all the ten frontier tribes broke faith with the government when they took up arms on behalf of their liege prince? If so, there will be few governments in the world which will escape uncensured. Besides, what tribe fell away to the side of Sandili, till his unexpected successes, and valuable spoils, excited in them "a blind cupidity?" Every one turned for gain to his quarter; and many hurried to arms, without waiting to ask their chief's countenance and consent. Tzatzoe and Stock, the representatives of one eighth of the whole frontier Caffres, discouraged all interference; and, for a while,

they were obeyed. The former was deserted by his retainers, after Sandili's exploits, and the sight of the booty he displayed. And the latter struggled feebly for some time on the side of government. He retook cattle from plunderers in the colony, and sent them to the British agent; standing alone and unsupported by his white ally, hearing that the peaceable messengers of his brother, the second in the rule of the tribe, were seized at the camp, and one of them wounded ere they made their escape; and, seeing his people falling away to Sandili, in the manner described, was it wonderful if he followed? His surrender of himself, and principal followers, to the governor, little more than a fortnight after, only confirms the opinion of his honest attachment to our interests, and increases our regret at this false step, by which he and his people have forfeited a ten years' unimpeachable character, and the half of their land. Such are the temptations and fruits of war.

Another important view of the relation in which the Caffres stood to the war, is their acting throughout on the defensive. The chiefs erred greatly in refusing to give up the two men who had committed crime in the colony, because, in Governor Maitland's paper of 1844, they were engaged by signature to do so. They saw their error when too late in having made such an ensnaring promise; and they resolved to resist its enforcement, when they should have submitted, and negotiated for exemption. Resistance to all encroachment was now their motto; and the defensive their position. Yet they did not withstand the entrance of the troops, nor molest their progress to Sandili's Kraal, nor interfere with their encampment at the native capital. No, nor did any of them cross into the colony to plunder. The burning of their chief's residence by the British army was the first aggression they repelled. Burning and pillage they retaliated on the colonists; and they even told the sufferers, from the thickets in which they were intrenched, "We burn your houses, because you burnt ours, and, particularly, Sandili's Great Place."

I may be asked further, if Christianity did not fare rudely at the hands of the Caffres, when they destroyed every mission station not occupied by the troops? It was not to be avenged on Christianity—we answer that they did this. They saw that, while they could make no use of these substantial buildings, our troops could, and did. We set the example of burning the black man's houses, and they retaliated by burning the white man's. The soldiers left them no shelter, and they would leave the soldiers none. In short, it was a time of

war, when the maxim is to destroy every thing for the sake of crippling the enemy. And, at such a game, is the barbarian expected to be more polite than a civilized military?

If we would know how this heathen nation in arms treated Christianity, we must look at their permitting every missionary to return unmolested to their enemy's country, when they could not persuade him to remain, or feared for his safety if he should. We must look also at the scores and hundreds of Caffres, adherents to the gospel, whom they allowed to accompany or follow their teachers. When Sandili found one of the converts lingering at Block Drift after his fellows had left, he said to him with equal dignity and wit, "What are you doing here? You seem like a solitary locust after the swarm has gone. You had better hop after the rest. Many could not avail themselves of this indulgence, till all communication with the colony was cut off by warlike operations on both sides. Yet they were not spoiled of their cattle, nor generally forced into arms by the "impi, the native army, nor were they hindered from going wherever they desired. One Christian Caffre alone fell. I knew him well, and respected him too.

*

He was wantonly dispatched, competent testimony avers-but in the colonyby a colonial patriot! The heathen may have mocked and menaced the non-fighting countrymen of Christian name, when they chanced to meet, but they magnanimously spared the lives of all. This was quite consistent with the deportment of the nation toward the gospel and its native adherents ever since it was published among them. No Christian was ever martyred; † persecuted they were, but never to the extent of bonds, imprisonment, or death. Depravity hated the truth, and political jealousy, sometimes without disguise, and always covertly, endeavoured to counteract it. And human nature shall cease to be what it is ere it do less. But it is undeniable that Christianity did, and could, live, nay, even grow, under a Caffre executive.

The friends of the Bible and the Saviour have no more ground of discouragement to effort among the Caffres than in any other variety of unsanctified nature; nor has the war developed in the Caffre character

I have qualified the statement thus, because a native professing Christianity, who confesses that he joined his countrymen in arms, told me that they denounced him as a spy, and should "strike, strike." And he conformed, but discharged only three shots when a party of Burghers came upon them in the A matola.

† Mr Choltz, a German missionary, was killed in his waggon by an assegay aimed at a very different person, but a coloured man, who had dishonoured the family of a neighbouring chief.

any feature which would not have appeared in the case of any other people similarly circumstanced. Indeed, it has disclosed redeeming points sufficient to vindicate the mass of the people from the charge of utter degradation. In comparing the Caffre with other barbarous communities, in respect to their mode of conducting war, there is much to commend. He is entitled to the praise due to the most enlightened and humane nations, in exempting helpless women and children from the highest penalty of war. The bulk of the

nation, too, are to be acquitted from the direct responsibility of war, inasmuch as they are never consulted in the matter; and it is but fair to remember on their behalf, that on the part of subjects obedience to rulers is usually held to be the grand political virtue. Whether it is to be ruled henceforth by a black or a white sovereign, the nation is equally entitled, as before, to the elevating influences of a Christian mission; and further degenerated, as they must be, by the known immoralities of a state of warfare, independently of the danger to be apprehended from the military occupation of their country, the claims of the Caffre nation to the compassionate exertions of our holy faith, cannot be overlooked by any pious mind.

I am free to confess that I cannot sympathize with the feeling of despondency which many friends of the African races betray on the failure of the attempt made by our government to secure equitable and peaceable intercourse. The treaties of 1836 for this frontier were intended to secure the Caffres against the wrongs, inseparable from military commandos seeking indemnification by wholesale for thefts of cattle committed on the border farmers; and, at the same time, to oblige the Caffre authorities, by stipulation, to make good all such losses as were clearly caused by thieves from their country. Now, both of these objects were attained, commandos ceased, and the chiefs paid up from time to time on cases of theft, "reclaimable by treaty." Even before Sir P. Maitland came to the frontier in 1844, and annulled the treaties in the irresponsible manner already mentioned, there was not a case remaining on the books of the agents against Caffreland. So far the purpose of the Stockerstroom or Glenelg treaties was achieved. There was no failure here. The local complaints made, and not without cause, as to the state of the border, had reference more to the defects of the executive.

The principle of the arrangements with the heads of the Caffre nation, required that our government should treat these rude allies with strict justice; and that it should never be forgotten in our intercourse

with them, that though barbarous, they were human beings, capable of improvement at our hands. The local administration, I am afraid, did not keep this principle steadily in view; or it was lost sight of amid the prevalent border excitement. It ought to have been adapted to exigencies as they arose, altered in the details to prevent infringement on the principle of the compact, and expanded to meet such difficulties in border legislation, as are inseparable from the circumstances of a barbarous people, divided from a civilized by an imaginary or shifting line,-ever keeping in view that every grain of confidence gained over the aboriginal mind by an enlightened policy, was a clear gain to ourselves, and a lasting blessing to our neighbours. Any

important omission here was disastrous to an experimental measure. On calm reflection, the wonder is how, all these things considered, this statesman-like, as well as philanthropic experiment effected so much, on its application to two communities who had nothing in common, save what constituted the main difficulty of the case, viz.that their wealth consisted in live-stock, and that grazing ground and streams of water were indispensable to both. In the northern boundary the same policy works well among the native governments, headed by Moshesh Waterboer, &c., and that despite the influence of the nomadic "Trekboers" in their midst. R. NIVEN.

Glenthorn, S. Africa, Nov. 15, 1847.

PRESBYTERY NOTICES.

Aberdeen. This presbytery met April 11, when a letter was read from Mr A. Cross, preacher, declining the call from Midmar; which was therefore set aside by the presbytery, and intimation to this effect appointed to be made to the congregation at Midmar. Respecting Synod's funds and their management, the following motion was carried: "That the presbytery agree to report that to the proposed Board of Missions they object, on this ground among others, that it seems inconsistent with Presbyterian church government, inasmuch as, by the proposed constitution, it is to consist partly of laymen, thus investing persons who hold no ecclesiastical office with important ecclesiastical powers; while, in the exercise of its proposed functions, it must violate Presbyterian parity, by making an invidious distinction between aid-receiving ministers and others, and must invade the due prerogatives of church courts, by taking the presbytery's proper work out of their hands.' From this decision Messrs Angus and Sedgwick, ministers, and Jamieson and Urquhart, elders, entered their dissent. The presbytery further resolved to overture the Synod, "to use efforts for the modification of the act of security in those provisions which affect the educational institutions of the country, and by which all teachers are required to embrace the creed, and submit to the discipline and superintendence, of the Established Church."

Annandale.-March 21st, Commissioners were present from both congregations at Annan. The presbytery having found that each of the congregations had unanimously adopted resolutions to be formed

into one without delay, and had requested the presbytery to take immediate steps to effect that object, it was unanimously agreed that the two congregations be now declared one, and the necessary appointments were made for the purpose of duly intimating this decision. The presbytery unanimously agreed to report to the Synod, in favour of a representative General As sembly. Next meeting was appointed to be held at Langholm, on the 23d May.

Arbroath, February 15.-a letter was read from the Rev. James Gibson, intimating his acceptance of the call from the High Street congregation, Brechin; whereupon his induction was appointed to take place on the 14th of March. A report of the present condition of the congregation of Letham was received, which was deemed favourable; and it was resolved to make application to the Home Mission Committee, for a grant in aid of the maintenance of religious ordinances among them. The presbytery agreed to report it as their unanimous opinion, that the Supreme Court of the United Church should be a delegated assembly. The presbytery held a pro re nata meeting at Montrose on the 22d of March, in consequence of the resolution of the Rev. George Walker to demit his charge of the congregation of Johnshaven, and proceed immediately as a missionary to Nova Scotia. His demission was laid on the table; and the congregation,-who had been duly warned, and appeared by commissioners, offering no opposition to the acceptance of it, although parting with Mr Walker with deep regret, the demission was accepted, the pastoral relation dissolved, and a certificate of ministerial standing, along with &

record of the esteem and good wishes of the presbytery, given to Mr Walker. The presbytery met at Arbroath on the 4th of April, when a moderation was granted to the missionary congregation of Letham; and the clerk instructed to report the same to the Home Mission Committee. A preacher having disappointed two congregations of the presbytery, the clerk was instructed to persevere in the means he had been employing to ascertain the reasons of the disappointment. An investigation was then held in private, which resulted in the suspension from office and from church fellowship of one on the list of probationers.

Carlisle.-April 4th. Present, seven ministers and four elders. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Home Mission Board, intimating considerable doubt as to the expediency of granting further pecuniary aid to the mission station at Wigton, unless the presbytery be of a different opinion. The presbytery, after hearing a commissioner from the congregation, and maturely considering the case, resolved to bring the claims of the station once more under the notice of the Board; strongly to recommend that another trial be made, not only to gratify the desires of the steadfast friends of the United Presbyterian Church in Wigton, but also to meet the urgent spiritual exigencies of a large and careless population; and respectfully to request the Board to take the trouble to select and appoint a suitable agent, endowed with a missionary spirit, and willing to spend and be spent in his Master's service, to be entrusted with the charge of the mission for such a length of time as circumstances may appear eventually to justify. In reference to a recent communication, forwarded to the clerk, from the Secretary of the Synod's Sabbath School Committee, the presbytery, while deeply anxious to facilitate in every practicable way the praiseworthy views of the Committee, agreed in thinking that some systematic scheme of presbyterial visitation would be better adapted for the purpose than the mode suggested by their respected brethren. Appointed next meeting to be held at Wigton on the last Tuesday of June.

Cupar.-March 28th. A call from Bread Street Church, Edinburgh, to Rev. J. Kidd, St Andrews, having been laid on the table, instructions were given to intimate the same to the St Andrew's congregation, and summon them to next meeting. A committee was appointed to take such steps as might seem fitted to promote a junction between the churches of Colinsburgh and Kilconquhar. The presbytery met April 11, when Mr Kidd, of St Andrews, declined the call presented to him from Bread Street church, Edinburgh. A committee was ap

pointed to correspond with any committee named by the Kirkaldy presbytery respecting a junction of the Colinsburgh and Kilconquhar congregations. The presbytery was unanimous in favour of a delegated Supreme Court. It was reported that Dr Craig, of Provost Wynd church, Cupar, had applied for admission into the Established Church; whereupon it was unanimously agreed, that, "inasmuch as Dr Craig, whose name was sent down by the Synod on the roll of this presbytery, had disclaimed its authority, refused to meet with the committee appointed to deal with him (as a committee of presbytery), and had applied for admission into the Established Church, his name be now dropped from the roll, and he be declared to be not in connexion with the United Presbyterian Church."

Edinburgh. This presbytery met April 4, when it agreed to overture the Synod in favour of a uniform system of presbyterial superintendence of students. Mr Semple's ordination was appointed to take place at Peebles on 20th April. A committee reported that Rev. Mr Leitch, formerly a missionary of the London Missionary Society, had presented evidence of his having enjoyed a liberal course of literary, scientific, and theological education; and his application for admission as a preacher was referred to Synod, with the presbtery's cordial approbation. A petition was received from Back Street, Dalkeith, requesting a deliverance of the presbytery, whether, in their opinion, a third congregation in Dalkeith is called for. The presbytery declined to entertain the question submitted thus directly, and resolved, that while the Back Street congregation are self-sustaining, and desire to continue, the presbytery shall cherish them with their best endeavours. On a request from the congregation of Newington, the presbytery recommended that three elders be chosen for the oversight of said church; the Rev. Mr Johnston to have charge of the matter until its completion. Commissioners from the West congregation, Dalkeith, expressed their gratitude for the supply of sermon granted them since Mr Waldie was laid aside by illness, and requested that they be hereafter furnished with a regular supply of probationers. The presbytery granted this request, with the expression of sympathy with Mr Waldie and the congregation. The congregation of West Linton made application for a moderation; but owing to informality in the preceding steps, the presbytery declined granting the petition, but agreed to receive a new application for a moderation at the meeting in Peebles.

Glasgow. This presbytery met on April 11, when a communication from Belfast