Dundee. This presbytery met on the 5th July. Mr Reston's period of moderatorship having expired, Mr Hogg of Alyth was chosen for next half year. Commissioners from the Edinburgh presbytery appeared, and laid on the table a call from Bread Street congregation, Edinburgh, addressed to the Rev. Robert Dick Duncan, Wishart Church, Dundee; the Rev. Duncan Ogilvie appointed to give intimation of this call to the Wishart congregation, on the third Sabbath of July. Partics to be summoned to next meeting of presbytery on Tuesday, the 1st August. Messrs Mathison, Rattray, and M Ñab, students, gave exercises, which were approved of, and the presbytery agreed to certify them to the Hall. The committee re-appointed on the financial matters of the presbytery, gave in a report, which was adopted. Dunfermline.-The Dunfermline presbytery met on the 11th of July. Messrs David Young and John More, students, read exercises, which were sustained. Professor M'Michael was elected moderator in room of Mr Wilson, Crossgates, whose term of office had expired. The presbytery agreed to take up at next meeting, 12th September, the remits of Synod respecting a delegated supreme court, and the adoption of a hymn-book. A committee appointed to visit Bathgate reported, that, in present circumstances, they would not recommend any attempt to unite the two churches in that locality. Mr Porteous was examined on the subject of Popery. At the previous meeting, Messrs Leckie and M'Laren were examined on the same subject. And at the same meeting this court adopted a series of resolutions, in reference to the supply of the pulpits of ministers who may be disabled from preaching by sickness. An overture to the Synod, on the subject of the deaconship, was also, at the previous meeting, produced, and adopted. Galloway.-At a meeting of this presbytery, June 20, Mr M Queen and Mr Sprott, students, read essays, which were sustained. Mr Smellie reported for advice an application made to his session for baptism, in behalf of a child whose father is at present undergoing a two years' imprisonment for culpable homicide. The application was made by the child's uncle. The presbytery deferred advising the case till next meeting, to be held at Wigtown, August 22. Glasgow. This presbytery met on the second Tuesday of July, the Rev. J. S. Taylor, moderator pro tem. After the minutes had been read, and signed in presence of the court, Mr M'Coll, the treasurer of Edinburgh. This presbytery met on the presbytery stated, that while the presTuesday, 4th July; Mr Hogg of Hadding-bytery had authorized him to apply for L.50 ton, moderator. Mr Cross delivered trial discourses with a view to his ordination at West Linton. Mr Bruce, who had been appointed at last meeting to moderate in a call at Bread Street, Edinburgh, reported that the unanimous choice of that congregation had fallen on the Rev. Robert D. Duncan, Wishart Church, Dundee. The call was sustained, and commissioners appointed to prosecute it before the presbytery of Dundee. Dr Peddie reported the moderation of a call in the newly-formed congregation, Newington-from which it appeared that the Rev. James Robertson, Musselburgh, had been unanimously chosen. The congregation of Musselburgh were enjoined to appear in their own behalf at next meeting of presbytery. Commissioncrs from the Rev. Mr Waldie's congregation, Dalkeith, requested a rehearing of certain preachers. Dr Ritchie intimated that, at next meeting, he intended to move that the court should prohibit henceforth the use of all intoxicating liquors at ordinations within their bounds. Arrangements were made with regard to Kirkgate congregation, Leith, and other vacancies, and for the examination of students for the Theological Hall. The presbytery then proceeded to consider a case of a private nature with closed doors. Falkirk. This court met on 6th July. for the second congregation of Campbelton, the Mission Board had agreed to give L.39, and to defer a final decision on the application until the presbytery have given reasons for proposing to raise the grant from L.30 to L.50 a-year. The presbytery appointed a committee-Dr Beattie, Dr Struthers, Mr M'Coll, with Messrs Robertson and M'Innes-to visit Campbelton, hold intercourse with the two congregations, and report. A call to the Rev. John Paterson, from the congregation of Blantyre, was sustained, and concurred in by the presbytery, and the clerk instructed to intimate to Mr Paterson accordingly. The presbytery then entered on the case of disjunction from Regent Place congregation, with a view to erection into Renfield Street congregation. Parties in this case were heard. The commissioners from the congregation intimated. that they had been instructed not to oppose the prayer of the petition, and, if the disjunction were granted, to request that Dr Taylor occupy the pulpit till the first Sabbath of August, and dispense the Lord's Supper in Regent Place on that day. No objections were offered by any of the sessions of the city to the prayer of the petition being granted. The decision of the presbytery was as follows:-The presbytery, after a consideration of the whole case, and finding that Regent Place congregation cordially acquiesced in the object of the petition, agreed to grant the prayer of the same, and hereby disjoin the four hundred members and eleven elders, petitioners, along with Dr Taylor, from the congregation of Regent Place, erecting them into the session and congregation of Renfield Street, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Dr Taylor. The presbytery were constrained to express their approbation of the spirit exhibited by both parties in this case, and their earnest desire that the blessing of God would rest upon both. This decision was intimated to the parties, and Dr Robson appointed to declare Regent Place vacant, and Mr Duncan to moderate in the session. The petition, craving a moderation on the part of Drymen congregation was withdrawn, and Mr Johnstone appointed to dispense the sacrament there on the 4th of July. Supply, in cases of ministerial distress, was granted to Mr Low of Barrhead, and to Mr Gardener, Craigs, Old Kilpatrick; and a committee, consisting of Mr Beckett, Dr Taylor, and Mr Johnstone, to take what steps might be necessary in regard to the Registration of Births and Marriages Bill, at present before Parliament; and thereafter the presbytery adjourned. The presbytery held a special meeting the day after, commencing at eleven o'clock forenoon, for the purpose of examining students recommended for admission to the Divinity Hall. The examiners were occupied, with little more than an hour's intermission, till nine o'clock evening. Lanark. The presbytery of Lanark met on 5th June. Mr Prentice, student, delivered a lecture, which was received with approbation, and it was agreed to recommend him to the Divinity Hall. Mr James Frame, student, was proposed for transmission to the Hall, and it was agreed to examine him at next meeting. A small committee was appointed to superintend the missionary business of the presbytery.The presbytery met again, July 18th. Mr Andrew Scott gave an account of the lectures at last session of the Hall, and delivered a critical exercise; Mr Sandy read an essay. These exercises were approved of. Both students were then examined in Greek and Hebrew. Mr James Frame, student, was, after the usual examination, unanimously recommended to the Divinity Hall. It was also agreed to certify Messrs Sandy and Scott to their respective professors. Subjects of exercises were prescribed to all the students under the inspection of the presbytery. It was agreed to hold next meeting on Tuesday, 19th September, in Hope Street session-house, Lanark, when the questions in reference to the probationers sent down by the Synod, will be considered. Newcastle. This presbytery met on 28th June, on occasion of the ordination of Mr Walker at Blackett Street. The committee charged with the examination of Mr Turnbull, student of theology, reported that they had examined him on the subjects prescribed, and were much gratified by the acquirements he had displayed; and it was agreed that Mr Turnbull, at his own request, be transferred to the presbytery of Edinburgh, and be furnished with his testimonial to the Hall. Preachers were appointed to Whitby, Stockton, and Walker, for July and August. Next meeting of the presbytery to be held in the usual place on the first Tuesday of August. Paisley and Greenock.-This presbytery met on Tuesday, 11th July. Mr Meikle of Beith was elected moderator, in room of Mr Clapperton, whose term of office had expired. A call from Union Street Church, Greenock, in favour of Mr John Smith, probationer, signed by 277 members and 54 adherents was laid on the table and sustained. Mr Knox, student, was examined in languages and philosophy. Dr Baird and Mr M Nab, with Mr Alexander, elder, were appointed a committee to examine and report, in reference to the missionary station at Inverary. Selkirk. This presbytery met at Melrose 11th July. The committee appointed at last meeting reported that they had met, and heard discourses from Messrs Ballantyne and Stewart, students, of which they approved. Commissioners from Innerleithen gave a statement of the circumstances and prospects of the station there, and requested the presbytery to continue for a little longer their gratuitous supply of sermon. The presbytery agreed to remit to their mission committee to correspond with the Synod's Home Mission Committee, with the view of obtaining a grant in support of Innerleithen. The presbytery appointed Messrs Lumgair, Kiddy, Ballantyne, and Robertson, to supply Dr Brown's pulpit in August. Mr William Laurence, having delivered his remaining discourses, was licensed to preach the gospel. The students within the bounds were examined on various branches of study. The presbytery, after a lengthened conversation, agreed unanimously to remit to the mission committee to enter into correspondence with the Synod's Board of Missions, and to arrange with them the immediate transference of the presbytery's mission at Arouca, in Trinidad, into the hands of the Synod. Next meeting was appointed to take place at Jedburgh 12th September. Stirling. This presbytery held its annual missionary meeting on the 6th of June. The Rev. William Fraser of Alloa preached on the occasion from Hab. iii. 2—“O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years," &c.; and the Rev. George Hunter of Tillicoultry addressed the presbytery on the subject of missions, founding his remarks on John iii. 30.-" He must increase." The presbytery agreed to meet on the 1st day of August next. PROBATIONER LICENSED. Mr William Laurence, by presbytery of Selkirk, 11th July. CALLS MODERATED. Edinburgh, Bread Street.-The Rev. R. D. Duncan, of Wishart Church, Dundee, called June 22d,-Mr Bruce of Edinburgh presiding. Edinburgh, Newington.-The Rev. James Robertson of Musselburgh, called June 22d, Dr Peddie presiding. Union Street, Greenock.-Mr John Smith, probationer, called June 22d,-Mr Meikle of Beith presiding. Blantyre. The Rev. John Paterson, formerly of Rattray, called June 26,-Mr M'Gill, Glasgow, presiding. Keith.-Mr Peter Whyte, probationer, called June 29,—Mr Meikleham of Grange presiding. ORDINATION. Newcastle, Blackett Street.-On Wednesday, 28th June, Mr Alexander Walker, probationer, was ordained at Blackett Street, Newcastle, as co-pastor with the Rev. W. C. Browning,-Professor M'Michael, and Mr Walker of Dunfermline, Mr Douglas of Hartlepool, and Mr Dall of Bedlington, officiated. INDUCTION. Spittal, Tweedmouth.-On Tuesday 11th July, the Rev. James Falconer, formerly of Gatehouse-on-Fleet, was inducted at Spittal as co-pastor with the Rev. William Whitehouse, Mr Mearns of Coldstream, Mr Donaldson of Alnwick, and Mr Ritchie of Berwick, officiating. Monthly Retrospect. FRANCE-ATTEMPT AT COUNTER REVOLUTION. THAT the gross blunder committed by the French Provisional Government, in undertaking the Socialist scheme of national industry, would be attended with evil results, was obvious from the first; but few could have expected that the issue would be so awfully disastrous, and would arrive so soon, as the fact has proved. The national workhouses were a nest of idlenessthe organization of labour a system of sedition. Articles manufactured by ateliers nationaux, under the grand scheme which was to be the harbinger of harmony and prosperity to la belle France, might in some cases be purchased in neighbouring countries-to which, for lack of a home market, they had been transported-for less than half the price paid for them by the government of France. To avert, if possible, the national bankruptcy which the scheme involved, steps were taken to diminish the number of the workmen; and as a beginning, 3000 were on Thursday, 22d June, draughted off, and despatched for their homes in the provinces. Instead, however, of proceeding to their homes, these men withdrew beyond the city barrier, where the wine is cheaper than within; and having waited there till the afternoon, the money allowed them for travelling expenses furnishing them the means of regaling themselves the while, they divided into smaller companies-returned by separate roads to the city, and advanced to the Hotel de Ville, where the offices of the government are situated. Their claims having failed to meet the desired attention from the minister to whom they were represented, cries of discontent and insurrection began to spread; and during the night formidable barricades were erected throughout the city. On the following day (Friday), the National Guard having been called out, proceeded to attack the insurgents, who were now immensely increased in numbers, and who, taking aim at the soldiers from behind the barricades, or from adjacent windows, committed great slaugh ter. The fighting at the barricades continued with but little interruption till Sabbath afternoon, when, about three o'clock, they had all been taken; but afterwards the work of bloodshed was frequently renewed in the attempts of the soldiers to capture prisoners; and it was not till Monday night, after four days' hard fighting, the insurrection was put down. It is estimated that as many as 100,000 men took part in the affair on the side of the insurgents, either fighting under arms or engaging in the fortifying of posts; and it soon became evident that this mighty host was under a regular military system, with recognized commandants and organized districts of command. The loss of life was tremendous, chiefly on the side of the go. vernment soldiers, of whom it is computed that 15,000 have been killed or wounded, some of them officers of the highest rank. The number of general officers slain in this street skirmish, is greater than in any battle recorded in the annals of France. The proportion of slaughter was much less in the case of the insurgents, most of whom fired from positions sheltered in various ways. The death of the Archbishop of Paris, who was accidentally shot while engaged among the combatants on a mission of conciliation, has caused peculiar regret. These appalling proceedings have filled the friends of liberty with sorrow and alarm, and greatly damped the expectations which they had entertained in connexion with the late revolution. No form of constitution, it is plain, can avert the dangers threatened to a state by the class of men who have sought in this instance to overthrow the constituted government in France. Universal suffrage they had obtained, but it did not meet their wishes; and, in rage at their disappointment, they set themselves to destroy an assembly and a government based on universal suffrage, bringing against them a spirit of determination more fierce and brutal than ever they had shown against despotism itself. Instead, however, of regretting the recent changes in France with which these outrages will naturally be connected in the minds of most men, we see only the more abundant reason to rejoice in them. Who can imagine that any form of government, save one thoroughly popular, could have resisted such an assault as the existing authorities have successfully sustained? But for the heroism of the National Guard-heroism prompted evidently by their patriotic love of peace and order, and the brilliant exhibition of which in the present instance is the best commentary that could have been given of their unwillingness to fight in defence of Louis Philippe in February last-the government must on this occasion have yielded before the savage mob; and then a renewal of the famous reign of terror, when the guillotine streamed with blood, and every man of note and character was marked out for slaughter, would inevitably have followed. The barbarous cruelties perpetrated by the disaffected party on the National Guard, and on the other soldiers who fought on the side of order, afford some faint idea of the scenes which would have been enacted had the issue of the struggle been different from what it was. It is now beyond a doubt that the disaffection of the three thousand workmen was rather the occasion than the cause of the disturbance. The profuse supply of money, and the ample stock of arms and ammunition found in the hands of the insurgents, not to speak of the cambric shirts and silk stockings, which, in numerous instances, were found concealed by the workman's blouse on the bodies of the slain, proved that men of a very different class from workmen were engaged in the affair; and facts have transpired warranting the conclusion, that parties in the interest of Louis Philippe were actively connected with it. This is only of a piece with the treacherous character of the ex-king. His relative the King of Naples did not scruple, on occasion of his late troubles, to use the thieves and blackguards of his city against the middle classes as represented by the National Guard; and the former career of Louis would not serve him as a defence against the charge, that he would readily employ the ten thousand criminals of Paris to pillage and destroy the respectable citizens, if he might thereby get back to his throne. These attempts to raise the riotous and disorderly against the quiet and peaceable, with a view to arrest the progress of reform, should be watched and frowned upon by the lovers of order. In this view we cannot help expressing the loathing we have felt at the language we in Britain are sometimes hearing from the lips of men, who, while they are steadily opposing reform, are complimenting the People's Charter as a noble scheme compared with that which the middle and industrious classes are now pressing on the attention of Parliament. On hearing such laudations from such lips, we can never help thinking of the lazzaroni fighting under the direction of the King of Naples against his national guard, and of the men in silk stockings and cambric shirts striving side by side with the galley-slaves and ateliers in the streets of Paris. The working men of Great Britain are too enlightened, we trust, to fall into such a snare. THE NEW REFORM MOVEMENT. AFTER a protracted debate, Mr Hume's motion in favour of Reform in the House of Commons, was lost (on 6th July) by a majority of 351 to 86. The number of honourable members who have registered their votes on the side of the new movement, is full of encouragement; and when we take into account the very extensive constituencies represented by many of them, the minority swells immensely in moral and political importance. According to the most careful calculation, the 86 members who voted in support of Mr Hume's motion represents more than 314,000 electors, and a population of 11,500,000. The facts and figures demonstrating the equity and necessity of yielding the chief points claimed in the motion, were quite unanswerable, and were studiously evaded by the anti-reformers. It may be safely predicted that the next division on the subject will show a larger minority; and, if the question be not satisfactorily settled before a new election, it will then become larger still. CONVICTION OF POLITICAL AGITATORS. HER Majesty's Government have advanced with firmness, and yet with calm moderation, in the trial of persons accused of prompting to the disturbance of the public peace in connexion with the Chartist and Repeal movements. Six men-Fussell, Williams, Sharpe, Vernon, Looney, and Jones--charged with sedition, and with being present at unlawful meetings in London and its neighbourhood, were found guilty, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment, some of them for three months' longer, in consequence of an additional count in their libel. The result of these proceedings has been to demolish for the present the Chartist organization. The secretaries have announced that their exchequer is exhausted; and this, with the imprisonment of the leaders, whose activity and eloquence were necessary to keep the fund replenished, brings the movement to a stand. In Ireland various apprehensions have taken place since the conviction of Mitchell, for he has had plenty of imitators, ambitious of sharing the renown of suffering in the same cause; and these, we suspect, share the sympathy of millions of their countrymen. It is very plain, however, that Mitchell's transportation has sadly disheartened the Repeal party as a whole, and quite robbed them of that degree of hope which is necessary to vigorous popular action. Still nothing has been done to heal Ireland's wound; and we fear the evil day is put off only to prove the worse in the end, unless the Government anticipate its arrival by some comprehensive act of justice in relation to that scandalum magnum of British rule, the Irish State Church. It is said that a royal visit to Ireland, sometime in autumn, is projected by the Queen's ministers. Such a pageant, with a people fond of spectacular display as the Irish are, may allay for a little the violence of their discontent. But there has been, especially with the Whigs, too much of this mere patching up of the peace of Ireland; and it is time a more earnest and more honest policy were adopted. RENEWED DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND. SINCE the foregoing was penned, we find that the smouldering disaffection of the Irish masses has burst into flame, on occasion of the apprehension and imprisonment of a priest, near Waterford, charged with sedition. The mob interfering, rescued the priest, and liberated the other prisoners. Information of a regular conspiracy to overthrow the government, by force of arms, is said to have been lodged with the authorities at Dublin. The government, acting on the late "Act for the better Prevention of Crime and Outrage," has proclaimed the cities and counties of Dublin, Cork, and Waterford, with the county of Drogheda the proclamation taking effect from July 22d. As the effect of this step will be to authorize the officers of law to seize all arms that may be found in the possession of any except licensed persons, it may be expected that something decisive will follow. ANNUITY-TAX ROUPINGS. QUITE Opportunely for the agitation of the voluntary question, which needed something to push it into the foreground it deserves, but had been losing, among the public questions of the day, the Established Church clergy of Edinburgh have been furnishing the people of Scotland with a naked exhibition of the compulsory system. They, and their brethren throughout the country, had been keeping comparatively quiet since the disruption, conscious apparently of their sadly humbled position consequent on that event; but like the frogs, on first recovering from their terror after the advent of King Log, they have begun to peer forth from their obscurity, as if speculating on the possibility of finding that they had yielded to a false alarm. If this were their expectation, it has been miserably blighted by the events of Monday, 3d July. Attempting to effect a sale of property to the extent of nearly L.400, in the case of two respectable citizens, Mr Darlington and Mr Sword, for the payment of ministers' stipend, they could find no auctioneer in Edinburgh willing to participate in the odium attached to such a proceeding. With a spirit of determination and perseverance worthy of a better cause, they repaired to Glasgow, and found not only an auctioneer, but a purchaser to their mind. Braving the hootings, and the still more active opposition of the multitude assembled on the occasion, the parties went on with the sale and removal of the goods, protected by the police and the military. The ministers have triumphed! They have demonstrated that the weapons of their warfare are not only carnal, but powerful :. |