prevailed, but which is as true now as it ever was, and is receiving some very remarkable confirmations, and expanding into some unsuspected corollaries. Population (in any country) has a tendency to increase more rapidly than the means of subsistence can increase. Population naturally doubles in twenty or twenty-five years. Subsistence (unless under very extraordinary circumstances) will not increase in anything like this ratio. The disproportion must be kept down, either by increase of deaths, or by a diminution of subsistence enjoyed by each individual (that is, a falling off in the general wellbeing); or by diminution of births through the "prudential check," that is, generally speaking, by fewer and later marriages; or, lastly, by emigration. Of course, any number of these causes may be found in combination. Now, ever since the commencement of the potatoe disease in 1845, if not a little earlier, there has been a very marked diminution in the rate at which population has advanced in western Europe. In France the rate of increase was estimated at 0.646 per annum from 1801 to 1836; at 0'445 from 1836 to 1856; and is now less. In western Germany there has been an extremely slow increase in most parts, an actual diminution in others (Electoral and Grand Ducal Hesse). In our own country, taking the United Kingdom together, the population since the census of 1841 has increased no faster than that of France. That of Ireland has greatly diminished. That of Scotland has scarcely increased at all. The whole increase is in England and Wales, and generally speaking in the towns and manufacturing districts. To take the case of England and Wales alone: these had eighteen millions of inhabitants in 1851, twenty millions in 1861. But it must be remembered that England draws constantly increasing supplies of people from other parts; the whole two million, therefore, cannot be set down as natural increase. Probably the entire natural increase in the decennium has been under 10 per cent.; that of France something under 4 per cent. And yet during the same decennium England and Wales have sent out emigrants in great numbers, France none at all that is, the accession to her population from without is supposed to have balanced her trifling loss by emigration. It is not possible to estimate exactly the number of emigrants from England and Wales, exclusive of the rest of the United Kingdom, but probably throughout the decennium they have averaged above 100,000 a year. The births in the same period have increased from 600,000 to nearly 700,000 per annum; average, 650,000. The marriages in 1851 were 154,000, 1860, 170,000—that is, they increase at about the same rate as the population. There have been from 4 to 43 births in each year in proportion to every marriage which has taken place in each year, so that the fertility of marriages may be represented by 4.5, a rate which appears to be steady. Now if we suppose that no emigration had taken place, but that the number of marriages, condition, and increase of the population had remained the same, it is clear that there could only have been something less than four births in the year for every marriage. "The

prudential check" on births must needs have operated to this extent, probably through later marriages. In other words, every sixth child, or nearly so, has been provided for by emigration. Now let us see what amount of verification these estimates and conjectures derive from the known facts regarding the progress of population in France during the same period. In France, as has been said, the increase in the decennium has been barely 4 per cent. And there has been no emigration; consequently, there must have been either-1. Diminution in the comfort of the population. But the contrary is the fact. The general well-being has a tendency to increase. From 1817 to 1824 the average duration of life was 31.8 years; from 1847 to 1854, 374; and is now about 38. (I quote from tables contained in the "Annuaire de l'Economie Politique.") Longer life implies more comfortable life. 2. Increased mortality. But the same table (of the average duration of life) disproves this likewise. Mortality has in France a tendency to diminish. 3. Diminution in the number of marriages. But it does not diminish, but remains singularly stationary. (In 1821-30, 1 for 127-71 inhabitants; 1831-40, 1 for 125-82; 1841-50, 1 for 126-01. I have not seen a later return, but there is no reason to suppose any variation.) 4. We are therefore reduced by the exhaustive process to the last and inevitable conclusion." Since all other conceivable causes fail, the only reason for the scarcely perceptible rate of advance in the French population must be a diminution in the fertility of marriages. And this fact, to which à priori reasoning thus compulsively leads us, is fully proved by statistical records. While marriages have, as we have seen, augmented with the population, births have remained for forty years absolutely stationary. In 1817 there were 944,000 births in France; in 1856, 952,000; and in the whole number of years since 1815 they have, I think, never fallen short of 900,000, nor exceeded a million. The average fecundity of marriage is therefore steadily but slowly diminishing. From 1822 to 1831 it was represented by 3.64; 1832 to 1841, 341; 1842 to 1851, 3.19. In 1855 it had fallen to 2.96; in 1856, risen to 3.11. "Si cette diminution ne s'arrête pas," says a writer in the "Annuaire de l'Economie Politique," "on peut prévoir au moins le moment où la population deviendra completement stationnaire." Stated broadly, therefore, the result is this. Both in France and England the well-being of the people increases, or at all events does not diminish; but in order to secure this essential the French are compelled to contract later marriages, and have fewer children than heretofore. English can enjoy the same result without putting the like constraint on nature, and may marry almost as early as their forefathers did, although they live much longer; and this they owe in great measure, though not wholly, to an established emigration, which has become part of the institutions of the country, and which makes provision for pretty nearly one child in six. I do not wish to exaggerate the advantages of early marriages and numerous children. It may be that the French on the whole purchase cheaply the

The

maintenance of the national well-being by the sacrifice of a portion of the reproductive power of their people; but I think none will hesitate for a moment in estimating that nation comparatively happy which can equally maintain the national well-being without that unnatural and unhealthy sacrifice. And, if so, none can be blind to the enormous advantage of continuous, and therefore reliable, emigration as an outlet.

II. It is necessary now to proceed to the second branch of our inquiry. If emigration can be carried on as copiously and as regularly without colonisation as with it, colonisation is clearly (as far as the interest of emigration is concerned) a mere loss. Colonisation involves considerable expenditure of capital in founding colonies, some expenditure in governing them. Germany (or at least the western and northern parts of it) has profited very greatly by emigration. In the last ten years, a million of German colonists have gone to the United States alone, I have said that in some parts of the country the population is stationary, probably kept down in great measure by emigration; and there is no reason to doubt that it must have contributed materially to the maintenance of the standard of well-being. United Kingdom, from 1825 to 1855, sent in round numbers a million and a half of emigrants to the colonies, two millibns and ahalf to the United States.

The

These numbers are only approximative, as many emigrants go to Canada only on their way to the States; while on the other hand, at certain times, there is a considerable reflux from the States to Canada.

But the placing of the million and a half cost the British taxpayer considerable sums for the foundation of the Australian colonies and for the defence of all. The placing of the two millions and a half cost the British taxpayer nothing. This is true; and it is a truth which only two years ago was pretty generally deemed conclusive of the question. It appeared clear that colonies were of no gain to us, for the absorption of emigrants, except as regarded that overplus only for which the States had no room. But two years have made an enormous, and it is greatly to be feared a permanent change in our prospects in this respect. The great receptacle of the emigrants of the world, the great refuge of the poor, the great home of the homeless, the great field for the adventurous, is closed. Permanently closed it can hardly be. natural advantages remain the same as ever; the need of Europe remains the same; and, in some way or other, those advantages will, we must hope, be made available for that need. But political foresight fails to see how or when. Distracted, indebted, separated States will ill supply the place of the vast peaceful confederacy which has taken our children to its bosom for half a century. And even a restored Union, if such a thing be yet possible, must go through a long stage of recovery from its present calamities before it can be attractive to the emigrant as heretofore. Few, I think, have at all realised the nature and magnitude of the evil which is impending over us from the closing, even for a time, of that outlet for our superabundant

Its

population. For it is most important to observe, that its great value arose, not only from its largeness, but from its extreme regularity of action. It was a safety-valve always open, and expanding and contracting almost to our wish. For periods of comparative depression here, such as rendered migration more desirable, were seldom coincident with periods of comparative depression in the States; and, indeed, the broad West hardly knew depression at all. Emigration has been, as I have said, the regular provision for one child in six born in this part of the United Kingdom. But in Ireland, more nearly for one child in three. Those must be far more sanguine than I am, who can look without great apprehension at the results of the threatened abolition of that provision, or at least much more than half of it, being the proportion which the States have hitherto afforded. If the privation were to be permanent, it could, as we have seen, be only met by increased mortality or increased privation, or (and more probably) by an approximation to the French reduced rate of offspring to a marriage. But men do not change, without a struggle, their habits for the worse, and much trouble would be gone through before our population accommodated itself to the new and deteriorated state of things. I know not whether the same idea may have occurred to others; but to my mind there is at least a very ominous coincidence of date between the interruption of peaceful emigration from Ireland to America, which, I believe, has already commenced, and the lowering and discontented humour which has so suddenly come to the surface in a portion of the Irish population. And it surely follows-to come back to that which is the main purpose of this short essay that continued colonization, and the continuance also of our political relations with such colonies as we possess, is more than ever important to the social well-being of the community. Canada, as long as it remains connected with us, affords a certain and regular place of resort for no inconsiderable portion of our overflow. How long Canada might do so, if we were to follow the advice of a modern political school by leaving her to independence, that is, to forming connexion with the States, or with some neighbouring portion of them, no wise man, with the civil war now raging before his eyes, will venture to anticipate. Emigration to Australia and New Zealand is carried on at a greater disadvantage owing to the distance. Still it has carried off, on the average, one-eighth of our overflow since 1825; and will carry off a great deal more. It is, in truth, as yet in its infancy. But let us withdraw from Australia the protection of the British flag, and it is highly improbable, on all ordinary political calculation, that emigration would continue to anything like the same amount when the sense of security now felt under British institutions had ceased to exist. The greater the loss, in short, which the sufferings of the American republic have inflicted on us and on the world, the greater the importance of keeping our hold on those substitutes which have been left to us, and of which the eventual value is as yet undeveloped.

A discussion ensued, in which the president

and Dr. Farre advocated the side taken by Mr. Merivale, and Mr. Courtney and Colonel Sykes argued in favour of that view of the relations between Great Britain and her colonies which has been taken by Mr. Goldwin Smith.

The other papers read were the following: "On the definition and nature of the science of political economy," by Mr. Henry Dunning Macleod, B.A.; by Dr. Smith, "A statistical inquiry into the prevalence of numerous conditions affecting the constitutions of 1,000 consumptive persons when in health;" and by Mr. Edwin Hill, "On the prevention of crime."

The first Congregational chapel was built in High-street, Auckland, 1851. The land was given by John Rout, Esq. The building, which is capable of accommodating 300 persons, cost £600, which was raised by voluntary contributions. The church, which is under the care of the Rev. Alexander Macdonald, numbers about 70 members, and is actively engaged in Sabbath-school work, and efforts of Christian usefulness.

The second place of worship for the use of the Independents was built in Albert-street, in the year 1854. It is capable of containing 300 persons. It cost over £1000, and is free of debt. The church enjoys the pastoral care of the Rev. Thomas Hamer, and numbers 3 deacons and 60 members. It has a flourishing Sabbath school, and co-operates with its active pastor to promote the religious welfare of the town, especially in its own locality.

The third Congregational church was erected at Remuera, which is a suburb of the town of Auckland, a new and improving district; the preaching of the word was commenced by the Rev. J. F. Mandeno, in 1856. The erection of a place of worship was commenced in 1857, which was opened in January, 1858. It is capable of containing nearly 200 persons, it cost £500, and is now free from

debt by the spontaneous exertions of the church and congregation. The church numbers about 20 members.

was

The fourth Congregational church erected at Onehunga, which is a flourishing village, rising into a town, about five miles from Auckland and opposite to it, Auckland and Onehunga being situated on the shores of the two seas, which wash the Eastern and Western coasts at the narrowest part of the island. The chapel was built at the expense of John Rout, Esq.; it contains about 200 persons. The church, consisting of 20 members, is under the pastoral care of the Rev. Richard Laishley, under whose efficient ministry there is a hopeful prospect of gathering a numerous congregation and a flourishing church.

Considering that the Congregational Union of England and Wales has done so little to aid the cause of Congregationalism in Auckland and its vicinity, and that so much has been effected by the cheerful liberality and persevering exertions of a small body of pious and earnest Christians, we feel that we have great cause to thank God and take courage. In a new country contending with peculiar difficulties, and with a small population widely scattered, a few sincere Christians have been encouraged to pursue their labour of faith and love without noise or ostentation, looking to the Great Head of the Church, who never withholds His effectual aid from the humble, to crown their labours with a divine success; they feel that they have not laboured in vain. We have been honoured to lay the foundation, and others, in days to come, will, we hope, build thereon a great city of God, full of holy people, of the saints of the Most High. The beginnings of some new churches in remote districts from the town are already commenced, and we hope in some future report to add to your joy by declaring that the word of the Lord is glorified amongst us, and that numerous Christian churches adorn and gladden our land.

We ask the prayers of the British churches, and if, in time to come, we beg their aid to lay the foundations of other new churches, we believe that we shall not ask in vain.

In behalf of the Committee of the Congregational Union of the Province of Auckland, ALEXANDER MACDONALD, Secretary.

Sept. 29th, 1862.

THE Commencement of another year is especially a fitting time for offering the prayer teach us so to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." The prayer suggests for our meditation the past, the present, and the future of our work done, our work doing, and our work yet to do.

First, the Past. The year 1862 will be long remembered in the history of our mission stations. Not only have we had "times of refreshing" at some of them, but floods have been poured out on the desert, and waters on the thirsty land. The week of prayer with which the year commenced was a blessed occasion. Crowds flocked to the mission

chapels; prayer was realized as a means of grace as well as an act of worship; and just as the Spirit came down in the Valley of Vision, after bone had come to its bone by the preaching of the Gospel, and there "stood up on their feet an exceeding great army," so have we had both a quickening of the dry bones, where there was everything in declension but spiritual death, and the conversion of sinners, until now we can reckon as additions to the army of our mission churches about FIVE HUNDRED SOULS. Let us thank God for all this, and while we give Him the glory, may our past year's experience strengthen our faith and encourage our hearts for the duties and obligations of,

Secondly, the Present. Having begun with prayer in 1862, let us begin with it in 1863; for what can be more to our present purpose of seeking by divine grace to save souls than the promise of Jesus, "All things therefore whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive?" Let us fortify our minds with this promise, and look up to Jesus, who sits on the throne of His glory while we present our petitions, and wait upon Him for His answers to our cry. Look also at other promises: "Thus saith the Lord, my word shall not return unto me void" (Isa. Īv. 11). "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John xv. 7), "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matt. xxi. 22). "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark xi. 24). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father' (John xiv. 12). "And

whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John xiv. 13). "If ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John xiv. 14). "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you" (John xvi. 23). "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. xviii. 19). "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him" (1 John v. 14, 15). "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matt. vii. 7). "For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen (2 Cor. i. 20). "And now unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever (Rev. i. 5, 6).

Thirdly, the Future. Here we must repeat ourselves, and quote the advice given in the close of our annual report in May:-"Have faith in God; but let your faith show itself by works, for faith without works is dead."" Like Dr. Guthrie, we would say, "I love the concert for prayer-you cannot have too much

of it; but let us work while we pray, and pray while we work. I would rather see a man, when saved from the gulf below, standing on his knees, and casting a line to others struggling in the maelstrom of death, than on his knees, thanking God for his own deliverance; for I would take the action to be the highest possible expression of gratitude which a saved soul can offer."

Let our future, then, be made up of faith and works-ever depending on the great truth, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord," in view of the promise, "Paul plants, and Apollos waters, and God gives the increase;" each one of us realising also the exhortation, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;" the filial fear of the child, and the conscientious dread of "sinning wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth;" and under the blessed encouragement," for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

RECOGNITION SERVICE IN THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BARNSLEY.-On the 9th of December last, the Rev. Joseph Oddy, late of Dogley-lane, near Huddersfield, was publicly recognised as the pastor of the Congregational Church, Barnsley. A tea-party was held on the occasion. After tea, a public meeting was held in the church, presided over by John Crossley, Esq., mayor of Halifax, who expressed his great interest in the place, and pleasure at being present. The devotional services were led by the Rev. G. Wood, of Barnsley. The two deacons, Messrs. J. Shaw and S. Simpson, explained the settlement, &c.; after which, the Rev. J. Oddy gave an account of his conversion, call to the ministry, and doctrinal belief. Most excellent and impressive speeches were then delivered by the Rev. R. Skinner, Huddersfield; the Rev. J. Falding, D.D., president of Rotherham College; the Rev. R. Bruce, M.A., of Huddersfield; Rev. S. Oddie, of Ossett; Rev. J. Compston (Baptist), Barnsley; Rev. J. Boyd, of West Milton; and the Rev. J. Cummins, of Stubbice. The meeting was a very pleasant, and, we hope, a profitable one.

BEACONSFIELD, BUCKS.-A public meeting was held on Tuesday, January 6, in Bethesda Chapel, for the purpose of welcoming the Rev. James Duthie on his settlement as pastor of the Independent church. The chair was taken by the Rev. John Hayden, of Wycombe. Charles Lever, Esq., one of the deacons, briefly adverted to the circumstances that led to Mr. Duthie's settlement; after which the meeting was addressed by the Revs. T. H. Brown, D. Pledge, of Wycombe; J. Snell, of Chesham; and D. Mossop.

BRADFORD.-The congregation assembling in Lister-hills Chapel, under the care of the Rev. A. Russell, M.A., has increased so much of late as to call for enlarged accommodation. A gallery has been erected in the nave, for which provision was made when the chapel was built. It was opened on the 9th of December by a "service of praise." The alterations effected will furnish 140 additional sittings.

BRIGG, LINCOLNSHIRE.-The Rev. A. L. Mitchell, late of Hackney, and formerly of Exeter, has accepted a unanimous call to the pastorate of the Congregational church at this place, and has commenced his stated labours with encouraging prospects of success.

BRISTOLPRESENTATION TO THE REV. W. ROSE.-We understand that the teachers of Gideon Chapel Sabbath-schools have made a presentation to their esteemed pastor of a beautiful walnut easy chair, elaborately carved, and covered with crimson silk velvet, which was designed and manufactured at the establishment of Mr. W. Williams. On the back a silver plate is inserted, with the following inscription:-"Presented to the Rev. W. Rose, by the teachers of Gideon Chapel Sabbathschools, as a memento of affectionate regard and esteem for his Christian character and devoted labours to promote the interests of the school.-Bristol, Jan. 16, 1863."

BRUTON, SOMERSETSHIRE.-The services in connexion with the re-opening of the Congregational Chapel were held on Tuesday, December 2. In the evening another service was held, presided over by J. Lush, Esq., of Brewham House, which was attended by an overflowing congregation. After a few preliminary remarks by the chairman, Mr. Clarke, on behalf of the church and congregation, heartily, and with much feeling, welcomed the Rev. E. J. Newton as pastor of the church. Interesting addresses were delivered by the Rev. E. H. Jones, of Bridgewater, "On the Duties of the Christian Pastor;" Rev. J. A. Spurgeon, "On the Privileges of the Christian above the Worldling;" Rev. W. Gill, of Woolwich, "On the Duty of the Church to the Pastor;" Rev. E. P. Erlebach, of Mere, "On Vital Godliness;" and the Rev. Theodore Skinner, B.A., of the London University (and son of the late pastor), "On Christian Labour."

CAMBRIDGE-HEATH, HACKNEY.-A large and influential meeting of the Cambridgeheath Congregational church was lately held to promote the building of a new and much larger place of worship. Thomas Brain, Esq., presided, and the following ministers and gentlemen addressed the assembly:-The Rev. Edwin Davies,the pastor; W. H. Hows, Esq.; the Rev. John Ross; Marmaduke Matthews, Esq.; the Rev. Charles Morrison; and the Rev. Charles Hibbert. We are happy to say that the handsome sum of £500 was paid in for the above-named object during the course of the meeting. In this sum was included a cheque for £100 from Samuel Morley, Esq., and another for 150 guineas from Henry Southgate, Esq.

DEVONPORT.-The annual Congregational tea-meeting in connexion with Princes'-street Chapel was held on Thursday evening, 15th ult. A public meeting followed, at which the pastor, Rev. R. W. Carpenter, reported that the efforts commenced at the beginning of the Bicentenary year 1862, for paying off a longstanding debt upon the chapel, had resulted in the collection and subscription of £250 towards that object. The Revs. J. M. Charlton, M.A., of Western College, H. F. Holmes, and J. Stock (Baptist) gave earnest and interesting addresses on "Progress the Great Law of Christian Life," "A Working Church a Blessing to the Neighbourhood Around," and

"Individual Responsibility." During the evening many of the friends present renewed their promises of the past year, and pledged themselves to continue the effort until the remainder of the debt (£650) was entirely removed.

GLOUCESTER.-The Rev. William Young, B.A., has removed from Highbury Chapel, Portsmouth, and on the first Sunday of this year commenced his labours at Southgatestreet Chapel, Gloucester.

HULL. The Rev. Henry Ollerenshaw and the friends connected with Hope-street Independent Chapel have celebrated the paying off a chapel debt, repairing, painting, &c., of their place of worship. Last summer Mr. Ollerenshaw started a Bicentenary movement, held a bazaar, and raised by subscription about £880, and at the meeting referred to the total amount required was raised-viz., the sum of £970.

LEWISHAM HIGH-ROAD.-On the 8th inst. the annual social meeting of the church and congregation assembling in the Independent Chapel here was held, the pastor, Rev. George Martin, presiding. About 200 persons sat down to tea. Reports of the church with its various institutions were read and spoken to by Messrs. Saundby, Basden, Jeula, Frean, H. Hall, Gale, Harry, Laughton, Wire, Rice, and Talmage. The number of church members has been more than doubled during the year, and the congregation has so increased that the building is not large enough to accommodate all who apply for sittings. The Sabbath schools appear to be in a most flourishing condition, and the general aspect of affairs is one of Christian activity and devotedness. During the year the congregation has advanced about £3,000 by a loan fund, which was necessary in order to have the building placed in trust and save the expense of a mortgage, and is making a great effort to clear off the whole debt of £4,500 in three years. It is worthy of remark, the loan fund has been raised in sums varying from £10 and upwards, and that no subscriber has any legal security for repayment of the sum lent, a fact speaking much for the confidence of the people in their pastor and church officers.

room

PECKHAM-RYE.-A new school and lectureconnected with the Congregational Chapel at Peckham-rye has been opened. The room, which is a Gothic structure corresponding with the elegant chapel which it adjoins, was tastefully decorated. A large company sat down to tea, after which a public meeting was held. The pastor, the Rev. J. Hiles Hitchens, presided, and, after prayer by the Rev. T. J. Cole, expressed his great pleasure in welcoming his friends to the new room. He was able to report most favourably of all the institutions connected with the church, and particularly of the Sabbath school. The numbers of scholars and teachers were so increased that the room hitherto occupied by them was not large enough to accommodate them. Subsequently in the evening promises of donations were handed to the chairman which reduced the amount to £140. On the platform were the Revs. R. W. Betts, T. J. Cole, C. Gilbert, G. Martin, D. Nimmo, R. Robinson; F. Allport, Esq., and W. H. Watson, Esq., by most of whom addresses were delivered