as a companion and instructor for the observation of facts in the various branches of natural history which open to view as

the successive months advance. The variety and aptness of the historical and poetical illustrations, are peculiarly striking.

JRWS IN EUROPE.

Some recent notices of the continued oppression of that guilty and outcast people among various nations on the Continent, are deserving of being put on record. The enmity of the Gentile towards the Jew is simply the natural enmity of man against man. The love to our neighbour as ourselves, originally written in the heart of man, has by the fall been greatly extinguished, and hatred has arisen in its place. And while there are various checks upon this hatred, by conscience and otherwise, which, in ordinary cases, hold it under restraint, it bursts forth with the greater fierceness, where any opportunity for freer indulgence offers itself, and especially where the authority of religion is supposed to warrant, if not enjoin it. Hence the deadly enmity of the Mohammedan against the infidel, of corrupt Christianity against heretics; and hence the oppression of Jews by gentile Christians. A little has been done of late years in their emancipation by continental states; but much still remains to be done. In Munich, the capital of Bavaria, only a fixed number of Jews are permitted to be matriculated. In Vienna, where great masses of Jews have, since 1848, collected from the provinces of Austria, and taken up their residence, some check upon this toleration is now taking place. A number who had recently come to Vienna from the province of Galicia, have been sent back to their former home. The press at Vienna, which is under Government control, had been attacking the Jews with all manner of assault and abuse. And when a deputation of very respectable Jews waited upon the President of the Council of State, begging him to put a stop to these violent attacks, his ominous reply was, "Yes; it has become necessary to investigate whether the rights and privileges which the Jews have of late obtained, have been made a proper use of by them; or whether the repeated complaints against them may not have good foundation; and then we will see what ought to be done." Those Jews who have settled in Basle, a Protestant Swiss Canton, have received command to leave the canton without delay. In the canton of Schaffhausen, on the east of it, Jews are allowed to offer their merchandise for sale; but on no account are they permitted to sleep within the walls

of the city; and many a weary exhausted Jew has been known to perish during the night, from the inclemency of the weather, or to have lost his way, and been buried in the snow. In Rome, since the restoration of the Pope, and the re-establishment of the Inquisition under French auspices, the edict of Pius VI. has again been put in force, in reference to the Jews; by which they are not permitted to have any book, excepting the Hebrew Bible, in their houses, on pain of confiscation of property; nor to converse on the subject of religion with a Christian; nor to bury their dead with religious rites, or write inscriptions on their tombstones. No Jew can say or do anything to disturb the faith of a Jewish convert to Romanism; no Jew can sell meat, killed by a Jewish butcher, to Christians; nor sell them unleavened bread. They are not permitted to sleep a night beyond their own quarter of the city; nor to have carriages or horses of their own; nor to take a seat in any public conveyance, if others object.

CHINA.

New Version of the Scriptures.-The revised translation of the New Testament into Chinese, on which so much time and labour have been bestowed by the representatives of different missionary bodies, has been substantially brought to a close; but not in such a manner as to bring the sentiments of the missionary brethren on the controverted terms for "God" and "Spirit," to harmony; or to admit now of their united action in the printing and circulating of this important portion of Scripture. The controversy still continues; and the zeal and ability with which it is conducted on both sides, show in how much difficulty and perplexity the subject is involved. The committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society have resolved to aid the printing of this version by different parties; throwing on them the responsibility of filling up the blanks left by the revisers, according to one or other of the terms proposed. In this they have followed the example of the body of revisers at Shanghae, who, after many ineffectual attempts to come to an agreement on the points at issue, resolved to give up the version, as prepared by them, for the use

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of different Missionary and Bible Societies, on a similar understanding. The missionaries of the London Missionary Society have adopted in their edition, in the meantime, the terms Shangti " and " Shin," for God and Spirit, some of the missionaries of the Church of England prefer "Shin" and "Sing;" but their society defer publishing an edition, until a proposal for a united plan of action, which has been suggested in a combined meeting in London, shall have been decided on by the respective missionaries in China. The Board of the American Bible Society, after a full and careful investigation of this controversy by some of the most learned of their body, had come to a unanimous resolution to recommend the use of "Shin" for God, with a transfer of the term "Ia-ho" for Jehovah.

BURMAH.

The American Mission, commenced here by the excellent Judsons, continues to maintain its ground, and rather advance, Rangoon, the principal seaport of the empire, and Ava, the capital, far in the interior of the country, that had been closed against them for thirteen years, have been once more opened for the proclamation of the truth. The government, lately so hostile, has met the missionaries with marked kindness. Through what motives this has come to pass, or how long the King will be favourable to them, they cannot tell; but even a brief interval of toleration may suffice to do a work that shall be followed by precious fruit; for He that opens the door, by restraining the wrath of man, is able to bless the entering in. Eastward at Moulmein, in the British territory, the translation of the Scriptures into one dialect of the Karen tribes has been completed; with the prospect of the tribes speaking two other dialects being equally favoured, at no distant period. And should Burmah Proper continue open, the Karen churches in that kingdom, hitherto intolerably oppressed, may be strengthened and enlarged. The recent formation of a Home Missionary Society by the native converts, to promulgate the Gospel among their unevangelised countrymen, is, in this connection, a most promising feature. Of the Karens professing Christianity, there are 44 churches, including 8 in Arracan, a British possession on the west of the Burmese empire; and 48 native preachers; 539 have been baptized in the year. These churches, exclusive of many little clusters of Christians in various places, have worship regularly on the Sabbath; to some extent, Sabbath schools; the majority have convenient places of worship; -and all aid

They

more or less in supporting their own preachers. The Karens, in common with all converts from heathenism in the missions of the society, contribute more liberally to objects of special interest than Christians as a whole in America. But it is not so easy for these converts to feel it a duty to support their own pastor, and the interests of their own churches. In the district of Rangoon several schools are taught. Two of the missionaries paid a visit to this city, to see if it was possible for them to have a residence in it. learned, on their return, that the Governor had proceeded with great severity against several persons who had shown them special favour during their stay there, in the way of fine and imprisonment; but after considerable opposition on the part of the Governor, the missionaries have succeeded in obtaining a residence, and the King has expressed himself favourably. In Tavoy, south-west of Moulmein, in consequence of the feeble health of the missionary since his return, the Karen Bible has made slow progress. Part was in type; but he was unable, for some days, to look at the proof sheets. He had the means of making rapid progress with the printing, if the proof reading could be hastened. In Arracan, the work of the mission at Kamree, had been much hindered by sickness and bereavement in the mission family, and some disadvantages under which they labour. At Sandoway, which is farther south, there are 36 out-stations, and 44 native preachers and assistants; the number of baptisms by last report, had been 373; and the number of communicants in all, was 4341. eighty families of christian Karens had emigrated to them from Burmah Proper, which closely adjoins them; being driven out by the intolerable exactions of men and money, which the king was making to carry on war.

SOUTH AFRICA-CAFFRELAND.

Nearly

The Wesleyan station of Butterworth, which the resident missionary had so long maintained amid eminent danger, and after he had received the command of the Caffre chief of the district, Krieli, to depart, is, by the latest intelligence, abandoned, in consequence of hostilities having been carried into that part of the country; and reports of a later date than the society's advices, mention that the station had been burned to the ground, which is too probable; for after the British forces had withdrawn from the district, it is natural that the Caffres, who had been worsted, would wreak their vengeance on every object connected with the British name. Gladwin, the missionary, with the whole

Mr

mission family, and about 2000 of the native inhabitants, were obliged to abandon the station, and come away with the last division of the British troops, when they withdrew. The mission family had nobly maintained its ground during a whole year of danger and trial; never shrinking from the avowal of their loyalty to our government, and sympathy with their own countrymen. They had arrived safely at King William's Town. Beyond them there were still two other stations, Clarkebury and Morley, from which all communication had been cut off by the war. Hope was cherished of the safety of these two stations, though mingled with some fear. If unable to remain, it was supposed they would fall back upon Buntingville, a station still farther removed from the Cape Colony, and about half-way to Port-Natal, where, from the character of the chief, it was believed they would be safe. It is noticed that there were hopeful symptoms of coming peace; the arrival of which they would gladly hail. The health of several of the brethren was beginning to fail under the constant anxiety arising from the painful events of war.

SIERRA LEONE.

This British colony, on the continent of Western Africa, was instituted for the re

ception and training in civilisation and religion of rescued negroes, liberated from captured slave ships, in which they were on their way to the plantations on the eastern American coast. By a late Government census it appears, that out of a total population of 45,000, no less than 36,000 are now professedly Christians; the remainder being, to the number of 1778 Mohammedans, and 7230 Pagans. Of those professedly Christians, 16,095 are ranked as Episcopalians, many of them having had the training of the excellent missionaries of the Church of England Society; 13,376 are Wesleyans, which, along with 4864 called West African Methodists, gives to the Methodist body the majority over any other denomination. Of Calvinistic Methodists there are besides 1552. Only 56 are Roman Catholics. It is now believed that the slave trade no longer exists in any port north of the equator. And along that line of seaboard (including Fernando Po), it may be computed that 60,000 persons have been led, through the English and American missionaries of various denominations, to embrace the outward profession of the Christian name; many of them proving by their life that their profession was accompanied by real faith.

PRESBYTERIAL PROCEEDINGS.

Dunfermline.-This presbytery met on 20th July-the Rev. Dr M'Michael, moderator pro tem.-when, inter alia, the Rev. Dr Johnston and Mr Fleming were appointed a committee to act with the deputies from the home mission committee, in the case of the congregation of Crossgates, to arrange as to the amount of aid to be given by the committee to the congregation, in meeting the expense of a colleague to Mr Wilson. The students, Messrs Bartlet, Hamilton, Whyte, and Wilson, gave each a discourse, which was sustained. They were also examined in Hebrew and Greek, Hermeneuties, and Church History. The examination was conducted by means of written questions, to which answers were returned in writing. It was satisfactory, and sustained; and it was agreed to attest them to the Divinity Hall for the ensuing session. Mr John Carmichael, student of philosophy, a member of the first congregation, Alloa, was examined (conformably to the scheme sanctioned by the Synod) on the several branches of study necessary to admission

to the Divinity Hall; and it was agreed that he should be attested to it as a student of the first year. Next meeting of presbytery is to be on the Tuesday after the first Sabbath of October.

Melrose. This presbytery met at Melrose on 6th July. The Rev. James Elles, Saltcoats, being present, was requested to correspond. It was reported that, on the 6th June, it had pleased God to remove, by death, the Rev. William Lauder, senior minister of the East Congregation, Earlstoun, and that after his funeral on 10th June, the members of presbytery present recommended that the funeral sermon should be preached next Lord's-day by the Rev. David Hamilton, the colleague and successor of Mr Lauder, which recommendation was approved by the session, and agreed to by Mr Hamilton. The presbytery approved of these proceedings. Mr Lauder's name was then taken from the roll of presbytery. The clerk stated, that after last meeting of presbytery, the Rev. Adam Thomson had been laid aside from his ministerial labours by illness, and that, according to the law of presbytery, he, the clerk,

had appointed several members of presbytery to supply Mr Thomson's pulpit. Mr Thomson's health had since been considerably restored. The presbytery approved of the clerk's proceedings in this matter. The clerk stated, that he had transferred Mr King, student, to the presbytery of Glasgow. Messrs Tully, Baillie, and Allison, students of divinity, having delivered discourses, and being examined on various subjects, were encouraged to prosecute their studies. Mr Taylor was examined on the subjects prescribed in the regulations of the Synod, and was admitted to the study of divinity. The clerk was instructed to certify all the students to the professors. Some members of the congregation of Melrose brought before the presbytery the state of Mr Williamson's health, who had been obliged, by indisposition, to retire from the presbytery at an early period of the sederunt. The presbytery agreed to supply Mr Williamson's pulpit in the usual manner, and in his room appointed Mr Lumgair to act as clerk pro tem. Next meeting of presbytery is to be on Tuesday, 12th October.

Paisley and Greenock.-This presbytery met at Greenock, 20th July-the Rev. J. Meikle, moderator pro tem. Messrs William Boyd and James Balderston, students, were, after examination on the usual subjects, certified to the Theological Hall. Messrs James Ronaldson, William Gillies, Daniel Paterson, and John King, were also certified. The committee for the superintendence of students reported as to their procedure during the last twelve months; and a committee was appointed for the current year. Heard reports from committees as to the visitation of congregations in the bounds. Received a report from the committee on the duplicate answers to the Synod's schedule of queries as to statistics. The Rev. Mr Sinclair obtained leave to delay, till next meeting, his motion in reference to parochial schools. Next meeting is to be held at Paisley on the first Tuesday of September.

Perth.-A meeting of this presbytery was held on Tuesday, 3d August-the Rev. Mr Ramsay, of Crieff, moderator. Commissioners from Kinkell were again present, and reported that, even under existing circumstances, the congregation there had concluded that they would be able to give a minister L.50 a-year, besides the manse and glebe, were they to obtain one. They also craved to be served with sermon till Martinmas, and asked aid from the presbytery to enable them to pay expenses. A letter from Mr M'Queen, of Pathstruie, was read, which spoke hopefully of the prospects of the congregation; and Mr

Marshall of Coupar-Angus, who had administered the sacrament there the other Sabbath, expressed views equally sanguine. After discussion, the supply and aid craved were granted. Next meeting is fixed for Tuesday, 21st September.

CALLS MODERATED.

Girvan. Mr John Stillie, probationer, called 26th July-Mr Thomson, of Maybole, presiding.

Chapelknowe, Dumfriesshire. - Mr Andrew Graham, probationer, called in July. Leith-Lumsden, Aberdeenshire.-The Rev. Alex. Walker, formerly of Newcastle, called in July.

Newbigging, Forfarshire.-Mr Alexander Miller, probationer, called 9th AugustMr Miller, of Carnoustie, presiding.

OBITUARY.

Died at Saltcoats, on 24th July last, the Rev. James Elles, of the Middle United Presbyterian Church there, in the seventythird year of his age, and forty-ninth of his ministry.

Died at Craigton, New Kilpatrick, on the 15th August, the Rev. Donald M'Donald, of the United Presbyterian Church, Gourock, in the fourth year of his ministry.

OPENING OF THE DIVINITY HALL.

THE fifth session of the United Presbyterian Divinity Hall was opened in the Synodhouse, Edinburgh, on Tuesday, 3d August, in presence of the Professors, the Synod's Committee on Theological Education, and a large body of ministers and other friends from different parts of the kingdom. The Rev. Professor Brown, D.D., delivered the introductory lecture, on "The subject and structure of the Eighteenth Psalm, including Remarks on the principles of Prophetic Messianic Interpretation." The lecture was a learned and eloquent treatise; and is soon, we understand, to be given to the churches in a printed form.

The examination of competitors for scholarships took place, as usual, after the lecture, when thirty-six students presented themselves for competition.

The roll of students attending the Divinity Hall was made up as follows:

Fifth Year.-Thomas H. Baxter, James M. Erskine, William Fleming, Jas. Frame, Robert Gray, James Hill, George Hunter, Jas. Imrie, Robert Knox, G. D. Matthews, Jas. C. Meiklejohn, John M'Laren, W. M. M'Donald, John M'Nab, George M'Queen, Walter Morison, David W. Morris, James G. Potter, Alexander Robb, Forbes Ross,

Andrew H. Scott, Alexander Shennan, William Stewart, William M. Taylor, William Thomson, Wm. Walker, John C. Weir, Peter White, William C. Young.

Fourth Year.-Hugh Aird, John Alexander, David Anderson, Robert Angus, Geo. Barclay, James Black, John Colville, Daniel Gorrie, Alex. Hamilton, James Harrower, John Hyslop, James Ker, John M. King, John Mackie, Duncan M'Owan, Alexander Oliver, David Patterson, David Rattray, David Rentoul, James Ronaldson, James Steedman, William Thomson, Jas. Thorburn, Walter Tully, Thomas White, David Williamson.

Third Year.-William Aitken, David Allison, Z. Baillie, Wm. R. Barrie, George D. Bartlett, Wm. M. Begbie, John Binny, Law Blair, William Blair, David Cairns, Hugh S. Campbell, Walter Chisholm, Robt. Fisher, William Gibson, William Gillies, Robert Hamilton, George Lambert, David Mair, David Mann, Wm. Martin, George M'Arthur, Duncan Miller, James Muter, James Mylne, Jas. Parlane, Daniel Paterson, David Pirret, Robert Renwick, Andw. B. Robertson, William Robertson, James Scott, William Scott, Robert Shorthouse, Henry Stirling, John Tannahill, Alexander Thomson, Hugh Wallace, Ebenezer E. Whyte, Henry L. Whyte, Andrew Wilson, James Wilson, John M. Wilson.

Second Year.-Thos. Boyd, Henry Calderwood, Robert Cameron, Peter Davidson, Charles B. Downie, Robert Ewing, Archibald Fullerton, James Gillies, Andrew Gray, Alexander B. Grosart, James Hogg, David Inglis, Alexander M. Jarvie, Jas. Kinnear, Wm. Lauder, James Lyall, David Maitland, James M'Ewan, Donald M'Lean, James M'Leish, William Meikle, Alexander Meston, Thomas Miller, James Muir, David Nicol, John Polson, Edward Rankine, George Riddell, James Robertson, Robert Scott, Thomas Scott, David Sidey, Daniel Todd, Thomas Ure, George Wade, Thomas Wilson, William Young.

First Year.-Alexander Aikman, George B. Alexander, Henry Angus, James Balderstone, John Bannatyne, Robert Binnie, Andrew Black, John S. Boyd, Wm. Boyd, William Calvert, Thomas Campbell, John Carmichael, James Craig, Matthew Crawford, Alexander Doctor, Robert Dunlop, James Forrester, James E. Fyffe, Andrew Grigor, William Hall, William Handyside, David Hay, James A. R. Hay, John Hinshelwood, William Hutton, Basil B. Inglis, Robert Johnstone, Jas. Keating, Robert M'Donald, Robert M. M'Innes, Daniel M'Lean, Henry Miller, Andrew Moffat, Hugh L. Niven, Robert S. Paterson, John Pettigrew, A. Robertson, James H. Scott, David Smith, John Squair, Simon B. Stobbs, James Tait, John Taylor, Wm.

Taylor, William W. Watson, William Watson, James Wilson, John Wilson, William Wilson, Peter Wright.

Besides the 184 names here enumerated, being the largest number that ever were enrolled, students are in attendance from Africa, Jamaica, and Wales, some of them connected with other denominations.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CANADA.

[FOR the extract-minutes from which the following abstract is compiled, we are indebted to the Canadian Presbyterian Magazine, an able and spirited periodical, which we noticed on its being started twelve months ago by the brethren of our church in Canada.]

The Synod of the United Presbyterian Church in Canada met at Toronto on 16th June 1852. The opening sermon was delivered by the Rev. W. Taylor, D.D., Montreal,-moderator. The Rev. Andrew Ferrier, D.D., was chosen moderator for the session. From the reports of presbyteries it appeared that the following changes had occurred in the roll of ministers since last meeting:

Removed by Death. James Roy, St George, 13th May.

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Demitted Charge. Charles Fletcher, Goderich, 1st October.

Inducted.-John Hogg, at Hamilton, 13th August 1851. Daniel M'Curdy, Amherst Island, 3d May 1852.

Ordained.-J. McClure, St Catherines, 28th April 1852.

The following additions had been made to the Synod's roll of preachers:-W. Cavan and John Scott, licensed by the presbytery of Flamborough. W. Dickson and P. Greig, certified from Scotland.

Missions Committee.-The Rev. Mr Torrance read the report of this committee. -During the past year, nine congregations had received supplement out of the fund. The sums granted vary from L.50 currency to L.25. Some of the congregations have been receiving aid for a considerable time. The committee express a wish that the members of such as arc at all able, put forth a more determined effort for the support of the Gospel among them-and thus make way for congregations that are too few in numbers and too weak in ability to maintain a minister. The committee hope to be able, shortly, to forward such representations to the Mission Board in Scotland, as will then call forth their endeavours to incite young men, who have been licensed at home, to come out to Canada and labour in spiritually-destitute localities, peopled with their own countrymen and kinsfolk, and which present the aspect of fields ripe unto the harvest. Five preachers have