menced, and nearly completed. The foundation-stone of this building was laid by Mr. Francis, and that was the last public service in which he was enabled to engage. On that occasion, he addressed the assembly with peculiar animation, it being the object he had long sought and earnestly prayed for. The chapel, it is expected, will be opened in the month of February, when it would have been peculiarly delightful to have had the presence, if not to have enjoy ed the services, of one who has so long and faithfully laboured for its establishment. Mr. Francis died as he had lived, distinguished by the exercise of every Christian grace, and enjoying a sweet tranquillity of spirit, produced by a firm reliance on the merits of his Redeemer. His remains are deposited by the foundation-stone which he laid with so much pleasure, but a few months since.

REV. S. CORNFORD.

Died, Dec. 24, 1837, the Rev. Samuel Cornford, pastor of the Baptist church meeting in Bethel Chapel, Maidstone. Mr. Cornford was forty-five years of age, and has left a widow, three sons, and a daughter.

PROFITS OF THE MAGAZINE.

HALF YEARLY DISTRIBUTION.

THE Proprietors have had the pleasure at their late meeting, of voting assistance to the widows whose initials are subjoined. These have been selected from very numerous applicants; and, though specific reasons cannot with propriety be assigned for the omission of names, yet, it may be right to say that special regard has been had to the claims of age, and that applicants from eighty-four years of age to fifty have furnished an ample list. Widows who have received aid at this time will not be eligible again before next December. Applications should be post paid.

EDITORIAL POSTCRIPT.

Ano

THE EDITOR is obliged and encouraged by the approbation of the January number, which has been expressed in letters from The many of his ministering brethren. practical kindness which some have shown in their efforts to extend the circulation of the work is especially cheering. One who resides in an eastern county writes, "I am happy to say, that in my own congregation, where last year only four copies of the Magazine were taken, sixteen or seventeen have been taken for the present month, and will, I hope, continue to be taken.” ther, in the west, says that he has obtained seventeen or eighteen new monthly subscribers, and hopes to add half a dozen more to the list in a few days. If the ministers of the denomination generally pursue this course, they will soon enable the proprietors to make further improvements, and will materially aid the widows of their departed fellow-labourers in the kingdom of Christ. Perhaps, it may be allowable to add, they will by so doing promote the spiritual interests of the churches.

An erratum occurs in our last, in the review of Umbreit and Lee on the book of Job, which though small to the eye, is imThe word "He" portant to the sense. should have been "Lee," in the twenty-fifth will correct this in their estimate of the line of the seventeenth page. Our readers comparative merits of the two valuable works under consideration. The statement should have been this-" Umbreit's version, or rather Gray's translation of it, is by far the most free and elegant. Lee adheres closely to the original, and by his adoption of short and genuine English words, has attained a dignified simplicity which is at once pleasing and forcible."

The Committee of Deputies of the Protestant Dissenters presented a Report to the General Meeting on the 27th of December last, which, were it transferred to our pages, would occupy more space than can be conveniently spared. It may be found entire in the Patriot of January the eighth, to which we must refer our readers for the retrospect which it takes of civil transactions affecting the Dissenters during the past year. Two passages, however, are sufficiently important to be distinguished from the rest; one, which relates to the final closing of the Supplemental Register of Births at Dr. Williams's Library, which took place on the thirty-first day of December: the other, which directs attention to a projected measure for promoting universal education. A sub-committee having been appointed to inquire into the nature and details of Lord Brougham's Bill

for promoting Education in England and Wales, "Your Committee," says the Report, “concurred in opinion with that subcommittee; and while lamenting that, notwithstanding the efforts that have been made, the present means of education are quite inadequate to the wants of the population, your committee regretted to find, on examining Lord Brougham's Bill, that the large powers which it proposed to invest in the commissioners, are not guarded and restrained by any provisions protecting from infringement the rights of conscience, and the just claims of Protestant Dissenters."

The hundred and thirty-fourth number of the Edinburgh Review, just published, contains an elaborate historical article on Church Revenues and Church Rates, to which many of our readers will thank us for directing their attention. It occupies thirty pages, and appears to be the result of much research. Some who have not access to the work will be glad to see a summary of its views, which the writer himself furnishes at its close. He says, "We have shown, 1. That in England, as in other christian states, churches were for many centuries repaired, and the expenses of religious worship defrayed out of ecclesiastical funds set apart for these purposes; which funds are still enjoyed by the established clergy, or by lay impropriators possessed of what was formerly church property. 2. That churches continued to be repaired, and the expenses of public worship to be defrayed out of these funds, after the commencement of legal memory, and consequently that no subsequent custom, introduced by the ecclesiastical courts, can create a liability at common law, imposing on parishioners the obligation to discharge these burdens. 3. That no statute law has imposed these burdens on parishioners. 4. That although for ages churches have been repaired, and the expenses of public worship defrayed by church rates, this has been done by voluntary assessments, made from time to time, as occasion required, by the churchwardens and a majority of the parishioners assembled in vestry, and in no other way. 5. That spiritual censures are the only means of coercion which the wisdom of the law has intrusted to ecclesiastical courts. To these conclusions we may add (what is admitted on all sides), that when the ecclesiastical authorities have attempted to impose church rates on a refractory parish, by appointing commissioners to rate and tax the parishoners, their attempts have been repudiated, and their commissions declared illegal by the courts of law. The substitution of churchwardens for commissioners appears to be no less an encroachment on the ancient right of the parishioners to assess themselves; and

after the judicial declarations of Lord Lyndhurst and of Baron Baillie from the bench, there seems no ground or pretext for this novelty."

The leading article in the Eclectic Review for January is a lucid exhibition of the contrariety of Religious Establishments to the Genius and Designs of Christianity. The inexpediency of a state church is shown by a reference to the general character and habits of the men in whose hands the highest ecclesiastical appointments are invested; the want of provision for personal piety in the supreme head of the church, to whom the spiritual vicegerency of Christ's kingdom decends as an heir-loom; the unfitness of legislative assemblies for the discussion and regulation of ecclesiastical affairs; the prejudicial influence of the support derived from taxation; the theory of such an institution that the nation is the church; the coercion employed in its behalf; the hindrance it causes to the general communion of saints; and the obstacle to the spread of the gospel arising from the principle that all civil governments are bound to provide and maintain a religion for the whole population. If this article were reprinted and circulated as a separate tract among pious episcopalians, it would be likely to do much good.

The Central Negro Emancipation Committee has issued a stamped publication in the form of a newspaper, which is to be published once a fortnight, to exhibit the apprenticeship system in its true character, and excite to active exertions on behalf of the unhappy victims of colonial cruelty and fraud. This work, called The British Émancipator, gives an account in its last number of a large anti-slavery meeting at Norwich, respecting which it observes, that the most striking feature in the proceedings was the presence of Mr. Fowell Buxton, who took an active part in promoting the objects of the meeting. We are glad that Mr. Buxton embraced this opportunity to declare openly his hatred of the apprenticeship, and his belief that it ought to be immediately abolished; but must do that gentleman the justice to say, that we never doubted the correctness of his feeling on the subject, or understood his language as opposed to these views. An admirable letter from the venerable Thomas Clarkson appears also in the same number, cordially concurring in the propriety of seeking the immediate abolition of the apprenticeship, and saying, “Our present petitions cannot but have a desirable effect." If the British public would but express itself as distinctly and audibly in favour of the abolition of the apprenticeship, as it did five years ago in favour of

CCXXX.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

CALCUTTA.

[Continued from p. 3.] We regret to add, that the improvement in Mrs. E's health was but very temporary, and it soon became so seriously impaired, that a short sea voyage was recommended as the only probable means of her recovery. On this subject we quote a few paragraphs of a letter from Mr. Thomas, under date of August last. After stating that Mrs. E. had been for several months the subject of illness, apparently resulting from an attack of Cholera, he adds:

"The complaint has now taken so serious a form, that nothing short of a sea voyage is considered likely to afford any relief: and if that be long delayed, there is no other prospect but death in a short time. They have had sickness in their family also; James has been so ill as to make it doubtful whether he could survive: he is now rather better. The doctor has ordered Mrs. E. off immediately, and they have taken a passage in a vessel owned by Mr. Beauchamp, and which is to sail in about two months. Mrs. B., who is also very unwell, goes in the vessel; and our brother and sister and their children, all go. It would not do for Mrs. E. to go alone; indeed, Mr. E. really needs a change of the kind, and I hope it will prove beneficial to all of them. During his absence, Mr. E. has given a holiday to the boys, intending to have no vacation at Christmas. With our present strength, it is impossible for us to think of continuing the school while he is away; consequently, nothing else could be done but give a vacation now, instead of at the usual time. May brother E. be brought back to resume his important labours. He has been much encouraged since his removal to Haurah; his Theological Class, established a few months ago, bids fair to be useful to the cause of religion.

A letter from Mr. Thomas, of still more recent date, we are happy to add, mentions the receipt of a communication from Mr. Ellis, when down the river, which afforded reason to hope, that both Mrs. E. and himself, with the children, would derive much advantage from the trip. We trust these hopes may be fully confirmed.

still proves itself, under the divine blessing, an important means of usefulness. In January the number of pupils was increased from 32 to 41, and more would gladly have been received, had the state of the funds allowed it. In the early part of the year, no less than ten of the elder children began to manifest an anxious concern for the salvation of their souls. Some of them came daily to Mr. P. expressing their sense of guilt as sinners before God, and earnestly soliciting instruction as to the way of salvation through Christ Jesus. Mr. P. with a view to ascertain the state of their minds, encouraged them to pray with each other in his presence; and was much struck with the fervency, propriety, and fulness of their petitions. As most were very young, he was fearful lest in some cases their serious impressions should prove but transient. While therefore he cherished in every way their religious feelings, he allowed time to manifest their depth and permanency. After a probation of several months he became fully satisfied of the reality of the work of grace in six of the candidates, and by the following extracts of a letter from Mr. Thomas, received by the last overland dispatch, our readers will see that these young disciples, with other interesting converts, have dedicated themselves to the Lord in baptism. We entreat on their accounts the prayers of our readers, especially of those who kindly support our Boarding Schools. Mr. Thomas writes as follows.

About

M

practicable. I was not present at the baptizing, but understand that he gave a very interesting and satisfactory account of himself. It is hoped, that both he, and the Brahman before mentioned, will prove suitable agents to be employed in making known the truth to their countrymen."

The village stations of Lakhyántipur and Khári, to the south of Calcutta, are also under the superintendence of Mr. Pearce, assisted by Mr. De Monte and several native teachers. In February Mr. Yates accompanied Mr. P. to the former station, and expresses himself much gratified by his visit. We had," he says, "the same congregation of one hundred and eighty (native Christians) both services. I preached to them in the morning and Mr. P. in the afternoon. In the middle of the day a church meeting was held, at which we heard the experience of one candidate for baptism, who was received." The gradual progress of the Gospel in these villages will be seen by the following letter from Mr. G. Pearce, written in May last. It is extracted from the last report of the Calcutta Baptist Missionary Society an institution auxiliary to the Parent Society in this country, formed by its Missionaries in the year 1817, and which for twenty years has yielded to their efforts constant and liberal aid.

Lakhyantipur." I am thankful to say that we have enjoyed a pleasing degree of prosperity at this station throughout the year. The people have been at peace among themselves, and at peace with their neighbours. The ordinances of religion have been administered without interruption. My respected coadjutor, Mr. De Monte, has spent a considerable portion of his time at the station, and has laboured with great diligence. The native catechists, too, deserve to have honourable mention

made of their zeal and uprightness. The pulpit at Lakhyantipur, with two exceptions, has been occupied every Lord's day, either by Mr. De Monte or myself. A system of instruction on week days, from village to village where our people reside, has been constantly in operation, and it has been attended with the happiest effects. Scriptural knowledge has thereby greatly increased, and the supervision of all been closely maintained. Numerous additions from the Heathen have been made to the Christian community in all, I believe, about twenty families. The congregation on the Lord's day has averaged from 120 to 150 persons. To meet the increased attendance on public worship, a large and substantial chapel has been erected, and commodiously fitted up. The erection of this place has tended to give confidence to the people in the permanence of our efforts for their welfare, and has had, I have no doubt, a favourable influence in bringing some that were hesitating, to a decision.

"In January last, I had the pleasure of baptizing five persons, and of receiving them to the fellowship of the Church. They had previously been on probation about six months. One other has since been accepted, and will, if the Lord permit, be shortly baptized. It is pleasing to add, that at this station we have not had occasion to exclude a single member of the church, nor have lost any by death; so that our additions this year are all clear gain. On the whole I may say, that the people generally are improving fast in Scriptural knowledge, and in purity of conduct; and there are not wanting instances of some delightful exemplifications of Christian character: but I fear to enlarge. "Several deaths have occurred of persons not in the church. Respecting one of these, a widow,

Mr. De Monte writes, Though she was not in the church, yet I think I may safely say, she died in the Lord. I often visited her in her sickness, and though the rod of affliction was heavy upon her, she seemed cheerful and devout. She often sent for me, and requested me to pray for her, and would say, I am glad to depart and be with Christ." "

"From this station, the adjacent villages and markets have been constantly visited for the preaching of the Gospel, and the distribution of tracts. The word has in general been heard with an attention which encourages the hope that the religion of Christ will continue to spread, and perhaps ere long be widely diffused in this part of the country."

Khari.-"Of the Khari station I regret that I cannot speak favourably. A lamentable degree of indifference to spiritual concerns has generally premembers of the church, as well as to the people vailed. This, am sorry to say, applies to the generally. It has been found necessary also to separate three individuals from the church, in consequence of their having fallen into open sin. A somewhat better spirit has, however, recently appeared, and the attendance on public worship has improved. The people seem sensible of their error, and to desire a better state of things. I cently been made, that by the blessing of God a would hope, from the arrangements which have rereal improvement will take place. Still we cannot expect, with our present limited means, that the people here can be equally in advance with those at

the nearer stations. The station is so distant and so unhealthy, that the care of it necessarily devolves almost entirely on our native assistants.

"Within the year several persons have come in from the heathen who have relinquished caste and idolatry, particularly three families at the village of Madhpur, who, I hope, will be the means of strengthening our hands.

It is gratifying to add, that the whole number of families in these southern villages at present under Christian instruction is one hundred and seventy-five, containing about four hundred and fifty individuals. Eight years ago these were all in idolatry, and the name of Christ was scarcely known in these parts. May we not say, "What hath God wrought!"

We will

rations of our brethren in their ever-increasWe have thus briefly adverted to the opeing spheres of labour and success. add a few extracts illustrative of the anxiety with which, under such circumstances, they desire and ask for aid in their arduous exertions.

On this subject one of the European brethren writes to Mr. Pearce. "We hope you will allow no opportunity to escape, of reinforcing our strength in Calcutta. If the society will encourage men, the religious public, and our own denomination in particular, will never allow them to starve or be recalled for want of funds. The missionary spirit must increase. Christians will be more liberal. The late publications on covetousness may teach the rich their duty, and call forth the mammon to be sacrificed on the altar of God. One civilian here has has lately received several liberal donations sent 600 rupees (£60) to the Bethel. Mr. Boaz to the London and other Missionary Societies. I think that if you were here, we might also reap in this way. You must make amends for your absence by your