administrators of funds which were far too scanty for the work, they have had very painful duties devolved upon them. They have felt themselves compelled to part with some whose services they would gladly have retained; and they have felt it to be equally necessary to restrict the expenditure of others whose efficiency would have been increased by more ample pecuniary supplies.

Meanwhile, they thankfully record their conviction that, neither during the year that has just closed, nor in former years, have the labours of the Society been in vain. The political and social condition of the island has been such as to deprive those who have sown the seed of the sheaves that might have been expected to reward them; and that has happened to the spiritual husbandman, which has long been lamented in reference to the corn and the cattle of the Irish peasantry, that foreigners have been the consumers of the fruit of their unrequited toil. Emigration has deprived our ministering brethren of the converts who had been given in answer to their prayers; sometimes after they had made open profession of their faith, and sometimes when they would have done so had it not been for the instant persecution to which they knew that such profession would expose them, if it were made while they continued among their benighted countrymen. The pastors of the churches have been subjected to such perpetual discouragements arising from disappointed hope, through the removal of those whom they had looked upon, one by one, with feelings akin to those of the parents of Noah, when they said, "This same shall comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands," as call for the heartfelt sympathy of their friends in more settled regions; and they will undoubtedly have the approval of Him who com

mended the angel of the church at Ephesus, saying, "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.".

In some cases the ministers themselves have thought it right to transfer their families to lands of brighter promise than their own. This has recently been the case with Mr. McKee, for some years a faithful agent of the Society, who sailed for America a few weeks ago. The church at Conlig, which had been under his care, has invited Mr. Brown of Coleraine to become its pastor; and he, with the consent of the Committee, has removed thither. His departure from Coleraine has given occasion for a manifestation of kind feeling towards him on the part of fellow labourers of other denominations, the mention of which will afford pleasure. The rector, his curate, two Wesleyan ministers, and four Presbyterian ministers, have united in signing an address to Mr. Brown, which we have seen in one of the local newspapers, expressing their regret at his removal, and speaking in high terms of his uprightness, his diligence, and his amiable demeanour. "From the avowal of your principles," they say, "you have never shrunk, even in the pulpits of those who differed from you; yet there was so much of the meekness and gentleness of Christ about those avowals, that bitter controversy never resulted from them. With the ministers and members of other churches you have maintained the most friendly relations, making it evident that it is not only good and pleasant, but practicable, for such as are brethren to dwell together in unity. Of

deep though unobtrusive piety, of dili- sympathy. If I could see my way clear

gent and painstaking habits, of temper unusually gentle and amiable, thoroughly conversant with the great doctrines of the gospel, and deeply acquainted with the workings of the human heart, we cannot but congratulate the people who are to be privileged with such a pastor."

Mr. Eccles continues to labour at his important station, Belfast, preaching in the regular place of worship, and in three other parts of that populous city. His hopes have been raised by pleasing additions to his flock; but "just now," he writes, "almost in a single week, I have lost nearly the entire product of the past year's toil. Several brethren, at whom I had looked as likely to be efficient helpers for life, have recently removed to other parts, where, I trust, though lost to me, they are not lost to the cause of God. May the Lord grant me the patience which reiterated trials of this kind require!" ever, after all, a small clear increase. Fifty-three members remain, who are at peace among themselves, and he observes, "Strangers are coming and settling gradually down as part of the regular congregation."

I should like to enlarge our present place of meeting, as it has proved quite too small for the number of persons attending our services, especially in the evening. During the last twelve months the gospel has been preached at Gilford, The Point, Ballymoney, Tonaghmore, Chief Row, &c.; and prayer meetings have been established at Law's Row, Smyth's Row, Scarvagh Hill, and Lawrence town, which have been productive of much good. The sabbath school continues to flourish in the midst of many difficulties; and although the winter has been very severe, the attendance has been punctual.

Mr. Hamilton steadily continues his labours at Ballina, and in the adjacent country. Without that help from coworkers which the extent of his sphere and the readiness of its inhabitants to hearken to the gospel render desirable, he goes his rounds, paying monthly There is, how-visits to Crossmalina, about eight miles west of Ballina; Newtownwhite, six or seven miles north; Curragh, about ten miles north-east, and some other villages. Three schools and their teachers, supported by the Society, are under his superintendence. The farm, which was taken about three years ago with the view of affording occupation and sustenance to the distressed peasantry, has recently been surrendered to the landlord. It was only as a temporary relief, under peculiar circumstances, that it could be thought desirable as an appendage to a society like ours; it has undoubtedly answered valuable purposes, but the Committee were not of opinion that it was expedient to retain it longer; they have, therefore, very willingly carried out a resolution passed by their predecessors, recommending its abandonment. Mr. Middleton, who superintended it as their bailiff, has emigrated with his family to the United States.

Mr. Bain of Banbridge says, "The church under my care still continues to hold on its way, and although the members are widely scattered over the country, yet they seem to delight to meet together at least once a week. We have lost no less than three of our deacons and three members by removals; and, in addition, three members with their families have emigrated to America. During the year I have baptized sixteen persons on a profession of the faith, the greater number of whom have been brought out of the world by the simple preaching of the gospel. God has given me favour in the eyes of the people; and from all denominations I receive true Christian

Our aged friend, Mr. Thomas, resides

still at Moate, where he preaches once on the Lord's day; visiting also on Lord's day evenings, and in the week, Athlone and some other adjacent places. A different arrangement for this district has however been contemplated, and will probably be carried into effect ere long. Mr. Berry continues at present at Abbeyliex, where he has of late met with some cheering occurrences, though his congregation has never recovered from the effects of that extensive emigration which depopulated the whole vicinity.

place as Cork, however, as formerly in Corinth, or Ephesus, or Thessalonica, if extensive success is to be hoped, it must not be from the efforts of one solitary missionary, but from the exertions of a faithful united band, supplying each other's deficiencies, strengthening each other's faith, and acting together in harmonious concert.

It is important to remember that in addition to the churches enumerated, there are others in Ireland which in former days were cherished by this Society, but which are not now dependent on its bounty. There are baptist churches in Dublin, Waterford, Parson's Town, Coleraine, and some other places, which it has aided in times past, but which are not now partaking of its funds. The Committee are of opinion that it is not the proper work of a Society like this to provide permanently for churches which are able to maintain Christ's institutions among themselves without foreign aid. The business of such a Society as this they believe to be to make known the gospel of Christ among the ignorant, to promote the formation of churches where there are none, and to watch and aid such churches during their infancy.

Our agents at other stations have performed their customary work we believe with regularity and some success, but we are not aware of occurrences sufficiently out of the common course to require to be specified. Passing over these, therefore, we come to Cork, a city equal in population to Bristol, where we have one solitary agent, Mr. Young. As our esteemed brother is expected to be present on the occasion for which this report is prepared, it is not necessary to say more than that we heartily wish that the circumstances of the Society would allow us to gratify his earnest desire for at least one colleague. In the midst of ignorant and prejudiced multitudes, surrounded by counteractive influences of the most formidable character, exposed to the hostile vigilance of a numerous, united, energetic priesthood, his position must be unspeakably depressing; and when one family after another who attended his ministrations have been removed to some distant land, his faith and patience must have been severely tested. Were it not for the recollection of their own helplessness, with a heavy load of debt pressing continually upon them, the Committee could not advert to this subject without blushing; but the fact, however lament-nished by revelation from Heaven, if we able, has not been the result of their have docility enough to hearken. The insensibility or negligence. In such a preaching of Christ crucified may be

In conclusion, the Committee beg to remind their fellow believers that they need not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, as though it were obsolete, or inadequate to the purposes for which it was designed. It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to whatever race he may belong, or in whatever prejudices he may have been nurtured. "The foolishness of God" will be found to be "wiser than men." "What can be done for Ireland?" has been the hard question of the nineteenth century, to rulers, to patriots, and to philosophers. There is an answer fur

Manchester, by T. Bickham, Esq.-

Voted by the Congregational and Juvenile Society of Union Chapel... 20 Newtown, Montgomeryshire

Norwich, Additional, by Mr. O. B. Silcock

Oxford, by Rev. E. Bryan