residence in it, in order that their children might attend them. He might say further, that there was a greater amount of intelligence in it than would be found of an equal size in all broad Scotland. It was not every man, therefore, that was qualified for such a station. It required a man of talent and experience, and also of considerable weight of character, to meet the emergencies of such a case. A young man would not suit it, but one of such talent and experience as Mr Thorburn he conceived would fully meet the emergency of the case. When the church was built, the congregation looked out for such a man. They heard Mr Thorburn preach in February last, and were highly pleased with his preaching, as well as with the private communings they had with him; he must say that they set their hearts upon him as their pastor, and gave him a call. The call was made up of parties drained from the High Church and the West Church. There signed it men of the highest respectability,-landed proprietors, merchants, lawyers, medical gentlemen,-in fact all people of the highest intelligence. About one-third of the congregation was made up of young men, which was a very interesting circumstance, and presented a most important field of labour. All these then united in fixing on Mr Thorburn as the man of all others most suited for the place. There was not a single dissenting voice, and the call, as he had stated, was signed by 886. The congregation had had several difficulties to struggle with, especially in getting a regular supply of preachers. Soon after the disruption, Mr Stewart of Cromarty agreed to preach to them for a month; and in order to prevent the people from getting contaminated with his Free Church principles, the circumstance of Baptist Noel's being in the place was taken advantage of, and he was got to preach in the High Church, in order to draw them off. however, had no effect; the congregation still went on increasing, With regard to the prospects of the congregation, they had built a church which cost L.738, and was free of debt, without having received the aid of the building fund. The average of the Sabbath door-collection was about L.3, 10s., or about L.200, while, be it recollected, they had no stated pastor. Besides, they had last year given L.150 to the sustentation fund; and he had no doubt, had they a pastor such as Mr Thorburn, they would subscribe about L.300 a-year to it. In his opinion there was no comparison between the importance of the charge and that which Mr Thorburn now occupied. There was only 730 of a population, although the whole had adhered; but, then, not the half of that number had done so. But it was said, the smallness of the number who had come out was the reason why Mr Thorburn should remain, in order to bring more out. This, however, he did not consider good doctrine. Were they to allow those who had already come out to starve, while they waited a few years for those who probably in the course of that time might come out? would therefore leave the case with confidence in the hands of the Assembly, in the sure hope that they would reverse the sentence of the Synod, and authorize Mr Thorburn's translation.

This,

He

Mr M KENZIE next addressed the Assembly on behalf of the congregation. He would have the Assembly to look at the merits of the case, and he had no doubt but the Assembly would see the propriety of agreeing to the translation. They had, as had been told the Assembly, heard Mr Thorburn preach. They considered him possessed of gifts and graces suited for a town charge, which were not so requisite in the country. He was not surprised at the decision the inferior courts had come to, when they considered the scarcity of labourers; but he trusted the Assembly would take a more liberal view of the matter than they had done. The congregation who had called Mr Thorburn were all true hearted men. They were confident that if Mr Thorburn came amongst them, their place of worship would soon become so crowded that they would soon require to set about erecting another Free English Church in Inverness.

Rev. Mr MOIR then addressed the Assembly for the Synod of Aberdeen. In the outset, he had to state that it was not because of the Synod's insensibility to the importance of the station to which Mr Thorburn had been called that they refused to translate him. On the contrary, the Synod believed the station to be of great importance. But on the other hand, they had to consider the situation of the congregation at Forglen adhering to the Free Church, and the district of country with

which Mr Thorburn was connected. The Assembly had been told that there were only 150 or 200 adherents in the parish of Forglen. That might be true; but it ought to be borne in mind that, from the influence brought to bear upon the people by landed proprietors and others, the wonder was that the congregation was so large as it really was. He did not think it ought, except under peculiar circumstances, to sever the tie between pastor and people, and he thought they would do much in gaining, or rather securing the affections of the people, by refusing to sever that tie; for he believed that it was not Scriptural to appoint a minister without the consent of the people; so also he believed that it was not right to sever that tie without the consent of the people. Besides having the charge of the congregation at Forglen, Mr Thorburn had formed a congregation in Turriff, and he was sure that Mr Macnaughtan would bear him out in saying, that a place more tinged with moderatism than that place at one time was, could scarcely be met with. If then, by removing Mr Thorburn, they lost the hold they had got in this place, another opportunity might not soon present itself of getting so firm a footing in the place. But not only in Forglen and Turriff, but in the whole district of country surrounding these places, Mr Thorburn was considered a pillar in the Free Church, and if they removed him, he was certain that disastrous consequences would ensue. He would also point out a temptation which they put in the way of country ministers, by thus showing a preference to the filling of churches in towns. There were difficulties to overcome in the country, which towns' ministers never felt; and if they went on telling them that it was of importance first to fill up all the towns' charges, they put a temptation in their way that might not be easily overcome. He understood that the adherents of the Free Church in Turriff were building a church there, and he saw nothing to hinder the people of Forglen from coming in to worship there, the extreme distance not being more than three miles. After detailing the great importance of having Mr Thorburn retained in the district where he now was,-where the people were all so much attached to him, and where he was of so much service to the cause of the Free Church, -Mr More concluded by calling on the Assembly to affirm the decision of the Synod and Presbytery, and dismiss the appeal.

Rev. Mr GORDON next addressed the Assembly. He regretted Mr Thorburn had not been called upon to make a statement in reference to the case, as he believed had he done so, all further pleadings on it would have been rendered unnecessary. He held in his hand a paper to the effect that the people of Forglen and Turriff would be quite satisfied with a division of Mr Thorburn's labour, should a missionary be appointed to aid him. In these circumstances he did not conceive that it would be right to translate Mr Thorburn. Translations, he conceived, ought to be gone into with the greatest caution, as the pastoral relation was a most solemn one, and one which ought not to be broken rashly. Mr Thorburn came to the quarter of the country where he now is, subject to many prejudices, which originated principally on account of the evangelism which he introduced, but which prejudices, from his faithfulness and prudence, had now almost disappeared, and he was honoured and respected wherever he went. There were already tokens of his ministry in that quarter. The number of adherents which had gone out with him was a sufficient testimony that it had been so; and he believed there were in that quarter many who could look up to him and bless God that he had been sent amongst them, because they could say that he had benefited their immortal souls. No doubt the Inverness congregation was large, and perhaps wealthy, but there were in that place two Free Church ministers who could keep their opponents in check, and there was, therefore, no such need for a man such as Mr Thorburn to be placed in that station. On the other hand, the people of Forglen were poor, but they were faithful, devoted to their pastor and to the cause of the Free Church, and had suffered no little inconvenience in supporting it. They had got no site for a church, nor a house for the minister; and the humble place in which they at present worshipped would, in all probability, if he was removed, be withdrawn, as at present the hand of persecution was in some degree kept in cheek by the respect which was entertained for his beloved brother. In regard to Turriff, Mr Thorburn's labours had been greatly blessed there. He had gathered there a congregation of devout worshippers in a

situation where it was thought the Free Church would never get any hold at all. He could assure Mr Macnaughtan that if he was coming to visit that place now, it would gladden his heart to see the change that had taken place. He could testify to the deep interest this case was exciting throughout the whole district, and with safety affirm that if Mr Thorburn was removed, many congregations would be shaken. After a few words from Mr M'LACHLAN in reply,

Mr MCFARLANE, Dalkeith, said, he thought that they ought to hear Mr Thorburn on the case. (Cries of "No, no.")

Dr CANDLISH said, in the course of last case he stated that the Assembly, as a court of review, ought not to call upon individuals to address the house as to the case, unless that individual asked the permission of the house to do so. In the inferior court it might be done, but he considered it absolute torture to the individual himself to be driven about from court to court, and each time to state his own feelings on the subject. (Hear, hear.)

Mr M'FARLANE.-Is Mr Thorburn permitted to speak then? (Cries of "No, no.")

Dr CANDLISH.-On the commencement of the case it was put to Mr Thorburn whether he wished to be taken down as a party in the case, and he said he did not. Mr THORBURN.-I am not here as a party. I was, as I said before, sisted to the Synod as a party, though I considered it not altogether regular; but I came here, and am here, ready to express my own opinions of it, if it is the desire of the house to hear me ; but I will not intrude any opinion of mine, unless I am desired by the house to do so. (Hear.)

Parties were then removed, and

Dr CLASON rose and moved that the appeal in the case be sustained, and the decision of the Presbytery and Synod reversed. He did not deny but that there was some difficulty in the case, but it was their duty to act so as they conceived it to be for the glory of God and the greater good of the Church, and he trusted that no statements from the bar of the house would ever prevent them from doing so. There was no person who had heard the pleadings but must admit that the appellant had made out a strong case in favour of Inverness. He could not dismiss such a case from his mind-such a multitude of sheep without a shepherd. It was, too, a station of great importance, situated in the capital of the Highlands, so that it was not only the case of Inverness alone, but that of the whole surrounding district. It had been alleged that the people had got a vested right in the minister. (Laughter.) He thought that a statement which ought not to be made in a church court, for although he well knew that the connection between pastor and people was a very close one, still it was not such as could not be broken.

Mr MONCREIFF, Kilbride, seconded the motion. He felt that a strong case had been made out in regard to both parties; but when he looked at the case in all its bearings, he was inclined to be in favour of the translation. To fill the important charge at Inverness, they must have a translation some way or other, as they could not place a young inexperienced man into so important a situation; and since they must have a translation, why not Mr Thorburn? Where, then, could one be found, save in the circumstances in which Mr Thorburn is placed? and, therefore, whatever evil may be done by removing him, they had just to consider which of the evils -whether the removal of him, or the placing an inexperienced person in the charge at Inverness-would be most easily remedied.

Dr BROWN of Aberdeen could not approve of the motion just made. The translation of Mr Thorburn would shake the confidence of all those parishes in the district where he now laboured. It was in the country parishes where the people suffered most inconvenience from the disruption, and the removal of a minister from among them to which they were attached would be apt to cause dissatisfaction. If the Assembly, therefore, permitted those translations, it would shake the confidence of any congregation, and greatly injure the cause of the Free Church. As he felt confident that the best interests of the Church would be injured by these translations, he would move that the appeal be dismissed, and the finding of the Synod confirmed.

Mr MACNAUGHTAN, Paisley, seconded the motion. The point of the case, he

considered, had not been stated. In removing Mr Thorburn from Forglen to Inverness, they took him from a place where he exercised his influence over a great mass of population, and placed him in a situation where he could only exercise an influence over a very small portion of the people, as he could not speak the Galic language. If they had taken Mr Beith of Stirling, or some others who could speak Gælic, there might have been some propriety in it; but those who could speak the English language was very limited. He thought if they considered the whole circumstances of the case, especially that Mr Thorburn was so much opposed to leaving his present flock, that they ought not to consent to the translation. If Mr Thorburn had said nothing on the subject, the case would have been different; but he had most decidedly stated his reluctance to be removed, and he thought it would require a very strong case to be made out in favour of the translation before they should consent to it. They must take into account the circumstances of the district; it was at one time one of the deadest in all Scotland, for when all Scotland was in a blaze, at the days of the Strathbogie Presbytery, it sympathised with the very worst actings of the Moderates; and had now only been raised from its lethargy, by the faithful exertions of Mr Thorburn. If, then, they removed him against his own convictions, and against the findings of the Presbytery and Synod, they would require to have some stronger reasons for doing so than the pleadings at the bar. He concluded by seconding Dr Brown's motion.

D. M. M. CRICHTON, Esq., supported Dr Clason's motion. He had every respect for the rights of the people, but he did not think that these rights were to be put in comparison with the rights of those who rule in God's house. He did not wonder that the Synod of Aberdeen should be unwilling to part with the services of such a man as Mr Thorburn, but he was called upon to fill a far more important situation than he at present did, and he could see no reason why the Assembly should not agree to the translation. A man of less talent than Mr Thorburn could labour at Forglen, while Mr Thorburn's gifts and qualifications were exactly suited for Inverness.

Mr M'GILLIVRAY of Keith supported Dr Brown's motion; and Mr Beith of Stirling that of Dr Clason.

Dr CANDLISH said, he did not intend to intrude on the time of the Assembly. He was sure it was not the desire of the Assembly to come to a formal vote on this case. He would therefore suggest that they adopt the same plan as was done at Glasgow in a similar case, when the feeling of the Assembly was got at by members rising up in their seats as an indication of what motion they supported.

Mr THORBURN said, he had stated at the beginning that he did not want to address the Assembly, but would leave the Assembly to call upon him to do so should they wish him. Without, therefore, uttering any opinion of his own upon the subject, he would beg to ask, whether there was anything to be concluded from the circumstance of his remaining silent. ("No, no.") It had been declared at the bar, that he expressed an opinion on the subject both before the Presbytery and Synod, and had also done so in another way. The statement he then made he still adhered to, his mind in that respect had undergone no change, but while he was of the same mind, he had at the same time, to state that, as a true son of the Church, he felt called upon to subordinate every opinion of his to the collective wisdom and united prayers of his fathers and brethren. He had no more to state, but had thought it necessary to state this much, lest his silence might have been construed into any misrepresentation. (Hear, hear.)

The feeling of the house was then ascertained, when it appeared that a large majority of the house was in favour of the translation, and a finding was then recorded that the Assembly without a vote sustain the appeal, and loose Mr Thorburn from his present charge.

The Assembly then adjourned at six o'clock, till half-past seven.

EVENING SEDERUNT.

In the evening, on re-assembling, a resolution of sympathy with the congregation of Forglen, in reference to the decision of the early part of the day, was agreed to, on the recommendation of Dr Candlish, to the effect that the Assembly deeply sympathise with the congregation of Forglen, and recommend them to the fatherly care of the Presbytery of the bounds, and earnestly pray that the great Head of the Church may in his own time secure for them a pastor to watch over their spiritual interests.

ORDER OF BUSINESS.

It was announced that the Report of the Building Committee, appointed to be received to-morrow morning, and that of the Ross and Sutherland Committee, appointed for to-morrow evening, are both to be postponed till Monday evening. The Assembly called for the

COLONIAL REPORT.

The following report was read by the Rev. Mr Sym, vice-convener :

"The funds contributed to the Colonial Scheme, from 18th May 1843, to 30th March 1844, amount to L.3619, Is. 7 d., exclusive of what has been raised for the Free Church in India, and which is probably not less than L.4000 or L.5000. The sums realized by the Church for the same object during the years 1841-2, and 1842-3, were respectively L.6146, 18s. 11d. and L.5696, 15s. ld. These sums, however, are inclusive of large contributions from the Presbyterian Churches of England and Ireland, legacies, interest on stock, &c.; and in order to form a correct estimate of the probable success of the Colonial Scheme of the Free Church, it will be proper to compare the amount of the congregational collections for the past year, with the sums received from the same source for the two succeeding years. It is from these collections that the amount of public interest attaching to the cause is to be justly estimated, and the auguring of its future prosperity drawn. The produce, then, of congregational collections, and parochial associations for the year 1841-2, was L.2860, 11s. 10d., and for the year 1842-3, L.2333, 9s. 7d., while the collections for the year ending 30th March 1844, have yielded L.2515, 13s. 9d. This statement, proving that the interest on behalf of the Colonial Scheme continues unabated, and affording, as it does, the best pledge and guarantee of its increasing prosperity, is submitted with feelings of very lively satisfaction, more especially as it seems to warrant your committee in assuring the General Assembly that the spiritual interests of our brethren in the colonies have not been seriously injured or endangered, even for a time, by the trials to which the Church at home has been subjected. During the past year, unprecedented demands have been made upon all our congregations, and your committee could not but fear that our countrymen abroad might suffer for a season from the primary and paramount claims of our native land. But these fears have been graciously disappointed, and brighter prospects are opened up to us now than any which the Church has heretofore enjoyed. A spirit of unwonted liberality and zeal has been infused into the hearts of our people; and surely it would manifest a most ungrateful distrust of that benignant Providence which has upheld, and guided, and prospered us hitherto, if we were not encouraged to expect, that when the difficulties connected with the formation of our Free Church were overpassed, a more abundant revenue would be cast into the treasury of the Lord, that the ends for which the Church is organized may be prosecuted with renewed energy and power. Certainly no other return will form a suitable requital to Him who hath bestowed upon us such manifold and signal favours, and who has made our Church a spectacle to the world, not for our sakes, but for His own name's sake, in the furtherance of His gospel and kingdom throughout the earth. Your committee, therefore, cannot but look for greatly increased exertions in all the fields of missionary enterprise; and, in particular, they trust that the peculiarities which connect us with our Presbyterian countrymen in foreign parts will secure for them a larger share in the sympathies and services of the Free Church.