finally adopted has been that which is called the arrangement of class settlements. It has been found that by sending forth mixed colonies to New Zealand, where a portion of the produce of the land was set apart for religious and other purposes, questions immediately arose as to the division of these among the different sects; and this difficulty suggested the expedient of sending out a colony, consisting of persons belonging to one denomination. Accordingly, those who had the management of the island, or rather continent of New Zealand, resolved to divide it into class settlements, and to set apart a portion of the country for a Scotch colony, composed of persons willing to attach themselves to the principles of the Free Church of Scotland. In connection with such a body of colonists, Mr Burns is preparing to go forth. It is not for this Church to express any opinion on the financial arrangements of this colony. It does not fall within our province to express any opinion with regard either to the political arrangements or financial details of the colony. But it will be a great strengthening of our brother's hands, and no more than what is due to the experiment, if the Assembly give an opinion favourable to the colony as a colony under which it may be advisable for Free Church emigrants and their families to settle_(hear)—that we regard it as a good plan on the whole, and that persons intending to emigrate should connect themselves with this colony, as one affording religious instruction suited to their wishes and tastes, rather than with others in which no such provision has been made. (Hear.) I now turn to the fourth branch of this report,—the Mediterranean. The brethren will see from this colonial report, more than any other evidence, the great extent of the field the Free Church is called to occupy. The field truly is the world. We travel over the whole surface of the globe, and find everywhere some opening for our Free Church ministers. The shores of the Mediterranean constitute a field of labour of increasing interest. The mission at Malta is in a flourishing and prosperous state, under the charge of Mr M'Kail. At Gibraltar we have the labours of Mr Strachan, who, however, is not in circumstances to be able to give his whole time to the work. The Ladies' Association in Glasgow, having resolved to institute a mission at Leghorn, have obtained the consent of Mr Stewart, late of Erskine, to occupy that station. These three places are, therefore, now occupied as stations; and the Committee have had their attention strongly directed to the Ionian Islands, where they will not fail to take advantage of whatever opening may be presented. Here I cannot but think that Providence may, perhaps, place at the disposal of the Committee, from time to time, labourers who may be able to do much good on the shores of the Mediterranean. Who shall say that the openings of usefulness in the Mediterranean may not be providential even in a temporal point of view, in their bearings on the health and strength of our overtasked brethren at home? Already I could point to the case of one whose absence from this Assembly we all regret-one who has been long known to us for his business talents and other high qualifications-I mean Mr Gray of Perth, who has for a time been laid aside from active duty; and should it please God to continue this visitation upon our brother, I trust his health may be so far restored that he may be available as a missionary on the shores of the Mediterrancan, previous to his return to active duty at home. (Hear.) And might we not in this way anticipate, that others of our brethren who are sinking under their labours at home, may find a seasonable relief, and recover health and strength, by visiting these shores? And thus, literally, the labours of love undertaken by this Church would be its own reward, by our reaping a direct recompense in these missionary efforts on the shores of the Mediterranean. The Committee record their grateful thanks to the Ladies' Associations of Edinburgh and Glasgow, who have contributed from L.700 to L.800 towards the objects of the Colonial Mission. (Applause.) The last part of the world I ask you to visit with me, is one I can do scarcely more than name, but to name it is enough -it is Madeira. (Hear.) The Assembly are aware that our brother, Mr Wood, late of this city, is still labouring as pastor of the Scottish Church in Madeira; and the Committee have to report farther, that Mr Hewitson, a young man of the highest promise, was recently sent out by the Presbytery of Edinburgh, and is now labouring in the island of Madeira. As to the circumstances of the British congregation of Madeira, it is not necessary to speak at large. The singular excellencies

with which God has endowed Mr Wood have tended to the forming of a congregation, consisting not only of Free Churchmen and Scotsmen, but of other adherents of the Lord Jesus. It is known that Madeira is a stronghold of the most extreme forms of Puseyism-that in that island, where so many invalids resort, the ministry of the Church of England is infected to the heart's core with this deadly and soul-destroying heresy. Many of the brethren are aware of the extent to which this is the case. One fact in evidence of it I have heard stated on sufficient authority. A minister of that congregation, and those who co-operate with him, having taken a deep interest in a library established in the town, took objection to a book that many of us know how to value and prize, viz. the work of Dr James Buchanan on Affliction, because it seemed to favour the blasphemy of extemporary prayer. (Hear.) With respect to the case of Dr Kalley, I will scarcely enter upon it, not only for the saving of your time, but for another reason, that in all the circumstances of the case, the less said on this subject for the present the better. The reason of this will at once come home to the minds of us all when we read the name of Maria Joaquina, whose case was before us last Assembly, and who has well nigh suffered unto the death, and also when we recollect the proceedings that have been taken against Dr Kalley himself. (Hear.) It is impossible to pass from the subject without expressing regret that the trumpet sounded from this free and once Protestant country should have given forthi so very uncertain a sound on the subject of religious liberty, as assailed in that island. (Hear.) It is a striking fact, in reference to the interpretation put by my Lord Aberdeen on the international treaty between England and Portugal-it is a striking fact, as stated in communications from Madeira, that the interpretation put on that treaty by Papists and Portuguese authorities is actually more liberal than the interpretation put upon it by the Foreign Secretary of the British Government. According to the letter of Lord Aberdeen's interpretation of that treaty-according to the exact terms and communications which he sent in reply to remonstrances conveyed to him on the case of Dr Kalley-the Scotch congregation in Madeira has no protection whatever under the treaty. According to the letter of Lord Aberdeen's communication, the Scotch congregation is tolerated by the Portuguese Government, but if that toleration were withdrawn, according to his notion, the British Government would not be allowed to interfere. (Hear.) What is the interpretation he puts on the treaty in reference to Portugal? It is this,-that British subjects going to reside in Portugal, are allowed to exercise their own privileges as to worshipping God, but are forbidden to open their mouths on the subject of religion to any Portuguese subject of another faith. And this is called an international treaty, securing to the contracting parties mutual toleration for their subjects! It amounts to this: I may worship God in my closet, and if I can get two or three of my countrymen together, I may join with them in worship,-I may have my house of prayer peculiarly for British subjects; but if I am detected in using any efforts to withdraw a Portuguese subject from the established religion of the country, I am immediately liable to all the cruelties of the Inquisition, and my Lord Aberdeen will not stretch forth his little finger to protect me. (Hear.) And this is Lord Aberdeen's notion of the liberty of a British subject in a Popish country, as if a British subject, worthy of the name, would care for a moment for the protection of a liberty that did not imply liberty of speech and liberty of action. (Applause.) It is impossible to anticipate this state of matters without alarm, and without contrasting the present and past position of the British Government in reference to the protection of British subjects in other lands. Dr Candlish then stated the amount of the Committee's income for last year as L.4435, and concluded the report with a strong appeal in behalf of the scheme.

The Rev. Mr KING of St Stephen's, Glasgow, said,-Moderator, in addressing the Assembly in regard to the mission sent out to Canada, I will do it in the distinct recollection that there is still a great amount of business to be brought before the House. In the first place, having been sent to perform a special duty in reference to the Synod of Canada, I may notice that my station was principally at the town of Toronto, though I had occasion to travel a considerable part of the province; secondly, the duty which was assigned me was, in the first place, the charge

of that congregation over which, I trust, our friend Dr Burns now presides as the pastor; and then I had the charge of the students in regard to their theological education. It must be gratifying to this House to know that this congregation has a most promising appearance. (Applause.) I say this not simply as regards their numbers, but from the strong appearance of Christian principle which is lodged in their mind and directing their conduct. This was manifested in a great variety of ways, whether as regarded the conduct of individuals or the aspect of the congregation generally. They have a flourishing Sabbath School connected with the church, which is attended by 180 children, superintended by thirty teachers, male and female. It was remarked, too, that the congregation at Toronto was generally in the practice of satisfying itself with a forenoon attendance on Sabbath, and in the afternoon there were very few present indeed. Latterly, however, and especially from the time they obtained possession of their new place of worship, the attendance, both forenoon and afternoon, has been in the highest degree satisfactory. The place of worship which they have put up for themselves contains between 800 and 900 sitters, and was regularly filled. With regard to the education of the students, the notice for the attendance at Toronto was very short. But the number of students in theology, and those of the preliminary classes, amount to fourteen, and of these, nine were studying theology. Mr Esson had charge of the preliminary studies of these fourteen young men, and I took the nine of them who were students in theology under my own charge. I am proud to be able to bear my distinct testimony to their zeal and diligence, they are highly respectable in point of talent, and the progress they have made in their studies holds out a most encouraging prospect for the colonies as respects their future supply of ministers. (Applause.) It may be true, when we look to those fourteen students, that our resources are not great. But it must be remembered that this was the first session, and that their studies were entered upon under circumstances of peculiar disadvantage; but some light may be thrown out as to their comparative amount, when we look at what is going on at Kingston, where for years there has been a full staff of Principal and Professors. At that place, I have reason to know, there are only nine young men engaged in studying for the ministry; and of these only three or four have attained the length of studying in theology, and therefore in this branch we have double the number. (Hear, hear.) There was one topic of much importance which engaged the deliberations of the Canadian Synod; this was the propriety of calling the attention of pastors and congregations to what may be the prospect as to drawing out those young men who may seem to be well qualified for the ministry: and from what I then saw, and have subsequently learned, our prospects are, in this respect, also very encouraging. It is true that some time must elapse before the supplies thus in prospect and in preparation can be available for the Church to any great extent. But here the good work has commenced and made progress; and, we trust, by the blessing of God, that a certain degree of aid will speedily be available, and that the Free Church will soon be in a position to rear a sufficient number of students to occupy all the field. Without farther alluding to this peculiar part of my mission, I will now call the attention of the House generally to the great destitution of that country, and the strong claims which it has on the Assembly for immediate and effective assistance. (Applause.) It must be well known to this Assembly, that before the disruption there was felt by the Colonial Committee to be a great destitution in this colony, as well as in the colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. There was a great destitution in point of ministerial supply. There was, indeed, not only a difficulty in keeping up the supply to the amount it had already reached, but ministers who had filled a situation there were from time to time retiring home, while, on the other hand, there was a great and growing increase of population; so that not only did the established population require ministerial supply for themselves, but, from the causes I have stated, the destitution was daily and yearly increasing. If this destitution was felt so much then, it is not unreasonable to believe that it was experienced still more severely after the disruption, when a number of ministers gave up their charges, and came here looking for an opportunity of procuring appointments in the Establishment, where so many pulpits had been

left vacant. (Hear, hear.) The disruption, therefore, was felt to this extent; and though some of these gentlemen who are now settled here as parochial ministers, have, as I am informed on good authority, been writing back, expressing their willingness to return to Canada again, yet I may state that their return will not tend much to diminish the exigency which is felt as regards ministerial supply. These individuals would find that circumstances have occurred which have much altered their former position; and though their return would throw light on the truth of our statements, it also shows the necessity of sending from this Church persons to labour on the ground which these former cannot now occupy, and do the work of the ministry. It is to be kept in mind that the stations in this province cannot be near each other, excepting in the case of towns. In the back settlements, from the nature of the country and the state of the roads, there is great difficulty experienced in travelling, and there are many who for months, and, indeed, some families have remained for years, without having had it in their power to listen to the ministrations of the gospel. It was, indeed, most deeply interesting to notice in the back settlements which I visited, with what earnestness these people listened to the preaching of the gospel, while their eyes were wet with tears when the name of Scotland was mentioned; and they often and again declared that their feelings would always be warm for their fatherland. I will mention one circumstance in reference to an elderly lady who visited the neighbourhood of Toronto, after a long residence in the back settlements. She visited the house of a Presbyterian precentor, and he told me that she kept him for hours singing the psalmody of our Church, which she had not for long listened to, and which called up such hallowed and lively recollections of former times. (Hear, hear.) The claims of these people, I repeat, are most urgent, and yet there are circumstances connected with them of a very encouraging kind. Throughout all these districts I found a considerable sprinkling, not simply of those who had improved the ordinances they had enjoyed, but also individuals who evinced that they had a deep feeling as to the power and efficacy of religion. These people come from every part of the mother country, and they could speak with lively sentiments of the able ministers whom they had there known and attended, and whose ministrations had still left upon them a most salutary impression. And this is a circumstance which must be kept in view in considering the qualifications of those clergymen who may be sent out to them. One of these good men, originally from the shire of Ross, said to me,-" Sir, we need strong meat." In saying so, he referred to such men as Dr M'Donald of Urquhart. Such were the men associated in his mind with the work of the ministry. They were now withdrawn from these ministers; but they still remembered what they had heard from them in other days. It is not mere moral essayists who will do for them. This is not what they desire. It is their cry that we share their supplies, but, above all, that we should send them able men, who, by the blessing of God, may be qualified to minister to them this "strong meat," through which their souls may be nourished. I enjoyed the pleasure of meeting in the congregation at Toronto many who had sat under the ministrations of Dr Chalmers in Glasgow; some also who had been elders in the Church, and who had a lively remembrance of the hallowed opportunities which they then enjoyed. It is well, therefore, that it should be kept in view, that while there is a great amount of destitution, still it is a destitution that holds out in certain matters a prospect of relief; and those who may be sent out will find many who are able and willing to strengthen their hands. There was a prayer meeting held at Toronto while I was there; it was attended regularly by fully 200 persons, who were called on by turns to take a part in these solemn exercises; and it was alike delightful and refreshing to mark the spirit and unction which pervaded their prayers. But I wish the Assembly seriously to keep in mind that, while these are most encouraging circumstances, there is evidently a crisis at hand, and the opportunities which we now enjoy, and which are still within our reach, may soon pass away, and be lost to us for ever. It is true, that amongst the multitudes who are proceeding to these colonies as emigrants, there is found a sprinkling of good and godly men; yet every increase to the population will only be an increase to the destitution which exists, unless ministers are sent out to maintain the work, and make

head against the tide which is so strongly setting in. There are many emigrants who go out there fortified by Christian principle; but there are also a larger number of individuals of a very different character. I was grieved indeed to learn that in Toronto the works of Tom Paine, books on Socialism and the principles of infidelity, are extensively read-a fact which strongly urges upon us the necessity of improving our opportunities, that we may guard against and counteract those deadly influences. There is not only Popery, as an established religion in Canada, but further, in the more insidious form and shape of Puseyism, it predominates largely in the western provinces; and from the danger of its advances, men of religious character of all parties have seen the necessity of adopting these principles of Christian union, which have already engaged the attention, and been recommended by this Court. I had the pleasure of co-operating with ministers of various denominations; and though neither compromised their distinctive principles, every one saw the necessity imposed on the servants of the Lord Jesus, of rallying against the infidelity which is stalking over the land. I mention these things all the more earnestly to show the necessity of strengthening their hands; and I trust that the deliberations of this Assembly will be such, as not merely to send out ministers to occupy a station temporarily, or traverse the country, but that they may be permanently settled as the ministers of congregations, and co-operate with our brethren already placed in these lands. I feel, however, Sir, that notwithstanding the importance of this matter, and however urgent may be the claims of Canada-considering the amount of business still to be gone through this evening-that I would only be doing injury to the cause I have so much at heart, were I to press it at greater length upon your notice. (Mr King then sat down amid much applause.)

Mr DUNLOP stated that it was with extreme regret he was under the necessity of making to the Assembly a communication from the Convener of the Committee, similar to that from the Convener of the Committee whose report has already been disposed of. He had received a letter from Mr Sym, now in London, to the effect that looking to the magnitude of the interests intrusted to the Committee, the extent of its business, neither his strength nor his time admitted of his continuing to hold the office of Convener. He (Mr D.) most deeply lamented this, because he well knew the value of Mr Sym's services, and could say with truth that the business of the Committee had been conducted by Mr Sym, since his appointment, in the same efficient manner as under his predecessor; remembering whom Mr Sym succeeded, he felt, and he was sure the House would feel, that it was impossible to say more of any man. He would most earnestly have desired that Mr Sym's services could have been retained; but knowing his highly conscientious sense of duty, he would not propose to the Assembly to urge him to hold an office, the labours of which he found beyond his strength.

On the motion of Dr CANDLISH, the Assembly generally approved of the report, but deferred the deliverance till another diet.

Dr CANDLISH then moved the thanks of the Assembly to Mr King for his services, with an expression of congratulation on his safe return to this country.

The Moderator then returned thanks to Mr King in very appropriate terms. The Assembly then took up a reference from the Synod of Merse and Teviotdale, in the case of Mr James Bell, deacon of the Free Church, Galashiels, who had lately resigned his office. The case came up before the Assembly for advice as to the status of a deacon, and as to the competent court to accept his resignation. After parties were heard, the Assembly gave the following deliverance:-"That, since deacons are ordained office-bearers of the Church, the judicial proceedings connected with their beginning, continuing, or ceasing to hold office, should be the same as in the case of elders; that, since the resignation of a deacon involved a judicial question, it can be competently entertained and settled only by the Kirk-session; and that the resignation of a deacon should be addressed, not to what has been called the Deacon's Court, but to the Kirk-session, who alone can competently dispose of it.

APPEAL OF THE PRESBYTERY OF SELKIRK.

This was an appeal from the sentence of the Synod of Merse and Teviotdale, pronounc