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Chinese volumes. The different volumes, however, used to be distributed separately, each with the general title, and, perhaps, Sewtseuen only received one of them, and not the entire set. So then, as the oak is in the acorn, the present great movement lay in one, or more, of the volumes of this compilation-Good Words to Admonish the Age.' The writer is still alive, a Chinese, named Leang A-fah, who was baptized at Malacca, in 1816, by Dr. Milne, and still continues abundant in labours, in connexion with Dr. Hobson's operations in Canton. And now for the fact of the distribution of this tract at the literary examinations in Canton. This I shall give in the words of A-făh, in a letter written in the end of 1834-For three or four years I have been in the habit of circulating the Scripture lessons, which have been joyfully received by many. This year the triennial examination of literary candidates was held in Canton, and I desired to distribute books among the candidates. On the 20th of August, therefore, accompanied by Woo A-chang, Chow A-san, and Leang A-san, we distributed 5,000, which were gladly received, without the least disturbance. The next day we distributed 5,000 more.' My space will not allow me to quote more of A-făh's letter. His good endeavour soon brought the attention of the mandarins upon him, and the end was the severe punishment of one of his friends, the death of a second, and the flight of himself to Singapore. The detail which I have given shows you the book by which, the individual by whom, and the manner in which, the head of this formidable rebellion was first brought into contact with scriptural truth. The connexion between him and A-făh will greatly interest those who wisely like, in their study of Providence, to put this and that together. A-făh was the first convert made by Protestant Missions, and by him is communicated an influence to the mind of this remarkable individual, which has already extended to tens of thousands, and may, by-and-by, spread over the whole of this vast and thickly-peopled territory."

CORFU.

IN the month of June last the Ladies' Committee of the Corfu Mission resolved as follows:-That an effort should be immediately made to collect 50l., to be transmitted to Mr. Charteris to enable him to remove Mrs. C. to her native country for a season,

"Scripture Lessons" is only another name for "Good Words to Admonish the Age."

should the state of her health permit it; and should he not be able to accomplish this, the sum be appropriated by him to other uses, in consideration of the heavy expenses he must have incurred through Mrs. Charteris's protracted illness.

The proposition was so heartily responded to that in the course of a few weeks something more than the full amount was raised. This will explain the references made to this subject by Mr. Charteris in the following extracts from letters lately received by the Treasurer:

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August 13, 1853.-I received yours of 23d July, which announced, almost at the same time with Mrs. Patison's, the truly benevolent and liberal intention in favour of my dear Helen, and although this announcement came too late to serve an end, which for months previous it had been evidently impossible to accomplish, still, it was truly gratifying and consoling to me to learn that you had so kindly sympathized with the sufferer who has been relieved so mercifully and tenderly from sufferings so protracted.

"I am now truly glad that she remained to be attended by myself and so many dear friends, and that I was privileged to see her fall asleep in such a happy state.

"The Jewish Girls' School is now pretty well filled,-about thirty-five or upwards every day, and Miss Mackenzie seems greatly encouraged.

"I intend to make an excursion to Athens in October; my chief object being to see my daughter Sophia. I may, perhaps, extend the journey to Constantinople. I feel a little reaction in my own health, after my long attendance on Mrs. Charteris, and Dr. Reade continues very kind, and has prescribed for me. I have also received Dr. Hamilton's very kind letter. It has been a great comfort to me. I may reply to it next week.

"With many, many thanks for all the warm-hearted sympathy from yourself and all kind friends, and humbly acknowledging the wisdom, goodness, and justice of the trials through which I have come, remain, &c., (Signed) "W. C."

I

"September 10, 1853.-Now, my dear madam, as to the 50%., I feel quite overwhelmed with the liberality and considerateness of your Society, and I depute you to impart to them my heartfelt acknowledgments. In the first place I devote 57. of it to help with our Girls' School, which may not be so well supported in the way of funds this year as the last, since the liberality of the children has been devoted to another channel.

"P.S.-Did you see the splendid comet? It was visible here every night for ten days.

The people here are positive it has occasioned the great heat which we have had since the 10th of August, and the fact seems to accord with their un-scientific views."

“October 7, 1853.—I have not yet set out on my voyage. As I said before, I was anxious to go as far as Constantinople, but trouble seems to be thickening there. War is imminent, and appears inevitable. In that case, shall not go further than Athens; but much will depend on the news received by the steamer. I intend to set out (D.V.) on Monday the 10th. I have been much occupied with arrangements for changing my house. Since dear Helen's death, I have found my present dwelling too large, and have taken a smaller one in a nice street some distance from it. On | the ground-floor of another house very near, I have taken a school-room, with which I am very much pleased. It is much larger than any school-room I have yet had. It is well lighted, airy, and has a cistern and border of flowers, together with a court for the children to play. It has the great advantage of being just across the street from the Jews' quarter, being more contiguous, by 380 yards, than our present house. This will, in bad weather, tell greatly in favour of a better attendance; moreover, the girls will not be in the least deterred by fear of the Greeks, which some of them have been by the greater distance, though their fear in this respect has not much ground. I have leased it for ten years, at a rent of 157. 12s. per annum.

"The books of the Bible and Tract Society, of which I have the depôt, occupy much of my house, more than my own library. I expect to have larger audiences in the evening, as the school-room will accommodate fully 150. As a number of Jewish feasts occur at present, especially the Feast of Tabernacles,' we have to-day vacated the school until they shall terminate

at the end of the month, before which I expect to return. Latterly but few girls attended, owing to the nearness of these feasts. Throughout the summer months the school has rallied well, and many of them made much progress. We gave a biscuit and some fruit to each one present.

"October 8.—I have only time to add, that to-day, at eight o'clock in the morning, my good, kind friend, Mr. Govan, Adjutant of the Artillery, sent thirty-five of his men to remove my furniture, and that of the school-room, to the respective houses which I have taken. This they effected in two hours, saving me much time, trouble, and expense, and going through the work with much apparent heartiness. Their kindness may, in a pecuniary point of view, be estimated at 27. at least. Their good feeling is much more valuable.

"This letter refers almost exclusively to mundane matters. Besides the bustle and fatigue attendant upon the removal, it was to me the source of much emotion to leave the house where dear Helen departed. As I entered her room, after it had been emptied of everything, a feeling of desolateness, such as I have scarcely experienced, stole over me, and I could not restrain my tears. But the events of the last three months, and the light shed over the dark valley in that room, as well as these frequent changes of our earthly homes, teach me to look to that on high, which is an eternal house in the heavens. Here we have no continuing city.

"I may write Mrs. Patison (D.V.) from the scene of Paul's preaching. Late events have prevented me writing again to Liverpool, but I must resume my correspondence with the Rev. Mr. Smith as soon as possible.

"I should also have replied to Dr. Hamilton's very kind letter, but have not thought it necessary, as I write so often to London.

(Signed) "W. CHARTERIS."

Presbyterian Church in England.

COLLEGE FUND, COLLECTION, NOVEMBER 20, 1853.
SPECIAL APPEAL.

IN soliciting the annual contributions of
the Church on this occasion, the College
Committee find it necessary to employ
much greater urgency than usual. For
some years the stated income which they
administer has fallen short of the expendi-
ture, and had it not been for aid from
extraordinary sources, a special appeal
would long ere now have been requisite.

As the case at present stands, not only have all the funds in hand at the close of last financial year been expended, but the Treasurer has been for some time in advance, and there are considerable claims now wanting liquidation; unless, therefore, the collection now to be made materially exceeds the amount which has usually been realized, the Committee

must remain under great pecuniary embarrassment. It is confidently believed, however, that congregations only need to be acquainted with the present position of our Collegiate Institution, and with what it has already accomplished, in order to recognise its claims, and to mark, by increased liberality, their sense of its importance.

The Committee would therefore beg attention to one or two simple facts, noticed in their last Report to the Synod. Since the winter of 1844, when our College was opened, sixty-three students have, in whole or in part, received their theological education within its walls; and, on examining the roll of our actual ministers, it appears that already onefifth of the whole number have been alumni of our College. Thus valuable have been the operations of this Institu ́tion during its nine years' existence, in providing our congregations with the labourers they required for the work of the ministry. The Committee further advert with peculiar satisfaction to the appointment, last year, of one of our latest students to the honourable office of a missionary to China. He was ordained in presence of the late Synod at Manchester; and has, probably, ere now arrived at the scene of his future labours. This circumstance impresses a character of special interest on our College, encouraging the hope that its influence for good is about to be extended far beyond the limits of our Church in England.

In no year since 1846-7 has the attendance been so large as during last winter. The Professors report that the students have applied themselves with exemplary diligence to their studies, and besides attending to their strictly academical pursuits, have instituted weekly meetings for prayer, and in some cases have engaged in missionary labours among the poor of London.

The present Session began on the 4th instant, when Professor Lorimer delivered the opening lecture, and the Committee are gratified in being able to state that from an accession of four new students the number at present in connexion with the Institution is fully equal to the improved attendance of the previous term.

The Rev. Dr. Hamilton, of Regentsquare, and the Rev. Thomas Alexander, of Chelsea, have again proffered their services in conducting the studies of these rising candidates for the ministry; these services, while most important and

valuable, add nothing to the pecuniary outlay; and every effort has been made, consistently with the efficiency of the Institution, to curtail expenses.

The past history and present condition of the College, in fine, are in every way encouraging; the pecuniary difficulties under which it labours being the only drawback to the spirit of thankful congratulation with which this statement is issued. The Committee hope and trust that these difficulties will be, in a great measure, removed by the special liberality with which this appeal will be met. The College scheme cannot exist unless its income be made fully adequate to its present expenditure. It differs from some of the other undertakings in which the Church is embarked in this, that it pledges her to a certain definite expense which it is impossible to square with a diminished income, and the only alternative that remains, is to raise the revenue to a level with the necessary expenditure. The Committee leave this matter with confidence to the liberality of the congregations of our Church, not doubting that every individual will do their utmost in behalf of an object of such paramount importance.

By order of the Committee,

ALEX. GILLESPIE, Convener.
College Hall, Oct. 11, 1853.

SOUTHAMPTON CHURCH. THROUGH the kindness of local friends we are now enabled to present our readers with an engraving of this beautiful church, lately opened for public worship. In a town like Southampton, increasing daily in extent, and rising rapidly into importance, the value of a Presbyterian Church can scarcely be overrated; and there is much cause for thankfulness that our congregation there has made steady progress almost since its formation. To the increasing diligence and self-denial of those immedi ately connected with it, much of this prosperity, under God, is doubtless owing. In liberality and effort we believe that most of the members have done their utmost, and therefore, to our mind, they are just the very people whom others ought to assist. They did not first sit down at their ease and cry to others, "Come over and help us," for after years of honourable and successful exertion they are now enabled honestly to say, "We have done what we could." It will be seen from a paragraph in another column that the debt is now reduced to 1,000l., and we are sure

that if our friends at Southampton receive that assistance from others to which they are really entitled, this amount will soon be paid also.

We may just add, that the congregation is still vacant, and therefore stands the more specially in need of our sympathies and prayers.

S. Thornton,

Donation.-Amos
Esq., Manchester
Ditto. Messrs. Hay, Nish, and
M'Kean, do.

Ditto.- -William M'Ferran, Esq.,

do.

Ditto.--Thomas C. Morton, Esq.,

do. Monthly Missionary Prayer Meeting, Trinity Church, Manchester, collected in box...

COLLECTIONS AND DONATIONS. Donation.-A Sincere Well-wisher

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to Presbyterianism, Alnwick Ditto. James Maclaren, jun., Esq., Manchester

Ditto. A Friend, St. Andrew's Church, do.

Ditto.-James Watson, Esq., do. Ditto.-Robert Smith, Esq., do..... Ditto.-John Barbour, Esq., Liverpool......

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Ditto.-A Friend, Leeds..

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Further donations will be gratefully received by the Treasurer in bank-notes, Postoffice Orders, or Postage Stamps.

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3 15 6 20 13 6

SCHOOL FUND.

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Amount already acknowledged ..£196 19 10 Framlington

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Birdhope Craig.-Association..

Lowick

Douglas, Isle of Man

Morpeth.-Collection....

Association

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10 6 100

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Ditto.-D. G. Fleming, Esq., do.
Ditto.-Richard Smith, Esq., do.
Ditto.-Jas. McLaren, sen., Esq., do.
Ditto. John Bannerman, Esq., do. 10
Ditto.-Wm. Graham, jun., Esq., do.
Ditto. Alex. Milne, Esq., London
Ditto.-Rev. W. Thompson, Wool-
wich

Ditto.-Lieut.-Col. Anderson, do...
Ditto.-Messrs. Kelly and Gilmour,
Manchester

Ditto.-John Stuart, Esq., do.
Ditto.-Peter McLaren, Esq., do...
Ditto.-Henry McLaren, Esq., do.

Association, Wooler, per Rev. J. A. Huie

Mrs. Petrie, Mornington-road Donation from Rev. Mr. Charteris, Corfu, for Jewish Girls' School..

Ditto.-Jas. S. Young, Esq., do.... 5 0 0 Sir Culling E. Eardley, Belvedere.

Ditto.-Jas. A. Bannerman, Esq., do.

5

Ditto.-David Bannerman, Esq., do. 2
Ditto.-James Kemp, Esq., do.
Ditto. Jas. Douglas, Esq., do.
Ditto. Charles Stewart, Esq., do.. 5
Ditto.-J. S., London

............

(Such offerings are peculiarly acceptable as indicative of an interest in the Mission.)

Mrs. Bonar

0 Mrs. Cowan, per do...........

Mrs. Dixie

Mr. W. Rankine.....

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London Works, Birmingham,

October 22, 1853.

CORFU MISSION.

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3 0 0

THE Treasurer of the Corfu Mission begs gratefully to acknowledge the receipt of the following sums:

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£1 4 8

1 1 0

500

1 00

0 10 0

0 Mrs. Morris

10 0 026

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Mrs. Foggarty..

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ORDINATION.

This Presbytery met at Windsor, on Thursday, October 20th, for the ordination of Mr. Henry Gamble to the pastoral charge of that congregation.

The Rev. William Keedy, of John Knox, Stepney, preached the sermon from Mark, 16th chap., and 15th verse.

The Rev. William Chalmers, of Marylebone, gave an able address on Presbyterianism, and, after putting the usual questions, offered the ordination prayer, while the Presbytery, by the imposition of hands, solemnly ordained and set apart Mr. Gamble to the work of the ministry and pastoral charge of the congregation at Windsor. Dr. Hamilton afterwards addressed the minister and people.

The church was well filled throughout the entire proceedings by a respectable and deeply interested audience. The call to Mr. Gamble has been most harmonious, and he enters upon his important and interesting sphere of labour in possession of the fullest confidence and cordial affections of the people. Among the people present we observed several connected with her Majesty's household at Windsor, and ministers of other congregations in the town. It is but justice to state that among the latter we were gratified at seeing the Rev. Mr. Miller, minister of the Independent Church in Windsor, from whose congregation the nucleus of our own took its rise. Our readers will be glad to know that, so far from Mr. Miller manifesting any jealous feelings on the subject, he suspended his usual week-evening service on the evening of the ordination, that himself and people might have an opportunity of attending, and has shown on all recent occasions a brotherly affection for our young minister.

PRESBYTERY OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

FRAMLINGTON, OCTOBER 12, 1853: which day the Quarterly Meeting of Presbytery

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was held here, and duly constituted. The roll being called, sederunt, the Moderator, Mr. Bannatyne, Messrs. Hoy, Anderson, Lennie, Huie, Gillespie, Cathcart, Whyte, Fergus, Walker, Edmonds, Forsyth, and the Clerk, ministers; Mr. George Davidson, elder.

The minutes of last Meeting were read and sustained. It was moved by Mr. Hoy, seconded by Mr. Fergus, and unanimously resolved, "That, as this is the first opportunity presented to the Presbytery of adverting to the decease of the Rev. N. Blythe, of Branton, the Presbytery record in their minutes their sentiments of veneration for the character of Mr. Blythe, and their deep regret at the event, which has removed from their number one who had been so long and so much honoured as the instrument of promoting the interests of vital godliness in his own congregation and the surrounding district."

Messrs. Anderson, Bannatyne, Cathcart, Edmonds, Fergus, Forsyth, Gillespie, Hoy, Lennie, and Whyte reported that they had taken up collections for the School Fund; Mr. Blythe had made a collection for the Home Mission Fund; Messrs. Huie and Cathcart for the Foreign Mission Fund.

The Clerk produced an amended extract of the deliverance of Synod, in the case appealed to the superior Court by Messrs. Lennie and Bannatyne. Whereupon Mr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Whyte seconded, "That the Clerk be instructed to engross the same in the records." It was also moved by Mr. Cathcart, seconded by Mr. Lennie, "That inasmuch as the extract is still incomplete, the insertion of the same be delayed." The roll being called, and votes marked, Mr. Anderson's Motion was carried by a large majority, and the Presbytery resolved accordingly.

A Report was given in by Mr. Lennie, Convener of the Committee appointed at last Meeting of Presbytery, in reference to matters concerning the school and congregation at Crookham, which, being read, was approved of, and ordered to be kept in retentis; and the circumstances of the case being now altered, the Presbytery instruct the Session at Crookham to do what may be expedient in the matter.

Mr. Whyte, from a regard to the convenience of the Presbytery, asked leave to postpone the Motions of which he had given notice, till next Meeting of Presbytery, which was granted. Mr. Whyte, Convener of the Committee appointed at last Meeting to examine the students within the bounds, gave in his Report, which was approved of by the Presbytery, and ordered to be kept in retentis.

A Petition was presented from certain parties in relation to the Crookham School. The Presbytery agreed to receive the Peti

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