of the agriculturist than that to which more experience contributed its powerful aid, as it shows to the new beginner, what may be done at the commencement. The quality of the specimen of silk sent us, is far superior to any thing we had imagined had been arrived at in our country. It is equal to that of many ladies' dresses, and such as no lady would be ashamed to wear on any occasion. This silk is the product of a few eggs sent the young lady three years ago, in a letter, by Mr. Reed, who, as our readers have had occasion to know, is an intelligent encourager of agricultural improvement. In his letter, he says that the stores in Washington are selling sewing silk made in Washington county, where four or five years ago such an idea was laughed at. Mr. Reed bestows a well merited eulogium on the Hon. Charles Miner, member of Congress, from West Chester, Pa. who brought the subject before Congress, and adds-"I have no doubt it would afford him pleasure to know, that we in the back woods' are trying to make silk." [Amer. Farmer.

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Eye of the Whale.-The substance constituting the surface of, and surrounding the cavity which encloses the crystalline humour in the eye of this animal, is so compact and strong, that it is difficult to cut it with the sharpest knife. But for this solidity it would be unable to sustain the enormous pressure to which it is subjected at great depths in the ocean. Supposing the part of the eye-ball exposed to the water to contain six square inches superficial, the pressure upon it, at a depth of 8400 feet (to which whales have been known to dive,) is equal to twenty-three thousand one hundred pounds weight.

Mild as was the last winter in the U. States, it is said to have been in the eastern parts of the Russian Empire one of the most severe ever remembered. We find in the French papers a series of observations on the temperature of that season, kept at Irkutsh, the capital of one of the governments of Siberia. As early as October 30th, the thermometer (Reaumur) had fallen to 29 degrees below the freezing point, and after Nov. 25, it descended

to 32 degrees. This extraordinary frost continued with little variation to the sixth of March. On the 23d and 25th of January the spirits of wine fell to below 44 degrees, where the scale of the thermometer ends.

Cure for a Cold.-Take 1 tea-spoonful of flax seed, with two penny worth of stick liquorice, and a quarter of a pound of sun raisins. Put them into two quarts of soft water; and let it simmer over a slow fire, till it is reduced to one; then add to it a quarter of a pound of brown sugar candy, pounded—a table spoonful of white wine vinegar or lemon juice.

only to that quantity you are going imme Note. The vinegar is best to be added diately to take; for if it be put into the whole, it is liable in a little time, to grow

flat.

Directions.-Drink half a pint at going to bed, and take a little when the cough is troublesome.

This recipe generally cures the worst of colds in two or three days, and if taken in time, may be said to be almost an infallible remedy? It is a sovereign balsamic cordial for the lungs, without the opening qualities, which endanger fresh colds on going out. It has been known to cure colds, that have almost been settled into consumption, in less than three weeks.

The preparation is a tea spoonful of vinegar to half a pint of the medicine.

[U. S. Telegraph.

Bookselling Enterprise.-It is stated that Messrs. Carey, Lea & Carey, have dis bursed to authors and editors during the last year, upwards of $20,000, and that they, during the current one, will exceed that amount of expenditures, eight or ten thousand dollars.

Earthquake.-A note written upon the margin of the Portsmouth, N. H. Journal states that a slight shock of an earthquake was felt in that town on Friday night at a quarter before eleven o clock.

It is ascertained that oil, filtered through charcoal, will burn equal in brightness to the best gas.

MISSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

To accommodate ourselves to our space, we were compelled in our last number to divide THE PLAN for rendering Sessions Auxiliary Soci

eties to the General Assembly's Board of Missions. The following is

Continued from p. 43.

Auxiliary societies in missionary operations are always chiefly employed in collecting funds for the use of a parent society, or Missionary board, by which mis

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1. It has been proposed by the Board to endeavour to obtain a voluntary subscription of 50 cents annually, from each communicating member in the Presbyterian Churches; and from all noncommunicating members in every congregation, who may be willing to make such a contribution. On the funds to be derived from this measure much reliance is placed; and to execute this measure the session of each congregation is manifestly the natural and proper organ Let the session point out the most proper and practicable method of obtaining subscribers, let them appoint a treasurer (one of their own number or any other suitable person) to receive all monies collected in the congregation, and forward them as speedily as practicable to the treasurer of the trus tees of the General Assembly; let a particular day in the year-say Christmas or New Year's day-be appointed on or be. fore which the 50 cent contribution should be paid; and when the appointed day is near at hand, let the pastor be requested to remind the people from the pulpit of their engagements, and say something calculated to excite and cherish among them a missionary spirit; let some suitable person be appointed to call on those who may not have deposited their subscriptions on or before the appointed day, to collect and deliver them to the treasurer; let an accurate list be kept of all subscribers, and let their names be forwarded to the Corresponding Secretary of the Board that their names may be made publick.

2. The Session may promote the keep ing of mission boxes in the houses of those who are friendly to the Missionary cause, the contents of which may occasionally be deposited with the treasurer of the Ses

sion.

3 The Session may take order that collections for the support of Missions be taken up at the Monthly Concerts for prayer, and appropriate the sums collected, in such manner as they may judge to be most equitable: and at these concer's information may be given, as indeed it ought to be given, to the people relative to Missionary concerns, and their minds stirred up to pray for and contribute to the support of the Missionary cause.

4. The members of Session can also re. ceive, and in a proper way solicit donations of a la larger amount than the annual 50 or 25 cent contribution, from those who may be able and willing to make such dona.

tions; and if any of the members are acquainted with individuals likely to favour the Missionary cause by tes amentary bequests, they may, in a discreet and delicate manner, remind such individuals of the im portance of aiding in sending the gospel to the heathen, and to the destitute in our own land.

The foregoing presents a simple plan of execution; and if it be followed up with spirit, the whole Presby eran Church may in a few years be, as it is most desirable that it should be, actively engaged in Missionary operations. But to produce this effect, the Sessions must make and continue some active exertions. Now as personal responsibility affords the best security for a careful and persevering attention to any business, especially if it be of a publick nature, it may be well that each Session fix on some individual, who may attend to the collection of their Missionary funds, and be charged with superintending the whole concern in the congregation. If this office be found burdensome, it may be, after a fixed period, passed from one individual to another. It may also be well if the Session should make it a standing rule to have two meetings at least in a year, expressly for the purpose of attending to Missionary concerns. As the minister of every congre gation is always the Moderator of its Session, much-very much-will depend on his taking the lead, cordially co-operating, and discreetly and zealously urging for. ward an attention to Missionary concerns, both in the Session, and generally among the people of his charge: and it is hoped that no minister in the Presbyterian Church will refuse his aid, in a matter of such high importance to the Christian Church, and the salvation of immortal souls, as the sending of the gospel to those who are perishing in ignorance and sin.

SIXTEENTH COMMUNICATION.

The Executive Committee, have received from the Monthly Concert in the Third church, $7; from the Monthly Concert in the Eighth church in Philadel phia, $6.15; from annual contributors in the Rev. John Coulter's congregation of Tuscarora, $12; from annual contributors in the Rev. James Linn's congregation, at Bellefonte, $31.78; from Mr. J. A. Mines, $33, a part of advance returned; from Mr. John M. Dickey, cash paid him at Wyalusing, $7.374; at Smithport 85; at Warren, Pa. $10; by a Baptist 37 cents; from Mrs. Bryson, on account of her son Samuel Bryson, in full $20; from the churches at Mifflintown, and Lost Creek, under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Hutchinson, $20; and from the congre gations of Centre, Ash Pole, Laurel Hill, Red Bluff, Bethel, and Little Peedee, by

the hands of the Rev. Colin M'Iver, $125.20. The following additional contributors have been returned from Bellefonte, viz. Mr. Wm. Patten, Mrs. Vandyke, and Miss Sarah Miles.

The following names of contributors are reported from Mifflin and Lost Creek churches, viz. of $1; John M'Alister, Esq. -of 25 cents, Mrs. Sarah Sharon, Miss Margaret Sellers, Miss Jane Jaimeson, Miss Margaret Calderwood, Mr. John Jaimeson, Mr. Samuel B. Wilson:-of 50 cents each, Mrs. Jane Elder, Miss Mary Bryson, Mrs. Sarah M'Alister, jr. Miss Sarah Abram, Mrs. Martha Wilson, Miss Nelly Moore, Miss Eleanor M Meen, Messrs. Samuel Sharon, Hugh M'Alister, Esq. John M'Alister, Joseph Sellers, Thomas Vance, Hugh M'Alister, jr. Wm. Sharon, Robert Wilson, Moses Burge, Wm. M'Alister, Esq. and John Stuart, Esq.

On the 7th Dec. the General Agent preached in the 1st, 2d, and 3d churches in Albany, N. York, which are now under the pastoral care of the Rev. Henry R. Weed, the Rev. Dr. John Chester, and the Rev. William H. Williams. On the 8th he discoursed in the church at Greenbush, in which the Rev. Thomas S. Wickes is Pastor. On the 9th he preached at the ordination and installation of Mr. Williams, in the Third Church in Albany. On the 10th he preached in the 2d church in Troy, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mark Tucker; in which place J. W. Parkins, Esq. an English gentleman, paid the Agent $10; saying that he would be a subscriber for twenty years, and pay in advance. On the 11th he preached in Lansingburg, in the congregation lately the charge of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, but now of the Rev. Wm. B. M'lvaine; and in the evening of the same day, in the 1st church in Troy, in which the Rev. N. S. S. Beman is pastor. On the 12th he preached in the congregation in Hudson, over which the Rev. Wilham Chester presides; and on the 14th in the congregations of the Rev. Messrs. M'Cartee, Snodgrass, and M'Elroy, in the city of New York.

Dr. Chester is confined by sickness in Philadelphia; but his spirit went with his brother in the ministry, on his visit to the dear people of his flock and they reciproeated his attachment to our cause of missions. The other brethren named gave their personal countenance to the representative of the Board of Missions; and with many of their people manifested their disposition to render the fifty cent measure as universal as possible. To these pastors he renders his thanks for their brotherly reception of him; and to them and their sessions, under God, must the Board look for the furtherance of their

cause, and the continuance of any favourable impressions which may have been produced.

E. S. ELY, Gen. Agent.

The following report of a missionary appointed to labour for two months within the bounds of the Presbytery of North River, is so fair a sample of communications of the kind frequently received by the Executive Committee: and so accu

rately depicts the situation of many hun

dreds of feeble churches within our bounds, that we shall publish it entire. Names of persons and places being altered, it would suit for a report from nearly half of our 57 missionaries.

REPORT.

As I was detained by providential circumstances from commencing my labours on the 12th, I started on Wednesday the 13th for

Pleasant Valley West. Here is a little congregation and church presenting a picture of moral desolation, not more than 32 families, most of them in very moderate circumstances, are friendly to the Presbyterian order. Included in these are 19 members of the church. Two only of this number, however, are males, and one of these conducts in a manner hardly consistent with his Christian profession. Scattered over a considerable extent of country, scarcely seeing each other, generally destitute of preaching unless they go to other towns, and having thus but few opportunities to "stir up each other's minds by way of remembrance," religion is exceedingly low among them. They see those around them too generally devoting the Sabbath's sacred hours to business or amusement, and mourn over the desolations of Zion. In this unpromising spot, I commenced my labours by attending a funeral. I spent 6 days among them, visiting from house to house, distributing Religious Tracts, and preaching the gospel. I was every where received by them with kindness, and was deeply interested with my visits, observing among some of the members of the church, marks of fervent piety, and among those who were unconverted, some instances of anxiety for the salvation of their souls. During my 'stay here, I visited 31 families, preached 6 sermons, one of which was on a funeral occasion, and distributed upwards of 600 pages of Tracts. On the Sabbath a collection was taken and $1.33 collected for the Missionary Fund of the General Assembly.

Tuesday, Aug. 19th. Rode to New Paltz, another vacant congregation. Though the church here is indeed considerably large, consisting of upwards of