the Irish schools are taught, and that, if possible, gratis, or at a mere trifle--invite criticism and christian communicationsolicit the countenance of all who may be disposed to forward the work-and after we have ascertained what improvements may be made, then to stereotype them for extensive and continued circulation. Mr. Watts has such a quantity of Irish types unemployed, that I think he will agree to keep the types standing until the stereotype edition is required. This cir cumstance induced me to prefer London to Dublin; besides that I have some idea of going up to London before Parlia ment is prorogued, to look for such funds as will enable me to defray the expense incurred, or to be incurred in issuing the work in the most perfect manner. I am disposed to believe that it may be proper to prepare an edition of the work in Roman as well as Irish characters, but this will be subject for future consideration.

I have great cause to hope, and I do most sincerely believe, that this metrical version of the Psalms of David will prove a valuable gift to the poor Irish, for whom it is intended. The good which the metrical version of the Psalm-book effected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, was far beyond what any person, not intimately acquainted with that country, could believe. It tended, in a great measure, to change the character and habits of the people. The natural character of the Highlanders and the Irish is precisely the same-the minds of the Irish are equally tender and generous-they possess the same fond attachment for their own beloved lan guage, the language of their earliest and dearest associations→→→→ they have the same love for story and for song; let them be treated just as their kinsmen in the Highlands and Isles of Scotland have been, and placed in circumstances equally favourable to moral and religious improvement, and I have no doubt they will soon exhibit the same delightful picture of simplicity, affectionate fidelity, social order, ardent devotional piety, which, I praise God, is this day to be seen in the lovely islands which gird the coast of Scotland, and in the lovely solitudes of our mountain land. I do anticipate great good from the circulation of the Psalms in Irish poetry. I need scarce remind you of the intense love which the Irish have for music and poetry-hence it is, that the dark and wild superstitions of ages long since passed away, have come down to us, and been preserved to this hour-hence it is that the remembrance of Erin's wrongs, and Erin's woes, in the most distant periods of her history, are so intimately known by all

the classes of the unlettered Irish.-They are handed down in song--they are recited at the fire-sides, and at all their festive meetings they are set to music, and sung to their own sweet and simple melodies. To the influence of poetry and music is to be attributed the continued and undiminished feeling of suspicion, of hatred, and disregard fostered by the Irish against the descendants of their early conquerors. They had no other sort of poetry or music to counteract the effects of those national songs and melodies, which handing down from age to age, tales and histories of no peaceful character or tendency, had the most injurious influence on the moral feelings of the people, and which may account in some degree for the difference which exists at present in their character and conduct, from that of their neighbours in the Highlands and Isles of Scotland. Strange it is that this peculiar feature in the character of the Irish, viz. their enthusiastic love for poetry and music, has not been laid hold of by their best friends for conveying to them lessons of religious instruction.

It is a singular fact, that although the New Testament was translated into the Irish so far back as the year 1602, and the Old Testament in 1682, a metrical version has never yet been prepared for the people; while, on the other hand, the Highlanders of Scotland, speaking the Gaelic, have had a metrical version of the Psalms for one hundred and eighteen years before the New Testament was prepared for them in their own dialect, and one hundred and forty-three before they were in possession of the Gælic Bible entire. The contrast here is very singular; the friends of the Scotch Gal shewed themselves possessed of much wisdom, in availing themselves of the advantage arising from the enthusiastic attachment of that romantic people for poetry and tender melody. Soon after the Psalms were prepared for them, teachers of sacred music were sent forth over all the country to instruct the people in singing the Psalms. The effect was most rapid and extraordinary. The Highlanders became enthusiastic in their love of Gaelic psalmody. The hymns of the Druids, venerated for ages, and the wild legends of fairies and mountain-spirits, yielded to the songs of Sion-the holy effusions of the contrite and chastened David supplanted the coronach for the dead, and wail for the dying. The high enthusiasm of the people was not destroyed, but it received a new and holy direction. Indeed it forms a new era in the history of our country, when those songs, "which were first sung on Salem towers," were heard from our glens and isles;

when the plaintive lay of martyrs, so "justly dear to every Scottish heart," the "Warbling Measure" of sweet Dundee and of noble Elgin, became mountain melodies. These were days of marked revival. I have heard aged men declare, that from the fleet of fishing-boats along the coasts of Cantyre and Arran, amounting at times to several hundreds, might be heard in the breeze of the evening, not the warlike music of the bagpipe, which referring to feuds of clans, and scenes of strife, often engendered bitter and angry feeling, but one raptu rous burst of sacred melody, and after a solemn pause, coming afresh again in full harmonious swell. Mighty was the effect of all this in producing peace and social order, honesty and christian kindness. I cannot withold from you one anecdote which I lately heard with much delight. A mournful band of poor emigrants were expatricated their native valley, a few years ago, in the north of Scotland; forced to leave the glen. where their clan and people had resided for generations, and to seek a home in the dark and distant woods of America. In their melancholy progress towards the sea-shore, they came to the parish church, where they were wont to worship God, and near to which the remains of their fathers were depositedthey entered the sacred enclosure-stood on the tombs of their relatives-"returned and wept, and still returned to weep." A good old patriarch addressed a few words of comfort to them; he took out the Gælic Psalm-book from his pocket-"Let us sing," said he, "the 46th Psalm"- -a prayer was offered up to the God of their fathers-their souls were refreshed-they proceeded without a murmur or complaint, without one expres sion of resentment or vengeance against the unfeeling chieftain. There is a magic spell in the true simplicity of sacred melody and sacred poetry which cannot fail to enchant and command the heart; and no hearts on earth are more susceptible of such impressions than those of the poor Irish. They must, therefore, have the Psalms of David in their own language, and in poetry, and set to music sweet and simple as their own simplest melodies. The experiment has remained too long untried. Not one hour longer must be lost; and if a gracious and kind master has been pleased to enable me to contribute to this most desirable object, I shall feel that I have not lived in vain.

I hope Mr. Winning, of Kingscourt, will prepare the way for the Irish Psalms, by getting some of his teachers taught to sing, and enabled to teach others to sing. My wish is, to get a selection of the most approved Psalm-tunes prepared,

for having them engraved and published at the end of the Psalm-book. Before doing so, I shall correspond with some of your members of Synod who are most competent to advise. I am not afraid but funds will be found to defray all the expense. I shall proceed with the remaining part of the work with all the expedition in my power. It is my wish at present, and I hope to be able to effect it, to command the services of some young preacher, to assist me in my parish labours, as Missionary, so as to enable me to give more of my time to the Psalmody, as I fear my coadjutor, Mr. Con. nellan, will be getting impatient to return to Dublin, and that my people are beginning to feel that I am not so much among them as I have been in the habit of being.

I beg you will forgive me for obtruding so much on your valuable time. I was anxious to inform the Synod, how a work in which they felt so deep an interest was proceeding. With their permission I intend to dedicate it to themselves, and to send it forth under their countenance.

May the Great Head of the Church direct all your deliberations, and bless them for the good of his people, and the best interests of his church on earth. This is indeed the fervent and sincere prayer of, dear sir, your faithful and affectionate friend and brother,

THE Rev. Mr.Leslie, the Presbyterian Minister recently ar rived in this island, preached on Sunday last to a crowded auditory, at the Presbyterian Church in this town. Though he had to sustain a comparison with so truly eloquent and gifted a preacher as the Rev. Mr. Patterson, he impressed all his hearers with a strong conviction of extraordinary power, as a messenger of salvation. His address to the understanding was doubled in its effects, by the potent sway which he exércised over the heart. He supplies, during Mr. Watson's absence, the congregation of the Scotch Church at Lucea. We have to felicitate the Gospel Ministers of all denominations in the Colony at this interesting juncture in the moral and religious history of its people, with the acquisition of three such distinguished labourers as the Rev. Messrs. Patterson, Nevin, and Leslie.Jamaica Standard, May 10.

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(In addition to the above notice, we are happy in being able to submit the following letter from Mr. Leslie himself, It is addressed to the Rev. Dr. Cooke. The memorial to which it refers will, no doubt, be presented at the meeting of the Synod in Cookstown.]

MY DEAR FRIEND,

FALMOUTH, May 4th, 1835.

I YESTERDAY reached this port, after a rather tedious, though most agreeable passage of nearly seven weeks. I had resolved, so soon as I should have been settled in the island, to devote my first spare time to the giving you a statement of any thing of interest that should have come under my observation; but I find the packet sails on Tuesday, and, therefore, I am anxious to avail myself of the very first opportunity of transmitting to you the prefixed memorial, which I should have prepared and left with you in Belfast. I hope, however, it will be in good time for presentation at the approaching meeting of Synod. I have just met some of our missionaries, with a few of the most influential persons in this town and neighbourhood, who heard of my arrival. By all we have been received with the greatest joy and thankfulness. A revolution in public opinion seems to have taken place since the first of August, great beyond conception. The planters are at length alive to the necessity of adopting a moral instead of a physical system of controul, and the result has been a resolution to support missionaries in the instruction of the population. To-day I have been rather fortunate in arriving just at the time when a great public meeting of the proprietors, attornies, and planters of the parish of Trelawny, is being held. I have been introduced to a great many of them; and though much wedded to their old systems, they all agree that their only hope now of retaining any interest in the island, depends on the instruction of the apprentices. Four-fifths of the planters are Presbyterian, and desirous of encourag ing Presbyterian missionaries. No less than five stations, each with a population of at least two thousand, are now open for us. At present I must go to Lucea, the station of Mr. Watson, one of our missionaries, who has just left the island in consequence of Mrs. W.'s ill health, other. wise I should not know where to settle, the encourage.