borne an unblemished Christain charac- a saving work among the people. Swatow ter. His wife and family are living some is a great mart for trade; the people ten miles off, at his native village, and have their minds bent on gain, they have are professing Christians. He is helpful no time to consider the claims of the to us, although not so directly in the gospel, and what they do hear grates work of the gospel. upon their ears, being opposed to their venerated customs and their vicious habits. Unless there be a Pentecostal effusion of the Holy Spirit upon Swatow, I see nothing that can stem the mighty current of iniquity that sweeps along, carrying the whole population onward to everlasting ruin. Cry for us, and cry with us that God may rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains may flow down at His presence. Another is an Amoy Christian, who came to Double Island about the same time with myself, as a workman, and who heartily consented to remain with us at reduced wages, after his engagement for work had expired. He is approving himself a faithful and useful man. Another is a Hakka or Kheh man, who was brought to the knowledge of the truth through means of Siboo, one of the Pechuia converts at Singapore. He is a native of this region, in all the towns of which there are Hakkas to a greater or less extent, and in two of them almost exclusively a Hakka population. He is a single-hearted, devoted man, and, I trust, will yet prove a means of great blessing to his countrymen. Last of all is a young man from the Foo city, who has been hopefully converted, and made a public profession of his faith. He was received into the church by baptism about two months ago, and from the time of his first hearing the gospel, some six months ago, until now, has appeared to be under the Holy Spirit's teaching. Pray much for him, that God may bless him and make him a blessing. Mr. Jones has also been given us; and just the other day, Dr. and Mrs. Carnegie touched at Swatow, in the first place, on their way to Amoy, on Mrs. Carnegie's account, but in the prospect, if it be the Lord's will, of returning, and making their home in this quarter. THE SCHOOL. One preacher, who came from Amoy, has left us and returned, considerably disappointing us. Our school at Swatow has been broken up in consequence of our school premises being thrown down in the typhoon of last August. By the time that the house could be re-occupied, the tenth month (Chinese harvest) had come on, when children are generally called away from school. And as it is the Chinese custom to break up attendance at school in the eleventh month, and not resume till the new year, it seemed imprudent to re-open till the new year. Two difficulties stand in the way of conducting a school here; first, the want of a suitable school-house. Our house at one time formed school and chapel, and everything else; but we felt far too crowded. This difficulty we are likely soon to get over, by increasing our premises, of which there is some prospect at present. The other difficulty is the want of a Christian to act as teacher. Were I always with the children, a heathen man might do for teaching the branches of Chinese education; but being necessitated to go to other parts, and We have had, from the time that our feeling, besides, that my great work is to house at Swatow was occupied, services preach the gospel, I can only give a porfor the benefit of the Chinese at the times tion of my time at best, and sometimes for the morning and evening worship, cannot be present at all. Hence a heawith regular diets of worship on the then teacher (if alone) naturally enough Sabbath. Latterly we have restricted frustrates any Christian influence brought our public work to a meeting once a-day, to bear on the scholars. Still a school Sabbath services as before. The attend- is very desirable; its existence tells indiance at these meetings varies. Some-rectly very much in our favour; it is one times the house is crowded, sometimes means of influence I feel very loath to only one or two; an average perhaps of leave unemployed; and if it please God, twenty or thirty people come daily to in answer to our prayers, to grant us a hear the word. I often feel much as- suitable teacher, we may hope to re-open sisted in the work, yet see no evidence of at the Chinese new year, that is, about The Lord's Supper has been twice dispensed at Swatow. THE PREACHING OF THE WORD. the beginning of February next. At present the way is not clear; and before such a work can be begun, there will be an opportunity for our brethren at home helping us at the throne of grace. May many be stirred up to pray. A NEW FIELD ENTERED UPON. For the last six or seven months Mr. Jones and some of the native brethren have occupied Tathaupo. I have also frequently visited it, staying a longer or shorter period. While it might be too much to say that the word has been fully preached there, yet the good seed has been widely scattered. The people, from the mandarins downwards, have manifested great respect, and no small kindness. Our hopes have often been raised very high, but hitherto not one of the people of Tathaupo has taken up the cross. Some at one time seemed very hopeful. I trust all appearances will not prove deceitful. Nay, I believe that God has a people there, and a work to be wrought there, whatever His time and whoever His instruments may be. The call to go to Tathaupo seemed to us, and still seems, clearly to be of God, although we cannot report the success that we at first anticipated. In the meantime you will regret to hear that Mr. Jones has for nearly three months been laid aside from work. He was bit in the foot one morning by a snake in his bedroom, and, after being confined to bed for about three weeks at Tathaupo, he deemed it most advisable to go to Hong Kong, for the benefit of medical advice. He has been there now for nearly two months, and Dr. Carnegie has brought word that it will yet be some time before he can walk. This seems a mysterious dispensation. This calamity, together with other trying IMPRISONMENT OF A CHINESE EVANGELIST. He I think I have not yet told you of the brother. Some three months ago, at his imprisonment and release of our Hakka own request, he was sent to Hong Sun, a Hakka town in this department, about seventy miles inland from Swatow. was allowed an absence of forty days, to give ample time for going and coming, and for evangelistic work. At the end of the period he did not return; we began to get anxious about him, and sent off a man to make inquiries. We soon learned that almost on reaching Hong Sun he had been arrested by the mandarins, on suspicion of belonging to the rebels. The mandarin examined his books, and declared them to be identical with those of the long-haired rebels. He ordered the policemen to give him twenty blows; Khun Hian says they were very slight. The next day, the Hong Sun mandarin sent Khun Hian to Ta Poo, to be further examined by the mandarin of his native town. Ta Poo is still further inland, being six or seven days' sail up the Han river from Swatow. At Ta Poo ments there, in the presence of the manhe was again examined; but as his statedarin, corresponded with those made at Hong Sun, the mandarin had nothing to say, but ordered him to be imprisoned till further light should be thrown on the matter. After waiting for some time, the mandarin charged him with propagating the tenets of the insurgents, and proved his charge by comparing their books with those of Khun Hian; however, there was no evidence of guilt; he accordingly again ordered him to be imprisoned, with the intention, as he said him at a future time. The mandarin to the officers of the Yamun, of releasing could easily have ascertained the facts of circumstances, claims for our dear brother the most hearty and prayerful sym-to Swatow; but where there is no prosthe case, by sending some of his officials pathy of those who seek the spread of Christ's kingdom in China. pect of pecuniary remuneration, the adThe school at Tathaupo has maintained ministration of justice is a matter of the number of its scholars to the end of comparative indifference to the Chinese the year, and rather increased. It is mandarins. Two of our men succeeded conducted by a professing Christian, one in getting him released. of Mr. Burn's old assistants. It is not all that we could desire. Still we trust THE REBELS—THEIR RELIGIOUS VIEWS. that the knowledge of Divine truth im- Khun Hian had been imprisoned at parted to the children will, by the bless-Ta Poo with some of the insurgents, and ing of God, bear fruit. Our difficulty at gathered some interesting information Tathaupo is like that at Swatow, and one from them regarding the Taepingwang which God only can remove, by creating party, or Nankin rebels. Their copy of men for His work. the Decalogue, which he saw, is iden tical with ours-the praseology being slightly different. It is prefaced by a prayer for the Spirit's assistance, and terminated by a doxology to the Trinity, all perfectly orthodox. They have at present four kings, that of Nankin being the chief. In the course of this year they made an inroad on Ta Poo and Hong Sun, and at the latter place broke down all the images. It seems to be their practice first to kill the gods, and then slay the people; the former being destroyed, how can the latter hope to withstand? The report is, that they treat their prisoners well, and after they have kept them for a time give them their choice to go or stay. The report of their discipline is very favourable; their numbers seem to be great. It would be presumptuous, as well as foolish, at present to say what may be the future history of China. Many of the Chinese attribute their present miserable political condition to the effete state of the present dynasty, and regard it as at an end. In regard to the insurgents, so little is known of them that it would be difficult to form a decided opinion; but we may safely say that a body of men, comprising millions of people, whose religion is opposition to every form of idolatry, papal as well as pagan and who make the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament the standard of their teaching, and whose own compositions, whether prayers or hymns, contain so much saving truth, and who for years have maintained their place in the heart of the Chinese empire, and seem now more consolidated than ever, we may safely say that such a body of men have a very important part to play in the purposes of Him whose kingdom is to fill the whole earth. Were the way opened up to them, one might regard them, humanly speaking, as in a state of preparation for the immediate reception of Divine truth. Continue to pray without ceasing, on our behalf, and let thanks also be rendered for God's manifold mercies. Plead especially for a native agency to carry the glad tidings all over this department, and to the regions beyond. We are hitherto alone in this field; and as it opens up, our present numbers are utterly inadequate to the work before us, Oh that the Lord of the harvest may prepare and thrust forth labourers into this great mission field. 1 10 0 1 4 29 nute: 1 0 0 "The Presbytery express their sincere 50 regret at the loss they have sustained by the 100 decease of the Rev. Thomas Whyte, of Dalston. And while they would bow to the sovereign will of God in taking him away thus early in the midst of his usefulness, they would record their affectionate remembrance of the unaffected piety, the Christian simplicity, and the pastoral fidelity and zeal of their departed brother, and their deep sympathy with his bereaved partner in life, and with the Kirk session and congregation of Dalston, in the solemn and trying circumstances in which they are placed." £0 11 2 JOHN JOHNSTONE, Treasurer. Trinity, De Beauvoir Town, ditto Canning Street, addition to Collection Trinity, Manchester, Juvenile Missionary Association Brampton, Miss Charlton' Grosvenor Square, Juvenile Missionary New John Street, Birmingham Marylebone, additional Subscriptions 3, Lombard Street, London, 14th March, 1860. . £2 100 10 13 3 62 19 8 This proposal was seconded by Dr. Lorimer, and cordially agreed to; and at the request of the moderator, the Presbytery engaged in prayer, Dr. McCrie leading the devotions. Dr. Hamilton was appointed interim 10 0 0 moderator of the Dalston Session, and Dr. Lorimer to preach the church vacant 6 10 0 0 50 on the 18th March. 34 0 Dr. Lorimer proposed that the following 1000 Students of Divinity be taken on trials for 21 10 9 licence; viz., Mr. Robert Thom, Mr. James 47 17 0 Brown, Mr. James Anderson, Mr. James Laing. This was agreed to, and Messrs. Burns, Roberts, and Ballantyne were appointed a committee on their preliminary examination; Mr. Ballantyne, convener. 6 2 6 0 15 0 1 0 0 HUGH M. MATHESON, Treasurer. Presbyteries' Proceedings. PRESBYTERY OF LONDON. THIS Presbytery met on the 13th March, in the College Hall. The following members were present: Mr. Ballantyne, moderator pro tem.; Drs. McCrie, Lorimer, and Weir, Messrs. Chalmers, Duncan, Burns, Alexander, Keedy, and Walker, ministers; Messrs. Tulloch, Mackay, Scadlock, Hinde, Dr. Lorimer gave notice that at next meeting he would call the attention of the Presbytery to the overture sent down from the Synod on the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund. BERWICK PRESBYTERY. THIS Presbytery met at Berwick, on the 28th February, sederunt: the Rev. Mr. Terras, moderator; Messrs. Fraser, Cant, Thomson, Valence, Haig, and McLean, ministers; Mr. Henry Cowe, elder. Schedules from the Day-schools of Belford, Berwick, Horncliffe, Lowick, Norham, N. Sunderland and Tweedmouth, were produced, examined, and attested. The Committee of Presbytery appointed to examine Mr. Thomson, teacher elect of Tweedmouth schools, reported that he was well qualified | the church introduced into every family in and recommended, that his appointment be their respective congregations. sustained; it was sustained accordingly. The Session Record, Baptismal Register, Treasurer's Book, and Communion Roll of N. Sunderland were laid on the table, examined, and attested. A Home Mission schedule from Lowick was produced and read, and the Presbytery being satisfied with the stipulated amount for the support of the minister, ordered it to be attested, Mr. Miller then moved that this Presbytery overture the Synod to express sympathy with the Free Church of Scotland in her present position, in consequence of the late decision of the first division of the court of session in the Cardross case. Agreed unanimously. It was moved and agreed that this Presbytery approve of the overture sent down by the Synod, "Anent the establishment of The Presbytery having heard with un-a fund for aged and infirm ministers." feigned sorrow of the death of the Rev. W. There was produced by the clerk, read, H. Douglas, formerly minister of Horncliffe, agreed to record their solemn sense of the hand of God in having removed their young brother, a person of sound piety and excellent promise, after a short ministry and protracted illness; and their deep sense of the call, in this sad event, made upon all to be also ready to give in an account of their ministry. The clerk having directed the attention of the Presbytery to the remit of last Synod, anent Aged and Infirm Minister's Fund, the Presbytery unanimously approved of the overture. Adjourned to meet at Berwick, on the last Tuesday of May, at 11.30 a.m. PRESBYTERY OF NEWCASTLE. MET in the John Knox Church, Newcastle, on the 13th March, and was duly constituted. Present the Rev. Colin A. Mackenzie, moderator; Messrs. Miller, Jeffery, Wrightson, Saphir, Blake, Black, Dinwiddie, Farquharson, Anderson, Brown, and Reid, ministers; with Messrs. Brewis, Freeman, and Morrison, elders. The minutes of last meeting were read and sustained. The school schedules from Keilder, Hott, and Gatehouse were laid on the table, examined, and ordered to be attested. On the motion of Mr. Dinwiddie, according to notice, it was agreed that the Presbytery meet once in two months, instead of once in three months, as formerly. Mr. Saphir moved, according to notice, "that in future it shall be a portion of the regular business of the court to consider the state of religion within the bounds at one or two of its stated meetings." Agreed unanimously, and the meetings in January and March appointed for this purpose. The committee on Darlington was reappointed. On the motion of Mr. Farquharson, it was agreed that the Presbytery urge upon all ministers within the bounds the propriety of embracing the present favourable opportunity of getting a copy of the standards of and laid on the table, extract minute from the Presbytery of Kingston, Canada West, in the case of the Rev. Andrew Hardie. After deliberation, it was unanimously resolved to refer the whole case simpliciter to the Synod, with such extracts, papers, and explanations as can be given to assist the Supreme Court to direct and decide in the matter. Mr. Miller and the clerk were appointed to state the reference. The next ordinary meeting was appointed to be held in the John Knox Church, on Tuesday, the 8th May next, at 11 a.m. The meeting closed with prayer. PRESBYTERY OF LANCASHIRE. THIS Presbytery met at Manchester on 7th March. Present-Rev. J. R. Welsh, moderator; Dr. White, Messrs. Davidson, J. C. Paterson, Jas. Paterson, Blyth, Brown, McCaw, John Clelland, Breakey, Johnstone, Cromar, Lundie, and Inglis, ministers; and Messrs. Wightman, Hindshaw, and McGill, elders. Mr. Inglis moved, as he had given notice, that at each ordinary meeting of Presbytery two ministers shall give account of their congregations, more especially as regards the state of religion in them, and any hopeful appearances of the prosperity of ministerial work; and that the ministers, beginning at the top and the bottom of the roll in rotation, be requested to do this by the clerk, at least one month before the meetings. This motion was not seconded; but after deliberation it was moved by Mr. J. C. Paterson, and unanimously agreed to, that special meetings of the Presbytery be held twice in the year, once in Manchester and once in Liverpool, for devotional exercises, and for the consideration of the state of religion in the congregations of the bounds; that in the evenings of the days on which these meetings are held a public meeting be held in the same place, to be addressed by members of Presbytery on religion and missions; and that the moderator and clerk be appointed a committee to make the necessary arrangements. Mr. Brown, of Leeds, was appointed |