tion of the Lord, keep not silence, and give Him no rest till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth." "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good."

The MODERATOR, then, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Head and King of the Church, appointed the next Assembly to be holden at Glasgow on Tuesday the 17th day of October next.

After engaging in prayer and praise, the Assembly broke up about one o'clock in the morning. The Hall remained crowded to the close, there being present betwixt three and four thousand persons.

So ended the FIRST ASSEMBLY of the FREE PROTESTING CHURCH of SCOTLAND. It was a noble Assembly. Often were we reminded, during its sittings, of that period in the history of the Apostolic Church, when the brethren within were "of one heart and of one soul," and when great "fear," besides, "came upon every soul" of them who were without. The Divine arm was made bare. And it seemed as if all which man had to do, was to stand still and see the salvation which it wrought.

(See Appendix at the end of the volume.)

SKETCH OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE
RESIDUARY ASSEMBLY.

THURSDAY, May 18.

We turn now to another scene. After the PROTEST had been read, and the MODERATOR, followed by Dr Chalmers, Dr Gordon, and the other Protesting members, had left the House,

Dr MEARNS proposed, that under the extraordinary circumstances which had occurred, Principal Haldane of St Andrews, as the oldest Moderator present, should in the meantime take the chair,-which was unanimously agreed to. Principal HALDANE then took the chair, and offered up prayer.

Dr Cook then rose and said,—It is scarcely possible to have listened to the paper which has now been read, without the strongest feelings of regret, followed up as it has been by the secession of so many of our brethren from this Supreme Judicatory, which it was long their conviction that they were bound by the most solemn obligations, to respect, to uphold, and to obey. The document is of too serious and solemn a nature to be bastily taken under our consideration. It involves matters of the most momentous interest, both to the individuals by whom it is subscribed, and to the Church in general. I am on this account unwilling to enter at present upon what it contains, or to state the sentiments which I hold as to the pleas which it urges, and the views which it upholds. We should have to make up our minds both as to the paper itself, and the withdrawing of those by whom it has been offered to the Assembly. I am quite aware that, just now, when we have not elected a Moderator, and when the House is not properly constituted, we cannot formally venture to receive the document, or fix a day on which it is to be taken up. We have no wish to throw any obstacle in the way of receiving the document. We presume, that it may be understood that the Committee which will be appointed for arranging business will set apart an early day for the agitating discussion to which I have alluded. I most sincerely say, that those of us who cleave to the Church will probably feel ourselves called upon to take an early opportunity to submit both to our gracious Sovereign and to the community at large, the grounds of our attachment to the Establishment, and of our firm resolution to adhere to it. All this will soon come before us; but I could not refrain from thus adverting to it. I may be permitted, in one word, to lament the present state of the Church, so different from what it lately Only a few years have elapsed since, divided in opinion as we no doubt were on various points, we united in venerating our National Church, in considering it as the source of invaluable blessings to the community, and in exerting ourselves to extend its hallowed influence. We have, alas! witnessed to-day many of its ministers, under whose pastoral care and zeal the graces of the divine life were extensively diffused, leaving its highest judicatory, thus indicating the change which has taken place in their minds respecting it. Darkened as the prospect may be for a season, we do not despair. The Church, we believe, will continue, under God, in its vigour and usefulness; the prejudices which have been raised against it will be removed, and we shall have abundant cause to pray, as we have long done, for the peace of our Jerusalem, and that all who love her may prosper.

was.

Mr JAMES MONCREIFF, advocate, requested that an early day might be fixed for taking up the Protest, as he intended to move a series of resolutions with regard to it, on the part of bimself and those for whom he acted.

Mr WALTER COOK, W. S., then moved, that the roll of the Assembly be read. The Clerk accordingly proceeded to read the roll. On coming to the names of the ministers of the Presbytery of Strathbogie who had been suspended, and afterwards deposed,

Mr JAMES MONCREIFF rose and moved, that these names be not in the meantime put on the roll.

Rev. Mr Cook of Laurencekirk contended, that this motion was made at too early a period.

The Clerk then proceeded with the reading of the roll, and when it was concluded, Mr Moncreiff rose again, and moved that the names of the deposed Strathbogie ministers be not retained on the roll.

After a pretty long discussion, Mr MONCREIFF agreed to postpone his motion in the meantime, as it appeared to be the general opinion that, in point of form, this was not the proper time for pressing it ;-but he could not depart from it, and would insist that they could in no way recognise these deposed ministers.

It was then agreed to proceed to the election of a Moderator.

Dr Cook moved that one of the oldest Moderators, the Rev. Dr M'Farlan, Principal of the University of Glasgow, be elected Moderator.

The Earl of SELKIRK seconded the motion.

Mr BRUCE of Kennet did not rise to propose another gentleman in place of Principal M'Farlan, but to guard himself against being supposed to approve of the election made by this House. It was impossible for him to acquiesce in the nomination of Principal M‘Farlan, who had made common cause with those who had been deposed from the office of the holy ministry.

Principal M FARLAN then took the chair amidst cheers and hisses on the part of the audience.

Principal LEE read her Majesty's Commission in favour of the Marquis of Bute.

The NOBLE MARQUIS next presented the Queen's Letter, which was read by the Clerk, and for which we refer our readers to p. 23.

The Marquis of BUTE then said,-Right Reverend and Right Honourable, I have cheerfully obeyed the Queen's commands again to represent her person and authority in the General Assembly. My instructions are to assure you that her Majesty will maintain inviolate Presbyterian Church government in Scotland. You could not, indeed, require this assurance through me, since you have so lately had the happiness of seeing her Majesty among you, and have heard from the Queen's own lips that she will observe, with scrupulous fidelity, the first engagements into which she entered at her accession to the throne; and the Queen's Letter, which you have just heard read, speaks out her royal and affectionate desire to confirm the securities and enlarge the usefulness of the Church of Scotland. Her Majesty relies upon your loyalty; and I shall express my own anxious hope that you will answer her Majesty's Letter by those loyal and considerate resolves which, under the blessing of God, may restore the peace of your country. I am commanded to acquaint you, that her Majesty has directed the sum of L.2000 to be placed in your hand, to be applied for the propagation of Christian knowledge, and of the principles of the reformed religion in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Right Reverend and Right Honourables, I hope it is unnecessary to say to you collectively and individually, that I shall be happy to shew you any attention in my power.

The MODERATOR replied to this address, but owing to his back being turned to the audience in addressing the Commissioner, not one sentence could be distinctly heard, after which, on the motion of Mr Proudfoot of Avondale, he again offered up prayer.

Lord BELHAVEN then said, having heard her Majesty's Letter read, he thought it was the most proper course to delay appointing a Committee to answer that Letter till to-morrow, that in the meantime they might have time to consider the matter;that, he humbly thought, would be the most respectful mode of procedure, and he

would suggest, therefore, that it should be adopted. They were not in a frame of mind to take up the letter in the way in which such an important document should be considered, and he would move on this account, that the Assembly delay appointing the Committee to answer her Majesty's Letter until a future meeting.

Mr DICKSON of Hartree said, that it was with great pain that he felt compelled to offer a few words on the present occasion, and he trusted that he would be pardoned for intruding. He was, as most of them might be aware, the only person present who had signed and adhered to the Convocation resolutions, and he hoped he would be pardoned for stating shortly the grounds why he bad remained in the Assembly behind those with whom he formerly acted, and also in stating the line of conduct which he meant to pursue. He had thought it his duty, after receiving a commission as the lay representative of a Presbytery, to attend this Assembly, and to allow the House to be constituted before he cast up that commission. He had this duty to perform as the representative of those who had sent bim to that Assembly, and, as a good and loyal subject, he thought it was his duty to wait till he heard the communication from the throne, in regard to the affairs of the Church, before he came to a final decision as to how he should act. He had all along been a Non-Intrusionist, and had gone the length of being a Convocationist. He had, however, still been willing to hope; he had been anxious to believe that it was still possible that something might be done for the settlement of the affairs of the Church. He was, in particular, led to entertain these hopes from the late debate in the House of Lords. But having now taken his seat, and having now heard the Letter which had just been read, it became his duty to make up his mind whether he could adhere to this Assembly as now constituted, or give in his adherence to those who had left; and it was with extreme pain that he now made the statement that he felt constrained to go along with those who had left. In doing so, he would not express at length his reasons for this step, as the statements which he might make might give rise to painful feelings on the part of those who differed from him. It would be sufficient for him to conclude by saying, that after having heard the communication from her Majesty, the same uncertainty about the removal of their grievances existed that before existed, and without saying more, and begging pardon for having intruded on their time, he would state, that in leaving this House he was well aware that many remained behind who would gladly have the assistance and support of those who had left. It was improbable, however, that they would ever be connected again. In the meantime, he trusted that he would be allowed to sign the protest of those who had left.

Rev. HENRY MONCREIFF of East Kilbride said, when they were called upon to take the first act in which this Assembly would proceed as a regularly constituted Assembly, he felt it incumbent upon him to state the position in which he felt that be stood with reference to the present Assembly and its constitution, in order to guard himself against what might afterwards follow. It was alleged that this was an illegal Assembly. He was not prepared to go so far as those who maintained that this Assembly, as returned, was necessarily an illegal Assembly, either on the ground of certain individuals who were ministers or elders of quoad sacra parishes being members, or, on the other hand, of certain special interdicts having been applied for in certain particular cases. He held that, according to the usual practice of this House, and of other deliberative bodies, though certain illegal interferences might have taken place with the election of these bodies, it did not necessarily follow that their meetings were altogether illegal. He was, therefore, prepared to take this ground.

Mr ROBERT JOHNSTON, W. S., said,—that he felt great difficulty, in the position in which he stood, in allowing the opportunity to pass without making some statement; but if, as a mere matter of form, and in respect to her Majesty, this was not deemed the proper time, he had no objection to postpone any observations he had to offer.

It was then agreed that the appointment of a Committee to answer the Queen's Letter should be postponed till to-morrow.

The PROCURATOR moved that the report of the Committee appointed to revise

commissions with reference to technical objections, should be referred to the Special Committee appointed to meet to-morrow.

Dr Cook said they must have the report of the Committee before they knew whether they were properly constituted.

Rev. Mr MONCREIFF said it appeared to him, in consequence of a recent decision of the Court of Session, supposing that decision final, that they were placed in this anomalous position-either they had not an Assembly which could act fully for the purpose of maintaining the authority of an Assembly, their acts carrying civil effects, or otherwise they had not an Assembly properly elected with reference to ecclesiastical rule. Combining these considerations with other circumstances, he could not but feel there might be doubt raised with reference to the moral weight, as well as the validity of the acts of an Assembly so constituted. If he thought he could be successful in following a conciliatory course-which he was anxious to do with reference to the Veto law, always adhering to the fundamental principle of Non-intrusion, and also with reference to the quoad sacra ministers, not holding that so sacred a question as others did, if he thought he could be successful in following such a course, waiving the objections to which he had referred, then he would follow that course. That was the meaning of his position at the present moment; but circumstances would determine how far he might be enabled to follow such a course.

Mr ROBERT JOHNSTON, W. S., stated his reasons for not joining the Convocationists. He had not been able, in every respect, to go along with his friends in their course during the last few months. He bad not been satisfied that a measure giving civil effect to all proceedings of the Church, and such as she could conscientiously conform her actings to, had been definitively rejected. No assurance as yet had been given of a measure under which he could act; but for the sake of one remaining possibility that the principles stated might appear changed when the details were considered, with the announcement of an immediate measure, he had not felt warranted in separating.

The MODERATOR asked if it was the will of the Assembly now to proceed to appoint a Committee for the purpose of revising Commissions. (Agreed, agreed.)

Mr JAMES MONCREIFF begged to state, that he still adhered to the protest he had taken out at the earliest stage of the proceedings, against receiving the Commissions of the ministers of Strathbogie, who had been deposed by the General Assembly. The usual committees having been appointed, the Assembly, shortly after six, adjourned until twelve o'clock on Friday.

FRIDAY, May 19.

The Assembly met to-day, at twelve o'clock, according to adjournment. Lord BELHAVEN then named the Committee to prepare an answer to her Majesty's most gracious letter.

On the motion of Principal HALDANE, the Assembly agreed to present an address of congratulation to her Majesty on the recent birth of a princess; also an address of condolence in reference to the death of his royal highness the Duke of Sussex. A committee was then appointed to examine the disputed Commissions.

Dr J. Crombie, Aberlemno, was appointed to preach before the Lord High Commissioner on the forenoon of Sabbath first, and the Rev. Samuel Traill of Arbuthnot on the afternoon.

Professor ALEXANDER of St Andrews, begged leave to suggest the propriety of appointing a Committee to draw up a pastoral letter, to be addressed to the people of Scotland, with regard to the present position of the Church.

Principal LEE thought the best way to bring this subject before the Assembly would be by an overture.

The matter was then dropped, on the understanding that the matter should be brought before the Assembly by overture.

A Committee was next appointed for arranging the business of the Assembly-Dr Cook, convener.

The PROCURATOR then read the report of the Committee on Bills; after which