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the year 1787, persevered in holding their religious assemblies and celebrating the sacrament of the Lord's Supper by night, in the neighbouring forests to avoid detection. Another Church has been opened at Condé-sur-Noireau in the department of Calcados-still the wants of the French Protestants are very great. Seven congregations near Amiens, consisting principally of weavers, are so poor, that till lately they could only be visited by a minister of their religion once, or at most twice in the year, when they were obliged to hold their assemblies in cellars or garrets, which were unable to contain more than 150 persons. For the last five years they have been enabled to support a resident minister whose exertions have been blessed with signal success, so that it is now absolutely necessary for them to build a place of worship sufficiently large to contain the increasing congregation.

NATIONAL SOCIETY.

On Wednesday, the 2d January, 1828, the following grants were made; viz. to the Thiel Vor School, near Helston, Cornwall, 50% additionally; Lampeter, Cardigan, 30%; Middlesex Society, Cannon-street-road, 50; L. Eversden, Cambridge, 10.; Nook, Bewcastle, Cumberland, 207.

The schools of the following places were also received into union :-Bloxwich, Stafford; Crick, Derby; Cowick, parish of Snaith, Yorkshire; Drypool, near Hull; Everdon, near Daventry; Little

Eversden, Cambridgeshire; Fowey, Cornwall; Newport, Monmouthshire; Nook, parish of Bewcastle, Cumberland; St. Andrews, Glamorganshire; Staunton, Gloucestershire; West Wickham, Cambridgeshire.

CHESTER INFANT SCHOOLS.

A meeting of the committee and subscribers to these schools was held on the 16th ult.; the Bishop of the diocese in the chair. The experience of another year induces the committee to express a confident opinion that the system must have a beneficial result.

CHESTER DEE BRIDGE.

The first stone of this Bridge was laid on the 1st October last by Lord Grosvenor. Immediately after this ceremony, the Rev. Prebendary Blomfield offered up the following dedicatory prayer:

"Almighty God, the Designer and Creator of the world, and of all that is therein, we now presume to entreat thy blessing upon this undertaking. We acknowledge that except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it: look down, therefore, we beseech thee, with a favourable eye upon this beginning of our work. As thou hast given man the skill to design it, give him also the power to execute it, that it may stand to future ages the memorial of what great things man can do when the Lord's blessing is upon his undertakings: and as whatever tends to the accommodation and comfort of thy creatures, contributes also to thy honour and glory, accept, we beseech thee, and approve our offering. As this first stone is laid in faith, let us humbly look for thy assistance towards the completion of that which is built thereon: and, as this work of men's hands will join together those whom the water divides, let it be a token to us of that firm fellowship and Christian charity in which we should be united together, as the servants and children of one gracious Lord and Master: and may the glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon us; prosper thou the work of our hands upon us; O prosper thou our handy work, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

LITERARY REPORT.

BOOKS IN THE PRESS. The first volume of the Works of the English and Scottish Reformers, edited by the Rev. THOMAS RUSSELL, A. M., price 10s. 6d. A second edition of Sermons on various Subjects, by the late Rev. John Hyatt, edited by his son, CHARLES HYATT, with a Memoir of the Author, by

the Rev. JOHN MORISON, Minister of Trevor Chapel, Brompton, 10s. 6d.-The second part of the Rev. JOHN MORISON'S Exposition of the Book of Psalms, (to be published on the 1st of March); and the second edition of Part I. will be ready for delivery in a few days.-Bishop HEBER'S Hymn before a collection for the Society

for the Propagation of the Gospel, set to music by Miss FLEET, organist of St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate.-In the course of publication, in monthly parts, price 6s. each (eight of which are already published,) the FIFTH edition, revised and improved, with a new Index, of CALMET's Dictionary of the Bible, with the Fragments, a series of dissertations, containing new illustrations of scriptural incidents and expressions, selected from the most authentic historians, travellers, &c. illustrated by several hundred plates. An enlarged Index of subjects and texts to the Fourth Edition, with a scientific analysis of the entire work, is just published, and may be had separately, price 5s.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

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On

FROST ON THE MUSTARD TREE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. Mr. John Frost has published a small pamphlet, in which he contends that the κόκκον owanéws of the New Testament (see Matt. xiii. 31. Mark iv. 30, and Luke xiii. 19), is not the common mustard seed, (Sinapis nigra) nor of the same family; but that the Phytolacca dodecandra is probably the tree alluded to in the Gospels. Because, 1. the Sinapis migra is not the smallest of all seeds;2. It is an annual plant and herbaceous, and cannot become a tree. the other hand, the Phytolacca dodecandra, 1. is one of the largest trees indigenous to the country where the observation was made; -2. it has the smallest seed of any tree in that country;-3. it is used both as a culinary vegetable and medicinal stimulant, which common mustard is also ;-4. a species of the same genus is well known in the United States by the term "Wild Mustard;"-5. the ultimate chemical elements of the seed of Sinapis nigra and Phytolacca dodecandra are the same. Mr. Frost's observations are well deserving of attention; but still there is a difficulty, for the words are, "the least of all seeds." The following note on the subject, in D'Oyly and Mant's Bible is not very satisfactory; ["Which indeed is the least of all seeds:] or, smaller than most other seeds; not strictly speaking than all."

The Foreign Review and Continental Miscellany. The first number of this work has appeared, and contains much valuable and interesting matter. In the

first article, Barante's history of the Dukes of Burgundy, written by Mr.Southey, there is an excellent account of the war between the court of Flanders and the people of Ghent. An article on Castilian poetry is by Mr. Wiffen, the translator of Tasso; that on the life and writings of Werner, by Mr. Carlyle, of Edinburgh; and the Jacobins and Jesuits are encountered by Mr. Croly. But we cannot particularise further except to say, that the concluding article on Turkey is written by M. Jakovaki Rizo, a Greek, and once secretary interpreter to the Porte, and afterwards resident in the provinces of Wallachia and Moldavia. We doubt not but that this attempt to give Englishmen an insight into the literature and state of foreign lands will be well received; and we hope that through this medium we shall receive not merely a knowledge of profane things, but that from time to time we shall have some account of the theological and religious opinions of our continental brethren.

Essays, by PAUL FERROL. (Rodwell, London.) Here are two essays of which we think the author need not have been ashamed. The object of the first is to shew how much cause we have to believe, that our happiness in a future state will result from the development of our intellectual as well as moral capacities. The second delineates the probable feelings and situation of our Lord, from a consideration of the several circumstances and actions narrated in the New Testament. In discussing these subjects the author evinces great acuteness and much sound knowledge and feeling.

LIST OF BOOKS.

Orme on Blasphemy, 12mo. 5s. bds.Chalmers on Literary and Ecclesiastical Endowments, 8vo. 6s. bds.-Dick's Philosophy of a Future State, 12mo. 6s. 6d. bds. -Berens' Second Selection from the

Spectator, 12mo. 5s. 6d. bds.-Chevallier's Hulsean Lectures, 1827, 8vo. 12s. bds.— Carpenter's Scripture Natural History, 8vo. 14s. bds.-The Gate to the Hebrew, Arabic, and Syriac, 8vo. 6s. 6d. bds.-Scott's Church History, vol. ii. part 1. 8vo. 8s. bds. Jeffrey's Widowed Missionary's Journal, 12mo. 5s. bds.-Taylor's (Rev. Isaac) Balance of Criminality, 12mo. 4s. bds.-The Infidel, 8vo. 2s. 6d.-Davies on the Human Mind, 2 vols. 8vo. 18s. bds.Hall's Gradus ad Parnassum, 12mo. 3s. 6d. bds. Taylor's Biography (Middle Ages), 12mo. 7s. hf-bd.-Halliday on Lunatic Asylums, 8vo. 5s. bds.-Boy's New Testament, 4to. 17. 1s. bds.

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THE MINISTRY. The expected change in the ministry has taken place. Various reasons are considered to have combined in causing the dissolution of the late administration; but probably dissensions among his colleagues may be assigned as the chief cause of Lord Goderich's resignation. The Duke of Wellington is his Lordship's successor. The new Cabinet is composed of men who on some political questions have expressed different opinions; but the majority are opposed to the Catholic claims we confess however this is not the question which we consider the most important; our anxiety in these political changes is rather who will be selected as overseers of God's heritage? Will they be godly and faithful men; vigilant, apt to teach, not greedy of filthy lucre, not covetous; examples of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity? For if our Church be strong within, we fear not, though we would not expose her to, dangers from without.

THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.-The Quarter's Revenue does not present

such a serious defalcation as had been anticipated, and as the preceding ones in the past year had done, though there is a deficit of nearly 200,000l. upon that of the corresponding quarter, closing January 5th, 1827; the period when it cannot yet be forgotten that our commerce was at its lowest ebb. During the present year, a large demand has been experienced in our cotton and linen manufactures, particularly the former; there is as yet no increase in the price of the raw material, though the consumption is considerably increased upon the two preceding years. The silk trade is likewise becoming more brisk; and the iron works of Staffordshire are in full operation: the market for iron is good, and though the prices are low, they are regular. Altogether the general state of our trade and manufactures appears to be improving.

The accounts from the agricultural districts are upon the whole favourable. Although owing to the uncommon mildness of the weather, the wheats are rather too forward, yet

they look beautifully healthy, and luxuriant; the crops of turnips are very good,-whilst our farmers can scarcely remember an equally plentiful grazing season, or one in which dry fodder has been more spared for the spring.

FRANCE. In consequence of the result of the late general election in this country, some considerable alterations have been made in the cabinet; Mons. Villele, with some of his colleagues, being raised to the Upper Chamber and vacating their offices. The new ministry is not however considered to be very firmly established, and many persons doubt whether it will even exist until the meeting of the Chambers, which is fixed for the 5th of this month; it being generally understood that the persons of whom it is composed have for the most part accepted of their different situations without having arranged together any fixed plan of government. The prime minister, being himself wholly destitute of political principle, has endeavoured in his choice of colleagues to combine all parties, a line of conduct which sufficiently ensures the short duration of their ascendancy. As a further means of obtaining the support of public opinion, he has expressed himself to be desirous of granting some concessions to the liberal party. He has promised the expulsion of the Jesuits, the abandonment of the severe censorship on the press, and a new law to secure the purity of elections; but these promises are not much relied upon. Indeed, the great favour in which the Jesuitical party are at court, one of that order being Confessor to his Majesty, renders it very improbable that the minister will find he has the power, even supposing him to be really possessed of the inclination, to fulfil his promise concerning their banishment.

PENINSULA.-The King of Spain continues at Tarragona, but it is not known how long, or why he prolongs his residence there. Catalonia is yet in a disturbed state, without any prospect of its speedy pacification. The same parties are still actively opposed to each other, and an able and energetic leader alone seems wanting to give the victory to that side whose interests he might espouse. The want

VOL. X. NO. II.

of such a commander permits every partizan to act on his own plan, and almost with uncontrolled licence. This fact is confirmed by the conduct of a woman, named Navazzo, who commands one of the apostolic bands with great activity and ferocity. On one occasion, after defeating a small detachment of Royalists, and taking seven prisoners, she cut the throats of six of them with her own sword, suffering the seventh to escape, because she had formerly known him. This distracted state of the country at home has not prevented the government from directing its attention to the recovery of the foreign colonies. A large force, eight thousand regulars, and the same number of provincials, are collected in the Island of Cuba; four or five thousand more are proceeding thither from Old Spain to complete an expedition under the celebrated Rodilla, for the subjection of Mexico: a fleet is also fitting out at Cadiz for the same pur

pose.

GREECE. The news from hence is

entirely of a pacific character. The ambassadors of the allied powers had indeed quitted Constantinople before the close of the last year, but there is still no immediate appearance of the breaking out of hostilities; on the contrary, the Porte still continues to persevere in its determination not to be the aggressor, whilst it is equally determined to resist to the utmost rather than give up an iota of what it considers as its lawful possessions. With this view, among other measures, a species of militia has been organized in all the principal cities throughout the empire. The battle of Navarino has already been productive of benefit to Greece. Ibrahim Pacha has made every preparation for leaving the country; he has collected his whole force together at Modon and Coron, and is only waiting to receive instructions from his father, previous to his re-embarkation. Thus the Morea will soon be free without any sanguinary war.

RUSSIA. We have seen private letters from Petersburg, fully confirming the expectations of the moderation

of that Court in her views relative to Turkey. The army will not cross the Pruth until ample time has been given to the Sultan to accede to the terms

S

which have been proposed; and if the passage of that river takes place, a fresh manifesto will be published at the same time, renouncing all intentions of territorial acquisition.

The treaty of peace between Russia and Persia has been ratified.

CANADA. The House of Assembly having elected Mons. Passineau for their Speaker, a zealous leader of the opposition, and one who had pledged himself to support several measures, particularly obnoxious to His Majesty's government; the Governor refused to approve his election. The Deputies then expressed their determination to persevere in their choice, and the Governor has prorogued the sitting of the States till he has received directions

Previous

for his conduct from home.
to the division of Canada into two
governments the British party predo-
minated; since that event the French
party is the most powerful in Lower
Canada; and Mons. Papineau is the
leader of that party which is composed of
the descendants of the ancient French
colonists, the most numerous of the in-
habitants, and possessed of the greatest
share of the landed property, and who
have always opposed every measure fa-
vourable to the introduction of British
principles of government and legisla-
tion.

JAVA. The war between the Dutch government and the natives of this Island is renewed with great activity on both sides.

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

222N

NEW CHURCHES.

BRIGHTON.-The new church at Brighton, built by Lord EGREMONT, has been consecrated and opened for divine service.

CHELTENHAM.-The sum of 2,8001. has been raised towards the erection of a free church at Cheltenham, to which the Lord Bishop of GLOUCESTER has subscribed 1007. PENTONVILLE.-The new chapel of ease, St. Mark the Evangelist, Middleton Square, Pentonville, in the parish of St. James, Clerkenwell, has been consecrated by the Lord Bishop of London.

DIOCESE OF LLANDAFF:-SCHOOLS.-Mr. Editor,-Having perused the notice in your last number, of Bishop Sumner's Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Llandaff with peculiar pleasure, and having also observed, at page 65, a schedule with a state of that Diocese, and that it appears that there are only thirty-nine daily schools therein, I am anxious to obviate a misunderstanding that may arise from the statement. Such schools alone are designed which are in connexion, I apprehend, with the National Society; for it is a fact, that if schools in general be referred to, there are nearly ten times that number in the Diocese of Llandaff,—there being scarcely a parish without a school, and in some parishes there are two, three, and four schools, and even a greater number. I trust you will do me the favour to insert this in your next. I remain your obedient Servant,

Jan. 11, 1828.

A CLERGYMAN OF THE DIOCESE OF LLANDAFF.

GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN.-The Bishop of Chester has expressed his determination to ordain such Graduates of Dublin University as have proper titles and certificates of having attended Divinity Lectures.-Stockport Advertiser, Jan. 18, 1828. DIOCESE OF BARBADOS AND THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.-We have received information from this diocese respecting the progress made in the work of education, and particularly a report of the branch association established in St. Christopher in aid of the Society for the Religious Instruction of the Negroes. The Bishop and his Clergy are steadily advancing the system of catechetical instruction on the estates which are open to them, and we are glad to observe that the number of those from which they are excluded is daily diminishing; there are some instances, too, of managers affording instruction to the slaves during the intervals which elapse between the visits of the catechists. The usual course adopted is to read a form of prayer selected from the liturgy, and to deliver a plain discourse, generally one of Mr. Harte's Lectures on St. Matthew's Gospel; and to examine and instruct the younger negroes in the Church Catechism. In each parish there is a

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