for the people's information, to whet the curiosity, and prompt the inquiry, of some, at least; and the natural and undeniable result is, that their knowledge of those views has been improved, and the establishment of their minds in them, in no small degree, promoted. Perhaps there is no place in the country where a more rancorous—and yet, at the same time, self-defeating-spirit of opposition to enlightened non-conformity, has manifested itself; where methods more unworthy of the Christian character, and approaching sometimes to the ludicrous, have been employed to crush it, than in the village of Yaxley. If, on any spot in the land, the evil working of a coercive system of religion is perceived to operate, not so much, let it be remembered, on those who secede from it, as on those who adhere to it, it is in the priest-ridden village of Yaxley. But what, after all, might have been expected from a clergyman, who at one time can stand on a Methodist platform, and advocate Methodist Missions, and, at another, publicly rave against, and denounce, the whole Methodist community.

JUBILEE OF THE REFORMATION, AT GENEVA.-Geneva, August 28, 1835. On Friday the 21st August, the Botanic Garden, where the deputations were to unite according as they arrived, presented, from an early hour, an interesting spectacle, when venerable men, who had, in early life, been associates and companions in study, who had not seen each other since the days of their youth, now found each other again, and revived the recollections of juvenile friendship;-or, when some celebrated name, as it was announced, attracted a crowd of persons, rejoicing to approach one of whose talents, and whose merits, they had heard often and so much.

On Saturday, the 22d, at eight o'clock in the morning, in the Church of the Auditoire, the first solemn re-union took place; presided over by M. Duby, Moderator of the Venerable Company of Pastors. Called upon in turn by the secretary, each deputation, through its president, gave utterance to those sentiments which it had been commissioned to convey; sentiments of congratulation, of Christian brotherhood, of sympathy in the festival. Letters were read from a great number of Protestant churches, whom distance, or peculiar circumstances, hindered from sending deputies, testifying their fraternal affection for Geneva. Among these was a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the name of the prelates of the United Church of England and Ireland, expressing a cordial sympathy with the Church of Geneva, and a fervent hope that the present solemnity may be attended with an abundant effusion of spiritual blessings. Churches, of widely differing theological opinions, had their representatives in this assembly;-and yet, all being rallied together around the Bible, there were heard no words but the words of peace, of tolerance, and of union, connecting glory to God, and faith in Christ, with good-will to all mankind. At mid-day, the city, of its own free will, arrayed itself for the festival. The shops, and stores, and bazaars were every where closed. The gates of all the churches were thrown open, to admit the children who were repairing thither to receive the medals intended for them, and copies of the admirable History of the Reformation in Geneva,-the work of Professor Cellérier. What a touching spectacle was this!—all our youth, of both sexes, and of every rank, assembled in the name of the God of our fathers, and surrounded by their parents,-filling every pew, every gal

lery, evey aisle !-all that the human heart contains of pure and tender feeling, was stirred up and excited within us. Scarcely had this affecting ceremony ended, when the places left by the children were filled by a multitude who thronged to hear the preparatory service of the jubilee, and to unite with their pastors in blessing Him who has been, at all times, the rock and fortress of our republic.' At four o'clock the children re-assembled to repair to some rural scenes selected for the purpose, to keep their little fête, and to terminate this memorable day in the unrestrained expression of their innocent gaiety and joy.

And

Sunday, 23d.-The rising generation having had their fete, the adult members of the republic proceeded to celebrate theirs; one worthy of themselves, in harmony with the memorable epoch they were occupied in commemorating. At the rising of the sun, all the church bells in the city, in grand and imposing concert, gave forth the signal; and found, in every heart, an echo of grateful acknowledgment and benediction. Scarcely had the temples been opened, when they were filled by immense crowds, which occupied them even to the farthest seats. oh! how beautiful, religious, sublime, and patriotic were the words addressed to them! What augmented still more the emotion of the assembly was the presence of two hundred strangers from so many Synods of Protestant divines, who joined their prayers with those of our nation, and offered up vows for its prosperity and happiness. At night commenced another scene, not less solemn, although the entire city was the theatre of action. First, the oratorio was performed in the Cathedral of St. Peter, which was illuminated with the most perfect taste. To this succeeded the general illumination, the spontaneous expression of the overflowing hearts of our citizens. The inhabitants of the different quarters had erected, in various places, triumphal arches adorned with flowers and foliage, supporting variegated lamps tastefully arranged. On every side appeared transparencies and inscriptions, all religious and patriotic; but not one that could give pain or offence to the feelings of any human being, of whatever church or country. The Catholics of Geneva have exhibited themselves, on this occasion, in the most interesting light. By the part which so great a number have taken in the general joy, by the excellent spirit they have displayed, and by the lofty understanding they have manifested of the real nature and true aim of our solemnity, they have acquired new claims upon the attachment and esteem of the ancient Genevese population. The Protestants, on the other hand, by the care they have taken to avoid all that might appear in a hostile light to their fellow-countrymen, have given the most brilliant proof of their perfect tolerance.

Monday, 24th. The forenoon of this day was occupied in a conference of all the Ecclesiastics of Geneva with the delegates from the Foreign Churches. At this conference, matters of the highest interest were dwelt upon; and the same spirit which was manifested in the first assembly, continued to reign-the spirit of peace, of affection, of evangelical charity, of ardent zeal, and of holy faith. In the evening, all the deputies were entertained by the Pastors of Geneva, at a public dinner, after an excursion on the lake. At this social meeting, at which were assembled more than two hundred and fifty Pastors, Professors, and Deputies from various countries, and of various sentiments, many eloquent addresses were uttered, evincing as much of liberality, as of nobleness and elevation.

TO THE SUBSCRIBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE DOMESTIC MISSION

SOCIETY IN THE METROPOLIS.

Ladies and Gentlemen,-At the opening of the Chapel and School Room in Half Moon Alley, White Cross-street, a strong feeling was expressed by many friends to the institution, in favour of procuring a more commodious building for the Spicer-street mission, and several sums were promised in aid of such an object. Subsequent communications have also encouraged the committee to inquire for suitable premises. They have found some, situated in Spicer-street, which may be had on lease at a rent of £30. a-year. They would afford ample and convenient room for the most extended and varied operations of the society in that district. The building, which would be converted into the chapel and school room, is of large dimensions, and so situated as to be free from the noise of the street. The premises are sufficiently commodious to afford a residence for Mr. Philp, and also, if found desirable, for the mistress of the day school connected with the mission. This would reduce the rent to the same, if not a less amount than is paid for the very confined and inconvenient premises which are now occupied.

To fit the premises for all the purposes contemplated, an outlay is required from £300. to £350.; and the object of the present appeal is to ascertain how far the friends of the mission are willing to support the committee in such an undertaking. The committee make the appeal earnestly, because they are strongly convinced of the necessity of affording Mr. Philp greater scope for his anxious, laborious, indefatigable, benevolent and successful exertions. They feel that it is due to him to second his zeal in this manner; and due to the society, as promising to afford it an instrument of greatly increased efficacy for the furtherance of its main object, the visiting of the poor, the ignorant, and the debased, at their own homes. The school not only affords that istruction, without which human nature must sink into degradation; but opens many a door which would else be closely barred against the missionary's entrance. The hearts of the children become his, and soon the parent's hearts are expanded towards him also, and a sort of pastoral connexion is opened with those who never before looked with affection upon a minister of religion.

When once the premises are put in order, the school, evening classes, &c., extensive as their operations may become, will be but a small annual expense to the society. The committee pray you, therefore, to make an immediate and diligent, they cannot call it a very large effort, to afford them the funds for accomplishing this most desirable object. At the same time they beg to state, that the annual subscriptions fall short of the expenditure of the society, and that for the means of operation this year, they are largely indebted to donations. It is probable, therefore, that they may find it necessary, at the beginning of next year, to make an appeal on behalf of the current expenses of the institution. They mention this, that the whole matter may be before their friends, and that no one may have occasion to say he subscribed to the new premises under the conviction that the current expenses were sufficiently provided for. The committee do not doubt that they shall obtain the necessary supplies; but they wish to be entirely candid with their constituents and the public.

By order of the Committee,

EDWIN CHAPMAN, Secretary.

24, Downshire Hill, Hampstead, 23d Sept., 1835.

Treasurer, WM. WANSEY, Esq., Riche's Court, Lime-street, London.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

'On the Exclusion of Dissenters from the Universities,' and 'History of the Reformstion,' received. Conclusion of Dr. Tuckerman's Recollections of Rammohun Roy in our next; also, we hope, P. V. C.

One Shilling each will be given by the Publisher or Printer, for copies of No. 5 of the Christian Teacher.

N. B. Communications designed for the out-coming number of the Christian Teacher, must be in the Editor's hands at the latest by the 15th of the current month.

Forrest and Fogg, Printers, Manchester.

MODERN EUROPEAN CIVILISATION.

'Histoire Generale de la Civilisation en Europe, depuis la Chute de l'Empire Romain, jusqu'à la Revolution Française. Par M. Guizot.'

(Continued from p. 677.)

IN our last number we endeavoured to discover the primary elements of Modern European Civilisation. We traced the principles which operated upon society after the fall of the Roman Empire, and found them as diverse in their origin as they were in the influences they exercised. The institutions of civilised Rome, perpetuated in the Christian church, were confounded with the disorganised mass of barbarian society, and the most absolute independence was brought into contact with the most entire submission. Military patronage was placed by the side of ecclesiastical domination. The canons of the Church, the laws of the Romans, and the unwritten customs of the Barbarians, were promiscuously used; whilst there co-existed races, languages, habits and ideas, the most various and conflicting. From the confusion and struggle of these discordant materials, we have seen the state of barbarism into which Europe was thrown; and after the fruitless efforts of many centuries to settle and combine them, we perceived the Germanic element moulding and rearing the others into the mighty superstructure of Feudalism.

If we contemplate the political aspect of Europe during the early period of the middle ages, we can hardly view a more disgusting picture. Kings, whose power was little more than nominal, and whose situations were precarious and uncertain;— Nobles continually at war with one another, or in rebellion against their sovereign;-the People oppressed, bound to the soil, disposed of like cattle, and lying at the mercy of the great; whilst the country was every where crowded with castles, the nurseries of rebellion, the retreat of plunderers, and the seats of riot and debauchery. Nor does the moral world present to our view a brighter prospect. As the inhabitants of Europe were strangers to the arts which embellish a polished age, so were they destitute of the virtues which adorn a people who continue in a simple state. A spirit of domination corrupted the nobles; whilst a yoke of servitude depressed their dependants, and the generous sentiments inspired by a sense of equality and independence were destroyed by the despotism of feudal institutions. The passion for personal freedom which characterised the invader, became in the vassal almost extinct; and if it was not for a considerable developement of the domestic affections, which may in a great measure be ascribed to the peculiarity of his situation, we should scarcely be able to find one redeeming feature.

of facts, and should be apt to feel (if we know ourselves) some compunctious visitings of conscience, if we were betrayed into essential errors. If the Rev. travellers whom our correspondent exposes in the following communication, had thought any truths of much importance that did not tend to advance the glory of their sect, they might have taken a little pains to inform themselves, and thus they would have saved themselves from many blunders which go far to impair the credibility of their narrative. No one can feel confidence in the statements of tourists, be their mission secular or religious, when they make such blunders in literary matters as this;-that the North American Review is conducted under the direction of Harvard University: or such political blunders as this;-that the last war of America with England was oecasioned by the burning of the public edifices in Washington.'

FOR THE REGISTER AND OBSERVER.

'In a narrative of the visit to the American Churches, by the Rev. Drs. Reed and Matheson, in the character of Delegates from the Congregational Union of England and Wales, I find the following sentences in relation to Unitarian influence, and the "Massachusetts Bible Society."

"Of its (i. e. Unitarian) feebleness two little incidents may assist you to a confirmed opinion. When this system was in its power and progress, it managed to get the Massachusetts Bible Society under its control. The consequence was, that the ORTHODOX QUIETLY RETIRED, and formed a society for themselves. The original society, in the hands of the Unitarians, actually disposed, last year, of twenty-one Bibles!"

If any notice can be thought necessary of such extraordinary misrepresentations, it will be sufficient to state;

That of the eighteen Trustees of the Massachusetts Bible Society, elected at the last annual meeting, most of whom have held their offices for many years-nine are Orthodox, viz. Rev. Drs. Holmes, Jenks, Codman, Sharp, and Rev. Mr. Hague, with four laymen.

That the Recording Secretary of the Society is the Rev. William Jenks, D. D. That of three individuals composing the executive committee two are orthodox. That agreeably to the report of that committee, presented at the last annual meeting, the distribution of Bibles and Testaments for the year ending May 25th, 1835, was three thousand eight hundred and eight.

That during that same year one thousand dollars were voted by the trustees, to aid in printing a New Testament with raised letters, for the benefit of the New England Institution for the blind.

In addition to which two hundred and fifty dollars were afterwards appropriated to the same object, being one half of a donation of 500 dollars to the society, by an anonymous friend, through the hands of the Rev. S. K. Lothrop.

For the year ending May 26, 1834, the society's distribution of Bibles and Testaments was 2 825. For the year preceding it was 3,584. A donation was also made in 1834, of five hundred dollars to the French and Foreign Bible Society, in addition to a similar sum voted and remitted in 1832.

Such is a brief statement of the operations of the Massachusetts Bible Society for the two or three last years.

I know not on whom these Rev. Gentlemen may have relied for their information. But I must regret for their sakes, that they have permitted the misrepresentations of others, or their own prejudices, to betray them in this, and in other assertions which I omit to notice, into errors so palpable; and which the slightest impartiality of investigation might have enabled them to avoid.'

LIBERAL DIVINES OF BOSTON, U. S.

'BUT it is among the liberal class of divines of Boston and its vicinity, that we must look for the purest and most chaste specimens of classical pulpit eloquence, and the finest samples of American literatue. To this class belonged Everett, before he exchanged a clerical for a poli