that Lady Hewley was herself an English- | woman, that she had married an Englishman, and had become a widow; and that all the property which she disposed of is itself English; and it appears that the trustees who were named were all of them English, and their residences are given. The English disposition which she had is manifested by this, that she directs the choice of a minister, first of all to be made in York and Yorkshire, and the other northern counties: and if not there, in other counties and places; and there can be no doubt that this is appointing in England by description." From these premises alone, on which a feeling of respect for the authority of the judgmentseat precludes us at present from passing an opinion, the newspaper opponent of the Presbyterians exultingly asserts, that his Honour was, beyond all peradventure, entitled to conclude " against the Scotch claims, to direct the removal of all the Scotchmen who had been nominated as trustees, and to declare the charity to belong to the English Dissenters of the three well-known denominations existing in Lady Hewley's time." We have no wish to institute invidious comparisons. But it will be no reflection on the reputation of the Vice-Chancellor if we advert to his Honour's previous judgment, upon which-although distinguished by at least equal "ability and clearness"-neither the "Patriot "nor its consistent correspondent has ever had the slightest commendation to bestow. In his judgment of the 9th May, 1843, his Honour, speaking of the Orthodox Presbyterians, whom the Independents were struggling to exclude from all connexion with the Charity,-said: "In some of the congregations there were certainly some natives of Scotland, but they were few in proportion and some of the congregations consisted wholly of natives of England. But English Presbyterians did not cease to be English Presbyterians merely because they were in amity with the Church of Scotland, or the Secession Church, or the Relief Church; and Presbyterians in the north of England, of congregations of both kinds, in amity with the Secession Church, and the Church of Scotland had actually participated in the benefits of the charity. Of the Orthodoxy of both sets of Presbyterians there was no doubt. From many passages in the evidence it appeared that they held the Westminster Confession of Faith, which substantially agreed with the Articles of the Church of England; and he saw no reason why gentlemen belonging to these congregations, though Scotch by birth, yet resident in England, should not be trustees." Such were his Honour's candid and enlightened sentiments at the period referred to; and surely, in his recent judgment-for whose " surpass ing" talent and discrimination Independent partiality ostentatiously demands an exclusive approval—we might have hoped to be favoured with the grounds upon which a contradictory conclusion is based. But we have searched for such grounds in vain; and as his Honour has not condescended to assign the slightest reason for his extraordinary alteration of opinion, we should have liked, had Independent casuistry vouchsafed to supply the omission, and done something to satisfy the public, that Presbyterians, "though Scotch by birth, yet resident in England," have so lamentably degenerated from their previous unexceptionable repute, as to be really less worthy of all connexion with the Trust at present, than in the year 1843. That the respectable gentlemen alluded to, and the congregations they represent, have done nothing whatever to forfeit their title to participate in the management and the benefits of the charity, we are conscientiously convinced; and hence, we think, the Presbyterian defendants have done right in appealing from the Vice-Chancellor's late decision to a higher tribunal. On this important and necessary step in the progress of the suit, the newspaper partisan of Independent monopoly flippantly remarks: "The question to be submitted to the Lord High Chancellor is,-whether ninety-five Scotch ministers resident in England are entitled exclusively to Lady Hewley's estates :-or, whether Lady Hewley designed her bounty to be for English Dissenters of the denominations known and recognised in her time, and having at this time about 4,500 places of worship." Without imitating the free-and-easy attempt at dictation indulged in by this Independent champion, we would meekly but firmly venture to complain of the inaccuracy and disingenuousness of some of the asseverations with which his annunciation of the question to be determined is mixed up. We are not aware of what our Independent opponent un G G term Presbyterian is capable of being applied to the generality of English Congregationalists. Where our newspaper opponent obtained his statistical intelligence of the extent to which Independent chapels and congregations are alleged to be multiplied, he has not condescended to state. His boast of the actual existence of 4,500 hesitatingly affirms as a fact, that any ninety-five Scotch ministers "—as such -either did, or do, claim a monopoly of the benefits of this Orthodox Presbyterian Foundation. But we are aware that four Presbyterian laymen, representing not fewer than one hundred and thirty Presbyterian congregations in the north of England, are honestly contending for the equitable rights of said congregations, Independent places of worship in Engbecause they hold the Presbyterian principles of the foundress of the charity (which the Independents do not), and because the said congregations have a local existence in the district for which the charity was specially designed. This is the true representation of the case. And if so, the question-in our humble opinion-for a Court of Equity to decide differs essentially from that which the abettor of Independent exclusiveness so unceremoniously prescribes. It matters not-as we think-from what specific part of the United Kingdom the ministers referred to have sprung, nor what are their spiritual relationships with other Churches beyond the pale of the Hewley district (whether southern English, or Scotch, or Irish) whose creed and whose polity are identical with their own. These considerations appear to us to be altogether extrinsic to the real merits of the controversy. And if our ideas of equity be correct, the great points to be settled are:-Do the ministers alluded to -whatever be their number-actually retain the denominational peculiarities by which the Presbyterianism of Lady Hewley's time was, and is, distinguishable from Independency? Do the congregations to which they have been called to officiate adhere to the old Presbyterian orthodoxy and order? And are they, and the people among whom they labour as 66 preachers of Christ's holy Gospel," resident within the territorial limits which her Ladyship assigned? Nor is this plain and unsophisticated statement of the points to be determined at all affected by our casuistical opponent's modest estimate of modern Independent numbers. The numerical superiority of his party seems to us to be an utterly unimportant element in the case, unless he be able to prove that the foundress of the charity was an Independent; or unless he can substantiate the unsupported assertion of an eminent Independent Doctor,-" That in a fair, just, and honourable sense, and in accordance with its proper signification, the land, we may leave him to reconcile with the statistical tables of the "Congregational Year Book," whose diligent compiler, in the year 1846, found it impossible to discover more than 1,385 Independent pastors-exclusive of those of the much smaller section of Independents-commonly known as Baptists. But be this as it may, we cannot help thinking that our opponent-instead of allowing his imagination to range over the entire extent of England in search of materials with which to swell the aggregate of Independent numbers-might have been more consistently employed in restricting his researches to the special locality to which the charity was intended to apply. Had he been contented with this circumscribed sphere of operation, he might perhaps have succeeded in ascertaining, whether, towards the close of the 17th century, there were more than three Independent congregations in Yorkshire, namely Heckmondwyke, Topcliffe, and Call-lane, Leeds; whether, in the adjacent counties of Lancashire and Westmoreland there were more than other three which the industrious collector of Independent statistics in the "Congregational Magazine' for December 1841, could conscientiously claim for his party at the date of Lady Hewley's Foundation-deed of 1704; and whether at the last-named period, the said respectable congregational annalist was correct in representing Independency as without either a local habitation or a name in the three remaining counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Durham. Nor is this all our newspaper opponent might have inquired further, whether that venerable embodiment of Inde.. pendency, styled the Congregational Union of England and Wales, originated in Lady Hewley's time, or whether it be really impossible to trace its antiquity to a period more remote than the year 1833; whether the remarkable "Declaration of Faith to which the said Congregational Union gave rise, accords with the accre dited doctrinal and disciplinary Formu- | safeguard against heretical innovation laries of the old Presbyterians of the among those, who, like the Congregational Hewley era; whether modern Inde-❘ Unionists of 1833, proclaim "their pendents can, consistently with their principles, assent more readily than Unitarians to any human test of orthodoxy, as expressive of the sense in which they understand the Scriptures; and whether, if they could, it would be a satisfactory jealousy of subscription to creeds and articles, and their disapproval of the imposition of any human standard of faith or discipline . . . reserving to every one the most perfect liberty of conscience." Presbyterian Church in England. SCHEMES OF THE CHURCH. ABSTRACT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS, Per Association, National Scotch Church, Regent-square, for the Year ending 31st December, 1848. Expenses. and Sab. Schools. 35 13 6 181 7 11 42 13 1 32 2 3 141 17 9 172 7 11 29 7 0 31 9 3 81 3 6 84 3 6 26 11 2 183 4 2 49 12 0 293 9 7 4 526 10 2 26 11 2 526 5 9 1383 14 9 10 Mission. Mission. Foreign Exten. Fund. Fund. Missions. Corfu. HOME MISSION FUND. Scholars at Miss Isabella Wilson's school Juvenile Missionary Association, Isling- Canning-street Presbyterian Church, Association, Birmingham, per Mr. John Juvenile Missionary Association, St. Association, Hanley, per Mr. John Juvenile Missionary Association, St. 2 10 0 JAMES MACANDREW, Treasurer. 27, Queen-street, Cheapside, Jan. 22, 1849. SHELTON, Hanley.-Rev. J. M. Martyn, collection..... Juvenile Sabbath School 5 0 0 Association ........ 8 0 0 13 0 0 0 10 0 The Treasurers have much pleasure in acknowledging the continued liberality of the Churches by reporting the receipt of the following:BIRKENHEAD.-Rev. John Gardner, Miss Wilson's Class in Sabbath-School WOOLER.-Rev. James A. Huie, .... 1 10 0 0 3 0 LIVERPOOL.-Rev. W. V. M. White, Sabbath-School Association,per Mr.Thomas M. Patterson REGENT-SQUARE.-Rev. James Hamilton, Association, April to December, per Mr. Johnstone LIVERPOOL. Rev. J. R. Welsh, per Mr. BIRMINGHAM.-Rev. J. R. Mackenzie, Proceeds of Work sent by Mrs. .......... Mrs. Stewart Sandeman ...... ......... Catherine Petrie Miss Ramsay ............ 0 ......... Janet Buchanan.......... Helen Macfarlan Mrs. Wright .............. Mrs. Hopson Miss Murray .............. .......... 0 0 6 0 1 6 0 0 6 0 1 6 1 0 0 1 0 BERWICK.-Rev. Alexander Murdoch, Association LONDON WALL.-Rev. W. Nicholson, collection WOOLWICH.-(Rev. W. M. Thompson,) Mr. W. C. Taylor NEWCASTLE.-Rev. P. L. Miller. Sabbath School, per Mr. Henry Dryden FORFARSHIRE.-Collected by Master Thomas Fotheringham CORFU. Rev. William Charteris Sabbath-school children SEATON DELAVAL.-Rev. R. Henderson. -Sabbath-school children, per Mr. John Hewitt........ BRAMPTON.- Rev. Dr. Brown. - Half Proceeds of Sabbath-school Missionary Box and Juvenile Collecting Cards.... CHELSEA.-Rev. W. Cousin, collection, per Mr. Robert Hogg. THE following short extract from a letter of our beloved missionary to the Convener contains the last intelligence from 1 13 0 China. It is dated October 27, 1848:"I have exceedingly little to add regarding my own proceedings since you last heard from me. I go on as before, studying Chinese and preaching in English. I have had now for about two months with me in this house nine boys Chinese as boarders, which gives the school a character of greater solidity than if made up exclusively of dayscholars. We have, however, five or six day-scholars who are very regular and diligent. One of these left the school for a month or two, and sent a request that he might be allowed to come back without needing to learn 'Jesus' books,' but of course that request was denied, and he now, along with the others, learns his Christian lesson and attends morning worship like the rest. None of the dayscholars have of late come on Sabbaths. The boys are all very fond of the English lesson, and would gladly spend much more of their time in this way than I allow them. They also-chiefly, I think, for this reason, and also from their fondness for our music-have of late been attending on a number of our English 56 meetings, and last night, after the prayer meeting, they were examining with much care the inside of the pulpit. Poor boys! I thought, when I saw them, that the day may yet be coming, when 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 5 1 Mrs. G. F. Barbour 9 10 400 The Committee appointed to make arrangements for holding a social meeting of office-bearers was discharged, and the subject dropped in the meantime. Communion rolls were called for, and those of London-wall, Regent-square, River-terrace, and Southwark, were produced and certified. Mr. Hamilton gave notice of a motion to amend the Presbytery's Resolution of the 8th Dec., 1846, ordering these communion rolls to be returned annually to the Presbytery. some of these dear youths may preach to | bytery of Paisley had refused to allow the their benighted countrymen the precious- translation of Mr. Young to Islington, ness of a discovered Saviour! I do not and that the case had been appealed to yet preach in Chinese; I have no con- the Synod. gregation, nor am I yet furnished for the work, but I am making a gradual progress in the language; and besides our family meetings, I sometimes find favourable opportunities of speaking to some of this people. I mentioned before that Mr. Gutzlaff had sent me a man to assist me in going out among the people, but that he had gone home, from sickness; he has not yet returned, but another has lately come to me, in whom I feel much interested, and who promises to be useful. He has been already employed for three years in distributing tracts, the Scriptures, &c., and in preaching the Gospel in different parts of the neighbouring province. We are glad to hear from a private source, by last mail, that there is some likelihood of a minister being soon sent out from Scotland to our countrymen here. Should this take place, it will set me free, in all likelihood, to devote myself more exclusively to the native population. Indeed, unless there be the prospect of some one soon coming to preach to our countrymen, I should fear that this infant congregation might need to be given up. I have only to add, my dear friend, that there is nothing that we need so much as the continued prayers of God's people for ourselves and for our work. I shall also value such counsel and suggestions as your Committee, or any of you individually, may see fit to send me from time to time. "I ever am yours, The consideration of the subject of Sabbath observance was resumed, and a Committee appointed to make arrangements for another course of lectures on the subject. Mr. Simpson, who has been appointed to supply John Knox Church, preached before the Presbytery, according to the appointment of last meeting, and having received the approbation of the Court, was received as a preacher within the bounds. On the application of Mr. Cousin, Messrs. Sloan and Gibson were appointed members of the session of Ranelagh Chapel. The Presbytery then adjourned to the second Tuesday in February. THIS Reverend Court held its ordinary PRESBYTERY OF LANCASHIRE. A copy of the letter of condolence, which the Committee appointed at last Meeting had been instructed to transmit to Mrs. Radcliffe, was read, and Mrs. Radcliffe's answer to the same,-both of which the Presbytery ordered to be recorded. The Report of the Committee on Mr. Gardner's case was then given in and read, as follows: "Liverpool, Dec. 27, 1848. "Which day the Committee of Presbytery on the petition and complaint of the Rev. John Gardner being met and constituted,-sederunt, Rev. Joseph R. Welsh, Convener, Rev. Messrs. Munro, Fergusson, and Smith; Messrs. Barbour, Neilson, and Clark, elders; the Rev. J. Gardner and Rev. A. Kemp, preacher of the Gospel, compeared as parties, accord |