which it is my arduous but honourable calling to carry to these Gentiles. Towards the end of last year the weight of my responsibility in regard to China lay heavy upon me, and I would at that time have discontinued my English services, had it not been that while many expressed a wish that these should be continued, we had been encouraged to hope by a private report that a minister might yet come out to take my place; and thus I continued till now, when, finding that there is no intelligence from the Free Church Colonial Committee, and no hope held out by you of any one who might devote himself to the educational department of the missionary work here, I have seen no other path open but that on which at the call of God I must now enter, namely, abandoning every connexion of a regular kind with my countrymen and probably also with this colony as a place of residence, that I should go to and fro on these shores, or if the Lord open the way into the country, also with the Word of life in my hands and on my tongue. This is indeed an arduous work, accompanied by no common perils, both of an outward and of a spiritual kind. But in regard to the former, I must remember who hath said, "He that loveth his life shall lose it," &c., and in reference to the latter it is enough that He hath said, "My grace is sufficient for thee," &c. You desired that three doors might be opened to me, the door of entrance into the language, the door of access into the country, and the door of admittance for the Lord's truth into men's hearts: the first of these has been opened in an encouraging degree already, and it now remains to seek by prayer and by actual trial that the other two doors may be opened also. I shall surely need the prayers of all God's people among you in these circumstances, and I trust that the Lord with whom is the residue of the Spirit may grant His Spirit to His people in Britain, that they may pray He may pour out His Spirit upon us, that now these ends of the earth may remember and turn unto the Lord! One of the Chinese who has been assisting me in teaching the school, &c., and who now is gone home for a season, will probably need to seek employment in some other quarter, but the other two who have more lately come to me from Mr. Gutzlaff, will, as far as I can see, be suitable as well as necessary aids in my new line of things. Indeed, without such as these to assist me in every respect, I could not hope for any great facility either in passing to and fro, or in communicating the truth to the people. I shall only add, that, though it is, and ought to be, a matter of the deepest concern to me and others that my temporary labours among our countrymen have neither (as far as I am aware) been accompanied by any remarkable evidences of a saving blessing, nor have the prospect of being followed up by the more permanent labours of another, yet it is a cause of thanksgiving that as in the beginning I was evidently shut up to the course which I followed, so now it is plain to others as well as to myself that I must adopt the course I have indicated, unless I mean to locate myself permanently here. But this I cannot do until I have made a full trial whether or not I can attain the power of preaching in Chinese, and can gain access to some part of China's benighted population with the word of life. "Commending myself and the cause in which I and others are engaged to the prayers of all God's people, I am, dear friend, "Yours ever, "WILLIAM C. BURNS. (Signed) "P.S. I have omitted to mention that I have had the pleasure not only of seeing Captain Lawrence of the 'Charlotte Jane,’ but on one occasion of addressing all his crew at morning worship, and on another of visiting his ship, along with about a dozen of the Chinese boys, to whom it was something new to go on board an English vessel. He and a good many of his ship's company have also been regular hearers for some weeks on the Lord's-day. I regret that this can be no longer. There is great room here for the labours of a missionary among our countrymen, both resident and visiting these shores. To form a Church on satisfactory principles would be more difficult, except, as in the case of Union Chapel, it were connected with the operations of a missionary body. "We have many warnings that we ought to redeem the time: one of the most solemn in this quarter is the loss of an excellent American missionary, Mr. Pohlman, who preached here a few weeks, and was cast away with the vessel in returning to his station at Amoy. "To the Rev. James Hamilton.” Since our Magazine went to press a letter has been received by Mr. Matheson from the Synod's newly-appointed missionary, Dr. James H. Young, dated Hong-Kong, Feb. 26, 1849. Its intelligence will be deeply interesting to our readers:: "Hong-Kong, Feb. 26, 1849. "My dear Sir,-The inclosed letters will tell you better of our dear friend Mr. Burns than if I were giving you the substance of them. It is in accordance with his request mentioned in the latest of them that I now write a few hurried lines just before the mail closes. "The whole district in which he is labouring, is reported friendly to foreigners, and I fondly hope the arms of Omnipotence will shield and protect him. "We can have no doubt that he has been directed by the Lord in this movement, and in this confidence and the promise of his presence we may safely trust, both for his preserving care and his helping grace. The step is a bold one, requiring special wisdom and guid ance, and I believe Mr. Burns obtained clear light, that this was the course to which he was, in a manner, shut up. In hope and faith he has gone forth, and as yet he has been encouraged. His further accounts will be interesting, and more than ever does he need the prayers of the Church; his safety from perils of robbers and among the heathen, being an additional ground for pleading on his behalf. “Mr. Burns' last letter would tell you about his giving up preaching to the congregation. There is no reason to doubt that it was the only course left him, and we may hope it will be overruled for a good purpose. "My own way, in respect to engaging in the work, is daily becoming clearer, and apparent obstructions, and misconceptions in the minds of others are also clearing away. But I still wait upon God for direction, and I know He will lead in a good way. "J. H. YOUNG." Chinese, through the great mercy of God in safety, and with full liberty to make known the Gospel of the grace of God, as far as my knowledge of their tongue permits. The dialect spoken here is not however identical with the one I have been learning, and this limits still further my limited capacity. However, one of the men with me speaks this dialect (the Thak-kā) well, and gives me great reason to be thankful for the manner in which he addresses his countrymen. I send the old man for ten dollars, and on his return I expect to cross the mountains to a number of villages that are said to be very friendly to the (Gospel) new or foreign doctrine. At Cow-loon on my first setting out the Chinese soldiers noticed me, and I had to leave, but since that time I have met with no obstacle of an external kind. With kind regards to all inquiring friends, and depending on the prayers of God's people, "I am, ever yours, "Pat Haung, or Eight Villages, probably "about thirty-five miles from Hong "Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 1849. "Dear Sir,-I send these few lines by the old man, who goes home for a few days. I have had much encouragement since I last wrote in this locality, which I am to-day about to leave for Cum-Teen and Yuen Long Hü in the neighbourhood. There are dangers and difficulties in the has hitherto supported me in it. course I am now following, but the Lord I must thank God and take courage. In consequence of the old man going away I do not know if I shall be able to send for my letters, &c. next week; if so you will need to drop a single line to Mr. H. Matheson and to my dear parents, to relieve them from undue anxiety. Should you not hear from me again until the old man returns, please give him fifteen dollars to bring with him. present give him nothing. "Yours ever, "WM. C. BURNS." At This last letter is addressed, "Dr. James The following are extracts from Mr. Young, Hong-Kong Dispensary: with Burns' letters to Dr. Young : "Tseen Wan Village, east from Cap Sing-Mun, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1849. "Dear Sir, I am here, among the a cloak, as I do not need to sleep on the hills." N N Presbyterian Church in England. FOREIGN MISSION. COLLECTION, SECOND SABBATH OF MAY. DEAR BRETHREN,-Never has our appeal to your liberality been made with more confidence than we make it now. Your willingness in the past would be enough to assure us, even although our Mission had continued stationary during this interval. But by the good hand of our God upon us, the Mission has made a progress sufficient to fill its promoters Not only with gratitude and wonder. has the Lord raised up to us another agent, who promises to be the efficient coadjutor, as he is the beloved friend, of our present missionary; but he has opened to his servant an early and unexpected path into the midst of the native population. The last tidings from China represent this noble evangelist journeying from village to village in a friendly district of country, and amidst much encouragement proclaiming the Gospel to its inhabitants; and whilst Mr. Burns, by this act of devotedness, has thrown himself on the prayers of his friends at home, in appointing another missionary, the Synod did not fear to cast itself on the bounty of its members. We cannot doubt that the collection of the 13th proximo will show that more than ever our Church's heart is in this glorious enterprise. MANCHESTER.-Rev. William M'Caw. Box .......... £0 17 1 £6 0 0 200 1 5 6 227 Treasurers. HUGH M. MATHESON, 21, Berners-street, April 20, 1849. Collection, Ancroft Moor, per Rev. Wil- Southwark Sabbath-School, per Rev. William Chalmers It may be right to add that the Synod Marylebone Church, London, per Rev. has promised a grant to the Corfu Mission during the current year; and even with this additional liability, it is fondly hoped that the income may be such as to preserve intact a reserved fund for future emergencies. JAMES NISBET, }Treasurers. HUGH M. MATHESON, Bills and Post-office orders to be made payable to James Nisbet, 21, Berners-street, London. SCHEMES OF THE CHURCH. 2 5 4 0 0 1 10 0 4 8 1 19 3 3 1 8 0 6 3 3 10 11 7 018 0 0 10 0 20 0 0 £422 7 1 N.B.-The claims on this Fund being on the increase, the Treasurer will be glad to receive the offerings of any parties who had not an opportunity of contributing when the collections were made. COLLECTIONS FOR THE SYNOD FUND. Sunderland, Rev. J. T. Paterson, D.D... John Knox, Stepney, Rev. J. Ferguson.. Salford, Rev. Thomas Robinson Lowick, Rev. J. Fraser FOREIGN MISSIONS. 0 4 0 24 0 ........... .............. Wooler, Rev. Jas. A. Huie Norham, Rev. James Stewart .......... 689 0933 15 0 0 14 18 169 2 0 3 14 1 13 14 3 3 3 10 0 8 0 10 0 9 7 33012 04007 28 16 0 100 £2 10 0 35 1 5 15 12 7 3 4 0 1 0 0 300 1 15 0 1 4 0 1 0 0 4 12 6 9 10 0 212 0 0 17 6 0 15 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 2 0 0 17 2 38 6 10 16 0 1 0 0 0159 0 13 0 100 1 1 0 1 0 0 THE SYNOD. The 100 THE third week of April should be one of the most pleasant in all the year, a week when the flowers look out, and "the voice of the turtle is heard in the land." And when we recal our journeys to Carlisle and Berwick and Birmingham, we have a balmy remembrance of orchards silvered with blossom, and poplars festooned with young leaves, fragrant and golden as daffodils. But owing to the sinister influence of a Saturday moon, the Synod this year encountered a Russian reception. Just as the brethren began to assemble on Tuesday afternoon, a fierce snow-storm set in, and till the meetings 2100 concluded, near midnight on Friday, the elements ran their wintry diapason of frost and rain and wind and hail, varied by an atmospheric mélange of soot and snow, peculiar to the capital. 500 severity of the skies had a twofold effect —it kept the public away, and it kept the members together. And though it is much to be regretted that so many friends were deprived of an expected pleasure, the smallness of the audience was, perhaps, no hinderance to the despatch of business. At least, we have never attended a Synod where the speeches were so much to the purpose, and where the work was so speedily and effectively done. As we have noted in the following outline the subjects of most general interest, we need not recapitulate here. Suffice it to say that the deliberations were conducted in an excellent spirit. There was perfect freedom of debate, and sometimes the discussions became exceedingly animated; but all was cordial and to the very close "brotherly love continued." And none could fail to remark the vigour of mind and the variety of gifts which these conversations elicited. They were well calculated to increase the brethren's respect for one another, and to awaken the liveliest hopes for a Church endowed with such a ministry. 0 10 0 15 0 0 £236 19 6 ALEX. GILLESPIE, Treasurer. £11 14 0 200 115 0 £15 9 0 therly intercourse we are persuaded that excellent results will follow. And besides these daily refections, a public breakfast was given at Freemasons' Tavern on Thursday morning. Through fog and sleet 200 ladies and gentlemen found their way to this réunion. The Moderator presided, and addresses, pithy and telling, were delivered by Messrs. Fergusson, Gardiner, Munro, Barbour, and Nisbet; great additional zest being imparted to the proceedings by a characteristic speech | from our excellent friend, the Rev. Thomas Binney of London. On the following Sabbath the pulpits of our London churches were supplied by such of the brethren as remained in town. The Moderator preached in Regent-square and at Greenwich; Mr. White dispensed the Lord's Supper at John Knox's; Mr. Munro preached at Southwark and London-wall; Mr. Anderson, of Morpeth, preached at Hampstead; Mr. P. L. Miller at Woolwich; Mr. Murdoch, in the forenoon, at London-wall; Mr. Burns, in the evening, at Regent-square. TUESDAY, April 18. After a discourse explanatory of our Presbyterian constitution, the late Moderator, Mr. J. Hamilton, said, that, rich as our Synod is in ruling elders-men of liberality, public spirit, and consummate business talent, he would have liked to propose one of them for his successor. But even with the precedent of Andrew Melville in its favour, the proposal might take the brethren by surprise, and for the present year he would adhere to that usage which nominated to the Moderatorship a minister; and after paying a fervent tribute to his pastoral character, he concluded by suggesting the name of Mr. Welsh, of Liverpool. Mr. Welsh was accordingly nominated by the Clerk (Professor Campbell), and seconded by Mr. Fergusson, and being duly elected, addressed the House in appropriate terms. On the same evening, and after an hour had been spent in devotional exercises, which Messrs. Thompson, Joseph Fisher, and Stone conducted, the College Report was read by Mr. Nicolson. It was an able and comprehensive document, and gave an encouraging account of the attendance, and of the zeal and progress of the students. The financial statement of the Treasurers also exhibited a gratifying revival of interest throughout the Church on behalf of this vital institution. WEDNESDAY, April 19. UNION WITH THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. An overture on this subject from the Presbytery of Cumberland was supported by Mr. Burns, of Whitehaven. Mr. Gardner, of Birkenhead, mentioned some difficulties of a doctrinal kind, stating the value in which he held Christ's Headship over the nations, as well as his Headship over the Church. Mr. Terrot Glover expressed himself very warmly regarding our united Presbyterian brethren. and urged the adoption of the overture. Professor Campbell spoke of the pleasant intercourse which he had enjoyed with the members of that Church, and declared his belief that a great practical identity exists between us; but regretted that they had no collective body in England equivalent to our own Synod, with which we could transact. He submitted a Motion, recommending in the meanwhile fraternal intercourse, and interchange of ministerial services. Mr. Fergusson seconded the Motion. Mr. Munro narrated a series of meetings which had been held in Manchester, with a view to this object, and which had been characterized by a great deal of good feeling and good speaking, but which did not result in anything tangible. He thought it would be best to let the subject drop, and leave intercourse to each individual's convictions and fraternal inclinations. By forcing people to hug one another too closely, you might really make them quarrel. Mr. Chalmers stated that he believed the ecclesiastical organization which is to do the work of the nineteenth century does not yet exist. There was a time, in last century, when the appropriate organization did not exist, till the desideratum was supplied by Wesleyanism; and he did not expect that any community would do a great work which was not ready to reconsider its position, and to concede that its standards may be improved. He was disposed to move the appointment of a Committee to consider the principles on which union might be effected with other bodies.-Mr. Huie said, that as a licentiate of the Free Church, he could not consent to any union which seemed to lower his testimony.-Mr. Weir thought that instead of making overtures towards amalgamation with any particular body, it would be better to have a Committee to dispose of cases as they occurred.—Mr. James R. Robertson thought it important |