The Glasgow Missionary Society, who have chosen for the scene of their operations the benighted regions of South Africa, have, by the divine bles sing been enabled to plant a church amongst the Caffres. They have already sent out three missionaries, and have it in prospect to send out other two in the ensuing spring.

The Scottish Missionary Society, who have, for a period of twenty years and upwards, directed their efforts chiefly to Russian Tartary, have been at length under the painful necessity of withdrawing their missionaries from all their stations in that part of the world, except one. The aspect of things in Russia, had, for some time, been so dark and gloomy, that strong doubts were entertained by the Directors, of the propriety of continuing any longer to cultivate a field so barren and unpromising. Various events have since confirmed them in their determination; and they have accordingly withdrawn their missionaries from the Crimea, and Astrachan.

Glasgow Catholic Schools.-The Catholic population of Glasgow is supposed to be from twenty to thirty thousand; the generality of whom are distinguished for poverty, ignorance, and vice. At the suggestion of a Philanthropic individual, an association was formed for the "Education of Roman Catholics," This Society succeeded in obtaining the consent of the ecclesiastical superiors, to establish schools, in which, the only book to be read, after the necessary elementary ones, was the common English version of the Bible. At first, three schools were established; at which, the number on the rolls last year, amounted to 920. The total number withdrawn from the schools, carrying with them, minds comparatively cultivated and improved by regular application, is above 3000. Two schools have since

been added, the whole containing an aggregate of 1391 scholars.

A society of ladies under the patronage of the Duchess of Beaufort, has been established in Glasgow, for promoting the early education and improvement of the children and people of colour, in the British West Indies. It has been estimated, that the whole number of negro children now under instruction, does not amount to 10,000; while, on the most moderate calculation, there are not less than 150,000 of the slave population under 10 years of age in the West Indian Colonies.

Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Of late years great efforts have been made to extend to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, the blessings of education, through the medium of their own language; the only way in which this object can be successfully accomplished. Much has been done and more must be done, to meet the wants of the existing population. The number of schools which have been established by different societies, is about five hundred which at the rate of forty to each, brings instruction within the reach of 20,000 pupils. Twice this number would be requisite to furnish an adequate supply.

Dublin. The 16th Annual meeting of the Dublin Sunday School Society was held on the 17th of April. The number of their scholars in Ireland is 153.000, and the income is stated at £2,985. Interesting addresses and petitions are presented by Catholic heads of families, and Catholic Irish teachers to their spiritual superiors; requesting permission to have their children taught to read the scriptures. One of these is signed by 480 heads of families; and another by 490 teachers, in behalf of themselves, and 5000 of their adult fellow brethren. "The strong holds," says a letter on the state of Ireland, "of popish ignorance and prejudice are gradually becoming weaker. Through the medium of the Irish Evangelical Society, and other kindred institutions,the good seed of the word is beginning to take deep root in the hearts of those who have long been the dupes of a deceived and deceiving priesthood. Besides the numerous Protestant churches

connected with the Synod of Ulster, and the Associate Synod, the Irisi Evangelical Society has 25 missionaries itinerating in the different provinces.

Russia. The Emperor Nicholas, by a royal Ukase dated April 13th, has totally suspended the operations of the Russian Bible Society. We have not room in this number to publish this anti-christian document.

ASIA.

Hindostan.-Praiseworthy exertions are making for the education of native females in the east of Asia. A Female Education Society has been established at Calcutta; which is liberally supported. The Rajah Bedenauth made a donation to its funds of 20,000 Secca Rupees, about $10,000. Since the commencement of this undertaking, four years ago, more than 500 native females have been brought under a course of instruction. No intelligence has yet arrived respecting the missonaries at Ava. During the continuance of the Burmese war, the accounts received lead to the conlusion that if they yet survive, their situation must have been painful in the extreme.

At Malacca, on the peninsula of India beyond the Ganges, are seven Chinese schools, containing 200 boys, instructed by the missionaries in the principles of the inspired records. In Madras there are 10 town schools. and four in the country under the care of the missionaries, containing 600 children, who attend regularly. They are all in an improving state.Nothing new has reached us from the Sandwich and South Sea Islands since our last.

AMERICA.

United States.-On the 30th of May, the Evangelical Tract Society at Boston became auxiliary to the American Tract Society: An institution from which, according to its constitution, no truly evangelical tract can issue. The cause of seamen still continues to receive attention. An auxiliary has been recently formed in Charleston, for promoting the spiritual interests of this valuable, but hitherto, much neglected portion of the community. Measures have lately been adopted to place the American Education Society on a permanent footing; which have been eminently successful.Twenty-two scholarships of $1000 each, have been obtained in Boston alone: and three more are expected. Intelligence received from the New England conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, estimates the number of travelling preachers at 144; and of members in communion with the church, at 16,925.

Lutheran Church.--The Theological Seminary of the Lutheran church has been finally located at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and the operations of the institution are expected to commence in September next.

The Synod of the Lutheran church met at Harrisburg Pennsylvania, on the 20th May. The Synod consisted of 56 delegates: viz. 32 clergymen, and 24 lay delegates. Six candidates for admission presented themselves, were examined, and accepted. Several missionaries were appointed to visit the west.

Indian Schools. The government pays 13.500 dollars annually for the support of schools, &c. at 38 stations among various tribes of Indians. Of the Schools 16 were established by the American Board of Foreign Missions, 7 by the Baptists, 6 by the United Foreign Missionary Society, 2 by the Moravians, &c. The Society of Jesuits have a Catholic school among the Indians of Missouri, which receives $800 annually. The number of teachers (including their families) at all the schools is 591; number of scholars 1159.-Christian Recorder.

Select Religious Entelligence.

Presbyterian Church in the United States.-The General Assembly of this body met in Philadelphia, on the 17th May, and continued in session till the first of June. This, in several respects, has been a session of considerable interest. The case of Mr. Chambers which is stated in our last number, was the subject of warm debate for several sederunts, and resulted in a deputation of the Assembly to the General Association of Connecticut; to effect some change in, or addition to, the rules which regulate the communion between the Congregational and Presbyterian churches.

The Assembly recommended the contemplated union between the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and the United Foreign Missionary Society; and commended its interests to the patronage of the Presbyterian church. They have so far located the Western Theological Seminary, as to determine that it shall be at Alleghany Town, in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, or at Walnut Hills, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, or at Charleston, Indiana; as the Assembly of 1827 shall determine. At the last meeting of the Assembly, a committee was appointed to confer with a committee of the Reformed Presbyterian church, respecting a plan of correspondence, between the two churches. The committee of the Reformed Presbyterian church consisted of the Rev. Dr. M'Leod, Rev. Messrs. Christie, and Gibson. A plan was agreed upon by the joint committee, which has been adopted by the Assembly. And if adopted by the Reformed Presbyterian church will go into operation next year.

The committee on Psalmody reported that they had arranged plans of operation in relation to the matters submitted to them but prayed the indulgence of the Assembly till next meeting, to make a more particular report. Marriage of a deceased wife's Sister.

In the case of Mr. M'Crimmon, who had appealed from a sentence of the Presbytery of Fayetteville, by which he was suspended; for marrying his deceased wife's sister; it was determined that no relief could be given to the appellant, without an alteration of chap. xxiv. sect. 2nd of Confession of Faith. And as there is a great variety of opinion on this subject, it was referred to the Presbyteries to give their judgment at next meeting, whether said article shall be erased or not. This has been long a subject of discussion in the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, which we believe is not yet determined. If there can be a doubt on this subject, we give it as our judgment, that the path of safety is the good old way; to depart from it without the clearest Authority, may be to legalize incest. The following is the report of the committee exhibiting the

Statistics of the Presbyterian Church.

It appears that there are under the care of the General Assembly fourteen Synods comprising eighty-five Presbyteries, and that sixty-eight Presbyteries have sent up to this Assembly reports more or less complete. Those Presbyteries which have sent up reports have given the number and names of Ministers, congregations and licentiates and the number of candidates. They also report the number of congregations supplied and the number vacant; of the vacancies, those which are able to support pastors.They report also the number of communicants and of baptisms. Eighteen Presbyteries have reported collections for the Presbyterial funds, leaving sixty-seven Presbyteries which have not reported-forty one Presbyteries have reported for the education fund, leaving forty-four Presbyteries which have not reported-forty-seven Presbyteries have reported for the missionary fund, leaving thirty-eight which have not reported-fifty-five Presbyferies for the commissioners fund, leaving thirty which have not reported, fourteen Presbyteries have reported collections, for the Theological Semipary leaving 71 which have not reported.

The whole number of Ministers reported by the abovenamed 68 Pres-. byteries is 985; of licentiates 152; of candidates 176; of congregations 1224; of the ministers 635 are settled pastors and 350 are stated supplies or without charge. And of the congregations, 944 are supplied, and 549 vacant. The number of communicants added last year in 720 congregations is 9557, and the whole number of communicante in 931 congregations is 99,674. The number of adult baptisms in 751 congregations is 1983; and of infant baptisms in 751 congregations 9397. Seventeen Presbyteries have made no reports on any subject to the present Assembly; but from the last reports received from 15 of these delinquent Preshyteries, it appears that they contained 150 ministers and had under their care 32 licentiates, 25 candidates, 251 congregations and 9,995 communicants so that the whole number of ministers now ascertained to belong to the Presbyterian Church in the United States is 1,135-the whole number of congregations returned is 1775; of communicants 109,667; of licentiates 184 and of candidates for the gospel ministry 201.

It is much to be regretted that in more than 700 of our churches, we are still unable to ascertain even the number of communicants, and that all the Presbyterial reports are more or less imperfect.

ECCLESIASTICAL CHRONICLE.

SCOTLAND.-Private letters from Scotland state, that the Testimony of the United Associate Synod is in a state of forwardness, and will be published in the course of the present year. The proposed union, between the Protesters against the late union, known by the name of the Associate Synod, and the Constitutional Presbytery, is likely to meet with obstacles and delays.

PRESBYTERY OF OHIO.-At Deer Creek, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday the 26th of April, this Presbytery ordained Mr. David GoodwilJie, jr. to the office of the holy ministry, and admitted him to the pastoral inspection of the united Associate congregations of Poland, Liberty and Deer Creek.

PRESBYTERY OF CAMBRIDGE.-At a special meeting of Presbytery, at Argyle, about the middle of last month, Messrs. Archibald Whyte, and Finlay D. McNaughtan, were licensed to preach the gospel, and are now in active service in the church.

IF Presbytery clerks, and ministers, are respectfully requested to forward to us notices of their public ecclesiastical transactions, that under this head, intelligence interesting to all, may be generally circulated.

View of Public Affairs.

EUROPE.

BRITAIN. For some time past, the most affecting details have reached us of the commercial distress throughout the kingdom; this has been followed, as was to be expected, by an almost unprecedented prevalence of misery, among the manufacturing population. Thousands and tens of thousands, who, with hard labour, earn a scanty subsistence for their families, when thrown out of employment, are immediately subjected to all the miseries of famine. At Manchester, Blackbou n, and other large manufacturing districts, the distress is extreme. The population, naturally the most peaceable, rendered frantic by the extremity of their sufferings, have in several instances, broken, out into excesses, which rendered the employment of force necessary to restrain them; by which a few lives have been lost. Hundreds of families, say the English papers, are reduced to one meal a day, of thin oatmeal poridge, and many cannot obtain a full meal of this. In many places, there is ercely a house, in which disease has not followed in the rear of poverty and

famine. At Bolton Moor, the small pox, of a peculiarly malignant nature, had made its appearance and was raging with a terriffic violence. At Manchester, 40,000 persons were receiving the benefit of charitable institutions. At Blackbourn, 14,000, more than half the population, have been relieved week by week, with food: so, also, in other places. In Dublin alone, 1860 silk, and 350 woollen looms, were idle, which had employed upwards of 17,000 people. In the west of Scotland, 60,000 were out of employment. The most lively sympathy has been felt, and expressed, among all classes, and liberal subscriptions for the relief of the sufferers, have been made. The king, himself contributed £1000. The cry of their distress has been heard by parliament and a bill under certain restrictions, permitting the introduction of bonded and imported corn, for a limited time, passed the house of Commons without a division. And as the feelings of the whole community, are so deeply interested in this matter, hopes are entertained, though there are surmises to the contrary, that it will pass the other house without much opposition. The latest accounts state, that tranquillity was restored, and there is a prospect of better times. What reason have the inhabitants of these United States to be thankful to the great Disposer of all things, that they are yet strangers to scenes like these, within their borders; yet, "let them not be high minded, but fear." The determination of the British government to maintain a strict neutrality in the contest between Turkey and Greece, is again repeated.

FRANCE.-Serious troubles have been excited at Rouen, the nature of which we have not been able fully to learn; they appear to relate to some schemes of the Jesuits, who are again obtaining a fearful influence. The establishment of the censorship, is confidently spoken of. This project is brought about by the same ambitious political ecclesiastics; having been frequently foiled, in their attacks on the journals, in the courts of law.

SPAIN. This ill-fated country continues in the most wretched condition.-The late papers from Madrid contain an address of felicitation, from the clergy of Cadiz, to the king, full of the most fulsome and ridiculous adulation, and concludes by urging him to re-establish the holy tribunal (the Inquisition) which has preserved the purity of the faith, and the dignity of the throne of St. Ferdinand. Yet the country throughout, is in the utmost distress; many had perished for want of food in Andalusia, and a rector of the invirons of Bergantina, at the head of those of his parishioners who were able to bear arms, went out to seek his fortune upon the highways.

RUSSIA. Though not a little distress prevails among the mercantile classes, the effect of the mania for speculation, which extended even to this country, tranquillity still prevails. The ferment which was excited by the late changes, occasioned by the death of Alexander, appears to be gradually subsiding. It seems to be the wish of the Emperor Nicholas, to preserve the pacific policy of his predecessor. The prospect of a war with Turkey, which owing to the bearing it would have upon the cause of the Greeks, was hailed with joy, is for the present at an end; as the Porte has promptly acceded to the Ultimatum of Russsia respecting Moldavia and Wallachia.

AMERICA.

COLOMBIA. On the 29th of April, a revolution took place, at the town of Valencia, 16 miles distant from Carracas, the nature and object of which,is not yet fully known. It appears that General Paez, who is a favourite with the people and army, had been superceded in his command by Gen. Escalona, in consequence of some charges being preferred against him to the Senate at Bogota, by the latter, which were admitted. Gen. Paez immediately proclaimed his successor, and was preparing to depart for Bogota, when a meeting of the corporation was held and it was decreed that he should remain in his present