of the truth, and endow the Romish priesthood in Ireland. All the ancient and time-out-of-mind honoured principles of our forefathers that a nation is, as a nation as well as a church, a witness for and upholder of the truth, are gradually being undermined by the subtle theories of modern liberalism.

And then, at this season, when every effort of the combined household of faith is required to resist the common foe, how sad is it to reflect on the grievous disunion of professing Christians! When from every English Christian's lips should come the cry, "No endowment of Romish idolatry," it makes the heart quite sad to hear the war-cry of 66 no State endowments," raised at this critical juncture by many of our dissenting brethren. We implore them to remember that, if they combine with pro-Romanists at the next election, they may indeed inflict a blow upon

RECENT visitations seem to address us with a voice of pointed admonition. The great agitator of Ireland, the champion of Romanism and party politics, is dead, having lived just long enough to see his country reduced to the lowest point both of moral degradation and physical distress. He breathes his last at Genoa, while preparations are making for his triumphal entry into Rome.-No sooner have the promoters of Cornlaw abolition accomplished their boasted object than famine comes upon the land. At the very time when their applauded leader is making a procession of triumph through Europe, a large portion of Europe itself is said to be on the verge of starvation. When commercial enterprise was to have been unfettered, and trade flourishing, monetary embarrassment and stagnation of trade prevail to an alarming extent in the commercial world. The thought may indeed be fanciful, but it would certainly seem as if the Almighty intended thus to mark with his espe

their brethren of the Establishmentbut they will do so at the expense of our common Christianity. They may stab the Church of England, but the dagger will first have passed through the heart of our national piety. If hostility to the Church secure the endowment of Romanism, how well may it be said to English Dissent, "Et tu, Brute!"

Still, amidst all discouragements at home and abroad, the faithful heart will rely on God's promises and hope to the end. The device which the Kirk of Scotland has adopted, is a bush burning and yet unconsumed, with the motto "nec tamen consumebatur." And so, also, let us believe of Christ's universal Church. It may suffer sore affliction, but it can never be destroyed. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever."

EVENTS.

cial indignation, not only the spirit of Popery now so evidently struggling for ascendancy, but also that more insidious and dangerous spirit of unbelief which lurks beneath the thirst for gain now so fearfully prevalent in this country: both at the present time united in an unhallowed crusade against the cause of truth and godliness.* But, be this as it may, recent events are obviously designed to remind us, how vain is all the wisdom and power of man, whatever be his station, creed, or party, to secure happiness to a people! and that to lean upon an arm of flesh, is to lean upon a broken reed. They ought to convince us that the true Christian is the only true patriot, because it is upon his labours alone that the Divine blessing can be expected to rest. And that whether he be permitted, like Wilberforce, to see before the close of life the fruit of his labours, or be taken away in the midst of his days, to him alone belongs the satisfaction of knowing that he has not lived in vain.

X.

WE strongly recommend the following touching letter to the sympathy and benevolence of our readers. The good Count, with his 200 orphans, deserves all possible support. The Editor will thankfully forward any

sums.

"Dusselthal, May 19.

"I have been waiting from day to day irresolute whether to write to you or not, partly in the hope that, by delaying, I might be able to give you a more cheerful letter, partly in the fear of tiring out your kindness. I cannot longer be silent; I must entreat your further efforts for us. I know not to whom else I can look. The generous gifts sent us this winter relieved our wants in many a painful hour, and procured food for the establishment. We began to hope for better times, especially as much was said of ships being expected loaded with grain, and that the government was taking steps for the relief of this province. These hopes, founded on earthly succour and human help, have failed. Provisions have risen, and are rising, to an enormous height. It is said that the corn merchants, and some farmers, are keeping up their barns full, whilst others are privately sending their corn out of the country to higher markets, whilst those around them are dying of want. I know not whether this be true-God grant that this cruel avarice may not be added to the sins of this people! But be it as it may, these reports enrage the minds of the starving populace. The mob rose last week, and threatened to set the town of Dusseldorf on fire, if the price of bread was increased. The magistrate was unprovided with sufficient force at the moment, and it was with difficulty he could repress the violence, by assembling the bakers,

and entreating them not to add to their price, at least on the day that was expected. The consequence of this state of affairs is that the corndealers refuse to give further credit, and the cart that was sent to fetch corn, some days since, was returned empty, with the declaration that nothing but ready money would be received. All entreaties to wait, if but for a few days, were in vain, and the count was obliged to raise the money with difficulty, by begging it from different gentlemen in the neighbourhood, in small sums, and in person. Added to this general state of affairs, a report has unfortunately got abroad, and is spread far and near, that the Institution has been taken charge of by the government, and therefore does not need private contributions. This totally unfounded report arises from the part the king's ministers have in the arrangements concerning the appointment of the new director here, and the count's retiring to his estate in Silesia-a meddling, indeed, with private affairs which we English cannot comprehend. The count uses every means possible to contradict this opinion by advertisements in the public papers, periodical works, &c., &c., but the antidote takes effect slower than the poison. The dear count, with tears in his eyes, begged me to make every effort possible to obtain relief till harvest, and this evening the countess asked me sorrowfully whether I had not yet written a letter for them. Let me earnestly entreat you not to lose courage or be weary, but continue your exertions for this institution. Pray beg earnestly our friends to make collections for poor Dusselthal, of even a shilling. Among many this would soon bring the necessary supply together."

IN various Roman Catholic countries on the Continent a marked change has lately been observed in the minds

of many priests, and there is reason to believe that if opportunities were offered for procuring information on

the subject of a Scriptural Christianity, and an asylum afforded them during a probationary period, and until their services might be made available as missionaries, under the authority of the Church of England, a great number would be prepared to throw off the yoke of Rome and seek for Christian liberty in the Gospel. In France, at this time, where the law allows a priest the liberty of renouncing his connexion with the Romish priesthood, there are several now engaged in preaching the Gospel within the Reformed Churches. The Abbé Maurette, who has undergone a year's imprisonment for having published a vindication of his conduct, is now pursuing a successful ministry in the Arriège. The Abbé Bruitte is engaged in an interesting scene of labour at Siouville, near Cherbourg. Mons. Trivier, but a year ago one of the most distinguished priests at Dijon, is now preaching in a town near Angoüleme, "the faith which once he destroyed;" and several others might be enumerated of less consideration. In Belgium similar conversions have taken place. The Protestant schoolmaster at Charleroi is an example. In England there are at this time not fewer than six Italian priests who have renounced the errors of Rome, and are endeavouring to be useful to their countrymen. This spirit of reform has spread among the priests to such an extent that it is no longer possible for the Romish bishops to conceal it. But with more especial reference to the Protestant College at Malta, it may be stated that there are at present several priests in that island who are asking for admission into the English Reformed Church. The Bishop of Gibraltar having had before him several cases of the nature above described, has brought the subject to the notice of the Committee of the Malta Protestant College. In a letter addressed to Lord Ashley, the Chairman, the Bishop suggests that the difficulty may be met, if it should be thought consistent with the rules of the institution, to form a separate department for the instruction of inquiring priests. His lordship has intimated in his communi

cation that there are already five priests prepared to avail themselves of the advantages which such an establishment would afford; and the Bishop expresses great anxiety that so favourable an opportunity should not be lost of finally rescuing those persons from the errors of Rome, and of preparing them for different spheres of usefulness in the Church of England. The Committee having taken the whole of this subject into their serious consideration, beg leave to lay their plan before their friends and subscribers.

Not far from the College building at St. Julien, is a house which is ultimately intended for the residence of the Principal; this house can be furnished at a very trifling expense, and be made capable of receiving at least ten inmates; the cost of maintenance would be about £25 each, per annum, so that if £50 be taken as the estimate for fitting up ten bed rooms, and be added to the £250 required for boarding the ten inmates, no more than £300 would be wanted for the first year for the board and lodging of ten abjuring priests; in subsequent years it would be something less. The Committee would then have to provide Theological Lectures for that branch of the College, and in the present state of the school, it would not be difficult for the Rev. G. H. Hadfield, the Principal, at least to superintend that department. In which case, a desirable mode of supplying a complete course of Divinity Lectures would be, to invite clergymen, who are preparing to seek a mild climate for the sake of restoring their health, to direct their steps to Malta; and it might be convenient and agreeable to some one so circumstanced to accept of an appointment for a season, upon payment of his travelling expenses to that island, and back again to England. But this can only be looked upon as a temporary measure, until the finances of the institution admit of the establishment of a chair of theology; or afford the committee the means, by the appointment of a Vice-Principal, of committing the duties of that important chair to the Principal. Should the committee be

It is related of an English countess, that she thanked God for the letter M; "without which," said she, "the Apostolic declaration, (1 Cor. i. 26,) would have run, Not any noble are called,' and thus my earthly distinctions would have become the source of deepest irremediable woe."

Few nations, within the Christian pale, have numbered, among their great ones, so many who might give thanks, on a similar ground, as that of Prussia, whose princes, as well as nobles, have been frequently as much distinguished by the defence of Christian doctrine, and the practice of Christian virtues, as by their worldly rank. Happily, our times form no exception to this remark; and among those who have "esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt," the lately deceased Princess Marianne, of Hesse Homburg, Consort of Prince William of Prussia, (and consequently sisterin-law to the late, and aunt to the reigning monarch,) holds deservedly a high place. This royal lady, distinguished for beauty, talents, and attainments, (and still more so, perhaps, for the warm patriotism evinced by her during the sad years of GerAUGUST-1847.

man oppression under the Gallic usurper,) crowned the galaxy of her virtues by an unostentatious, but most decided and unshrinking profession of Evangelical principles.

At a period when it was esteemed no honour to avow reliance on redeeming love, she hesitated not fearlessly to profess the joyful assurance of faith which filled her heart; and those preachers, whose decided proclamations of the glory of Divine grace were known to proceed from personal experience of its renewing power, numbered the Princess Marianne among their constant hearers, at a time when it might be specially averred, that "not many noble" were to be found in their worshipping assemblies.

The Moravian brethren, with whom, as is well known, atonement and reconciliation by the blood of Christ ever form the centre and sum of doctrine, attracted her affectionate regard. With many members of that community she cherished a constant and intimate intercourse; and one of their text-books, known by the title of

66

Something for the Heart" (Etwas für das Herz), was her daily source of spiritual refreshment. The earnest

Y