many centuries, it surely becomes the paramount duty of all sincere Protestants, strenuously to exert themselves to promote their regeneration by supplying them with the means of religious and secular education.

It is with this object in view that a Protestant College has recently been founded in the island of Malta; a locality which, by its central position between Europe, Asia, and Africa, offers innumerable advantages for carrying on a great Christian work of this description. The leading principle of this college is to diffuse the pure light of Christianity, with the blessings of moral and intellectual cultivation, among the surrounding nations, by preparing a large body of native agents to be employed as missionaries, Scripture readers, schoolmasters, interpreters, &c.; and by providing also a good system of education on Scriptural principles for the children of the rich and the poor.

The institution consists of a school for boys, and a college for adults. The school, which is partly selfsupporting, was opened in February, 1846; it is already attended by eighteen boys, and can accommodate above fifty. Arrangements have been made for the immediate admission of ten youths, natives of the East, for gratuitous education, to be employed hereafter in various capacities in their respective countries.

The theological branch of the college has just been established, and the appointment to the office of Italian professor of theology, and theological tutor, has been bestowed on the Rev. Dr. Achilli, one of the converted priests, formerly superior of a monastery of Dominicans, and professor of theology for many years in the celebrated college of the Minerva at Rome. A house has been fitted up for the reception and gratuitous maintenance of ten converts and other theological students; four are already admitted, and others are waiting to enter the institution as soon as there shall be funds sufficient for their support. These converts will receive instruction in the principles of the Reformation for the space of one or two years, preparatory to their occupying mis

sionary stations on the shores of the Mediterranean, or in the East. The theological school will, thus, be a powerful auxiliary to the work of reformation commencing in those regions, by encouraging a spirit of inquiry, and by supplying quickly a number of sound and efficient agents to impart a right direction to these religious revivals. The glad tidings of salvation are already publicly proclaimed every Sunday in the Italian language in Valetta, the chief town of Malta, under the sanction of the Bishop of Gibraltar.

When the importance and magnitude of the objects for which the Malta Protestant College has been founded are considered, as well as the many difficulties inseparable from such an undertaking at its beginning, the committee feel that they have great cause to be thankful for the success with which it has pleased Almighty God to bless their efforts. It is evident, however, that the great and glorious ends contemplated by such an undertaking cannot be attained without a large supply of pecuniary means. The amount already received in donations and annual subscriptions is £6,500, the whole of which has been nearly spent in the purchase and fitting up of premises, the outlay for furniture and the support of the institution, including salaries of masters and servants, &c. for a year and a half. The committee cannot, therefore, but feel some anxiety on the subject of the future support of the college, and more especially respecting the income for the next three or four years, until, by the increase of the number of paying pupils, that branch of the institution shall have become not only self-supporting, but realize a surplus to be applied to the gratuitous education of native pupils. On a careful review of the whole subject, and considering the large sum required for the support of the theological branch of the college, in which the board and education are altogether gratuitous, it will not be prudent to estimate the excess of the expenditure above the receipts at less than from £1,200 to £1,400 a year for the next three or four years.

The question arises, How is this income to be provided? The committee would first urgently appeal to persons possessed of great wealth, and ask them whether this is not a cause worthy of their support by contributions of a large amount? They would next suggest whether, amongst the number of wealthy and benevolent Christians with which this country abounds, one hundred or more may not be induced to pledge themselves to subscribe or collect TEN POUNDS for the next four years, with an understanding that when the school shall become self-supporting, the subscription shall be reduced; and lastly, they would respectfully but earnestly entreat all who may read this paper not to lay it down without resolving to subscribe some amount, however small, in aid of the highly important objects which have been described — remembering that the happiness, both temporal and eternal, of tens of thousands of their fellowmen, may, under God, depend on the committee's success in obtaining the means indispensable for the accomplishment of their plans; these plans may be summed follows:

up as

1st. To spread the pure light of revealed religion, with the blessings of moral and intellectual cultivation, amongst nations now sunk in the lowest state of degradation.

2nd. To raise up from amongst themselves missionaries, whose feet shall be beautiful upon the mountains, who shall publish the Gospel of Peace; who, through Divine mercy, shall oppose the "man of sin;" shall recall the members of the fallen Asiatic churches to their first love, and be instrumental in leading even the darkened sons of Africa to stretch forth their hands unto God.

3rd. It is also as an important, though subordinate, end, to spread far and wide the light of literature and of science, and, if God permit, to sow the seed which, in due time, may yield for these lands a goodly band of men qualified to promote the best interests of society, in the learned professions, or in the various departments of commerce.

In venturing to anticipate these results, the committee humbly com

mend their infant establishment to Almighty God, with the earnest prayer, that it may now and at all times be so conducted as to promote his glory, and to diffuse those blessings which he is pleased in his unerring word to connect with the honour of his name, viz., "peace on earth, and good-will towards men,"*

An account of the course of education, with a statement of the receipts and expenditure, and a list of subscribers, will be found in the Prospectus and First Annual Report, which can be obtained by applying to the Secretary, 3, St. James's Street, London.

ITALIAN REFORMED CHURCH.

In a letter addressed lately to the Chairman (Lord Ashley, M. P.) of the Committee, by the Bishop of Gibraltar, visitor of the college, his lordship communicates the following interesting information on the subject of the converted Roman Catholic priests, and the establishment of an Italian Reformed Church.

"Malta, April 26th, 1847. "I was glad to learn from your lordship's letter, of the 31st ultimo, that the Committee of the Malta Protestant College had decided that the proposed establishment for the reception of priests should form a part of the institution, and be subject to the same regulations.

"Mr. Hadfield will have informed the committee that he had been led by the urgency of the case to admit three of the priests into the house, to which we have given the name of the

* As an additional stimulus to Protestant exertion, the following extract is subjoined from the correspondent of a London paper, who, in allusion to the works of the British Protestant Church at Alexandria being stopped for want of funds, states, "This is a sad contrast to the rapid advance making by the Roman Catholics in this country, for whom £8000 was subscribed, chiefly in Austria, last year, on the occasion of the falling of the Church in this city, to rebuild it; and in addition to this, the extensive French College is approaching its completion, the wing allotted to the education of girls having been finished some time, and affording religious and other instruction to upwards of 100 young women, almost gratis."

• Mission House. They are at present only admitted as his guests, till the further instructions of the committee are received.

"One of these priests, Dr. Achilli, is a person of great promise, and considerably in advance of his brethren. He has left the Church of Rome three or four years, and has been teaching the doctrines of the Reformation in the Ionian Islands; he has been a professor of theology, and at the head of a Dominican monastery; and, knowing his qualifications, it was my intention to have proposed him as the director of the studies of the others, so far as Italian is concerned. But as the committee propose to send out an English clergyman to reside in the house, there will hardly be room for such an arrangement. However, it will be necessary to do something to open a way of usefulness to him very soon. I must therefore mention to your lordship that he and the other Italians are very much bent upon commencing a Reformed Italian Church, upon the same general principles as the Church of England-not taking our Liturgy, but using a reformed service of their own. They find that the project of a national Italian Church, in contradistinction to the Roman or Latin Church, is very acceptable to many Italians, who would not join in attempting to set up the service of our Church in Italian.

"The object is certainly a very important one, and he is anxious to have an opportunity of advocating his views in England. He will therefore endeavour in a short time to obtain a passage free of expense. He has just translated D'Aubigne's 'History of the Reformation' into Italian, and it is about to be printed here at the expense of Mrs. Stewart Mackenzie. He is also editing our Anglo-Italian publication, "The Indicatore,' which finds its way to Rome, and is read there.

"I hope the committee will succeed in raising funds. The sum proposed will, I think, be sufficient for board and lodging; but some little further

allowance will be requisite for those who have no means of their own.

"The friars who may come to join them have not even an article of proper clothing. I have been obliged in all these cases to render considerable assistance."

The committee having been perfectly satisfied in their interviews with the Rev. Dr. Achilli, of his piety, talent, and sound knowledge of the Scriptural doctrines of the Gospel, have appointed him Italian professor of theology in the college. The arrangements of the theological branch of the college are thus completed; four converts are already admitted, and more are ready to enter as soon as there shall be funds sufficient for their support: they are to be trained for one or two years in the principles of the Reformation, and then employed as missionaries round Italy and the Mediterranean.

This is a work of the utmost importance; but as the education and board of the students in the theological school are altogether gratuitous, large funds will be required for its support. When the expenses of the school for boys, which is partly selfsupporting, are added, an income of above £1,200 a year will be required for the support of the whole institution during the next three or four years. It is proposed to raise this income by contributions of a large amount, or by subscriptions of £10 a year for the next four years. Contributions of a smaller amount will also be thankfully accepted. It is earnestly hoped the Christian public will not suffer a plan, so admirably calculated to promote the glory of God and the happiness of a large portion of mankind, to be abandoned for want of adequate support.

Contributions will be received by the bankers, Messrs. Herries and Co. 16, St. James's Street, or by the Rev. S. Byers, secretary to the committee, 3, St. James's Street, where the prospectus of the institution may also be obtained.

WHAT, then, can I say of my poor benighted Malta? I was much interested in reading the observations made by the Rev. Dr. Baird; and though I would not presume to express my own opinion, were it not founded on the observations of respected Christian friends, yet, having heard the opinions of those who have experience and wisdom, I cannot help expressing how fully these opinions agree with the remarks he makes respecting the advantages of the position of Malta, as a point from whence to obtain admission for the truth into Italy. This is precisely the opinion which our Italian brethren have decidedly formed, and in which they earnestly hope and pray for the concurrence of our Christian friends and brethren in England. This leads me to the subject most directly bearing on the spiritual interests of Malta. The people of this place are in so lamentable a state of spiritual darkness, that it is not possible, I believe, to comprehend it, without residing amongst them. The Gospel has been preached here, it is true, for many years, but in English, and the influence on the people of Malta is certainly hardly perceptible. Within a few months past, however, a very interesting commencement of Gospel light has dawned on the place, and we fervently hope for further results.

Some months ago, a weekly prayermeeting, in the Italian language, was commenced by a faithful minister of the Gospel, (who arrived here about that time,) a native of Rome, and formerly a Romish priest, in union with another minister, a Maltese, also once a priest. This meeting has been continued, and, blessed be the Lord, the Gospel is faithfully preached in Italian every week, to a very small congregation truly; but the word of the Lord is stedfast: Wheresoever two or three are gathered together

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in my name," &c. And surely his presence has been amongst us at our little meetings, and there is evidently a shaking; and we see that the Lord is removing, one by one, the foundation stones which prop up the edifice of Popery.

Within these few months, our prayers have been answered by the addition of two more to the number of converts from Popery-one from the Malta cloisters, but a native of Rome; the other from Italy direct. We know of others both here and in Italy, who are ready to cast aside the priestly garb of Rome, and unite with their brethren of the " Italian Catholic Church."

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And these are the persons who hope, by the blessing of the Lord, to be permitted to convey those glorious truths by which their own minds have been enlightened, to their fellowcountrymen, and to all the many others to whom the language of Italy is familiar.

But how great are their trials and difficulties! They need the assistance of their more favoured brethren in England; for they, in renouncing Popery (being priests) renounce every earthly means of support: and, without funds, what can they do? This subject has been taken into consideration by the committee of the Malta Protestant College, and a house is now preparing, and is almost ready for the reception of ten priests on their leaving the Romish communion,

To what extent the assistance proposed to be granted by this institution will be carried, I am not able to say; but I presume it will be merely to grant a home to these individuals. They, however, hope and pray for further assistance hereafter, which may enable them to carry the glad tidings of the Gospel into Italy; and we trust the Lord will graciously hear and answer these prayers.