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ultimate adoption of which, after a long, and, in its consequences, highly beneficial discussion, led to the separation of what were called the Old Light brethren, and gave a new and more liberal phase to the denomination to which he belonged; while it paved the way for similar results in the other great branch of the Secession.

frail that she could not reach her own place of worship, Dr Robson's. This she considered one of her greatest trials, for she "loved the habitation of God's house." My Sabbath evening meeting being near her dwelling, she was able to avail herself occasionally of its services. She was wont to say that, when deprived of the benefit of public ordin

Portobello.-The eighth annual meet-ances, God had made her humble dwell

ing of the Missionary Society in coning a little sanctuary. Her conversation nexion with this congregation was held was always of the most cheering description. I felt that I was rather receiving on 13th January, the Rev. George Her general Deans in the chair. The amount realized than giving instruction. information was not extensive, but she during the year amounted to L.37, 9s., being, on an average, about L.16 more was well acquainted with her bible. The than former years. The sum was dis-only complaint that escaped her lips was

tributed as follows:

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London Missionary Society, 4 0
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L.37 197 The meeting was then addressed on the subject of missions by the chairman, Bailie Calder, Messrs Scott and Meikle, students in divinity, and Rev. W. S. Blackwood of the Established Church.

of the prevalence of sin in her heart; but she trusted to the efficacy of the blood of Christ, and her faith was unwavering, and seemed to increase as her bodily strength diminished. For a considerable time she felt deeply at the thought of leaving an affectionate husband. At length her faith overcame this difficulty, and one day she said to him, "I do not feel at parting with you now, I can commit my soul to God, and I can commit my husband also." At another time she said, "I regret to lose the communion of saints on earth, but I am going to have communion with saints in heaven. If I have a desire to live, it is that I may glorify God more than I have ever yet done. Were I to recover, I would go and declare to the heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ." On calling about ten days before she died, and about four weeks after she had become confined to bed, her conversation was peculiarly pleasing and animating. She remarked that nothing but the consciousness of pardon through Christ could make one in her circumstances happy, and repeated some texts expressive of her love to her Saviour, such as My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: He is all my salvation and all my desire," &c. On my quoting THE first time I met with Mrs W. was that passage, "How sweet are thy words in her own house, about eighteen months unto my taste!" she said, "at one time before her death. She was at that time I did not know the meaning of that pascomplaining, but able to attend to her sage, but now I have felt it." Before 1 domestic affairs. Our first interview left, I read at her request the second made a favourable impression on my chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians. mind regarding her, and increased ac- Now and again she interrupted me by quaintance strengthened this impression. repeating the passage after me, or by I continued to pay her the regular visit anticipating it. On coming away, I said in going through my district. During I was going to visit a woman in the the last six months of her life, I called on same trouble, but in a different state of her more frequently, as she was getting mind. "Tell her from me," said she, weaker, and was anxiously desirous of "that the blood of Christ Jesus, God's my visits Ultimately she became so Son, cleanseth from all sin. Let her

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL
OF AN AGENT OF THE GLAS-
GOW CITY MISSION.

Communicated by the Secretary.

ployment brought them to Glasgow when the daughter was five years of age. Two years after she went to a Sabbath-school, where, with the help of her mother at home, she learned to read. She continued her attendance on Sabbathschools till she was twenty-six years of age; for a long time as a scholar, and latterly as a teacher. She was then married to D. W., her widowed husband, who is a weaver. On taking leave of the Sabbath-school she felt it a severe trial to part with her scholars, to whom she was much attached. Whilst attend

formed an intimacy with a young woman, a class-fellow, who attended in Eglinton Street Secession Church. She also attended, and became a member of it at twenty-two years of age, and continued so till her marriage, when she joined the church under Dr Mitchell's ministry, and to which her husband belonged. This connexion she kept till death removed her to the church above. She died, aged thirty-two years, having been six years married.

look to the Lamb of God that taketh She was born in Perth. Want of emaway the sin of the world." I did not fail to do as I was desired. The message had a solemn and, I trust, a salutary effect on the anxious enquirer. I called again four days afterwards,-found Mrs W. so much exhausted that she could not speak but in whispers. She made a sign to me to come near, and then said, "I am going to be with Christ in his Father's kingdom,-I have seen him already, but I shall soon see him in all his loveliness." She told me she had been brought to the knowledge of the truth when about fifteen years of age, and added, "at that time I became un-ing the Sabbath-school as a scholar, she well, and, whilst lying on bed one day, thought I saw the Saviour come to me, and say, Come unto me all ye that labour," &c. She did not then know that these words were to be found in scripture. Shortly after she recovered, and returned to the Sabbath-school. One morning her teacher repeated the passage, Come unto me, &c., as the class came to it in the course of their lesson. She was so struck, she said, that she gave a scream that alarmed the teacher. "Now," she added, "I shall soon be with him, and shall see him in all his glory." She requested me to sing with her the fourth hymn from the third verse. Her mother, her husband, and another man were present, and joined in the solemn and delightful exercise. She accompanied us through the third verse, but was too weak to continue. As we proceeded, however, she waved her hand, and a gentle smile played on her pallid countenance, which seemed irradiated with heavenly joy. At her request, also, we sang the fourth paraphrase, and I then prayed. I called two days after, but found her asleep-called next day, and found her suffering very much from bodily pain. She revived a little, and requested me to engage in praise. When about to engage in prayer, she requested me to pray that God would cut short his work, and forgive her impatience. She continued in that state of severe suffering till nine P.M., when she became calm, and continued so till five next morning, when, without a struggle, she fell asleep. Thus died this humble follower of Jesus, in the full assurance of faith, from whom I received many valuable lessons, and with whom I have taken sweet counsel. It is right to mention that this woman A VERY interesting meeting was held was much indebted to Sabbath-schools in Cliff Lane Chapel, Whitby, on the for her religious knowledge. Her parents, both still alive, are very careless persons. Her father, indeed, is an avowed infidel.

Her father has not been in a place of worship since he came to Glasgow, nor will he allow his wife to attend. His daughter, during her illness, embraced every opportunity of preaching Christ to her parents. Since her death the mother told me that she is determined to do as her daughter entreated her to do, whatever may be the consequences. Two nights before she died her father sat up with her all night. She urged him to change his way of living, and besought him to read John x. and Eph. ii. He acquiesced in all she said, but no impression seems to have been made. I intend recommending him to the notice of the agent in whose district he lives. At the same time I have a desire to call on him myself, and see if he will dare to mock at christianity before me, as his wife tells me he does before others, conscious as he is that I witnessed what it did for his daughter, of whom he was not worthy.

TESTIMONIAL TO REV. GEORGE YOUNG,
D.D., WHITBY.

7th January, when a token of respect was presented to the Rev. G. Young, D.D., on occasion of his having com

pleted the fortieth year of his ministry | exhibited a gold watch and appendages, in that place. An excellent tea was bearing the inscription-"Presented to provided, of which about 160 of the the Rev. G. Young, D.D., Whitby, by his members, congregation, and friends of affectionate people, on his completing the the Reverend Doctor partook. Among fortieth year of his faithful services as the company were the ministers of the their pastor. January 7, 1846." AcIndependent, Wesleyan Methodist, Bap-companied with the following, printed tist, Primitive Methodist, and Associa- on a piece of satin-" Presented to the tion societies. After tea, a public meet- Rev. G. Young, D.D., by his congregaing was held, when the Rev. J. Douglas tion, as a feeble token of their veneraof Hartlepool, was called to preside, who tion and regard for the talent, zeal, and briefly stated the object of the meeting, piety, which have characterised a minisand commenced with singing and prayer. tration of forty years, as well as for that The Rev. W. Bond then addressed the universal philanthropy, and those strenmeeting, and observed that it was at all uous exertions for the promotion of litetimes a pleasure for christian friends to rature and science, which have made meet each other, but must be especially him an ornament and benefactor to his so on the occasion of presenting a token species, and especially to the town of of friendship to a minister who has la- Whitby." After an eloquent description boured among a society for forty years, of the superiority of christian to merely and it must be important for a minister earthly friendship, he presented the to review forty years of public labour to watch to the Rev. Doctor, who received one christian congregation, and of thank- it with peculiar emotions, which were fulness to God that health, strength, and also deeply felt by the congregation. Dr grace had been imparted to enable him Young acknowledged the kindness of his for so long a period to labour. Many friends, and stated that his thanks were changes have occurred in the town, and first due to his Father in heaven, who in the Doctor's own church, during that, had so blessed him with health and but it must be a satisfaction to him to strength, that for forty years his people know that many have passed from his had never for even any portion of one ministry to the church triumphant, and Sabbath been deprived of his labours that after a few fleeting years he shall through indisposition. He had not so meet them again in heaven. The rev. large a congregation as some, but one chairman then proceeded to the more which he warmly loved. There were important business of the meeting, and not many rich and great, but some of said that the laws of etiquette forbade the truly excellent of the earth; and he that any man should be praised in his believed that among them there was a presence, but that truth was no flattery. degree of moral excellence seldom equalIt was with great pleasure that he should led. His elders were men of truth, hating present the token of respect, friendship, covetousness, and together they were a and esteem to Dr Young, who is dis- people distinguished for peace. When tinguished for his personal piety-piety he came, he found them kind and affectowards God, and faith in our Lord tionate, and although many had been Jesus Christ. He was also a zealous removed, yet those who remained were and successful minister, having many of the same mind. There were instances seals to his ministry. Of those members where, when a minister had grown old, who signed the call to the Rev. Doctor his congregation sought by some preforty years ago, he understood there tence to get rid of him, but here it was were only six now living. As it was not so; and he would take the greatest interesting to Moses to survey the forty care of this token of their regard. His years' journeying in the wilderness, so must silver watch, which had been with him it be to our friend, brother, and father in forty-eight years, he might not altogethe ministry. He was also a man of ther lay aside, but rather consider the science and literature, and had done present as a successor and helper, as the much to reconcile true philosophy and time might soon come when himself religion, when geologists ran into wild should need a helper, but even then his theories. He was no fireside philospher, congregation might not wish him to be but had personally examined the strata altogether laid aside. Its movements of their sea girt coast, and published the would remind him of the progress of survey. He had also given to the world time-its winding up of his daily need of interesting histories of the celebrated a supply of divine grace-its regularity navigator, Captain Cook, and of the would admonish him if at any time he town of Whitby. The Chairman then was inclined to irregularity, either in

conduct or temper-and its costliness of crown of joy and rejoicing in the day of those ornaments which were more pre- the Lord. After interesting addresses cious than silver or gold. The best by the Rev. Messrs Potter, Kent, Harris, token his friends could give of their re- and Parkinson, and Mr W. Willison, the gard to him, was to give themselves to meeting was dismissed with singing and the Lord, that they might be like gems prayer, under a hallowed feeling which in the crown of the Lord Jesus, and his will long be remembered.

MONTHLY RETROSPECT.

NATIONAL CRISIS.

no opinion on what we know is among enlightened and honest men matter of dispute-whether a direct tax of this kind be not the most eligible. But allowing it to be so, if the law is to be altered, we earnestly hope that the most vigorous effort will be made to get rid of the crying injustice almost universally admitted to characterise the present statute. We refer especially to assessing terminable annuities and incomes from trades and professions at the same rate as incomes accruing from land or other realized property. A person at seventy years of age having an annuity of L.500 to terminate with his life, may be considered as having property to the amount of L.3570, i.e., L.3570 would purchase his annuity; another having a landed estate worth L.500 clear, estimating his land at twenty-eight years' purchase, has property to the amount of L.14,000. It might not be easy to estimate, in this way, the value of a trade or a profession yielding L.500 per annum, but depending on the health of him who follows it and a thousand other casualties; but it is evidently worth a great deal less than even an annuity secured to the individual. The law, however, utterly disregards these glaring inequalities, and shamefully and sinfully assesses at the same rate all these different kinds of income.

BEFORE Our last number issued from the press, it was known that Lord J. Russell had abandoned his attempt to form a government, and that Sir R. Peel and his former colleagues, with one or two exceptions, had re-accepted office. As "the day of explanation," to use Lord John's phrase, will have arrived before what we are writing can meet the eye of the reader, it is useless to notice the conflicting statements which are abroad respecting the immediate cause of his failure. Before our day of publication, too, the key-note of Sir Robert Peel's policy will be struck in the Queen's speech. While we write, the best informed are declaring their absolute ignorance on the subject. It is gathered, however, from some replies made by her Majesty to addresses, that foreign grain will immediately be admitted at a small or nominal duty, and that there will be a permanent alteration of the corn laws, bringing them at least nearer to the principles of free trade. One of the ministry has explicitly said, that government is opposed to "unrelaxed protection." There is great reason to suspect, however, that contemporaneously with the change of the corn laws other measures will be brought forward for relieving the landlords from a large share of the taxation to which they are at present Whatever turn matters may take in subject. To this we trust a strong, de- the first instance, we venture to repeat termined, national resistance will be our conviction, that free trade, especially made, unless-what we are persuaded in corn, is at no great distance. There is the contrary of the truth-it can be is a universally felt and admitted necesmade apparent that land is already un- sity for settling the question promptly fairly burdened. Every one knows that and finally; and the blindest may see it enjoys many flagrant and scandalous that no settlement can be final, none can immunities, and that its owners adopt afford the country even a momentary every low expedient, such as counting repose, except the complete abolition of out the House of Commons, whenever a all restrictions on the importation of proposal is made for having the matter food. To use the words of Mr Rutherinvestigated. The belief is gaining furd, the late Lord Advocate-" It must currency too, that the income tax is be a measure that shall set at rest those likely to be augmented. We shall hazard accursed discussions between the aristo

both cheaper and better than they have been accustomed to. On these points the people are now thoroughly enlightened; and it is accordingly most satisfactory to observe, that whereas, a few years ago, an anti-corn-law meeting could not be held without the risk of its being broken up by Chartists; now, persons of the extremest politics, and of all classes and grades, are going harmoniously together in demanding abolition. Indeed, some of the most interesting and significant meetings which have recently been held, have consisted almost entirely of labourers, whose circumstances were most abject, but whose sentiments, both of justice and of policy, seemed immeasurably superior to those of large portions of both Houses of Parliament. Another very "great fact," guaranteeing the abolition of the corn-laws, is, that the League has determined to raise a quarter of a million of money for the object, and that Manchester itself has subscribed almost a third part of the stupendous sum. Cool, calculating men of business, who proceed in this way, and have such re

cracy and the lower ranks between one | matter of course; whilst all this being great class of her Majesty's subjects, and effected by free trade, they will have the another class, more numerous, and not additional advantage of obtaining food less important, not less influential, and one whose happiness is unquestionably not less sacred in the eyes of the constitution. It must be a complete settlement of the question, and I do not see how any settlement can be so, which does not amount to an absolute repeal of the cornlaws." In like manner, Lord John Russell, at Glasgow, the other day, while he contemplated, as many do, the possibility of an arduous struggle, spoke of the only measure which can be accepted, as one "which shall once and for ever settle this question, and leave the people of this country that which they ought to possess the power and the privilege of getting their food as cheap and as good as it is possible for them to obtain it." One of the best securities, too, for the passing of such a measure, is, that the masses now thoroughly understand the question, and are bent on its settlement, and that in the only satisfactory manner. There are few things of this nature more cheering than the progress they have recently made, in a sound Political Economy. Among our artizans, and even the more intelligent of our peasantry, the lead-sources at their disposal, are manifestly ing principles of Adam Smith are familiar indomitable. The aristocracy will not as household words. In particular, they be wise in their generation, if they do not are utterly disabused of the fallacy that instantly yield. We make no apology for cheap provisions naturally lead to low entering on the subject at such length. wages. Innumerable facts in the history It would be affectation, or worse, for us of the last thirty years completely dis- to affect indifference to the temporal prove it; and they all understand, that welfare of our fellow-subjects; but, apart however much additional, in times of from that altogether, we verily believe dearth, one has to spend upon his food, that their spiritual and eternal interests he has just so much less to spend on the are closely connected with free and unvarious kinds of manufactured articles-restricted commerce. Lord John Rusthat these articles being thus less in re-sell was clearly right in enumerating quest, fewer of them will be produced—“crime” among the fruits of the cornfewer hands will therefore be required, laws; and with crime, irreligion is assoand, consequently, wages will fall. They know, likewise, that though there may be individual and occasional exceptions, yet, in the general, employers are not to blame for the lowness of wages, and that it is absurd to talk of the duty of giving more adequate remuneration. Labour, they understand, is just an article in the market, and wages are its price, which rises or falls, like the price of everything else, according to the proportion which the supply bears to the demand. The only method, therefore, for bettering their circumstances, they see, is to bring the WHATEVER exaggeration alarmists may country into such a condition, that the have been guilty of, it is not to be disarticle they have to dispose of-their la-puted that popery, both partial and combour, to wit-shall be in request, and plete, both secret and open, has of late then its price will become high, as a been making rapid advances in England.

ciated, both as cause and effect. We rejoice in it, as one small instalment of the benefit secured to our country by the late disruption in the Establishment, that many of the most distinguished ministers of the Free Church are now taking part with other good men in opposing so iniquitous and pernicious a system. May it please God, in his providence, speedily to bring it to a perpetual end!

POPERY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

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