folly and perverseness. It is possible, bill as it stands will pass the House of however, that there may be trades which Commons, and if the majority there be have drawn out a sickly existence under as great as some well informed parties protection, but which must perish as soon predict, the Lords will scarcely be so as it is withdrawn. If so, a temporary fool-hardy as reject it. We deem it cerinconvenience will doubtless be expe- tain. however, that with or without a disrienced by those whose occupation is solution of Parliament, the monopolists gone. The only remedy is, that they must yield; and if it be insisted on, that embark in some other employment. the sense of the nation shall be taken Free trade will afford them innumerable by a general election, the victory will, openings. They may themselves be no in all probability, be the more complete. great losers by the change. Their chil- Indeed, if the three years' protection be dren and the community at large will not got quit of at present, we fondly hope, certainly gain. that the new Parliament, which at any rate must meet before the expiry of that period. will commence its labours by immediately opening the ports.

The chief objection to the measure is, that it defers free trade in corn for a period of three years. This is avowedly for the sake of the landed interest, but Many wonderful conversions to free a very general opinion prevails, and many trade principles have been made, and of themselves, the more enlightened of many amazing sentiments uttered,them, participate in it, that it is very both by the conductors of the public problematical if the proposed concession press and the members of the legislawill not be really injurious to them, as ture, since Sir Robert declared himself. it will undoubtedly be to all the rest of But nothing has astonished us more the nation. It will, first of all, keep than his own statement, that he had been them for three years in uncertainty and led to entertain the free trade principles suspense, whereas, it is obviously their he now holds, not by the general reasoninterest, and that of all other classes, to ings of the political economists (in which have a complete settlement made, and respect he admitted that others had the matters put on a solid permanent foun-advantage over him), but entirely by his dation with the least possible delay. observation, during the three last years, And farther, while, if we are to be visited of the working of his own tariff. Such with a succession of bad harvests, it may a statement cannot be disputed without turn to their advantage, on the other questioning his personal veracity; but hand, if it shall please Providence, as we surely it is next to incredible that an fervently hope it may, to give us plenti- individual occupying his position, and ful crops between this and 1849, then with his means of information, should there seems to be no doubt, that these have remained till now so profoundly years of continued protection will entail ignorant of doctrines which, for such a most disastrous consequences on the length of time, have been so incontrofarmers. On this supposition, British vertibly established, and so frequently grain being cheap, and the duty high presented in forms level to the capacity during the interval, importations will of a child. It amazes one to reflect with not take place; foreign growers, how-how small a portion of intelligence manever, will be making large preparations kind may be governed.- Mr Sidney for the British market; speculators will Herbert, a member of the government, hoard the produce of successive years; spoke strongly, but, for aught we know, and the moment the duty is struck off, not too strongly, when he pronounced the country will be inundated with corn, the restrictive system to be "the greatest and our panic-stricken agriculturists will error ever committed in human legislabe overwhelmed and ruined. All this tion."-Sir James Graham, after frankly has been clearly demonstrated, and ap- acknowledging his change of opinion, parently not without effect. An attempt and admitting that it was not altogether will be made by the free traders in Par- unfair to remind him and his brother liament, to induce Sir Robert Peel to ministers of their former professions, and alter his measure in accordance with of the declarations made on the hustings these views, but, at the same time, care by themselves and others, on the force will be taken to afford the protectionists of which the present government was no opportunity of joining their extreme formed, concluded his speech by saying, opponents in a vote, which might have" I do not think that landlords will have the effect of throwing out the Govern- to make any very great sacrifices; but, enment Bill altogether. There seems to tertaining the opinions which I do, foundbe no doubt that, at the very least, the ed on the experience I now possess, I say,

were the sacrifice ten times greater, I, | alone can forgive sins, does what his for one, sooner than it should be said of priest does. He declared this to be the myself, or any of the class to which I doctrine of the Church of England, viz., belong, that our object was to secure for that the priest does not merely declare ourselves an increase of rent, and not to a pardon, but speaks by God's authority promote the happiness and welfare of committed to him. He argued at great the great body of the community-sooner length for Confession, and declared it to than leave any room for such a suspicion, be the solemn duty of priests to lead I should say, speaking for myself, that I their people to the practice. He enwould descend to a lower estate and ab-couraged those who were hoping and rogate my inheritance. It is said a great party has been dissolved; it is said old political ties have been severed; it is said that social relations have been disturbed; it is anticipated, and it is not improbable, that an administration may be dissolved; and though I should regret the former part of these consequences, on my conscience, I believe this proposition will save a great and powerful nation from anarchy, misery, and ruin." We believe so too, and therefore do we thank God for the prospects which are presenting themselves, and hope that, under his blessing, that nation, about to be delivered from the curse of monopoly, will enjoy a long career of prosperity and happiness, and will contribute largely to the advancement of civilization and religion on the earth, and so to the promotion of the glory of God and the good of mankind.

PUSEYISM.

OUR readers may recollect that about
three years ago, Dr Pusey, Hebrew Pro-
fessor at Oxford, was suspended by the
Board of Heresy there for his almost or
altogether popish doctrines. During that
period he has been preaching chiefly in
the diocese of Exeter. Such is the
boasted unity of the Church of England,
and such the protestantism of Bishop
Phillpots. The time of his suspension,
however, has now expired, and on Sab-
bath, 1st February, he appeared in the
pulpit of Oxford Cathedral. The sub-
ject of discourse was the "Power of the
Keys," the text being John xx. 23. He
commenced by remarking, that about
three years ago,
"Almighty God, for
secret faults which he knew to be in
him, and from which, he trusted, he de-
signed to cleanse him, allowed him to
be deprived for a time of his office." He
then rehearsed the substance of his con-
demned sermon, which related chiefly to
pardon by the Eucharist (Lord's Supper).
"The present discourse was supplemen-
tary; he therefore sustained the doctrine
of the preceding, by asserting the authority
of the priest to forgive sins, quoting seve-
ral of the Fathers to prove that God, who

desiring that the church should have what it had not now. He bade them wait; there could be no sudden restoration, but God had given them the desire for these things-confession, penitence, discipline, and if they would wait, all would be well. He preached nearly an hour and a half, and his discourse was decidedly popish throughout." It remains to be seen what steps the ecclesiastical authorities at home will adopt; but in the meantime, Rome is no uninterested spectator. The following is a letter which lately appeared in a foreign newspaper:

"Rome, Jan. 19.-On the 14th inst. the Vicar-General of the Catholic church, Cardinal Patrizi, issued a proclamation to the people of Rome, which runs thus: -Not a few persons distinguished for piety have besought us with urgent prayers to grant permission for a solemn festival of a novena (nine days' service) in the church of the Jesuits, in order to implore from Almighty God the wider spread and happy increase of the Catholic faith in England. The Holy Father has not only listened favourably to this pious request, but furthermore has promised to all the faithful who take an active part in the ceremony a partial indulgence of 300 days for every visit, and a plenary indulgence to those who attend the novena five times at least, it being understood that at the same time such persons are to approach the confessional and Lord's supper. This nine days' ceremony is to begin at 11 o'clock A.M. on the 17th inst., in the church above named. Whether ye look, my christian brethren, at the great and noble aim in behalf of which these public prayers are offered to the Almighty, or whether ye calculate the gain of the holy indulgencies, by means of which we may shorten the punishment due to our sins-in either case ye must in every way, to the best of your strength, interest yourselves in the matter, and take part in the pious exercise, by praying the Giver of all good, and the Father of all mercy, that he will pour out over that realm and its inhabitants his light and those gifts of grace, for obtaining which alone our prayers will be effectual."

communion of the church about forty new | assistants, who aid them in the care of members; and in a time of unparalleled the congregation; particularly of the dissipation, he knew not of one case, in scattered members of their flock, whom that camp, of intemperance among the church members. In Papeete all has been drunkenness and confusion: most of the church members have left it, and retired to the camps in the mountains. This being the best harbour of the island, is the head-quarters of the French. It was formerly a flourishing mission station, under another name, taken from one of the directors of the society. But, under French misrule, all these names intended to immortalize the founders of the society must be discarded. It had been better if they had never been adopted. At this station, however, a missionary is still active. He opened a school in the end of June last, which is filled. The chapel has been re-roofed and made comfortable; and he is about to form a new church-carefully excluding the cold lifeless members of the former church, and endeavouring to raise the standard of purity, for which improvement in the character of the church, he reckons the present time very favourable. None have yet joined the papists; and only one priest remains, two or three having left a few months ago for Wallis's Island.

The United Brethren have recently received the annual reports of their mission in Greenland; which bring, upon the whole, encouraging intelligence from that field of evangelical labour. The plentiful supply of food which their Greenlanders were enabled this past season to provide, gave them opportunity of remaining more at home than usual, so that the missionaries had abundant intercourse with them; and their attendance on the means of grace was, on the whole, regular and frequent. At the northernmost station one-half of the congregation remained with the missionaries throughout the winter; and the other half were at such distances as enabled them to pay frequent, and often long visits. From another station they write, "the operations of the spirit of God on the hearts of our Greenland flock were evident; and the majority of its members gave us pleasure by their walk and conversation. The attendance on the meetings and the schools was more numerous and frequent. We cannot, however, help regretting that so many children are deprived of the means of instruction, owing to the parents living dispersed along the coast.'

From another station they remark, that they have at present eight national

they themselves can but seldom visit. To five of these assistants they bear testimony that they are both diligent and useful; and two of them have gifts as well as grace. "It is, however, no easy matter," they state, "to train assistants of this nation, who may become thoroughly qualified for the discharge of their office, without losing any portion of their humility and simplicity." They had had the joy to baptize three persons from the heathen-a rare occurrence. Their schools have continued to give them pleasure: three days in the week they have given instruction to thirty-two single women and girls; and on the other three days they have taught thirty-six young girls. From the southmost station they write that their attention was most earnestly directed to the improvement of the spiritual state of their congregation. In Greenland there are numerous hindrances with which they have to struggle. Their people are removed from them for half the year, in quest of provisions for the winter. For a couple of months or longer, they have to associate with the Greenlanders of the Danish factory, amongst whom dancing and nocturnal revelry are universally practised; and many of their young people are thus led into temptation. What is worst of all, their old superstitious practices oft regain the ascendancy during this dispersion-a class of sins the most dangerous, yet which are the last they are willing to confess. The evils of this dispersion are in some degree mitigated by the assistance of faithful national helpers, who accompany them, and at least check the irregularities of conduct which they observe among them. Three boats of heathen from the east coast again visited the settlement this summer, for trading purposes; and when the missionaries took the opportunity of preaching Christ to them, and inviting them to turn to him, they promised to come and settle among them, and assured them that others of their countrymen had the same intention. Perhaps their hour may soon come.

Death of Missionaries.-The Episcopal bishop of Jerusalem, after a journey through the wilderness towards Cairo, and when within a short distance of the latter city, died instantaneously, on the 22d of November last, by the rupture of a blood-vessel, close to the heart. He was a converted Jew; but he has occu

We had our worst fears

pied an unfruitful field of labour since | Missionary Society. They have five he went to Jerusalem. The Rev. Wil- Tongea native teachers. Rotumah longs liam Knibb, the excellent Baptist mis- for white missionaries-all prepared for sionary of Jamaica, died on the 15th of them. We cheered them on, and led the same month, after an illness of four them to hope that soon they may get days. He felt that the sickness was unto white missionaries. They lately fought. death. Almost his last words to brother It only lasted one day, but the loss of Philippo were "Some on boards, and life was great-seventy men fell. Left some on broken pieces of the ship, and Rotumah on Wednesday the 9th-on so it came to pass that they all escaped Tuesday the 15th, made Futuna of the safe to land." In his delirium, he preached New Hebrides-made the island in the and prayed with an eloquence which he morning-were off and on all daynever had surpassed. A few moments could not get our teachers. Had the before he expired, he took the hand of boat lowered and in several times. First his wife, and said "Mary, 'tis all right." time the boat went in, they said our The deaths of two female missionaries, teachers were well-that they were far of the Chinese Mission of the London off in their plantations at work. A Missionary Society, have just been an- second time the boat went-all seemed nounced: the one, Mrs Fairbrother, who shy. We feared something was wrong. died at Shanghae, in September last, Then Mr Murray and I went off in the having lived to reach her destination, boat-found all on shore armed and but died before entering upon her work; concealed behind the rocks and stones. the other, Mrs Hobson, who died on the I shouted for our teachers, but could get 22d of December, within sight of Eng-nothing but vague and contradictory land, having reached thus far in a voyage statements. from China, for the restoration of her for our poor teachers. Determined to health. Besides these, there is reported run across to the Island of Aneiteam this past month the death of Mrs Fox, immediately-did so, and in the morning of the Church of England Mission, in were there. Got offour teachers at once, Madras; of Mrs Redford, of the same and, alas, heard the mournful tale that society, in the West Indies; and of Mrs the Futuna teachers were all killed about Banfield, of the Wesleyan Mission, in the time we left Tanna, upwards of two Trinidad. years ago. An epidemic was raging at the time-they blamed the teachers as causing it, and it ended in the massacre of the two teachers, the wife of one of them, and their daughter-four persons in all. "Father, forgive them, for they knew not what they did." The teachers were good men, and, doubtless, they are MY DEAR FATHER,-Before this reaches now in glory. They died as they lived, you, you will doubtless have heard from men of peace-and like Stephen, did Samoa of the voyage among these islands not raise a hand to injure any one. which Mr Murray and I are now carrying Cannot ascertain whether the Futuna out. We cast anchor here this morning, people repent of what they have done, and propose leaving early to-morrow and shall not at this time think of landmorning. There is a little vessel here in ing teachers there. At Aneiteam-all quest of sandal-wood, and finding that cheering-left other two teachers. Found she is likely to go soon to New South there a party of white men. They have Wales, I embrace the opportunity of purchased a small island off the mainletting you have a few lines to let you land-have fortified it. There they have know that thus far all is well with us. a jetty, flag-staff, houses, &c. Say they The Lord hath done great things for us, mean it for a store to supply whalers. whereof we are glad. We left our friends Collect sandal-wood from the adjacent at Upolu, Samoa, on the 1st April, and islands. We have stationed two teachers cleared that group on the 3d. Tuesday on the main-land, close by this settlethe 7th, cast anchor at Rotumah. Acment. They were received with joy by cording to instructions and arrangements the chief there. The sooner we have a made in England between the Wesleyan white missionary or two there the better. and the London Missionary Societies, Had a gale of wind here, but was all we have removed our teachers from snug at anchor. Were detained till the Rotumah, and given up all interest and 22d; then got out, and that evening influence we had there to the Wesleyan were at anchor once more at Port Reso

SOUTH SEAS.

Letter from the Rev. George Turner, Missionary.-On board the John Williams, Dillon's Bay, Iramanga, Tuesday evening, 29th April 1845.