is peculiarly pleasing, and affords much encouragement to proceed with vigour in our attempts to evangelize even the most uncivilized of the human race.

The very favourable harvest of the year 1808, operated as a powerful stimulus to agricultural diligence, so that more than forty sacks of wheat were sown, besides barley, rice, beans, peas, Indian corn, and pumpkins. Some fountains have also been discovered in the neighbourhood, amply sufficient for domestic purposes. All which agreeable circumstances have tended to render Bethelsdorp more satisfactory as a stated settlement, and to make our brethren indifferent to that removal which once seemed to them so very desirable, but to which unexpected difficulties had arisen.

The Society will recollect how much the heart of our zealous and venerable friend, Dr. Vanderkemp, was set upon attempting a Mission to the numerous inhabitants of the island of Madagascar. To facilitate this important measure, application was made to his Excellency Lord Caledon, through the medium of the Colonial Secretary, requesting, that, if possible, some vessel in his Majesty's service, might touch at Algoa Bay, and by taking the doctor and his companions on board there, prevent the great expense of the removal of four families and their effects to the Cape. His Excellency was pleased to assure Dr. Vanderkemp of his readiness to promote his views, but did not think it probable that a King's ship would, from the nature of the service, touch at Algoa Bay.. The Directors remain uncertain, whether the Doctor still intends to attempt that mission; but considering that he has been at times very seriously indisposed, they are rather inclined to request his valuable services in another way. The number of Missionaries being considerably augmented, and more being about to be sent to Africa, it has appeared to the Directors exceedingly desirable that a superintendant of the whole work should reside at the Cape, who might manage all the pecuniary concerns of the Society, which are now become considerable, and who might' give that advice and assistance to new Missionaries which his talents and experience have so eminently qualified him to afford. The Directors have therefore proposed this measure to him, leaving it, however, altogether to his own judgment and inclination, to decide upon the proposed measure, or to proceed, if he finds it practicable, to Madagascar.

(To be continued:)

DOMESTIC.

The plan of a Theological Seminary adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, in their sessions of May last, A. D. 1811; together with the measures taken by them to carry the plan into effect.

(Continued from page 456.)

Sect. 10. Every director, previously to his taking his seat as a member of the board, shall solemnly subscribe the following formula, viz. " Approving the plan of the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, I solemnly declare and promise, in the presence of God, and of this board, that I will faithfully endeavour to carry into effect all the articles and provisions of said plan, and to promote the great design of the Seminary." Sect. 11. The board of directors shall inspect the fidelity of the professors, especially in regard to the doctrines actually taught, and if, after due inquiry and examination, they shall judge that any professor is either unsound in the faith, opposed to the fundamental principles of Presbyterian Church Government, immoral in his conduct, unfaithful to his trust, or incompetent to the discharge of his duties, they shall faithfully report him as such to the General Assembly. Or if the longer continuance of a professor be judged highly danger. ous, the directors may immediately suspend him, and appoint another in his place, till the whole business can be reported, and submitted to the Assembly.

Sect. 12. It shall be the duty of the board of directors to watch over the conduct of the students; to redress grievan ces; to examine into the whole course of instruction and study in the Seminary; and generally to superintend and endeavour to promote all its interests.

Sect. 13. The board of directors shall make, in writing, a detailed and faithful report of the state of the Seminary, to every General Assembly; and they may, at the same time, recommend such measures for the advantage of the Seminary, as to them may appear proper.

Sect. 14. At every stated meeting of the board of directors, unless particular circumstances render it inexpedient, there shall be at least one sermon delivered in the presence of the board, the professors, and students, by a director or directors previously appointed for the purpose.

VOL IV.-No. IX.

3 S

ARTICLE III.

Of the Professors.

Section. 1. The number of the professors in the Seminary shall be increased or diminished, as the Assembly may, from time to time, direct. But when the Seminary shall be completely organized, there shall not be less than three professors: one of Didactic and Polemic Divinity; one of Oriental and Biblical Literature; and one of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government.

Sect. 2. No person shall be inducted into the office of professor of divinity, but an ordained minister of the Gospel.

Sect. 3. Every person elected to a professorship, in this Seminary, shall, on being inaugurated, solemnly subscribe the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church, agreeably to the following formula, viz. "In the presence of God, and of the directors of this Seminary, I do solemnly, and ex animo adopt, receive, and subscribe the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, as the confession of my faith; or, as a summary and just exhibition of that system of doctrine and religious belief which is contained in holy Scripture, and therein revealed by God to man for his salvation: and I do solemnly ex animo profess to receive the Form of Government of said Church, as agreeable to the inspired oracles. And I do solemnly promise and engage, not to inculcate, teach, or insinuate any thing which shall appear to me to contradict or contravene, either directly or impliedly, any thing taught in the said Confessionof Faith or Catechisms; nor to oppose any of the fundamental principles of Presbyterian church government, while I shall continue a professor in this Seminary."

Sect. 4. The salaries of the professors shall be recommended by the directors; but they shall be fixed only by a vote of the General Assembly.

Sect. 5. The professors may accompany their lectures and recitations with prayer, as frequently as they may judge proper, in addition to those daily seasons of prayer in which all the students shall unite.

Sect. 6. Each professor shall lay before the board of directors, as soon as practicable after his appointment, a detailed exhibition of the system and method which he pro poses to pursue, and the subjects which he proposes to discuss, in conducting the studies of the youth that shall come

under his care: and in this system he shall make such alterations or additions as the board shall direct; so that, eventually, the whole course through which the pupils shall be carried, shall be no other than that which the board of directors shall have approved and sanctioned, conformably to Sect. 8. Art. II. And as often as any professor shall think that variations and additions of importance may be advantageously introduced into his course of teaching, he shall submit the same to the board of directors, for their approbation or rejection.

Sect. 7. Every professor shall, if practicable, have at least one lecture or recitation every day, on which the pupils, in his branch of instruction shall be bound to attend; and on which the other pupils of the seminary shall attend as often, and in such manner, as may be directed by the majority of the board of directors.

Sect. 8. Any professor intending to resign his office, shall give six months notice of such intention to the board of directors.

Sect. 9. The professors of the Institution shall be considered as a faculty. They shall meet at such seasons as they may judge proper. In every meeting the professor of didactic and polemic divinity shall preside, if he be present. If he be absent, a president shall be chosen pro tempore. The faculty shall choose a clerk, and keep accurate records of all their proceedings; which records shall be laid before the directors at every meeting of the board. The president of the faculty shall call a meeting whenever he shall judge it expedient, and whenever he shall be requested to do so by any other member. By the faculty, regularly convened, shall be determined the hours and seasons at which the classes shall attend the professors severally, so as to prevent interference and confusion, and to afford to the pupils the best opportunities of improvement. The faculty shall attend to, and decide on all cases of discipline, and all questions of order, as they shall arise. They shall agree on the rules of order, decorum, and duty, (not inconsistent with any provision in the plan of the Seminary, nor with any order of the board of directors,) to which the students shall be subjected; and these they shall reduce to writing, and cause to be publicly and frequently read. They shall determine the hours at which the whole of the pupils shall, morning and evening, attend for social worship, and the manner in which, and the person or persons, of their own number, by whom, the exercises of devotion shall be conducted.

Sect. 10. The faculty shall be empowered to dismiss from the Seminary any student who shall prove unsound in his religious sentiments; immoral or disorderly in his conduct; or who may be, in their opinion, on any account whatsoever, a dangerous, or unprofitable member of the Institu tion.

Sect. 11. Each member of the faculty shall have an equal vote.

Sect. 12. It shall be the duty of the professors, under the direction of the board of directors, to supply the pupils of the Institution with the preaching of the Gospel, and the administration of the Sacraments of the Christian Church; if this supply shall not, in the judgment of the directors, be satisfactorily furnished by a Church or Churches in the place where the Institution shall be established.

ART. IV.

Of Study and Attainments.

As the particular course of study pursued in any Institution will, and perhaps ought to be, modified in a considerable degree, by the views and habits of the teachers; and ought, moreover, to be varied, altered, or extended, as experience may suggest improvements; it is judged proper to specify, not so precisely the course of study, as the attainments which must be made. Therefore,

Sect. 1. Every student, at the close of his course, must have made the following attainments, viz. He must be well skilled in the original languages of the Holy Scriptures. He must be able to explain the principal difficulties which arise in the perusal of the Scriptures, either from erroneous translations, apparent inconsistencies, real obscurities, or objec tions arising from history, reason, or argument. He must be versed in Jewish and Christian antiquities, which serve to explain and illustrate Scripture. He must have an ac quaintance with ancient geography, and with oriental customs, which throw light on the sacred records. Thus he will have laid the foundation for becoming a sound biblical critic.

He must have read and digested the principal arguments and writings relative to what has been called the deistical controversy. Thus will he be qualified to become a defender of the Christian faith.

He must be able to support the doctrines of the Confession of Faith and Catechisms by a ready, pertinent, and abundant quotation of Scripture texts for that purpose.

He