lished a remonstrance. No man has a right to tax your time and effort and patience, to make out his sense. Of time, the inestimable and irretrievable talent, it is a robbery; -often a cruel robbery. Above all, those who write for the press should have some feeling for the compositors and correctors who have to work upon their lucubrations. To them, time is money: the slow progress occasioned by the bad writing of authors is, in result, a plundering of the hard-earned wages-a virtual pocket-picking. This observation especially applies to proper names. Even in private correspondence, I am often exceedingly tried by persons signing their names or residences illegibly. Some time ago, the name of the eminent French pastor and professor, M. Adolphe [in English we ought to use the form Adolphus.] Monod, was presented in a Magazine, in capital letters, MOUND: and I do not believe that this was the printer's fault.

In the Evan. Mag. of the present month, there are many grievous infractions of propriety, especially in papers of American origin. The otherwise excellent essay on "Religion and Science" is full of the faults which annoy and grieve.

P. 352. Why should a man of learning, science, and Christianity, so extensively known and honoured as Dr. James Cowles Prichard, the eminent physician, philosopher, philologist, and author,-be continually styled Pritchard, and Mr. Pritchard.

P. 353. "Humboldt." It should be Von Humboldt: and which of the two illustrious brothers does the writer mean; Charles William, or the younger, Fred. Hen. Alexander?-Both are men of great celebrity; but undoubtedly the latter is intended: yet multitudes of readers are unacquainted with the distinction and the actual person.

"Edwards,"-should be Milne-Edwards. P. 354. "Füst,"-should be Fürst.

P. 355. "Prof. Schubert,-Prof. Neumann,"-put properly. But why are many other distinguished men huddled together in a way disrespectful to them, and introducing confusion into the reader's mind? In some cases the bare surname (being all that is given) is no designation, for it is common to several philosophical authors.

P. 356 and 357, Boekch," and "Boeckh," should be Böckh. It is only when the word is printed in Roman capitals that the E should be inserted in line; BOECKH.

Our American brethren are often at fault in forming abbreviations of the words which express the titles of books; and thus they produce a disagreeable effect, and are often equivocal. There are fixed rules in relation to this matter, which all correct European authors are careful to observe, whether they write in a vernacular tongue or in Latin.

In the notice, far too brief, of what you justly call a "very interesting volume," (page 375,) it would have been desirable to inform your readers that the author is no other than the justly-celebrated Chevalier BUNSEN, the antiquary, philologist, theologian, and statesman; the friend of Niebuhr and Arnold, and, during the last five years, the Prussian Minister Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty. You have mentioned him by his ordinary title at page 356. He is truly a man whom any nation and any rank of society might exult to own. Will any say that these matters are trifling, and not worthy of notice to serious and pious men?-I beg leave to differ from them. Inaccuracies in citation, and the representation of persons and their writings, will always be taken as marks of either ignorance or negligence, and will often prevent confidence in a writer. That want of confidence leads many to suspect, and then utterly to discredit, the most momentous truths of religion thus unhappily associated.

Suffer a few additions. P. 377, the name of the great philosopher is Herschel, not "Herschell" which is also a German family name. P. 382, for "Hamper" read Stamper; 383, for "Narbeth"-Narberth; for "Popley"-Sopley; 384, for "Halshan"—Halshaw; "Whateley"-Whately; "Sleght" Slight; "Cecil Alliott Jukes" present the apparent name of one man, but three are meant. P. 386, Dr. Vaughan is spoken of as "of Kensington," from which place, one might suppose, every person in our circle knew that he removed to the Presidency of the Lancashire Independent College, about four years ago.

July 5, 1847.

AN OLD FRIEND.

they must read it. And what throes of conscience must it produce, when they see an old companion forsaking their society, changing his habits, endeavouring to convert them, and in a hundred different ways, proving that, "if any man be in Christ he is a new creature!" Here is a triumph of the gospel!

Now there are great and important changes going on in the members of our churches, which are known only to God and the individuals on whom these changes pass. It is seldom that anything transpires so glorious as that recorded Acts xix. 19, where the converts brought their books together and burned them,—but we should see and hear more of these things, if people were more communicative with their ministers. And is it not wise and kind in persons who have been enabled to act so decidedly to make it known to their pastors? It would have a spirit-stirring effect on their studies and on their ministry. I speak from happy experience, and would strongly recommend it to the consideration of all who may read this paper. Perhaps we shall there hear more about the destruction of bad books either by fire or by water. I shall notice three:

I. A converted merchant.-Infidel writers of the French school were in great repute fifty years ago, and young men of education and of fortune, thought it no small attainment to be able to quote Voltaire and Rousseau. Hence in many a young man's library you might find moral poison "elegantly bound, gilt, and lettered." A happy change has come over society since that day, and Voltaire has sunk into merited contempt. One delightful instance of this was in the merchant referred to. The grace of God which bringeth salvation reached his heart, and taught him to deny himself ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this evil world. The scenes of former days came up into remembrance. The truth of God wonderfully impressed his heart. He read his Bible with devout attention, and there he saw that we are commanded to search our heart and try our ways, and cleanse our hands, and put away evil from our habitations, and when he began to search he found Voltaire, &c., &c., and he resolved on the destruction of the moral poison. He could not conveniently burn these volumes, but he thought he could drown them; so they were carefully selected from the library, and put into a sack, and two men-servants carried the sack to the river, and quietly committed it with its infidel contents to a watery grave. Another convert who had seen the books in their former elegance, and knew how much they cost, rather blamed his friend, saying, "You might have sold the books for so much, and

said the man of decision, "I might have done so, and some precious souls might have been poisoned by them; but now the fish will have them, and I am sure they will not poison the fish. Let them perish! and so let all bad books perish, O Lord, Amen."

II. An Owenite preacher.—“It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief ;" and as Christ has saved the chief sinner, we need not despair of any, but hold out encouragement to all:

"Come guilty, come needy, come filthy and bare;

The poorer the wretch, the welcomer here." This is the doctrine we preach, and God blesses it, but Owenites and Socialists seldom come to hear us, and therefore we cannot expect that they will derive any direct benefits from our ministry. However, one of their preachers came to a chapel one Sunday morning, where these doctrines are preached. His congregation usually met in the afternoon. The text was, "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision." The preacher urged his hearers to decide for God. The claims of God were pressed, the necessity, importance, and advantages were pointed out; and one among others who were pricked to the heart, and cried for mercy that morning, was the Socialist preacher. He had been wounded, and rendered unfit for preaching in the afternoon. His soul had tasted the bitterness of the wrath of God, and he felt as if he could never again touch Owen's books. It was a day of decision. He resolved that he would never go with his old associates again; and he has kept his vow. The congregation was disappointed. Some suspected the cause, for they had warned him not to go among "the saints." They called on him, and reasoned, but it was in vain. God had touched his heart. The sinner had yielded up himself to God. He determined henceforth to be the servant of Jesus Christ. O happy choice! O blessed day! O glorious decision! Months rolled on. The change became known, and at last he assayed to join himself to the disciples,-but some were afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. A consultation was held about it, when several gave in their opinion. One said, "I have heard by many of this man. He hath done more to oppose the Lord Jesus Christ than any person in this parish." Many similar things were spoken. At last the question was proposed to one of the elders, "What think you of this man?" He replied, "One thing is certain, that Christ came to seek and to save poor lost sinners. I know that man's heart is not worse by nature than mine; and if the blessed

Saviour has manifested himself to the guilty creature, and received him, then I am sure we ought to receive him. But it has been very commonly reported that he had a quantity of bad books. Of course, if he is a converted mau, he cannot keep these books. I like to see consistency in professors. You know, Sir, it is said in the Acts, that when some wicked people were converted, they, as an evidence of a change of heart, brought their conjuring books together, and burned them before all men; though they were supposed to be worth fifty thousand pieces of silver. This was as it ought to be, and what we ought to expect if a man be really a child of God! Now, therefore, before I should consent for this man to join our church, I should like to know what he has done with his conjuring books." " Very good," said the pastor, "we will inquire into it." Immediately another member said, "I can tell you what he has done with the books, he has burned them all." This was enough. It was triumphant. The pastor called, and learned that the old congregation wanted the books. The preacher said, "The books are mine." "Yes," they replied, "but we will pay you for them." "I will consider the matter," said the penitent," and as soon as they left me, I locked the door, brought out the books and committed them joyfully to the flames." Thus in one happy hour the snare was broken. The connexion ceased. The devil was disappointed. God was glorified. The sinner was saved! O, victorious Redeemer, "gird thy sword upon thy thigh, and in thy glory and in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of meekness, and truth, and righteousness, and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Their arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee."

III. A teacher in a ragged school. Mr. Scott, the commentator, thought that the man who left a pious and well-educated family, bequeathed the richest legacy which could be left to this wicked world. No doubt he was right; but it is a very difficult matter to train a family well. Parents find it so; and, with all their training, they need to be continually looking up to their covenant God, to pour out his Spirit on their seedhis blessing on their offspring.

The teacher referred to above, was not trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His parents were converted after he was grown up, and one of the greatest griefs to the tender parents, when the Lord opened their eyes, was to think how the souls of their beloved children had been neglected. The sons travelled far from home; and now the converted parents followed them by letters, entreating them to read

their Bibles, attend a preached gospel, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that they might be saved.

One son went to London, and though his letters were always full of affection to the family, yet he gave them to understand that the Bible was not the book which he had chosen for his guide. The tender parents were almost distracted, and wrote to him, and cried to God to give their son a new heart. At last their prayer was heard. The following extract of a letter sent by him to his parents, forms a happy sequel to my story:

"Honoured Parents,-I am glad you told Mr. —— that I am not a Roman Catho lic, as I never had any idea of being one, but I am happy to say I have escaped from something worse than being a Roman Catholic.

"Unluckily for me, soon after I came to London I met with some books that were not worth reading, although they took my attention. I never denied or doubted the existence of God, but I have doubted whether the Bible was the word of God. But, God be praised, I see my error now; and it was the Bible that taught me to see it. And what should you think I have done with the horrid books?--I took every one of them into the kitchen, and put them on the fire; and I felt happier then than ever I have felt since they had been in my possession. And as I poked them in the fire, I thought I had the power over them which Satan would have had over me, if I had continued in what they taught ! *

*

*

"P.S.-I almost forgot to tell you, that I go every Sunday to teach at a Ragged

School."

After this drowning and burning of books, let us close with a few observations:

1. What a painful reflection it must be to the writers of bad books, if they should be brought to repentance before they die. How withering, how heart-rending the idea of having sent sinners to hell! O, how such men will mourn over their misapplied gifts, and wish they had never learned the ABC.

2. How it will add to the agonies of the damned to meet in hell with those whom they have contributed to help thither! How authors and readers will gnash their teeth and rage at one another,-not satisfied with going to hell themselves, but set their wits to work to form instruments to destroy others. What fine talents have been thus devoted to the Devil!

3. How much publishers will have to answer for, who pander to the depraved taste of society, in order to get "large profits." Profits, indeed! What is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul; and what will it profit at last, to find that the publishing of the books which

brought him large sums of his money, has indirectly led multitudes to destruction? Honour to the man who sets his standard so high, that he will not let a book which is not calculated to benefit mankind pass through his warehouse!

4. There are books of very doubtful character, which have brought great earthly honour to the writers, and great gain to the publishers; but, alas ! what benefit have the readers derived from them? I was trying lately to ascertain if any sinner had been converted to God by reading the Waverley Novels, and after all my researches, I coneluded it was a greater honour to have written a small tract, entitled "A dying Thief and a dying Saviour," than to be the author of all the far-famed volumes of Sir Walter Scott. O man, write for eternity! Study to show thyself approved unto God; "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."

5. How careful should parents be as to the admission of books into their families! Take care of poison. Elegant binding and elegant diction often convey secret but certain destruction.

6. As vital godliness increases, we may expect to hear of many bonfires. There is a great deal, not of mere rubbish, but of deadly poison, in the store-rooms and libraries of this empire. When shall we see a second edition of what is recorded Acts xix. 19? When?-as soon as great numbers of our wealthy merchants and others are truly converted to God! Then, O then, they will soon commence a reform. They will search Jerusalem with candles; they will purge out the old leaven, and some they will give to the fish, and some they will give to the flames, and we will sing hallelujah! Amen. RICHARD KNILL.

Wotton Tabernacle, June 3, 1847.

DR. CHALMERS'S WIDOW.

We learn, with extreme satisfaction, that the Queen, on the suggestion of Lord John Russell, has settled a pension of 2001. per annum upon the widow of the late Dr. Chalmers. Such well-selected and welltimed instances of royal munificence, tend to endear the character of our gracious sovereign, who deserves to live in the warm affections of her loyal subjects.

by the Rev. Robt. Ferguson, LL.D., of Stratford, and the Rev. Juo. Kennedy, A.M., of Stepney. The following report has been addressed to the committee:

"The morning was devoted to classics. The first and second classes were examined in Cæsar, Ovid, and Virgil, and subsequently in the rudiments of the Greek language. The third and fourth classes read various portions of Cæsar, selected at pleasure by the examiners. The fifth and lower classes were confined to the Latin Delectus and Grammar. The pupils acquitted themselves well; and some of them displayed considerable judgment and acumen in their answers to questions on the constitution and laws of the language.

"In the afternoon we proceeded to the English department, which embraced Grammar, History (Sacred and Profane), with Geography (both General and Scriptural.) These were followed by Arithmetic, Geometry, and the elements of Mechanics. In these various branches the examination was most satisfactory as also in the historical and doctrinal subjects of Holy Scripture.

"At a later hour of the day there were several recitations; after which we had the pleasure of distributing above 20 prizes to those of the pupils who had distinguished themselves by their application, progress, and good conduct. One pupil carried off four prizes.

"The school presents a deeply interesting aspect. Some of the scholars gave more than common promise for the future; and the committee are under deep obligations to the masters for their devoted and untiring labours.

"We cannot conclude our report without most cordially recommending this institution to the favour and support of the Congregational churches of the land. It merits their confidence: and by a slight effort on the part of the body, it might be raised to far greater strength and efficiency.

(Signed) ROBERT FERGUSON, LL.D.
JOHN KENNEDY, A.M."

N.B. The committee are at the present moment in debt, and without the means of paying the masters' salaries now due. The neglect of this school by the denomination is surprising. 300 annual subscribers are required to place it in a satisfactory condition. Contributions will be very thankfully received by the secretary.

GEO. ROSE.

Grove-lane Hill, Camberwell.

CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL, LEWISHAM. The Midsummer examination of the pupils in this establishment (sons of poor Congregational ministers) took place on Wednesday, June 23rd, and was conducted

ORDINATION.

On the 27th and 28th ult. a public meeting was held at Horeb, Dwygyfylchi, near Conway, in connection with the Independents.

On Sunday, Mr. H: Hughes, of Liverpool; Mr. R. Williams, student at Bala Academy; and Mr. Lewis, of Bangor, preached.

On Monday morning, Mr. Edward Stephens, late student at Bala, was publicly ordained pastor of the church. The Rev. M. Lewis, of Bangor, commenced the solemn service, by reading appropriate portions of Scripture and prayer; the Rev. J. Jones, of Llanrwst, delivered the introductory discourse; the usual questions were asked by the Rev. W. Jones, the superannuated minister of the place, which were answered with satisfaction by Mr. Stephens; the Rev. D. Griffith, of Bethel, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. R. Parry, of Conway, delivered the charge to the minister; and the Rev. Ll. Samuel, Bethesda, preached to the people.

At two o'clock, the Rev. J. Williams, Salem, introduced, and Revs. J. Jones and D. Griffith preached.

At six o'clock, Revs. W. Williams, of Corwyn; and W. Williams, of Caernarvon, preached.

The meeting was very numerously attended, and the services very interesting. The young minister commences his labour under very pleasing prospects.

HODDESDON.-OPENING OF THE NEW

INDEPENDENT CHAPEL.

On Tuesday, April 27th, the ceremony of opening the new Independent chapel at Hoddesdon was performed, when two sermons were preached; that in the morning by the Rev. Dr. Harris, of Cheshunt College, and that in the evening by the Rev. James Sherman, of Surrey Chapel.

The new chapel, which stands in about the centre of Hoddesdon, and which is a very neat and commodious building, capable of seating nearly 500 persons, was crowded both in the morning and evening, and it was pleasing to observe that the assemblies were composed of persons of various denominations, all laying aside their sectarian differences, and cordially uniting together on so interesting and important an occasion.

In the afternoon of the day, the delightful and tastefully laid-out gardens of Mr. Warner, of Hoddesdon, were thrown open to the public; and it being a fine day, a great number of persons availed themselves of the kindness of the worthy owner.

The preliminary exercises of the morning service were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Blackburn, of Pentonville, who read several selected passages of Scripture suited to the occasion, and afterwards offered up a solemn and appropriate prayer.

Dr. Harris then ascended the pulpit, and

after having referred to the importance of dedicating a house to the worship of God, proceeded to deliver a very eloquent and powerful discourse, which occupied an hour and a half. The reverend gentleman took his text from Acts v. 20: "And the angel said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."

We regret that the pressure of other matter prevents our noticing any portion of the excellent discourse.

After the morning service, about 250 persons repaired to the Boys' British School-room, in Rawdon Field, where a very sumptuous rep ist was provided, consisting of a great variety of delicacies, the whole of which had been furnished by some ladies and other friends in the neighbourhood of Hoddesdon, and the proceeds of the tickets, which were 2s. 6d. each, are to be appropriated to the new chapel. The schoolroom was tastefully and profusely decorated with flowers and evergreens, and the whole arrangements reflected great credit on the parties who had the superintendence of them. Amongst those present we observed the Rev. Dr. Harris; the Revs. J. Blackburn, of Claremont Chapel, Pentonville; W. Ellis, of Hoddesdon; J. Allon, of Islington; Lucy, late of Bristol; I. Anthony, of Hertford; Gill, of Sawbridgeworth; Hurndall, of Bishop's Stortford; Hall, of Cheshunt; A. Taylor, and T. Finch, of Harlow: the lady and family of Alderman Challis (Alderman Challis arrived by train in time for the evening service); &c., &c.

After dinner, the Rev. W. Ellis rose and addressed the meeting, giving a history of the chapel, the opening of which they had that day met to celebrate. From his state. ments, it appeared that a considerable time ago the necessity of the new chapel being felt, an estimate of its cost was obtained, and it was resolved that two-thirds of the money should be provided before the building was commenced. Towards the end of last year, with the aid of a bazaar, which was held at Islington, the articles of which were chiefly furnished by the ladies in the neighbourhood of Hoddesdon, and with the assistance of several Christian churches in the metropolis, and other places, together with the very liberal and handsome contribution of Sir Culling Eardley Eardley, and Mr. Puget, of Barnet, who each gave 1001., the requisite funds were provided, and in Sept. last the building was commenced. It had cost 1,340., 1,2301. of which had been already raised, leaving a debt of 110. Mr. Ellis then tendered to Dr. Harris the thanks of the meeting for the interesting and instructive sermon which he had that morning delivered.

Dr. Harris briefly replied, and in the