Register of Events.

THE labours of Parliament have been partially suspended since our last publication, by the Easter recess; they are now however resumed, and are contemplated with considerable anxiety by those who are sincerely attached to our constitution in Church and State.

The Irish Church Reform occupies of course a prominent place in these deliberations, and occasions at the same time considerable alarm in the public mind, both as affecting so important a part of our Established Church, and affording a precedent for ulterior proceedings. We regard the proposed reduction of the Irish Sees from twenty-two to twelve with decided disapprobation. The Irish Bishops are not by any means too numerous, though the proportion for Ireland far exceeds that provided for England. In this country, however, it is generally acknowledged that several of the Dioceses are too large to allow of that habitual and vigilant superintendance, which is on many accounts important; and hence an increase in the number of English Sees, rather than a diminution of the Irish, is desirable. The estimating however the number of either bishops or clergy which are requisite, by the number of lay professors of their communion, without inquiring the extent of country over which they are dispersed, leads to the most fallacious results. Every one knows that a clergyman can minister in holy things to a population of one or two thousand persons residing in the narrow limits of a country town, or large village, with far more facility and advantage, than he can to one or two hundred scattered over a wild and extensive district.

If the reduction of the Irish Sees has been adopted through motives of economy, it is obvious that the same end might have been answered in various other ways. At present, four Irish Bishops, taken in regular succession from the whole number, attend Parliament each Session; now, if this attendance on Parliament were confined to FOUR SEES, endowed with an adequate income, the incomes of the remaining eighteen bishoprics might be reduced without either hardship or inconvenience; and very possibly the affairs of the Irish Church might be more efficiently superintended than they are on the existing system. But the diminishing the number of the bishoprics, evidently leads to the conclusion, that Protestantism in Ireland is still to continue in its present depressed state, and in fact is calculated to impede those exertions by which the influence of the Established Church may be increased and extended. Nor can we see either the justice or the propriety of abolishing the Church Cess, and laying the burden of repairs, servants, lights, &c. upon the clergy who are already in a most depressed and melancholy situation. We hope, however, that these expences may be provided for from the unappropriated fund which is expected to be obtained from the Bishop's leases, and which many fear is intended to be applied in aid of the Popish clergy. The applying this money to the necessities of the State, appear to us an uncalled for spoliation; the diverting it to the service of the Romish Priesthood, would combine robbery, perjury, and political insanity.

A Bill for promoting the better Observance of the Lord's Day has been introduced into the House of Commons by Sir A. Agnew, which is calculated to repress Sunday trading, travelling, sports, and other profanations of that Holy day. The clamour, however, excited against it, renders us apprehensive that it will either be rejected, or deprived of some of its most important clauses. It is however, we are happy to say, decidedly advocated by many innkeepers, stage coach proprietors, and other tradesmen whose worldly interests at first sight may appear to be affected, but who on mere temporal grounds desire the relief which the Bill is calnulated to afford.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, on Thursday April 19, for leave to bring in a bill for the commutation of tithes. His lordship stated that the income of the church had been very much overrated. That the incomes of the bishops, including Sodor and Man, amounted to £158,527,

AND A HALF.

those of the Deans and Chapters to £236,658, and those of the parochial clergy about £3,000,000. There are 11,400 parochial clergy, of whom 9,960 had made returns of income which amounted to £2,759,767, and if the remainder averaged the same, the gross incomes would be £3,226,000 which equally divided would be about £285 for each clergyman. If the Chapter property was added, the average would be barely £300 per annum for each. So that the whole amount of the revenues of the church which had been estimated at NINE MILLIONS, barely amounted to THREE MILLIONS His lordship then proposed a perpetual commutation of tithe, adjusted at a corn rent. If the parish do not call for such commutation within twelve months from the passing of the bill, any individual may require it. The average of tithes for the seven preceding years is to be taken as the guide to the valuation, but the valuers are allowed to vary as far as five or ten per cent. Valuers are to be appointed, one by the Bishop and another by the Quarter Sessions. The principle of this plan seems generally approved, though some objections were taken to the details. His lordship intimated that government intended to introduce a measure for the abolition of pluralities, and intimated that every incumbent's income ought to average £300 per annum; and that every parish where the income amounted to such sum should have a resident minister. These positions seemed to meet with general approbation.

Application has been made to Parliament by Mr. R. Grant for the eman. cipation of the Jews from all the existing restraints, and their complete admission to all the privileges of British subjects. This proposition was supported by Mr. Macauley, and opposed by Mr. Cobbett; judging however from present appearances, we conclude it will be adopted by an overwhelming majority so that we may ere long expect to see Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Heretics, uniting with Romanists and Dissenters in regulating and reforming our whole ecclesiastical and civil polity; and in substituting for Christian principles and services what Mr. R. Grant is said to have denominated the stricter morality of the Jew, or what Mr. Macauley characterized as the elegant mythology of the Greeks. We mourn that such names are in any way connected with such measures. The admis

sion of a few Jews or Mahomedans into the House of Commons is in itself of minor importance, but it is proceeding another step in the downhill road, and adding another instance to the accumulated contempt and dishonour evinced by so many in this our guilty land to the authority of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Government plan for the regulation or abolition of Colonial Slavery is again postponed; it is now to appear on May 14. We fear nothing effectual will be done; though we are fully convinced that an immediate and final enactment on the subject is of immense importance. We are happy to observe, that the duty of compensating the owner of Slaves for any loss they may actually sustain by the emancipation of the Negroes, is at present more distinctly recognized than formerly. Slavery is a national sin-as such, it ought to be terminated without delay; but the individual slave holders have a right to compensation, and the poor slaves themselves should be furnished with such advice, superintendance, and restraint, as may prevent their newly acquired liberty leading to injury or licentious ness. Of this we see little, or rather no danger; the strong assertions made of such danger only proves to us the misery of the existing system, and in proportion as they are credited, call loudly for vigorous exertions to terminate what our opponents consider an incurable evil. We maintain that the Negroes are entitled to IMMEDIATE emancipation; and the Slave owner to COMPENSATION for the ACTUAL loss sustained; while prompt and decisive measures should be adopted for the maintaining peace, and preserving property throughout the Colonies.

The Irish Disturbance Bill passed of course, and is now being acted upon in Kilkenny, &c. we trust with beneficial results: though we can place little confidence in any appearances, while the government of Ireland continues in the hands of its present possessors.

Efforts are making by Dissenters to obtain relief with respect to marriages. It is proposed that the ceremony shall be performed by a justice

of the peace, in the presence of two or more credible witnesses, in consideration of the sum of five shillings and no more, on production of a certificate of the proclamation of the banns, or of a licence granted according to law. Now to this we have only one objection, namely, as to the proclamation of banns; and that, simply, as to the person by whom such banns are to be proclaimed. Surely not by a clergyman in the parish church to which the Dissenter's conscience will not allow him to contribute. The proclamation indeed of banns is now utterly useless for the prevention of clandestine marriages; but if banns are to be proclaimed, why should not our non-con brethren proclaim the banns of their own people, in their own chapels? or why should not the intended contract be announced by the bellman, or by a notice affixed to the town-hall, makret-cross, blacksmith's shop, or any other place of habitual public resort? Let the Dissenters marry, bury, or baptize as they like, only do not place clergymen in the invidious situation of registrars to their non-con brethren.

Some partial changes have taken place in the administration. Lord Goderich (now Earl of Ripon,) has become Privy Seal; Mr. Stanley, Colonial Secretary; and Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Secretary for Ireland!! These removes are, however, generally regarded as mere preludes to far more extensive changes. It seems scarcely possible that the present administration should stand long; the grand difficulty is, who can succeed?

A bill regulating the Tariff has been enacted by the American government, which will we hope for the present terminate the dispute between South Carolina and the United States. The interests of the Northern and Southern States are so contrary, however, that we apprehend a collision or separation must shortly occur.

Ibraham Pacha is now threatening Constantinople; and the Grand Turk is reduced to seek the protection of the Russian Emperor, which may very possibly arrive too late; though a Russian fleet is at hand. Surely the waters of the Euphrates are drying up!!

Belgium is in the same unsatisfactory state as heretofore. still besieged. Disturbances have broken out at Frankfort. The Bishop of Calcutta arrived safely at Calcutta, Nov. 4.

Oporto is

The ship

by which he went out has been completely lost on her return, the crew and passengers were saved:

Our affairs in the East appear by no means settled. A mutiny appears to have been projected among the native troops at Bengal, which was prevented by timely interference.

Notices and Acknowledgments.

Received-H. F.-J. B.—E. N.-LOUISA.

The Scriptural quotations inserted in the Homilies are taken from the versions which were in existence at the time when those Homilies were composed; and therefore vary considerably from our present authorized version. Our DROITWICH Correspondent will therefore see that the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge is-blameless in this matter.

The digging of graves on the Lord's Day appears to us in general a violation of the Fourth Commandment. We have long protested against Sunday funerals, which are generally speaking unnecessary; and though often advocated as a relief to the poor, by enabling them to collect their friends together without losing a day's work, are yet injurious in a pecuniary point of view, by increasing the expences of funerals, and are still more injurious in a spiritual point of view, as occasioning a neglect of public worship. When however a funeral is really necessary on the Lord's Day, the digging of the grave may also be necessary. An open grave in church yards through which there is a thoroughfare might lead to serious accidents in a dark night; nor are we sure that it is in the power of the clergy to prevent such violations of the Sabbath; all that a ‍minister can do in such cases is by persuasion; or by requesting the interference of his churchwardens.

WHILE Mr. Brainerd's mind was occupied with considering the propriety of settling amongst the Indian converts, he formed the design of another journey to the Susquehanna; and having selected six members of his congregation to accompany him, after much prayer with his people, that the Holy Spirit might bless his labours and set up the kingdom of Christ among the Indians in the wilderness, he set forward on his journey.'

Here he was obliged to encounter great hardships: thus under date of Sep. 2, he writes,

my

Rode forward, but no faster than my people went on foot-was very weak, on this as well as on the preceding days-was so feeble and faint, that I feared it would kill me to lie out in the open air; and, some of our company being parted from us, so that we had no axe with us, I had no way but to climb into a young pine-tree, and with knife to lop the branches, in order to make with them a shelter from the dew: but the evening being cloudy and very likely for rain, I was still under fear of being extremely exposed -- sweat much in the night, so that my linen was almost wringing wet all night. I scarce was ever more weak and weary than this evening, when I was able to sit up at all. This was a most melancholy situation I was in; but I endeavoured to

JUNE 1833.

quiet myself with considerations of the possibility of my being in much worse circumstances, amongst enemies,' &c.

Returning home he observes,

I had proposed to tarry a considerable time longer among the Indians on the Susquehanna; but was hindered from pursuing my purpose by the sickness that prevailed there, the weakly circumstances of my own people that were with me, and especially my own extraordinary weakness, having been exercised with great nocturnal sweats and a coughing up of blood, in almost the whole of the journey; and was a great part of the time so feeble and faint, that it seemed as though I never should be able to reach home; and, at the same time, very destitute of the comforts and even necessaries of life, at least what was necessary for one in so. weak a state. In this journey I was enabled, at times, to speak the Word of God with some power, and divine truths made some impressions on divers that heard me; so that several, both men and women, old and young, seemed to cleave to us, and be well disposed toward Christianity; but others mocked and shouted, which damped those who before seemed friendly, at least some of them: yet God, at times, was evidently present, assisting me and my interpreter, and other dear friends who were 2 D