REVIEW OF THE PAST MONTH,

Tuesday, July 25.

AT HOME.-Parliament seems bastening to draw the session to an early conclusion. The tories and radicals are asking for an autumnal sitting, not being willing to trust the management of the war entirely in the hands of the Coalition Cabinet. Since our last notice a minister of war has been appointed. Lord Palmerston should have been the man; but the Duke of Newcastle was appointed. This led to some further changes in the ministry; and Lord John Russell hav. ing been made President of the Council, has been re elected without opposition for the city. The Parliamentary Committee on public houses and beer shops, instead of recommending that they be entirely closed on the sabbath day, advise, as a counter attraction, the opening of the Crystal Palace, British Museum, and such places on the sacred day-thus, at the best, advising the adoption of one way of sin in the place of another; or, rather, an increase of sin altogether. For those who go to the Palace or the Museum will not relinquish the public house in consequence, but will be all the more likely to visit it. The sabbath loving

people of England must be on the watch, or the mammon of unrighteousness will steal a hypocritical march upon them.

ABROAD.-Another rising in Spain against the Queen and her paramours! What form of government will arise out of the commotion none can yet tell. Spain is now reaping what she sowed. The bigoted and tyrant power which once oppressed the nations is now powerless of harm to others, but is suffering these periodical paroxysms of pain in its own bowels. In the Baltic our fleets have appeared before Cronstadt and retired, some say for fear of cholera; others that they were only reconnoitering, and will now wait the arrival of a French army, on its way to their help in English vessels-a fact, as the French Emperor said, "unique in history."-The siege of Silistria has been raised by the Russians. After forty days attack by night and day, by 80,000 men, and 50,000 rounds of shot and shell, and the loss of 25,000 men, they have been compelled to retire. The French and English armies are approaching the Danube, and may soon join in the fray. It does not appear that Austria has yet taken any decided step against Russia; and Prussia will hold her back if possible.

May 29, at the baptist chapel, Chester Street, Wrexham, by Mr. Brooks, Mr. S Roberts of Brymbo, to Mrs. M. Jones of Bwlch Gwyn, Minera.

June 5, at the baptist chapel, Hugglescote, Leicestershire, by Mr. Yates, Mr. John Peace, to Miss Mary Starkey, both of Coalville.

June 11, at the baptist chapel, Heneage Street, Birmingham, by Mr. Taylor, Mr. H. Wileman of Handsworth, to Miss Mary Westbury of Tamworth.

June 20, at the English baptist chapel, Abersychan, by Mr. Price, Mr. Edward Roberts, baptist minister, Beaufort, to Caroline Matilda, third daughter of Mr. S. Kelly, agent of the Abersychan iron works.

June 24, at the baptist chapel, Accrington, by Mr. Williams, Mr. W. Haworth, to Miss Mary Whittaker.

June 27, at the Newcourt baptist chapel, Newcastle-on-Tyne, by Mr. Pottenger, Mr. Isaac Davies, minister of the place, to Miss Caroline Bowness.

June 28, at the baptist chapel, Bourne, Lincolnshire, Mr. J. D. Letts of Baston, to Miss Mary Whatnall of Market Deeping.

June 29, at the Independent chapel, Kettering, by Mr. T. Toller, Mr. Thomas Martin, baptist missionary to Bengal, to Elizabeth, third daughter of the late Mr. John Tingle of Kettering.

June 29, at St. Andrew's baptist chapel, Cambridge, by Mr. Robinson, Mr. John Youngman, niece of A. G. Brimley, Esq., Manning of Orlingbury, to Miss Sophia mayor of Cambridge.

ford, by Mr. Foster, Mr. E. Wade of Bagley, July 4, at Westgate baptist chapel, Bradto Miss Lydia Hainsworth of Farsley.

July 6, at the baptist chapel, Irwell Terrace, Bacup, by Mr. Howe, Mr. R. Riley, to Miss E. Howorth.

July 9, at the baptist chapel, Mansfield, by Mr. Wood, Mr. John Torr, to Miss Maria Goodall.

July 11, at the baptist chapel, Scarbro', by Mr. Evans, Mr. D. Harrison, to Miss M. A. Mitchell..

July 17, at Broad Street baptist chapel, Nottingham, by W. R. Stevenson, M.A., Mr. W. Mason, town missionary, to Miss Emily Marshall.

Feb. 25, at Ashby, near Geelong, Australia, Mary, wife of Mr. Joseph Trotter, many years a member of the baptist church, Gloucester.

March 2, Mr. Thomas Watkeys of Tymawr, Llanywern, near Brecon, at the advanced age of 94 years. Up to about a fortnight prior to his decease, Mr. W. had throughout life enjoyed almost uninterrupted health. He was an early riser. For twenty-five years he had been a consistent and useful member of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists at Llanfihangel Talyllyn, and for many years an office-bearer in the church. He was a christian, of whom it could be said, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile." He left five children, respectably settled in the neighbourhood, twenty-two grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild; and, doubt less, his earnest exhortations, enforced by his consistent conduct. were the means of inducing many of them to choose the narrow path which leads to life. He was a good neighbour, always ready and willing to do an act of kindness. Was any one in distress? Mr. W. was the man to sympathise ; and that sympathy would always result in acts of kindness. He often repeated that passage, "Faith, without works, is dead." He was a strict observer of his religious duties, especially private prayer; and made a rule of retiring to his closet several times each day for the purpose of reading the bible, and of meditating therein. It would almost have seemed as if he intended purchasing heaven itself by his good works; yet for justification before God his reliance was only a crucified Saviour. He was greatly respected by his neighbours, and by all who knew him; and when the day came to commit his earthly remains to the dust, the immense number who attended his funeral was a striking proof of the great esteem in which he was held.

March 28, aged 59, Mrs. Hannah Atkinson, a worthy member of the baptist church, East Road, Cambridge. Her only hope was in the blood and righteousness of Christ. She would often say, "He is all my salvation, and all my desire." She loved the house of God. The language of her heart

ever was

"My soul shall pray for Zion still,
While life or breath remains;

There my best friends, my kindred dwell;
There God my Saviour reigns."

And she loved to extol the riches of Divine grace in Christ, whose cross was all her theme. When dying, she said,

"Heaven is near. Sing, for I shall soon be at home. Happy, happy, happy in Jesus! "So fades a summer cloud away;

So sinks the gale when storms are o'er;
So gently shuts the eye of day;

So dies a wave along the shore." May 7, Mr. James Spencer, baptist minister, Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, aged 41. Mr. S. was a good minister of Jesus Christ; of good abilities; and a faithful servant of his Master for upwards of fifteen years over the baptist church. When his remains were interred, about twenty-six ministers of different denominations, and two clergymen of the Established Church, attended, besides some hundreds of his christian friends and fellow-townsmen.

May 31, at the sea-side, Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, in his 58th year, Mr. Griffith Jones, baptist minister, and father of Mr. J. D. Jones, baptist minister, Milford, Pembrokeshire. Mr. J. had not had a ministerial

charge of late years; but was a faithful and devoted minister, and rendered his services to the neighbouring churches whenever they were required. His end was peace.

June 4, Mr. James Castleden, baptist minister, aged 76; for thirty-six years pastor of the Bethel baptist church, Hampstead.

July 11, of rapid consumption, aged 23, Sarah Ann, the beloved and only daughter of Mr. Kemp, of Thurlby Grange, near Alford, Lincolnshire. With her esteemed parents and family she was a regular attendant at the General Baptist chapel, Maltby; and during her illness she gave satisfactory evidence of her interest in the Lord Jesus.

July 13th, at the residence of his mother, 1, Stuart Villa, Sydenbam-road, Bristol, the Rev. J. T. Gray, Ph.D., aged 45, Classical Tutor of the Baptist College, Stepney, London.

[As the notice beneath did not reach us at the time it was sent in October last, and as it has been sent again, we step out of our usual course to give it insertion.]

September 25th, at Padiham, Lancashire, Mr. Job Alcot. About five years ago Mr. A. came from Warwickshire into these parts, and under the preaching of brother Har bottle was convinced of sin. His conversion was another remarkable instance of Divine mercy and grace. He was baptized in 1849, and after two years was chosen deacon, which office he used well. He was also superintendent of the sabbath-school, and very active. His last illness, being typhus, prevented him from saying much; but what he did say had reference to his Saviour and his cause.

began with those of the Particular,

and we finish with those of the General, Baptists.

There was something pleasing in the consideration, that the annual gathering together of the brethren this year, would take place in the populous and important town of Leeds, where, only about twelve years ago, the General Baptists had not a place of worship; though several members of their churches had removed to reside there. This was an inducement to some to visit the place; but its distance prevented numbers who usually attend when the Association is held in the midland counties, where the churches are more numerous.

We have not much to notice of the journey by rails of about 100 miles. Along the valleys of the Soar and the Trent the same pleasing prospects were presented as may always be seen at this lovely season of the year. After leaving Derby, we soon found ourselves among more romantic scenery; and had a glimpse, when passing, of the narrow, deep valley which conducts to Matlock-the hills on each side thickly covered with trees; at the foot of which the Derwent rolls its restless waters. Well might James Montgomery, when visiting this region many years ago, and contemplating its wonderful scenery, take out his pencil and write

H H

"Nature reposing on fair Derwent's stream, Conceived these giant mountains in a dream."

Leaving Ambergate station, in a few minutes we have a brief view of the dark ruins of Wingfield Castle, frowning gloomily from its wooded heights on the sweet valley beneath. We rejoice that such strongholds of local tyranny in England are broken down; and we cannot but thank the strong arm of "Old Noll," as the cavaliers called him, who levelled most of them with the dust. Oliver Cromwell did this one good thing for his country at all events, by demolishing the castles of the barons, he broke their power of local tyranny, and put an end to civil war in England.

We now plunge into the long dark tunnel at Claycross, and soon, on emerging into welcome sunlight, have a view of Chesterfield, with the singular, crooked, all-awry, corkscrew-looking spire of its parish church. A few miles further, and we pass under the Sheffield and Lincolnshire line of rails, supported by a vast number of arches as it crosses the valley, along the course of which our line runs. We are soon at Masbro' station; the most rough and dirty, perhaps, between Leeds and London, with smoky Sheffield six miles to our left, and Rotherham close at hand on our right. Within a few hundred yards of us is