the hearers become violently excited; groan, cry aloud, and throw themselves on the ground in paroxysms of mental agony; the contagion spreads, even among those who have come from motives of mere curiosity, and with perfect contempt for the whole system; the number of converts multiplies; they are collected into a body and go round the camp singing hymns, and calling on the multitude to repent. Were the effects of camp meetings to spread no farther than this, it would be sufficient to characterize them as essentially detrimental to true religion; but when the evils are recollected which necessarily result to society, in the derangement of social and domestic order, by the desertion of industrious callings and the breaking up of hundreds of families; and when to this are superadded the positive immoralities which it is said usually attend these immense assemblages, necessarily promiscuous in the utmost latitude of the term, it is impossible to regard them but with decided disapprobation. It is indeed a matter of universal assertion and belief, among all but their abettors, that profligate people flock to them for the worst of all purposes, and that their influence is to a greater or less degree at all times prevalent. These camp meetings travel periodically over the greater part of the country; and they are so arranged that the same individuals may have it in their power to attend a great number in succession.

I have only happened to hear two specimens of

Methodist preaching, and these both in the same evening and in the same place. Disappointed in getting admission to another church, I agreed to the suggestion of a friend that we should follow a crowd who were flocking into a Methodist church, or rather a kind of subterraneous place of meeting under the chapel. The first preacher addressed the audience from the words, "Cleanse your hands ye sinners, purify your hearts ye doubleminded." So far as bodily exertion went, this was the most powerful discourse I ever heard. The preacher wrought himself up to the most extravagant degree of vehemence, and vociferated for about an hour till he absolutely gasped for breath. Sitting down, apparently from total inability to go on, a second took it up, and setting out with the observation, that " many a good sermon was lost for want of self-application by the hearers," he proceeded to enforce what his associate had advanced, and toiled himself into almost an equal degree of noisiness and exhaustion. The whole amount of both addresses was, "The way of escape from hell and damnation is, draw nigh to God, draw nigh to God—abstain from drinking, swearing, theatres, balls, extravagance of living and furniture, cry aloud for mercy, walk in the paths of true piety, and live a life of godliness and devotion." Neither the one nor the other ever stated, directly or indirectly, that Jesus died for sinners, and rose again for their justification. I do not offer this as by any means ascer

taining the general character of Methodist preaching or doctrine in this country; I have reason to hope that many even of their own body would have disapproved of the specimen as decidedly as I did, at the same time I suspect that a still greater number would be found who would as decidedly applaud it.

The Baptists, in number of churches, rank next in order. They have seven places of worship in the city; I am not aware whether they have any for blacks. These are all agreed, as to worship and church government, with the particular Baptists of England, but there is also a small congregation conducted upon the principles of the Scotish Baptists. I attended at different times in three of these places of worship; they are all large and numerously attended, and the discourses which I heard were, with one exception, characterized by piety and good sense.

The Baptists are the most numerous denomination in the United States; it is said that their churches amount altogether to nearly 3000. They obtained a footing first in Rhode Island, where they have a very respectable academical institution called Brown College, at which about 70 or 80 students in general study; they have also a theological academy at Philadelphia. Their great strength however is in the southern and western States, where

A new college in connexion with this body has been established since my return in Washington, with promise of great success.

they continue to increase rapidly. They have a Missionary Society at Philadelphia which supports, as you know from the reports, missions to Bombay and the Birman Empire.

Besides the churches which I have enumerated, there are three Quakers' meeting houses, one German Reformed church, one Evangelical Lutheran, two Romish, one Universalist, and one Jewish synagogue.

The ministers of the various denominations are supported chiefly by the proceeds of pew rents and voluntary contributions. The salaries of those of

the larger congregations vary from about 2000 to 4000 dollars; £450 to £900 sterling. I am not however sure that any of them actually reach the latter sum. Pews are in general private property; but, in addition to the large amount of their first cost, they are burdened with a very heavy annual assessment. In some churches the more desirable pews, capable of accommodating six or eight sitters, will occasionally sell for as much as a thousand dollars, about £220; and the annual assessment is considerably higher than the usual amount of seat rents in Glasgow. The original purchase money goes to the erection and support of the building, the subsequent payments to the support of the minister.

A part of the ministers' emoluments arises from marriages; on which happy occasions the clergyman is always compensated for his assistance with

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bank notes. The sum usually presented varies from five to twenty dollars, but those who can afford to be munificent sometimes go the length of one hundred; £22, 10s. Another item might perhaps be added, the linen scarfs which are presented at funerals; each of them will make a shirt, and some ministers get a great many every year. This however is in every respect a very censurable custom, and ought by all means to be discouraged.

In country places the minister's salary is greatly lower; sometimes it is raised by penny a-week associations, frequently it is paid in kind, and very often is of no stipulated amount, but depends entirely upon the state of the times, and the incumbent's popularity.

During the time of public worship, it is quite common in the more narrow streets of New York to find a chain extended completely across, from one post to another, to prevent the passage of carriages. This we should think with us a very glaring infringement on the liberty of the subject.

The collections are usually made not at the door of the church, but in plates which are handed into every pew, immediately on the conclusion of the sermon. This is a very efficient way of levying contributions from those who are not accustomed to the fashion, but frequent use renders people quite callous to the craving platter. In Philadelphia they use a little black velvet bag, projected at the end of a long pole, this is unceremoniously