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Minister. To do them justice, the remon strants had some reason to expect different treatment from a Whig ministry. The high church party had got so much of its own way in former cases-as in the education question, and in the business of the new Manchester See, that it might seem no great presumption to expect that ministers would yield so small a point, and one so obviously falling within the church's own province as the appointment of a bishop. We have no doubt, therefore, their surprise was considerable at finding that the ministerial patience was exhausted; and the attempts of some of them to back out of the proceeding, when they saw it was to be unsuccessful, cannot fail to prove injurious to the episcopal authority. The Bishop of Salisbury had voted against the university censure of Dr Hampden, which formed the chief ground of their complaint in the present instance; and, when reminded of the inconsistency of his vote in 1836, with his adherence to the letter of the bishops now, he pleads that it was not as taking ground publicly and officially against Dr Hampden, but only as a private and friendly representation," he signed the document. But why did not this explanation come out sooner? Why did not the bishop protest against the wrong use they were making of his name, so soon as he saw the document was made public? Why wait till the opposition movement was seen to be hopeless? And, admitting the explanation had come out in time, what a primitive bishop Dr Denison must be-in what happy ignorance of the ongoings of that country of which he is a ruler, civil and ecclesiastical, if he imagine that a representation, signed by thirteen spiritual lords, and addressed to the Prime Minister of England, is only a "private and friendly" document? But the most awkward attempt to escape from this bad business is that of Dr Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford. After threatening Dr Hampden with the perils of an Arches' Court, unless he would withdraw his "Observations on Dissent," and "Bampton Lectures;" and finding the intimidation vain in that quarter, as afterwards with Lord John Russell,-he happily finds out that Dr Hampden had expressed to somebody his regret that " any copies of the first edition of the 'Observations' were now sold." An author, of any spirit at all, would dislike to have a first edition of his work still in the market, after a second edition had been published; the continued supply of the first being a sufficient reason why the second should have been delayed. Yet Dr Hampden's casual expression of regret on this point, is eagerly snatched at by this other simple minded bishop as a virtual withdrawal of the offensive work! But as

he has heard of nobody that has heard Dr Hampden speak thus of the first edition of his other work, the Bampton Lectures; and as it, too, must be got quit of in some way or other, ere the bishop can decently stay proceedings, he sits down to read it, and finds that it is not quite so bad as to need to be withdrawn before its author can be raised to an episcopal chair! In this way the road is clear for Bishop Wilberforce to give his free unconstrained support to the nominee of the minister; and if the primacy of all England shall fall vacant one of these days, whether Bishop Wilberforce obtain the vacancy or not, nobody can say that he, like Dean Merewether, has cut himself off from ministerial patronage, by obstinate resistance to Lord John Russell's presentation of Dr Hampden. The trimming policy of Dr Wilberforce is so glaring as to have brought upon him the reprobation of all parties. Deep as is the Englishman's respect for bishops, the high church newspapers are calling names at him in utter scorn; and the old soubriquet of Slippery Sam," which it seemed he had gained at the university, is now bandied about against him, just as if he were not a lord bishop. The Church of England, with all its enormous faults, has had a firm hold hitherto in the veneration of the people, especially for its higher clergy. Can this foundation remain long secure against such proceedings on the part of the dignitaries we have mentioned ?

Still heavier is the blow which has been dealt to the English Church in the subsequent history of this affair. The Queen's order to the Dean and Chapter of Hereford to elect Dr Hampden, being duly obeyed by that court, the dean and one prebendary dissenting, the election had next to be confirmed by the Archbishop. This ceremony took place in Bow Church, London, on 11th January-the archbishop acting by commissioners deeply learned in church law. A similar proceeding having occurred on the 8th January, in the case of the Bishop Elect of Manchester, against whom objections had been offered the personal quarrel of an enraged surgeon having, as is alleged, been used by the Puseyites as an instrument to prevent Mr Lees, a known friend of Protestantism, from being elevated to dignity in the English church, the party had learned more accurately the tactics to be pursued in the case of Dr Hampden. The usual proclamation having been made in both cases, for all who had objections to the confirmation to appear and state the same, objections were offered, but the objectors were refused the privilege of appearing in such a character. Able counsel was retained against the Bishop of Hereford, and

the first point attempted to be established was, that objectors had a statutory right to appear and answer to the proclamation. This claim, however, was overruled by the court, without even hearing counsel on the other side, the ground of the court's decision being, as far as we can gather from the proceedings, that they should thereby expose themselves individually to a premunire, a writ involving the penalties of treason. In vain the counsel for the objectors endeavoured to show that the court would not involve themselves in such penalties, by allowing appearance to be made for the objectors. In regard to the plea, that it was a mockery, first to invite objections, and then refuse to hear them, it was candidly confessed by one of the learned judges, that this practice originated in the necessities of the times when it commenced, the sovereign finding it desirable to maintain the ancient forms, while at the same time he was determined to engross the power in his own hands. The objectors being thus repelled, the confirmation proceeded; but the movers of the opposition, who are now known to be clergymen of the rampant Puseyite school, have applied in another court for an order to compel the Archbishop's court to receive objections; and it is possible, though we do not think it likely, the consecration of Bishop Hampden will thereby be postponed for a time. Surely these events will open the eyes of the people of England to the degrading bondage under which their national church is held! The solemn mockery perpetrated in the name of christianity, in connexion with the process of bishop-making, approaches so near to profanity, that the nation can hardly distinguish between them. Among the many pantomimes and burlesques," says the leading London newspaper, brought out for the amusement of holiday folks, these capital farces, the Election and Confirmation of a bishop, must be admitted to carry off the palm."

One excellent object gained by this agitation is, that it has fixed public attention on the crafty attempts of the Puseyite Papists to re-establish the influence of Romanism in Great Britain. While, on the one hand, it is no longer doubtful that the opposition has been prompted and guided all along by the tractarian party, acting under Romish principles, and with a view to undermine Protestantism in this country; on the other, we are apprized that their designs are detected, and will be watched by the British Government. In replying to a letter addressed to him by a number of the clergy of Bedfordshire, disavowing all participation in the alarm at Dr Hampden's preferment, Lord John Russell takes occasion to express, in the following terms, his sentiments as to

the encroachments of Popery. For the sake of the truth he utters on this point, we can bear with the erroneous description he gives of the voluntary doctrine, as if it were quite a "novelty" in the church :"The Church of Rome, on the one side, with abundant knowledge, with imposing authority, seduces many to her communion. The right of private judgment is by many avoided as a dangerous snare: the duty of private judgment is thrown off by many more, as too heavy a burden. On the other side, the Protestant Dissenter assails the church establishment as an engine for fettering the conscience, and taxing the property of the subject. Novelties have their charm the high churchman and the independent speak alike with complacency of separating church and state."

ANTICIPATED INVASION OF BRITAIN.

SINCE the era of Waterloo, our country has lost much of its interest in martial glory. This has happened, notwithstanding occa sional distant broils in which our troops have been engaged. At the present hour, we know of no fighting work which the British army has on hand. Even the little border skirmishing in Caffreland, which alone for some time had afforded exercise for the talents of our future Wellingtons, has now been brought to a close. One might have hoped that, in these circumstances, we should have been hearing of troops disbanded, and swords turned into ploughshares. Very different, however, is the news, which meets our ears on all sides. With neither wars

nor

rumours of wars, the martial spirit has never, perhaps, been so lively in Great Britain, since the subsidence of the Buonapartean alarms, as it is at this day. What enchanter has raised the storm?

The great captain of the age, Wellington, has discovered that there are resources in military art, which if applied to the invasion of Great Britain, our insular position on which we have been accustomed to rely, could not withstand. He proposes, therefore, a great outlay of money for the erection of forts, and similar defences, and a corresponding increase of military force to man them.

We leave to others to deal with this proposal as involving a large expenditure of the nation's wealth, as creating a great amount of state patronage, which uniformly operates against the interests of liberty, as tending thus to perpetuate and increase the evils of class legislation, and as diverting into an unproductive channel skill and talent which otherwise might be directed into what is absurdly deemed a less gentlemanly, but is certainly a more patriotic course, mercantile and manufacturing industry. What we

chiefly object against the proposed increase of fighting men and fighting apparatus is, that it cannot fail to keep up feelings of selfishness and hostility, inconsistent with the meekness of the christian character. This it will do amongst ourselves—reviving the old and inhumane prejudice, that the French are our natural enemies, and lead· ing us to think of them, ever and only, in this offensive character. And this evil will not be confined to ourselves. If we increase our national armaments, the French will, of course, increase theirs to correspond. Thus the emulation will go on, and flourishing

our glittering swords at each other across

the Channel; even if bloodshed be restrained, a thing all the less likely, amidst these continued provocations, it is hardly possible that the growth of fierce and turbulent passions should be prevented. The churches of Protestantism have, of late years, been awakened to a new interest in the spiritual welfare of France; and many friends of evangelical truth are diligently labouring to disseminate the gospel among the French people. In their efforts, together with the pacific influence of commerce, and, as to both, depending on the blessing of the God of peace, we would place far more confidence than in the duke's national defences.

STATE OF HEALTH IN THE COUNTRY.

THE close of the last year and the beginning of the present, have been distinguished by the prevalence of Influenza, and other complaints of the organs of respiration, in a degree almost unprecedented. Perhaps no man living can recollect a time when disease was so unsparing in the selection of its victims, and so fatal in its results, as it has been within the last two months. Scarce a family has escaped it altogether; and the few who were congratulating themselves on their exemption during the earlier period of the sick season, have generally found that ere its departure they had to share in the common affliction. The number of deaths, especially among the more advanced and among children, has been mournfully remarkable. With the ravages of disease, the grievous depression of manufacturing industry, and the panic, not yet subsided, in our commercial affairs, the nation has been suffering to an extent far beyond any measure of spiritual improvement yet apparent amongst us. This apprehension, combined with the tidings which have been reaching us in regard to the spread of cholera in some of the northern cities of Europe, and the recollection that Influenza was the precursor of Cholera when it visited our country eighteen years ago, gives rise in the minds of many to the fear

that that dreadful plague may soon again be let forth upon our country. It becomes those who own the hand of God in these judgments, to seek a specially lively sense of his providence at the present crisis, and to humble themselves before him, if so be He will avert his wrath against us. At the same time it is proper that they who would be as the lightning rod to turn aside the shock, use all the means which skill and prudence may suggest with a view to that end. We observe that an English prelate has deemed it within his province as a christian minister duty of their attending to these prudential. to address his clergy on the necessity and by the Bishop of London, he urges his clergy measures." In a pastoral letter just issued to an active personal co-operation with the authorities of their respective parishes, in measures of sanitary precaution, in calling attention to the subject, in stimulating the inert to prompt and vigorous action. The Bishop enjoins the clergy to observe the state of the poor, in respect of order, temperance, and cleanliness; the state of the poor man's dwelling, and of the locality in which it is placed; to call the attention of the proper officers to such cases as require interference; to enlighten their parishioners on the fact that the cholera is not contagious, as the opposite belief cannot fail to chill and repress the natural sympathies, and thus cause the obvious duties of humanity to be neglected."

THE SABBATH ALLIANCE.

SCOTLAND has long been distinguished, even in reformed Christendom, for the veneration which its people entertain for the Christian Sabbath. The new relations which have been established between the people of Scotland and their fellow-citizens south the Tweed, in consequence of railway communication, threaten to upset, in a great measure, the convictions and practices of Scotsmen in regard to the sacred day. Amongst our English neighbours, it is well known strict Sabbath observance is little esteemed, except among that portion of the community which professes to be regulated by the principles of earnest evangelical religion. And, as "evil communications corrupt good manners," there was little room to expect that the increasing facilities of intercourse between the two kingdoms could long subsist without the Sabbath-venerating feelings of our people suffering in consequence. There was need, therefore, that the friends of the Sabbath should unite to raise a testimony for the truth of God respecting that divine ordinance; and we hail with pleasure the organizations formed in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other towns within the last few weeks, under the following rules and constitution :

Rules.-I. The National Alliance, which has been formed for promoting the observance of the Lord's-day, shall be called THE SABBATH ALLIANCE. II. The basis of the Alliance is the divine authority and universal and perpetual obligation of the Sabbath, as declared at large in the Word of God, and more formally and particularly in the fourth commandment of the moral law. III. The leading objects of the Alliance shall be:-1. To diffuse scriptural views on the subject of the Sabbath, and the proper observance of it, as one whole day in seven, by means of the public press, periodicals, tracts, lectures, public meetings, and such other modes as may suggest themselves. 2. To procure and circulate statistical information in reference to the prevalent forms of Sabbath desecration, and their pernicious consequences. 3. In particular, to take steps for opposing and preventing the running of Sabbath trains, and all other public conveyances, on the Lord'sday, that being one of the most prevalent forms of desecration, and which threatens, if not opposed, to be rapidly and indefinitely extended. 4. To use every exertion to obtain the entire cessation of work in the Post-office department, over the whole empire, on the Lord's-day, that being one chief excuse for the running of railway trains and other modes of conveyance on that day. 5. To make every effort for suppressing all Sabbath traffic, especially in strong drink. 6. To endeavour to promote all arrangements which have a tendency to procure the observance of the Lord's-day, and to discourage and obtain the suppression of all such as have a contrary tendency. IV. In order to carry out the above-mentioned objects with the greatest efficiency, the Alliance will proceed to organize branch Alliances throughout the country, and will open a correspondence for maintaining a friendly intercourse with societies and committees already existing, or that may be established, with the view of promoting the observance of the Lord's-day.

Constitution.-I. All persons shall be members of the Alliance who approve of its principles and objects, and subscribe an annual sum to its funds. II. The business of the Alliance shall be conducted by a general committee, an acting committee, one or more secretaries, and a treasurer. The Sabbath Alliance aims at being something more than an ordinary association. The members of it wish it to be understood that the cultivation of a devotional spirit in the bonds of Christian brotherhood should be identified with all their exertions. They desire, therefore, with the Divine blessing, to consecrate their work by united prayer to the "Lord of the Sabbath ;" and they recommend that the Alliance and all its

branch associations, should hold occasional meetings for devotional exercises, so that the blessing of God may rest upon their labours, and all be done to His glory.

Among the names of the general committee acting under this organization, are most active friends of evangelical doctrine connected with various denominations in Scotland. Considering that no smail difference of opinion prevails among the members of committee in regard to the use of civil authority in enforcing their views of divine truth, it is easy to perceive that the carrying out of these views of the Sabbath will sometimes lead them upon very delicate ground, requiring the exercise of mutual candour and confidence. But in so far as their tenets respecting the scriptural function of the civil magistrate will permit them to unite, it is, beyond doubt, of the highest importance that the Christians of Scotland should, at the present crisis, in one form or other, lift their joint testimony for the Lord's-day.

THE BRITISH BANNER.

A weekly newspaper, under the above title, started in the beginning of the year, and it deserves a notice at our hands. The enormous supply of cheap, godless, and even positively immoral, literature in this country, particularly in the great metropolis, had been attracting the attention of various benevolent and intelligent christians in England; and, in the conviction that some thing must be done to counteract it, Dr Campbell of the Tabernacle, London, was urged to turn the energies of his practical and powerful mind to the subject. Some months ago he issued, accordingly, the prospectus of a new weekly journal, which, conducted on christian principles, and possessing attractions of a popular kind in regard to literature and entertainment, as well as to moral and religious instruction, might compete with the pernicious publications referred to, and so furnish an antidote to their wide-spread mischief. The first two numbers of the British Banner are now before us, and we are truly glad to say, that it has abundantly sustained the expectations, large as these were, which were entertained concerning it. Consulting the permanent improvement, as well as the passing entertainment of its readers, it is chiefly filled with brief articles of solid value, most of them original, others extracted from works of established character, which, from their expensiveness, are not frequently met with, all of them written with vigour and animation, and, so far as the subject admits the display of it, in an excellent christian spirit. Having started with an impression of 25,000 copies, which, as the second number announces, was nearly ex

hausted, the Banner is already one of the most powerful organs of opinion in this country, or in the world. The editor has a mighty instrument in his hand. It is our desire and prayer that he may use it well, and from what we have seen, we have the confident persuasion, that it will be well used, both for the maintenance of christian liberty, and as an engine of destruction against ecclesiastical abuses.

PREVALENCE OF ROMANISM.

THE "Catholic Directory, for 1848," contains the following statistical information respecting the Romish Church in Great Britain, The total numbers of churches and chapels in England and Wales, is 545, of which 534 are in England and 11 in Wales. The greatest number in any one county is in Lancashire, where there are 105; in Yorkshire 61, in Staffordshire 36, in Middlesex 24, Warwickshire 23, Northumberland 22, Durham 18, Cheshire 17; Hampshire, Kent, and Leicestershire 14 each; Lincolnshire 12, Somersetshire and Worcestershire each 11, Dorsetshire and Gloucestershire each 10, Cornwall, Cumberland, Derbyshire, and Shropshire, each 9; Devonshire, Essex, Monmouthshire, Norfolk, Surrey, and Sussex, each 8; Oxfordshire 7, Suffolk 6, Berkshire 5, Buckinghamshire and Herefordshire 4, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Wiltshire, and Glamorganshire, 3 each; Hertfordshire, Westmoreland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Pembrokeshire, and Flintshire, 2 each; Bedfordshire, Guernsey, Brecknockshire, Cardiganshire, Caernarvonshire, and Denbighshire, 1 each. In Scotland there are 85 chapels and churches, besides 22 stations, where the Roman Catholic service is performed. The churches and chapels are thus distributed :-In Inverness-shire, 19; in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire, 10; Lanarkshire, 7; Edinburghshire, 5; Kirkcudbright and Renfrewshire, 4; Argyleshire, Ayrshire, and Stirlingshire, 3; Dumbartonshire, Dumfries-shire, Morayshire, Perthshire, and Wigtonshire, 2; Caithness-shire Forfarshire, Kincardinshire, Linlithgowshire, Peeblesshire, Ross-shire, and Roxburghshire, 1 each-making a grand total of churches and chapels in Great Britain of 630. In England there are ten Roman Catholic Colleges, viz:- St Edmund's, Hertfordshire; St Peter and Paul's, and St Gregory's, Somersetshire; Stoneyhurst, Lancashire; St Mary's, Staffordshire; St

Cuthbert's, Ushaw, Durham; St Lawrence's, Yorkshire; St Edward's, Lancashire; St Mary's, Derbyshire; College of the Immaculate Conception, Leicestershire. In Scotland, one college, viz:-St Mary's, Blair's, Kincardineshire. In Great Britain there are 38 convents and 11 monasteries; of the convents 12 are in London. There are also 806 missionary priests, including the bishops; 680 of these are in England, 27 in Wales, and 99 in Scotland.

Some idea of the growth and prevalence of popery in America, may be formed from the following fact. In the city and county of Philadelphia, since the year 1840, the Romanists have erected or obtained the control of seven large places of worship. In September 1846, the bishop of the diocese laid the corner stone of a stupendous structure to be styled the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul. It is to extend to 130 feet in front and 216 in depth. Two massive rows of pillars are to support its entire weight, and ten altars to be reared along its walls. Such is the zeal and liberality prevailing among all classes of the Romish community-servant girls and day-labourers, as well as wealthy devotees, that, besides immense sums already collected to defray the expenses of the building, more than 13,000 dollars have been subscribed for each of the five years next to come.

As a set-off against this increase of Romanism in lands where religious freedom is enjoyed, we quote the following statement respecting its diminishing influences in other countries. L'Eco di Savonarola, from which our quotation is taken, is an Italian Protestant Journal, published in London.

"In 1757 there were in France alone, in priests and friars, more than 300,000. In 1829 they were only 108,000.

"The Papal clergy of Europe have been greatly reduced by a variety of causes. By an examination of their statistics, we find the number of priests, in proportion to population, has diminished as follows:— In Rome, in 65 years, three-fourths. In Portugal, in 31 years, five-sixths. In Sicily, in 51 years, four-fifths.

In Bavaria, in 28 years, more than half. In France, in 67 years, some three-fifths. In Switzerland, in 37 years, one-third. In England, in 133 years, two-thirds. In Russia, in 33 years, ditto. In Denmark, in 20 years, half. In Sweden, in 60 years, a third. The total diminution of the Popish ecclesiatics in Europe, amounts to 855,000."