eyes are dazzled by one stupendous meteorthe Crystal Palace. The Daily Press regales its readers almost from morning to morning with descriptions of this thing and that, always keeping alive public attention to the subject. All circles are full of talk and gossip, facts and falsehoods relative to the foreigners, and also to the parties nearer home. There is nothing but speculation on the subject of lodgings, and curious tales already begin to be told of the danger connected with this species of commerce, such as foreigners taking lodgings, comprising three or four rooms, into which they bring thirty or forty individuals, where they talk, and smoke, and sing half the night, and then go to sleep on the floor till next morning. To men bred in camps, we presume, there will be no great hardship in such a life. The proposed method of opening the Palace has given considerable umbrage to the good citizens of London. It was intended to have made it a thoroughly regal and aristocratical affair. Her Majesty, the Prince, the Royal Family, and the servants of the Sovereign, and a batch of great people, were to have the magical realm to themselves a few hours, after which they were to retire and leave it to the incursion of the public-the seven or eight thousand people whose zeal to promote the object has prompted them to purchase tickets at a considerable expense. But we more particularly concerned for the spiritual bearings of the business, and are glad to see that both Churchmen and Dissenters are betaking themselves in good earnest to render the mighty gathering tributary to the advancement of the kingdom of God. For this purpose, Bibles, boɔks, tracts, preachings, social meetings, and a variety of other appliances are being had recourse to. The expense connected with such movements, of course, must be considerable, but there are not wanting multitudes, whom God has made the stewards of his substance, who will feel free at heart to lend the necessary help in the advancement of an object so praiseworthy.

are

NEWSPAPERS.-The newspaper press of the country is allowed, upon all hands, to be an index to its intellectual condition; and, tried by this test, for activity and intellect, the United States incalculably surpasses the Old World. Another instance may be selected from the British Isles. For example, Scotland, with its rather more than two millions and a half of people, issues 110 journals; Ireland, with its eight millions and more, only 102 journals. But mere quantity of issue is not the sole test. Very much depends upon quality. Thus tested again, the papers of Scotland will be found incomparably superior to the Popish portion of the papers of Ireland. A return has just been printed, by order of the House of Commons, on the motion of Mr. Brotherton, showing the number of stamps issued for newspapers in the last year, the number of newspapers and their advertisements, and the advertisement duty paid. It appears that there are 593 newspapers printed in the United Kingdom, of which 159 are published in London, 222 in the English provinces, 110 in Scotland, and 102 in Ireland. The number of stamps issued for these in 1850 was 13,946,044, of which 11,969,045 were supplemental or halfpenny stamps. The number of advertisements contained in these in 1850 was 2,252,550, and the duty paid on these to

the Government amounted to £163,038 1s. Reflecting men will see that here is a mighty apparatus at work on the mind of these nations, and with all the imperfections which still attach to it, on the score of principle, as well as talent, still, the British Press presents a magnificent spectacle, as an index of the principles of morality on the British people.

EDUCATION.-The subject of Education, on both sides of the Tweed, still continues to occupy public attention. In Scotland there have been various meetings connected with the divers projects which have long agitated that country; but there is no probability whatever of anything being speedily done; for, notwithstanding two or three of the parties agree in soliciting Government aid, yet they themselves cannot concur in any plan of proceeding, whereas a large portion of the people will accept of no Governmental interference. Lord Melguind, Dr. Candlish, Dr. Begg, and Dr. Hetherington are all zealous, all disagreeing, and all pursuing what they will never overtake. Mr. Cowan, one of the members for Edinburgh, boldly laid his hand on the Universities, wishing to abolish all tests in connection with Professors' Chairs. This is one of the many benefits that have resulted from the great Disruption of the Scottish Church. Of course, for the present, he will not succeed; but after the memorials which have already appeared upon the subject, and the manifestoes which have been issued from more than one quarter, it is only a question of time. This demand, as well as every other founded on justice, must ultimately triumph.

STATISTICS.-The great work of the Census has been completed since our last issue, occupying no fewer than 30,000 men, acting under 2,190 Registrars and 624 Superintending Registrars. The cost of such an arrangement has been considerable, but the money is well laid out. All reflecting men are aware of the importance of statistics, and hence the value of the labours of the Registrar-General, and others which in a more private walk have been given to the advancement of this important science. Among the many points to which the subject is applicable, is that of Life Assurance, which, a century back, was comparatively but little understood. Of recent times, however, much light has been poured upon it. But for this, it might not have been known at the present hour that life was become so much more extended as the facts show. It will hardly be credited that in 1685, in our famous London town, the mortality was 1 in 23; whereas now, it is only 1 in 40. The following will give a glimpse at the general subject. We shall first set forth the figures which apply to the country, and afterwards those referring to London. According to the old registers, the mortality was in

1780 ........................one in 40 of the population.
1800 ................................. 48
1810
1820
1830

................................. 55
................................. 51

After this period, the mortality appeared to increase. These registers were, however, notoriously imperfect, and being now superseded by a better system, afford no ground of comparison with the present returns. Mr. Finlaison, our first authority, constructed a table in which he

endeavoured to allow for the inaccuracies. We give it here. He makes the mortality in theFive years ending 1805 .....................one in 41.9 1810.......................... 44.3 1815 ......................................................... 49-8 1820............................ 49-8 1825 .............................. 47.1 1830 46.0 1840 .................................................... 44.5 The registered deaths, which may now be considered as quite accurate, show a mortality in— 1840 ...................................................one in 44 .................................. 46

In London, according to Mr. Macaulay, the mortality in 1685 was 1 in 23; it is now 1 in 40. According to Mr. Farr, the expectation of life in a male, aged 20, was in—

We are, however, very far from meaning to say that our sanitary arrangements are at present matters for complacency, or that improvement in this department is more than in its infancy. Many removeable causes of premature death yet remain, but the four or five years which the last half century has added to the average duration of life, are a hopeful earnest of what may yet be done to prolong it, now that the subject has awakened public interest, and that administrative exertions are conducted under the guidance of scientific skill.

The bearing of this on Life Assurance is very important, showing that the premium may be reduced in proportion as life is extended, and that the original rates, if now charged, would be far too high, giving to the officers an enormous profit, and robbing the public. But the truth of statistics extends beyond Life Insurance-to everything with which taxation is concerned. It was recently shown by the highest authority that the labouring people of this country expended fifty-seven millions sterling annually in spirits, beer, and tobacco. Of this sum from one-third to one-half finds its way into the coffers of the Chancellor of the Exche quer, and enables the State to pay the interest of the debt, support the army, the establishments, and so on. The statistics of taxation concern working and middle-class men. We shall give an example or two. Let us first take the article of four-wheeled carriages, that certainly which may be considered most characteristic of the rich and easy classes. Of these there were, in 1846, the number of 7,816, of which not more than 1,972, or about one-fourth, paid any tax. The other three-fourths were low-wheeled and exempt. Of two-wheeled carriages there were about 60,000, but more than half were exempt from duty. On servants-on horses-were we to go into the history of each tax, and the ways in which it is assessed, and evaded, the same moral would appear: which is, that the rich most easily and readily evade taxes, whilst the poor blindly and eagerly incur them. It is not the moment, perhaps, to dwell on the inequalities of the window tax, seeing that it is 80 universally condemned; but it may be as well to remember that in the distribution of this tax, houses paying from £25 to £10 rent were assessed at from 15 to 20 per cent., whilst large houses paying from £100 to £2,000 a year rent were assessed at from 1 to 2 per cent. These are strong reasons why operative

classes should improve their minds, extend their inquiries, multiply their knowledge, and familiarize themselves with public affairs, if they would ever have just and equal laws, and all Christian principle triumphant in everything appertaining to the social economy.

CONVICTISM.-The fine Colonies of Australia still continue to be afflicted by the system of convictism. Recent intelligence from Van Diemen's Land represents the state of that colony as becoming daily more intolerable. The convicts, it is said, were fast accumulating on the hands of Government; merchants' stores were hired to bold the surplus convicts: and in the female factory at Hobart Town there were no fewer than seven hundred women-" so many she-tigers," remarks a correspondent. Yet we are informed that a convict-ship is actually getting ready at Woolwich to sail for Van Diemen's Land with more convicts. This is deeply to be deplored, as it cannot fail most materially to corrupt these infant empires, and, in the mean time, very much to arrest their social progress; for who would repair to regions where the very atmosphere was impregnated with moral pestilence?

Much

The last Indian Mail brings news of an attack upon a party of British officers, and the murder of one of them, by the Arabs in the vicinity of Aden. Since that place was occupied by the British, the hostilities between them and the neighbouring tribes have been almost unintermitted. might be said in behalf of the occupation of stations like Aden for the protection and refreshment of our mercantile marine in remote seas among barbarous countries; but all past experience seems to show, that such stations, when made on the main land, can only be retained at the expense of constant wars and extensions of territory.

Of course, the "occupation" here referred to is military. This may be better than nothing; but assuredly it is a very inferior guarantee, compared with that supplied by the existence of a Missionary Establishment. Nor is this all, or the worst. Where our military stations are, the probabilities are great of occasional or frequent collisions with the natives. Not so the Missionary. His war is not with carnal weapons. It is his province to stay the effusion of human blood-not to enlarge its current.

ROMISH CUPIDITY.-The public have been, of late, occupied, amused, and scandalised by the facts connected with testamentary bequests and other projects for enriching the Romish Church. Amongst the various parties that have figured in the panorama is Miss Talbot, who is in a fair way, for the future, to have rest from priestly persecution, and to be left in the possession of her own property. A marriage has at length been arranged between her and Lord Edward Howard, M.P. for Horsham, the son of the Duke of Norfolk-of course a Catholic. Thus the priests have been deprived of their expected prey. They gloated in the anticipation of so noble a fortune as £85,000, but it is gone. Their own

sacrament of marriage has stood between them and their long looked-for plunder. But, according to report, the disappointment will not be without some trouble to certain parties. It seems one of the Popish Bishops, in the expectation of the money, not doubting for an instant that Miss Talbot would become a nun, and that her personal fortune would be available for Papal purposes, determined to rear a magnificent cathedral with it. Well, in pursuit of his object, it appears that he has actually bought ground for the edifice to the value of £1,500. What is to be done time will tell. There is no fear of a Popish Bishop getting £1,500 to pay for the ground; but the raising of £100,000 more to build a palace for the performances of mummery and superstition will not be so easy.

IRELAND.-Matters in Ireland are "looking up," as they say on the Stock Exchange. During the past month, several estates of considerable importance have changed hands for the better, through the medium of the Encumbered Estates Court. Several projects for dealing with the subjects of Flax and Beet cultivation also have been freely discussed, and somewhat warmly taken up. Saxon life, energy, intelligence, progress, and prosperity are gradually replacing the slothful, degraded, priest-ridden Celts, who still continue in masses to betake themselves to America, where they soon lay by enough to bring others out after them, and so the work of depletion goes gradually on and on. The classes chiefly leaving, as heretofore, are small farmers, petty tradesmen, and their families. They are said to appear, in a general way, to be somewhat comfortably circumstanced, which would seem to indicate that they are getting off quietly, before they are driven off by sheer starvation. Emigrants of the lower grades go by way of Liverpool. Emigration has also re-commenced from several of the Poor-law Unions, at the expense of the Rate-payers. Popery is still busy in that unfortunate country, although it is only occasionally that its operations are brought to light, Another case of the abduction of a young lady from her parents, for conventual purposes, has just given rise to an action in the Irish Court of Queen's Bench, in the shape of a writ of habeas corpus, which is likely to excite considerable interest, as the father is Editor and Proprietor of a Roman Catholic Newspaper, and is highly exasperated at his repeated, but unsuccessful, attempts to get possession of his daughter by fair means; it is only as a last resource that he appeals to the laws of his country.

THE CONTINENT.-On the Continent, generally, there is scarcely anything to report which would interest our readers. In France, the great question of the Constitution, and its bearing on the prolongation of Louis Napoleon's Presidency, still continues to absorb attention. Coalitions and manoeuvres come up in rapid succession; little real progress, however, on either side, has been made, up to the moment at which we write. Sir Robert Peel once intimated that the battle of the constitution must be fought at the Polling Booths, and M. de Lamartine has joined M. Emile de Girardin in the same opinion. These two gentlemen are now exerting their utmost to restore universal suffrage-a result, in the present state of Gallican society, deeply to be deplored, inasmuch as such an electoral body could hardly fail to re

turn a very large proportion of Socialist representatives, and persons holding other notions equally subversive of society, and with many otherwise incapable of adequately sustaining a function so honourable and important. M. de Lamartine, it is understood, has actually condescended to intimate to the President, that if he will but re-establish universal suffrage, and solemnly promise not to become again a candidate for the Presidency, he, M. de Lamartine, will support the President during the remainder of his Presidency-some few months. Only one thing appears certain amidst so much change and confusion, viz., that there will be a struggle on or before the next Presidential election, and that that struggle will be a severe

one.

In Prussia, the prosecutions of the radical press still continue in a very arbitrary and persecuting spirit. Austria and Italy are much the same. In Spain there have been some of the usual dissensions in the royal household; and in Portugal, once more, an insurrection.

These are facts with which they who see the hand of God in the movements of nations will know how to deal. They all demonstrate that there is no rest for mankind till they shall rest upon the truth, and till the arrival of the glorious day when "salvation will be appointed for walls and bulwarks," and when "wisdom and the knowledge of God shall be the stability of the times." There is nothing material occur. ring on the continent which gives the slightest encouragement to hope that any speedy revival of religion anywhere is at hand. In Italy, matters, if possible, are going from bad to worse, The eye of the Vatican is fixed on all the movements of British visitors, and carefully scanning the productions of the English press, and, among the recent prohibitions of books, Mr. Seymour's "Pilgrimage" has the honour of a place. Nor is this greatly to be wondered at, since the production, while obviously veritable and candid, is calculated to do essential damage to the Papal system. But what is the value of a system which has anything to fear from the pen of a foreign visitor? All the priests of Italy may come to England, and, on their return, publish what they please, and if they can induce the British people to purchase their lucubrations, none will hinder them.

THE KAFFIR WAR-Our readers are already aware of the lamentable outbreak of another Kaffir War. The excursions of the enemy along the frontier, and among the various stations at the outposts, have been accompanied by all the usual disasters-robberies, destruction of houses, crops, and often murders. The consequences to the colony will be of a character the most serious, involving loss of property to the amount of hundreds of thousands. The whole aspect of the frontier is highly unsatisfactory, while the rumours are most conflicting, and confusion everywhere prevails.

But the friends of Missions in Africa will naturally look for some tidings respecting the Mission Stations and so forth. We can only say from the general accounts which have reached us through the usual channels, that the influence of the war on Missionary operations threatens to prove most disastrous. Stations have been destroyed; Missionaries, with their families, compelled to flee for their lives; and the prospects of usefulness which looked so cheering

have been extensively blighted. So far as accurate details can at present be gathered, it seems that Mr. Birt, of Peel Town, has been driven from his station, and all that he had is carried away or destroyed, to say nothing of his hopes being cut off from a promising sphere of extended usefulness. Mr. Kayser, of Knapps Hope, has also fled. He remained up to the last moment under the protection of the Chief, but at length fled for his life. Such of the Mission Stations as have been able, have armed the native residents, and joined the ranks of the colonists against the common foe. It is to be feared that this is but the beginning of sorrows. A singular incident comes out with respect to a Moravian Station which was attacked by the Kaffirs; the party, after several being wounded and ten killed, fled for refuge, as a last resort, to their little chapel-a step by which they providentially escaped from the hands of their enemies. Many of our readers are aware that the sonin-law of the venerable Dr. Philip, Mr. Fairbairn, to whom the colonists are so deeply indebted for his many and manifold struggles for their rights and liberties, has arrived in this country to further the interest of the Colony. They are likewise apprized of the letter addressed to Earl Grey, as head of the Colonial Office, by the Rev. J. J. Freeman-a document that throws much light upon the entire question, and must prove of signal service in illuminating and correcting public opinion; and there is no reason to doubt that it has most materially sustained the advocates of humanity in the House of Commons. Mr. Adderley, a devoted friend of the Cape, and of liberty, moved for a Commissionthe very thing suggested by Mr. Freeman-to proceed to the Cape, to institute an inquiry into the whole subject. Lord John Russell opposed this, but compromised the matter by granting a committee to inquire in London. The result, therefore, will be the summoning of witnesses from the Cape to give evidence in the metropolis of England. This we call a compromise; good will doubtless come out of it, but it will by no means be so satisfactory or effective as if a commission had repaired to the Cape, since the number of witnesses that can be brought hither must be small; whereas there, the Commission

ers might have examined men by the hundred and by the thousand, and might even have had the bulk of the chiefs, as well as the more intelligent of their people, brought before them to state their grievances. As it is, however, the friends of Missions have reason to be thankful, and to congratulate Mr. Freeman on the success which has attended his philanthropic endeavours.

We observe also, that services have been held on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival in the colony of our venerable friend, the Rev. James Read, of the Kat River. This patriarchal and devoted Missionary has just attained his 73rd year, fifty of which, as we have seen, have been poured out on the Mission field of Africa; and, notwithstanding his numerous and arduous labours, the effects of climate, and so forth-a staunch Teetotaler-he still retains a good degree of health and strength, and the full possession of his mental faculties.

AUSTRALIA.-From Australia we learn that Mr. Stephens, the spirited Editor and Proprietor of two Adelaide Journals, had departed this life. His loss will be greatly felt where journalists are so few and so feeble. Mining operations in South Australia were prospering, and the aspect of affairs on the whole was cheering. The wonders of the interior-a mighty and mysterious region of boundless parks untrodden by the foot of the white man-bids fair to become a source of increasing interest. Its soil, productions, animals, vegetables, minerals, inhabitants, and geographical features, are still, to a large extent, unknown, and present a most interesting field for the genius of exploration. A settler and one of the Aborigines lately penetrated far into the interior in search of strayed horses and cattle, when they suddenly stumbled on a number of kernels, which, on inspection, proved to be nutmegs of " a very fair size, strongly aromatic, and fully equal to the commercial article." On further inquiry of the Aborigines, it turns out that they may be found in great numbers in the scrubs of the interior. Here, then, is another source of wealth and prosperity to the incipient nations of Australia. The tamarind also has been found in wild luxuriance. The natives dislike it, and this may, perhaps, account for the fact of its existence never having been communicated.

THIS is now the oldest of academical institutions for the training of Congregational Dissenting ministers. Referring back to its original foundation, it has existed nearly 100 years, and has sent out more than 250 ministers, of various attainments and qualifications, for the preaching of the Gospel. Its tutors, and some of its students, have ranked among the most eminent divines and scholars of which the century can boast. It has always enjoyed a high reputation as a school of sound, yet advanced views in Theology and Literature. Nevertheless it has partaken of the common lot of voluntarily supported institutions, and has often struggled for existence. Having at one time been buoyant in prosperity, it has, after a while, fallen into poverty, and has been threatened with extinction. But, phoenix-like, it has ever risen to

revived freshness and power. Just a year ago, it seemed as if it must be abandoned. An investment of its principal funds which had promised at the time to be advantageous, and was rendered necessary by the urgent circumstances of the institution, proved unfortunate, and the energies of its managers and supporters were almost paralysed. Many anxious meetings were held in Leeds and elsewhere, to consider how the threatened catastrophe might be averted, or turned to the best account. Proposals were made for a union with Airedale College, so as to form of the two institutions one Independent College for Yorkshire, a scheme which was deemed highly desirable, as securing a more complete course of instruction, by a much more economical arrangement than was possible upon the separate foundations. The effecting of such

a union was, however, beset with many practical difficulties, and the idea was finally abandoned.

The

At this juncture some more ardent spirits, possessing greater confidence than their older colleagues in the management of Rotherham College, came to the rescue, and resolved to make a bold effort. They pledged themselves to carry on the institution at Rotherham, and to pay off the debt of nearly £1,000, without diminishing the funds; and undertook such new arrangements as the circumstances of the college might require, keeping in view the great object of giving the fullest possible effect to the intentions of its founders. Operations were commenced in Sheffield and Rotherham. sum of £500 was in a short time raised there, which by further contributions from other towns has since been raised to more than £700; and the continued support of the college has been further insured by a considerable increase of the annual subscriptions. These revivalists, if they will allow the designation, evinced their just appreciation of the claims of this and similar institutions, and of their great importance to the churches, by rising above the hackneyed practice of single guinea subscriptions, and have subscribed their three, four, five, and ten guineas a year. This example is worthy of general imitation. We are very sure that there are no institutions of more essential, and at the same time richly compensating value, than are these Theological training colleges to the churches to which they belong.

At the close of the last session of Rotherham College, Midsummer, 1850, the Rev. Thomas Smith, A.M., completed his career of thirtythree years, as the classical tutor, and resigned office: In the course of the autumn the theological tutor, the Rev. Dr. Stowell, was invited to the presidency of Cheshunt College, near London. This appointment Dr. Stowell accepted, and thus at Christmas, Rotherham College was left without a tutor. The committee, however, promptly met the emergency, and engaged the Rev. F. J. Falding, M.A., (who after completing his course of study in this college several years ago, had pursued his studies at Glasgow University, during three sessions, and gained high distinctions there), to undertake the duties of the tutorship provisionally.

Mr. Falding has discharged those duties so entirely to the satisfaction of the committee, and for the improvement of the students, that we understand he will be recommended to the constituents, at their next annual meeting, for permanent engagement as classical and mathe

matical tutor. The post of president and divinity tutor is yet vacant, but the committee are in correspondence for a successor to the eminent men who have heretofore filled this office, and we hope they will soon secure the services of a gentleman whose qualifications, both moral and intellectual, may raise the venerated institution to a position that shall rival, if not surpass, the most flourishing period of its former existence. It is a further satisfaction to know that its funds are much improved. Arrangements are in progress for placing the investment which had proved so disappointing, on an unobjectionable security, without loss to the institution. Rotherham College may most confidently be recommended to the liberal encouragement and support of all enlightened Congregationalists.

MONUMENT TO THE LATE DR.
HAMILTON.

Erected in the Leeds General Cemetery. IN memory of RICHARD WINTER HAMILTON, LL.D., DD, thirty-four years pastor of the Independent Church, assembling in Albion and Belgrave Chapels, Leeds. He died July 18, 1818, aged 54 years. His rare talents, extensive learning, and fervid eloquence, were consecrated to the glory of God and the highest interests of man. As a minister and pastor, he

was earnest, affectionate, and faithful; as a divine, zealous for sound theology and evangelical truth. Honoured and beloved for his genuine piety and high principle, the warmth and openness of his heart, his ardent patriotism and love of freedom, this monument, erected by his townsmen, testifies that they mourned his death and cherish his memory.

MISSIONARY ORDINATION.

THE Rev. George Hall, B. A., of Cheshunt College, was ordained at the new Edmonton and Tottenham Chapel on April 7th, for Jamaica, in connection with the London Missionary Society. The Rev. J. De Kewer Williams opened the service. The Rev. Wm. Slatyer gave a general account of the island and of the particular charge. The Rev. E. Prout asked the usual questions. The Rev. Dr. Stowell delivered the Ordination prayer, and the Rev. Dr. Harris the Charge; both having been tutors of Mr. Hall at Cheshunt. The Rev. R. Wallace (Baptist), Thomas Hill, of Cheshunt, and George Wilkins, of London, took part in the interesting and edifying service.