tions as those mentioned into the position in which they would be rightly fitted to take advantage of any arrangement which might then be adopted. He entreated them not to be carried away by looking at Dalkeith or any other local question demanding their attention, but to look at the matter as a general question, affecting the respectability and character of the Church for generations to come. (Hear, hear.) He was satisfied that they would settle the question, not only more satisfactorily to themselves, but far more satisfactorily to the other Churches concerned in the matter, if they abstained from coming to any hasty decision in a particular case, if they would refuse altogether to entertain any particular case, and simply remit the whole matter to a committee fully and deliberately to consider the question, and to communicate with other Churches, so as to enable the Assembly to come to a deliberate and rational conclusion on the subject. Any hasty decision, instead of drawing closer the connection between the Free Church and other evangelical Churches, might only give rise to a feeling of mutual jealousy and dissatisfaction. Therefore, he would ask the Assembly to beware how they were drawn, from regard to a particular congregation, into any step which might prove so mischievous.

Mr GIBSON of Kingston thought that it should be laid down that till a minister or probationer be received into the Church, it is not open to any congregation to give him a call at all. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that that principle would be fully brought out.

Mr DUNLOP said that, feeling the great importance of the question, he was anxious to express his entire concurrence with the views of Dr Candlish, and he did not think it necessary to introduce a reservation with regard to the case of Dalkeith. One of the greatest blessings derived from the recent disruption was, that it had thrown down the walls of separation between them and other non-established bodies in this country and their Presbyterian brethren elsewhere. (Cheers.) He held that the united co-operation now in prospect between them and other bodies for spreading the gospel of their blessed Lord, was one of the best effects of the disruption. He would therefore implore the Assembly not to do anything calculated to raise up again divisions and prejudices in arranging together the means of Christian and brotherly co-operation in every good work. (Hear, hear.) If, without consultation, they admitted the ministers of other bodies, it would not be without risk of creating the greatest jealousy; and he held that to do this in any particular case was to raise a barrier in the way of coming to that arrangement which they might yet come to in a way in accordance with the wishes of the whole parties. They should in all their dealings with matters involving the feelings or interests of other evangelical Presbyterian communions, be careful to do nothing to raise up prejudices and dissatisfaction, but show a kind and Christian spirit, and prove that it was their earnest desire to avoid cause of offence, and to act cordially together in overtaking the mass of spiritual destitution which was to be found in their land, and which he believed nothing could overtake but the cordial, united, and earnest efforts of all evangelical Churches. (Cheers.)

Dr CANDLISH said that he had a motion to submit to the House. He trusted that nothing he had said could be construed into anything like a wish to prevent communion with ministers and probationers of other denominations, or to exclude them from receiving calls. (Hear.) So far from that, he was impressed with the desirableness of their being recognised under certain regulations. His only reason for demurring in this particular case was the danger of raising a jealousy between them and other Churches, and because he thought they should not hastily admit the principle of congregations being able to give calls to the ministers of other bodies till they have prepared regulations on the subject. When he first heard of the Dalkeith case, he entertained the same opinions as Mr Bannerman; and it was only after he came to consider maturely the general question, that he saw they would incur considerable risk in admitting the principle in the particular case of Dalkeith. He begged, therefore, to move the following resolution :

"The General Assembly, with every desire to meet the wishes and promote the welfare of the congregation of Dalkeith, decline to entertain their proposal, implying as it does a departure from the rules of the Church, in a particular instance, before

the general question which it raises has been fully considered; and farther, the General Assembly, considering the above case, together with the applications of a similar nature from ministers and probationers of other Presbyterian Churches, remit the entire subject to a committee, with instructions to confer with the said Churches, and to report to the General Assembly in May."

The resolution was unanimously agreed to.

Mr SYM of Edinburgh then read the

REPORT OF COLONIAL COMMITTEE.

"In compliance with instructions received from the last General Assembly, your Committee lost no time in putting themselves in communication with their brethren in other lands. A copy of the Affectionate Representation,' &c., was addressed to the Synods of Canada, Miramichi, Nova Scotia, and New South Wales, and in general to all ministers connected with the Establishment in the colonies and other parts, accompanied by a letter, briefly referring to the disruption of the Church, and the causes which led to it, and expressing the unabated interest which this Church took in the spiritual welfare of their countrymen abroad, and their readiness to continue the operations which had hitherto been carried on, in sending out ministers to destitute localities. To this letter replies have been received from only two Ecclesiastical Courts, viz., the Synod of Nova Scotia and the Synod of Canada. The former of these communications acknowledges receipt of your Committee's letter, and states, that in consequence of the paucity of members in attendance at the meeting of Synod, and in consideration that a reply from the Synod might affect various important interests of the Church in this colony, the Synod decline giving an immediate deliverance on the subject-matter of this letter; but order the letter to be published in the Halifax Guardian and Pictou Bunner newspapers, for the information of absent members, and of the Church generally.' The communication from Canada is of a more decisive and important nature. It contains a series of resolutions passed by the Synod on the 10th July last, in which they renew their approval of the prin ciples for which the Church has been recently contending principles which they regard as not only not incompatible with, but as indispensable to a right and salutary alliance between Church and State,' and in which they express their affectionate sympathy with those who, in the defence and maintenance of these principles, have seen it to be their duty to leave the Establishment. But at the same time, they resolved that it was not necessary for them to take any practical step in consequence of the disruption. These resolutions of the Synod of Canada are at present under the consideration of the Committee.

"Besides the communications to which they have now referred, your Committee have received letters of adherence to the Free Church, from individual ministers in various parts of the colonial field. And while they would take this opportunity of acknowledging the prompt and generous devotion with which these brethren have cast in their lot with the Free Church, they would express their confident hope, that subsequent posts will bring them large accessions to the number of adherents.

"In regard to the appointments actually made, your Committee have as yet little to report. In the month of July, the Rev. Mr Kingan was appointed missionary to Hamilton, Upper Canada, and shortly afterwards proceeded to his destined sphere of labour. From the proofs which they had of his qualifications, and from the recommendations which they received in his favour, your Committee look forward to his proving a useful and successful labourer in the vineyard of the Lord.

"It will be in the recollection of the members of this Assembly, that some time ago a Ladies' Association was formed in Edinburgh, in connection with the Colonial Committee of the then Established Church,-that they had fixed upon Malta for the establishment of a missionary station,-and that, upwards of a year ago, they had commenced operations in that field of labour with the most encouraging prospects of success. The members of this association, having adhered to the Free Church, formed themselves into an association in connection with your Committee; and as they continued to cherish the same interest in Malta which they had formerly experienced, they could not allow themselves to abandon a work which had

been so auspiciously commenced, under the superintendence and care, first of the Rev. R. W. Stewart of Erskine, and latterly of the Rev. James Julius Wood of Edinburgh. They resolved, therefore, to continue their exertions in behalf of this interesting station; and, on their application to your Committee, Mr John M‘Kail, who was most warmly recommended as a young man of the highest promise, was, on the 1st of September, solemnly set apart and ordained by the Presbytery of Edinburgh to the office of the holy ministry, in connection with this situation. Anxious that this mission should be put upon the best possible footing, the Ladies' Association undertook to raise the necessary funds for the maintenance of a schoolmaster; and they succeeded in obtaining the services of Mr George Wilson, who had risen to high distinction in his profession as parochial schoolmaster at Alves, and who is a probationer and an adherent of the Free Church. It was found that Mr Philips, another licentiate, was about to proceed to Malta; and on the application of your Committee, the Presbytery of Edinburgh, being satisfied of the gifts and qualifications of Messrs Wilson and Philips, gladly embraced the opportunity of ordaining these two gentlemen to the office of the eldership. Mr M Kail, therefore, will enter upon his work at Malta with the immense advantages to be derived from the assistance and co-operation of an efficient schoolmaster and kirk-session.

"While the Ladies' Association were considering how their wishes in regard to Malta might be best carried into effect, certain difficulties seemed to lie in their way, In the good providence of God, however, the most important of these was happily removed. It appears that the difficulty of obtaining buildings or ground for their erection within the walls of Valetta, is very great, and the obstacles which, in all probability, would have been thrown in the way of the necessary accommodation being procured in a suitable situation, would have been almost or altogether insuperable. While this formidable barrier seemed to be interposed between the Ladies' Association and the object which they had so much at heart, an offer was opportunely made to this Committee by the Wesleyan body, of the premises which they held in Valetta. Considering that the cost of these buildings was moderate,—that they would admirably answer the purposes of the proposed mission,-and that the central position of Malta might render it an important station for promoting the interests of the Assembly's Foreign and Jewish Missions, the General Board of Missions and Education at once availed themselves of the offer which was made, and agreed to the purchase of the property.

"In thus noticing the very advantageous position in which your missionary to Malta will immediately be placed, your Committee would gratefully acknowledge the good hand of God in the circumstances which have led to it—they would rejoice in the success which has crowned the persevering exertions of the Ladies' Association, and they would recognise an encouragement to the formation of similar associations in other parts of the country.

"Your Committee have received a very urgent application from Madeira, to which they were anxious to pay immediate attention. But in the peculiar circumstances of that island, they have thought it advisable to delay making an appointment in the mean time, in the hope and expectation that they will soon be enabled to send out a minister of tried judgment and much experience, to whom they can confidently intrust the management of your cause in the present peculiarly delicate and difficult position of affairs in Madeira.

"An interesting letter has been received from the elders of the Presbyterian Church in Antigua, requesting a minister for that island. Immediately on the departure of the last minister, and while they were yet ignorant of the quarter to which application might be made, they addressed a similar request to the Rev. Dr Patrick M'Farlan of Greenock, and the Rev. Dr Buchanan of Glasgow. Your Committee desire to express the sincerest sympathy with their brethren in Antigua, and they .hope to be enabled, in conjunction with Drs M'Farlan and Buchanan, to announce the appointment of a minister to this station at no distant date.

"It affords your Committee high satisfaction to state, that an application has been made to them for a minister for the projected colony of New Edinburgh. This colony is in some respects peculiar,—a principal feature of the plan

being, that a certain part of the purchase-monies, (L.25,000) is to be set apart for ecclesiastical and educational purposes to parties holding the principles of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Your Committee embrace this opportunity of expressing the high approbation with which they regard the plan of special colonies, by means of which, they trust that the provision made for educational and religious purposes will be rendered fully available, and those unseemly contentions prevented which have too often divided the settlers in other colonies. Your Committee would record their gratification that their countrymen, the Presbyterians of Scotland, have been selected as the class by whom the first experiment of the plan of a special colony is to be tried. They feel the deepest interest in this scheme, and the most anxious desire for its prosperity; and when they were applied to for the first minister for New Edinburgh, they conceived it to be their duty to seek out a man of wellascertained ability and worth. They consider themselves as singularly happy in having secured the services of the Rev. Thomas Burns, late of Monkton, for this most important sphere. They entertain the most confident persuasion that the emigrants will find in him an affectionate friend, a prudent counsellor, and a faithful and devoted pastor; and they cannot doubt that, with the blessing of God on his labours, New Edinburgh will speedily present such a scene of comfort, and peace, and prosperity, as will satisfy all of the wisdom which the New Zealand Company have evinced in adopting the plan of special colonies.

"Your Committee have further to state, that the New Zealand Company, with that enlightened liberality for which they are distinguished, have agreed to grant L. 150 per annum for three years for a minister at Nelson, the Colonial Committee guaranteeing a similar sum for the same period. Your Committee trust that they will soon be in a condition to make an appointment to Nelson, where they are aware that a Presbyterian minister will be hailed by their countrymen with feelings of the most cordial gratitude and joy.

"Your Committee would conclude by reminding the Assembly that they entered on their labours with an empty exchequer, and by requesting that the venerable Assembly would again commend this scheme to the liberality and the prayers of their faithful people. There are many parts of the colonies where multitudes of our countrymen are in the most deplorable spiritual destitution, and the tide of emigration has become such that this scheme must be prosecuted with redoubled vigour. The difficulties and privations under which many of your people in this country have recently suffered, will, your Committee trust, have the effect of impressing them more deeply with the value of gospel ordinances, and of quickening their interest and stimulating their liberality in behalf of their destitute countrymen in other lands."

Mr BURNS of Kilsyth said he had very great pleasure in moving the approval of the very interesting report they had just heard. At all times it would have been an interesting report, but was doubly so in present circumstances. He, therefore, begged to move as follows:

"That the General Assembly approve of the report, and receive with much satisfaction the tribute from their colonial brethren, therein communicated, to the principles for which this Church has been called upon to testify. They concur in the approval expressed by the Committee of the plan of a special colony in New Zealand; and, though fully sensible of the loss sustained by the Church at home in her present straits, in the transference of the services of Mr Burns to the colony, they willingly relinquish him, in consideration of his peculiar qualifications for the important station he has been called upon to occupy. They hail with satisfaction the intelligence that the important post at Malta is so satisfactorily occupied; and confidently trust that the liberality of their people will enable the Committee to continue to the other brethren in the colonies that aid which, in the former condition of the Church, it was their privilege to extend."

He (Mr Burns) trusted that this motion would approve itself to his brethren without need of comment. But he might be allowed to say that, as parish ministers they had, in present circumstances, a deep interest in what related to the spiritual provision made for the colonies; and he might mention that a most excellent parishioner of his own, along with his wife, both, though in humble life, warmly attached

to the principles for which they were contending, and both examples of true holiness, had joined this new colony; and they parted with them, as they parted with Mi Burns, most reluctantly. In regard to Malta, the information received was truly interesting and important, in every point of view, and held out the prospect of great good resulting from the Church having it in her power, under such favourable circumstances, to send men so eminently qualified by their talents and piety for such a difficult station. In speaking of favours conferred on the Church by individuals, he might be allowed too to mention that they were under obligations to a lady in England for having gone to the Lord Mayor of London and other individuals, and obtained a passage for their missionary almost free of expense.

Dr WILSON said, he desired to present a request from their friends in India. A great majority of the members of the Church of Scotland in the Bombay presidency had given in their adherence to the Free Church, and all the elders of the Church in Bombay had also declared their adherence—(cheers)—and he had been desired by Mr Mitchell of Poonah, to request that the petition from India to the former Committee should be considered as addressed to this Committee. Now, when any application was made from India, he trusted that it would meet with prompt attention. It was of the greatest importance that the interests of our countrymen in that land should be particularly attended to, not so much as to themselves, as on account of the great influence they had over the natives. Their conduct was most strictly observed; many of them occupied most important stations, as magistrates, and governors of provinces; aud if they did not set the natives a Christian example, it would greatly retard the work of the Church in propagating the gospel in that land. He had only to add that he thought the Committee should direct particular attention to the soldiery of Great Britain in the colonies. In 1840, there were in the army 52,000 Englishmen, 49,118 Irishmen, and 15,232 Scotsmen. Adding to the number of Scotsmen one-fifteenth part of the Irishmen, they had altogether 17,979 Presbyterians. At many stations they had now an opportunity of attending ordinances under Presbyterian missionaries, and he rejoiced that this was specially the case at Poonah and Malta. When the 78th Highlanders were at Poonah, 900 of them gave in their names to Mr Mitchell as members of the Presbyterian Church. (Hear.)

On the motion of Dr BUCHANAN, it was resolved that the thanks of the Assembly should be conveyed through the Moderator to Mr Sym and the Committee, for their valuable and interesting report.

Dr BUCHANAN said there was a subject that bore a certain relation to the Colonial Schemes of the Church, which deserved their attention. He alluded to the situation of one of the most valued men of whom the Church of Christ could boast -the excellent Dr Kalley. (Cheers.) He thought it would not be creditable to the Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland if in the course of its sittings it did not take the case of that eminent servant of God under its consideration. (Hear.) He did not mean to enter on the discussion of so important a case. The facts were, he believed, familiar not only to the members of that house, but to almost every denomination of Christians in Scotland. He would not, therefore, detain the house one moment on the subject generally, but merely suggest that it be remitted to the Colonial Committee to ascertain exactly what was now the position of Dr Kalley, because he believed that the house was not in possession of information to enable them to decide what had been done in consequence of the remonstrances already addressed to the Foreign Secretary. He would not commit the house by an assertion of any thing at present, but rather remit to the Committees to ascertain if Dr Kalley was still deprived of his freedom, and if so, that they should address the Foreign Secretary or the Government, or adopt whatever other means they might see competent towards procuring his release; and in addition, that they should communicate to Dr Kalley the sympathy of that Assembly in his present suffering condition-suffering as he was for the cause of conscience and for Christ. (Cheers.) Dr BROWN was sure there would not be the slightest difference of opinion on this At the end of September Dr Kalley was still deprived of his liberty, and this therefore showed the necessity for taking the step now proposed.

matter.