however unfounded, makes a distinction at least formally between the action as it refers to the Assembly, and the action as it refers to these individuals. Were such an allegation true, it would change the character of their act from that of an ecclesiastical and spiritual proceeding, to one done under the mere cloak and colour of such proceeding. The Committee accordingly recommend that the parties called as individual defenders make a separate compearance; for although the General Assembly may be called upon to withdraw from the field, should the case ever come to assume the aspect of a review by the Civil Court of a spiritual sentence, yet the individual defenders who are charged with maliciously doing a civil injury to the pursuer, under the pretence of a spiritual duty, may, on the ground of such a charge, be required, and be at liberty without compromise of their principles, to meet the question thus raised as one which it is competent for a civil tribunal to dispose of. The Committee, in conclusion, desire to repeat that these two actions contain no conclusion in regard to the pursuer's supposed patrimonial rights, in the Church and Manse of Cardross. If such a question had been raised. by these actions, they must have been directed against the trustees in whom these buildings are vested, and there could have been no difficulty in entering into litigation before a Civil Court in such actions. The decision would have depended on the terms of the trusts, and there would confessedly have been no incompetency in the Civil Court taking full cognizance of the proceedings of the Church's judicatories, and judging of these, so far as necessary for the decision of the civil question which would thereby have been raised, and to the effect of deciding that question. For the purpose of such an action, or an action simply of damages, no reduction of the sentence of the Church judicatory was necessary, and this is the very first instance in which a reduction has been resorted to for obtaining redress against the alleged wrongful proceedings of a non-established religious communion. The Committee cannot conclude this Report without ex pressing their thanks to many members of other Noncon- EDINBURGH, 18th January 1860. ALEXR. BEITH, Convener. "Liv Анстр Answer to Accrep to the Zuren. Ja P. 2756 "Witchall 29 May 1800 Hy letter to acknowledge the warpt the 25th mittant; and to informs you, that I have had the honor to bay lefore the Inter the loyal and the Ministers and dutiful Address o Ulden of the Free Church, on the occasion of the retin of Her Majesty, Britt Day; and that Her Majesty was pleased to Receive the Address very graciously. INDEX. Aberdeen College, Visitation of, 84 Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, 112 Roll of Members, 277 Diet of, for Prayer, 11 Next Meeting of, appointed, 266 Accommodation, 206 Papers, Printing of, 80; App. Ayr, Presbytery of, 48 Balfour, Mr, of Rothesay, Speech of, 91 Bonar, Dr, Speeches of, 14, 60; App. Buick, Mr, Speech of, 52 Burns, Dr, of Toronto, Speech of, 171 . 119 Cardrosse, Report on, 218; App. CASES O 'Meigle, 21 Rafford, 23 Mr A. Cameron, 31 Chaplains, Prison, 265 Charges Sanctioned, 254 Church Building Committee, Report of, 206; Colleagues and Successors, 256 Collections, Report on, 172 Collections Appointed, 253 College Endowment, 83 College Committee, Powers of, 82 College Report, 80; App. College at Aberdeen, Visitation of, 84 265 Conningsburgh, Congregation at, 96 | Continent, Report of Committee on, App. 142 Deputation from Irish Presbyterian Church, 52 Dickson, Wm., Esq., Speech of, 185 Douglas, F. B., Esq., Lord Provost of Edin- Douglas, Mr, of Bonhill, Speech of, 91 Dunlop, A. M., Esq., Speeches of, 182, 215, Education Committee, Report of, 177; App. Education, National, 186 Ferguson, Mr, of Bridge of Allan, Speech of, Finance Select Committee, Report of, 206; Findlay, Mr, of Houston, Speech of, 81 Fische, Rev. George, of Paris, Speech of, App. Fraser, Mr, of Paisley, Speeches of, 89, 243 Fraser, Mr, of Coll, Speech of, 212 Funds, Special Appeals for, 250 Gault, Mr, Case of, 45 Gentle, Mr, of Alves, Speech of, 26 Gibson, Professor, of Glasgow, Speeches of, Gibson, Professor, of Belfast, Speeches of, 52, Gibson, Counsellor, Speech of, 53 Glass, Rev. Charles, of New Brunswick, Glenelg, Synod of, 46 Gordon, Mr, Case of, 260 Government Schools in India, 204 Grierson, Dr, Speech of, 224 Henderson, Dr, Speech of, 81 Hutcheson, Mr, of Johnstone, Speech of, 111 |