leave to suggest to him that he has fallen into the same error as his friend the Highlandman-(laughter)—and I would desire, with all humility, to engage in the humble office of his clerk; and when he asks me to write down that you should congratulate yourselves upon the acquisition of £122 of dividend, I would venture to say, "Sir, should I not say condole." (Laughter.) I believe that is the truth, and that that is the right feeling for us, the lay members of this Assembly, to go home with; and not to congratulate ourselves, not to congratulate the Church, not to congratulate the community at large, but that it is a source of humiliation and anxiety, and a loud call upon us for energetic effort in all time coming, and a source of actual befitting condolence one with another. I would now advert very shortly to the other speaker, with whose observations, towards the end of his address, I entirely concur. I admired both the tone and manner in which they came from that gentleman, who, with a humility, and yet with a manliness, that did credit to him, avowed his position as a country elder. I respect the feeling to which he gave utterance, which was further adverted to, and, I trust, deeply impressed upon us, by our esteemed friend Dr Duff, that all now will go on in harmony, and peace, and brotherly love, as regards the future maintenance and extension of this all-important Fund. Lord Panmure alluded with great justice to this Church, and this Sustentation Fund of our Church more especially, as reminding him of a thermometer, that, when it stood high, it was a good sign and shewed a genial temperature, and betokened vegetation and fruitfulness in our Church, and that, when it stood low, it betokened a cold, chilling atmosphere, and a hard-bound soil, and no fruitfulness or fruit; and I would only further say, that the noble lord's observations reminded me, not of the new-fashioned machines we now see hung up in our houses, but of the goodly old-fashioned barometer, in which the thermometer and the barometer were placed together. When a storm blows, or even is brewing, then our barometer stands low; and it is only in a genial, calm, and peaceful atmosphere we can expect to find it high. We trust that these barometric and thermometric characters of the Free Church will go together, and that, during all this coming year, when the question of the Sustentation Scheme falls to be discussed in Presbyteries and Deacons' Courts, that, while the thermometer stands at a blood heat we shall find such calmness and geniality of atmosphere prevailing undisturbed as shall keep the barometer always at "set fair." (Applause.) In conclusion, and in harmony with the sentiments to which I have endeavoured to give expression, and in reference to the concluding observations that fell from Dr Duff, I beg to say that no man can more cordially concur than I do in the panegyric which he passed on the esteemed Convener of the Sustentation Fund; and I trust that the day is far distant, if it should ever come, when the Convener will sever himself from that Fund. So long as Dr Buchanan can see and walk, or even has a remnant of his five senses left him--(laughter)--I trust and hope that he will remain in connection with this Fund, which he has hitherto managed, and gives token of conducting, with such signal success. Now that the "Ten Years' Conflict" that ended in the Disruption is fairly gone by, and the second edition of that admirable work is about to issue from the press in a cheaper and more useful form for wide circulation, we trust that in harmony with, and as a result of, the observations of a harmonious kind that have to-night gone forth from this Assembly, and which bespeak a spirit of harmony and brotherly love,--we trust, I say, that our distinguished and esteemed friend will now betake himself to write, and I have no doubt he will find an ami

cable assistance given him, in the way of supplying materials, by Dr Begg, the history of the "One Year's Conflict of the Sustentation Fund," which has now come to a permanent conclusion, and no Disruption. (Applause) The motion was then agreed to, and the Assembly adjourned till next day.

WEDNESDAY, 26th MAY, 1852.

Report of General College Committee-Report on Bursaries-Report on Aberdeen Divinity HallCollege Overtures-Report of Committee on College Finance and Endowments-Parochial Teachers and Education: Speeches of Dr Candlish, Dr Begg, and Dr R. Buchanan-Saltcoats Gaelic Congregation-Report on Foreign Missions: Speeches of Dr Duff, Mr Dunlop, and Mr Hawkins.

The Assembly met at eleven o'clock, and having been constituted and the minutes read,

Dr CANDLISH intimated that a meeting of the large Committee appointed to consider the representation and appeal of the Original Secession Church would take place to-morrow morning, when a Committee of the Seceders would be prepared to lay a report before them, and it was expected that the Assembly's Committee would be able to lay at least an interim report before the House on the subject of the proposed union.

REPORT OF COLLEGE COMMITTEE.

Dr CUNNINGHAM then read the following report :—

"The Ordinary College Committee have on the present occasion very little to say in presenting their report to the General Assembly. They reported to last Assembly, that in consequence of the additional accommodation afforded by the opening of the New College, they were able to follow out fully the arrangements of the curriculum, by each of the five Theological Professors having two classes a day, attended by students of different years, and thus providing suitable instruction for all the students, according to their standing in all the different departments of the course; and by the Professors of Logic and Moral Philosophy devoting to their class two hours a day, the one being occupied with lectures, and the other with examinations and exercises. These arrangements were, of course, continued during the last session, and have been attended, the Committee are persuaded, with beneficial results in their bearing upon the proficiency

of the students.

It was remitted by last Assembly to this Committee, in conjunction with the College Finance aud Endowment Committee, to consider whether any, or what, steps should be taken in consequence of the passing of the act relative to the knowledge of Hebrew, and to report to the Commission any suggestious they have to make upon this subject. At a joint meeting of the two Committees, held in the month of August last, it was resolved to recommend to the Commission, that for the then approaching session, "Hebrew tutors should be appointed at Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively, with salaries of £50, and a fee of £1 from each of the literary or philosophical students who might attend the class; and that Mr Sachs should be requested to teach a similar class at Aberdeen. This suggestion was adopted by the Commission at its stated meeting in August. The Rev. Theodore Meyer was appointed Hebrew tutor at Edinburgh, and Mr Wolff at Glasgow. Mr Meyer's class was attended by fifty-two students; and was conducted in a manner which has secured the most cordial approbation of the Professors. Mr Wolff's class was attended by twenty-one students; and the Presbytery of Glasgow have expressed their high satisfaction with the manner in which its duties were discharged. It will be for this Assembly to determine what provision is to be made in future for instructing our students in the knowledge of Hebrew now required before they can be admitted to the Divinity Hall. It will also be necessary to make provision for examining as to their knowledge of Hebrew the students who may propose to enter the Hall for the first time at the commencement of next session.

The whole number of those enrolled as theological students at Edinburgh during last session was 252. Of these, 12 were students connected with the Irish Presbyterian Church; leaving 240, of whom about 40 speak the Gaelic language. The Committee

understand that the number of students enrolled at Aberdeen last session was 37,making a total of 277, which is 3 fewer than in the preceding session. The Committee deem it proper to direct the attention of the Assembly to the circumstance, that the number of students who entered the Hall for the first time last session was less than in several of the sessions immediately preceding. The number of first year students at Edinburgh in the session of 1850-51 was 88; whereas in last session it was only 51. The Committee have no doubt that the greatness of the difference between these two numbers is to be regarded as being, to a considerable extent, accidental. But they think it right to express their opinion, that a diminution in the number of theological students is a natural consequence of the existence of a very large body of probationers, many of whom are uuable to find employment and remuneration; and that this cause is likely to continue to produce a growing diminution in the number of our theological students for some time to come.

The Committee have much pleasure in reporting, that very recently a most valuable and important donation of books, chiefly on geological subjects, was presented to the College by a lady, for the benefit of the class of Natural Science. They ought to have mentioned, in the report to last Assembly, that many valuable accessions had been made to their stock of books by legacies from the libraries of two venerable and respected fathers in the ministry, the late Dr Wright of Stirling, and the late Dr Lorimer of Haddington."

Dr CUNNINGHAM said, Of course the House is aware that there are other departments of the business of the College which have been transferred to the Finance and Building Committee, who will report on them. It might appear, from the report now read, somewhat inexplicable why there should be so small a difference in the gross total, while there was so large a falling off in the number of the first year's students. He believed the explanation to be, that it had so happened accidentally, that a large number of second or third year's students who had intermitted a session had again come up this year to the College. The only other thing connected with the College was the scholarships. This department was presided over by Mr Hog of Newliston, who would give in the report of the Sub-Committee, and he (Dr Cunningham) hoped that the statements the respected gentleman had to make would be received with due attention by the House. They had now only one year more of the subscriptions on which the scholarships rested to look forward; and he trusted the Church would give such attention to the matter as to secure the continuance of this valuable fund, which otherwise must be abolished.

REPORT ON BURSARIES.

Mr HOG read the report of the Sub-Committee on Bursaries as follows:"The Sub-Committee have to report the close of the seventh year of the Scholarship Scheme. During that period, 151 scholarships have been awarded by strict comparative trial; and each of these has generally been enjoyed for two years. A very large number of young men of talent and acquirement have been aided and encouraged in prosecuting their studies for the ministry, and that in a manner calculated in no way to injure a high-toned sense of independence, but, on the contrary, to cherish and to strengthen it. At the same time, the Scheme has applied a wholesome stimulus to literary activity along the whole course, both philosophical and theological; and the anuual examinations by printed papers, which are afterwards published, have been projected on such a plan as should tend to elevate the standard of academical attainment.

On the last occasion of competition-in October 1851,-only twelve new scholarships could be awarded by the Committee-a number scarcely amounting to the half of that allocated in several former years.* The reason of this has been the decline of the annual subscriptions from £870, as at one time, to £270; and even of this latter sum the whole is not available for public competition, the nomination to a portion of it being retained by the donors in their own hands. The subscriptions, no doubt, are now supplemented by the interest of several donations; and, in particular, that of Henry Millar, Esq. of London, will by next session have added three scholarships of £40 each, * The sum allocated this year has also been reduced from about £530, as at the first, to £297 10s., including the Millar Scholarship of £40 for the same session, £337 10s.

and by the session following four, or an annual sum of £160. Still, however, the receipts of the Committee, from every source, threaten for the next winter to fall considerably short of even the reduced encouragement which the Committee are at present able to hold out to merit and industry. It is to be feared that a greatly exaggerated impression has gone abroad as to the permanent and independent resources of this Scheme, in consequence of two or three handsome donations, and that it is this impression, mainly, which is telling prematurely on the subscriptions in a manner so injurious and so crippling to its growing vigour and efficiency.

As the next winter will be the last of the second period of four years for which the subscribed funds of the Scheme have been contributed, the Committee cannot bnt express their earnest hope that means will now be devised by the General Assembly, and efforts put forth for enabling the Committee to meet their existing engagements, and fulfil the promise held out by their annual advertisement, of at least a few new scholarships to be awarded at the commencement of next session. It is for the General Assembly to determine whether the plan of contributions is to be renewed for another period, and how this is to be attempted, or in what other mode the Scheme is to be upheld in something like its former efficiency."

Mr HoG in continuation said, that in past years the time of the Church had been so completely occupied with other branches of the College question of a more important character, that scarcely any time had been left for the consideration of this humble but exceedingly valuable Scheme. He hoped, however, that this year, when there was no other engrossing College business before them, the attention of the Assembly might be directed to this Scheme. He was afraid it had been too much the custom to reckon too confidently that this Scheme rested on a solid footing, had taken a hold on the Church, and now required but little farther assistance from the Church. It had, however, from the first, been but a mere experiment. Private subscriptions were at first secured for four years, without troubling the Church at all. When these four years elapsed without their being able to place the fund, from the personal resources of the friends of the Church, on a permanent footing, a second appeal, for other four years, was authorised by the Assembly; which sum was again raised from private friends, but next session would exhaust this second period of four years. As it appeared that the fund could not in this way be put on a permanent basis, it became the Church now to consider what other means should be taken to accomplish the object. He begged to say that for himself he could not again undertake to solicit personally a continuance of the present subscriptions. He undertook that duty simply from a desire to give the matter a fair start, and on the understanding, that those to whom he applied should not be asked to continue their contributions beyond four years. This had been done and this period was now about to terminate. The Scheme had hitherto interfered in no degree with the general liberality of the Church, and the Committee had hoped by this time to have secured a capital sum, that would render them independent of the Church; they had received such a taste of good things as to encourage them to hope that by going on for four or five years, they might be in a position of independence. This however was not realised. There was a source to which he would venture to suggest they might apply with great benefit and propriety. He meant to the Presbyteries and Synods, and a few of the richer congrega tions, some of whom might at least provide one scholarship as an encouragment to young men within their own bounds. He would suggest that some of the professors be requested to give their opinions on the benefits of these bursaries.

Dr CUNNINGHAM said, The professors had already expressed their opinion at various times, and in various forms, as to the importance of the Bursary Scheme in leading to high attainments. They had done this in the strongest terms, and they regretted with all their hearts, that they had not been able

to secure a portion of the time and attention of the Assembly to the subject. There could not be a shadow of doubt that the Scheme was telling most beneficially, and the young men occupying these scholarships had always held a high position among their fellow-students.

REPORT ON DIVINITY HALL AT ABERDEEN.

Dr BROWN then submitted the following report from the Presbytery of Aberdeen anent the Divinity Hall :

"The Presbytery of Aberdeen report to the General Assembly,—

That the session of the Aberdeen Divinity Hall was opened on the 5th of November 1851, in presence of the Reverend the Presbytery of Aberdeen, with a lecture by Dr M'Lagan, Professor of Theology, and was closed on the 5th of April 1852, also in presence of the Presbytery, with an address to the students and the public, delivered by the Rev. Dr Foote at the Presbytery's special request.

That the number of students who enrolled was 37, viz. 14 for the First year; 10 for the Second; 11 for the Third; and 2 for the Fourth.

That Dr M'Lagan taught two hours daily for six days of the week, and during the last two months of the session, when improving health permitted, gave an additional hour on Saturday. That from the beginning of the session to the end of January, he lectured once a week and twice a week, from that date to its close. That much, however, of the instruction was conveyed by reading, and dictated heads of doctrine, with daily examinations and explanations in the class.

That the students of the First year were occupied with the subjects of Natural Theology, the Evidences of Christianity, the Analogy of Natural and Revealed Religion, and the Inspiration of the sacred Scriptures. That on the three first of these subjects they read Paley and Butler, and the last was treated of in a course of lectures.

That the students of the Second year had their attention directed to Christian Theology viewed as a science,its origin, subject, and end; to the authenticity and Divine authority of the Canon; to the existence and attributes of God as revealed; to the creation of man, his original condition and fall; to the Law, moral and positive; to the Pre-Mosaic and Jewish Dispensations, especially as they were introductory to the Christian. That the text-book here was an Abridgment of Markins's Compendium of Christian Theology, adjusted mainly to the arrangement of the Confession of Faith, and studied with constant reference to the Scriptures.

That for the students of the Third and Fourth years, it was found impossible to do more than to conduct their readings in a more advanced part of the course, in continuation of those of last year, with examinations at separate hours, and with access to the library, and to the lectures read in the second class, some of which, at least, had not been heard by all of them before.

That in regard to Church History, the present arrangements required that the first fourteen centuries should be read by the students during the two sessions at Aberdeen, and that it seemed expedient to Dr M Lagan to divide the two periods equally, giving seven centuries to the First year's class, and seven to the Second year's; but that, in consequence of the debilitated state of his health, during most of the session, the Pro⚫fessor, both in this department and in that of theology, felt himself, with much regret, unable to urge on and to compress its business, so as to compass the whole of so extensive and varied a subject. That the chief omissions, however, he hopes, if God spare him, in some measure to supply before the close of another year.

That the number of discourses, being those required by the Church, heard by Dr M'Lagan during the session was thirty-five, and that the greater part of them were of a superior kind.

That Dr M'Lagan had found much reason to be satisfied with the spirit and attainments of the students, generally speaking; and that, to the Church at large it may be some proof of the diligence and attainments of students from the Aberdeen Divinity Hall, that young men from hence who enrolled last session at Edinburgh, held, like their predecessors, a respectable place among the competitors for scholarships.

In reference to the Hebrew classes, according to a statement made by Mr Sachs, the Presbytery report, that in the Junior Class, which was attended by fourteen students, there were read thirteen chapters of Genesis (from i. to xiv.), the Book of Ruth, and Psalms i. ii. iii. xviii. xix. xx. xxxii. lxxxvi. cxxiv.