92. What was the result?

93. What had been Joshua's curse upon the rebuilders of Jericho ? 94. A similar attempt was made many ages afterwards?

95. What was the duration of the famine in the reign of Ahab, as stated by St. Luke and St. James?

96. This appears to differ from the narrative in the book of Kings?

97. How are they reconciled?

98. Elijah summons to Mount Carmel the prophets of Baal and of the Groves, what prophets are most probably designated as the prophets of the Groves?

99. Why does it seem probable that these did not attend?

100. It is said Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord, why had there been an altar on Mount Carmel ?

101. What probable reason may be given for Elijah choosing Mount Carmel? Where was it situated?

102. Before this event what remarkable instances had there been of fire from heaven at the time of the evening sacrifice ?

103. Elijah's faith seems to have failed him for a time?

104. This appears from the reproof of the Lord to him at Horeb ?

105. How did the Lord answer his assertion, I, even I alone am left? 106. In what manner did the Lord appear to Elijah?

107. This might have been intended to convey a symbolical admonition to the prophet?

108. What were the three commands given by the Lord to Elijah? 109. Were these performed by Elijah?

110. What led Jehoshaphat, the pious monarch of Judah, to visit Ahab? 111. What could have induced him to connect his family with Ahab ? 112. How had Ahab offended the Almighty by his conduct to Benhadad? 113. A contradiction is attempted to be proved between Micaiah and Elijah as to the place of Ahab's death?

114. What strange inconsistency did Ahab exhibit in his conduct when going up to the battle?

115. How was the vision of Micaiah literally fulfilled?

116. Jehoshaphat was not convinced by this defeat of the danger of an alliance with an idolatrous prince?

117. How was he reproved for his offence?

118. What care did he take for the religious education of his people?

119. Nothing could be more improbable than that Josiah would fulfil the prophecies concerning him?

120. What was the state of his family, and of Judah?

121. How long before had the prophecy been delivered?

122. At its delivery the prophecy had received a signal confirmation?

123. Ezekiel and Jeremiah appeared to have delivered contradictory prophecies about Zedekiah?

124. How were they both fulfilled?

125. Where were these prophecies delivered?

126. The present state of the Jews was predicted by Hosea?

127. More particularly by Amos?

128. These were but a repetition of the prophecy of Moses?

129. Moses did not write to conciliate the favour of the Jews?

130. Moses did not act with any view of aggrandizing himself or his family? 131. Joseph appears equally devoid of ambitious views for his family?

132. Pharaoh asks the brethren of Joseph what is your occupation, for what purpose?

133. Into how many classes were the people of Egypt divided?

134. How do you account then for the statement, that shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians?

VICTORIA MEDICAL INSTITUTION AND BENEFIT CLUB.

THE Annual Report of the Victoria Medical Institution and Benefit Club for Cricklade and the neighbouring villages, 1837, has been sent to the office of this Magazine, and as the formation of such societies is a circumstance requiring much consideration, and a matter of great importance in a parochial point of view, it is thought that the following extract from the report may be of general interest :—

"Since the new poor laws have been carried into effect, something more than a medical institution is required, and the establishment of Benefit clubs, and LIFE ASSURANCES SO connected with medical clubs as to preserve the reviving spirit of independence, appear to be absolutely necessary. The tendency of the new system,' (says the Second Annual Report of the Poor Law Commissioners,) is to convert paupers into independent labourers; and when once they have won that position for themselves, no effort should be spared to enable them to maintain it.' And for this purpose no effort or exertion has been spared by your committee. Nevertheless, they do not feel persuaded,' (as stated in the same Report,) that so desirable an object may effectually be accomplished by the establishment of independent medical clubs' alone. Sickness at least, sickness of any continuance-will always be a cause of destitution, when it falls upon the father of a family, whose members depend upon his daily labour for their daily bread; unless the father of such family, has something besides medicine and medical attendance to rely upon for their support.

"It was on this account that your committee gladly availed themselves of the Rules of the Benefit Club established at Leamington Hastings; and by extending them to the whole of their parishes, and adopting the principle of a common fund, they have been enabled to grant, during the past year, 640 weeks' pay; and to afford relief, equal in amount to their regular wages, and at the rate of one shilling in sickness for every farthing per week subscribed in health, to 207 individuals. At first, indeed, it was objected that the subscription of one farthing a week during health would not be sufficient to insure a shilling in sickness. But your committee feel themselves justified in coming to the conclusion, that, in all ordinary years, it will. For, although the balance of the past year's account shews a deficiency of 341. 148. 1 d., which has been made up from the honorary and permanent funds, and does not therefore admit of any return to the members by way of bonus, it must be borne in mind, that such a period of lingering sickness has not been remembered by the oldest inhabitants, and that, in this district at least, the spring was almost as unhealthy as the autumn and winter.

"Your committee therefore feel assured, notwithstanding the difficulties they have had to contend with, that these calculations are well founded; and that, wherever a sufficient number of subscribers can be brought together, and sufficient vigilance exerted in preventing fraudulent demands upon the funds, a considerable RETURN may be made to the members in the general average of years. This opinion is still further confirmed by what they learn from the single parish of Leamington Hastings, where the club does not consist of more than forty members: and yet, in ordinary years, a man subscribing 2d. a week to receive 8s. in sickness, has received back, on an average, nearly 4s. And it is worthy of remark, that, in the year previous to the formation of that club, ending March 25th, 1833, the charge of 451. 10s. 10d. was incurred by the parish on account of the sick poor; whereas, the three subsequent years shew the following decrease in the parish charges, under the same head-In 1834, 21l. 48. 1d.; in 1835, 9l. 7s.; and in 1836, ll. 4s. 6d.

"In adopting the Rules of the Leamington Hastings Club, however, your committee do not mean to say that they consider them better than those of Mr. BECHER and Mr. TIDD PRATT; but they consider them better adapted

to the present condition of the labouring poor: and they hope, by degrees, to lead them on, particularly the younger part of them, to make further insurances, for an allowance after the age of sixty, and a sum payable at death.

"Your committee cannot close this report without expressing their strong conviction of the good effects of these and similar institutions. But that from which they consider that they have derived the greatest advantage-and they are not aware that it has been carried to the same extent in any other instanceis the combination of the medical with the benefit club. Their experience, as far as it has gone, convinces them that the two institutions should always be united, that the scale of payments should be kept as low as possible,-that every inducement should be held out to the younger members to make further insurances,—and, above all, that persons of leisure and intelligence should undertake the management of these societies. It cannot be expected, in matters where much thought and calculation are required, that the labourers themselves should do this; and it has been invariably found that the want of it, and of independent trustees, deriving no benefit from the funds of the society, but having the direction and management of them, has been the cause of so many failures.

"Without entering more largely into the subject, your committee trust that they may now confidently appeal both to landlords and occupiers for continued and increased assistance. There can be no doubt that it is far preferable to give it in this way than in the shape of parish rates: and no one surely would refuse a trifling subscription each year to encourage an industrious labourer in habits of providence and forethought, and to keep him and his family from the workhouse."

EPITAPH AT MILDENHALL, SUFFOLK, WITH A TRANSLATION.

THE following extract from the Order in Council published in the "London Gazette" of July 18th, 1837, contains the recommendations made by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for adjusting the incomes of the larger sees. The rest of the order is not reprinted, as it only recites the authority under which the order is made, and by which it becomes law, &c.

It first states that it was arranged that—

"In order to provide for the augmentation of the incomes of the smaller bishoprics, such fixed annual sums should be paid to the commissioners, out of the revenues of the larger sees respectively, as should, upon due inquiry and consideration, be determined on, so as to leave as an average annual income, to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 15,000l.; to the Archbishop of York, 10,000; to the Bishop of London, 10,000l.; to the Bishop of Durham, 8,000l.; to the Bishop of Winchester, 7,000l.; to the Bishop of Ely, 5,500l.; to the Bishop VOL. XII.-Sept. 1837. 2 T

of St. Asaph and Bangor, 5,2001. ; and to the Bishops of Worcester and Bath and Wells, respectively, 5,000l.; and that none of the proposed alterations affecting the revenues belonging to any see, the bishop of which was in possession on the fourth day of March, 1836, should take effect until the next avoidance of the see, without the consent of such bishop.

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"And whereas the said Commissioners, pursuant to the authority vested in them by the said Act, duly prepared, and laid before his late Majesty in council, a scheme, bearing date the first day of June, 1837, and which is in the words and figures following, that is to say:

"TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN COUNCIL.

"We, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, appointed and incorporated by an Act, passed in the last session of parliament, intituled, an Act for carrying into effect the reports of the Commissioners appointed to consider the state of the Established Church in England and Wales, with reference to ecclesiastical duties and revenues, so far as they relate to episcopal dioceses, revenues, and patronage,' have, in pursuance thereof, prepared, and now humbly lay before your Majesty in council, the following scheme for fixing the annual sums to be paid to us, out of the revenues of the larger sees, in order to provide for the augmentation of the incomes of the smaller bishoprics. "We humbly recommend and propose, in order to leave to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and to the Bishops of London, Winchester, Bath and Wells, and Worcester, respectively, the average annual incomes specified in the said act, as near as may be, that upon the first avoidance of the several sees named in the first column of the schedule hereunto annexed, (which schedule we recommend and propose shall be considered and taken as part of this scheme,) the archbishops and bishops succeeding to the said sees respectively, and their respective successors, shall pay, or cause to be paid, to our credit, into the Bank of England, to an account, intituled, 'Account with the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England,' by equal half-yearly payments, the fixed annual sums set opposite to the names of the said sees respectively in the second column of the said schedule, the first payment in each such case to be made at the end of six calendar months from the day of the avoidance of the respective sees, whether the same shall happen by death, translation, or otherwise; and that whenever a vacancy of any of the said sees shall hereafter happen, on any other day than the half-yearly day of payment so calculated as aforesaid, then, in each such case, the next half yearly payment shall be apportioned between the archbishop, or bishop, making the vacancy, or his representatives, and the archbishop, or bishop, succeeding to the see, according to the time which shall have elapsed from the last half-yearly day of payment to the day of the vacancy, inclusive, and such proportions shall be paid by the respective parties accordingly provided, nevertheless, and we further recommend and propose, that if a vacancy of the see of Canterbury shall happen, before the mortgage debt due from the Archbishop of Canterbury, for money borrowed under the provisions of an act, passed in the tenth year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Fourth, for repairing, altering, and improving Lambeth-palace, and the mansion-house at Addington, shall be fully paid off; or if a vacancy of the see of London shall happen, before the mortgage debt due from the Bishop of London, for money borrowed under the provisions of an act, passed in the fifty-ninth year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, for rebuilding London-house, shall be fully paid off; then, in either of the said cases, so long as the annual sums payable by virtue of the said respective acts shall continue payable, the amount of those sums respectively shall be deducted out of the sums which we hereby recommend and propose to be payable to us by the said archbishop and bishop respectively:

"And we further recommend and propose, that nothing herein contained shall prevent us from recommending and proposing the payment of fixed annual sums out of the revenues of other sees, in order to provide for the augmentation of the smaller bishoprics, nor any other measure relating to the revenues of any of the sees herein mentioned, or of the said other sees respectively, in conformity with the provisions of the said first recited act.

"All which we humbly recommend and propose to your Majesty in council. "In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our common seal, this first day of June, 1837.

"And whereas the said scheme has been approved by her Majesty in council; now, therefore, her Majesty, by and with the advice of her said council, is pleased hereby to ratify the said scheme, and to order and direct that the same, and every part thereof, shall take effect immediately from and after the time when the same shall have been registered, as hereinafter directed, and shall have been duly published in the London Gazette,' pursuant to the said act; and her Majesty, by and with the like advice, is pleased hereby to direct, that this Order be forthwith registered by the several registrars of the dioceses of Canterbury, York, London, Winchester, Bath and Wells, and Worcester, respectively."

THE PETITION OF THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF WINCHESTER

TO THE LORDS AND COMMONS,

SHEWETH,―That your petitioners approach your House with the strongest assurance that every class of her Majesty's subjects will obtain substantial justice from your several legislative enactments, embracing questions of the highest moment.

That your petitioners, having felt with deep concern a late restriction laid in a former session of parliament on the appointment to prebendal and other dignities as heretofore in cathedral and other establishments, to be in force for one year, view with serious alarm the proposed renewal of such restriction for another year.

That your petitioners consider such renewed restrictions as a prejudging of the whole question of the sacredness and inviolability of prebendal and church emoluments in general; and that they greatly fear they will be drawn into precedent for some final measure of a similar nature, destructive, in your petitioners' humble judgment, of the ancient and apostolical, as well as reformed constitution of the church of England and Ireland, and subversive of the very principle of endowment in general, and, by implication, of all ancient and prescriptive rights of property, ecclesiastical or civil.

That your petitioners deeply regret that a method should be taken for the accomplishment of such an object, not likely, in the first instance, to awaken the alarms, or even attract the notice, of her Majesty's subjects until it shall be pronounced too late to remonstrate; more especially as, since the preceding act of restriction for one year, certain protests and memorials, addressed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, have been printed and laid