earth is everything, and that what is to follow this earthly state is not worth thinking about.

The view presented of Lord Bacon's philosophy ought to be mentioned. He was not the discoverer of the inductive philosophy, (which is true enough, for every one from Adam's time has discovered it for himself,) but his great merit is, that he first turned philosophy to the profit and comfort of man. Before, it had taught men the absurd nonsense that consideration about intellectual and spiritual matters was worthy of a rational being, all which led to nothing profitable; while the Baconian philosophy resolutely turns men away from thinking of such useless subjects, and has led them in the road to discover gas and steam-engines!

The whole article is in the same low spirit as this. Lord Burleigh certainly did not behave well to Bacon (who was his relation) when setting out in life; but, why? The reviewer tells us that he might have given him a comfortable provision—that is, a liberal's notions of a prime minister's duty to boy-relatives is, that he should give them “a comfortable provision,"-a quiet sinecure, for example.

Again, Bacon's ingratitude to Essex admits of no excuse; but in arguing the point whether he was most bound to Elizabeth or to Essex, the only thing which strikes the reviewer is, that Elizabeth had never given him anything which cost her a groat or had been worth a groat to him. He might truly have said, that every tie of honour, friendship, and affection bound him to Essex, while the queen had been rather adverse to him. But his notion would seem to be, that if, instead of not having given him a groat, she had given him a few pounds more than Essex had, that might have blotted out the memory of long years of steady kindness and friendship.

Of course, in every second article, we are told what bigots the clergy are, and how the Whig bishops, in a few years, will make them quite different, and teach them to conciliate dissenters, and not be so stiff in their opinions. These liberals are curious people. Their notion is this: he who disagrees with another man, must hate him, and wish to hurt him; therefore, if clergy disagree with dissenters in opinion, they hate them and wish to hurt them. But it is a bad thing to hate and wish to hurt people. And therefore the clergy ought not to think the dissenters wrong; but to allow that it is just as likely that one set of opinions is as right as another, and that none are worth contending for. Charity, in short, with liberals, means amalgamation, and they cannot take in any other idea of it.

These are a few specimens of the opinions and feelings poured into the public ear constantly by the "Edinburgh Review." Does it deserve no notice? Will it do no harm? It makes two promises,-the one to shew why protestantism has advanced so little, the other to shew that the present system of church property must be put an end to, for no civilized country but England tolerates such a system, but has wisely applied this property to purposes of general education! Is this not worth attending to?

REGISTRATION BILLS.

It will be remembered that last month some observations were offered on the hardships inflicted on the clergy by the new Registration Bills, especially the Amendment Act, which will be found among the documents in this number. It is necessary to call attention to the excellent paper privately circulated by that able writer Mr. Barnes, which has also been reprinted in this number, p. 432. The remarks of last month pretended to be nothing more than the observations which would strike a plain-thinking man on an attentive consideration of the act itself. It will be observed by the Leeds report of the proceedings of the Court-house, (reprinted also in this number, p. 426,) that the anticipation of great trouble and vexation to the clergy was not unfounded. A clergyman is convicted before a bench of magistrates (the chief of whom had not previously read the act itself) in a heavy penalty, not for neglecting to give notice of a burial, but for not giving it in the form which the registrars and the magistrates consider essential, no particular form being prescribed by the act. Penal clauses, it is usually understood, (but the writer does not profess to be a lawyer,) can only be enforced strictly and literally; but these gentlemen decide differently. Happily, however, there lies an appeal to something of a different class from the Dogberry-andVerges law of the Court-house of Leeds, and it remains to be seen what will be the decision of a higher tribunal. Mr. Taylor ought to be supported in this appeal, that the law of the case may be known. The Leeds Intelligencer states, that of the five magistrates three are Dissenters; viz., Mr. Clapham, Mr. Tottie, (an Unitarian,) and Mr. Holdforth, (a Roman catholic.) Let it be remembered that Mr. Taylor has been called upon to perform the funeral service for forty persons at once, and then let us ask whether the act expects him to send notices of the name and former place of residence of each individual whose death may not be registered? If he sends a notice of unregistered burials with the date of the day, the registrars may consult the parish registers, and ascertain the persons then buried. The case, however, remains for legal decision, but it is by no means a solitary instance of conviction. The act of pains and penalties against the clergy has been put into execution at Wolverhampton also, (although with nominal damages,) and in Cambridgeshire; and other places will no doubt follow in the wake of the illustrious Directory of Leeds. There would be much more to be said on the subject, but want of room precludes any further remark. It is hoped, however, that every one, especially the clergy, will weigh and consider this case well.

CHURCH BUILDING SOCIETIES.

THE following information (which arrived too late to be inserted in the usual places for these communications) is of too cheering a nature to be delayed. The knowledge that in the course of one little month a single bishop has been, under God's providence, so signally favoured

as to have consecrated eleven churches in populous and manufacturing districts, will be accounted a blessing of no ordinary nature by those who love the church of England and watch with anxious interest every step she makes towards a more adequate fulfilment of the high duties and privileges with which she is entrusted. It is cheering because it shews how much may be done by exertion; and surely no heart can fail to respond to the call which such success must make for still increased exertion on the part of the friends of the church. It will scarcely be needful to remind the reader, that the Church Building Societies, which, under Divine Providence, have been so mainly instrumental in promoting this good work, are her Majesty's Commissioners for Building &c. Churches, the Incorporated Society for Enlarging and Building Churches, (supported wholly by voluntary contributions,) and the diocesan societies for the furtherance of the same objects.

The simple statement of what has lately been done in the diocese of Lichfield is inspiriting enough to create the desire elsewhere to do likewise. The Incorporated Society, or any of the diocesan societies in connexion with it, will give to every individual in whom this desire is awakened the opportunity of contributing to the work according to his ability, in the most efficacious manner. And when the churches are built, happily the Additional Curates' Fund will afford a means of filling them effectually with zealous and able clergy.

THE following churches have lately been consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield:

Trinity Church, Derby, (August 16th.)

This church has lately been purchased by private subscription, aided by grants from the Church Building Societies; and has been endowed by Thomas West, Esq., of Brighton, with the sum of 1000l., on condition of the patronage being vested in him. It is capable of holding nine hundred persons, of which one-third of the sittings are free.

Croxton, in the Parish of Eccleshall, (August 18th.)

This church was built by the late Bishop Rider for the accommodation of the inhabitants within the hamlet of Croxton, they being more than three miles distant from the parish church. The greater part of the sittings are free; and the patronage is vested in the vicar of Eccleshall.

Cotes Heath, in the Parish of Eccleshall, (August 19th.)

This church has been built by private subscription, aided by grants from the Church Building Societies. The chapel has been endowed by Miss Hincks, of Tettenhall Wood, with 45l. per annum; and the greater part of the sittings are free.

Brereton, in the Parish of Rugeley, (August 21st.)

This church has been built by private subscription. The site was given by Lord Talbot. The church contains four hundred and sixteen sittings, one-half being free; and the patronage is vested in the Vicar of Rugeley.

Walsall Wood, (August 22nd.)

This church was built by private subscription, and grants from the several Church Building Societies, for the accommodation of nearly one thousand poor people, some of them more than five miles distant from the parish church; the whole of the population being very poor. The work was originated by private individuals. The Earl of Bradford, the patron of the living, has most liberally contributed towards the endowment, aided by an annual grant of 201. from the Vicar of Walsall, the Rev. G. Fisk. Two-thirds of the sittings are free.

Ettingshall, in the Parish of Sedgley, (August 23rd.)

This church was built by her Majesty's Commissioners, aided by private subscription to supply the scriptural wants of a densely populated district, in the centre of the Staffordshire mining districts. The church is capable of containing nine hundred persons; and the whole of the sittings are free.

Priors Lee, in the County of Salop, (August 24th.)

This church has been pulled down, and rebuilt on a fresh site.

Coleham, in the Parish of St. Julian, Salop, (August 25th.)

This church has been built by private subscription, aided by grants from the Church Building Societies, as a chapel-of-ease; but a district will be assigned to it. It is capable of holding eight hundred and twelve people, five hundred sittings being free. The nomination to be in the incumbent of St Julian's.

Gentleshaw, in the Parish of Longdon, (August 28th.)

This church has been built by private subscription, aided by grants from the Church Building Societies, for the accommodation of more than one thousand poor people, distant nearly three miles from the parish church. The chapel will contain about two hundred people, all free. The vicar of Longdon, the Rev. S. Majendie, has liberally contributed 201. per annum as an endowment; the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, 15l.; and the Marquis of Anglesey, 57, and house for the residence of the minister.

Dodington, in the Parish of Whitchurch, (August 30th.)

This chapel has been erected at the sole expense of the Countess Dowager of Bridgwater, and is capable of holding six hundred and eighty-six persons. The chapel is to be a chapel-of-ease to the parish church of Whitchurch. The Countess of Bridgwater, besides the cost of the erection, has most liberally contributed an annual sum of 50l. as an endowment for the minister for the time being, which has been invested in the funds in the names of trustees.

Ash, in the Parish of Whitchurch, (August 31st.)

This chapel has been erected by private subscription, and is to be a chapel-of-ease to Whitchurch. It contains three hundred and fifty-eight sittings, one-half of which are free. The sum of 10007. has been contributed as an endowment. nomination to be in the Rector of Whitchurch.

The

ADDITIONAL CURATES' FUND.

It will doubtless have been observed, by the friends of the church, that the "Additional Curates' Fund" has already obtained a considerable hold on the country at large, and has reached an annual income which was hardly to be anticipated, without any public meeting, or a resort to any of the usual modes of giving publicity to the purpose which it was designed to further. That income is now upwards of 50007.; but let it be remembered that this is only a beginning. If it does not increase, and that, too, rapidly, its means will be far too crippled to afford any substantial remedy to the crying evils it is designed to counteract. The quiet manner, indeed, in which this point has been attained, without even the appointment of any but a provisional committee, is an earnest of stability which could hardly have been anticipated, and shews that the plan is one which recommends itself to the thoughtful mind. But it is not to be disguised that the evils which it is proposed to remedy are alarming in their nature and extent, and from the nature of things must necessarily increase with an increasing population. It is therefore desirable-beyond everything desirable that every friend to the church, every one who has the promo

tion of the cause of religion in every part of the country at heart, should feel himself called upon to assist in this good work, and hold himself in readiness to co-operate with this society, as soon as its complete organization shall enable it to engage in so extensive a range of operations. The best mode of doing this must of course be determined on hereafter; and it is a matter which requires much and very serious deliberation. Diocesan societies, in connexion with the original and metropolitan society, are probably, under some form or other, to be one of the elements of its constitution. It has been suggested, also, by some individuals, that archidiaconal or decanal societies might be formed under the respective archdeacons or deans, if they would undertake this duty, and thus a form of society be introduced in strict accordance with our ecclesiastical distinctions. The great good quietly effected in the struggle respecting church-rates last spring by the committee of archdeacons is a pledge that such a constitution would be an excellent mode of communication with every part of the country. It would certainly cause an active co-operation, and deserves thoughtful consideration. That committee, to whose exertions the cause of the church was so much indebted a few months ago, is still in a state of organization, ready to enter upon its important functions again whenever occasion demands; and it might at least be asked, whether it would consider such a purpose a proper object of its care and labour. But there is one remark to be made relative to the employment of any clerical and ecclesiastical agency in the furtherance of the object of "The Additional Curates' Fund." It is this; such agency ought only to be employed as a means of communication with the laity of the church. It is with some persons an objection to the society altogether, that it does what ought to be done by the legislature of the country, and supplied from the national resources. Thus done, it would be effectually done, which it cannot be with less resources and voluntary contributions; but whatever is done, however inadequate, by the right-minded, will serve to lull the country into believing that the object is being effected, and then the legislature will never move in the matter. This is an objection which cannot be acted upon under existing circumstances; but the prayer of every Christian will be, that every additional church, and every new minister to that church, provided by these voluntary societies, may be the means, under Almighty Providence, of stirring up such a spirit of religion, and such a love of the church, among the people at large, that they may lift up their voice in a tone that cannot be mistaken, and obtain from the legislature hereafter that which politicians are now too punctilious even to suggest. But at all events, the clergy ought chiefly to be looked upon in this matter as a means of bringing the subject before the laity, from whom, as most in duty bound, and most able in point of resources, the chief support of this society must come.

Since the above was written, the highly gratifying intelligence has been received that our Sovereign has, in the most gracious manner, consented at once to allow her name to replace that of our late lamented King, who was patron of the society.

The following extracts speak strongly in favour of the principle on which this society is constituted. The first is from Bishop Maltby's