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was answered by his Lordship in a letter, signifying that it was not signed by the respectable tenants on his Lordship's property in that parish. Before sending such an answer, his Lordship should have looked his own rental-book, or have gone to the market-place, in both of which places he would have obtained convincing evidence of the parties who signed the application. (Hear, and applause.) He (Mr Inglis) subsequently received a site for a church from one of the feuars in the village of Edzell, but not from Lord Panmure. What he had now to complain of, therefore, was the want of a site for a manse and school. He had been in want of a manse for five years. He was most miserably accommodated. Himself, his wife, and a family of five children, were accommodated in four small rooms, the largest being only about eleven feet square, and the sleeping apartments, two in number, only six feet square. Thus he had what scarcely deserved the name of a kitchen, which was situated at a distance of about forty-six yards from the house in which he dwelt. He did not wish to occupy the time of the Assembly, else he could lay many facts before them of the hardships which he had endured. He had made a statement in the Synod on this matter; and he had been questioned since he came up to the Assembly by many of the members, who said, " Is it not true, Mr Inglis, that you got the offer of a site ?" Now, in reference to this, he had publicly and solemnly to declare that, from the time the first application was made by himself, now five years ago that very day, he never, either in word or writing, got offer of a site for a manse, a school-house, or a church. (Hear.) It was true that a friend of Lord Panmure sent a messenger saying, that he would meet him (Mr Inglis) at a house about a mile from where he stopped. This friend of Lord Panmure's said, as a preliminary to the conversation that was to take place, that Lord Panmure did not know that he was to be there; and that if he did know that he was to be there, it might injure him with his Lordship. He (Mr Inglis) said, in that case he could do nothing. This friend of Lord Panmure's told him that if he would accept of a site in a certain place which he named, not less than a mile from the village, he would use all his influence with Lord Panmure to get it. He (Mr Inglis) told him that they were now on terms for obtaining a site, and that if his Lordship would not give him one agreeable to the Committee, it could not be accepted. This was all that had taken place on the subject. He had only further to say, that he was not at all anxious to appear in public in connection with this subject. It might be said that he was apparently in robust health; but to this he would say, that it was well for himself that he was in robust health, else he could not have stood what he had suffered. It was well also for those who refused sites, else there might have been more martyrs than Mr Innes of Canobie. (Applause.) He would only detain them for a short time longer by referring to the case of Lochlee, which was a congregation in which he felt much interest, having ministered to them for about eleven years before the Disruption. There was not a large congregation there. It consisted only of about one hundred and eighty communicants, and was situated about a distance of eleven miles from any other Free Church. They had applied again and again for a site, but no answer of any kind had been given to their application. They are still worshipping in what was called a shepherd's house, which was fitted up with seats as a place of worship. About six or eight weeks ago, an application was made by the minister there for a site for a church and a manse, for he is most miserably accommodated, even still more so than himself, having only a single apartment, about twelve or fourteen feet square, and this at some distance from the place of worship. That application was unanswered up to the time that he (Mr Inglis) left home to come to the Assembly, and he was afraid it was still so. (Hear.)

Mr M'LEOD, Trumisgarry, said, that at the time of the Disruption he had a short lease of a farm; and as he had no alternative but to build on that farm, he had devoted some little means which he possessed to erect a little cottage, rather than that he should leave his people. Expecting that he might be allowed to occupy his land after the expiry of the lease, only four years of which had to run, he had expended a sum of £150 in building the cottage. It would be remembered, however, that he had stated in his evidence before Parliament, that he was afraid that he would have to remove from that house at the end of his lease; and just as he had anticipated, at Whitsunday last, he was expelled from that house, and instead of £150 which he had expended on its erection, he had only got £40. There was, after this, only one house on the island, belonging to a Free Church adherent, in

which he could receive shelter; but as it happened to be about twenty miles from his people, it was with great inconvenience that he could carry on his ministrations. -(A Voice." On whose property was your house built?")-It was on the lands of Lord Macdonald. From his (Mr M'Leod's) distance from his people, and the inclemency of the weather, he could only reach his people to preach to them once a fortnight; and, with the exception of one or two occasions, he did not think that he reached his congregation, or got back to his house, without being drenched through, and this, even although covered with six or seven ply of as good cloth as the Highlands could produce. Still, however, in the good providence of God, his health had been preserved. He could assure them that his own personal inconvenience was as nothing compared with what he felt at not being able to preach to his people oftener than once a fortnight. He was aware that his poor people had suffered very much on that account, but he was glad to say his separation from them had not relaxed in the least their attachment to the Free Church. (Applause.)

Mr CARMENT of Rosskeen made a few remarks, as to tyranny exercised by the lairds and lords in many places of the Highlands; and but for which, he said, all the people in these districts would become connected with the Free Church.

Mr NIXON said,-Moderator, I know no business that can come before this House of more urgent importance, or more worthy of being fully considered, than that to which this petition refers. (Hear, hear.) Why, Sir, not to speak of other places, what is the state of things as regards our quarter? Mr Kirk of Arbirlot is obliged to live in Arbroath, is unable, as he declares, to do the proper amount of pastoral duty to his flock, and cannot long go on performing even the amount of duty which he has hitherto attempted. Mr Martin of Panbride, who has not a robust constitution, is injured season after season by having to labour in the atmosphere of his wooden shed. Mr Inglis has been prevented by delicacy from detailing at the length at which he might have detailed his hardships, and which renders the condition in which, while labouring so faithfully, he is placed a disgrace to the country that tolerates it. (Hear, hear.) Why, it is not long since that, amidst the fever that entered his dwelling, and seized on his children, he had for weeks to tend them day and night, without even getting quit of his clothes, for want of a place to lie down. (Hear, hear, hear.) But there is scarcely a congregation in our bounds in connection with which we have not experienced, or are not experiencing still, similar hardships. At Logie we were altogether refused a foot of ground within the parish, and were obliged to build the church for our Logie congregation within the parish of Montrose; while, for the same reason, the excellent but delicate minister has to reside at a still greater distance from his people, and is thus rendered unable for much of the work which otherwise he might have performed. At Craig, after building a church, in full expectation of a title from the proprietor for the site which he granted, the church had to be removed to another site, at great expense to the locality and to the church. At Marytown we are tenants at will, as we can get no title whatever to the ground on which the church is erected, and are thus liable at any time to be deprived of our place of worship and all accommodation within the parish; while the minister, who is also in infirm health, puts forward his want of a proper habitation in the parish as a prominent reason for his meditating the abandonment of his charge. These inconveniences, this intolerant treatment, we have suffered, without as yet forcing these facts on public attention as we might have done. (Hear.) It gives us pain to be dragging this landlord or that forth to public view. And, with regard to the nobleman in our quarter who is the great site refuser, and who has inflicted such hardships upon many of his tenantry, I believe that his procedure is very much to be traced to the persons by whom he has been surrounded. (Applause.) It is difficult otherwise to account for the usage given to Mr Inglis. The respect felt for him formerly by the factor, who is his own uncle, and by Lord Panmure himself, in common with the whole community around, would not have so suddenly and so lastingly given place to such deadly hostility to the ordinary comfort of a hard-working and most estimable minister of a large and attached congregation, had not evil influences been brought to bear on his Lordship's mind. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Indeed, so opposed is the conduct of this nobleman on the site question to his general proceedings, as well as to his professed principles, that but for the evil counsellors to

whom he listened, his course might have been a very different one indeed, with reference to the Free Church. (Applause.) At the Disruption, from what I knew of the liberality, which, when he took a fancy to any object, he was ready to manifest, it was actually a question with me whether he would not take the outgoing ministers and people by the hand, and not only give them sites, but build churches, and manses, and schools too, upon his property. (Much applause.) It might not be easy formally to prove the causes that operated to call forth his hostility rather than his friendship. But I assert only what is perfectly well known, when I say, that at the Disruption, and subsequent to it, moderate ministers by their selfish and malignant calumnies and activity in evil, took upon themselves a principal part of the guilt of all the injustice that then began, and has since continued to be inflicted on his Lordship's extensive property. (Hear, hear, and applause.) But whatever be the secret of the treatment which we have experienced, whether it be owing to open enemies or faithless friends, it is high time that the facts were proclaimed, and that the lessons which they teach were read and pondered. (Applause.) More especially, I think it of great importance that the petition now read should not have been allowed to go up to the Legislature without a distinct, and full, and emphatic expression of the feelings of this Assembly on the subject to which it refers. (Great applause.) Had it gone without any formal discussion at all, it seems to me that it would have made little or no impression-(hear, hear)—that it would naturally have received as little attention when it reached its destination, as it would in that case have received from us in agreeing to it. (Hear, hear.) It is to be hoped that this night's discussion will find its way through the public press to the notice of members of the Legislature, and that the cordial expression which this Assembly is now giving of their deep interest in this subject will not be without its effect on the minds of some of our statesmen. (Applause.) The conduct of which we complain, the treatment with regard to which we seek redress, is such an outrage on the rights which as creatures we have from our Creator, on the rights which we have by the Constitution of the country, and on the rights which we have from the Word of God, that if we only persist in openly exposing it, and in protesting against it, and claiming redress, relief cannot be always, or long withheld, unless our rulers and great men are infatuated to their own destruction. (Applause.) For what is in reality the doctrine which they avow, and on which they act? Why, it amounts to this, that if they possessed not merely a parish, but a province, they would drive us from it; and if they possessed the whole country they would drive us from it, and if they possessed the whole earth they would drive us over the outer edge of it. (Laughter and much applause.) And is this a doctrine for men in their condition to avow and carry out? If they appeal thus not to truth, or Scripture, or reason, or conscience, but to mere power, to physical force, why, there is an array of mere physical force among the masses at the other extreme of society, with which, in the providence of God, they may soon find themselves in conflict. And though I trust and believe that a Church like ours will never be found resisting the violence of her oppressors by similar violence, yet we may have to behold the retribution which these men deserve overtaking them at the hands of those masses whom they will not allow us to evangelize, and we may thus be made to see and to acknowledge that verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. (Much applause.) In thus resisting our claims to spots of earth on which, wherever we have congregations, we may have a right to places of worship in which to observe the ordinances of religion, they must imagine, and, indeed, they scruple not to assert, that we are a disloyal and dangerous people. (Hear, hear.) But I am sure, and we are entitled and bound to declare it, that we are politically and morally the healthiest portion of the inhabitants of the country; that there is not a body of more devoted subjects in the dominions of our Queen; and if the United Kingdom were fuller of such subjects, the Crown would sit more safely and comfortably on our Sovereign's head. (Great applause.) I know no body in the country more likely than our Church to stand between her very oppressors and the dangers which may yet stare them in the face. Nor would I be surprised to find that, ere long, they have to fly to us for shelter from the violence of which they set the example, in which they are but too readily and faithfully imitated by the unreclaimed masses, and by which their criminal conduct to us, and to the claims of true religion, is pro

videntially retributed. (Continued applause.) I hope, Moderator, that good will come of the manner in which the Assembly has this evening shewn its irrepressible interest in this matter. (Applause.) I hope it is a renewed pledge that this cause will be taken up and carried forward with increasing vigour, until our end is gained; involving, as the object which we aim at plainly does, the peace and prosperity of our country, as well as the spiritual and everlasting interests of men. (Great cheering.) So manifest, indeed, have the justice and eventful importance of our claims become to all classes, that even our site-refusers cannot but feel the false position in which they have placed themselves; and a bill would probably be as welcome to most of them as to ourselves, by which they would be relieved from that position. (Continued cheering.) On all these accounts, I think we ought to rejoice in the manifestations of feeling which the Assembly has now given, in the effect which it is fitted and ought to have on the Legislature, and on the determination which it implies to persist in our claims till they are granted.

The Assembly accordingly ordered the Petition to be subscribed by the Moderator, and transmitted to the Marquis of Breadalbane for presentation in the House of Lords, and to the Right Honourable Fox Maule for presentation in the House of Commons.

EDUCATION SCHEME.

Dr CANDLISH, after alluding in commendatory terms to the honest and generous expression of feeling to which the Assembly had just listened from Mr Nixon, gave in a verbal Report of the Education Committee, from which it appeared, that from 31st March 1847 to 31st March 1848, the grants voted out of the School Building Fund amounted to £4752. It would be remembered that the Scheme began in the year 1844, and that the proposal was to raise a sum of £50,000 in five years. Since the commencement of the year 1844 the sum collected had amounted to £35,595. Although we have not entirely realised the £40,000 that should have been realised at this time; yet, taking into consideration all the circumstances connected with this great Scheme, we have reason to be thankful that the collection is so good. (Hear.) There is, said the reverend Doctor, as you are aware, still another year of this Scheme to run, so that, at the close of the specified period, we may yet realise all that was anticipated at the origination of the Scheme. So much, then, for the progress of the Scheme during the past year. In regard to the state and character of the different schools upon the Scheme, in respect of attainment and efficiency, I have to mention that of the 386 teachers reported to the Committee, 169 have attended college, and 190 have been students of the Normal School. This indicates both attainment, practical efficiency, and knowledge of the best and most recent methods. I have to refer, in the second place, to the number of children under instruction at our schools. I am sorry that I am not able at present to give an accurate return; but it is possible that, before the Report is printed, I will be able to do so. The number of salaried schools is 565; and of these, 386 have been reported upon, and 179 not reported upon. The number of sustained teachers reported last year was 513, showing an increase during the past year of fifty-two schools. The average number of children attending these 386 schools during the last six months was 28,052, giving an average daily attendance at each school of seventy-nine pupils. Now, taking the average daily attendance at the 179 unreported schools as at the others, we have 13,008 pupils now in daily attendance, giving 41,060 children as the total number attending your 565 regularly salaried schools. (Applause.) This is without taking into account a considerable number of side schools, as well as of schools really taught by the Free Church teachers. I pass on now, in the third place, to the different kinds of schools upon the Scheme. I shall begin with the lowest, namely, the side or district schools,-a considerable number of which is included in the 386 reported. Most of the teachers are young men who, stimulated and encouraged by the bursaries now offered at the Normal Schools, came up from year to year to compete for these; and thus may, under the stimulus of your annual examinations for higher rates of salary, gradually rise from this, the lowest professional grade, progressing to the highest. Then, there is the congregational schools, of which a number is included in the 386 reported. The present attain

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ments of the teachers are equal to those possessed by any body of teachers in the kingdom, as actually shown by a considerable number of them, 120, appearing in the examinations of last year for higher rates of salaries; and as also evidenced by the alacrity with which many,-not fewer than a 100,-have either already undergone re-examination by the Government Inspector, or have intimated their intention to do so this present year. The Committee have access to know, too, that a very considerable number have been, during the past year, extending their scholarship, with a view of appearing at the Committee's next examination for higher rates of salary. (Applause.) I pass on now to the Grammar Schools, or the schools fitted for teaching the higher departments of a literary and a mercantile education. Of these schools, we have to report on the following:-1. Inverness.-The building here is spacious, consisting of four large apartments; it cost upwards of £2000, and accommodates between 400 and 500 pupils; the school is now equipped withtwo teachers. 2. Oban.-As last year; there is but one teacher connected with this school, who has shown his scholarship by taking the highest rate of salary by competition. 3. Hamilton,-where there are two teachers. The rector last year passed with distinguished approbation the examination of last year for the highest rate, and recently competed for the highest rate offered by the Committee of Council. The other teacher also obtained your second rate of salary by competition last year, and recently underwent examination for the highest rate offered by Government; he has likewise intimated his intention of again offering himself in the ensuing examination for your highest rate. 4. Arbroath,where there is a rector and an English teacher, both highly distinguished. The rector gained with decided approbation your highest rate at last year's examination. 5. Campbelton.-The school here is conducted by Mr Ross. That teacher was recently ejected from his situation by a decision pronounced by Lord Ivory; he is a distinguished teacher, and it is the duty of the Church to give every encouragement to our friends in Campbelton, in the erection of a thoroughly equipped Grammar School, under his able superintendence. I may mention that Campbelton is perhaps the best seat of our Educational Schemes in all Scotland; and that the education of the young is more thoroughly in your hands in Campbelton than anywhere else. I believe 1100 children are now in attendance at the schools connected with your Scheme in Campbelton. In point of fact, after the Disruption the minister of Campbelton succeeded in carrying along with him the whole education of the place. Therefore it is peculiarly desirable that we should maintain the Grammar School of that town. (Hear, hear.) There are other places in which our friends are carefully maturing their plans for the establishment of similar educational institutions, in which an extensive course of English, commercial, and classical instruction shall be given; and in which, too, such arrangements shall be made as will enable us to supply the means of instruction in these institutions to all classes. It has been ascertained that about four-fifths of the children who attend these grammar schools belong to the working classes. Let me call attention to the benefit that may be expected to arise from the establishment of these grammar schools. By giving an extensive course of classical, commercial, and elementary instruction to the children who attend these schools, four-fifths of whom belong to the workingclasses, we have thus machinery set in operation not only for educating this class in the scale of intelligence, but for exercising a wholesome influence over the whole land, that may lead to many being brought forward in the ministry of the everlasting gospel. (Applause.) I pass now to another class of schools, embraced under the head, namely, Industrial Schools. There are two different kinds of schools embraced in this class. In the first place, there are female industrial schools. The Committee are anxious to have the female industrial department in connection with all our congregational schools; and at present we have under consideration a plan for that purpose. I may mention that in almost every case in which a grant was made during the past year, there has been connected with it a female department. (Hear.) There is another kind of industrial school which the Committee has much at heart, namely, industrial schools, in which agricultural and other industrial employments are systematically practised by the pupils under the guidance of a skilled person. The principal seat of these agricultural schools, is in Gairloch, Ross-shire, on the property of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie. That property is now under the charge of a well-known friend of our Church, Dr Mackenzie of Kinellan. (Applause.)

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