Sir J. P. Boileau, Bart., Sir W. Sterling, Bart., Dr. Angus, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Lawrence, &c., &c.

Mr. Wilks, the secretary, read the report, of which the following is an abstract : -"Two hundred and fifty-two young persons have attended the classes of the normal college during the year; of these, 102 have been appointed to schools; 126 are at present under training, of which number 115 are Queen's scholars. At the christmas examination for certificates, 113 of the students presented themselves, of whom 95 were successful; 55 obtained prizes for drawing, and 5 certificates of full competency. In the model schools, the average daily attendance of boys is 603, of girls 350. The total number admitted since these schools were opened is 62,112, Seven gentlemen are engaged in the inspection of schools, the holding of meetings, and other methods of awakening and guiding public interest. During the year 119 grants of money and school materials have been made to schools at home and in the colonies. Ten ragged schools have been thus assisted."

Ragged School Union.-On Monday night, the fourteenth annual meeting of this society was held in Exeter hall, under the presidency of the Earl of Shaftsbury, supported by the Hon. A. Kinnaird.

Mr. William Locke read the report, which stated that the number of schools was larger than last year, and that the finances had greatly improved. The number of schools in connection with the Union were 135 Sunday schools, having 20,500 scholars; 98 day schools, with 14,390 scholars; and 131 week evening schools, with 8,650 scholars. The number of voluntary teachers was 2,580, and the number of paid teachers 328. The number of scholars placed in situations for the past year, was 1,320; namely, 587 girls, and 733 boys. In the former year there were 1,260. Thus, in two years, 2,500 of the scholars had been placed in a position to gain their own living by their own efforts. The number of refuges for the ragged class were 15-11 for boys, 4 for girls. A number of letters had been received from pupils, all of which were very satisfactory. From the last cash statement it appeared that, including a balance in hand of £758 11s. 5d., amounted to £6,518 6s. 1d., of which a balance remained, after paying all expenses, of £874 10s.

The Evangelical Alliance.-On Tuesday night, the usual annual soirée in connection with this society, was held in the Freemasons' hall, where a numerous company assembled. Among those present were the Rev. Drs. Campbell, Spence, Tidman, Steane, and the Rev. Messrs. Hall, Davies, Lester, Smith, J. Davies, Jobson, &c. Mr. Thomas Chambers, the Common Serjeant, occupied the chair, and, after prayer, opened the proceedings. But two experiments had, he said, as yet been made to connect the christian Church; the present society was the last, and the first was the Romish Church-this, he contended, had utterly failed. The alliance, however, had started on the right basis, and it must ultimately prevail. The Rev. Archdeacon Phillpott addressed the meeting, exhorting them to more unity. The Rev. J. P. Cooke next addressed the meeting as the representative of the French branch. France, he said, was now exciting very general attention; but what, he asked, was going on there? He must say he did not know, for nearly all the information he had in Paris was from the English papers. He, therefore, confined himself to the Evangelical Alliance and the progress of religion. In the south it had made no advancement; in other parts, however, it was advancing; and in the west there were several well-organized societies. He exhorted them to pray for France, as a crisis might be expected. Mr. Malan also addressed the meeting, and was followed by the Rev. Dr. M'Crie. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

Baptist Union. The annual session of the Baptist Union was held at the Baptist Mission House on Friday morning, April 23rd, the Rev. B. Evans, D.D., in the chair. After prayer by Dr. Hoby, the chairman read an able and valuable memorial of the great men of the past. After this address the report was read, and the thanks of the Union were then given to the chairman for his excellent address. The session was closed by the customary vote of thanks, and by prayer offered by Dr. Evans.

Notes of the Month.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

May 20. "The May Meetings," as the anniversaries of the different Missionary, Bible, Tract, and Philanthropic Societies usually held this month, are called, are for the most part over, and call for congratulation. Despite the pressure of heavy taxes, and the prostration of commerce, they generally report not merely a maintenance, but an increase of their incomes. This is especially the case with the great societies. The Bible will continue to be circulated by millions; religious tracts to be written and distributed by tens of millions; and christian missionaries sent forth to every part of the heathen world where it is possible to find them a place of rest. This is well. Amid all the misrule, the injustice, the political charlatanrie of Great Britain, our only hope for the protection of the Almighty, and for the renewal and continuance of her prosperity and power, is in the efforts of her devout children of every name, to diffuse the light of the Gospel, and the blessings of education amongst the nations under our sway, or accessible to our commerce and our influence. Our notes of the anniversaries will be found elsewhere. The Church Mission; the Wesleyan; the London; the Baptist; the Bible and Tract Societies, all report an increase of funds, and some of them for special purposes and otherwise, a large increase. May this be the beginning of better things!

The Episcopalians have had a grand ordination of the Bishop of Calcutta at Westminster Abbey.

The Bill for the abolition of church rates has gone through Committee, and the third reading is fixed for Tuesday, June 1. Of course the Lords will reject it. The Oaths Bill has been so altered in the Lords that the Jew cannot enter the Commons. The Commons have drawn up "reasons" objecting to these alterations, and "a conference" with the Lords is agreed on. If the Lords are inexorable after the passing of this the eleventh Bill, it will be proper for the Commons to do as they might have done at first, viz., prescribe for themselves, and claim the right of deciding on the qualifications of their own members, and how they shall be sworn to their duties. The House of Lords is often obstructive. Meantime Baron Rothschild, the Jew elected for London, has been placed on the Committee for conferring with the Lords!

Some hope has been expressed that the Bill for legalizing marriage with a deceased wife's sister, may pass during this session; especially if the religious bodies would simultaneously petition.* It is even said that some Bishops and Lords are become converts to it, or will "bow to public opinion." The Duke of Beaufort, master of the horse, is the offspring of such a union.

The Liberation of Religion Society at their annual meeting, in reviewing the progress of events, and their own proceedings, found many occasions for congratulation and hope. The following significant words occur toward the end of the Report: "The bondage, the confusion, the helpless inefficiency of our church establishment, as an establishment, are becoming intolerable to its devout and conscientious members, and never were complaints more loud, or longings for liberty more audibly expressed."

The presidents and secretaries of the various missionary societies have petitioned to the House of Lords to ask for "free scope and action" for missionary efforts in India. They expressed the strongest wish to be free from Government aid and control. Their petition was favourably received.

It is reported that the English visitors in Rome during the Holy week, especially ladies, manifested a great want of reverence for the holy things, and persons and places during the processions. Opera glasses were directed full

*Persons desiring to petition may obtain papers and forms from J. Stansbury, M.A., 26, Parliament Street, Westminster.

upon his holiness himself; and even from some gentlemen (?) the fumes of cigars mingled with the holy incense! When the pope makes himself a puppet shew, he must expect simpletons to peep at it. There is another jubilee in Italy, and all churches are open, but the pope has wandered from the holy city.

The oppression of Baptists in Sweden is more severe than ever, spite of the liberal wishes of the king. Preaching, hearing, taking the Lord's supper, baptism, are all under penalty. The Baptists are practically "forbidden to marry; as their own pastors cannot unite them under pain of "three years imprisonment and hard labour;" and the state church pastors are forbidden to marry any dissenters !

The Chinese Evangelization Society express the hope that "liberty for conducting missionary operations in the interior of China" will be conceded by the

emperor.

The revival in America seems to be extending and deepening its influence rather than dying away. It has invaded the colleges, and many students have professed conversion. Even many Jews in New York and elsewhere have become christianized; and what is still more remarkable to Englishmen, the Unitarians have felt its power. Many of those, so called, would pass for orthodox Trinitarians in England. Their prayers, references to the work of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, involve nearly all that practically the most orthodox can wish. It is estimated that some 20,000 were added to the Baptist churches in March last. If so, what must be the rate of addition to the various denominations, during the whole period. As far as we have been able to observe in the long columns of notices, we have marked nothing that indicates mere wildfire or fanaticism. Deep, earnest, religious feeling, expressed by most appropriate confessions and prayers; sustained by honest and scriptural exhortation, are the main features of this wonderful movement.

GENERAL.

THE first topic of course is that which is discussed in every paper, talked of in every circle, and speculated on with interest by all who are interested either in the fate of England or India. The motion for a censure on the Home Government, for a despatch sent to India condemning Lord Canning's proclamation as to Oude. The facts are these. Lord Canning, as Governor General of India, sent home a copy of a proclamation he had prepared for the kingdom of Oude, in which he announces that, a few persons named being excepted, the ownership of the land of Oude is confiscated to the British Government. With this communication, forwarded to Vernon Smith, (the former president of the Board of Control) were some private explanatory papers. The proclamation, without the private papers, was forwarded to Lord Ellenborough, Mr. V. Smith's successor in office. Whereupon his lordship prepares a despatch not only strongly condemnatory of the proclamation, but in effect justifying the mutiny, and censuring the annexation of Oude. This despatch is moreover allowed to obtain publicity. The followers of Lord Palmerston held a meeting on Sunday week, resolve to censure Government for this despatch, and not to commit themselves to the approval of Lord Canning's proceedings until they hear more of the matter, the pretence for their censure being the injury the dispatch will do in India. To avert, if possible, the coming storm, Lord Ellenborough resigns his office. But this does not save the Government. On Friday week the motion for censure was brought into both Houses. The Lords by a small majority refused to give an opinion. But the Commons have not yet done debating about it. Some suppose that the Government will be in a minority, and that either the Government will give place to their opponents, or dissolve the parliament. Others, that the recently formed independent party, consisting of about 120 members, determined alike against whig or tory trammels, will vote with the Government to keep out Lords Palmerston and Russell. The result will probably be known before this gets into the hands of our readers. Anyhow, it seems like a party conflict for place. Canning was surely very rash to think of such a merciless proceeding :-the Home Government foolish to allow such a dispatch to be prepared, and

sent, and published.* Legislation for India may as well be postponed until the country is more settled. Though Lucknow has been taken, and its palaces rifled by a lawless soldiery; and though 20,000 camp followers groaned under the loads of plunder taken from the city, the mutiny is not ended. The mutineers are in force to the north and east of Oude, and a hot season campaign will be very destructive to the British soldiers. The chasing of the sepoys all over the country is most harassing to our troops.

The reports from India are not of a kind which justify the hope that the end of the trouble is near.

To return to domestic matters. Mr. Locke King has carried the second reading of his bill for abolishing the property qualification for members of parliament without a division. The bill for equalising the county to the borough franchise seems to have been pushed aside for the present.

Foreign news is of little interest, except that the American congress has passed a bill relating to Kansas, which is favourable to its being a slave state. The contest is now therefore transferred to the territory. If by outward pressure, or by intimidation, or by false returns, Kansas accepts the constitution, slavery triumphs. If not the conflict will take another form. The telegraphic line from England to America is expected to be at work this summer. There will be branch lines to the continent. Of China we hear little. Commissioner Yeh, the perpetrator of 100,000 murders, is now at Calcutta, under the care of the British. He begins to take great interest in English news. His eyes are opening.

LINES BY DR. BURNS.

Read at the Annual Meeting of the Peace Society, May 18th, 1858.

Sweet Dove of Peace, expand thy wings

O'er all the tribes of men;

Hush'd be the frightful clang of arms-
Let love and concord reign.

Let hostile nations learn to love

As brethren of one race:

Let christian lands bright models be
Of gentleness and grace.

Let deadly weapons be transformed
To implements of peace,

And may all men true goodness learn,
And practice righteousness.

So let the cruel art of war

Be taught and learned no more:
Let peaceful anthems only rise
From every land and shore.

O, Father, let Thy kingdom come,
Jesus exert Thy power,

And, Holy Spirit, breathe on us
Thy peace for evermore.

Thus God shall tabernacle here,
And heaven to earth descend,
And Jesu's loving reign of peace
Shall never, never end.

*The motion has been withdrawn.

Missionary Observer.

NOTES OF A JOURNEY FROM BERHAMPORE TO THE CUTTACK CONFERENCE, BY MR. HILL.

East Indies, Berhampore, Ganjam, March 5th, 1858.

MY DEAR MR. BARWICK.-Your kind letter of November 27th arrived at Berhampore on the 30th of January, but as I was on a missionary tour and fifty miles from home at the time, it did not reach me until several days afterwards.

Since writing you last we have been favoured with a visit from Miss Butler. She reached Berhampore early in October, and stayed with us until the beginning of December. Dear friends in England, and especially in Nottingham, often furnished us with a theme of conversation. Though so far distant from you in body we were often with you in spirit, and seemed almost to be present in your homes, your schools and sanctuaries. Miss B.'s visit, however, like all others, came to an end. She left Berhampore on Friday afternoon, December 4th. My dear wife and myself left also at the same time, and accompanied Miss B. to Cuttack, in order to attend our Conference there. Miss B. and I rode on our horses, and my dear wife and children rode in a cart drawn by "a yoke of oxen.' The distance from Berhampore to Cuttack is about 120 miles, and in travelling that distance we were about nine days. Our first stage was to Chatterpore. This is not a large place, but is important as being the residence of the collector, or chief magistrate, of the district. Here his cutcherry, or court, is chiefly held. Though the collector and his lady were not at home they kindly placed their house at our service, and not only so, but ordered their butler to have tea ready for us. The house is a large, fine building, and commands a splendid view of the Bay of Bengal. The gardens and grounds are tastefully laid out, and contain great varieties of trees, shrubs, flowers, &c.

From Chatterpore we went on to Ganjam, a distance of only four miles. During the day we stayed in a large house in the old cantonment; it was known, and is now, as the "burdur," or great "sahib's bungalow." The sahib referred to, was once the collector of the district, and by him the bungalow was built. Evidently it has been a magnificent house; but now it is unoccupied, and fast falling into ruins. The other houses in the cantonment are all deserted, and fast falling into ruins also. To see these large, fine, strongly-built houses in such a neglected and deserted condition made us feel quite sad. They are now given over to the ants and the bats. The same afternoon, as soon as we dare venture out in the sun, we started for Rumbah. Along the road we passed a considerable number of gibbet posts. These were once used for gibbeting the Thugs upon. Suspended from the cross-beam of one of them there is still an iron cage. In the distance this had the appearance of a man, and for the ladies especially was not a very pleasant object to look at. We reached Rumbah soon after dusk, and proceeded to the "Rumbah House," where we took up our quarters. This house was, I understand, built by the same gentleman that built the one at Ganjam; indeed, he seemed to have a building mania. Though it is now in a very dilapidated condition it still bears marks of its former splendour.

The next stage being a very long and difficult one, we decided to go across the Chilka Lake. To carry us across we engaged a boat, as good an one as we could get, but it was not a very first-rater. Though very much inferior in construction, it was not altogether unlike the narrow boats which ply on the canals in England. We did not intend to embark until Monday morning, but in order to avoid a contrary wind we embarked on the Sabbath evening. The scenery on every hand was surpassingly beautiful; but this I must not attempt to describe. Miss Butler took up her quarters for the night in her palkee, which we had placed on the top of the boat. The rest of us having no palkees took up our lodgings below. We had, it is true, a small bed with us for my dear wife, but there was not room