RECOGNITION SERVICE.-On Tuesday, December 1st, a public tea meeting was held, in connexion with the settlement of the Rev. J. Lawton, as pastor of the church at Great Berkhampstead. After tea a large congregation assembled in the chapel. Mr. W. Andrews, of Chesham, presided, and having made a few appropriate remarks, called upon the Rev. E. Davis, formerly of the General Baptist College, at Leicester, to pray. Mr. King, one of the deacons of the church, detailed the circumstances which led to the choice of Mr. Lawton, and stated that the invitation given to him was completely unanimous and cordial. The newly-settled pastor gave his reasons for leaving his former sphere of labour and accepting the call of the friends at Berkhampstead; and the Rev. W. Hodge, the venerable Independent minister of the town, invoked the Divine blessing on the union thus publicly recognised. Addresses of affectionate congratulation to the church, and of hearty welcome to the pastor, which contained also many touching references to the late pastor, were delivered by the Revs. B. P. Pratten, of Boxmoor, W. Emery, of Hemel-Hempstead, J. L. Stanion, of London, W. Payne and J. Preston, of Chesham.

DOVER STREETt, Leicester.—There is good reason to believe that the cause at this place will soon assume a more pleasing aspect. The Rev. J. Malcolm, formerly of Aberdeen, and recently of Maze Pond Chapel, London, has accepted a very cordial and unanimous invitation to become the pastor, and entered upon his labours on the 20th ult. During the time we have been without a pastor, the pulpit has been well and cheerfully supplied by various ministers, chiefly of our own denomination, and the good feeling which has been displayed, and the interest manifested in the welfare of the church, has been very encouraging. The congregations, though comparatively small, have on the whole been as good as could reasonably be expected, all things considered; and better than some had supposed, prior to paying us a visit. A considerable pecuniary effort has been necessary in order to realise our wishes; this has been made, and most cheerfully responded to by the church and congregation. All appear to be of one mind in reference to the step which has been taken, not a single objection having been urged against it. May the great Head of the Church bless the union thus formed, and cause it to be productive of great and lasting good.-G.

BAPTISMS.

LOUTH.-On Sunday evening, Oct 24th, a sermon was preached by the pastor "the conversion of Lydia." The devotional part of the service was conducted by Mr. Barton, and the ordinance of baptism administered to three persons.

on

PORTSEA.-On Wednesday evening, December 2nd, we had a baptism of four candidates, one of whom was the Rev. Jonas Kiddale, an independent minister of nearly twenty years standing, and for the last four years, or more, the pastor of the ancient and flourishing Congregational church in the town of Havant. Mr. K. according to the testimony of his brethren, is a "sound theologian," and the state of his church and congregation testify that he is a successful preacher. His sermon at our baptism was very solemn and affecting, and was listened to with intense interest by a very large and respectable congregation. Mr. K. still retains his pastorate at Havant, and the people there are much attached to his ministry. He would, however, be glad to avail himself of any suitable opening in our own, or the other section of the Baptist denomination.

E. H. B.

BIRMINGHAM.-On Lord's-day, December, 6th, the ordinance of baptism was administered to eight persons, six of whom were from our Sabbath Schools. On the following Sabbath, seven other friends were baptized at Sutton. For many years the ordinance has not been administered at the latter place; those joining the church from this branch have been baptized at Birmingham, but on this occasion it was considered advisable to administer the ordinance there, and it is hoped the transactions of that day will not soon be forgotten. J. S. C. TARPORLEY.-On Lord's-day, November 1st, three persons (viz: one male and two females, the former a scholar in our Sabbath School) were baptized by

brother Aston, after a sermon by Mr. Smith, founded on Acts viii. 36. In the afternoon the newly baptized were received into fellowship, and sat down with us at the Lord's table. May we have many more additions from the school.

MELBOURNE.-On Lord's-day, December 13th, seven persons were baptized by our pastor, and in the afternoon were received into the church. Five of these friends were connected with the Sabbath School. Our cause has been for some time in a very interesting state. We have been favoured with signal evidences of the divine blessing, more especially since our revival services in August last. A spirit of earnest zeal for the salvation of souls and dependance on God for success, has characterized the members, and pleasing success has been the result. Last Sabbath evening two hundred at least remained for prayer after service. Our pastor has adopted the plan of curtailing the public service in the evening to something like an hour and a quarter, which has been attended with the best effect in inducing many to remain at the social meeting, which is generally concluded soon after eight. From experience we can recommend this plan. We have also on the Lord's-day a prayer meeting at five o'clock, in different parts of the town, and on Monday evening at eight; on Tuesday evening a cottage prayer meeting, on Thursday evening at Newton, and on Saturday evening a prayer meeting at half-past seven. All these means are numerously attended, and a great number of persons appear under deep concern for the salvation of their souls. To God be all the praise. J. E. HOLBEACH.-On Lord's-day, November 1st, two candidates were baptized and received into the church. J. C. H.

BURNLEY, Ebenezer Chapel.-On Lord's-day, September 26th, after a sermon by brother Hargreaves, our respected minister had the pleasure of baptizing seven candidates; and on Lord's-day morning, December 13th, after a sermon by our minister, he baptized five more.

KIRKBY AND KIRKBY WOODHOUSE.--On Lord's-day morning, September 6, after an appropriate discourse on the subject of believers' baptism, Mr. Plowright baptized three young disciples in the name of the Sacred Three. May these thus planted in the Lord's house flourish abundantly in the courts of our God. A. B. K.

Notes of the Month.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

December 21. OUR Episcopal neighbours are in various ways engaging attention. The Bishop of London has been preaching to crowds of operatives in Bethnal Green. The Abbey of Westminster is to be lighted with gas for Sunday evening services. The Record rejoices that on the committee for the Exeter Hall services there are some churchmen. The Earl of Shaftsbury has introduced a short Bill to enable Bishops and others to break in on the parochial system. It will not pass. The Bishop of Exeter refuses to consecrate a burial ground near Exeter because it is not walled out from the dissenters' ground. A petition for a revision of the liturgy is being signed in the diocese of Lincoln. The intrusion of scripture readers into their parishes has been protested against by several clergymen in the West of England. The better part of the church are preparing for a more effectual evangelization of India; they will erect and endow a church at Cawnpore.

Popery is like a serpent, it has great vitality. for a new college at Sydney, in Australia. desperation to regain its ascendancy in Belgium.

£10,000 have been subscribed Ultramontanism is fighting with In Mexico its power seems on

the decline, its wealth is on the eve of confiscation. It has had several agents killed in India, its sympathy sends the survivors a few portable altars!

Dr. Livingstone ceases to be an agent of the Independent body. He is now under the wing of Government, for the purpose of opening central Africa to commerce and christianity. We hope his new honours will not lead him to forget his old friends. The London mission are about to establish two new stations in the line of Livingstone's tour.

Our Scottish friends are awake. The Free Church is bestirring itself about extending its missions in India; the Kirk is remonstrating with "the Council of Education" for admitting Popish errors into their lesson books. The Episcopal body are subscribing for the erection of Bishops' residences, and one of the Bishops has been preaching transubstantiation! It is curious that the Episcopacy of Scotland should be so kin to Popery.

The Anti-State-Aid to Religion Bill has been rejected by the Legislative council in Australia, which will begin another battle on the part of its advocates. The Divorce Bill in England comes into operation on January 11, 1858.

GENERAL.

PARLIAMENT has assembled, and after a short session of ten days, adjourned until February next.

This short and extra session was for the purpose of passing a bill of indemnity to shelter the Government and the Bank of England for violating the law as to the bank charter, in the issue of bank paper to relieve public credit, and to stay the panic which was convulsing the commercial world to its centre. A bill to this effect was passed through both Houses, and has received the royal assent. The panic is stayed, but the failures are not at an end. Holland, Hamburgh, St. Petersburgh, as well as America and England, have presented dreadful failures. The disclosures which have been made reveal the fact that not only has there been reckless trading, but also unprincipled swindling on the part of some bank managers and others. Many who are innocent thus suffer with the guilty. It is hoped that the worst is now over; but the periodical recurrence of these panics is greatly to be deplored. 1825, 1837, 1847, 1857, have all been years of panic, but perhaps the last is the most fearful as to its wide-spread and weighty losses and responsibilities. The Queen's Speech referred to the gallantry of her troops in the East; and parliament have voted a pension of £1000 per annum to Sir Henry Havelock. The Royal speech also spoke of the peace of Europe, promised a new Reform Bill, also one for the " simplifying and amending" the laws relating to real property, and also for "consolidating and amending" several branches of criminal law. These, with the great question of India Reform, and the Reform of the Corporation of London, Lord John Russell's Jew Bill, and the ordinary business of parliament, portend that the Session of 1858 will be one of no ordinary importance. They who expect little, will however, be least likely to be disappointed.

The number of the unemployed in our great manufacturing towns is very considerable; though in many mills and works, short time only is resorted to. Bread is cheap, and the weather has hitherto been mild, which tend to lessen the suffering. The Poor Law Board also has consented to a relaxing of the regulations as to out-door relief during the present distress.

The marriage of the young Prince of Prussia with the Princess Royal will take place in a few weeks.

A recent decision of Judge Cresswell that the marriage of parties prohibited by canon law, even if celebrated in countries where it is legal, will not be recognized as valid in English courts, if the parties are British subjects, has startled a great number of persons in this country, who had gone abroad to have the ceremony performed. Legally, surely not morally, they are to be regarded as unmarried. When will popish canon law be cast out of the House of Lords? Perhaps not until the bishops are told to stay at home.

Indian news is advancing. The last letter received from Mr. Buckley is a sufficient note.

December 23. The President of the United States has published his annual message. Like its predecessors, it is lengthy and wordy, reasoning out a great many things. It is, however, significant. It imputes the commercial panic, which begun in the States, to the reckless issue of bank paper, and the wild speculations which were thus encouraged. A general law to control all banks in all the States is suggested. The message proposes to raise a sufficient military force to overcome and suppress the Mormon rebellion leaves the Kansas question to the wisdom of Congress; intimates that the relations of the States with Spain are unsettled, and must not remain so; and that there is little doubt that the misunderstanding with England as to the Clayton Bulwer treaty, relative to Central America, will be amicably adjusted. It is expected the next session of the General Congress will not be the most tranquil that was ever convened. Whether the democrats and free soilers of the North will resist the power of the South and the seductions of place-hunting, remains to be seen.

Missionary Observer.

LETTER FROM REV. J. BUCKLEY.

Cuttack, November 2nd, 1857.

DEAR BROTHER,-I have now, for six months, given you from time to time my impressions of the solemn and awful events of this fearful crisis, and do not, on the whole, regret it, for though the information you would get from the papers would be more recent than I could furnish, yet I thought it might interest the supporters of the mission to read the impressions made by these events on one of their missionaries. No doubt the breathless anxiety with which the arrival of the Indian mail was for some months awaited, has, now the worst is over, in great part subsided, and the agonizing emotions called forth by the Cawnpore massacre have given place to calmer feelings; but none of us can ever forget what has taken place. It is the darkest page in the world's history. The devil seems to have done just as he liked with the actors in this terrible drama, for their treachery, perjury, and fiend-like cruelty have never been exceeded, if, indeed, they have ever been equalled. I have often seriously asked myself the question, "Why has the Lord permitted these calamities to overtake us ?" And while I feel the deep mystery involved in the question, I cannot but think that, as a people, we have displeased the Lord, or such disasters would not have befallen us. When the judgments of God are abroad in the earth the inhabitants of the world should learn righteousness. It is easy enough to blame the government, and if the government alone had suffered it might have appeared that these solemn judgments had been intended for them, but in common with the officers of the state, civil and military, merchants and missionary societies have largely suffered. The Lord give us all a broken heart, for certainly we have had enough to humble us. It seems to be a principle of the Divine administration, that when God takes the rod in hand his own family should be first corrected. "Judgment begins at the house of God;" but the severest strokes are reserved for his open and avowed adversaries. So it will be in this case. We have been chastened. They will be consumed. The thirty thousand English soldiers that are approaching our shores (some have already arrived) have a terrible as well as a merciful mission to execute. They have to inflict merited punishment on men who have proved themselves unfit to live; to restore order where anarchy reigns, and to give tranquility and confidence to all who desire to dwell "quiet in the land," and enjoy the fruits of honest industry. ‘Mercy to India requires

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that this rebellion be suppressed." So said a distinguished organ of the peace party, and it was well spoken: but mercy requires more. It requires that it shall be so put down that there shall be no fear of a similar outbreak for at least another generation.

When my last was despatched, on the 3rd of October, we were anxiously expecting the fall of Delhi. The welcome news reached us the following morning. It was the Sabbath, and I was preparing to go to the sanctuary to preside at a special prayer meeting, held on account of the disturbed state of the country, when I received a small scrap of paper, published on the authority of government, containing the three following sentences:—

"Delhi is entirely ours. God save the Queen. Strong columns in pursuit." We gave thanks to our "righteous Lord," for prospering a most righteous cause. Surely we should acknowledge the hand of God in this success. Sensible men, calmly looking at the difficulties with which the government has had to contend, in this deadly struggle, will feel that it is remarkable that the rebels should be driven out of their stronghold before a single soldier of the reinforcements sent from England had arrived. Monday morning the news came of the capture or surrender of the old king, with his principal wife, Zenut ool Nissa; and at morning worship I explained and applied, for the benefit of our dear young people, a text in Ecclesiastes, "Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king." It is rumoured that the old traitor had the impertinence to inquire what apartments and retinue would be assigned him! We also heard that his two sons had been shot, and their bodies exposed as a terror to others, in the same place as the murdered corpses of many of our countrymen had been exposed. It has been subsequently stated that a grandson was also shot.

At the same time we were rejoiced to hear of the relief of Lucknow, and that the relief had been most opportune, as a mine had been sprung, and in a few hours help might have been too late. Many valuable lives have been sacrificed in obtaining these important results. The death of General Nicholson, in taking Delhi, has excited great regret; and the death of General Neill, in the succour of Lucknow, produced so profound a sensation throughout India that many could scarcely rejoice at the success that had been achieved, so deep was their sorrow at the price that had been paid for it. It might, indeed, be said, “The victory that day was turned into mourning." A friend of mine, who well knew the deceased General, says that he has a widow and a large family at home: the eldest son has lately come out to this country, and was posted to the Madras Fusiliers, in connection with which his father so greatly distinguished himself, but could not have joined when his father was killed. Some who have honourably distinguished themselves in these troublous times are known to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ, as well as of the state. General Havelock, in command of the forces that relieved Lucknow, is spoken of as a decided disciple of Christ; and the late Sir Henry Lawrence supported missionary institutions with a liberality that very few rich Christians imitate. He offered for the support of a mission in Rajpootana, 1000 rupees (£100.) a year, and a few months before his death, gave to the Church Mission, for the establishment of a native female school in Umritsur, in memory of Lady Lawrence, 16,000 rupees (£1,600). Would that all our countrymen in high places in this land were men of the same stamp. We have not been able to obtain, for some time, any reliable information from Lucknow, the enemy having cut off our communications. Unfavourable rumours are just now in circulation, to which I do not give credence. Great confidence is felt in General Wilson, who is in command of the troops at Delhi, and his general order to the soldiers before the capture of the city was attempted, has been universally approved in this country.

I fear there is considerable disaffection in the Bombay army, but the arrival of the English troops will have a good effect.

It appears that thirteen clergymen and missionaries have fallen victims to the malice of violent men in this rebellion. The following are their names:—the

* He married one of the daughters of the late Dr. Marshman.