testant; there is his error, his fault, his crime. He is displeasing to the Jesuits, whom he unmasks in his discourses; he irritates the priests, who would rather have men wicked than the disciples of the Reformed Communion; and hence it is that M. Pilatte cannot peaceably pursue his ministry.' On a former occasion, M. Pilatte was subjected to a fine, on the pretext that his assemblies for worship came under the designation of a club; and all the clubs were prohibited by the government. Anxious to avoid judicial proceedings, M. Pilatte applied to M. de Falloux, minister of worship, who marked out the course he should pursue in this matter. M. Pilatte thus hoped to be no further obnoxious to the law. He has again, however, been cited before the court of justice. And of what is he accused? Still,' the same correspondent adds, 'the same pretext-the same charge. His worship is not a worship; his chapel is a club. His teaching is irreproachable, his morality is very elevated on the testimony of the commissary of police; he recommends the performance of all the duties of a christian and a citizen; but the sacrifice is wanting in his chapel, and consequently it is a club! On this beautiful reasoning M. Pilatte has been fined 200 francs, and his chapel has been closed.' M. Pilatte has appealed to a higher tribunal, in the hope that the scandal of such a sentence will be effaced.

ITALY.

Indications of a Reaction-Conduct of the Priests.-One great object effected by the late revolutions throughout Italy was the wide and effectual door opened for the spread of the scriptures, and the establishment of civil and religious liberty on a wide and extended basis. Indications, however, are not wanting of a disposition to return to the old state of things; and what may be expected from the influence of the priesthood as soon as it is restored to power? Some characteristic actions already show what will be the conduct of the priests, when they shall have recovered their authority. The ecclesiastical governments established at Bologna and Ancona, under the protection of antichristian bayonets, immediately overthrew all political rights-re-established the censorship of the press, forbade the admission of foreign newspapers, even the most moderate, and prevented the municipal bodies from going to Gaeta, to ask for constitutional institutions. It is probable that the prelates who govern Ancona and Bologna received their orders in the poptifical conclave, and executed faithfully their

instructions. Hence no more liberty, no charter, the entire restoration of the ancient state of things; that is to say, of the most detestable and tyrannical power which has existed in Europe, not excepting the govern ment of the Czar Nicholas, nor that of the Sultan of Constantinople.' It is also said that the evil influence of the Pope's restoration has already been felt in the north of Italy. The printing of the scriptures at Florence has been stopped by the restored Tuscan government; the books and papers have been seized, and some of the British residents, engaged in promoting the distribution of the holy bible, threatened with legal proceedings. In Rome itself the government appointed by General Oudinot, the French commander, has been superseded by the partizans of the Pope. Many of the old institutions have been revived-among others the holy office of the inquisition, and the famous Dr Giacinto Achilli, formerly vicar of the master of the holy palace ander Gregory XVI., has been seized and thrown into one of its secret dungeons. On the other hand it is also stated that in spite of these hostile demonstrations of Antichrist, the circulation of the scriptures continues in Italy, and that large and fresh applications are being made for supplies.

ASIA-INDIA.

New Field of Missionary Labour in Southern India.-The Rev. Mr Drew of the London Missionary Society, in a communication addressed to the directors, reports a visit which he made lately to Pondicherry a large French settlement, on the coast of Coromandel, about 100 miles south of Madras. A considerable number of the native inhabitants belong to the Church of Rome, but many of them seem to be weary of their spiritual bondage, and begin to desire a purer faith and a better hope. And this station Mr Drew urges the directors to occupy as a new field of missionary labour.

'Among those,' he says, who long for your compliance with the request of this letter are some native christians, formerly connected with the old missions, whom different circumstances have brought to this place, and who have mostly conformed to the Roman worship, from want of pastors to give them the rites of religion. One interesting old woman, a widow, however, has remained true to her principles.

"Faithful, among the faithless found," she has never bowed the knee to this Baal. She came to me, and, placing herself on her knees, with much earnestness and many tears, and much natural eloquence, both in words and manner, she lifted up her hands,

and said, "Twenty-five years I have been in this wilderness. The others have all gone to worship there-the young ones-but I could not go there. Night and day I pray. I say, 'O Lord, thou hast placed me in this wilderness: when shall I drink of thy cup? Ah! is it that I am not worthy to partake of thy benefits? Wilt thou take me away before thou hast shown me this mercy? If it be even so, let it be according to thy will. And what is to become of this body? Where will they put it when I am gone? Ah! thou canst take care of this also-thou canst do all things.' It was delightful to see her and hear her: I was deeply affected. Twenty-five years has she kept her faith. I had great joy in setting before her the love of an ever-present Saviour, and in leading her to hope that she might yet, even in this life, and in that place, partake of the cup of the Lord.'

AFRICA.

Old Calabar.-Progress and Prospects of the Mission.-Considerable progress has been made in the practical working of this mission. A catechism has been written out in the Effik or Calabar, and also in the English language, by the Rev. Mr Goldie. The ten commandments have been printed on a broad sheet, to be put up in houses; and several large impressions of initiatory school-books for the purposes of education. Several members of the mission have been obliged to withdraw from the field for a time

in search of health. Still,' says the Rev. Mr Goldie, in a communication addressed to the Missionary Record of the United Presbyterian Church, 'have we progress to report. Old Town has been occupied, and two school-houses have been erected, the one at Duke Town, and the other at Old Town. Our knowledge of the country has beeen extended by our visits to the villages of Ekritobacco and of Ekrikok. Our first attempts at composition in the Effik have been made, and our schools have the benefit of receiving a portion of religious instruction in the native tongue. Our ordinary routine of duty has been carried on uninterruptedly at all the stations, and I hope that more progress has been made by this than by any other thing, though it is a progress made silently and less easily marked. The changes of agents at Duke Town, however, cannot have failed to operate prejudicially for that station; and the temporary removal of Mr Edgerly from Old Town has been against it. Truth is getting abroad amongst the people, and their superstitions are gradually losing the ground they formerly possessed. This, King Eyo has frequently assured me, is the case, and he can judge more accurately in such a matter than we can. Our meetings are making their influence felt, our schools are making their influence felt, and the word of truth dropped here and there in the ears of those with whom we come into contact, will not fall unproductive.'

Extracts from the Journals of the Colporteurs. The sale of books becomes every day more difficult. The workmen have no money, and it may be said there are none but these who buy. But there is this ground of joy still remaining, that in almost every village we meet with souls who are under the influence of the gospel, and yet without the work of colportage, these souls would have continued in the darkness of ignorance and under the influence of Popery.

At H- there are some who have acquired a knowledge of the word of God by the reading of tracts. I remained there some days. I visited some families, and spent the night with them in order to read the word of God to them. I hope the Lord will continue the work which he has begun there. A man in the neighbourhood of H who has read the New Testament for a considerable time, has had his eyes opened to see the righteousness of God, and how hateful sin is to him, that he must be born again in order that he might enter into

the kingdom of heaven. These things appeared strange to him, yet he set himself to pray, and asked of the Lord that he would enable him to walk according to the instructions of his word. His prayers have been heard, his conduct has become changed, but he could not remain unknown. The curé having learned that he read the New Testament, set out in search of him, to tell him that it was a dangerous book. He replied, I cannot see that it is as you tell me, but quite the contrary; for since I have begun to read it, I have seen how much I have offended God, by the sins of which I was ignorant, and instead of making me worse, it makes me better. Do you not see then that this is not a bad book? Oh! said the curé, if you indeed become better, you may read the book. So saying he left him.

Another person, also, in the neighbourhood of II, having confessed that she read the New Testament, the curé told her that she ought to burn it, or at least send it to him. But when she was left alone she

could not resolve upon such a deed. Her book appeared to her so beautiful that she began to read it again, in consequence of which she became more attached to it. When she returned to the confessional, she told her confessor that she could not refrain from reading a chapter or two of her New Testament every day, and that she could not understand why he wished to prevent her reading it. The cure then told her that she might read it; but that she must not speak of it to any one; and, also, that she could eat flesh on Friday, and during Lent for her health. She perceived why he spoke thus to her. Then she gave herself to meditation,-praying the Lord that he would open the eyes of her mind, for already she had seen that they taught lies in her church, and that the doctrine of the priests was not in harmony with the word of God. I have had several conversations with her, the effect of which has been to detach her more completely from the Church of Rome. She sees herself condemned before God. She feels herself already one of the flock of Jesus Christ; and instead of keeping the word of God concealed, she has bought the New Testament for one of her friends.

I have again attempted to work at Gbut have met with the same indifference and derision as before. I thought, indeed, that there was little prospect of the word prospering there.

In the other localities where I have travelled, I have found here and there some one willing to be instructed. I read to them a chapter when I was able,-making some reflections, and engaging them to read the word of God, or to procure it for themselves if they did not yet possess it.

Ragged School Union, London-Fifth Annual Report.-The labours of the Ragged School teacher are confined to a class of children which could be reached by no other means a class to which no other agency is suitable; and the result presented in the Fifth Annual Report of the London Ragged School Union, in common with those of other associations throughout the land, are such as cannot fail to be interesting to all who are concerned for the improvement, and the moral and spiritual well-being of the neglected juvenile population--more especially of our large towns. The children attending these schools are largely composed of street prowlers, venders of fruits, watercresses, and flowers; many of them are convicted thieves and pickpockets, well known to the police. Their poverty is extreme. A large portion of them are orphans thrown at an early age upon the world. Finding it utterly in vain to attempt to procure an

honest livelihood, they tread in the steps of their parents, and are eventually convicted and imprisoned. Thus they go on, till they reach manhood, when they present us with an additional force of swindlers, burglars, convicts, and murderers.

But the Ragged Schools have, in many cases, been instrumental in preventing this fearful result. The report referred to above mentions that 150 of the pupils under the care of the Ragged School Union have received from the government commissioners a free passage to South Australia, and some of them have written very interesting letters home to their friends and patrons.

The number of schools is now 82; of these, 30 are open daily under paid teachers; above 50 are open several evenings a week; and nearly 20 have industrial classes, in which the pupils are instructed, the boys in tailoring, shoemaking, and other arts, and the girls in sewing. The number of children has been estimated at about 15,000-this does not include 8,500 Sunday scholars; but many of these attend also on the week evenings-the average actual attendance is not more than 8,000. The committee of the Union have given £587 to assist in fitting up and furnishing 26 of these schools. They have also promised to pay half the expense that any school may incur by improving the ventilation of its rooms, and sixpence a head for school materials to needy schools.' Large numbers of bibles have been purchased by the pupils, at a charge of sixpence each, by which a loss of £50 has been incurred by the society. The paid teachers number 110, voluntary about 850. It is gratifying also to be able to state, that the finances of the society are in a prosperous condition. The subscriptions have risen in one year from £89 to £338; while the donations have risen from £520 to £3,168.

Scottish Society for the Conversion of the Jews.-The above society, under the title of The Scottish Society for the Conversion of the Jews to the faith of Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, the promised Messias, and the Saviour of the world,' was formed in Glasgow in the summer of 1848, being the expansion of a local association which had existed in that city for some years. The directors, finding that its sphere of operation was limited, resolved to look beyond that city, alike for scenes of labour and friends of the cause, and hence the form of organisation which it has assumed. The society has already one agent, Mr Elvin, a converted Jew, labouring with zeal and success among his brethren in Hamburg.