gave out a Psalm, in which the Synods and the whole attending multitude joined. The senior Moderator (the Rev. Dr Jamieson, Edinburgh, belong ing to the General Associate Synod) then rose, and called on the clerk of the Synod whom he represented to read their last minute. After the clerk had done so, the junior Moderator, (the Rev. Mr Balmer of Berwick, belonging to the Associate Synod,) in like manner, called on the clerk of the Synod whom he represented to read their last minute. The minutes read by the clerks in succession, were nearly in the same words, and to the following effect :

"The General Associate Synod having accepted the Basis of Union, and having, by the good hand of God upon them, now finished all their own business, and all preparatory arrangements, this Synod, with fervent gratitude to God for having led them thus far, and in humble dependence on his grace, to bless the solemn and interesting step which they are now about to take, and to enable them to improve the privileges, and discharge the duties which are about to devolve upon them in consequence of it-do resolve, and hereby record their resolution, forthwith to repair to the appointed place, that they may unite with their brethren of the other Synod, to be known by the name of The United Associate Synod of the Secession Church,' composed of the Associate (commonly called Burgher) Synod, and of the General Associate (commonly called Anti-Burgher) Synod, that they may henceforth walk with them in the fear of God, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, striving together for the faith of the gospel, for the purity of divine ordinances, and for the enlargement of the Church of Christ."

The articles which form the basis of union were then read, the whole members of both Synods standing.-After

this was done, the senior Moderator stood up and said, "I declare, in the name of the General Associate Synod, whom I represent, that the General Associate Synod is henceforth one with the Associate Synod ;" and the junior Moderator, in like manner, rose and said, " I declare, in the name of the Associate Synod, whom I represent, that the Associate Synod is henceforth one with the General As sociate Synod." The two Moderators immediately gave each other the right hand of fellowship, in which they were followed by all the ministers and elders belonging to both Synods.

The United Associate Synod now called the senior minister present in the house to take the chair, and officiate as Moderator. Accordingly, the Rev. David Greig of Lochgelly took the chair, gave out a psalm, and constituted the Court by prayer. He was succeeded by the Rev. Dr Pringle of Perth, and the Rev. Dr Hall of Edinburgh, the two next in seniority of the ministers present. The former led the devotions of the Assembly. After the devotional exercises were finished, the roll of the United Associate Synod was called by the former clerks, and business adjourned till Tuesday at 11 o'clock.

The multitude who witnessed this event, memorable in the history of the Secession, was immense. But, notwithstanding the pressure of the great crowd, eager to gain admittance, the whole was conducted with the greatest order.

An uncommon interest was excited this year in Scotland by the proceedings of the National Assembly of the Church. By order of council, a form of prayer for the Royal Family had been transmitted to the Moderator of the Church of Scotland; and which was chiefly remarkable by the omission of the Queen's name. This, how

ever, was generally considered as an irregular mode of dictation to a church which acknowledges no supremacy in the Sovereign; and the order was disregarded by several clergymen, particularly the Rev. Andrew Thomson of St George's Church. Mr Thomson followed up this step, by making the following motion in the next General Assembly:

"That it be declared by the General Assembly that no civil authority can constitutionally prescribe either forms or heads of prayer to the ministers and preachers of this Church; and that the orders in council which have been issued from time to time respecting prayers for the Royal Family, are inconsistent with the rights and privileges secured by law to our ecclesiastical establishment. But that as these orders appear to have originated in mistake or inadvertence, and not in any intention to interfere with our modes of worship, the General Assembly do not consider it to be necessary to proceed farther in this matter at present. And the General Assembly embrace this opportunity of declaring the cordial and steady attachment of the Church of Scotland to their most gracious Sovereign, and to all the Royal Family; and of farther expressing their unqualified confidence, that, actuated by the same principles of loyalty and religion which have hitherto guided them, her ministers and preachers will never cease to offer up, along with their people, their fervent supplications to Almighty God, in behalf of a family, to whom, under Providence, we are indebted for so many distinguished blessings, both sacred and civil."

This motion having been opposed by the Procurator, Mr Thomson observed, he was sorry he was now reduced to the necessity of defending his motion. He fondly hoped it would have met with no resistance. In de

fending it, he set out with the princi ple that the Church is altogether independent of the civil power-a privilege for which our forefathers bled, and which no power had yet taken away from them. In justification of this order of council, an act of Queen Anne was referred to, which enjoined the ministers of Scotland to pray for the branches of the Royal Family by name. But this act was necessary at that time, as many of the clergy of Scotland prayed for the Pretender, under the general name of Sovereign, which made it proper to ordain that the names of the Royal Family should be used, that there might be no such evasion. Besides, this was a statute, not an order a statute, for the disobedience of which, punishment could be inflicted; whereas no clergyman of the Church of Scotland could be compelled to obey this order; nor did the act authorize the Privy Council to assume a similar power, which shews the two to have no connexion with each other. The next act on which this order is said to proceed, is the 32d of Geo. III. ; but this act contains an injunction upon the Episcopal Communion, not the established Church of Scotland; and their obedience to it was a condition of their receiving certain immunities. He was aware of no other act which could afford a precedent for this order of council. It was said that this is not an imperative order, but only a recommendation; but does not the very title of it refute this idea? Is it not refuted by its imperative language, and the note affixed to it by the blank, namely, "that the same order be intimated to the clergy, that due obedience be given to it." It has likewise been urged, that there is no form of prayer prescribed in this order; but if not, for what end are the words of the prayer put in inverted commas? Does not this intimate, we are not to depart from the words there laid down? It is

time, he could not but disapprove most entirely of a sentiment he had expressed, namely, that the civil authority had been inattentive to the purity of the National Church. This, he would say, was a most unfounded surmise. The Crown had always shewn the highest respect and indulgent kindness to the Church of Scotland. Was not this particularly exhibited in the appointment to represent his Majesty in that Assembly of a distinguished nobleman of their own nation, whose character and conduct adorned the high station he held? by increasing the amount of the donation granted to the Church, to enable it to propagate abroad, particularly in India, its principles and doctrines? The reverend gentlemen was the only one for a century back who thought it necessary to put himself forth as a champion of the Church's rights and privileges; and he could not help thinking, that in this he had assumed to himself a high and presumptuous character. (Loud cries of Order! Order!) He would put a stop to this in one moment; he meant just to say, that he had taken upon him what no other had yet done; and in no other sense did he use the word presumptuous. He would object, in its present form, however, to the subject coming under discussion immediately on the back of the motion. The motion made by the reverend gentleman contained certain declaratory propositions affecting the very constitution of the Church; and it would be quite contrary to the established usage of the Church to harbour such a motion, and in fact any motion, till it has gone through the proper constitutional tribunal, the Committee of Overtures. He would therefore move, that the Assembly submit this motion previous to discussion, if it is to be discussed, to a Committee; and in the meantime, that they do adjourn.

Dr Cook entirely coincided with the right honourable gentleman, that the motion ought legally to be first submitted to a Committee, as it was the uniform practice of the Church to let no business come before them except through a Committee.

Dr Nicoll opposed the motion, and proposed that the house do now adjourn; but this was decidedly resisted by Mr Moncrieff, who supported the motion at great length.

The Lord-Justice Clerk was convinced the question should be met manfully and openly, and he would deprecate the idea that it should be imagined the Assembly wished to evade the motion. He did not see why the order should not be justly referred to the two acts which it alludes to, namely, that of Queen Anne and the 32d of Geo. III. The act of Queen Anne was not merely temporary, as an honourable gentleman maintained, for he had looked carefully into the Statutebook, and could not find it repealed. He deprecated an unfair construction which had been put upon the meaning of the term, "Sacred Majesty," made use of in the order, which an honourable gentleman seemed to think was meant to intimate that the Sovereign was the head of the Church; but this title, he would affirm, had not a vestige of connexion with such an idea. This term was applied to Queen Anne; and was any thing more common than for the Assembly to address the King by the title of "his most Sacred Majesty ?" There was no injunc tion in the order, he maintained, of any form of prayer, merely because the words to be used were in inverted commas. The Act of Queen Anne dictated certain words to be used, but still allowed the clergy to make use of their own words, and this order had no other meaning than that of the Act to which it referred. There ne

ver, he was persuaded, was a time when less doubt could be entertained, that the King, or Government, wished to encroach upon the rights of the Church of Scotland. Could they forget the gracious manner in which their deputation was lately received by the King-that they were admitted to a closet audience of his Majesty, and that he expressed his resolution always to support the constitution of the Church of Scotland? And were they in the face of this to declare, by assenting to such a motion, that almost the first act of his Majesty's reign was an act to encroach upon the privileges of the Church? Although certain words of prayer in this order was made use of, does that go to say these must be used, and no other? He would mention a case which would illustrate the matter. It often happens, when a clergyman is requested to remember in his prayer a sick person, that a paper is handed up to him, mentioning the name and case of the individual; but is the minister, on this account, to pray for that individual by using the very term written upon that paper? Certainly not; he may use any terms he pleases-and so in the case of this order. He could not help also remarking on the language which had been used, that there was an intention somewhere of invading the independence of the Church of Scotland. (Cries of No, no.) He certainly so understood it. The learned lord concluded by proposing a motion to the following effect:

"That whereas the independence of the Church of Scotland, in all matters of faith, worship, and discipline, is fully established by law, the General Assembly finds it unnecessary and inexpedient to adopt any declaration with regard to the late or any former order in council, relative to prayers for his Majesty and the Royal Family."

The first motion was supported by Mr J. A. Murray, and the second by Lord Hermand, Dr Lee, and Mr W. Cook.

Mr Thomson rose, and begged to be allowed for a few moments to reply to what had been said in opposition to his motion. He had been much obliged to a certain reverend doctor, (Dr Cook,) for reviving and refreshing his soul with a stream of constitu. tional truths. The learned doctor objected strongly to his motion being discussed or voted upon before it had been given over to a Committee of Overtures; but what was his conduct when the motion of the learned lord was proposed? why, he thought fit not to repeat his objection. (A laugh.) He must now say a word with regard to the learned lord, (Lord-Justice Clerk.) He found fault with the sentiments of a certain pamphlet written upon the subject now before the Assembly. He would only say this much, that he believed it would require all the learning and logic of those who had opposed him to-day to give a proper answer to the substance of that small pamphlet. But the learned lord spoke as if they were identified with the arguments of that publication; he had nothing to do with its sentiments; he must be allowed to think and act for himself, and be judged of by the sentiments he himself had expressed. He could not but make a remark upon an argument of the learn ed lord, with regard to the form of prayer enjoined, and which he had brought forward in a very grave and formal manner, but which, on this account, appeared the more ludicrous. "Suppose," says the learned lord, “a case where a clergyman is requested to remember in prayer a sick person, and a paper is handed up to him to that effect, the clergyman will never think it necessary to use in his prayer the exact words written on that pa