opinion, that the civil court had no right to interfere with matters relating to ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

Dr CANDLISH said, that in regard to the particular offence which Mr Waddell stated at the bar, namely, the calling in the civil power to impede the exercise of spiritual discipline, and giving all possible weight to the expression of regret Mr Waddell had now made, and the expression of his opinion as to the right of the civil courts to interfere with the ecclesiastical, he was still of opinion, that they had not heard anything to supersede the necessity of marking their strong disapprobation of the step Mr Waddell allowed his agent to take. The precise offence for which Mr Waddell was cited to answer, was not simply for obstructing the Presbytery in investigating the fama against him, nor for holding erroneous opinions in regard to the civil power and its relation to the ecclesiastical; but it was, in substance and spirit, the very offence for which, some years ago, seven ministers in the Presbytery of Strathbogie were first suspended and then deposed by the Church. (Hear, hear.) Taking this very serious view of the offence, he could not but think that it was the duty of the Assembly to pass a sentence as lenient and kind as circumstances would justify, but yet such as would mark their sense of the heinousness of the offence. He would, therefore, take the liberty of proposing that in respect that this offence had been acknowledged by Mr Waddell, he be suspended from the functions of the holy ministry for six months to come; and, farther, he would take the liberty of proposing, in reference to the case on its merits, he meant the case of the fama against Mr Waddell,—that it be remitted to the Presbytery of Dunkeld to resume investigation into that or any other fama in respect to Mr Waddell, of which they may deem it proper to take cognisance; and since they were bound to expedite this case as much as possible, for the sake of all parties, he would empower the Commission, at any of its stated meetings, to dispose finally of it. (Cries of Agreed.)

Mr M'COMBIE of Leslie thought that as Mr Waddell had expressed his deep regret, and also his firm conviction that the course he had adopted was altogether improper, they ought to give every encouragement to him to return from this course, by accepting his acknowledgment as satisfactory, and by enjoining him in all time coming to beware of taking such a course again. He would, therefore, move that the proposal of Dr Candlish be not adopted.

Dr CANDLISH said, that if any member was satisfied with the singularly meagre apology that had been tendered, by all means he would have leave to do so. But he would urge on the House that this was a very serious matter; for if a Presbytery proceeded to examine witnesses, the party accused has but to throw out a threat of prosecution, and in this way he might come forward and make an apology after the witnesses were out of the way.

Mr SINCLAIR of Grange thought the motion of Dr Candlish was too severe; and for this reason, that it was the first case that had occurred. He was thoroughly convinced that the Assembly would consult its own dignity if it censured Mr Waddell, and at the same time expressed in the minute its determination in future to deal with the utmost severity with any attempts that may be made of this kind. Mr Sinclair moved accordingly.

Dr CUNNINGHAM said, there could be no excuse on the ground of ignorance. It was an express law of the Church in regard to an offender of this sort, that he was to be visited with summary excommunication without any process. He held that it was a matter of imperative duty; and that in the first case that came before them, they must not only give words, but deeds.

Mr M'COMBIE withdrew his motion; and that of Mr Sinclair not being seconded, the motion of Dr Candlish was adopted.

The Assembly then adjourned.

EVENING SEDERUNT.

The General Assembly met again this evening at half-past seven o'clock. After the usual devotional exercises, the Assembly called for the

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS.

"In reporting their proceedings for the past year, your Committee, as on a former occasion, have reason to acknowledge various encouraging manifestations of the Divine goodness towards your missionary enterprise, both in the events which have taken place at home, and in the results which have followed the labours of your missionaries abroad. In regard to home proceedings, your Committee would advert, in the first instance, to their transactions with the Glasgow Missionary Society. A memorial was presented to the last General Assembly by that Society, praying that the Assembly would adopt the mission established and long carried on by them in Africa with manifold tokens of the Divine favour, as a part of the great Mission Scheme of the Church. That memorial was remitted to your Committee, with instructions to give it the most favourable consideration. Your Committee did accordingly take the subject into their most serious deliberation; and after various conferences with the managers of the Glasgow Society-in the course of which the fullest and most satisfactory explanations were given of all the circumstances connected with the present state and management of the mission-your Committee felt themselves not only at full liberty, but bound, by a plain call of duty, to adopt, in your name, the Glasgow Missionary Society as an integral part of your general Foreign Mission Scheme. Accordingly, at a public meeting of the Society, held at Glasgow in October last, the property of the African mission stations was formally transferred to the Churchyour Committee undertaking, in your name, to provide for the maintenance of the mission in all its integrity and efficiency. And in making this transfer, the Glasgow Missionary Society manifested their satisfaction with the arrangement in such a way as can leave no room for your Committee to doubt that they will be found as zealous in the support of the mission-now that it is engrafted on the Mission Scheme of the Church-as when it was altogether dependant on them as a Society. All parties are satisfied that the Mission is now in the position which it ought to occupy, and that, by the blessing of God, its influence is likely to be greatly increased.

"Your Committee have the further satisfaction of reporting, in regard to home proceedings, that the zeal of the Church at large in the cause of missions has at least suffered no abatement. The second general collection on behalf of the Foreign Mission Scheme was sufficient to meet the expenses of maintaining the European missonaries; and the current expenses of the institutions at the different stations, including native teachers, servants, and school apparatus, was defrayed by the very liberal contributions of friends at those stations. As an example of the readiness with which the friends of missions at home are prepared to meet even extraordinary demands upon their liberality, your Committee would notice the complete success of a scheme devised and carried into effect by Alexander Thomson, Esq. of Banchory, for replacing the library and apparatus of which Dr Duff and his colleagues were deprived, when they were obliged to relinquish the missionary premises in Calcutta. Mr Thomson issued a circular, proposing to raise by subscription the sum of L.1000 for the above purpose that being the sum which he understood Dr Duff thought necessary to place the missionary institution on the same footing that it occupied before the disruption; and in a very few months he was able to announce the gratifying fact, that he had realized that sum. The friends of the mission in London and elsewhere continue to support it with their usual liberality.

"While your Committee have thus been encouraged, by the abundant supply of means for carrying on the work assigned to them, they have to record also many instances of God's goodness to his servants the missionaries, in regard both to their personal condition and their labours. To these it is only necessary very shortly to advert, as full details have been given from time to time in the Missionary Record; and your Committee begin with

"South Africa. With respect to this mission, your Committee have not received, in consequence of the irregularity of the mails, the full and detailed information, as to its present state, which they reckoned on. But they are able to announce the entire and cordial acquiescence of the missionaries in the arrangement that has taken place between the Assembly's Committee and the Glasgow Society. And in regard

to the progress of the cause in South Africa, a very gratifying testimony will be found in the last number of the Missionary Record, where, in two letters, of December and January last, giving a simple narrative of what was going on at that date, there is presented the interesting spectacle of a Christian church already formed amidst the darkness of heathenism, and continuing to receive application for admissions to membership from considerable numbers, and these apparently under deep and serious impressions of Divine truth. The same letters give a most favourable account of the seminary at Lovedale-one of the three stations-for the education of natives who give promise of being useful as instructors of their countrymen. Your Committee have good ground to believe that the African mission will continue to attract a larger share of the attention, and awaken a deeper interest in the mind of the Christian public, as its past history and present condition become better known. In connection with this branch of the mission, your Committee would submit, for the consideration of the Assembly, whether steps should not be taken for the establishment of a mission at the Cape. From information lately received, they are convinced that the station itself is a most important and promising one, and that facilities for entering on the occupation of it have occurred, which seem to render it the duty of the Free Church to do so without delay. They would suggest, therefore, that the new Committee on Foreign Missions, to be appointed this evening, be instructed to take the subject into their early consideration, and empowered to act therein as, in the providence of God, circumstances may warrant.

"In reviewing the mission stations in India, your Committee would commence with the last established—

66 Nagpur. The appointment of Mr Hislop to this new station was announced to the Assembly in the Report of last year, and intelligence has been received of his safe arrival, and the commencement of his labours there. Mr and Mrs Hislop, in company with Mr Mitchell of Bombay, reached Nagpur on the 13th of February, where their arrival is thus announced in a letter on the 22d of the same month, by the friend whose liberality mainly contributed to the establishment of a mission there: The ardent desire of our hearts has, in our Lord's good time, now come to pass; and we are called upon to render thanks to God for having given ear to our supplications; as on this blessed occasion, the times of refreshing have come from the presence of the Lord upon us, and upon this part of the heathen land in which we dwell.' Letters have since been received from Mr Hislop himself, as well as from Mr Murray Mitchell, since his return to Bombay, in which special mention is made of the kind reception which they experienced from Major Wynch, Captain Hill, Dr Eyre, Dr James Anderson, and other Europeans stationed at Nagpur, or in the neighbourhood; and on this subject your Committee cannot refrain from extracting a paragraph from Mr Mitchell's letter:

6

"In speaking of our reception by Europeans, we must not forget the warm greeting of the soldiers of the 21st, or North British Fusiliers, a regiment which contains upwards of 400 of the sons of Caledonia, among whom are not a few, we believe, who are truly walking with God, and all of whom welcomed the Scottish ministers with the kindest feelings of the Scottish heart. One circumstance connected with these men came upon us with delightful surprise. We had asked to see the men, who bear the character of pious men, and on their earnestly pleading that Mr Hislop should be their minister, we asked whether they knew of the late doings of the Church at home, and the separation from the State? Know it,' said they, there has been very little done at home for the last three years which we do not know.' And,' said we, somewhat doubtful of what would be the reply, which side do most of you take on the Church question?" We are Free Churchmen to a man!' was the reply. 'Every man of us that cares for any Church, is Free Church.' We were almost startled and exceedingly rejoiced by this prompt avowal from the lips of these pious, humble men in the heart of India. We thought that the Church at home would be cheered by this new voice from Hindustan, so unequivocally raised in vindication of the mighty verities for which she has been called to witness and contend. How deeply have many of her expatriated sons, of whose remembrance of her she knows not, felt for her in her trials! how fervent has been many a prayer for her

peace of which she little knows, but yet the answer to which has doubtless upheld her in weakness, and comforted her in her dark and cloudy day!'

"As a proof of the interest which Europeans take in the objects of the mission, Mr Hislop writes that the subscription in aid of its funds among the officers, amounts to about L.20 a-month, and that the warm-hearted soldiers will contribute a considerable sum more. Your Committee would recommend that Major Wynch, Captain Hill, Captain Penny, and Dr Eyre, be requested to act as a Financial Board for managing the pecuniary affairs of the mission. As the position of a Christian mission at the capital of an independent native state is necessarily a delicate one, your Committee would especially commend Mr Hislop and his three German assistants at Nagpur to the prayers of the Church.

"Poonah.-At this station, the Rev. James Mitchell has been labouring alone for some time, in consequence of the absence of the Rev. James Aitken, who has been obliged to remove to Bombay on account of his health. Mr Mitchell's own health, however, has been graciously preserved to him; and, with the assistance of his native teachers, his schools have been regularly carried on. In the course of the last year, the attendance of pupils at these schools suffered some diminution, in consequence of a growing jealousy among the Brahmin population, awakened by the conversions from their caste at Bombay, and other mission stations, and by the case of little Dada. But though this excitement had the effect of reducing for a time the number of pupils, Mr Mitchell cherishes the hope that it may be ultimately beneficial, inasmuch as it has brought the labours of the missionaries more prominently before the leading men among the natives; for whatever, says Mr Mitchell, tends to excite discussion and investigation must be to our advantage. The number of pupils in the two English schools is about 125; and in the five Marathi, about 365. Besides these, there are five Marathi 'girls' schools, attended by about 110 pupils. At the branch station of Indapur, there are five Marathi schools under the superintendence of Mr Drake, a very pious and devoted man. The number of boys, about 160. Some time ago, a good many of the children were suddenly removed from one of the schools, and on Mr Drake making inquiry as to the reason, he was told that they were all becoming mad, as even in their sleep they talked of Jesus Christ.

"Besides the general superintendence of schools, Mr Mitchell devotes a large portion of his time to preaching and the distribution of tracts; and though he laments that he sees so little of the fruit of his labour in the conversion of sinners, he is not without encouragement in his work. He has witnessed some pleasing instances of religious tracts being made the means of conveying to natives a considerable amount of religious knowledge, and of awakening a spirit of inquiry, and though he has not had lately any case of conversion, there are several individuals who are apparently under deep impressions of divine truth. Of the former converts he thus writes: 'With regard to the state of the native church, it is but a small and feeble body; but I am persuaded, it contains some who are precious in the sight of the Lord. There are now at this station twenty members-native converts-who, with many imperfections, and occasional improprieties in conduct and temper, have continued to hold on their way, professing their confidence in the Lord Jesus, and hope of eternal life through his shed blood. Though I have now and then had occasion to speak reprovingly to individuals, I have had no occasion to remove any of them from the communion.

"There have been no accessions by baptism to the church during the last year. One man has died in the faith. Connected with the church, there are eleven baptized children, under the care of their parents. Those of them who are old enough, attend one or other of the mission schools.

"At Indapur there is no church, though among the individuals who attend Mr Drake on the Lord's day, there are some who have long promised well, and seem to be under serious impressions. There are two families, especially, who have long given up the worship of idols, and not only attend divine service on the Lord's-day, but have the Scriptures read in their houses, and profess to pray constantly to God in the name of Christ.'

"The infant church at Poonah, though described by Mr Mitchell as a small and

feeble body, has in itself the means of perpetuity and increase, should God be pleased to vouchsafe his blessing. Twenty adult persons making a credible profession of faith in the gospel, and eleven baptized children, under the training of Christian parents, and a Christian minister, present a spectacle on which a Christian eye must rest with great satisfaction and delight, amidst the moral wilderness by which it is surrounded; and it cannot surely cease to be the prayer of the Church at home, that into this fold there may be gathered one and another of those miserable wanderers who are now scattered amidst the habitations of horrid cruelty, but who may yet be destined to hear and obey the voice of the good Shepherd.

"Bombay. The mission at this Presidency continues to be carried on by Mr Nesbit and Mr Murray Mitchell, aided for some time back by Mr Aitken. In July last, Mr Aitken was ordained at Poonah to the office of the holy ministry by the Presbytery of Bombay. In consequence of declining health, he was obliged to remove to Bombay; where, by the blessing of God, he is so far restored as to be able to give much efficient assistance to the work of the mission. During the past year, one convert, a female, a widow of the Parwari caste, has been admitted into the church by baptism. Her little child, a boy nearly two years old, was baptized on the Lord's day following. The native church at present consists of fourteen members. Most of them have conducted themselves with much propriety; and none have been excluded or suspended. The number is not one-half of what it has been at former periods, in consequence of the removal of considerable numbers to Poonah, and other places. Besides those who have been enabled openly to profess faith in Christ, there have been several individuals who appeared 'not far from the kingdom of heaven.' It is stated in the last report of the Bombay Free Church Missionary Society, that Narayan, the converted Brahmin, who was baptized in 1843, is visited by Brahmins and other high-caste men, who converse and dispute with him without reserve. Some of those who at one time seemed to be moving forward as speedily and firmly as himself, if not more so, are of the number of his visitors. They are reminded that they were once assuredly to come out with him. The reminiscence is painful; but it has not yet proved practical. They approve of what their companion has done; but they cannot go and do likewise. Some brought to the very threshold, have stepped back; so that up to this day, those of whom the fondest hopes were entertained, have not been strengthened to give up all for Christ. There is an increasing number of such cases; and it is agonizing to behold them. Yet the missionaries say they do not despair. They believe that the growing seed, checked, grows again, and ripens into fruit; and that concealed seed grows in its concealment, and bursts forth to view with a reality that cannot be mistaken, and a vigour that could not have been anticipated. And they refer to a remarkable instance of this in the conversion of a Mussulman munshi, formerly connected with Dr Wilson, and the history of whose death has been already published in the Missionary Record for March last.

"Your Committee regret that they have no intelligence to communicate regarding Shirpat, or Dada-the name by which he is better known in this country. The readers of the Record must be familiar with his case. The attempt to have him restored to caste has failed; and the brethren at Bombay still cherish the hope that he may be restored to them and to his brother Narayan; and that the agitation which his case has occasioned among the Hindus, may ultimately prove beneficial to the cause of truth.

"With regard to the Assembly's institution, which may be considered as the centre of your missionary operations in Bombay, the number of pupils has of late undergone little change. It amounts altogether to about 180. The system of education is superintended by the missionaries themselves, aided by Mr Cassidy, Hormazdji the Parsi convert, and Narayan the converted Brahmin, whose labours are becoming every day more efficient. It were difficult to overrate the importance of this department of your missionary undertaking; and it were most desirable, therefore, that means should be adopted for remedying the disadvantage under which your institution at present labours. That disadvantage is, the want of sufficient accommodation for necessary class-rooms. The new building, which was far advanced towards com