expired. Strange to say, the murderer was permitted to escape, though it is said that he broke his leg in leaping from the President's box, and rode for miles before he had surgical assistance. Almost at the same minute, another assassin rushed into the house of Secretary Seward, whom he found in bed severely suffering from a broken jaw, caused by an accident when thrown from his carriage a few days before. He aimed several stabs at him, but happily none of them were mortal. His son hastening into the room, the miscreant stabbed him too, but again without inflicting a mortal wound. He then turned upon and murdered an attendant. He too was permitted to escape, and it is not certain that he has yet been discovered. Wilkes Booth, the murderer of the President, was an actor. He was pursued into Maryland, and at length discovered in a barn. When driven to bay, he refused to surrender; fire was set to the barn, and he turned upon his pursuers, and was shot down, leaning upon crutches and in the act of discharging a gun or pistol. He died cursing the Federals, and the only sign of human feeling he displayed was a parting message to his mother. A few days afterwards, General Johnston surrendered to Sherman, on the same generous terms which Lee had previously received. President Davis fled for his life, and left no provision for a dictatorship or other form of government in his absence. At present, therefore, the cause of the Confederates is lost. We confess we are surprised that they should have shown so little firmness in adversity, after the patient heroism of the last four years. Whether peace will be restored, or state by state will still resist, or, without armed resistance, refuse to acknowledge the Union, remains to be seen. President Johnson has issued a proclamation equally foolish and wicked. He declares treason to be the greatest of crimes, and avows his intention to inflict condign punishment on the leaders of the rebellion. It would be well if, at such a moment, the Federals remembered their own crimes against justice and humanity-the atrocities of General Butler at New Orleans, and the execution of the twelve unoffending citizens, drawn out and hanged because a Federal citizen was missing, who soon afterwards returned, having merely been upon a visit among his friends. We remember the righteous indignation with which the late Mr. Elliott of Brighton denounced these murders, and bid his congregation be assured that the vengeance of God would surely follow. Our readers will see this in our number for December, 1862. We may now add, that having mentioned our intention of referring to it to Mr. Elliott, he requested that we would do so, for he wished the world to know, he said, his abhorrence of the crime. A proclamation has just appeared, signed by President Johnston, in which he charges President Davis with being an accomplice to the death of President Lincoln, and offers 100,000 dollars for his capture. Without further evidence, we do not believe the charge. The proclamation includes the names of four or five others, with different sums as a reward for their apprehension. These gentlemen do not hesitate to give the lie to President Johnson. They tell him that the charge of complicity he brings against President Davis is false, and meant only as a plea for his assassination; and that as to themselves, who are now safe in Canada, that if he will pay their expenses, and guarantee them a safe-conduct, they will present themselves before an American court of justice, and there dare him to the

proof of the foul charge he has brought against them. Several of the Southern Generals have also written to the Washington Government to protest against the imputation. The assassination of President Lincoln was heard of with horror at Richmond, and has met with no approval from any class in the Confederate States. The Confederates still threaten to collect their few forces in Texas, beyond the Mississippi, and there to prolong their resistance. But active warfare is at an end; and now new difficulties begin to confront the Federals, which will require more temper, caution, and forbearance than they have hitherto displayed, or the consequences may be very serious to themselves. However, slavery is at an end. We owe this neither to North nor South, but to that wonder-working God who makes the wrath of man to praise Him, and brings good out of evil. Meantime the North is full of the wildest rumours. At one time, Canada has done it all; the next day, there are five hundred conspirators banded together to assassinate all they meet with who are obnoxious to their principles; then there is a plot for burning down all the great towns and cities in the Federal States. In fact, it is the reign of uproar and confusion, and panic sits at the helm, and, in the midst of her triumphs, guides the vessel of the State.

At home, we have, on a small scale, our own domestic horrors. Constance Kent has appeared before the magistrates to charge herself with the guilt of the Road murder four years ago. She declares that

it was done from no other motive but to spite her step-mother. On the truth of this, till she has stood her trial, for which she is committed to the next Salisbury Assizes, we shall not say a word; though many strange thoughts suggest themselves. She stood before the magistrates between Mr. Wagner, jun., of Brighton, her Father Confessor, and Mrs. Graem, the Mother Superioress and spiritual mother to Constance Kent. Both Mr. Wagner and the Lady Superior volunteered to inform the magistrates that they should reveal nothing that had been repeated to them under the seal of the confessional. The magistrate reminded them that they were sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; but they still persisted. We are glad they have brought this question to an issue; for, if once allowed in our criminal courts, there is an end of all justice, and the sooner this is known the better. One of the articles of Magna Charta is that justice shall be denied to no man, neither delayed to any man; but if a juggling priest, whether of Rome or of Romanizing Anglicans, may thus manufacture his evidence, a court of justice will become nothing better than a solemn farce.

The apathy of England to the growth of Popery and of Romish principles, is indeed amazing. Yet we are not without hope. At several of the great meetings in May, the bold advances of Rome, and her insolent demand of fresh concessions, were spoken of with a degree of indignation, and with expressions of a determination to resist, which show that the heart of England is beginning to rouse itself. Dr. McNeile, at the Church Missionary Society's great meeting, addressed himself exclusively to the subject; showing how popery undermined all missionary principles at home, and thwarted all missionary efforts abroad. We never heard him speak with greater effect. The House of Commons may treat the subject as they do with contemptuous laughter, and the Times with an air of easy

contempt and ridicule. But the disclosures already made by Mr. Newdegate have excited a feeling of deep uneasiness in the country; and we are not without hope, that at the next Elections the voice of Protestant England may again be heard.

The Report of the Royal Commission for considering the terms of Clerical Subscription has been made and discussed in Convocation. There is an end of the "unfeigned assent and consent," and there are a few other changes. As remarked by a member of Convocation, they do not amount to much at present, but they are in the right direction. A few canons are to be altered, so as to bring them into harmony with the new form of subscription. But here the old

difficulty returns. Without the consent of the Irish Church it seems doubtful whether, even with the consent of the Crown and Parliament, such changes can be made, regard being had to the Act of Union which incorporated the Irish Church with our own.

A discussion arose on the laws of Simony, and the Dean of Ely remarked "that the most acute lawyer was not able to tell what was a simoniacal contract." As to the laws against simoniacal contracts, while they are on the statute book, they must of course be obeyed. But we have no respect for them. They are full of the most absurd inconsistencies. We regard them as Paley did, as a trap for the consciences of the clergy," and wish them swept away. The Bishop of Oxford said, that in the changes contemplated "there was not the slightest idea of taking away from the Church's testimony against the grave and execrable sin of simony." We ask what is the sin of simony, or how in these days can it be committed? It certainly has no connection with the buying or selling of presentations and advowsons. There may be a wicked and shameless traffic in these dealings; but it is not simony, and it appears to us to have nothing in common with it. The sin of Simon Magus was that he wished to buy the gifts of the Holy Ghost for money; a very different thing surely from wishing to buy the opportunity of preaching the Gospel for money. If such a sin can be committed now, it would seem rather to consist in offering money for admission to holy orders; a crime, we suppose, which few would have the audacity to perpetrate.

As we close, the mail arrives bringing the tidings of the capture of President Davis and hisstaff. Threats of vengeance upon them disgrace the New York press. If carried out, all Europe will stand aghast. But the new President is stern and moody, and will probably defy the remonstrances, should they be offered, of the whole civilized world.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Our correspondent HISTORICUS, with reference to the expression, "God himself died for the sin of man," refers us to the following passage from Hooker's Sermon on Justification, vol. 4, Keeble's edition, p. 610:-"Let it be accounted folly, or phrensy, or fury, or whatsoever, it is our comfort and our wisdom; we care for no knowledge in the world but this, that man hath sinned and God hath suffered; that God hath made himself the sin of man, and that men are made the righteousness of God."

We

Just received, D. C. on Kingsley's Four Sermons, &c., also two pamphlets which refer to a controversy hitherto carried on in other channels. must decline to re-open the important questions they raise.

Baptism and Baptismal Regeneration. By the Rev. Archibald Boyd, A.M., Incumbent of Paddington, and Hon. Canon of Gloucester. London: Seeley, Jackson, & Halliday. 1865.

THE little work before us contains the substance of lectures delivered by Canon Boyd during last Advent. The reasons which led him to the discussion of the subject cannot be better stated than in the words of the Preface.

"In a time of good understanding and attempted fellowship with those who dissent from our Church-a time marked by great concession and almost extreme forbearance on the part of the Church of England-it has pleased some of more zeal for party than for Christ, to lay lance in rest, and make a furious charge on the lines of our Zion; to indulge in not simply insinuations of our unsoundness, and temperate doubts as to the unscripturality of our usages, but in charges affecting the character of the ministers of that very section of the Church which has taken them and their brethren into confidence and fellowship. In language which disdains to be guarded, and glories in being unequivocal, nine or ten thousand ministers of the Church have been branded with meanness, sordidness, dishonesty, immorality, and falsehood. Hard terms these-so hard, that, unless proof were adduced of their actual use, men would be disposed to doubt the possibility of their utterance. But, unhappily, we can put incredulity to rest for ever by citation of some of the language used.

"That crafty kindness which inveigles men to sacrifice principle is the serpent in the grass-deadly to the incautious wayfarer. . . . It is time there should be an end put to the flirtations of honest men with those who believe one way and swear another. If men believe Baptism works regeneration, let them say so; but if they do not believe it in their hearts, and yet subscribe-and yet more, get their living by

subscribing to words asserting it, let them find congenial associates among men who can equivocate and shuffle, for honest men will neither ask nor accept their friendship.""

And still further, in a like strain, and language equally strong, Mr. Spurgeon proceeds to vilify Evangelical clergymen.

After regret that only in a very few honourable instances these sentiments have been disavowed by the ministers and members of that denomination to which the slanderer belongs,that they have been rather endorsed by approval than repudiated by generous indignation,-Mr. Boyd says:

"This it does seem to me to lie upon ministers of the Church to do to go into the consideration of the whole subject thus dragged forward for controversy; to offer to our flocks such instruction on it as may tranquillize their minds if disturbed, and confirm allegiance to the Church if shaken; and to prove that those who have indulged in such invectives have not only assumed most rashly the position of the 'accusers of the brethren,' but displayed, in the whole management of the argument and the entire current of the statements made, the most astounding, and-for men undertaking the education of congregations-the most unpardonable ignorance."

Canon Boyd has done his work well. Perhaps there are not many men among the clergy of the Church of England with better qualifications for handling such a subject. We need only refer our readers to his noble sermon before the Church Missionary Society last year, for an abundant proof of this. And he writes in a style perfectly simple, lucid, and vigorous, never meagre, never redundant. The spirit is that of one perfectly calm and collected, never injuring his cause by exaggeration, yet at times betraying signs of what we must call a manly and righteous indignation.

It is much to be regretted that the Evangelical clergy have for many years acted only on the defensive. They have been satisfied to repel the assaults made upon our offices of Baptism, rather than to maintain the true doctrines contained in them. Explanations they do require; for few of our people are acquainted with that grand old theology of which they form a part, or even with the real meaning of the theological terms employed. It is too common to hear pious persons, in other respects by no means ill-informed, speaking of our doctrine of Baptism contained in the Prayer-book as peculiar to the Church of England. We have again and again protested that the Church of England has no peculiar views on this subject. We have said, till we were ashamed of repeating it, that her doctrines are the doctrines of every orthodox church of the Reformation; and we have referred to their Confessions to prove the truth of our assertions. Canon Boyd brings a number of these quotations together. We will, once for all, avail ourselves of his labours, adding some quotations of our own.