sioners, authors of the Voyage Métallurgique en Angleterre,' state that Peat is generally used on the Continent for the manufacture of iron; and that turf charcoal is fully equal, if not superior, to wood charcoal for all purposes of iron manufacture.'

"The untiring efforts of Lord Willoughby De Eresby have accomplished the preparation of an admirable fuel, even from the very inferior peat of Scotland and Wales; and razors, surgical instruments, and the finest works on steel made by it, have been found to be of the most superior kind: this fact alone demonstrating its great value.

"Smiths, iron ship-builders, engineers, mill-wrights, boiler-makers, gunsmiths, &c., will derive both benefit and profit from its use in their smithies; as it imparts superior strength and malleability to iron in the forging; and its cost, when the calorific effect is calculated, will not exceed that of the usual smith's coal.

"The produce from lead, and other ores smelted by it, is greatly increased in quantity and purity; and copper, brass, zinc, tin, &c., will be rendered more ductile, and otherwise much improved, by its use.

"For kiln purposes, in drying grain, malt, hops, pease, beans, &c., and in every instance where a pure and powerful heat is desirable, it will be found peculiarly economical.

"As a fertilizer or manure, its yaluable qualities have been fully pointed out in the published Report above referred to.

"The Royal Agricultural Society of England have since awarded a prize for an essay on its use and advantages. Baron Liebig, M. Lucas, and Professor Lindley, Agricultural Gazette,''Farmer's Gazette,' 'Farmer's Journal,' Farmer's Magazine,' Gardeners' Chronicle,' ' Literary Gazette,' 'The Mark Lane Express,' &c., all concur in its great value as a

manure.

For sanitary purposes, prepared peat charcoal has been recently proved to be the best disinfecter, absorber, and deodorizer known, its effect being instantaneous and continuous.

"Drainage tiles of a superior and

lasting description have been made of peat. A recent communication from James Russell, Esq., Dunlewey, Donegal, (an English gentleman, possessing large property in Ireland,) states the cost to be about 4s. per 1000.'

"The peat bogs of Ireland extend over 3,000,000 acres. It is the object of the society to prepare from these, by means of the overplus labour of the country, an article which must command almost unlimited sale; while general employment will be given to the inhabitants, and the land reclaimed for profitable cultivation. The drainage of the bogs is shown to be neither difficult nor expensive, by the Reports of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into the nature and extent of the several bogs in Ireland, and the practicability of draining and cultivating them; and the society have already agreed with the Marquis of Sligo and Lord de Freyne for large tracts of bog land, admirably situated in the counties of Mayo and Roscommon; and are in communication with the landed proprietors in several other counties on the subject.

"It is intended that the plan of operations shall be upon the principle laid down in Report to the Relief Commissioners-namely, by taskwork' and 'money payments.'

"The society purpose establishing, in desirable positions throughout the country, stations for the final drying and preparation of peat, and its conversion into charcoal; having at each, one confidential officer, to be aided by a sufficient number of labouring assistants; paying at once in money a given sum per measure for all peat brought in for sale by the peasantry, on their piling it in the drying-houses. And with the view more fully to promote the objects of the society, it is proposed to rent or purchase bogland, on which the peasantry shall be employed, to be paid in like manner; the society providing every necessary facility, and a simple apparatus for cutting and preserving the peat, in any weather sufficiently dry for outdoor labour.

"Before the introduction of railways, the import of coal into Ireland

from £300 to £500, and need never exceed the latter sum; consequently, a very small portion of the capital will suffice for plant:' the principal amount being at all times available in money or stock, almost immediately convertible.

"It is the hope of the Society that the Irish labourer will be encouraged in industry, by paying him according to the extent of his labour. His payment shall be weekly, unless a casual labourer or a seller of peat, when it shall be prompt; that he may be taught the value of time by example, and induced to use it to advantage.

"It is intended, as land is cleared of peat, to divide it into holdings, of an extent suited to the district, with buildings of improved construction; and to let some of these farms to those whose industry has been most conspicuous at each station, provided they have saved sufficient capital for undertaking the culture; and in process of time it is also intended, under certain restrictions, to provide the deserving labourer with a cottage and small garden. In all cases power will be reserved to take immediate possession, should a division of holdings be attempted.

"To Ireland the value of this measure may be estimated by the fact that, when fully carried out, at least one million of money will be paid annually for labour in cutting peat alone, to the now but half-employed labouring class, in addition to large sums for carriage, &c.; and from 2,000 to 3,000 acres of the most valuable land may be reclaimed yearly, particularly fitted for the culture of flax, which may be made to distribute at least an equal annual amount.

"The promoters,* whose names are a sufficient guarantee for their sincerity, earnestly appeal to the wellwishers of Ireland and the empire at large to make themselves acquainted with the objects they contemplate, and to assist in effecting them. They

* They include the names of the Marquis of Ely, the Marquis of Ormonde, Lord Lorton, Lord Ashley, &c. The offices are at 2, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, and 6, King William Street, City, where any information can be obtained.

do not ask for alms for the idle-they only ask that those who can well afford such aid, should take one or more shares of £10 in this undertaking, and thus enable the society gradually to establish 200 stations in different parts of Ireland, each of which will form a nucleus for an industrious, improving, and happy community. The promoters have applied for and expect to be incorperated by royal charter. They are sanguine of success in their efforts, if duly supported by the public; and they pledge themselves to spare no exertion to place the society on such a footing as to make that success certain. The wealth to be derived from the peat bog is incalculable, and cannot fail to be of great national benefit, inasmuch as it is impossible to realize it without, at the same time, effecting the more important views of the Irish Amelioration Society,'— that of permanently improving the Moral and Social condition of the Poor of Ireland.

CLERICAL EDUCATION SOCIETIES. We are inclined to believe that, amidst the many tokens for good which present themselves in the present day, not the least important and encouraging is the rapid increase of willing and suitable helpers for the prosecution of our Saviour's work. We have already had occasion to notice this with reference to the Missionary College at Islington. We have similar proof of it in the numbers of promising young men who are offering themselves for the adoption of the various clerical educational societies. Those so acting are in the greatest want of more liberal support. The following is an extract from the 31st Report of the London Clerical Education Society:

"Unless, therefore, a considerable augmentation takes place in the society's pecuniary means, your committee again call the attention of their friends to this painful fact, that in the course of two or three years at farthest the labours of your committee must be so greatly contracted, that instead of laying before their friends, as they do at this meeting, that twenty-six

students have received assistance, they must have to report that not more than half that number have been or could be aided. And thus a society, whose beneficial labours are becoming year by year more visible, whose operations are also daily becoming more needed, and whose efficiency it is but fair to suppose becomes through experience greater, will be seriously checked in its career." The Rev. J. Hambleton, Islington, London, is secretary to this society, and will gladly receive subscriptions, or give any information.

The Clerical Education Aid Fund has the same important object in view, and is in equal need of enlarged support:-"Fresh applications are coming in almost daily from clergymen in various parts of the country. Shall the list of such applications be increased without any prospect of meeting the wants of men who are ready to give themselves to the work? Shall the prayer daily rise up before the Lord of the harvest for more labourers to be sent forth into the harvest, and when an answer is given to that prayer by those who come forward and say 'send us,' shall disappointment issue from that quarter whence a helping hand is expectedthrough want of that gold and silver which are the Lord's, of which he makes his people stewards, and for the use of which he will demand a strict account? It cannot be! The committee are persuaded that the Christian public only require the case to be plainly stated in order to its being met; they are satisfied there is wealth enough in the nation to supply the wants of this and of every other religious and charitable society in the land; they would therefore raise a voice of supplication, feeble

6

though it be, they would say to every soul which has tasted the sweetness of redeeming love, come over and help us and to the consideration of every true disciple of the Lord Jesus they would commend the object they have taken in hand, reminding such, that souls are perishing, that means to prevent this are to be employed, that such means are pointed out in Romans x. 13, 14, 15." The Rev. T. R. Redwar, 18, Sergeants' Inn, Fleet Street, London, is the secretary of this society.

set.

INCREASE OF CRIME.-We regret to find that crime is fearfully on the increase in the county of DorIt would be well to institute a strict and impartial inquiry as to the cause. It was stated sometime ago, that in no county of England are the labourers more inadequately paid than in Dorsetshire. Now, if hard-working men, with large families dependent upon them, are still scarcely earning more than seven or eight shillings a-week, can we wonder that crime should prevail? We do long to see a more extended sympathy and interest at work on behalf of the agricultural as well as manufacturing poor. The dwellings of the former are in a most deplorably wretched state in many parts of England. For instance, between Bath and London. In no mountainous and secluded parts of the north of England, do more wretched hovels present themselves than are to be seen on the line of railroad from Bath to London. Surely, when the interests of morality as well as health are so largely at stake in this matter, the duty of all who are responsibly connected with it is manifest.

HAMBURG.-You will be pleased to hear that our work, though on a small scale, has been much blessed. In the Roman Catholic districts particularly is a desire felt to read our tracts. One friend in Hildisheim, the former seat of a popish bishop

prince, having applied for tracts to make an experiment whether he could get any one to read them, soon found the demand so great, that in one week he sold upwards of 2,000, chiefly to young people who came to inquire for them. Our colporteur writes from

Cologne that three Roman Catholics have been brought to seek after their souls' salvation by means of the tracts, and are about to forsake Popery. Another writes, "Often dispirited in my work, the Lord sends me comfort. Lately attended a missionary meeting, where I found many pious people, so that I did not know to whom to give the hand first. Among the rest was a wealthy farmer, to whom I had twice given tracts, but had received nothing for them. I found myself wonderfully drawn towards him. After the meeting we went together to an inn, where he ordered dinner. I did the same, though I had been invited to dine with a Christian family in the neighbourhood. At table I told him various stories of conversions, and how the tracts, despised as they are by the world, had been so often the means of bringing back the lost. The farmer was silent. I was sorry that I had wasted so much time. Reproached myself by thinking it was because he was rich that I had remained so long there. After a few weeks I received a letter stating that the conversation that day at dinner had made a deep impression on him.

He had learned to know and feel his misery. He begged to have a Testament and a number of tracts, and sent two dollars for the Tract Society ; and concluded, 'If you ask how does this happen, my only answer is, The love of Christ constraineth me.""

CHINA. The following letter is addressed to Miss Chesney and the other ladies, by the Secretary to the Chinese Union, and bears date, Hong Kong, 2nd day of eleventh monthNovember 27, 1848.

"A respectful communication. We shall, according to promise, relate some few events that took place during the last month. At Nanning in Kwangse, a small congregation was gradually formed. The people had been much suffering from a fearful epidemic disease, which carried off a great many, and they therefore gave heed to doctrines about the immortality of the soul, and a glorious resurrection. Amongst the believers were

three widows, who had been much tried by sufferings, and three young ladies, who made open profession of Christianity. To testify their gratitude the new converts subscribed 100 dollars, mostly the gift of the poor, to circulate the word of God in those distant regions. Whilst these things were going forward, a deputation arrived at Nanning, from Tarping, near the frontiers of Tunkin, to beg that a preacher might be sent to that district. One of the individuals came even to Hong Kong to enforce the request, and make himself intimately acquainted with the everlasting Gospel. This morning a gentleman arrived from the same place, with a very urgent letter of recommendation that he might receive instruction, and afterwards become the instrument of conveying the eternal truth to his townsmen. Little as we can expect from our Mandarins to aid in this great and glorious cause, it affords us, nevertheless, satisfaction to record three exceptions upon this general rule. In Kweichoo province a small Church has been established, and some evil-minded persons endeavoured to disturb the worship of the few Christians. Upon this the magistrate of the district issued an edict, declaring the Gospel as excellent and well-calculated to lead the people to virtue; yea, that it contained principles like those laid down by Kung foo tsye and Mang tsye. This is the greatest praise a pagan in our country can convey. Such a declaration has now very much contributed to move the minds of the people, the number of believers have increased, and contributions for circulating tracts in that land have cheerfully been given. Another proclamation by a magistrate in Yunnan, confers the privilege of the free exercise of Christianity. There a Mandarin has declared his firm belief in the Saviour, and received baptism, in conjunction with others. In Yankway province a similar happy result has accompanied the promulgation of the divine oracles, and an officer, who heard that the preacher was much abused as an heretic, and even in danger of being attacked by some vagabonds, instantly