*

nothing of the sort is to be done. Sir R. Peel and Sir J. Graham are understood to have been favourable to one of these plans, but they have been successfully resisted by the Duke of Wellington, Lord Stanley, and some others. The ministerial organs now tell us that there is an average crop in Britain, out of which the deficiency in Ireland, occasioned by the decay of the potatoes, may be supplied. We should be sorry to act the part of alarmists; but all this is quite unsatisfactory to us. When they talk of an average crop, quality as well as quantity must be taken into consideration; for quality, as including nutritive properties, actually is quantity. Now, the quality of this year's crop is notoriously inferior, and that there is a considerable loss of pctatoes in Britain as well as Ireland, every one knows. Besides, it is not an average crop that would suffice, even though Ireland could supply itself. The average crop of the last ten years would be sufficient only for the average population of the last ten years; whereas, during that time, the people have been increasing at the rate of 3 or 400,000 a year. There must this year be about 1,500,000 consumers more than there were on an average during the preceding decade of years. But though there were not, how is an average crop in Britain to afford supplies to Ireland, without leaving ourselves in starvation, or reducing us to the necessity of a large importation, subject to a heavy duty? and, what is worse, of using home-grown grain raised to a famine price, for behoof of the landlords, to the detriment of all the other classes in the community, and the absolute ruin of not a few of them? The rumour has become prevalent, that large sums of money will be voted for carrying on public works in Ireland, which may perhaps be just almost directly improving the estates of the Irish landlords; but surely an indignant nation will protest against such a wasteful and profligate expenditure of its resources. Whatever may be the consequences, physical or moral, of not immediately opening the ports for the admission of foreign grain, the responsibility ought unquestionably to be fastened on Sir Robert Peel. It is nothing to say that his cabinet will not yield. He can dismiss his refractory subordinates. He can, at all events, resign. The League will see to it, that he be held individually and personally answer

able.

The Established Church in Edinburgh and Glasgow.-From tables lately submitted to the Town Council of Edinburgh, it appears that in the city churches there are just 6183 seat-holders, and 9464 unlet sittings; that L.10,667 being assessed on the town for the support of the 18 clergymen, consequently the religious instruction of each seat-holder costs the community, for preaching alone, 35s., besides a number of expensive et ceteras connected with the fabric of the church, and the conducting of the service; that of the 6,183 seat-holders, only 2635 pay any part of the stipend tax; and that of the stipends of the clergy, only about one-fifth falls on those who enjoy their ministrations, the other four-fifths being extracted from the pockets of dissenters, who have their own religious institutions to maintain. In the High Church there are two clergymen, whose joint stipend amounts to L.1185. Of this the seat-holders pay only L.106. In the Tron Church there are also two clergymen, and there the seat-holders pay L.77, 9s., leaving L.1107, 11s. to be paid by the rest of the community.-In Glasgow, the seat rents, which are appropriated directly to the maintenance of the clergy, amounted last year to L 2843, while the cost of the establishment was L.4542, leaving L. 1699 to be made up out of the common funds of the city. It is said that the inevitable consequence must be, either the bankruptcy of the corporation, or the imposition of a tax, direct or indirect, on the inhabitants for the support of the church. All this needs no comment. The abolition of the establishment is a question only of time. Scottish Episcopal Church.-Many of our readers may be aware that there are a few Episcopal chapels in Scotland, which, for one reason or another, have ceased to be subject to the bishops in Scotland. The ministers and congregations in these chapels have indulged the notion that they, nevertheless, were in good standing as Episcopalians, and might have all the necessary

They are now alleging, too, that this deficiency has been exaggerated. It is a fact, however, that the dignitaries both of the Established and Roman Catholic church have directed the public use of prayers made for times of famine.

offices performed for them by bishops in England. This, they have now learned, is a mistake. The Archbishop of Canterbury said, under date 19th August last, "Of congregations in Scotland not acknowledging the spiritual jurisdiction of the bishop in whose diocese the chapels are situate, yet calling themselves Episcopalians, we know nothing. In order to prove their right to this designation, they should be able to show what bishop in England has authority, by law or custom, to regulate their worship, and to direct and control their ministers in respect of discipline or doctrine. In default of such proof, they cannot be considered as Episcopalians, though the service in their chapels may be performed by clergymen who have been regularly ordained by a bishop." The Bishop of Exeter speaks in still stronger terms; and the Bishop of London is of the same mind. Amongst the Scottish Episcopal clergy disconnected with their bishops, the Rev. Sir W. Dunbar, of Aberdeen, is one, he having been some time ago excommunicated by Dr Skinner, bishop of that diocese. Whether the above declarations by the English bishops has had any effect on him we do not know, but he has just raised an action in the Court of Session against Bishop Skinner, concluding for a declaration by the civil court, that the excommunication lately pronounced against him is null and void, and of no force with respect to him as minister of St Paul's, Aberdeen; and further praying that damages to the amount of L 5000 be awarded against the bishop. Respecting the issue of such a case, we care comparatively little; but it will be somewhat interesting to see whether the court will find that they have jurisdiction. If they do, we presume it will be on the ground that the Scottish Episcopalians, though not established, are recognised by law. We hold as an invaluable principle, that civil courts have no right to interfere with the discipline of dissenting churches, but then these churches must forego all privileges from special acts of the legislature. Secessions from the Church of England.-Since we last adverted to this topic, about eight or ten Oxford men, including the Rev. J. H. Newman, B.D., Fellow of Oriel College, have followed Mr Ward into the Church of Rome. Mr Newman was properly the originator of the semi-Popish scheme, which now bears the name of Puseyism, but was at first called Newmania. These persons receive, and are so far entitled to credit for sincerity in renouncing their preferments and their prospects in the Church of England; but the Bishop of Llandaff is clearly right also in questioning the honesty of holding and advocating Popish sentiments for such a length of time, and still conforming to the ritual, and taking the advantages, of the Establishment. Dr Pusey, speaking of Mr Newman's withdrawal, says, " It is perhaps the greatest event that has happened since the communion of churches was interrupted. * * * It is the intensest loss we could have had." But he adds, "Those who have won him, know his value. * * * Our church has not known how to employ him. He seems to have not so much gone from us as been transplanted into another part of the vineyard, where the full energies of his powerful mind can be employed, which here they were not. *** He has gone as a simple act of duty.' After all this, why does Dr Pusey not go too? The Tablet, a Roman Catholic organ, speaks of Mr Newman having laboured for fifteen years to place the Anglican theory on a sound basis in his own mind and before the public-of his having to contend with every prejudice against Romanismand of his being obliged to yield, step by step. "Never," it adds, was any testimony more complete than that of Mr Newman, to the baselessness and rottenness of Anglican theology, and the necessity of the authority of Rome." New Irish Colleges.-Sir R. Peel has appointed the Principals of these institutions-two of them Roman Catholics, and one a Presbyterian, a member of the Irish General Assembly. That in this he has shown a degree of tact and good policy we do not dispute; but in the praise he is receiving for liberality we cannot concur. The whole is part and parcel of a scheme for bolstering up the Established Church, by bribing all other parties anywise powerful, and so buying off their hostility. To have appointed Episcopalians to these principalities, would have thwarted his oblique and tortuous Irish policy. O'Connell, and the Catholics generally, we believe, are declaring their hostility to the colleges as strongly as ever.