what different spirit, looking after these where there was no Presbyterian Church, I should gladly have given them all the help in my power, and have rejoiced in their efforts. I would, therefore, suggest to this Free Church that she might appoint a deputation to proceed with our committee to the War Office, and to claim that we should be recognised precisely as the Scotch Established Church is; so that, were we to take up a position in a garrison town where there was no other Presbyterian church, we should not be supplanted by any one coming afterwards from the Establishment. (Applause.) I was for two years myself a chaplain to the Royal Hospital at Netley, and found that nine-tenths of all the men registered as Presbyterians belonged to other sections of the Presbyterian Church than the Establishment. They belonged to the Irish Presbyterian Church, to the United Presbyterian, and almost the whole Highland brigade to the Free Church; while the Welsh Fusiliers belonged to the Welsh Calvinistic body; and those who were Baptists and Independents were also registered as Presbyterians. I therefore think that a good case might be made out if we were to proceed to the War Office and claim to be recognised in the manner I have stated. We wish for no advantages, but for a fair field and no favour. (Applause.) There is another matter to which I would wish to call the attention of this Assembly. There are a large number of Scotchmen and Scotchwomen who proceed south at the beginning of winter, and live there throughout that season of the year, in order to have the benefit of our more genial climate. From Hastings, I may say from Dover on to Falmouth, you will find every five miles Scotch invalids. Many of those have to go either to other than Presbyterian churches, or to stay away from religious ordinances. The Ritualists have shown great wisdom in the manner in which they set up district churches for the floating population; and in this way they carry their poison into many families. I know that there is a little difference of opinion whether it is right to countenance Presbyterian propagandism. We, however, do not raise that question, but we simply come to this house to tell you that there are Presbyterians who go to stay for a short time at Torquay, Weymouth, Bridport, and other watering-places, and that if support were given for the formation of stations, the nucleus of a good congregation would be formed, while we would do what would be acceptable to many of these invalids, who would also give us assistance. Why might not Presbyterian congregations be formed in this way at Ventnor, Isle of Wight, Exmouth, Bridport, and other places, where there is a considerable Scotch population; and why should not invalid ministers of your own Church, before they are broken down in health with hard work, be invited to come and minister at these places for a short time? Were this done, by rest and change of climate many a valuable life would be spared for the service of the Church. (Applause.) Another point to which I would invite your attention is in reference to the southern counties of England. In all the towns south, from the Thames and the Severn, there are a very large number of boarding-schools; and these are supported by Scotch families, families from Ireland, and by parties from America. It is very remarkable that a large number of these schools are under the influence of the Tractarian and Ritualistic party. When at Brighton I went, on a week-day evening, into a celebrated Puseyite or Ritualistic church,

and found that the great bulk consisted of five or six boarding-schools. These schools are of the highest order and rank, and I know that in them are children from Scotland sent there to finish their education. Now, let me suppose that a Presbyterian family sends down its daughters to a school of this description. Will they not go back sneering at your Protestantism and Presbyterianism, and telling you that yours is not a respectable enough Church, and that it is not a Church to which anybody of respectability ought to show countenance? And will not principles be thus implanted in their minds subversive of all that religious training which they may have received in their earlier years? (Applause.) If we had Presbyterian congregations established in these towns, to which Presbyterian families of stability could send their children for their education, instruction could be sent to the Presbyterian ministers to make inquiry after them, and to see that their religious interests were properly attended to. In fact, I have determined myself, if I can only get anything like support, to establish two schools of high order in Southampton, one for boys and the other for girls, entirely under Presbyterian influence, while, at the same time, conducted by English ladies and gentlemen; and in this way, while giving the best possible education, care will be taken for providing for the spiritual interests of the pupils. (Applause.) If any member of this Assembly wishes to send any of his children, or if he knows of anybody doing so, I shall be happy to do all I can to see that their interests are in this way cared for.

Mr THOMAS MATHESON next addressed the Assembly. After stating that Mr Lockhart, the treasurer of their Home Mission Scheme, had been obliged to leave Edinburgh to attend to business of importance, he said-We, the English Presbyterian Church, seek to maintain a testimony for the truth in the south. The more we extend our system in England, the more will we commend the system of Presbyterianism in that land, and provide religious ordinances for those who may settle amongst as from Scotland. Many of these parties display a tendency when they proceed south to go to fashionable churches, instead of joining the more humble places of worship which we maintain. It is therefore of importance that we should do something by which our friends might be induced not to fall away from those religious ordinances in which they have been brought up. The Home Mission of our Church has been much occupied in assisting struggling congregations on the Borders in the north, where there is a considerable population, but where the people are not in circumstances to maintain worship amongst themselves without aid from without. Our Church has no Sustentation Fund such as your Church has; but by means of the Home Mission Fund, assistance is given in the way I have mentioned. So that at present not one of those congregations in the north has an income under L.100; and a great effort is at present being made to secure that none of our ministers shall have less than L.150. (Applause.) We have at present one hundred and sixteen churches and sanctioned charges, and I am glad to say that taking the poor and the prosperous ones together, our average income to each minister last year was L.213. (Renewed applause.) As already explained, our own Home Mission Fund is ample for our own home purposes; and if it were not for the desire to extend the Presbyterian system in England, we should not be here to-day to plead either for men or money.

But in 1862 our friends of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, looking at the matter in an enlightened way, sent us word that they were prepared to send us the sum of L.700 if we would spend it on Church extension in England, and if for every pound that they sent we should raise another. (Applause.) This really was the beginning of our Church Extension Scheme. In 1863 we formed a Church Building and Debt Extinction Fund. An amount was raised of L.25,000, which was multiplied into something like L.150,000 by the mode of operation. The income of our Home Mission Fund in 1858 was only L.650, but last year it was L.1300. The expenditure in 1858 was only L.800, but last year it was L.2000. Of that L.2000 only L.700 was spent on the ordinary work of the Church, and L.1300 was spent for Church extension. The appeal made last year to you in Scotland yielded a net sum of nearly L.2000. That sum is to be spent entirely on Church extension purposes. You will understand that in providing new stations in England we give L.500 to the congregations, but we have no wish that any Church-extension charge should be set up unless there is a distinct expectation, not only of its being self-supporting, but of its becoming a Churchextension Church itself. (Cheers.) We have, as I have already indicated, taken up the question of the support of the ministry, and there is a very great desire to raise the standard of ministerial income. During last winter a committee of elders was formed to take charge of this matter, and we have been going on in the work. Our object is that the standard should be raised all through the Church, but especially that our town congregations should not be left in a miserable starving condition. (Applause.) I am glad to say that already a considerable increase has taken place. We wish through the ordinary sources to secure that ministers should be maintained, and in addition that incomes should be supplemented where necessary, so that an adequate sum of from L.400 even to L.500 and L.600 a-year should be the income of our ministers. (Applause.) I am glad to say that already we have one congregation giving L.700 to their minister, two giving L.600 each, and about six giving from L.500 to L.550 a-year each; and cases of this kind will, we hope, increase. (Renewed applause.) In conclusion, I would observe that I regard the Free Church somewhat in the light of a nursery-garden. You have valuable plants, some of which, however, are too thickly planted together. Might I suggest that if we could only get some of these plants moved to our southern climate it would be the means of doing good to themselves and benefiting us, for were that done all would be benefited, and they would spread their fragrance all around. (Applause.)

Dr JULIUS WOOD, after referring to the great demand which there was for church building throughout the country, and the interest which the Free Church had in a work of that kind, expressed a desire for some further information as to the working of the Debt Extinction and Church Extension Fund of the English Presbyterian Church.

Mr DUNCAN said he was always delighted to tell what they were doing in England, and after stating that as this was the first time he appeared in the Assembly, he was very unwilling to come before them as representing poor relations-(laughter and applause)-he then proceeded : About three years ago it was suggested in our Synod that a Debt Extinction and Church building fund should be established, and it was thought at the time that it was a very bold proposition which was made,

that Dr Hamilton-(applause)-and other influential ministers and elders should go forth and endeavour to raise L.25,000. We thought that it was a great work; and I know that Dr Hamilton felt that a very great and heavy responsibility had been laid upon him. I am very thankful to report, as you have already heard to-day, that it turned out to be a most successful enterprise. (Applause.) He got the sum of L.25,000 after a very little trouble. He obtained it from some 380 individuals. (Cheers.) I have the great honour and the very pleasing duty of being the treasurer of that fund. I can assure you that I have found it to be a very pleasing duty; and from many individuals I have received the most grateful thanks, as if I had some particular hand in the work. Of that L.25,000 which was promised to be paid up in five years, we have now actually received L.15,949, and we have used the money in this way. We had, I believe, to extinguish all the debt, at least, we had to extinguish all upon every church connected with us who were willing to apply for aid; and if there was debt still remaining, it was on congregations who were so strong that they would not apply to us for help. We have, at an outlay of L.4846, paid to thirty-two congregations, relieved them of debt through their own exertions to the extent of L. 23,470. (Applause.) We compute that on that there was about L.1150 of interest that would be set free for Christian work. Then, by the use of a corresponding L.4500 given as grants to those who were prepared to build new churches, we have had additional places of worship of the value of L.38,000; so that by the use of L.9346 we have got property of the value of L.61,470 now in the hands of the Church. (Cheers.) And by going on at the same ratio, and allowing that our loans shall be repaid, it is estimated that by the time we shall have spent our L.25,000, we shall have acquired for the Church property of the value of L.170,000-(cheers)—so that the Assembly will see how very successful the scheme has been. Before sitting down, I shall only further say that I hope the Assembly will take greater interest in our work in England. When I left my parental roof and went to Dundee to enter upon business, I was (said Mr Duncan, addressing the Moderator) a member of the congregation over which you so ably presided. Thirty-three or thirtyfive years have elapsed since then, and brought with it great changes. I happened to be at sea at the time when the Disruption took place, and when I came home I had to make my election whether I could join the Free or the Established Church. Well do I recollect that when I had to do so I was advised by some friends to keep a wide berth, to use a seaman's phrase. I had, however, no hesitation in throwing myself into the Free Church movement; and to-day I find myself addressing this Assembly for the first time. (Loud cheers.)

A short conversation then took place on the subject, in the course of which Mr Paterson, in answer to Dr Candlish, who was anxious for some specific suggestions from the deputation, said that what the English Presbyterian Church would like would be something like a contribution of L.1500 from the Free Church for four or five years, as that would be required to enable them to carry on their operations. Probably the Free Church might do what the Irish Presbyterian Church did. For example, that Church took charge of a station at Plymouth, and paid all the supplies, and when it was organised into a congregation, and had acquired a state of consolidation, their Irish Presbyterian

friends handed it over to the English Presbyterian Church, and it was now one of their congregations.

Mr MATHESON, of Hampstead, also stated that it was desirable that the Assembly or its committee should name the ministers who were to proceed to England to assist in the formation and organisation of stations.

Mr CAMERON, of Ardersier, here rose for the purpose of urging the claims of the Highlands; and while doing so

Mr DAVID MACLAGAN, (elder,) spoke to order. Their friends of the English Presbyterian Church deputation had with great courtesy given up the time to which they were entitled yesterday in order that the union debate might be terminated. (Loud cries of "Hear, hear," and applause.) The time at their disposal that morning was exceedingly limited; and he therefore trusted that the Assembly would not allow any other question to be interposed. (Hear, hear.)

Mr PATERSON said that they did not put their claims in competition with that of any other work or any other place. They presented their claims on their own merits.

Mr Cameron still continuing to address the House, Dr Candlish took exception to this, and said that they might as well have the claims introduced. (Hear, hear.) The feeling of the Assembly being against Mr Cameron, he resumed his seat.

Mr MACLAGAN then rose and said-On the particular subject now under the consideration of the House, I feel a very peculiar interest, from reasons that must be known to most of the members. I had to remove to the south five years since with my family; and this placed me in circumstances which enabled me to form some idea of the obligations under which those who have to proceed to England, or who have friends and relatives there, have been laid by the English Presbyterian Church, in providing a supply of Presbyterian ordinances. (Applause.) Now, I suppose that there are very few families indeed connected with the Free Church, and very few probably in the House, who have not relatives in England. The only provision in which they could have entire confidence for the promotion of their spiritual interests was in connexion with the Presbyterian Church in England; and I do most earnestly hope that this House will rise to something like a due sense of the amount of obligation which lies on the Free Church in connexion with this matter. (Applause.) As to the practical suggestion which has been made by the Moderator of the Synod of raising L.1500 a year, I do not think that there is anything unreasonable in it. A biennial collection does not amount probably to L.3000 in the case of the Irish Presbyterian Church; and it is from no feeling whatever of anything like competition when I say that I think we ought to place the two Churches on the same footing. (Applause.) By all means continue the assistance to the Irish Presbyterian Church; but if the two were placed alongside of each other I have no fear what the result of the comparison would be. Every year we are sending from Scotland to England at the rate of four thousand members of our families; and I do not think that we send even four hundred to Ireland; and on the whole I am sure that, when all things are considered, the claims of the English Presbyterian Church to something like permanent help from us in working their Church extension scheme is unanswerable. (Cheers.) I