IMMIGRATION FROM IRELAND TO THE U. STATES. THERE is such a demand for passage that, instead of four steamers leaving Cork each fortnight, there will hereafter, for some months, be seven. The Tuam Herald says: "The stream continues to swell and flow uninterruptedly." A Dundalle paper says: "They are rushing out of the country as if to avoid some terrible disaster." The Western Star remarks: "We have never known so many leave this district in a week, as from the last Sunday-nearly all well-dressed and comfortable-looking young men and women, evidently belonging to the class of small farmers. The destination of these people is generally New-York.” The Clare Advertiser of May 13th says: "We witnessed a novel feature last Monday, the Trades' Band of the town 'in full fig,' escorting the emigrants to the quay, playing Patrick's Day, 'Garryowen,' 'White Cockade,' &c., in dashing style. A crowd of over three thousand cheered loudly for America." Perhaps more emigrants are arriving at the port of New-York at the present time than at any former period. The Lord is sending to our doors multitudes to whom he has commanded us to preach the Gospel. He is thus enforcing this command upon us not only by Christian motives, but also by those of patriotism.

LOUIS NAPOLEON HEAVILY SMITTEN.

IN paris, the heart of France, the Emperor, at the recent election of Deputies, was beaten—significantly beaten. This defeat is important, in the fact that it took place in Paris, which, proverbially, "is France" -in the fact that it was done by a majority of almost two to one, (150,000 to 84,000 votes,)-in the fact that it is a striking change since. 1857, the time of the last election, when the Emperor had a decided majority in Paris-in the fact that it was done in spite of the greatest precautions and most persistent efforts of the Government, openly using all its power, prestige, patronage, and money against the opposition candidates—in the fact of electing such men as Thiers, Berrier, Laboulaye, and Cochin, distinguished as among the best thinkers and speakers in France.

This is such a blow at Napoleon that the London Times predicts that he will not grant freedom of debate, lest, considering the weakness of his supporters, "the empire should be talked down in a single session." Nor is Paris the only point of defeat. The same is the case in Marseilles, Lyons, Bordeaux, and twenty provincial capitals. This, it is true, does not give a majority in the legislative body of France against the Emperor; but it gives him a startling warning that public opinion

is changing, and that, too, at the points of most vital importance-the radiating points of intelligence and of national influence.

Another significant item is that, with all his recent show of favor to the Papacy, the Emperor does not regain the old Roman Catholic vote. There is no more marching of whole communes, headed by their respective priests, to cast an undivided vote for the Government. Napoleon has evidently failed to regain their confidence. They distrust him for playing false to them in the past. The leading Jesuit paper, edited by Veuilot, which for a time denounced political liberty, now demands it. Nor does the Government, on the other hand, confide in the Ultramontanes. It did not support, as its candidates, the most persistent advocates of "the temporal power."

There is a manifest distrust and watching on both sides. Each wishes to use the other, but not to be used. A Bishop, applied to by a distinguished candidate for support, replied: "Seeing the wishes, the precautions, the menaces of the Government, the thing is impossible." Another proof that Napoleon III. does not trust, nor mean to commit himself to the Priest-party, is that, with all his apparently reactionary course in favor of the papacy since his return from Biarritz, last September, he still does not interfere with Protestant evangelization in France. It never prospered more than during the last nine months.

Thus it would seem that the French Government, by its Mexican invasion and vacillating policy towards the Pope, has not gained, but lost popularity when it most needs it.

PRAYER AND DELIVERANCE.

THE father of the present King of Dahomey was, in 1851, killed in front of Abeokuta while making war upon its inhabitants. His son swore vengeance, and has, for twelve years, been training his warriors (female as well as male) to make it sure and terrible. Recently the time to execute his purpose arrived. He marched to within six miles of Abeokuta. The Abeokutans, though it seemed hopeless, determined to fight to the last. The Christian converts among them are so numerous that their quota of soldiers-organized in a separate band, with officers of their own choice-numbered seven hundred. For sixteen days the attack was hourly expected. In the meantime, the Christian natives gave themselves to prayer for deliverance. At length it came. The Dahomian soldiers, apparently filled with fear, suddenly and without any known cause, fled, leaving Abeokuta unharmed. The Christians ascribed the deliverance to the hand of God. The following is almost the literal translation of a prayer uttered by a Christian woman:

"O Lord Jesus, lift up thine arm; lift up, lift up, O Lord, Lord Jesus our Redeemer, lift up thine holy arm and deliver us from the cruel Dahomians. 0 Lord Jesus, remember what they have done to thy saints in Ishaga, how much innocent blood they shed. O Lord, Lord, deliver us that we may not fall into their hands; thou hast sent thy messengers to us with Thy holy Word; we trust in Thee, O Lord our God, do not forsake us. Thou hast delivered Thy people Israel from the hand of Pharaoh, and hast overthrown his army; Thou hast delivered Hezekiah and his people from the hand of Sennacherib, who blasphemed Thy holy name. Do also remember us, O Lord; remember Thy Church, remember Thy servants, remember our children. O Lord God, deliver us for Thy dear Son's sake. Amen."

An eye-witness remarks-" Most of these sentences were repeated twice or thrice, as is the case when prayers are offered up in an agony. I sat in a quiet, dark place, many hundreds of warriors passing along without observing me; but I overheard several saying aloud, 'God will deliver us!'"

PORTUGAL.

THE Protestant element, whether native or foreign, in Portugal, is extremely small. Multitudes of the lower classes, probably, have never heard of such a thing as Protestantism. It may be said, with almost literal truth, Romanism is the only religion. In Lisbon alone there are not less than two hundred Roman Catholic Churches and Chapels, and the number of priests is enormous. Notwithstanding all, such is the indifference to religion, that even Romanism makes no display. You might walk the streets of Lisbon for days without being particularly impressed with Romish ascendency. In all other Catholic countries, gorgeous exhibitions of images, crosses, priests, monks, processions, fill the squares, and tell you of the dominant faith. In Portugal concealment seems rather to be sought. The priest, when not officiating, differs little in dress from the laity. Of monks there are none since the abolition of convents. The churches are closed during the week. Processions are customary only four or five times a year. Images of saints and crucifixes are seldom seen in public places. Even the Sabbath wears no religious air; the shops and markets are open, and labor goes on. It is by eminence the horse-market-day. It is true some, especially women and children, resort to the churches on Sunday; but, except in Lent and on great feast days, hear no sermons.

There is only one religious journal in Lisbon, and no religious literature. If the secular papers say anything on those subjects, it is generally a tirade against the temporal power of the Pope, or the scandalous conduct of the priests in the confessional. In social circles religion is a

imes, as John Bunyan puts it, and go on his way Why a rack becomes a bed of down, the flames hen we are forgiven. Justified! No more conby of that! The happiness of the slave when he ore is nothing compared with the delight of the out of the land of the enemy. Speak we of the e who has been chained to the oar by the corsair, ivered? The breaking of his chain is not onenusic to him as the breaking of our chains to us. the horrible pit and out of the miry clay, and set and put a new song into my mouth, and estabTalk not of the joys of the dance, or of the flush f the mirth of the merry, or of the flashes of the ssful. There is a mirth more deep than these, a iss more enduring than anything the world can of being forgiven; the bliss of having God's favor 's soul; the bliss of feeling that God is our father, to our souls, and that the Holy Ghost dwelleth with us forever. Let the sweetness of the mercy ! Let the sweetness of the mercy, I say, entice

on.

OVERY.-The Gospel is a restorative dispensation. d most essential feature. It is not a prescription innocent, but the annunciation of a stupendous e sinner. Overlooking all petty verities and subit places the whole human race on one level,e dust before the Infinite Majesty,-and offers, in-ision of sanctification to the polluted, and of par'hese are the glad tidings-this is the jubilee of claimed in the songs of angels, celebrated in the

.1:1

THE STARLESS CROWN.

They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever and ever." DAN. xii: 8.