for all mankind. Here heaven will be revealed, and men invited to it. The guilty will be told that "Except they repent, they will perish." We shall stand before the people, and tell the polite and the vulgar, the master and his servant, in unvarnished terms, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me." "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," and, in fact, shall enforce the ten commandments in all their fullness, as well as the new commandment of the Lord Christ. Oh! ye inhabitants of this village, congregate yourselves at this or some other place of worship, so that by your example, your sons and your daughters may respect the Sabbath and be taught obedience and virtue, and parents directed in their duty as to the training of their offspring. Here principles will be insisted upon which will be useful to the farmer and to the labourer, to the tradesman and his customer. Addressing those who are to preach, he said,―This is to be the Lord's House, and as the Lord's servants, speak with all your heart: speak the Truth in love: defend the Gospel: gather the people round the cross-unfold it. That is your theme. Aim not so much to darken the light of other denominations, as to take the torch of truth and lead sinners to Glory. We do not build this place of worship that it may frown upon the Church, and we desire to cultivate a friendly feeling towards all other denominations. As little do we expect them to frown upon us. The importance of these houses of prayer cannot be over estimated. They are the lights of the nation; they are better than prisons, or police, or instruments of war: they are the bulwarks of the land, and the stability of the British throne. "Happy is that people whose God is the Lord."

The benediction having been pronounced, the procession was conducted to a spacious tent, in which tea was provided. The tent was exquisitely adorned with evergreens and Spring flowers. The tent sides were hung with suitable mottoes, worked upon canvass, with green leaves; the tables were graced with flowers, artistically grouped, while here and there were suspended festoons of mosses, mingled with wild flowers. The arrangements of the tent and the tea reflect great credit upon the young people who had the management of it. About 400 friends sat down to tea, and did ample justice to the repast.

After tea, a public meeting was held in the tent, at which upwards of 500 people were present. Mr. Gregory occupied the chair. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. John Stevenson, Mr. William Wilkins, the village preachers, and other friends. The proceedings were enlivened by the choir from the St. Mary's-gate Chapel, Derby, who sung some favourite pieces. At half past eight o'clock the meeting was closed by the pronouncing of the benediction, and soon after nine o'clock the return train reached the Derby station. It was a day long to be remembered by all who were there. The utmost harmony prevailed, both at the laying of the stone, and at the large and enthusiastic meeting afterwards. The proceeds of the tea-meeting were £3 8s. less £1, the expences of the tent.

The chapel is calculated to seat 120 people, and is to be erected by Mr. Edward Dusautoy, of Derby. It will cost upwards of £200, one half of which has been subscribed. It will be opened in June, by the Revs. J. B. Pike, of Bourne, and John Stevenson, M.A., of Derby.

Notes of the Month.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

April 21. Our notes must be brief this month, as both time and space are short. Among the extraordinary events of the past month are the labours of the once violent and sceptical chartist, Thomas Cooper, in behalf of revealed and evangelical religion. His attacks on atheism, his bold and earnest bearing in the effort to convince infidels of all kinds, and the effective manner in which he disposes of the objections of all opponents, have won for him favour among all friends of true religion. His chief labours are in London, but he has also lectured

at Norwich, Sheffield, and other places; and has also engaged to give a course of lectures at Bradford. As no one knows where the infidelity of the masses is most rampant more certainly than Mr. Cooper, or perhaps knows better how to grapple with it, from his former association with malcontents of all kinds, we cannot but regard his labours and zeal as affording an interesting and promising sign of the times. May he enjoy that help from heaven and that countenance from good men which will render his efforts to "build up the faith he once destroyed" eminently successful!

The services in Westminster Abbey, by the Episcopalians, are not unlikely to be followed by others of a similar kind in St. Paul's, Rochester, and other cathedrals. A subscription for the fitting up of St. Paul's has already commenced. The Bishop of London is organizing a plan for missionary clergy, with colleges, lecture rooms, &c., in the densely populated parts of London, &c.

The London Missionary Society proposes in two years to send out twenty additional missionaries to India; if the proper funds can be obtained. Already twelve candidates have offered themselves, and more than £5,000 have been subscribed. Four are going to central Africa.

The Baptist Mission has resumed its labours in Agra. It has engaged two missionaries for Australia.

Dr. Cook, the president of the French Wesleyan Conference expired on Sunday, February 21. French methodism has thus lost its best friend. The Reformers, as they termed themselves, seem to be breaking up. In some places they have joined the New Connexion; in others formed Independent churches. The experiment to do without a regular ministry and rely on the local brethren, may be said to have failed.

The Rev. C. Spurgeon and a congregation of some 5,000 had a narrow escape at Halifax on Wednesday, April 7. When the congregation was nearly gone, a part of the temporary building (in the Piece Hall) gave way, and one or two persons had broken limbs: but in the course of the night, the vast roof, pressed by the falling snow, fell in; and in a while the whole of the immense building came down with a tremendous crash, breaking forms, beams, in short, every thing to pieces. Had the snow fallen earlier, and the crash occurred during the service, it is fearful to think of the loss of life that must have occurred.

We are sorry to note that persecution in some form or other continues in France, Sweden, Bohemia, &c. When will this demon be destroyed? Priestism and popery are as opposed to religious freedom and the Gospel, as darkness is to light.

Of the American revivals we have spoken elsewhere. If these result in a more correct commercial morality, and also in the liberation of the negro, it will be a sign of their excellence.

GENERAL.

PARLIAMENT has re-assembled after the Easter holidays. It appears probable that neither the bill of the late government as to India, nor that of the present will be adopted. Both have similar defects in relieving the Home government of responsibility and devolving it on a sort of council. The Manchester Chamber of Commerce has petitioned the House of Commons on this matter, and recommends a "minister for India" in the Cabinet; and an efficient local government in India, who shall improve the condition of the cultivators of the soil, encourage and aid in the formation of freeholds, and give free toleration as to all religions where not directly at variance with morality. In Mr. Buckley's letter, in the Observer, there are some good suggestions on these topics. It is not probable that any bill will be passed this session. Meanwhile the news from India is not conclusive. Lucknow and Oude are in the hands of the British, but the escape of 50,000 armed insurgents to Rohilcund and Bundlecund gives promise of future conflicts. Another bill for the legalizing of marriage with a deceased wife's sister has been introduced into the Commons. The estimates for warlike purposes indicate a state of danger. Twenty millions are asked for and voted for the army and navy. Some even surmize that a conflict with France is not an

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impossibility. France is unhinged, and is refitting and enlarging her navy, and putting her army on a war footing. "L'Empire est la paix," might be only a feint for the time. When the Emperor uttered those words he did not think it safe to say more. Now, especially as Dr. Bernard has just (April 17) been pronounced "not guilty," and as the English despise the bluster of his colonels, and France is feverishly restless, it may be that the Emperor will announce it to be "his destiny" to avenge Waterloo and St. Helena ;" and carry out the ambitious designs of " mon oncle." Well: if providence permit such things, we must submit. But as sure as Napoleon le grand died in exile, Napoleon le pettit will not establish a Bonaparte dynasty in France. His new ambassador to this country, the Duke of Malakhoff, (Marshall Pelissier) the Russian ambassador in our court has intimated must not be recognized with his Crimean title, as that would be offensive to Russia!

An attempt to re-establish a kind of slavery in the West Indies, by an Immigration Bill passed in Jamaica, has been happily frustrated. Lord Brougham called attention to it in the Lords in March. The Queen has since refused her assent to it.

The news from China seems favourable. It is expected that the Emperor will accede to the demands of the four powers:-i.e., England, France, Russia, and America. We shall be glad if this hope is realized. Canton and Hong Kong are quiet.

Missionary Observer.

GENERAL BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. MEETING OF THE

COMMITTEE.

Ar a meeting of the Committee held at Loughborough, on Tuesday, April 20th, J. Heard, Esq., in the chair, the following, among other business, was attended to:-The minutes of the Cuttack Conference held last December were read.

It was announced that Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson had arrived in England, on Friday, April 16th, and that Mr. Wilkinson's health had improved during the voyage. A medical and other certificates were read, and a resolution expressive of the satisfaction of the Committee on the safe voyage of Mr. Wilkinson was adopted. At present it is understood that Mr. W., if able, will be engaged in the service of the Mission at Anniversaries, &c.: but final arrangements are deferred: It was reported that Mr. Stubbins's health was in a precarious state, and that he purposed, with the concurrence of the brethren, to return to England at the close of the present year. A resolution, urging a more speedy return, was unanimously adopted by the Committee.

A resolution of the Cuttack Conference, recommending the return of Mr. W. Brooks and family to England, in the course of the next two years, was approved by the Committee.

Arrangements were made in reference to the annual meeting of the Society at the next Association.

VISIT OF MR. COOLEY, OF BALASORE, TO OUR BRETHREN IN ORISSA.

THE following extracts from the journal of Mr. Cooley, given in the F. W. B. Paper, will be perused with interest. Our friends will remember that this mission to Orissa from our American brethren originated in the labours of our late brother Dr. Amos Sutton, and his visit to the United States in 1834.-ED.

JOURNAL OF REV. R. COOLEY.

"Dec. 9th. 1857. Early this morning, my dear wife joined me at Bhudruck, to accompany me to Cuttack. She left home with our little one last evening, and

came by dawk-i. e., palanquin, to Bhudruck when she left the palanquin, and is now travelling in a bullock cart, and myself on horseback. This is a common way for us to travel in this country, during the dry season of the year. And we are very thankful to be able to get about in this way, otherwise our families would be obliged to remain at home, as travelling by palanquin is too expensive for us.

CUTTACK. We reached here about ten o'clock on Saturday night, Dec. 12th, a distance of sixty or seventy miles-not railroad speed surely, but pretty well for an Indian bullock cart, when we have to take almost everything we require with us. It is now over seven years since I was here, and what changes has that brief period produced in the Mission. Mr. Lacey was then here, apparently full of life and vigour; and Dr. Sutton was then in America, and returned the next year.

We are very kindly and comfortably entertained at brother Stubbins', now the senior Missionary in Orissa. He came out in 1836, a year after brethren Phillips and Noyes. He has been home, and is feeling very much the need of going home again, which he hopes to do another year. He has laboured hard and efficiently. He has been devoting considerable time to translating since the death of Dr. Sutton, and will be very much missed by the Mission when he is obliged to leave. The next in seniority is brother Wilkinson, who came out in 1838, and whom I met at Cuttack, seven years ago. He has been home once, and is just leaving for home again. Will not be here to Conference. His field of labour has always been at Berhampore.

The next in seniority is brother Brooks, the printer, who came out in 1841, and has remained without any change, i. e., has not been home, but he hopes to ere long, as he is feeling the need of a change. He has charge of the printing press, and though not a minister, still he preaches more or less to the heathen, and commonly goes out on missionary excursions during the cold season. He is a very valuable man in the Mission.

Next in point of seniority is brother Buckley, who came out in 1844, and has been home since, and returned two years ago with a reinforcement of six new Missionaries, two brethren and their wives, and two single ladies.

In 1845, brethren Bailey and Miller came out, and both have been home since. Brother Bailey, with his family, wife and three children have just returned, and Miller is in England, having gone home last year. With brother Bailey a young brother Goadby has come out, son of Rev. J. Goadby, of Loughborough, and editor of the General Baptist Magazine and Missionary Observer. There are now in the Mission, seven male and eight female Missionaries. And we fear that this number will be diminished before they have another reinforcement. Still we rejoice that they have so efficient a staff of Missionaries in Orissa. They are doing a great work. It really did our souls good to meet in this barren waste such a warm-hearted, devoted band of labourers for Christ, in this important field, and be permitted to spend ten days with them, mingling in their social circles, and in their Conference. Long will the remembrance of that precious season be cherished in our hearts. Brethren at home can hardly know how much we appreciate such opportunities in this country.

On the evening of the 22nd we left for home, returning in the same manner as we went, i. e., Mrs. Cooley and our little one in the cart, and myself on horse. We came on in this way until the last day, when I was taken ill, had a slight attack of fever, and was obliged to deposit myself in the cart.

We reached home on the evening of the 28th of December, myself having been away nearly seven weeks. Balasore, Jan. 1st, 1858.

LETTER FROM REV. J. BUCKLEY.

R. C.

Cuttack, March 3, 1858.

DEAR BROTHER.-I have a few things to say to you, or rather to your readers, but have not much time for writing. And, first, let me tell you and them with thankfulness to our Great Preserver, that we have been able to itinerate much more than any of us had ever expected; and that we have been much encouraged

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in many instances by the respectful attention and evident interest with which the people listened to our message. Oh that the Spirit of God may be poured from on high! Then shall we be gladdened with great success. The last three months I have been little at home (the time of the arrival of the brethren and conference excepted); but though I have travelled, unarmed, hundreds of miles, and have met with thousands and thousands of the people to whom the gospel has been made known, I have felt perfectly free from alarm, and I think the people have heard as well as in any former year. Not a word has been said to me at any of the places about the mutiny. Mrs. Buckley was in the country with me for five weeks, Miss Butler efficiently discharging home duties, and sending acceptable supplies of wholesome food to the absent ones. In prospect of leaving home my dear wife felt very anxious, fearing that she might be rudely treated by the natives when her husband was absent preaching, and she was sitting the greater part of the day in the tent surrounded by the people; but she soon forgot her fears, and found that there was not the slightest occasion for anxiety. She much enjoyed her tour, and had many opportunities of speaking of Christ to the young, and to the ignorant and degraded of her own sex, as well as of administering medicine in many cases of sickness. You may remember a remark in a recent number of the Eclectic to the effect, that missionaries find classical and mathematical learning about as useful in converting the heathen as a paper-knife would be in working a coal mine," but they may obtain ready access to the hearts of Hindoos and idolaters in other parts of the world through even a superficial knowledge of medicine. I have seen many illustrations of this, and have observed how favourably impressed the heathen have been with the benevolence and compassion inspired by christianity. They cannot appreciate our solicitude for the salvation of their souls, but they can understand and admire the disinterested benevolence that seeks to do good to their bodies. Mr. Taylor was my companion in almost all my journeyings, and was daily engaged-sometimes two or three times in the, day -in preaching the word of life. His progress in the language is very satisfactory, and his singing makes a favourable impression on his hearers; for in this country there is no better way of gathering a congregation than beginning to sing, or of quieting the people when they have become obstreperous, than leaving off the argument you were urging, singing a verse to one of their favourite airs, and starting afresh. Near one of our encampments there was a large idolatrous festival, at which it was computed that as many as ten thousand were congregated; but though the folly and sinfulness of trusting in idols were fully exposed they heard as well as we had ever known them to do on such an occasion. Surely, when the terrible doings of the last year are remembered, we must feel that in all this there is much occasion for devout thankfulness to God. The "great and effectual door" opened in Orissa is not at all closed. May we have grace zealously to labour to the end to bring these poor wretched idolaters to the feet of Christ. The insurrection in Sumbulpore is, I trust, in great measure subdued. God has prospered the vigorous measures of our Cuttack commissioner. Since he went there things have changed for the better as rapidly as could be expected. The murderers of poor Dr. Moore have been discovered and hung. Several of the ringleaders have been captured and their estates confiscated. Three hundred concerned in the rebellion there are already in custody, and will soon be tried; but the chief rebel, Soondera Raj, has not yet been captured, and I am sorry to say that, a fortnight since, Captain Woodbridge, of the 40th M. N. I., when in command of a detachment, fell into the hands of the rebels, by whom he was slain. The body was afterwards recovered, but they had cut off the head. Another officer, the major in command of the regiment just mentioned, has died of disease. The climate of Sumbulpore is extremely unhealthy. Quiet will, I hope, by the blessing of God, be soon restored. We are all most anxious to hear of the great battle at Lucknow, which, it is trusted, will be a final and decisive blow. You will, in all probability, get the news before receiving this. We have no fear as to the issue. God is on our side and he will give us the victory. The terrible trials of the past year will yet promote his glory.

Parliament is now, I suppose, earnestly discussing the future Government of