The Principality

TO SUBSCRIBERS. TEEMS of SunsciurTiox .-—20s. per annum, or 5s, per quarter; fay able in advance. Post Office Orders should be made payable to DAVID RVANS, Principality Office, Cardiff,.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. It is our invariable rule not to insert any communication without possessing in confidence the leal name of the writer. The address to the Rev. W. Pryce is more suitable to a religious periodical than a newspaper. "Gweithiwr Tlawd Camgyhuddedig" should have written three or four months earlier. "JohnRees." We shall be happy to hear from you. The personal allusions in "Eidal's" letter may lead to an un- pleasant contest; we have therefore decided not to publish it in its present forin. 1, W. E., Aberdare." We thank you for your labours in the north. T. S. W." We are obliged for the information. Veritas." Your address is too long for insertion this week, as onr space was prc-occ-upicd. J. I-I., Maencloehcg." lis. 104d, at the end of the presort month. The paper to which you refer was accidentally delayed a tie v. Llantrisant." As our space was pre-occupied, we could not insert the communication sent this week. 11 The report of the meeting arrived too late for this week.

PARLIAMENT. On Friday evening last, Mr. Herrics's amendment in fa- vour of the Navigation Laws was rejected by a majority of 117, which perhaps is one of the most satisfactory majorities which ministers have had this session. It will decide the fate of the ministerial measure in the Lower House, though it is conjectured that it will be thrown out by the House of Lords. Stat-e-Churehism has been cxlibitt (I in a n(-w form charing the past week. Another family quarrel has been brought into notice, and we hope the public will benefit from the disclosure. It appears that Lord Palmerston, as Foreign Secretary, has the power to appoint I to foreign stations. He, however, allows the residents to choose them, and contents '•himself with'an assurance of the leepectability of the party caosen from his diocesan. In conformity with this regula- tion a Mr. Lowe was appointed chaplain at Madrid, and was licenced by tteBishop of London. The chaplain, how- ever, was a thorough-going Puscyite, which greatly dis- pleased his flock. As he proved incorrigible, Lord Paliner- stca directed the residents to choose another, whose appoint- ment the Bishop of London refuses to sanction. His lord- ship has, therefore, determined to make his appointments •without requiring a ILenec fiein the bishops in future. The Church is consequently in complete subjugation to the State. The Foreign Secretary will appoint, and the Bishops may c, mplain, but Casts r will go on heedless of their nUH p- st lances, because as lcrg as he pays he ought to have the control. When the Church refuses to take State money, me will then be -in a f.csition to qcc-t tion State tiuthoritv. STATE EDUCA'lIOjY. Whilst some of our good friends in Wales are pleasantly ruminating on the good deeds of Go^ernimpt in pn.motirg tHatc Education, we find those proceedings greatly disliked ayd'suspeeted elsewhere. Lord Ashley has cleatlv discovered that State aid. WCl1't do for Ragged Schools. Thus the cry which is raised in Walip, that the poverty of the people s-hoald irduce them to accept State aid, is proved to be grounfiess. The very poor,— the lowest layers of tocie'y would not be benefited by Go- vernmental interference, and other classes do not need such interference. Parents ought to educate their own children, but when deep, abject poverty renders the performance of that duty impossible, then the business must be done by be- nevolence and willinghood. Sects can never run into greater madness than to suppose the secular education of the people to be committed to their charge. The utmost extent of their duty is to provide religious instruction, and endeavour to prevent any party from having undue advantage over the youthful mind at the public, expense. This view of the matter appears to us so clear and so intelligible, as to make us content to let our reputation for sanity rest on its accu- racy. If the State should furnish secular education m one 'point, it should furnish it in all points; and if it is the work of sects, then a similar duty rests upon them., But the sup- position that either Church or State should, undertake the work, is palpably absurd; and our only wonder is that any thinking men can stand sponsors for a phantom so delusive. A large number of the friends of the National School Society are up in arms against the regulations of the Committee of Council. They want assistance, but demur to the inspec- tion. They would willingly, politely, and thankfully take all the money the State could offer, but they are not pleased at the prospect of an inquiry as to how the money is spent. We shall shortly come to a pass where we must make our election between uncontrolled State education or Voluntary- ism. If the State pays it must inspect, THE llEFOltM MOVEMENT. London was in hysterics all last week. It was feared that the British Constitution was on its last legs, and that it could not survive the anticipated shock of Monday last. The British lion, however, is enormously strong, and won't be put down by the brawls of physical force Chartists not he; his roar as he led on the spec-ials of London put all the blustering demagogues to flight. The rain also did im- Z, 11 'n mense service; it proved an effectual damper on all the proceedings. The elements are at war with the Chartists.. It will be recollected that their march on Newport formerly was greatly impeded by the rain, and on the present occa- sion London was spared the horror of a physical force de- monstration by—the cold water cure. Several physical force men have been arrested last week, and are in prison waiting their trial. The most prominent among them is Ernest Jones, who talked abundance of sedi- tion at the Chartist National Assembly. He was arrested at Manchester and brought to London, where he was com- mitted for trial, and as he failed to procure bail he remains in prison. Whatever may be his fate, he has done nothing to deserve pity nor to claim a manifestation of popular sym- pathy. To incite the populace to riot and bloodshed, and refuse all co-operation for peaceful and constitutional re- form, is without excuse. The path of victory is clear before us, if we wish to pursue it. Organic reforms can be ob- taineel without tumult, if the people will unitedly and peace- fully demand them. We rejoice to see that Wales is moving in the matter. Large and influential meetings, were held on Tuesday evening at Haverfordwest and Newport. We believe in both places the speaking was excellent, and that the unanimity in favour of a large measure of reform was most encouraging. The speakers generally avowed them- selves in favour of a great deal more than will be, included- in Mr. Hume's motion, but declared themselves willing to take the four points as an instalment. To-night a meeting will be held in this town, and the audience we hope ay ill be both numerous and enthusiastic. FOREIGN NEWS. Prince Louis Napoleon has been returned as a representa- tive for Paris and one or two other departments., This has caused a vast amount of commotion in Paris, and it was feared that an insurrection would take place on Monday, but happily the day passed without any serious disturbance. There is a bill before the assembly for the exclusion of Louis Napoleon, which it is expected will be carried by a large majority. The Sun of Wednesday evening has the following ;—" It has been stated in the city this afternoon that M. Isturitz, the Spanish Ambassador, had received notice from the British Government that his passports were made out, and that his departure would be expected to take place in forty-eight hours. There was a rumour of this yesterday, but the statement as above conies from one of .the first com- mercial houses in the city, and is generally believed. There are reports in the city of an intended declaration of war against Spain. It is added that an expedition will be immediately fitted out against Cuba, and that the unliqui- dated debt from Spain to British subjects will be put for- ward as a casus belli. The intention of Government will probably be announced in Parliament to-morrow night." If this be so we hope the country will soon send ministers to Cuba themselves. The whole probably ,is an artful dodge in order to stop the progress of the reform movement in England.

RATE, OR NO RATE. TIIE inhabitants of the parish of St. John the Baptist have one week more to consider a very important question. On Thursday next they will be called upon to decide whether they* will tax themselves to the sum of fourpence in the pound towards the repair of the parish church, and the due celebration of public worship therein. They have to docidc whether the religion of the State Church is allied to love or coercion—and whether it can support itself, or must it be compulsoi ily supported by others who nev er tread her courts, nor bend the knee before her altars, lhey have, in fact, to decide whether the respectable body of Churchme n who reside in the parish of St. John love Christ, and are willing to do to their fellow-men as they would be done by, or not. Thursday next will decide this problem. For ourselves we care not how it may be decided; affirmative or negative are of no consequence to us personally, but we confess we are somewhat jealous for the Christian reputation of a numerous and respectable body of our fellow-townsmen. Our last paper contained a full report of the proceedings at the vestry. It was there most distinctly proved that the churchwardens were under no necessity to repair the church by means of a compulsory rate. The several legal gentle- men who were in the room, failed—entirely failedtopoint out a single enactment which binds the churchwardens to come and ask for a compulsory rate in the first instance. The question was put to them clearly and distinctly, and no one vouchsafed a reply. The same question was again repeated to the chairman, when he refused to put _Mr. Job James's amendment to the meeting, and he candidly con- fessed that he could not lay his hand on any such enactment. ■And yet he persisted in acting as, if such a provision had been made in a positive and unequivocal form- That the churchwardens may repair the church otherwise than by a compulsory rate is perfectly evident. This is often done by private benevolence, endowments, and volun- tary contributions. As there is no legal obligation, to resort to compulsion is most unjustifiable. It is no other than having resort to a most obnoxious principle for its own sake, heedless of its radical injustice and multifarious annoyances, It proclaims a fact deeply humiliating to the Church of England. It tells far and wide, that that Church is no longer the Church of the people, and that enactments made in an age when all were supposed to be members of the national Church, are as unsuitable to the present day as would be the manners and customs of the same periods. The State Church now comes forth to wield an iron sceptre entirely unbecoming her position, and derogatory to her influence. If she wins now, she must wi-n by the power of love and not by monitions, confiscations, and imprisonments. This sx>ccies of persc-euticn in miniature will pull down, but will not build up, Repair they may, and at the same time mcst e-nectiuilly desolate. They-may wash the. surplice, but they will also fetaiii the character with a pollution too invete- rate to be washed away even by the waters ofbartirmal r< generation. The Curate of St. John holds put for the r,,i t c. lie must have alate. lie v.ill p< li the parish, and .if defeated, he will apply for,a wonitiou in order to mn hiiiiselt with legal powers to have a compulsory.rati?.. ,jle v./iil adopt no means to have his church repaired by willinghood; if done at all it n ust be done by compulsion. His brother ot St. Mary's I would rather be without a rate than disturb the parish. In tl ndc) nesscf nature the feoly virgin beats the ,i,, (,s o wildernf ss. The one is anxious to avoid division in his parish. The other imites stiife in its hideous form tp assume the management of affairs, unless the rate, and nothing but the rate, will be granted. The one is wishful to conciliate, the other is bent upon a triumph. A triumph he may possibly have, in which will germinate all the elements of defeat. The meeting of Thursday week was conducted with per. fect courtesy and good humour. Mr. Grierson deserves much praise for his manly and candid appeal to his Church brethren on the course which they pursued. The legal knowledge of Mr. Phillpotts also secured the rejection of all items but those of a strictly legal character, 11 for ever hereafter." For the E12 5s. which had been illegally paid to the organists, the chairman consentedto a fearful" statute of limitations." If voluntaryism shall not do all, she must do a good deal in future. Heavy items have been struck off, never again to be re-imposed. That the rate, if carried in the forthcoming poll, will be bad in law is beyond a doubt. It will be so on two grounds. In the first place, the chairman has refused a legal amend- ment which offered a provision for the repairs of the church. The judgment of Lord Denmau in the celebrated Brain tree case, does not affect the amendment proposed by Mr. Job James. The Braintree rate was held to be legal became the vestry had not offered to provide for the repairs of the church in any other way, and because the vestry then assembled was held in obedience to a monition, directing it to impose a money rate. Such was not the case in the parish of St., John, The vestry was not held under a monition, and the amendment offered a provision for the repairs of the church, and as such it must be deemed legal, and the rate, should one be carried, may be successfully opposed. In the second place, it will be illegal, as. the chairman, after having decided that there was no legal amendment before the meeting,, put the ques- tion that there should be no rate to the vestry, which, ac- cording to Prideaux, tire ecclesiastical lawyer, and Dr. Hag- gard, issufficient to make the rate bad in law. We believe that the parishioner^ will have four courses open to them on Thursday next: an amendment may be moved to the effect that no rate should be granted until ac- citratc estimates will be produced they may defeat the rate on a poll; they may protest against its illegality, on the ground that tire chairman put the no rate" to the vote; and they may further dispute its legality, because the legal amendment of Mr. James was not put from the chair. What ever course will be taken, we believe the fate of the present rate is sealed. In conclusion we have only to hope that the Dissenters of Cardiff will act up to their principles. For our own part, we can never consent even to a nominal rate. It is the principle that man should be compelled to support his own religion and that of his fellow, we hold to be bad. We object to the spirit and soul of such a proceeding. No Churchman should be compelled to support the Church any more than Dissenters. Religion is the embodiment of Divine love, and must be supported by kindred elements. Compulsion differs from it as wide as the east is from the west. It is its bane and poison. Let Dissenters therefore be witnesses for the truth, and not for their pockets. We regard the amount as of no consequence in comparison with the prin- ciple. Let them pay homage to truth in vestries, under dis- traints, and, if needs be, within the gloomy walls of a pri- son,—and truth in their persons will eventually leave the cell for her glorious throne amidst the acclamations of a joyful universe,

THE CIRCULATION, We have much pleasure in calling the attention of our readers to the following excellent letter, written by one of the truest and the best of the sons of CambriaJ SlIt,- Your late appeals on behalf of the circulation of your valu- able paper have convinced me that I ought to do as much as possi- ble towards furthering that object. I have already done something for the paper, in the w ay of soliciting subscribers' names, collecting the money, and remitting the same to the proprietor, without any drawback as an allowance. As a new proposal, I beg to suggest that there should be a fund raised for the gratuitous circulation of your paper, and accordingly, I commence the same by transmitting you two pounds, which arc intended to pav for four papers a week, in addition to the one I now receive—the same to be left at votir disposal, that the paper may he sent to those you think most proper, but I have no doubt we "shall both agree that they are to be the Members for the county suid fer Merthyr Tydvil, or for the like number of the most pro- minent members of the Ministry and as long as my circumstances shall admit I hope to continue the subscription. In so doing I am actuated by the opinion that it is a duty incumbent on me, being a thorough-going Dissenter, to advocate the paper, which is the only medium we have in Wales of making known our dearest principles, our views, and our intentions. Much has been done in the way of subscribing towards the gra- tuitous distribution of some of the English periodicals. Why should we not also show that we have the same feeling towards our paper, and h.dl wo consider so important? Why should that feeling not be brought into motion, by the use of every means to- wards increasing the circulation of your most excellent paper ? But permit me to suggest that I consider your estimate of 2,000 much too low for the only Dissenting paper in Wales it ought to have an unlimited circulation, as the majority of both North and -isifiuth are Dissenters. I entertain the opinion that if every Dis- seuter throughout the principality would exert himself on behalf of the paper, the circulation would soon reach 4,000. But it is much easier to say what Dissenters ovght to do, than to get them to con- sider ittlieir duty. I beg to suggest that every present subscriber should obtain an additional one. I think this could be done with- c-et any difficulty whatever, livery one has a friend, let him try him. All the innuenee we possess, both in and out of the church, should be exorcised. I would call upon the Dissenting Ministers most particularly to a sense of their duty. How many arc able to say, We have canvassed our churches and congregations: we iuye done all we possibly could for the PRINCIPALITY ?" I much fear they are very few and far between. Why should not the same measures be adopted for the PniNCirALIIY, as for the Diwygiwr, Sersn Homer, Drysorfa, &c., &c. In conclusion, let- me beg the attention of every Dissenter to mv proposal, which is, that where theic ii, au individual that can afford to pay for one, two, three, four, or upwards, of papers in addition to his own, that he should speedily come forward to do so. By so doing, he will be serving his generation, and he the iiieaiis,o .t lii- iug the world know that Wales, through the Reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry, oil Education, has been most gr(sily calumniated. I now leave the subject to be dealt with according to its merits, aad trust it will be adverted to next week by many of you! able correspondents, and that every one that can"will, spoil follow my example. PI c I am, sir, year's faithfully, June 6th, 1843. "AN OUT-AND-OUT DISSEXTEB," To all our readers we pay, Go, and do likewise. We shall Bo happy to receive suggestions on the subject from others, who may be anxioua to promote the views of our esteemed correspondent, To him we tender our sincere thanks. If all Welsh Dissenters were inspired with a similar zeal, the would not be distant when our circulation world indeed Wanlimited. If our principles are worth anything at all they are worth a struggle tor their diffusion.

FACTS FOR MR. COMMISSIONER SYMONS. Ix his next letter in defence of his Report, we trust Mr. Svmons will insert the following significant facts: On Wednesday, the 25th ult., the Conference of the Gla- morganshire Independent Association unanimously resolved that it was. desirable that a Conference of the Friends of Free Education in South Wales should be convened as early as possible in order to promote Voluntary Education, On Wednesday, the 31st ult., the Conference of the Mon- mouthshire Baptist Association unanimously adopted a reso- lution expressing a strong and indignant condemnation of the Report of Mr. Commissioner Symons relative to the state of Education and morals in the manufacturing part of n the county of Monmouth. Our correspondent adds, Among the representatives of about sixty Baptist Congregations in the district there was not a man who had a word to say in defence of the hapless Commissioner," Hapless indeed he was but perhaps he yvill console himself by repeating, that there is scarcely a ray of mental or spiritual intelli- gence in the whole district." perhaps not. It is intelligent enough, however, to understand and appreciate the Reports. Ponder these facts, Mr. Symons; consider them well, Mr. Kay Shuttleworth. Fail not to remind the Marquis of Lansdoync of them; and then add, if you please, thu,t the Welsh are very much delighted with the Blue Books.

"caSto MEETING OF THE BIBLE SOCIETY. On Tuesday week the meeting of the Cardiff Auxiliary Bible Society was held in the Town Hall. The chair was taken by R. O. Jones, Esq. From the report it appeared that 1,500 copies of the Scriptures had been circulated in Cardiff during last year. C,C. Willims, Esq., moved, and Rev. William Jones secended a resolution for the adoption of the Report, and the appointment of officers for the ensuing year. The latter gentleman deliverocl a very argumentative speech, directed to show the necessity Of circulating the word of -(rod, and that all the commotions and changes of the pre-ent day should impress on the minds of men that the word of God, alone remaineth for ever. The Bev, W. Leigh Morgan said in moving the second resolution, that the Bible Society did not need any commendation from him, as its object commends itself. God has intended that his word should be preached to every creature, and his intentions are not carried out unless the Bible is given in the hands of every immortal soul on the face of the earth, Man in his moral and spiritual condition is when without the Scripture without hope and without God in the world. He knows nothing of his guilty condition how to be re- conciled to a merciful G( d. The dark habitations of the earth are full of cruelty, The high mountains become altars to worship the host of heaven, and men bow before wood and stone. Wherever the Bible went, it prepared the way for the operation of the Missionary, and becomes the agent of civilization. It is therefore our duty to give it a free course, Rev. W. A. Conway briefly seconded the motion. The third resolution being a vote of thanks to the ladies for their exertions was moved by Mr. Langley and seconded by T. Sanger, Esq., the deputation from the parent society. After referring to the resolution and expressing a hope that it might be said of all present, "ye have done what ye could," M r. S. addressed the meeting at considerable length. The society he said waslie a goodly vessel that had just landed on the shore of its 46tli year. The mcome"of the society in 1846-47 was £ 16,000 larger than usual, and was the largest sum by £ 11,000. that had been ever received. The income this year-was upwards of £ 9U.OOO. On the free contributions there was an increase of £ 4;;0, The issues of Scripture this year have been 1,124.000 copies. During the first four years of the existence of the society, omy 81,COO copies were issued, but during the last three years more than three millions of Scriptures have been scattered over the world. It is impossible to imagine the blessed results of a circulation so extensive. Lengthened details were given of the circulation of the Bible in France, the European Continent, Southern Africa, India and China. The Bible may now be had in 1(52 different languages. In 110 of them no part of it had ever appeared before the society was instituted. It has circulated in all between thirty-three and thirty-four millions of copies. This extraordinary success should induce us to thank God for the past, and trust him for the future. (Applause.) A colh ction v ai then made, and after singing the doxole gy the meeting separated. Mr. Sanger, we understand, met the Ccmrnit- lees of the ladies and juvenile associations on the following n.orn- ing. THE EEV. All ']I TIAM bct-I to remind our readers that this distinguished preacher will lecture on the Life, Times and Genius of Wiiliams, Pontycelyn, at the Tabernacle chapel, in this town, on Tuesday evening next, when we hope he will have a very numerous audience. His lectures at Caimarthen and Brecon have been attended by numerous audiences. He will preach at Zoar chapel, Meithyr, on Monday evening, and in the course of the week will visit Ihimney, Tredegar, and Llunelly. Wheiever he- goes we hope the inhabitants will avail themselves of the op- portunity to hear a preacher, wnter,aud a poet, who un- doubtedly stands pre eminent among tie many noble spirits of his native land. In this town early applica tion lyr tickets is necessary,

VESTRY MEETING IN THE PARISH OF ST. MARY'S FOR MAKING A CHURCH RATE. Wr were quite unable, from a pressure of other matter, to V give a report of the proceedings of this meeting last week. Tha meeting was held at the same hour as the one at St, John's, a copious report of which appeared in our last impression. No doubt the object of holding the meeting at the same time was by these means to divide the dissenting forces, and to gain a victory in both parishes. These tactics failed, inasmuch as the liberal parishioners of St., Mary's, relying upon their numerical superiority, and their ability at all times to outpoll theiJ; oppo- nents, left a few only to do ecclesiastical battle in their own parish, and went to the assistance of their fellow-townsmen in St., John's, whose strength was not so great. At twelve o' clock, the llev. W. L. Morgan took the chair, and in a short address stated the object of their meeting, A parishioner suggested, that as twelve o'clock was a very inconvenient hour for the major part of the parishioners to meet, it would be advisable to adjourn until seven or eight o'clock in the evening, to give all an opportunity of attending, Mr. Morgan refused to entertain the suggestion,, and said it would be incompetent for him to put any such motion to the meeting, which, "having been called together at a certain time, to do a certain thing, could not entertain any other questioli but that they were called together to discuss. The Chairinan then proceeded to read the accounts of the- retiring churchwardens, by which it appeared that a balance of about E20 remained in their hands. He observed that the rate had been collected in a maimer that had never been done t before. Out of about E180, only £ 20 remained uncollected. • A list of the defaulters had been prepared, and would remain on the table for the inspection of any parishioner. With respect to meeting the necessary expenses for the present year, it the vestry confined itself to the charges strictly obligatory on the parish, according to the estimate which on behalf of the church- wardens he now presented them, there would be no occasion for a rate, as the funds in hand would cover all; but if it would take upon itself to provide those other things, which, although the parish were not bound to find-, yet were so necessary and. convenient, a rate of three halfpence in the pound would have to be made. This lay entirely at the option of the-vestry for himself, however, the Chairman would say that:much as he desired to have an organist and similar tilings, if the vestry ( now rejected to provide for them by rate, he would never again as long as he was incumbent ask them to do so he would eon- j tent himself with those things the law compelled the parish to provide. v After some remarks of a desultory character, respecting the uncollected portion of the rate, in which nearly all present joined, the churchwardens' accounts for the past year were admitted. Mr. Phillip "Bird then ro.se and said he wished to see the list of defaulters, as he knew Mr. Batchelor's name was amongst them, and he did not see why he should not be compelled to t. pay; for his part, he was determined to pay no more church- rates until him and others were compelled by law o pay theirs. As for himself, he was for a church-rate, but he did "not see why others should be excused. He would propose that 111', Osman, the collector, be instructed to take proceedings for the recovery of the rate from all who were able to pay but would r not do i't. "• Mr. Thomas Williams concurred in Mr. Bird's remarks, and would second his proposition. Mr. Daughton, in a few observations, supported it The Chairman was called upon to read the list of clefa Ulter,,z, j which, he dira -with, considerable reluctance. As the list was being read, several parishioners engaged themselves with s>* pointing out who ought to be made to pay and who ought to be excused, I Mr. P. Bird desired the Chairman to put a mark against those the vestry thought ought to be made to pay, but the Chairman declined to put a mark against anybody, aud pro- ceeded to advert to the proposition before the meeting, and inquired whether the parishioners were prepared to involve themselves in the expenses and anxieties of a long litigation, a he had no doubt would be the ease were they to proceed in the wy they proposed? He (the Chairman) felt convinced: that as far as'"Mr. Batehelor was concerned (he mentioned him, as he had been referred to), he was prepared to resist the rate to the utmost. He would take it from court to court, and there was no knowingWhat or when would be the end. It might ( extend over f^e or six years, and be a second Braintree affair, ( which he (Chairman) would be exceedingly sorry to see. It would be better to avaid such unpleasantness. It was. not every churchwarden that would undertake the responsibility of s prosecuting. The vestry had the undoubted power to take the course proposed but the question was whether under all the' circumstances it would be prudent and proper to-do so. Mr, Richarels, timber merchant, remarked that unless all r were compelled to pay who refused there would soon be plenty '.of imitators, and there would be no rate collected.at all. If were known that they were afraid to go to law, what would be the consequences ? Mr. Bird To be sure, the last rate is a perfectly legal one, and we ought to make all pay it. Mr. Daughton and others concurred in these remarks. I. Mr. Batchelor asked was the vestry quite sure of its legality J For his part he doubted it. The Chairman observed that he might as well be above board with the vestry. He had' written to Doctors Commons for an opinion on this point, which he would read to the meet- ing; but he would first of all read the letter which he sent to the learned Doctor, whose opinion he had taken. We have no room for the letter or we should like to have given it at length. as it was sq excellently written, and the Case so fairly put, The opinion was to the effect that, notwithstanding the informality, the rate was a good one in law, although the learned Doctor had some doubts on the point. The opinion adverted to the unsettled state of Church law, and the impossibility of giving any definite opinion upon matters that had not been decided. It also stated', we believe, that there was only one point in Church rate law as yet set at rest. After the Chairruitii had read this opinion, there was another desultory discussion about what steps should be taken to compel the defaulters to pay ul). There was evidently, a large party y of intolerants in the Vestry, bent upon compulsion and law, whose propensities for forensic campaigning it required all the moderation and kindliness of the Chairman to restrain. Some wanted to know upon whom the law expenses would fall. Mr. Churchwarden Richards asked whether the parish would not be liable. Some had doubts of the legality of the last rate, I and others had no doubt. And so the attempted crusade against conscience, baffled by the good sense and Christianity of the Chairman, ended. The Chairman then directed the attention of the vestry to the question of, whether there should be a rate or not. Mr. Thomas Williams proposed, and Mr. Daughton seconded, that a rate of Ilct in the pound be. granted, for the purpose of r i? paying the organist, sexton, pew opener, and other similar < things not strictly required by law, Mr, Batehelor stated that if that proposition were put to the meeting, he should oppose it, and it defeated demand a poll. The Chairman was prepared to hear this from Mr. Batchelor and would exceedingly regret to see the parish divided—to see parishioners pulling against each other, and their names regis- tered as opponents. If Mr. Batchelor persisted in going to the poll, he hoped the proposition would be withdraWlE Q Mr. Richards did hot wish to compel Dissenters to pay for things they were not bound bv law to provide but still he ] thought that they ought not to refuse to make the rate iowarls paying the sexton, "who had to do with all classes and all re- ligions, He was the servant of all, and ought to be paid by all. It was suggested that, as far as the sexton was concerned, he might increase his fees, and then get paid by those who had value received. Mr, Richards But the poor, who are greater in number, are unable to pay this plan would not do. Mr. Marks: Let us do it by voluntary contribution, I will give my mite. -The Chairman: I cannot entertain that proposition. We are convened to make a'rate, and we can entertain that question alone. Mr. Batchelor Not so, sir. It is clear to my mmd from what the authorities say, that the vestry, although it has no power to determine whether it will rep;.ir the church or not, yet it has l'uil power to determine how,, and iti ichat manner they will raise the required amount for doing so. The Chairman expressed a hope that as Mr. Batehelor haS sa- tisfied his conscience by refusing to concur tn making the rate, he would now retire, and allow them to make the rate in his absence. Mr. Batehelor regretted much he could not oblige the Chairman after all the courtesy he had received from liiiii. Mr. But the sexton—we cannot possibly, do without him. He is a parish officer,and the parish ought to pay him. The Chairman: The fees are not sufficient. remuiieraUon alcce, and therefore from some source or other he must be paid. Mr. Richards Then, if because the parish refuse to pay him, the sexton gives up his situation, what is to be done P t The Chairman I shall send all who are to be buried to you as Churchwarden, and you must see to it. Mr. Batehelor:. The Dissenters have graveyards of their own and they must pay for their own sexton. Ought they to be c-illed upon to pay for yairs tüo 1he Chai man Many Dissenters are buried in the churchyard'

JSL Memorial has been successful in the proper quarter, and will prove the means of assistance to many a poor neighbourhood. Before I close, will you allow me one friendly remark, and in- terpret. it in the right way ? It is not" declamation as a substifut. for argument," for that is not needed. It is this, there are mane who are your real friends, and who desire to support a respectable organ of Dissent; but who yet are truly grieved that there exists a tendency to impute motives to persons, and to indulge in vitupera- tion and abuse. I am a Dissenter. You know my history. And from one who feels for the interests of Dissent, you will receive this hint in the same spirit as that in which it is given. A little more of the spirit of love and forbearance will, I can assure you, be a more likely means than any other to secure for you the num- ber of 2-000. I have no desire to pursue the subject further With a fellow-feeling for one Who has trodden the rough path of life like myself, I am, nay dear Sir, Yours very faithfully, Tfevecca College. DAVID CITARLRS. —-