taste, they shall at length become the willing agents in raising and improving their own condition. You will always find that, in the absence of poor-rates, the average style of comfort among the people determines their habits, whether of prudence or of precipitation as to marriage. Should a higher demand for comfort be at length introduced among the peasantry of Ireland, this would restrain these improvident connections, which I hold to be a palpable and immediate cause of wretchedness in every population. Now this is not

to be done in a day; let us be thankful if it should be done in a century, and meanwhile, let each of us suit his movements to the mediocrity of his powers, more satisfied with doing a small thing thoroughly well than with the short-lived glory of a splendid enterprise that vanishes in smoke. I am, &c., THOMAS CHALMERS.

No. CCLXXXI.—TO LADY O'BRIEN.

MY DEAR LADY O'BRIEN-1. I should even think Ennis to be too wide a field, and I should prefer a district of the town with a population of three thousand, and this district the poorest in the place.

2. A chapel to be built in it, with a minister who had the zeal and spirit of a most devoted missionary, but who at the same time, totally free of all partisanship, could so manage his addresses, both from the pulpit and in private houses, as never once to advert to such a distinction as that which obtains between Catholics and Protestants. This, I think, he may do under the single impulse of a desire for the spiritual and everlasting good of all, and without any dereliction of that faithfulness which is incumbent upon him as an expounder of God's will for man's salvation.

3. The way to mark that more special reference which the chapel has to the district than to the general town is, first, by holding out the preference for seats to those who reside within the limits of the district; and, secondly, by the minister's assiduous cultivation of it as the peculiar vineyard of his household and week-day attentions.

4. Let not the sittings be gratuitous. If the people are poor, let the seat-rent be the smaller on that account; but let there be a rent, however trifling, that the people may have a feeling of property in their assigned pews, and more especially that there may be a distinct and tangible right by which to fence the local congregation from the intrusions of the town at large.

5. The demand for seats may at first be small, but the unwearied ministrations of the clergyman from house to house will make it great. Whatever vacant room is over after the local demand has been met and satisfied, should then be exposed to the whole population.

6. The minister will soon obtain such an ascendency over the families of his district as would render him the efficient instrument for stimulating all those economic and educational processes that might be judged expedient.

7. He should be a man who, standing between the rich and the poor, could as fearlessly tell the latter of their duty in respect of industry, independence, cleanliness, &c., as he could tell the former of their duty as the stewards and almoners of Heaven's bounty.

8. And he should know that it is utterly impossible to achieve one valuable object of philanthropy by letting forth. all the streams of affluence on the relief of indigence, that this last duty should be performed unseen, and without the publicity which combination is sure to give it; and that the only visible movement in behalf of the poor (in ordinary times) should be for the purpose of moralizing and enlightening them; it being always understood that every scheme, even for their temporal comfort, will fail, which is not founded on the basis of their own improved hearts and habits.

9. The minister will be greatly the better of a band of associates, with each having the management of his own subdistrict, and being thoroughly impressed with kindred principles to his own, both in regard to the economics of the people and their higher interests.

I am aware of many difficulties which might be felt in the perusal of the above sketch; but I shall not anticipate them, and rather leave them to be started ere I attempt to do them away.

N.B. The effect of repeated domiciliary visits, when conducted with kindness and judgment, is altogether unknown, and even the obstinacy of Catholic prejudices is not able to withstand it. Yours, &c., THOMAS CHALMERS.

No. CCLXXXII.

GLASGOW, 12th May, 1823. MY DEAR MADAM—I have perused with great interest the letters of Lady O'Brien, and have transmitted them to Mr. M'Gregor. I still think that, instead of taking any other part in the more extended movements which are going on for Ireland than subscribing for them as others do, her ladyship would serve the cause more effectually by concentrating her strength upon a third part of the town of Ennis.

The regeneration of a country is never to be accomplished in any other way than by a piecemeal operation-by each individual philanthropist doing his part within a sphere that is commensurate to his influence and to his powers. When the Spirit of God writes in many hearts the sacred law, then the owner of each individual heart will go forth upon that portion of the field which is within his reach, and do with all his might that which his hand findeth to do. It is not the local system that will regenerate our land, but a host of spiritual men must go forth in the day of God's power, and calculating aright on the most effective way of distributing their forces. I think that the result of this concentration would be the adoption of the local system with a busy operation of separate and parochial activities over the face of our kingdom. Still it is the Spirit of God that is the prime mover; still the helplessness of man and the need of prayer must ever obtrude themselves on the notice of Him that looks to the whole question, and attentively regards all the parts and all the bear

ings of it. Without the descent of living water from above, the local system does not more for a country than the best apparatus of aqueducts for irrigation could fertilize it without rain as little for it as the agricultural processes of Egypt could avail without the annual overflow of their great river. I am yours, &c., THOMAS CHALMERS.

No. CCLXXXIII.—TO SIR Andrew Agnew, Bart.

LOCHRYAN, 31st August, 1838. MY DEAR SIR ANDREW-The inclosed paper is very well drawn up, nor am I aware of any amendment that can be made upon it. Allow me, however, earnestly to suggest that, before the managers of the new church at Leswalt attempt distant places, they would make a thorough operation on their own neighborhood. It is not, as you well know, large individual subscriptions that I am contending for, but a general and diffused application, by which all who are willing might have the opportunity of making their contributions, however small. I would fain hope that if this were done, the adequate funds might be obtained without the necessity of going beyond the confines of Wigtonshire.

The reason why I do not add my own name to those of the gentlemen who have subscribed this paper is, that from the position I hold I should be exposed to similar applications from all quarters, and so be placed under the necessity either of giving my name in every instance, or of giving offense by refusing it in those cases where I judge it were better that the most strenuous attempts were made to realize the whole sum necessary in home produce rather than foreign aid.

Before I close, I can not adequately express the deep sense I have of your great kindness and liberality to myself. It is a great contribution you have made to our cause, that from the moment of my touching Stranraer to the moment of my leaving it, you have franked and taken charge of the whole intermediate locomotion, comprising two Presbyteries.* Aft*"Saturday, August 18th.-Left Fairley at ten. Looked with great

er you had done so much, I did not object to your settling with the driver at Glenluce, so as that there might be no ex

interest to the coast all the way from Girvan to Lochryan; it being quite new to me, and maintaining throughout the character of a simple, remote, and solitary glen. Got to Stranraer about nine. The town looked impressive as we approached it-it forming a crescent, and its twinkling lights spread before us in this form. Sir Andrew Agnew waiting our arrival. He introduced us to Colonel M'Dowal; and took us (me and Mr. Collins) in his carriage to Lochnaw Castle, six miles off. "Tuesday, 21st.-Went to the Presbytery at twelve. Spoke at great length on Church Extension in a meeting-house, to an audience more limited than it would have been had not the public misunderstood the intimations. Made the acquaintance of Mr. Symington, Cameronian minister here, for whom I have great value.

"Wednesday, 22d.-The work of this day has been two-fold; first, the forming a Parish Association for Leswalt, which was done in Sir Andrew's house-the parish minister, and several elders, farmers, and others, having met and adopted our regulations. Went at two, in Sir Andrew's carriage, to Portpatrick, where I held another meeting with the minister in his manse, and elders, and farmers, and others; and where also Colonel Hunter Blair, Colonel Vans Agnew, Mr. Blair, M.P., and Captain Little attended. Had a good deal of talk here; and after having settled this business, went forth to the harbor, and enjoyed exceedingly the bold, rocky beach. Then scrambled along the beach in another direction from Dunskey Castle. Got at length into a den beautifully wooded, and watered with a noble fall, which conducted us to Dunskey House, belonging to Colonel Hunter Blair, who had many visitors.

Thursday, 23d.-I rose about seven.

Walked out to a beautiful den, which terminates in the beach. Then laved my hands in the Irish Sea, and returned again through the den, beautifully wooded, and furnished with chairs and wooden bridges; and I thought that had Helen and Fanny been with me, how objectively they would have gazed at the rushing cascade, and the airy seats placed at different points for the best views. Spoke to a crowded audience in Mr. Symington's church on Church Extension, to my own and the people's satisfaction. Went off to Lochnaw Castle.

"Friday, 24th.-Sir Andrew's carriage took us to a most beautiful bathing-cottage on the sea-side, where the family reside often for many weeks together. It is situated most romantically in a secluded recess on the beach, with braes, and rocks, and famous scrambling heights on each side of it, and before it the sea, with an expanse of fine yellow sand at low water. Mrs. Chalmers and I are invited to take up our residence there, en famille, for as many weeks in summer as we like;