to you and Mr. Eliot and his mother, and was rejoiced as well as myself to be informed that your interior was opened to discern such beauties in the Baron's works, especially that a new and delightful world was so opened to your view, that it filled you with wonder, love, and praise. It had just the same effect and operation upon my mind, when I first read them under the Lord's influence. And the more I cultivate an acquaintance with them in the true fear and love of the Lord, the more they conjoin me to His blessed self, and to His blessed angels, delivering me from all fear of death, as well as from the dominion of the Powers of Darkness, and introducing me to a consolatory view of that delightful kingdom in which I humbly hope, my dear sister, we shall be inhabitants for ever. There, my dear, all tears will be wiped away from our eyes, and everlasting joy be our happy portion. The following works of the Baron's have already been translated by Mr. Clowes, and are sold at Mr. Baynes's, Paternoster Row, London,-viz., 1. True Christian Religion. 2. The Delights of Conjugial Love. 3. The Wisdom of Angels on the Divine Love and Wisdom. 4. The Wisdom of Angels on the Divine Providence. 5. The Earths in the Universe. The Heavenly Mysteries, and some others, I hope to assist in translating.

Your account of Capt. Chase and poor dear Betsy Neale, is what I did not expect to hear; however, I hope it will be for the best, and if they are married, I most sincerely wish them happy.

When I began my letter on this very large sheet, I only intended myself to have occupied one half of it, and Anne and William were to have wrote on the other. But having been agreeably led on to enlarge, I have not left them sufficient room, and therefore they will embrace some other opportunity of writing.

You may remember that I related to you the account of Sir Sydney Smith's most extraordinary escape from France, which a particular friend of mine received from his own father. When I related the particulars of it to Mr. Clowes, he was much struck and affected, saying it was miraculous, and that he could wish to have the account from Sir Sydney himself. If I remember aright, I heard old Mrs. Eliot and you say, that you were well acquainted with him. If so, and you think it right to request a circumstantial account from him, you will have the goodness probably to write to him; but I only mention it, leaving it entirely to you, as it is a doubt with me whether he would choose to communicate the particulars to any but his select friends; therefore, unless you find your mind at perfect liberty to write to him, don't trouble yourself at all about it.

My son and daughter returned yesterday from Parkgate, and are both well. They both, with Mrs. Salmon, and my fellow-traveller, little William, join me in best respects to old Mrs. Eliot, Mr. Eliot and self; and that every blessing may attend you all, is the sincere wish of, my dearest sister's

Ever affectionate brother,

Jos. W. SALMON.
I shall hope

P.S.-We have not yet taken a house, but are looking out for one. to hear from you soon, as I shall be anxious to know how Mr. Eliot and you are. Be pleased to direct for me at Mr. Clowes's, as my son is leaving Spring Gardens, and is going to live in a charming house within sight of Mr. Clowes's house. There is some prospect of his being married, and most agreeably too, having formed an attachment at Parkgate with a most amiable young lady, who has a fortune of ten thousand pounds independent of her father's controul, and Mr. C. Salmon and I are to wait upon the old gentleman next week on the business. I hope the hand of Providence is in this connection. Our kind love to Miss Neales. Adieu-my dearest sister-Heaven bless you.

Correspondence.

NEW CHURCH CONFERENCE, 1861.

To the Editor.-Sir,-As a member of the late Conference, I will, with your permission, offer a few passing thoughts relative to that important assemblage of the "collective wisdom."

1. The plan of taking the Conference to as many different towns as possible, seems highly desirable.

2. The office of President should be filled by an experienced Minister. The President this year, though young as a man and as a minister, proved, in every sense, undeniably efficient.

3. The office of Vice-President, being useless, should be abolished.

4. The Colporterage should be vigorously supported, as likely to introduce the doctrines amongst the masses.

5. The introduction of new Members by a public religious service, would deter many from joining our little band. It was tried, several years ago, in one of the Lancashire societies, but did not succeed.

6. An invitation to attend the Lord's Supper (to be read the Sunday before its celebration) would be an improvement in the externals of public worship.

7. With regard to the Intellectual Repository (the Conference Magazine) one Editor is certainly better than a plurality, and I imagine it will be found that the gentleman appointed, will, if duly energetic, prove fully qualified for the office.

8. I do not see the wisdom of having so many Ordaining Ministers (6), while there has only been one ordination in nine years; nor can I divine why six Ministers hould have been raised to the (Epi scopal ?) Bench, all of whom have been ordained since the Rev. D. G. Goyder, and he a zealous, active, useful, and venerable Minister, be passed over unnoticed, although he is the oldest Minister on the Conference list. This seems invidious. The members, who are not aware of any reason for such uncourteous behaviour, will conclude that either the Conference has acted unjustly, or that there is something unbecoming the clerical office in the venerable Goyder!

Ordinations will, I apprehend, become less frequent than heretofore, especially as leaders can be licensed to perform every clerical function, except ordination. Yet few societies apply for licences, and why? because the general impression in the Church seems to be that advocated by the late revered Noble-"That an ecclesiastical character cannot be conferred, except by imposition of hands and actual ordination." The Conference as a mixed body, partly clerical and partly lay, cannot confer the ministerial office. If licences must be granted, the Society with whom the leader is connected, and over which he presides, is surely better able to judge of his fitness for the office than the Conference, to the majority of whose members he is necessarily an entire stranger.

While on the Ministry, I would remark, that the list of ordained Ministers recognised by the Conference, cuts a sorry figure indeed. 11 Ministers-9 of whom are inactive. Had not Mr. J. B. Kennerley been recently ordained, Mr. Boys would have been alone" in his glory”—being the only recognized active ordained Minister (exclusive of the bishops) in the New Church!

Five or six of our Ministers literally do no public duty. One minister now on the list, once a very zealous pastor and preacher, was sought after by a warmhearted friend, who travelled some miles across the country to see him; he found him, after much trouble, but instead of receiving him as a brother beloved, he looked coldly upon him, and shunned his affectionate fellow-member, on the plea that he did not

wish it to be publicly known that he was a Swedenborgian! From such pastors (?) we do well to pray, "Good Lord deliver us."

9. I may notice in passing, the excellent, though brief address, by our esteemed friend, Mr. Storry. If it be duly attended to, it will prove essentially serviceable to the good cause. We certainly want more life, more love, more candour, more sincerity. Unless the Church grow within, we cannot expect it to increase without. 10. It may be well to offer a few words on "Societies not yet in full connection with the Conference." Have they been invited to join the Conference? If not, why? If they have, why have they not joined? "How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." As Mr. Noble truly said, "Nothing can divide us from each other, but that which also divides us from the Lord."

11. Respecting the office of Storekeeper, I conceive the Conference have acted unwisely, not to say unjustly, in not voting Messrs. Hodson & Son to act in that capacity. Are they not experienced, devoted, and tried servants of the Church? Have not the Hodsons borne the burden and the heat of the day? Did they not come to the rescue in the day of struggle and of danger? Why then should a stranger be appointed, and old faithful servants discarded? Such reprehensible conduct evidently implies that all is not right.

12. The New Church, as a body of Christians, does not increase. "Is there not a cause?" Yes. There is a cause, and that is this-the want of that we profess to value so highly-that which we contend is the essence, the life, the all of religionCHARITY. I am Sir, yours &c.,

A MEMBER OF THE CONFERENCE OF 1861.

NEW CHURCH COLLEGE.

To the Editor.-Sir,-The last number of the Observer contained a letter from Mr. Henry Bateman on the subject of the New Church College. At the end of the eighteenth clause that gentleman says: "Let all who desire to enter the Ministry inform us of their wishes." If not out of place, I would forward the two following extracts from letters received per last mail from Australia:

No. 1. "You would set my mind greatly at rest by letting me know the conditions requisite upon entering the College. If I possess those requisites, I would gladly give up my brightest earthly hopes that I might be useful in the House of the Lord; if not, then I will be as useful as I can here; but I would rather go where I could be instructed more fully in the doctrines of the New Jerusalem."

No. 2. "I should be extremely obliged to you, if you would be so kind as to give me a little more explicit information respecting the 'New Church College,' when you write to me again. If I were to proceed to the old country by one of the December ships, do you think I should be able to join you in the New Church College? and, if so, on what terms?"

I think, Sir, these may be looked upon as replies to the invitation from Mr. Bateman, on behalf of the New Church College, and I should like to know to what extent I am warranted in answering them?

I am, Sir, yours most respectfully,

October 14th, 1861

R. GOLDSACK.

NEW CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

Ir has been matter of surprise that, notwithstanding all the efforts which have been made to establish a Sunday School in connection with the Cross Street Society, success has not attended them. I have often thought over this matter,

with a view of endeavouring to ascertain the causes to which this is to be attributed, but without any satisfactory result. One cause may be the want of a Minister of the peculiar genius adapted to aid in such an undertaking, and certainly the Society has not been so favoured. In the time of Mr. Proud, I am not aware that any efforts were made in that direction. Mr. Noble's mind was not of the class that was suited to it; and Mr. Bruce, though he did take part in some of the efforts made, was equally unsuitable. So is the present officiator. The only Minister, in my recollection, who was suitable to such a task, was the late Dr. Hodson, of Dudley Court Chapel. Although there was not any Sunday School connected with this Society, yet he gathered around him, once a month during the summer season, the children of the members, and instructed them in the Catechism, and explained to them the leading doctrines of the Church, in a most pleasing and practical manner. Many members of the Church, of the present day, bear in their remembrance these delightful gatherings—gatherings that were as interesting to the parents as to the children. It appears to me that the kind of Sunday Schools generally in operation in the present day, and which are, to a great extent, adopted with us, are not of the most useful character in relation to the Church. They should be adapted to the children of members, and so managed that members would feel no hesitation in sending their children to them; they should be for instruction in the duties of a religious life, and in the doctrines which would enable them to fulfil these duties most beneficially to themselves and others. Secular instruction should be but a secondary object, if given at all; for this is to be obtained for next to nothing, without devoting the Sabbath-day to what may be had at more suitable seasons. Could such schools be established, we should no longer hear the exclamations of surprise that the children of members do not continue attached to the doctrines. Another measure, I think, would have a beneficial effect in this way, and that is, to have a special service at the Church, adapted to the younger branches of the congregation, once in a month or two. Supposing by these, or any other means, the young folks can be kept in connexion with the Church, till they have arrived at the age when they may be admitted as junior members, then such admission to be by a religious service, sufficiently solemn to make an impression on the memory-something in the way of a confirmation service. I venture to throw out these hints in the hope that those better able to do it, may take them into serious consideration, and see how far they are practicable. I cannot see the consistency of endeavouring to bring the children of strangers into the Church, while we neglect our own, and at a time when their minds are so susceptible of receiving good and lasting impressions. This might be followed up, by the use of a similar service on their proceeding to take upon themselves, at the proper age, the responsibility of full membership. J.

INCIDENTS IN A PROFESSIONAL TOUR THROUGH BRITTANY, &c. To the Editor.-Sir, perhaps the following letter may be deemed of sufficient interest to occupy a place in the pages of your Magazine. It is from my youngest son, who is on the Continent, making sketches for the purposes of his profession.

I told you that I had sold a little sketch of Dinan to two ladies from Jersey.

NO. LIX.-VOL. V.

55

These ladies are amateur artists, and I was asked to give them some lessons, which of course I did. During the evenings engaged in this way, there was a tolerable amount of general conversation, and I think I rather shocked them by admitting that I was extremely fond of dancing, of the drama, and of sundry other worldly pursuits. This led to their going into the subject of Theology, with the idea, I imagine, of converting me. I defended my position, as well as I could, without stating the source whence I drew my arguments; and I observed that if men only acted up to what they believed, there would not be any fear of their being saved, notwithstanding the differences of creeds. "But look," observed one of the ladies, "what extraordinary doctrines there are; there are the New Jerusalemites, who say that they will work in heaven. Now there is Mr. F. of that belief, and as he is a dyer here, he will be a dyer to eternity. A Dr. Bayley has been giving some lectures about it in the island, but we were unable to attend. Have you ever heard of him?" I replied that I knew him very well. I corrected their mistakes about the dyeing business; and in the course of a conversation which lasted nearly two hours, I rather enlightened their notions on the subjects of the New Church. The next day was Sunday, and as I called for them to go to Church, I left with them the few numbers I had by me of the Monthly Observer, and I can assure you they were read through with considerable interest. This I call theological bout the first.

About a week after this I met Mr. H., a well known pious painter, of such pictures as " A charming young lady reading the bible to the poor family of the labouring unconverted man," &c., &c. He goes in for religion in a truly hard-working way-no end of prayer meetings-talking piously to the poor-distributing tracts, and so on. Now he had not been abroad before, so he came to me for a little advice, and for assistance with the language; and he very soon began to talk to me seriously-inquiring if I knew what I was living for, &c.; and upon my stating that I did (upon which he put his own construction, of course,) he almost embraced me; called me a Christian brother, and hoped I would join the prayer meeting he was going to have the following Sunday, with a Mr. R., and a Lieutenant C. The former I had been introduced to by Dr. F., but the latter I had not at this time seen. However, the next day I met both, and after a little very general talk, the Lieut. brought out of his pocket a card printed on one side, "What is Eternity ?" on the other, "Do you know for what you live?" Showing me this side, he asked me if I did. I, of course, replied "Yes." When turning to Mr. R., he exclaimed, “What a pleasure it is to be able to find another Christian brother in this out-of-the-way town. This sort of thing rather staggered me. I was again reminded of the prayer meeting, which I determined to avoid, although it seemed almost impossible. Now only fancy my being asked to give a prayer for the good of the assembled brethren, which I am sure would have been expected, as they had determined that I was the Christian brother. (Theological bout, No, 2). Lieut. C. gave me some French tracts, such as "Comment Sam. Williams devint heureux;" and "Trois démanches ou êtes vous préparés á mourir."

Fancy putting such bosh into French hands! By the men it would be read with contempt, and by the women would be shown to the priests, who would sneer still more at Protestantism. My belief is, that the French can only be made religious by the New Church; they are (that is, the intelligent portion, which is anxious for a more reasonable belief) too scientific to take to Tractarianism; nothing but the New Church will be of any good; and curiously enough it has began in the very centre of France,-St. Armand being the most central town.

On the dilligence from Nantes to Vannes, a priest was my travelling companion,