lands, owed much to him, for his counsels, the orders he gave to his ambassadors, and various letters which he directed to be written in their behalf, all intended at once to protect and unite their interests. It need scarcely be said that the Church of Scotland was warmly attached to the Hanoverian family. After the proclamation, by Marr, in favour of the Pretender, all the ministers next day, some of them in the face of no small danger, prayed for George I. by name; and their Irish brethren felt in a similar manner. The celebrated Francis Hutcheson, afterwards Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Glasgow, and an able writer against lay patronage, informed Wodrow, as related in his unpublished Analecta, that his father was a Presbyterian minister in Ulster, and suggested to the Irish Presbyterian ministers, about the year 1713, when the Hanoverian succession was in danger, the propriety of making out a list, in their respective congregations, of persons who were prepared to maintain the Protestant cause. This was generally agreed to; and soon a list of 50,000 persons was sent over to the Elector of Hanover, by the hands of a French Protestant minister,-persons who might be counted on as staunch friends of his family and succession. This was very encouraging, and is a fresh proof how much the present royal family are indebted to the professors of Presbyterianism.

Externally, then, the reign of George I. was favourable to the Church of Scotland; and it cannot be doubted, that much good continued to be wrought out for the country, through her instrumentality, both at that period and for many years afterwards. Her different schemes and labours of social and Christian benevolence, might be said to be in active operation. On turning to the Acts of the General Assembly, printed and unprinted, we find the same liberality in contributing to the erection of bridges and harbours as in former days. In the course of a few years I have counted 23 such cases; and many others, doubtless, are not recorded. They are often mentioned incident

ally, and were so numerous, that at one time (1723), the General Assembly resolved she would take up no new ones-a resolution, however, which she did not long observe. I have noticed six bridges building from the funds of the Church at the same time. At the same period, and in the course of a few years, nearly 20 collections were made for the special relief of the poor and the suffering; several of them for widows and orphans, and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Nor was the cause of the Gospel in foreign lands overlooked. We read of contributions for German Calvinists-for the churches of Lithuania, in behalf of which, not less than 50 Presbyteries collected-for the French Protestants of Hildburghausen-for Swiss Protestants-for French and German Protestants at Copenhagen-for French Protestants in Saxony-for the Swiss of Piedmont for the Germans of Pennsylvania-nay, for Lithuanian bursars, to be educated regularly in this country -and for the College of New Jersey, in the United States of America. * With regard to the Lithuanian

*Of a later day we have the following notices :-" At a meeting of the Associated Pastors in Boston, New England, September 1752:

"The Reverend Mr Pemberton of New York, one of the trustees of the Infant College of New Jersey, having represented to us that the trustees are sending an agent both to England and Scotland, in order to solicit charitable collections for the building and endowing the said College, which the trustees, in the present circumstances of these colonies, can see no other way to accomplish, and Mr Pemberton desiring our recommendation of this design to our brethren in Great Britain,-we cannot but express our apprehension of the importance of such a society in that part of North America, for supplying the eight British Provinces, south-westward of New England, with ministers of piety and learning, for want of which great and growing numbers of people in those southern provinces are in imminent danger of perishing in ignorance and error; the two Colleges in New England being unable to supply them: and though our own College in Cambridge hath great need of future benefactions--and we shall be glad if the friends of religion and learning would help us-yet, therewith we would also commend this undertaking to the Divine blessing, and to the beneficence of those who desire the enlargement of Christ's kingdom, and the advancement of learning in those ends of the earth. And whatever any shall give to this important interest, we apprehend will be an offering acceptable to God, and of extensive good to men both in the present and future generations.

"In the name and by order of the Association.

JAMES SEWALL, D.D."

"General account of the rise and state of the College lately established in the Province of New Jersey in America, by Rev. G. Tennant and S. Davies, agents for the trustees. Edinburgh, 1754."

"Abstract of the act and recommendation of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, met at Edinburgh, May 31, 1754, for a collection for the College of New Jersey.

"The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, on the 31st day of May

contributions, Wodrow states in his Analecta, on the authority of Principal Chambers, that they were so large and handsome, that they brought the Church of Scot

1754, having had presented to them by the Rev. Messrs Gilbert Tennant, and Samuel Davies, two petitions, the one from the Synod of New York, and the other from the Trustees of the College of New Jersey, of the same import with the preceding papers; and having also laid before them certificates and recommendations from persons of honour and credit, and being sensible that the encouraging of the said College is of great importance to the interests of religion and learning, and to the support and farther advancement of the kingdom of Christ in those parts of the world, appoint a collection to be made at the church doors of all the parishes through Scotland, upon any Lord's day betwixt the first day of January next, the particular day to be fixed by the several presbyteries, as they find to be most convenient for the parishes in their bounds; and the money collected within the bounds of the Synods of Glasgow and Ayr, and of Argyle, to be paid into Bailie Archibald Ingram, merchant in Glasgow, and that collected within the other bounds of the other Synods in Scotland, to be paid into Mr William Hog & Son, merchants in Edinburgh; and the General Assembly earnestly recommends it to all, to contribute, according to their ability, to this useful and charitable design; and ordains their act and recommendation to be read from the pulpit the Sabbath immediately preceding the day that shall be appointed for the collection, and that ministers enforce it with suitable exhortations."

There is subjoined to the Assembly's act and recommendation, a letter directed to their Moderator, from the "Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge," signed by the most Honourable the Marquis of Lothian, their President, the tenor whereof follows:

"VERY REVEREND SIR,-The "Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge," take this opportunity to signify the genuine pleasure it gave them to observe with what alacrity the venerable Assembly countenanced a general collection through Scotland, for the encouragement of the lately erected College at New Jersey. We had, some time ago, the state of that College under consideration, and, for promoting its interest, gave a sum for purchasing books for the use of its library. It would give great satisfaction to this Society if the Assembly would be pleased to authorise this letter to be annexed to their act, and appoint it to be read along with it, that it may be known to the whole Church how much the Society is persuaded that the encouragement of that newly erected College will tend to the advancement of learning and the advancement of religion in that distant part of his Majesty's dominions. This, in name and by appointment of the general meeting of the said Society, is subscribed by, very Reverend Sir, your most obedient humble servant, LOTHIAN.

"Edinburgh, May 30, 1754."

It may be mentioned, that the sum raised in Scotland, in answer to the appeal, was not less than L.2529 Sterling, a very large sum for so poor a country, engaged in so many home undertakings; at the same time proving, however, the strength of her remaining piety. It is an interesting fact which was stated before the Synod of Glasgow, by the Rev. Dr Cook of Quebec, at present (October, 1840), with the Rev. Mr Rentoul, a deputation from Canada, for raising funds to build and endow a College, in connection with the Church of Scotland at Kingston, in Upper Canada, that the above sum, raised in Scotland, still exists; that it forms a Scottish foundation; and that, a few years ago, an Indian chief was educated on it for the Christian ministry, is now an ordained Presbyterian minister, and has been the means already of the hopeful conversion of not less than 30 of his tribe to the faith and obedience of the Gospel. How blessed is the perpetuity of spiritual good! The liberality of the Church of Scotland nearly a century ago, is bearing fruit on a distant Continent at the present day. What an encouragement to generous zeal in rearing the new Canadian College, where Evangelical and Presbyterian principles are to be established, and, we trust, perpetuated to the latest generations!

land into no small reputation with the Dissenting Churches of England, and with the Foreign Churches. It would weary the reader to refer to the efforts of the Church Courts in behalf of the extension of churches and education at home. If the Church were so zealous as to bethink her of foreign Christians, she was not likely to neglect her own people, whether in the Highlands, or Islands, or Lowlands. Suffice it to say, that all the ground which was formerly acquired she retained, and that in addition, she made great advances in the

* "An act and recommendation of the General Assembly, for a collection for the Reformed Church of Breslaw in Silesia, and supporting a school there, dated Edinburgh, May 19, 1750.

"There was presented to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, by Mr Christian Lewis Finne, one of the ministers of Breslaw, a letter from the Reformed Church at Breslaw, the capital of Silesia, with proper credentials, representing that after having for 70 years been deprived of the exercise of their religion, and in a state of persecution, they are now happily restored to their ancient privileges by the king of Prussia, their sovereign, who has given them ground for building a church and school, which will prove comfortable to them, and useful for supporting the Reformed religion in that and the neighbouring countries; and though the king of Prussia has given leave to make a collection in the churches of his own territories for building and endowing a church and school, yet that collection has proved deficient, and will not answer the said good purposes; and that the said pious and useful work cannot be carried to perfection without the assistance of other Protestant Churches; and therefore humbly supplicating such relief as to the Assembly shall seem meet for the service of a Church which has kept the faith once delivered to the saints, stedfast and pure, amidst a long continued series of affliction and persecution. A Church! which is surrounded with Popery, and rears up its head as a bulwark against the errors of that idolatrous religion. A Church! which is situate in the capital of an extensive country, a large trading city, and therefore, by the blessing of God, may be of important service to the truth as it is in Jesus, to give a check to Popery, and to bring many souls out of darkness to the light of the Gospel. A Church! which, if once well settled, is likely to be of great use to the neighbouring Protestants in Hungary, Poland, and Bohemia, who are still groaning under the yoke of Popish bondage, as it may serve for a seminary and city of refuge and defence, of which things there have been already seen some first-fruits, for that not only several Popish families, and amongst them the family of Count D'Arco, have been converted to the Reformed religion, but also above 5000 Hussite Protestants have come over to them from Bohemia, and settled in Silesia, whose children may be instructed in the school at Breslaw, taught the principles of religion, and be brought up to trades, which will be a great addition and strength to the Protestant interest.

"The General Assembly having considered what is above represented, from a charitable and compassionate regard to their distressed brethren, and a pious zeal to support the Reformed interest abroad, did, and hereby do recommend a general collection to be made at the doors of all the parish churches in Scotland for the said good purposes, upon the third Lord's day of November next; and appoints the money so collected, to be paid to James Mansfield, merchant, and late Bailie of Edinburgh, or William Hogg, also merchant there; and the General Assembly earnestly recommend to all charitable and well disposed persons to contribute for so good a work, and appoint that this act be read from the pulpits of the several churches, the Lord's day immediately preceding the above day hereby fixed for making the foresaid collection." This application obtained a contribution of L.1100 sterling.

same department of labour. Who that has even partially read the Records of the General Assembly, can have forgotten the erections of Enzie and Norrieston, and the three new erections of the district of Strathnaver, and the new churches of Skye and Shetland, and the labours which were made to provide ministers with suitable salaries. The bishops' rents, and the public funds of the Church, which at this time do not appear to have exceeded £500, and the liberality of leading families and individuals, as well as public collections, seem all to have been put into requisition for the purpose; and, in the meantime, Gaelic probationers, and schools, and schoolmasters, and libraries, are employed for the fartherance of the Christian instruction of the ignorant and destitute. The Society in Scotland contrived to proceed from 25 to 112 schools, and from an income of £6000 to an income of £16,000, in 1736. No feasible plan is left idle; nay, the Popish rebellion of 1715 seems to have added fresh zeal to the liberality and labours of the Church. She has a salutary fear of Popery before her, and can see no way of disarming its dangers but by the spread of the parochial system, with all its kindred institutions of good. And this Christian diligence and perseverance are the more creditable, when it is remembered that for a number of years the Episcopalian Jacobites were ever intruding into parish churches, and disturbing the ministers, under the name of "Rabblers." There can be little doubt that, with God's blessing on the means employed, there was not merely an extension of the outward apparatus of the Church, but spiritual fruit. In the Wodrow MSS. for 1714, we are informed that communions this year were more than usually sweet; that ministers were much countenanced, and that a spirit of prayer was poured out on many of the young. Of 1729 it is said, that communions were particularly pleasant; that there was a greater number than usual of young communicants that at Strathblane there were more than 200 additional from that parish and neighbourhood. Next year, again,