mounted as before into the cloudless sky, but to me his song thrilled with redoubled sweetness, for my heart rose with him in praises to our great Creator. Better than ever do I love my life. it is His gift: more than ever do I love the earth; it is His work; yet I stand before you condemned to part with both, and I am happy, most happy; for I know that death is but the gate of entrance to an immortality of joy. I know that I am leaving this fair world only to dwell for ever in one still fairer. My friends, my fellow townsmen, let not prejudice close your eyes to the truth: I entreat you to search for yourselves; listen to the teachers of Christianity, and then decide between them and the priests of your idols. Of my own sincere belief in the crucified Lord of Christians I am about to give you the last and most

decisive proof."

He knelt down, and commending his soul to Jesus, laid his head upon the block. The executioner was raising his hand to strike, when his resolution appeared to fail, and it dropped powerless at his side. Again the signal was given, and he seemed prepared to obey; but the axe which should have descended upon the neck of Alban, was cast to the ground, and the executioner fell upon his knees beside him: "Holy man," he said, “your God be mine: I am ready to die for you; pray for me, that I may be accepted by Him."

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A murmur rose in the assembled crowd. 'Pardon, pardon!" began to be distinguished. "Ah," exclaimed the officer, we have done wrong to let the Christian speak." He looked round at his soldiers; one of them came forward and took the

axe.

"Death to them both," and the weapon, yet stained with the blood of Alban, drank that of his new convert.

To the memory of the first British Martyr, a magnificent Church was erected about the time of Constantine the Great, This edifice, destroyed in the Saxon wars, was rebuilt by Offa, king of Mercia; and the town in Hertfordshire, formerly Verulamium, is still, in honour of the same circumstance, known by the name of St. Alban's.-Tales of the Martyrs.

DIOCESE OF CALCUTTA.

BISHOP'S COLLEGE.

The following account of this most important Missionary College, which was founded, and is supported by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, was drawn up by the Rev. S. C. Malan, who was for a short period one of its Professors.

Bishop's College, the most important missionary institution in India, is situated on the right bank of the Hooghly, about four miles below Calcutta. It owes its origin to the Right Reverend THOMAS FANSHAWE MIDDLETON, the first Bishop of British India; at whose earnest request the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts agreed, in 1819, to build it.

Bishop's College was then founded under the sanction of the supreme government, for the maintenance of a Principal and of two subordinate Professors, and for as many students and probationers as may be required for the service of the missions, and be maintained by the funds of the Institution. Its declared object is the education and instruction of native and other youth in the principles and discipline of the united Church of England and Ireland, in order to their becoming missionaries, catechists, and schoolmasters; and also the translation of the Scriptures, of the Liturgy, and of other religious books, into the native languages. It is also intended to offer to the Society's missionaries, on their arrival from Europe, a temporary residence, during which they may qualify themselves for the better discharge of their duties in India.

The College erected for that purpose by the Reverend Bishop Middleton, consisted only of the eastern quadrangle, containing the chapel, the library, the hall, separate suites of apartments for the Principal and the Professors, and rooms for the students. But when, in 1829, the Reverend Bishop Heber wished to extend the benefit of the college-education to lay-students generally, the Incorporated Society passed a resolution, by which non-foundation students should be admitted into Bishop's College; and the building was consequently enlarged to its present size.

The COLLEGE ESTATE, granted to the Incorporated Society by the government of India, in the name and on the behalf of the Honourable East India Company; all funds destined to the support of the College; and all property, real or personal, belonging to or connected with the Society's missions and schools, are vested in the Incorporated Society for ever; with whom also is the ultimate government and the absolute and entire control of the College. The Reverend Bishop of Calcutta for the time being is the VISITOR of the College, with power to inspect from time to time its state and proceed

ings, to interpret the statutes in doubtful cases, and to make such further regulations (not being contrary to any of the general principles on which the College is founded) as the case may seem to him to require.

But the ordinary government of the College is in the COLLEGE COUNCIL, which consists of the Principal and the two Professors, who, according to the statutes, must reside within the College. Two out of the three are competent to act; and any point remaining undetermined by the College Council is to be referred to the decision of the Visitor.

The Professorships, and the appointment of the Principal, rests with the Incorporated Society. In the event of any sudden vacancy, the Visitor is empowered to supply the place pro tempore. The Principal is especially charged with the superintendence of the morals and conduct of the students, and with their instruction in Divinity. The Senior Professor acts as secretary to the College Council, and conducts the whole of the correspondence connected with the College. He has also the management of the library. The Junior Professor is charged with the duties of College-Bursur, and with the care of the College buildings and grounds. He has to submit monthly to the College Council the current expenses of the establishment; which having been duly examined and approved, are defrayed by authority of the College Council.

The System of Instruction in Bishop's College is in the main that of English collegiate education, with such modifications as may best suit the circumstances of those who are to teach Christianity in a heathen country. Theology, with the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, as subsidiary to it ; History, both ancient and modern, ecclesiastical and civil, and the elements of Philosophy and Mathematical knowledge, form the course of instruction carried on within the College, under the tuition of the Principal and of the Professors. But the teaching of the Sanscrit, Bengalee, Hindoostanee, Persian, Arabic, Tamil, and Cingalese languages, belongs to several learned pundits and moonshees who are attached to the College, and placed under the immediate superintendence of one of the professors.

The Students, whether on the foundation or not, are Christian youths, who have been well grounded and instructed in the principles of the English Church. They may be either of

European, or mixed, or wholly of native race; preference (when other qualifications are equal) being shewn to the sons of missionaries or of schoolmasters in India, and to the sons of chaplains of the Hon. East India Company.

The age at which students are usually admitted into the College is fifteen or sixteen; and the period of their residence in it is generally five years. Exceptions are allowed in both cases, under special circumstances, at the discretion of the Visitor. The students, who must be furnished with the necessary documents respecting their age, baptism, health, &c., are received into the College at any of the monthly meetings of the Council, after examination and approval, with the recommendation of their respective Archdeacons.

Lay or non-foundation students are placed in all respects on the same footing as those that are on the foundation; except that they are not obliged, like them, to declare, when they are admitted into the College, their intention of becoming ultimately candidates for holy orders. They may be required to wear the academical dress prescibed for the foundation students. They all pay for diet, room rent, and tuition, monthly, in advance, sixty-four sicca rupees (£7.) To every non-foundation student is assigned a separate portion of an apartment, which is furnished at his own cost.

When a scholar or foundation student has completed the term of education in the College, he is removed to such station as may be appointed to him, and he is there employed as catechist under the principle missionary of that station; to assist in the labours of the mission; to act as schoolmaster where no other is appointed; and to prosecute his studies with a view to his being admitted, if duly qualified, to holy orders.

The period of his preparatory state is generally three years; after which the catechists in the service of the Incorporated Society having forwarded the requisite testimonials, are readmitted into the College under the name of probationers; subject to the discipline of the institution, and for the purpose of employing their time in prayer and diligent study, as a preparation for holy orders, and for the effectual discharge of their future duties. They remain in the College until they are ordained deacons, when they repair (being first licensed by the Bishop) to the stations respectively assigned to them in the chararcter and with the salary of missionaries,