The students of Trigonometry have acquired for themselves a very honourable distinction.

These, as well as their associates generally, in the senior class, have likewise, with some diversity of attainment, acquitted themselves meritoriously in Geometry. Some of the junior class, in the same science, have not failed to give good proof of their ability, nor is there ground of dissatisfaction with any of them.

In Algebra, the success has not been so distinguished; though the seniors and some of the junior class, have shown a clear conception and considerable facility; while of the rest, considering their limited opportunity for familiarizing themselves with ideas entirely new to them, it may be observed, that they have no reason to be discouraged. Increased acquaintance with the subjects of thought introduced, will, with practice, enable them soon to surmount all difficulty.

On the whole, I can sincerely assure the Committee, that I have been greatly gratified with e proofs of talent and energy, which I have witnessed; and I cannot conclude, without congratulating them as well on the unremitting diligence of the students, as on the zeal, ability, and kind attention of their tutors, which cannot but win the esteem and confidence of their pupils. Spring Hill College, Dec. 18, 1839.

JOSEPH GILBERT.

III. ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND PHILOLOGY-HEBREW-BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION AND EXEGESIS-THE EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.

I have examined with care the papers committed to me, in the regretted absence of some other gentlemen of the Committee, arranged under the following subjects, each including two classes of questions adapted to the proficiency of the students-English Grammar and Philology; Hebrew; Biblical Introduction and Exegesis; the Evidences of Christianity. Since, were I to give separate reports, under each of these branches of instruction, it would, for the most part, be necessary to repeat the observations; I think it will not be requisite to do more, than to state the impression derived from the whole.

The respective courses appear to me to be very judicious, interesting, and important; adapted to ensure sound as well as extensive and appropriate learning. I have myself enjoyed much the review of them.

It would be anticipated that the papers written upon the questions in these several departments of knowledge, would indicate considerable diversity of attainment in the students, arising not only from differences of mental power, but of previous opportunity. But it is with unfeigned gratification, and the utmost sincerity, that I can commend the evident assiduity and solid acquisition of even those who have had, apparently, the fewest advantages, while of several, it is bare justice to remark, that there are striking proofs of ample endowments of mind, combined with accurate and extensive learning, as far as they have proceeded. Nor is it the less pleasing to observe, on questions which plainly admit of different conclusions, the manifest independence of judgment exercised, or otherwise the modesty which suspends decision, till further opportunity for careful investigation.

The Committee will bear in mind the mode of examination pursued in these as in the other branches; which, while it suffers none to escape in the generalities of a class examination, taxes to the uttermost the resources and the readiness of the most accomplished.

In conclusion, we cannot but confidently anticipate, that the mode of study adopted in Spring Hill College, followed out to the extent which time and health permit, will result in a supply of ministers amply furnished to meet the growing demands of the church and of the world, and, while indulging this hope, we would earnestly pray that amidst the fascination or labour of acquiring stores of knowledge, our young friends may be ever distinguished not less for their devotional spirit than for their other qualifications.

Nottingham, Jan. 1, 1840.

JOSEPH GILBERT.

NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, SUTTON, CHESHIRE. Nearly five-and-twenty years ago the destitute village of Sutton, which is situate about half way between Liverpool and Chester, was visited by some zealous friends belonging to the congregation meeting in Queen Street Chapel, Chester, for the purpose of establishing a Sabbath-school, and reading sermons to the villagers. Their faith and patience was long tried, but their success in the end was so encouraging, as to lead to the erection of a commodious chapel, principally through the exertions of the congregation with which they are associated, and to a liberal annual grant from Cheshire County Union, for the support of a minister in the place. Providence having directed the Rev. William Clarke to this important station, and success attending his labours, services were held on Tuesday, December 17th, for the formation of a church and the ordination of the pastor.

In the morning, an introductory discourse was delivered by the Rev. Robert Fletcher, of Manchester, after which the Rev. Samuel Luke, of Chester, addressed the church, and administered the Lord's Supper to the newly recognized members, together with many others from neighbouring churches. The service for the ordination was held in the afternoon; the Rev. Robert Roberts, of Parkgate, commenced with reading the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. S. Luke, of Chester, proposed the usual questions; the Rev. S. Healey, of Harlegrove, offered up the ordination prayer, and the Rev. J. Turner, of Knutsford, (the esteemed Secretary of the Cheshire Union,) delivered the charge.

The sermon to the people was preached in the evening by the Rev. Samuel Bowen, of Macclesfield. The services of the day were well attended, and excited great interest in the neighbourhood.

LAYING OP THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF AN INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, CASTLECROFT, BURY, LANCASHIRE.

On Christmas-day, (Dec. 25th, 1839,) the foundation-stone of a new chapel for the church and congregation now assembling at Shore Fields, Bury, was laid by James Kershaw, Esq. Alderman, of Manchester, in the presence of a considerable number of spectators, some of whom had looked forward to that event with prayerful anxiety. The service was commenced by the Rev. James Deakin, of Stand, with singing and prayer; after which the stone was laid, and a very neat and impressive address, adapted to the season of the year, the service itself, and the object that those had in view who laboured for the erection of that house, was delivered by Mr. Alderman Kershaw. The meeting then adjourned to the New Connection Methodists' Chapel, (which had been kindly granted for the occasion) where the service was continued by singing a hymn and reading the Scriptures. Afterwards a most appropriate address was delivered by the Rev. William Jones, of Bolton, from Gen. xxviii. 22, "And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee," in which was eloquently illustrated the ancient and scriptural mode of supporting the cause of God by a voluntary appropriation of a certain amount of our substance: also the soulcheering truths, that in all ages God had a people on earth, that with these he condescended to meet, and that they ever desired to have houses or places for special meeting with him. The service was concluded with praise and prayer, by the Rev. William Roseman, the minister at Shore Fields, after which the ministers and a number of friends repaired to the adjoining school-room, where an excellent refection was provided by the ladies of the congregation.

In connection with the above service there was a public tea-party in the evening (Rev. W. Roseman in the chair) when between 3 and 400 persons sat down. After tea the Rev. E. H. Nolan, of Manchester, addressed the meeting in his usually eloquent and happy strain. Addresses were also delivered by the Rev. Mr. Reynolds, of the Methodists' New Connection, and others.

In the course of the evening Mr. H. Tipping presented to the Minister and Church, for use in the pulpit, a large Bible, Dr. Watts's Hymn-book, and the Rev. W. Roby's Selection, splendidly but chastely bound, along with a handsome case for their preservation.

Altogether the services were of the most interesting character, and will long be remembered by those who were present. Many prayers have been offered to the great Disposer of events on behalf of this infant and promising cause; and it is hoped that when the destitute state of the dense population of that end of the town, and the number of individuals that have been induced to attend the ministry of the word in their present uncomfortable place of worship, are taken into consideration, in connection with the great efforts which bave heen made to raise the necessary funds for the commencement of the chapel now in progress, that the pious rich in other places will not withhold their aid. The land has been liberally and gratuitously surrendered by a member of the Church of England, and renewed for 99 years, for a small acknowledgment by the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby. About £500. have already been subscribed, but considerably above £500. more will be required. The chapel is 48 feet square, with a schoolroom beneath. For further particulars, see Congregational Magazine, p. 322, vol. ii. and p. 535. vol. iii. of the New Series.

ORDINATIONS, &c.

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, a deeply interesting service was held at Upper Clapton, Middlesex, to recognize the settlement of the Rev. Algernon Wells in the pastoral charge of the Independent church and congregation assembling in that suburban village.

Dr. H. F. Burder, of Hackney, conducted the introductory devotions. Dr. Fletcher, of Stepney, delivered an elaborate discourse, explanatory of the principles and constitution of congregational churches; Dr. J. Pye Smith, of Homerton, offered the designatory prayer; and Mr. Binney, of the Weigh House Chapel, addressed affectionate counsels to the pastor and his flock; and Mr. Blackburn, of Pentonville, closed the exercises with prayer. We are happy to state, that although our honoured brother's feeble health has compelled him to relinquish a portion of his duties as Secretary to the Congregational Union and Colonial Mission, yet that those important Institutions will continue to enjoy his able superintendence and enlightened counsels.

On Dec. 10, 1839, the Rev. W. F. Buck, (late of Harleston,) was recognized as pastor of the Congregational church at Burton-upon-Trent. The Rev. J. Corbin, of Derby, commenced the service by reading and prayer; the Rev. J. Wild, of Nottingham, delivered the introductory discourse; the Rev. W. Tait, of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, proposed the usual questions; the Rev. J. Shaw offered special prayer for the pastor; the Rev. J. Gawthorn, of Derby, addressed the pastor; and the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, preached to the people. The Rev. Messrs. Cooke, Ault, Herbert, Owen, and Sladden engaged in the devotional parts of the service. The friends of the Congregational Interest in this town have determined to erect a new and more commodious place of worship; a very liberal subscription was entered into for this purpose on the day of Mr. B.'s recognition.

INTELLIGENCE.

PROGRESS OF SOCIALISM.

The Bishop of Exeter, on Friday, 24th January, brought under the consideration of the House of Lords the progress and proceedings of this atheistical and anti-social sect.

His Lordship stated, that they had divided Great Britain into fourteen principal districts, which were represented in an annual congress. That their missionarles, who preach that religion, marriage, and private property, are the trinity of social evils, visit regularly 350 towns throughout the kingdom. That they have a Tract Committee, and publish a weekly journal called The New Moral World. That they have built what they call Saloons and Halls of Science, in many of the large towns, spacious and attractive edifices, in which their demoralizing principles are promulgated.

His Lordship's very long speech is characterized by much bitterness against the Marquis of Normanby for not taking legal measures for their suppression, but his Lordship failed to inform the House what steps the clergy have taken to counteract the mischief. Lord Normanby very properly remarked, "that for his part, he should conceive, that the first persons whose notice would be drawn to this extraordinary state of things would be the clergy of the Church of England. They, he should expect, would be able to meet such a moral evil with the most effectual weapons. But if any points of information on the subject had met the eyes of the clergy, all he could say was, that they had not come to his knowledge." We, like his Lordship, are uninformed as to the efforts of the clergy to counteract, by moral means, this growing evil.

We are happy to know that dissenting ministers have not been indifferent to it. Mr. Ewing, at Halifax, Mr. Giles, at Leeds, Mr. Mather, at Bilston, Mr. Thornton, at Darlington, Mr. Legge, at Reading, occur to us amongst many other of our brethren in the provinces, who, both from the platform and the press, have ably and successfully withstood these missionaries of atheism. In London, Dr. Cox, Dr. Styles, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Hinton, Mr. Woodwark, Mr. Aldis, Mr. Archer, Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Fletcher, in connection with the Christian Instruction Society, have, with great ability refuted their opinions, in a conrse of lectures at Eagle Street Chapel, Holborn, and Messrs. Steane Stovel, and Burnet are yet to follow to complete it. We are happy to add, that gentlemen connected with the City Mission, both clergymen and laymen, have just opened a course of Lectures at the Mechanics' Institution, Chancery Lane, which, like those at Eagle Street, are crowded to excess. The syllabus of the course is not at hand, but we recollect that Mr. Ainslie, Mr. Baptist Noel, Mr. Garwood, Mr. Isaac Taylor, and Mr. Mathews, are amongst the number of the lecturers. How happy would it be for his lordship the Bishop of Exeter, and the Church of England, if, instead of exhausting his powers in Parliament, in calling for the sword of the magistrate to punish the promulgators of these opinions, he would condescend, like a true successor of the apostles, to refute them with those weapons which are not carnal, but spiritual, and mighty through God to the pulling down of the strongholds of the enemy,

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

The Rev. T. Morell, who is about to relinquish the Theological Chair of Coward College at the close of the present session, purposes, if health permit, to redeem the pledge long since given to many of his friends, that he would embrace the first season of leisure from official duties to prepare for the press "Memoirs of the Life and Times of Doddridge." Valuable as is the biography of that excellent man, published soon after his death, so much additional light has since been thrown on his personal and social history, that a new work on the subject has been considered by many highly desirable. The Editor embraces this opportunity of requesting that any friends who may possess documents illustrative either of the personal history of Doddridge or the ecclesiastical history of the period in which he flourished, would favour him with the loan of such documents, or with extracts from them.

The Rev. J. H. Hinton has in the press an Essay on Human Responsibility. The Rev. J. Blackburn will publish in a few days "Marriage as taught by the Socialists."

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

Favours have been received from the Rev. Dr. J. Pye Smith-Rev. Messrs. W. Davis-E. Leighton --T. Atkins-J. Peggs-F. Watt-G. Taylor-W. F. Buck-T. Styles-R. Ashton-0. T. Dobbin-J. Clapp-S. Thodey-Thos. Morell-B. Brook-J. Bevan-James Turner-J. Watson-A. Tidman.

Also from Sir C. E. Smith, Bart.-Messrs. J. Mettham-J. MilnerJ. Smith-E. Phillips-Edwards-Z. J. G.-Nemo.

The Map that appears in our January number was reversed for the sake of introducing vignettes. This the artist should have indicated by the introduction of the cardinal points. The colony as it appears on the map is south and the ocean north, which reverses the usual order.

In the account which was sent us last mouth from Bury, in Lancashire, of the re-opening of New Road Chapel, is an error (page 69 of our last Number) which requires correction. The Rev. Thomas Hill succeeded the Rev. Alfred Bishop as Classical and Hebrew, and not as Theological Tutor in Homerton College, in the year 1806. In 1808, he received the accession to his tutorship of the paternal and pastoral office of Residence; and he was removed by death in August, 1813. An excellent Sermon on that occasion was preached and published by Dr. Winter. The present Divinity Tutor, Dr. Pye Smith, was appointed the Classical and Resident Tutor in 1800; he entered upon the duties of that station on January, 5, 1801; and, in the early part of 1805, he was called to the department in which, by the goodness of God, he continues to labour to this day.

Sincerely do we wish that this were the only part of that article which requires our notice. But we regret to acknowledge that the gentleman who sent it, has misled us by the insertion of a clause reflecting upon "a third interest" which has been formed in that place, and for the use of which, a new Chapel has been commenced under most respectable auspices (vide p. 133). That passage is calculated to produce on the mind of every reader not acquainted with the facts now before us, an impression which we think the existing circumstances will not justify. We must beg our correspondents not to make our work the vehicle of communicating party opinions to the public. The great object of our labours is to unite our churches, and not to increase alienations where they unhappily exist. We beg our friends at Bury to listen to the exhortation which Joseph addressed to his brethren, "See that ye fall not out by the way."