vailing conviction, that the accompanying advantages of a location in one of the larger towns of the county are necessary to give effect to any improvement in mere domiciliary arrangements. Under the strong impression that some decisive change was indispensable, the Tutors and Treasurer issued a circular letter on the subject, dated 26th November, 1838, addressed to the Committee and Subscribers of the academy, and the Congregational ministers of Lancashire. In this the position and prospects of the institution were brought under review, and the conviction was expressed, that a point in its history had arrived, demanding the united deliberations of its supporters, and calling for important measures.' Happily the opinions of many coincided with these conclusions; and the whole constituency having been invited to the ensuing Christmas meeting, held on December 20th, the important questions of improved accommodations and a new locality were brought fully under discussion. Two resolutions were adopted, the first of which was unanimously passed, That this meeting, convinced of the necessity of improved domiciliary arrangements for Blackburn Academy, pledges itself to the immediate prosecution of this object; and expresses its anxious desire that there should be a cordial co-operation, on the part of all the constituents in whatever measure shall be finally adopted.' The second also passed, after considerable discussion, with a degree of unanimity most gratifying and auspicious,'That the Academy be removed to Manchester. A subscription in furtherance of the measure, opened by the Treasurer, with the donation of £1,000, amounted, at the close of the meeting, to a considerable sum. At an adjourned meeting, held on the 10th January following, to which the whole constituents were again summoned,most of them also having been invited by the Treasurer personally, by means of a circular address,—the same measures were successfully followed up, by the extension of the subscription, and the appointment of sub-committees to superintend the proposed erection, and to canvass the county for the remainder of the requisite funds.

"The measure thus entered upon,-which evidently claims to be regarded rather as the founding of a new collegiate institution than as the improvement of an old one,-has been received by the county with an unanimity of approval and a cheerfulness of liberality worthy of the object. Your Committee would gratefully and devoutly ascribe it to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, that it has thus been put into the hearts of his people to devise liberal things,' and to dedicate of their property to his cause. It is, at the same time, with unfeigned satisfaction that they discern in the movement the power of those great common principles by which the churches of the Congregational body in this country are at onceunited to each other, and impelled to willing and liberal effort in the work of their Exalted Head. It is our happiness to know that by Him every act of service to his cause, performed from pure motives,. shall be appreciated and graciously rewarded. Your Committee feel it to be also their duty to acknowledge with gratitude the assistance of all who have co-operated with them in their present important attempt. And in particular they owe it to their own sense of justice

to record their high estimate of the efforts of their valued Treasurer, George Hadfield, Esq. who, to all his past services to the Blackburn Academy, has added both his continuance in office at a time when strongly urged by personal considerations to retire from the weight of its duties, and such increased exertions in furtherance of the present undertaking as have contributed largely to its success.

"While it is a ground of sincere regret to your Committee, that the town of Blackburn and its neighbourhood should have the prospect of losing that share of advantage to their religious interests which they have derived from the presence of the academy for so many years, an advantage which appears to be increasingly valued by them, the pre-eminent importance of Manchester as a field for religious influence, has formed one of the most cogent arguments for the removal of the academy thither. It is their expectation, that in the dense population of that town and its suburbs, the benefits directly flowing from a theological seminary will be invaluable; while the local relations that will be sustained by the institution both to Lancashire and the contiguous counties will afford facilities for the diffusion of its influence through a still wider sphere."

In the report for the year just closed we find it stated:

"The Committee had the high pleasure of narrating, in last year's report, the commencement and progress of a measure, the greatest which has yet been undertaken by our denomination in this county in connection with academic institutions. They refer, of course, to the formation of a greater institution in Manchester, at which place it is intended to provide, by the erection of a collegiate building, with all necessary economic and educational arrangements, for carrying on a large and effective theological college. Their constituents will expect from them, in the present report, some information as to the progress that has been made in this great work they therefore proceed, with much interest, to lay before them the following details, as furnished by the respected Secretary of the college.

"So cheerfully was the announcement of the object met, by all our friends throughout the county to whom access could then be had, that the subscription soon reached the handsome sum of more than £14,000. Of this about £8,100 has been contributed by our Manchester friends; £1,900 by our Liverpool; £1,377 by our Ashton; £980 by our Blackburn and Darwen; £446 by our Bolton; £400 by our Greenacres, and the same by our Crimble friends, and rather more by our Rochdale. Among such numerous instances of the most liberal generosity, it may appear rather invidions to select any particular instances; but a few are so prominently conspicuons, that silence, with reference to them, would be unpardonable. The noble example set by our highly esteemed Treasurer, was honourably followed by Samuel Brooks, Esq. who contributed another £1,000 towards the erection of the college. Messrs. Joseph Thompson and Sons, £550; S. Fletcher, Esq. £500; J. Wood, Esq. Clayton Vale, £500; Samuel Lees, Esq. Greenacres, £400; four Gentlemen, £300 each; three £250, and nine £200 each; one £150; forty-two £100 each, and twenty-two £50

each, besides many others who doubtless contributed with equal liberality, according to their several abilities. We are thus peculiarly happy in reporting the extent to which the contributions of our friends have reached: they at present amount to £14,736. 78. Od. of which more than £6,600 has been paid up-and we are fully convinced, that, had it not been for the peculiarly trying circumstances of the times, which press so heavily on this mercantile district, we should have had to report a much larger sum. This is abundantly manifest from the fact, that the greater part of the county, and all the neighbouring counties, remain to be canvassed, as it was deemed improper to attempt it at present. But it is hoped that the ensuing spring will furnish a better opportunity for making the proposed appeal. In the mean time our country friends will not, we trust, for a moment imagine that we have overlooked them in this truly christian ministration, to which we are assured they will most cheerfully contribute, when the appeal shall be seasonably presented to them, with their accustomed spirit and generosity.

"We are happy further to state, that a most eligible plot of ground, comprising seven acres, situated in Withington, about two miles and a half from the Exchange, and part of the estate of S. Brooks, Esq. has been purchased on the most reasonable terms, and made free for ever, for the erection and maintenance of the said college. Also, that the Committee having offered two premiums, of one hundred guineas and of fifty each, for such designs for the college as should be judged worthy of receiving the first and second prizes, twenty-seven different architects submitted thirty-six different designs for their approval; and, after the most careful and impartial deliberation, they unanimously adjudged the first premium to J. G. Irwin, Esq. and the second to R. Lane, Esq. It affords us most sincere pleasure to add, that the design selected by the Committee has received the cordial sanction and high approbation of all who have seen it, and especially of some whose experience and judgment fully entitle their opinion to the highest consideration.

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"The trust-deed for securing both the land and the premises to be erected, is at present under the most careful course of preparation; and as soon as it shall have been fully examined and approved, it will be duly executed without delay. It is highly gratifying to know, that, while it is positively required that every theological and resident tutor, and the principal officers of the institution, must be of Congregational principles, and in church fellowship, the deed is to be so constructed as not to render it impossible for the Committee to admit to the benefits of the institution any individual of evangelical sentiments and decided piety engaging to submit to the existing regulations of the college-a measure which will commend itself to all those who would strenuously promote union among Christians, without any compromise of vital principles on either side. Thus, while the hand of brotherly friendship is held out to others, it will remain for them both to avail themselves of it, and to reciprocate the favour, when the case may require, at their pleasure.

"An Educational Committee has also been appointed to prepare

a plan of tuition for the college; but its attention hitherto has been chiefly directed to the preparation of the trust-deed; and when this shall have been completed, they hope to attend to their more appropriate duty with fidelity and care.

"We cannot conclude this very brief notice of the transactions of the past with reference to the new college, without expressing the deep obligations under which all have been laid to the energy of your faithful and devoted Treasurer, and the ability and kindness of our beloved and honoured Chairman, the Rev. Dr. Raffles, who has exerted himself, on all occasions in which his health permitted him, with the happiest success in this noble cause. May their strength ever prove equal to their day-and may that day be long, prosperous and happy, to the extent of their largest desires.'"

The lithographical print which accompanies this article will show the style which the Committee have adopted, and we doubt not but the edifice will prove alike ornamental to the town of Manchester, and honourable to the denomination whose name it is to bear.

We trust that the Educational Committee will be anxious to make the internal administration of the college fully equal to its architectural pretensions and the high purposes for which it is to be reared. They will, we hope, in common with the managers of our other academical institutions, seek so to extend their curriculum as to meet the requirements of the University of London for matriculation and honours, and so prolong the term of study, that when their students shall present themselves for examination, they may take their degrees with honour. We are prompted to publish this hint, because we see that the Presbyterian Institution of Belfast and the Popish College of St. Mary, Oscott, have obtained warrants from her Majesty to send their students to the University of London, while, up to the present time, no dissenting college has asked for that privilege, though it was at the remonstrance and for the relief of dissenters that the University of London was primarily founded. Most cordially do we congratulate the churches of Lancashire on the evidence which this movement supplies of their vigour, intelligence, and liberality, and our prayer is, "O Lord, we beseech thee, send now prosperity."

ON THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN HEATHEN LANDS.

(To the Editor.)

SIR, I ADDRESSED you some time since on the subject of the strange policy of the East India Directors, connected with the spread of Christianity in British India. I now address you (and I trust you will spare me a niche in your Magazine,) on the subject. generally of missions to the densely populated countries of the east, and especially with a reference to China and Japan.

Whoever marks the extensive operations of the "London Missionary Society," and other Missionary Societies of the present day, will be forced to acknowledge, that in no past age was there ever

apparent such activity, zeal, and fervour in spreading the cause of Christ and of his gospel in heathen lands. History has seen many parallels, during the long time of monkish superstition in former ages, of the wealthy and the great bestowing a large portion of their possessions for the extension and enrichment of the church. History also abounds with the narratives of innumerable devotees, who subjected themselves to a life of penance and mortification, as they vainly imagined, "for the kingdom of God's sake" in whom a zeal for the glory of Christ's cause is apparently manifested in the inflexible constancy of their voluntary sufferings, far transcending any thing which this age can show. But, as it has been very long decided that the severe mortification of flagellants and anchorites form no real test of christian piety, neither did the munificent grants and bequests, about which we read much in monkish chronicles, by any means constitute an infallible sign that the donor was guided with a view to the immortal good of his fellow creatures. The present age, therefore, may be pronounced with truth, (and the writer of this eulogium deems that abundant cause exists for substantiating its TRUTH,) to be one of high christian philanthropy towards the spiritual wants of mankind, and of generous devotion in the cause of evangelizing those countries on whose soils the banners of the cross have never been unfurled. An unbiassed observer would even, perhaps, in view of the triumphant exertions which have been made during the last few years in the cause of missions, say that the author of "Mammon" should have made a more distinct and positive recognition in its favour. If "covetousness generally be the besetting sin of the christian church," it certainly does not appear to be so HERE. Whatever of truth attaches to the assumptions contained in that popular treatise, its author should, in the estimation of some, have more distinctly recognized in the spirit of the age, as pervading the church, a redeeming feature, which at least, if in no higher view, might stand out as an "oasis of the desert," amidst the sweeping course of his reprehensions. But to the point of our subject: although the liberality of the age has made unprecedented exertions in the cause of missions-although the "gleaners for the vintage" in this part of "God's vineyard" emulate each other with a noble zeal, in carrying the "errand of mercy" to the extremities of our globe, it may be thought, sometimes, having allusion to foreign missionaries, that, if an insight a little more profound were exercised into the character and the natural and intellectual dispositions of the people to whom they address themselves, their great end would be more extensively and universally accomplished. Moral and intellectual culture, we are sufficiently aware, will not implant religion in the human breast; but it has often become a powerful means of aiding its growth, by humanizing and ameliorating the passions, by softening and removing those prejudices, which, generated in education and fostered by prevailing example, grow up into force, and prove insuperable obstacles to the reception of another faith. If some of our missionary labourers were, together with being skilled in languages, alike proficients in the study of human character, greater results might