In the language of Prince Menschikoff, "there is nothing new at Sebastopol." The allies, indeed, can do nothing during Che winter but maintain their position, and, as the weather permits, gradually advance their works. They are now very close to the town, and their policy seems to be to prepare for a tremendous cannonade and bombardment, and then to carry it by assault. The most painful part of the story is the proved incapacity of our administradion. It is heart-rending to think that the utter incompetency of the war administraClon in England has destroyed more soldiers Chan the guns of the Russians. Those connexions of the aristocracy who crowd three or four independent war departments, and their titled superiors in the ministry, are all alike unacquainted with business, mere men of the desk and routine, of the opera and the turf; and such is their management, or rather mismanagement, that nothing is foreseen which every man of business habits would foresee; that urgent clamours come home for good clothing and shelter, for nurses, doctors, and hospitals,-and then when at, any cost whole cargoes are sent off, the ships are wrecked for want of the commonest prudence, and the ports crowded with all our poor shivering, dying soldiers want, but seven miles off, while they cannot get their cargoes landed, and what is landed lies spoiling on the shore. There is no one at home competent to provide supplies, no one when they arrive there too late to arrange for getting them to the camp. We might fill pages with details of the most inexcusable blundering,- blundering resulting in the homicide of thousands of our brave fellows, and all due to our aristocratical system pervading, as it does, the army and the navy, and its management at home. At the time we write, the news is announced that Lord John Russell has retired from the ministry. Whether his retirement arises, as it probably does, from differences with his colleagues on the conduct of the war, will be known to our readers before this reaches them.

At one time it was thought there was some prospect of peace, and that Russia had accepted the allied interpretation of the "four points." These hopes, we are sorry to say, are nearly gone,-sorry, did we say, we might change the word to thankful, since we feel quite certain that Russia was merely plotting to stop the vigour of our measures, and then to turn upon us afresh. Austria seems more likely to be driven into action, at last, but we have not the slightest faith in her. Selfish, cowardly, perjured, with no sense of honour, though plenty of pride, what can be hoped from such an ally? Our ministers appear to have obtained no foreign mercenaries yet; and the Foreign Enlistment Bill appears likely to be, therefore, a failure. The most interesting fact, perhaps, since our last, is the adhesion of Piedmont to the alliance, and her readiness to place fifteen thousand men at the disposal of our Commander-in

Chief. Piedmont has been steadily and successfully imitating our constitutional policy; is now engaged in putting her clergy into their proper places; and is, perhaps, the most really free State or the continent of Europe. She stands in noble contrast now with the meanness of Prussia especially, and of all Germany.

INSKIP, NEAR PRESTON.

Mr.

A public recognition service and tea meeting took place at Inskip on Tuesday, January 2nd., in token of the settlement of the Rev. J. Compston as pastor of the church in that place. The Rev. C. Williams, of Accrington, put the usual questions to the church and the pastor. Mr. John Catterall, the senior deacon, satisfactorily replied on behalf of the church. Compston then detailed the circumstances of his conversion and call to the ministry, and stated his views of the leading points of christian belief; after which Mr. Williams offered the recognition prayer. The Rev. W. Walters, of Halifax, then delivered an impressive and affectionate charge to the pastor, and the Rev. H. S. Brown, of Liverpool, preached a sermon of characteristic excellence to the people. In the evening, upwards of three hundred and seventy per❤ sons partook of a social tea, and a very crowded public meeting followed, over which the newly recognised minister was called to preside. Effective addresses were given by Mr. Williams, Mr. Walters, Mr. Brown, Mr. Catterall, of Inskip, and Mr. Lamb, of Preston.

PITHAY, BRISTOL.

On Monday, the 8th of January, the members and friends of the Pithay Chapel, Bristol, held a tea meeting, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Rev. E. Probert's ministry in that place, when upwards of six hundred were present. After tea, H. O. Wills, Esq., occupied the chair. The Rev. B. Nicholson having offered prayer, Mr. B. Pratten, senior deacon, presented to Mr. Probert, on behalf of the church, several valuable works, as a token of their affectionate esteem, and appreciation of his earnest labours for their good: Kitto's Pictorial Bible, Scott's Commentary, Christian Cyclopædia, T. Watson's, Howe's, Foster's, and Fuller's Works, and Rogers's Essays. The Rev. E. Probert having acknowledged the present, addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. S. Pearsall, J. Jack, F. Bosworth, J. A. Pratt, T. Jenkins, N. Haycroft, R. Morris, and H. Clark.

ROADE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

On the 1st of January, 1855, services were held in the Baptist meeting-house, in the above village, for the purpose of recognising the Rev. W. Sutton (late of Bythorn, Hunts), as the pastor of the church assembling in that place. In the afternoon, a sermon was preached by the Rev. J. T. Brown, of Northamption, from the words, "Rejoicing in hope." After the service, between two and three hundred friends took tea; and in the evening, a publie meeting was held, in which the Revs.

J. P. Haddy, of Ravensthorpe; T. Lea, of Moulton; J. Litchfield, of Kingsthorpe; J. Pywell, of Northampton; T. Marriott, of Milton; and Mr. Sutton, took part.

PARADISE CHAPEL, CHELSEA.

On Wednesday evening, January 3rd, 1855, a social meeting of the church and congregation connected with the above place of worship was held, when addresses on the importance of christian efforts, and kindred topics, were delivered by Messrs. Whimper, Stagall, Robinson, and Ash. Mr. Gusterson, the senior deacon of the church, presented the pastor, the Rev. T. J. Cole, with a purse and its contents, as a small token of the esteem and christian affection of the people of his charge.

HALIFAX.

1

An elegant General Baptist Chapel, in the modern style, has been opened at Halifax. The opening services were on the 21st, 24th, and 31st of December, concluded by a tea meeting on the 1st of January, 1855. The chapel has been erected under the superintendence, and to the credit, of Mr. J. Simpson, architect, Leeds. Collections at the opening have amounted, with some subsequent donations, to the uoble sum of £230.

NEW PARK STREET, LONDON.

New Park Street Chapel being closed for enlargement, the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon will preach in the large room, Exeter Hall, Strand, on February 11th, and seven following Lord's days. Services, a quarter before eleven, and half-past six.

DARLINGTON.

Mr. J. Green, son of the late Rev. John Green, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, has accepted the cordial and unanimous invitation of the Baptist church, Darlington, to become their pastor, and commenced his stated labours there on the second Sabbath in December.

WINCHCOMBE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

The members and friends in this town having repaired the Baptist Chapel, have invited the Rev. Robert Grace, of Harpole, to become their pastor. Mr. Grace has accepted their cordial invitation, and entered on his engagements the third Sabbath in January.

NEWPORT, MONMOUTHSHIRE.

At the annual tea meeting of the English Baptist church, held January 4th, an elegant purse, containing twenty guineas, was presented to the pastor, Rev. W. Aitcheson, as a mark, on the part of the church and congregation, of their regard and esteem. SMARDON, KENT.

On December 31st, 1854, the Baptist church at Smardon, presented the pastor, the Rev. William Syckelmore, with a purse containing £10, as a token of their love and esteem for him. Mr. Syckelmore is now in the eighteenth year of his pastorate.

HOUGHTON REGIS, BEDS.

The Rev. J. Lewes, formerly of Darling.

ton, Durham, has accepted the unanimous invitation of the church at the above place, and has commenced his labours with encouraging prospects of success.

Obituary.

THE REV. C. NEW.

On

Died, on Lord's-day evening, Jan. 7th, 1855, the Rev. Chas. New, Baptist minister, of Penzance, Cornwall. The event was very sudden. The congregation worshipping at the Clarence Street Baptist Chapel had assembled, and the hour appointed for the commencement of service had only been passed by a minute or two, when the startling intelligence went round that Mr. New had unexpectedly breathed his last. some of his friends hastening to his resi dence, they found him sitting in an easy, reclining posture in the arm-chair of his study; the book he had last perused lying open on its face, as if laid down for a moment while its possessor thought,-a cup, which had been removed by him from the tea-table an hour previously, emptied of the tea it contained, also on the table.-his head a little reclined over the left shoulder,and, though still warm, and looking as placid as if in repose, quite dead.

For some years Mr. New had been in a declining state of health. During the week he had been under the care of his medical attendant. But on the Sunday morning be preached. In the afternoon he retired to his study, and at four o'clock partook of tea, taking a cup of tea with him to his study. Mrs. New was about to put one of the children to bed, and entered the study to allow the child to wish its father "good night," when the reverend gentlemen was found in his chair as stated. The summons had not reached him unprepared, and this is the only, while it is the best, consolation of his bereaved widow and children, and his afflicted friends.

THE REV. C. E. BIRT, M.A..

We regret to have to announce the decease of the Rev. C. E. Birt, M. A., of Wantage. The event occurred on the 13th December last, after confinement to the house, and cessation of ministerial engagements, for about three weeks. Although the friends were not prepared for so speedy a separa tion, it had been painfully evident that the health of this valued servant of God was gradually declining for some years previous to his removal. Mr. Birt had been in the ministry for about thirty-eight years, the last ten of which were spent at Wantage. He had successively laboured at Derby Portsea, and Bristol. Through his instru mentality many have been converted to God. For many years his name has appeared as a member of the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society; and it would be diffi cult to find a more zealous and steadfast friend to that Society, and a more earnest advocate of missions in general. By his death the church of Christ has lost a valued and honoured minister, and the regret felt. at his departure will be great and extended.