and the adoption of a series of resolutions approving of the Report, and advocating the cause. The Report was highly interesting, and contained many encouraging facts, illustrative of the operations of the Society, and the success which had attended them; and the speeches which followed, and which were successively delivered by the Rev. Dr. Hanna, the Rev. H. Henry, of Connor, the Rev. H. Simpson, of Saintfield, and the Rev. D. Hamilton, of Connor, breathed forth a missionary spirit, and contained many useful hints for the extension and improvement of the mission. In the evening, the Rev. W. B. Kirkpatrick, of Dublin, delivered a most powerful and impressive discourse to a crowded audience, from Rev. iii. 8.

On Wednesday, the 20th, the Synod was engaged with interlocutory business during the morning. After some conversation relative to the census required by the Government Commissioners from ministers of the Synod, the Committee appointed by the Synod at its late meeting in Derry, to inquire into the state of education in the Belfast College then gave in their report relative to the Moral Philosophy Class. The report stated, that a number of students had been examined, and that the opinion of the Committee was, that, as at present conducted, the class is unfavourable to the proper training of young men for the Christian ministry;-they also recommended, that second year's students should be enjoined to enter the Mathematical Class, and to take a prescribed course of philosophical reading, instead of the Ethic Class; and, also, that the Committee should be authorised to employ an instructor for this purpose, if they should see fit. It was next proposed that the evidence should be read. This, however, after a lengthened conversation, was postponed; and it was resolved, that the Committee should again meet in Belfast, to receive further evidence, as individuals had come forward, offering additional testimony on the subject: and that a special meeting of Synod should be held in Cookstown, on Tuesday, 30th September; to receive their report, when the matter is to be brought to a final issue. Missionary business was again resumed, by a continuation of resolutions connected with it, accompanied with very eloquent speeches from the Rev. Messrs. Stewart, Brown, and Gibson. The Rev. Dr. Cooke and the Rev. Dr. Hanna moved and seconded the fourth resolution, and were followed by Mr. James Gall, Jun,, of Edinburgh, who, after returning thanks, stated that his reason for attending the present meeting was, to request that arrange

ments might be made for Dr. Cooke, or some other individual, to come over to Scotland during the winter, and give public lectures on the history of Presbyterianism in Ireland, as the people of Scotland would feel much more interested in their proceedings, if they were acquainted with their history. In the evening, the Rev. J. Leslie was ordained as a missionary to the south and west. Dr. Cooke preached, the Rev. H. Henry prayed, and the Rev. W. B. Kirkpatrick gave the charge to the newly-ordained minister.

The following is a copy of the Resolutions

I. That this Synod renew its approbation of the Report now read, and instruct the Directors appointed for the present year to prosecute, with increased efforts, the objects referred to therein.

II. That our most fervent gratitude is due to the King of Zion, for having revived in our church the interests of evangelical truth and godliness; and for having awakened her to a sense of her obligations to act as a missionary association, in extending the cause and kingdom of Christ at home and abroad; and for the degree of success which has attended her exertious..

III.That it is matter of deep humiliation and regret, that so many of the ministers and people of this church do still display so little zeal and liberality in furthering her missionary operations; and that, in order to remedy this evil, our Moderator be instructed to address a Letter to the Session of each congregation under our care, urging them to circulate missionary intelligence to hold stated missionary prayer-meetings-to have missionary sermons preached to the people-and to use all other practicable means to excite in our congregations a missionary spirit, and to prompt them to labour, and contribute, and pray for the diffusion of the Gospel.

IV. That the thanks of this Synod be given to Mr. James Gall, Jun. of Edinburgh, one of the Secretaries of the Society formed in that city as an auxiliary to the Synod's Mission, and now present at this meeting, for his zealous exertions to promote the interests of our mission in Scotland; and particularly for his kind attention to our Deputation, on occasion of their late visit to that country.

V. That in pursuance of the injunction of Synod at its last stated meeting, it be recommended to Presbyteries to adopt and act upon the following resolutions:

1. That it is our duty, as a Presbytery, to promote and conduct the interests of the Synod's Mission within our bounds.

2. That each minister shall become an annual Subscriber, and have his name inserted in the subscription list.

3. That in addition to the annual collections, exertions shall be made to procure yearly Subscribers in each of our congregations.

4. That as it is our duty to afford the humblest member of our communion an opportunity of contributing individually to the cause of our Missions, efforts shall be made to establish penny-a-week, or penny-amonth, Societies, in our respective congregations...

-5. That each Session shall commence and prosecute the measures hereby recommended; and in case any Session may desire the assistance

of the Presbytery, we shall appoint one or more of the brethren to cooperate with them in giving advice, and in holding public meetings.

6. That all candidates for the ministry under our care, whatever may be their standing, be specially employed in carrying into effect these recommendations in the congregations within whose bounds they respectively reside.

7. That an annual report of the proceedings of each congregation shall be submitted to the Presbytery at its meeting in May; and an abstract of each congregational report be returned to the Directors of the Synod's Mission.

VI. That the Synod deeply deplore the difficulties they have been hitherto obliged to encounter, in obtaining persons possessed of the necessary qualifications for discharging with efficiency the important duties of a missionary, and earnestly recommend it to Sessions to make this matter a subject of fervent prayer to the Lord of the harvest, and to Presbyterians, to give all due encouragement to Students, and other young men of decided piety and talents in their several congregations, to devote themselves to the service of Christ in the missionary service.

VII. That ordained ministers of our church who are regarded by their brethren as possessed of missionary qualifications, are imperiously called on to make it a subject of prayerful inquiry, whether it may not be their duty to remove to important stations in the south and west of Ireland, or to any other field of missionary labour which, as a church, we occupy.

VIII. That this church, convinced of the importance and necessity of publishing a metrical version of the Psalms of David in the Irish language, for the benefit of our countrymen, opened a subscription at its last stated meeting in aid of that object, do now determine to take the most effective measures for having the work ready for circulation as speedily as possible, and do gratefully avail ourselves of the valuable services of the Rev. Dr. M'Leod, kindly offered for the completing of this undertaking.

Suggestions for the establishment of a mission to the British Colonies in North America.

I. That the British colonial possessions in North America be selected as the sphere of our foreign missionary operations.

II. That the grounds of this selection are

1. The very inadequate supply of ministers in these colonies to meet the spiritual necessities of that vast and increasing multitude of Presbyterians who are emigrating from this country and from Scotland, into Canada and the adjacent settlements.

2. The frequent and urgent solicitations of these and of other settlers to be supplied with the ordinances of the Gospel.

3. The favourable disposition of the British Government towards the location of Presbyterian ministers in Canada, as evinced by their liberal patronage of the mission undertaken to that country by the Church of Scotland.

4. The identity of the language spoken generally throughout the colonies and in this country.

5. The facility of communication with these countries, and the growing facilities of intercourse amongst the colonies themselves.

6. The claims which a large proportion of these settlers have upon our sympathies, not only as fellow-subjects of the same king, and fellow-members of the same church, but as being closely connected with the Presbyterians of Ulster, by the ties of relationship and of friendship.

III. That the primary object of this mission will be to supply the people of our own name with the ministration of the Gospel, to form them into congregations, and to provide them with stated pastors;-that, there fore, this mission may be regarded as simply an extension of the mission already directed to the south and west of our own country; and may, in this light, be strongly recommended to the warm and vigorous support of the congregations of the Synod of Ulster.

IV. That in order to obtain more accurate information concerning the necessities existing in Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, &c. for evangelical instruction, two suitably qualified ministers be appointed by the Synod to visit these countries, at their earliest possible convenience, and report the result of these inquiries to our Missionary Committee.

V. That these ministers having obtained suitable testimonials from this body, and being furnished with letters of introduction from influential persons, in this and in the sister countries, will be enabled, under the Divine blessing, to ascertain the most promising fields for missionary operations -to gain the sympathy and aid of respectable and intelligent settlers, whose counsel and co-operation may be highly serviceable to the cause, and by their letters to the brethren in Ulster, and by their personal communications when they shall have returned, to give a powerful stimulus to the missionary spirit of our Presbyterian people.

VI.-That the expenses attendant on this deputation be defrayed from the funds of the missionary society; and that the Synod take care that the church receive no detriment at home by the temporary absence of two of its ministers, employed in its service abroad.

VII. That'a committee be forthwith appointed to draw up an address to our congregations, strenuously urging them to engage with fervour in this important object; to correspond with Government if necessary, and with those societies and individuals whose counsel may be deemed valuable; further, to serve as a medium of communication between the deputation and the Synod, and subsequently to draw up a plan for conducting the mission, founded upon the information previously received.

VIII. That this Synod, in humble dependence on the Divine blessing, propose to undertake this matter without delay, and do earnestly beseech the several Presbyteries under their care, to form themselves into missionary associations for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom at home and abroad; to establish within their several districts Prayer-Meetings, for the more abundant out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon this church, and to adopt whatever other means may seem to them most effective, under God, for exciting and increasing the desire of missionary exertion throughout the length and breadth of our church.

Moved and agreed to, That the further consideration of these sugges tions be referred to the directors of the mission, who are empowered to draw up the address to our people on the subject of this mission-to open the correspondence referred to look out for suitable ministers to visit Canada-and to take such measures as may be necessary for bringing this important matter before our congregations.

It was then finally moved and agreed to, That, in order to excite and sustain throughout our church an increased interest in the missionary operations of this church, the Directors be requested to publish and circulate quarterly papers, containing information respecting the proceedings of the Synod's mission.

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TO OUR READERS.

As the fifth year of the Orthodox Presbyterian has nearly closed, we beg to request as many of our readers as may be pleased to continue their support, to forward their names, through our respective agents, as soon as possible; and we would wish to say, that in several respects our Periodical possesses strong claims on the encouragement of Presbyterians, and the religious public generally. The period in which we live is distinguished by the efforts made for the diffusion of knowledge by means of cheap publications, issued in immense numbers. Among these, our little Magazine was first in the field; and we are happy to add, that since its commencement, it has enjoyed such a circulation as gives us sufficient encouragement to enter on the labours of another year. We hope it will be seen that the cause of truth needs our aid now as much as when our Periodical was first issued; and that while other similar publications have, in following our example, g gained a share of the support of the public, age has not sunk ours in the estimation of those who honour it with their perusal. It claims the support of Presbyterians, because it is conducted, and many of its articles contributed, by ministers of that church; and because the interests of sound Presbyterianism here, and in the sister kingdom, have ever been an object dear to us, and one which we have eagerly embraced every means of promoting. Still we trust we possess enough of a catholic spirit to make us love true religion, under whatever name we meet it; and in our pages we have ever sought to join with the genuine friends of truth, in repelling the common enemy, and advancing the cause of godliness. We trust these considerations are appreciated by the friends of truth throughout our land; and to them we look with confidence for continued patronage. We could have wished sometimes, as in our present Number, that more of our space had been devoted to the illustration and enforcement of practical religion. This we hold to be at all times an importânt object; and we would desire ever to keep it in view; yet knowing that the permanent religion of the heart must be based on a sound understanding of Scripture truth, we have always endeavoured to convince as well as to persuade. And though some of our readers may not find as much purely devotional matter in our pages as they could have wished, we plead the necessity that exists among the people for the diffusion of right views of the Gospel scheme of salvation, and also the limited number of our pages. Yet so far as our judgment and our means enabled us, scriptural truth and practical piety have received our warm and constant advocacy. By these principles we are determined to be guided, as we have ever been; and we trust, under the enlightening of God's Spirit, to be rendered still more instrumental in our efforts. We conclude, by calling on our friends to use their exertions for the circulation of our Journal, and for the diffusion of truth by its r means; and to our Agents we offer our grateful thanks for their kind and gratuitous services, to which we attribute, in no small degree, the success of our publication. ULSTER FEMALE PENITENTIARY.

WE are gratified to observe, that an appeal to the public, on behalf of the Ulster Female Penitentiary is now in course of circulation. We warmly commend the plan of operation on which this Institution is conducted, and hope its claims will be duly considered by the Christian public. Thirty unfortunate females have found an asylum within its walls during the past eight months,