are annually increasing the numbers of English residents; and it is therefore incumbent upon our churches in this country to adopt practical measures for their religious benefit.

Ruthin, in the county of Denbigh, N. Wales, situated in the vale of Clwyd, has been selected for an experiment of this nature. It contains a population of three thousand. The English in the town and neighbour hood are considerable in numbers, and are continually increasing. Neither in the town, nor within a circuit of many miles around it, is there any evangelical preaching in English. A place of worship has been recently commenced, chiefly by the zealous and efficient exertions of a gentleman and his lady, resident in the vicinity of Ruthin. The chapel is in a most eligible position, on freehold property, vested in Trustees, and needs only pecuniary aid from friends in England to effect its completion. It is also contemplated, from the extent of the ground, to erect a house for the future minister, and to make arrangements for a burial-ground, for the use of all denominations of Christians, on the same principles on which the "Necropolis" at Liverpool has been established. The sum of £540 has been raised, chiefly in Liverpool, towards these desirable objects: and an equal sum will be requisite to accomplish them. Several English ministers, well acquainted with the parties who have commenced this benevolent plan, have visited the spot, and have warmly recommended the undertaking. These are the Rev. Drs. Raffles and Stewart, Rev. Messrs. Bruce, Fisher, and Lister, of Liverpool, and the Rev. Dr. Henderson, of London.

An appeal is now made to the liberality both of the English and the Welsh friends of evangelical religion in the country. Many of Cambrian origin have obtained opulence and distinction in this country; and while the English have not been unmindful of the claims both of the Principality and the Welsh residents in this country, there are powerful reciprocal claims on behalf of the English resi-dents in Wales.

Subscriptions towards this benevolent object will be thankfully received

by the Rev. Dr. Henderson, of Highbury College, Rev. Dr. Fletcher, Cottage Grove, Mile End, Thomas Wilson, Esq., Highbury Place, Joshua Wilson, Esq., Highbury Place, or at the Office of the Home Missionary Society, 11, Chatham Place, Blackfriars. Subscriptions will also be received by any of the Liverpool ministers whose names are mentioned in the statement; or by Edward Jones, Esq., Bryn-Hyfryd, near Ruthin, Denbighshire.

NEW CHAPEL, BROMLEY, Kent.

The preaching of the gospel was first commenced by Dissenting ministers in this town in the year 1788, when a few from the metropolis occasionally visited it, amongst whom the Rev. Messrs. Aldridge, Harper, and Wills, are particularly remembered. Amidst much opposition the erection of a small place of worship was commenced near the market-place, and was opened for divine service on the 26th of November, the same year, and was called Bethel Chapel. The success which attended the preaching of the truth, led to the formation of a Christian church in June, 1790.

When the London Itinerant Society was formed in 1796, this chapel was placed under its superintendence, and to the gratuitous services of its preachers and teachers, this people have been for many years indebted for the supply of their pulpit and the instructions of their Sabbath school.

In 1821 the Rev. Mr. Browning, one of the Society's agents, and an occasional preacher at the Tabernacle, became a resident in Bromley, and subsequently undertook the pastoral care of the people. On his death, which occurred, Dec. 2, 1827, the people solicited Mr. Holland, another preacher of the London Itinerant Society, to succeed Mr. Browning in the pastoral office, to which he acceded, July 21, 1828.

The increased attendance, and other circumstances, suggested the expediency of erecting a more spacious and attractive chapel, and several years ago £400 were raised and deposited with the Committee of the London Itinerant Society, for that purpose.

From that time to the present have the people attempted in vain to purchase a freehold site for the proposed edifice, being made to feel here, as Dissenters do every where, the effects of the prejudices and jealousies of episcopalian landlords.

This difficulty was at length overcome by the generous conduct of Mr. Bromley, of London, who purchased a small freehold estate on purpose to secure an eligible site for the new chapel.

On this spot the foundation stone was laid by that gentleman, on Monday, June 22, 1835, when the Rev. W. Chapman, of Greenwich, prayed, and the Rev. R. T. Hunt, of Collyer's Rents, Borough, delivered an address. On Tuesday, Dec. 1st, the new chapel was opened for divine worship, when two sermons were preached, that in the morning by the Rev. Henry Townley, of White Row, London, and that in the evening by the Rev. J. Sherman, of Reading. The devotional services were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Chapman and Jeula, Greenwich, Pulling, Deptford, and Durrant, Gate Street Chapel.

On Lord's Day, Dec. 6th, sermons were also preached by the Rev. Messrs. Wake, of Brixton, and Blackburn, of Pentonville.

The chapel is in a very neat Gothic style, and, with its fittings, &c., has cost more than £1400. We are happy to say, that more than half that sum has already been contributed, and we trust that in a few years the whole debt will be discharged, and this commodious freehold chapel be filled with a devoted people, enjoying, without interruption or annoyance, the services of the sanctuary.

NEW CHAPEL, NEWPORT.

The Independent Chapel, called the Tabernacle, Newport, Monmouthshire, having become too small for the congregation attending the ministry of the Rev. Thomas Gillman, has been taken down and rebuilt, being now 57 feet by 48 in the clear, with a large school-room attached to it, and was re-opened on the 1st and 2d days of December, 1835, when the Rev. John Burder, A.M. of Stroud, Gloucestershire, and the Rev. E. Jones, of Rod

borough, preached. The devotional parts of the services were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Byron and Miles, Newport; Philips and Evans, Caerleon; Alfred Gillman, Pitchcombe, Gloucestershire; D. Lewis, Abergavenny; T. Powell, Usk; H. Poole, Nash; and R. Brown, Lanmartin.

ORDINATION, SETTLEMENTS, &c.

On Wednesday, the 18th of November, 1835, the Rev. J. Cope was recognised as pastor of the church, at Farringdon, Berks, in conjunction with their aged minister, the Rev. D. Holmes.

William Harris, of Wallingford, described the nature of a Christian church, and received Mr. C.'s confession of faith; the Rev. W. Wilkins, of Abingdon, gave the charge; the Rev. J. Hill, of Oxford, preached to the people. Messrs. Larter, Kershaw, and Price, led the devotions of the day.

The cause of Christ at Farringdon has prospered greatly under the ministry of Mr. Holmes. At the present time many who wish to worship with the church there, cannot be accommodated with seats: ground has therefore been purchased for the erection of a new chapel.

On Wednesday, October 21, 1835, Mr. William Moreland was ordained pastor over the Independent Church, assembling in Ebenezer Chapel, Aylesbury, Bucks; (the service was held in Castle Street Chapel, kindly lent for the occasion;) Rev. C. Hyatt, of Stoken Church, commenced by reading the Scriptures and prayer; Rev. John Moreland, of Milton, stated the nature and constitution of a gospel church, and asked the questions; Rev. Charles Hyatt, of London, offered the ordination prayer; Rev. W. Wiffin, of Thame, gave the charge to the minister; and Rev. C. Butcher, of Waddesdon Hill, concluded by prayer. In the evening, Rev. J. Wall, of Haddenham, commenced the service; Rev. Charles Hyatt, of London, preached to the people, and Rev. William Moreland concluded; the hymns were read by Messrs. Talbot, Diprose, Wall, and J. Moreland.

This new and interesting cause is the result of constant visits to the cot

tages of the poor, the formation of Bible classes, field preaching, and attention to the young, and is composed chiefly of persons who, but a short time ago, were in the habit of attending no place of worship. Our young friend

commenced his labours in Baker's Lane Chapel, which soon became too small for the congregation, and the present chapel was obtained, which is not large enough for the people who are willing to attend.

DISPARITY IN THE CAPITAL PUNISHMENTS OF PRUSSIA, AND OF ENGLAND.

As in the the first article of this Magazine we have disclosed facts in no way to the honour of the absolute regime of Prussia, we are happy to insert the following article, and hope the day is not distant when the constitutional government of Britain will follow the humane and politic example of Prussia and Belgium.

"From an intelligent gentleman who has recently travelled in Prussia, and who takes a strong interest in the reform of our criminal code, we have learned that the Prussian SOVEREIGN, though an absolute Monarch, has a strong aversion to capital puuishments, and is bringing about the abolition of those cruel and useless exhibitions by a practical amelioration of the law. The crime of murder is the only one now punished with death in Prussia. Would we could say so of England.

"To show the gradual amelioration of the law as to executions even for murder, and along with it the gradual diminution of the crime itself, let us take a period of 15 years, ending with last year, and divide it into periods of five years each, it will be found that, in the first period of five years, the number of convictions for murder in Prussia was 69, and the executions 47. In the second period the number of convictions was 50, and the executions 26. In the third period the convictions were only 43, and the executions were diminished to 16. We showed on a former occasion that the gradual diminution of capital punishments in Belgium, and their practical abolition during the last five years, has been attended also with a remarkable reduction in the amount of crime. So unneceasary are capital punishments proved to be for the protection of society-unnecessary, did we say? -they are worse than useless; for where they are most prevalent crime most abounds. Why is it that the despotic Government of Prussia is more tender of shedding the blood of its subjects than

the Constitutional Government of free and enlightened England ?*

"Now, let us take for England and Wales a period of 21 years, ending with last year, and subdivided into periods of seven years each - we are obliged to take those periods instead of five years, because they are the periods fixed upon in the Parliamentary returns (No. 217)— what are the results? In the first seven years we find that the number of executions for various offences was 649, there being 141 convicted of murder. In the second period the executions were 494, Abstract of Returns printed for the Belgic Chamber of Deputies.