of representation. The tabular "Memoir of the wanderings of the Israelites," is a very valuable index to the whole, and will interest and instruct every student of this portion of sacred topography. (Dobbs and Co.)

The Rev. William Davis, of Hastings, has published a paper he read before an assembly of ministers at Brighton, in the spring of this year, entitled "The Independents: their position, prospects, and duties," which is characterised by his wellknown intelligence, moderation, and piety. (J. Snow.)

Many of our readers have been gratified with occasional pieces of poetry which, from time to time, have enriched our pages with the initial “V." affixed to them. They will, therefore, be gratified to hear of a small volume from the pen of the same writer, Mr. R. A. Vaughan, a graduate of the University of London, and eldest son of our estimable friend, Dr. Vaughan, of Lancashire College. It is entitled "The Witch of Endor, and other Poems." The first, and largest, poem is in the dramatic form, comprising three scenes of great truth and power. "A monody," of seventeen stanzas, on the death of Mr. Mackenzie, late of Glasgow, appears to us very excellent; and the whole display an amount of consecrated talent that must be as gratifying to the personal friends of the young author, as hopeful to that cause to which we believe his powers are devoted. (Jackson and Walford.)

THE EDITOR'S TABLE.

AN Original History of the Religious Denominations at present existing in the United States Containing authentic accounts of their Rise, Progress, Statistics, and Doctrines. Written expressly for the work, by Theological Professors, Ministers, and Lay Members of the respective denominations. Projected, compiled, and arranged, by J. Daniel Ruff. Imperial 8vo. Philadelphia: Humphreys. London: Wiley and Putnam.

Vigilantius and his Times. By W. S. Gilly, D.D., Canon of Durham, 8vo. London Seeley, Burnside, and Co.

:

HYRONOIA: or, Thoughts on a Spiritual Understanding of the Apocalypse, or Book of Revelation. With some Remarks on the PAROUSIA, or Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; and an Appendix, upon the Man of Sin. Imperial 8vo. New York Leavitt, Trow, and Co. London: Wiley and Putnam.

:

The Voice of Israel. Conducted by Jews who believe in Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. 4to. Nos. 1-3. London: Aylott and Jones.

Bibliotheca Sacra, and Theological Review. Conducted by Professors Edwards and Park, Andover; with the special co-operation of Dr. Robinson and Professor Stuart. Vol. I. Nos. 1 and 2, February and May, 1844. 8vo. Andover, U. S.: Allen and Co. London: Wiley and Putnam.

The Guiana Congregational Record, and Christian Philanthropist. Nos. 1-3. Demerara.

The Witch of Endor, and other Poems. By R. A. Vaughan, B.A. Post 8vo. London: Jackson and Walford.

The Independents. The Position, Prospects, and Duties, of that body of Christians usually denominated Independents, or Congregationalists, briefly considered. The Substance of a Paper read before an Assembly of Ministers at Brighton, April 16th, 1844. By William Davis, of Hastings. 12mo. London: J. Snow.

The Church Advancing: A Popular Address to Roman Catholics, on the present encouraging aspect of affairs: designed to stimulate the faithful to retrieve the errors

and efface the crime of the Reformation. Edited by J. Wakeham. 8vo. London: Aylott and Jones.

The Norwich Tune-Book: A Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, from the most eminent Composers; together with many that have never been published. Selected by a Committee, and arranged in Four Parts, by James F. Hill and John Hill. Norwich Jerrold and Sons. London: Hamilton and Co.

Proceedings of the First Anti-State Church Conference, held in London, April 30, May 1 and 2, 1844. 12mo. London: T. Ward and Co.

Elements of Truth, &c. By Omicron. 18mo. London: J. Leman.

Brief Memorials of a Beloved Husband. By G. P. 12mo. London: J. Dinnis. The People's Family Bible: containing the Authorized Version of the Old and New Testaments, printed at the Cambridge University Press. Embellished with Historical Designs from the Old Masters, and Landscapes from Designs on the Spot. 4to. Parts 1-5. London: Fisher, Son, and Co.

Relievo Map of Arabia Petræa and Idumæa, illustrating the Prophetic Scriptures, Wanderings of the Israelites, &c. Size 23 inches by 18 inches. London: Dobbs, Bailey, and Co.

Wild Flowers; or, Poetical Gleanings from Natural Objects, and Topics of Religious, Moral, and Philanthropic Interest. By Miss C. S. Pyer. 12mo. London: J. Snow,

The People's Gallery of Engravings, after Original Pictures and Drawings, Edited by the Rev. G. N. Wright, M.A. Parts 1-9, each part containing four beautiful plates. 4to. London. Fisher, Son, and Co.

Essays on some of the Prophecies in Holy Scriptures, which remain to be fulfilled. Essay the Fourth, on the Language of Symbols; the Fifth, on the Chronology of Prophecy. By G. G. Marsh, M.A. 8vo. London: Seeley, Burnside, and Co.

A Tract for the Times, being a Plea for the Jews, by S. A. Bradshaw. 12mo. London Edwards and Hughes.

The Banner Displayed: A Sermon at the Visitation of the Archdeacon of Taunton. By the Rev. J. W. Middleton, M.A. 8vo. London: Seeley and Co.

The Independent and Young Christian's Magazine. With Embellishments. For July, 1844. 12mo. London: Aylott and Jones.

The Ministers of Christ, Stewards of Mysteries: A Sermon at the Triennial Visitation of the Bishop of Chester. By John A. La Trobe, M.A. 8vo. London: Seeley and Co.

A Christian Advocacy of the Importance and Utility of Abstinence from Intoxicating Drinks, &c. By James Cox, Wesleyan Missionary. 12mo. London: Simpkin and Marshall.

The Qualifications and Encouragements of the Christian Ministry: A Sermon at the Visitation of the Archdeacon of Suffolk. By the Rev. Charles Bridges, M.A. 8vo. London: Seeley and Co.

The Distinctive Principles of Congregational Church Polity, being No. XII. of the Congregational Union Tract Series. 12mo. London: Jackson and Walford.

Memorial and Appeal on the Paramount Duty of a Stedfast Adherence to Evangelical Truth, being No. XIII. of the same Series. 12mo. London: Jackson and Walford.

LITERARY NOTICE.

The first volume of the Wycliffe Society's Publications, containing Select Writings of Wycliffe, under the editorship of the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, of Lancashire College, is in the press, and will be ready for delivery to Subscribers in the ensuing autumn.

CHRONICLE OF BRITISH MISSIONS.

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Directors are happy in being able to say, that the statement made in the last number, has done great good. It may be recollected by some readers, that an appeal for help was made on the ground that unless liberal donations and subscriptions were obtained, a number of stations must from necessity be given up. The kind offers of several friends to contribute a certain sum, if others would do the same, were named. They formed three distinct classes: forty donations of £5, thirty of £10 for five years, and ten of £50 before Christmas. The whole amount, if obtained, would have been £1000, and £300 per annum for four years longer. Besides, it was expected that smaller donations might amount to £200. This aggregate sum of £1200 would have justified the Directors in retaining the present number of stations, leaving it to other friends to enable them to respond to new applications.

The appeal has produced a very favourable result. More than £500 has been either received or promised, in addition to the ordinary receipts, which at this season are usually small. It would give unfeigned pleasure to report next month, that the three lists were filled up. Ten are still needed to fill up the first-more than twenty to fill up the second, and six to fill up the third list. In addition to these facts, it should be borne in mind by our friends, that all the promises are conditional; failing the stipulated number, the Society will lose a great proportion of the whole amount! No more need be said to induce the friends of home to do what is right in this important and urgent business.

The annual report of the Society is in the press. The appendix will contain an account of Home Missionary operations in England, under the head of every county, as far as information can be obtained. To give the readers some idea of the necessity for Home Missionary operations, the account of Oxfordshire is extracted from the appendix, as it extends to greater length, and possesses a character differing from all the other counties of England.

OXFORDSHIRE.

In this county the Society has three missionaries, and three ministers have grants. They preach in twenty-nine towns, villages, and hamlets, to 2600 hearers. There are ten Sunday-schools, eighty-nine teachers, 545 scholars, and two Bible-classes, containing eighty pupils; thirty-four members have been added to the missionary churches during the year.

The stations are generally prospering, though encountering great opposition. An agent on a station adopted by us in 1842 thus writes:-"Here are to be traced many interesting and promising features which call for gratitude and inspire hope. The attendance at the house of God continues good, and the chapel is often filled. The interest felt in the preaching of the Gospel is manifest, the attention paid, and the remarks made, prove that the truth is valued and felt.

"The infant church, formed in March, 1843, now consists of seventeen members, and is in a hopefully healthy state. They are humble, united, and active. All are engaged either in Sabbath-school teaching, tract distribution, or holding prayermeetings. Besides the regular services in which I take a part, they hold two prayer-meetings, one at W, and the other at GH. Of the seventeen members, eight have been added during the year, and there is the prospect of an immediate increase."

The opposition to the efforts of our missionaries is very great in this county. One missionary says, "The principal opposition I have to encounter is from the clergy and zealots of the Establishment. In some cases good has resulted from their opposition, but in many others they have been successful, and scores of persons, who would avail themselves of your agent's labours, are prevented by bribery, threats, and oppression." The same missionary, in answer to the question, "From how many villages are you excluded, and the causes of your exclusion?" replies, "I am excluded from five, by the combined influence of the clergy and aristocracy. Some of the villages belong to the squire and his party, and therefore the villagers dare not admit the Gospel. Others would be accessible, but the people are afraid of the clergyman and squire." He adds, that," within eight miles of his station, there are fifteen villages and hamlets still destitute of the Gospel!" Another of the missionaries, in answer to the question respecting opposition, says, "The opposition chiefly comes from Puseyite clergymen, who use their influence with those who employ the poor, and so prevent many from attending a dissenting chapel." The third missionary says, “There is considerable opposition; it emanates from the clergy, who are mostly ignorant, bigoted Puseyites. The effect is, that many of the poor are prevented from coming to the chapel." The three pastors who receive grants from the Society, also give replies to the question in nearly similar terms with the three missionaries. This is a very distressing state of things. Here are six agents of a society, having no object in view but the spread of the Gospel in its simplicity, who meet with opposition in every direction, chiefly, if not entirely, from the educated and higher classes of society.

REMARKS.

In every county there is some high-church prejudice to encounter, but from no other county in England, where the Society has the same number of stations, have returns come from all the missionaries like those we have just given. The aggregate presents unmixed opposition to the Gospel. There must be a cause for this, which should, if possible, be discovered. May we not say that the main source of the evil is the influence exercised by Oxford University, both as the fountain of error and of vice? That this influence is great, will appear plainly from one or two facts. It appears that out of the 203 livings in the county, 75 are in the gift of the University; 39 in the Church, and not one in the gift of corporate bodies; and only 16 in the gift of the crown. These livings belonging to the University are among the best, and embrace a large proportion of the population, which, in 1841, was 161,643.

Before the Tractarian movement took place, the clergy were very quiet, and if the Evangelical Dissenters had only done their duty then, they could have secured such a hold on the people's minds, that no secular influence could have kept them from obeying the command of Christ. Since that time, the rapid increase of the promoters of the revived heresies at Oxford, has necessarily filled the parishes in the gift of the University, as they became vacant, with Tractarian preachers. But the leaders in this movement have not been satisfied with waiting for the death of incumbents-they have sought, in many instances, to introduce many half-instructed, fanatical, semi-popish young men, as curates, at any price, into parishes that had never been disturbed before by activity on the part of the clergy. These striplings have tried, by the most extraordinary means, to gain the object of their ardeat desire, in the acknowledgment of church authority,-they have aimed directly at spiritual ascendency, and exclusive dominion over men's minds. The bold attempt has been made to reduce those who should be the freemen of England, to the abject condition of unthinking, submissive slaves to priestly claims. Resistance in all cases is considered a crime, and is severely punished, when it can be done with impunity.

In some cases it brings ruin on the resisting parties who dare to think and act for themselves in religious matters.

There might have been a counteracting influence, had the aristocracy and gentry been a liberal and enlightened body of men, ready to acknowledge the responsibilities of their position as the natural protectors of their labourers and tenantry. They might easily, as lords of the soil, and as magistrates, have checked the false zeal of the young curates, who seem more eager to copy the example of Saul of Tarsus than to follow the steps of Paul the Apostle. But, unhappily, this has not been done. They do not exert their proper influence in protecting the poor. They have, in too many instances, yielded to the wishes of the clergy, who have sought their authority in the name of religion, and for the souls' health of the people! They did not interfere directly themselves, they have allowed their stewards to use their patronage in favour of the clergy, and against the religious liberties of the poor people. This is the more distressing, as there are in the gift of the gentry seventy livings, and their influence, therefore, if in a right direction, might shield many an industrious cottager, and humble tradesman and honest farmer, from oppression and ruin. Every one must perceive that the united power of the clergy and the landlords' agents must be immense, the one conveying spiritual thunderbolts, and the other the fetters of pains and penalties, if an enlightened conscience is obeyed, and the Gospel is preferred to the errors of Puseyism. Here we have a conspiracy against the civil and religious rights of the people, the powerful oppressing the weak, and the man who calls himself a teacher of the mild, and gentle, and just religion of the Bible, the oppressor of the poor, and, it may be, unwittingly ruining many souls; neither going to heaven himself, nor suffering those to enter therein who desire to learn the way! But this county, as far as the state of religion is concerned, has other evils to contend with, that render the progress of missionaries and pastors exceedingly difficult. It is asserted in returns which the Directors have received, that, besides heretical teachers sent out in swarms into every accessible parish, by the notorious Tractarian University, there is an immoral influence spreading around that seat of learning, of the most fearful kind. The population of the small towns and large villages within a radius of twelve or fifteen miles from Oxford, is declared by good men, who deeply lament the fact, to be corrupted to the very core by the profligacy of the students. We write advisedly, when we say,-that the young men from Oxford, subscribers to the Thirty-nine Articles, have, within the limits abovenamed, been the corrupters of the female sex to an appalling extent, so great, indeed, that it exceeds credibility. So extended is the unhappy influence of the depravity referred to, that it is not frowned upon as it ought to be. Nay more, that it has happened, that the very Gospel itself is disliked by many, because it inculcates chastity and condemns incontinence. Such are the fruits of the system pursued at Oxford. Is it a blessing to our country in its present state, or is it not?

At this moment the contest is going on between truth and error,-between morality and vice. The Home Missionary Society is trying to stem the united torrent of evil. It is pleasant to know that the Baptist Home Missionary Society is co-operating in the same work.

But it is evident that the present agency is incapable of reaching the necessities of the case. There should not only be an addition made to the number of missionaries, but another class should visit every village, enter every cottage, see that the Scriptures are perused, read, and explained there, and leave those publications with the people which are likely to benefit them. Inquiries have been made as to the desirableness of Lay Agency in certain districts. One missionary thus writes: "Six months ago I resolved in my own mind, to send some of our male members into the villages on the Lord's-day, with tracts, and about two months ago I engaged two good men and true to visit some of the destitute villages. I have thought long and