TUESDAY, JUNE 3. 1851.

Synod Books.-College Finance.-College Overtures.-College Extension.-Certificates of Students.Form of Process.-College Select Finance.-Skye and Uist.-Discipline.-Examination of Students.-Minutes of Standing Committees.-Collections for the Schemes.-Gaelic Congregation, Aberdeen.-Vacant Congregations.- Deliverances on Sustentation Fund Report, and on Foreigh Missions. - Liberty of Conscience in India.-Petitions to Parliament regarding Popery.-Recent Persecutions abroad.-Intemperance. - Deliverances on Sabbath-Schools Report, and on ChurchBuilding Report.-Public Accounts.-Education Fund; Speech of Dr Candlish.-Report of Colonial Committee.-Moderator's Closing Address.

The Assembly convened at eleven o'clock, and was constituted with devotional exercises.

SYNOD RECORDS.

The Assembly called for the Report of the Committee appointed to visit Synod Records, which was given in and read by Mr Wood, the Convener.

The Assembly approve of the report, and order the books of the Synods of Aberdeen, Angus and Mearns, Argyle, Dumfries, Fife, Galloway, Glasgow and Ayr, Perth, and Sutherland and Caithness, to be attested as correctly kept, and the business orderly conducted; and the books of Lothian and Tweeddale, Glenelg, Merse and Teviotdale, Moray, Ross, Stirling, and Presbytery books of Orkney and Shetland, to be attested, with the remarks of the visitors.

The Assembly farther order the Commission Record to be attested as correctly kept, and the business orderly conducted.

COLLEGE FINANCE.

The Assembly then called for the Report of the College Finance Committee, which was given in and read by Dr Robert Buchanan, the Convener, as follows:

"The Committee beg leave to submit the following brief Report on the several matters remitted to them by last General Assembly::

"I. BUILDING FUND.-The Committee are not yet in circumstances to lay a final Report on this fund before the General Assembly, partly because a portion of the original subscriptions to the Building Fund is still unpaid, and partly because the entire cost of the New College cannot yet be fully ascertained. They are happy, however, to be able to announce that since their appointment they have obtained additional subscriptions in aid of this fund to the amount of £4600. They have no reason at present to doubt the substantial accuracy of the statement made in the College Report of last year, that £6000 additional to the amount then received or subscribed for, would suffice to complete the College. According to that calculation, the deficiency at this date will amount to somewhat less than £2000. At the same time, the Committee wish it to be distinctly borne in mind by the General Assembly and by the Church at large, that there are contingencies unavoidably connected with this matter, which make it impossible for the Committee to speak with certainty as to the sum that may yet be required. Meanwhile, they earnestly and confidently hope that their efforts to obtain additional contributions to this fund will be liberally responded to by the friends of the Church, so as to enable the Committee at next General Assembly to announce that the New College is altogether free of debt.

"II. GENERAL FUND.-Regarding the General Fund the Committee have nothing to report beyond what is exhibited in the public accounts of the Church, in which the receipts and disbursements for the year are fully stated. The Committee would only add upon this subject, that as it is apparent from the financial statement that the income of this fund for the past year is not more than equal to the current expenditure, and that so long as matters are in that position, a painful measure of uncertainty and insecurity must be connected with our collegiate institutions, they earnestly hope that the enlightened generosity of the wealthier friends of the Church may soon provide for these institutions, the more stable support of permanent endowments, and that meanwhile the annual collection will be liberally sustained.

"III. COLLEGE ENDOWMENTS.-The Committee hitherto have not been able to make much progress in this important department of their labours, owing chiefly to the amount of attention they have been obliged to give during the past year to the Building Fund. They have, however, the satisfaction of announcing to the General Assembly that they have received from Nathaniel Stevenson, Esq., Glasgow, the munificent donation of £500 towards the College Theological Endowment Fund, which, together with other smaller sums obtained for the same object, makes a total of £610 received during the year. This amount being added to the sum previously received makes the endowment fund at this date £2110. "Under this head the Committee have also to lay before the Assembly the following documents relative to the buildings for theological education recently erected at Aberdeen, viz.-1. Letter to the Convener of the Committee from Francis Edmond, Esq., advocate, Aberdeen, of date the 20th May 1851; and 2. Petition to which said letter refers.

"The Committee lay these documents before the Assembly with the unanimous expression of their hope that the munificent gift of the Trustees of the Divinity Hall Buildings at Aberdeen, and of the other subscribers, will be cordially accepted and thankfully acknowledged; it being understood that in accepting these buildings for the purpose of theological education, the General Assembly does so on the footing of the resolutions anent College Extension and Endowments adopted by the Assemblies of 1850 and of 1851, and is not to be held as going beyond these resolutions.

"The Committee further recommend that upon this footing and understanding, they be authorized to take the necessary steps for having the foresaid buildings transferred to the Free Church of Scotland, under the auspices and to the satisfaction of the Legal Adviser of the Church.

"Further, the Committee recommend that, in the event of its being the pleasure of the General Assembly to reappoint this Committee, it should henceforth be called the 'College Finance and Endowments' Committee,' and that its functions should be enlarged so as to embrace all the financial matters connected with the Collegiate Institutions of the Free Church; it being understood, however, that the Building Sub-Committee of the General College Committee is not superseded in its present powers and functions.”

Dr BUCHANAN also read the petition from the trustees and subscribers to the Theological Hall at Aberdeen, which had been forwarded to the Committee, praying that the Assembly would accept of the buildings there erected, for the purposes of theological education at Aberdeen.

Dr CANDLISH moved that the report should be adopted. The fund for aged and infirm ministers, and that for the endowment of professorships, were the main objects to which he thought the liberality of their friends who gave benefactions in the way of bequests and otherwise, should be directed; and he hoped that both these funds would be well supplied.

Dr BUCHANAN took the opportunity of stating, that a memorial from students in Edinburgh, with reference to Mr John Miller (recently classical tutor in the New College), which had been read by Dr Cunningham at a former diet, had been sent to the College Finance Committee; and although that Commitee did not see that they had any functions to perform with reference to it, he (Dr Buchanan) must bear testimony to the value of the services of Mr Miller.

Mr THOMSON, of Paisley, expressed his concurrence in the statements made by Dr Buchanan. He regretted that the Church was about to lose the valuable services of Mr Miller, who had so ably discharged the duties entrusted to him. He had known him long, and especially as one of his parishioners of Yester, where he had resided for several years; and he had reason to admire his thorough scholarship, his varied accomplishments, and his sound principles. He hoped that the Church would soon enjoy the benefit of his services in some other sphere.

Dr CANDLISH said, that a more thoroughly accomplished scholar, a more able teacher, and a more excellent and trustworthy man, the Free Church did not possess.

On the motion of Mr MONTEITH, the Assembly expressed their sense of the talents and learning of Mr Miller, the diligence and fidelity with which he discharged the duties of his office, and recorded their thanks to him for his zealous and effective labours.

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS.

Mr HOG, of Newliston, urged on the Assembly the importance of the friends of the Church liberally subscribing for the endowment of the Scholarship Scheme; observing that the interest divisible from capital sums mortified for this scheme did not amount to one-third of what they received from the annual contributions, when they had only to look to them.

SIR HENRY W. MONCREIFF should not wish Mr Hog's statement to pass without notice. The matter was one of great interest, and one to which great liberality should be shewn. Perhaps by-and-bye this fund would become larger, but in the mean time it was important that it should not be allowed to be diminished. It would be well to bring it under the notice of congregations, and he should wish that ministers would exert themselves to make its importance known to their people.

Dr CANDLISH. The fact stated by Mr Hog ought to be kept in view, namely, that though large donations have been received, the interest of which is applicable to scholarships, yet the entire sum now available for the yearly expenditure is less than before such endowments were obtained. It would be a grievous mistake if, because some endowment has been secured, the annual resources should be diminished.

TEACHING OF HEBREW.

Dr CUNNINGHAM, before passing to the next subject, wished to call the attention of the Assembly to one matter connected with College matters which would require to be provided for, namely, the acquiring a knowledge of Hebrew. The Assembly had now passed a law, making it imperative that students acquire a knowledge of Hebrew before entering the Hall. That law cannot come into operation till 1852; but it must take effect in regard to students in the session after next, so that provision would require to be made to enable students, who may be entering the Hall in 1852, to have previously obtained this knowledge. It must be considered what sort of provision is to be made so as to fulfil the terms of the law,-whether any formal provision is to be made and recognised by the Church, and if so, what that shall be, or whether, as is done by the United Presbyterian Church, nothing more shall be insisted for than the students acquire a competent knowledge of the Hebrew, wherever they can get it, without the Church herself making any provision for this. In whatever way this was ultimately to be arranged, he, Dr Cunningham, should wish the matter scttled; and perhaps it would be the best way of disposing of it, to remit it to the College Committee and the College Finance Committee, to consider how to give effect to the law which had been passed, with instructions to them to report to the Commission, either in August or any other of its diets. The following deliverance was then pronounced on Dr Buchanan's report, Mr Hog's and Dr Cunningham's suggestion:

"The Assembly approve of the report, and resolve in terms thereof. The Assembly reappoint the Committee, to be called the College Finance and Endowment Committee; Dr Robert Buchanan, Convener.

"With reference to Mr John Miller, recently classical tutor in the New College, Edinburgh, the Assembly express their sense of the talents and

learning, the diligence and fidelity, with which he has discharged the duties of his office, and record their thanks to him for his zealous and effective labours.

"The Assembly having heard a statement on the part of the College SubCommittee on Scholarships, recommend the important objects of this Committee's labours to the liberality of the friends of the Church.

"The Assembly remit to the College Committee, and to the College Finance and Endowments Committee, to consider whether and what steps should be taken in consequence of the passing of the Act relative to a knowledge of the Hebrew language on the part of students previous to their entering the Divinity Hall, and which must come into operation for the Session 1852-53, and to report to the Commission at any of its stated diets any suggestions which they may have to make on the subject; and the Commission are hereby authorised to dispose of the same, and give such directions in the matter as they may see fit."

COLLEGE OVERTURES.

The Assembly next called for the Report of the Committee to revise College Overtures, with the view of sending them down to Presbyteries in terms of the Barrier Act. The same was made by Dr Candlish, the Convener; and thereafter the Assembly resolve to transmit an overture anent attendance on the class of Natural Science, and pass the same into an Interim Act.

Farther, they divide into two overtures that "anent the examination of students before entering the Hall and the conclusion of their theological course," and resolve to transmit an overture "anent the examination of students before entering the Hall.”

And to transmit an overture "anent the examination of students at the conclusion of their theological course."

The Assembly also resolve to transmit overtures anent the constitution of the College.

1. Anent the election of Professors.

2. Anent the ordinary discipline of the College.

3. Anent the election of members to represent the College.

4. Anent the induction of Professors of Theology.

5. Anent the ordinary management and superintendence.

6. Anent a quinquennial visitation of the College.

COLLEGE EXTENSION.

Mr DUNLOP gave in the following reasons of dissent, for himself and others, from the resolutions passed by the Assembly on Friday last anent College Extension:

"I. Because the said resolutions, professing to be explanatory of the resolutions of the General Assembly 1850 on the same subject, appear to the dissentients to be subversive thereof, inasmuch as they declare that it must always be the right and duty of the Church to entertain any proposal for endowing a theological seminary, even irrespectively altogether of its bearing on existing institutions; whereas the resolutions of 1850 declared that the Church should hold herself open to accept of such endowments as may be limited to the purpose of collegiate education in particular localities, such as Aberdeen and Glasgow, in so far as these can be applied within such localities with due security to the maintenance of one thoroughly equipped theological college.

"II. Because the proposition above referred to, by the promulgation of which it is sought to draw forth offers of endowment, on the assurance that these will be entertained, irrespective of considerations which may be of vital importance to the wellbeing of the Church, is indefensible in principle, and fraught with speedy danger to the usefulness and stability of the College at Edinburgh, and to the cause of theological education in this Church.

"III. Because the tendency of said resolutions is, to divert the attention of the wealthier members of the Church from objects of such paramount and immediate importance as the full equipment of the Church in many essential particulars, and from the faithful discharge of existing obligations, to the object of establishing and endowing new theological institutions—an object which, however desirable it may be ultimately, is not of immediate urgency.

"IV. Because, looking to the circumstances and manner in which this deliverance was pronounced, it is liable to be represented as having been adopted, not on a consideration of the merits of the question (as to which the Assembly only last year had, after the fullest consideration, come to a solemn determination, carried by a majority of 195 to 92), but mainly to avoid the renewal of a painful discussion forced on the House, chiefly by parties having a local interest in the matters involved, and out of deference to a mere money influence brought to bear on the settlement of these, and so cannot but tend to encourage attempts to disturb the peace of the Church, as the means of carrying an object, and to subject the Church to an oppressive and degrading bondage.

(Signed) James Buchanan, A. Dunlop, Thos. B. Bell, Patrick T. Muirhead, John Laing, W. Wood, John Sym, Alexander Wood, elder; John Baillie, for 1st, 2d, and 3d reasons; F. Brown Douglas, David Dobie, John Young Myrtle."

Mr MONTEITH expressed his dissent from the construction put on the resolutions of the Assembly in the reasons of dissent, and begged to move the appointment of a Committee to consider whether any and what answer shall be given to them.

Mr GIBSON could not agree to the appointment of a Committee, though if this had been the proper opportunity he should have expressed his strongest dissent from the reasons of dissent, especially the last. He could not in the least homologate these reasons, but in the circumstances in which the Assembly were placed, with the views which he held, and with the views of many who were on the Committee, it would raise a question which would prove injurious to the peace and harmony of this Assembly were the matter to be again stirred, and it would open up the discussion in a very disadvantageous position.

Dr CANDLISH thought it would be the wish of all who concurred in the resolutions to say nothing that would revive a discussion, and he was satisfied that were a Committee appointed, such as Mr Monteith proposed, they would have in view nothing that could renew that discussion. He therefore did not see the objection to a Committee, leaving it open to them to say whether any answer should be made to the reasons of dissent. They might be of opinion that no answer should be made, but considering the very strong language of these reasons, he should like them remitted to a Committee. Mr NIXON felt great difficulty. He did not like sending these reasons to a Committee, though out of respect for the quarter whence they came he should not like to object to their being answered. At the same time, though the expressions in the reasons of dissent were certainly very strong, yet he thought they might be so interpreted as not to require any formal notice for the purpose of clearing the House from what might be thought an imputation against it.

Mr GRAY was sorry that the House should be forced to express an opinion on these reasons. It was not a usual course to answer reasons of dissent, though no doubt it was occasionally done where the dignity of the House was in danger of being involved. In general, however, the Assembly rested on its dignity, and did not feel that it should take any notice of a mere rule of infringing its dignity. In the present case, he had great fear that by sending these reasons to a Committee, the House would again be forced into a discussion of the whole question.

Sir H. W. MONCREIFF thought that it might be a question of expediency