that they have been deducted from the purchase-money. And what, also, if a dissenter were a republican as well as a dissenter-a case which has sometimes happened and what if our anti-monarchical dissenters were to object to the expenses of kingly government? Are his scruples to be respected, and his taxes diminished, and the Queen's privy purse to be subjected and exposed to the intervening and economical squeeze of Government Commissioners ?"-Second Letter, p. 32, et seq.

THE FINE ARTS.

1. The Martyrs in Prison. Painted by Herbert. Engraved by Reynolds. London: Ackermann and Co. 1838.

2. Jacob's Dream. Engraved by Reynolds. London: Ackermann and Co. 1838.

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THIS is the most magnificent, and decidedly the most interesting, engraving that has appeared this season. Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley, and Bradford, are represented when confined together in one room of the Tower, for preaching the Gospel. Latimer is represented kneeling, and is supposed to have just read the sage (1 Cor. x. 16): "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ?-the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ?" Cranmer has shut his book, and by the action of his hands, points to the irresistible proof contained in that verse, in which Ridley joins; while Bradford seems to have recorded it with his pen, wrapt in solemn thought.

The appearance of this beautifully executed engraving is most seasonable, especially at a time when popery is spreading around us. It should find a place in the house of every Protestant, as a record of the victory which was gained over the anti-Christian Church of Rome. To these "four prime pillars" of the Church, under God, are we indebted for the free use of the Bible, our Scriptural Liturgy and Articles. As Christians and as Protestants, we feel ourselves greatly indebted to the artists of this noble picture.

Jacob's Dream is a finely executed engraving, and represents Jacob sleeping, and the angels ascending and descending the ladder, that appears to reach from earth to heaven. It is from an original painting by Salvator Rosa, and engraved by Reynolds. Exquisite as it is, it cannot surpass in execution, to our minds, the Martyrs in Prison.

Queen Victoria. Painted by Aglia. Engraved by Scott. London: Boys. 1838.

DECIDEDLY the most striking likeness of Her Majesty.

607

Ecclesiastical Report.

THE attacks upon the Established Church are more or less dangerous, according to the resistance they receive. And the Church has always been in the greatest peril, when her Clergy and members have been the most idle and inactive. When the cry was raised that the Church was in danger, that danger originated, not in the absolute effect of the attacks, but the threatening which those attacks assumed. When Churchmen arose to resist the assaults of the enemy, the danger diminished as the strength and power of the Establishment were brought into action. Thus, every blow that has fallen upon the Church, has not been effectual on account of its heaviness, but on account of the inertness of its friends to parry it. At the time when the dissenters were demanding a further supply of toleration, and a redress to their grievances, the Church was supine and negligent, consequently they obtained from the Government concessions which were granted for no other purpose but to weaken the stability of the Establishment. Laws were passed in opposition to those which are divine, empowering them to marry, bury and baptize, in their own conventicle, or anywhere they may please, and with the use of any or no religious service. Hence, all allegiance to the discipline and doctrine of the Church was thrown off. The precepts and commands of Heaven were violated, and the laws enacted by Jehovah himself frustrated and annulled. It is very true that the laws to which we have alluded have seldom been brought into force,* but, however, the laws exist, and who can tell

*THE NEW MARRIAGE ACT.-Return to an order of the Honourable the House of Commons (moved by Sir Robert Harry Inglis), dated December 14, 1837, for

1. A return of the number and names of places licensed for the celebration of marriage under the provision of the Act 6 and 7 Will. IV. c. 85. Number returned, 1136.

2. A return of the number of marriages celebrated otherwise than according to the rites and ceremonics of the Established Church, under the provisions of the said Act; specifying the places, parishes, or districts wherein the same may have been celebrated, and the number in each place, parish, or district respectively; distinguishing those which have been celebrated in the office of the superintendent registrars; also distinguishing whether the same may have been celebrated by license, or on production of certificate; and further, stating the number of licenses issued, and certificates granted, by the superintendent registrars in England and Wales; the said

how many, in course of time may avail themselves of them. We look upon the passing of those unrighteous laws as the returns to be made up from the 30th of June, 1837, to the 31st of December, 1837.

3. A return of the number of marriages celebrated according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church, within the Bills of Mortality, between the 30th of June, 1837, and the 31st of December, 1837; distinguishing whether the same were celebrated after publication by banns, or on production of license.

From the data in these returns, it appears, that of the places licensed rather more than 100 are Roman Catholic Chapels; but it is not easy to ascertain this exactly, because some of them are merely described by the name of the saint to whom they are dedicated, and are therefore easily mistaken for chapels of ease. About 40 are chapels, or district churches, belonging to the Church of England; and the rest, in round numbers about 1,000, are dissenting chapels. The Roman Catholic chapels amount, therefore, to about a tenth of the Separatist chapels licensed under the Act.

The number of persons married during the six months within the Bills of Mortality were-Churchmen, 6,032; Dissenters, 285. Among these Dissenters are included Roman Catholics, Quakers, and Jews. So that the whole of the marriages of Separatists, of every class, does not amount to one twenty-first part; and in some districts it is less than onc-hundredth part of the whole!

The following are the only districts in which the marriages of Separatists exceed twenty in number :

Ashton-under-line

Birmingham

Bristol

Leeds

Liverpool.

30

Manchester.

82

London, city of

It will be seen, from these causes, that generally the greatest number of Separatist marriages has taken place where the number of Roman Catholics is greatest; and from the numbers of the lower classes of Irish usually attached to their chapels in these large places, it is evident that Roman Catholic marriages must form a very considerable portion of the whole.

Nothing, therefore, could show more clearly the numerical weakness of the dissenters, or the attachment of the people at large to the rites of the Church, than this statement. And we feel much indebted to Sir Robert Inglis for having obtained these returns.-Ecclesiastical Gazette.

greatest disgrace that ever fell upon England. But they were passed when the friends of Zion were slumbering. The BENEFICE PLURALITY BILL must severely injure the Established Church, inasmuch as it has given an addition of power to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and has bound the Clergy to laws that appear to be inconsistent with reason, and palpably opposed to all sound and Ecclesiastical policy. This bill was passed during the supineness and slumber of the Clergy. The CHURCH DISCIPLINE BILL-a bill whose object was to put an end to the existence of any Ecclesiastical Court having the power to decide causes involving the correction of Clerks, except the Court of Arches. This bill would have passed quietly into law, had it not been for the indefatigable and learned Prelate of Exeter, who stood up before the House and threw it out, by one single but mighty effort. Here is an instance of what can be done by exertion. Many of his brother prelates were in favour of this bill-many members of the House were favourable towards it, but the Bishop of Exeter pointed out its unscriptural tendency in the most eloquent and powerful manner. He brought forward arguments which it was impossible to controvert -he took a stand from which it was impossible to beat him off.

"Over the Clergyman's civil state (said he) I have no power, but I have power over him, in a spiritual point of view; and before his Master, and my Master, I will remind this erring Clergyman of his folly and of his vice. I will reprimand him for it; and if he will not obey the remonstrance, I shall proceed to that sentence, which this bill tells me I shall not pass-I shall proceed to excommunicate him. Then if this be done, your Lordships in Parliament may pass a bill of pains and penalties against me-you may deprive me of the seat which I now hold (but of which I shall never make myself unworthy)-you may rob me of my see-you may take from me my robe-but my integrity to Heaven I will maintain inviolate."

The Bill was withdrawn without coming to a division. And why do we rejoice at the event?-because that measure affected the most important interests and essential functions of the Clergy, and because the Clergy had not the opportunity of knowing one fraction of the provisions of that Bill. Hence a great injury would have been inflicted upon the Church, had it not been for her defence by a solitary, but powerful individual. The TITHE COMMUTATION ACT is another measure which has passed into law, with little or no resistance from the Clergy. Respecting this measure they have been greatly to blame. By this Bill a momentary evil has been overcome at the expense of a lasting good; the Bill is a measure of foul expediency. Tithe is now to be commuted for ever. The produce of the land may increase, but the tithe will remain the same. The art of agriculture may advance-the discoveries of science may progress-new articles of produce may be intro

duced-waste lands may be cultivated, but the tithe will remain the same.* Thus a great deterioration of Church property under the operation of this Act must be the inevitable consequence of this Bill. And the deterioration will not only be felt by the Church, but by the public, and especially by the poor. The system of NATIONAL EDUCATION is another scheme which threatens the safety of the Church, as well as the vast increase of Popery in England. Both of these subjects, however, we have handled in former articles; we have now only to observe, that much injury may be done to the Protestant cause by a continuation of inactivity on the part of the Church. But while inactivity exists in an alarming degree, the various Societies in connexion with the Establishment are prosperously progressing. In the last Report of her Majesty's Commissioners it is stated that 220 churches and chapels have been completed, in which accommodation had been provided for 293,057 persons, including 161,284 free seats, to be appropriated to the use of the poor. The present Report states that five new Churches have been completed, affording accommodation for 4,855 persons, including 3,211 free seats for the use of the poor. Thus in the whole 225 churches and chapels have now been completed, wherein provision has been made for 297,912 persons, including 164,495 free seats for the use of the poor, Eighteen churches are now in the course of building. Plans of nine other churches have been approved, and plans for eight more are under consideration. Conditional grants have also been made in aid of building thirty-two churches and chapels. The SOCIETY for PROMOTING the EMPLOYMENT of ADDITIONAL CURATES in POPULOUS PLACES, is fast rising into usefulness and activity. It has granted 5,0751. to sixty-eight parishes and districts, the aggregate population of which amounts to 1,545,160; and with a view to include parishes of every class and description, the list comprises manufacturing and mining districts, provincial towns, country villages, and places in or near the metropolis. District Committees have already been formed in connexion with this Society, and we trust to see it before long in powerful and efficient operation. The REPORTS of the SOCIETY for PROMOTING CHRISTIAN Knowledge, and also for the PROPAGATION of the GOSPEL in FOREIGN PARTS, are exceedingly flattering, and evidence the support given by many members of our Establishment. The attempt, made by the Bishop of London, to build fifty new churches in the Metropolis, has only partly been carried into effect, in consequence of the deficiency of the subscription required for so extensive a work.

*The amount of land only partially cultivated, or not at all, is 30,000,000 of acres; the greater part of which will doubtless, as the population increases, be made to yield a considerable quantity of produce, for which the Church will receive no tithe.