and that the Trustees of the General Assembly should be instructed to issue warrants to pay the several sums due to the missionaries. This report was adopted, and the Trustees were directed to issue warrants accordingly. An extract from the minutes of the Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, was laid before the Assembly, recommending that the Plan, Article VI. Sect. 4, should be amended, so as to read as follows, viz. "Every student shall be obliged to write on such Theological and other subjects, as may be prescribed to him by the Professors. In the first year, every student shall be obliged to produce a written composition on such subjects, at least once in every month; in the second year, once in three weeks; in the third year, once in two weeks. Each student shall also commit to memory, a piece of his own composition, and pronounce it in public, before the professors and students, as frequently as in the judgment of the professors this exercise can properly be performed, when a due regard is had to the number who must engage in it, and to the other duties of the Seminary." On motion, it was resolved unanimously, That the above recommendation of the Board of Directors be adopted: and the plan of the Seminary, Art. VI. Sect. 4, is accordingly hereby amended as above stated. The following Extract from the minutes of the Board of Directors, was also laid before the Assembly, viz. Resolved, That it be recommended to the General Assembly to add to the salary of Professor Charles Hodge, the sum of $250 per annum, so as to make his salary $1250 per annum. Agreeably to the above recommendation of the Board, it was resolved, that the sum of $250 per annum be added to the salary of Professor Hodge. The Assembly resumed the considera tion of the reference from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in relation to the ordination of Mr. Chambers. After further discussion of the subject at considerable length, the following resolution was adopted, viz. Resolved, That a committee of this Assembly, consisting of three, be appointed to attend at the meeting of the General Association of Connecticut to be convened at Stamford, in June next, to meet a similar committee of that Association, if said Association shall be pleased to appoint one; for the purpose of conferring on the grievance of which the Presbytery of Philadelphia complain; and of inquiring whether any, and if any, what further articles, or alteration of the present terms of intercourse between the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and the members of the congregational churches in Connecticut, may be expedient for the better promotion of the purity, peace, and Christian discipline of the churches connected with the two bodies; which further articles or alterations of the present terms of intercourse, if any shall be proposed by the joint committee, shall be submitted to the General Association of Connecticut, and to the General Assembly of 1827, for adoption or rejection. Resolved, That it be the order of the day for to-morrow morning to elect by ballot the committee contemplated in the above resolution. Adjourned till to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. Concluded with prayer. May 27, 9 o'clock, A. M. The Assembly met and was constituted with prayer. The minutes of the last session were read. Mr. Samuel Bayard, the principal named in the commission, appeared in the Assembly, and took the place of Mr. Poor, who yesterday obtained leave of absence. Mr. Handy, Mr. B. Strong, Mr. Barrows, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Fisk, had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. The committee on Mileage, made a report, which was adopted. Resolved, That the Trustees of the General Assembly, be directed to issue warrants for the payment of the several Commissioners, to the amount of $1537 41, agreeably to the report of the committee. Agreeably to the order of the day, the Assembly proceeded to receive the ballots, for the committee to attend the General Association of Connecticut, which were committed to Mr. M'Cartee, Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. Taylor, to count them and report the result. The report of the committee on a com. munication from a committee of the managers of the United Foreign Missionary Society, was taken up, and after mature deliberation, it was Resolved, That the General Assembly do consent to the amalgamation of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and the United Foreign Missionary Society. Resolved further, That this General Assembly recommend the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the favourable notice and Christian support of the church and people under our care. The committee appointed to receive and count the votes for the committee to attend the next General Association of Connecticut, reported that the Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D. the Rev. John M'Dowell, D. D. and the Rev. Thomas M'Auley, D. D. were duly elected. Rev. Archibald Alexander, D. D. was appointed first alternate, and the Rev. Ashbel Green, D. D. second alternate, to any of the members of the committee who may fail. Mr. Peters had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. Mr. Moderwell had leave of absence until Wednesday afternoon. Adjourned till 9 o'clock on Monday morning. Concluded with prayer. May 29, 9 o'clock, A. M. The Assembly met and was constituted with prayer. The minutes of the last session were read. Mr. M‘Learn obtained leave to resign his seat to Mr. Charles Pierce, the alternate mentioned in their commission. Mr. Stewart and Mr. Jacob Gould had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. Overture No. 3, viz. A petition concerning the formation of a Presbytery, to consist of the missionaries and churches in the Cherokee nation, was taken up, and committed to Dr. Rice, Dr. Richards, and Mr. M'Elroy. Overture No. 4, viz. An application for the division of the Synod of Tennessee, was taken up, and committed to Mr. Reid, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Hamilton. Dr. Alexander obtained leave to resign his seat to Dr. Carnahan, the alternate named in their commission. Overture No. 5, On the observance of the Sabbath, was taken up and committed to Dr. Carnahan, Dr. Axtell, and Mr. Junkin. Mr. Colton had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. The Trustees of the General Assembly, to whom was referred the report of the committee on the application of the Presbytery of Hanover, relative to the Theological Seminary under their care, made a report on the point submitted to them, and their report was put into the hands of a committee on this subject. Overture No. 6, viz. An application for the promotion of a new Presbytery in the county of Chenango, and adjacent parts in the state of New York, was taken up, when the following resolution was adopt. ed, viz. Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners be granted; and the Assembly hereby constitute the Presbytery of Che nango, to be composed of the Rev. Edward Andrews, and the Rev. Asa Donaldson, of the Presbytery of Otsego; the Rev. Elijah D. Wells, of the Presbytery of Cayuga; the Rev. Egbert Roosey, of the Presbytery of Columbia; and the Rev. Ambrose Eggleston of the Presbytery of Susquehanna :-and to be bounded on the north by the Presbytery of Oneida; on the east by the Presbyteries of Otsego and Columbia; on the south by the Pres bytery of Susquehanna; and on the west by the Presbyteries of Cayuga and Onondaga. The Assembly direct the Presbytery so constituted and bounded, to meet in Oxford, on Thursday the 29th day of June, at 11 o'clock, A. M. and that the Rev. Asa Donaldson, or in case of his absence, the senior minister present, open the Presbytery with a sermon, and preside until a moderator be chosen; and the Presbytery of Chenango is hereby atached to the Synod of Geneva. Overture No. 7, viz. on the qualifications of the lay delegates who may be entitled to a seat in the General Assembly, was taken up, and committed to Dr. Richards, Dr. Axtell, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Hotchkin, Mr. M'Cartee, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Maxwell, and Mr. Hornblower. Overture No. 9, relating to an amendment, in the form of government, Chap. XIII. Sect. 20, was taken up, and after considerable discussion, was committed to Dr. Janeway, Mr. Hodge, Mr. Jennings, Dr. Carnahan, and Mr. Adams. Resolved, That the Trustees of the General Assembly be instructed to inquire relative to a law of the state of Pennsylvania, which imposes a tax of 23 per cent on all bequests to any literary, moral, and religious objects, and to report to this Assembly if any, and if any, what measures ought to be pursued to remove the grievance. The committee on Mr. M'Crimmon's appeal from a decision of the Presbytery of Fayetteville, confirming his suspension from the communion of the church, for having married his deceased wife's sister, reported, that in their opinion, no relief can be given to the said M'Crimmon without an alteration of the Confession of Faith, Chap. XXIV. Sect. 4, the last clause of which declares, that "The man may not marry any of his wife's kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own; nor the woman of her husband's kindred nearer in blood than of her own," but inasmuch as a diversity of opinion and practice obtains on this very important subject, your committee beg leave to submit the following resolution, viz. Resolved, That the Presbyteries be and they are hereby directed to take this matter into serious consideration, and send up in writing to the next General Assembly, an answer to the question, whether the above quoted clause of our Confession shall be erased? The above report was adopted. The following protest was presented to the Assembly, and ordered to be entered on the minutes, viz. The undersigned begs leave to enter his solemn protest against the decision of the General Assembly, by which they postponed the location of the Western Theological Seminary for another year. 1. Because the churches under the care of the Western Synods, have already too long languished for the want of such an institution under the patronage and direction of the Assembly. 2. Because in his opinion, the decision is virtually setting up the site of the contemplated institution to the highest bidder, which he believes to be contrary to the genius and spirit of Christianity, and may have the effect finally to locate the Seminary on a spot, which will neither meet the wants nor wishes of a majority of the western churches. 3. Because the decision, in his opinion, is calculated to divide the attention, distract the counsels, and cut off the hopes of those sections of the western country, which most need such an institution, inasmuch as Alleghany Town appears to him to be too far east, Charlestown too far west; and the proposals from Walnut Hills are clogged and fettered with such conditions as will effectually prevent a co-operation of the western churches in favour of that site, however desirable the spot may be in itself. 4. Because the decision as it now stands, must effectually prevent the city of Cincinnati from making any further proposals for itself, and also prevent the churches in the west, from making any offers in its favour; though, all things considered, it is believed by many to be the most eligible site for a school of the prophets in the western country. 5. Because he cannot but indulge a hope that the General Assembly will yet consider this subject, and so alter or modify their decision as to render this protest unnecessary, in which case it shall be most cheerfully withdrawn. JOSHUA L. WILSON. The following protest was also offered and ordered to be entered upon the minutes, viz. The subscribers enter their dissent and protest, against the resolution by which Mr. Josiah Bissell was admitted as a member of this General Assembly for the following reasons: 1. Because he was neither an ordained minister, nor a ruling elder; and consequently he was destitute of the qualifica tions which the constitution of our church requires in commissioners appointed by Presbyteries, as their representatives in this body. 2. Because he was not even a commit. tee-man, on which ground, some might, in existing circumstances, have been disposed to advocate his admission as a member. 3. Because he had not, either from the Constitution, or from the Conventional agreement, recorded in the Digest, pp. 297-299, the shadow of a claim to a seat in this house. T. M'Auley, John Chester, Ezra Stiles Ely, J. J. Janeway, Elisha P. Swift, Stephen N. Rowan, Henry R. Wilson, John Anderson, Samuel Martin, J. D. Baird, Thomas E. Hughes, Thomas Barr, Robert Dilworth, William Semple, George Junkin, J. M'Elroy, Conrad Speece, Charles Cummins, James Laurie, Alexander Campbell, E. W. Gilbert, Jacob R. Castner, John Munson, A. M'Candless, Charles Hodge, James Coe, Donald M'Intosh, Francis Herron, Samuel Tait, William L. M'Calla, Thomas Alexander, George Potts, Samuel Hunter, Samuel Taylor, John Burtt, Robert Hamill, Isaac V. Brown, Obadiah Jennings, James Galbraith, S. S. Miles, William Dickey, Joshua W. Raynsford. A committee, consisting of Mr. Reid, Mr. Armstrong, and Mr. S. B. Wilson, were appointed to answer the preceding protest. The committee of Overtures, reported Overture No. 11, which was referred to the committee on the application for the division of the Synod of Tennessee. The Board of Education presented their report, which was read, accepted, and ordered to be printed in the appendix to the minutes. A nomination was made of persons to fill the vacancies in the Board of Educa tion. The election was made the order of the day for this afternoon. The subject of electing Directors of the Western Theological Seminary, for the present year, was committed to Mr. Jennings, Dr. Wilson, and Mr. Hamilton. A communication was received from the American Sunday School Union, which was committed to Mr. Nott, Mr. Hoge, and Mr. Younglove. The committee on the subject of electing Directors of the Western Theological Seminary reported, that it is inexpedient to elect a Board of Directors the present year. Resolved, That all proposals from the western country concerning the location of the Seminary, be forwarded to the Stated Clerk, the Rev. Ezra S. Ely, D.D. of Philadelphia, that he may submit them to the next General Assembly. Mr. Slaymaker, Dr. Richards, Mr. Miltimore, and Mr. Castner, had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. Adjourned till 4 o'clock this afternoon. Concluded with prayer. (To be continued.) OBITUARY. DIED, on 23d of June, in Salem, South Carolina, the REV. WILLIAM JAMES WILSON, pastor of Salem church, in the 29th year of his age. He had been ordained to the sacred office and installed only three months before; and with very flattering hopes of success. An affectionate people now deplore his loss, to them apparently so premature. Endowed by his God with most excellent talents, Mr. Wilson had cultivated the same with the utmost assiduity. To a mind richly stored with useful and various knowledge, he united a correctness of morals, almost from infancy irreproachable, and a modesty and evangelical piety truly interesting. These qualifications had made a way for him to the hearts of his congregation, and respect, confidence, and love, were the awards of his merit, which it was delightful for them to tender him. To these, his grateful heart responded with warmth and ardour. At once did he attain that, which others with long and painful labour scarcely arrive atto love, and to be beloved, by his charge-the most eligible situation of the conscientious and devout pastor. But not in his bereaved church only is he lamented; other societies, who had the happiness of hearing and knowing him, also feel the bereavement. Many of his literary friends, alumni of the State College of South Carolina especially, (where he lately shone as one of its brightest lights,) must recognise themselves sharers in the loss. But most of all, a venerable and fond father mourns a beloved and only son-a most sacred sorrow; for so true is it, "that a father always mourns without hope, as to this world." The Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church aeknowledges the receipt of the following sums for their Theological Seminary at Princeton, N.J. during the month of August last, viz. Of Rev. John Breckinridge, Lexington, Kentucky, for the Oriental and Biblical Literature Professorship $17 33 Of Rev. Robert W. James, subscriptions in the vicinity of Indiantown, S. C. on Rev. Samuel S. Davis's paper, for the Southern Professorship 30 00 847 33 Diew of Publick Affairs. EUROPE. London papers of the 25th of July, and Paris papers of the 24th, are, we believe, the latest which have reached this country, at the time we write. BRITAIN. It is impossible to describe the distress which existed at the date of the last accounts, in several parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, among the labouring poor; and indeed with many who till lately had not been accounted poor. Instances not a few are mentioned of individuals, and even families, who had scarcely tasted a mouthful of sustenance for two or three days-Some had actually starved to death. Such cases, however, were not numerous. Private liberality had been heavily taxed and munificently exercised, to relieve the wants of the necessitous. Yet it had never been equal to the demand; and the funds which it had supplied were, in some places nearly, and in others entirely exhausted. What was to be the issue none could certainly predict, but anticipations were of the most gloomy kind. Absolute starvation seemed to threaten a large portion of the population of the United Kingdom. The people, nevertheless, generally bore their privations with great patience. Riots had mostly ceased, and designing incendiaries were discountenanced. It seemed to be the general expectation, that the first business of Parliament after it should convene, would be, to take some measures to relieve the general distress. The last accounts, however, state that the ministers of the crown discountenanced the idea of relief from the national treasury. It does indeed seem as if the unequal distribution of property in Britain, had brought the nation very near to a fearful crisis. For a large mass of population to be literally famishing with hunger, in view of others who are wallowing in wealth and luxury, is a state of things which cannot long continue, in a community where so much information is possessed, and where the love of liberty is so ardent, as it is in Britain. Some measures must ultimately, and we think speedily, be taken, to bring the different classes of society, in point of property and enjoyment, nearer together. The elections for members of parliament seem in general to have resulted in favour of the ministerial party and candidates. Cobbett and Hunt had not only been disappointed, but distanced in the contest. We are not able to say whether the friends of Catholick emancipation have, on the whole, gained or lost, in members of Parliament, by the late elections. The dignified Catholick clergy have recently issued a manifesto in England, stating their religious and political creed; with a view to show that their principles are not dangerous or unfriendly to a Protestant state. The paper is ably and artfully drawn up. What effect it will have remains to be seen-Parliament had been a second time prorogued-to the 24th of August-Business of every kind, in the manufacturing and commercial world, was enervated, and in some places almost at a stand. Yet in London money was plenty-The capitalists knew not how or where to employ their funds-The harvest of grain in England, and the crop of potatoes in Ireland, happily for the poor, promised to be abundant. FRANCE. The last arrivals from Europe bring information that the French armed vessels, in the ports and on the coast of Spain, chase the Colombian privateers that appear there, and treat them as enemies. This doubtless is war with Colombia in fact, at the very time that the agents of France are endeavouring to obtain commercial favours from that republick. The truth is that France is sadly embarrassed by her connexion with Spain. She must support Spain, or receive no compensation for her late military operations there; and she cannot support Spain without losing all the advantages of commercial intercourse with her late colonies on the American Continent. An entire calm seems at present to prevail in the interior of France. Except the above, we notice nothing in this kingdom, during the past month, of general interest -The French chambers were adjourned on the 6th of July, amidst cries of vive le Roy-Trade and manufactures are in a depressed state, but not accompanied with extreme suffering among the poor, as in Britain. SPAIN.--We learn that the king of Spain has manifested the most marked displeasure, on receiving the intelligence of the course about to be pursued by the emperor Don Pedro, with respect to Portugal. He acted like himself, that is, very childishly, on the occasion; called all the foreign ambassadors about him, and uttered his complaints to them; and kept his palace in confusion for a whole day. His great fear is, that the liberal party, still existing in Spain, may give him new trouble, if the projects of Don Pedro, in regard to the neighbouring kingdom, should be realized. It is said that his cabinet has addressed notes to the ministers of France, Austria and Russia, to induce their respective governments to prevent, by all possible means, the carrying into effect of the Constitution granted to Portugal. How they will "wrap it up" time will disclose. It also appears that the Algerine cruisers have recently been ravaging the coast of Spain, and that the Spanish monarch has purchased a peace of the Dey of Algiers, at the price of six millions of reals-The declension of commerce at Cadiz is said to have banished a fourth part of the population, and to have reduced the remainder to a state of wretchedness. Insurrection, and the fear of insurrection, in various places, requires constantly the marching and countermarching of troops, to keep the people in awe. In Madrid itself, order is sustained only by military force. PORTUGAL.-Arrangements seem to be quietly going forward in this kingdom-the alarm of Spain notwithstanding-to carry into effect the new constitution granted by the emperor Don Pedro. He has published a general amnesty to all criminals in Portugal. ROME. It is said that the massacre at Missolonghi, has made so deep an impression on the Roman Pontiff, that he has it in contemplation to address a letter, in favour of the Greeks, to all the Christian potentates. But why, we ask, this circuitous way to |