Now, out of 10,560 parishes (noticed in the returns of two or three years ago) 6333 incumbents do their own duty. (Probably many more, for there were 81 recent presentations, 115 vacancies, and 595 returns not come in.) We find, too, that 2080 are non-resident on other benefices because they are resident on these, and that there are 2837 resident curates. A man cannot be in two places at once; and if you charge him with being a pluralist, do not make him guilty of a double crime by charging him with not accomplishing this impossibility. Yes, the "Globe" will say, but we complain, then, of this vast accumulation of preferment. Figures are awkward things. Out of all the curates employed, 2548 are employed on livings below 300l. a year, while there are only 1139 employed on livings above that value. So that it is the poverty, not the riches, of the livings which causes non-residence and pluralities. But see the veracity of the Globe." There being 8970 parishes with resident incumbents or curates, and 770 served by non-resident curates-i. e., 9740 parishes accounted for, and in them 6333 being served by the incumbents-i. e., twothirds, the "Globe" says there is only one-tenth so served.

It is curious that these two papers are equally apprehensive of the building of new churches. With equal veracity they declare that they are not wanted, that those at present are empty, and the dissenting chapels full.

CHURCH PROPERTY.

(From the "Christian Advocate.")

"It is not a little singular that in this country alone so much difficulty should be experienced as to the right of Parliament to resume the property of the Church, and to apply its proceeds to secular purposes. On the continent no such difficulty exists. Within the last twelvemonth, in Greece and in Portugal, church lands have been sequestrated, convents suppressed, and their property sold by public auction. By this means Portugal has been enabled not only to liquidate its national debt, but even to deposit a surplus sum in the state coffers; while, at the same time, the seats of monastic seclusion have been transformed to hospitable villas. In France and Germany the whole ecclesiastical establishment has repeatedly been remodelled, and it is impossible to refrain from wondering how an antiquated prejudice, exploded in all civilized Europe, should have found shelter in this island. Perhaps some explanation of this surprising appearance may be gathered from the checkered and eventful history of those continental countries. Repeatedly the theatre of war during the last half century, the property of both church and state has repeatedly changed its owners. Cathedrals were occasionally converted into magazines of ammunition, University halls were garrisoned by the outposts of Napoleon; and foreign jurists, seeing these great changes realized in the way of fact and event, became habituated to the notion that the supreme power of the state could dispose at pleasure of institutions, before which antiquity would otherwise have placed its shield. Whether these circumstances can be regarded as fully explaining the continental and insular divergence of opinion we have just alluded to, certain it is, that even in elementary treatises of law, the doctrine has long been recognised, that institutions designed for perpetuity, such as entails, hospitals, or churches, are revocable at the option of the state. And yet this doctrine, commonly received abroad, is so unknown, or at least so unacceptable, to Lord Stanley and his friends, that on Mr. Ward's motion they seceded from the Ministry, thereby disowning a principle which all Europe besides has been forward to embrace."-Caledonian Mercury.

This paragraph is recommended to particular notice. Surely it must be written by a Tory churchman, assuming Radicalism as a veil. Is Radicalism so honest as this?-or so simple? Strange, indeed, that a notion which has

arisen from the property of both Church and State constantly changing hands, from the country being the theatre of war, and churches turned into magazines, should be unacceptable to any one! Such things are so pleasant that every one must wish to see the same causes followed by the same results in England!

WELSH CLERGY.

(From the "Morning Chronicle.")

"A Rev. Gentleman who distinguishes himself as an active partisan_of_the Tory candidate, in the late election for the Carnarvonshire boroughs, the Rev. J. W. Trevor, Vicar of Carnarvon, a Rural Dean, Treasurer of the diocese, and examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Bangor, has, since the publicity given. to the ministerial views of Church Reform, been presented by that Right Reverend Father in God to a rectory in Anglesey, worth 900l. a year. Now, the parish is large and populous, and the people understand only Welsh, while the Rev. J. W. Trevor, on the other hand, only understands English; for a month has not passed since he refused the Chairmanship of the Carnarvonshire Quarter Sessions, because he considered himself incompetent for the office, as he did not understand the Welsh language.'

It is not possible at this moment to consult Mr. Trevor as to the exact terms in which he couched his refusal as to the office of Chairman. But so false is the declaration that he does not know Welsh, that when presented to the vicarage of Carnarvon, sixteen or eighteen years ago, he was not allowed to take possession of it till he had satisfied the proper persons in the parish of his perfect competency to officiate in Welsh, and of his wide knowledge of the language.

VOLUNTARY SYSTEM.

(To the Editor of the British Magazine.)

SIR,-You wish to collect facts, and I send you the following as a specimen of the working of the Voluntary System, and of the truly independent and affluent state in which the ministers of religion must be placed, by being left to the " liberality" of the people. A parishioner, in comfortable circumstances, and to whom, on all occasions, I had shewn every kindness in my power, being taken dangerously ill, I visited him; he appeared to be deeply affected with my ministrations, and frequently, with abundant tears, exclaimed, that he never could be sufficiently grateful for the attention I had paid him, and the comfort I had afforded him. He recovered. About three months after this my collector came to him for certain dues which (though generally paid through the parish) some had refused, and which he knew I was deterred from enforcing, not from any doubt of their legality, but because expense and other inconvenience would follow to a great extent. The grateful man refused the payment. His portion was two-shillings-and-eight-pence.

I am, Sir, &c. PASTOR.

(From the Christian Advocate.)

GENTLEMEN, I am one of the unfortunate trustees of the Coventry chapel, whom the preachers, with their usual good faith, have left to shift for themselves. The old chapel not being genteel enough, either in form, furniture, or situation, they must have a new one, let the trustees suffer as they might. Nevertheless, they have no objection to use those trustees as a stalking-horse, as the following simple statement of the case will shew :

There is 6207. debt on the old chapel. The trustees have had to pay the

interest out of their own pockets for the last two or three years, not being informed thereof till 5001. of the debt was called in, with the interest due thereon. Part of this 500l. the trustees have had to borrow of bankers at Coventry on their own bond. The chapel wanted repairs; but rather than the preachers would, by the desire of the trustees, have it put in repair, and continue at it, they left it, and hired the Lancasterian school at 10%. a-year, with this determination, that the trustees should pay the debt on the old chapel, and do as they could with it. The preachers got leave from Conference to beg through the Connexion, which was done, ostensibly for the double purpose of paying the debt on the old chapel and building the new. The result is not known to the trustees of the Society; because, according to usage, the superintendent of Coventry, and Mr. Mason, of London, are the receivers. But there was a bazaar at Coventry that produced more than 133l., and several individuals subscribed 1167.; the trustees, however, have to pay 6201., with the interest thereon, the preacher and his party allowing 751. for the furniture of the old chapel, which cost 400l., and 150l. towards the liquidation of the debt. We have had the chapel put up to auction, and would have sold it for 250l., but could get no bidder, owing to the depression of trade. It cost about 1,600l. It is remarkable that no ground suitable can be got to build on, and that only one trustee (and he a poor man) has been obtained for the new chapel. The inhabitants of Coventry generally think the old place the most suitable. The trustees were willing to give 1007. to be rid of all responsibility, and they were led to believe that the preachers had agreed to it; but no. It is well known that the old chapel might be put in good repair for 2007.; besides taking out of it space for a Sundayschool capable of holding two hundred children. Some of the trustees are dead; some have left England; some are very poor, not having a shilling to give. The burthen, therefore, falls oppressively on the very few that are left. We fondly imagined that the money collected was for the liquidation of the debt upon the old chapel, as well as for the building of the new, and that honesty would require the payment of the debt on the old chapel before the erection of the new building was begun; but it appears we were in both respects mistaken. For my part, I ventured to think that it would be but just, rather than the trustees should have to pay money out of their own pockets, which must be a great inconvenience to some, and-if each must pay his share-productive of loss and, perhaps, ruin to others, to adopt the plan acted upon in the case of the Theological Institution, and out of so much collected for the cause of Missions, the Contingent Fund, and the profits resulting from an extraordinary demand for the Watchman, appropriate some portion to our relief, rather than make the trustees unjustly suffer for their rashness in becoming such. Instead of this, however, I have now a letter before me calling for my share of more interest now due, and also requiring me to sign a bond for the payment of the remainder of the debt on the chapel, at the same time that Messrs. Stevenson and Mason have money (to what amount I cannot say) that has been collected professedly for our relief. All having been done with the sanction of Conference, there is no reason why we should be thus deprived of what belongs to us. I have therefore no alternative but to accuse the preachers of obtaining money under false pretences. In fact, I am completely disgusted with their unchristian and unjust conduct; and hardly less so with the people, for being their dupes and slaves. GEORGE STANLEY, Trustee of Coventry Chapel.

London, Feb. 9, 1835.

(From the "Christian Advocate.")

THE first stone of another large chapel was laid by the Wesleyan Methodists in the Leeds West Circuit, on Wednesday week, in the presence of an immense concourse of people, in the lower part of the estate of the late John Blayds,

Esq., bounded by Park-lane on the south, and by Oxford-row on the west. The chapel is to be 100 feet long by 78 in width. Upwards of 3,000l. have already been subscribed. The debt on the existing Leeds chapel is tremendous. (!!)

The Chapel Fund Collection was made last Sunday in the Kingsley and Norley Chapels (Northwich Circuit). In the one 28. 9d., and in the other 1s. 5d. were collected.-( ! ! )—From a Correspondent.

POLITICAL DISSENT.

(From the Record.)

THE following is a letter which has lately been addressed to the minister and deacons of the Independent Meeting at Bury St. Edmunds. It comes from a gentleman of considerable and deserved influence, as well on account of his station in society, as of his piety and general worth.

It confirms the opinion that we have already expressed, that the truly pious, sound-thinking, and right-minded among our nonconformist brethren, are beginning to feel disgusted with the conduct of their political leaders, and will no longer tamely consent to be dragged through the mire of Radicalism, for the purpose of aggrandising a few individuals who are emulating the conduct of O'Connell and the Popish agitators.

We earnestly recommend the following letter to the attention of our dissenting readers :

"To the Church of God worshipping at W

Street, B

and the Minister and Deacons. "CHRISTIAN BRETHREN,-The experience of the last year having convinced me of the painful truth, that the spirit of dissent is inconsistent with the mind of a good subject, I am compelled to come to the conclusion that a longer continuance of our spiritual connection can be productive of no mutual benefit to us. The hostility of dissenters against every Administration that refuses immediate compliance with all their demands, their readiness to make common cause with infidels and radicals, and to support ungodly men who hold out to them the bait of the grant of their wishes, a fearless avowal of destructive principles,-these and many other signs of the latter times are so opposite to my feelings, that I am hopeless of any longer taking sweet counsel together with them. While your ministers opposed these evil tendencies, I cherished the thought that my presence might aid them in promoting the cause of godliness, but when I see them also forsaking the good part, I retire in despair. With every feeling, therefore, of spiritual regard for you with whom I have been so pleasantly connected-with thanks for your love, and earnest prayers for the prosperity of your minister and your whole body, I withdraw, with much regret, my name from your congregation, and retire to the bosom of a Church which, with all its faults, real or imputed, yet remains the asylum of peace, and the foundation of good order, loyalty, and pious submission to the powers that be. “I am, Christian Brethren, your sincere friend, R. B. ST. EDMUNDS."

THE RELIGIOUS PRESS IN AMERICA.

(From the Christian Advocate.)

WE often hear the multitude of religious newspapers published in the United States spoken of as a very commendable feature in the moral aspect of that country. The following extracts from an article in the New York Evangelist

will shew that our American brethren have been lauded in a strain too little qualified :

At the Baptist Convention in Cincinnati, one of the topics of discussion related to the periodical press, and, especially, to the error of multiplying religious newspapers, without an adequate support. The history of the religious press in this country would be a TALE OF WOE ON THE PART OF

PUBLISHERS.

The following facts were reported respecting Baptist papers :-The Christian Watchman was for many years a losing concern. It costs thousands of dollars beyond its income. The Lowell Evangelist is dead for want of support. A Baptist paper started in Rhode Island became bankrupt. The Baptists of Connecticut raised 2,000 dollars, as a gratuity for a religious paper, but it failed for want of support. Zion's Advocate is a losing concern. The Vermont Telegraph has not a support. The New York Baptist Register, which has vastly more subscribers than any other paper among Baptists, cost an immense sum for years in the outset, and now only yields a profit of 300 dollars. The Baptist Repository, of New York, has already ruined the property of four brethren who published it. In Pennsylvania, Baptist brethren have laid out more than 5,000 dollars in two papers, neither of which has ever paid its way! Dr. Going, of New York, said the report had his hearty concurrence. One large, well edited religious paper was enough for Baptists in the west. The Methodists had had more wisdom than Baptists and Presbyterians in these matters. Look at their New York Christian Advocate, with its 30,000 subscribers, and all their ministers pushing it forward. Publishing religious newspapers was generally a losing business:-Because such publishers seldom got their pay. Scattered in small sums over the country, their money was seldom collected. Their paper cost money; their ink cost money; their type-setters must have money every Saturday night: but, alas! their subscribers had little conscience on the subject. They would dodge off to some new place, after taking the paper for years, and that was the last they heard of them. Indeed they treated the publishers of religious newspapers much as they did the ministers of the Gospel. They paid such debts last, if at all. Whether such subscribers could ever get to heaven, even with the help of a religious newspaper, the doctor left very doubtful. He urged the propriety of subscribers to newspapers paying in advance, or certainly at the end of the year, and then

THEY WOULD READ THEIR OWN PAPERS.

The Rev. Mr. Peck, of Illinois, said, one great reason why publishers of religious newspapers failed was, that such papers had little advertising patronage. This patronage in other papers would amount, sometimes, to thousands of dollars in a year. Office-holders and office-seekers would sustain political papers of their own liking at a great sacrifice. They often furnished gratuities of 500 or 1,000 dollars, to sustain their favourite paper, and in this way a little political paper could be kept up in any large place. But the effort to establish religious papers in such places, and rely upon local patronage, would certainly fail. Politics first, then religion. Could such persons be Christians? To attempt to multiply religious papers in the west, was folly. Let them have one large, well-conducted paper, at a central point, and throw their whole strength into it, and then it would be sustained; for it would be worth sustaining.

To the above abstract of the Baptist Convention, the editor of the Cincinnati Journal adds the following notices respecting Presbyterian papers :The dismal tale might be much extended. The Presbyterian and Congregational churches furnish abundant specimens of the same thing. We will not go over the mountains to take from their ashes the Rochester Observer, the Utica Christian Journal, the Albany Telegraph, the New England Christian Herald,

• These are the Christian Advocate's own Italics.