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of one of the patients. He told me that he | All seemed most thankful for books and is the stoutest, and at the same time the tracts. youngest, of the heavy cavalry. He had caught cold in the trenches. To see such a large-bodied man laid prostrate by disease, and speaking in a whisper, shows, in very deed, that no man need glory in his might. I was surprised and gratified to find him speaking, and with every appearance of sincerity, in the language of a devout Christian.

February 23d.-One of my people died this morning. Several very bad cases are apparently getting better. Fear much that the feeling which many show is only temporary, and will, as soon as they get well, pass away like the morning cloud and the early dew. Still, I cannot but hope that there are several cases where a decided change has been wrought. Put up notices of the hour of public worship. February 24th.-Took two oranges to one to whom I had promised them yesterday, and, to my surprise, his spirit had just fled from its feeble prison-house, when I reached his bedside. Was no less surprised to find another gone, who, two days ago, had his name taken down for England. A great improvement in the health of the men generally. Visited, with Lady Alicia Blackwood, all the soldier's wives. Her ladyship has much credit for her efforts in behalf of this degraded and neglected class. Have promised to preach to them occasionally.

February 28th.- Visited nearly the whole of my men in the General Hospital. Four apparently dying-two of them, I fear, impenitent. One man, who is getting better, and whom I formerly thought impressed, seems truly penitent, and says he wishes to prepare for the Communion. Gave him something to read on the Lord's Supper. Found out four Presbyterians whom I had not before seen. Visited also the Sable Hospital; all there doing well.

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THE Government of Rosas kept the country quiet by the strong arm of power; but it did little or nothing for the moral elevation of those placed under it. The Church was not less remiss than the Government in caring for the young; and, between the two, ignorance and vice were allowed to extend at will. It is not wonderful, therefore, that, with those so trained, we should meet with a February 25th.-Sabbath. Prepared to want of sincerity, a disregard of the prinpreach in the afternoon - had about ciples of rectitude, and a tendency to be twenty hearers. Baptized one child-guided by the mere impulse of the mowas called, after the service, to visit a ment. Had the natives of this country man thought in a dying state. One of those pleasant cases, where the fire of divine love has been enkindled in the soul, and only requires to be blown a little to make it mount into a flame.

February 26th.-Visited S. F., Irish Presbyterian, whom I was called to see yesterday. Found him still alive, and able to converse freely. He said he felt the Lord was about to call him hence, and that a few days more would finish bis race here, and that he felt more and more comfort at the thought of leaving this sinful world. Was much surprised to find W. R., alluded to on 21st, gone; I doubt not he sleeps in Jesus. Several of my people worse in health, but apparently more thoughtful. Two young men told me that they think there will be a great change in the army after these afflictions, and that many of those who recover will lead new lives.

February 27th.-Visited Palace Hospital; all my people improving in health there. Added six to my list, five of whom have just come from the Crimea.

enjoyed the religious privileges of Scotland, we believe that, in many respects, they would be an estimable people; and, considering the way they have been brought up, and the natural depravity of the human heart, the wonder is they are no worse. They are ignorant of that Word that can alone savingly enlighten the understanding, and the Church which is charged with their moral wellbeing shuts the book that our Saviour has commanded all to search, gives them instead a species of Christianized paganism, and leaves them to all the demoralizing influences of a godless world. Every care is taken to prevent Protestants from teaching the Gospel to the natives, and if the same zeal had been displayed in morally elevating them that has been exhibited in keeping out the light, they would have been now in a very different condition, and the magnificent country they inhabit might have been a terrestrial paradise. Rosas was ever ready to support the priests in keeping out the light of knowledge, though, when it suited his

purpose to do so, he made them the mere, The blockades did not affect it, as they tools of his will. Here, accordingly, were looked upon as directed against the Popery is seen fully developing its native whole country; but one battle was suffitendencies. The host, a bit of wafer, is cient to overthrow it when Argentine met carried in procession, and worshipped as Argentine. Urquiza, by whom this was a god-large dolls, arrayed in gaudy at- accomplished, was at one time the active tire, and bearing the name of the Virgin supporter of Rosas; but jealousies arose Mary or some saint, are presented for between them that could only be satisthe adoration of the faithful; and thus fied by the fall of one or other. Rosas the worship due only to God is given to had full confidence in his own resources; the work of men's hands. That these but Urquiza having only at his disposal images would be essentially different if the troops of Entre Rios, of which prothey wore pagan instead of Christian vince he is governor, applied successnames, it would require the ingenuity of fully to the governor of Corrientes and a Jesuit, or the logic of the schoolmen to the Brazilian Court for assistance. The shew. The salvation of souls, which cost imperial cabinet had long looked out for the God-Man so much to obtain, is, in an opportunity of upsetting the power of the Church of Rome, turned into a mere Rosas, regarding it as inimical to their mercantile transaction. Carrying candles interests, and were not, therefore, slow in procession, visiting churches, confess- in affording Urquiza the wished-for asing and receiving absolution from a fellow sistance in men, money, and ships. The mortal, and paying for masses to help the first campaign raised the siege of Monte soul through purgatory-such things se- Video, and lost to Rosas an army that, cure salvation. Money answereth for all for ten years, he had supported around things in the Romish Church, and he the walls. who has plenty of it has nothing to fear for time or eternity. The whole worship, moreover, is addressed to the sensespaintings, images and priestly decorations for the eye, and fine music for the ear, but almost nothing for the immortal part which constitutes the real man. In this way its members are treated as mere children; and, when by any means they become convinced that the forms through which they have been led to look for salvation are absurd, having no principle to guide them, and no opportunities of learning the truth, they become infidels.

Monte Video being liberated, Urquiza lost no time in setting his troops in motion towards Buenos Ayres, in order, finally, to settle, by the arbitration of the sword, the fate of the Argentine republic. Whether Rosas was too confident in his own resources, whether he trusted too much to former success, or whether he discovered that those who had flattered him in the days of his prosperity were not to be depended upon, certain it is, that almost nothing was done to arrest the march of his enemy, and all was risked to the chance of a battle. After a short resistance, his forces broke and fled, and Popery can be seen in its true colours he himself found an asylum on board an only in a Roman Catholic country. When English man-of-war. Such was the fall opposed to Protestantism, it is forced to of the dictator of the State, whose will be respectable and energetic; but, when had for twenty years been supreme law, left without an antagonistic principle, and who, had he been as enlightened as the inherent evils of the system fully he was powerful, might have done much manifest themselves, and its corrupting for the good of his native land. Having influences flourish with fatal luxuriance. neglected to cultivate sincerity and moralThey have flourished, and now flourish with fatal effect in the soil of Buenos Ayres, throwing their blighting shadow over this fair land, and rendering abortive every attempt to morally elevate its inbabitants. Let those who wonder at the strong hatred of our forefathers to Popery live in such a land as this, and they will soon cease to wonder.

ity as the only basis of national character, he did not meet with them in the hour of trial, and like many who have gone before him, he has taught a lesson to those who think that any power can be stable that is not based upon morality and supported by enlightened attachment.

The destinies of the Plate now fell, as The Government of Rosas, not less the consequence of victory, into the hands than the Church, reaped as it had sown. of Urquiza, and it cannot be denied, that, Appealing only to the fear of punish- during his short stay here, he made sevement, it was implicitly obeyed while un- ral very excellent enactments. Many opposed; but, having no hold on the af-improvements were begun; and the Unifections or gratitude of the community, it was allowed to fall before the first vigorous assault, which came from within.

versity and public schools were placed under more efficient management. The education to be given, too, was not only

extensive, but of the right kind. The governor was elected and a constitution Bible was ordered to be taught in the formed, granting, within certain limits, schools, and the minds of the children liberty of conscience, and changing the exercised on its contents. Plans for legislature into two chambers in imitadocks, and other public works, were tion of the United States. The governor ordered to be given in, and hopes were is one of the most upright men in the excited in the breasts of the foreign com- country, and very favourable to foreignmunity, that the resources of the country ers; but many fear he will be unable to were about to be developed. These, like rule the country upon constitutional many former anticipations, were disap- principles. A good deal is being done in pointed. Some cases of interference led the way of educating and improving the the natives to imagine that they had only town; and despite the priests, one of our exchanged one tyrant for another; and, members is professor of English in the accordingly, no sooner did Urquiza leave University, and a member of the German for Santa Fe, to install a congress that Protestant Church is inspector of schools. had been meanwhile elected, than a re- How long this state of things may convolution broke out, (11th Sept. 1852.) tinue, or what is to be the next phase in Most of the troops left in Buenos Ayres, the ever-shifting history of the Plate, is were brought over, and the rest retreated, known only to Him to whom the present pursued by the national guard. The first and the future are alike open. Meanimpulse of Urquiza was to return and while, we are feeling the effects of the put down the revolution; but, on second siege, in the want of produce, the enthoughts, he resolved to leave the province hanced price of animal food, and a depre. of Buenos Ayres to approve of, or put ciated paper currency. Between the down the revolution, as it might think fit. Indians and the outside party, some Accordingly, a counter-revolution was 500,000 cattle were destroyed; and we got up in the country districts, troops are thus taught the lesson that revoluwere marched on the town, and for nine tions are expensive games to play at, and months, we were besieged by land, and a that moral and religious influences have part of the time, were also blockaded by an indissoluble connexion with temwater. After some months, Urquiza put poral prosperity. "For the nation and himself at the head of the besieging the kingdom that will not serve Thee army, and everything seemed to indicate shall perish: yea, those nations shall be success. The town's party, however, utterly wasted." managed to barricade the streets, and ultimately to throw up entrenchments, which, though nowise formidable to regular troops, were sufficiently so to the militia of the Pampas. Seeing no prospect of taking the town by assault, and the blockading fleet being bought over, the outside party lost heart, and at last broke up. The loss of life, and the destruction of property, were small considering the length of the siege, and the number of balls fired on both sides. We and several members of the congregation had occasion in the discharge of duty, to cross the lines more than once, but a gracious Providence kept us from harm. A few foreigners were killed, but the wonder is there were not many more, considering the extent and recklessness of the firing.

Urquiza having failed to take the town, returned to Entre Rios, and was appointed director of thirteen of the provinces, forming the Argentine confederation, and the province of Buenos Ayres, now left to itself, refused to have anything to do with the other provinces, while presided over by Urquiza. Representatives were accordingly elected, so many for the town and so many for the country districts, by whom a permanent

MISSIONS IN INDIA.

The following is an extract from an admirable speech, delivered in the Free Church Assembly, by Macleod Wylie, Esq., judge in Calcutta:

Large portions of the country have never even been traversed, and have never seen copies of the Scriptures. They are as little evangelized as Turkey or Abyssinia. That is the case as to the native stations. What is the case as to our own territory? I will take the Presidency of Bengal, with which I am most familiar. It comprises a population of fifty millions of people. In that Presidency there are many large districts, as large as Yorkshire, and some containing a population as large as Scotland, with no missionary at all. There are other large districts, as large as Yorkshire, with as large a population, with one missionary alone. You may take a series of districts of this kind. Go from district to district; and while you are talking of your mission to Bengal, here are parts of Bengal,-the most thicklypeopled parts,-parts that have been

portions of your territory for a hundred this people, more or less, from the time years, and they have no missionary at of Swartz, and that it still exists to a all. I have long felt this. For some considerable extent. This is still more years I was Secretary of the Bible Society the case with reference to Pegu, one of in Calcutta, and for a series of years, the provinces of Burmah, which has as the cold season set in, I tried to get been lately annexed to the British copies of the Scriptures sent out to the empire. The American Mission to zillahs of Bengal, and every year I failed. the Karens has been blessed with such So far is it from true that Bengal is signal success, that I may say this Misnearly evangelized, or even well supplied sion is the most hopeful and fruitful in with the Scriptures, that a large part of modern times. They have amongst the Bengal is utterly untouched,-has never Karens about twelve thousand baptized been traversed,-and a large proportion adult converts, and about one hundred of that country which has been our terri- and twenty or one hundred and thirty tory so long, has never yet received a effective native teachers. I must say, Bible at our hands. These are facts with without entering into the details of our reference to Bengal,-that territory which own missionary labour in Calcutta, that is so peaceful, in which the people uni- there is the utmost encouragement from versally are accessible, in which they are the success we have experienced there,all ready and prepared to hear the gospel. I say not by us alone, but from the sucNow, taking a series of districts in Ben- cess that has been obtained there from gal, I found, from calculations made not the combined efforts of all the missionary long ago, that there were a series of dis- labourers there for so many years. With tricts in the north and east of Bengal, respect to Calcutta, I know not how to probably the most populous and fertile convey to the House anything like an of the whole country, with seventeen idea of the strength of my conviction, millions of people, and for these seventeen from long personal observation there, millions of people there were ten mission- that we have reached a point that requires aries, and no more. And that is the not only an increase of the staff of misstate of things with reference to a large sionary labourers, but a widely different part of the country. Not only are many system of missionary labour. It is imparts unsupplied altogether, but some possible to suppose that the system that parts which are supplied are supplied in has been pursued in Calcutta for so many such a proportion, that every missionary years, not by us alone, but by the Govhas a work before him utterly beyond his ernment also educating and training up own strength and management, and is a large body of well-instructed young almost driven to sit down in despair. men who have ceased to be Hindus,-it The time was when the chief hindrance is impossible that could have continued to Christianity arose from the conduct up to this time without raising up a very of professing Christians. Undoubtedly peculiar and very extraordinary class in many such hindrances continue still. society that is altogether an anomaly in But, Sir, the times are changed greatly a heathen country. It must be so. It from those days when Carey lived by undoubtedly is so; and many facts consufferance in India, and when many of firm the impression. It is not long ago the missionaries were driven away, that a person of the highest family in when Judson, coming as the first mis- Calcutta,-a young man, the only son of sionary from America, was expelled the one of the wealthiest natives in Calcutta, country, when the conduct of the Gov-surrendered a fortune of no less than ernment, and of many of the rulers of £10,000 a-year, became a Christian, and the people, was such as to bring discre- was baptized. dit on the name of Christ, and cause the people to blaspheme. There has been and is a wonderful change since then. There has also been a great improvement, from which we may derive great encouragement, in many distant parts of the country. Take the southern provinces of India,-take the province of Tinnevally, and, after making all fair deductions from the statements made relative to the Missions there, it is unquestionable that there are many thousands of Christians, a population perhaps of about "Some hearts are like certain fruits, eighty thousand Christians,-that there the better for having been wounded.”— has been a real work of grace among Southey.

"We are none of us grateful enough for the discipline of circumstances, for the immediate punishment in the shape of disappointment or difficulty which waits upon our weakness and error."

"The highest object of training is to prepare people to do without it."—Miss Bremer.

Notices of Books.

Christ as made known to the Ancient Church: an Exposition of the Revelation of Divine Grace, as unfolded in the Old Testament Scriptures. By the late ROBERT GORDON, D.D., F.R.S.E., Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Johnstone and Hunter. 1854. Vols. III. and IV.

The two admirable volumes before us, which it was our intention to have noticed ere this, amply justify the expectations raised by the perusal of the volumes which preceded them, and realize the judgment, that the christology of the Old Testament is a theme, with which, in its practical aspect, the late Dr. Gordon was pre-eminently qualified to grapple. But although we use the term "practical," we by no means wish to convey the impression, that the critical student of the Old Testament will discover nothing in these volumes to gratify his intellectual curiosity, or to reward his research. On the contrary, there are not seldom presented choice specimens of exegesis, for which, inasmuch as we believe that the divine enlightening Spirit discloses "mysteries" to the humble-minded student, which it pleases Him to conceal from the intellectual or exegetical student, we might search in vain in the elaborate pages of Kitto, or Hengstenberg.

It is, however, when the work is looked at in its practical tendency, that its peculiar excellence becomes most apparent. In this orbit, Dr. Gordon was conspicuously formed to move; and as we read those his remains, we are vividly reminded of that preacher who, by the placid majesty of his demeanour, the heavenly tone of his words, and the rich deep practicability of his reasonings, so often used to charm us. We do not know whether Dr. Gordon would ever have attained the acme of celebrity had he limited his ambition to strict Scriptural exegesis; but in this respect, he was signally fortunate, that, in his pulpit ministrations, as they are reflected from the work before us, he devoted his energies to that department to which his heart, if not also his entire mental development attached him.

Nothing could have contributed in a greater degree to strengthen his influence upon the general mind than the course thus pursued. Rigid exegetical compositions, doctrinal discussions, or intellectual disquisitions have charms

only for the few. They occupy a range too elevated for the general mind. It is very justly observed by a writer in the British and Foreign Evangelical Review, that we are now continually reaching after results. The whole cast of our thinking is practical; and, as a natural consequence, the popular mind is becoming more and more averse to abstract speculation of every sort." The peculiar excellence of these volumes may therefore be recognized in their eminently practical character. They present, in that form with which the general mind can most readily associate itself, the thoroughly digested results of long matured and accurate investigation and study, without introducing the apparatus by which these results have been gained. For these reasons we feel ourselves authorized to press the work earnestly and confidently upon the attention of the public, assuring them that while they may meet with little of that which renders attractive the profound pages of Neander, the elaborate treatises of Hengstenberg, the pictorial chapters of Kitto, the dramatic sketchings of D'Aubigne, or the pure mysticisms of Maurice and his school, they will discover the ripe reflections of a pious, acute, learned, and practical mind upon the manifestations of God, in providence and grace, towards the Church of the Old Testament.

The design stated in the preface to the work, viz., to trace the progress of supernatural revelation, through the historical and prophetical eras of the Church, and to exhibit the process by which provision was made for sinners, of every era, upon a "plan of free grace, and through faith in a Mediator to come," has been successfully completed. The 3d and 4th volumes, taking up the subject where the former volumes had left it, prosecute the inquiry from the close of the historical to the close of the prophetical periods. As might have been anticipated, the tone of the work seems to rise in its Christian dignity, and the spiritual flame of earnestness and love to glow with greater brilliancy, as prophecy speaks with less disguise regarding the Great Antitype.

The style of the work is fascinating, alike from the rich vein of practical truth, and faithful application which permeate it, and the clearness, simplicity, gracefulness, at times grandeur, and scripturality by which it is characterized.

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