the following articles :-"Every one professes his religion with freedom, and receives from the State equal protection in the exercise of his worship. The Ministers belonging to religious bodies recognised by the law, and they only, have a right to receive support from the State." There will be numerous observations to be made upon these articles, to which I shall return, when the constitution shall have been discussed and carried. Another question has been agitated by the Committee of Worship. To whom shall henceforth belong the right of appointing Bishops ? Under the monarchical form of government, these appointments were made by the King and confirmed by the Pope. Should it be the same with the democratic system? Ought the President of the republic to possess the same prerogative as was possessed by the King? The question was a delicate one; for there is nothing to prevent a Protestant from filling the highest office in the State. A heretic would then possess the power to appoint Popish Bishops, which, in the view of the Romish Church, would be a most scandalous proceeding. Various opinions were expressed. Some members suggested that the Bishops should be elected by the suffrages of the faithful, as in primitive times; others wished to intrust the appointment exclusively with the Priests; while others, again, proposed that a list of candidates should be prepared. The question is as yet undecided. Petitions have been presented to the National Assembly, praying that the Church may be separated from the State. They have given occasion to a long report, in which M. Chapot (the rapporteur) has stated it as his opinion, that the State payment of the Clergy ought to be maintained. The reasons alleged in defence of this view were the following:-First, the generality of citizens profess a religion of some kind; Roman Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish : therefore the State will be promoting the interests of all classes by paying the Ministers of different religions. Secondly, the French nation has been accustomed to have its Priests and Pastors supported from the public treasury. If this state of things were to be changed, public opinion would be greatly shocked. And, lastly, the discontinuance of the State salary to Ecclesiastics would, according to the rapporteur, be contrary to the principle of equality, because, the poor being unable to contribute to the support of a Minister, it would fall to the lot of the rich to choose the candidates accord ing to their own good pleasure. I present an outline of these different arguments, without offering any opinion upon them. The question will be fully discussed in the debates on the new constitution. Nothing of special interest has happened in our Protestant churches. The congregations proceed with the election of delegates who are to take part in the proceedings of the Synodal Assembly. The result of the elections is not yet known it is probable that the majority will be latitudinarians. A fact has lately occurred, at once of a political and religious character, which will exert an unhappy influence upon the social position of Protestants. On Sunday, the 30th of July, all the towns and villages in France were invited, by a decree of the National Assembly, to elect new Municipal Counsellors. These elections have taken place by universal suffrage, and the result has not been favourable to us. The reason of this may be easily explained. The Protestants, in proportion to their numbers, are richer, or, to use a more exact expression, less poor, than the Romanists. As they are superior to the latter in education, in intelligence, and in activity, so this superiority also obtains in the distribution of wealth. As long as the Municipal Counsellors were chosen, by a certain class of electors, from the ranks of the most influential citizens, Protestants were admitted to the magisterial office in our towns and country districts, in large numbers; for they made up for their numerical inferiority by their superior position as owners of land, manufacturers, and merchants. But now, in consequence of universal suffrage, they have, in many instances, been wholly excluded from the local magistracy. I could name an important city, which contains at least five thousand Protestants, not one of whom will obtain a place in the Municipal Council. The Priests have marched to the poll, with their bands of prolétaires, paupers, and mendicants, giving as their watchword, "No Protestants!" And these masses of poor, ignorant individuals, at the instigation of their parish Priest, have all voted as one man. Universal suffrage is a fine thing in theory; but I doubt whether in practice it will produce satisfactory results. The French, generally speaking, do not possess sufficient education to enable them to vote independently, and with a competent knowledge of public questions. Picture to yourselves the hosts of labourers and workmen who are unable either to read or write: how can they properly exercise the suffrage? They do not know a syllable about political matters: they are utter strangers to the study of those principles upon which the social machine must necessarily rest. What is the consequence ? They allow themselves to be blindly led by a fanatical Priest, or an intriguing Fourrierist or Communist, and universal suffrage becomes a worthless fiction. The French Protestants require, under present circumstances, a double share of wisdom, prudence, and courage. The Popish Clergy, notwithstanding their loud professions of liberality, will wage war upon them. They will strive, by every means in their power, no matter whether good or bad, to exclude them from all public offices, and will do their best, by the aid of the masses, to get them treated like pariahs: for we must not forget that the spirit of Rome is the same as it ever was; it is as exclusive, intolerant, and despotic now, as it was of old. The Priests extol liberty and equality when they cannot do otherwise; but they like neither equality nor liberty, and never will they forgive heretics for throwing off the pontifical yoke. M. Agenor de Gasparin, of whom I spoke in a former letter, continues to publish, in the Archives du Christianisme, articles upon our ecclesiastical position, and the duties which will devolve upon our next Synod. M. de Gasparin requires an explicit Confession of Faith, and frankly avows that a separation between the Protestants would be preferable to an alliance with the rationalist or latitudinarian party. The writer of these articles is unquestionably a pious and devoted man. Every one must render homage to his great talents, his perfect integrity, and his sincere desire to ameliorate the religious condition of our churches. But has M. de Gasparin sufficiently considered the real state of things at the present moment? Has he maturely weighed all the obstacles which will present themselves, on the part both of the Pastors and their congregations? Should a separation between the two portions of the church be right, would it be practicable at this critical juncture? Not a few pious and enlightened men feel great hesitation in assenting to any such course. The discussion, which has been conducted in the colunins of the Archives du Christianisme, will commence afresh in the Synod. There will probably be three partics: the latitudinarians, who allow of no confession of faith whatever; the decidedly orthodox, who demand a confession at any cost; and, lastly, the men who occupy a position midway between the other two, and who will endeavour to reconcile them. May the Saviour be pleased to inspire all his true children with a large increase of faith and love! X. X. X. VARIETIES. PERSIAN METHOD OF CATCHING WILD FOWL.-We had heard that a curious method of catching wild fowl at night, by means of a torch, was practised here, and wished very much to have witnessed it this evening; but, unfortunately, the moon shone brightly, and it could only be managed on the darkest nights. In the morning, however, having risen early with the intention of shooting some ducks, we were shown the whole apparatus, which was very ingenious. men and a boy embarked in a small canoe. One man sits astern and directs; the boy is placed in the centre with a circular plate of bell-metal, which he beats with rapidly-repeated blows of a stick; and the other man stands in the fore part of the boat, behind an apparatus fitting into the bow, made of wood and felt, having Two a little hearth of clay on which the fire is placed, the fuel being some tow or cotton dipped in naphtha. Bebind the fire is a screen, which bends forwards, throwing the light entirely on the water before the boat, and casting all surrounding objects into deeper darkness. The ducks, frightened by the noise and dazzled by the glare, remain motionless on the surface. The man behind the screen holds in his hand a net, fixed so as to hang loosely between two long and stout canes. This he clasps over his astonished victims, and, giving it a sudden turn in the water, lifts them out, when, holding the canes upright, they fall into the bag of the net. The moment the splash is heard, the remainder of the ducks rise, and at first fly about bewildered, sometimes into the light, and sometimes against the men in the boat, finally contriving to make a retreat to some other spot. Meanwhile, the sportsman quickly takes those he has caught from the net, and, twisting their wings one in the other and their legs over their backs, throws them into the bottom of the boat, and moves off in pursuit of another flock. It will, perhaps, be thought that twisting the birds' necks instead of their wings and legs, would be both a quicker and surer mode of disposing of them; but the latter operation is performed with incredible rapidity; and it is to be remembered that each duck must have its throat cut in the orthodox manner, with its head towards Mecca for the good of its soul, or it would not be proper food for a correct Mussulman.-Holmes's Sketches on the Shores of the Caspian. we THE PRESENT STATE OF PALESTINE. Palestine is a country for which Providence has done everything: should say, rather, the "Holy Land," that is, Palestine and Syria. We behold her now in the days of her desolation. She is groaning under the yoke of a hard master; and we can form no idea, by what we now see, of what she once was, and of what, we have the strongest assurances, she will again become. Unquestionably, she has no need of foreign aid; she possesses all the germs of greatness within herself, and requires only the genial influence of the Sun of Peace to resuscitate her: the once-rich plains of Jordan will then look green again, the pastures of Mamre will teem with lowing herds and bleating flocks, and the happy days of Abraham and Isaac will return to bless the industry of man. The shell which produced the Tyrian dye may still be found. Hermon and Tabor are still moistened with the balmy dew of heaven; the plains of Esdraelon and the heights of Carmel are still bedecked with roses; at Sechem, the swarthy Bedouin drinks of the same spring with Jacob, and his great progenitor Abraham, and feeds his flocks, like him, on the flowery banks of Jordan and Tiberias. Then, if we turn to the east and north, the Haouran and the Bekaa are still rich in corn. The seven-eared wheat of Egypt, too, is sometimes seen. Lebanon is laden, as heretofore, with luscious fruits and herbs, cedars and stately pines. Mount Cassius is clothed with lofty sycamores and oaks, and other forest-trees, from the summit to the waters of the Mediterranean, which sparkle at her base. The finest silk is annually exported from Suedia; and the shelving shores of the Orontes produce gums, cotton, indigo, and sugar, oil, rice, and other grain; there is excellent pasturage for cattle; and the neighbouring districts abound in stone, coal, and iron. In fact, there are the same germs of prosperity and wealth now as at any former period: the climate is healthy, the diseases few, the seasons are well marked, and there are no fogs; the scenery is the finest that can be conceived; communication with Europe is easy; and the people are talented, hospitable, and brave, and for the most part well disposed: but the country is distracted by political and religious intrigues, which compromise the happiness of the Rayahs, and curtail the resources of the Government.-Dr. Yates's Lecture at the Syro-Egyptian Society of London. RECENT DEATHS. APRIL 5th, 1848.-At Hedley, in the ShotleyBridge Circuit, Mr. Ralph Green, aged seventytwo. He was awakened to a sense of his guilt and danger as a sinner, under the energetic ministry of the late Rev. W. Bramwell. For thirty-six years he "walked with God," during thirty of which he filled the office of Class-Leader with great credit to himself, and to the edification and comfort of those who were intrusted to his care. He was eminently a man of peace, and gladly yielded the pre-eminence to others, fully carrying out in his practice the spirit of the apostolic injunction, "In honour preferring one another." The affliction which ended in his death was of such a nature as to preclude much conversation, until a short time before his dissoJution, when he was favoured with powerful manifestations of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He greatly rejoiced in God his Saviour: "I can never sufficiently praise Him; never can: glory be to His holy name! This all my hope, and all my plea, For me the Saviour died.'" In this delightful state he continued until the summons for his departure arrived, when he calmly resigned his spirit into the hands of his God and Saviour. T. S. April 12th.-At Haverfordwest, aged thirtynine, Mr. Henry Rees. About thirteen years ago a beloved sister died happy in the Lord, and her removal for a time made a deep impression on his mind. Still he was only almost persuaded to be a Christian. His friends continued to pray for him, and the Holy Spirit continued to strive with him, until at length he gave up the world and sin, came out from the ungodly, and cast in his lot among God's people. His last illness was protracted; but he was graciously supported; and though he was surrounded by many earthly comforts, and tenderly attached to his wife and children, yet so powerfully did the grace of God operate within him, that he was enabled to say, "I have no wish to live: I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better." The night before he died he read over the hymn commencing with, "I know that my Redeemer lives," and spoke of it as being descriptive of his own happy experience. The next morning, without a sigh or groan, he entered the joy of his Lord. W. B. April 25th.-At the Post-office, Knaresborough, Miss Ann Taylor, aged thirty. Fourteen years ago she was savingly converted to God, united herself to the Wesleyan society, and ever afterwards prized the ordinances of religion and the communion of saints. For the last five years she endured severe affliction, which had a chastened and sanctified effect upon her lively and cultivated mind. As the closing scene drew near, her sufferings became intense; and she manifested great jealousy lest any impatience or want of resignation to the divine will should show itself. But trusting in God, he kept her soul in perfect peace, till death terminated her sufferings, and introduced her to the "rest that remaineth to the people of God." J. B. May 19th.-At Lewes, Ellen Miles, aged nineteen. She was brought to God early in the year 1846. Her conversion to God was clear, and her Christian course consistent. She delighted to engage in anything connected with and advantageous to the cause of God. As a Sabbathschool Teacher she was diligent and faithful. During her last illness her mind was somewhat beclouded; but while conversing with a member of the family, she said, "The Lord has done wonders for me; I will praise him;" and expired. J. P. May 22d. In the Leeds Third Circuit, aged fifty-six, Mary, the wife of Mr. Benjamin Pollard. Brought to a saving knowledge of the truth in her youth, her Christian career was one of unvarying consistency. Intrusted with a considerable family, and deeply impressed with her responsibility as a mother, she was most exemplary in her attention to household duties; and yet, by "redeeming the time," she found opportunity to gratify the benevolence of her heart, by taking an active part in various local Female Charities. By the class in which she was Leader she was greatly beloved, and will long be lamented. Her sufferings during her last affliction were very severe; but she was most graciously supported, and, "patient in tribulation," she "rejoiced in hope." Just before her death she attempted to raise her powerless arm, and, with a countenance beaming with unspeakable peace, she exclaimed, "Victory through the blood of the Lamb. Victory! Victory! Victory!" R. I. June 2d.-At Bishopstour, in the Aylesbury Circuit, aged forty-six, Mary, the wife of Mr. Thomas Thorne. In early life she was convinced of sin, under the ministry of the Established Church. From this time she became deeply serious in her deportment. On her marriage with Mr. Thorne, she began to attend the Wesleyan ministry, and availed herself of the privileges of the Wesleyan society. She found the class-meeting to be eminently profitable: here she obtained clearer views of Christian assurance, and was soon translated from a servant to a child of God. Her affliction was long and painful. Hopes of her recovery were entertained for many months; but latterly the signs of consumption were too evident to be mistaken. From this period, she became more resigned and cheerful. She had occasionally said, that it seemed hard to go so soon;" but now, not a murinuring word was heard. Her mind was stayed on the Lord, and she was kept in perfect peace. Her greatest struggle was the separation from her husband; but when that conquest was gained, death had no more terrors than the "rest of sleep." "The sting," said she, "is gone. I cannot say much; but I am very happy;" and calmly fell asleep in Jesus. J. S. June 3d.-At Leftwich, near Northwich, aged twenty-five, Ann, wife of Mr. Thomas Moreton. Being blessed with pious parents and religious training, she early became a subject of the Holy Spirit's restraining grace, and eventually of his renewing influence. When in her sixteenth year, after having sought the pardon of sin for some months, while her parents and a sister were pleading with God on her behalf, she was enabled to rely on the atonement, and to believe to the saving of the soul. From that time she walked in the light of God's countenance, and, while her health permitted, delighted to engage in those works of usefulness which are more especially appropriate to the female disciple. For some years her health was in a declining state, and she was often the subject of painful affliction; but the promise of God sustained her faith, and the cup which her Father gave she drank without a murmur. Her last illness was protracted; and though at its commencement the natural love of life was strong, and she desired to be spared to her partner and child, yet as she drew nearer the close, divine consolations were so great, and the prospect of heaven so bright, that she felt "to depart, and to be with Christ," would be far better; and in the full assurance of this blessed hope she calmly fell asleep in Jesus. E. M. June 3d.-At Kidderminster, in the Stourport Circuit, Mrs. Ann Perry, widow, in the seventyeighth year of her age. She joined the Wesleyan church about half a century ago, and maintained her Christian profession unto the end of her days. Since the death of her husband, Mr. Samuel Perry, who was a worthy Leader and Local Preacher in our church, her health gradually declined, until "the weary wheels of life stood still." A few days before her departure, when told by her Pastor that her June 8th.-At Bawdsey, in the Ipswich Circuit, Samuel Ransby, aged seventy-seven. He was converted to God about forty years ago; and from that period unto his death, he adorned his Christian profession by an upright conversation. He was distinguished by singular zeal, courage, and perseverance in his Master's cause. As a Local Preacher, he was "a son of thunder;" as a Class-Leader, he was affectionate and faithful. The grace of God sustained him beneath the pressure of heavy and long-continued affliction; and his end was peace. W. L. June 8th.-At Mamble-square, in the Dudley Circuit, Mrs. Sarah Armson, aged sixty-five. Her father was the first Class-Leader in the village of Hadley. When he was dying he called his wife and children around him, and "gave them commandment" respecting their future life. The subject of this notice was then only ten years of age. At sixteen, she became a humble follower of Christ, and continued so until the day of her death. Though a "fearful saint" during life, when she came to die, her confidence in the Lord was strong and unshaken. Her principal anxiety was in relation to her family. In the weakness and suffering of her last illness she acted as the faithful wife, and the affectionate mother, beseeching her husband and children to meet her in heaven. Not long before she died, she said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit;" and when unable to speak, she gave her children a signal that all was well. W. W. June 14th.-At Bloxwich, in the Walsall Circuit, Sarah Rolison, who was born at Willenhall, 1819. At the age of three years, having lost her mother, she was taken under the care of her grandmother, by whom she was early led to the house of God; on the ordinances of which she did not long attend before she became deeply impressed about her soul; but these impressions, not being sufficiently cherished and followed, did not at that time terminate in conversion. In 1842, having joined the Wesleyan society, and feeling anxious for the forgiveness of her sins, It pleased the Lord to visit her with severe illness. It was during this period that God gave health to her soul. The second affliction was long and heavy, but borne with patience and resignation. When her pains increased, and it was clear her end approached, a friend asked her if she were happy; to which she replied, "I am not afraid to die. Come, Lord Jesus!" These were her last words. E. R. June 18th.-At Cleobury-Mortimer, Salop, in the Stourport Circuit, Mr. William Jones, Leader and Local Preacher, in the fifty-second year of his age. He was brought to God, and joined the Wesleyan society more than twentyfive years ago. There is "hope in his death." J. S. June 23d.-At Cookley, in the Stourport Circuit, Mr. Thomas Boswell, Leader, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He was converted to God, and became a member of the Wesleyan church thirty years ago, and upwards. His last affliction was painful and tedious; but it was sanctified; and his end was peace. J. S. June 28th.-At Ripon, Mr. George Severs, aged thirty-seven years. His father, John Severs, was a good man, and a Leader in the Ripon society about forty years. He died in the year 1839, being like a shock of corn prepared for the heavenly garner. George was brought to the knowledge of the truth sixteen years ago. It was under the influence of the first sermon preached in Ripon by the Rev. Samuel Thompson, that he became decided, gave his heart to God, and his hand to the people of God. He was very useful in many important and official relations to the church, which he fulfilled with more than usual fidelity. He carried the interests of Methodism in his bosom with great tenderness of regard: a feeling uniformly developed in his life. His diary shows the spirit of holy solicitude for the interests of religion in general. His piety was of an enlightened order. A somewhat afflicted lot as to the body seems to have been the occasion of greater excellency in the qualities of his mind; as sufferings in the flesh are often observed to give sterling worth and purity to the spirit. His inner man was thus chastened, subdued, and perfected in affliction. His last illness was of such a nature, that he scarcely slept for near three weeks; which circumstance, together with the thought of leaving a widow and young family of four children, told in gloomy and depressing effect upon his mind. He cried out, "O Lord, I am oppressed, undertake for me! Shortly before his removal, his language was, "He doeth all things well." He expired under the smile of God. S. H. June 30th.-At Hazelgrove, in the Stockport South Circuit, Mr. James Vickers, aged eightyfour. Being sincerely devoted to God, he was led to join the Wesleyan-Methodist society in Manchester. From this period, his attendance on the means of grace was exemplary. He delighted in joining in the congregational singing, and even when alone his cheerful piety would manifest itself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. In him piety, patriotism, and loyalty were combined. While he "feared God, he honoured the King," and, when occasion required, defended the institutions and governors of his country. On the afternoon of the day on which he died, he said, "that he had built on the Rock of ages, and that he felt it to be a sure foundation." He departed this life in great peace. T. R. June 30th.-At Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Mrs. Dennis, widow of the late Mr. Henry Dennis, (for many years a valuable Leader and Local Preacher,) having been for fifty-nine years a highly consistent member of the Wesleyan society. Her conversion was clear, her experience sound, and the whole of her deportment in accordance with her profession. Although dur |