not withstanding the positive text of the decree of full powers voted by the Grand Council in January, and which ordains that all the penalties must be enforced by the tribunals, has assumed to itself the right of displacing the Pastors, and of sending them either to their own commune or to any other, even when they have been absolved by the tribunals. Thus, I had a right to remain at Vevey, after my acquittal by the tribunal of police. I had also a right to return there, after the releasing sentence of the Court of Cassation; but I have been compelled, for the third time, to forsake my native place, under a peremptory order from the Council of State; and M. Germond, though acquitted in the last instance, has been unable to return to Echallens. We are, therefore, deprived of our rights as citizens for an indefinite time, and that, too, in defiance of the sentence of judicial authority, and contrary to the text of the law; and, to leave no doubt as to the despotism to which we are exposed, Mr. H. Thomas has just been conducted by gendarmerie into his commune, on a report made by the Prefect, of a meeting held in Mr. Thomas's house, but in which he himself took no part. M. le Pasteur Esperandieu, of Lausanne, will also thus be sent away. For a long time he presided over many meetings in his own house, as all the world knew, without any disturbance taking place.

We may conclude, from these last facts, that the Council of State is determined to pursue its persecuting measures. It is even said, that, finding no longer any support in its own decree, it contemplates proposing to the Grand Council an intolerant law, more positive than the former decrees. But nothing certain has yet occurred; and I therefore hope that the rumour is false. Is it not a proof of insanity to attempt such a thing? or to reckon on the approaching victory of Socialism? unless one admits the very plausible explanation of supposing that the Council of State wishes by its arbitrary and intolerant acts to throw odium upon the church of which it is the Bishop (Head), in order to arrive sooner or later at the moment which may seem most favourable for the separation of Church and State.

Pardon me, dear brethren, for having entered into all these details; but I have thought them necessary, in reply to your letter, to enable you to comprehend our present position. It is a position of expectation, but of calm and peaceful expectation; for we know that our God

causes all things to work together for the greatest good of his children. I have now to communicate some facts more fitted to give you pleasure.

Our churches continue to increase in strength, notwithstanding the persecu tion: those which are deprived of their Pastors receive visits more or less frequent from Ministers of the Gospel, who are sent to them by the Commission de l'Evangelization. They are also edified by the Elders, some of whom are men of solid and enlightened piety, which present occurrences have contributed to develope. The mountain churches situated on the frontiers also meet together, sometimes either in a neighbouring canton, or on some secluded height, to offer up, amidst the magnificent works of the Creator, their free spiritual worship to that Saviour who more than once during his earthly sojourn caused his divine instructions to be heard on the mountains of Galilee, under the spacious vault of heaven. Thus, the churches of Chateau d'Er, of Ormont-Dessus, and of Montreux, have already, twice or thrice during the summer, found a rendezvous in some retired valley at the foot of our Alps, while similar meetings were taking place on the Jura, chiefly consecrated to the purpose of drawing closer the ties of fraternal love. These are blessed days, which have borne good fruit for eternity: they are remembered with gratitude; for many souls have there received their first salutary impressions, many have thus imbibed a new impulse to advance in the path of salvation and holiness.

Almost all those Pastors who have been sent away from their churches have found new fields of labour open to them, and have had numerous opportunities of proclaiming the good word of God. These compulsory dismissals have led us to places where we should never, perhaps, have thought of preaching the Gospel. It is this consideration which caused it to be said to M. Germond that the Council of State undertook the office of the Commission de l'Evangelization, and accomplished the undertaking much better than we should have done. I may say, as to what concerns myself in particular, that I have more than once had reason to admire the ways of the Lord, with regard to my goings and comings. From Motiers (where I have pitched my tent for some weeks) I have had many opportunities of preaching the message of salvation in the populous villages of the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Pastors of which appear to me to be actuated by the best spirit. There are here undoubtedly

many of the elements of life, which will manifest themselves still more clearly, if the church of the Canton of Neuchâtel is called upon to pass through a crisis similar to that of the Canton de Vaud.

As to the progress of the Evangelical Alliance, concerning which you would doubtless like to be informed, I think that it is satisfactory. On the 20th of June we held a meeting at Neuchâtel of about one hundred persons, convened by the Cantonal Committee, and presided over by M. Ch. Bovet. The object of the meeting was to make known the principles of the Alliance to those brethren who might feel disposed to join. We there heard an excellent Report, prepared by M. le Minister F. Godet, which has just been printed, with a summary of the addresses delivered. This meeting, like all those of the Evangelical Alliance at which I have assisted, has been full of interest to us all, and holds out great hopes as to the progress of the movement in this country. Influential members of the national Clergy, as well as the principal representatives of the dissenting church, have given in their cordial adhe sions to the principles of our association. There were also many Moravian Brethren, who bore witness to the profound interest which they felt for it. In the Canton de Vaud, the oppressive measures of the Government are the only cause which has hindered us from following outwardly the work of the Evangelical Alliance, not only on account of the impossibility of having a public meeting, but also because of the painful position in which the members of one church, for whose sake persecution is carried on, find themselves placed when sitting opposite their persecuted brethren.

I would here conclude this long letter, dear brethren, by assuring you of our sincere remembrance and of our fraternal affection. We it is who reap abundantly the first-fruits of the Evangelical Alliance. How should we bless the Lord who has formed this tie between us!

May He

deign to return to you by a thousand benedictions all the good you have done to our hearts by your brotherly affection and sympathy!

In the name of the members of the Evangelical Alliance in the Canton de Vaud,

Your devoted brother,
CH. BAUP, Pastor.

REVIVAL OF PERSECUTION BY THE COUNCIL OF STATE-FORCIBLE REMOVAL OF M. ESPERANDIEU -MM. TACHET AND DESCOMBAZ ORDERED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNES-PROBABILITY THAT A DECREE OF BANISHMENT WILL BE ISSUED AGAINST THE PASTORS INTERNAL CONDITION OF THE VAUDOIS CHURCHES.

Motiers-Travers, Neuchâtel, September 18th, 1848. SIRS, AND DEAR BRETHREN,— The facts relative to the religious persecution and arbitrary acts on the part of the Vaudois Government multiply so rapidly, that there can be no question that we are approaching a dénouement. There was reason to hope that the firm conduct of the cantonal tribunal, and the independence which it exhibited in its interpretation of the decree of March 28th, in the case of M. Germond, and very recently in the case of Pastors Porta and Margot, sen., would have shown the Council of State that it was its duty to pause in the improper course upon which it had entered. These circumstances furnished it with a favourable opportunity of doing so; for by interpreting its decree as applying only to politico-religious meetings, which might be an occasion of disturbance, and not to religious meetings, properly so called, one was reminded of the declaration which the Council of State had itself so often made, of its attachment to religious liberty, and its respect for convictions of every kind. Moreover, it had only to allow matters to take their course, and all would speedily have resumed a legal complexion. When once it should have been fully proved, by the decision of the judicial authorities, that our peaceful meetings have no other object than to satisfy religious wants, and that they do not in the slightest endanger public tranquillity, they might have continued without the least opposition, for the people are weary of persecution: this is proved by the fact, that, in instances which are well known, they have had to pay the persecutors. But any such course, it seems, never obtained favour with our Government; for rather than discontinue its unjust proceedings against peaceful and inoffensive men, it violated its own decrees, and trampled under foot the most positive declarations of our cantonal constitution. It would scarcely be believed in England or Scotland, where the rights of the citizen are held in such respect; but the thing is certain. We may hence learn the amount

dered capable of showing in all things entire fidelity.

We pass over in silence several facts which might serve, uselessly, to add some darker shades to the sad picture which our canton still presents in respect to religious liberty. It is gratifying to me to be able to say, that we experience the efficacy of the prayers which you present in our favour, and that we daily receive some fresh token of the Lord's faithfulness. All the displaced Pastors have found numerous opportunities of employing themselves in the service of God, in localities which, probably, they would never have thought of visiting. No commission of evangelization could have served the interests of the Free Church so well as has been done by our Council of State. Of this we have had striking proofs; persons who have been hitherto too indifferent having, by this means, been rendered attentive to their eternal interests. That which men designed for evil, God has converted into a blessing; and while he makes all things work together for the good of his children, he causes the wicked to fall in the snare which they have themselves spread, and makes use of them to accomplish his own purposes.

All the churches which I have had an opportunity of visiting, since my exile

from Vevey, appear to me in a state of progress. There are some which enjoy entire liberty. They are, in general, those which are situated in the mountainous districts, In these, the proportion of men is greater, and they are more decided than the churches of the plain. Here, under a coarse garment, we meet with cultivated minds, and souls which are nourished by the word of God. It is, in fact, in reading that they seek recreation during the long winter evenings; and our religious libraries, being well furnished, obtain numerous readers. It appears evident to me, that there are in all these churches elements of life, which persecution has hitherto but developed and strengthened more and more. Lord will not suffer his work to be destroyed; and I am in good hopes, that though the Pastors, for some time to come, should be all exiled, the Free Church will prove sufficiently strong to support so great a trial, and, by the grace of its Divine Head, to come out of it victorious. In Him is found the only source of strength and life. May his holy name be blessed; for to Him only glory belongeth.

The

I remain, in Him, with cordial affection,

Yours very truly,

CH. BAUP, Pastor.

WEATHER-PREDICTIONS ASCRIBED TO M. ARAGO.-In the Annuaire for the present year, presented to the King of the French by the Bureau of Longitudes, M. Arago takes occasion, once for all, to dispose of those weatherpredictions which annually make the circuit of Europe, falsely stamped with his authority. 66 Engaged," he says, "both by taste and by duty, in meteorological studies, I have frequently been led to consider whether it will ever be possible, by means of astronomical calculations, to determine, a year in advance, what, in any given place, will be the annual temperature, that of each month, the quantity of rain, or the prevailing winds. I have already presented to the readers of the Annuaire the results of the inquiries of the natural philosophers and astronomers concerning the influence of the moon and comets on the changes of the weather. These results demonstrate peremptorily that the lunar and cometary

influences are scarcely sensible; and therefore that weather-prophecy can never be a branch of astronomy properly so called. For, in fact, our satellite and the comets have been at all times considered in meteorology as the preponderating stars. Since those former publications, I have examined the subject in another point of view. I have been inquiring if the labours of men, and events which must always escape our prevision, may not have the effect of accidentally and very sensibly modifying climate, as regards temperature in particular. Already, I see that facts will yield me an affirmative answer. I should greatly have preferred to delay the announcement of that result until after the completion of my work; but let me candidly avow that I have sought to make an occasion for protesting aloud against those predictions which are yearly laid in my name, at home and abroad. No word has ever issued from my mouth,

either in the intimacy of private communication, or in my courses delivered during thirty years,-no line has ever been published with my assent, which could authorize the attribution to me of any opinion, that it is possible, in the present state of our knowledge, to foretell with certainty what the weather will be, a year, a month, a week, nay, I will say, a single day, in advance. I trust only that the annoyance which I have experienced at seeing a host of ridiculous predictions published in my name may not have led me, by a sort of reaction, to give exaggerated importance to the causes of disturbance which I have enumerated. At present, I feel entitled to deduce from the sum of my investigations this capital consequence :-Never, whatever may be the progress of the sciences, will the savant, who is conscientious and careful of his reputation, speculate on a prediction of the weather."

HOW WE GAINED OUR COLONIES. -The Canadas capitulated in 1759 and 1760, and were ceded by the French Governinent at the peace of Paris in 1763. The other American Colonies were originally fisheries and establishments, established soon after their discovery in 1492. Antigua and Barbadoes, Montserrat, St. Nevis, St. Kitt's, Tortola, Anguilla, the Bahamas, and Bermudas, are settlements made during the seventeenth century; Dominica and Grenada were ceded by France in 1763; Jamaica capitulated to the naval forces of Cromwell in 1655; St. Lucia capitulated in 1803; St. Vincent and Tobago were ceded by France in 1763; Trinidad capitulated in 1797; British Guiana in 1803; Honduras was obtained by the terms of a treaty made in 1670; Gibraltar capitulated to Sir G. Rooke in August, 1704, Malta in 1800, the Cape in 1806, Ceylon in 1795, Mauritius in 1810; St. Helena was ceded by Holland in 1673; Hong Kong, by the Chinese treaty, in 1842; and the colonies of New South Wales, Australia, and New Zealand, were settlements formed between the years 1787 and 1839; New South Wales was made a settlement in 1787, Van Diemen's Land in 1803, Western Australia in 1829, and South Australia in 1834.

on the Bankside was called “crown window-glass, exceeding French glass in all its qualifications." The manufactory being removed to Ratcliffe, the glass was called "Ratcliffe crown-glass." This was of a "light sky-blue colour." The maker of this went over to France on purpose to learn the art, and then outdid his teachers. Lambeth crown-glass was of a darker colour than the preceding, inclining something to a green. French glass came from Cherbourg, afterwards from Auxerre, in Burgundy. It was thinner and more transparent than Newcastle glass, and when laid on white paper had a dirtyish green colour. White German glass was free from the spots and blemishes that abounded in Newcastle glass; but it also had some fine or small curved streaks or lines, like those in New. castle glass. The green German glass had also fine lines or streaks, like those in the white sort; but neither the white nor green sort was so crooked and warped as Newcastle glass. The tables of Dutch glass were small, and were not much used in England; Newcastle glass was of an ash colour, much subject to specks and blemishes and streaks, and very often warped and crooked. It was, however, most in use. Staffordshire glass was seldom used in London; Bristol glass also was rarely used, from the want of a cheap convenient sea-carriage, as the Newcastle manufacturers had, though it was reckoned better than Newcastle glass. Looking-glass plates were sometitres used in windows. Jealous-glass cast in a mould was composed over its surface with a multitude of oblong concave circular figures. It was commonly used to put into the lower lights of sash-windows, when they were low against the street, to prevent people seeing into the room as they passed by; and was sometimes set in lead in places where they would not have their actions overlooked. Woolwich, or Wolledge, glass was another sort, from a glass-house there, that was given up for want of room.-Anon.

CATS IN PERU. I have already described the effect of the Puna climate on beasts of burden. Its influence on some of the domestic animals is no less severe than on the human race. To cats it is very fatal; and at the elevation of 13,000 feet above the sea those animals cannot live. Numerous trials have been made to rear them in the villages of the upper mountains, but without effect; for after a few days' abode in those regions, the animals die in frightful convulsions; but when in this state they do not attempt to bite. I had two good opportunities of