SCOTLAND.

In our last Postscript we reported the main facts of the opening of the General Assembly, on the 18th instant, and the secession of the Nonintrusion members. The following were the reasons read by Dr. Welsh before the secession- " We, the undersigned ministers and elders chosen as commissioners to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, indicted to meet this day, but precluded from holding the said Assembly by reason of the circumstances herein- after set forth, in consequence of which a free assembly of the Church of Scots land, in accordance with the laws and constitution of the said Church, cannot at this time be holden—considering that the Legislature, by their rejection of the claims of right adopted by the last General Assembly of the said Church, and their refusal to give redress and protection against the jurisdiction assumed, and the coercion of late repeatedly attempted to be exercised over the Courts of the Church, in matters spiritual, by the Civil Courts, have recognized and fixed the conditions of the Church Establishment, as henceforward to subsist in Scotland, to be such as these have been pronounced and declared by the said Civil Courts in their several recent decisions, in regard to matters spiritual and ecclesiastical whereby it has been, inter cilia, declared- " I. That the Courts of the Church as now established, and members thereof, are liable to be coerced by the Civil Courts in the exercise of their spiritual functions, and in particular in their admission to the office of the holy ministry, and the constitution of the pastoral relation, and that they are subject to be compelled to intrude ministers on reclaiming congregations in opposition to the fundamental principles of the Church and their views of the Word of God and to the liberties of Christ's people.

"2. That the said Civil Courts have power to interfere with and interdict the preaching of the gospel and administration of ordinances as authorized and enjoined by the Church Courts of the Establishment.

"3. That the said Civil Courts have power to suspend spiritual censures pronounced by the Church Courts of the Establishment against ministers and probationers of the Church, and to interdict their execution as to spiritual effects, functions, and privileges. "4. That the said Civil Courts have power to reduce and set aside the sentences of the Church Courts of the Establishment, deposing ministers from the office of the holy ministry, and depriving probationers of their licence to preach the gospel, with reference to the spiritual status, functions, andpri- vileges of such ministers and probationers, restoring them to the spiritual office and status of which the Church Courts have deprived them. "5. That the said Civil Courts have power to determine on the right to sit as members of the supreme and other judicatories of the Church by law es- tablished, and to issue interdicts against sitting and voting therein, irrespective of the judgment and determination of the said judicatories. "6. That the said Civil Courts have power to supersede the majority of a Church Court of the Establishment in regard to the exercise of its spiritual functions as a Church Court, and to authorize the minority to exercise the said functions, in opposition to the Court itself, and to the superior judicatories of the Establishment.

"7. That the said Civil Courts have power to stay processes of discipline pending before Courts of the Church by law established, and to interdict such Courts from proceeding therein.

"8. That no pastor of a congregation can be admitted into the Church Courts of the Establishment, and allowed to rule, as well as to teach, agreeable to the institution of the office by the Head of the Church, nor to sit in any of the judicatories of the Church inferior or supreme ; and that no additional pro- vision can be made for the exercise of spiritual discipline among members of the Church, though not affecting any patrimonial interests, and no alteration introduced in the state of pastoral superintendence and spiritual discipline in any parish, without the coercion of a Civil Court. "All which jurisdiction and power on the part of the said Civil Courts severally above specified, whatever proceeding may have given occasion to its exercise, is, in our opinion, in itself inconsistent with Christian liberty, and with the authority which the Head of the Church bath conferred on the Church alone.

" And further, considering that a General Assembly, composed, in accord- ance with the laws and fundamental principles of the Church, in part of com- missioners themselves admitted without the sanction of the Civil Court, or chosen by Presbyteries, composed in part of members not having that sanction, cannot be constituted as an assembly of the Establishment without disregard• ing the law and the legal conditions of the same as now fixed and declared : " And further, considering that such commissioners as aforesaid would, as members of an assembly of the Establishment, be liable to be interdicted from exercising their functions, and to be subjected to civil coercion at the instance of any individual having interest who might apply to the Civil Courts for that

purp And

" considering further, that civil coercion has already been in divers in- stances applied for and used, whereby certain commissioners returned to the Assembly this day appointed to have been holden have been interdicted from claiming their seats and from sitting and voting therein, and certain Pres-

byteries have been by interdicts directed against the members prevented from freely choosing commissioners to the said Assembly ; whereby the freedom of such Assembly, and the liberty of election thereto, has been forcibly obstructed and taken away:

"And further considering, that in these circumstances, a free Assembly of the Church of Scotland by law established cannot at this time be holden, and _that any Assemby in accordance with the fundamental principles of the durch cannot be constituted in connexion with the State without violating the con- ditions which must now, since the rejection by the Legislature of the Church's claim of right, be held to be the conditions of the Establishment : " And considering that while heretofore, as members of Church-judicatories, ratified by law and recognized by the constitution of the kingdom, we held ourselves entitled and bound to exercise and maintain the jurisdiction vested in those judicatories with the sanction of the constitution, notwithstanding the decrees as to matters spiritual and ecclesiastical of the Civil Courts, be- cause we could not see that the State had required submission thereto as a condition of the Establishment, but, on the contrary, were satisfied that the State, by the acts of the Parliament of Scotland, for ever and unalterably se- cured to this nation by the Treaty of Union, had repudiated any power in the Civil Courts to pronounce such decrees, we are now constrained to acknow- ledge it to be the mind and will of the State, as recently declared, that such submission should and does form a condition of the Establishment, and of the possession of the benefits thereof; and that as we cannot without committing what we believe to be sin, in opposition to God's law, in disregard of the honour and authority of Christ's crown, and in violation of our own solemn vows, comply with this condition, we cannot in conscience continue connected with and retain the benefits of the Establishment to which such condition is attached : " We, therefore, the ministers and elders aforesaid, on this the first occasion since the rejection by the Legislature of the Church's claim of tight, when the commissioners chosen from throughout the bounds of the Church to the Gene- ral Assembly appointed to have been this day holden are convened together, do protest, that the:conditions aforesaid, while we deem them contrary to and subversive of the settlement of church-government effected at the Revolution and solemnly guaranteed by the Act of Security and Treaty of Union, are also at variance with God's Word, in opposition to the doctrines and fundamental

principles of the Church of Scotland, inconsistent with the freedom essential to the right constitution of a church of Christ, and incompatible with the govern- ment which He as the Head of his Church hath therein appointed distinct from the Civil Magistrate.

" And we further protest, that any assembly constituted in submission to the conditions now declared to be law, and under the civil coercion which has been brought to bear on the election of commissioners to the Assembly this

day appointed to have been holden, and on the commissioners chosen thereto, is not and shall not be deemed a free and lawful assembly of the Church of

Scotland according to the original and fundamental principles thereof; and that the claim, declaration, and protest of the General Assembly which convened at Edinburgh in May 1842, as the act of a free and lawful assembly of the said Church, shall be holden as setting, forth the true constitution of the said Church; and that the said claim, along with the laws of the Church now sub- sisting, shall in nowise be affected by whatsoever acts and proceedings of any Assembly constituted under the conditions now declared to be the law, and in submission to the coercion now imposed on the Establishment.

" And finally, while firmly asserting the right and duty of the Civil Magis- trate to maintain and support an establishment of religion in accordance with

God's Word, and reserving to ourselves and our successors to strive by all law- ful means, as opportunity shall in God's good providence be offered to secure the performance of this duty agreeably to the Scriptures, and in implement of the Statutes of the kingdom of Sco:land and the obligation of the Treaty of Union as understood by us and our ancestors, but acknowledging that • e do not hold ourselves at liberty to retain the benefits of the Establishment while

we cannot comply with the conditions now to be deemed thereto attached,—

we protest, that in the circumstances in which we are placed, it is and shall be lawful for us, and such other commissioners chosen to the Assembly appointed to have been this day holden as may concur with us, to withdraw to a separate place of meeting, for the purpose of taking steps for ourselves and all who adhere to us—maintaining with us the Confession of Faith and standards of the Church of Scotland, as heretofore understood—for separating in an orderly

way from the Establishment ; and thereupon adopting such a measure as may be competent to us, in humble dependence on God's grace and the aid of the

Holy Spirit, for the advancement of His glory, the extension of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour, and the administration of the affairs of Christ's house, according to his holy Word : and we do now withdraw accordingly, humbly

and solemnly acknowledging the hand of the Lord in the things which have come upon us, because of our manifold sins and the sins of this church and nation; bat at the same time with an assured conviction that we are not re- sponsible for any consequences that may follow from this our enforced separa- tion from an Establishment which we loved and prized, through interference with conscience, the dishonour done to Christ's crown, and the rejection of his sole and supreme authority as King in his Church." The Queen's letter, constituting the commission of the Marquis of Bute as Lord High Commissioner, besides the mere routine business, contained some passages recommending important matters to the con- sideration of the Assembly- " It behoves you to remember, that unity in the Church is the bond of peace, but that schism and its pernicious effect, may tend seriously to endanger that Religious Establishment from which Scotland has derived inestimable benefits. 0 The faith of our Crown is pledged to uphold you in the full enjoyment of every privilege which you can justly claim ; but you will bear in mind that the rights and property of an Established Church are conferred by law ; it is by law that the Church of Scotland is united with the State, and that her endow- ments are secured; and the ministers of religion, claiming the sanction of law in defence of their privileges, are specially bound by their sacred calling to be examples of obedience. " The act ratifying the Confession of Faith, and settling Presbyterian Church Government in Scotland, was adopted at the Union, and is now the act of the British Parliament. The settlement thus fixed cannot be annulled by the will or declaration of any number of individuals. Those who are dissatisfied with the terms of this settlement may renounce it for themselves ; but the union of the Church of Scotland with the State is indissoluble, while the statutes re- main unrepealed which recognize the Presbyterian Church as the Church esta- blished by law within the kingdom of Scotland. • • •

"The Act of Assembly passed in the year 1834 on the subject of Calls has come under the review of competent tribunals; and various proceedings, taken in pursuance of this act, have been pronounced by solemn judgments to be illegal. It has not yet been rescinded by the Assembly; and a conflict of au- thority between the law of the land and an act of the Church, in a matter where civil rights and civil jurisdiction are concerned, cannot be prolonged without injurious consequences.

"The Church of Scotland, occupying its true position in friendly alliance with the State, is justly entitled to expect the aid of Parliament in removing any doubts which may have arisen with respect to the right construction of the statutes relating to the admission of ministers. You may safely confide in the wisdom of Parliament ; and we shall readily give our assent to any measure which the Legislature may pass for the purpose of securing to the people the full privilege of objection, and to the Church Judicatories the exclusive right of judgment.

"There is another matter not less important—the present position of minis- ters in unendowed districts. The law, as confirmed by a recent judgment, has declared that new parishes cannot be created by the authority of the Church alone, and that ministers placed in such districts are not entitled to act in Church Courts.

" if it shall appear that the efficiency of the Church is thereby impaired, and that the means of extending her usefulness are curtailed, the law to which such effects are ascribed may require consideration and amendment ; but until it be so considered by the Legislature, and while it remains unaltered, we are per- suaded that it will be implicitly obeyed by the General Assembly."

Among the routine business transacted by the Assembly on Friday, was the nomination of a Select Committee to draw up an address in answer to the Queen's letter; and on Saturday the Committee reported the draft of an address: it promised due attention to the matters suggested in the letter. Eight " overtures " or proposals were presented for repeal of the Veto Act, one against it. The Committee on Disputed Commissions reported all commissions in which quoad sacra ministers had voted to be vitiated ; but referred more difficult cases, such as the double return from Strathbogie, to the Assembly itself. Mr. Bruce, of Kennet, moved that the disputed commissions not disposed of be taken up : but the motion being rejected in favour of a postponement, Mr. Bruce declared his intention of taking no further part in the proceedings ; and he re- tired.

When the members who seceded from the General Assembly on the 18th-169, including lay elders and quoad sacra ministers—issued from St. Andrew's Church, they were received by the populace with cheers and a few hisses, while handkerchiefs were waved from the house- windows. They went in procession, four abreast—the spectators on the route cheering, and sometimes hissing—to a hall at Canonmills ; where their arrival was anxiously expected by about 300 ministers, not members of the Assembly, and a crowded auditory. The New Secession, constituted themselves the " Free Presbyterian Church ;" appointing as their Moderator Dr. Chalmers ; on whom, said Dr. Welsh, the eyes of every individual in that assembly—the eyes of the whole Church and country—the eyes of all Christendom—were directed. Dr. Chalmers delivered an eloquent speech ; in which he said that they hoped henceforward to prosecute their labours in:peace, on the ground of British toleration. He carefully, however, repudiated the title of " Voluntaries "—they were neither Voluntaries nor Anarchists : they quitted a vitiated Establishment, but would rejoice in returning to a pure one : they were advocates of a national recognition and support of religion. A Committee was appointed to consider the best means of completing the separation from the Establishment, and to prepare an address to the Queen setting forth their reasons. A Provisional Committee was in- trusted with a variety of other arrangements ; and a resolution was passed inviting all the Deacons, Elders, Probationers, and Divinity Students, to meet the Secession Assembly next day. On Friday, the Secession Assembly received the deputation from the Irish Presbyterian Church, which had been commissioned to the Ge- neral Assembly of the Church of Scotland, but held the body of Se- ceders to answer that description. In reciprocating courtesies with the deputation, the Moderator remarked that the Irish Presbyterian Church, with the help of the Regium Donum, presented an example of the best of all ecclesiastical systems—a clergy paid by the State and chosen by the people.

Dr. Buchanan, of Glasgow, moved a resolution inviting the concur- rence of the Elders, Deacons, Probationers, and Students of Divinity, who had been requested to be present at that meeting, in following out the separation from the Establishment. A memorial was presented from 200 Probationers, (preachers licensed but not ordained,) declaring their concurrence. Dr. Welsh stated, that in the Divinity Hall of Edinburgh University there were 93 adhering Students, out of 120; Sir David Brewster, that a majority of the Divinity Students in St. Andrew's University were in favour of the views of " the Church"— that is, the New Secession ; Dr. Candlish, that nearly four-fifths of the Divinity Students in Glasgow University were on their side.

On Saturday, the ball was graced by the presence of the Marchioness of Breadalbane and Lady Hannah Thorp ; who were accompanied by Mr. Campbell of Monzie, M.P., and were received by the meeting standing and loudly cheering. The total number of ministers who had given in their adhesion was stated at 427. Reports were received from different sections of the Provisional Committee. That of the Build- ing Section, through Mr. Dunlop, said that a primary object was to build churches with as little delay and at as moderate cost as possible. They regretted that "great proprietors refused to grant the smallest portion of ground." There were two modes of obviating this diffi- culty— " First, large tents could be provided, at comparatively little expense and not of great weight, in which five hundred people could be accommodated. A tent could be carried either in a cart or in a boat along the sea-shore—from farm to farm, from place to place. If driven from one quarter it could be trans- ported to another, and thus in some way escape the tyranny to which the people would be exposed. In some places an old vessel could be obtained, and anchored along the shore ; and thus, though they were not to be allowed to meet on the King's highway, they would meet to worship in the world's highway." (Great cheering.)

Dr. Candlish made an interim report from the Ecclesiastical Section. Among a variety of details respecting plans not matured for supplying religious assistance throughout the country, it was stated, that the Com- mittee had held regular meetings with the Synods of the New Secession ; there was a general feeling in the Highlands in favour of restoring the order of Readers or Catechists ; the etiquette of parishes would not be observed, although the parish system would eventually be revived, with better plane than before : " We are going," said Dr. Candlish, "to re- store the order of Deacons in the Church ; and will divide the popula- tion piecemeal for the purpose of their spiritual edification, and that we may proclaim everywhere the unsearchable riches of Christ." Dr. Candlish related instances of devotion in seceding ministers-

" It is humbling to men whose sacrifices are comparatively insignificant—it is humbling to witness instances of men making up their minds to leave their homes, where they have dwelt in peace for years ; and that not merely to re- move to another street or cottage in the neighbourhood, but being under the necessity of sending their families& distance of sixty or seventy miles, and then looking out for some prophet's chamber in which to discharge their duties among their people : and all this is gone about with as much coolness and seeming indifference, as if, indeed, it was nothing more than a removal to another street of the same town. What can be more humbling to those who are only called upon to make slight sacrifices ? what more convincing than in- stances of this kind ?—and they are by no means rare. One minister, I might mention, for the purpose of supplying his people with ordinances, after re- moving his family for many miles, makes his home in the cabin of a yacht on the sea, and, sailing from island to island among his scattered flock, preaches as opportunity offers, having no home upon the land."

Dr. Chalmers produced the report of the Financial Section : it stated that for the Building Fund there had been collected 150,3411. ; for the Sustentation Fund, 72,6871. ; total 223,0281. Just as Dr. Chalmers sat down, a note was handed to him : it said that 3,0001. had been added to the Building Fund, and 1,0001. to the Sustentation Fund, since the pre- vious day. Mr. Campbell of Monzie subsequently announced that the Marchioness of Breadalbane had subscribed 1,0001. towards the Free Presbyterian Fund. In the course of his report, Dr. Chalmers alluded to a kind of private coercion to which the adherents of the New Se- cession were subjected-

" I am aware that some of our most useful private teachers, who were sup- ported by the aristocracy, have been dismissed from their employments because they belonged to our cause, and turned adrift upon the wide world. I under- stand that this work of persecution has been carried on even in the the in- stances of footmen and laundry-maids ; that their dismissals were for the same reason ; and I understand that there has been this express agreement in taking servants, that the were to have no connexion with a Free Presbyterian Church." (Cries of " Shame! ")

Another section reported on the commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Westminster Assembly, which had previously been contemplated by the General Assembly. It was recommended that a Committee be appointed to correspond with other churches adhering to the West- minster standards, to make arrangement for a commemorative meeting. Those churches will comprise the Seceders, and the Presbyterians of England, Canada, and the United States ; but other churches are not excluded. In making the report, Dr. Candlish intimated a wish that Edinburgh should be regarded as " the capital of Presbyterianism," and be the scene of the meeting. The report was affirmed.

Sunday was a day of unusual bustle and excitement on all sides. Besides the regular services of the day, there was a prayer-meeting in St. Andrew's Church (the hall of the General Assembly) in the even- ing, which the Lord High Commissioner attended with his suite ; and the church would not contain the crowds that sought admission. Dr. Chalmers preached at the hall of the New Secession, Canonmills, in the evening; and here too multitudes were unable to obtain admission. Dr. Candlish's new church in the Lothian Road, the first of the " Free Pres- byterian" churches, built in six weeks, to contain 1,200 person, was opened : the Doctor preached in the morning ; Dr. Macfarlane, of Greenock, in the evening ; the church being filled on both occasions. The business transacted by the General Assembly on Monday was important. A Committee was appointed " to communicate with the Procurator and Agent for the Church in reference to the funds of the Church, and to the mode in which they had been administered and ex- pended; accompanied by a statement of the different processes in which they were engaged, and showing by whose authority they had been carried on." It was stated that there were between thirty and forty law-processes carried on, at an expense of not less than forty guineas daily ! Lord Belhaven, having called attention to the Queen's letter, moved the following resolutions—. " That it is the opinion of this house, that the act of Assembly of 1834, on the subject of Calls, the Veto Act,] should be rescinded ; and that instruc- tions be given to the Presbyteries of the Church to that effect.

" That the act of Assembly of 1834-5, by which ministers of chapels of ease, &c. became members of this court, be rescinded. At the same time, this house, deeply impressed with the vast benefit thus obtained for the people of this country by the extension of the blessings of religious instruction by means of the services of guoad sacra ministers, and feeling most anxious that these great and useful services should be secured to the country on a proper and per- manent basis, desire to express a sincere hope that measures will be taken to have the unendowed districts created legally and properly into parishes, and endowments granted to their ministers; and that a Select Committee be ap- pointed to draw up a loyal and dutiful address to the Queen,praying that she would be graciously pleased to take the same into her most favourable consi- deration."

Ater a short discussion, the consideration of the second part of the resolutions was deferred for a day. Aa overture having been presented from the Presbytery of Ayr for the repeal of the Veto Act, Dr. Cooke moved this resolution-

" That as the act on calls, commonly denominated the Veto Act, infringes on civil and patrimonial rights, with which, as the Church has often declared, it is not competent for its judicatories to intermeddle, as being matters incom- petent t r it and not within its jurisdiction, it be an instruction by the General Assembly to all Presbyteries, that they proceed henceforth in the settlement of parishes according to the practice which prevailed previously to the passing of this act, keeping specially in view the undoubted privilege of parishioners to state any relevant objections to the induction of presentees, upon which the Presbyteries, after hearing parties, shall decide ; it being in the power of these parties to appeal, if they see cause, to the Supreme Church Courts."

The Procurator moved an amendment, to the same ultimate effect, but less strongly worded and less direct. Eventually, the original reso- lution was unanimously affirmed.

The next thing considered was the Strathbogie double return, from the majority and minority of the Presbytery ; with an overture to re- place the deposed ministers. Three resolutions were moved—one, by Dr. Meatus, declaring the deposition of six ministers, (namely, Mr. John Cruikshank, since deceased, Mr. William Allardyce, Mr. John Walker, Mr. William Masson, Mr. James Walker, Mr. James Alexander Cruikshank,) in excess of the Assembly's powers, and therefore a& initio null and void ; the second, by Mr. Storey of Rosmeath, rejecting the overture, as the sentences had been confirmed by the General Assembly, and no application had been made by the deposed ministers to reverse the sentences ; the third, by Dr. Hill, as follows- " That whereas there are upon the records of this house sentences passed in the years 1840 and 1841, against the Reverend Mr. Cowie and others, minis- ters of Strathbogie; and whereas the said sentences were unjust, and were passed by the General Assembly in excess of jurisdiction; the General Assem- bly do therefore rescind the same, declaring them to be ab initio null and void ; and declaring further, that the said Reverend W. Cowie and others are minis- ters of the Church of Scotland, and entitled to all the rights and privileges be- longing to them as such, as if the said sentences had never been pronounced; ratify their proceedings as members of the Presbytery of Strathbogie, and sus- tain the commissions in favour of Mr. Cowie and Mr. Thomson."

Dr. Hill's motion was carried, by 116 to 15 who voted for Mr. Storey's ; and on a second division, by 148 to 32 who voted for Dr. Mearns's.

On Tuesday, the Assembly took up the overtures for repeal of the acts admitting the Members of Parliamentary churches, quoad sacra churches, and seceding churches, to sit in Church Courts. Lord Belhaven moved the resolutions which he bad before introduced. Mr. Robertson of Ellon and Dr. Cook both proposed amendments ; but, after a discussion of some length, the original resolutions were carried unanimously.

On Wednesday, Dr. Cook moved a resolution, declaring that minis- ters who had signed the protest read on the 18th bad ceased to be members of the Church, and were disqualified from receiving any pre- sentation, parochial appointment, or other spiritual charge, until re- poned by competent ecclesiastical judicatories ; declaring the sub- scribing elders no longer elders of the Church ; and instructing the Presbyteries to make a similar declaration respecting any other se- ceders, and take steps for filling vacant offices. The Act of Sepa- ration was received while Dr. Cook's motion was under consideration : the motion was affirmed. The House having joined in prayer, the churches and chapels of the ministers who had seceded were, by a solemn deed of the Assembly, declared vacant. Committees were appointed, and other business of a routine nature was transacted.

The Seceders met on Monday, in Dr. Candlish's new church. Dr. Macfarlane produced the report of the Committee on the separation from the State ; in compliance with which, he moved the following resolution, incorporating the recommendations of the report itself-

" That the Assembly approve of the report following out the claim, declara- tion, and protest, adopted by the General Assembly which met at Edinburgh in May 1842, and the protest made on Thursday last at the meeting of the Com- missioners chosen to the Assembly appointed to have been that day holden; and upon the ground therein set forth, do now for themselves, and all who adhere to them, separate from the Establishment • protesting that, in doctrine, polity, and discipline, they truly represent the Church of their fathers, whose testimony, on behalf of the crown rights of their Redeemer, as King of Zion and prince of the kings of the earth, they firmly purpose at all hazards and at whatever sacrifice still to maintain : and protesting that henceforward they are not and shall not be subject, in any respect, to the Ecclesiastical Judicatories presently established by law in Scotland ; but that they are and shall be free to perform their functions as pastors and elders towards their respective con- gregations, or such portion thereof as shall adhere to them, and to exercise government and discipline in their several judicatories, separate from the Establishment, according to the Word of God, and agreeably to the true and original principles of the Church of Scotland, and to the standards thereof, as heretofore understood : and that the Committee be reappointed, with instruc- tions to prepare the draft of an act and deed to be adopted and subscribed at as early a period as possible during the subsequent sittings of this Assembly, re- nouncing and demitting the status, rights, and privileges held by virtue of the Establishment : the said draft to be reported to the Assembly at the fore- noon sederunt tomorrow."

This paper was eulogized by Dr. Patrick M`Farlan in extraordinary terms : " When he read that paper, and thought on the manner in which it had been drawn up, he was bound to say that he had never seen its equal ; it appeared to be as near perfection as any human pro- duction could be." The motion was carried by acclamation.

The Act of Separation was produced on Tuesday. It solemnly re- nounced for its subscribers the status, privileges, and emoluments derived from the Establishment ; reserving to ministers, however, the right to act as pastors of particular congregations or portions thereof adhering to them, with the rights and benefitsaccruing from the Ministers' Widows' Fund ; and disavowing the renunciation of churches built by private contribution and not endowed by the State. It contained also the order, that the Act of Separation should be transmitted to the Mo- derator of " the Ecclesiastical Judicatory by law established "—that is, the General Assembly. The signing of this document occupied four hours ; being preceded and followed by prayer, at the suggestion of Dr. Cand- lish, who was duly impressed with its momentous nature— This was an act uprecedented, he might say, in the Church of Scotland ; nay, he would maintain, almost unprecedented in the history of the Church of Christ ; for he believed that there never had been an assemblage of Christian ministers meeting together for the purpose of engaging in a similarly solemn and extraordinary business, such as the present.

Afterwards, deputations were received from the London Lay Union and the English Presbyterian Synod.

Among business of less interest on Wednesday, was the reception of deputations from the Original Secession Synod and other religious bodies. The Edinburgh Witness notices an omen at the Lord High Com- missioner's levee on the 18th-

" The crowd in the Chamber of Presence was very great ; and there was, we believe, a considerable degree of confusion and pressure in consequence. Sud- denly—whether brushed by some passer-by, jostled rudely aside, or merely affected by the tremor of the floor communicated to the partitioning—a large portrait of William the Third, that had held its place in Holyrood for nearly a century and a half, dropped heavily from the walls. ' There,' exclaimed a voice from the crowd, 'there goes the Revolution Settlement !' "