members of that Synod were well acquainted? He then represented to Sir Thomas this unfairness, in leaving it all in the hands of these gentlemen, without one member to bring forward the claims of any of their body who might see fit to offer himself. Sir Thomas replied, that they had done the best in their power; that the question had been discussed and settled by the Government. He then referred to the subject of the endowment of Professorships, on which he denied that he could do anything, but referred him to Sir Robert Peel and Sir James Graham. In consequence of the advice of Sir Thomas, on that occasion, he (Dr. M.) proceeded to London, just at the time that Parliament assembled in January last; and, most unfortunately for him, the debates, as might be recollected, on the introduction of Sir Robert Peel's new measures, occupied some sixteen or seventeen days, during which time he had an interview with Sir Thomas Freemantle, then in London, who advised him to defer requesting an audience until the anxiety of that debate should have passed over. The day after the debate was over, however, he wrote, requesting an audience with Sir Robert Peel, and received an answer, appointing the next day at eleven o'clock, to meet him. He accordingly then repaired to his house, and was received in a way extremely gratifying to himself, personally. There were present the three Baronets, and all seemed disposed to enter on the question at once. The interview lasted for three quarters of an hour; during which time he went into all the grounds he had stated to Sir T. Freemantle, as well as such additional arguments as had since occurred to him. Sir Robert Peel entered into the question candidly with him. The Government had done the best in their power; he confessed they had not foreseen the great difficulty which had been raised; the Board was constituted now, and it was not possible to alter it, as such a course would imply some doubt as to the integrity of the men who formed it; and that the body to which he (Dr. M.) belonged might, after all, be better served, from the difference of opinion between the members of it, and the jealousy it would induce,

than if they had one of their own members upon it. With regard to the justness of this view, he had his own doubts, however Sir Robert Peel or others might look upon it. He told this to Sir Robert, who immediately inquired, if there were men of eminence among their body whom he might think as likely to fill, efficiently, any of the Professorships? He immediately mentioned Mr. Scott Porter. The Ministers had had an opportunity of seeing that gentleman, about year before; and they at once declared their opinion, that he was very clever and kind man, and asked for what office would they think of proposing him? The answer made by him (Dr. M.) was to the effect, that he knew of none of the Professorships, if he would except a medical one, which Mr. Porter was not calculated to fill with credit. He then put the question-if Mr. Porter should choose to become a candidate for one of the situations, how, as matters are arranged, could his claims be put forward? They were unable to solve the difficulty; but there seemed to be an impression on their minds still, that Mr. Porter might be appointed to one of the situations, if he were put upon the list of candidates. He next alluded to the merits of Messrs. Nelson, Davis, and Doherty, and others, adding, that he could increase the list to almost any extent of men from among them, competent to fill such offices.They repeated, that it was now impossible to mend the matter, and then referred to the passing of the Chapels Act, as a proof of the Government regarding them without feelings of hostility. He came then to the next question, the endowment of Professors; and a conversation ensued, the details of which he did not feel himself at liberty-situated as he stood then, and liable to have his statements misrepresented or misunderstood-to go into. The possibility of giving some of the situations in the new Colleges, such as that of Bursar and Registrar, and others, not likely, from the nature of the duties, to awaken hostility or opposition, was then talked over; and he had no doubt that, had the late Government retained office, there would have been no indisposition shown to grant them. He had stated, that he felt himself considerably hampered in detailing

the interviews he had been describing, from the confidence in which many statements were made to him during them; but this much, however, he was enabled to say, that he had never met men who seemed more kindly or honestly disposed than these members of the late Government. He said, honestly disposed; for the men who showed you the difficulty, and did not seek to hide it, always turned out better than the men who kept back the difficulty, and carefully abstained from making allusion to it. He (Dr. M.) returned home in about three weeks. He thought it, on an occasion since that time, necessary to direct a communication to the Government, in which he had occasion to remind Sir J. Graham of the interview he had with him previously, and also of some of the matters which were then discussed. By return of post, he received a letter from that Right Hon. Gentleman, which, although private at the time, had since been backed by an official document, and was, consequently, no longer to be considered so, in which an additional salary of £100 a-year was granted to himself, as Distributor of the Royal Bounty, and an intimation with respect to Mr. Porter, that it would be open to him to prefer his claims for any of the situations he had before alluded to, or to lay his testimonials before the Government, as to his fitness to fill the situation of Professor in one of the new Colleges. It was a kind communication to him (Dr. M.); it made no reference to his having acted as Professor of Theology for that body, but was put upon the ground solely of his general character and conduct. Now, this was gratifying, certainly; it was not a disagreeable thing for that body to know, that a member had gained the favourable regard of the great and good men who composed the Government of the country; and he felt proud, not on his own account, but also upon theirs, of this testimony; he did feel that it might be meant to imply, that if he should think it right to throw up the office of Professor of Theology to that body, there was an acknowledgment of his services, a certain kind of compensation; he had no right to infer it was so he only said such might be the case. The reason he had not before informed them of his communi

cation was, because the letter he received, in the first place, was marked "private and confidential;" but, as he just now stated, he since got a letter, signed "Richard Pennefather," in which official intimation of the fact was conveyed to him. He (Dr. M.) was not at all indifferent to his own interests; but, at the same time, he would say, he had been ever anxious that Mr. Scott Porter should be placed in every respect on an equality with himself. On one occasion, when a sum of money was returned to them from the General Synod of Ulster, it was equally divided between them; He (Dr. M.) and Mr. Porter had been receiving-Mr. Porter for four years, and himself for three-a sum of £20 a-year, from the fund for the Protection of the Rights of Conscience; but now, having been thus allowed, at the hands of the Government, an additional sum of £100 a-year, he did intend to hand over to Mr. Porter that £20 which he had been in the receipt of, for the last three years. He still entertained the hope, that they would be able to obtain an endowment for their Professors; and he was considerably strengthened in that hope by what he had lately seen in the papers, namely, that an additional salary of £500 was to be granted to the Professors of Theology for the General Synod. Now, the delivering of lectures to the students cost no more of time and exertion, in the case of the General Assembly, than in theirs; in point of fact, their Session lasted longer-the Session of some of the former lasting only for about two months and a-half in each year.— They are to receive £250 a-year each, and he (Doctor M.) did not, for a moment, say it was too much. The Government had refused to endow a new Theological Professorship; but from the fact that they found the General Assembly in possession, they had thus treated them, and it would be hard if their body were to be treated worse, merely because they were not in possession. He had no doubt, however, as the disposition to deal fairly by all parties was gaining ground, they would have very little difficulty in obtaining an endowment. He had a particular objection to any indirect endowment, and for this reason that was not the position exactly which their Church should occupy before

the world. As agent for the distribution of the Regium Donum, he was very well paid; but, it might so happen, that their next agent might not be also the Professor of Theology. It would be desirable to them, indeed, that any endowment they should receive should be kept altogether distinct from any other office, or from any individual. He felt no doubt, but that if they adopted proper and moderate measures, they would succeed in obtaining an endowment for a Professorship, as well as some situations, such as he had mentioned, for some of their brethren. He had made all the statement to them, on the subject, which was in his power to make; and he would conclude by suggesting, that a Committee should be appointed, to take measures for laying before Government the propriety of endowing these Professorships, of giving to this body that fair share of the offices and emoluments of the new Colleges, in Ireland, to which, from their intelligence, wealth, and respectability, they were, on public grounds, entitled.

A motion to that effect was proposed and seconded, and the Cominittee appointed.

THE CARBOY CONGREGATION.

The Rev. Dr. MONTGOMERY gave a detailed account of the mission to Carboy, which, together with Mr. Glendy, he had undertaken, since the last meeting of Synod, in compliance with a resolution then passed.

Mr. GLENDY also addressed a few observations to the Synod on the subject. The result of the mission, in this instance, was a recommendation to the Synod not to take any further steps with respect to this Congregation at present.

EXAMINATION COMMITTEE.

Dr. MONTGOMERY had a proposition to make relative to students intended for the Ministry. The Church had been fortunate, hitherto, in obtaining students for that office-young men of high moral character and respectability. For some five or six years past, however, the system of education in the Belfast Institution had been trodden completely down by the Calvinistic Presbyterians in this country. There was no use in saying that the Professors should not have submitted to it. They were men of great respectability and worth, and he had no doubt did all in their power to counteract it; but there

were external influences too strong for them at work. The students were more completely under the control of an authority outside the Institution, than of any authority inside. Such a system was unfavourable to education. He did not attach any blame to the Professors, whom he believed to be all that he had described them. The Session he complained of, as entirely too short, and that, for the last four or five Sessions, no examination whatever had taken place at the close. The examinations which used to take place, were, he knew, eminently useful, by keeping both teacher and student looking forward to them, as tests of their diligence and care from the beginning to the end, and they entered into their respective duties with zeal and determination, which was not once permitted to flag. He proceeded at considerable length to follow up the subject of the great benefits to be derived from public examinations at the close of each Session, and the necessity of lengthening the period of Session. It would be necessary for them to go to the Institution, and to say to the Managers, they were not satisfied with the arrangements; that they complained that their students suffered in consequence of the exercise of the influence of extern bodies; that they trusted the Professors would fulfil their contract, by extending the Session to a period of six months; that a regular examination should take place in all the classes at the end of each, in order that the certificates of the students, as to attendance and progress, as well as the general certificate at the close of the undergraduate course should be countersigned by their Moderator; and that all the proceedings, from first to last, should be under their sanction and authority, but that it should be such as would cause them to be looked up to by old and young. After some further remarks, he concluded by moving, that a Committee be appointed to enter into correspondence with the management of the Belfast Institution, with respect to the stricter education of the students

also to attend at the end of the Session, in the month of April or May, to the examination of each class, that the Moderator might countersign the certificates obtained by the students: and, also, that the same Committee

attend at the examination for general certificates at the end of the undergraduate course.

The Committee were named, and the motion regularly put and agreed

to.

Rev. Mr. ORR requested to know, if it were a fact that a silver medal had been generally given as a premium in the class of elocution, and that this medal had, on the last occasion, been withheld? He had been informed, that, on application having been made to the Secretary, that gentleman stated the class should not, on this occasion, have either the Hall for examination, or the medal. This had, he heard, been attributed to a feeling entertained towards the candidate likely to be successful; but he did not state it as a fact; he did not himself know it; and he merely noticed the subject that it might be explained.

Mr. BLAKELY said, the fact was, the Managers thought fit, for general reasons, to withhold from the class, on the last occasion, the usual premium, the giving of which was quite discretionary with them.

Dr. MONTGOMERY remarked, the Committee now appointed, if any one was desirous of any information on the subject, could, no doubt, obtain it. The matter then dropped.

DR. MONTGOMERY'S NARRATIVE.

The Rev. Mr. BLAKELY, after directing the attention of the Synod to the subject, moved that their best thanks be given to Dr. Montgomery, for the manner in which he has set before the public a narrative of the Secession of that Synod from the General Synod of Ulster, in 1828, prefaced by an Outline of the History of Irish Presbyterianism, now in course of publication in The Irish Unitarian Magazine.-Passed unanimously.

Rev. Mr. BLAKELY then read a

lengthened document from the Moderator and Session of Montreal, signed by Rev. Mr. Cordner, formerly of Newry, and stating, that an excellent field for the labours of young men, in this country, desirous to forward the cause of truth, now presented itself in

Canada.

Dr. MONTGOMERY suggested, that the Moderator should be requested to write an answer to the communication in question; inasmuch as Mr. Cordner had formerly been a member of

his Congregation. He then referred to the fact that it would be easy for them to raise almost any required sum for a useful and important purpose, such as that set forth in the letter of Mr. Cordner, to which gentleman he paid a very eloquent compliment.

Mr. BLAKELY then rose and reviewed the spread of the principles professed by that Synod, since the persecution of Doctor Priestley, in Birmingham, in 1791; and alluded to his emigration to America, in four years from that time, since when a vast number of Societies had sprung up, until, at the present day, there were no less than fourteen very large Congregations in the town of Boston alone, comprising the education, intellect, and respectability of that State.

The motion of Dr. Montgomery was then put and passed unanimously.

NEW MARRIAGE ACT.

Rev. Mr. BLAKELY then read a communication, which had been received by him from the Registrar-General, under the new Marriage Act, enclosing a copy of a circular, forwarded to the officers of the Constabulary, by the Inspector-General of that department, on the subject.

Dr. MONTGOMERY then spoke at some length on the question. There were two classes of persons who had turned the working of this measure into a perfect abomination. He would not seek to wound the feelings of any class of men; but it was their duty to protect themselves and their people from the celebration of private and illegal marriages, by persons who scrupled not to perform these ceremonies, by night or day. He moved the appointment of a Committee on the subject, which was seconded and unanimously carried.

THE KILLINCHY MEETING-HOUSE.

The Rev. Mr. GLENDY, who, with Mr. Blakely, had been appointed funds for the purpose of liquidatto go out to England to raise ing the debt incurred in the erection of this house of worship, stated, that, from some circumstances which he detailed, they had not, as yet, proceeded out, but that they intended to

do so in the course of a few weeks. ABOLITION OF THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.

An intimation was made by the Clerk, that nearly the whole of the Congregations had forwarded petitions to Parliament on this subject.

It was, with some slight alteration, the petition which had been forwarded for presentation, when Mr. Ewart introduced the subject into Parliament,

in 1843.

Rev. Mr. HILL inquired to whom the petitions intended for the House of Lords, should be forwarded for presentation? That which had been sent from this Congregation to the Duke of Wellington, for that purpose, had been returned to them, with a letter, setting forth, that "Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington, having no connexion whatever with the people of Crumlin, could not undertake to present it."

Dr. MONTGOMERY said, the Duke of Wellington had everything to do with the people of Crumlin, inasmuch as they had, for a great number of years, helped to make up a large pension, of which the Duke was in the enjoyment. With respect to the petitions, however, almost any member of the House they chose to name, would answer.

ADDRESS TO LORD HEYTESBURY.

Mr. BLAKELY read the copy of a letter which he had received from Lord Heytesbury, in reply to an address which, on the part of the Synod, he had forwarded to him, upon that nobleman's accession to the Viceregal office, in Ireland.

Some notices of overtures were then given, and the Synod adjourned till Thursday, at twelve o'clock.

Thursday, July 23. The Synod met, to-day, at twelve o'clock, when the Moderator having opened the proceedings by prayer,

The Rev. Mr. MULLIGAN, at the request of Dr. Montgomery, proceeded to read a letter from the Rev. Mr. Hart, Minister of a Congregation in Aberdeen, which had been directed to Mr. Scott Porter, under the impression, on the part of the writer, that Mr. Porter was a Minister of the Remonstrant Synod. The writer, who is an aged gentleman, and who has, for a great number of years, been engaged in the Ministry, stated, that he had incurred great odium, and forfeited the fellowship of all the other Ministers in Aberdeen, by holding steadfastly to certain points of doctrine which he conceived to be the truth. He had, however, retained the more respectable members of his original Congregation, and had nothing to complain of in the way of tempo

ralities; but he desired for the fellowship of other Christian Ministers ; and putting forward some of his particular opinions, on the pre-existence of Christ, and the doctrine of the atonement, requested to be informed, whether his holding of these opinions would disqualify him from becoming one of the Ministers in connexion with the Remonstrant Synod. In case of its not being so, he would have no objection to come to any Congregation in Ireland. He also represented, that he had a son, who had taken out a degree regularly, holding the same particular views, who would be also glad of an opportunity of devoting himself to the Ministry. He further invited Mr. Porter, or any other member of the Synod, to come over to Aberdeen, that he might satisfy himself and his brethren as to the character, good repute, and respectability, both of the writer and his Congregation, and offering to defray the expenses of the visit.

Dr. MONTGOMERY said, he had not before heard the whole of that document; but now, having heard it, he declared his impression, that it seemed to be the letter of a very honest aud Christian man. He could understand very well the yearning which a man so long in the Ministry would be likely to feel for the fellowship of other Christian Ministers. He then alluded to the honesty of intention, as exhibited in the offer to defray the expenses of a Minister going over to satisfy himself as to the correctness of his statements. He also referred to the points of doctrine upon which Mr. Hart touched in his letter, and expressed a wish it should be intimated to Mr. Hart, and generally made known, that one of the fundamental principles of the constitution of their Church was, perfect freedom of opinion on matters of doctrine.After speaking at considerable length to these subjects, he concluded by saying, that he thought it advisable that a Committee should be nominated to confer with Mr. Scott Porter, to whom Mr. Hart had, in the first place, addressed himself on the subject of his (Mr. Porter's) proceeding, at the time specified, to pay the required visit to Aberdeen.

Rev. Mr. CAMPBELL, of Templepatrick, said, it was impossible for him, not having had an opportunity of closely inspecting the document,