honour, and instantly decamped. And while all this is going forward, no person will be allowed to preach to the English, unless he promises not to say one word on the subject of Popery. One Clergyman, being invited in this way to preach, declined, by saying, that he was "not in the habit of preaching in a strait waistcoat."

On Candlemas-day a number of officers, wearing the Queen's uniform, and their different decorations of honour, appeared at St. Peter's, and each of them, on his knees, received from the Pope's own hands a blessed candle, and then walked in the procession, holding the same lighted in their hands, preparatory to their becoming "the Pope's own." One unfortunate young man lent his uniform to a brother officer on a similar occasion, and has been called over the coals for so doing, at the Horse Guards; and I would humbly recommend that, for the credit of the British army and navy, the Duke of Wellington would throw more light on this subject than the blessed candles can impart. We have above thirty English Clergymen here. A few of them exert themselves in finding out the individuals who have been tampered with by the emissaries of Rome, and in many cases have been successful "in staying the plague."

Another extraordinary event occurred here a few days ago,-a Protestant Missionary Meeting, at which upwards of £70 was collected for different Missionary Societies: the Earl of Gainsborough in the chair. The Earl of Roden was expected to attend, but unfortunately he arrived a day too late. The speaking was remarkably good, and the spirit manifested on the occasion was peculiarly happy. The Meeting was held within a stone's throw of the Propaganda.

But the great wonder of all wonders was the arrival of the Bishop of Gibraltar for the purpose of holding a confirmation. There were about forty-three confirmed, and three more were prevented attending by sickness. When every thing was arranged "in the upper room,'

where the English service is performed, the Bishop made his appearance, the beautiful simplicity of his dress disfigured by a large scarlet hood thrown over it, preceded by an Italian Romanist, bearing a cross of massy silver, about two feet long, erect above his head; and after the Bishop took his seat within the rails of the communion, the cross was laid before him on the table, and on his departure the same ceremony was repeated. This circumstance has caused more discussion here than anything that has occurred for many years. The Tractarians (for we have some even in Rome) were delighted, and it was considered by them as an approximation to a better state of things. Others say that it was an act (to say the least of it) of great disrespect to our most gracious Queen; for at the Reformation the crucifix was superseded by the mace, to point out to the people that the Queen was the supreme head of "all sorts and conditions of men" in England, both lay and ecclesiastic. The Italians, also, are quite indignant at the circumstance of one Bishop, in open violation of the canon law, erecting his cross in the diocess of another; and, it is said, the Pope would certainly have taken notice of the indignity thus offered to him, only that by so doing it might be considered that he acknowledged Dr. Tomlinson to be anything more than a mere layman. The Bishop's Chaplain, Mr. Mules, says, the Bishop's cross was made after the pattern of one borne constantly before the Bishop in the cathedral of Winchester. This may be so, for what I know. All dispassionate people, however, seem to agree on one point,—that a little common sense would be a very valuable ingredient in the composition of a colonial Bishop. service of the last day of the Bishop's presence was concluded by a sermon from the local Chaplain, on the necessity and advantages of private confession followed by priestly absolution, which has given great offence to many Protestant folks here. PRESBYTER.

Rome, April 3d, 1844.

The

communication will consist of a few simple facts. I have reason to believe, that it was the persuasion of Mr. Wesley, that from the islands of Jersey and Guernsey the good work, which began there, about seventy years ago, by the

instrumentality of the devoted labours of R. C. Brackenbury, Esq., and others, would proceed from thence into France, and that it would ultimately spread throughout the continent of Europe. Many years ago this opinion was stated to me, as having been expressed by Mr. Wesley, during his visit to those islands, in the year 1786. Just as he thought and desired, it has been done. From those highly-favoured islands the reviving influence of the Gospel has been communicated to this vast empire. A few pious and simple-hearted followers of the Lord Jesus, members of the Wesleyan church in Guernsey, visited some of the villages on the coast of Normandy, and were made the instruments of spiritual good to several of the inhabitants of Courceil, Perier, Beuville, and Cressons. No sooner was their attention awakened to a sense of the allimportance of religion, than they desired to have a faithful Minister stationed among them. Mr. William Mahy, a Local Preacher in Guernsey, was selected for the work, and was solemnly ordained to the office and work of the ministry at Courcel, on the 24th of September, 1791, by Dr. Coke. Mr. Mahy had a Circuit of more than a hundred miles in circumference; and, for several years, he had many seals to his ministry. At length, overcome by fatigue, and various mental trials, he was obliged to remove to Guernsey, and from thence to England, where he died, in the year 1813.

From the time of Mr. Mahy's removal until the year 1814, there was no Wesleyan Missionary in France; but as soon as peace was restored, our infant societies were visited by the Ministers stationed in the Channel Islands; and it was delightful to find, that, in the absence of pastoral care, they continued to meet in class, and hold public services in several of the villages in the neighbourhood of Caen. It was in the year 1816, that I was appointed, by the Conference, to visit those little churches; and I was so fully convinced, by what I saw among them, that the work of grace was genuine, and in some cases deep, that I could not but recommend to the Conference the appointment of a Preacher to labour among them. The alternate ministry of Messrs. De Queteville, De Kerpezdron, Le Sieur, and Ollivier, was made a great blessing to the people. Their zeal was quickened, their love was inflamed, and God was eminently present in their assemblies.

In the year

1818, the Rev. Charles Cook, a man in every way suited to the work, was sta

In

tioned by the Conference in Calvados, a Circuit embracing the above-named villages, with many other places. Mr. Cook laboured, for some time, in Normandy, with acceptance and success. The first District-Meeting in which I presided, and the first we ever had in France, was held at Beuville, April 20th and 21st, 1819. There were then three Preachers stationed in France, and the number of church-members was twentyseven. The people were very poor, and the whole amount of money raised by them, for the support of the work during the year, was ten shillings! those early days of our labours, it was difficult to find places to preach in, and still more difficult to persuade even awakened persons and converted believers to meet in class. Many imagined that class-meeting was a kind of Popish confession; and not a few were prevented meeting with us, through the influence of their family connexions. Hence the chief employment of the Missionaries was to go about "every where, preaching the Lord Jesus," whenever they could obtain a hearing; and in most places, "the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great many believed and turned unto the Lord." In 1820, we find four Missionaries stationed in France, and still but thirtyeight members in the society, the reasons already stated still operating so as to keep many sincere persons from joining us in that excellent means of grace, class-meeting. During the following year many promising openings for the Gospel were presented, in the South of France, to the Rev. C. Cook, who made an extensive tour through that country. Mr. Cook preached sometimes in Protestant churches, sometimes in the open air, and often in private houses. Multitudes attended his ministry, and many were awakened and converted to God. At the following Conference Mr. Cook was stationed in the South, where he was received with joy and gratitude. From this time to the year 1832, we find the work gradually advancing, and the society numbering one hundred and thirty-four members, with forty-one on trial. At the Conference of 1833, the Rev. R. Newstead was appointed to labour in Paris, and to endeavour to establish an English cause in that city, as well as to preside over and direct the affairs of the District. At this period there were two hundred and sixty-eight members in the society, and fifty-nine on trial. The labours of Mr. Newstead were highly acceptable and useful, and

resulted in the formation of an English congregation and society in this gay and pleasure-taking metropolis. On the removal of Mr. Newstead to England, in 1837, we find, in the District, five hundred and thirty-three members, and fortyone on trial. I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without expressing my deep conviction that an English Wesleyan cause in Paris is of great importance, in its bearing upon our work in general, as well as a great blessing to hundreds and thousands of persons who speak the English language, whether from England, Ireland, Scotland, America, or India; or, as is often the case, from many other parts of the world. Such is my conviction, and I freely express it. At our last District-Meeting, held in February, 1844, we found one thousand two hundred and eighty-nine members in our churches, and one hundred and seventy-four candidates for membership; clearly showing a gradual increase from the beginning of our ministry in this country.

As I write for the information of our friends, who are but little acquainted with our work in France, I take leave to add, that we have thirty-nine chapels, and ninety-one other preaching-places, seven day-school Teachers, one hundred and fifty Sabbath-school Teachers, fiftyfive Local Preachers, one hundred and twenty-three Class-Leaders, and one thousand four hundred and forty-six Sabbath-scholars. Let it not be supposed by any of our good friends in England, that our French members are doing very little towards the support of the work. Our Missionary collections alone, for the year 1843, amounted to about five hundred pounds, and our ticket and class money, quarterly collections, &c., considerably exceed that sum.

How great

the change, even in this particular, since the time when our subscriptions in France amounted to ten shillings for a whole year! It must also be remarked, that our places of worship are authorized by the Government, and we are known and protected as a religious body in France.

In addition to the fruit of the Wesleyan ministry, as it appears in the number of our members who meet regularly in class, much good, I am persuaded, has resulted from it in its bearing and influence on many Protestant churches. It is a fact, which I mention from personal knowledge, that a few years ago, the only public service in many of the Protestant churches was one at noon on the Sabbath, of about an hour long. The church was then closed for the whole week, and no other service was held till the following Sabbath. The Wesleyan Ministers visited many such places, and in those early days, they often preached in the churches; and what is the result? At least two sermons are now preached in them on the Sabbath, and frequently one in the course of the week, and there is a degree of vigour and activity in the congregations which did not exist at the time to which I refer. In some cases, as at Cherbourg and Mer, the Wesleyan Ministers have been the means, in the hands of God, of raising up churches, and have given them to pious Protestant Pastors, who are now preaching the Gospel to many who, before the arrival of these Ministers, were sunk in vice, and fast bound by the strong chain of Popish superstition. These are facts, and they ought to be known. We have also given to the Protestant church pious Ministers, converted and raised up among us, who are now labouring zealously in the same cause with us, though under another name. Let it not then be said, the Wesleyans are doing nothing in France, or that they are only endeavouring to increase the number of a sect. conclude by adding the opinion of a venerable and most respectable Pastor, as expressed to me only a few days ago. "Your work," ," said he, "is genuine and deep." It is so; and every impartial judge will, without hesitation, admit that the Wesleyan Ministers have been instrumental of much good in France. WILLIAM TOASE. Avenue d'Antin, Champs Elysées, Paris, May 15th, 1844.

I

JENNER AND NAPOLEON.-During the savage war that raged between France and England, when Napoleon had all

Europe, with the single exception of Great Britain, at his feet, and many of our coutrymen were languishing in French

At

prisons, the only avenue to the conqueror's heart, for some little indulgence to these unfortunates, was through Edward Jenner and the Empress Josephine. Jenner wrote the petition, the kindhearted Josephine presented it; and upon several occasions with success. length Napoleon interdicted any new applications of the sort: "Thou knowest, my sweet friend," he said, "I can refuse thee nothing which thou askest in the name of that man: my sense of duty to the state informs me that I do wrong in yielding to thee; so let me be tempted no more." Wherefore has not civilized man from the four corners of the globe combined to rear a monument in every land, in every town, to the name and memory of Edward Jenner? Our destroyers have columns and statues in our public places: shall our preservers lack memorials of our grateful remembrance? The French have lately raised a monument to Molière; the Brusselers have dedicated a statue to Vesalius: why should not we follow with one to Jenner? -Medical Gazette.

DRUNKENNESS. Mr. Hume has moved for a return of the number of persons taken into custody for drunkenness and for disorderly conduct by the metropolitan police, from 1831 to 1843; also, since the establishment of the new police force in the city. This return has been printed. It appears that the numbers taken into custody for the offence of drunkenness amounted, in 1831, to 31,353, of whom 11,605 were females; in 1832, to 32,636, including 12,332 females; in 1833, 29,880, of whom 11,612 were females; in 1834, 19,779, of whom 7,100 only were females; in 1835, 21,794, of whom 7,253 were females; in 1836, 22,728, of whom 6,861 were females; in 1837, 21,426, of whom 7,405 were females; in 1838, 21,237, of whom 6,941 were females; in 1839, 21,269, of whom 7,317 were females; in 1840, 16,505, of whom 5,842 were females; in 1841, 15,006, of whom 5,123 were females; in 1842, 12,338, of whom 4,350 were females; and in 1843, 10,890, of whom 4,148 were females. The total amount of the above thirteen years gives the number of 276,841, of whom 98,149 were "ladies," and 178,692

gentlemen;" the population having been, in the years 1831 and 1832, 1,515,585, and, according to the census of 1841, 2,068,107, including, we presume, the suburban districts, as the population of the metropolis is generally considered at present to number about 1,800,000 souls. The total number of

persons taken into custody by the police for "disorderly conduct" from the year 1831 to 1843, both inclusive, amounts to 156,095, of whom 70,323 were males, and 85,772 females. Thus, whilst the "gentlemen" have the advantage as far as drunkenness is concerned, the "ladies" have the decided superiority in point of "disorderly conduct." The number of persons taken into custody for the above mentioned offences against public order and decency, since the establishment of the new police force in the city, amounted, in 1840, to 7.260; in 1841, to 3,961; in 1842, to 3,099; and in 1843, to 4,830; the population of the city being estimated by Mr. Commissioner Harvey to have been in 1840, 124,876; and in 1843, 125,273.-Times.

THE WAY TO LEARN.-In answer to a correspondent, who requests some advice as to his studies as an articled clerk, a modern writer has the following pithy language:"Live like an hermit; work like a slave; learn everything; read men as well as books; mingle in all business; shun all pleasure; for one hour you dedicate to reading, give two to reflection, three to observation. Deem no art nor science worthless; accustom yourself to act as well as to deliberate, to speak as well as to think; confirm reading by practice, and improve practice by reading. Store your mind with all sorts of knowledge you never know when it will be required; and even that which is not useful, will always prove ornamental. For methods, make your own; adopt those you find most apt: experience in this will be the best teacher; your own habits the best adviser. There is no royal road to knowledge; and but one golden rule-work! work! work!”

THE PORCELAIN TOWER AT NANKING. A British officer obtained some particulars and a printed paper from a person in charge of the above edifice, of which the following is a translation. It exhibits in a striking manner the gross credulity and superstition of the Chinese. Subjoined is an extract from the literal translation:-" After the removal of the imperial residence from Nanking to Pekin, this temple was erected by the bounty of the Emperor Yung-lo. The work of erection occupied a period of nineteen years. The building consists of nine stories of variegated porcelain, and its height is about 350 feet, with a pine-apple of gilt copper at the summit. Above each of the roofs is the head of a dragon, from which, supported by iron rods, hang eight bells, and below, at right angles, are 80 bells, making in all