THE LAST BARD. THE minstrel came forth 'mid the thunder's shock, And alone he sat where the wave-worn rock He touched his harp: from its quivering strings As brilliant as morn when the bliss she brings He sweetly sang of the fresh red rose He struck his harp to a nobler strain, Of the warrior's steed and the battle plain, And again he awaked his trembling chord But the lyre is mute in the hand of its lord Its strings are snapt for ever! And hark! from the depths of his lonely breast His spirit hath fled to its long-sought rest- The ocean swells round his funeral bed- And there he shall sleep till the trumpet blast Through Heaven's rent portals pealing, Shall wake his harp to a nobler strain, His Maker's praise revealing. Visitation Sermon by Mackenzie Letter to the Editor of the Morning Post The Revival of the Diaconate in the American Episcopal Church.. On the capability of Great Britain and Ireland to give Employment, and provide With some Introductory Remarks on the Science of Political Economy. THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NEW POOR LAW IN THE This pamphlet will contain a Letter opposing the New Poor Law, and a Letter in The time of its publication will depend, in part, on the course pursued by Parlia ment, the aim of the Rev. Herbert Smith being to promote full discussion and BLIO THE ADVOCATE FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE ORDER OF DEACON IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, AND REPLACING THE CHEST FOR THE POOR IN ALL CHURCHES. No. 1. MAY, 1847. PRICE 6d. INTRODUCTION. In placing the first number of this periodical before the public, the Editor feels it unnecessary to extend his introductory remarks to any considerable length. The title given to this work sufficiently indicates the objects which he seeks to accomplish; and any observation on the necessity of their obtainment, would be trenching on the province of those papers in this publication which are especially devoted to their advocacy. The Editor would, however, here remark, that as the objects sought to be obtained through the instrumentality of this periodical are those which would greatly benefit the poor as well as the church at large, so the condition of the poor is a subject which for many years has engaged his most serious attention, and occupied much of his time. In the years 1838 and 1839, he published six letters, pleading the cause of the deserving poor, which, with other pamphlets, he bound up in one volume under the title of "The Church the Guardian of the Poor." In 1841, he erected an almshouse establishment for aged and infirm poor at Shirley, near Southampton. From the year 1843 to 1846 he was unable from severe indisposition to proceed any further in his plans for improving the character and condition of the poor. In July, 1846, the Editor recommenced his exertions by publishing a sermon on Almsgiving, preached at the Priory Church, Christchurch, Hants and in October of the same year he preached a sermon at the parish Church of St. Mary's, Southampton, on the Order of Deacon and the Chest for the Poor. At the commencement of the present year, he announced in the Ecclesiastical Gazette, this periodical for publication, deeming it the best method of bringing the important subjects it B ; advocates duly before the public. The Editor will conclude these brief introductory remarks with the assurance, that as no effort on his part shall be wanting to render this periodical deserving attention and support, so he will feel much indebted to those who will kindly aid him in the prosecution of the important work he has commenced, humbly depending on the divine blessing for its successful accomplish ment. As every scribe who is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old, so will the Editor aim to enrich his work from the valuable writings of divines, both ancient and modern. He will prefer at all times to convey his sentiments in the language of others rather than his own, thus making it as it were the voice of the Church, by which the dead as well as the living may yet speak, and give their united testimony to the character of the office of Deacon, and the duties connected with it. PROSPECTUS. [This Prospectus has been very extensively circulated amongst the dignitaries of the Church and Clergy gencrally. The publication was announced to appear on the first of every month, but difficulties have arisen which have obliged the Editor, for the present, to determine on publishing it quarterly.] PREVIOUS to committing the above work to the press, the Editor earnestly invites his brethren in the ministry, and the members of the Church, to assist him in carrying out the important objects which he seeks to obtain. They are of a two-fold nature. First, to direct the attention of the Church to the restoration of the order of Deacon, as being, perhaps, the best means to realize such an increase of Clergy as would enable the Church to provide for the pastoral superintendence of the people. The present position of the Church may be very much attributed to the want of Clergy proportionately to the population, and it is a want which experience has proved can never be met under the existing system of conferring orders. This arises from the obsoleteness into which the Diaconate has fallen, by its being only used as a transitory step to the Presbyterate-a course which necessarily tends to diminish the clergy. For as the Diaconate is thus only nominally in existence, the qualifications for the office are now on an equality with those demanded for the Presbyterate, and consequently excludes those individuals who are only possessed of requirements for the Diaconate. One object, then, of the proposed work, will be to effect the revival of the order of Deacon, and thus open a sphere of usefulness to those who, being anxious to promote God's glory, can now only do so either through the unauthorized instrumentality of lay agency, or by swelling the ranks of dissent. The Editor would here remark, that many of the Clergy are desirous to restore the Diaconate, and the Church affords every facility for the restoration of Deacons, as the 34th Canon does not require a University degree for Deacon's orders, but an educational course, now within the reach of all her members. The Diaconate has lately been revived in the American Episcopal Church, by receiving candidates on minor qualifications to those demanded for the Presbyterate, and if restored in ours, the means for |