and becoming more formidable every day, will ultimately lead to such a result, we must wait patiently to see. Certainly the agitation tends in that direction. England has nothing to fear, but everything to hope from such a change, whenever it may occur. It is said the union between the High and Low Church parties-which was merely a patched-up affair-is already at an

end.

Increased liberality in behalf of religious and charitable objects is one of the distinguishing features of our age. We do not say we do not think that the professors of Christ's religion generally have hitherto come up to the right mark ia this respect; but there has, of late years, been an evident and a gratifying improvement. The princely amount of money that is being raised for the Wesleyan Missionary Jubilee Fund, as well as the greatly augmented ordinary missionary income of that body, and the extent to which the missionary operations, both home and foreign, of other denominations are supported; the large amounts contributed to aid in the diffusion of the sacred Scriptures, and of religious books and tracts; the increased support rendered to institutions for the sick, the halt, and the blind; and the astonishing sums subscribed for church and chapel building purposes, are all proofs of growing liberality and benevolence. The Bishop of London's Fund, to which we made some reference a few months back, for raising a million sterling in ten years, for building new churches and providing means of religious instruction for the people, is a very extraordinary project and enterprise, and seems likely to be carried on to completion. The sum of £99,900 has already been received, and there are promises to the extent of £71,000 more. The Bishop states that large sums are coming in every week. Will he any longer doubt the power and sufficiency of the voluntary principle? Among the Presbyterians, the Independents, the Baptists, and the various sections of the Methodist family, including our own body, laudable and vigorous efforts are

being made to overtake the spiritual destitution and misery of the people, by the erection of additional sanctuaries, and the employment of additional ministers, missionaries, &c. The statistics relating to these matters supply evidence of a most wonderful and blessed change having taken place during the last quarter of a century. But there is room and there is pressing necessity for much more to be done; and we would regard the past and the present as but an earnest of what is yet

to come.

It appears that another convention has been entered into between the Emperor of the French and the Italian Government, by which the French authorities in Rome undertake to secure and deliver up every brigand who may be found sheltering himself in the city, and who is demanded by the Italian authorities. It is well known that these brigands, whose atrocities have shocked the ears of humanity, have, when pressed by the Italian soldiers, taken refuge in Rome; but this is no longer to be allowed, and hence this new convention. And it is remarkable that it contains no reference to the authority of the Pope whatever. "This is a deeper stab at the temporal authority than the previous one," observes Evangelical Christendom, "for here is no recognition whatever of the Pope's sovereignty in his own city." He is altogether ignored. Poor Pio Nono! we apprehend there is nothing but trouble for him in the future. He seems, however, to take it all very patiently, for he offers no remonstrance and makes no sign. We have to wait to know what he will do. In his late Encyclical letter he condemns and denounces, with more than usual emphasis, everything that savours in the least degree of liberty, or that is opposed to the Papacy, but makes no direct mention of the Franco-Italian convention. The Encyclical is said to have produced great dissatisfaction in France and Austria, saying nothing about Italy, and nobody seems to have been frightened by the "wholesale commination." He now appears to be turning his attention to the

"pleasures of hope." Receiving the other day the members of the Sacred College, he addressed to them an allocution, discoursing eloquently about various matters, setting forth, with fatherly solicitude and affectionate regret, how robbery is rampant among the nations, but concluding with the consolatory assurance that, "after witnessing the destruction of his enemies and the triumph of truth and virtue, he should exclaim with Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.'" So his Holiness evidently expects to live to a good old age, either at Rome or somewhere else. There is little doubt, however, but there is an ominous feeling in the mind of the Pope underlying these apparently peaceful and comfortable visions. It is not in human nature for it to be otherwise. In the meantime the crisis through which Italian liberty is passing daily becomes more intensified. Italy longs for the day to come when her freedom shall be complete, with Rome, not Florence, as her capital. Who doubts but that day will come? And it will be a glorious day for Italy, not only politically, but religiously.

The President of the Federal States of America has addressed his annual message to Congress. He draws a somewhat glowing picture of the present condition and future prospects of the Union, declaring its resources to be "unexhausted and inexhaustible." Whether Mr. Lincoln has not overdone the thing a little-especially considering that the national debt has already reached upwards of £500,000,000 sterlingwe leave others to decide. On two points he speaks uncompromisingly, viz., the extinction of slavery, and the unfaltering prosecution of the war until the Southern States succumb. We have believed from the first that the war would be the means of bringing about the abolition of American slavery. We believe so still, and are glad to find Mr. Lincoln speaking out so explicitly and strongly on the subject. This result will be purchased at a tremendous price, but it will, when realized, be a glorious one. The

military situation is curious an complicated; but this is not a matter for us to speculate upon. On neither side is there the slightest indication of a disposition to yield. It is, and is likely to be, one of the most dreadful wars which have ever occurred in the world's history. When and how it will end, and what, politically, will be evolved out of it, are questions which lie beyond the ken of human foresight to solve. These things constitute a problem for the solution of which we must make up our minds to wait some time longer. That slavery is doomed we have little doubt, nor can we think otherwise than that an overruling Providence has permitted this great struggle for other good and gracious purposes, which will be developed and made manifest in due time.

It is gratifying to state that there is a great call for female education in Syria. A good work is being done by American missionaries, and, in connection with this movement, the disappearance of inveterate prejudices against female education, and the success of educational experiments, are among the most remarkable and cheering features. Several attempts, with partial success, to raise the female character in Syria had previously been made, both by American missionaries and Mrs. Watson, an English lady; but these were on a restricted scale, compared to the extensive organization of the English schools founded by Mrs. Bowen Thompson at Beyrout. The superior conduct of the young women and girls trained in these schools disarmed prejudice; and having once gained the confidence of the natives of all ranks and sects, a strong desire was expressed that they should be permanently established. During a recent tour in the Lebanon, Mrs. Thompson was everywhere besiege 1 with entreaties to open girls' schools. Miss Ingram, a lady who accompanied Mrs. Thompson in this tour, writes-" It would thrill your heart in every fibre were you here, and travelling over the country, as Mrs. Thompson and I did, to witness everywhere such a craving for education. The people seem to have

risen out of the deep lethargy of satisfied ignorance in which they have lived so long. They are ignorant still, but not satisfied. The Greek Church is increasing its activity. Protestant England and Protestant Scotland must make some extensive and resolute exertion. The feeling of the country is entirely in their favour. The Scriptures are doing their work of true enlightenment wherever they are read, and those who have been reared in the Greek Church are dissatisfied with it." This information is very cheering.

There has been a fearful hurricane in India, causing great destruction of mission and other property. It is said that there has been no such hurricane in that country since 1787. The force of the storm was terrible -nothing could stand before it. The Propagation Society has lost much property. One of the agents writes: -Every bungalow church and every school belonging to our mission was destroyed." Dr. Mullens, of the London Society's Mission at Calcutta, says that, at Diamond Harbour, the storm-wave rushed inland for eight miles. "Here," he observes, "the loss of life is greatest. Not less than 3,000 people, with 5,000 to 6,000 farm bullocks, have been drowned." A missionary of the Baptist Society expresses his apprehension that £1,000 will not repair the damage its property has sustained. The losses of the Free Church Missions will, it is feared, exceed £5,000. From the extensive district of Mahanad the native superintendent of the missions reports that the mission premises are a complete wreck. The English Presbyterian Mission has not escaped the ravages of the cyclone, but the injury sustained is not serious. The accounts from Masulipatam, on the Telugu coast, are most distressing. One letter says that the native town is entirely washed away, and that 5,000 natives, at least, have perished. Masulipatam is the centre of the Church Missionary Society's operations among the Telugu population; the society will, therefore, no doubt, have to tell of great losses, both there

and at Calcutta. These afflictive and distressing circumstances appeal, in tones which will be both heard and felt, for British sympathy and help.

The missionary intelligence of the month is full of interest. The Gospel is making way in Turkey. The agents of the American Board of Missions are very much cheered in their work; and the intelligence from the western and central portions of the Ottoman empire is such as to give encouragement to the friends and supporters of missions. Christian converts are multiplying in India. Five young men have been baptized at the Free Church Mission in Calcutta. A native missionary of Indapore, when on a visit to Jaubna, baptized eleven adults and five children. Four baptismas are reported by the United Presbyterian missionaries in Rajpootanaone at Ajmere, and three in Beawr. The conversion of two Brahmins is reported from the Masulipatam Church Mission by the Rev. R. Noble. From Ceylon the intelligence is very cheering. At several points in the Kandian country numbers of Singhalese, it is stated, have renounced Budhism and embraced

Christianity. Three villages are named in which the good work is progressing delightfully, many being enrolled as Christians. The Bishop of Colombo writes to the Propagation Society :-"We are on the eve of a great movement, I trust, towards Christianity. The crowds that listen to our preaching now are quite without precedent, and I am assured by the oldest missionaries that they have never seen anything like it before." From China there is also good news. A missionary of the American Methodist Episcopal Board at Fuh-shau reports the baptism, twenty-five miles from that place, of eight converts-all adults; and the missionaries in Baypay report a steady increase in the number of worshippers. Our own Chinese mission is bearing fruit, and we trust that fruit will become much more abundant. Most sincerely do we sympathise with our dear brother, the Rev. W. N. Hall, one of our missionaries in that

H

country, in the bereavement he has sustained by the sudden removal by death of his beloved wife, and pray that he may be Divinely sustained and comforted. Our mission in Australia is still, we understand, getting on well, and it is very gratifying that an additional agent for that mission, in the person of the Rev. C. Linley, sailed from Liverpool, in the Royal Standard, on the 29th of November last, as already reported in the Magazine. May God bless our brother and his mission! "Onward!" is still the motto of our Canadian mission, and in Ireland and at home the Lord will not forget us. May his prospering blessing be vouchsafed to our own and all evangelical churches, his Spirit be poured out upon all flesh, and the world soon be converted! L. S. January 6, 1865.

THE BRAZILIAN EMPIRE. THE popular idea of Brazil is a very erroneous one. Rivers and forests, wild beasts and serpents, diamond and gold mines, revolutions and earthquakes, are the component parts of the picture. The general public are far better acquainted with the Celestial Empire, or even with Japan, than they are with Brazil; and few seem to be aware that in the southern hemisphere is to be found a stable, constitutional monarchy, and a rapidly growing nation, occupying a greater area of territory than the United States. Such, however, is the case; and the object of this article is to correct, in a measure, the erroneous impressions regarding that magnificent country.

Previous to 1808, Brazil was a colony of Portugal, but in 1815 Brazil was formally elevated to the dignity of a kingdom, and in 1818 the Prince Regent was crowned king, with the title of Don John VI.

The people were greatly rejoiced at this step in advance, but tranquillity did not long continue. In 1822 was made a declaration of absolute independence, and Don Pedro was proclaimed constitutional Emperor and perpetual defender of Brazil. His administration lasted about ten years, during which time

considerable dissatisfaction existed among the native Brazilians, in consequence of none but Portuguese being appointed to offices in the gift of the crown. This culminated in a revolution in 1831, and to avoid bloodshed, the Emperor voluntarily abdicated in favour of his son, Don Pedro de Alcantera, at that time not six years of age; and then, following in the footsteps of his father, retired to Europe. In 1840, at fifteen years of age, Don Pedro was declared to have attained his majority, and in 1841 was crowned Emperor, amidst the most enthusiastic demonstrations. In 1843 the Emperor was married to Her Royal Highness, Donna Theresa Christina Maria, sister of the King of the Two Sicilies.

The empire of Brazil has a territory one-third larger than the United States; containing 3,004,460 square miles, and no portion of the habitable globe is more available for cultivation and the sustentation of man. It embraces nearly five degrees north of the equator, the whole latitude of the southern torrid zone, and ten degrees of the southern temperate zone-stretching to the very foot of the Andes; while its climate and its soil render it a fit home for nearly every valuable plant, many of which are indigenous to the country, and others could be naturalized with very little trouble. Fruit of almost every kind flourishes in luxuriance all the year round, and the remark made by Douglas Jerrold respecting Australia may be fairly applied to the soil of Brazil-" If you tickle it with a straw, it will laugh with a harvest." The climate is mild and equable, and there are no sudden fluctuations of heat or cold; it is also very salubrious, and pulmonary complaints are altogether unknown amongst its inhabitants. Altogether, Brazil enjoys advantages of soil, climate, and productions superior to any portion of the continent of America.

The principal exports are coffee, sugar, molasses, cotton, hides, indiarubber, rice, tobacco, dye-woods, fruits, diamonds, gold-dust, bullion, and several ores and paints. Agriculture, within the last few years, has become more widely extended,

and the material and social prosperity of this magnificent country is advancing safely and rapidly; and now that railways are being extended into the interior, it may be expected that the vast resources of the country will meet with a corresponding develop

ment.

The empire is composed of twenty provinces-four only of which are inland-and possesses a sea-coast of four thousand miles in length. Her commerce is very extensive, and draws vessels from all parts of the world. She has a considerable navy, comprising over fifty vesselsseveral of them fine iron ships built in England-carrying over 300 guns. She has a large standing army, and a strong force of imperial marines. The population is estimated at over 8,000,000, and is made up of all nations and all shades of colour. Education is conducted on a very liberal scale, and the arts and sciences flourish exceedingly. Portuguese is the national language; but French and English are cultivated by the higher classes.

Till 1850 the slave trade flourished in Brazil, notwithstanding that many efforts had been made for its suppression; but in that year several of the leading slave-dealers were banished, and the trade was effectually abolished. In the same year a steam-ship line was established to Europe, and six years later there were no fewer than eight lines of steamers in successful operation, connecting Brazil with different parts of Europe.

Rio de Janeiro, the commercial and political capital of the nation, is the largest city in South Americacontaining over 300,000 inhabitants, and has an antiquity greater than any city in the United States. Its harbour is easy of access, safe and commodious. It communicates with the Atlantic by a deep and narrow passage between two granite mountains, and the entrance is commanded by several strong fortresses, which, if properly manned, might defy the hostility of the proudest navies. Rio de Janeiro is the principal residence of the Emperor, and contains many beautiful public and private build

ings. The streets, at least the old ones, are narrow, but the new portions of the city have wide thoroughfares. The scenery of Rio and its surroundings is of a magnificent description, and its bay and harbour, in point of beauty, have no comparison in the Old World or the New. The province in which Rio de Janeiro is situated has 1,400,000 inhabitants.

The city of Bahia-the second city of the empire-is about 800 miles north of Rio. It is composed of an upper and lower town. In the lower town-a narrow strip of coast at the foot of a steep hill-is carried on nearly all the commerce of the city and surrounding country. The upper town is composed mostly of private residences. The city is not wide, but it is some six miles in length, and is built upon more hills than Rome itself. Bahia is the spiritual capital of the country, being the residence of the archbishop. The churches and other public buildings are upon a magnificent scale. The harbour is very large and safe; it is commanded by a fort built on a small island by the Dutch, and also by several forts on the hills overlooking the harbour. Whale fishing is carried on here to some extent. Bahia

is a rich and populous city, and the province in which it is situated contains over 1,200,000 inhabitants.

In 1808 the first printing-press was introduced into Brazil, at Rio Janeiro. The second press was brought to Bahia in 1811, and from these two have sprung numerous others, which are now to be found in every city and town in the empire.

now

In 1852 ground was broken for the first railway, and there are several in good working order.

Although possessed of great natural facilities, Brazil is not yet a manufacturing country. She carries on a large and remunerative trade with the United States, amounting to many millions of dollars annually. She also carries on a very large trade with England and other countries. Her revenue is mainly composed of a heavy duty on every article exported or imported-and this has a tendency to restrict their trade and