could not have been abolished without them; they have greatly helped on all that is good or promising at home and abroad." What the ancient philosopher desired, Sabbath-schools have supplied -a lever, and a place to stand upon and they have moved, and are moving the world!

The committee, fully alive to the importance of their work, have laboured on during the year, and realized the truth of the sacred proverb, that "in all labour there is profit;" and they have good reasons for believing that many will bless the day when this Union was formed. The schools have been regularly visited during the year, and addresses delivered; and the general cordiality and sympathy heretofore existing have been promoted and strengthened. The quarterly meetings have been held with their usual interest, the first in January, when an address was delivered by the Rev. J. GRAHAM, on "The Evils existing in Sabbath Schools, and the Means of removing them;" the second in April, when the Rev. T. CLIFTON read a paper on 66 Our Adult Classes, and the best Mode of conducting them to secure their Object."

The annual service for children and teachers was held on Whit-Wednesday, 18th May, 1853, in Peter Street Chapel, about 800 scholars being present, and a very lively and interesting address was delivered to them by the Rev. T. CLIFTON. The scholars were provided with a printed selection of hymns and tunes, from which they sang. On leaving the chapel, headed by their respective flags and banners, they walked in procession through several of the principal streets of the city to the Royal Exchange, which they were kindly permitted by the directors to walk through; after which they were conducted to their respective schools, where they were abundantly supplied with buns, tea, and coffee.

The committee have great pleasure in announcing that the statistical returns of the year show an increase in the number of teachers and scholars; as also in spirituality; besides an increase of 167 in the sale of Juvenile Magazines, and also an addition of 405 volumes to the libraries. But the crowning effort of the year has been the zealous exertion made to augment the missionary contributions. Many having themselves handled and tasted of the word of life, and knowing the immense value of immortal souls, have exerted themselves nobly to furnish our

missionary committee with the means of extending their operations, and promoting a more extensive diffusion of the light of divine truth. Last year, the contributions to the mission funds were £12 10s. 74d.; the present year has produced £34 3s. 7d. (exclusive of £5 specially raised for the Australian Mission), being an increase of £21 13s. Go on, dear friends, and the windows of heaven will be opened, and the richest blessings descend on this guilty world.

In conclusion, we would earnestly call upon those members of our churches who are not yet engaged in Sabbathschool instruction, to favour us with their aid in this "work of faith and labour of love;" and to those already employed with us, we would affectionately say, relax no exertions, but rather labour with increasing zeal, under the firm persuasion that God will still further bless his own work; and under the humble hope that, when this world and all that relates to it shall be to us no more-when we stand amidst an assembled world, each of us in our place to give an account of the deeds done in the body, we shall experience for ourselves the blessed fruits of studying the Scriptures, and have the felicity also of seeing many there rejoicing at the coming of their Lord, who shall have first come to the knowledge of the truth through the instrumentality of our SABBATH-SCHOOL INSTRUCTION. THOMAS JONES.

The above Report was sent to the Yearly Meeting of the Union last night, and the Meeting earnestly requested its publication in the Magazine. S. HULME.

Oct. 30, 1853.

A REVIVAL OF GOD'S WORK.

WE long, we intensely long to hear of a general revival of the work of God. We hear of good being done in some circuits, and of special services being held in a few others; but we are grieved to have to state that we do not hear either of general prosperity, or of special efforts being generally made to promote it. Depend upon it, the system of quietness will not do. A feeble Christianity will not avail; worldly ease and worldly conformity must be put away. They will not do for any time, but least of all for such times as these. All around is earnest activity, and if the Church be not active and earnest she will retrograde. The world will swamp her.

special effort must not end here. The fruit we expected from the whole was efficiency and true prosperity. For this we must still look, and pray, and labour. Why cannot we have an agitation for a general revival of true religion? All that we have done for the pecuniary interests of the Connexion dwindles into insignificance compared with this. Let us have an agitation for a revival. Let our ministers and friends send us communications on this subject, and, in the meanwhile, let every appliance in our Circuits be brought to bear on the subject in some practical shape. We know that the hearts of some friends are beating high on this question. They are intensely longing, and earnestly praying for a revival. Some of our esteemed lay friends as well as ministers, have written to us on this subject; and they seem as if they could not live without witnessing a revival. This is a good omen, and we hope the gracious feeling will deepen and widen until it pervades the whole Connexion. The following extract from a letter of a lay friend, in the Ashton Circuit, indicates the feeling to which we refer:

"MY DEAR SIR,-As to our Connexional prospects numerically, what are they? Do you hear anything hopeful? Is our cause thus far aggressive and onward, or passive and retrograde? Is our next numbering up of the people to call forth the wail of lamentation or the hymn of praise? Are we to have an increase? that is the question. My concern upon this matter is not the offspring of mere denominational preference, yet I do confess myself to be not a little jealous for the honour of the community. An important portion of the Conferential year has already passed away. It is devoutly to be wished that it may have been the well improved seed-time of an abundant harvest of souls. But whatever has been the past, by all means let the golden opportunities of the present and the future be turned to the best account. Let the faithful among the brethren, on no consideration, withhold their hand, and let all loiterers know, that if they will not work for

God and souls, the great Lord of the vineyard will remove them from the place they so unworthily hold, and assign the occupancy of that place to other and more right-minded Christian men. They are very questionable friends of the Saviour and his cause, whose attachment takes no form of earnest and self-sacrificing sympathy with the souls for which He died. It is to be hoped that the number of such doubtful allies is rapidly diminishing. O that from the heart to the extremities of our entire fellowship we were afresh penetrated and absorbed with the spirit of the world's Redeemer. Here, without controversy, is the vital and paramount condition of an aggressive and soul-saving Church. And what is the great mission of the Church but to multiply instrumentally the gems that shall shine for ever in the mediatorial diadem of the Son of God? Be it our aim and distinction, as a people, to subserve in the largest degree this high purpose of our organization. To the many and mighty proofs we already have of the Divine favour may there be speedily added the favour of many and genuine conversions. On the part both of ministers and members let there be right views on the subject of individual responsibility, accompanied by the practical and prayerful application of the power of individual effort. God will not long deny to a right earnest, hard working, and spiritually-minded people, the joys of His presence and the trophies of His all-conquering grace.

If, dear Mr. Editor, you can command the time from your many and important duties, favour the Connexion in your next number with an appeal on this subject, which shall, by the Divine blessing, rouse the masses of our Israel into instant, vigorous, united, and untiring action.

I am yours, very truly,

S. M. Ashton-under-Lyne, Nov. 10, 1853.

RECENT DEATHS. DEATH OF THE REV. JOHN BENSLEY.

DEAR BROTHER,-I have to communicate the sad and startling intelligence of the death of my esteemed colleague, the Rev. J. Bensley, who died on Tuesday, the 1st of this month. He had enjoyed remark

ably good health during his residence here, and had appeared uniformly in the most excellent spirits. The unrivalled picturesqueness of this vicinity, the uniform kindness of the friends here, and the acceptability of his labours, appeared to be exciting a most genial influence on his mind. He expressed himself as being happier than he had been for several years; again and again did he reiterate to me how thoroughly at home he felt in this Circuit. So recently as Tuesday, October 18th, he called on me, and requested me to accompany him in a walk, with which, owing to the pressure of engagements, I was not able to comply. He was then apparently in the best health and spirits. On Friday last I followed his corpse to the grave. He was seized with a shivering on the evening of the 20th ult., which in a few days developed the typhus, and he expired at midday on the 1st of November. The Lord had numbered his days, and called him to his reward, from the midst of a people by whom he was esteemed, so that the concluding months of his life were graciously ordained to be

THOMAS BOTHAM, only son of our esteemed brother John Botham, died in the Lord, on the 27th of September, 1853. A most distressing affliction confined him to the house, and chiefly to bed for about two years. Early piety prepared him for such a protracted trial, and we never saw the triumphs of grace more strikingly manifest than in his experience. He was not only kept in peace, but was enabled to rejoice with joy unspeakable. Patience had its perfect work, and when the great purposes of divine grace were accomplished, he sweetly entered into rest. It must have been a great trial for his parents to give up their only son, and especially one in whom so much piety and promise were united; but when his Master called him they were enabled to say "Thy will be done."

THE PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT, AND THEIR APPLICATION TO WESLEYAN METHODISM. With Appendices. By GEORGE STEWARD. London Hamilton, Adams, & Co.

Mr. Steward is an eminently gifted minister, who, after labouring for many years in the Wesleyan denomination, felt it his duty at the last Conference to retire on the ground of a settled conviction that the Conference was unscriptural in its constitution, and harsh and oppressive in some parts of its administration. The same high sense of duty which led him to resign his position as a Minister, has induced him to publish this volume as a manifesto of his reasons for withdrawing from a body to which he had been united by ties so numerous and powerful.

Candour, integrity, and strength of intellect are evident in every page of the volume; but we cannot say as much

for the author's reasoning. Indeed, we do not remember having read the production of any respectable mind so fraught with inconsistencies and apparent contradictions. It appears to us that the author's views on church politics are not matured. There are many noble sentiments indicating a love of freedom, and a generous sympathy with popular rights, but they are obscured and fettered by certain notions respecting ministerial prerogatives. It is possible to select passages which favour the principles of both the Reformers and the W. Conference, and others which condemn them both. present Mr. Steward sees men as trees walking. From his candour, his superior talents, and instinctive love of liberty and Bible truth, we may anticipate for Mr. Steward a proficiency in the knowledge of church politics, which will leave the principles of his present production far in the rear.

At

THE WESLEYAN ALMANACK AND HAND-BOOK FOR METHODISTS, for 1854. London: R. Bulman, 13, Pa

ternoster-row.

This Almanack, arranged for the use of Wesleyans generally, with a Portrait of Mr. Wesley, contains a large amount of information on the present state of the Wesleyan body: brief Memoirs of some of its most celebrated Preachers-the Revs. J. Wesley, W. Bramwell, Dr. Adam Clarke, and J. Smith.-The Resolutions of the last Delegate Meeting, &c.-PoetryUseful Information-Notices of Months -Post-office Regulations-Duties of Various Kinds - Tenancy-WillsTransfer Days at the Bank-Her Majesty's Chief Officers of State-A Catalogue of Books, &c., &c. It is bound in cloth, with Diary and Ac

counts.

THE PROTESTANT DISSENTERS' ILLUSTRATED ALMANACK, for the year 1854. London: John Cassell.

This Almanack presents very stern and decided features of honest dissent and nonconformity. No prelacy, no popery, no form of priestism, seem to be the watchwords of the publisher. The Almanack is a very good one. It is illustrated with twelve excellent portraits of the Reformers and distinguished Nonconformists, and contains much valuable information. There are a few errors, however, in reference to the statistics of our own

denomination. It says that the circulation of our periodicals is about 18,000 monthly: it should have been 20,000 monthly.

MORNING DEWDROPS. By Mrs. CLARA LUCAS BALFOUR, with an Introduction by Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe. London: W. and F. Cash, Bishopsgate.

tion is pious and benevolent, and the book, which is beautifully got up, is well adapted to the intention. It is fraught with facts and incidents, and written in a clear, simple, and attractive style. We do not see eye to eye in all the sentiments expressed by the talented and benevolent authoress, but her views are advocated in a calm and benign spirit, and we sincerely wish success to the great object of her labours.

THE BAND OF HOPE ALMANACK, for 1854.

This is a sheet Almanack, with a number.of illustrations depicting the evils of intemperance and the blessings of sobriety. Each day in the year has connected with it a passage from Holy Scripture.

THE CHRISTIAN ALMANACK, for 1854. London: Religious Tract Society.

A very valuable Almanack. Besides a mass of important statistical intelligence and information on legislative, social, domestic, and agricultural matters, it contains copious tables of astronomical occurrences for the current year indispensable to the amateur astronomer.

THE SCRIPTURE POCKET-BOOK, for 1854, containing an Almanack, also a passage of Scripture for every day, with an arrangement by which the Bible may be read in the course of the year, and a variety of useful information. London: Religious Tract Society.

The title sufficiently describes its character and contents. We need only say that it fulfils in its substance all its promises on the title page, and, for a frontispiece, it has a beautifully coloured engraving of the city of Edinburgh.

THE JUVENILE YEAR BOOK. An

Interesting and Instructive Miscellany for the Young. London: Sunday School Union.

A neat little book for juveniles. The engravings are good, the articles interesting, instructive, and attactive, and well adapted to impart spiritual profit to the reader.

We have several other works in hand, but our preface, title, and index, occupy so much space that we have not room for further notices in the pre

The Confessions of an Enemy; or, the Unity of God a Revealed Doctrine. The Faithful Minister. By Thos. Fuller The Admission of an Enemy; or, the Unity of God an Inspired Doctrine The Lord's Day. By W. Cave, D.D. Ministerial Joy Fulfilled. A Pastoral Appeal to the Churches of our Community.

Rome and the Bible

88

135

193

263

361

305, 317

God our Portion. A Discourse Glorying in the Cross of Christ William Tell; or, a Struggle for Liberty A Charge, delivered by the Rev. P. J. Wright to the Revs. W.Wilshaw and J. Maughan, on their Public Ordination to the work of the Ministry, at the Conference held at Longton, 1853. Published by request of the Conference

A Cure for Soul-ache; or, Hope the Downcast and Disquieted Soul's support and solace

Action for the World's Conversion

A Sermon-"We all do fade as a leaf."

By the Rev. J. Wilson

Church Prosperity

PICTURES OF GENIUS:

417

NOTICES OF SCIENCE.

488

552

607, 656

Spiral Nebulæ, Light, Heat, and Terrestrial Magnetism

22

On the Re-concentration of the Mechanical Energy of the Universe 85

A Rock-Crystal Lens found in Nineveh

86

Nebula Resolved into Clusters of Stars Geology: the Structure of Fossil

Fishes found in the Old Red Sandstone

Distribution of Animal Life, and the Probable Existence of Polar Seas The Asteroids and their Probable

An Atom: What it is, and what it teaches.

86

87

Origin

Snow

Icebergs-Ice

158

667

211

670

THEIR

Meteors, Aerolites, Shooting Stars 269, 321 Geology attesting a Creator

379

LIGHTS AND THEIR SHADES.

John Howard

John Bunyan

Richard Baxter.

Visible Rotation of the Earth

Geology, as illustrating the Eternity

Geology, evincing the Wisdom of God 601