He feared that the Colleges were not the subjects of that amount of feeling and concern which ought to be exhibited towards them on the part of private Christians generally. When it was considered that from them the streams flowed which were to slake the thirst of the Christian world, it was of the highest importance that the fountain should send forth pure water. Their own spiritual welfare was, in a measure, bound up with the character and attainments of the young men who issued from the Colleges; and hence the churches ought to be deeply solicitous concerning the welfare of such institutions. He rejoiced to hear that so many excellent men had been trained in the Colleges; and he had been particularly pleased to hear that day that so many of those who had gone from Cheshunt had remained firm and steadfast in the faith. He did not think that, as Christians, they need be very anxious about the talent of the young men. He did not expect to find young men of commanding abilities and talent in the ministry; but his desire and hope was, that Providence would raise up young men of good common sense, average ability, and ardent personal piety, which he believed to be all that was requisite for the welfare of the church, and the evangelization of the world. Indeed, he had generally observed that great talent was allied to something that marred the character; and he believed therefore, that, instead of being as a rule, desirable in the ministry, it was undesirable. He trusted that the Colleges would be maintained in their efficiency. They could not avail themselves of Oxford or Cambridge. As political men they might protest against such a state of things; but it amounted to very little, regarded in a religious point of view, for he was persuaded that, if those seats of learning were thrown open to all, it would still be necessary to maintain their own Colleges. They might be glad to have the secular learning which those national institutions afforded, but they would never be able to find there that divinity which would suit them as Christian men. They must take especial care that the rising ministry were trained by men in whose piety and learning they had the fullest confidence, and this could only be secured by the adequate maintenance of their Colleges on the part of the Christian public.

The Rev. J. SHERMAN read the annual

Report, from which it appeared that the students had made very satisfactory progress during the past year. Financially, however, the year had not been an encouraging one, the income having diminished, while the expenditure had increased, partly in consequence of sanitary measures which had been taken in reference to the premises. The Treasurer's account showed an income (including a balance in hand last year of £511 4s. 8d.) amounting to £1,395 1s. 7d.; the expenditure being £1,366 11s. 4d.; leaving a present balance of only £28 8s. 3d.

Several donations were announced, amongst which were £10 10s. from Mr. Lewis and £5 from Mr. B. Smith.

The Rev. Dr. ARCHER, in moving the adoption of the Report, expresssd the regret he felt, in common with the friends of the College generally, that Dr. Stowell was about to leave the Institution; and he was sure that there was no one present who did not wish him a long-continued, happy, and useful life, and sincerely hope, that when he had left those "academic bowers," the blessing of the God of his youth and manhood might attend him wherever he went. He was glad to hear the testimony which Mr. Allon had borne in reference to the students of the College and the soundness of their principles. He differed, however, from what the Chairman had said respecting the importance of talent and scholarship in the ministry. He believed they wanted men of learning, of great attainments, and of profound intellectual sagacity; for we lived in an age when a large amount of learning, more or less superficial, was employed against the Gospel of Jesus Christ; this learning could not be put down by tabooing or pooh-poohing it, but by a more profound and erudite learning on the part of the ministers of the church of Christ. He believed that the Puritan Fathers had as much learning in one corner of their brain as many ministers of the present day had under the entire skull-comprehensive theological learning, which had been so stereotyped in some of their writings, that from a single page of Howe and other men of his age, whole volumes, wide-spread and gold-beaten, might be formed for the present day. He had had the privilege of reading all the treatises and answers given by the young men on questions of theology. He had read every sentence and every

word, and he fearlessly asserted that he | had never seen a collection of essays from a body of young men more fully indoctrinated with religious and spiritual truth. He hoped the students would continue to maintain the good old doctrine to the last, and the College would be distinguished for the faithfulness of its members to Evangelical truth -not to stereotyped words or phrases -but_to_the_great, living principle of salvation by Jesus Christ, and by Him alone.

The Rev. B. S. HOLLIS, in seconding the Resolution, urged the importance of fervent piety and sterling common sense in the rising ministry, without overvaluing scholastic attainments. He referred to several points in connection with the past history of the College and the denomination. He expressed his regret that the number of students was now but few. How was it, he asked, that the Colleges were not pressed with applications for admission? Some said it arose from the fact that ministers were not supported as they ought to be. There might be some truth in that, but young men ought to have love enough for Christ not to be always looking out for the loaves and fishes. When he gave himself to the Christian work, he was content to leave that to God. If they would leave themselves to God's disposal he would take care of them.

The Rev. H. ALLON proposed the following Resolution :

"That this meeting, believing an earnest and faithful ministry to be one of the chief requirements of the present day, regards with interest every institution whose object is to contribute to that result; and it desires to express especially its deep and abiding attachment to Cheshunt College, which, in addition to the venerable associations inseparably connected with its history, has also proved its practical efficiency in having prepared for the ministry so large a number of faithful and laborious preachers of the Gospel."

With reference to the question of scholarship or common sense in the ministry, he said it was needless to put these things as alternatives, as if all good men must be noodles, and all clever men unspiritual and unworthy. Throughout the history of Nonconformity, God had continuously given men who had combined both. He regretted that, in the present day, the race of good old tough

theologians, and "painful" preachers of the Gospel, had but few representatives. He hoped that such men would, in future, go forth from the Colleges, and that a more adequate support would be given to institutions whose object was to promote so desirable an end.

Several other ministers addressed the audience; and at the termination of the meeting the company strolled over the beautiful grounds of the College, and after tea departed to their homes with joyful hearts.

General Intelligence.

THE PAPAL STATES.

What is to be done with the Pope? His dominions are in a fearful state; order, quietude, and prosperity are scarcely known under his rule; and the very silence which reigns profoundly in the Italian States, is but the indication that, before long, the nations will draw a long inspiration, and awake to conscious life. The terrible condition of the whole peninsular of Italy, with the sole exception of the courageous little kingdom of Sardinia, has attracted the attention of Europe, and led statesmen of all parties to ask the question we have now propounded. In our own country, Lord Lyndhurst in the House of Lords, and Lord John Russell in the House of Commons, have given expression to the feelings of the people; and have elicited from the government the satisfactory statement, that every means will be taken to promote the welfare of the States, to repress the iron rule of despotism, to secure an enlightened and civilized freedom, and to gain for persecuted Protestants the liberty to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. Considerable interest has been awakened among the liberal party in the Church of Rome by the degraded position in which the Pope is placed. Many of the high dignitaries of the Church consider that his temporal position is derogatory to his spiritual authority and power. They would gladly see him abdicate a throne which has been deprived of its splendours. The city, which was once the mistress of the world, has become a place of comparative insignificance; and derives what little value it possesses from the relics of art, which attract the crowds of visitors, and are the mementos of its past

grandeur. They feel that the spiritual power is impaired by the temporal: that the head of the universal church, whose will is law, and whose authority infallible throughout the world, is degraded by being the sovereign of a petty state; and that if he were to renounce his sway over that small territory, the blessing of heaven would so testify to his magnanimity, that the whole world would soon lie prostrate at his feet. A celebrated Abbe in France has lately published a scheme, which, he says, is to restore the ancient grandeur of the Church. He proves clearly enough, though he forgets the consequences of it to his church, that residence at Rome does not constitute papal authority; that the Pope could just as much be the vicar of Christ at Antioch and Jerusalem as at Rome; and that when circumstances justified his removal from the eternal city, he did not hesitate to transfer his see to other places. He proposes, therefore, that the sacred city be forsaken, the Pope abdicate his throne, the conclave of Cardinals be broken up, the ecclesiastics be removed from the secular offices they now hold, and the very name of Rome be expunged from the transactions of the church. Jerusalem can be purchased for the residence of his holiness; Palestine can again become the Holy Land; a railway can be constructed to the Mediterranean and the Bosphorus, to facilitate journeys to the Pope; and the church itself will be raised in the opinion of the world, and exert from the very spot where the Saviour died a mighty influence. We need not be surprised to learn that this scheme finds little favour at Rome. The Pope, it is said, is weary of his honours, and would gladly flee from the city; but the ruling council, with Cardinal Antonelli at its head, is determined to resist any innovation, crowds every post with ecclesiastics, rejects every attempt to ameliorate the condition of the city, treats even the first powers iu Europe with contempt, and seeks to bind the nations by concordats, which only stir up contention, and produce strife. Some strange events will yet transpire on the Italian soil. The growth of fifteen centuries cannot be removed in a day. The roots are deep, and wide spread; and when the storm which is to tear them up arises, we may expect to see such terrible things as have scarcely ever been witnessed by men. We must wait and watch, and be prepared.

THE BENCH OF BISHOPS. There is a well-known and oft-repeated proverb, "It never rains but it pours." Lately there has been quite a stir among a certain class which is very seldom subject to many changes, and hardly ever to a single innovation. A bishop was considered to be endowed with qualities which elevated him beyond the reach of human infirmities. It was thought impossible that he could be incapacitated by sickness, except when he paid the last debt due to mortality; or that his faculties could become impaired, and his limbs tottering. He lived to the utmost bound, yea he was privileged to pass the limit of human existence; his death was an event ultimately expected and provided for; but that he should ever wish to resign his duties, when he felt he could not discharge them, was a supposition almost too fictitious to be entertained. The entire nation has, therefore, been taken with surprise by the announcement that the aged and infirm bishops of London and Durham have intimated their wish to resign their office. It is an innovation entirely unlooked for. Kings, queens, and people have more than once desired them to resign, but without effect; and without a special act of parliament, it appears their resignation could not be accepted. Another novel feature connected with their case is, that they receive a pension on retiring, of such an amount as no other person has ever received. The Bishop of London, who for a quarter of a century has enjoyed an income of more than twenty-five thousand a year, retires with £6000 a year and his palace at Fulham; and the Bishop of Durham, who has long received more than fifteen thousand a year, carries off £4,500 a year. The affair has created a stir among all parties: the high church party, with the Bishop of Oxford at the head, affirmed that Parliament should have nothing to do with the affair; and that the Primate and the Bench of Bishops should arrange all ecclesiastical matters. Nothing would better please the Tractarians than the liberation of the Church from the control of the State. The low church party were indignant at the large pensions, and at the character of the transaction. Simony is a crime in ecclesiastical law, and no clergyman is allowed to possess an interest in or to benefit by the labours of another rector or vicar. The charge, therefore, was