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will see the same grace, wisdom, and strength exemplified in a new, and for us, at that time, vast undertaking. But his grace is sufficient, and has been manifested to be so "all my journey through," so that I can always sing, or have always cause to sing, of mercy and judgment." I will not occupy your time, however, by any long preamble, but proceed at once to copy from the Diary; my extract commences with 1841. July 4th, Sunday.-Our school is crammed full, we have 171 girls, and 154 boys.

Monday, 5th.-Mr. J. and I having consulted together, have resolved that we must have more room for the Sunday scholars; we have waited this evening on Capt. D. and asked him to give us a piece of the waste, not far from the church, to build a new school on; he consented to give us the piece we asked for, and five guineas towards the building. This we considered a good beginning.

To-night, our conversation was on Matt. xvi. 17, 18. Thou art Peter, &c. The following is the substance of the views entertained on this passage. The rock on which Christ builds his church is himself, but here it means the confession of faith which Peter had made, and which is called the foundation of the apostles and prophets. The keys of the kingdom of heaven, not some thing peculiar to Peter or the apostles, but the preaching of the gospel, by which God's people are introduced into a state of Christian fellowship and privileges; Peter was the first who preached the gospel to the Jews, (Acts ii.), and to the Gentiles, (Acts x.); binding and loosing simply denotes the effect wrought by preaching, (2 Cor. iv.), a savour of life unto life, &c.

Tuesday. The builder came and measured the ground for the school, he is to let us have an estimate of the whole cost on Thursday. In the afternoon, with some friends, walked over to Chowbent to see the new schools; they are of the same size we wish ours to be, but cost £770., then to Leigh, where they are building schools much larger, which will cost but £800.

At the teacher's meeting this evening, the proposed

erection was named, and they are all delighted with the thoughts of it, if the funds can be raised.

Wednesday. This evening I met a friend or two to talk about the proposed schools, but they are very low about it, thinking it quite impracticable, so I had to strengthen their faith, instead of being helped.

Saturday, 10th.-We have agreed to hold a meeting of the friends of the school on Tuesday evening next, but I have already sent letters to different friends to solicit aid, and to-day received a letter from a very kind nobleman, a neighbour, who has promised £20.

Tuesday, 13th.-This afternoon, with my excellent friend Mr. J., arranged our plans for the meeting; prepared our book for a list of subscriptions, in which, we expressed the ground of our confidence, writing on the first page, "Our help is in the Lord;" we also determined not to adopt the worldly expedient of keeping some pages for large donations, and some for smaller, but that we would enter every subscription as it was obtained, whatever the amount. About thirty persons attended the meeting; there seemed to be but one feeling amongst them,-a new school must be had. It was arranged that we would endeavour to raise funds to build two good rooms, each to contain 1200 square feet, and to leave no stone unturned. A committee was formed, and I undertook to go with one or other of the committee, as a companion, to call on every person in Astley, to solicit donations, and then to go to all our friends in the neighbouring towns and villages. The cost of the undertaking is estimated at £445. Subscriptions were entered into at once which amounted, with those already promised, to £64. When we broke up. Mr. said, "I am afraid yet we shall never accom-plish it," " but," replied I, "I am sure we shall."

Wednesday.--After breakfast this morning, Mr. T. accompanied me from house to house through one part of the village; we met with a kind reception, and all persons and parties seem inclined to lend a helping hand. The amount promised this morning is £6. 1s. 6d. I said all parties, but that is rather too general; one influential person said he would

give nothing, another that he would consider of it. Thursday, 15th.-Out all day; one of the committee accompanied me in the morning, another in the afternoon. The kind feeling manifested by almost all the people, is quite astonishing.

Friday, 16th.-Out again all the day. All give something, according to their means, or their goodwill towards it. The total is upwards of £93.

Saturday, 17th.-Out again this afternoon. Had a long walk to the extreme end of the village. The subscriptions now amount to £101. 11s., besides work done by the farmers with their teams, worth seven or eight more; met the committee, and reported

success.

Monday, 19th.-The subscriptions now amount to £128.

To-day I was obliged to leave home to fulfil a long standing engagement, to meet a few friends and brother clergymen at L.; arrived there about six o'clock. We had a pleasant and profitable conversation during three days, and I then went to Oxford to settle some business, and returned home late in the evening of Saturday the 24th.

Sunday, 25th.-One of my texts to-day was Psalm lxv. 4. I. A description of an individual in a state o blessedness, and the description is drawn from what God has done and is doing for him; he has chosen him, caused him to approach that he may dwell in his courts, now, by faith,-hereafter, really and locally, &c.

II. The blessedness of this person: in life and in death, in sorrow, or in gladness, he has God for his Father and his friend.

III. His satisfaction,- satisfied with the goodness of the Lord's house; with the all-sufficiency and complete righteousness of the Lord Jesus,

Monday, 25th.-Our subscription now reaches £138. 9s.

Tuesday. In the afternoon I went out with Mr. H., and we collected about five pounds. Mr. F., an attorney in Manchester, has promised ten pounds, and to do all the conveyancing without any charge

for his own professional assistance. He is a native of our village. This evening the committee met, and decided to have both rooms on the ground floor: each room will be 40 feet by 30, and about 400 square yards of playground to each.

Wednesday, 28th.-Received the following kind letter from the Bishop.

DEAR SIR,

My numerous calls do not commonly allow me to subscribe to schools, but Astley may be made an exception if you will accept the small token of good will enclosed, £5. I presume that you have had separate communications with the Natl. Socy., but it did not appear on the face of the statement why a room was wanted for a school already existing.

I am, dear sir, faithfully yours,

J. B. CHESTER.

Saturday, 31st.-The committee met this evening, £146. 16s. have been collected, besides a promise of labour and materials, at least £14. more.

August 1st, Sunday.-A new month, week, and day begins; may it be the beginning of new hopes, new joys, new praises, and a new song. The day was gloomy but dry; my subject, in the morning, John xix. 48., "It is finished." What is finished? the work the Father gave him to do, (xvii. 4.), which was to finish transgression, make an end of sin, and bring in an everlasting righteousness,-the type, the promise, the prophecy, all finished in Him.

In the afternoon, John vi. 38. "I am that bread of life." 1st. How is Christ the bread of life? 2nd. How did he become so? How do we feed on Him, and enjoy him as such?

Evening, Eph. ii. 5. "By grace ye are saved." 1st. The people saved, really, from eternity, experimentally, by faith. 2nd. The method or cause,-by

grace.

Wednesday, 4th.-Finished calling at all the houses in Astley for subscriptions for the schools.

Monday, 9th.-With a friend, and member of the

committee, went on through Bedford to Leigh, and obtained thirteen pounds.

Wednesday, 11th.-Went out with Mr. J. and Mr. S. to Bedford, Leigh, and Tyldesley, and got above twelve pounds.

Friday, 13th.-Went to Manchester among the manufacturers, in whose employ most of the operatives are, and other friends, and collected £12. 10s. The subscription now amounts to £204., besides offers of labour, &c.

Monday, 16th.-Had another morning out, and collected between four and five pounds.

Tuesday, 17th.-My brother has arrived. He is to undertake the building. He will make all the plans, and do everything in the best way, and moreover, employ all the persons in the village of the different trades, and labourers, and so on.

Monday, 23rd.-This morning, at six o'clock, we made a commencement, set several labourers to work digging the foundations of the schools. Collected two pounds more.

Thursday, 26th.-A grant from the Committee of Council of £200. towards the school, and a handsome donation of twenty pounds from Messrs Walker, of Manchester, made known to-day.

Friday, 27th -A ten pound note came to hand this morning, from Mr. Lyons, of Appleton Hall.

Monday, 30th.-The bricklayers began to-day in good earnest; the boats, loaded with timber, slates, &c., came up to-day, and I had to be very busy getting carts and horses together, to bring them to the spot.

Sepr. 1st. The committee have met to-night, and agreed to alterations and improvement in the plans to the amount of £76. more. These were agreed to with very faint hearts, as it is thought we shall have great difficulty in obtaining it.

Thursday, 2nd.-The work advances rapidly; we had fourteen carts employed to-day, fetching bricks.

Saturday. One of the committee who was not here the other evening, called this morning; he seems quite alarmed at the order given for the improvement in the rooms.