Agreeably to the recommendation of the aforesaid Committee, the Assembly instructed the Directors of the Theological Seminary to address the Christian public, on the subject of contributing to the funds of the important institution now or ganized and located.

The following application from the Synod of Albany, was overtured by the Committee of Overtures, that said Synod be divided in the manner following; viz.

That the Presbyteries of Londonderry, Columbia, Albany and Oneida, form the eastern division, and be constituted a Synod; to be called and known by the name of the Synod of Albany; and that they hold their first meeting in the Presbyterian Church in the city of Albany, on the first Wednesday in October next, at 11 o'clock, A. M. and that the meeting be opened with a sermon, by the Rev. Samuel Blatchford, D. D. and, in case of his absence, then by the oldest minister present. That the Presbyteries of Onondaga, Cayuga, and Geneva, form the western division, and be constituted a Synod; to be called and known by the name of the Synod of Geneva; and that they hold their first meeting, in the First Presbyterian Church in Geneva, on the first Wednesday in October next, at 11 o'clock, A. M. and that the meeting be opened with a sermon by the Rev. David Higgins, and, in case of his absence, then by the oldest minister present.

Resolved, That the Synod of Albany be divided as above; and it hereby is accordingly divided.

On overture was received from the Synod of the Carolinas, requesting the General Assembly to take upon them the direction of the Missionary business within their bounds. This overture being read, it was

Resolved, That the request of the Synod be granted; but at the same time the Assembly recommended it to the Synod to make all practicable exertions to increase the permanent and contingent funds of the Assembly, appropriated to the support of missions.

The Committee on the Commissioners' Fund, reported; and their report, being read, was adopted, and is as follows; viz.

Some of the Presbyteries have contributed liberally to the fund: but this liberality does not appear to characterize the Presbyteries generally. The Committee, however, declined naming any of the Presbyteries, as having contributed less than their proportion; inasmuch as several of the Commissioners from the most deficient Presbyteries, and from others, have declined, for the present, to receive any thing from the fund, that they may leave a better proportion to the distant commissioners. On the whole view of the present state and important design of the Commissioners' Fund, the Committee thought proper to submit to the Assembly the following resolutions, which were adopted; viz.

Resolved, That this Assembly view, with concern, the manifest inattention of many of the Presbyteries to raising and forwarding their reasonable proportions to the Commissioners' Fund. In consequence of which the Assembly foresee, that, if this inattention continue, the remoter parts of the churches, pressed with an unequal burden, from the circumstance of their distance, will have but a very small representation, in the future meetings of the Assembly; and that thereby the great objects of the Assembly, the preserving the union of the churches, and cherishing their interests in every part, however remote, will be greatly impeded, and, perhaps, finally defeated.

Resolved, therefore, that it be enjoined, and it is hereby enjoined on the Presbyteries, under the care of the Assembly, and especially on those that have been deficient, to pay a particular attention to this duty in future.

The Committee appointed by the last Assembly to report to this Assembly on the subject of disciplining baptized children reported; and the report, being read, was recommitted

to the same Committee for revision and publication: and it was resolved, that the Assembly, without expressing any opinion on the principles it contains, recommend it to the serious consideration of all the Presbyteries and ministers, that, in due time, a decision may be had on the important subjects, discussed in the report.

The Committee to which was referred the Synodical and Presbyterial reports, brought in their report; which, being read, was adopted, and is as follows; viz.

1. That they find, that all the Synods have reported, and also all the Presbyteries, except those of Lancaster, Abingdon, Union, Miami, Muhlenberg, West Tennessee, South Carolina, and Hopewell. Of these, the reports of Union, Miami and South Carolina, are contained in the Synodical reports of their respective Synods.

2. They state, that the report from the Synod of the Carolinas is very deficient, and also the reports of the Presbyteries which have reported from that Synod, except the Presbytery of Harmony. An important deficiency is also observed in the report of the Presbytery of Carlisle, in not containing any account of the number of communicants added last year. In view of these deficiencies,

Resolved, That it be enjoined on the Synod of the Carolinas, and the Presbyteries of Carlisle, Orange, and Concord, to be more careful in future to send up their reports, made up according to the blank forms prepared by the Assembly.

The Committee appointed to prepare and report to the Assembly a petition to the Congress of the United States, on the subject of the mail's being carried and opened on the Sabbath-day, reported a draft of a petition; which, being read, was adopted, and is as follows; viz.

The petition of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, to the honourable the Senate and house of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled,

Humbly sheweth,

That your petitioners view with deep regret, the infractions of the Lord's day occasioned by the opening of the mail on that day, and the circumstances accompanying such opening.

D

A variety of considerations, temporal and spiritual, combing in the judgment of your petitioners, to produce this regret. The institution of the Sabbath by the Creator and Ruler of the world, whilst it clearly proves his benevolent regard for men, imposes upon them the reasonable obligation of devoting this day to his service. He makes it their duty to rest from the toils and labours of six days, and requires from them that they should statedly assemble together for his worship on the seventh.

Both these objects contemplated by the institution of the Sabbath, the opening of the mail on that day and the circumstances accompanying it, do contravene and oppose. They who carry the mail, and they who open it, together with those to whom letters or papers are delivered, under the sanction of civil law, neglect the public worship of God in part or whole. Besides this, the noise and confusion attending the carrying and opening of the mail in post-towns, too frequently, in a most painful manner, disturb the devotion of those who prefer their spiritual, to their temporal, interests. Moreover, the carrying of the mail encourages persons to hire out their carriages on the Lord's day to those who have no fear of God before their eyes, thus adding to the open violation of the day. And to say no more, the brute creatures are made to work on this day over and above the six days; and thus are deprived of the rest to which they are entitled by the authority of God, whilst they are forced to administer to the cupidity of those who forget the truth, "that the righteous man is merciful to his beast.'

Your petitioners are the more deeply impressed with the' importance of observing the Sabbath, on account of the influence which such observance has in promoting true morality and social happiness.

On this day, all classes of men assemble together in the presence of God, on terms of perfect equality: for, in his presence, the ruler is not more important than the ruled; since both meet as sinners, needing the exercise of sovereign and free mercy.

On this day, they are taught from the scriptures, the only source of truth, their duty, their interest, and their happiness.

On this day, they unite, according to the direction of God, in prayers for all men; for magistrates as well as subjectsfor the nation as well as individuals-for every description of persons.

On this day, they manifest the gratitude which they owe to God for benefits received; thanking him for his mercies, and supplicating his grace.

The effects arising from the duties in which they engage, the instruction which they receive, and their assembling together before God, are all calculated to produce such a state of heart, and such a line of conduct, as directly promotes individual and social happiness.

Your petitioners are aware of the plea, which is used to justify the infractions of the Sabbath, of which they complain. Works of necessity, such as arise out of extraordinary circumstances, or such as are unavoidable for the support and comfort of life, together with works of charity, are admitted to be lawful: for God delighteth in mercy rather than sacrifice-But your petitioners cannot conceive that the ordinary occupations of life, in ordinary times, or the exercise of charity, require such infractions of the Sabbath, as are occasioned by the carrying or opening of the mail on that day. For the cases of sickness (to take one of the strongest and most plausi ble facts included in the plea of necessity) which are communicated by the mail, are too few, and happen at intervals too long, to justify the habitual breach of the Sabbath. As to the ordinary business of life, any prospect of gain, or fear of loss, cannot be admitted as legitimate causes for disobeying the command of God, to keep the Sabbath holy. No one ever yet has suffered, or will suffer, in obeying God, rather than his cupidity, his ambition, or his lusts.

Your petitioners, moreover, feel themselves constrained, in their office as rulers in the church, to exercise the discipline of that church against those of their members who break the Sabbath in carrying or opening the mail on that day. In doing this, they are not conscious of any disrespect to the civil authority of the land. They wish to render unto Cæsar, the things which are Cæsar's; but must, at every hazard, render unto God the things which are God's. In thus honouring God more than men, they trust that their motives will be respected, and their conduct approved.

Your petitioners are the more deeply impressed with the importance of a strict observance of the Sabbath, and the necessity of an alteration in the existing regulations of the post office, as far as they relate to the Sabbath, from the prospect of a war. As they firmly believe in the special providence of God, and that this providence is exercised according to those principles of truth revealed in the scriptures, they fear, and have just reason to fear, that the infractions of the Sabbath allowed by civil law will draw down upon our nation the divine displeasure. God honours those who honour him, and casts down them who forget him. Obedience to his will adds dignity to rulers, and enforces subjection in those who are ru led.

From all these considerations, which have been given in detail, your petitioners pray for such an alteration in the law