Presbyteries which have sent up reports, have given the number and names of ministers, congregations, and licentiates, and the number of candidates. They also report the number and names of those ministers who are settled pastors; and of those who are stated supplies or without charges. They report also the number of congregations supplied, and the number vacant; and of the vacancies, those which are able to support pastors. They report also the number of communicants, and of baptisms. Eighteen Presbyteries have reported collections for the Presbyterial fund, leaving 67 Presbyteries which have not reported-41 Presbyteries have reported for the Education fund, leaving 44 Presbyteries which have not reported; 47 Presbyteries have reported for the Missionary fund, leaving 38 which have not reported: and 55 Presbyteries for the Commissioners' fund, leaving 30 which have not reported. 14 Presbyteries have reported collections for one or other of the Theological Seminaries, leaving 71 which have not reported. The whole number of ministers reported by the above named 68 Presbyteries, is 985; of licentiates, 152; of candidates, 176; of congregations, 1524. Of the ministers, 635 are settled pastors, and 350 are stated supplies or without charge; and of the congregations, 944 are supplied, and 549 vacant. The number of communicants added last year in 720 congregations, is 9557; and the whole num. ber of communicants in 931 congrega. tions, is 99,674. The number of adult › baptisms in 457 congregations, is 1983; and of infant baptisms, in 751 congrega. tions, is 9397. Seventeen Presbyteries have made no reports on any subject to the present Assembly; but from the last reports received from 15 of these delinquent Presbyteries, it appears that they contained 150 ministers, and had under their care, 32 licentiates, 25 candidates, 251 congregations, and 9995 communicants. So that the whole number of ministers now ascertained to belong to the Presbyterian church in the United States, is 1135; the whole number of congregations returned, is 1775; of communicants, 109,667; of licentiates, 184; and of candidates for the gospel ministry, 201. It is much to be regretted, that in more than 700 of our churches we are still unable to ascertain even the number of communicants; and that all the Presbyterial reports are more or less imperfect. It is therefore recommended, that all the churches be directed by this Assembly to be careful to make their annual returns to their respective Presbyteries; and that the Presbyteries transmit to the Assembly their reports, in the precise forms pub. lished in the minutes of the last year. VOL. IV.Ch. Adv. The resolution of the last Assembly, requiring the Presbyteries to append to the commissions of their Commissioners, the distance that each will have to travel in coming to the General Assembly, was repealed. The Committee to whom was referred the communication from the Presbytery of Hanover, respecting the Theological Seminary under their care, reported in part, that they have had under considera tion the first inquiry contained in said communication, viz. Whether the General Assembly is willing to receive in trust, the permanent funds of the Institution, and manage them for its benefit; and recommend to the General Assembly the following resolution for adoption. Resolved, That said inquiry be referred to the Trustees of the General Assembly to report thereon. This resolution was adopted; and the inquiry of the Presbytery of Hanover was accordingly referred to the Trustees of the General Assembly. The committee appointed on a commu. nication from a committee of the managers of the United Foreign Missionary Society, made a report which was put on the docket. The judicial committee reported an appeal by Pope Bushnell, an appeal by Harvey Chapin, two appeals by Joshia B. Andrews, and an appeal by Charles Yale, with papers of directions in each, to be used by the Assembly, in hearing these appeals. The several appeals reported by the judicial committee, were put on the docket. The narrative of the state of religion was taken up, and being read by paragraphs, and amended, was adopted. Resolved, That it be committed to the Stated Clerk, and that he have 1000 copies printed, and distributed among the members of the Assembly. Adjourned till 4 o'clock this afternoon. Concluded with prayer. Four o'clock, P. M. The Assembly met and was constituted with prayer. The minutes of the last session were read. Mr. Zechariah Lewis, a ruling elder from the Presbytery of New York, appear. ed in the Assembly, and his commission being read, took his seat as a member. Mr. Gilbert resigned his seat to the Rev. Ebenezer Dickey, D. D. the principal mentioned in their commission. Mr. John Belville the alternate of Mr. Kirkpatrick, who yesterday obtained leave of absence, appeared in the Assembly, and took his seat as a member. The committee to whom was referred the report of the Board of Missions, recommend that the proceedings of the Board of Missions should be approved; 3 H and that the Trustees of the General Assembly should be instructed to issue warrants to pay the several sums due to the missionaries. This report was adopted, and the Trustees were directed to issue warrants accordingly. An extract from the minutes of the Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, was laid before the Assembly, recommending that the Plan, Article VI. Sect. 4, should be amended, so as to read as follows, viz. "Every student shall be obliged to write on such Theological and other subjects, as may be prescribed to him by the Professors. In the first year, every student shall be obliged to produce a written composition on such subjects, at least once in every month; in the second year, once in three weeks; in the third year, once in two weeks. Each student shall also commit to memory, a piece of his own composition, and pronounce it in public, before the professors and students, as frequently as in the judgment of the professors this exercise can properly be performed, when a due regard is had to the number who must engage in it, and to the other duties of the Seminary." On motion, it was resolved unanimously, That the above recommendation of the Board of Directors be adopted: and the plan of the Seminary, Art. VI. Sect. 4, is accordingly hereby amended as above stated. The following Extract from the minutes of the Board of Directors, was also laid before the Assembly, viz. Resolved, That it be recommended to the General Assembly to add to the salary of Professor Charles Hodge, the sum of $250 per annum, so as to make his salary $1250 per annum. Agreeably to the above recommendation of the Board, it was resolved, that the sum of $250 per annum be added to the salary of Professor Hodge. The Assembly resumed the consideration of the reference from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in relation to the ordination of Mr. Chambers. After further discussion of the subject at considerable length, the following resolution was adopted, viz. Resolved, That a committee of this Assembly, consisting of three, be appointed to attend at the meeting of the General Association of Connecticut to be convened at Stamford, in June next, to meet a similar committee of that Association, if said Association shall be pleased to appoint one; for the purpose of conferring on the grievance of which the Presbytery of Philadelphia complain; and of inquir. ing whether any, and if any, what further articles, or alteration of the present terms of intercourse between the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and the members of the congregational churches in Connecticut, may be expedient for the better promotion of the purity, peace, and Christian discipline of the churches connected with the two bodies; which further articles or alterations of the present terms of intercourse, if any shall be proposed by the joint committee, shall be submitted to the General Association of Connecticut, and to the General Assembly of 1827, for adoption or rejection. Resolved, That it be the order of the day for to-morrow morning to elect by ballot the committee contemplated in the above resolution. Adjourned till to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock Concluded with prayer. May 27, 9 o'clock, A. M. The Assembly met and was constituted with prayer. The minutes of the last session were read. Mr. Samuel Bayard, the principal named in the commission, appeared in the Assembly, and took the place of Mr. Poor, who yesterday obtained leave of absence. Mr. Handy, Mr. B. Strong, Mr. Barrows, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Fisk, had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. The committee on Mileage, made a report, which was adopted. Resolved, That the Trustees of the General Assembly, be directed to issue warrants for the payment of the several Commissioners, to the amount of $1537 41, agreeably to the report of the committee. Agreeably to the order of the day, the Assembly proceeded to receive the bal lots, for the committee to attend the General Association of Connecticut, which were committed to Mr. M'Cartee, Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. Taylor, to count them and report the result. The report of the committee on a communication from a committee of the managers of the United Foreign Missionary Society, was taken up, and after mature deliberation, it was Resolved, That the General Assembly do consent to the amalgamation of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and the United Foreign Missionary Society. Resolved further, That this General Assembly recommend the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the favourable notice and Christian support of the church and people under our care. The committee appointed to receive and count the votes for the committee to attend the next General Association of Connecticut, reported that the Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D. the Rev. John M'Dowell, D. D. and the Rev. Thomas M'Auley, D. B. were duly elected. Rev. Archibald Alexander, D. D. was appoint. ed first alternate, and the Rev. Ashbel Green, D. D. second alternate, to any of the members of the committee who may fail. Mr. Peters had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. Mr. Moderwell had leave of absence until Wednesday afternoon. Adjourned till 9 o'clock on Monday morning. Concluded with prayer. May 29, 9 o'clock, A. M. The Assembly met and was constituted with prayer. The minutes of the last session were read. Mr. M'Learn obtained leave to resign his seat to Mr. Charles Pierce, the alternate mentioned in their commission. Mr. Stewart and Mr. Jacob Gould had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. Overture No. 3, viz. A petition con. cerning the formation of a Presbytery, to consist of the missionaries and churches in the Cherokee nation, was taken up, and committed to Dr. Rice, Dr. Richards, and Mr. McElroy. Overture No. 4, viz. An application for the division of the Synod of Tennessee, was taken up, and committed to Mr. Reid, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Hamilton. Dr. Alexander obtained leave to resign his seat to Dr. Carnahan, the alternate named in their commission. Overture No. 5, On the observance of the Sabbath, was taken up and committed to Dr. Carnahan, Dr. Axtell, and Mr. Junkin. Mr. Colton had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. The Trustees of the General Assembly, to whom was referred the report of the committee on the application of the Presbytery of Hanover, relative to the Theolo... gical Seminary under their care, made a report on the point submitted to them, and their report was put into the hands of a committee on this subject. Overture No. 6, viz. An application for the promotion of a new Presbytery in the County of Chenango, and adjacent parts in the state of New York, was taken up, when the following resolution was adopt ed, viz. Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners be granted; and the Assembly hereby constitute the Presbytery of Che nango, to be composed of the Rev. Edward Andrews, and the Rev. Asa Donaldson, of the Presbytery of Otsego; the Rev. Elijah D. Wells, of the Presbytery of Cayuga; the Rev. Egbert Roosey, of the Presbytery of Columbia; and the Rev. Ambrose Eggleston of the Presbytery of Susquehanna-and to be bounded on the north by the Presbytery of Oneida; on the east by the Presbyteries of Otsego and Columbia; on the south by the Pres. bytery of Susquehanna; and on the west by the Presbyteries of Cayuga and Onondaga. 7 The Assembly direct the Presbytery so constituted and bounded, to meet in Oxford, on Thursday the 29th day of June, at 11 o'clock, A. M. and that the Rev. Asa Donaldson, or in case of his absence, the senior minister present, open the Presbytery with a sermon, and preside until a moderator be chosen; and the Presbytery of Chenango is hereby atached to the Synod of Geneva. Overture No. 7, viz. on the qualifications of the lay delegates who may be entitled to a seat in the General Assembly, was taken up, and committed to Dr. Richards, Dr. Axtell, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Hotchkin, Mr M'Cartee, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Maxwell, and Mr. Hornblower. Overture No. 9, relating to an amendment, in the form of government, Chap. XIII. Sect. 20, was taken up, and after considerable discussion, was committed to Dr. Janeway, Mr. Hodge, Mr. Jennings, Dr. Carnahan, and Mr. Adams. Resolved, That the Trustees of the General Assembly be instructed to inquire relative to a law of the state of Pennsylvania, which imposes a tax of 2 per cent on all bequests to any literary, moral, and religious objects, and to report to this Assembly if any, and if any, what measures ought to be pursued to remove the grievance. The committee on Mr. M'Crimmon's appeal from a decision of the Presbytery of Fayetteville, confirming his suspension from the communion of the church, for having married his deceased wife's sister, reported, that in their opinion, no relief can be given to the said M'Crimmon without an alteration of the Confession of Faith, Chap. XXIV. Sect. 4, the last clause of which declares, that "The man may not marry any of his wife's kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own; nor the woman of her husband's kindred nearer in blood than of her own;" but inasmuch as a diversity of opinion and practice obtains on this very important subject, your committee beg leave to sub. mit the following resolution, viz. Resolved, That the Presbyteries be and they are hereby directed to take this matter into serious consideration, and send up in writing to the next General Assembly, an answer to the question, whether the above quoted clause of our Confession shall be erased? The above report was adopted. The following protest was presented to the Assembly, and ordered to be entered on the minutes, viz. The undersigned begs leave to enter his solemn protest against the decision of the General Assembly, by which they postponed the location of the Western Theological Seminary for another year. 1. Because the churches under the care of the Western Synods, have already too long languished for the want of such an institution under the patronage and direction of the Assembly. 2. Because in his opinion, the decision is virtually setting up the site of the contemplated institution to the highest bidder, which he believes to be contrary to the genius and spirit of Christianity, and may have the effect finally to locate the Seminary on a spot, which will neither meet the wants nor wishes of a majority of the western churches. 3. Because the decision, in his opinion, is calculated to divide the attention, distract the counsels, and cut off the hopes of those sections of the western country, which most need such an institution, inasmuch as Alleghany Town appears to him to be too far east, Charlestown too far west; and the proposals from Walnut Hills are clogged and fettered with such conditions as will effectually prevent a co-operation of the western churches in favour of that site, however desirable the spot may be in itself. 4. Because the decision as it now stands, must effectually prevent the city of Cincinnati from making any further proposals for itself, and also prevent the churches in the west, from making any offers in its favour; though, all things considered, it is believed by many to be the most eligible site for a school of the prophets in the western country. 5. Because he cannot but indulge a hope that the General Assembly will yet consider this subject, and so alter or modify their decision as to render this protest unnecessary, in which case it shall be most cheerfully withdrawn. JOSHUA L. WILSON. The following protest was also offered and ordered to be entered upon the minutes, viz. The subscribers enter their dissent and protest, against the resolution by which Mr. Josiah Bissell was admitted as a member of this General Assembly for the following reasons: 1. Because he was neither an ordained minister, nor a ruling elder; and consequently he was destitute of the qualifica. tions which the constitution of our church requires in commissioners appointed by Presbyteries, as their representatives in this body. 2. Because he was not even a commit. tee-man, on which ground, some might, in existing circumstances, have been disposed to advocate his admission as a member. 3. Because he had not, either from the Constitution, or from the Conventional agreement, recorded in the Digest, pp. 297-299, the shadow of a claim to a seat in this house. T. M'Auley, John Chester, Ezra Stiles Ely, J. J. Janeway, Elisha P. Swift, Stephen N. Rowan, Henry R. Wilson, John Anderson, Samuel Martin, J. D. Baird, Thomas E. Hughes, Thomas Barr, Robert Dilworth, William Semple, George Junkin, J. M'Elroy, Conrad Speece, Charles Cummins, James Laurie, Alexander Campbell, E. W. Gilbert, Jacob R. Castner, John Munson, A. M‘Candless, Charles Hodge, James Coe, Donald M'Intosh, Francis Herron, Samuel Tait, William L. M'Calla, Thomas Alexander, George Potts, Samuel Hunter, Samuel Taylor, John Burtt, Robert Hamill, Isaac V. Brown, Obadiah Jennings, James Galbraith, S. S. Miles, William Dickey, Joshua W. Raynsford. A committee, consisting of Mr. Reid, Mr. Armstrong, and Mr. S. B. Wilson, were appointed to answer the preceding protest. The committee of Overtures, reported Overture No. 11, which was referred to the committee on the application for the division of the Synod of Tennessee. The Board of Education presented their report, which was read, accepted, and ordered to be printed in the appendix to the minutes. A nomination was made of persons to fill the vacancies in the Board of Educa tion. The election was made the order of the day for this afternoon. The subject of electing Directors of the Western Theological Seminary, for the present year, was committed to Mr. Jennings, Dr. Wilson, and Mr. Hamilton. A communication was received from the American Sunday School Union, which was committed to Mr. Nott, Mr. Hoge, and Mr. Younglove. The committee on the subject of electing Directors of the Western Theological Seminary reported, that it is inexpedient to elect a Board of Directors the present year. Resolved, That all proposals from the western country concerning the location of the Seminary, be forwarded to the Stated Clerk, the Rev. Ezra S. Ely, D.D. of Philadelphia, that he may submit them to the next General Assembly. Mr. Slaymaker, Dr. Richards, Mr. Miltimore, and Mr. Castner, had leave of absence from the remaining sessions of the Assembly. Adjourned till 4 o'clock this afternoon. Concluded with prayer. (To be continued.) OBITUARY. DIED, on 23d of June, in Salem, South Carolina, the REV. WILLIAM JAMES WILSON, pastor of Salem church, in the 29th year of his age. He had been ordained to the sacred office and installed only three months before; and with very flattering hopes of success. An affectionate people now deplore his loss, to them apparently so premature. Endowed by his God with most excellent talents, Mr. Wilson had cultivated the same with the utmost assiduity. To a mind richly stored with useful and various knowledge, he united a correctness of morals, almost from infancy irreproachable, and a modesty and evangelical piety truly interesting. These qualifications had made a way for him to the hearts of his congregation, and respect, confidence, and love, were the awards of his merit, which it was delightful for them to The Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church aeknowledges the receipt of the following sums for their Theological Seminary at Princeton, N.J. during the month of August last, viz. Of Rev. John Breckinridge, Lexington, Kentucky, for the Oriental and Biblical Literature Professorship Of Rev. Robert W. James, subscriptions in the vicinity of Indiantown, S. C. on Rev. Samuel S. Davis's paper, for the Southern Professorship $17 33 30 00 $47 33 View of Publick Affairs. EUROPE. London papers of the 25th of July, and Paris papers of the 24th, are, we believe, the latest which have reached this country, at the time we write. BRITAIN. It is impossible to describe the distress which existed at the date of the last accounts, in several parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, among the labouring poor; and indeed with many who till lately had not been accounted poor. Instances not a few are mentioned of individuals, and even families, who had scarcely tasted a mouthful of sustenance for two or three days-Some had actually starved to death. Such cases, however, were not numerous. Private liberality had been heavily taxed and munificently exercised, to relieve the wants of the necessitous. Yet it had never been equal to the demand; and the funds which it had supplied were, in some places nearly, and in others entirely exhausted. What was to be the issue none could certainly predict, but anticipations were of the most gloomy kind. Absolute starvation seemed to threaten a large portion of the population of the United Kingdom. The |