see it consistent with their duty to receive his demission. There was also laid on the table a schedule filled up by him, applying to be admitted as an annuitant on the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund. The members of presbytery were then heard, when it was agreed to remit to the congregation for reconsideration the subject of the annual provision for Mr Alexander, and that meanwhile the demission lie on the table. Next meeting of presbytery to be at Brucklay, on Tuesday after second Sabbath of January 1865.

Dunfermline.-This presbytery met on the 4th of October-The Rev. Mr Reid, moderator. The following students in divinity-viz., Mr David Drysdale, of the fourth year; Messrs William Bonnar, James Rothnie and Alexander Wares, of the third; Mr James Henderson, of the second; and Messrs Alexander M'Dowall and Thomas Johnstone of the first-were regularly certified from the last session of the Hall, and, with the exception of Mr Rothnie, who was, at his request, transferred to the Presbytery of Aberdeen, had subjects of discourse prescribed to them. Two of these have come into the bounds of the presbytery by transference, viz., Mr Henderson from the Presbytery of Cupar, and Mr Wares from the Presbytery of Elgin. The usual committee for superintending their studies during the recess of the Hall was re-appointed, under the convenership of Dr Johnston. On an intimation from the Rev. Mr More, of his desire, on account of age and growing infirmity (being now in the 77th year of his age and 51st of his ministry), to be admitted an annuitant on the Fund for Aged and Infirm Ministers, the presbytery appointed a committee, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Johnston and Mr Michael, with Messrs Young and Russell · Dr Johnston, convener, to meet with the congregation of Cairneyhill on an early convenient opportunity, and make the necessary arrangement for the attainment of the object desired by Mr More. Said committee met recently with the congregation, and the following arrangement was adopted, viz., that supply of sermon by preachers, for every alternate Sabbath, or every alternate two Sabbaths, shall be obtained at the expense of the congregation, beginning at the next April distribution of the probationers, with a view to one being called and ordained as assistant and successor to Mr More: That the congregation shall allow Mr More a retiring provision of £30 per annum, with the manse and adjoining premises hitherto occupied by him. This part of the arrangement to take effect at Whitsunday 1865, when it is expected he will begin to enjoy the benefit of the annuity fund; and to be subject to re-consideration when one shall

be ordained as his colleague and successor. -The presbytery met again on the 13th of December, when the committee reported that arrangement, which was cordially approved and sanctioned by the presbytery, with thanks to the committee, and the further steps were taken, necessary to Mr More being admitted on the foresaid fund. The Rev. Mr Young, convener of the presbytery mission committee, made a statement regarding the funds for the support of the missionary, and a public meeting which is in contemplation to be held in Dunfermline on the subject, and obtained permission to apply to the Home Board for the portion of the expense it has agreed to pay. The Rev. James N. Miller, secretary to the Sabbath Alliance for Scotland, being present, addressed the presbytery on the extensive desecration of the Sabbath by the North British Railway Company in running both goods and ordinary passenger trains. Having heard his statements, and tendered him thanks, the presbytery, after some deliberation, agreed in appointing the Rev. Messrs M'Dowall and Mathieson a committee to prepare a remonstrance and petition to the directors of said Railway, against their conduct in running goods and ordinary passenger trains on the Lord's day; the petition to be signed in name of the presbytery by the moderator and clerk, and sent to the Rev. Sir H. Moncreiff before the 20th current. Took into consideration the remit of the overture anent the status of the Home and Foreign Mission Secretaries of the Church, read the overture, and after some discussion agreed to report that, while entertaining very high respect and consideration for them both, it is the unanimous opinion of the presbytery, that the overture should not be adopted. The Rules for the Examination of Students for Admission to the Hall, by the Board that has been appointed for the purpose, were read, examined, and cordially approved by the presbytery. Dr Johnston called the attention of the presbytery to the subject of contribution to the Manse Scheme. The matter, it appeared, has been attended to in several of the congregations, and it was recommended to the others to attend to it as soon as convenient. Agreed to hold next meeting of presbytery in Dunfermline, on Tuesday, the 7th February, and that several of the students that were named for the duty shall each give one of their discourses at that time.

Edinburgh. This presbytery met on 6th December-Rev. A. L. Simpson, moderator. Rev. David M'Ewan presented a report from the committee on the clerkship, proposing a minute to be entered on the records expressive of the high sense enter

tained by the presbytery of the services of the Rev. Dr Smart as clerk, and of regret that he should feel it necessary to withdraw from the discharge of any part of the duties of that office; but stating that they had not seen their way to recommend, in the present state of presbytery funds, such an addition to the annual expenditure as the proposal of a conjunct-clerkship seemed naturally to involve, and, therefore, that they must leave the whole matter in the hands of the presbytery. After some discussion it was unanimously agreed to send it back to the committee to consider by what means the funds can be increased, so as to enable the presbytery to give a suitable salary to each of the conjunctclerks. The Rev. William Marshall, Rev. John Black, Mr Gowans, and others, appeared as commissioners with a call addressed to the Rev. W. Girdwood, Penicuick, from the York Place congregation, Perth, and reasons of translation. Commissioners were also present from Penicuick. The papers having been read, and parties heard, Mr Girdwood expressed his intention to give his decision at next ordinary meeting of presbytery. A petition was presented from the Junction Road congregation, Leith, for the appointment of one to moderate in a call to a colleague and successor to the Rev. Francis Muir: the stipends of the two ministers to be £250 each. The petition was granted, and Dr Thomson was appointed to moderate on the 22d December. A letter was read from the Rev. Dr Jack in reply to the communication from the presbytery, intimating the proposal of the congregation to grant him £30 as his retiring salary. The letter was to the effect, that in this offer the congregation was resiling from its former engagements, the more especially as Dr Jack had unconditionally relinquished the manse, and asking the presbytery to re-arbitrate in his favour. The letter was remitted to the committee of presbytery, to consider and report thereon at next meeting. The same committee, by its convener, Mr Rennie, reported in reference to the second congregation, Dunbar (Mr Scott's), that on meeting with the session and managers, the question of union with the first congregation (Dr Jack's) had been raised; that the committee had consequently held meetings with the elders and managers of the respective congregations, and a joint meeting with said parties, at which there were indications of a disposition on both sides friendly to union; and that the committee thought it right at this stage of the negotiations to ask the sanction of the presbytery to their meeting with the respective congregations on the same subject. The

presbytery agreed to take this request into consideration at an interim meeting of presbytery on the 20th December, to be held for the despatch of this and other business. The committee appointed to inquire into the reported insolvency of the Rev. R. D. Duncan gave in their report. The presbytery thereupon agreed to request Mr Duncan's attendance at the meeting on the 20th, in order to give the necessary explanations, and also to request him to abstain from the exercise of his pastoral functions until the case should be brought to an issue. A number of discourses were delivered by the students on trials for licence, and the presbytery adjourned.-The presbytery met again on the 20th Decemberthe Rev. George Deans, moderator pro tem. Additional trial discourses for licence were Idelivered by the students. A letter was read from the Rev. R. D. Duncan, intimating that a severe and lengthened attack of sciatica incapacitated him from attendance at the meeting of presbytery, and requesting that a deputation of presbytery should visit him at his own house. With this request the presbytery complied; and a deputation having been appointed, retired to perform this duty. The committee in the case of the Dunbar congregations reported on the letter from Dr Jack, narrating the facts of the case, and concluding with the recommendation, that although the first congregation, Dunbar, is reduced in numbers and strength, they should be urged to reconsider their resolution anent Dr Jack's retiring allowance, and if possible to increase it. This report was adopted. The presbytery then took up the proposal of a union between the Dunbar congregations, and the request of the committee to have the presbytery's sanction to meetings of the congregations on the subject under the direction of the committee. After a long discussion, a vote was taken—‘grant,' or not grant,' the committee's request, when seventeen voted 'grant,' and seven 'not grant,' a large number of members of presbytery declining to vote. The deputation of presbytery appointed to visit Mr Duncan having returned and reported, it was agreed to continue the deputation as a committee, and that they should again confer with him if continued illness prevented him attending the next meeting of presbytery.

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Elgin and Inverness.-This presbytery met at Forres on the 13th December-the Rev. Adam Lind, moderator pro tem. petition from the congregation of Archiestown, for the moderation of a call, having been presented, and commissioners from the congregation having been heard in support of the petition, it was agreed, before granting a moderation, to correspond

with the Synod's Mission Committee, as to the amount of supplement in the event of a settlement. The clerk read a communication from the Home Mission Committee, making proposals in regard to arrangements with supplemented congregations for the three years ending 1st October 1867. The proposals in the case of three of the supplemented congregations having been acquiesced in by those congregations, were sanctioned by the presbytery; and the clerk was instructed to correspond with the other supplemented congregations before next meeting of presbytery, with a view to the carrying into effect of the proposed arrangements. Mr Whyte, convener of the mission committee, having read a digest of the statistics of the various congregations of the presbytery with regard to numbers and income, the thanks of the presbytery were given to Mr Whyte, for the pains taken by him in preparing the document. The clerk was instructed to prepare before next meeting a statement as to the attendance of ministers on the meetings of presbytery during the present year. Mr Watson, convener of the committee for the examination of students, reported that the committee had examined Mr Renwick, student (transferred from the Presbytery of Arbroath), on Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and that the committee had felt highly satisfied. It was agreed, at the request of Mr Main for advice, that the presbytery have a conversation at next meeting with reference to the administering of baptism to parents who are not members of the Church. Mr Hugh Hill, student, having given in the remaining parts of trials for licence to the satisfaction of the presbytery, was licensed to preach the gospel, and suitable exhortations were addressed to him by the moderator. Next meeting was appointed to be held at Nairn, on Tuesday after the second Sabbath of January 1865.

Falkirk. This presbytery met on the 6th December-the Rev. W. Miller, moderator. The Rev. Adam Welsh reported that he had implemented the appointment of presbytery by preaching and moderating in a call at Airth, for a colleague to the Rev. James Somerville, when Mr William Leith, probationer, was unanimously chosen. The call and relevant papers were laid upon the table, when the presbytery approved of the moderator's conduct, and unanimously sustained the call, appointed trials for ordination, and instructed the clerk to have Mr Leith's answer in due time. The presbytery appointed the Rev. Hugh Baird a member of the Mission Board, to serve four years. The parties from Kilsyth were heard on the merits of

their case, when the presbytery found that they could not issue the case at the present stage, but agreed to summon the session of Kilsyth, especially Mr James Anderson, visiting elder, and Mr Samuel Dickson, the appellant, to appear at next meeting of presbytery, that the case may be investigated more fully. Next meeting on 7th February, at 11 A.M.

Glasgow. This presbytery met on 13th December-Mr Barr of Airdrie, moderator. The clerk read extract minutes of a meeting of the Lanark Presbytery, at which the Rev. John M'Luckie had declared his acceptance of the call from the Uddingston congregation, and had been accordingly loosed from his charge. The presbytery appointed Mr M'Luckie's induction to the pastoral charge of the church at Uddingston to take place on the 4th of January-Mr Cameron to preach, and Mr Mitchell to preside on the occasion. Mr Young reported that he had, along with the other commissioners from the Regent Place congregation, proceeded to Melrose. He laid upon the table an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Melrose Presbytery, bearing that the Rev. Alexander Oliver of Galashiels had accepted the call given to him by the congregation at Regent Place. The induction of Mr Oliver to his new charge was fixed to take place on the 26th January. The clerk stated that he had received a letter from Mr Middleton, bearing that in consequence of continued ill health he was unable to attend to the care of the congregation, and requesting that the presbytery should appoint the Rev. David Young as moderator of the session. The request was granted. The clerk read a communication which he had received from the session of the congregation at Oban, praying the presbytery to moderate in a call for a pastor for the church. This was agreed to, and the 26th of January was fixed for the purpose. In consequence of the lateness of the hour, and the thinness of the meeting, it was agreed, on the motion of Dr James Taylor, to delay taking up the consideration of the question as to the overtures in regard to the status in the Synod of mission secretaries, till one o'clock at the next meeting of presbytery. In accordance with remits, several other overtures, to come before the next meeting of Synod, were considered by the presbytery. The various clauses of these were read over in detail, and were, after several slight modifications and alterations had been suggested, approved of. After examining and hearing discourses from several students, the presbytery adjourned.

Hamilton.-A pro re nata meeting of this presbytery was held on the 30th Novem

ber-the Rev. Mr M'Lay, moderator, who stated his reasons for calling this meeting; and his conduct in doing so was approved of. Various communications from the clerk of the London Presbytery were read, bearing that a unanimous call from the congregation at Aldershot had been addressed to the Rev. Mr Leys, to become their minister; and the clerk reported that he had taken the usual steps regarding the same, according to the rules of the Church. The Rev. H. M. MacGill appeared as commissioner for Aldershot congregation, and the Rev. H. A. Paterson, and Messrs Granger, Watson, and Hamilton, as commissioners from First Church, Strathaven. The reasons of translation and answers thereto were read; the commissioners from the respective congregations were heard; the pleadings in the cause were held to be finally concluded; and Mr Leys was instructed to give his decision at next meeting. The presbytery met again on the 15th December. Mr Leys was called upon to give his decision in reference to the call from the church at Aldershot, when he declined acceptance of the same, and it was set aside accordingly. The moderator intimated this to the Rev. Dr George Jeffrey, commissioner for Aldershot congregation; and the clerk was instructed to send notice of the decision to the London Presbytery.

Ireland. The stated quarterly meeting of this presbytery was held in Belfast on Tuesday, 29th November. The Rev. James Fleming, moderator, having constituted the meeting by prayer, and the minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Rev. David Mair, A.M., was appointed moderator for the next twelve months, and took the chair accordingly. The clerk read a letter from Mr James C. Balderston, preacher, intimating his acceptance of the call addressed to him by the congregation of Boveedy. Mr Balderston thereupon proceeded to deliver discourses on the subjects previously assigned to him, and was also examined in Hebrew and Greek by Dr Bryce, and in Church History by Dr M'Intyre. The presbytery unanimously and very cordially sustained Mr Balderston's exercises, and appointed his ordination to take place at Boveedy on Thursday, 12th January-Mr Kinloch to preach, Mr Fitzpatrick to explain and defend Presbyterian ordination, Dr M'Intyre to ordain, Dr Bryce to address the minister, and Mr Mair the people. It was reported that all the congregations within the bounds of the presbytery, with one exception, had made collections in aid of the Synod's Fund. The Rev. Dr M'Intyre gave notice that, at next meeting of presbytery, he would move that an annual report of the

state of each congregation under the care of the presbytery be printed and circulated amongst the members. The Revs. Dr Bryce, Hugh Smythe, and James M. Kinloch, ministers, with Mr William M'Roberts, elder (Mr Smythe, convener), were appointed a committee on statistics. The presbytery was engaged during the rest of the day, and also at an evening sederunt, in considering some matters connected with the progress of mission work in Derry and Tyrone. Appointed the next ordinary meeting to be held in Belfast on the last Tuesday in February.

Kelso. This presbytery met on the 13th December. A sermon was preached by the Rev. H. Renton, the retiring moderator, from Isaiah xxi. 11- 'Watchman, what of the night?' Afterwards the meeting was constituted by the new moderator -Rev. R. Whyte. A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr Renton for his sermon. The usual annual conversation on the state of the congregations was deferred till the yearly digest of statistics should be before the court in February-Rev. Mr Renton, and the clerk, with one elder, being appointed as a committee to prepare the same; all returns being required to be forwarded to the clerk, as convener, on or before the 1st day of that month. A full attendance of the presbytery elders was also ordered. Mr Thomas Cockburn, student of divinity, was transferred to the Edinburgh Presbytery. Mr John Rutherford, student of the second year, was examined in Latin to the satisfaction of the presbytery, and his examination in Theology and Hermeneutics remitted to a committee. Subjects of examination were appointed to Mr John Paterson, student of the fourth year, to be given in April; and examinators for the next twelve

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months were appointed. The arrangements recommended by the presbytery for pastoral supplement in the case of the congregation of Leitholm, having been assented to by the Home Committee of the Board of Missions, was recorded. application from the same congregation, supported by Messrs Hay and Middlemiss, commissioners to the Board for Manses, was adopted and transmitted, and a visit solicited in January next of one of the deputies of the Board to address the congregations. On the subject of the overture from the Presbytery of London, proposing that the Home and Foreign Secretaries be made constituent members of Synod, with a right to vote therein, which had been sent down to presbyteries and sessions to report at next meeting, Mr Renton, pursuant to notice, moved as follows: That no man ought to be an integral member of Synod, having a deli

berative vote, who is not the official representative, as minister or elder, of a congregation; and that every advantage to be derived by a mission secretary from having a voice in the Synod, and the Synod in having his aid on any subject, is secured by his being ex officio a corresponding member; therefore the presbytery disapprove of the mission secretaries having a deliberative vote;' which motion was seconded by Mr Miller. It was moved by Mr Jarvie, seconded by Mr Cairns, that the motion of Mr Renton lie on the table till next meeting. The members having expressed their sentiments seriatim, it was agreed, with Mr Renton's concurrence, to adjourn the discussion till next meeting. A committee, consisting of the moderator, with Messrs Milne, Hay, and Thos. Scott-Mr Hay, convener-was appointed to take into consideration the whole subject of presbytery dues, and to report. The next meeting was fixed for the 14th day of February, 1865.

Kilmarnock.-This presbytery met on the 13th of December-Rev. Alex. M'Gregor, moderator. Mr Copland, pastor-elect to the congregation at Cathcart Street, Ayr, gave his trials for ordination, which were unanimously sustained, and the ordination appointed to take place on Wednesday, the 4th January next, at twelve o'clock noonMr Thomas to preside, Mr Alston to preach, and Mr Hutton to address the minister and congregation. Mr Thomas, Mauchline, gave part of his trials for licence, which was sustained; the remaining part expected at next meeting. Mr M'Innes reported that, in accordance with the appointment of the presbytery, he had preached on the evening appointed to the congregation at Patna. At the conclusion of the services he had called upon the congregation to elect a pastor, when Mr. James Patrick, who had been labouring in Patna for some time, was proposed, seconded, and unanimously elected. The congregation had also appointed himself, and Messrs Prentice and Dickson, elders, to prosecute the call before the presbytery. The call was given in to the presbytery, signed by fortyseven members, and a paper of adherence, signed by twenty-nine ordinary or occasional hearers. The presbytery approved of the conduct of Mr M'Innes, sustained the call, and prescribed to Mr Patrick subjects of trials for ordination. The presbytery took up the case of Mr Ronald's tender of resignation of the clerkship-delayed at last meeting-which occasioned a good deal of discussion. Some were for asking Mr Ronald to continue, and to appoint an assistant, as had been proposed in a similar case in the Presbytery of Edinburgh, and some for receiving the resignation and

proceeding to choose a new clerk. The plan of an assistant-clerk was thought a measure that would not be satisfactory. If the presbytery has felt prepared to choose a clerk, Mr Ronald said he would like that best; but if they did not feel prepared for this, he would continue for a short time. The vote was then put, accept or delay for a year?-when it carried delay, by twentyeight against five. The presbytery being called to nominate an elder to represent them in the Home Mission Board, unanimously made choice of James Mitchell, Esq., writer, Glasgow, requesting him to accept. A schedule of queries from the Synod's Manse Board to the congregation of Countess Street, Saltcoats, with their answers, was read, and the presbytery agreed to transmit the same to the Board, as what they had reason to believe correct. The overture sent down by the Synod for making the Synod's Home and Foreign Mission Secretaries members of church courts was considered, and disapproved of. Mr Cairns gave in a report respecting the collections for missionary operations during the past year, drawing the average per member in each congregation. He also brought up a recommendation that a committee be appointed to correspond with the ministers and sessions in regard to denominational and congregational collections, with the view of endeavouring to secure to each congregation an opportunity of regularly contributing to the various objects in which the Church is interested. The recommendation was sent to the committee on missions for consideration.

Kinross.-This presbytery met at Milnathort on Tuesday, the 13th DecemberRev. A. B. Grosart, moderator pro tem. Reports were received from the congregations of Edenshead and Pathstruie regarding the arrangements about supplement of stipend, and were forwarded to the Home Board with the cordial recommendation of the presbytery. Having resumed the consideration of the Synod's remit anent the status of the two secretaries, the presbytery unanimously resolved that it is inexpedient to alter the position which the secretaries now hold.

Kirkcaldy. This presbytery met at Bethelfield on the 5th December, and was constituted by the Rev. J. S. Hyslop, moderator. The clerk read a letter from the Rev. J. R. Kerr, Pittenweem, intimating that at next meeting he would move that the ordinary meetings of presbytery be held permanently at Leven, instead of alternately at Leven and Kirkcaldy as at present. A petition from the congregation of Dysart respecting supplement was laid on the table and read. After due deliberation, the presbytery unanimously