certainly recent statistics show that, to some extent, abundance of crime, and crimes of a higher order, are always connected with seasons of scarcity and bad trade, whereas increasing comfort is always attended not simply by the lessening of the amount of crime, but by the diminution of its more horrid features. The Report speaks as follows:

STATISTICS OF CRIME.

The notion that any considerable proportion of the crimes against property are caused by blameless poverty or destitution, we find disproved at every step. We cite the evidence of Mr. Wontner, the late governor of Newgate. Q. "Of the criminals that came under your care, what proportion, so far as your experience will enable you to state, were by the immediate pressure of want impelled to the commission of crime?" 4. "According to the best of my observation, scarcely one eighth." Q." Of the criminals thus impelled to the commission of crime by the immediate pressure of want, what proportion, according to the best of your experience, were previously reduced to want by heedlessness, indolence, and not by causes beyond the reach of common prudence to avert ?" A. “If we could thoroughly examine the whole of this class of cases, I feel confident that we should find that not one-thirtieth of the whole class of cases brought here are free from imputation of misconduct, or can be said to result entirely from blameless want." Mr. Chesterton, governor of Cold-Bath Fields Prison, states, "I directed a very intelligent yardsman, and one who had never, I believe, wilfully misled me, to inquire into the habits and circumstances of all in the yard (60 prisoners,) and the result was that he could not point out one who appeared to have been urged by want to commit theft." Mr. Bruges, the governor of Knutsford Gaol, stated:-" In the whole course of my experience, during twenty-two years as an officer and as a governor of a prison, I never met with a

case where a poor but honest, hard-working inhabitant of any place had been driven into crime by the pressure of distress."

The name of Mr. Chadwick is familiar to the great bulk of British readers, and it is difficult to say whether the praise with which he has been rewarded, or the abuse which has been heaped upon him, have been the more abundant; but certain it is that, with all his real or alleged imperfections, he has done well, and deserved well of his country. The Reviewers in the North British, we think, have formed a very just estimate of his character, and we have pleasure in recording their opinion:

To say that he has committed errors is but to say that he has attempted much; that he should be the object of jealousy and opposition is a matter of course, considering the nature of his exertions; but it would be difficult, we believe, to name any man not directly connected with the government of the country, to whom, according to impartial testimony, the public owes, or from whom it may yet expect, more valuable administrative improvements.

These are but samples of the Articles comprised in the Number, which are all good; those on Calvin and Lord Jeffrey particularly so. It is not a little gratifying to find such an account as is here given of the Great Critic and eminent Judge. We think there is enough in this Article to warrant a belief that he was the subject of Christian principle. Would that as much could be said for the great men whose captain he was, whose genius he inspired, and whose efforts he prompted, for the good of his country and the welfare of mankind!

LONDON OPERATIONS OF THE

WE are sure it will give the greatest satisfaction to our readers to learn that the Home Missionary Society has determined to commence, and has actually begun, an attack on the metropolis, with a view to the creation of new interests, and the helping on of that work to which the past agencies have proved so utterly incommensurate. It is truly gratifying, that the Independent body has of late betaken itself so zealously, and with so much success, to the work of chapel-building—a work which, it is to be hoped, will go on, not only without diminution, but with continued increase. The fact is not sufficiently attended to, that London is a great nation of itself—a nation not simply as the centre of an empire comprising enough of

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

wealth and station to form seven respectable kingdoms, but that, considered numerically, it is much more numerous than the whole nation of Scotland, with its adjacent Islands. It has been a great oversight, that organized bodies have not been formed in London long ago, first, for the collection of congregations, and, second, for the rearing of chapels. We conceive that, as the matter now stands, it is best. One society could not well embark in both; the Chapel Building Scheme is one of the highest merit, and will form work enough for one confederacy of benevolence, while the Home Missionary Society is the very body to deal with the subject of establishing new interests. We like much better their proceeding with the

metropolis, than if a new society for that purpose were to be established. We see many advantages attendant on the present plan, which could not be combined with a new movement. But we shall not, at present, go further, as we mean, at an early day, to deal with the entire question in all its length and breadth and in the meanwhile we shall set before our readers a communication relative to an edifice, in the way of erection, and an account of one already reared.

REV.

EBENEZER DAVIES AND THE NEW CHAPEL IN THE CALEDONIANROAD, PENTONVILLE.

To the Editor of the Christian Witness. SIR,-Some time ago you kindly said to me, "At your age and with your energies, in preference to any other engagement, I would fix upon some populous and growing district in the suburbs of London, go to work there, preach the Gospel, and gather a Christian Church out of the world. You would then have everything fresh and clean about you, and be doing a great good." Other honoured brethren gave me similar counsels. With these counsels I have complied. A number of well-known gentlemen have formed themselves into a Committee to aid me in the undertaking. A beautiful and commodious Chapel, in the Grecian style, will soon be erected in one of the most inviting districts of this immense metropolis, in which I hope long and successfully to exercise my ministry. Amongst the many encouraging communications I have received on the subject, is the following letter. Would not its insertion in one of your excellent periodicals It stimulate others to go and do likewise ? illustrates in a beautiful manner the way in which Christian people ought to exert themselves for the salvation of those over whom they have influence, and the happy results that may be expected to follow such exertions. In the conversion of his infidel friend, "John" conferred a good and gained a triumph for which both he and a whole family will praise God throughout eternity.

In copying the letter, I have, for obvious reasons, suppressed all names of persons and places that would enable a stranger to identify the parties. Upon the family referred to I have since repeatedly called, and I find them ail that my excellent friend has described them to be. Yours very faithfully,

EBENEZER DAVIES.

LETTER.

"DEAR SIR,-When I reached home last evening, my dear wife handed me one of the circulars relating to your new Chapel. From that circular, I discovered the whereabouts of the Caledonian-road. This led me immediately

to think of a way in which I might probably aid you in your great and good undertaking. In the way of money, I can assist you but little -my mite I handed this morning to Mr. R; but I hope to serve you in another way. You want men as well as money-helpers as well as prayers and good wishes.

I

At

"Now I have a very dear friend, who lives not far from the spot fixed upon for your Chapel, and if you are once introduced to each other, I cannot but believe you would be mutually helpful. He I will tell you something about this friend. was born in S and being of an open generous disposition, was one of my favourite school fellows. After we left school, I had lost sight of him for ten or twelve years, when I heard he was married and settled in business in Clerkenwell. I called to see him, and repeated my call several times during the next two or three years. I found he was living without any apparent sense of that religion which I had been led to regard as the one thing needful. repeatedly tried to draw his attention to religion; but though he always treated me with his accustomed frankness and kindness, I could not for a long time bring him to the point. length, seeing him surrounded with two or three little ones, I became still more earnest and prayerful in my efforts; and when I pressed the question home to his heart (God giving me one day a favourable opportunity), he avowed infidel principles, and plainly told me he did not believe the Bible to be the book of God. I told him I had examined the evidences of Christianity, and was perfectly satisfied of its truth, and that it had, moreover, made me happy in affliction and in the prospect of death. I brought him to admit, that differing so widely as we did on the most important of all questions, one of us must be mistaken; but that all the danger was on his side. I therefore urged him to a serious examination of the subject, and obtained from him a promise that he would read carefully and candidly a little book I had bought- Dr. Bogue's Essay on the New Testament.' For three months I remained ignorant of the result. I had called once or twice without finding him at home, when, to my surprise, he came down to Sto ɛee me, and to tell me what God had done for his soul. He told me he had read the book through, and was constrained to say to himself at the close, Well, there is truth in Christianity after all;' He then attended on the preaching of the Gospel, and in short-for I cannot detail half he told me-I found him not only convinced of the truth of Christianity, but also giving evidence of true conversion to God. He became, indeed, a new creature, and the world seemed to him a new world. I shall never forget his remark on coming out of a meeting of the London Missionary Society, to which I had taken him for the first time, 'Well, John,' said he, 'one half of the world does not know what the other half is doing. I had no idea there was any such work going on as that we have heard of to-day.' He soon became, and has ever since continued to be, a subscriber to the Bible, Tract, and Missionary Societies; sought, and not without success in some instances, the conversion of his former associates in sin and folly; and became a visitor of the Christian Instruction Society, in connection with

Chapel. Of the Church meeting there, he and his wife became members. Fifteen or six

teen years have since passed away, and we have become increasingly endeared to each other. I have had the happiness to see him continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and training up a numerous family for God and heaven. He has lost five young and promising children out of nine, or rather God has taken them to himself. His two elder and two younger children are spared. The former are both, with their parents, members of the Church at Chapel, and have long been employed in Sunday-school work. My friend has recently entered on a new business, near the Caledonian-road, and sinee they have been residing there they have found the distance from Chapel inconveniently great. They will, I doubt not, rejoice to find that a house of God is likely to be erected in their immediate neighbourhood. Their new business seems to prosper, and my friend has lately taken a lease of the house, so that they are likely to remain where they are. If you, dear Sir, would call on my friend, and mention my name, I am sure he would receive you kindly, and interest himself in your undertaking. I do hope you will find in him a fellow-helper in the truth, and in his wife and daughters, tooshould they be led to connect themselves with you-faithful and zealous coadjutors in every good work that appertains to Christian women. Mr. is an intelligent, active, willing-hearted man; his wife and daughters are like-minded, truly amiable, and exemplary characters.

"Dear Sir, I most heartily wish you success; and my feeble prayers shall not be wanting. "I am, yours, &c.,

"Rev. Ebenezer Davies."

CITY-ROAD CHAPEL, LONDON. THIS elegant and commodious place of worship, erected by the London Congregational Chapel Building Society, was opened for public worship on the 22nd of May. A Prayer-meeting was held at seven o'clock, A.M. The Rev. James Parsons, of York, preached in the morning, and the Rev. S. Martin, of Westminster, in the evening. The services were numerously attended, and a large number of the ministers of the London Churches was present. The Chapel is built in the Gothic style of an early date. It has a clerestory, supported by stone pillars. It will accommodate 1,200, and cost £4,500.

There is every prospect of a large congregation being speedily gathered out of that denselypopulous locality; and thus, it is hoped, this erection will furnish another evidence of the great importance of multiplying new Chapels in the metropolis. May the very promising circumstances in which this place of worship has been opened, prove an earnest of great things, to be yet realized by means of the Society, through whose efforts this undertaking has been accomplished.

TESTIMONIAL TO THE REV. HENRY RICHARD.

A FEW Weeks since, the Rev. Henry Richard announced to his church that he felt compelled, from the various pressing engagements in connection with the Peace Society, to relinquish his

pastoral office; and on the Wednesday evening, the 19th inst, a meeting of the members of the church and congregation was held, for the purpose of testifying their affection and esteem for his person, and their high appreciation of his valuable services as a minister of the Gospel. As soon as the assembly had partaken of tea, Mr. Henry Wood, one of the deacons, was called to the chair; and, after a few appropriate observations, presented to Mr. Richard, in the name of his people, a purse, containing fifty sovereigns, and a copy of the Encyclopædia Metropolitana, in thirty volumes, handsomely bound in Russia, containing on its cover the following inscription:

"To the Rev. Henry Richard, these volumes are presented as a memorial of the esteem and the affection of the church and congregation assembling in Marlborough Chapel, London, over which he has presided during a period of fifteen years, as a testimony of their high regard for his personal worth and ministerial usefulness; as a humble acknowledgment of the benefits they have received in being encouraged by his earnest and eloquent persuasion and consistent example, in the love of all that is manly and vigorous in thought, and virtuous in action; but, above all, as an expression of sincere gratitude for the faithfulness and affection with which, for so long a period, he has declared among them the whole counsel of God by a harmonious exhibition of the truth, urging upon sinners the duty of repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and teaching the church, purchased by the Saviour's blood, the sweetness of his consolations, the fortifying of his promises, the bounty of his providence, and the inspiring motives to devotion and obedience resulting from a contemplation of the immortality brought to light by the Gospel; and with the earnest desire that this free will offering may, in some measure, aid him in his future endeavours to teach the obligations of peace among men and reconciliation to God.

"On behalf of the church and congregation.
(Signed) "HENRY WOOD, Deacon,
"19th June, 1850.
Chairman."

These presents were followed by another from the Bible-classes in the Sabbath-school, which consisted of a handsomely-bound copy of Cobbin's "Condensed Commentary."

Mr. Richard, on rising to thank his friends for their expression of esteem, briefly reviewed his ministry during the fifteen years he had held that office among them, from which it appeared that, during that period, a debt on the chapel of £1,900 had been cleared off; handsome school-rooms erected for the Sabbath-school children; a vestry built; an Auxiliary Missionary Society formed, which had paid into the treasury of the parent Institution nearly £1,000; British Schools established in the neighbourhood, now containing between 300 and 400 children; and, besides these efforts, the people had liberally contributed to many other benevolent institutions. Mr. Richard also stated that, during his ministry, notwithstanding the peculiarly fluctuating character of the neighbourhood, he had received into churchfellowship nearly 300 members; that the church had always been gradually increasing; that he had never once been called upon to exercise the unpleasant duty of expulsion; and, during the

few months of the present year, no less than thirteen had been admitted into the church.

These objects have been accomplished, in a great measure, through the commendable zeal and liberality of Mr. Richard, who not only subscribed largely to them all, to the neglect of his own personal comfort, but, year by year, permitted the whole of the interest on the debt, as well as the annual deficiency for incidental expenses, to be paid from his salary.

Several gentlemen rose to testify their gratitude and affection, and the meeting, which was most enthusiastic throughout, was concluded by a request that Mr. Richard would meet them after his return from the Continent, for the purpose of giving them some account of the progress of the cause which he has so much at heart.

NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL,

WARRINGTON, LANCASHIRE.

ON Tuesday, May 28th, a public tea-meeting was held at the large room, Nag's Head Hotel, in connection with the intended new Congregational Chapel in this town. The meeting was thronged by a most respectable and numerous company, and was an exceedingly interesting and delightful one, both as to the spirit of the meeting itself, and also as viewed in connection with the movement with which it originated. The Rev. R. Vaughan, D.D., President of the Lancashire Independent College, presided, and opened the proceedings by a luminous and

effective speech, in which he traced the course of Independency from the time of Wycliffe: a speech alike remarkable for its dignified eloquence, historical richness of material, catholicity of spirit, and its peculiarly interesting and graphic details. Owing to many causes, Independency has been for some time at a low ebb here. Two years ago, an effort for its revival was commenced at the instance of Dr. Vaughan, and under the direction of the Lancashire Congregational Union, when the room in which the teameeting was held was opened for Divine service. During the whole of these two years, the services have been conducted by ministers from Manchester and neighbouring towns, and gratifying signs of fruit have appeared in the gather. ing of a settled congregation as large as the room will admit. It has now been sometime felt that a chapel was absolutely required, and preliminary steps have been taken in the purchase of a site in Spring-gardens, and in the obtaining of numerous promises of pecuniary aid. At this tea-meeting, which was the first public gathering in connection with the building, the designs, furnished by Thomas Haigh, Esq., of Liverpool, were submitted, and excited general admiration. The building is to be of stone, in the early English style, with a nave and transept, having schools underneath, and calculated to seat about 500 persons. The Chapel is to bear the name of the great Reformer Wycliffe, and it is intended that the present summer shall see the building reared.

To answer your letter precisely :

1st. With regard to the population of our district. In the immediate neighbourhood we have the city of Shanghae, containing a fixed population of about 200,000. In addition, there is a constant ingress and egress of natives from all parts of the country, the number of whom, on native authority, is estimated at 400,000. These, in the ordinary course of Missionary labour, are all accessible to our influence, and may be made acquainted with the existence and character of our doctrine. Besides, in the vicinity and within the distance which political restrictions permit us to go, there are hamlets, villages, towns, and cities, to whose inhabitants we can as freely make known our message as to the people in the immediate vicinity. It is impossible to furnish a correct estimate of the aggregate numbers who dwell in these places. It is so immense, indeed, that we are all agreed on the subject of the exceeding vastness of the population of China. From our residing in this commercial city, we are admirably situated to affect the great myriad of human beings. It forms a place of constant resort, and on visiting them we fail not to tell them about our chapel, where they may come and hear more of the Gospel.

2nd. Number of Temples.-It is difficult to obtain a clear idea. Wherever we go, we meet with them in some form or other. My teacher

tells me that of large and well-frequented temples, there are about 50; of a smaller size, about as many; while in private houses there are shrines and idols innumerable, to whom incense is offered and adoration presented incessantly. The scene at the principal of these temples during any high day, such as the birthday of one of the idols, is most humiliating and painful. The crowds of worshippers with their red candles, incense sticks, gilt paper, &c, pour in without intermission for several days. Most of these, however, appear to perform the service merely as a habit, without any of the deep feeling which might be supposed to exist even in their case. I have seen many, in the very act of prostration, laughing and talking to those around them, while both before and afterwards there was no evidence of any seriousness or concern about their system or practice.

There is another, and almost universal custom among the Chinese, which is truly idolatrous, though it does not belong to the duties of the temples,-I mean, the worship of ancestors; and in this the entire religious homage of myriads consists. At stated seasons the tombs are visited by the friends or descendants of the deceased for several generations. These, in the most wailing manner, call upon the departed spirit, which is supposed to reside about the grave, and to answer to their calls; after which they burn incense and gilt paper to the dead,

and hope by this means to prolong his existence and increase his happiness.

But there is a class from whom more opposition to the Gospel may be expected than from any other the followers of Confucius. They will rejoice with you in the exposure and denunciation of idolatry-insist to the utmost on the adoration of the Deity and the observance of our duties to our fellow-men; once, however, touch upon the total depravity of the human race, their helplessness and guilt, the necessity and gift of a Saviour, the duty of repentance, faith, and prayer, and instantly they will raise the lip of scorn, and turn away in hatred and contempt. I have met with many painful proofs of this. But lately a most intelligent young man called on me from Nan-King, and stated he was pleased with what he had heard of our doctrine, from its seeming moral identity with Confucianism. He was well read in the native classics, and expatiated on the beautiful morality of his system. I immediately endeavoured to lay open to him the distinct characteristics of our doctrine, and then plainly told him that while his system was good so far as it went, when compared with our doctrine the two were heaven and earth asunder. On my denying the divinity of his native books, he started up with astonishment and rage gleaming on his countenance, and said, "What! deny this ?the fact is evident from the wonderful change produced by these books on the Chinese mind, and from the manifest excellence of what they contain." I appealed at once to his own sensibilities and convictions that he was a sinner against a holy God; that his future reformation, even if possible, could never atone for his past deficiencies; that all men were alike; that thus there was absolute need for a Saviour superior to himself. I acknowledged the fact to be the same with myself, but that I had found a Saviour in the Lord Jesus; through him I enjoyed peace of conscience, and that, resting on his merits, I had the hope of everlasting life. "As for you," I said, “you trust to Confucius, and are willing to reject God's Son; ere long we shall see which has the securest ground." This awakened his inmost soul, and rising from his seat, he declared, with much excitement of spirit, "No, no, I do not trust to Confucius for happiness beyond the grave; I only think his doctrine is good, and in any case, here or hereafter, we may have merit from following it." "But," I replied, "the case is the same, whether you trust to Confucius personally, or to the effects of his doctrine on your heart and life." He saw and acknowledged the truth of this; he also became much subdued in his manner and strain of remark. Several times has be called upon me since that period, but the hostility of his heart to the doctrines of the cross is still apparent. Were he made a convert to our system, he would, under God, from his learning, abilities, energy, and private circumstances, be admirably fitted to assist us in our great work. The conversations I have had with him have given me a far deeper insight into the difficulties which lie before us in our Mission labours, and enable me, in preaching, to state and meet many of the objections which are lodged in the minds of those who hear me. You will gather from this, that other obstacles, and those more insidious, more hurtful than idolatry, have to be opposed by us. On this

account I have been led to class this widespread system of self-righteousness, in which every well-informed person in China takes refage, under the second suggestion referred to by you.

3. Number of Missionaries in the District We have representatives from every section of the Christian Church. There are-the London Missionary Society, 6; English Church Missionary, 2; American Episcopal Society, 2; American Baptist, 3; American Sabbatarians, 2; American Wesleyans, 2. Not more than the half of these can do anything in the way of preaching; others, from having recently arrived, do so indifferently.

4. Number of Churches.-The London Missionary Society has had a chapel for several years; the American Episcopal, the Baptist, and the Church Missionary Societies, are now respectively building in the city. Two or three small places have been rented for religious purposes. Church members, how many? Alas! "who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?" The London Missionary have had six or seven members; the American Baptist, a few days ago, baptized three; other than these I know not any.

5. Number of Schools-Children-Course of Instruction-From the date of the American Episcopal Society's Missionaries coming to China, (three or four years ago,) they have applied themselves to this line of labour. Indeed, they brought out two ladies expressly for this purpose, and were liberally supported from the first by their Society at home. Accordingly, they have succeeded in establishing a most excellent boarding-school of about 40 or 50 boys; these are taught in the forenoon, an English education, and in the afternoon the Chinese classics. One of their Missionaries, also, has, in the country, established two (Ragged) Dayschools, in which there are in toto about 40 or 50 children. The American Baptists also have, about fifteen miles distant, got up a Day-school, where I understand are about 15 or 20 boys. These are taught Chinese alone. Our Mission has applied itself more to the work of preaching the Gospel and distributing tracts, in which work its influence has been far greater and more extensive than the others. Hitherto no school has been established, but now that we are in circumstances to attend to this duty, we are all anxious to set about it. We contemplate giving the children a good native education, under the direction of suitable native teachers, and all superintended by at least one of the brethren, who will particularly devote himself to their instruction in Christianity, and in those elements which are embraced by the usual branches of a good education at home, conducted, of course, in the native language. Promising boys may be also taught the English language, but not to the detriment of their progress and usefulness in their native studies. In regard to the Christian education of the children, specific arrangements will be made for making it our prominent object, so that it will be conscientiously pursued, under the Divine blessing, as a means for securing their conversion and future exertions in the cause of Christ. Here I refer you to an article in the London Missionary Magazine, alluded to above. This, with a copy of our Resolutions on the subject, will sufficiently explain our views.

6. Number of religious services and of Chinese