by a reference to the Life of Knox, can only be characterized as a suitable top-stone to this piece of literary theft. The nature of his ecclesiastical views may be gleaned from the words he has put in inverted commas; the words he has omitted, added, and substituted, -notably from those I have italicized. Dr. M'Crie's skill in weaving the separate threads of history into a beautiful and harmonious whole was truly admirable, but, though as far beneath him in literary ability as in other respects, this author would fain drag him down to his own low level as a compiler of "literary patch-work" (vol. i, P, 338). While his sneering reference to the biographer of Knox as being an eminent Divine and Historian of the Free Kirk of Scotland" (vol. i., p. 312), reminds one of the caustic remark of the late Dr. Hetherington regarding the Prelatists of the Second Reformation period: "who," he said, "seem not to have been able to write the truth when relating the most common and well-known facts." As might have been expected, his pen moves with more ire than elegance in denouncing "the prejudice, untruth, and scurrility which such historians as Wodrow, Burnet, Crookshank, Burns, M'Crie, &c., with Encyclopedists who have copied their very words, have heaped upon the memory" of James Sharp; "who wield the dagger of calumny, but who so miss their footing as to fall ingloriously on the dunghill of disdain, the fit seat of honour for all traducers" (vol ii., pp. 1, 4). D. H. F.

OUR FOREIGN MISSION.

RECENT letters received from Seoni show that the Lord's work is progressing and prospering in that distant region, and that His servants have much to encourage them in carrying on their arduous labours both among old and young. On the 2nd of May, Mr. Anderson wrote that four Pardhans (men) were receiving instruction with a view to baptism, and a Brahmin had just arrived from a neighbouring district professing his desire to be baptized. This Brahmin is a young man, tolerably well educated in Hindi and Marathi, and knows a little of the English language. Concerning his admission to the Christian Church, Mr. Anderson has sent the following interesting statement,--"I am happy to inform you that the young Brahmin whom I mentioned in my last letter-Gopal Rao-was baptized on the afternoon of Sabbath last (11th May). The church was well filled, chiefly with natives, showing the interest that was taken in the case. He is a well-educated, promising young man, of about 22 years of age. Before he came to Seoni he had been receiving religious instruction from a native Christian in the neighbouring city of Bala

ghat, by whose advice he came to me to receive further instruction and to be baptized. Up till the time of his baptism he spent a large part of each day with me in the study of the Scriptures, and every evening with Mr. Bose. We were both much pleased with his diligence and progress, and with his evident unselfishness and earnestness. He returned to Balaghat a few days after his baptism; but we hope that he may ere long return to Seoni to reside permanently near us. Along with him, three children were baptized-one of them the orphan boy who came lately, and the other two, children of a Pardhan convert." In a letter written more recently, Mr. Anderson again refers to the Brahmin convert and says that he has returned to Seoni, and is prosecuting his education with a view to his engaging in mission work. Mr. Anderson is very anxious to prepare one or two men for labouring in the great and necessitous field where so many are perishing for lack of knowledge, and he regards Gopal Rao as a most hopeful person to receive training for such work. He also looks forward to the time when some of the lads in the orphanage will be employed in this way; and if the day will ever come when any of these orphans shall go forth as missionaries, to proclaim to their fellow-countrymen the way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, then our labours in providing them with a home, and with religious training, will be amply repaid.

Two additional children have recently been admitted to the Orphanage. One of these, an orphan boy of the weaver caste, was received on the 30th April. He is about seven or eight years of age, nice looking, and apparently intelligent. On being baptized he received the name of Adam Rettie. A Gond boy was admitted early in June, who affirms that his parents are dead, and his case is being investigated by the authorities. Will any one at home adopt him? A new matron has been appointed to take charge of the orphans, one who is believed to possess superior qualifications for the situation. children are all in good health, and such of them as can read are making fair progress with their education.

The Mission School was lately visited by the Inspector-General of Education, and he pronounced a very favourable opinion concerning it. James Smellie and Thomas Curr were awarded books on account of their proficiency-the books being provided by Government. Several other boys got books. "There is little hope," says Mr. Anderson "of our getting a grant-in-aid for the school in the meantime, as government expenditure is being reduced on every hand, though not always where it could best be spared. Instead of reducing the enormous salaries of the higher officials, attempts are being made to reduce the expenditure in small things, low salaries, &c.

The salaries of engineers are, however, to be reduced by about £240 a year. Even after this large reduction, their salaries will remain very large indeed. Deputy Commissioners here have from about £100 to £180 per month. District Superintendents of police have from £60 to about £150 per month. These salaries are exclusive of travelling allowance, and yet there is constant grumbling against government for its niggardliness. A young man coming out as Assistant Commissioner gets, I think, £40 per month to begin with. No country could afford such salaries without bringing itself to the verge of bankruptcy, which India now is." The harvest in that part of India where our missionary is located seems to have been a partial failure, and this will tend to keep the price of grain high. He says, “I never saw such empty corn-yards at this season, so we may expect at least another year of famine prices. I am sorry to say that our Christian cultivators were no exception. They did not reap as much as they had sowed."

We are glad to announce that a young man, connected with Coronary Congregation, of which the Rev. William Auld is minister, has offered himself for the foreign field. The committee are viewing this application most favourably, and as the applicant has made consider able progress with his studies the time may not be far distant when he will be ready to enter on active work in the Gond country. This should lead our people at home to renewed prayer and thanksgiving, and should awaken still greater liberality in contributing for foreign mission work. Nor should it abate the zeal of any who may have set their hearts on going abroad to preach the Gospel. If we get men to offer their services, we may rest assured that the means for their support will be forthcoming. The Lord will provide. We stand in urgent need of men for the vacant parts of the Church at home; but the demand for missionaries to labour in the fast-ripening fields in India is very pressing. If earnest young men "full of the Holy Ghost and of faith" are sent forth to the thousands in that great empire, to preach Christ and Him crucified in a language they can understand, then may we expect to get the cheering tidings that "the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." And if such a result flowed from the self-denying efforts of those whom we sent thither, a blessing would come back to us similar to that which alighted on the Church in olden time, when the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, and we would feel constrained to say, "The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."

Literature.

The Boyne and Aughrim: a Story of Famous Battlefields in Ireland. By Professor Witherow. William Mullan & Son, Belfast and London.

THE work of Professor Witherow, entitled, "Derry and Enniskillen in 1688-9," served to establish his reputation as a historical writer, distinguished by accurate research, lucid statement, and much fidelity and candour. It is, in truth, a full and most vivid sketch of the events that transpired at one of the most important eras of the history of this country-the Revolution which broke the power of the Popish despot, James the Second, and established the Prince of Orange on the throne of Great Britain. Long hence it will be referred to as an authority of a high order in relation to the prominent characters and proceedings exhibited in the narrative, as its repeated perusal will always afford gratification to those who desire to form a right judgment respecting them.

The present volume is a proper sequel to "Derry and Enniskillen" -being a clear historical sketch of the civil war in Ireland between King William and King James, from the hasty flight of the latter from Derry in April, 1689, till the treaty of Limerick, on the 1st of October, 1691. Like the preceding volume, it presents much valuable information in a succinct, fluent, and graphic mannerpourtrays the characters and policy of the different actors on the scene with singular impartiality, and shows clearly the enormous evils of Popish domination in this country, and the benefits that resulted from the establishment of Protestantism, even in an imperfect form, at the period of the Revolution. The volume is divided into a number of brief and well-written chapters, fifteen in all, among which the most interesting are those on the Irish Parliament of 1689, the Battle of the Boyne, the defeat at Limerick and first siege, the Battle of Aughrim, the second siege, the capitulation and end of the war. The sketches of the policy and aims of James and the Popish leaders are clear and characteristic. The accounts of the military movements, the condition of the country, and the descriptions of the chief battles are so graphic that they resemble the narratives of one who was an eye-witness of the scenes described.

After describing the component parts of the Parliament which King James held in Dublin, in May 1689, Professor Witherow shows in the clearest manner, the attempts made and carried out to rob Protestants of all their rights, and to establish Popish ascendency. The narrative supplies a notable illustration of what may be expected from Home Rule when the great majority of members of an Irish Parliament are pledged to carry out the policy of Rome. The repeal of the Act of Settlement in James's Parliament served to confiscate the property of Protestants; but the Act of Attainder was still more atrocious. Its enactment is thus sketched :

"The Act of Attainder surpasses in cruelty all the other Acts which received the sanction of King James. It declared very nearly 2,500 persons, whom it

specified by name, as guilty of high treason, in case they did not come in, and submit to trial on or before a certain day named in the Act, and sentenced them as traitors to the forfeiture of property and to the loss of life. . . . The circumstances attending this measure, and the cruel provisions which it contained against men, most of whom had committed no overt act of rebellion, and whose only crime in many cases was that they fled from the country in terror of their lives, combined to make it one of the most infamous Acts which ever passed a Legislature. Many persons not named in it were much more guilty of treason against James than most of those whose names were inserted. The names embodied in it were obtained in a very loose and irregular way. Each member of the House returned a list of the most respectable Protestants living in borough or county; and if the family was known to him by name only he usually referred to some friend in the country for further information. It supplied a grand chance for a member of Parliament to give a stab in a quiet way to any man against whom he bore a grudge; he had merely to mention him as absent or disaffected, and forthwith his name appeared on the face of the Act as a traitor to the Crown. way no less than 2,461 persons were proclaimed, in case they did not appear and submit to trial before a fixed day, as traitors to Government. In this list were included 70 peers, 9 peeresses, 86 baronets and knights, 9 archbishops and bishops, 105 other clergymen, and over 2,000 private gentlemen. No notice was given to any of them that a measure affecting their property and lives was under the consideration of Parliament. They were declared guilty without trial, and sentenced by Act of Parliament to be beheaded, drawn, and quartered. So hastily was the thing done that the names of some were inserted in the list of the condemned who were at the time actually serving in King James's army under the walls of Derry."

In this

"How it would have altered our opinion of the last King of the House of Stuart if he had refused to sign this murderous Bill, and had chosen to forfeit ali claim to the crown rather than soil his hands with the blood of the innocent! An act so spirited, after such a career of folly, might not have been sufficient either to regain his throne, or to win back the true hearts which he had so wantonly lost! yet it would have commanded the respect of his enemies, and secured the admiration of posterity. But there was not one spark of true nobility in the man That royal prerogative, for which he had fought so stoutly in England, he now surrenders without a struggle to the narrowness and passion of a couple of hundred squires sent up from the wilds of Connaught and hamlets of Munster !”

The description of the Battle of the Boyne is one of the best we have seen; it shows clearly what portions of William's army acted the chief part in achieving the victory,-and, at the same time does ample justice to the heroism and bravery of the Irish leaders and soldiers. Of the incidents of the battle, the following deserve

notice :

"Here, again, the Irish horse distinguished themselves by their spirit and courage. King James's bodyguard charged down the hill with such force that forty of them dashed through the French regiments, who had no pikes for receiv ing cavalry, and the gallant young Ruvigny-better known as La Caillemotte-was mortally wounded in the encounter. As he was carried back to the English camp, wounded and dying, he shouted to his countrymen, who were still passing the river, To glory, my boys! to glory!""

Again-"When Schomberg observed that the French were so hotly pursued, and was told that the brave La Caillemotte, who had followed him in all his fortunes, was desperately wounded and borne from the field, he hurried across the river without waiting to put on his cuirass. Placing himself at the head of La Caillemotte's regiment, pointing to the French Catholics in James's army, he shouted to the Huguenots, whom he led- Come on, gentlemen, yonder are your persecutors!' He had scarcely finished the sentence till, in the thick of the fight, he was surrounded by fifteen or sixteen of King James's guard, who recognising him most probably by the blue ribbon, the symbol of his rank, slashed at him with their swords. Cambon's regiment poured a volley into his assailants