%3^^WM3W>. jjmiM. )if1 WM MMWMyMMXm'^^M^ WWm xymi CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE WEYL BOOK FUND ESTABLISHED IN I935 IN MEMORY OF JAMES SALLER WEYL OF THE CLASS OF I92.9 Cornell University Library BX5611.059 B56 olln 3 1924 029 455 940 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029455940 A BRIEF HISTORY CHURCH UPPEE CANADA CONTAINING THE ACTS Of PAKLIAMENT, IMPERIAL AND PROVINCIAL ; HOYAL INSTRUCTIONS ! PROCEEDINGS OP THE DEPUTATION ; CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT ; CLERGY RESERVES' QUESTION, &C. &C. BY WILLIAM BETTRIDGE, B.D., (ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,) RECTOR OF WOODSTOCK, TJPPER CANADA, Ona of the Deputation from the late Bishop of Quebec, the Bishop of Montreal, and the Archdeacons and Clergy of Upper Canada. LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. E. PAINTER, AT THE OFFICES OF THE CHDBCH OP ENGLAND GAZETTE, AND CHURCHMAN, 342, STRAND, AND SOLD BY ALL BOOEBELLERS. 1838. Price 2«. 6rf. TO HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, &c. &c. &c. PRIMATE OF ALL ENGLAND, METROPOLITAN. My Lord Archbishop, I have not the presumption to suppose that anything contained in the following pages will add to the knowledge which your Grace so fully possesses, of the history of our Church in Upper Canada. My object in publishing this work is, sunply, to bring, in a connected form, the History of our Church, in that Province, upder the consideration of the Christian public. In a very short time the future destinies of our Colonial Establishment, as far as they depend upon, or are influenced by, human laws, must be discussed, and definitively arranged, by the Imperial Legisla\,ure. The proceedings of this august body cannot fail to be guidedi in some measure, at least, by the opinions of the nation. If thesa are found favourable to the Estabhshment, (and I know of no surer method to secure so desirable an event, than the exhibition of our claims in all the simplicity of truth,) we may entertain the good hope that our Zion will be protected, and become a blessing to the land: if, on the contrary, the public should be against us, or manifest an mdifierence to our State and Establish- ment, we can only then await Jehovah's pleasure concerning us, A assured, that if He permit his authorized teachers to be removed, and the ministrations of the pure and Apostolic Church of Eng- land to be disregarded, or to cease in Upper Canada, it will be a token that judgment is coming upon us to the utmost. May the Spirit of Grace and supplication be poured upon the Church; may the prayer ascend from every heart, that no such calamity may.befel our beloved and highly-fawttred country ! I cannot refrain from thus publicly expressing my grateful sense of your Grace's unceasing kindness, and patient and prompt attention to the jepeatedT-fepresentations of our wants and neces- sities, V(%i6lj,-tn the discharge of a duty, imposed upon me by the Church in Upper Canada, I have thought it expedient to lay before your Grace. With sentinif nts of profound respect, and Unfeigned gratitude, I have the honot;ir tp.bf, My L«rd Arehbishdp, Your Grace's most humfcle and faithful serVantj WILJ.IAM BETTOIDGE. A 28, York-street, Siontagofi-s^nare^ PEEFACE. Thp Qompiley of the follQwiijg pages, begs utterly to discjaim any p?irty or political motives, in bringing bqfpre tlie publip the history, st^te, and wants of the Church in Upper Canada,. He is satisfied, that such an attempt could not f^^l ^^ injiire the cause he ig most anxious to advance, and vrould also bs in direct opposi- tion to the wishes and instructions of the Clergy, by whom he has been deputed to make that cause known. It is not the writer's intention, or wish, to impugn the measures of the present or past Governments, as origi- nating in any design to oppress, or to deprive the Church of rights, secured to her, as well by the prin- ciples of the monarchy, as by the letter and spirit of the Constitutional act of the Province ; although it cannot be denied, that the policy, of late years pursued, will not fail to have that effect. The writer indulges the hope, that the interest of the public, generally, will be awakened to the subject of our claims ; and that the publication of the official documents connected with the history of our Church, in Upper Canada, may tend, in some measure, to assist those Members of A 2 IV Parliament whose attention has hot been drawn to the question, in forming their judgment, upon which the welfare, temporal and eternal, of present and future generations, must greatly depend. The plan which the writer has adopted in the prosecution of his design, appears, after mature delibe- ration, to be the best calculated to engage attention, and to impart information. The Acts of Parliament, Instructions, &c., will be interwoven with the History of the Church, in the First Part ; the proceedings of the Deputation, and the Correspondence with Her Majesty's Government, will constitute the Second ; and the State and Wants of the Church, will be briefly exhibited in the Third. FIRST PART. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. The history of the Church, in Upper Canada, presents very little difficulty in its relation : there are many, yet living, who may remember the period when the Church in the Upper Province received a distinct existence from, although it was allowed to remain under the s*me Episcopate as, the Church in the Lower Province. Prior to the year 1791, the two Provinces were united, and formed one government. It will be necessary, therefore, to advert briefly to the state of the Church before the erection of the Provinces into separate governments. The conquest of the Province of Quebec was completed in the year 1759. In the treaty which preceded the surrender, the French commander, a member of the Church of Rome, mani- fested a very earnest zeal for the maintenance, to that Church, of all the privileges granted to it by the French King. He suc- ceeded in his efforts, perhaps beyond his own expectations, certainly beyond the wishes of the Protestant population of the Northern States of America, who solemnly expressed, (in "States " assembled,) their regret that such concessions should have been made to a conquered people. The rights, privileges, lands, or seigneuries held by the Romish Church previous to the conquest, were primarily secured by the articles of capitulation, and eventu- ally confirmed by a solemn act of the British Parliament, in 1774, (14 Geo. III., c. 83.) By this act it must be admitted, that, in Lower Canada at least, the Church of Rome is recognised as the Established Church ; or, if not the, certainly an Established Church. And thus at a period when we might have hoped better things, we behold the first inroad made upon that distinctive Protestantism which pervades ovn- entire constitution, jvnd which. indeed, is the very foundation-stone of our monarchy. It does not appear that this departure from the principles of our con- stitution attracted any paftiaular attentiort in the Mother Country, although, as already hinted, the measure was resented and deeply reprobated by the Colonies of North America, who had, them- selves, greatly contributed towards the success of our enterprises against the frdtieh. The eflfects of this first concession to the Church of Rome, which, as in her error, so in her enmity to the Protestant faith, boasts of being " semper eadem," have been too plainly manifested to escape the attention of the reflecting portion of ouf people. The Establishfed Church (tf iiag\&nd was not, however, entirely tieglected in this legislative measure of con- cession to Romanistti , for it is expfessly provided therein, that " It should be iat<>ful for his Majesty, his herrs^jof gnecessprs, to toafee such jiroviiidtt out 6f the rest of the sflid aceustometl dues and rights, fbr the encouragemeut of the Protestant religion, and for the maintenance and support of a Protestant Clergy, within the said Province, as should, ftota titflS to time, be thought necessary aai es^edieni* The Clergy of our Church were thus placed in the jprospectlve hope of participating in *^the rest of dues and rights" which remained, after a most bountiful provision for the Komish Church had been conceded. It is ftol, perhaps, generally known, that • these " dues, and rights, and' lands," thus secured to the Church of Rbmei are productive of a vast revenue. Not a cure, or parochial priest in Lower Canada, (and eVery parish has its T'riest,) has a smaller income than £200; the generality average ;£300 per annum. It would be difficult to determine the amount of revenue enjoyed by the Monastic Establisliments of the province : and yet, such is the liberal policy of Protestant Britain, that, as though these possessions were hot sufficient, a Bishop* of the Church of Rome is actually in the receipt of f 1,000 per annum from the Imperial treasury. The Clergy of the Church of England, in Lower Canada, are supported, almost exclusivelv, » Vide Pariiamentnry Proceedinjjs, in The Times, of March lOj 1838. The Bishop of Exeter inquired of the noble baron, the Secretary for the Colonies, whether it was true that a Boman Catholic Bishop, in. (Lower) Canada., received £1,000 a-yeatfrom tlie Government, in 1832, nod that he having died in 1833, his eucoessor had cohtinued to receive the same allowance ? Lord Glenelg said the only answer he had to jgjve to the Right ReV. Prelate's (Question was, an answer in the affirmative,. from the funds ef the "Sbctei^r foi- PropagMitig the Gdsgel in Foreign Parts :" and in answer to an application for the appro- pfisttitth of £600 a-year, (lh» prdee^dS of sales of some erf the "rest of the dtlesj"—" called " Clergy rfeSfefves,") for the increase of our Establishment in the Lower Pl^lpvineej a distinct negative was returned* About ths period of passing thia act of 1774^ the revolt of the present United States of AineHca was commenced; and in 1776 their Independence of the parent State was boldly declared. * A painful struggle ensued ; during which the Mother Country was too seriously occupied in her endea.irourS to quell the insurrectioHj to give any attention to the ecclesiastical condition of the" newly- acquired Province of Quebec* So disastrous to British power attd influence was the cofttest, that in 1783 New York was evacuated. The devoted a,dherSntS to the monarehy, preferring its institutions, although this preference must be attended with the loss of earthly possessions, to the republican form of govern- ment, sought a refuge in the regions now forming the Province of Upper Canada! It is not invidiously remarkedr that the great majority of those who thus sacrificed all to their loyalty, were Churchmen. The only boon they asked, (and this is a matter of history,) was, that in the wilderness, in which they were about to seek a refuge, they might have the institutions in Church and State, for which they had so long and so nobly dontended, secured to them and to their children. A promise was given to this effect :' — ^how that promise has been fulfilled, remains to be shewn. In the year 1791, His Majesty George the Third, sent a message to the Parliamentj intimating his intention to divide the Province of Quebec, and expressing his wish that a good and sufficient provision might be made by a legislative enactment for the support of £i Protestant Clergy. The Parliament immediately entered on the consideration of the message, and the act (31 Geo. III., c. 31,) Called the Constitutional Act of the Canadas, was the result. We shall give below all the sections of this act which relate in anywise to the Church, and we be- speak the most serious attention of the reader to them. The Church regards its provisions as the security for her Establish- ment;, protection) enlargatnent, and support ; and yet, simple as it is thought the provisions are, there are not wanting those who would so Interpret them, as to deprive the Church, if expedient, oi any right at all; and certainly, of any exclusive right to the lands which are thus reserved for the support of a Protestant Clergy. Clauses of the British Statute 31 Geo. III., c. 31, which relate to the maintenance and support of a Protestant Clergy. 35. And whereas by the above mentioned Act, passed in the fourteenth ' year of the reign of .his present Majesty, it was declared. That the Clergy of the Church of Rome, in the Province of Quebec, migSt hold, receive, and enjoy their accustomed dues and rights, with respect to such persons only as should profess the said religion : Provided nevertheless, .that it should be lawful for his Majesty, his heirs or successors, to make such provision out of the rest of the said accustomed dues and rights, for the encouragement of the Pro- testant religion, and for the maintenance and support of a Protestant Clergy within the said Province as he or they shojald from time to time think necessary and expedient ; And , whereas by , his Majesty's royal instructions, given under Ms Majesty's royal sign manual on "the third day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy^five, to Guy Carleton, Esquire, now Lord Dor- chester, at that time his Majesty's ^ Captain-General and Governor-in- Chief in and oyer his Majesty's Province of Quebec, his Majesty was pleased, amongst other things, to direct, " That no incumbent professing the said religion of the* Church of Rome, appointed to any, parish in the said Province, should be entitled to receive any tithes. for lands or possessions occupied by. a Protestant, but that such tithes should be received by such persons as the said Guy Carleton, Esquire, his Majesty's Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and over his Majesty's said Province of , Quebec, should . appoint, and should be reserved in the hands of his Majesty's Receiver General of the said Province, for the support of a Protestant Clergy in his Majesty's said Province, to be actually resident within the same, and not otherwise, according to. such directions as the said Guy Carleton, Esquire, his Majesty's Captain.- General and IGovernor-in-Chief in and over his Majesty's, said Province, should receive from his Majesty in that behalf; and that in like manner all growing rents and profits of, a vacant benefice should, during such vacancy, be reserved for and. applied to the like uses." , And whereas his Majesty's} pleasure' has likewise been signified to the same effect in his Majesty's royal instructions, given in like manner to Sir Frederick Haldimand, Knight of the most Honourable order of the Bath, late his Majesty's Captain- General, and Governor-in-£!hief in aud over his Majesty's said Pro- vince of Quebec ; and also in his Majesty's royal instructions given in like manner to the said Right Hon. Guy Lord Dorchester, now His Majesty's, Captain-General, and Governor-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's said Province of Quebec. — Be it enacted by the authority a/b»-e«airf, that the said declaration and provision contained in the said above mentioned act, o.nd plso t^P said proNision so made hy his Majesty in consequence thereof,' by his instractions before recited, shall remain and .continue to be of full force and effect in each of the said two Provincps of Upper Canada and Lower Canada respectively, except in so far as the said declaration or provisions respectively, or any part thereof, shall be expressly varied or repealed by any act or acts which may be passed by the legislative council and assembly of the said Provinces respectively and. assented to by his Majesty, his heirs or successors, under the restriction hereinafter provided. 36. And whereas his Majesty has been graciously, pleased, by message to both Houses of Parliament, to express his royal desire to be enabled to make a permanent appropriation of lands in the said Provinces, for the support and maintenance of a Protestant Clergy within the same, in proportion to such lands as have been already granted within the same by ■ his Majesty : And whereas, his Majesty has been graciously pleased, by his said message, further j to signify his royal desire that such provision may be made, with respect to all future- grants of land within the said provinces respectively, as may best conduce to the due and sufficient support and maintenance of a Protestant Clergy within the said Provinces, in proportion to such increase as may happen in the population and cultivation thereof: therefore, for the purpose of more effectually fulfilling his Majesty's gracious intentions, as aforesaid, and of providing, for the due execution of the same in all time to come — Be it enacted hy the authority afore- said. That it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty, his heirs or successors, to authorise the Governor or Lieutenant-Governor of each of the said Provinces respectively, or the person administering the Government therein, to make, from and out of the lands of the Crown within such Provinces, such allotment and appropriation of lands, for the support and maintenance of a Protestant Clergy within the same, as may bear a due proportion to the amount of such lands within the same as have at any time been granted by or under the authority of his Majesty : and that whenever ■ any grant of lands within either of the said Provinces shall hereafter be made, by or under the authority of his Majesty, his heirs or successors, there shall at the same time be made, in respect of the same, a proportionable allotment and appropriation of lands for the above mentioned purpose, within the township or parish to which such lands so to be granted shall apper- tain or be annexed, or as nearly adjacent thereto as circumstances will admit ; and that no such grants shall be valid or effectual unless the same shall contain a specification of the lands so allotted and appropriated, in respect of the lands to be thereby granted ; and that such lands, so allotted and appropriated, shall be, as nearly as the circumstances and nature of [the case will admit, of the like quality as the lands in respect of which the same are so allotted and appro- priated, and shall be, as nearly as the same can be estimated at the time of making such grant, equal in value to the seventh part of the lands so granted. 37. And he it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That all apd every the rents, profits or entolurnents, which may at any time 16 arise frbin such lands, so allotted and fef jji^iiated as aforesaid, khkW be applicable solely to the IhaJnteiiafice and ^Uppott of a ProteStallt Clergy, within the Province iii which the satoe shall b6 situated, and to no othSr tise otpkrmii ^haiive'r. 3S. And be itfumet enacted bp the auihotUy afotesaid, That it shall and may Be lawM for his Majesty, Ms heirs *r gticces§ors, to authoHse the Govenior or LJeutenant-GoveffiOr ef each of the said Provinces respectively, Or the person administering the Government therein fhsfli tidie to time, with the advice of such Executive Coiuicil as shall have been apboiilted by his Majesty, his hfeirs or successors, within Such Province, for the aflkirs thereof, to constitute and erect^ is>ithin evert/ tdtemsMp of pitrUh which noie is or hireafter mny he formed, constituted at- ^mtted, within such Provined, one or more parsohsge or' rectory, rir pai'son&ges or rectories, according to the eMabUshment of Ike Chun^ df Mnglmdj find from time to time, by an instriimenl under the great seal of BUeh Province, to endow every such parsonage or rectory #ith so much or Such a part of the land§ so allotted and appropriated as aforesaid, in respect of toy lands within such lownship or parish which shall have been granted suh» sequent to the commencenlent of this act, or of such lands as may have been allotted ftild appropriated for the same purpose, by or in virtue of any instruction which ihay be given by his Majesty in respect of any laildS granted by his Maje% before the Gommencement of this act, aS such Crovert;or, Lieutenant-'wOVernor, or person administering the Governtaent; Shall, With the adticeof the said Executive Council, jfjjrf^e to be expedient under the then eMsting oircaaiStaaceg of such towftship or parish. 39. And be ii further enacted hy^ the aiahori^ afot'esaid. That it shall and may he laWftil for his Majesty, his heirS or sucdessors, to authorise the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Or person adinibistering the drovernment of each of the said Provinces respectively, to present to every such parsonage or rectory, an Incumbent or Minister ef the Church of England, who shall have been duly ordained according to the rites of the s^d Church, and to Supply from time to time such vacancies as may happen therein; and that eVery person So presented to any such parsonage or rectory, shall hold or enjoy the same, and all rights, profits and emoluments thereunto belonging or granted, as fully and amply, and in the same manner, and on the same tettns and conditions, and liable to the performance of the same duties, as the Incumbent of a parsonage or rectory in England. 40. Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every such presentation of an incimibent or Minister to any such parsonage or rectory, and also the enjoyment of any Such parsonage or rectory, and of the rights, profits and emoluments thereof by any such Incumbent or Minister, shall he subject and liable to all rights of institution, and all other spiritual and ecclesiastical jurisdiction and authority, vi^hich have been lawfully granted by his Majesty's royal lett«rs patent to the Bishop of Nova Scotia, or which may hereafter by his Majesty's royal authority,' be lawfully granted or appointed to' n be ftdministei-ed fend exeettted Within the said Prorinces, of 6ithet>f theiii tespectlrely, by the said Jishpp bt Nova BcotiA, or by any .othet peMon or pei^onsj steeordihg to the hag and canofit if ihe Ckpi^eh of En^Umd; ^ifMch are lawfully niade and sreceited in Englaind. 41. Provided always,, and he it fiMher enacted % the authority aforeeaid, That the several ptOl^islotiS hereinbefbi*e contained, respecting the allotment and appropriation of lands for the gupport of a Protestant Clergy witlrin the said Provinces, and also inspecting the constituting, erecting, and endowing parsonages or rectories Within the said Provmces j and also respecting the presentation of Inctiiflbents or Ministers to the same ; and also respecting the maCner in which such Incumbents or Ministers shall hold ani enjoy the game, shall be subject to be varied or repealed by any express provisions for that pmpose, contained in any act or acts which may be passed b^ the LeMSktive Council and Assembly of the said Pfoviiiaes Kespectively, and assented to by his Majesty, his Wrs or Successors, under foe restriction hereinafter provided. 42. Provided nevertkeUse, and he it further enacted hv the authority aforesaid, That whenever any act or acts shall be passed by the Legis- lative Council and Assembly Of either of the said Provinces, containing any provisions to vary or repeal the aboVe recited declaration and provisions contained in the said act passed in the fourteenth year of the reign of his present Majesty ; or to vary or repeal the above recited provision contained in his Majesty's royal iflStructionli, given on the third day of January; ia the year bi our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seveflty-five, to the said G,uy Carleton, Esquire, now. Lord Dorchester ; bt to varf or repeal the provisions bereinbefore contained for continuing the force and effect of the said declaration and provisions j or to vflry or repeal any of the several provisions hereinbefore contained respecting the allotment and appropriation of lands for the support of a Protestant Clergy within the said Provinces; or rcspeeting the constituting, erecting, Or endowing, parsonages or rectories within the said Provinces; or respecting the presentation of Incumbents or Ministers to the same; or irespeoting the manner in which such Incumbents or Ministers shall hold and enjOy the same; and also that whenever any act or acts shall be So passed, containing any provisions which shall in any manner relate to or affect the enjoy^ ment or exercise of any religious form or mode of worship ; or shall impose or create any penalties, burdens, disabilities, or disqualifications, in respect of the same ; ot Shall in any manner relate to or affect the payment, recovery, or enjoyment, of any of the accustomed dues or rights hereinbefore mentioned; or shall in any manner relate to the granting, imposing, or recovering any other dues, or stipends, or emoluments whatever, to be paid to or for the Use of any Minister, Priest, Ecclesiastic, or Teacher, according to any religious form or mode of worship, in respect of his said office or function ; or shall in any manner relate to or affect the Establishment or Bisciphne of the Church of England, amongst the Ministers and- members thereof within the said Provinces ; x)r shall in any manner relate to or affect the King's Prerogative touching the granting of waste lands of the 12 Ctpy/n within the said Provinces, every such act or aots shall, pre- vious to any declaration or signification of th'e King's assent thereto, be laid before both Houses of Parliament in Great Britain ; and that it shall not he lawful for his Majesty, his heirs or successors, to signify his or their assent to any such act or acts, until thirty days aStev the same shall have been laid before the said Houses, or to assent to any such act or acts, in case either House of Parliament shall, within the said thirty days, address his Majesty, his heirs or successors, to withhold his or their assent from sixh act or acts, and [that no such act shall be valid or effectual to any of the said purposes, within either of the said Provinces, unless the Legislative Council and Assembly of such Province shall, in the session in which the same shall have been passed by them, have presented to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or person administering the government of such Province, an address or addresses, specifying that such act contains provisions for some of the said purposes herein before specially described, and desiring that, in order to give effect to the same, such act should he transmitted to England without delay, for the purpose of being laid before Parliament previous to the signification of his Majesty's assent thereto. In these few sections the reader is presented with the charter of the Church's Right. We think, nay, we are persuaded, that it would be impossible for a person whose judgment was unbiassed to rise from the careful perusal of this act without declaring his con- scientious belief that to the Church of England, and to the Church of England alone, belongs the right of possessing the lands so reserved. It is when party feelings and sectarian policy interpose, that a different interpretation is entertained, an opposite conclusion formed. The permanency of the provision, as well as the Church's right to it, has been made the subject of discussion and doubt. If language can define permanency, then it must surely be allowed that the meaning of the act on this . important bearing cannot be misunderstood. To this we have more especially referred in our answer to Lord Glenelg's despatch of the 7th of August. One remark, however, n/ay be made here, which deserves especial at- tention, and which it is believed furnishes an answer to the objec- tions to the ■permanency of the provision which may be drawn from the 41st section. It is this : — If the principle of a legislative mea- sure be permanent and unalterable, then however the details of the measure may be modified or repealed, as circumstances may require, or even an entirely new act become necessary, still no 'stretch of legislative power can annihilate the principle : this must survive every effort at alteration and subversion. What is the principle of 13 the act of 1791 ? the duty of the state is to provide for the religious instruction of the people. In the performance of this bounden duty the act was passed. Opposition from the enemies of the Church or of the State cannot release the "powers that be" from their responsi- bility to God and to the people committed to their charge. The manner of providing for the ministers of the Established Church may require modification or alteration , but without a plain derelic- tion of duty they may not be left to the precarious support of the people. We stop not to notice at any length the delusions of the voluntary system, or of the duty of Government to sanction and support all sects and denominations alike. The former has been exposed by the experience of our own country ; for its inefficacy to supply the people with religious' instruction is too obvious to need any proof. The latter argues se little foresight, so little discern- ment of the effects of simultaneously cultivating and fostering sys- tems which are morally as well as politically, opposed, that our wonder cannot fail to be excited that even in this age of novel extravagancies any one should be found bold enough to ad- vance it. . Let toleration be co-extensive with Christianity, unless, indeed, the form of religion plainly interfere with the mainte- nance of peace and order, as established in our community. Such a " cloak of mahciousness " should not be permitted. But widely, indeed, does the toleration and the pecuniary support of a system of religion differ. It is moreover a vain excuse for refusing the exclusive support of the " powers that be " to the national faith, to urge the difficulty, if not the impossibility, of deciding which system is right. Such a plea involves the admission that truth itself cannot successfully be sought or assuredly attained — a doc- trine few Protestants would be disposed to receive. When the Church of England shall be found wanting in her adherence to the truth of God's word, and the due ministrations of Christ's sacra- ment, — when she shall pertinaciously maintain the " corruptions " of the Church of Rome or any other errors incompatible with the truth as it is in Jesus, then let her place, as the National Esta- blishment, be occupied by some more pure, more apostolical church : till then her maintenance and enlargement, to the extent of our gracious Sovereign's dominions, by the legislative and exe- cutive bodies, is a plain and positive du(y. u For r}#aSy thifly years no attgnipl was made to ©ail in ques- tion the fixelusive right of the Church of England to those tads called the ?' Clergy Resaryes." The notion was then broached that there is so peculiar a vagueness in the letter, and sueh an elasticity in the spirit of the act, m ftdmits ef the interpretation that the Church ef Scotland at least may claim a share in the provi- eion thug made for a Protestant clergy. It is not from any inimical^ disposition to the Church of Scotland that we reject this notion, but simply because we believe that it is at variiince with the letter and spirit of the act itself. The elaim of the Church of icotland rests on the &at, which we are not disposed to deny, that she is an esiahtiaked Churchj-^estahlished, indeed, in Scotland, but in no ether part of the British dominionSf We submit, in proof of this assertion, a few sectiQUs of the " Kinff's Imtructiom " sent to the governor of the Canadas in the year 1818, This document eannot fail to show that the Government at thai time did so inter- pret the Constitutional Act of 1791, as recognising the Church of England as the anli^ Bstabhshed Chureh in Upper Canada. §,41.-^'^liereas tliQ estaljUsljniPJjt of proper regulations on matters of ecelesiBstied concern is an objept ef very great importance, it will be your tnikpensable duty to toke eare that 80 &¥?9ngements in regwd thereto be i»a4e,_ but such m smy give hll satigfeetioa to om pew sul^ectiB, in eyery point" in'TyJiich' they havea right to ajjy indu^ence on that head, always reinembering that jt is n iekratien of the free exercise of the raligian of the Oluirch of Boine miy to whieh tiiey a?p pntitle4, but mot ts the ^mn mdl griuUf^es jQf M mm IktgMuhgi C^wskf that being a PBBFERBNfiSK YfPWH EEiOU.&» OMX.Y JO THE JPkOTSST/lI?? ChUBCH OF § 44.-^It ie our will and ^eaeuM t& r^serv« to you. t^fi granting ef }i«i8i»eafi}r impna^, letters ef jtoJoisirBtiw, swd prohaie of wijlg, ss Jjgj-etgfgrg exergiggd by yoij 9,nd your pyedepesspr^ aijd ^Isp to regerve to you and all others to whom it may I'awftilly belong, the patronage and right rmibt/Mm, 1 4I-.— -Ypji are to take especij|J care that Go4 Almidity be deyoutly and, duly served throu^iout your government — that the Lord% Bay fee duly k^, anAthe »er-i)icst em4 penyeift appointed hj/ and aecordmg ta ^ B»h ^ Qowffif^ P-r-e^ U publigl}/ md »olem^ perfumed tk-eugAe^t g m^T~-Yov, cure not to present A^y Prgtestant r^inister to anv ecck'' tlastical ben^ce vdthin our soAd province by virtu* of the said Act, passed in the Slst year of our reign, and of our commission ts ym, mthmt a u pifopef Mrtifiaiiefrpm the Biakop of Qu^ee, w hta Cammmcn^, »/ his being ecmftirmabh to the doetrme and dmiplme of the ChwQh of Eri^lcmd. ^ 5S.— And you are to take eepeeUl care that the table of matrices efstablished hy the canons of the Churoh of England be hung up in, all places of puttie iegrsMp, aeeorduig to the ritog of the Church of EngUtnd. In the above five sections of the Kin-S^^Instrwitions there is con- tained a direct and explicit recognition of the Establishment of the Church Qi England, Very strong supplementary proof of the same position may be gathered from tha seventh, ninth, and tenth paragraphs of the 42d section, and from sections 43, 46, 47, 48, 49| &c. &Majesty could never consent to abandon those interests with a view to any objecte of temporai-y and apparent expediency. It has therefore been with peculiar satisfaction that in the result of his inquiries into this subject, his Majesty has found that the changes souglit for by ' so large a proportion of the inhabitants of this Province, may be cari'ied into effect without sacrificing the just claims of the Established Churches of England and Scotland. The waste lands which have been set apart as a provision for the Clergy of those venerable bodies, have ' hitherto yielded no disposable revenue. The period at which they might reasonably be expected to become more productive is still remote. , His Majesty has solid grounds for entertaining the hope that before the arrival of that period, it may be found practicable to afford the' Clergy of those Churches, such a reasonable and moderate provision as may be necessary for enabling them properly to discharge their' sacred functions. His Majesty, therefore, invites the House of Assembly of Upper Canada, to consider how the powers given to the Provincial Legislature by the $9 Constitutional Act, to vary or repf al this payt of its provisions, can be <^lled into exercsise in<)st advantageously, for the spiritual and temporal interests of his Majesty's fkithAil subjects in this province. ©OVEBNMBNT HoUSE, 1 25th January, lg32. / There is an assumption in this Message which the yet unsettled state of the whole subject by no means justifies ; — it is, in fact, a bagging of the whole question as regards the Church of Scotland; it is an admission of the right of that Church to a share in the lands, which had been distinctly denied by the law officers of the erown, and steadily refused by the Church of England. This document, however entitled to our respect as emanating from the throne, must be considered nevertheless only as the language and opinion of the colonial minister of the day. It was dealt with accordingly. The plan which the Home Government were pre- pared to sanction, as the best for settling the question, was the re-investing the whole of th« remaining Clergy Reserves in the crown for disposal as his Majesty might think fit. This is evident from the proceedings of the Provincial Government, for the Attor^ ney-General of the Province introduced a bill ta this effect, upon which; however, no discussion was had; and, although again brought forward in the following year (1833), and read a first time, no further procedure was taken : — Whereas, by an act passed in the Parliament) of Gta-pat Biitajn, in the thirty-first year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, ^titled, " An act to repeal cerfcajs parts of an aqt passed in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign, entitled, ' An act for making more ^ectijal provision for the Government of the Province of Qnebec, in North America,' and to make furtlier provision for the Government of &e said Province," it was amongst other things enacted, that it should and Bjigh,t be lq,wful for hip said \^te Majesty, his heirs and successors, to aTOor-ise the Governor or Lieutenant Governor of each of the s,aid f JCOviii@es respectively, or the perspn a^Qiinistering the government therein, tQ mak^ from smd out of the lands of the crown within such Provinces, smk allotment and appropriation of the lands for the support and jnaintenance of a PrQtestant Clergy within tjie same, as may bear a &Vte proportion to the amount of such lands within the sEune as had at any tijae been granted by or under the authority of biis sa,id l^te Majesty, and that upon any grp,Bt of Jayd within either of the saiid Provipces, which should herefifter be mside by or under the authority of his Majesty, his heirs or successors, there should ^t the same time be i^jade in respect ^f ^ sajn«, a proportionsiihle allotment wd Wprppritition of Imi for the albov« m«ntis*sd pwpose, within the towngliip or parish to which sunh 31 Itadg go to hi gMftied should j^^fUuii 61* be aniiexed, «r as aewIjF ai.- jfccerit thereto as cifeuttistafiees Would admit ; and that no such g^ant should be valid or effectual, unless the same should^ contam a specificatieil t)f the lands so allotted or appropriated in respect of the land to be Iherehy granted; and that such land go allotted and appropi^ated should he, as neaiiV as the circumstances and nature of the ease would admit, of the like quality as the lands in respect of which the said land aLould he so allotted and appropriated, and Should be as nearly as the same eould he estimated at the time of fijiahing Such grant, equal in value to the seventh part of the lands so granted. And it was therehy further enacted, that sdl and every the rents, profits, or emoluments, which might at any time arise from such lands s6 allotted and appropriated as aforesaid, should be applicable solely to the maintenance of a Protestant Clergy within the Province in which the same should be situated, and to no other use or purpose whatever. And whereas, various parts of the said Clergy Reserves witldn this Pro- vince, have been demised by letters patent, under the great seal of this Province, to divers persons for tenns of years which have not yet expired. And whereas, by a certain Act of Parliament of the United Kingdofti of Great Britain and Ireland, passed in the seventh and eighth years' of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Fourth, entitled, "An Act to authorise the sale of a part of the Clei^y Reserves in the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada," it is enacted, that it shall and may be lawflil for the Governor, Lieutenat-Govemor, or officer administering the govern- ment of the Said Provinces, or either of them, with consent of the Execu- tive Council appointed within such Province for the affairs thereof, in pursuance of any instructions which may be issued to such Governoi', Lieutenant Governor, or other officer as aforesaid, by his Majesty, througfi one of the principal Secretariies of State, to sell, alienaite, and conveyj ia fee simple, or for any less estate or interest, a part of the said Ciergy Reserves in each of the said Provinces, not exceeding in either Province one-fourth of the Reserves within such Province, upon, under, and subject to such conditions, provisoes, and regulations, as his Majesty by any sueh insti-tiction as aforesaid, shaH be pleased to direct and appoint ;■ — Provided nevertheless, that the quantity of the said Clergy Reserves so to be sold as aforesaid, in any one year in either of the said Provinces, shall not in the whole exceed one hundred thousand acres : Provided also, that the monies to arise by, or to be produced from any such sale or sales, disdl be paid over to sueh officer or officers of his Majesty's revenue, within the paid Province respectively, as his Majesty shall be pleased to appoint to i*ceiTO the same, and shall, by such officer or officers, be invested in the public funds of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in such manner and form as his Majesty shall from time to time be pleased to direct ; provided also, that the dividends and interest accruing from such public ftinds so to be purchased, shall be appMjpriated, applied, and dfer posed of for the improvement of the remaining part of the said Clergy Reserves, or otherwise for the purposes for which the said lands were Wsetved, as aforesaid, and for no other puqjose whatever, save only so hi: as it may be necessary to apjdy the same or any p»t thei-eof, la «• tbtvards defraying ih6 expenses «f, or attendant npon any fl«ch «td« ov m sales as aforesaid/ and which-'appropriations shall be so made in such manner .and form, and for such special pui-poses, as his Majesty from time to time shalLapprove and direct. And whereas, in pursuance of the said last recited act, the Lieutenant- Governor for the time, being, of. this province, with the consent of the Executive Councal, hathj in pursuance of instrvjctions for that purpose, issued by his late Majesty King George the Fourth, through one of his Principal Secretaries of State, eifected sales' of divers parts of the Clergy Re- serves : and whereas, by.a message to both houses of the Provincial Legis- lature, bearing date the 25th day of Januarj-, 1832, his Exceljency Major General Sir John Colborne, K.C. B. hath signified to both houses of the Legislature of this province,' his Majesty's most gi-acious invitation to con- sider how far the powers given to the Provincial Legislature by the con- stitutional Act, to vary or repeal that part of its, provisions which relate, to the lands allotted and appropriated in this province, to the support and maintenance of a Protestant Clergy, could be called into exercise for the spiritual and temporal interests of his Majesty's faithful subjects in this province. Now, therefore, be it enacted, &c. That so much as is herein- before recited of the said Act of the British Parliament, so passed as afore- said, in the thirty-first year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, shall be, and the same is hereby repealed. And be it, S^c. That from henceforth no grant heretofore made by, or on behalf of his Majesty, or any of his royal predecessors, of any lands situated vsdthin this province, shall be or be deemed invalid or inefiectual, or be liable to be impeached, or vacated or set aside, by reason that any such gi-ant did not contain a specification of the lands allotted and appropriated for the support and maintenance of a Protestant Clergy, in respect of the lands thereby granted ; but every grant of land within this province, heretofore made by, or on behalf of his Majesty or of any of liis royal predecessors, in which .any specifications made had been omitted, shall henceforth be and shall be deemed and taken from the day of the date thereof, to have been as valid and eifectual in the law as though such grants had contained the specification aforesaid. And be it, Sfc. That all the lands heretofore appropriated within this province, for the support and maintenance of a Protestant Clergy, now remaining unsold, shall be and they are hereby declared to be vested in his Majesty, his heirs and successors, as of his and their estate, absolutely discharged fi'om all trusts for the benefit of a Protestant Clergy, and. of and from all and every the claims and demands of such Clergy, upon or in respect of the same. Provided always, and be it,^e'. That nothing herein contained shall take away or afiect, or be construed to take away or affect the right or title of any person or persons, in, or to any lands which may by any such person or persons be holden or enjoyed, or which any such person or perrsons may claim to hold or enjoy, by virtue of any sale, alienation, conveyance or contract, made, executed or entered into, in pursuance of the above repitedact of parliament, passed in the seventh and eighth year of his said late Majesty's reign ; but that every such sale, alienation or contract, shalL.be as valid and effectual in the law, and shall henceforth have and continue to have the same force and effect as if this present Act had not been made: provided, also, that nothing herein contained shaL extend, or be construed to extend to render invalid or ineifectual, any kase or demise of any part of the said Reserves so passed under the gredt sealof this province, as aforesaid. . - < As, this bill never passed into a law, although in the following session a division took place on it in the House of Assembly, any comment would be unnecessary. An event of considerable importance in the history of our Church n Upper Ganada occun^d at this period (1832) ; I allude to the measure, which obtained this sanction of the House of Commons, of withdrawing fyam " The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts "; the annual Parliamentaiy grant of £15,600. This Society had been honoured as the channel through which the Government caused the supplies to pass, necessary for'the maintenance of th? Clergy in the British colonies of North Ame- rica ; and a faithfuj steward of the national provision for the national Church the Society, proved. At no period since the establishment of the Society had |ts energies and resources been more zealously or wisely employed, or its missionaries been more scrupulously selected, or more justly distinguished for their piety and diligence) than at the moment 'when this measure was aidopted. It would be, perhaps, unjust to ascribe to the Government any premeditated design to overturn the fistablishment : it may be supposed that, urged by the repeated solicitations of a party in Parliament, and confiding in the anticipated sufficiency of the Clergy Reserves to supply the wants of the Church, — a confidence the more readily entertained as it received the countenance, if it did not originate in the representations, of the Lieutenant-Governor,-r^his Majesty's Ministers recommended or assented .to the abstraction of so im- portant a succour from the Church at a time when her position in the Province, and the vast increase of her members rendered an augmentation rather than a diminution, still less a total withdrawal, of. support necessary. The efforts made by the society to supply the deficiency by an appeal to. the , Christian sympathies of the members of tjie Chx^rph will be fresh in the recollection of all who felt an interest in the subject. It-was,, however, clear, long before the expiration of the time allowed for the continuance of the reduced grant ( 1834), thg^t unless some extraordinary assistanj^. tirere procurecl, the Society must abandon some portion of tlie splice of ite labom-s, or reduce tke number of its missionaries by one-half. This necessity appears to have been repb^ented to his Majesty's <3t)veraiaieni as th« sabjoined extract of a letter will shew fi-om R. W. Hay, fisq., to the Hon. J. K. Stewart, (brother of the late Bishop of Quebec), dated Dovnin^treet, 28d of Aprils 18»4:— In conseqaeace of the wididrawai of the aid heretofm'e received &om FarUament, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel uppears to have found it impossible to maintain its fonner estEdilisbments ; andit announced Jast year that iti Upper Canada, where GoTeriiment had been able to protiie tin ttnnuall payi&eiit of £100 to each Miefitonairy at pres:ent emi^yed^ th« pl bitants of this province, and to the harmony of the Christian community ! And whereas it is wisely provided by tbe said act, section ilst, " that the several provisions hereinbefore contained, respecting the allotment and appropriation of lands for the support of a Protestant Clergy vrithin thd said provinces ; and also respecting the constituting, erecting and endow* ing. parsonages or rectories within the said provinces ; and also respect* irig the presentation of incumbents or ministers to the same ; and also respecting the manner in which such incumbents or ministers shall bold and enjoy the same," shall be subject to be varied or repealed by. any ex- press provisions for that pui-pose contained in any act or acts which may be passed by the Legislative Council and Assembly of the said provinoes respectively, and assented to by his Majesty, his heirs or successors : And whereas it is mexp6dient and unwise in this province, to have any one or more profession, denomination, or religious sodietiea, anywise connected with the State, or receiving any endowment, pension, sinecure or salary, for their Ministers or Clergy, from the proceeds of the Clergy Reserves, or the public revenues of the State; but that it is expedient they should Severally depend for their support upon the voluntary contributions of the people, and that the said Reserves should be sold for the purposes of feneral education : And whereat by another Act of Parliament of the Trtited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, passed in th^ eighth year of the reign of his late Majesty, Entitled, «• An Act to authorise the sale of a part of the Clergy Reserves in the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada," it was enacted, that a part of the said Clergy Reserves (not exceeding one-fourth of the said Beservea in this province) should be 40 sold, in the manner, and subject to the conditions and limitations in said isat nieuSioned act contained: 4«rf whereas it is highly expedient and necessary to provide, by law for the sale or leasing of so much of the said Be^rres, whether, converted into parsonages or rectories, or what are call^ glehes, as have not been sold under the authority of lJie last menr tioned' act, or .which are not now under sale : And whereas it is .also ex- pedient to provide for the sale of such of the aforesaid lands that are now under lease, as soon as such lease . shall expire : And whereas it is just and expedient that the proceeds arising from the sale of the sEud laud, as. well such portions as have already :been sold as those to be heres^tei- sold, and also arising from such as have been or hereafter shall be leased, should be applicable and appropriated to the support of general education, by which all his Majesty's subjects may equally participate : And whereas it is inr expedient that such reservations should hereafter continue to be made,-— Be it,',^c. That so much of the saidact,, en titled, " An Act to repeal cer-. tain .parts of an Act passed in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign, entitled ' An Aet for making more effectual provision for the jGrovernment of the Province of Quebec, in North America, and to make further provi^ sion for the Government of the . said Province,' " as is above recited, be, and the same is hereby repealed. 2. And be it, ^c. That the. persons hereafter appointed^ and their successors duly appointed, agreeably to the provisions of this act, shall be,~ahd are hereby declared to be , Commissioners, for taking charge of and.superintending, selling, or leasing the said reserves, and. for collecting the money, arisyig from such sales or leases ;— and also for collecting the money now due, or hereafter becoming due, on such as have heretofore been sold and leased; and. who shall be known by the names of " Com- missioners of .Clergy Reserves ; " and it shall be the duty of the several Commissioners for . their respective districts, to collect all such sum or sums as maybe due, as aforesbid, for the purchase or lease as aforesaid, for any Jot or parcel of the said land situate in his district ; and who is hereby authorised to use the same means to recover the rent due on any of the said leased reserves, that a landlord by law now has,- and who shall pay over, once in every three months, all such sums as may. come into his bands, by virtue of his office, to the Receiver General of the Province, for the purposes hereafter provided by this act, except the sum of five per cent, as a compensation for his services, responsibility, &c., together with the expense of advertising the sales of lands in newspapers; as also such.sumasmay.be allowed to. the collectors and clerks of the pveral townships, of the district, as a compensation; for their . services imposed upon them by this act ; and it shall be the duty of the respective Commissioners to record in a book, to be kept. for that pnrppse, all such suin or sums as he may receive and transmit as .aforesaid,, as well as all jffpeeedings connected with their duties and office as Commissioners as aforesaid, which book shall be carefully preserved and kept by such Cpmniission^rs, and handed over to their successors in office, a copy of which they shall make out and transmit to theGpvernor, Lieutenant- Qpyernor,, or person administering the government, on the first day of November in each and every year during their continuance in office, to be by him laid before the Legislature. . S. And be it, SfC. That it shall and may he lawfiil for the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or person administering the goverament of this Province, for the time being, to cause to be made out a list of the ^id Reserves, in the several districts, contained in each township in the sa%, in this Province, and which list shall shew distinctly the situation of th6 several lots or parts of lots whether sold or not— if sold, at what price— and how much has been paid — what remains yet to be paid j — ^if leased, the terms of the lease, together with its date, and time it will expire ; — as also what is due and unpaid on said lease — and also the applications that may have been made, the name or names of the applicant or applicants, with their place of residence, to purchase or lease any of the said Reserves whioli have not yet been sold or leased, and which list shall, with the least possible delay, be, after the passing of this act, transmitted to the Clerk of the Peace of the respective districts, to be by him handed over to the Commissioners of the said districts. 4. And be 41, SfC. That the said Commissioners for the' respective districts shall, immediately upon the receipt of such list^j^ve public notice, by putting up a notice in three of the most public places in the several townships in which there are any lands as aforesaid, which have been applied for and mentioned in the list as aforesaid, but which has not either been sold or leased, at least for thirty days, stating that they will, on a certain day and hour, and at a certain place, meet the township Clerk and the Collector for the township, whose duty it shall be, to meet the said Commissioners at such time and place, for the purpose of hearing and determining upon the several claims for the several Ibts or parcels of land as aforesaid, and the said Commissioner for any district, together with such township Clerk and Collector, shall form a board to hear and determine upon all claims as aforesaid, that may be brought before them, and may adjourn from time to time, as they may deem expedient ; and it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners to issue a summons for the attendance of any witness or witnesses that may be desired by any party claiming any lot or parcel of land as aforesaid ; and such board to hear such witjnesses upon oath, as may be produced, which oath the said Commissioner is hereby authorised to administer, which shall be in the form of the schedule to this act, marked C ; and also may hear the party or parties either under oath or otherwise," as they may deem expedient, and in case the said towfiship Clerk or Collector shall neglect or refuse to attend and perform the duties imposed upon them by this act, the said Commissioner is hereby au^orised and empowered to summons one or more disinterested freeholders,, as occasion may require, to supply the place, and act instead of the said township Clerk or Collector, for all the purposes of this act. 5. And be it, <^c. That it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons who may have made application to pui-chase or lease any land in said township, to prefer his, her, or their claim to the said board, and sustain the same by such proof as he may be in possession of, and desire to adduce. e. And be it, (Sj-c. That the several township Clerks and Collectors, or such person or persons who perform the duties required of the town- ship Clerks and Collectors by this act, in case of their refusal, as is 42 herebefore provided, stall be entitled to receive the sum of five «li31iii|» for eacL and every day which they may necessarily be employed in performing the said duties, vifhich sum the Commissioner is hereby- authorised and required to pay out of any monies that may come into his hands, hy virtue of his office. ' 7. And be it, ^e. That it shall arid may be lavvfdl for the said board to hear and determine upon all such matters as aforesaid, as may be brought before them, and decide the same according to the "best of their ability and judgment ; and in all cases vi'here they find that according to equity and good conscience, that any person is entitled to a lease for any lot or parcel of land as aforesaid, or purchase at private sale, as is provided by this a,ct, they shall record the same in the book to be kept as aforesaid, together with the amount that is found due and payable as back rent, in case it is to be leased, on the said lot or parcel of land ; and it shall and may be lawful for the said Commissioner of any district, and he is hereby required, as soon as may be after the said board for any township have finished their sitting, to proceed to examine and value all such lands as may have been decided to be liable to be purchased as aforesaid, by any person or persons, and shall record hLs opinion of the value of the several lots or tracts of lands in said book ; and also transmit or deliver to the respective persons having a claim, and whose claim has been confirmed by the said board, on any land as aforesaid. 8. And be it, ^^c. That it shall and may be lawful for each person pre- ferring such claim, to pay, or cause to be paid, the first instalment on such land, vnthin the space of six months after receiving such statement or valuation ; which instalment shall be in proportion to the whole amount^ according to the ratio hereinafter provided : Provided always, that if such person neglects or refuses to pay such instalment within the time afore- said, then, and in that case, the said lands shall be sold at public auction, in the same way and manner as other lands are provided to be sold by this met. 9. And be it, 8^c. That the Commissioners for their respective districts shall meet the Collector and township Clerk in the several tovraships^ and from boards in regular rotation, giving due notice as aforesaid, begin- ning with the tovniship containing the greatest number of souls ; and no board shall continue its sittings more than one week from the commence- ment of such silting in any one township ; and that in all cases where a township is not entitled to hold a township meeting, it shall be taken and considered for the purposes of this act, to belong to the same township to which it belongs for the purposes of township meetings. 10. And be it, S[c. That it shalj and may be lawful for the several Commissionsrs, after forming boards in the several townshijis, and after performing and completing the duties imposed upon them by the former provisions of this act, and they are hereby required to make out a full and fair list of such lands as remain undisposed of, and record the same in the book as aforesaid ; from which list they- shall select annually, such lots or parcels as in their discretion they shall deem expedient, not exceeding one quai'ter of what so remains in any one township, and expose the same for sale at public auction, to the highest bidder, in the tovraship in which the laud ,is situated, after first giving public notice of the time and place of sale, and the particular lots or parcels of land to be sold, by putting up 4j| a notice in three of the most public places in the township ; and also causing it to be published in three public newspapers in most extensive circulation in the district, at least six months previous to said sale, and renew their sale every twelve months from the date of their first sale, until the whole be disposed of : Provided and that a copy of this Report, and the documents appended to it, should accompany the Address. The resolutions of the Legislative Council, and their address to the Ring, cannot be read without deep feelings of thankfulness by every member and friend of the Church of England at home or in the Colonies* RESOLUTIONS Reported hy the Select Committee, and afterwards adopted by the Legisla- tive Coiineil, and sent to the Homge of A»smiMy, for their concurrence. f The Select Committee appointed to report upon the hill entitled " An Act for the disposal of the Clergy Reserves in this Province, for the purposes of general Educatton/' have talcen the same into considera- tion, and concur in not recommending it to your honourable house, but have agreed upon certain resolutions, which they beg leave to oifer for its adoptioff.3 Resolved. — That his late Majesty, King George the Thilpdj having been graciously pleased, by message to both houses of parliament^ fe express his royal desire to be eBaWed to make a periBanent ippropriation of lands inthis Province for the support and maintenance of a Protestant Clei';*y within the same^ provision was made for that purpase by parliament, in the statute passed in the 31st year of his Majesty's feign, chap. Slst, hy tyj;ecting a reservation of land* to be made and set apart, in the propor- tion of all the lands that showld be gi-aitted hy his Majesty in the said Province, and by declaring that all and every the rents, profits, or emola" ments, which laight at any time ai-isB from such knds so allotted and a,ppH>priated as aforesaid, sheuld be a,pplied solely to the inaiwtenance and aopjKWt of a Pr«te»t«int QAerg^ vMnn the Province, and to no other use or purpose v(fhatev«r. ^e«e&efl;.-^Th«t sud» aJtotments and apprepriatiofis as th« act directs haying been made freto time to tiai^ Kf& Cftntimiing to he set apart, UB^ ih4 d«igii«lR«n of Cteigy Remrves, « ^^m wa« advamwd in th« 51 yeftr 18i21) on belialf of the Church of Scotland, to be allowed to share iu those Reaerves, or in the rents, profits, or emoluments, to be dented from them ; which claim was made, and has been urged upon the footing of a legal claim, grounded on the construction of the statute, and on the rights of the Church Of Scotland as ii chiirch established in one part of the United Kingdom. Resolved, — That it has been advanced by other portions of the people of this Province, that all Protestant denominations have a right, in com- mon with the Chul'ch of England, to hate their Clergy supported from the Reserves in question, and that no exdusite right can be vindicated under the act, in favour of any one or more Protestant Churches. Jieeolved. — That efforts have also been made to procure a total aboli- tion of this provision fof the support of religion, by obtaining an act of the Provincial Legislature, directing the sale of the Reserves, and the appropriation of the proceeds to purposes of general education. ttesolved. — That by these conflicting claims and oiiposing views, in regard to a subject of so great interest and importance the minds of his Majesty's subjects in this Province have for a long period been rendered anxious and unsettled, and ih the opinion of the Legislative Council, it is, for many reasons, much to be desired, that a speedy and final settlement should take place of the questions Which have arisen upon the effect of the enactments referred to, and tliat it should be plainly, certainly, and firmly established, to what specific objects the Clergy Reserves shall be permanently applied. Resolved. — 'That the Legislative Council, confiding in the wisdmn and justice of his Majesty and the imperial parliament, think it expedient and proper humbly to address liis Ma^sty and both houses of parliamelit, representing that the legislature of this Province has been utiablc to oon- cur in any mcasHvc respecting the Clergy Reserves, and earnestly request- ing that the imperial parliament will, with as little delay as possible, make such an enactment on the subject as cannot appear to leave «ny room for doubt or question in regard to the objects to which the proceeds of the Clergy Reserves are to be a;iplicd ; and that having r^wd to the present condition nnd future \Aelfare of this colony, andmatrirely considw- ing whatever has been urged, or may be urg?d, in regard to these Rcsertes, they will, by some measure which shall be final and uncqwitocal, make such an appropriation of them as shall sppcaf to be most consistent, with a due regsrd to religion, to the principles of our constitution^ and to the irermanent welfare and tranquillity of the Province. ADDRESS TO THE KINO, Hipvrted hy the Select Committee, and adopted bi/ the Lerjidatkc Council. to tHE KINO'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. Most CrRACicrus Sovereign : Wb, your Ma|esty's dutiful KuA loyal sul^cts, the Legislnlite Cwitjcil of Upper Canada, in proTineial parliamelit assemWed, humbly beg teste to represent to your Ma|estjf, that the prdtision made for the mippwt of a Protestant Clergy in this Province, by the statute passed in the thirty- d2 02 first year of tlie reign of our late most gracious Sovereign King George the Third, has given rise to questions which, after many years' agita- tion of them, are still unsettled, notwithstanding the earnest desire of your Majesty, and of your royal jiredecessor, to hring them to a satisfactory issue. The first occasion for discussing the intention and effect of the statute referred to was presented hy a claim advanced on the part of the Church of Scotland to be allowed to share in the allotment of lands called Clergy Reserves, which claim was grounded upon the language of the statute, and upon the alleged right of the Church of Scotland to be recognized in the colonies of the empire as an established Church. An opinion was not long afterwards puhhcly expressed that, not merely the Churches of England and Scotland, but every denomination of Protestants, without distinction, should be allowed to participate in the provision. ■ It is now many years since these claims and opinions were first advanced, and during the period which has intervened, the minds of your Ma-^ jesty's suhjects in this Colon}' have been rendered anxious and unsettled, by the hopes which have been raised on the one side, and the apprehen- sions which have been excited on the other. In the progress of the discussions to which this important subject has given rise, a new ground has been taken, and a measure has been pro- posed to us for our concurrence which has for its object the entire destruc- tion of the provision which your Majesty's late royal father, and his parlia- ment, have wisely made for the maintenance of public worship, and the dis- pensing of religious instruction in this extensive and valuable colony. In any measure of this description we feel it impossible to concur ; and we are relieved from the apprehension that the Clergy Reserves will be ever appropriated to objects not immediately connected vvith reli- gion hy the very explicit assurance conveyed through the right honorable the Secretary of State for the colonies, that your Majesty can never con- sent to abandon the interests in question with a view to any objects of temporary and apparent expediency. We looli upon these allotments as the only resource from whence the Ministers of religion can ever derive public support in this colony. But while we decline to take part in any measure which would deprive the pre- sent and future generations of advantages, in their nature inestimable, and which we consider it to be among the first and most sacred duties of a legislative body to ensure and perpetuate ; we nevertheless deeply regret, that the questions which have been agitated with respect to the Clero-y Reserves should continue unsettled ; and we think it is, for many reasons, much to be desired, that a speedy and final decision should take place of the questions which have arisen upon the effect of the statute refeiTed to and that it should be plainly, certainly and firmly established, to what specific objects the Clergy Reserves shall be permanently applied. Con- fiding freely in the wisdom and justice of your Majesty atid of Parliament, we earnestly hope, that with as little delay as the subject may admit of, such an enactment may be passed as shall not leave any room for doubt or question, in regard to the objects to which the proceeds of the Clern-y Reserves are to be applied, and that having regard to the present condi- tion and future welfare of this colony, and maturely considering whatever 53 has been urged, or may be urged in regard to these Reserves, your Majesty and the Imperial Parliament will by some measure, which shall be final and unequivocal, make such an appropriation of them as shall appear to be most consistent with a due regard to religion, to the prifa- ciples of our constitution, and to the permanent welfare and tranquillity of the province. Being anxious to contribute to this desirable result by every means in our power, we have applied ourselves to this important subject during the present session, for the purpose of presenting in as clear and connected a view as we are able, the questions which have arisen in regard to the Clergy Reserves, the grounds on which they have been raised, and the measures which have been taken in relation to them^ We have endea- voured to accomplish this in a Report which accompanies this our hmnble address, and in which we have desired carefully to avoid entering into discussion or argument upon the several questions — reposing with entire confidence upon the wisdom of your Majesty and Parliament, for a just and right decision upon a dispassionate and impartial consideration of the existing law, and the interests of your Majesty's subjects in this province. We beg to renew, upon this occasion, our assurances of entire devotion to yoiu- Majesty's person and government. It appears that the Earl of Ripon, while Colonial Secretary, expressed, in his despatches, an anxious desire that the Provincial Executive should proceed steadily and constantly in the erection and endowment of rectories or parsonages, accordino- to the provisions of the act of 1791. Sir Jolni Colborne promoted, as far as lay in his power, so desirable an object. There were, how- ever, serious difficulties to overcome. The Governor had not the absolute power to proceed, although in possession of regal instructions : his conduct depended on the consent and advice of the "Executive Council." Unhappily a difference of opinion as to the most ehgible manner of constituting the rectories, existed between the Governor and his council ; in which difference the law officers of the Crown were involved. The Governor and the Attorney-General, (Mr. Jameson,) were of opinion that the rectories should be confined to the limits of the church and churchyard ; that is, that the spiritual jurisdiction of the Rector or Parson should not necessarily extend further than those narrow limits. It would, consequently, depend on each individual of a township to admit, or reject the spiritual oversight of the Rector of the Church of England. This plan was deemed expedient and advisable, in order to meet the objections which might be advanced hv anv body of Christians dissenting from the Church, that tlie u Clergy possessed rights which might be ipterpreted as interff Heg with tba liberty of other denominations. It was also thought eTOedient thus to limit the boundaries of the rectories, in order to avoid the plea which the enemies of the Church might make» that the Clergy, in process of time, would demand tithes from the people ! thus limited, their demands could reach no farther than th^ precincts of the sanctuary- This plan, which appeared best calculated to remove any reasonable ground of objection, was strenuously opposed by the Executive Council, (or some members of it i) and their opposition was sanctioned or Buppprted by the opinion of the 3olicitor-General, (Mr. Hageroian). The plan proposed by the Executive was, that the Rectors should enjoy the same privileges, and exercise the same spiritual juris- diction over p. township or parjshs which a Rector or Vicar of a parish claims in England. The Lieutenant-Governor could not assent to the adoption of this plan; the consequence was natural — neither party giving way, the Church was deprived of the advan- tage which the instructions from home, and the disposition of the Governor entitled her to ejspect. It is not improbable, thf|.t had Sir John Colborne remained in the administration of the gpvgrnmept, the alfajrs of the Church might have still continued in this unsatisfactory state. His recal, however, having been signified to him, and through him to the Council, it appears the Council felt the propriety of yielding to the Governor's proposed plan, rather than risk, perhaps, the endowments altogether, by awaiting the decision of a new Governor, armed with fresh, and possihly* less friendly instructions. Literally at the eleventh hour, the patents for the institution of fifty-seven Rectories were prepared and passed the great seal of the Province, Such an gfifarev.% sudden measure was calculated at any time to attract attention, but more especially so, on the eve of. the resignation of the Lieutenant Governor, The newspapers of the Province, whose disaffection to the Church had been unhesitatingly avowed, teemed- with bitter and vituperative attacks on the Governor. Some vital principle of the monarchy might have been saorifioed to the arbitrary caprice of the Governor;— whereas one of the jdaingst requirements of the constitution had merely been carried gut into exeQ^tJon, R was indeed, the simple issuing of th« 55 pat ents which was then effected ; for all the lands, thus deeded, had been long set apart as glebes, and in many cases, been in possession of the Clergy for years, In a short time the feverish excitement abated, till another opportunity was afforded for kindUng it into fresh vigour. Soon after Sir F, B. Head assumed the government of the Prsiyince, he found himself committed in an altercation with the House of Assembly. And how, indeed, could he have avoided it ? The majority of that house, under the specious garb of liberalism, and under pretence of ameliorating, by reforming the institutions of the Province, soon convinced the Lieutenant-Governor, (whose penetration into the character of their designs cannot be too much admired, and whose wisdom and firmness in discovering and resisting them, can never be too highly praised or appreciated by the loyal of the land,) that nothing short of release from the " baneful domination " of the Mother Country would satisfy their demands. Sir Francis Head, although fully authorised, as he was disposed, to remove every reasonable ground for complaint in the administration of the Colonial Government, was not, of course, disposed to become a tool in the hands of a revolutionary faction for wresting from his Sovereign so fair a portion of liis dominions. The consequence was the prorogation, and eventually, after loyal addresses had been presented to the Lieutenant- Governor from every town and village of the Province, the dis- solution of the Provincial Parliament. The elections, which followed, afforded the most gratifying proofs to the friends of order and British connection, that the veil of delusion which the misrepre- sentations of the faction had cast over the minds of too many in the Province, was suddenly and effectually removed. Many of the most notorious enemies of the Province lost their seats, and were replaced by more respectable, as well as more constitutional men. It was truly a crisis in the affairs of Upper Canada. Let it not be supposed that these transactions have no connection with the history of the Church, — they cannot be separated from it. In the speech from the throne, on opening the session of the new Parliament, the Lieutenant-Governor manifested his sohcitude in behalf of th« Church, by requesting the Leg»sl«ture to enter on the serious coimderfttiw of the Clergy Reserves' question without delay. It might, perhaps, have been better to have 56 allowed the ebulition of feelings excited by the late endowments to subside into peace, before the question of the Reserves had bieen agitated; Time might have softened down much of the bitterness which the adversaries of the Church exhibited in the discussion. A Committee was appointed, and, doubtless, after very anxious and laborious investigation, they brought up, (but did not agree on,) a report ; at all events, the chairman, (Mr. Draper,) declared himself dissatisfied with it : and well he might; for the majority of this Committee of five, recommended, not indeed, an alienation of the Reserves from religious uses, but a division of them. The reader will doubtless be anxious to learn what sections of Christians were to be favoured. The first- was the Church of England. Second, the Church of Scotland ! Third, the Methodists!! Fourth, the Baptists!!! And fifth, (proh pudor !) the Church of Rome ! ! ! ! The report was ordered to be printed, but no discussion ' was attempted during a con- siderable portion of the session. At length the Solicitor-General, (Mr. Hagerman,) whose devotion to the welfare of the Church has • conciliated the esteem and respect of her members, delivered bis opinions with such energy and eloquence on the character and provisions of the proposed measure, that the enemies of the Establishment burst forth into the most violent abuse of the Church, her Ministers, her ordinances, and her friends. It is with unfeigned grief we are obliged to record the fact that the Churdh of Scotland was not exceeded (if equalled) by any, in bitterness of spirit and' language ; the virulence of the assault cannot be qualified by the charitable epithet of sectarian; it was unchristian. The subject of the fifty-seven rectories was again revived; and remonstrances,' couched in no measured terms, were forwarded to the Imperial, as well as to the Colonial Government. A deputy from the Church of Scotland was sent over to England. What he may have effected eithej against our Church, or in favour of his own, rests amongst the arcana of the Colonial Office. One effect of the representations against the Church was, that Lord Glenelg submitted the case of the fifty-seven rectories tb the consideration of the law officers of the crown. It had been boldly asserted that the patents were invalid and illegal, because, it was pretended, the royal sanction had not been given to the Lieutenant-Governor for such a proceedure. It was, perhaps, the 57 easiest way of giving a kind of immediate satisfaction to the com- plainants, however the charge of partiahty and inconsiderate haste in bringing, at best, but an imperfect case before the crown officers, may attach to the Colonial minister. The enemies of the Church were permitted, for awhile, to exult ; for tlie opinion of the law officers thus obtained, distinctly declared the patents to be invalid and illegal, because no authority had been given to the Governor to issue them. The triumph was short. The deficiency in the archives of the Colonial Office was supplied from the better guarded offices of the Provincial Government : — the authority was found and duly registered : — the law officers consequently were obliged to withdraw their opinion, and the Church has been allowed silently to enjoy her assailed right. The excitement has doubtless passed away ; but we are forced upon an inquiry into the true cause of it, connected, as it unhap- pily has been, with the history of the Church. The Clergy Reserves were designed as an endowment to the Established Church of England in Upper Canada ; — ^we ask, then, is it against the principle of a state endowment, or against the Church of England as the recipient of it, that the outcry is periodically raised in the Province ? It has been said, " Coeluiu, non animiim mutant qui trans mare cuiTunt." If the dissenters from the Church of England (the Church of Scotland ought not to be found an associate of voluntaries in any country) are sincere in their denunciations against endowments, and in their laudatory harangues of the voluntai-y system, then must an exception be made to the adage, to their advantage or disadvantage as it may be; for whatever they might prove in England, if the temptation of a state endowment were placed in tlioir way, it is certain that in Upper Canada they would be nothing loathe to the exercise of a little gentle violence to induce their ac- ceptance of it. I do not mean to say that I have the authority of « Conference," or of the body aggregate of " Baptist teachers," for this assertion; but sufficient evidence of its truth may be crathered from the fact, that when the report of the House of Assem- bly's committee, recommending the division of the Piesen-es, was known through the Province, no disclaimer of concurrence on the part trf the « velttnteries" was jjeavd. Had the " divisipn " becomejthe kw of tb© land, doubtless, as good and obedient subjects, the dis- sentei"* would b»ve passively endured its introduction} and silently submitted to its operation. As a Churchmanj I find it difficult to imagine bow any well-inforraod roan can seriously and sincerely advocate the voluntary system; but I can readily imagine that, under a peculiar bias, men may be brought to confound the j>rin- eiple, with the rmpkwt of an endowment. Long accustomed to regard one body as the exclusive recipients of state patronage, it is veiy possible that a little invidious feeling might insensibly creep into the affections, and, in progress of time, warp the judgment into the persuasion that? because exclusively enjoyed by others it is injustice to themselves. No wonder, then, that the cry of "away with if should peel in every chapel, and be echoed by ©¥ery convert to dissent, till even the State itself seems shaken from its propriety, and the rulers are brought, at least, to listen to the complaint. The simplest process of sound reasoning should convince our opponents of the fallacy under which they are labouring, I could appeal to any so-termed orthodox dissenter whether, in hia heart, he does not believe his own views of divine truth to be the soundest, his own plan of Church government the most conformable to primitive practice, and the spirit of the Gospel ? and whether he does not, therefore, think and believe, that the universal prevalency of his « interest" would most conduce to the advancement of God's glory, and best secure the salvation of man- kind ? Under this persuasion would not the dissenter desire to perpetuate his "interest," embracingj as he is assured it does, such high and exalted objects, and aiming at nothing less than the universal spread of true religion ? He must entertain the desire, because he is persuaded it is the desire of ^ood. What, then, will be his conduct ? If he could> he would, by all legitimate means, permanently establish hlg own party, exclusively, as the best. Now, this permanency must involve the necessity of constant pecuniary support. But in very many places the people would be unable to give their support; now, wherever this happened to be the case, the system must be defective : a certain provision, therefore, must be made for all times and seasons, If, then, the system is to become a national one, it mUBt be considered worthy, and, consequently, 59 would reasonably receive, the support (or endowment) of the nation. It is, then, not against the principle, but against the Church of England only, as the recipient of exclusive patronage, that the dissenters raise their voices : and if they can, by clamour and agitation, induce the " powers that be " to withdraw the national support from the national Church, in order to make way for the equal, if not exclusive, favour and patronage of their " interest," then certainly will they have attained the consumma- tion of their wishes, and, with it, the conKummatian of the greatest evil that could befal the land. But even in the supposition that the dissenters had already boldly declined, or should hereafter decline, a participation in lands (the Clergy Reserves), as an endowment, they should, if they desire to maintain » oonsistency of principle, also have refused to accept of any pecuniary a»si$l- ance from Government, under whatever plea it may have been sought, or received. But, perhaps, they do pot consider a grant of money and a grant of land from the State, m being equally an endowment ; if so, I can only say, such a conolusion appears to me " passing strange." If any kind friend presented me with money suiScient to build a good and commodious habitation for myself- and family, I should be disposed to think he bad as efFec- tually given me an " endowment," as though he had made over to me a certain tract of land, the rent of which would procure for me a dwelling equally good and commodious as the one which his gift of money had enabled me to build. There are obvious advan- tages, indeed, in receiving the money instead of the lan^i to which it is not necessary to allude. It is a fact notorious in the Province. that the dissenters have received (and are j/eor/y receiving) money grants from the Government, to a greater amount than the value of the fifty-seven rectories. I cannot conclude this part of my labour without drawing the attention of the reader to a simple fact :— Of those who baye ever inanifosted the greatest hatred to the Church, and striven most incessantly to deprive her of the Clergy Reserves, many will be found who, during the late revolt, havo exhibited an equal hatred to British influence and British connexion, and lohote names are branded as rebels to their Sovereign I (ENB or PART FIRST.) PART THE SECOND. THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE DEPUTATION, &c. The Clergy stationed in Upper Canada have witnessed, since the year 1830, such an increase in the numbers of their commu- nion, and such an extension of their sphere of labour, that no efforts on their part could enable them to occupy the one, or to minister to the other. They saw the evil daily increasing, yet it was in vain to make representations to their diocesan the Bishop of Quebec : they were satisfied that if the needful supply depended upon, or could have been furnished by, him, even out of his own resources, their wishes would have been anticipated. Frequently, indeed, did the Clergy " speak one to another," as occasion or privilege brought them together ; but help seemed afar off. It was eventually thought expedient to summon the whole Clergy of the Province to a meeting at Toronto, when the peculiar state and necessities of the Church might be' fully developed. The Archdeacons of Kingston and York (in the absence of the Bishop) issued circulars to their Clergy, and in the month of October a solemn convention was held. Amongst other matters of deep interest to the Church, the destitution of her members occupied the attention of the meeting. It was suggested, as the only possible method of alleviating that destitution, that a deputation from the Church in Upper Canada should proceed to Great Britain, to make known to the authorities in Church and State, as also to the Clergy and Laity generally, the state of absolute privation of the ministrations of our holy religion, in which about 100,000 of our fellow-countrymen and fellow-Churchmen are actually placed in that Province.. The Archdeacon of York was pleased to propose that I, for one, should be requested to undertake this duty. The request, unanimously made, I was induced, at the time, peremptorily to decline. My motives were, I trust, not reprehensible. None was more persuaded of the necessity of such a deputation, for, perhaps, none had had more frequent, or extensive opportunities of witnessing the destitution than myself. Pastoral, family, and personal considerations, appeared of sufficient importance to warrant my refusal to obey the voice of the assembled Presbytery. I allude only to the pastoral considerations, — which, however, I doubt not, might, with equal truth, have been pleaded by any of my brethren ; — ■■! felt a deeply seated reluctance to leave a sphere of duty, which, I am satisfied, would abundantly engage the energies and zeal of six clergymen to occupy. The request had been made, formally and solemnly made ; and I confess, it was oft reiterated to my mind in my most retired moments. I strove to convince myself I was right : but prayer to God, and converse with some of my brethren, especially with my friend and brother, the Rev. Benjamin Cronyn, induced in me, eventually, the persuasion, that "obedience" was my duty. During a visit at Mr. Crony n's, I came to this determination; and on his consenting to share in the duties and labours of the deputation, we proceeded to make such arrangements for the partial supply of our duties, during our absence, as circumstances would permit.. We arrived in Toronto in the latter part of January, 1837 ; and having received the necessary credentials and letters from the Archdeacon of York, we proceeded to Kingston. The Archdeacon of Kingston immediately added his name to our documents, and we then directed our course to the Lower Province, in order to secure the necessary sanction of the Bishop of Montreal. We found him zealously occupied in a visitation tour, during which, for four months, he had been daily preaching, confirming, or con- secrating : in a word, abundantly labouring in his episcopal duties. He received us most kindly, furnished us with credentials, and bade us heartily " God speed." On our arrival in England we naturally and necessarily sought out our revered Bishop of Quebec, in order that, under his counsel, guidance, and personal influence, we might enter on the duties of our mission. We were prepared, from the fact of his having left Upper.Qanada in great bdUly W8akfl«88, W fliid this tmlom servant of God labouring under inability, through iticfeasing inflfmities, to utideitake a very active co-operation f but we had not anticipated that his state of health was sueh ft« to preclude all hope of assistanccj present or future. He Could pray for our success : and the assurance consoled us, " The effectual ferVetit prayer of a righteous man availeth much." We immedifttely addressed ourselves to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterisury S And in our appointed interview we submitted our crwientials tos and fully brought our cause before, His Grace. Expressions of deepest sympathy in our necessities were re-' peat^dly uttered by His OmeBf accompanied with those of j-egret that the periad of our arrival was inopportune. The various and «ff ent calls which had been latterly madcj and were still nfaking, on the Christian benevolence of tlw public, appeared to render the introdtHitiott of a new cause of need to the members of the Cluirch, alt&oM a hopeli^si attempt. Among the claims which the Christiaft community had so reAdily acknowledged, and so liberally supiwrted. We may mention— The appeal oH behalf of the West Indiess which produced about £40,000- The Bishop of L<»do«*s appeal for funds to build Churches, abeut £lSo,0W- The Bishop of London's appeal for Clergy Aid Society, about £85000 pf»r antrum. The appeal on behalf of the Scotch, £m,mo. Th§ appeal oh behalf of the Spi^lfields' Wearers. At«i to thes* new claims may be added, as a proof of the "ineppwtane period of our arrival,'* the panic which the state of affaire i« America hsd caused in the ewnmercial World. These combined dmfflfista&ces were sufficient to discountge us; thit^ human apjiMkPefd to phh;« our hopes of sticcess in jeopardy; we h8iA,hmBimi"^epfimi«ef' for our support; and in dejjewdence on that ff peculiarly fitted for, so by the same Grace he is most devotedly, zealously, discreetly, and piously given tp his IVIaster's cause and work: had the Upper Canada Clergy Society b^^n permitted noftthj^r participation in the work pf ev^nge- liaiog our moral desert than in being instrumental in sending out Mr. O'Neill, their labour .wo)ild not be found in vain in the Xtox^ During my visits, in various parts of ths .country, the question has frequently been asked : What need is there of another, a new society for Upper Canada, so long as the " Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts " devoteis its energies and fiinds for. 67 evangelizing the British colonies of North America ? I liave felt that 'unless this question can be satisfactorily answered, the '* Upper Canada Clergy Society" will not receive the general or cordial support of Churchmen, but will be regarded rather as intruding into a sphere already faithfully occupied by others. We shall endeavour to afford this satisfaction to inquirers. It • has already been stated that after the withdrawal of the annual Par- liamentary grant of £15,600, the " Society for Propagating the Gospel" was obliged, however reluctantly, to reduce greatly its missionary establishments. By an arrangement made with Govern- ment, the Society was relieved altogerfier of the demand for the salaries of its missionaries in Upper Canada. Since that time, except the grant of £500 per annum, lately made, the Society has done nothing for Upper Canada — not, of course, from any want of win, but solely and absolutely from want of means. We have already shewn the effects which this withdrawal of the Parfia- mentary grant had already produced in Upper Canada ; and it must be plain, under such circumstances, that, unless help, prompt and efficient help, vrere procured, the Church must 4inndle into utter insigflificiU)c&, and her members be obliged to leave her connnunioii. The must urgent representatioas were Hiaide in Engkiad ; and, as great interest was excited here by the pieculi«irly f^oriB a«d abandwied state of the Church in Up|>er Caniida, the late 6isih<9{> of Quebeic aed the present ^ho|> of Montt«al requested the " Society fof Pro|)ag'ating the Gospel" to allow a distinct fund to he ceiieeted for Upf)er Canada. To this proposal the Society thought it inexpedient to assent, on the ground, as far as I have learnt, that sUch an exception might be succes- sively required for all the colonies. I do not attefnpt to feipugn the wisdom of the resolution ; although I feel persuaded that, had the projMsal been acceded toj, the funds of tb.e Society would have been increased by thousands, Upj^er Canada would have aegaioed in the- presence of a goodly band of extra missionaries, and the " Upper Canada Clergy Society " would never have liad its exist- ence. Ill consequence of this resolution, connected wirfh the i We have the honour to inclose a copy of our appeal to the British pub- h'c in behalf of the spiritually-destitute settlers in Upper Canada. The temporal prosperity of the Province must be dependent upon the sound spiritual instruction imparted to the inhabitants of it. We are persuaded that, to a body so deeply interested as the Upper Canada Company is in all that connects itself with the welfare of the Province, a well-autheuti- cated case of destitution need only to be clearly made out, to meet with instant and liberal support. That our Province is most lamentably defi- cient in means for diffusing sound religious instruction; that 100,000 members of the Church are totally destitute of the public ordinances of religion ; — that multitudes of other denominations equally destitute with ourselves would thankfully receive the ministrations of the Church of England in the absence of their own ; — that the Province possesses at present no means of supplying the deficiency complained of, are facts which cannot be denied. An appeal to the .Mother Country has been decided on, and partially made. We feel that we are aeting in accordanee 70 with the insttuctiens Kepeived, froip the auth^titiesa of oui- Church, Ijy making known our wants to £he Upper Cftpada Company. We entreat a serious atteiition to the facts Stated in our appe^, and we fear not the result will be sympathy and assistance. We have the honor to be, (jentlemen. Your most ohedien^ and faithful servants, (Signed) IVILLiAM BETTRIDGE. BENJAMIN CB,ONYN. Having obtained the countenance and support of many of our most Reverend and Rigiit Reverend Prelates, and of the societies fbr "Promoting Christian Knowledge" and "Fropf^ating the Gospel," and having assisted at the public fo'rmation of the " Upper Canada Clergy Society," our attention was now most naturally directed to the two Universities. In Cambridge we were incon- veniently pressed for time, as the division of term had approached to within a few days when we first arrived. Persons acquainted with the routine of University business at this season, will under- stand that great interest must be taken in a cause to induce mem- bers to relax in any measure from their necessary occupations. Such an interest was excited, partly by sermons, partly by private and social meetings, in which the deputation were able to trace out the general features of our necessities. The Reverend Pro- fessor Lee kindly consented to preside at our public meeting ; his excellent opening speech was followed by a feeling address from the Reverend Professor Schofield. The Hon. Captain Wellesley, on the part of the Upper Canada Clergy Society, then proceeded to state the circumstances which had led to the formation of the society; The deputation were next listened to with the greatest attention. An auxiliary was formed to the Uppel- Cansida Clergy Society, and liberal donatioiig, and many annual subscriptions were made at the close of the meeting. We E^re not without hope that, of those members of the University who attended the meeting, or were otherwise made acquainted with the state of Upper Canada, some may be led, by the spirit of the Lord, to present themselves as willing labourers in that portion of our national vineyard. At Godmanchester and Huntingdon I preached two sermons on the Sunday following, and addressed a very large and deeply at- tentive meeting on the Monday evening at the town-hall. Here iilso were we permitted to form an auxiliary, and encouraged in our la^ bours by the kindness and syinpathy both of the Clergy and Laitv. \ 71 Froia HuntingdoH I prooeeded to Oxford, to make preparatory arrangements for sermons or a public meeting, as circumstances might permit, or opportunities be afforded. A perfect stranger, and with a latent feeling that I should meet with a cold formal reception, I confess my ungenerous and unbelieving heart, un- believing towards God, and ungenerous towards the University, suggested at every hesitating step, " a failure." I was punished for my doubts, in the way in which God very generally visits his people for their doubts, — ^by an universal exhibition of kindness, lively sympathy, and geqerous assistance. I can never lose the remembrance of the truly Christian and cordial manner in which our cause was. espoused and supported. To the Vice-Chancellor, and to the heads of houses, the gratitude of our destitute Church is especially due, for their official countenance in attending and partaking in the proceedings of the public meetings as well as for their pecuniary contributions; and to the members of the University generally, for their ready and liberal response to our call. I can only say the cause was acknowledged to be a legitimate appeal to the Church, and as such it was dealt with* If I consulted only my personal sense of favours received, I should here record many names; but as they are names connected with the promotion of every good work, and as a public acknowledge" ment might not be acceptable, I forbear. I cannot avoid recording one circumstance which occurred at Oxford. At the public meeting I mentioned as a ia/eX, that for every £100 subscribed in jlngland, the erection of a church capahle of containing; from 250 tp 300 persons would be secured, the people, out of their poverty, being expected to contribute an eq,uai sum. In making this statement, I expressed a wish that some pious in.dividual then present would, of the abundance which the Lord had given him, offer such, a donation; and pledged myself that such a church, in remembrance of Oxford and the approaching festival, should be built and called "Commemoration.' The following morning the success of our request was announced to us, at the bank, where we were informed that the sum of £100 had been deposited to our credit by the Vice-ChanceU from th» Pi«aenters, ef the kon-om ol endow- 75 ments, and of the extellenty of the wlunSary system ; and y»^ iily Lord, in U.p per Canada, where the Churoh's patrimony has not heen irrevoecibty secured, as in the parent state, and where, in consequence, the hope, however faint, exists, of depriving her of a portion of it, they are seen strugghng and straining every nerve to possess the " unelean thing." The Church, therefore, of all other denominations, must he deattous to see gome plan carried into execution, whieh, while it secures to her a portion, at least, of her lawful inheritance, may shield her from the unjust asHtults of her enemies. We have read a copy of the memorial forwarded to your Lordship, for presentation to his late Majesty, from the delegates of the Church of Scot- land, hy Mr.MomSjarespectedmemheroftheLegislativeCouncil of Upper Canada. The ohject of this memorial appears two-fold : First, to com- plain of the injustice done to the Chureh of Scotland hy the estahlishment of fifty-seven rectories in connection with the Church of England,- and secondly, to ohtain an act of tlie Imperial Parliament to constitute the Synods, &o., of the Church of Scotland in Upper Canada, corporate bodies. Against the latter provision it is not our purpose at present to object. The complaint, however, conveyed in the memorial is objectionable, * because there is no ground for it. The memorial states that incumbents of these rectories have spiritual jurisdiction over the members of the Church of Scotland and others. This can only he the case where anv such members of the Church of Scotland or others may reside on the ground set apart for the Church and Church-yard, as this is the extent to which the spiritual jurisdiction of the rectors is assigned in all the patent deeds with which we are acquainted. On this subject we would refer your Lordship to the Sohcitor-General, Mr. Draper. We were grieved to learn from yoUr Lordship, that the opinion of the law-offlcers of the crown on the question of these rectories is unfavourable to the Chtireh. We feel that the unsettling these endowments musk be attended with difficulty and injustice : with difficulty, because much of the land so conveyed, has already been leased :— with injustice, because in many cases (in our own specifically) the lands had been set apart by express command of the governor in council several years before the patents were issued ; and because improvements have heen made, and houses built on these lands. Moreover the House of Assembly of Uj^er Canada has distinctly recorded its opinion of tlie validity of these endowments in the following resolution, passed the 9th February, 1837, by a majority of 33 to 20 :— Resolved, " That this House regards as inviolable the rights acquired under the patents by which rectories have been endowed, , and cannot, therefore, either invite or sanction any interference with the rights thus established," The issuing of these patents was hut the compdetion (in many cases) of acts already commenced ; and indeed much, if not the whole of the obloquy, which the simultaneous establishment of these rectories caused, would have been avoided, if the endowments had heen perfected at the time they were virtually made. We can of our own knowledge state, that our late respected Lieutenant-Governor (Sir J. Oolborne) wa« detert'ed from this step solely by the opposition wliich his plan of resfaicting the 7fl jurisdiction of rectors within" the present confined limits, met with in his executive council. We do hope that her Majesty's government will secure to the Church of England these endowments by such alterations in the patents as the law-officers of the crown may have found to be necessary. We now address ourselves to another leading purpose of the present communication. We have seen Mr. Moms, and confeiTed with him on the nature of the claims advanced by the Church of Scotland. The desire ■ appears mutual that an amicable termination should, if possible, be effected to the question of the Clergy Reserves. From our personal knowledge of the province and its aifairs, we are satisfied that unless such a measure be devised and carried out, it will be in vain to expect peace or happiness. The enemies of order and true religion will never lack fuel for their incendiary efforts so long as this subject remains open. We venture then to submit to your Lordship, for the consideration of her Majesty's govern- ment, the following suggestions, (in which, as far as we know, Mr. Morris concurs.) They are offered as the principle for an act of the Imperial Parhament, or (should this not be thought expedient at present,) for the government of her Majesty's representative and the houses of legislature in Upper Canada : — 1st. The acknowledgment of the right of the Church of England to endovnnents from the Clergy Reserves by the Act 31 Geo. III., ch. 31., as interpreted by the law-officers of the crown in 1819 : the security of her present possessions, and the allotment of a portion of the Reserves for her use and benefit for ever. ; 2nd. The allotment of a portion of the Clergy Reserves to the Church of Scotland for her use and benefit for ever : the extent of these allot- ments or portions to be determined according to the numerical strength of both churches in Great Britain, or (as it must be difficult, if not im- possible, to ascertain this with accuracy,) according to the proportion of the whole population of England and Scotland, assuming that the dissenters from the Church of Scotland in Scotland are proportionably as numerous as the dissenters from the Church of England in England. In the present state of Upper Canada it would he almost impossible to ascertain the relative numbers of the two churches. 3rd. The residue of the Reserves to be re-invested in the crown, for the maintenance and support of other Protestant denominations dissenting from the two estabhshed churches. We are persuaded that if this principle of allotment were admitted, the lands at present not disposed of, might be divided into three equal parts : two-thirds to be secm'ed to the two established churches in the proportion of their numbers as above alluded to, and the other third for the purpose mentioned under the third head. We seek your Lordship's permission to present any explanations which the subject may appear to require at your Lordship's convenience. We have the honor to be, my Lord, Your Lordship's humble and obedient servant, (Signed) WILLIAM BETTRIDGE, B.D. BENJAMIN CRONYN, M.A. The Right Hon. Lord Glenelg, &c. &c., &c. 77 The authorities and friends of the Church, here and in Upper Canada, will, perhaps, consider our plan for a division of the Clergy Reserves bold and unwarrantable. Bold it certainly is, and, in one sense, unwarrantable. With respect to the boldness of the plan, however, it may be urged in extenuation that, to a mind really imbued with the principles of that kingdom, whose characteristics are "righteousness and peace in the Holy Ghost," no mere personal or worldly sacrifice would be esteemed onerous or painful, to secure the establishment of peace, where enjoyed, or its restoration, where disturbed or lost. I know not a Clergy- man in Upper Canada, who, if- his personal feelings alone were consulted, would not prefer that the provision of the " Clergy Reserves" had never been made, than that, being made, but not effectually secured, they should furnish a constant subject of bitter- ness and animosity amongst the people, and most unchristian attacks upon the Church. Has not the same boldness been exhi- bited, in scores of instances, by the Clergy in Great Britain and Ireland, who have been willing rather to renounce their unques- tionable and legal right to the tithes of their livings, than that, by enforcing their payment or collection, their spiritual influence over their flocks should be destroyed, or the peace of the parish be disturbed ? But our plan for the division of the Reserves in Canada (as well as the renunciation of tithes on the part of the Clergy at home) would be unwarrantable as it is bold, if the interests of others, over which we have no just or legal control, be thereby compromised. In this view of the case, our' proposal must be withdrawn as objectionable and unjust. Indeed, if the whole of the Clergy at present in Upper Canada were to concur in the pro- posed division, it could not equitably be effected on their concur- rence. The property is vested in the Church ; the present incum- bents hold only in trust for their successors ; and both possess their rights only under a covenant engsigement rightly and duly to ad- minister the sacraments, and to preach the Gospel to the people committed to their spiritual oversight. The " Clergy ReseiTfes " have been conveyed to the Church, in trust, to me, not to alienate' The Church comprises not only the Clergy, but the Laity also ; — the Laity, therefore, must be consulted. And have the gene- rations to come no interest in this provision for their spiritual Its insteuctioH aiid weifeire ? How are they te be consulted ? The Church, the whole Church, is not competent to alienate ; and I must be much mistaken if even the Imperial Legislature have the right (the power, I know, they ppssess) to deprive the Church of her endowment once solemnly and permanently made. The deed has been signed, sealed, and delivered by the nation's representa- tives, confirmed by the nation's King, and registered in the pre- sence of the nation's God. The right to take back or alienate to other uses cannot be sustained : it were a mockery of legislation, on such a subject if it could. The right to make provision for the best method of securing the end designed by the endowment of the Church is freely conceded to the Imperial Legislature^ and earnestly has the Church besought the Parliament to exercise this right, in order that the state of jeopardy and doubt, which the enemies of the Church have caused, may be exchanged for one of safety afid permanency. It became now, necessary, as the deputation had communicated with the heads in Church and State, that an appeal' should be made to the Christian public, in which the state and wants of the Church, in Upper Canada, iH%ht be set forth; and in which also, the Clergy might be entreated to furnish us an opportunity of pleading our cause from their pulpits, and in public meetings. We were soon made sensible that this plan, if successful, would necessarily oblige the deputation to make a "division of labour," and, consequently, to separate; an event we could not realise witho«t r^ret, althou^ the necessity of it had been anticipated before we left Upper Canaiia, and therefore, personal, as well as joint credentials, were fewished to us. Mr. Gronyn, whose eoamectiows and natural sympathies were more centred in Ireland, ^«se that country as the sphere of his effbrts ; leaving me to further th^ cause of our mission in England. These few I'emarks I have tlroii^t necessary, as introduetory to the declara- tion, that in the subsequent correspondence with Her Majesty's Gevernmentj and, indeed, i« all the proceedings of the deputation in Engiaffld, ftx)m the nMmth of July, I hold myself alone respoiisible. Circumstances obliged rae to act on my own judgment, as de- lay might have been detrimeHtal ; and indeed the difficulty of fton- fepring and taking cotihsqI a* a distance, on the daily recurring 99 affairs of our mission, as well iji Epgland as in Ireland, appegi-ed a fall justification for our saekiflg to effect that od out individual jiMlgment, which present circumstances must prevent our doing unitedly. Our path opening in both countries, we commended each other to the grassoBibly. Withi*fe»"ei»Be te yDvf propoeai, tliat her Majesty's GoveiBmeBt dioald so recommend to Parliament to pass a law to adjust the claims of the diffe - rent religious communions to the Clergy Reserves, Lord Glenelg directs me to remind you that both the present and the late Lieutenant-Governor of the Province had, in . obedience to the commands of his late Majesty, invited the local legislature to exercise the povrers vested in them by the 41st section of the Constitutional Act of the 31st Geo. III., c. 31, for determimiiig in what manner, and to virhat uses, the lands in question should be appropriated. This subject engaged the anxious deliberation of the Assembly in their last session, nor has either house of Provincial Legislature solicited the interference of Parliament, or expressed the slightest doubt of their own ability to bring this question to a satisfactory adjustment. Under such circumstances, Lord Glenelg cannot but think Her Ma- jesty's Government would justly incur the reproach of a breach of faithi' if they should advise the Imperial Legislature to intercept the proceedings of the Legislature of the Province on this subject. To your proposal that Her Majesty should be advised to recommend to the Local Legislature, such a division of the Clergy Reserves as would appropriate two-thirds of those lands for the support of the Churches of England and Scotland, the remaining third to be appropriatsd by the Crown amongst all other Protestant religious societiesdissenting fromboth Churches ; Lord Glenelg directs me to answer that such a recommendation would probably be resented by the Legislative Council and Assembly, as an unconstitutional dictation of the provisions of a law which they were about to pass; and that the adoption of this threefold division, presupposes a knowledge of local details and statistics to which Her Majesty's Government cannot lay claim. Even assuming it to be right that this general scheme of distribution should be followed. Lord Glenelg would have no means of vindicating the proposed division of the territory into three equal parts, or of showing that the pro- portions to be assigned to the Enghsh and Scotch Churches should not be greater or less. It is, however, his Lordship's intention to transmit to the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada a copy of the act recently passed in New South Wales, for making provision for the erection of places of worship and the maintenance of ministers. The legislature will thus be infonned of the principle on which that measure is formed, and may possibly derive some suggestion tending to facilitate the satis- factory adjustment of the question relating to the Clergy Reserves. On the subject of the Erection' and Endowment of the Rectories, Lord Glenelg infers from your letter, that you have misapprehended the nature of the objection raised to that measure by the Law Officers of the Crown. It has no reference to the tenns of the Patents, but to the power of the Lieutenant-Governor to issue such patents at all. Consequently there is no possible amendment of those instruments, which would obviate the difficulty. It is not, however, Lord Glenelg's intention to instruct the Lieutenant- Governor to act on this opinion until he shall have communicated with the heads of the Church of England in the Province, end shall have afforded them the most ample opportunity for correcting aiiy misstatement of the fact on which the Report of the Law Officers of the Crown pro- ceeds, or any eiTor in point oflaw which it may be supposed to involve. 81 Having thus adverted to each of the topics noticed'in yovir letter, Ijord Glenelg cannot conclude his answer to itvrithout expressing the deep concern with which he finds himself precluded, for the reasons which I have stated, from promoting your views hy the methods which you have pointed out ; but I am to express his Lordship's confident anticipation, that the Legislature of Upper Canada vidll not fail to adopt such measures as shall appear to them most conducive to effect the important object of extending the means of religious instruction among the various denomi- nations of Christians throughout the Province. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) JAS. STEPHEN. Rev. W. Bettridge, and Rev. B. Cronyn. I may be permitted to correct an error into which Lord Glenelg has inadvertently fallen, in this despatch, on the subject of the Clergy Reserves: it is contained in the assertion, "nor has either House of Provincial Legislature soUcited the inter- ference of Parliament, or expressed the slightest doiibt of their own ability to bring this question to a satisfactory adjustment." A reference to the proceedings of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada, given in the first part of this work, will show that the very reverse is the fact. I have had occasion to allude to this erroneous, and repeated assertion, in the course of my correspondence with the noble secretary for the Colonies. On the subject of the "division" of the Reserves, I have already enlarged, and therefore pass, unnoticed, the observations made thereon in this despatch. I have, also, freely expressed my opinions on the attempt to patronise, generally, all denominations alike. Whatever effort I might be induced to make under such an arrangement, to secure for the Church of England a just proportion of the State's favour, I cannot but think the whole scheme will prove a failure. Can the nation openly, and avowedly, and equally, be the patron of truth and error, — of the worship of the one true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, and palpable idolatry, — of enlightened devotion and blind superstition ; I say, can the nation, thus trifling with the highest duty it has to perform, expect a blessing from above^ or that Jehovah should manifest himself strong in its behalf? ^-here ftrg pep? Ctei^tian men, J beUeyej at pFg^ent wnnisted VSth 0ie f (jvew^ipent of tha country, who, i$ their pytHeiplen hftve jipt been 9r»she4 (er ^* least 3qaothf red) by th? supprjucsiinibent wsight flf wnhely ftssoektbugi mmt gm ^ ^^^Hm wsw#p te my aveation* Th^H l^t them ^* look ta themselves thut thpy loi^ pet tji§ things wWeh (Ip past jfears) they have wrought} but that they "receive a Ml reward." ^Im tbfe too bold m ftp»ro?^4«ersieii ? §wely ''reproof" is not a derejietigq ©f 4Bty JB ft pi|est of the most high God, even when addressed to fC^ings and rulers of the earth. May the CleiOT pf the Church of England never be found wanting in the ftilfllment of this part of their high and feoly calljpg, t)ut may they have grace to exercise it in the meekaggg qf wlpdojB and ip the disinterestedness of love ! ' The prflSpeet gf the Church heing despoiled of the en4oMmientS *hieh the tieutenEnit^Ooverpor had eflfected in 1^36, a,nd ofthe t^suli whi^h gugh a. measure could uot fail tq produce to the Church's disadvantage in the Colony, lijduced me to request perijiission to jgruse the opiniop qf the law-ofi|cers of the crown, in the hope that my feftrs were ex^gefated. T therefore addressed the foV- l^wlpg Bote to tiori GJeneJg :— 13, Ejfetfip HeiL My 1 7» 183T. f he %sv, W^W& i«MH (Ito ii9putat>fin ftfiffi lia ^lei^ of Uppsf Capa4a) hixv^ m bflnsur to aQkaowfe^g^ the receipt pf Loro. Glenelg's degpatgh of the l^tli c^f Jljly ; aij4 to request his krdship's periaaisaioB to see, or to have a copy of the flrAiiion of oie Law 6ilB«W ef thg €r9^V», on the , siihjjsgt sf the Rectories ktsly inetitjitai ia Uppqy GmM% ; md *lsa (jf it he npt cgntrayy t« efiicial rnVeg) his l«-4= smp'g 9,ccompaiiyipg despatch to the JJieutenant Qrovernor of Upper CanadqJ Mr. Bettndge begs leave to attend at the Odlonial Office to-morroir, (fuesdAjt) to neefiive tiie panuis^n ^su^t, or Lerd ^lanelg's vefbs)} 'Sim M^t Hen. thfi LwS €l-len«lg. PQWTOg-«trest, ^uly 2l(, issf. _^ J am 4i^ested by i^jd 01§»el|| ts» aQkeewle^e y of Upper Canadian Saeh- wa8> the holy, afieetieiiate, even tenoroflrRF Mb ani (Eronversatioiii,. th&i 1 cain-sayii'WielMMftfeaE eieen- tradie£iQ% he had wt am enemy in the pTovinee ; axid eeptanilh^ n&wff, foi mff hwwhi^i^^ had ome ueMnd expiessicMn heew ixied towareb him h^jraa^ the moat Timibenit effrnxa^ of Itfee ChniBehy. q£ whieh he vaas so gracious an arnamenitf. I was permitted tfo" wft- n«se 1hei last ritea o# thai Chusehiovev his venainis,. and to see fehemi pfeieed hesidls' ihrner «S his cbittingwished! pinenfe th« £a>nh ef GalkH- waiv; and^ as I tarried tilt «he dbors- of the sepnlchne- were sch^c^ tS* ba dtaatdi ooi ki» " noittal v^" I was enaJsJed ta reaCze the pce^ F 2 «4- sence of his spirit in those regions, wheregoy, and love, and pe^ce, reign unalloyed for ever. "My Father, my Father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof !" — of the translation of our Elijah's spirit into the realms of light I had no doubt, — but where was the Elijah upon whom a double portion of his spirit might rest ? I was aware of the expressed determination of the govern- ment that no successor should be appointed. The state of our Church and of her destitute members to the third and fourth gene- ration presented itself to my mind in such sad affecting colours, that I can truly say my spirit found no rest. I was permitted to meet' (the world would call it chance) a Christian friend in the heart of this metropolitan wilderness, and to receive from him words of consolation. I felt that to indulge in these gloomy forebodings, paralyzing as they proved to all mental energy, would be criminal, I besought the Lord for wisdom ; I felt my own utter insufficiency for the work before me ; but I knew the promise " they that wait Upon the Lord shall renew their strength," and " in the multitude of my thoughts within me, his comforts refreshed my soul." Reflection on the state and prospects of our Church, and the possible sources froin whence help might be derived, brought me to the resolution, in spite of the expressed regrets of Lord Glenelg over our urgent necessities, and the implied determination or inability not to relieve them, once more to communicate with his Lordship, and also to forward a memorial to our youthful Queen, (whom God preserve.) The following is a copy of the letter and memorial which accompanied it: (Copy.) My Loed, London, 13, Exeter Hal], 20 July, 1SI37. Since, in conjunction with Mr. Cronyn,.who is now in Ireland on the affairs ^of our Mission, I had the honour to communicate with your Lord- ship, an event has transpired, whose actual occurrence, although, in mournful certainty we have, from the very character of the malady, been anticipating jt for several months, cannot fail to deepen our sense of the bereavement we have sustained of a father and friend to the clergy and to the people, over whom G-od had, in his wisdom, appointed him Bishop. I need scarcely say, I allude to the death of the Honourable and Right Rev. the Bishop of Quebec. Of him it may be emphatically said, " the memory of the just is blessed." His memory is written in lines of impe- rishable aifection and respect in the hearts of all who enjoyed the privi- lege of intercourse with him. The loss of such a man, and such a bishop 85" would of itself be sufficient to cause unfeigned sorrow ; but when, with' his loss; we connect the sad prospect of our Church in Upper Canada, we are constrained to confess, that it would become the vir^n dai^hter of our Zion to descend into the dust, and, with downcast look,' the index of her broken spuit, to utter her mournful " Ichabod." Yes, my Lord, over the fiiture destiny of our Church, in the Provmce of Upper Canada, the clouds appear to settle into a gloom, through the denseness of which faith, with her most vigorous ken, is unable to penetrate. Bear with me, my Lord while I endeavour, under this our heavy loss, to bring under your Lordship's consideration the actual state and certain prospects of our Church, should the measure, which his late Majesty's Government contemplated, be carried into effect. The measure I speak of,' is the discontinuance of any allowance to a successor to the late Bishop, and, at his deT,th, even of that portion of his income which he resigned in favour of the Bishop of Montreal. This measure will involve two necessary results ; the actual abolition of the See of Quebec, and the virtual abolition of that of Montreal ; in other words, the destruction of the Church of England in the Canadas : for it must be admitted, that Epis- copacy without a bishop is a manifest contradiction. These effects appear inevitable, unless indeed an individual could be found willing to under- take the duties of the episcopate, and possessing sufficient private fortune to meet the unavoidable expenses attending their discharge. This favoured individual must moreover, if he desire the efficient aid of the Bishop of Montreal, provide a sum for him, at least equal to that, of which, by the death of the late bishop, he has been deprived. Should, therefore, the measure be definitively adopted by !her Majesty's Government, our only' hope must be that God would raise up such an individual to take the oversight of his people in the Canadas ; but however we might desire, we could scarcely be warranted in expecting such a succour. It may be presumed that the reason for the adoption of such a measure by her Majesty's Government must be, either that the Church possesses resources at her own command — sufficient to meet her every exigency, or that the members of the Church are sufficiently affluent to provide volun- tarily the necessary means to support the various office-bearers in ^ it.' "Without one of these reasons, it would be difficult to justify a Christian government in the abandonment of a branch of the National Church. As long as the Church is deprived of her just patrimony, the Clergy Reserves (or of such a share of them as the most biassed intei-pretation of her charter would concede), she is literally without resource. And with respect to the affluence of her members, and the assistance to be derived from them, an attentive consideration of the circumstances of the emi- grants generally, and of the great difficulties they have for years to con- tend with before they attain to a comfortable sufficiency, must produce the certain persuasion that little or no present help can be expected from them. It would thus appear that neither of these reasons exist, and therefore that the adoption of the measure would not be justifiable. I can readily imagine that when the adoption of such a measure was origi- nally contemplated, it was confidently expected, by his Majesty's Govern- ment, that the Clergy Reserves' Question would have been settled, and therefore that the first reason would exist, that is, that the Church would 88 bej)o«ieatod of feioureegt Vhi^lii altkeugli slender, Iliiigh|'b6 «Sp6et«d to suffice for kb itnui^dibto nede^sitdeSi thm ttAop&oa of t1li« tneaaure tHaJ', ih all probability, ha^e been cbjltftiaplated rimtilt&iieously Vitli the reso-- Illtien of the Mp^rial ©orethftient to leave the ftrrtnigftlnent of the C/lergy Keier^BS to the PrOtincifil LegiilatUte, Bhd to WithtbftW'frofti th» " Sodiety &* PfbpBgSling the Gospel iti foreign V&ns^'' the annual pariianiehtary gffehtt! 6f 16,6001 j in the full cdnfldehce that ere the last yeast of thfe re- duced grant had elapsedj oul- late ref ered Bishop had been ealled tb his etfemal restj the Olefgy feegerves wtjuld be ftVailftble for the pttfposes for which they were originally intendedi If such \vtia the antioipation of his Majesty's Gotertitn^nt (and it seems a Very reaionable one) it has not been reaUsed. The Clergy Reserves are still unavailable i ought theli the ado|)tion of the oonteniplated measure of the disdontinilanee of ali allbi^ane* to the Bishop's successor, to tate place ? Het Ms^jesty's Qe- verhmeht can scareelyj Without ft breach of feith to the OhurSh in TJpfer Gatiadaj refdse the continuance of iti ^UJiportj and att increase ef it, if Deeded, until the Chtlreh be placed ib pos&etsion of htiir patHtndny. Ih subinltting the Olefgy Reserves to tbe disposal of the FroViAoial Legisla- ture, his M^esty*^ cioverntneiit eeuld never have contemplated thibt it would becomg a qtiestion tff entii'e spoliation as regafded the Ohuroh of England j Wt at farthest only as aM arrangement of the p6i'42 9 6an il tte deaM tti^t iib6 natimttl/M Sn therein pled^d to iha (^O^ch 6f SflglaHJ, tMl sBi^ shfflild liftife a " benaahdiit" grotMbti " b tdl time to aoai«." The «*lfll6ti {)f his Msjest/g few efflewg Ifi 1^19 is dls^netly eMifl«iiate«^ ef the rights dotiveyed hy the ae^ to the ehuwh ef Bagiafld : fat ^♦■hire It ejtelttf^H ehiifely the Diasefitene fteai ati| paftMj^atioB in tbe Mdd^ d¥ i& die feiitg 6t pi-ofltg arisibg therefrotti, aiid admits thg CSittftih «f leotlaiid, fioi to any shate ifl the latds for tsafeehial endawmettts, bat enlj^ jn the ifents of profits, it declares that Els M^estj? fflMt endow anj^ patyealajf pawotage oi teotery ef the dhutet of EnglanH with the amk kmdii allotted ahd appreprlated in each township m parish aa Clergy SeteiH^a, U it eonsistent, my Lord, that thk hare legal epifdob in fatour ef As Churfeh of goetlahd should he aeted ea, ana yet with this same epiuioa fotinded m and ^nctloned hy an act or the King and Imperii Farliamefit in behalf of ottf Church, there should exist, even in appeaicande, a reltiet*- ftnee to eonfirtti the present nossessiens, and te extend the useJmlneiSs an4 ^cienay of the Chni-ch of Hngland by tetber giants 1 Is it Jtttt, 1« it eonsistent vi^ith the national Mtn that tills solemn cottpact between the Imperial !*arlkment and the Chureh shenld be iflolated f>^violated. too. in sueh wise as to ensure, not the "permanent" establishment '*mm times to eenie," but the utter ruin of fliat Chureh ? these ^M appeat, peradventure. Strang esEpressions j but surely not stronger than &e eb^ eumstauces, in whi^h our Qhurch is tl&eed, require tod jtistUy. I asL my Lord, in what wav can the Churen of finjland be •' jterfaaBently" ana " in all time to come*^ established in tifpper Canada, if It be net by pra^ Vidbg her ^th bishops and ministers acdording to Ber fle'eeSSides add th{S increase in the number of her members ? Did George III., of, ]^uiS Eiemoiv, and the Imperial f'arllament malte sueh a proirmon i It effiinot e doubted. Can then the exeeutiife goveflifflent be jttstffied ia any pifa-^ eedure (hewetfer Well Intefltioned) mich eompromises the Inalienable irlghtfl thus secured to the Church of England 1 If, tfrnn any cause, the WelMntentioned proeednre (I allude to relbrring the ^ivangement ef the Olergyoieserves* WesUon to the ^ro^nelal Legislature) sueeeed net se Soon er as effeetuaUy as &e Imperial Government might wish, is^ tlierefbfe the Cttiureh vitally aad irrefi&rably to suflef f ' Is the nationfaJ ^th pledged to the judges ^d officel^saf the gdvan- iUent in Lower Canada? Can the injustice of the Ifouee of Assefflbl^ there absolve the nation and her Majegt/s §e'Ternmegt &om their seiesft ebiigatloa? Was any otqeetion raised whe» the Bfinisterg of the CroM Silked !br money t^om me imperial treasury to pay these Judges mS officers f Would hot an objection have involved the necessity of ihut&fig up the courts of Justifie aUd sus|ending entirely the obetaticins of goV^fi- mentf Now there ei^ts, my Lord, a strong Mralfelism in the ease el the jtid^s and officers in Lower Canada aUd the Chufoh in tJpper CS-* nadft. The delay of the House of Assembly in Upper Canada ha* efifectbS far the Chufeh what the injusMce of the HoUSe of AeSembly in LoWB? Canada has for the iudget AnA officers ef the state. IS the church legs ^ part of our itatiOhd eoonotty IhaS the judges ^ Is die goVernmeBt a&A nation bound to uphold the Judges itgainif fthy «lltempted inffi^tidh of theiir Hghte froiu wnateveif qiiarter- or iiiider whatever plea it iuay afisSf 88, It would, be difficult, my Lord, to .convince the clergy and tbemembers'of the.Chnrcli' of England in , Upper Canada, that their claim upon. > the national faith' and honour stands upon a less secure foundation. If the differences of the House of Assembly could have been foreseen as lesultirig in a delay of years, I am persuaded the Imperial Government wojild neyer have recommended the withdravral of the annual parliamen- tary grant, much less have contemplated the discontinuance of an annual sufficient income to the successors of the Bishop of Quebec and Clergy. Surely a government, possessing sufficient influence to employ, with .the fiiil approbation of the country, twenty millions of the public money for the glorious purpose of emancipating the Negroes in the West Indies from their bodily thraldom, need not have feared the rebuke or opposition of any sound-hearted man in asking for a few thousands annually (until the Clergy-Eeserves' Question was settled) for the still more exalted object of furnishing means to free from the fetters of sin, by the preaching of the Gospel, tens of thousands of our fellew countrymen in Upper Canada. If an objector could have been found,' it must have been in the ranks, of those whose hatred to Christ and his church is unblushingly avowed, and whose cry, is " Havoc " to every time-hallowed and sacred institution. The province of Upper Canada ought not to be abandoned to such fearful spiritual destitution by her Majesty's Government. I humbly crave your Lordship's pardon, if, in appearance even, I should offend agaiust. the requirements of the respect due to the '| powers that be" by the plainness of my language. I feel, because I have for. years witnessed the evils under which our Church ia Upper Canada is labouring ; and as I know they are not evils of her own creating,. I may be allowed to express an honest yet respectful indignation that she should continue unjustly to bear them. And now suffer me, my Lord, briefly to advert to the actual state of our Church in Upper Canada : — Years have passed since the late revered Bishop was in a state of health even to attempt the full performance of his, multifarious and ever increasing duties. None felt, none acknow- ledged, none grieved more over his ovra infirmities and consequent inefficiency than dii Bishop Stewart. It was under the influence of such feelings, that he besought the government to consent to the appointment of a suffragan Bishop, although at the sacrifice of one-third of his income. This request was acceded to ; and Lower Canada had to rejoice in the advancement of an individual to the Episcopate, whose zeal, talents and piety had conciliated the affection, and claimed the esteem and respect of aU; Scarcely had Bishop Mountain arrived in Quebec when he set out on a tour through the Lower Province ; and after journeying and labouring four months, I had the pleasure to see him, and he then assured me that he had not nearly finished his intended tour ; but that he must return to Quebec to recruit his failing strength. His Lordship could not by con- jecture, state when he should be able to visit the Upper Province. Now, my Lord, should the measure so oft alluded to, be adopted by her Ma- jesty's Government, the Bishop of Montreal cannot be expected to visit extensively even in Lower Canada as a Bishop ; because, if he did so, it must be with the certainty of involving himself in irreparable pecuniary difficulty : and if Lower Canada must be thus necessarily deprived of lus episcopal services, the Province of Upp during the protracted provincial discussions on the gnhjeot^ biade the casual and territorial revenues of the Province (the oidy revenue at the disposal of the croWn) chargeable with the tedvttd Income of the niisslon- aries of the Churehj and also with that of the Bishop of Quebec ; Still, successors of the Bishop and of the Clergy generally. It has pleased God to call our tefered and boloved diocesan to inherit the crown of righteousness which Was reserved for him in the heavenly reSti It now becomes a question of vital interest to the Church of England (for her very Cjdstence as a Church in tipper Canada is involved in its decision) whether the national Mth would not be violated towards the Church ty the adoption of th* csnteihplated ttieasure ? "f he Churdi possesses no other resources than those which the wisdotn and piety of his Majesty George 111. and his parliatnent destined for her support ; from the use of these she is Still exbludedj-^Uot by the provisions of the act of parlia- ment, — not by any fault of her own,^ut by the interpolation (however well intended) of his Majesty's government. The niembei-g of the Church in Upper Canada are too poor to assist toaterially in the mainte- nance of ttlihistefS»^tnudh less of Bishops. The consequence is inevitable : if your Majesty abiindon the Church, her proximate destruction is seakd. Episcopacy without a Bishop is a manifest contradiction. It is true we have a fiishop in Lower Canada ; but even his income (as it was derived from the Idte Bishop of Quebec's personal sacrifice) ceases to exist with the late Bishop. The Bishop of Montreal Cannot then be expeetfed to visit extensively even through the tower Pravinee without exptming hhn- setf to pecuniary difficulty : the Province of Upper Canada could not hope fbr any p&rtibipation in his valuable and essentiai services : and therefore the Church of England in Upper Canada, a* a Church, esists no longer. If it be pleaded that your Miyesty could notj without a breath of fluth towards tlie legislature of Upper Ganada,^ withdraw from them the adjusts tafetit of this questioli, it may with eqfial force "be urged, that, without a 92 breach of the national faith towards the Church of England, the support of your Majesty and the Imperial Parhament cannot be withholden^ until the Clergy Reserves be applied to the purposes for which they were piously and originally intended. That your memorialist humbly prays your Majesty graciously to consider the state of the Church in Upper Canada ; the appeal thus made of two hundred thousand of your Majesty's loyal subjects, (eighty thousand of whom, at least, are now utterly destitute of the public means of grace,) to appoint a successor to our lamented Bishop of Quebec, causing a suffi- cient income to be provided for him and the Bishop of Montreal, and to aiFord such pecuniary assistance to the newly appointed Bishop for the supply of ministers as the increased wants of the Church demand, until the Clergy Reserves he fairly appropriated. . And your memorialist, as in duty bound, will ever pray. (Signed) WILLIAM BETTRIDGE. London, 20th July, 1837. ' Having transmitted this letter, I resolved on commencing a tour in the country in furtherance of the object of our mission. I went first to Brighton; where, although every personal kindness was shown to me, little hope appeared, at first, of securing an opportu- nity, of pleading our cause.- The many urgent, ordinary, local, general, and ' increasing appeals which were brought before the public, seemed fully, to warrant the indisposition of the Clergy tcs sanction any new aggression on the benevolent sympathies of their people. This observation will apply to every town I have visited : by transcribing the objections with which I was met at Brighton, I should be giving to the letter the objections which were made in every other place. So peculiarly affecting however did the case of our Canadian Church population appear to my revered brethren at Brighton, as elsewhere, that I have scarcely to record one instance of a failure in my applications after an opportunity had been afforded me of fully stating the reason and conseqent necessity of our appeal. '■ ' At the suggestion of one of the Clergy a circular was addressed to all the resident ministers, requesting their attendance at the National School-room, in order that the collective opinion of the Presbytery might be taken on our claims to support. It was resolved that sermons should be preached in all the churches and chapels in Brighton, and that a recommendation should be submitted to the " Lewes Committee," that the proceeds of the collections should be divided into three parts : — The Societies for « Promotino- 93 Christian Knowledge," and for "Propagating the Gospel," to have one each, and. the remaining third to be given to our cause. I preached three sermons — in the morning, at St. James's: in the afternoon, at St. Mary's (where Mr. Elliott kindly -permitted me to have a collection exclusively for our object); and in the evening at St. Peter's. The interest excited was such as to procure a large meeting at the Town Hall ; after which very liberal contributions were collected. From hence I proceeded to Cheltenham, where the objections to sermons in our behalf appeared more decided than at Brighton. These objections, however, were changed into the admission, that " something must be done." When the necessary information had been given, my friend, Mr. Bonner, made a voluntary offer of his pulpit for the morning, which was followed by a similar offer from my friend, Mr. Close, for the evening. I was taught, however, to expect very little, as the demands on the Christian abilities of Cheltenham were so continually recurring. I mention this preli- minary caution given to me, merely because the result proved that our cause was quite sufficient to awaken new energies, and to open out fresh sources of succour. The morning collection nearly amounted to the sum expected; the evening one greatly exceeded it. I have not forgotten the kind invitation given to me by the respected Incumbent, in the vestry after the sermon. It had been determined that two meetings should be attempted in the same day: both were crowded, and the amount collected at both, clearly showed that the public interest was increasing. I ask for the reader's indulgence to relate two circumstances connected with our meetings at Cheltenham. As I was about to enter into the place of meeting, in the evening, a female, not in very elegant attire, approached me, and having assured herself of my identity, she said she had a note and a parcel for me. The note was anony- mous, and simply announced the desire, that the contents of the accompanying packet might be devoted to the erection of a church in Upper Canada, and that the prayers of those who were interested in the great cause I was advocating, might be offered up for the donor. I gave a simple acknowledgment of the receipt of the packet, without stating (which, at the time, I did not know,) the contents. On taking my seat on the platf()»|i, And dunjig «aBie I^W ol)ji@rirBtio% Iroiti the qh^fMftns my axcaUant Man4»'tlia lata Adpniral O'BFieiB, I epened my brwB papap pareel, ^hieh, I faimd, oontained sundry pthar afiBill pamiJsS the first I unfolded, eontained twenty aovarf igns ! the same HUW in tjia seeond, third, and bo an to tjia tenth ! Tw9 hundred aqyapfiignsJ Tho*e whose hearts have bftan very deeply interested in the sueoess of a c^qse in whieh they are personaily engagedj will be able to understand something of my feelings at this moment. I had been told by all to expect but Uitk success 5 the Lard was pleased tbus to enoauraga me to hope for ffreat auecess. I raceived it, I trast, as a token fop good. It was well a little sipaee was allowed ma ta raeover myself} for I am net ashamed to eenfaai tjiara was such an uphsaving of the briny fountain \fithin, that had I been oallad on, at onee, to commence apeakingf 1 cpuld scarcely have been able to prevent a tjanaiant overflow. ' Op rising to address the meeting, I stated what had occurred, and ^mpily urged the request of the donor on the attention of 1jj9 assembly. If I may judge from the solsamii silianee which the announeeipent preduoed, I doubt not the request was #&•», as well an aft&uiarif, complied with. May the donop be blessed in his, (or har») Aeod ! Some twa mantbs afterwards, I received the following not© ftam a eaptain in the royal m^- "]9eabSib, Nov. 11, ISSr. '* A lABY, who ftten^ed the meeting* heW by yau at OheltenhMn, »nd wh^ tiJieftli|i8J'4 Pf tte iimomhin C4m3/, '» Upper Gftnada, wasting a re^dejit pl^rgy®a|i amongst t^ip., t^ (ie^iro^s of meeting t^ieir wfmts and, wisjies. She understood froni you that 200^. would effect this, and is ready to advanoe that sum iiamediately ft>r the henefit (»f those psoplcj at t<8 eatfthUsb » ehussb in asy ete diitriet. " I reBtaja*. &?• ^q-" ' " Rev. W. Bettrid|e, It may not be uninteresting tp know something^ of the " Hevon- shlre Cmnifi* to which allusion is mad©. I shall speak of it, not, as a sqiitfuy case, for I know twenty such in Upper Oanadft, which have come under my own personal observation. I hEtfl been commis.sioned by our late beloved Bishop (of (Quebec) to mal^e ^ ^our in two townsMps, (Wilmot and Waterloo,) which were almost 9Sclustyely inhabited by several thousand Protestant Gleiwians, vvho had exptfessed a desire to be received into the Church of EHgland, tf the Bishop coulft fiimlth theJii with a Glergyman. I was to yisit these people w}th a view to asoertain thfir state, and williBgness ta eeiiitrfbute toward? the sijpport of a JMinist^r, and to institute othep inquiries, to which it is not necessary here to advert, I was directed to muke my tour oqe of njinisterlal usefuiness, in ether words, ta preaph the gospel wtierever I could. I passed through the Jluron Tract, and gould relatg ipuch of this territo^, which would, I am satisfled, interest my readers; but I coiifine myself to the "Devoi}- shlre Colony," One ijiormng, during my wanderings in the Hviron Tract, after rather a long constitutional ride, I arrive4 at one of thogg clearanp^fi, which are of frequent opeurrence in the rrjore settled parti^ qf the Province, and which are always a pleasing indication to the traveller of increasing prosperity. Op passing by one of the miserable shantees of the settlement, I addressed myself to a female, who appeared at the entraoee, with the enquiry, whetlier sh§ would furnislj me find my hor^p with a breajifast ? " We will give yoij the bpst we have, Sir," wgs the reply : I alighted, and one of the good woman's children toolc my horse to an adjoining shed, and placed before liim son;e freshly mown gr£|,ss. I §ntered tbg shantee, and proceeded to relieve myself of my external clothing; during which proceis, 1 observed the female cast an occ^sipnal inquisitive glance at me. which jieeded no great depth of penetration to interpret. Ha.ving drawn near to the large log-flre, the good woman appeared unfile to contain hersurmiseg any longer; so curtseying very respectfully, « Eh, Sir," s^id she, "are not you a Clergymap of our Church?" 1 replied, " I know not to what Church you belong, but I am a Clergyman of thp Church of England." " The Lord bq praised. Ah, sir, we have been here these two years and a half, and vyg have never heard nor seen a Clergyman all the time ; couldn't you stop. Sir, and do serviop for us. Sir ? our children want baptl^ng, Sirj--4o, llrj stop." I replied, that " I shoiifd be Happy tQ stay with ^e«» a few bows : longer I eoulii not promsm as I h84 a long j<)un^y y^^ befora me." Maai«ngars were (ll«« Batched throvigliout tb^ iittle settlement, and before an bow had qlap^d ftU was jijJlsnea jn tba waod», and the paepls w^r^ ss^g 9p««diHg tbffir way, v^ their ehiMMtt, toariirdi tha plaos I .96 was staying' in. I found they had from one hundred, to one hundred a,nd fifty souls in the settlement, — members of our Church without ,one exception. I asked for the necessary prepar- ations to the administration of the sacrament ,of Baptism; and after some few observations on the ordinance, I admitted the whole of the unbaptised children to the sacred rite. This done, I addressed the adults of our meeting, many of whom, for want of space within, were stationed outside the shantee. I remained there in conversation with these my fellow-Christians and fellow- Churchmen, as long my time permitted. Earnest and repeated were their solicitations that I should return to them, if it were only once in three months, or in six months ; accompanying their requests with the assurance that they did not wish itinerant teachers to come amongst them, as it was difficult to know who they were, or whether they came with sound doctrine. I expressed my regret that the distance of my station, (sixty pr seventy miles,) and the many calls upon me there, would prevent my visiting them at definite periods, but that I should have an opportunity of speaking with my friend, the Rev. B. Cronyn, who, being much nearer, would, I had no doubt, come occg,sionally amongst them ; they declared their readiness to contribute £30 or £40 a-year, towards the support of a minister, and to assist in the erection of a little church. I promised to make their case known to the Bishop, although I confessed, I saw little prospect of an early supply to their spiritual wants. I am happy to say Mr. Cronyn visited them before our departure, and was received by them with the liveliest demonstrations of gratitude. I hesitate not to say, there are hundreds such places in Upper Canada 1 Of this in our Third Part. At Cheltenham I received the following letter from the Colonial Office: — (Copy.) Sib, Downing-street, 7th August, 1837. I am directed by Lord Glenelg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th July, and of the accompanying memorial addressed- by you to the Queen. His lordship has laid that memorial before her Majesty, who has been pleased to receive .it very graciously. Lord Glenelg desires me to assure you that there was no necessity for the apology you have made for the warmth and earnestness with -which you advocate the interests of jthe Church of England .in Upper Canada.. 97 Every suggestion for the protection or advancement of those interests is welcome to him. Lord Glenelg suhscribes, without hesitation, to many of the grounds on which the claims of the Church of England aie enforced in your memorial and letter. He adopts your opinion, that the provision at present made for the maintenance of the Bishop of Quebec and the Clergy of his diocese, is inadequate to the great end of maintaining the Episcopal Church where it at present exists, and of extending its operations through- out the Canadian Provinces. His lordship deprecates, not less decidedly than yourself, the system, which would leave the ministers of religion dependent on the precarious support of their several congregations. He is of opinion, that the permanent appropriation of funds suiSicient for their decent maintenance, is to be classed amongst the highest and first objects of national policy. It is when an advance is to be made from these general principles, to the practical appHcation of them, in Upper Canada, that the real difficulty presents itself. There are only four sources from which it is possible that this demand can be satisfied. The funds might he supplied, — ^from the pubUc revenue of Great Britain ; or from the unsettled lands of the crown in Upper Canada : or from the Clergy Reserves in the Province ; or from the public revenue of the Province. It is hei'e to be considered, how far each of these means is really available. First. — The motives which oppose an application to Parliament, for the support of the Canadian Clergy, appear to Lord Glenelg conclusive. For many years such grants were made. The disinclination to continue them was, at length, indicated by the House of Commons, so decidedly, that the reduced grant for this service was obtained only by a distinct pledge against the revival of the demand in favour of any Bishop, or Clergyman, who should be subsequently appointed. Even if it were possible to retract that engagement, Lord Glenelg is of opinion that the House of Commons would not regard this as a legitimate use of the revenue of the United Kingdom. Secondly. — You are aware that an act of the Upper Canadian Legis- lature, passed in their last session, has placed the disposal of the unsettled lands of the crown beyond Her Majesty's control, and that the revenue hereafter to be derived from those lands will be subject to the appro- priation of the Local Legislature, if they should accept the terms offered to them by liis late Majesty. It would be easy, but jit is for the present purpose needless, to shew, that Her Majesty's Government have not the power, even if they had the wish, to viithhold from the repre- sentatives of the people, in any one Province of British North America, the control of every part of the ' unappropriated public revenues arising within such Province. Thirdly. — It is maintained, not only that the Clergy Reserves are an available resource for the purpose in view, but that they are so solemnly dedicated by Parliament to that purpose, that the diversion of them to any other, involves a direct breach of the national faith. Lord Glenelg conceives, that this argument could not be maintained at all, except by detaching certain parts of the constitutional act of 1791 from their immediate -context. You have refen-ed to those provisions of the m statutes, unde* which the Hsservfcs were set ajiSl'l fbr the Mainteflftnce of a Protestant Clergy. But it is necessary, also, to adrert to the suc-^ oeeding section, the forty-first, which, in terms the imost distinct and unequnrocal, authorises flie cfolonial E/e^psMfare ta pass laws for the appropriation of fliii? property. It is ohifious that the Parliament of 1791 studlotisly guarded themselves ftgaiftst deVertiflg these lands irrevocably to uses, which might, at gome future period, be distasteful to the people and Legislature of the Province. It was foreseen that the question of ecclesiastical eadowmetits might, in Canada, as elsewhere, be a fruitflil source of contention ,' and means were accordingly provided for restoring to thfe Legislative bodies the fteedofli of action necessary foi- encountering any such difficulty, if it should arise. The result has sufficiently established the accuracy of this anticipation* and his late ^Tajesfrjr's Government, in the year 1931, found it impossible to adjust the controversies which had risen respecting these Beserves, exeept by intjtittg the ProYincial Le^slature to exercise powers thus confided to them by the constitutional act. If the Provincial Legislature had declined this duty ; had atowed their reluctance or inability to discharge it, and 'called for the intervention of the crown, or of Parliament^ Her Majesty's ■^oi?ernment might have {jfoceeded te deal with the subject in question on their oWn judgment. But the reverse of all this is the ease. The House of Assembly bave accepted the invitation made to them by the Home Government, and so lately as the spring of the present year, they were engaged in the discussion of plans for disposing of the Clergy Beserves. The question was ijideed postponed, but without the slightest intimation that the House despaired of coming to a satisftietory adjustment of it. Under such citctmistanees. Lord Glenelg dofes not perceive how the authority , or the legitimate influence of Her Majesty's Government, could be eniployed to secure for the Clergy of the Chureh of England, in Upper Canada, a Provision from the (Sergy Beserves. Still less can his lordship acknowledge that any breach of feith can justly be impnted tq th^ British Government, on account of the measure taken by the Earl of Bipon, in inviting the Provincial Legislature to discharge a duty expressly reserved to them by the eonstitutional act. Finally. — The only other source from which a legal provision can be seeuted for the Clergy in Upper Canada, is the public revenue of the Province. What hope may reasonably be indulged of obtaining supplies from that source^ yott are aS able to form a judgment as Lord Glenelg. His Lordship does not venture to anticipate What course the House of Assembly may think proper to pursue. Hating now reviewed the diffferent modes in which the objeef in eentemplation might be attained. Lord Glenelg finds himself eompeHed to adopt the conclusion, that the question naust await the decision of the Legislative Council and AssetaibJy of the Province. His lordship apprehends that you ascribe to the Executive Government powers, which, they do not i'eslly possess, and with which it is not, in his opinion, desirable that they should be invested. 1 hate the honour to he, Sir, Yofir most obedient hnmbfe servant, (SffgHei!) JAMES STEPHEN. To the Rev. W. Bettridge. §9 The reading 6f the fowiler pat-t of this letter 'produced in ine an indescribable sensation §kred to exceed tny utmost hdpes. I looked on ifiy missloti as beitig brought to a prosperous issuej and that I had notliing to do but to return to toy family, and friends, and flockj in Upper Canada, ahd rejoice in the prospect of a blessing to the Ohtirch, atid through the Chufcti, to the land of our adoptioui Pl'om such high anticipations I was soon cast into the depths of grief alid diSappoiilttnenti Although prevented by public calls on my time and thoughts, to giVe an immediate answer to this despatch, yet it may be better to Insert it herej than to interrupt the narrative of oiir further proceedings} by placing it in chronological order. My LoBb, Saihsgate, 25tli Septembei-, 183?. 1 hate thftllOflour to neknowledgfe the teceipt bf yotir Lordship's lett^ «f the 7th tilt.j Whicbj o*^ng to tny abselide frorti to*ti, I did not reuelte for many days, tad to *hichj bA^^ihg to indisposition, atid a great preftSOi'e of public etifageitietiM, I httvc not been able hitherto to reply. I atail my- self of your Lotdship's courteous assuranccj that " any guggestiohs for tlie protection Ot fldt&neetnettt of the interests of our Cliureh iU Upper Canada will be tvelcome," to present a fevV observations on yeur Lord- ship's cOttitounitation. I was rejoiced to learn that yeur Lordship subscribed to many of the grounds on whidh Our elaitfls were enforced by me — tliat your Lol'dsbip adopts Iho opinion of the " inadequacy of the provision at present Wade for the Bishop of Quebec, and tiie Clergy of his diocese" (by which eipressiofl your Lordship eould only have meant '-the Cletgy," inttsmttdi as there is no " Bishop of Quebec, and no profisioii either lor a fUtttre Ohe, at for the present Bisliop of Montreal), " to the great end of maih- Ittinltig our Ohurcb, or extending its opei'tttiofis f ---fliat yolif Lordship " deprecates the systetti which would leave the ministers of religion de- pendent on the precarious support of theu' congregations ;" — and that your Lordship classes " amongst the bighest and hrst objects of national policy the permanent ftppropriatimi of funds suificient for the decent main- tenance" of those ministers. But my joy was turned into unfeigned sofroiV, when 1 found, that tliese principles, so ably and satisfhcforily pro- pounded, were, as to toy practical purpose, entirely nugatory ; — tliat the hope of justice ta our Church, which the exhibition of these priiiciples eieited, must yield to a disappointment, rendered lUeipressiWy more bitter hy the unreserved ftclcnowledgment that our claims are founded in equity and truth. At the risk of being again tbOUght incon-ect in my views of the " powers possessed by the Executive," I humbly conceive, that her Majesty's Government ought not ta allow such principles to re- mttin inopefatife, ihvolviflg, as they eoflfes«edly do, " the highest and 02 100 first objects of national policy." But I proceed to remark on the four sources from which alone, as stated by your Lordship, our demands could he supplied. First, '•' the Public Revenue of Great Britain." It is readily admitted that an application to Parliament for funds to support a Bishop and Clergy in Upper Canada, could only be justified in the absence of all other means for their " decent maintenance." At present there are no available means for this object, and distant, indeed, is the prospect held out of a supply from the legitimate source, as it must flow, according to yom- Lordship's decision, through the tortuous and interminable channel of the Colonial Legislature. If the Church is to be upheld, it is obvious either that your Lordship's decision must be changed, or that an application must be made to Parliament. Your Lordship states that " the House of Com- mons indicated so decidedly, a disinclination to continue the annual sup- ply" " to the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts," that the <' reduced grant was obtained only by a distinct pledge against the renewal of the demand." From this " disinclination" your Lordship appears to infer that the House of Commons would not regard a further suppl}' " as a legitimate use of the public revenue." A reference to the debates had on the various occasions on which the subject was introduced, will satisfy your Lordship that the House of Commons did not object to the principle of appropriating sufficient funds for the maintenance of a Bishop and Clergy in Upper Canada, but that the " disinclination" to grant these funds from the Imperial Treasury ai'ose from the persuasion that other resources ought to be made available. It was continually and naturally urged that the Clergy Keserves had been set apart specifically for the support of the Clergy. In reply, it was as naturally insisted on, that these lands were inahenable, and that, in the state of the Province at that time, the system of leasing- them was almost fruitless. In consequence. Parliament passed an act in 1827, authorizing the sale of a portion of these lands, not exceeding annually one hundred thousand acres, or altogether one quarter of the entire property. The proceeds of these sales were to be applied solely to the purposes specified by the Constitutional Act of 1791. These sales continued until 1832, when the Lieutenant- Governor held out the hope that, in a short period, a sum would be realised equal in amount to the grant made by Parliament for the support of our clergy. It cannot, then, be a matter of surprise that the House of Commons should indicate a decided disinclination to continue the grant. These sales have already produced one hundred thousand pounds, (or more), from which sum, if vested in Colonial Securities, and applied to the uses originally intended, an income would arise which would go far to supply the actual and urgent demand for, at least, one hundred and twenty additional missionaries, (this extent of our need is stated on the wiitten authority of the late Bishop of Quebec), and a moderate salary to a Bishop for the Upper Province. Your Lordship will permit me here to observe, in passing, that the annual expenses alone attending these sales of the Clergy Reserves would supply the Church with twenty missionaa-ies at least. In this estimate I include the salaries of the commissioner, clerks, salesmen, advertisements, &c. It will, I doubt not, be sufficient to draw your Lordship's attention to so disproportionate an expenditure 101 on the amount collected, in order to rescue the property from so excessive a tax. A renewed application to the House of Commons would, I con- ceive, he met hy an inquiry whether the proceeds of the sales, authorized hy the act of 1827, had heen applied as intended, and whether the endowments, distinctly sanctioned hy the Constitutional Act of 1791, were made according to the increased wants and congregations of the Established Church ? The entire case must, then, necessarily he hrought under the consideration of the House ; and I am persuaded the importance of an immediate adjustment of the matter by the Imperial Varliament, would he generally felt and acknowledged, in order to secure the peace and prosperity of the Province. If any doubts existed in the minds of Members, respecting the parties legally entitled to the proceeds of these sales, or to the endowments of the lands, these doubts, if the opinion of the law officers of the crown, expressed in 1819, were not sufficient, might be removed by a reference to a competent tribunal, constituted, as your Lordship is aware, by the act 3 and 4 Wm. IV., c. 41, and entitled " The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council." On the decision of this tribunal, the Parliament might proceed to confimi or vary the existing clauses of the Constitutional Act, according to its discretion, or to the exigencies of the times. And I doubt not that, pendente lite, the House of Commons would esteem the appropriation of funds sufficient for the decent maintenance of our Bishops and Clergy, (increased according to the extent of our necessities,) a legitimate use of the revenue of Great Britain. I would, therefore, most earnestly entreat 3'our Lordship, as the guardian of our Colonial Church, the maintenance of \\hicli embraces " one of the highest and first objects of national pohcy," to make the adjustment of this long-agitated and yet simple question a Government measure. Every friend of the Church, whether in Parliament or not, would hail such an effisrt, in behalf of ourEstabUshment, with unmixed pleasure ; and I know of no proceeding on the part of her Majesty's Government, which would tend more certainly to remove the opinion, very generally entertained, that the interests of the Church are sacrificed to the clamours of her enemies. Semnd andfowth sources, — " the unsettled Crown Lands^ — and " the Public Revenues of the Province." I have united these two sources, since an application to the same authority would now be necessary for any assistance from either of them. I am not sanguine, under present circum- stances, of the success of any effort with the House of Assembly to grant a necessary supply for our Church, from the public funds of the Province. But this I do unhesitatingly affirm, that, if the principles avowed in yom- Lordship's letter were practically applied by that body, the anomaly of a sinking established Church would not long be suffered to exist. Her sacred rights and claims would be acknowledged and secured, and she would become, under the favour of her Divine Head, a blessing to the land.' Had the casual and tenitorial revenues of the Province remained at the disposal of the crown, I still hold, that equity would demand the employment of a portion of that revenue, for the maintenance of our holy religion, and that it would be inconsistent with the highest and first object of national policy to allow the Church to fall into absolute ineffi- ciency, through the tardy procedure and the protracted differences of the House of Assembly. loa ThM gource^'^" the Ckm Emvpes," In thft ofegevYRtions mit wder thjg head, vow lordship appeals dewoustg estaWish tferee pointe ■■—-U\ that the Parliament of 17§T cjid not sp splpBinly cle^ieate lljese land? tq the snppnrt of fl- Protestant CIcvCT 8S tp prevent the cliversiqn qf them to any other wges : My, that the Parliament of 1791, while framing the Qq'nsMtHtiQnal Act for Upp?r 0anR(ia,_fPTesa\v3 and anticipated the conten- tions which would arise on Ecdesiastigal Endowments, and ikfrefure pro- vided, (by the 41st section), the necessarj' freedom of action for the Legis- latwe of the Cplony to encounter the difhcnlty, pr, in other wqrd^, to rer- pe^ the statute which sanctioned and realised "one of the highest and first ohjepts pf national pohcy," — the permanent apprDpriatjpn of fiinds sufficient for the decent maintenance of tne ministers qf &od ; and, dA\j, that the '* inyitation" giyen hy his late lijajesty's Government to the Prpvincial Legislature, is of so hmding and sacred a character, thatj however long the decision may he delayed, the questiqo qf the Clergy Reserves must awsit that decision, and that the authority and legitimate influence of her Majesty's Government cannot he exercised in any way to secure to the Clergy a provision from these Reserves, On the first point, J heg respectfully, yet degidedly, tq differ with your Lordship. I rest this difference qf opinion on the only datSj^th which I am acquainted, for forming my judgment. The act itself, and the reasons which obviously Jed tq its introduction, cqnstitute the most impprtajit of these data, IJistsryalsQ will furnish us with a clue to some of the motive^ wW'^h mnst have influenced the Legislature to aim at a " permanent" endow ment for the Churoh- It could scarcely have escaped the attention of the British (JpTernment apd Parliament, that, en the conquest of Canada, the French Comma-nder, in the terms of capitulation agreed to, fiianife-sted a most 9;n?ions desire to secure tq the Rpman Catholic Church all the rights, dues, priyilefes, lands, orseigpenries, which had been granted to jt by the French King. The 27 th anu34tb*rticles of the capitulation gave a tem- porary security for these objects, until the British Paj-liament, in 1774 (14 Qeq. ul., e, 83,) expressly and solemnly confirmed these rights, _ This truly-devqted conduct of the French Catholic Commander fuiTiished a pqwerful incentive tfi the Parliament to shew an equal ?eal for the encouragement and maintenance qf the Protestant faith j and, therefqre, it was, at the same time enacted, that his Majesty might mate such "■pfrmmenf proyision "• from the rest qf the said dues, (tithes, lands, ^Q,) as should be thought expedient. Your Lordsjiip is, doubtless, aware of wie extent and value of these Catholic nossessiorisi held hy no higher authority than that which ordained endowments for the'Chwoh of England i and jour I^ordship wjll admit that an attempt to deprive the Caihohcs of their rights, would tindle a fire in Lower Canada, which must cqnsurae every traee qf British influence and British power. The Church of llngland is one with the state, and has no separate interests : would that lier rights, gepnred as they are by a solemn and unrepealed act of Pariiament. were treated with equal respect ! Searqely had the conquest qf Canada been completed, when the standard of revolt v^-as unfurled in the present IJnited States of America, and the fairest, largest portion of the British colonial possessions was abqut tq throw qff its allegjanoe. Frqm some peculiar eircumstanqesi to which it is nqt necessa.ry tq refer, Great Britain had neglected te lay the foundation pf an Eccles9»st}Cai Establish- 103 menfc (except partiallyj) in North Ainerica. The feuits of this neglect became appftreijt in the course of this painful struggle. Pew and widely- dispersed were the ministers and members ofthe national Church: almost the only efforts which had been made to maintain it in existence, proceeded from a private society. The hour of need came : the little band of ministers and members of the Church of England remained unshaken in their loyalty. It is a matter of history that not one Clergy- man of our Church could be found to' favour the cause of revolt. It is equally a matter of history that the odium of this devotion to the parent State and its institutionshas, till within the few last years, constantly a,ttach- ed to the Church, and been the means of preventing the spread of Episcopacy in the Union. It mtII hardly be denied, that such an exhibition of the principles and practise of Churchmen, was well calculated to impress the Government with o sense of the necessity of endowing permanently the Established Church in other colonieSj in order that the affections of the inhabitants might be conciliated and confirmed through the Church to the mother country, and thus future defections and revolts be prevented. The letter of the act of 1791 clearly shews such to have been the feeling of the LegislaturCj for the intention is explicitly declared tp make a pro- vision '' permanently," and " in all time to come," for the support of a Protestant Clergy in the province of Upper Canada. The subject, more- over, upon which the Parliament was legislating, justifies the conclusion that perrmnency must have been the leading principle of the bUl. To secure to a rising colony the inestimable blessings of Christ's Religion (according to the pure and apostolic tenets and discipline of the Established Church of England,) involved too high and sacred a respon- sibility to admit a legislative measure of a doubtful or transient character. The circumstances of the times also in which the act was passed, furnish a very strong, an irresistible, argument in favour of the opinion, that the Parliament designed most sqlemnly to dedicate the Clergy Reserves to the maintenance of the ministers of our holy Church, and to prevent, as far as possible, the diversion of theni to any use or purpose whatever. It was at thoit time that the torrent of ruthless passion, Infidelity, and atheism, was devastating Prancej and threatenmg annihilation to all sacred as well as social institutions. Was that a time for the Christian, ' Protestant, and Church-of-England Parliament, to manifest a waning^' wavering hesitancy of affection or zeal in the defence, ' or for the perma- nent extension of the principles of a Christian commonwealth f If history, then,furnishes us with such reasons — if the letter aswell as principle involved in the act of 1791, — ^if the circumstances of the titnes in which it was passed, urge us to conclude, that the Legislature designed a permanent provision for the Clergy, it will not be too much to say, that to thwart or repeal so pious an enactment place? in jeopardy the " national faith."j On the second point wliich your Lordship appears desirous to establish, touching the act of 1791, and the " anticipated contentions on ecclesiastical • endowments," I can only say, that if Parliament really foresaw that such grievous difficulties would result from the passing or the Constitu- tional Act, it must have lost sight of its powers, and duties, and respon- sibilities, which manifestly authorise and require the prevention, not the promotion, of '• anticipated" evil. We might have expected a diffe- rent proof of the piety and wisdom of George the Third and his Padiament • 104 than the excitrag and perpetuating, by a deliberate statute, the religious feuds, (of all others the most rancorous) of an infant colony. The friends of the Church of England in Upper Canada would unhesitatingly disavow any such opinion of George the Tliu'd and the Parliament of 1791. I am persuaded they would esteem such a supposition a libel on that august body. Your lordship may rest assured I have no desire to separate the 41st section of the act from its other provisions, inasmuch as good and sufficient reasons may be assigned for its introduction, without recurring to the very ultra notion of a contemplated and entire alienation of the lands from the purposes originally intended. Your lordship appears to regard the 41st section, as giving to the Colonial Legislature, not only the power of alteration, but also of absolute repeal: this must have been inadvertance, as your lordship is aware that the 42d section makes their power to alter or repeal, conditional, or dependant on the Imperial Parliament, and thus distinctly furnishes the Church with a shield against so sacrilegioiis an attempt. By that section it is provided, that a message from either house to the crown, within thirty days after the reported arrival of the Colonial bill,' would be sufficient to defeat any hasty or ill-advised measure of the Provincial Legislature. On the subject of the " invitation " given by his late Majesty's Govern- ment to the Provincial Legislature, and the necessity, as urged by your lordship, of awaiting their decision, however delayed, on the Clergy Eeserves, I will use all possible brevity of reply. I beg to disclaim any intention of imputing a breach of faith to the Bi-itish Government for the measure of Lord Ripon in inviting the Provincial Legislature to consider the subject : — such an intention, had it existed, would have argued in me an entire ignorance of the provisions of the act which warrants the exercise of such a power. The imputation of a breach of faith against the Executive Government is drawn from the fact, that a solemn act of Parliament, on " one of the highest objects of national policy," is peremptorily and unwarrantably suspended, and virtually repealed, besause there are found some enemies to its provisions. If Her Majesty's Government would proceed in carrying out the provisions of the act in its letter and spirit, even as interpreted by the crown officers in 1819, the Provincial Legislature would soon bring the dis- cussion to an issue. But as long as the object of the enemies of the Church is secured, that is, as long as they can cripple her energies, or perpetuate her inefficiency, by inducing the Home Government to with- hold from her the endowments, and the means furnished her, by the acts of 1791 and 1827, no definitive measure will be adopted. I further ask permission to point out an historical inaccuracy into which your lordship has fallen on the subject of the ''invitation." Your lord- ship says, " if the Provincial Legislature had declined this duty, had avowed their reluctance or inability to discharge it, and called for the intervention of the Crown or Parliament; Her Majesty's Government might have proceeded to deal with the subject in question, on their own judgment. But the reverse of all this is the case. The House of Assembly have accepted the invitation made to them," &c. The inaccuracy, logical and historical, will be more apparent by reading the sentence thus:—" If the Provincial Legislature had not declined this 105 duty, had not avowed their reluctance or inahility to discharge it, and had not called for the intervention of the Crown and Parliament, Her Majesty's Government might ha\e re/used to deal with the suhject in question on their- own judgment. But the reverse of all this is the case. The Legidative Coimcil did decline the invitation," &c. Of the truth of this last assertion, your lordship will iind abundant proof in the two memorials sent by the Legislative Council to His late Majesty, (dated 16th March, 1831, and April, 1835,) in which they express their earnest desire to he relieved from thg discussion, declaring their " regret that it was ever thought advisable to agitate the question in the Colony, where it could not be determined" and their conviction, " that it must be suf- ficiently evident,, that no prospect whatever, exists of effecting a final settlement in regard to the Clergy Reserves, by any act to be passed within the Colony;" and, therefore, explicitly beg that His Majesty, and the Imperial Parliament, would "pass some measure which might be final and unequivocal." There is less inaccuracy in this statement, still it is inaccurate. The correction necessary to both, I need not point out. tV^ith some knowledge of the Province, and of the state of parties therein, I hesitate not to declare,, without fear of contradiction, (although the slightest intimation was not given, " that the House of Assembly despaired of coming to a satisfactory adjustment,") that there are not twenty men, whether friends or enemies to the Church, who seriously think or believe, whatever they may say, that the question will ever or can ever be settled within the Province. To judge aright, how- ever, of this assertion, the motives which would obviously dictate a negative in the avowed enemies of the Church, must be taken into consideration. And ought Her Majesty's Government to look upon this invitation, (unanimously declined by one branch of the Colonial Legislature, and not unanimously accepted by the other,) as more solemnly binding than the distinct provisions of an act of Parhament ? Let it not escape your lordship's recollection, that the continuance of such a. course of conduct must inevitably endanger, not the prosperity or efficiency only, but the very existence of the Established Church of England in Upper Canada. Your lordsliip will, I trust, excuse me, for saying that Her Majest/& Government would, by an adherance to their present policy, prove a greater enemy to the Church of England, than even the revolted states of America: — they did respect a grant, an endowment made by Queen Anne to the Church in the state of New York ; and it is to this endovnnent, that the Church there owes its present success and future hopes. And will Her Majesty'sGovernment be wanting in faith to the Church, where the promoters of revolt kept it ? I entreat your lordship again to read the " invitation '' conveyed in the message of Sir John Colborne, (25th January, 1832,) to the Legislature, and it will, I conceive, be apparent, that His Majesty's commands cannot he interpreted as leaving to those bodies the absolute right, utterly to alienate the Reserves : on the contrary, it states distinctly, that " no objects of temporary, or apparent expediency, would ever induce His Majesty to abandon the interests " of our Church in that Province. Let it be remembered that this message was intended as an answer from the Grown to the House of Assembly, on their attempt, in the preceeding 106 session, to diyejt tl»ese lands from the purpps^g for whiqh tljey wprp originally intenAed, On tSe conclijding paragraph of your Lordship's despatch, I beg to ohservej that I never supposed the '► Executive " was vested with absolute or irresponsible power ■ but I certainly did, and do conceive, that Her Majesty s Government have power to fulfil the pious designs of the act of 1791, to support the National Church in Upper Canada by any legitimate means ; and, if this " highest and iirst object of national policy ' cannot be effected by the powers at present possessed, to go in the strength of tliis truly constitutional principle to the legislative bodies, vidthout doubt or misgiying, that a Christian, Protestant and Church-of-England Parlia- ment would consider the appropriation of funds for the attainment of sucb an end, not only legitimate but essentially necessary, as conducive at once to the glory of God and to the peace of our fallow subjects and fellow churchriien in Upper Canada. I no-yv respeptfuUy request. your Lordship to inform me. whether, in case her Majesty's Gqvernment should still regard the " invitation" to the Colonial Legislature as binding, apd therefore remain of opinion, that the question of the Clergy Reserres niu»t await their decision, your Lordship would hold the matatenance of such views incompatible with the con- currence of her Majesty's Governpient in the prayer of a petition I pro- pope presenting to both Houses of Parliament, to take the iState of the Church in Upper Cp,nada into serious and inimediate consideration? With the petition itself, and the time an4 manner of its presentE^tion, I shall not Ml to acquaint your Lordship, I also :respectfully beg to be acquainted with the intentions of Her Ma- jesty's Government in regard to the fifty-seven rectories, the patents for yvhich^ according to the opinion of the law-offiqers of the Qrovm, are illegal and invalid ; — that is, whether Her Majesty's Goyernmeiit purpose to regard as finally iryeinediable, and fat?,l to th? endowments, the error supposed to have been committed by th^ late Lioutenant-Gpyernor in acting with- out the direct and explicit sanction of the crown, — or whether they are prepared to furnish the present Lieutenant-Governor wjth such definite instructions and powers as ma^ enable him tg issue fresh, valid, and legjl p£itents ? Turther, I respectfully desire to be fumighed yiath an account of the sever^rl sums already reseived, and also of the times and objects, at and for which a]l sunis have beot unfrequently happens oa Buch peG^sions, that children are presented to he haptized, wha have heen carried hy their parents, walking on foot a distance of ten or twelve miles. I am persuad- ed that it would he easy at present, for clergymen ladeqpate to the un- dertalfingj to organize a congregation ip. every neighhojirhood of the Hpme Pigtrigt. ffut it is to be apprehended tk(it tjtis ^Ul not long he the cass if the number ofowr Missionaries be not speedily av^mented. The present generation of Episeppalians having pagsed away, their posterity paijnot he expected to inherit their attachnjent to the Church, if they be suffered to grow up uninstructed in her principles and unacqnaipted with hey form pf worship. Isfotysithstanding ill t/iat has been alleged concerning Jhe nume- rical weakness of the Church in this counti-y, so far as I am acquainted, the number of her adherents is greater thorn that of any other denomination in this district. Their destitution of the regular ministrations of religion wd. danger of falling into ef ror, loudly caJJ for the instruction, the presence and protection of thejr spiritual guides. It is much to he wished, that- a clergjfman could be stationed in every neighbourhood where his services are required. But if this cannot he speedily effected, the want of resident ministers njight in a grciat measure be supplied by travelling Missioiiaries. If each of our congregations could he visited regularly by a clergjmian, pnce in every two or three weeks, it is hoped that with the divine blessing ja,ccoBj.pqnyin2 his exerdons, the members of the Church would not only he prevented from separating from our communion, but also be induced dUi- gently to attend to the things which belong to their everlasting peace. It must be g,dipitted, however, that the disadvantages and difficulties, if not dangers^ attending the offijce of a tj'ayelling Missionary in this country are many, and it may be apprehended that probably few clergymen wpnld be disposed to move in a sphere of go much exertion and self-deniai ; hiJtt when we reflect how ijaany of our brethern have been constrained by " the love of Christ" to go with messages pf mercy to the heathen in eastern clinies ahpunding with^diSiculties, dangers and deaths^! it is net to he dpubt- ed hut Pthers moved by the same divine principle will emulate their zeal an4 gladly proceed to publish the good tidings of salvation to their own coiintrymen'and Christian brethern, who are dispersed abroad in this west- er^ ■vyorld. It ought to be home in mind, that though a travelling fliinis- ter in this country meets with many causes of annoyance, regret and dissa- jiisfaotion, arising from, the various characters, habits 9,nd circumstances of the inhabitants^ yet he is every where received with sympathy and brodier- ly kindpess, and his work of faith and labour of love are often accompanied •Rath religious Joy Tyhich may be considered as the anticipation of his future rewEffd. If % sufficient number of ministers and the means of their maintenjajjce foidd bg obtainedj a plan might be adopted of supplying the various congregations which are, or might be organized throughout thi^ prpvince, with the stjated services of the Church, withput a resident clergypian fer eaii township, and yet it would not be necessary for the JiIi§sionaries to be continually travelling. ■ Each of them might have aresi- 4en,ce ijear thi? centre of the circuit of his labom-s. My acquaintance, however, with the general state of this cpwntry, in regard tp religion, fe 9fA jucb a» i» fW@ R19 ji9 f'Wls. ^9X^)j^\^ resp^l^ipg tjie nmnjber of J27 clergymen requisite for such parfe of tlie pjoYiseegSPSi^y, as ^§ ftt prg^ sent destitute of the ministratioi^ of fte ChlU'fi]} ; PUt if ? Hjay be prgffiitS' ed to form an opinionfrom what I havi^ f^^ m tjie. sphere of rnif l^ouri, at lea^ ten^ on an average, are n^ccesaa/ry for enck dfistric^. Being ac- quainted with the Home District generally,hs'"iig jepeatgdiy -yj^ited the dif- ferent neighbourhood^ in it, which are without a resident plergyman, I Ij^g leave to go a little into detail respecting this part of the country. There is ample employment in the townships of Tecumijetli and West Gwillimbury alone for two or three miijisters, but one active Mis§ipnary would be of incalculable benefit to the inhabitants. Th^ settlerg in We§); Gwillimbury are numerous, and principally Protestants from Ireland. In that neighbourhood, I am informed, therg are about eighty families belpng-r ing to the Church. In August last, I performe4 Pivine Service and preached daily for about a week in that township. The inhabitants loolf lyith confidence to the heads of the Church for a clergyma.n, afld have prepared materials for the erection of a Church. In Tecumseth, the adjoining township, the Episcopalian^ are likewise very numerous, and have repeatedly expressed much solicitude for the stated ministrations of religion. The daily service of the Cliurphwas as well attended in Tecumseth as jn West GvriUimbury, and on gundays {lie con- gregations were very large in both townships. A Church has been lately erected in the township of Tecumseth, in a central situatipi), whicl?, how- ever, is far from being finished. There is also a considerable congregation of peqpje residing in the townships of Essa and Innisfil, adjacent to Tecunjsetli and We?t Givjllim^ bury, who (vidll very thankfully receive the visits of the clergyman who shall be stationed in that part of the country. The townships of Whitchurch, East Gwillimbury and Kjng, fonn an extensive field of Missionary exertion : the clergyman might reside flt New- market, where a church hag been lp.tely built. Tlie congregation of Epis- copalians at that village is considerable ,' and in its vjpinity the inhabit-? ants are very much divided on the subject of religion. It is supposed, that in the township of East GwiUjmbury, tbe members of the Church are comparatively few, but whenever I have officiated in that neighbourhood, I have met with a kind reception, and numerous as- semblages of people have attended divine service. There is little unani- mity among the inhabitants of that part of the country respecting religion • and many of them have run into the grossest errors, whjle others profess to be of no particular persuasion. The inhabitants of the township of Ifipg are ^so giuch divided as it respects their religious opinions, but the number of Epispopalians is con- siderable. The township of Brock, Geor^ng, Thorah, ^ ^North Crwilljjnhury, also present a large sphere of Missionary labour. The adherents of the Church in Brock are numerou§, ^ijd have Jong been solicitous for a minister. A Church is much wapted iij that neigh- bourhood, as the people are obliged to assemble in a Wrn fiff the performs ance of divine service. The iohabitantis of G^or^n^, th.9 a^ojioiDg t;pwt^stiipt are alto destitute 128 of -a Church: the' Episcopalians are perhaps the most numerous denomi- nation in that' neighbourhood, and the rest of the people are principally Presbyterians and Roman Catholics. The number of settlers in Thorah, which is likewise adjacent to Brock, is comparatively small, and the people in that township are chiefly Presby- terians and Churchmen. The former are said to be the most numerous denomination. ' North Gwillimbury is adjacent to Georgina: the inhabitants of that township are of various persuasions, but would gladly avail themselves of the.privilege of a;ttending the service of the Church. ' A clergyman is also required for Whitby and Darlington. The Epis- copaiiaus in both townships are numerous, and have repeatedly expressed to me their regret that they should remain so long destitute of the stated services of the Church. A Church for the people to assemble in is want- ed in both these townships. The minister who may be appointed to labour in Whitby and Darlington might also profitaibly extend his exertions to Reach and other adjoining townships. Scarboroiighj Pickering and Uxbridge likewise present an extensive field of niinisterial exertion. Much diversity of opinion prevails in these townships concerning religion. The adherents of the Church in Scar- borough are numerous : a small Church has lately been erected on the south side of the township, which is not yet completed, but if it were finish- ed, I am persuaded that the congregation would be large. The members of the Church residing in the north part of the same township, have repeat- edly [expressed their desire for a clergyman, and congregations might easily be organized in other parts of the neighbourhood. Several. congregations might likevidse be formed in Pickering : I have sometimes preached to numerous and attentive assemblagesof people in that.tovraship. The inhabitants of Uxbridge are yet comparatively few and of different persuasions, but there are adherents of the Chureh in that township as well as in Pickering, and a clergyman receives a kind reception from the inhabitants generally. In Chinguacousy, Albion, the northern part of the township of Toronto, in the Gore of Toronto, the Episcopalians are exceedingly numerous, and each of these neighbourhoods present employment sufficient for a minis- ter j but one active arid zealous Missionary being stationed in a central situation might attend to the various congregations which may be organized in that part of the country. The inhabitants of Mono, Adja:la, Caledonand Mulmur are also much in want of the ministrations of religion. The members of the Church are very numerous in the township of Mono, and a" Church has been erected, but is far from being completed. Perhaps nearly one half of the settlers in Adjala, which is adjacent to Mono, are Roman Catholics, but the rest are said to be principally Pro- testant Episcopalians. There is alsoa=large congregation of Episcopalians in Caledon, which is likewise a township adjoining Mono, -and a Church for the people to assemble in is greatly needed in that neighbourhood. . The, settlers in 'M'ulmur and ■Tossor6iitio.''t6^vnships"adjacent to Adjala T29 and Mono, are yet comparatively few, but will be very solicitous for the Missionary, who may be sent to reside in that part of the district, _to visit them occasionally. The new settlements on the north side of. Lake Simcoe present a vast field for the exertion of Missionaries. A resident clergyman is much wanted at Penetanguishine, who might profitably extend his services to the settlers generally, in the townships of Tiny and Tay. As that is the place where the Indians annually assemble to receive presents from the Government, if a zealous minister were contin- ually residing there, he would gladly avail himself of the many favourable opportunities which would be afforded of addressing them on the most im- portant subjects, and thus he might be instrumental in their conversion and the extension of the Church. Vespra, Flos andSunnidale are also destitute of the pubUc ministrations of religion and present ample employment for a clergyman. The congregations atBarrie and Kempenfelt are considerable, and the inhabitants of that ]iart of the country in general, are very solicitous for a minister. • When I; last: visited that neighbourhood, Captain O'Brien in- fomed me that he purposes to have a Church immediately erected near Kempenfelt Bay. : (This Church has been built. — W. B.) The settlers in the tovniships of Oro, Medonte and OriUia are also numerous, and require a clergyman to reside and labour among them. They are also in want of Churches to assemble in. As many of the peo- ple live far apart, and as the roads are yet bad, that part of the district •presents a field of great exertion for a Missionary. Thus it appears that ten or more clergymen are necessary for such parts of this district alone as are destitute of the stated services of the Church; a/nd I have taken the lilierty of recording my opinion, ikat at least a like number is requisite, on a/n average, for the different districts of. the Province. But as the population is rapidly and continually increasing,, and, as a very large proportion of the emigrants who come from England and Ire- land to settle among us, are Episcopalians, afar greaternumber of minis- ters than I have mentioned, will soon be necessary for this flourishing and magnificent country. I remain, Reverend Sir, With sincere regard, Your obedient, humble servant, ADAM ELLIOT, The Rev. A; Mathews, M. A., Secretary, Sfc, S;c., S[c. When communicating to the Society the particulars of his importailt intercourse with the Indians at Penetanguishine,' Mr. Elliott has the fol- lowing remark, which the Committee have reserved from his Journal to be noticed in this place; "I am persuaded," he says, " that an opportunity is now presented to the Society of being instrumental,oBy. the Diviae bles- sing, in .gathering many .of these unhappy. but interestmg people into that I im Gfelif^k Whieii ftey preftfi ftflS #Moh is best Adlkpted tot their cefivei'slofl The Committee, it will not he douhted, would indeed ffldSt gladly B^itd the oppbrttittl^ fttis pl-es^tttted, and gladly heconie instrumentfel ia etfefcfing so desirahle an object ; but the narrow resdurees of thfc Society iiltOgefch^ forbid their enga^ng in it further than they have done; At the pattiottlar desife of thfe Meutenaht (Sovetnor, they authorized Mf . Hllibtt to detote as Blu'eh titoe as hg ebuld »f&fe, without seridus hindrance to his othef duties, to the instruetion 6f the thdians assembling to receive their pfeseiitsj at the tiUSige &f Geld^^ater i aftd so acceptably has he fiilfilled his insti-uc- tieasoii thi^ point, that they ard strongly desifous of affordiag him aii epportuaity at least of keeping afl appointment -n'Mch he made at thei* earnest solicitation, to meet them again in thfe ensuing Spfiilg, at the Matiitottliti Island, but this is (di they can vehture to do at present. The spiritual eharge of the -Destitute Settler? of the Hotoe Bistrict-, ill it^felE; feqiiires taore time &nd attention than Mh Elliott hag to bestow, and alrettdy ealls fer a di-mion. of labour. Ift the etentj thefeforcj of the Indiaatej v^hoia Mi. EUidtt addressedj tettlitag ori the Matiitoulid Island, or elsei*iiere, a separate Missidnary would be maaifestly nfedeSsMy fot their adequate infetruStion. Wheii such an opportunity shall ahiTe^ the Committee h&|ie thatj whatSver tflay be the caSe ndw^ the flllids of the Sceiety will tfien bfe in a condition to meet it. It is with a feeling atnounting to distfre^ that they listen to the numerous derdands upon the Society, when tbrii? ftbility tO Ahs^l- them is so small^^that they hear theiJ tta>- veUing Missionary declare that ten or more Clergymen are lieeeSsafy foJ- Su'^^rts af the Home District as are destitute of the stateil sendees of the ffhlkcHj ttrhen it is -irith thfe greatest difficulty they can supply it 'With ©itBsaathat thfey find the same gentlenlaa fecOrd his opinion mat a like vittf/ibet' is i^^aiBitii m aH nfeeraglB, .j/m- tke remaifiing DiUritti d/this Province, no provision whatever for which has yet been made.* If, boT*- iBver, they receive gftch rep^BBentations with_p«sere, they publish theisi With l^Bi Surel^!, thgy condudej when this is iinderstood at Hoffle, the dksKrities of &e British Isltes will hot sluihber nor sle^ When thus iofsited^ thus sitEamohed to a field so neWj So ample and sb lliterestlwg, they will regard the Atlantic that rolls between it and ttoetn but ia feeble and insufficient barrier to their interposition. The time has been when they have crossed a wider and more periloms ocean on an errand not more merciful — in a cause not more]ioly— r'to the reinoval of idolatries not more dark, and the preservation of Keligioua knowledge, when not in greater dai^er of extinction. Tne t/omnuttee acknowledge with thankfulness the continued patronage of friends in England, whose donations wHi appear in the Subscription list. Among these the name of Mrs. Simcofe stailds cbnspieUOUs j this benevolent lady, many wiH remember, was a long time resident in Canada, and though now some years separated from it, is neither unmindful of its spiritual •wants nor slow to feihbracS ah opportunity of adnunistering to them, ihe Ijounigr of Mi?s. Simcoe will therefore prove or more than intrinsic value to uie Sbaety, as it must be regarded, not only in the light of an oJfbrini; * 'm, me^ van ofsaiae^ mm^^ 18^5-, to ^mm. iKe tiofti« mm&% at mt bi ill {tm & \meMmt Ohrisasfr, !«i« ateo ef ft teetlaefiyj fbuadel ropidea townships embraced by tbg As^ociajioi;!. ' I beg to r§fgr yoij tp the Efif- Messrs. Greer an4 Wade %x repprt| ypon thq^e in thg Disiricts of prin*?? Edward atnd J^ewcastle. I remain, Rev. Sir, Your faithful servant, 'saltern GHTINg, Iiji tl*e Midland District theye are ^iffhtgefi settle^ to'ienship^ cont^ijiing appii a,n average one hundred square miles. Of these, ei^ht, namely^' !{Qngs^pn, Erpesiovn], Fredericksburg, Adolphustown, Richmond, Ty§ri- denag% Thurloty a^i ^idpey a^d the island of T^Rti P''"? partj^Uy supplied by the minigtratjojis pf ftp ClergyineR gpttle^ in ^hg to^ras and Tillages therein. ^qmiiienping at the Eastern lipiil; of tl^p District — Wolf Island-^th^ ^o'vynships of Pittsburg, Lougjiborpugh, Ppytland, Camapn, Shpffipld, Hungerfprd, Huntingdon, Rawdofl, M^dpc, and Mannpra ^re'gt present in ihe ppinjopi of tlie ppmifiitteQ entitled to ^ re^dfPt Clergyman ag cpji- tempiated by thf provisions pf the ConstUutipnal Apt, Thp nujp.]3er of dhurctinen and persons favourably disposed to the Qhiirch in the majority of th^sf tPW^ships, as ascertained by the travelling Missionary, more than justify the assertion that a Clergyman stationed in each would ffnd ample UQCupation. Qf ^^ tp-?mship8 Stfted as pa^ti^Uy s^ppli^d ^j Gleygyme^_ ihogft_ 9f Richmond, Fredericksburg and Sidney, wjtn the island of TantJ, having churches erected in them s'erved by tKe Clergymen resident in the adjacent towns aad tpwmships, have especial claims to the sej'vices of a Oleigyman qf t]iw Dwpi JFq? in efKfh of %mii t>^|re w«! »;pt oiily oongregatjan? alre^^ formed, but from th|!J|K extent they embj'ace stations which demaiid the attention of a Clergyman, as hereafter tlie accommodation of the settlers -will require am ad^i^onal Ohureh, ai^d probably ^t no distant day another Clergyman, The rapidly increasing demand^ of the towns and townships iji which Clergymen are, already stationed,, to thei^ exclusive services, a,ugment the n^c^sfeity of the town3hipg now partially served by t^em, being g)eedlly supplied with a clergyman of their own, With regaM to the townships jn this District, unsupplied by the regular ministrations of the Church, the committee beg to state, that in the tovm- ships of Loughborough and Portland, where there are numerous congre- gations pf our Communion, tl^ere prevEols a strong ^esire for flie services of resident piMgymen, and should aiiy l^ope of realizing, thejr desii-e be held out to them, HberaJ subscriptions Vo^|d imme^iatefy be commenee^ for the purpose of erecting Ohufches. In the township of Camden East, in which a large proportion of the inhabitants are either Churchmen or favourably disposed to our Commu- nion, a site for a Churoh and burial ground has been offered by Mr. J. Wjlliains, and a oonsidM«ble aigount subMiribed for jts cifeciion, fioweVer, 135 not being permitted ta (sntertain the hope that a resident clergyman will soon be acceded them, they ^r^ djgcourfge| ffgnj cpi(iii)gnci])s it, On the line between the ^iQ-^ynghipji qf HD{fg^ar4 and Pun^jgHgdon, where the friends and adherents of the Chuf plj fpfip "■ ™^'ority pf the inhabitants, they are particularly desivov)s of obtainin" a resident Clergy- man, and the building of a Churcji ]ias been long in cpntiemplation. In the townships of Marmora and MadoCj although partially settled, the inhabitants, a great portion if not a majority of whom are members and friends of the Chnrwi, are very anxious to enjoy the benefits of a resident Ql^rgyinan, Undq^ th^ fiuspiqeg pf the Hon f. I/Icfril], of Mon- tresij, pfoprigtor of the Marmoj-a irop' works, a nep,t stone church has liqen built at that place, by the joint contributions of Protestants and Roman Catholics, (we have understood, for the accommodation of both) but in consequence qf there being no Ciergj/m^n of our Communion appointed ^ that neighhowkoai, the committee regret to state, that the church has fallen into the hands of thg Roman Catholics exclusively, it having been consecrated by their Bishop and 8§TTe4 Qcc^gj^gJJy ty a pj^st, It will, we believe, be now clear beyond the poaaibility of (ioubt that the wants of the Church in Uppep C^n^a exceed by far those of any other branch of the Church in any part of the vprld. We submit them in tabular foriji ^ajthpjigh mugh uflde? the gctual state) to the consideration of the Churph in England, MINISTERS. ACTUAL. AlfNUAL, There are eleven districts in Upper Canada: Ijo supply these districts with the services of the Church by travelling missionaries, at least one hundred and twenty would be imme- diately needed : allowing the income of each to be 150Z., no less a sum than 18,000Z. per annum is required; but as the congregations would wil- lingly assist, say, in a few years, to half the amount, the sum then needed would be £9,000 The expenses attending each minister's passage to America 'and location in his spnere would be £50 : — ^total for 120 £6,000 CHURgHES. Each Clergynjan would be enabled and required to serve three Churches on a Sunday (not to speak of week- day stations), or about one in each tpwn^h^p of ten miles square. Three hundred and sixty Churches are there- 1S6 ACTUAL. - fore needed at the least ; which, at a cost of only 200Z. each, would amount to 72,000/.; but as the congregations are expected to sub- scribe the half in money or labour for each Church, this sum would be diminished to £36,000 Every 100/. procured in England Will secure the erection of a Church in Upper Canada,' capable of containing from 250 to 300 persons. RECEIVED. DONATIONS. ANNUAL. £ s. d. £ s. d. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge 2000 , Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts 500 Collections after sermons by the Rev. W. Bfettridge; B. D. at public meetings, &c London Cambridge Huntingdon and God- manchester Oxford Brighton 68 12 Do moiety of col- lection not yet re- ceived, about 120 Cheltenham 314 15 Do not yet paid 200 Dover Ramsgate and Mar- gate Harrogate Knaresboro' Ripon Huddersfield Sheffield York, (about) Hull Bradford In these several places ^^°'^^ . 120 D 504 5 87 17 Hi 49 17 U 336 19 4* 5i 188 12 ^ 8 514 15 8 71 6 6 98 9 5 24 ,20 40 109 289 10 1 40 190 90 19 1^7 SucK are the pecuniary results of the labours of the Deputation in England. A very natural inquiry may suggest itself here, and to which I proceed to offer a distinct answer ; — ^viz, hy whom, and ^r wAa# will these funds be disposed of? I reply that the same authority which appointed the Deputation to plead the cause of our destitute fellow-churchmen in Upper Canada before the Chris- tian public in England, will have the exclusive disposal of the funds raised by the deputation. That authority is t/ie Church; — we plead for the necessities of the Church ; the funds therefore raised will be disposed of by the Church. The objects for which the funds raised, will be employed, are, — first, the maintenance of minis- ters ; and secondly, for the erection of Churches in Upper Canada. I have stated the wants of the Church; and I trust the authority upon which I have made my statement, will be considered sufficient and unquestionable. In the journals of the missionaries however, and in the reports of the committee of the Toronto Society, men- tion is more specifically made of the want of ministers, and merely a passing notice taken of the need of Churches. I may be per- mitted to say a few words on the subject. The more pressing need is, unquestionably, ministers ; for without these, the expenditure of funds in the erection of Churches would bean exhibition of foUy^ The absolute necessity of supplying the lack of clergymen is appa- rent, — that of erecting Churches is not perhaps at first so clearly manifested. The following considerations must, however, we think convince the reader of the propriety of making the erection of Churches and the location of ministers a simultaneous measure : 1. That " all thingsmay be done decently and in order." It is true that the validity of the sacraments, or the power of the gos-- pel does not depend upon the fabric in which the one is preached or the other administered. Neither am I alluding to cases of ex- treme necessity ; but as a Churchman I cannot but be desirous of seeing a place consecrated to the name of the one true and living God, in which the ordinances of Christ Jesus may be administered with decency. At present in Upper Canada this cannot be effected. We are obliged to minister in barns or shed, or it may be in the open air. It is impossible to repress the feeling that such a state ought not to exist one moment longer than urgent necessity may Inquire. ^ m 9, T}»*t % opdin^ess of our Cbwch may be emUmomly va- nisterg4- Those wbo knpw any thing of o^r Cawadiaq Winters, will undergtafjel that fpr four or five months it is utterly impossible to attempt ^ service on a threshing floor, ^c, ; life would be en-- ^a-ngftrpd. It will be apparent, therefore, that a clergytpan musts in the absence of Churches, confine his services to the small and very inconvenient dwelling* of the settlers during the Winter months. These dwlljngs will rarely accommodate more than from twelve to twenty persons } the consequence is obvious^^eithf p the minister's labour is jnprgaspd tenfold, or rather a great proportion of hiss soattired floek must fqrego the privilege of puWic worship. 3. That goimd dpatrine only may be supplied to the people. In the present state pf Upper Canada, the Clergyman of the Estab- lished Church has no e^scjusive right to barns, or shedss or the forest itself for piibliq worship. Every teacher of dissent claims an equal right with the Churchman. It is an undeniable fact, that sects of the most heterodox character abound on the continent pf America and herein, I mean especistUy the United States. New deno^ minatjons are continually claiming a portion of the publjo attention » and it is no very easy thing to discover, for some tim« at least, what the oharaeter qf the heresy may be, by whish those nevy lights propound as the truth ef God- It will be easily understood, th^t in the dearth of sound spiritual instruction, the people are liable tp be seduced to hear (jj,t least) error ; they are, therefore, in danger (jf being led from the paths of the J^erd, just in proportion to the skill and sophristry of the teacher* of npvelty. There is no pre- venting those persons frem making knewo their errprs. The place oaeopisd by a clergyman in the morning, may be occupiecj by the most heretical teachers in the afternopn, I will give an instance in my own gxperieneei (and such instances are constantly pccurring.) On my arrival at one of my stations, I was informed by a Church^ man that an Universalist had been praaebing in the morning, and that be had brought together a Jargs congregation. I was, of course, aware of the 4ang^roH$ tendency of the doptrines of Universalism ; and I determiners in the strength of Cbrbtj to preach the truth whieh opposed those doctrines without making dis- tinct allusion t^ them. I was enabled, I believe, tp declare the truth, with some measure of ppvyer ; the blessing was scarcely prpr 191 poiinced, wfeeq an individHal *tw4 Hp w4 geve notice, wUh « ^oncktUPUion ^cp^nt, tliat h§ woulrt pre^h from thg game tejt in the f vanjpg f pad ba invited all to attond, laut ^spegiaUy th( premhtf i^myself.) Of cpurse \ took no notice of Jiis invitation. I was pleased tP learij after that he failed in getting a congregation to- gether, NPYfj had a Church been erectefl in that place, (there is one note,) such an e^fhifeition could not have qccurredi the people having the regular niinistratioijs of ouf holy Church would not be disposed to run after every fresh importation from the States ; — they would be preserved froju suclj danger pf infection. I l)old this to be an unanswerable argument for the u^cegsity of erecting Churcbes simultaneously with tl^e location of a jninister. 4. TThat gome income may be secured to the clergyman- We do npt vyigh the clergy of Upper, Canada to be continually a burfjen to the piother country, or a drain upop the Christian bene- vplence of private indivi4uals. Thpy must, however, continue to receive fuu4s for tbeir decent maintenance from England, until the colony possesses means to support them. No clergyman cpuld desire to have a yearly or half yearly heggivg ^heei going round jin:iongst bi^ people ; bis babits, his educatipn, big feelings, are all repugnant to sqcb a means pf subsistpnce. If a church be built, tbsve WQWld b? no need for such a measure. Every fauiily or in- jlividual who attends the services of the pburch, and finds accom- piod^tiop f|:oni Sabbath to Sabbs^th, will unquestionably bp ready to give spjnetbing for tbe service rendered, for the rent of the seat occupied. T^^^ clergyman would not object to ask for geatrrent. Thus, in a few years, a clergyman piinistering to four or five cqp- gregatiops, niigbt fairly expect to derive considerable pecuniary gupport from big pepple, and in many cases, if not all, suflRcient to rgljev^ , altogether or in part the Society or fund from which bis wants bad been hitherto supplied. I trugt sufficient has been said te place the necessity of erecting churehes altpost on an equality vn,t\i that of supplying missionaries. I asKi the reader's permission to recur for a few mopients to a subject to which I bav^ already alluded, viz., the authority which the act of 1827 gives to the executive to make exchanges of wild Clergy RijSQrv^!^' land? fqr cleared lands, the property of individuals 05 of the crpwn, in the neigbbourboo4 of a cbwrcfe, qp §¥eji for 140 residences for the clfergy. It will be obvions that' if this provision were fully carried out, an ' immediate source of income would be open to the clergy, I speak not on speculation, but on what has actually occurred. The late respected lieutenant-governor, Sir John Colborne, expressed to me his readiness to sanctioh siich exchanges. I very naturally sought for an ^ opportunity to avail myself of the privilege. My friend, Rear-Admiral Vansittart, whose devotion to the best interests of the Church has scarcely been paralleled in Upper Canada, immediately consented to fur- ther my wishes. He finished a comfortable rectory house; he purchased twenty-six acres of cleared land contiguous to the rec- tory, and he separated about thirty acres more from his own pro- perty, all which he offered to exchange with the government for wild land. A government agent was appointed to value the pro- perty, and the exchange was effected. A part of that land I have been able to let for one pound currency per acre. The influential friends of the Church at home would confer a lasting benefit on the clergy of Upper Canada, if they could induce her Majesty's government to allow this part of the act of 1827 to remain yet in force, and to give every facility to its operation. This measure could not be regarded as injurious to any ; and the province would benefit by it, as the wild lands so exchanged would be brought into earlier cultivation. No doubt, objections would be raised by those who have hitherto opposed the establishment of our Church. I cannot, however, account, on any Christian principle, for the op- position of the church of Scotland. It is a fact that the executive have (I think I may say, without exception,) granted o-lebes to that Chuffch, from the crown lands, whenever asked. Of these lands there are yet millions of acres. Why should not the church of Scotland ask for a supply from this source, and lay aside her unnatural enmity to the Church of England? I cannot persuade myself that any doubt remains now in the minds of my readers, of the existence of fearful spiritual desti- tution in the province of Upper Canada,— a destitution which has no parallel in her Majesty's dominions. In every other portion of our colonial territory, some effectual aid has been afforded. The necessity of an immediate attention to Upper Canada will perhaps be more apparent, by placing our state in jiixta-position with thp 141 state of some other of our possessions. I attempt this, not that an iota of zeal or support should be withdrawn from existing insti- tutions: the Searcher of hearts knows I have no such feeling, but nierely to shew that Upper Canada has been overlooked, and that; something must now be done for us. North American Colonies. — The church population of these colonies (with the exception of Upper Canada^) maybe esti- mated at 170,000; and for their spiritual instruction there is a provision of two bishops and about one hundred missionaries, at an annual expense, (including the bishops' salaries,) of nearly 22,000/.; and even here it is confessed, by all who are competent to give a right opinion on the subject, that great spiritual desti- tution prevails. It must be observed, moreover, that for a portion of the popu- lation a society has been formed, in England, which receives nearly £3,000 per annum, viz. the Newfoundland School Society. In that Colony the Church population does not amount to 20^000 and there are eleven Missionaries. I would beg to offer a suggestion to the Society, which originated with a gentleman of high legal authority, in the province ; it is that they should apply to have their School Masters regularly ordained when they had given full proof of their piety and zeal.' Great classical or mathematical attain- ments are not required for the fishing stations in Newfoundland. Persons might be found well suited to such situations, who, if ordamed, would produce a great accession of strength to the Church, and supply the present lack of her ordinances. In Upper Canada where the Church population may be esti- mated at 200,000, there is no Bishop, and there are only between fifty and sixty Missionaries who are supported at an expence of about £9000 per annum. Australia — According to the last census (1837) the whole Protestant population (Church and Dissent, free and convict) amounted to 54,000. Allowing the Church to possess the half of this number 27,000 ; we find a provision made of one Bishop and twenty one Clergymen. In consequisnce of an urgent appeal from the Bishop of Australia for an accession of pastoral strength," the " Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts"- issued a notice from which the following is an extract : May $ilS37. " Tha Society for the Propaaatioij of th,e Gospel in Foreign Patts has received a pressing application froili tte fiisnop of Australia, to assist in en- g4*itig antl Seaaiii^ out Clefrgyiiieh it l^eW Sbtith Wales. The ivatite ailtl peculiar circumstances of the Gblefly are thtis descHbed by his I/srdShip in aletterj dated Sydney, I4th October, 1836 : — ' The qaestibtt upon '»^hifch .1 lia^e iflost iiiPgelit odcftSion to WHte k> ydU, is that of pl-ovidilig us with additional Olergyihea. Our obt&iiiingj 6r bob oDtalningthenij is ft matter^ as it were, of life ,or death. ' The GfoveKlttfeiii requires ^•oni tte inhabitahts a contribution of at least 800/. toWsepd§ thd efedtibn of ft fchtti-ch, arid will thfeti dppdflt a Olet- gyaiftn, with a stipeiid (wot fexoeeding 200/. per annum) proportionate t0 the number of the congregation. The above, condition has been, or is being, coiriplled with iil tvveiity ond places, and ttere is an opportunity for settling nine additional Clergymen with average income^ of l50l. p6t annumj a hotise, some landj tad in most cases sotae smsU advariCage from fees, fi?c.' *' In donaequdil^ of this *epi«esieiitetidftj the- Boetetf has tesolted io invite applications from Clergymen and Camdidates for Orders desirotiS of proceeding to New South Wales, and to make some addition to the stipends ifletttibiied % the filsliop of Aiisti-alia, TlSK arerage sfetey secured to Sftcli Clc*j»yfftan by tte Lddal Legislftttirg b^ing 150/. a year, together with a gtant of 1 60/. from the Colonial Office for passMe-mpney and pttl^t,; at further salary of 50/. a year^ together ■\^th A like gfant oi^ tSO/: to defray the cost of Settling in a new country, will be pMi by the SdcJety. It "has ^een assutect that these dllowftticeS vidll efaablo Clergymen to maintain themselves and their faarilies in re-' spectability and comfort. And it trusts that persons will be found who aie ifeady to discharge the duties of tne Christian Ministry in a land where the \etf eiistdnde of teli^oii 3{)p8arg to dejtfend lipoii Ihe imeasure^ Whict ' may be adopted *fe the present fcrisis. ^plications and inquiries may be addressed to the Soeiety'S oflnfce, Ti^iralgar Square, London. A. M. CAiiPtifiLt, SECntiTABif. And in the report 'pi the society, for 1^7, -We find these triily gitosfious proposal* had befen tery suecefesftil, page ^"^-^-^ In " answer to ths pitype^ls Issued oti thd dccasiofi humerottg effetS "of sfervioe venfe received; and frofoi these \ls,f& been geieded ** seven geftti^aefl who Mfe been Sppointed to tfe# chaplaJncifeSj " by Lord Glendg, ftrid ar« Etlready ott their tbyagfe to Nm* Smith « Wales. It k hsped that tki ivfials number &f the pfbposed « B^feiniimMimUbitOmpiemhefori the md ^tM present pgdf.'* Who will not rejdiee m^t tinfeignedljf that th^ needful sttpply 14S of spiritual instruction will so soon be afforded to the flourishing Colony of Australia ? Still the true disciple of Christ will not fail to look with a sorrowful eye upon the 100,000 utterly destitute Churchmen in Upper Canada, and with the fervent (let it be prayerful and believing) hope that some means of alleviation may also be afforded to them. ^ East IiJDIes, AFitiCA, ki. — It is truly gfalifying to behold the unceasing laboul- of love iii tifhich the Church MisslbriSry Sodfety has beefl so successfully Engaged amongst the poor idolaloi's of the East. May the Lofd erdwn their efforts with ten fold blessing ! The Chureh Missionary Society's income amounted to upwards of £80,000 last year; it is admitted indeed that this large sum would not suffice if the enlarged views of the Society should gradually suc- ceed; but at present it lis beneficially employed fdi- tlie suppoft of their sfeVeWl Establishments. Assuming that they have lOOjOOO converts (may they soon be some millions I) we i^nnol bat desire that the 100,000 of the "household of faith" in Upper Canada who are eatnestly imploring aid from the land of their |birtlj, may also become the objects of Christian sympathy and partakers of Christian bounty. Finally I cannot but believe that when the actual state and wants of our fellow countrymen and fellow Churchmen, in Upper Canada, are known to the Christian public, prompt and generous efforts will be made to enable the " Upper Canada Clergy Society" to carry out its pious designs and wishes into full execution, and the Deputation' from the Church to return with the intelligence that their appeal for funds to erect Churches, has been liberally and cheerfully tfesponded to. tt is in this faith, I commend these pages to Him Vfhd can dispose the heart of His peopl« to sacrifice all for His name, for the advancement of His glory, aad for me good of His Church. "The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts has reseived a pressing application from the Bistop of Australia, to assist in en- gti*iilg and Sftiiain^ mh Cletgyifieft to NeW gotlth Wales. The ^cafits attll peculiar circumstances of the Colony ttre thus descHbed hy his Lerddii|t in a letter; dated Sydney, 14th October, 1836 :—: ' Ths question upon T^Wfeh I ia^e tflost tii'geTit ocicaslon to WMtS fo yoUj ig that of ptoTiding us with additional Olergyihen. Qiir obtftiningj dr bob ottainingthem, is a mfitterj as it, were, of life ,or death. ' The^OveMitieiit fequifes fi'om tlie inhabitahts a contribiitlon or at least 800/. towards the e*edtion of a thUrch, and will then dppdint a Dlet-^ gyman, with a stipehd (not fexoeeding 200/. per annum) proportidnftte to the number of the, congregation. The above, condition has been, or is being, complied with in twenty ond places, and there is an opfortnnity for settling nine additional Clergymen with average income^ of l50/. pst annum, a house, some lamdj Sind in most cases sotoe small advantage from fees, &C.' : *' In doiiseijudile^ of this *epre#etitatioh, the Soelfety has tesolVed ho invite .applications from Clergymen and Candidates for Orders desirous of proceeding to New South Wales, and to make some addition to the stipends ifi^tttitieJ % tile Misiibp of Aiistralia, The stterage s&tey Sheared to each Clet|ynlan by tlie Iiddal Legislathre bding 150/< a year, together with a g*ant of 1 60/. from the Ooloniai Gffibe for passE^e-money and outfit ; a further salary of 50/. a year^ together with A liRfe gf&nt of tSO/i to defray the cost of Settling in a new country, will be jjitid bj* the Sdckty. It has Veeri assumed that fh^e allowanced will ebable Clafgymen to maintain themselves a«d their families in re-j ^ectability and comfort. And it trusts that persons will be found who are ready to discharge the duties of tlie Christian Ministry in a land where the veff eiistdftde of tfeligloit apjprgarS to depend lipoil the measures wllich may be adopted at the present fcrisis. ; ^plications and inquiries may be addressed to the Society's offifce, Traalgar Square^ London. A. M. CAiiPtifiLL, SECffl*TAftf. And in the report 'of the society, for 18S7, We find the^ triily generous propesAlS had been tery siiccessM, page ^7^-^ In " answei- 1© the p! :^xsmm^mes^^si::Mm^&>^si'^y^