men's houses within reasonable distance in Glasgow, especially in connexion with the demolition of houses at present in progress, without the help of the railways to carry the people to the country. Were morning and evening trains organized as in London, Glasgow might be extended on every side, and cheap and abundant sites might be obtained, not only for workmen's houses, but, for what is equally important, workmen's gardens. The Convener of this Committee called the attention of the public authorities of Glasgow to this some time ago, when the Bill was being passed through Parliament to establish the Union Railway, which is to intersect that city. His object was to press the introduction of a clause into the Union Railway Bill, compelling the Directors of that line to carry the people of Glasgow to and from the city morning and evening at a fixed charge. Although the subject was not neglected at the time, the efforts made to secure this object were not sufficiently strenuous, and the purpose was defeated; but it may not be too late to secure a proper arrangement still, and thus to make the only practicable and effectual provision, so far as we can see, for relieving the overcrowding of Glasgow. In regard to the general question as applicable to all towns, and even villages, the time seems to have fully come when the Parliament should interpose, and secure for all the people, on reasonable terms, the power of acquiring land for the erection of houses around all our cities and towns. Comfortable houses are the first necessity in sanitary improvement. Indeed, it is preposterous to talk of sanitary improvement where the erection of comfortable houses is impossible, and this is always impossible where sites cannot be obtained on fair terms. The same Parliament which empowers men to demolish houses for sanitary reasons, ought, for the same reasons, to provide facilities for the erection of new ones. What has been done so extensively in connexion with railway companies—viz., giving them the power to acquire land-ought to be readily done when land is required for the highest purpose to which it can be devoted-namely, as sites for the houses in which the people may live. If landlords and public authorities are so blind to their duties and interests as to stand in the way of the erection of suitable houses, the matter should be settled on enlightened principles by the higher wisdom of the Legislature. II.-FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND WORKMEN'S HOUSES. THE following letters are interesting, as indicating the deep interest which some foreign Governments take in the houses of their people. They furnish a good lesson to our own Government. It has been ascertained that none of the difficulties which are found here in regard to land exist in the same degree in France and Denmark; and it is instructive to observe the Governments of these countries facilitating in every way the building operations of their working people : THE GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK. Letter to Dr. Begg. 'LEITH, 1st May 1866. 'REV. SIR,-I have been requested by the Danish ambassador in London to procure for the use of his Government some information re B garding the plans and cost of workmen's houses; and I take the liberty of enclosing copies of the correspondence, with the request that you would kindly procure for me, or enable me to procure, the details required. The expenses incurred I will at once refund. Awaiting your reply, I have the honour to be, Rev. Sir, your very obedient servant, WALTER BERRY, H.D. M. Consul-General. 'The Rev. DR. BEGG, Edinburgh.' 'LEGATION OF DENMARK, 50 WILTON CRESCENT, BELGRAVE SQUARE, LONDON, April 28, 1866. 'SIR,-I have been directed by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to try to get the information desired, according to the enclosed copy of a petition to that Ministry by a Committee of a Working Men's Co-operative Building Company. It appears from the petition that the working men of Messrs. Barmeister and Wain, in Copenhagen, have formed a com pany, the object of which is to construct cheap and good houses for themselves, the want of houses of that description having been keenly felt. The estimates of the amount of money that those houses would cost being, however, considerably higher than the expenses incurred by similar companies in England and Scotland, especially by one in Edinburgh, under the direction of a Dr. Begg1 (viz., 1600 rix dollars Dan. without ground, and £130 with the ground), it has been found desirable, first to become acquainted with the proceedings of these societies. The above-named Danish company desires, therefore, very much 1. A copy of the rules of one of those companies, particularly of that in Edinburgh, as well as the report of its activity and its accounts for one year; and 2. An exact design of construction or plan of one of the houses built by such a company, together with a detailed specification of the cost. 'As it would be uncertain whether a direct letter from me to the building company of Dr. Begg would reach its destination, and hoping that you can without great trouble obtain the desired information from that gentleman, I venture to ask your kind assistance for that purpose, and will be greatly obliged to you for any communications on that matter you may be able to transmit to me. I have the honour to be, with high consideration, Sir, your obedient servant, FD. BULOW. 'TO WALTER BERRY, Esq., Consul-General for Denmark.' 'TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. 'COPENHAGEN, 16th April 1866. 'A considerable number of working men have, under the pressure of the increasing want of small lodging-houses, formed a company, having the object, by mutual assistance, to build small houses for themselves, and have taken for example the Scotch and English Working Men's Cooperative Building Companies. The estimates and calculations which There is a slight mistake here. Dr. Begg has declined to be even a shareholder in the society, whilst taking an active interest in it, lest his motives should be misrepresented. the committee have had made, in order to obtain an accomplishment of their task, have, however, with regard to costs, not been reduced to the expenses which have been stated by English and Scotch companies. The buildings there are, so far as we know, about a similar size as ours, and by a Co-operative Building Company in Edinburgh a building can be finished at an expense of £130, including ground, whilst the smallest of our houses cannot be had for less than 1600 rix dollars, without the value of the ground. As it will be of the utmost importance for the progress of this undertaking in our country that the first trial in this direction in every regard comes forward as well considered as possible, the undersigned committee for the building company, formed by the working men of Messrs. Burmeister and Wains, take herewith the liberty to ask the favour of a high Ministry for Foreign Affairs, by means of the consuls in Edinburgh or Leith, kindly to make inquiries about a Co-operative Building Company existing there, under the management of Dr. Begg, which, according to a report from August 1863 (in our possession), at that time altogether had built, or was building, 93 houses, of which 22 were in Leith. 'The undersigned committee would be very thankful to get 1. A copy of the rules of a Co-operative Building Company, as well as the report of its activity and its accounts for one year, and particularly of that in Edinburgh, managed by Dr. Begg. 'An exact design of construction or plan of one of its houses, together with a detailed specification of the costs, which especially would be of great use to the committee, in order to find out by means of comparing what savings could be made without injuring the stability of a house. The Committee for the Building Company formed by 'BENTZEN, HALLIER, ULRIK, BETLAIME, JENSEN, P. RASMUSSEN, GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE. 'LEITH, 18th June 1866. 'REV. SIR,-My attention has been attracted lately by a report circulated in the local press concerning the building in Edinburgh of houses for the working classes. 'As I understand that you are one of the promoters of this scheme, 1 may perhaps take the liberty of asking you to be kind enough to furnish me some detailed information respecting the aim, means, and results of an enterprise to which success every one must feel interested. I should at the same time feel obliged by your informing me if the Co-operative Society mentioned in the annexed extract of the Scotsman is the same as the one above referred to.-I am, Rev. Sir, your most obedient servant, 'Rev. J. BEGG, D.D., Edinburgh.' 'R. WAGNER, Vice-Consulat de France à Edimbourg et Leith. Plans, specifications, and photographs of the houses on a large scale were sent to the Danish and French Governments, and one cannot help wishing that more of a paternal spirit in regard to such an important matter were manifested by all rulers. Free Church of Scotland. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIBRARY OF REFERENCE. MAY 1867. YOUR Committee regret that they have not been able to do much towards the Establishment of a Library of Reference for the use of the Assembly and of the Office-Bearers of the Church generally. They are convinced that such a Library, containing all books in regard to the distinctive principles and history of the Presbyterian Church and its legislation, would be of singular importance, both in connexion with the meetings of the Assembly and as conducive to the proper management of the business of the Church generally, as well as in defending the Church and writing its history from time to time. No such Presbyterian Library at present exists anywhere; and not only are the mass of our ministers unable to procure such a Library for themselves, but it is extremely doubtful whether they ought to spend money upon such an object, even if they had it; whilst even if they possessed the whole books indicated, they could not bring them with them for immediate reference in connexion with the meetings of the Supreme Court. On the other hand, all the objects which any one could thus desire to promote would be accomplished by securing in one Library and in an accessible form at Edinburgh all the books, documents, and papers, connected with the principles, history, and legislation of the Church, and of other Presbyterian Churches. In connexion with all other forms of legislation such |