upon it. It is a bright prospect, and I long for it; but I must not be impatient. Not my will, but thine, O Lord."

66 He continued sensitively alive to kindness. This morning,' writes the same affectionate and dutiful child, 'whilst I was giving him his breakfast, he looked into my face with a sweet smile, and said, I once used to feed you; but you are now my nurse:' and when a parcel of white violets, which I had gathered for him in one of the fields near Lune Bank, was put into his hand, he raised it to his lips and kissed it, saying, I shall never again see the spot where those flowers grew. Give him my best thanks for the present.'

"At noon on Thursday the 19th of April, 1838, he fell into a deep stupor, from which he never awoke excepting for about half a minute on the follow

ing night. Mr. Prichard, (his son-inlaw, to whose residence near Liverpool he had retired) not hearing him breathe, went to the bed-side and bent over his face. He slowly opened his eyes; and fixing them steadily and earnestly on Mr. Prichard for a few seconds, smiled;-then raised one of his hands very slightly, as he was accustomed to do when thankful, and again sunk into a state of unconsciousness. At twenty minutes past two o'clock, on the morning of Sunday, this meek and holy Christian entered upon the rest that remaineth for the people of God."

From the memory of Mr. Houseman we turn to that of Mr. Breay, the posthumous "Notes and recollections" of whose sermons we alluded to in our number for last October; and which prepared us to peruse with interest the memoir of him now in our hands. He was born at Devenport in 1796, and was brought up by a widowed mother, whose anxious cares he requited with truly filial gratitude and affection. Having been successively placed with a merchant, a banker, and a solicitor, all three of which connexions were broken by circumstances not under his control, he was enabled at length to indulge his long- cherished wish of becoming a minister of Christ. He was ordained to the

curacy of Ruddington, in the diocese of York. The death of the rector causing his removal thence; he became curate to the Rev. J. Babington of Cossington, Leicestershire. From Cossington he removed to Haddenham, Archdeacon Browne having persuaded him to accept the temporary incumbency of that village. In

1832 Archdeacon Hodson induced him to settle in Birmingham, by resigning the incumbency of Christ Church to him. Here he closed his short but highlyblessed and useful career in 1839, aged 43 years. Wherever he had been he was much loved; and at Birmingham his afflicted flock and neighbours, as a mark of gratitude to his memory, presented the sum of £3000 to his widow and family. Mr. Breay united in a remarkable degree the various duties of the sacred office. He was much valued as a preacher, and was indefatigable as a pastor. His schools, societies, and classes were conducted with admirable efficiency. He was a thorough man of business, and was always diligent and methodical. In his deportment he was frank, kind, and cordial; and in his family a model of blended affection and firmness. But that which prompted all his efforts, and gave lustre to them, was his love to God and man. His ruling motive was the furtherance of the divine glory, and the salvation of souls. The volume contains many of his letters, which evince his intense anxiety to promote every good word and work. We have not space for numerous extracts; but we will transcribe the following striking particulars respecting his death-bed, as written down by an inmate of the family.

"How to give the melancholy deyet will I attempt to do it as faithful. tails required of me, I scarcely know; ly as memory shall enable me.

For

months past our beloved friend had been suffering from general languor; and the last week in November he seemed rather worse than usual. In consequence of this be was wholly unable to give that attention to his pulpit preparations which he earnestly desired. Nevertheless he did preach, as you well know, those memorable septennary sermons. The next morning he appeared somewhat revived, and said in his own peculiar cheerful manner, You see I am always better for preaching. On the evening of that day he was seized with unusual chilliness and increased debility. You are aware, dear friend, that Monday night is appropriated to the adult school. As soon, therefore, as Mrs. B. was gone thither, he came to the room where I was nursing his little boy in the scarlet fever, requesting me to order a fire to be lighted in his bed-room, and added, 'I must then get into a hot bed, and try if that will warm me. I would not say anything till Phillis was gone, fearing to keep her at home. This you know would disappoint our teachers.' Like himself, you will say, always thinking of others, never of himself! The restlessness of that night is not to be described, and the next morning the medical attendant pronounced his complaint to be the scarlet fever. He said little, but that little conveyed to my mind depression and fatal forebodings. On Friday exhaustion increased; and for two days, it might he said, he was a prey to it, amounting even to stupor. It was on Friday afternoon that he calmly dictated his affecting message to his beloved flock. Mrs. Breay, fearing the exertion would be too much, wished him to delay, saying, There is plenty of time, love, before Sunday.' In the most solemn manner, he replied, 'I must do it now,-bring a pencil and paper. Your minister, detained by illness from the house of God, entreats the prayers of his beloved flock, that should the days of his ministry be near a close, he may, when he departs, be with Jesus; and that, if it is the will of his heavenly Father, to enable him to re-appear in these courts of the Lord, he may come forth among you in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ.' 'At the end of the sermon.' By this we understood it to be his wish, that Mr. Ledsam should read it to the congregation after the sermon. On Monday night delirium rose to a fearful height. The whole of that night he talked incessantly, but in all his wanderings the beautiful devoted piety of his mind was pourtrayed. If his family were the subject, to his God he committed them. Of his aged mother he frequently spoke

with his accustomed filial piety and tenderness. His dear brother in the ministry' (such was the term he invariably gave to his beloved young friend and assistant Mr. Ledsam), he often mentioned with affection, and would sometimes seem to address him. Did his Sunday-school teachers in imagination surround his bed,-he was most beautifully, as well as methodically, warning them of existing dangers, especially those arising from Popery and infidelity. Were the chauntings of sweet airs wafted on the ear, they were the voices of his beloved teachers on the morning of Christmas-day. How sweetly they sing! Say to them, I

thank them for their love. Tell them I have been confined to my bed several days, and I am sorry I cannot see them, but I hear them. Tell them to remember it is the will of God.' He still seemed to be listening to and enjoying sweetest music, while his countenance was full of joy and peace.Occasionally he would expound a text with method and arrangement. That one,At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,' he expounded most clearly, fully, and at length: spoke of a superstitious view of it, trusted that there were no symptoms of superstition in his flock, and added, Such things should be carefully watched.' There were seasons of sweet consciousness when he seemed to pour out his soul in prayer; but we could not always catch the words in connected form, owing either to indistinct articulation, from the soreness of the tongue, or feebleness of voice from exhaustion of the frame. Exhaustion indeed was making rapid strides. Our beloved friend usually recognised us, but not always others to whom he was less accustomed. Dearest Mrs. B.'s voice he always knew; and in one sweet moment of consciousness, the longest and, to our feelings, the sweetest season vouchsafed him during his illness, in reply to Mrs. B.'s question,- Do you know me, dearest?' he sweetly smiled upon her, and said, Know you, love! oh, yes, I know you; you are my dear sweet wife. My love, we did not anticipate this fiery trial. We have always been one: ours is a spiritual union, and therefore cannot be dissolved. One in heaven, one on earth, yet one still.' In answer to some questions put by his medical attendant, he replied, 'I know, sir, all is over with me, I shall not live till another morning. I have done with all,-all at least that concerns this world. You may see, sir, what the believer in Christ may expect from Christ.' This was said with much solemnity of manner, and in a

somewhat subdued tone of voice. Again he talked of his approaching end, but I cannot recall the words. I well remember his apparent wish that some one should speak. When I commenced the text, 'When thou passest through the waters,' &c., in a subdued tone, he immediately took up the passage, and finished it correctly. I asked, Are you ready to depart and be with Christ?' I hope I am; yet if otherwise were the will of God, I have an aged mother, who depends on me for support, and a dear wife, whom I delight to support.' Thus evidencing at once his tender affection to his family, and his sweet submission to the will of God; and then in a short yet sweet and comprehensive prayer, he commended himself to God, prayed most earnestly for his family, his flock, and the whole church of God. His dear little family seemed upon his heart. I have five little children; my little Chrissy is only six years old; she was named after the Church, on account of the affection of the people manifested at the time.'

Presently he asked, 'Where is my dear brother in the ministry? A friend replied, "He is not here, sir.' 'Oh, I thought he was:' and turning round, he saw Dr. Evans standing by his side. My dear brother, I need not say to you, think of my dear children.' After this he lay in a tranquil state, apparently unconscious, yet looking rather fixedly upwards. Dr. E. wishing to ascertain if the vision were obscured, drew the curtain aside, saying, 'Mr. B. does the light hurt you?' 'Light; oh, no, sir; light does not hurt me:' and placing his hand to his heart, 'I have a light.' He could say no more; but as he spoke, the whole countenance was most beautifully irradiated. Throughout the night of Tuesday he lay apparently unconscious of all around him, and it was fully expected that this night would be his last. But another anxious day and night succeeded. Breathing became more difficult.......... at length all conflict ceased, and he gently sank to breath no more.

IN adverting to the foreign intelligence, we first turn to China, where our affairs, at the last accounts, were far from being in a prosperous condition. No impression had been made upon the "Celestial empire;" our diplomatic agents had been out-manœuvred, and our troops were cooped up in Chusan, perishing with hardship and a pestilential climate.

The Turco-Egyptian question is not finally adjusted in its details; but the Sultan appears to have acceded to the imperative representations of the allies, that he should grant the viceroyalty of Egypt to the lineal descendants of Mehemet Ali; and the obstacles to a cordial co-operation of France with the other powers, it may be hoped, are nearly overcome. Great anxiety is felt throughout our land, that the interests of all Christians resident in Syria should be protected, and that the Jews also should be exempted from spoliation and oppression; and Lord Palmerston and Lord Melbourne have pledged themselves that her Majesty's government will use its best endeavours with the Ottoman Porte to secure both these objects. The Romanists are protected by France, and the members of the Greek church by Russia; but there

has hitherto been no protection either for other Christians or for the Jews. It would be a great sin and a dire disgrace, if the efforts of England to restore the Turkish rule in Syria, should result in a reversal of the privileges which our own countrymen had enjoyed in that land under the rule of Mehemet Ali. Rather ought they to be greatly enlarged; so that in Jerusalem, in particular, both Christians and Jews may dwell safely, and enjoy religious liberty, unmolested by the bigotry and barbarism of the Mohammedan populace, and the grinding exactions of the Turkish authorities.

From the United States the intelligence is far from satisfactory. The Boundary question remains in uncertainty; and though the feelings and wishes of the leading authorities of both nations, as well as those of the great majority of the most respectable of their respective inhabitants, and likewise their mutual interests, are all leagued so strongly on the side of peace, that we possess strong guarantees for its non-violation; yet it is impossible not to view with apprehension the continuance of an irritating topic of contention, which any furious factious demagogue may lay hold of to engender

The

hostilities; or which the petty annoy ances of Border-warfare may light up into a flame. The case of Mr. M'Leod is still more embarrassing. He is seized in the State of New York for having been, as is alleged, concerned in the capture of the Caroline steamvessel, which was captured by the British authorities on the United States' shore of the St. Laurence, as being engaged in aiding the Canadian rebels. The State of New York claims the right to try him as a pirate and murderer; the federal government disclaims the right of interfering with the respective States; and her Majesty's cabinet has sent out directions to our ambassador to demand Mr. M'Leod's liberation, taking upon itself the responsibility of the capture of the Caroline, and directing the ambassador, in case of refusal, to demand his passports. The complication of these events has been increased by an extraordinary report presented to Congress by a committee appointed to examine into the circumstances connected with Mr. M'Leod's detention and threatened trial. document presents a strange compound of assumption, irritation, absurdly false reasoning, and utter contempt for international law. It denies the right or policy of interference upon the part of the federal goverment with the State jurisdiction of New York: but if the New Yorkers were to murder Mr. M'Leod, and Great Britain were to send out a hostile squadron to their State, they would demand protection from the federal body, which would be bound to afford it, as against a common enemy. How then are civilized nations to deal with a government thus impotent for right and powerful for wrong? The new President, though his message is cautious and amicably worded, gives no reason to hope that he is prepared to check this inherent vice of the American Union; on the contrary, he defends it; and far from thinking that what the people want is a stronger central government than it has yet possessed, he wishes to make the president the slave of popular feeling; he considers that Democracy is in danger; and he pledges himself never to exercise his official veto, though this prerogative is one of great importance, should a case arise in which the decision of a wise, calmlyjudging, and self-denying patriot may be necessary to oppose the momentary effervescence of a democracy. The serious consequences at issue will, however, it may be hoped, prevent any irretrievable step; and we would trust that the next arrival will convey the intelligence that Mr. M'Leod has been

liberated, on the ground that Great Britain has made itself the responsible party. There is a passage in the Report before alluded to, which exhibits so strikingly the opinion entertained in America of the power and resources of the British empire, that we will transcribe it; though much lamenting that it is deformed by gross injustice and illiberality.

"Our flags float side by side, over every sea and bay and inlet of the known globe. She moves steadily upon her objects with an ambition that knows no bounds, and wherever she has had a conflict of interest, she has rarely yielded to any power. At this moment she presents to the civilized world the spectacle of the greatest military and commercial power in combination ever known. From her vast possessions in every quarter of the globe, and her peculiar commercial system, she has been made the reservoir of the wealth of nations. Her internal resources, skill, labour, and machinery, with her capital, are beyond calculation. Her natural position, being about midway the coast of Europe, gives her great controul over the outlets and currents of commerce. Her military occupation of Gibraltar, Malta, the Ionian Islands, and recently St. Jean d'Acre, give her ascendancy in the Mediterranean and the Levant, while St. Helena and the Cape of Good Hope give her possession over the currents of trade along those extensive coasts. Then Bombay, Calcutta, and her immense possessions in the East Indies, together with her recent movements in the China seas and islands, enable her to extend her power over those vast regions, that have slumbered for ages in solitary and enervated magnificence. She possesses the Falkland Islands but to controul the commerce that passes round Cape Horn while Trinidad gives her all she desires in the Caribbean Sea. lifax at one point, and Bermuda at another, stand out in great force over our own coast from one extremity to the other. Her positions all over the world are at this moment, in a military point of view, equal to 1,000,000 of men under arms. Her continued conflicts in the mighty regions of the East only enable her officers to become skilful, and to improve in the art of war, while her great armies and extensive fleets draw their support from the immense countries seized and occupied. In the present juncture of affairs, no statesman can overlook these things. Steam power has recently brought us so near together, that in the event of any future conflict, war with its effects

Ha

will be precipitated upon us with much more rapidity than formerly. Avarice and ambition are the ruling passions of modern times, and it is vain to shut our eyes to the state of things around us. It remains to be seen what effect steam power is to have upon changing and modifying the whole art of defence and war. It may be a great engine for again levelling mankind, and reducing everything to a contest of mere physical force. In that event it might be difficult to conjecture what system of national defence will stand. the test of time and experience."

In turning homewards we must advert to the proceedings at Oxford, relative to the "Tract for the Times." It is earnestly to be hoped that some ulterior measures will be pursued. In the mean time, as our own opinions are abundantly before our readers, we shall for the present merely transcribe the documents, which ought to appear upon our pages for reference :

"At a meeting of the Vice-Chancellor, Heads of Houses, and Proctors, in the Delegates' Room, March 15, 1841.

Considering that it is enjoined in the statutes of this University (tit. iii. sect. 2; tit. ix., sect. ii., § 3, sect. v., §3) that every student shall be instructed and examined in the Thirtynine Articles, and shall subscribe to them; considering also that a tract has recently appeared, dated from Oxford, and entitled, Remarks on certain passages in the Thirty-nine Articles, being No. 90 of the Tracts for the Times' a series of anonymous publications, purporting to be written by members of the University, but which are in no way sanctioned by the University itself;

"Resolved, that modes of interpretation such as are suggested in the said tract, evading rather than explaining the sense of the Thirty-nine Articles, and reconciling subscription to them with the adoption of errors which they were designed to counteract, defeat the object, and are inconsistent with the due observance of the abovementioned statutes.

"P. WYNTER, Vice-Cancellor." "Mr Vice-Chancellor,-I write this respectfully to inform you, that I am the author, and have the sole responsibility, of the tract on which the hebdomadal Board has just now expressed an opinion, and that I have not given my name hitherto, under the belief

that it was desired that I should not. I hope it will not surprise you, if I say that my opinion remains unchanged of the truth and honesty of the principle maintained in the tract, and of the necessity of putting it forth. At the same time, I am prompted by my feelings to add my deep consciousness that everything I attempt might be done in a better spirit, and in a better way; and, while I am sincerely sorry for the trouble and anxiety I have given to the members of the Board, I beg to return my thanks to them for an act which, even though founded on misapprehension, may be made as profitable to myself as it is religiously and charitably intended.

"I say all this with great sincerity, and am, Mr. Vice-Chancellor, your obedient servant,

"JOHN HENRY NEWMAN. "Oriel College, March 16."

Four tutors also, namely, Mr. Churton, Vice-principal of Brazennose, Mr. Wilson of St. John's, Mr. Griffiths Sub-Warden of Wadham, and Mr. Tait of Baliol, have remonstrated with the editor of the Tracts for the Times. They say:

"The tract has, in our apprehension, a highly dangerous tendency, from its suggesting that certain very important errors of the Church of Rome are not condemned by the Articles of the Church of England; for instance, that those Articles do not contain any condemnation of the doctrines-1. Of purgatory-2, Of pardons-3. Of the worshipping and adoration of images and relics-4. Of the invocation of saints-5. Of the mass; as they are taught authoritatively by the Church of Rome; but only of certain absurd practices and opinions, which intelligent Romanists repudiate as much as we do.

"In conclusion, we venture to call your attention to the impropriety of such questions being treated in an anonymous publication, and to express an earnest hope that you may be authorized to make known the writer's name. Considering how very grave and solemn the whole subject is, we cannot help thinking that both the Church and the University are entitled to ask, that some person, besides the printer and publisher of the tract, should acknowledge himself responsi ble."