An intelligent and respectable minister observed to us the other day, "My congregation is becoming quite thin, by the rage for emigration which is now prevailing. It is far worse," he added, than any epidemic." We heard lately of several respectable members of Congregational churches, living in their own houses, having excellent businesses, selling their property, giving up their respective trades, and moving off to Australia. No expostulation from their ministers was of any avail. We were travelling lately through a populous manufacturing district, and a young man entered into conversation with us, of prepossessing appearance, but of delicate health. The inquiry was proposed, "Do you reside in this neighbourhood?" "Yes; I am a clerk in one of the most important banks in this district; but I am going to Austra lia." tion?" "To the Diggings?" "Yes; to Geelong." "Have you a good situa"Yes; and with the prospect of promotion." "What may you gain at present?" The young man was not nineteen. "A hundred a year, and next year, if I remained, I should receive a hundred and twenty." "But with this salary, and these prospects, had you not better remain at home? Is it wise to give up such a certainty for an uncertainty?" "Oh, yes! I am determined to go, and try my fortune." Now, this young man, we learned, would leave behind him a widowed and pious mother, and a Christian sister, who were doing every thing to make him happy. We ask, Is this safe? Is it right? will the issue be good? We think, we believe, not. But multitudes of young men have been, still are, and will be, acting in this manner; and, therefore, we would admonish them, and say, Pause, long and seriously, before you take a final step-beware that you do not decide rashly, and most injuriously to yourselves, in every, but especially in a moral respect! And we are extremely anxious to inculcate these sentiments on young Christians. They cannot be too cautious-too wary-they cannot advise with judicious and enlightened friends too seriously, before they resolve to go out to Australia. If the way be clear if Providence is marking out the path-if the course of events lead you there, then go; but go not with. treflection—go not without prayer—go not without a warrant ! Think what a country you leave, when you abandon England! consider what home comforts you must relinquish when you leave your native land! dwell on the sacrifices you must make the hardships you must undergo-the privations you must endure, for years, perhaps, before you can accomplish anything of importance in Australia. Contemplate. the moral advantages you give up, the religious privileges which you abandon, and the loss of which will be sensibly felt at "the Diggings." Bring before you the society from all parts of the world, and, in innumerable instances, such society, as you will meet with at the "Gold Fields," all hunting after the precious metal, and prepared, in thousands of cases, to do anything to gain it. Think of the Sabbaths you will spend there, in contrast with those you spend here. Think of the affectionate parents and friends, of the Christian members, of the valuable and devoted ministers and pastors, so anxious to do you good, who will be relinquished by you. Ask the question, 'Why are we going? Is it to dig for gold?" And then ask another, Should Christians be under the influence of such an absorbing passion as the love of money, of gold? Should not their pursuit be higher? Should not their object, their aim, be far holier? These considerations we leave with professing Christians, and especially young members of churches throughout the land, and we would earnestly say to them, Do nothing rashly! Before you decide on emigrating to Australia, go and consult your ministers. State your case, lay it fully before them, solicit their counsel, their sound advice; and, if you can, be governed by it. These are our deliberate opinions; and we honestly state, that we would much rather remain in highly favoured Christian England, with all its trials and difficulties at the present period, and have a small certainty within it, than go out to Australia, and mainly to seek after gold, and make all those sacrifices, abandon all those comforts, relinquish all those privileges, which must be the case, if we emigrate to so remote a colony, especially under existing circumstances. These thoughts we have freely, but sincerely and earnestly, expressed. We deem them of the last importance. Pa rents should inculcate them; experienced members of our churches should state and enforce them; wise pastors should publicly dilate on them. Next year, perhaps, the mania for emigration to Australia from this country will be greater than it has been during the present. Let, then, valuable suggestions be offered; let prudent and timely admonitions be expressed; let the warning voice be uttered distinctly and powerfully, that numbers of young professors may not be injured seriously and irretrievably. Be assured of this, Christians, if, in going to a remote country, we simply emigrate to gain gold, and to secure it as rapidly and as abundantly as possible, we shall inherit a curse, instead of a blessing. T. It was Egyptian gloom and tribulation seems almost visibly to rest. A GLIMPSE OF IRELAND. beautiful morning, the sun rose gloriously on the eastern portion of the Emerald Isle, the magnificent bay of Dublin opened with enchanting aspect to our view; the diversities of the coast on either side were sufficiently revealed, and the mountains of Wicklow, enclosing some of the most romantic vales in creation, which we had seen a few days before, bordered the scene from which we were about to retire, and to which, by her Majesty's steam-boat that day, we were to say farewell. Peculiar were the reflections awakened in our mind. Deep was the interest we felt, deeper than ever in Ireland's weal or woe. Her lofty hills, her verdant glens, her beauteous lakes, her vast champaigns, combined with the desolations of the West, and the busy hum of the North, all united to excite the tenderest sympathies on her behalf; joy in her prosperity, affliction in her adversity. The one part of the land, where Protestant truth prevails, resembles Goshen; on the other, the dark pall of Mournfully interesting are the dispensations of an all-wise Providence, with which the entire country during the last few years has been visited, such, probably, as within a similar period have never fallen to the lot of any other land, or will be found recorded in the annals of time. The famine, with all its horrors; the pestilence, that walketh in darkness, and spreads its destruction at noon-day; an emigration unparalleled in modern times, have all visited that unhappy soil, and left the marks of desolation wherever you travel in the land. It is impossible to view the results of this threefold visitation from the hand of the Eternal, without the tenderest emotions of sympathy, compassion, and "If one member suffer, all the regard. members feel." It is so with the human family at large. So is it with the body politic. So is it with the triple alliance which forms the United Kingdom. And there is not a patriot in England or Scotland but has felt deeply for Ireland's woes. Never was there a nobler deed than when Britain sent, in private and public donations, her millions sterling, to mitigate her calamities, and supply her children's necessities. The remembrance of these things had scarcely subsided. It still lived in the public mind, and left a general and grateful impression on the Irish people, except where priestly malevolence and folly had embittered that otherwise salubrious stream. Numerous other causes also conspired with these to produce favourable thoughts and feelings to wards England, not the least of which was the vast influx of British visitors to survey the beauties of the sister island, of whom, it was said, not less than thirty thousand have been rambling among the lakes of Killarney, or inspecting the wonders of the Giant's Causeway this year; an intercourse of which nature there cannot be too much, providing honesty and kindness distinguish it. Already the good effects are manifest in a thousand different ways. It was at this period, in the autumn of 1852, that the British Organization of the Evangelical Alliance resolved to hold its Sixth Annual Conference at Dublin, and to let the Irish metropolis see that, notwithstanding all the alleged divisions of the Protestant churches, they were substantially and vitally one. This is well known to all that study the philosophy or the theology of evangelical Protestantism; but it was never so thoroughly understood, or happily exemplified, as since the formation of that noble "Alliance" which was constituted six years ago in the pure atmosphere of devotion at Liverpool; and has continued to develop and manifest itself, and gather accessions from various parts of the Protestant world until now. Long had the Christian brethren and churches of Dublin desired its exemplification among them. From various circumstances it had been postponed, and their wishes could not be gratified till the present year. And an era in their history it has proved; a season long to be remembered; "a time of refreshment from the presence of the Lord;" as all who were privileged to attend these hallowed meetings can testify. As the appointed hour approached, and we neared the shores of Ireland, we went "from strength to strength," till we met in that appropriate centre, and commodious structure for such a purpose, the Rotunda of Dublin. A goodly number of the friends of Zion, and ministers of the sanctuary from the different parts of evangelical Christendom, were convened. There were members of the Episcopal churches, the Congregational, and the Presbyterian, from England, Scotland, the various parts of Ireland, the Continent, and America. One transatlantic brother was there, with a heart good and true, who told us he was under a five hundred pound bond not to open his lips on this side the ocean, that is his congregation had generously prescuted him with that amount to defray his expenses in the pursuit of health, but on such an occasion he could not be restrained. We had two representatives of the French churches, one of the Prussian, a converted priest from Italy, and Methodists of the two great divisions which Ireland contains. But all our views were amalgamated, or rather, on minor points, held in abeyance, whilst our hearts were one: "Distinct as the billows, yet one as the sea." Looking to the cross alone for salvation; and, gathered around it, we felt that one was our Saviour, "one our Master, even Christ, and all we were brethren." : The morning meetings were successively opened with united prayer and praise; after which came the business of the Conference; and then followed the noble statements and addresses which had been prepared for the occasion. The first was from an excellent unity:" and Giant Pope received such mighty and continuous blows, that had we not read John Bunyan's tale, we should have supposed he could not long survive. These were dealt by many a faithful hand. The trumpet that shall one day level the proud walls of Jericho, was sounded with many an effective blast of no uncertain sound, and especially by that prince of authors on "The Papacy," whose reverberations on the last evening echoed round the Rotunda walls, and produced such thun ders of applause, as sounded like the ing in of a "more excellent way." Verily the Irish have hearts to feel, and minds to perceive, and tongues to speak; and will, we hope, soon rise up, as with the heart of one man, to shake off the degrading yoke of bondage by which they have so long been enthralled. clergyman of the Church of England, in vindication of the principles and constitution of the Alliance, and in answer to all the objections which have been alleged against them, whether from the Archiepiscopal chair, or any inferior source, so beautiful, so logical, and so convincing, that he must be a bold man who would venture an appeal from its conclusions to any other authority whatever. A Baptist brother followed, with a recommendation of motives and resolutions. After this, we were favoured with a magnificent address from an Ulster Presbyterian champion, on "Ire-knell of the departing, and the usherland as a field for united Missionary enterprise," opening up its capabilities and facilities in a way never to be forgotten, and with eloquence and power which none present could but feel. Another, equally interesting, followed, from an Irish clergyman, on the present relative position of Popery and Protestantism in that country, whose ardent communications delighted and cheered us with the indications of the hand of God in favour of his cause. A charming effusion of a devotional character ensued, from the "brother beloved" of Kelsall. A Methodist improviso, full of zeal and love, intervened. And then came, by way of conclusion, an affectionate welcome and farewell from our honoured Independent brother of the city, whose domestic loss at the very time of the meetings gave pathos and power to his own soul, and to the touch-letters were received from various parts ing effusions of sanctified feeling which came from his lips as, on behalf of his Dublin brethren and friends, he bade us adieu in the name of the Lord. The Committee in London, in conjunction with that of Dublin, had requested as many ministers as conveniently could, to remain over the Conference in the chief city, to visit the provinces, with a view to preach the gospel whenever opportunity could be found, in connection with the "Alliance," and, if possible, to diffuse its spirit and promote its principles. It was a happy thought. Ireland afforded a fine sphere for such exertions; and as soon as the purpose became known, intreating a visit from the Alliance brethren. Appropriate arrangements were made. Two and two, according to the original plan, we were deputed to Such are the outlines. The fillings visit the country, and to repair to difup were numerous; too numerous to be ferent towns in the north, south, and specified here. Prayer and praise, in- west of the kingdom. The route of the termingled with Christian intercourse, writer, with his worthy colleague, was and projects for the advancement of towards the north-west; and Sligo, BaChristian truth and love, distinguished lina, Castlebar, Galway, and Athlone, each passing day. The Popish metro- were the localities to be visited in this polis beheld, or might have seen, "how evangelistic tour. We accordingly progood and how pleasant" it was for Proceeded thither. A long journey, divertestant "brethren to dwell together in sified by various incidents, not the least important of which was an encounter with a Roman Catholic gentleman in the railway, and with two priests on the coach, whose jesuitical and unprincipled mode of reasoning not a little surprised and grieved us, brought us late on Saturday evening to the firstmentioned place, and a welcome reception we enjoyed from our honoured friend and brother there. He had made all due preparations. Placards appeared on the walls announcing our arrival. The services were arranged. We preached thrice alternately in the different chapels on the Sabbath; and on Monday evening held an Evangelical Alliance meeting in the largest one of the town. It was a truly fraternal and delightful occasion. Methodists, Presbyterians, and Independents, were there, and one beloved brother of the Irish Church, whose ardour and catholicity gratified us all. The two priests, we were informed, on learning who we were, had denounced us and our meetings from their pulpits on the sacred day. But this neither alarmed nor hindered us. The meetings went on. The cause was delightfully sustained. And after a large fraternal breakfast the next morning, and true Alliance intercourse during the day, we united in prayer at evening-tide, and bade each other farewell. The day following we proceeded to Balina, a dark popish town, but happily illumined with rays of the true light from the devoted labours of Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist pas tors. Everything indicated the wretchedness of Popery around, and the "abomination that maketh desolate" was manifest there. But the brethren received us joyfully. Our meetings were well attended, and their aspects noble. In the Presbyterian sanctuary in the evening, and at the Methodist "Lodge," at a public breakfast the next morning, Alliance principles were pleaded and responded to with most generous and happy effects, and on the former occasion a resolution was promptly adopted to form a Branch Institution for the town. An excellent Episcopalian friend was present, who gave us a most gratifying account of the progress of the conversions from Popery to Protestantism, by the labours of the Irish Church Missions, in the benighted districts of Connemara, in whose dawning light our hearts rejoiced, and on whose awakening people we pray that the Holy Spirit may be poured down. Much additional information was given. Truly fraternal and honourable was the spirit of Christian brotherhood that reigned and whilst memory retains its power, we shall not forget the hallowed and hopeful scenes of Balina. From Balina we pursued our way through wild and romantic districts, with some of Ireland's lake scenery on either side, to Castlebar; but here, in consequence of some misunderstanding, occasioned by the miscarriage of letters, we could only hold a meeting in the chapel, hastily convened, and give an address with prayer to the friends assembled. The next evening found us at Galway. A most cordial welcome from the Presbyterian minister of that town also we received, and viewed with deep interest the distinguishing features, moral and ecclesiastical, of that celebrated place; but were unable to prolong our stay for any services, having engaged to spend the approaching Sabbath at Athlone. Thither we had been invited through the medium of a pious merchant, who had heard of the meetings in Dublin, attended such elsewhere, and was anxious to have them exemplified in his own native town. On our arrival he and others of the brethren received us. All needful preparations had been made for our proceedings. The Sabbath was fully occupied. The chapels of the different denominations, in all of which we preached during the day, were well attended; and on the evening following, |