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berties. It is a copy of the decree of the Clough Case. Mr. Macrory read the decretal part of it, and then handed the document, which forms a considerable volume, to the Moderator. He also presented another volume of papers connected with the case, being the printed Brief of the pleadings and proofs, as arranged by him, and used on the trial, to be kept among the Synod's Records.

The Rev. FRANCIS DILL, (of Clough,) said, the congregation over which he was placed had intrusted him with an Address to Mr. Macrory, accompanied by a small token of the respect they entertained for his services in their cause. The following is the Address:

"DEAR SIR,-We, the Session of the congregation of Clough, County Down, take this opportunity of acknowledging our debt of gratitude for your valuable services in our late law-suit.

"You, Sir, found our case almost hopeless, and represented by many as an insignificant litigation, unworthy of patronage, and you, seeing its important bearings, generously took it up, and the precedent established by its triumphant issue, has proved the soundness of your judgment.

"You found our case enveloped in darkness,-your patient and able investigation removed all the difficulties with which it was surrounded,― you exposed the diplomacy of Arianism, and have shewn one cause of its hatred to creeds and confessions, viz. :-That they were hindrances to its plans of robbing Churches of their houses and endowments. By the style in which you have published the report of the law-suit, you have conferred a benefit on the Christians of England and Europe, whom Unitarians have defrauded, and the important documents will be read with `interest, when we, with our fathers, shall sleep in the dust.

"Through you we possess our highly-prized Meeting-house, and the cemetery where are deposited the earthly remains of our venerated dead. "Accept this basket as a small testimonial of the estimation in which we hold your talents and services. That the Lord of the Churches, whom you have served, may keep that basket full, and bless you and your promising family with the bread which endureth to everlasting life, is the earnest prayer of your ever grateful and devoted servants. "Signed, by order, this 26th of June, 1837.

"FRANCIS DILL.”

The following is Mr. Macrory's reply:

"Duncairn, Belfast, 1st July, 1837. "REV, AND DEAR SIR,-The origin, the progress, the difficulties, and final triumph of the Clough Case, naturally recur to my mind, on perusal of the affectionate address presented on behalf of yourself and the members of your respected congregation, accompanied by such a splendid token of regard, for the professional services I was enabled,-rather privileged, to render.

The interest and prosperity of the General Synod of Ulster have, at all times, occupied a prominent place in my thoughts; and I rejoice that, in the management and result of this case, I have asserted and established, with so much permanency, their public and vested rights.

"But, whilst I feel that your kindness has greatly overrated my personal exertions, I am aware that the harassing annoyances and perplexing litigation to which your opponents had recourse, required both patience and labour to counterwork and overturn. Through all these intricacies, I was ever sustained by a regard to that watchful and overruling Providence, which wearies not in defending the right,—by a thorough conviction of the justice of your cause,-by a personal sympathy with the insults, the wrongs, and the privations sustained by a venerable pastor, and a regard to the faithfulness evinced by his attached congregation.

"In reference to my own services, it would be great injustice were I to overlook the aid I constantly derived from the Committee of the Synod of Ulster, under whose care your congregation had been placed: Drs. Cooke, Stewart, and Reid were, at all times of difficulty, I may literally say, at my command. Had the cause been their own, they could not have entered into it with more zeal, nor followed it out with more perse

verance.

"I feel, also, specially bound to advert to the services of your legal advisers. The General Synod have already conveyed their thanks to these gentlemen; and never, I am bold to say, were thanks better deserved. I can, with truth, declare, that in the course of an extensive professional practice, I have never witnessed such a cordial effort,—[ might almost say, a personal interest,— —as they evinced in the progress and result of those proceedings.

"For the happy result of your cause, I trust I feel grateful to Him in whose hands are the hearts of all men ;-that I have been the humble instrument selected to serve you personally, and your congregation collectively, is cause of unfeigned satisfaction,—a satisfaction increased by the consciousness that I have, at the same time, served that venerable Assembly, of which you are a member, whose doctrines I avow, to whose discipline I adhere, and to whose government I submit, convinced, as I am, that the Gospel simplicity and evangelical purity of the religion which it inculcates, is that which will best promote my happiness in time, whilst it strengthens my humble but confiding hopes of salvation in eternity. I have the honour to remain, Rev. and dear Sir, your faithful friend,

"To the Rev. FRANCIS DILL,

"ADAM J. MACRORY.

"Minister of the Presbyterian Congregation of Clough.”

SYNOD OF ULSTER.

1

THE annual meeting of this body was held in Belfast, on Tuesday, the 27th of June, and continued its sittings till Friday, the 7th of July. At no previous meeting was there so much business transacted, within the same time. In general, a subdued and peaceful spirit pervaded the assembly, and this was interrupted only a few times by unguarded expressions from a very few of the members. In so large a court, where liberty of expression is unrestrained, and where many exciting topies are necessarily discussed, it may be expected there

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the Indies, and China. Its character may one day det

determine the character of all these lands. We are, therefore, of the opinion, the Synod should use its utmost efforts to strengthen the hands of the brethren there, and render their ministry efficient. God has been preparing that land, in his providence, for important purposes. The multitude of Europeans carried out there have not been borne to these ends of the earth without some wise and gracious design. It may be, that while many of them have been expatriated for their crimes, God designs to use them, or their descendants, for a blessing to those quarters of the earth. And should this, at length, be realised, what reason to cry out again, "O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out." At present he is permitting the Government at home to make appointments that, before long, must greatly affect the character of the country. Some of these we cannot approve, others are wise and good; it is our duty to take advantage of them, so far as they are right, and every effort should be made now for the establishment and promotion there of sound views of religious truth, as respects both the doctrine and the government of the Church. We are thankful that God has put it into the hearts of some of our brethren to engage in this holy enterprize. We have sent them away with our prayers, and we shall follow them with our anxieties and sympathies. And, trusting in God, we hope to hear that the wilderness and solitary place shall be glad for them, that the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

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DR. REID'S HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN asy CHURCH IN IRELAND. VOL. II.

WE have great satisfaction in announcing the publication of this second volume of our Church's historian. Ever since the appearance of the first volume, the second has been eagerly sought; and we are confident it will not disappoint the expectations of those who have been looking out for it. We hope to enrich our pages with extracts from it, through a series of numbers. And, at present, we give a sketch of the lives of some of the distinguished men who acted a conspicuous part in the history of those eventful times, particularly in the signing of the Solemn League and Covenant.

"The Presbyterians of Ulster are deeply indebted to the ministers who, at this critical period, administered the covenant to their ancestors. Neither deterred by the proclamations of the royalist party on the one hand, nor intimidated by the menaces of the Roman Catholic confederates on the other, those faithful men ventured into this distracted country, and prosecuted their hazardous labours, animated by a

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zeal as disinterested as it was fervent. They had no personal advantages to acquire; while they encountered many perils, and were obliged to undergo many fatiguing and dangerous journeys. It is true they met with no opposition while engaged in executing their commission. But though permitted to close their labours in Ulster in safety, severe trials awaited their return. "After all this, the holy, wise providence of God so ordered it, that these worthy men immediately met with sad troubles, lest they should be exalted above measure upon this great work wherein God had as sisted them so signally. Mr. Adair fell into a long and dangerous fever, and relapsed again at Newtonards, and thereafter in Stranraer, as he was going home. But Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Weir met with a sorer trouble.'

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The trials to which those two ministers were now exposed originated out of the following circumstances. The Earl of Antrim did not continue long in prison. Though strictly guarded in the castle of Carrickfergus, he once more succeeded in effecting his escape. He had been committed to the custody of Captain James Wallace, a truly Christian officer, to whom frequent references will be subsequently made in these pages. With him was associated, as his lieutenant, another officer named Gordon, who, by the following stratagem, facilitated the escape of Antrim :-"This Lieutenant Gordon craftily conveyed up, unespied, in his breeches, certain tows [ropes], by the whilk the earl escaped, and wan freely away, to Wallace's great grief; and the lieutenant followed and fled also. His escape was wrought in October, whereat Major Munro leugh not a word. Antrim made his way directly to O'Neill at Charlemont; thence he proceeded to Kilkenny to confer with the confederates; and afterwards to the king at Oxford, where he arrived in the end of the year. Here he completed his arrangements for carrying into effect the enterprise, which had been partially disclosed in the papers found on him, when taken prisoner, in May; and the object of which was to assist Montrose to excite a commotion in the north of Scotland, in favour of the declining cause of Charles. For this purpose Antrim,—ón whom the king now conferred the dignity of a marquis,agreed to supply Montrose with two thousand native Irish, chiefly those who were then in arms in Flanders, and who, from the affinity of language, manners, and origin, were expected to be well-qualified to co-operate with Highlanders.' The first draught of this stipulated number, under the command of Alaster Macdonnell, the noted Colkittagh, and protected by a frigate, were on their way to Argyleshire, when, unfortunately, on the third of July, they fell in with the vessel which the Rev. Messrs. Hamilton and Weir, with many other passengers, were returning to Scotland. They were immediately taken prisoners, by Colkittagh. The ministers,

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