quented. "I am surprised," said the gen-
tleman, "that you can think of applying to
me for relief, since nearly all the members
of Mount Tabor came down to our vestry
meeting a few weeks since for the purpose of
opposing a church-rate, in which, as you
must be aware, they succeeded.
Now, my

man, you know that some of your own local
preachers and class-leaders stated at that
meeting that they could not conscientiously
give anything to the Church, because they
disapproved of her services, and that each
denomination ought to support its own
place, etc. etc." "You say right, Sir, I
heard them say so myself." Well, then,"

66

said the gentleman, "so long as churchrates are opposed I am determined to act upon your own principles; I shall therefore reserve my charities for my own people who belong to the Church; I shall give to none else, except under some peculiar circumstances." This principle is now being acted upon in many parishes in which churchrates have been refused; and as the great wealth of the kingdom is in the hands of church people, the poor among the sectarian denominations will find themselves considerable losers in a pecuniary point of view by lending themselves as tools to their lord deacons, or class leaders, in their unhallowed opposition to church-rates.-Correspondent.

BETHNAL GREEN CHURCHES:-The first stone of a new church, called St. Peter's, Hackney-road, in the parish of Bethnal-green, was lately laid by the Lord Mayor: there were present on the occasion the sheriffs, several aldermen, civic functionaries, the parochial officers, and Clergy of the district, and a great assemblage of spectators. Prayers having been offered by the Rev. James Mayne, the Lord Mayor delivered a short but appropriate address, and after the usual ceremonies

his Lordship and suite proceeded to the National School-room, Church row, where they partook of a cold collation. St. Peter's is the first of ten churches which are about to be built in the parish of Bethnal-green, where religious destitution has been long felt. The sum required to erect the proposed edifices will amount to 75,000l.. of which 36,370, has been raised by subscription, and the Metropolic Churches Fund has made a grant of 10,000l. The Commissioners for Building Additional Churches have granted 5000, and the Corporation of the City of London 1000l. His Royal Highness Prince Albert also subscribed 3007., and Her Majesty the Queen Dowager 1007.

CHURCH LESSEES; THE QUESTION STATED. -Take the Farnham case: a gentleman has given 13,000l. for a lease of 22007. a-year, which has still, probably, 16 years to run. He will receive all his purchase-money back, with six or seven per cent. interest besides, during his lease. Yet he wants compensation! For what? Why, forsooth, because the hope is going to be taken from him, that at the end of his lease he may get another term for another fine! On this ground he has joined the radicals in frustrating the bill. The issue will be, that (if no other course be taken) the archdeacon will run out the leases, and to the question of compensation will die a natural death. No one has ever doubted the right of Church dignitaries to terminate their leases. In the recently published "Life of Bishop Burgess," it is stated to have been greatly to his honour, that he terminated the leases of his see, sacrificing fines to the amount of 30,000., but greatly raising the value of the see to his successors. The Church generally must take this course. It is now a sacred duty to take it.

NOTICES TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

The Title-Page and the Preface to this year's Volume will be given with our January Number. It would have been given with the present Number, but in consequence of the wood engraving having been burnt in the fire which happened partly on the premises of our printers some months ago, a new engraving had to be prepared, and we are sorry to find that it is not ready, as it ought to have been.

"Ecclesiæ Anglicana Amator" has arrived, and shall appear.

"A Chardean" has obliged us by his last communication.

"Adolescentulus Anglicanus's" two communications have come to hand. He wishes us to make the
following corrections in his letter in our last Number:- Page 336, line 6 from bottom, for "intention"
read "doctrine;" and in the next line, put out the full stop after "Host" and substitute a comma, aud
make a full stop at sacrifice," in the next line. Page 337, 1. 11, for " disclaimers" read "declaimers."
Page 338, 1. 4, for "create" read " are equally ;" and 1. 11, for "fifteenth" read "thirteenth."
The "Rev. Mr. P." will see that his letter has been received.

The "Rev. Mr. M.'s" paper on the Sacraments was received some time ago.
"C. G.'s" letter was forestalled by one on the same subject previously admitted.

"Gulielmus's" request may be attended to in time, but we cannot promise at present.

"E. E." will much oblige us by sending the newspaper which he mentions, as we should much like to have it, and it matters not to us how old it is.

"Z. Z Z." having had a dispute with another, and both having agreed to abide our decision, asks us if a certain Clergyman be " a sound and consistent Churchman ?" We answer decidedly NO; he is not; but he is much sounder than the Rev. Baptist Noel, who is in principle a dissenter, and who, to be consistent and save his conscience, if he have one, ought at once to leave the Church and become a dissenter.

We thought we had satisfied "Z. A." in our last, by telling him that the Portraits of Mr. Gresley and Mr. Dale, and of Mr. Close, will appear very soon. Mr. Gresley's, we believe, in February. All the Archbishops and Bishops will be given as soon as they can be.

We plead guilty to having promised "Tn" a private note, and we will soon fulfil that promise; but we cannot always, if often, do so when we would. T. L." shall hear from us soon. If "X. H." will send us his name and address, we will either send the "proceedings" he asks for, or tell him where to get them. "A Member of the Church of England" has our thanks for his packet of precious stuff; we will use it in some way or other, at some time or other, if spared..'s" letter came to haud in due time.

Clericus, On Rating of Tithe and Land," in our next, and perhaps he will continue the subject,