The Principality

ItcuiCllil1. THE WELSH PERIODICALS FOR MARCH. WE are glad to find that the Welsh Baptist churches are nobly responding to the appeals of the conductors of the Bedyddiwr, by increasing its circulation. Some churches have done, and are still doing nobly. Let those who con- tinue indifferent to the claims of their own literature speedily follow their example. In this number we have a second article on the "I halical Principles1 of Christianity." The principles are treated in the order in which they are found in Heb. vi. 1,2,3. The present article treats" Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands." The style and method of the writer make his article thoroughly readable, even to those who, like ourselves, cannot fall in with all his views. Mr. Williams, of Newtown, commences a series of articles on The Church of Christ." The subject is one that needs to be dwelt upon at the present time. We would recommend our ministers to give a more prominent place to the con- stitution of the Church, and the duties resulting from Church Fellowship, in their ordinary pulpit ministrations. In our opinion, the subject has been too much considered as a necessary part (and by many a very unprofitable one) of ordination services. In the article now under considera- tion, Mr. W. examines the New Testament usage of the word "church." The latter part of the article seems to be an unnecessary digression from the subject. The less of such departures to cognate subjects, especially from the press, the better will the subject itself ensure intelligent attention. Our laborious and esteemed fellow-countryman, Mr. D. ap Rhys Stephen, furnishes an interesting and instructive paper on Catwg, o Lancarfan." There is a valuable article on The League of Universal Brotherhood." Extracts from Mr. Noel's work are given. The historical part is well got up, and furnishes a condensed account of passing affairs at home and abroad. From the Bedyddiwr we turn to the Tyst Apostolaidd, published at the Baptise printing-office," Llangollen. Although we are not Baptists, we unfeignedly rejoice in the promising state of their denominational printing-office, and we doubt not but it will be followed with complete success if carried on with the taste and spirit with which it appears to be conducted at present. But to the Tyat itself. It com- mences with a short biographical notice of the celebrated Robinson, of Cambridge. In an article on Church Officers, Mr. Roberts, Pontesbury, strongly insists on pastoral autho- rity. We confess we dislike the phrase. The pastor's authority may be simply stated as all the influence he can gain by the utmost display of self-denying and ardent piety, accompanied with intelligence and wisdom." The pastor should be such in character, in talents, and in devotedness to his work as to secure that influence over a church of saints; and that influence which is merely official, is, we fear, too often the plea of indolence, incapacity, or immorality. We think Mr. Roberts uses the phrase too often in his paper, and trust he will keep clear of resigning the authority of the church to receive members and administer discipline to any pastor or other officer. There are other articles on "Prayer," Election," &c., and the Tjst cannot fail to tell well on the churches. The Ynwfynydd opens with an article on The relation between Metaphysics and Christianity." We entirely con- cur with the writer's views of the necessity of inculcating truth intelligently in the pulpit, and we have no sympathy with those who love a ministry which to them is nothing more than a very-lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument." It is followed by no moral reform, no devotedness to Christ, and cannot therefore be that pure and religloii which is ac- ceptable before God and the Father. We hope the day will soon arrive when religionists of every creed will judge for themselves, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them with meekness and fear." There is an article on the ques- tion, "Whether human nature or divine revelation be the foundation of religion ?" The writer is one ardently at- tached to the Bible, and we consider the closing portion one so appropriate to the present time, when Dissenting State educationists talk of religious truth antecedent to divine re- velation, that we shall give the benefit of it to our readers :— To the Bible I am indebted for instruction in morality. It toadies me to see in God my Father, and attracts my heart to love him; it teaches me to see in man my brother, and to love him, though an enemy. It shows me one object of worship, but a worthy one it shows me that the grave has opened in a word, it is the only foundation of my religion. Outside I see nothing but m'n bringing nature to plead in favour of poly- theism, and every uncieanness and error, and even calling those things religion. Look to the learned Greeks, or the ignorant masses for religion, and you will find your work vain. Look to the Romans, the masters of the world, an I you will be disap- pointed. But look to the Bible, and your work is no longer vain. This, then, and not human nature, is the foundation. Everywhere else there is nothing but wise men becoming fools, without hope and without God in the world." ::> We have only space further to notice a very attractive and useful article on botany, in which is most naturally blended together that secular and religious instruction which we think should be so united in the school-house as well as in the periodical. Our friend Mr. Evans in writing on botany thinks it necessary to give a very prominent place to the wisdom and goodness of the Creator, as revealed in plants and leaves. This is one evidence more in corroboration of the fact that the neWlxlrtv among Dissenters do not love secular education per s, but advocate it as a sine qua non to receiving State aid with any show of consistency. In taking leave of the Yniofynydd we congratulate the editor on the improvements which he has introduced into it, and we are ,is especially pleased with the non-appearance of the bivbach I'w barhau," although some of his correspondents sadly com;>lain of the annoyance it gives them. We find from the Haul for this month that Mr. Noel's Essay has told upon the apprehensions of our Church friends, and they are consoling themselves with the last contest for the representation of the West Riding, giving a majority of 3,000 in favour of the State Church. The writer seems to be anxious to prove that the separation of Church and State is an evil which cannot take place for a long time to come. L'-t him iTlihlge himself and his friends in his views. For ourselves, we consider these cries of the wounded the best possible proof of the keenness of the weapon. We trust this testim my of the Haul will materially increase the cir- culation of the Essay in Wales. The Haul has several por- tions of articles, and about the average quantity of abuse of Dissenters. The Djtj'edydd opens with an article by Mr. Parry, of Llandovery, on The influence of scientific discoveries and improvements on the morals of society," which has previously appeared in the Diwjjiiwr and Drt/sorfa. Then follows a snort and succinct account of the Judges and Kings, of Judah and Israel. We would recommend our Sunday-school teachers especially to obtain a complete view of the facts and principles of Scripture history. Such articles as these serve to create a taste for such studies, and in a measure to gratify it. There is also a paper endeavouring to prove that our Saviour is meant by Michael and the Archangel in Scripture. Our friend "Icuan Gwynedd" has an article oil the present state of Independency in Wales, occasioned bv the appearance of a letter on the subject in the Dysye- for last November, under the signature "Scorpion." It seems that Scorpion's letter has called forth a vast amount of complaints, and even threatenings to cease to support the Mr. Jones defends Scorpion," and urges the conductors of the Dysgedydd and Diwyyiwr to lift their voices against abuses in the Independent body. We sin- cerely thank Mr. Jones for his manliness in writing this telling article—telling because containing much truth, which has been left too exclusively for the conductors of the Haul and Ci/niro to proclaim. If our own magazines were really fearless and independent, they would be a legitimate moral magistracy, acting as a terror to evil doers," and praising those that do well." The blame which should rest on the evil doer is too often the lot of him who exposes evil, while the vehicle through which unpalatable though salutary truths are conveyed is despised and opposed by those whose deeds of darkness are brought to light. The Diwij<jiior has an eloquent article on Judea, from the pen of Mr. Jones, Herniou. There are two chaste, pointed, and useful articles, one on Looking back," the other on Hidden disciples." An article is devoted to the missionary cause; The editor in a leading article gives us a short his- tory of his opinion on State education, and his reasons for opposing in toto all State interference. In all these periodicals we find that ecclesiastical ques- tions are becoming prominent. Abuses are pointed out in Dissenting churches. Old established systems of error quake, and truth advances. May the leaders of public opi- nion in our beloved Wales be men of wisdom and ability, having understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do." 0 We should have noticed all the Welsh magazines had the publishers sent us copies.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY." Wr. have faith in old proverbs full surely, For Wisdom has traced what they tell And Truth may be drawn up as purely From them, as it may from" a well." Let ns question the thinkers and doers, And hear what they honestly say, And you'll find they believe, like bold wooers, In" Where there's a will there's a way." The hills have been high for man's mounting, The woods have been dense for his axe, The stars have been thick for his counting, The sands have been wide for his tracks, The sea has been deep for his diving, The poles have been broad for his sway, But bravely lie's proved in his sti iving, That Where there's a will there's a way." Have ye vices that ask a destroyer ? Or passions that need your control? Let Reason become your employer, And your body be ruled by your soul. Fight on, though ye bleed in the trial, Resist with all strength that ye may, Ye may conquer Sin's host by denial," For Where there's a will there's a way." Have ye Poverty's pinching to cope with ? Does Suffering weigh down your might ? Only call up a spirit to hope with, And dawn may come out of the night. Oil! much may be done by defying The ghosts of Despair and Dismay And much may be gained by relying On Where there's a will there's a way." Should ye see afar off that worth winning, Set out on the journey with trust; And iie'er heed it your patliit beginning Should be among brambles and dust. Though it is but by footsteps ye do it, And hardships may hinder and stay, 1. Keep a heart, and be sure you'll get through it, For Where there's a will there's a way." ELIZA COOK.

dplraiiingii. A MILITARY ECONOMIST.—Lord Gough is the greatest military economist of the age, for by his operations in India he has z, carried into practice the principle of reducing the army to an extent almost without prece(lent.-Pititch. NED BUNTLINE'S OWS (New York) has some li ies descrip- tive of the times. We extract a verse :— You dun a man for a little bill, And tell him that you'd like your pay Whv-really-sir, I think—that I Silall go to Cally-Phor-Nee-A."

IMPROMPTU. "That luckless craft, the "Church," ah me Becomes a puzzle more and more; Though tempests darken every see, She struggles hard to sink-A-SUORE J. P. DOUGLAS. A WELL-BRED I)oc,We have heard from very good au- thority that in anticipation of the very laudable intention of the Attorney-General to abolish the evil practices of the Palace Court, the crier of the court has prevented the necessity of any further reductions, as far as he is concerned, by deliberately crying his eyes out.-Punch. THE TEETOTAL TIMES gives a shred of comfort to the poor "How extensive and diverse is the human 'Bill of Fare from train oil to balsamic milk from bread of rye to the finest wheaten from shrimps to turtle and from a canine sirloin to that acme of civilisation, a jigot of frog. Excess in eating commits vastly wider mischief than does deficiency." ALL ALIVE.—We see a gentleman was presented to her Majesty at the levee, on his return from Ireland." Is there anything very arduous in going to Ireland ? Is there anything very wonderful in a gentleman returning from it ? We put these questions with the greatest caution, for really it would seem, from the above presentation, tiiat it was altogether a service of the most imminent danger. If that is to be the es • Ublished qualitication, Van Amburgh ought to be presented at the very next levee, for he puts his head in the lion's mouth every day of his life.-Pittich. PHONETIC AND ROMANIC -We esteem it one of the greatest advantages of phonetic spelling that it leads surely, quickly, and ezisily to ronaiiie reading. One of the first children on whom the Phonetic plan was tried, some years ago, before it was perfected, and rendered so much more subservient as an introduction to romanic spelling, without other instruc- tion, by her own unaided thought, and almost without labour, found herself able to read any romanic books.- Phonetic News. THE New York Mirror describes the thirst for gold as deli- rium tremendous. A CORRESPONDENT of the Cheltenham Free Press is alarme 1 lest Mr. Wortley, by legalising the union of a widower with his wife's sister, should peril the union of Church and State. IN the report of the municipal commissioners on the City of London, it is stated "The Lord Mayor's chaplain and coachman receive each a freedom annually." How TO BREAK A HORSE.—This can be done very easily by riding at a steeple-chase, where, if the leaps are at all difficult, your horse is sure to be broken, and into so many pieces, that it will be quite a puzzle to put it together agaiii.-Vicle the Liverpool Steeple-chase, where three horses were killed. ANALYSIS OF THE SPEECH OF MH. DISRAELI.—The speech made by Mr. Disraeli in the House of Commons on proposing his resolutions relative to the bmdens all agriculture, was sent for analysis to the laboratory of that eminent chemist, Mr. Punch. It appeared as a mass of watery vapour, nearly equal in volume to a small duodecimo, but which was reduced by condensation into a much smaller space. On applying the test of Mr. Joseph Hame there was thrown down a large precipitate of imaginary facts and figures. There remained in solution a tissue of misrepresent itions combined with a great amount of clap-trap and a considerable portion of fatty matter, that, on examination, proved to be gammon from which substances the liquid was separated by distillation. The product which came over was chiefly aqueous; containing, however, traces of spirit, and a niiiiutequaiitity of essential principle—which con- sisted in eadrig the landlords of taxation at the expense of the community, and leaving the much-enduring tenant-farmers worse off than they are.— Punch. ALPHABETICAL Co, U-NDltu.,ts. -NNrh), is the letter A like the meridian ? Because it is the middle of the day.—Why is the letter B like a hot fire ? Because it makes oil boil.-Why is the letter D like a fallen angel ? Because by its association with evil, it becomes a devil.—Why is the letter E like the end of time ? Because it s the beginning of eternity.—Why is the letter F like death ? Because it makes all fall.—Why is the letter G like wisdom ? Because it's the beginning of greatness and goodness.—Why is the letter II like the dying words of Adam? It is the end of the earth."—Why is the letter I like the American revolutionBecause it's the beginning of independence.—Why is the letter J like the end of spring? Because it's the beginning of Jut-ie.-Wliy is the letter K like a pig's tail ? Because it is the latter end of pork —Why is the letter L like a young lady giving away her sweetheart to ano- ther? Because it makes over a lover,—Why is the letter T best suited to grenadier companies ? Because it makes all men tall men.

#mral Mtm. — ■ ■ i THE Legislature of New York has passed a law inflicting five years' imprisonment on prizefighters, their seconds, surgeons, and countenaneers. THE GREAT BRITAIN steam-ship has been sold for £ -25,000. The late owners have compromised with the insurers to save law expenses, and are to receive £10, III 16s., or about 56 per cent on the sum insured. THE Galiv-,tg Vindicator tells of a duel which was to have taken place near that city, but the two gentlemen and their friends could only muster one pistol among them, so there was arbitration instead of war. THE LAND AND PAROCHIAL SCHEMES.—The Cheltenham Jour- nal states that three of the families settled by Mr. Feargus O'Connor on the Chartist estate at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, have applied for parish relief. THE war in the Punjaub costs the East India Company £ 5,000 a day. THE money invested by English capitalists in foreign coun- tries since the peace of 1815, is estimated at three hundred millions sterling. JOURNALISM.—Between February 1848, and the same month in 1849, there have been thirty-five new journals started in Eng- land thirteen of them have already ceased to appear. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—Tne reductions lately effected in the number of the passenger trains on this line will cause a saving in the expenditure of £ 100 per day, or L:36,000 a-year. Cosr OF WAR ESTABLISHMENTS.—Since the conclusion of the war in 1816, we have spent the enormous sum of nearly four hundred and eighty-four millions and a quarter on our fighting establishments. PLEASURE GROUNDS.—Four sites, extending in all to about 150 acres, have been selected at different points adjacent to Glasgow, where it is proposed to form pleasure-grounds for the people, with bowling-greens, curling an 1 skating ponds, archery grounds, promenades, garden lots, &c., and also with buildings for in-door amusement and ilistructioii.-Bitild.-)-. MANCHESTER BOROUGH CORONER.—The recent resignation of Mr. James Chapman, who, since Manchester became a cor- porate town, filled the office of borough coroner, drew forth upwards of 50 candidates in the field. The appointment of Mr. Chapman's successor was fixed for Wednesday, at a meeting of the town-council, when Mr. Herford, deputy town-clerk, was elected to the vacant office. The emoluments arising from the corouership are said to be about E150 per annum. SUPPOSED REMAINS OF MARTYRS IN SMITHFIELD.—On Wed- nesday week, during the progress of excavations in Smithfield market, opposite the entrance to the church of St. Bartholomew the Great, for the formation of a sewer, when about three feet below the surface, the workmen came upon a heap of unhewn stones blackened as if by fire, and covered with ashes and human bones, charred and partially consumed. The remains thus discovered are supposed to be those of martyrs burnt at the stake. Many bones were carried away as relics.—Momina paper. RECEIPT STAMPS.—A return moved for by Mr. Headlam, M.P. for Newcastle-on-Tyne, shows that the number of three- penny receipt stamps sold from the 5th of January, 1847, to the oth of January, 1848, amounted to 1,766,035, and from the 5th of January, 1848, to the 5th of January, 1849, to 1,587,685. The number of persons prosecuted for illegally evading the threepenny stamp duty on receipt amounted in 1847 to 102, and in 1848 to 119. ARBITRATION INSTEAD OF WAR—MANCHESTER.—On Wed- nesday evening, the 14th inst, a meeting was held in the Free Trade-hall, Manchester, for the purpose of giving expression to public feeling as to Mr. Cobden's motion for an attempt to sub- stitute arbitration in the settling of national disputes, instead of all appeal to arms. The chair was occupied by Mr. George Wilson, chairman of the late Anti-Corn Law League. The spa- cious hall was crowded to excess, about 7,000 persons being pre- sent. The speakers ontheoecasion were the Rev.D. R. Stephen, Mr. G. Hadfield, Mr. E. Burritt, the Rev. J. Peters, Mr. \V. Morris, the Rev. Mr. Richards, Mr. T. Bazley, President of the Chamber of Commerce Sir E. Armitage, late Mayor of Manchester, and Mr. II. Vincent. Resolutions in favour of the above object were carried, and great enthusiasm character- ized the whole proceedings.— Times. TIIE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—An accident of a most extraordinary nature occurred on Friday evening on the Great Western Railway. As the short train which runs between Bath and Bristol, leaving the latter place at half-past seven, was approaching the Keynsham station, by some means, as yet unexplained, the engine became disengaged from the carriages. The driver, not aware of the circumstance, ran ml, and pulled up, as usual, at the station. Within a minute, however, the carriages came rushing on, perfectly unrestrained, and a violent collision took place. Fortunately, no life was lost; but one passenger was so much injured that he could not proceed on his jwmey. The carriages were much injured, the glasses and pletely shattered; but most extraordi aary, neither engine fibr carriages were thrown off the mils. Deci.:cs Gazette. TiiE LATE MURDER AT BRISTOL.—Ann Thomas, the mother of Sarah Thomas, who on Thursday week was committed upon the coroner's warrant for the wilful murder of her mistress, Miss Elizabeth Jefferies, at Bristol, was on Saturday examined before the magistrates of that city upon a charge of being an accessory to the murder after the fact. The points upon which the charge was founded are these :-On the Wednesday even- ing after the body was found, when the police went to the house of the girl's father, at Horfield, for the purpose of appre- hending her, the mother answered them from a window and on being asked by the inspector of police if Sarah was at home, replied that she had not seen her for two months, and that she was living at Pensford, and the last they heard of her was by a letter. Subsequently die prisoner and the stolen property were found in the house, the prisoner in the coal-hole, and the property secreted in different places, and from this the guilty knowledge of the mother was inferred. The magistrates con- sidering that the mother had been admitted and sworn as a witness on the coroner's inquest, did not consider the case a sufficient one to commit upon, and directed that the old woman should be discharged upon her finding bail, in the amount of £ 4Q, to appear when called upon to answer any charge which might be preferred against her. Diicoviity.-Oil Friday morning about ten o'clock, the workmen employed pulling down the houses for the formation of the new street from Walbrook to Queen- street, Southwark-bridge, London, on entering the house No. 1, Castle-court, for that purpose, to their horror found in one of the upper rooms the corpse of a woman, with three children crouched around it, the eldest apparently not ten years old and all seeming on the point of death. The fetid odour of the apartment compelled the men to retire for the moment; on returning they questioned the children, but all they could glean from them was that they were starving. Information 0 was instantly forwarded to the police-station in Bow-lane, and the children, who had scarcely a vestige of clothing, and were literally covered with vermin, were removed to the city work- house in Cannon-street, where they received every attention, but from the dreadful state of exhaustion of the two youngest they are not expected to survive. The corpse of the unfortu- nate woman was merely covered with a ragged gown, no cloth- e 11 ing, furniture, or bedding was in the room, and it is supposed that, finding the house empty, she, with her children, crept in for shelter, and they are believed to have been there same days totally without food. — Globe. WRECK OF THE icAijr. -The loss of this mag-nificent steam- ship, 1,600 tons burden, recently one of the North American Ocean Steam Navigation Company's crack mail steamers be- tween Liverpool and Halifax, was announced yesterday (Sa- turday) afternoon, in the merchant's room at Lloyd's, and from her previous character, having accomplished some of the most astounding quick passages between the two countries on re- cord, her wreck gave rise to considerable interest in the City. The Acadia steamed from the Mersey on the morning of Friday week, fully equipped for the service in question, manned by a crew of sixty seamen, officers, &c., under the command of Cap- tain Jackson, the Britannia following last Sunday. The de- tails of the ship's loss are exceedingly meagre. It appears that on the night of Sunday last the Acadia was steering along the coast of Holland, the weather being hazy, and the wind some- what boisterous from the north. Towards midnight, from some unexplained cause, the ship struck with great force on a dangerous shoal, known as the outer bank of Tersehelling. All efforts to get her off proved unavailing owing to her conti- 11 tinual thumping the remainder of the night, she quickly filled, an 1 settled over on her broadsides. All hands, together with the representatives of the German Confederation, who were on board, were saved, but from the position of the ship it was ap- prehended that she would become a complete loss. A portion of the crew reached Amsterdam by a Dutch vessel on the 14th and the remainder, who had taken refuge on board another vessel, were expected there in a few days. The ship and her machinery, with steam-engine of 500-horse power, are esti- mated at nearly t i oo,ooo.- Live)-j.)ool NAPLES^ ANVD SICILY.'—We are informed, upon authority, that certain steam-vessels are now in course of equipment in this country destined for the service of the insurgent Govern- ment in Sicily and it is reported that upwards of 1,200 men, fully clothed, armed, and organised, are ready to embark for the purpose of taking part in the contest.—Times.

THE NORMAL COLLEGE AND THE GOVERNMENT EDUCATIONISTS; TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRINCIPALITY. SIR,-Since I wrote on the character and object of the Nor- mal College, as developed in the Address of the Llandovery Conference, I have procured several other documents which I could not then lay my hand on, and which furnish much addi- tional evidence of what I endeavoured to establish, namely, that the originators and promoters of the Welsh educational movement did not contemplate a purely secular or unreligious education, nor a purely secular organisation for the attainment of their object, either with or without the aid of Government; but the establishment of a Normal College on a broad basis, in which young persons of undoubted piety and ability might be prepared for their work, by a course of combined religious and secular training, and the promotion of general education in Wales, by means of schools, in which similar instruction should be imparted. I contend that the publications of the society, the measures of its responsible committees, and the speeches of its chief agents, prove to demonstration, that from the first the object of the society has been something far higher and nobler than secular education; that the present com- mittee have honestly adhered to the principles on which the movement has been hitherto conducted, and steadily kept in view the great object which it was intended to promote; and that those who represent the Voluntaries as having aban- doned the ground they formerly took, and aid the Government party in their hostile movements, have no good reasons for their proceedings. It is not my design to depreciate secular educa- tion. I do not determine whether it be in itself a good thing, and its tendency beneficial, or otherwise. Let the reader enjoy his own opinion. I may have occasion to say a word about it at another time. But such an education, I hold, it has never been the object of this society to promote, apart from the funda- mentals of evangelical Christianity. Take the following proofs, in addition to what I offered in my former letter. In the Address of the Committee appointed by the Llando- very Conference, in April, 1845, written, I believe, by Mr. D. Charles, the respected President of TreVecca College, we have the following among the" Qualifications of candidates:—1st. Religious principle — Whilst the committee would avoid every approach to a sectarian spirit, they consider that in persons to whom the moral and religious instruction of youth is entrusted, religious character is absolutely necessary the most explicit testimonials will be required on this most important point." This is repeated, almost word for word, in the first Annual He- port, which contains a great deal more to the same effect. For example, see page 10 :—" We are deeply conscious that no amount of mere learning or skill can be a qualification for the office of a teacher. Our object is, as far as possible, to call forth an heroic missionary spirit that shall spare no effort or sacrifice for the welfare of our beloved country. The committee are thoroughly convinced that sound piety lies at the foundation of all lasting usefulness. Anxious as they may be for high intellectual attainments, they could not but look with suspicion upon any training which did not bear directly upon the heart as well as the mind. The best explanation of this is suggested by inspiration :—' Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be co)tve?-te(I itiito titee. Again, page 4:—" The following was adopted as the general basis of our operations :—That the lluly Scriptures should be introduced into the schools, entire as well as in selections. That the education should be religious but that nothingdeuo/ninatioualsh.oul'JL betaught in the school-room," &e. I have before me the report of a public meeting held at Swan- sea, Sept. 30th, 1845, when the llev. J. G. Avery, the Wes- leyan Secretary, is reported to have said :—"If, however, it be admitted that education is desirable, it will not be questioned that, in order to be efficient, it should be associated with reli- gion Knowledge, it is said, is power; but unsanctiifed know- ledge is power to do evilpower which will prove but a curse to its posiessor. In the present movement religion is entitled to tlw first consideration. And it is be- cause we regard the spread of education and the prosperity of religion as inseparably connected, that we have united to promote them both." Further on, he says, We have agreed to unite to establish schools throughout Wales on spiritual and catholic principles. We will employ no master or mistress in any of our schools, who is not believed to be a reliflious person. We will commence and conclude our daily tuition, by teaching the children to sing their Maker's praise, and supplicate his bkssini on the proceedings of the day. We will have the whole Scrip- tures read in the schools, &c., &c. At the same meeting, Mr. 11. Griffiths, President of the Brecon College, and the Congregational Secretary of the new society, arguing from the depravity of our capital cities," provincial towns," and villages," the necessity of a Normal College ;for Wales, exclaims, "How many of the young are led astray by the abettors of socialism and fatalism What a paralysis of the affections and what utter perversion of all that is calculated to ennoble or refine What can such people know of God, of nature, or of any of the duties oflife," p. IS. Here is also a very able and eloquent speech delivered by Mr. Griffiths on the 19th November in the same year, at the Town- hall, Newport. The tone and spirit of this speech are emi- nently religious. Except in the exaggeration into which he was led on that occasion by undue confidence in the statistics of Commissioners, there is everything in that address to give us a good opinion of the speaker's heart and head. Take these extracts on the point in questioii. The object of teaching is not to multiply ibrmuhp, but to raise the tone of thought and feeling and character to make great and good men —men who love God, and heroically fulfil the work He has given the' &c., p. 6. "0 for a spirit worthy of our age and of our circumstances Shall we not seek and strive to have the millenium to begin in beloved Wales ? Give me your solemn and irrevocable pledge that you will do your part towards its realisation. God is willing to do his. The glorious challenge is sent us by the Eternal—' Prove m3 now, if I will not open the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall'not be room enough to receive it.' At'the Llandovery Conference it was unanimously agreed upon to have a Normal College in Wales, and to connect that school as closely and as fairly as possible withth% different religious denominations," p. 11. It is strictly a religions work, to be prosecuted in a religious spirit Except the Lord build the house,' &c. However differently we may choose to express the doctrine, we are all agreed that success can only come from above;; Paul plants, Apollos waters, God gives the increase. We rejoice in the assurance that it is so. Instead of res ill. on hum III caprice, we rest on infinite faithfulness. By his own promises we lay hold on the strength of the Almighty, and have Him for our ally who is gone forth conquering and to conquer, and on whose head there shall be many crowns p. 13. So thoroughly were the speakers at those meetings impreg- nated with the religious sentiment, and so anxious to infuse it into the g neral instruction of the and the Schools, that, they felt and avowed the incompatibility of Government aid with their sacred object, and pualiely repudiated it. Like my friends around me," said Mr. Griffiths at Swansea, I regret that its (the Bjrough-road) committee should have been iudueed to accept a Government grant of £ 750 per annum." And at Newport he exclaimed, We want no Government prop*. Our hope is in the poioer of Christian principle, and of Christian sympathy." Mr. D. R. Stephen also referring to Mr. Sturge's conditional promise, "If you don't touch Government monev, I will send you some," makes this declaration, "NowAer# we agree with him. \Ve will have nothing to do with money taken from the taxes. We won't ask for it—we won't take it. We are determined to get this money from the people them- selves of their own free will." The close of Mr. Griffiths' specch at Newport is an impas- sioned appeal, rendered deeply impressive by solemn reference to the raptures of the heavenly world, the sacrifice and autho- rity of the Redeemer, and the guilt and penalty of neglecting the interests of souls; and by all earnest prayer for grace to be faithful, united, and successful in the great work of edueati the rising generation. This drew forth loud expressions of applause." But if he, or anybody else, had used such language iu advocating a mere secular education, and the establishment of a secular college, to be supported by the secular government with the nation's money, &c., every serious mind would have been shocked at the impiety, and all would have been struck with wkat must have appeared to them inexpressibly preposte- rous. Instead of being greeted with "loud expressions of applause," the orator would, I doubt not, have been assailed with unmistakeable expressions of popular disapprobation and disgust. I have thus presented to your readers the views of the founders and the most conspicuous and active of the early ad- vocates of the Normal College. Those views seem to me to have been embodied in the formal constitution adopted at Car- marthen, which fully recognises the fundamental principles of the Welsh educational movement, and defines its general object and thj nature of the agency by which it may be best achieved. I do not, of course, pledge myself to the wisdom of all the re- cent measures of the society, nor to the strict verbal accuracy of every rule and regulation. I grant that some of them ad'- mit of revision and improvement but I have good reason to think that in the main they commend themselves to the judg-