star is double in a good telescope, and after a long course of observations Bessel computed its distance to be 657,000 times that of the earth from the sun. Now, the earth is 95,000,000 miles distant frour the sun, which number multiplied by 657,000 makes the distance of 61 Cygni 62,481,500,000,000 miles! This calculation is accepted as within the mark by the entire astronomical world. Light-the swiftest moving body in the universe-flies from the sun to the earth in eight minutes, at the rate of 192,000 miles in a second; and thus it occupies 10 years

This

If the reader of these lines looks towards the south-east a little after midnight, he will notice a brilliant star, far exceeding in lustre the other gems of the starry concave. object is the planet Jupiter, about which we hope soon to make some remarks. Mars has during the last few weeks been moving rapidly towards the east, and on the 21st of this month he may be seen very near the star Regulus, having left the stars Castor and Pollux far in the The sun on the 21st attains its greatest northern altitude, on which occasion we have what is

rear.

114 days in traversing the infinite void which divides the solar system from the nearest star. A railwaycarriage, moving 20 miles an hour, or 480 miles a day, would, at this rate of motion, continued without intermission, require 356,385,466 years to pass from 61 Cygni to the earth. Yet this is considered one of the nearest of the fixed stars!

"Where ends this mighty building? where begin

The suburbs of creation? where the wall Whose battlements look o'er the vale Of non-existence-Nothing's strange

abode?

Say at what part of space Jehovah dropped

His slackened line, and laid his balance by."

usually termed the longest day; but, as has been before remarked, the sun is not so near to the earth now as in winter. While the sun now souths daily at a high elevation, the moon, when visible in the evening, describes a somewhat smaller circle at this period of the year, compared to the great height it attains in winter. The reason is that, in winter, the moon is in the same signs of the zodiac as those the sun now occupies. A few months hence, the northern zodiacal signs will pass before our view at night; and if the moon be then passing through that portion of the heavens, it will rise to the same altitude as the sun attains during this month. Saturn is now

a conspicuous object, although, like the moon, below the equator. This planet rises, on the 20th, at 4.26 p.m.; souths at 9.11 p.m.; and sets at 2.0 a.m. This shows that Saturn is not above the horizon in these latitudes more than 93 hours; whereas, if this planet were in the northern portion of the zodiac-say, near the star Aldebaran-it would attain a much higher elevation, and be visible 15 hours out of the 24. We should also remember that in summer, the time permitted for celestial observations is brief, compared with the long nights of winter. Next month the attention of the reader will be directed to the moon, as the nearest celestial object to the inhabitants of the earth. E. W. B. London.

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF PASSING EVENTS.

POLITICAL parties in this country are certainly not, at the present moment, in the arms of Morpheus. During the past month excitement has run somewhat high, and Reform demonstrations have been the order of the day. The Government bill touching the representation of the people has undergone various changes and assumed various phases. To describe or characterize the measure is a task we have no desire to undertake. We leave every reader to form his own judgment. Ministers have gained, by the help of certain professed Liberals, at least one important victory, and Mr. Gladstone, in consequence, to the great regret of large numbers of persons, relinquished the leadership of the Liberal party. There is now reason to hope, however, that he has modified his decision. the region of prophecy as to what will come next we enter not. Available data are too intangible and uncertain. We prefer leaving the intricate problem for time to solve. Last night the Government met with a signal defeat. Whether they will accept the defeat remains to be seen. The fact will, however, be known long before these lines see the light.

Into

General Nelson and Lieutenant Brand, who were committed on the grave charge of being concerned in

the murder of G. W. Gordon, in Jamaica, have been acquitted. The grand jury at the Central Criminal Court ignored the bill against them. The Lord Chief Justice delivered a very elaborate exposition of the legal aspects of the case. On the decision of this case there is considerable diversity of opinion among public men. The widow of the late Mr. G. W. Gordon addressed a letter a short time ago to the Times newspaper, in reference to the assertions affecting the moral character of her husband which were made in the course of the proceedings at Market Drayton. She protests against the statements in question as 66 utterly false and calumnious," and speaks of herself as "the widow of a man who was wrongfully put to death." She also says, "One of my greatest consolations in my present state of bereavement is my conviction of my husband's innocence, and of the thorough uprightness of his character, and that one day these will be fully established."

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARY. On Lord's-day last, April 28th, in upwards of seventy chapels belonging to the circuits of the four divisions into which London is mapped out by the Wesleyans, sermons were preached, and collections made in behalf of the missions of the body. At Liverpool-road the sermon was preached by the Rev. W. Morley Punshon, M.A., and the occasion attracted a rush of people, we are informed, not unlike that collected by Mr. Spurgeon's preaching in the Agricultural Hall. On Saturday morning, April 27th, the annual breakfast-meeting in connection with the mission to China, was held in the London Tavern, when the number of visitors was unusually large. Francis Lycett, Esq., sheriff of London, presided, supported by the Rev. W. Arthur, President of the Conference; the Rev. G. T. Perks, M. A., sheriff's chaplain; the Rev. J. Rattenbury; the Rev. G. Smith; the Rev. Dr. Osborn, and several of the leading laymen of the Wesleyan denomination. Mr. Sheriff Lycett made a spirited and able speech in favour of

the mission to China; and other excellent addresses were delivered by the Revs. G. T. Morrison, R. S. Hardy, R. Stephenson, and Messrs. S. H. Smith and J. J. Lidgett. From a statement given by the Rev. Dr. Osborn, it appeared that the society supported five missionaries in Canton, and three in Hankow. Five preaching places had been opened in Canton, and one in Fatshau. The number of church members, though small, was steadily increasing. A medical mission had been established in Hankow, under the care of Dr. Porter Smith. meeting was a very happy one, and the prospects of the mission to China were considered to be decidedly cheering. As we are obliged to write our article earlier than usual this time, we must defer till next month the report of the general annual meeting of the Wesleyan Missionary Society.

The

UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCH MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARY. Our Methodist Free Church brethren have celebrated a very successful missionary anniversary this year. On Monday morning, April 22, a breakfast-meeting took place in the lower room of Exeter Hall. The attendance was very good. After the repast, the chair was taken by the Rev.

W. Reed, Connexional Editor, in the unavoidable absence of the President through indisposition. The Rev. S. S. Barton, Missionary Secretary, gave a brief report of the operations of the society, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Colman, J. Garside, A. Gilbert, R. Chew, and Messrs. Cuthbertson, Barlow, &c. An excellent feeling pervaded the meeting, and the interest was sustained to the close. In the evening of the same day, the annual meeting of the friends and supporters of the society was held; Ò. Ormrod, Esq., of Rochdale, in the chair. The spacious hall was well filled long before the time appointed for the opening of the proceedings. After devotional exercises, conducted by the Revs. S. Chester and J. Kirsop, the Chairman called on the Rev. S. S. Barton to read the

report. From this document, which was well drawn up, it appeared that the Methodist Free Church has in the colonial and foreign fields 23 missionaries, 125 local preachers, 229 leaders, with 5,007 members, and about 500 on trial. In the same fields there are about 70 chapels and stations for the preaching of the Word that is able to make men wise unto salvation. At home, ten brethren had been employed during the past year in missionary work in Birkenhead, Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham, Ipswich, and other places, and their labours had not been unattended with success. They had held 1,173 meetings, in most cases exclusive of the Sunday services. They had also made 17,505 visits to the people in the several neighbourhoods, exclusive of 1,471 visits to the sick and dying; and 347 persons had, during the year, been gathered into the churches. On the Colonial and Foreign Mission Stations, a measure of success had likewise been realized. From Jamaica, the Eastern Coast of Africa, and China, the information was cheering and hopeful. The income for the year, at home and on the mission stations, had been £9,664 0s. 6d., and the expenditure, £10,638 14s. 8d., thus leaving a deficiency on the year of £874 14s. 2d. In closing the report, the Secretary said: "We have had, in the lower hall to-day, a most interesting and, in some respects, a most affecting meeting. One of our brethren, who has laboured amongst us for years with great acceptance and success (the Rev. Joseph Garside), felt it this morning in his heart publicly to offer himself for whatever field of labour our Missionary Committee might regard him the most suitable. And I am happy to inform you that, on the close of our morning meeting, another, a young brother, well known amongst us, and much beloved, especially in the City of London, came to me, and expressed his willingness to engage in this glorious work. These are, I trust, proofs and pledges that the missionary spirit is neither dead nor dying amongst us, but that, in fact, many of our brethren will yet

be prepared to lay themselves upon the altar of Christ and of God, and to seek to consecrate themselves to the work of spreading the Gospel throughout the world." It is unnecessary to say that this statement had a most telling effect on the meeting. Excellent and spirit-stirring addresses on the subject of Christian missions were afterwards delivered by the Chairman, the Revs. R. Chew, J. Colman, R. Bushell; J. Ashworth, Esq., &c. A liberal collection was made, and the meeting, which will be looked back upon by our Free Church friends as one of the best they have held, was brought to a conclusion. Preliminary sermons had been preached in several of the London chapels.

A NEW POPISH INDULGENCE.Archbishop Manning has solicited of the Pope an indulgence of one year to all who shall devoutly recite the "Gloria Patri," and the "Ave Maria," with the intention of obtaining from God the perfect conversion of the English nation to the obedience of the truth, and intimate reconciliation to the chair of St. Peter. The Pope has granted the prayer by a rescript, which the archbishop has published, and in which we read the aspiration, "May this union be according to the spirit of this Holy See, the mistress of faith and truth." Rather cool, not to say impudent, is all this. We fancy, however, that Archbishop Manning and the Pope will have to wait a little for the conversion of England to popery, and its "reconciliation to the chair of St. Peter." Notwithstanding the Romanizing tendencies of a portion of the Church of England clergy, and some other things that we abhor, we are quite persuaded that England is not about to go over to the Pope. There may have to be a struggle-a war of principles-but we have no fear as to the ultimate result.

COUNCIL OF ANGLICAN BISHOPS. -The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued an invitation to a meeting to be held at Lambeth, on September 24th, and three following days, of bishops in visible communion with the United Church of England and

Ireland. Many bishops are expected from the colonies, and some from the United States. We hope the meeting will be productive of good, as it may be in various ways if properly managed. properly managed. Query: Will it do anything towards knocking Ritualism on the head?

MEETING OF THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.-The Synod of the English Presbyterian Church met at Manchester on the 15th of April. The Rev. J. C. Paterson, the Moderator, delivered the opening address, which is described as having been able and interesting. The general reports of the Synod were very encouraging. Some excellent addresses on various important topics were delivered in connection with the Synod, and were listened to with deep interest by large audiences. A discussion took place on the proposed union between the English Presbyterians and the English section of the United Presbyterian Church, in which the Rev. Dr. McKerrow represented, in a frank and conciliatory spirit, the latter body. A resolution favourable to the union was unanimously adopted.

66

The Rev. Mr. Taylor, of California, who has lately made a circuit of the world, and whose labours were so remarkably blessed on the Wesleyan Mission Stations in South Africa, has for some time past been in London, where his services have been attended with results similar to those realized elsewhere. A correspondent of the Revival states:— "At our large chapel (Wesleyan), in Queen Street, all the meetings are carried on with activity and energy, our prayer-meetings, class-meetings, cottage preachings, &c., being well attended, and enlivened by the fresh experiences of the new converts." From other chapels similar cheering reports are given. Would that the good work might spread through the metropolis and the British nation!

THE REFORMATORY AND REFUGE UNION.-This society held its anniversary last month (April), at Exeter Hall. This is a kind of central society, round which gather for mutual strength and sympathy the various refuges and reformatories of

the country. The hall was densely crowded, but a sadness rested on the meeting in consequence of the great loss sustained by the society in the death of Mr. Robert Culling Hanbury, one of its warmest supporters and friends. Lord Shaftesbury occupied the chair, and the meeting was addressed by the Revs. Dr. Miller, F. Tucker, &c. From a statement read by the Secretary, it appears that there are now connected with the Union 291 institutions, having accommodation for 22,554 inmates. The number of inmates in the various schools is about 17,000, and these are maintained and instructed in various departments of learning and mechanical labour, at a charge of about £289,000, allowing £17 as the average cost of each child. No fewer than fifteen institutions have been added to the list since 1865.

THE SPRING ANNIVERSARIES IN IRELAND.-The annual meetings of the religious societies in the Irish capital have been in progress during the past month (April). At the meeting of the West Connaught Endowment Society, the Bishop of Tuam, who presided, congratulated his hearers on the fact that whereas, in 1841, the Protestants in that diocese were only 1 to 88, now they are 1 to 37. He also produced statistics to contradict those contained in a pamphlet lately published by the Bishop of Down. The Church Missionary Society reported an income from Ireland of £6,056, being an increase on the previous year of £510. Meetings were held for the Protestant Orphan Society, the Jews' Society, the Colonial and Continental Society, the Society for Promoting Female Education in the East, the Society for Missions to Seamen, &c. The Wesleyan Missionary income in Ireland was £5,500, being £762 more than was raised last year. The American-United States-contri

bution to the new Wesleyan College, in Belfast, is expected to reach 50,000 dollars, independently of the grant from Canada.

THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AT PARIS.-It is exceedingly gratifying to think that amidst the stupen

dous collection of wonders of art and industry now exhibiting in Paris, the achievements of the Gospel have not been forgotten. The Missionary Societies have contributed a museum, illustrating the past and the present state of the converts from heathen lands; the Bible Society shows how, in its various versions, it has realised again the wonders of the day of Pentecost; and every mode of Christian effort and philanthropy that can be exhibited, finds there its appropriate place. Provision has been made for Divine service both in our own and other languages; and an Evangelical Hall has been opened, which is accessible to natives of every land. It was inaugurated by the Earl of Shaftesbury, supported by M. Guizot, and many other eminent persons from Germany, America, France, and England. It is fervently to be hoped that the International Exhibition may exert an influence for good on the present state of Europe.

RELIGIOUS AWAKENING IN GerMANY.-A very pleasing account has been published of a spiritual awakening, particularly among the young, at Lubeck. Considerable numbers of young persons have been led to abandon sin and folly, and to give their hearts to the Saviour. The following extract from the report of a inissionary shows the character of the work, and how it is progressing: "Last Lord's-day was indeed a blessed day. The morning service was well attended, and the young converts, except one who was in service, were all present. Such a week as that which had just passed had never before been known in the Lubeck church. Of those converted, five were still Sundayscholars, and two more were EO formerly. The youngest is twelve years old, the eldest twenty. Never had we felt such joy before." And no wonder. There is no joy like that which arises from seeing souls brought to Christ. We trust the work will be permanent, and that it will extend far and wide. We are glad to see that the Sunday-school movement is extending in Germany. There are at present ten schools in