ineligible as his successor; the next candidate on the list is the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, whose intimate affinity to the Russian Autocrat renders his success scarcely problematical. With the change of dynasty in Greece it is understood that a question in which this country has a direct interest is also to be mixed up-the future disposal of the Ionian Islands.

The conferences at Warsaw and Cracow are also watched with uneasiness from Constantinople. The delicate negotiations respecting the disposal of the Hungarian refugees at Kutayah have added to the disquiet with which the Porte regards the tampering of Russia and Austria with its insurgent or disaffected subjects on the respective frontiers of these powers. And recent events in Egypt are understood to have given a fresh stimulus to a project which has been oftener than once, though always vaguely, spoken of the erection of the Isthmus into a neutral territory, under the common protectorate of the European powers, as the great highway to the East.

utmost, and that successfully, to prevent a civil war in Central Europe. We are accustomed to hear denunciations of the policy of Russia, but we must confess our gratitude to the imperial autocrat for having frustrated the dangerous schemes of some very accomplished German statesmen; and we are bound to admit that we are in a great measure indebted to the Court of St. Petersburg for the preservation of the peace of Europe. We would hope that something has been accomplished by the innumerable mediations undertaken by Lord Palmerston; but, upon the whole, the credit mainly belongs to Count Nesselrode and his sovereign. It may be that the czar is less exigeant than the House of Commons, and possibly his minister for foreign affairs is more temperate than the noble member for Tiverton; but at any rate it cannot be doubted that the governments of Germany turn a deaf ear to the representations of our foreign-office, whilst they submissively follow the advice of Russia. Our national pride might indeed be flattered if England held the same place in European estimation as that which is now occupied by the great northern empire; but it would be far better that the princes of Germany should learn to dispense with foreign dictation or protection. We readily allow that Russian influence has been beneficially exerted, but it is not the less dangerous on that account; and every time that it is exercised it adds to the strength of the power from which Europe has most to fear, whilst at the same time it weakens those governments who are for the moment benefited by it. It is a bitter comment on the projects of German unity which have been discussed in the palaces and the market places throughout the territories of the Confederation, that the discord of that country should have been appeased only by the calm and sagacious advice of the hereditary ruler of the least civilized race in Europe. It is impossible to hope for political development concurrently with such national deg-sensitive to thunder-storms is well known. Cowper,

radation.

From the Spectator, 24 May. CONFERENCES are in progress on the confines of Russia and Germany, which may have important consequences for the international arrangements of Europe. The czar is giving audience to his great vassals, Prussia and Austria. The King of Prussia had an interview with his suzerain at Warsaw, on the 18th instant, and the Emperor of Austria was

to be admitted to the same favor at Cracow. These

interviews augur little good for the liberties of Germans, Sclavonians, Magyars, and Italians. But the "divided councils" also augur as little good for the dignity and independence of the Prussian and Austrian crowns, as the "divided councils" held by Richard the Third did for the safety of Hastings 1 and Stanley. The czar consults apart with the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria; the policy of Russia is to keep these powers in a state of mutual jealousy, that may enable it to play off one against the other.

Two arrangements in the international relations of Europe are pretty sure to be discussed if not Bettled at these Polish conferences. The first

When viewed in connexion with these movements and rumors, considerable interest attaches to the publication in a Brussels paper of what purports to be a note addressed by the papal secretary to the Austrian minister of foreign affairs. The authenticity of the document has not been called in question, although it has now been upwards of a week before the public, and has been made the subject of comment both by English and French journals. It is in substance a labored argument, addressed to the Austrian government, with a view to induce it to embrace active measures to turn the French out of Rome, and take the Pope and the States of the Church under its immediate protection.

THE TEMPEST PROGNOSTICATOR.-That leeches are

the poet, gives an interesting account of a leech which
he kept as a barometer, in a letter to Lady Hesketh,
Nov. 10, 1787:-" Yesterday," he says, "it thun-
dered, last night it lightened, and at three this morn-
ing, I saw the sky red as a city in flames could have
made it.
these prodigies and convulsions of nature. Not, as
you will naturally conjecture, by articulate utterance
of oracular notices, but by a variety of gesticulations,
Suffice it to say, that no change of weather surprises
which here I have not room to give an account of
him, and that in point of early and accurate intelli-
gence he is worth all the barometers in the world.
None of them all, indeed, can make the least pretence
to foretell thunder-a species of capacity of which he
has given the most unequivocal evidence. I gave but
sixpence for him." Dr. Merryweather of Whitby in
Yorkshire has constructed what he calls a Tempest
Prognosticator, with leeches for the basis of the plan.
He arranges a frame of twelve bottles, each containing a
leech, and each having an open tube at the top. From
a piece of whalebone in the opening of each bottle pro-
ceeds a brass chain, communicating with a bell hung
in the top of the apparatus. Accordingly, when a
tempest is approaching, the leeches rise in the bottles,
displace the whalebone, and cause the bell to ring.

I have a leech in a bottle which foretells all

relates to the affairs of Denmark, which has be-Hitherto, after a year's experience, it is found that no come little better than an outpost of Russia. The second relates to the affairs of Greece. It is now certain that King Otho will before long abdicate the throne of that kingdom; his brother declines to go over to the Greek Church, and is consequently

storm escapes notice from the leeches. Dr. Merryweather has also satisfied himself that it is the electric state of the atmosphere, and not the occurrence of thunder within human hearing, which affects the leeches. After this the Snail Telegraph looks not quite so outrageous an absurdity.-Chambers' Journal.

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF BELFAST.

I a sinister and left-handed mode had been taken of

Ar a meeting of the Presbyterian Synod of Bel-turning attention from Rome by attacking the Esfast, the Rev. S. M. Dill read a series of resolu- tablished Church, and I say so still. If Dr. Coul tions on the subject of Papal aggression, amongst about the matter, why did he not take the proper ter wanted to go dexterously and right-handed which were the following: course?-his proper course would have been to introduce substantive resolutions. I did not impute motives, however I may have wished to advise him, and my advice might do him good, however he may be accustomed to rub his elbows to the creashy priests of the south.

That, in the opinion of this synod, there is good cause for the serious alarm which has been excited in these countries by recent efforts to extend the principles and power of Popery, and that it appears to be a present duty for this church to bear testimony against its anti-Christian assumption. That, holding Christ to be the sole Supreme Head of his Church, we feel bound to protest against any invasion of his rights, either on the part of prince or pontiff, and, especially in the present times, to maintain before the world the spiritual independence of the Church, and the liberty wherewith Christ hath made his people free; and that, valuing religious liberty for ourselves, we disolaim any disposition or desire to interfere with the religious liberties of any portion of her majesty's subjects. That we cannot but regard the recent proceedings of the papal court as having been encouraged by the countenance and patronage accorded to Popery in various forms by the British government, as well as by the Romanizing tendencies of the Tractarian party of the Church of England.

The Rev. Mr. Knox seconded the resolution. The following is an abridged report of the discussion which ensued, as given in the Belfast Banner :

Mr. Rogers.-This is most unfair-I don't care from what the close of the synod, to offer opposition, and atperson it proceeds, it is unfair thus, at tempt to smother a resolution which, if Dr. Coulter had introduced yesterday, would have been carried triumphantly, and Dr. Cooke knows it would. Dr. Cooke.-I know no such thing, sir.

Mr. Rogers.-Dr. Coulter has a perfect right to take the ground he is taking at present. He is doing no more, attempting no more, than Lord John Russell has done-Lord John Russell, whose policy Dr. Cooke comes here to support.

Dr. Cooke.-I will not endure that Mr. Rogers shall make such assertions as these. I do not

Mr. Rogers.-Lord John Russell, who insults the prelates of the Church of England more than Popery in his letter to the Bishop of Durham. I have no objection to come forward here to denounce Popery in all its shapes and phases, but I will also Dr. Coulter.-My only ground of objection is, denounce what I consider far worse than heresy. that the second resolution regarding royal supremDr. Cooke.-Let Mr. Rogers try to put upon acy does not carry out the protest in its application my statement and my conduct an interpretation that to the great present system of anti-christianism. I never intended. Me support Lord John Russell! We have heard a great deal of the great antichrist, The house of Russell to require support from me! but I regard the whole of the Church of England | Oh, no. I have a high respect for Lord John Russystem as one

sell. I believe him to be one of the first statesmen in Europe. I believe him to be a good theologian, He goes frequently to a Presbyterian house of worship.

Mr. Rogers. And more frequently to Mr. Bennett's congregation.

Dr. Cooke.-But as to supporting Lord John Russell, I wish I had the supporting of him, and I know where I would support him to. As to his proposed measure, I believe it is the most miserable and puny embryo that ever came to shape or form, and as to arriving at the full stature of a man, why, will never be a manikin.

Dr. Cooke. I at once call the speaker to order. I am sorry, indeed, that I have to oppose a man so highly respectable as Dr. Coulter; but I tell him again that it is the Church of Rome that is before us, and not the Church of England, and if Dr. Coulter wishes to introduce any number of substantive resolutions in relation to the Church of England, I am ready to hear him-to submit to him when, as a Presbyterian, I think him right-to oppose him when, as a Protestant, I think him wrong. Popery is the question, and not prelacy-Popery is the question and not the constitution of the Estab-it lished Church in England and Ireland; and even if I were to stand alone, I would oppose this sinister mode of assailing the Protestant Church, when our object is to turn aside the tide of that Popery which is now sweeping over the land, and which, when it attains sufficient strength, if allowed to do so, will sweep away Dr. Coulter, and those who join with the friends of Rome [applause].

Rev. Mr. Rogers.-Moderator, I have to appeal to you on two grounds. I ask you, are the proceedings of this court to be interrupted in such a manner by the public?

The Moderator.-Certainly not. Mr. Rogers. And in the second place, I wish to ask has Dr. Cooke any right here to impute motives such as he imputed to Dr. Coulter?

The Moderator.-I am not aware that he did so. Mr. Rogers. He imputed sinister motives, and I

Dr. Cooke.--Oh, sir, Dr. Cooke was never afraid of an enemy.

Mr. Rogers. And I ask, is he in order in doing

Dr. Cooke.-I imputed no motives. I said that

After some further discussion, Dr. Coulter was called upon to submit his amendment.

Dr. Coulter then read the following, as his amendment :

Resolved-That this synod also feels constrained to testify against the assumption of the royal headship and supremacy in ecclesiastical and spiritual affairs, together with the prelatical hierarchy, as by law established, in the Church of England and Ireland; and also, against the assumed power of appointing to church offices on the part of the crown, of government officers or private patrons. This system we regard as sinful, opposed to the word of God, and involving great evils. This system we regard as opposed to the headship and supremacy of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who is the sole and exclusive Head of His Church. that order and government which Christ has set up in We regard this system, moreover, as subversive of his Church, and as opposed to those rights and liber

ties which Christ has in his word conferred on the

Christian people, as distinguished from Church of ficers. This system keeps the Church in captivity; it enslaves the people, and generates and perpetuates a slavish spirit. "The reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, wor

From the Gentleman's Magazine. JERUSALEM, MY HAPPY HOME.

dance, to the infinite diversion of the housemaids at a very simple modification of the system proposed 51 and 53, to make no mention of the boarding-will be quite sufficient to meet the difficulties of the house opposite, the inmates of which have gathered case. It is almost superfluous to add that the together at the windows with every appearance of powers of the police will not be confined to inthe liveliest interest in the dispute. As a matter stances of extortion. They will be directed to act of course, the lady in question pays half-a-crown. summarily in most of the cases which at present five shillings-anything which may be demanded necessitate an application to a magistrate, or, at of her. When the head of the family returns from least, to take the responsibility of action upon business he is informed of what has taken place. themselves, in place of throwing it upon the party Visions of the judginent-hall instantly flash before aggrieved. his eve. He is standing before Mr. Hardwick or Mr. Trywhitt, with his wife and his little ones, reCounting his wrongs and claiming redress. But, in order that these dreams may be realized, it is necessary that his timid consort should be produced in open court. She must take off her glove in the presence of an indefinite number of stern policemen and perspiring spectators, and recount the history of her disasters to a matter-of-fact magistrate. Who would expose a lady to such an ordeal for the sake of five shillings-it may be of sixpence? Thus, after an evening spent in expostulation on the part of the lady, and Roman sternness on that of her lord, the affair is closed by the husband over the dry toast next morning making a few sneers at the weakness of women, and a short but compre-in hensive wish for the comfort of cabmen in general in a future state of existence. Practically, the cabman has extorted what he wished, and he is not summoned to Bow-street or elsewhere.

THE inquiries we have set on foot respecting the original of the hymn, "JERUSALEM, MY HAPPY HOME!" have not yet terminated, but, in the mean time, we have received several communications upon the subject, some of which put the matter in a new light. Dr. Dobbin, of Hull, writes to us with various particulars respecting David Dickson, to whom he believes the authorship is justly ascribed, but states that he wrote the first line,

Oh, mother dear, Jerusalem!

reference to Galatians iv. 26.

Mancuniensis informs us that, in the Life of Jessey, who died September, 1663, it is mentioned that on his death-bed" He sung this hymn : Jerusalem, my heart's delight,

I come, I come to thee;

Then shall my sorrows have an end,
When I thy joys shall see.

This, doubtless, is the same hymn, it having ex-
perienced such alterations as are the usual fate of
hymns."

This last conjecture or recollection is confirmed by a valuable correspondent, signing H. G., who says that "in an edition of Dickson's Truth's Victory with his life by Wodrow, Glasgow, 1772, Thus it is clear that the most excellent code for 12. occurs the following passage (Life, p. xxi). the regulation of cabs and cabinen may be in exist- Wodrow says, he (Dickson) wrote some short ence, and still its provisions may utterly fail from poems on pious and serious subjects, which, I am the want of some summary, ever-present jurisdic-told, have been very useful, when printed and tion, which may apply the principles in practice. spread among country people and servants; such This defect in procedure has now been amended by as The Christian Sacrifice; O, mother dear, Jeruthe comissioners of police. A notice to the public, salem and on[e] somewhat longer, 8vo. 1649, bearing the signature of Mr. Commissioner Mayne, entitled True Christian Love; to be sung with the Wodrow's life is has just been published, which contains, among common tunes of the Psalms."" others, the following proviso:-" * The police at the dated "Eastwood, Jan. 5, 1726.” standings will give information as to the proper fares." This regulation appears, at first sight, sufficiently curt and unsatisfactory. To conceive the real value of the improvement introduced, it must be considered that it is the intention of the commissioners of police to furnish the policemen on the various beats with a little book containing the tariff of fares from all the principal stands and points of departure in the metropolis. Thus the policemen on duty at the Exhibition will be furnished with the tariff of fares from the ExhibiOther correspondents introduce to our notice a tion to all the principal points in London; or, of new claimant to the authorship of this hymn in the course, vice versâ. By this arrangement a summary Rev. William Burkitt, the well-known author of arbitrator will always be forthcoming, who will be the Exposition on the New Testament. This willing and competent instantly to adjudicate upon claim was first brought before us by a correspondent any question of disputed fare; and, in case of signing W. B. B., who, writing to us from Hackpertinacity on the part of the cabman, to suggest ney, on the 18th February last, informed us that the nearest station-house as the termination of his "not many months ago, he heard the late Dr. Pye next drive. Such, in a word, is the machinery by Smith state, without any expression of doubt, that which the commissioners of pol ce hope to put an this hymn was written by Burkitt." He adds, "I end to the system of extortion on the part of cab- need not inform any of your readers who knew that drivers. We know not how any suggestion could venerable man, how accurate was his knowledge be offered for the improvement of the scheme be- respecting hymns, and how scrupulous he was in yond the one which has already appeared in our assigning them to their rightful owners." A month columns, for making the policemen or watermen-afterwards, the same correspondent kindly sent us we need not quarrel about names-stationary at the a copy of the hymn as it appears in "A Help and various stands. This, however, is a point upon Guide to Christian Families, containing Doctrinal which experience alone can decide. In all proba- Instructions, &c., &c., also Divine Hymns, on bility, the commissioners are right, in the first several occasions. By William Burkitt, M. A., instance, to make use of the machinery as it is of Pembroke Hall, late Vicar of Dedham in Essex. ready to their hands. Should the slightest practi- A new Edition, Colchester, 1819." The preface cal difficulty occur in finding a policeman at any of is dated, 1693. the principal stands when he should be forthcoming,

A few days after we had received this communi

cation, we were favored with one of a similar pur- | translations of some of the best of those far too long port from a lady, who is descended from Burkitt. neglected gems of natural poetry, often of the highest She informed us that her family had always been order of excellence, both in diction and in sentiment proud to recognize this hymn as the composition-the metrical and rhyming hymns of the middle of their ancestor, and favored us with a copy of it, ages. Their writers having been compelled to adopt extracted from "the 27th edition of the Help and suit a form of religion and a state of feeling and of in these compositions new idioms and inflections to Guide to Christian Families, printed in 1749. The book was first published 9 July, 1683." There language had attained its maturity, critics of a less society totally different from that in which the Latin are variations between the copies furnished us from philosophic period than our own, nurtured in a mere the editions of 1749 and 1819, and probably still pedantic study of Cicero and Horace, were fain to remore differences would be found if the latter were pudiate the entire literature of medieval poetry as compared with the edition of 1693. barbarous and worthless. A more discriminating age Burkitt's version of the hymn resembles, but is has now succeeded-the late Bishop Mant and many not all identical with, that found in modern collec- others led the way in introducing them to the reading tions, as, for example, that in Bickersteth's Chris- world in an English garb. No one, however, has tian Psalmody (70th thousand, No. 574) and that equalled Mr. Neale in this work, and we therefore in Montgomery's Christian Psalmist * (3d edition, trust that we may see many more specimens of his Glasgow, 1826. 18mo.; 8th edition, Glasgow, talents in this, as well as in the other branches of 1837, 12mo.) How much of it was actually Burk-literature, to which he has devoted himself.—Mornitt's may probably appear when we find the hymn ing Chronicle. set forth by Dickson.

H. G. sends us also another version found by him in "an Appendix (without date) to Hymns for the Poor of the Flock." London, 1841. 24mo. This version in some respects very nearly resembles that printed in the Gent. Mag. for February, 1798. Perhaps the editor of this collection will tell us whence he derived his copy.

H. G. also sends us extracts from various Latin hymns, to which the English composition bears at least in parts a very strong resemblance." This is a portion of the subject to which we hope to return.†

[Perhaps the old lady in the Entail is not good authority-but she sang it "O, mother dear," &c. Liv. Age.]

NEALE'S MEDIEVAL HYMNS.+-Of all our living writers, there is none whom we know who at all approaches Mr. Neale in versatility. Sometimes we see the ponderous history, which would have been the sole life's work of any other writer-it is trodden upon by the tale, or rather the cloud of tales, for which our nurseries are generally so eager. Then come the ballads, and the pamphlets, and the translations, till we absolutely fail in our enumeration. In the little volume before us, the last which has appeared with his name, Mr. Neale turns to good account at once his critical acumen and his poetical talent, in a series of very accurate and at the same time spirited

*H. G. points out to us, that in the Introductory Essay prefixed to Montgomery's Christian Psalmist, the hymn is thus alluded to: "There is a delightful hymn, page 134, Jerusalem, my happy home,' &c., by an unknown hand: but the hymn itself ought never to be unknown where there is a church on earth training up candidates for the church above."

Referring to the Magazine for December, 1850, H. G. points out that the verses there printed are attributed in one place to E. B. P., and in another to F. B. P. Presuming E. to be a misprint, and, "as it was not usual for an individual to have two Christian names at the period of the date of the MS. referred to," our correspondent supposes the F. to stand for "Father." The initials ought to be F. B. P. But may not the "P.," with equal if not greater probability, be supposed to mean" Poet?"

Medieval Hymns and Sequences, translated by the Rev. J. M. Neale, M. A. London: J. Masters, 1851. 16mo.

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