Sunday-school, Dorcas Society, and other agencies, are steadily worked, with very encouraging results. Prior to the watch night service, two hundred working-men and their wives had a substantial tea, provided at the expease of Mr. Sarton, followed by earnest practical addresses. With the new year we started a "Working-men's Provident Association,“_in which there are sixty members. Our object is to draw them from the public house; to encourage habits of prudence; and to lead them to worship and love God. Our prospects were never so bright as they are now, and we have nearly three times as many in church-fellowship as we had twelve months ago.

We

3. CREWE.-From the Rev. James Kent.-February 14th, 1868.-I rejoice that the past quarter has been one of decided progress. Our Sunday-evening congregation in the Mission-chapel now numbers about three hundred and fifty persons, and at the same time our other congregations in the town are flourishing. The spiritual state of our members indeed was never so encouraging as at present. Our band-meeting is well attended, and is much prized by many who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness. have now ninety members connected with our Mission, several having joined our ranks during the past four months. A fifth class has been formed, and our increase has been steady and continuous. We have two hundred and fifty children in our Sunday school, under the care of excellent teachers. So much has the school prospered, that we are obliged to take steps for the erection of new premises adjacent to the chapel. We are also contemplating the building of a new chapel about one mile from the Home-Mission onc. This is to supersede a chapel which, in consequence of the great increase of population, is quite inadequate for its purpose. The completion of this plan will greatly help our cause here.

4. WIGAN.-From the Rev. F. Crozier. -February 21st, 1868.-During the past year we have endeavoured to prosecute our work on the Home-Mission station with vigour and perseverance, and our endeavours have been crowned with success. Our attention has necessarily been directed more particularly to Ince, where for the year's labour we have very cheering results. During the summer we occa sionally had preaching in the open air; prayer-meetings have been regularly attended to; and over a thousand pastoral

visits have been made. In addition to clearing off the debt on the Missionchapel during the year, we have male some improvements on the premiass, and also bought a good harmonium. Ou income, in connexion with the chapel for twelve months, from a sources and for all objects, is very Litle short of £100. Our congregations are encouraging. Sunday-morning services are not so well attended as we should Eke. At the Monday-evening service we here sisty or seventy people. On the Sunday evening we have a respectable and an attentive congregation. The preaching of the Gospel has been attended with Divine power, and interesting cases of conversion have occurred. The Society, which last year numbered thirty members, now numbers fifty; and the number would have been considerably larger, only we have had deficiencies to make up, occa sioned by deaths, removals, &c. The Sabbath-school has made improvement during the year. The number of teachers is not large, but they are attentive to their duties; and system and order are enforced. There are two encouraging Bible-classes, and in each there is an average attendance of between twenty and thirty. The total number of scholars usually present is between two and three hundred, and we could have a very much larger number, if we had more accommodation. The day-school at present is in a prosperous condition. The average number of day-scholars, exclusive of those attending the night-school, is one hundred and fifty; and we hope that it will become, if it is not already, one of the most efficient day-schools in this Circuit.

Hindley is considered as part of the Home-Mission station, but in consequence of the claims of Ince, a very limited share of our attention has fallen to it. We preach there every alternate Thursday evening, and spend as much of that day as possible in pastoral visitation. For so're considerable time, at this place, we have laboured under great discouragements, and have seen little success; but things just now present a more hopeful appearance. The congregations have improved of late, the Society is in a much better state, an the schools, both day and Sunday, are more prosperous.

Platt-Bridge also claims a share of our attention. At this place we have preaching on every other Thursday evening. Our cause here is a most hopeful one. The preaching-room which we occupy, by the kindness of A. Lord, Esq., -and which wil

hold over a hundred people,-is crowded on the Sunday, and pretty well filled on the week-evening. Our Society, which has not been formed more than a year, numbers thirty-four members, and the Sunday-school is so numerously attended, that there is an urgent necessity for more commodious premises. This drawback we expect to remedy in a short time. Mr. Lard has kindly promised us a plot of and for chapel and schools, and his family have supplemented that gift by a promise of £100. In addition we have sums promised amounting altogether to about £400, and we only want about £400 more, which we expect to get. We believe a building, such as we desire, will be seen rising at Platt-Bridge before the summer of 1868 shall have passed away.

5. AMBLESIDE. KENDAL CIRCUIT. From the Rev. W. G. Beardmore.-February 6th, 1868.-Ths Home-Mission Societies in the Lake district are in a very encouraging state. At Ambleside, our congregations are larger than they have ever been. We have had many cheering eases of conversion of late; and the members of our Church are regular in their attendance at the means of grace. The strong prejudice against Methodism which existed here a few years ago, has in great measure disappeared.

At Bowness, our people are in excellent spirits; and some of the oldest members, say that they never remember the Society and congregation to have been in so prosperous a state as at present. Several have been converted recently; and the attendance at the services both on Sunday and week-days is cheering. We have here still strong prejudices to contend with; but I believe we are steadily advancing, notwithstanding their influence.

Our new chapel at Windermere is neceeding far beyond the expectations of the most sanguine; and promises, if we may judge from its present circumstances, to be one of the most prosperous in the district. A number of encouraging conversions, have taken place during the last week or two. On Sunday last, seven or eight new members were received.

There seems to be only one fear about the chapel; that is, that it will prove tco all for the congregation.

At Grasmere,-where our services have been held for some time in a most unsuitable place, the only one available,we have taken a comfortable school-room, is a central position. Our congregations here are good. At all the four places I

have mentioned, we have efficient Sundayschools. Our Ambleside school numbers over two hundred children. At Ambleside, Bowness, and Windermere, I have established Young Men's Improvement Societies; which I conduct personally. They are largely attended, and much appreciated.

6. GLASGOW. From the Rev. G. Ken

nedy.-February 12th, 1868.-Since the opening of our new church at the west end of this city, in March, 1867, we have been favoured with singular prosperity, and have taken our place as one of the recognised churches in Glasgow. There has been a gratifying increase in the congregation. In the hall, where we formerly worshipped, there were never more than three hundred present. Now we have from five hundred to six hundred and fifty at the evening service; the morning service is not so well sustained. There is another important difference between the old and the new congregations. In the hall, we could never calculate upon a regular attendance; now we have comparatively little variation. It is pleasing to see the earnestness with which the people hear the Word preached. What they relish most is plain-dealing, and few Sabbaths pass without some one seeking to be "taught the way of the Lord more perfectly." As the result of this, we are adding to the Church at the rate of fortyfive to fifty per annum. Five new classes have been formed recently, some of which contain already nearly forty members. Our class-meetings are well attended, and highly valued. We generally find strangers at first somewhat reluctant to avail themselves of this privilege, and not a few prefer to remain without, rather than accept church-membership on this condition. As a rule, one or two visits to the class-room suffices to break down this prejudice; and, once enjoyed, the class-meeting is conscientiously adhered to. We have also a flourishing Sunday-school. The average number present is from two hundred and fifty to two hundred and seventy, nearly filling our commodious school-room. Connected with the school are several classes for the senior children. These are

taught separately, with the best results. One Society class is composed principally of young people in the school, from fourteen to twenty years of age; and another is in course of formation. The Sunday-school is of great importance to our churches in this country. The children of our people show no desire to leave us when they grow up. Our other

services, such as love-feasts and prayermeetings, are also well attended. The Bible-class is likewise very full.

Whether we look at the success with which God has crowned the effort, or the activity and harmony which runs through every part of our organization, the HomeMissionary Committee has every reason to be gratified. The trustees are making vigorous efforts to procure and furnish a minister's house, which will be ready at the next Conference.

7. UNST.-From the Rev. Richard Webb.—January 22d, 1868.—My regular work has been somewhat hindered by our missionary-meetings, and also by my visit to North-Rooe, in order to help Mr. Daw. In giving you a general account of our missionary-meetings, I would first of all observe that our prospects were rather discouraging. First, our poor Zetland people had a bad year of fishing; the price of fish was very low. Again, the harvest was blighted, and the crops destroyed by a fierce gale of wind. The people, moreover, think themselves badly treated by the proprietors and merchants; in that their rents are being raised, and new laws made and strictly enforced with respect to them. Some have been turned out of their little farms, and the land has been parked in for sheep-pasture. This has happened principally in Yell, and on the mainland. Unst is now undergoing similar treatment. The people, who are really but little better provided for than Russian serfs, and whose huts are quite as bad as even Fijian dwellings, complain most bitterly. Under these circumstances we began our meetings. In order to counteract so many unfavourable influences, I held meetings at North and West Yell in addition to the other places. The result is, that the collections in each place were even more than those of last year.

Mr. Daw's visit has proved a blessing in a spiritual sense, not only to the people in general, but likewise to myself. My intercourse with him tended greatly to refresh me in my work; and I was stimulated by his example to walk closer with God than before.

Our numbers in Society remain nearly the same as last quarter; this is a cause of grief to me.

Formerly, we had two large classes in Unst. I have divided them into four, which is the means of employing two

useful men as leaders; so that we can now have regular quarterly leaders'-meetings. Many of our young men, who I hoped would have been useful, are leaving for the South. This is in consequence of the new regulations brought to bear upon their farms and huts. It will be difficult for us to maintain our ground. Our people are, however, looking out for better times, and are praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and a revival of God's work in our midst. The watch-night service was well attended. Many were deeply impressed under the Word, and with God's blessing, fruit will be seen, even after many days.

ZETLAND.-From

8. NORTH-ROOE, the Rev. Robert Daw.-January 17th, 1868. In addition to the Sabbath and week-day preaching, we have been holding

cottage prayer-meetings,"-a means of grace particularly adapted to the scattered state of the population, and one which they highly prize. I may say that, on the whole, our people attend their classes well. We only want the descent of the Holy Spirit, for which we are praying and waiting. At Gonfirth, the second place in this Circuit, we have about fifty members. Things here are improving somewhat, but at best are at a very low ebb. One great drawback is the want of a chapel, and until we can get one, I fear little good will be done. The building in which we worship is an old school-house,—a miserably cold and damp place. The people will only come to it when the weather is fine, which in winter here is but seldom. It is, moreover, so near the sea, that sometimes, during high tides, the floor is flooded several inches deep. To sit in it for a service is often dangerous to health. While other churches have good places of worship in the country, it is a disadvantage to us to have such an unsuitable place. Last Sunday, being fine, we had a cheering service, and a good class-meeting afterward, when more members were present than I have known before. Gonfirth is about twenty-three miles from my house, and I go thither once a month; but at this season of the year the difficulty is to get a fine day, so that the people may come out. They have to travel over most wretched roads,-indeed, great bills. These things sometimes tend to discourage me. However, I intend to labour on, offering all my works to the Lord.