taining the general character of Methodist preaching or doctrine in this country; I have reason to hope that many even of their own body would have disapproved of the specimen as decidedly as I did, at the same time I suspect that a still greater number would be found who would as decidedly applaud it.

The Baptists, in number of churches, rank next in order. They have seven places of worship in the city; I am not aware whether they have any for blacks. These are all agreed, as to worship and church government, with the particular Baptists of England, but there is also a small congregation conducted upon the principles of the Scotish Baptists. I attended at different times in three of these places of worship; they are all large and numerously attended, and the discourses which I heard were, with one exception, characterized by piety and good sense.

The Baptists are the most numerous denomination in the United States; it is said that their churches amount altogether to nearly 3000. They obtained a footing first in Rhode Island, where they have a very respectable academical institution called Brown College, at which about 70 or 80 students in general study; they have also a theological academy at Philadelphia. Their great strength however is in the southern and western States, where

2

2 A new college in connexion with this body has been established since my return in Washington, with promise of great success.

they continue to increase rapidly. They have a Missionary Society at Philadelphia which supports, as you know from the reports, missions to Bombay and the Birman Empire.

Besides the churches which I have enumerated, there are three Quakers' meeting houses, one German Reformed church, one Evangelical Lutheran, two Romish, one Universalist, and one Jewish

synagogue.

The ministers of the various denominations are supported chiefly by the proceeds of pew rents and voluntary contributions. The salaries of those of the larger congregations vary from about 2000 to 4000 dollars; £450 to £900 sterling. I am not however sure that any of them actually reach the latter sum. Pews are in general private property; but, in addition to the large amount of their first cost, they are burdened with a very heavy annual assessment. In some churches the more desirable pews, capable of accommodating six or eight sitters, will occasionally sell for as much as a thousand dollars, about £220; and the annual assessment is considerably higher than the usual amount of seat rents in Glasgow. The original purchase money goes to the erection and support of the building, the subsequent payments to the support of the minister.

A part of the ministers' emoluments arises from marriages; on which happy occasions the clergyman is always compensated for his assistance with

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bank notes. The sum usually presented varies from five to twenty dollars, but those who can afford to be munificent sometimes go the length of one hundred; £22, 10s. Another item might perhaps be added, the linen scarfs which are presented at funerals; each of them will make a shirt, and some ministers get a great many every year. This however is in every respect a very censurable custom, and ought by all means to be discouraged.

In country places the minister's salary is greatly lower; sometimes it is raised by penny a-week associations, frequently it is paid in kind, and very often is of no stipulated amount, but depends en tirely upon the state of the times, and the incumbent's popularity.

During the time of public worship, it is quite common in the more narrow streets of New York to find a chain extended completely across, from one post to another, to prevent the passage of carriages. This we should think with us a very glaring infringement on the liberty of the subject.

The collections are usually made not at the door of the church, but in plates which are handed into every pew, immediately on the conclusion of the sermon. This is a very efficient way of levying contributions from those who are not accustomed to the fashion, but frequent use renders people quite callous to the craving platter. In Philadelphia they use a little black velvet bag, projected at the end of a long pole, this is unceremoniously

thrust out to every one in the pew; but it is so far convenient, that those who choose to be parsimonious escape detection, for it is impossible to discover the amount of their deposite.

The Sabbath is, upon the whole, decorously observed at New York. In large cities, and particularly sea ports, there is always in a considerable proportion of the population, a great degree of indifference to the solemnities, and even to the quietness, of the day of rest; but I do not think that in this respect New York would suffer much in a comparison with those of our native country. I must say, however, that what difference exists, is against America. Tea gardens are open here on the Sabbath evening; and I have seen in Broadway, opposite the entrance to one of them, a large lantern suspended over the foot-walk, inviting visitors; there are however no pastry cooks' shops open, as in London and other parts of England. With regard to the consistent observance of the Sabbath among professedly religious people, I scarcely know what general statement to make. I have known some individuals, whom in the judg ment of charity I could not but regard as christians, who would yet spend the Sabbath in travelling, when there was not so far as I could judge any necessary occasion for it; but I have also met with others, who most scrupulously abstained from what most would have considered works of necessity or mercy, and most conscientiously spent the whole

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day in the duties of public and private devotion. The majority of the religious world however, I have reason to think, might be said, as among ourselves, to steer a middle course; and while they acted under a conviction of the duty of setting apart the first day of the week, to the worship of God and meditation on eternal things, were at the same time not unmindful that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Evening sermons are numerous here; were I required to give my opinion on the subject, I should be inclined to say that there is perhaps an undue importance attached to them, and that many attend church who would be more usefully employed in the duties of family instruction. Perhaps, however, the circumstances in which I have happened to be placed, occasioned me to see more of the one than the other. A wayfaring man has not the best opportunity of correct information on subjects of a domestic nature.

The efforts which are made by the inhabitants of this city to communicate religious instruction to their destitute fellow creatures, both among themselves and in distant regions, merit honourable mention. Bible, Missionary, Tract, and Sunday School societies, are I think quite as numerous as among ourselves. Some of them indeed are comparatively of modern institution; but we have all been too remiss in such matters to be entitled to censure the conduct of others.