"PROTESTANTISM IN ITALY."-Several letters have recently appeared in the Times under this head. A writer, December 22, states several facts, on his own personal knowledge, of a pleasing character. The Bible, before the granting of the Constitution, was prohibited, as it is now in Tuscany and Rome. After that event he was at Nice when the first bibles arrived; but no one dare distribute them. At length a chymist did, and he was violently denounced by the Clergy. But this only advertized them, and parties came from Genoa to purchase. He knew a Genoa banker who when visiting Nice always took back several copies. By reading a Diodati's Testament he and many more had become protestants. The priests were furious. But" said the banker 66 we cannot suffer this much longer; we must burst out." A French Evangelical church was opened at Nice in October. Protestantism has made rapid strides. In Turin alone he believes there are 7000 Protestants. The people everywhere seem relieved from a heavy burden; and they, as well as the public prints, now express their opinions freely on religious questions.

THE WALDENSES.-This ancient and long persecuted christian community is now dwelling in peace and prosperity, and rapidly extending, under the active counsels and generous liberality of General Beckwith. A church has recently been erected and opened at Turin, with sermons in Italian and French. Many Romanists attended, and good order prevailed. In Genoa they are said to be very numerous, occupying a large place of worship. A visitor states the congregation to be 350, with 80 communicants. Only few women attended, the congregation being composed chiefly of men and children. The singing of the children was delightful. General Beckwith was coming to superintend the erection of a new church to cost 80,000 francs. The community now publishes two newspapers in which their peculiar principles are advocated. And we, the baptists of England and Wales, with all our numbers, wealth, and influence, have not one!

RELIGIOUS SECTS IN RUSSIA.-The population of European Russia is about sixty millions, only three-fourths of whom are members of the established Greek Church. 3,500,000 Roman Catholics reside within the broad domains of the Czar. The Protestants of the Augsburgh confession of faith amount to about 2,000,000, while no less than 2,500,000 belong to the Mahometan creed. There are 600,000 Jews, and about half as many followers of the Grand Lama of Thibet. 170,000 are open idolaters, and no less than 600,000 are addicted to the disgusting practice of fetichism, worshipping every uncouth specimen of brute, as a representative of the divinity of heaven.

OPENING OF CAMBERWELL-GREEN CHAPEL. -This elegant edifice-which, though it boasts of two turrets, does not aspire to the designation of "a church"-was publicly opened, on Wednesday, Dec. 2. At twelve o'clock, the opening service was held, and the Rev. Dr. Harris delivered an impressive discourse to a very crowded audience. The Rev. J. Burnet, the pastor, the Rev. T. Binney, and other ministers, took part in the opening services. The dinner usual on such occasions was omitted, and, instead thereof, a public meeting was held in the chapel in the evening, a temporary platform having been erected. The newly-finished edifice presented an animated spectacle, as it appeared lit up with gas and crowded in every part by an interested audience. The platform was occupied by most of the leading ministers of the Independent and Baptist denominations of the neighbourhood, and by many gentlemen of influence and note.

PRIESTS OUTWITTING THEMSELVES.-The most stringent measures have been adopted by Romish priests in France to limit the circulation of the Bible and good books, by the hawkers; and to effect this, government has been urged to forbid the circulation of any books not bearing on them its own stamp; but the government cannot stigmatize the Bible as a bad book and refuse to affix to it their stamp, which is a certificate of its value; hence Protestant Bibles are selling and circulating freely in some of the most benighted districts of the country, even in priest-ridden Brittany.

EXTRA EFFORTS FOR CHINA.-We rejoice to observe that the London Missionary Society are using the most strenuous efforts to accomplish the proposal they made for sending out Ten additional Missionaries to

China.

Exeter Hall-The Earl of Shaftesbury in A great meeting has been held in the chair; and public sermons, with collectthe fourth sabbath in January. ions for this special object, are proposed for

SLAVE-MEMBERS OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES! -It has been shown from authentic documents that in the Southern States there are

150,000 coloured members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; over 100,000 of the Baptist Church; of the Presbyterian Church, 10,000; and of other denominations near 30,000; making a grand total of 290,000 slaves who are church members.

INDIANAPOLIS.-This metropolis of Indiana has twenty-five churches for a population of twelve thousand, or church room enough to accommodate all who are able to attend church. A rare case. It is "the city of Sabbath-schools," much to its praise; and these schools have contributed largely to form the high moral and religious character of the city.

A BIBLE HOUSE IN TURKEY.-A large Protestant bookstore has been established in Constantinople, where there are to be had copies of the Scriptures in twelve different languages. During the past year, more than ten thousand copies of the word of God were sent out from it, besides other religious books and tracts in the various languages of that part of the world.

SURREY CHAPEL, LONDON.-Mr. Sherman, the talented and amiable successor of Rowland Hill, has been compelled to resign his position through bronchitis, after seventeen years service. Mr. Newman Hall, of Hull, has been mentioned as his probable suc.

cessor.

D'AUBIGNE PROHIBITED.-By the authority of the "Index Expurgatorious" at Rome, D'Aubigne's History of the Reforma tion has been placed on the list of prohibited books.

A CENTENARIAN PREACHING.-We have seen it stated in the public prints that the "Rev. G. Fletcher, aged 106, lately preached at Bunhill Row."

GENERAL.

UNITED STATES.-The President's message, of which copies have recently arrived, again mentions slavery as a settled question. How blind some men must be! Settled in deed! These men had as well talk of stopping the rapids of Niagara. The figures are now changed, the thirteen states have become thirty-one, and others are forming. The surplus of revenue over expenditure is now thirty-two million dollars per annum. Their whole debt of fifty-six millions will now soon be all paid. Ten millions of acres of land are every year brought into the market. The population doubles every twenty-five years. There are now 22,680 Post offices.

A CHURCH RATE DISPUTED. Mr. Thomas Nicholson, of Lydney, Gloucester. shire, having disputed the validity of a rate before the magistrates, it remains to be seen if the Churchwardens will carry the question to an Ecclesiastical Court. Mr. N. generously offered twenty pounds towards the needful repairs of the church if voluntary subscriptions were opened.

CHURCH RATES.-A deputation from the Committee of the Three Denominations lately waited on the Premier-the Earl of Aberdeen-to represent the desireablenes of abolishing these imposts altogether. His Lordship is said to have stated, that Government intended to introduce a measure of some kind early in the coming session.

THE POOR'S RATES of England and Wales for 1851, were £3,189,135 15s. 1d.; for 1852, they were £3,113,926 6s. 5d.; ending at lady-day for each year.

MONSTER ORGAN.-The directors of the Crystal Palace Company contemplate the erection of an organ such as will astound the world. A committee of the highest authorities in music are of opinion that the fittest person to build the organ is Mr. W. Hill, of Tottenham-court-road, London, the builder of the York and Birmingham organs, and of many others. The rough drawings show that it will occupy an area of about 5,400 feet, so that, supposing it to be placed at the end of the transept, and to extend from one gallery to the other in width, its depth will be about fifty feet, and its altitud e may be about 140 feet from the ground. The internal structure of such an instrument is divided into storeys, like a house, for the convenient support of the sound-boards and pipes. In the present case, the feeders of the bellows must be moved by a small steam engine, and this, together with the feeders, will be disposed in an under-ground apartment beneath the organ. The cost of this stupendous instrument is stated at £25,000; its construction extending over a space of three years at least. A question might be raised as to the effect of such an instrument upon the human ear, and whether that organ is capable of receiving and appreciating tones of such gravity as will be produced by a sixty-four feet pipe, extending down so far as three octaves below the open fourth string of the violoncello, and expressed in musical intonation thus, C.C.C.C.C.

MORE GOLD IN AUSTRALIA-It is now reported that some lucky adventurers have met with a regular quarry of gold near Geelong, at a depth of 100 feet. As much as 18,000 oz. were brought up in three days. One solid lump weighed 190 lbs. The excitement caused by these discoveries was almost frantic.

PRISONERS IN ENGLAND. On Sep. 25, 1852, there were 21,626 confined. Of these, 16,077 are returned as of the Church of England; 1,887 as Presbyterians and Dissenters; 2,955 as Roman Catholics; 45 as Jews; and 662 not described.

THE QUICKEST PASSAGE TO AUSTRALIA has been performed in sixty days, by the Victoria steamer; which left Gravesend June 19, and reached Port Adelaide Aug. 18, only calling at St. Vincent. The return was performed in less than ten weeks.

A ROMISH PRIEST was lately called before the petty sessions at Llanelly for an assault. He is said to have threatened to transmogrify the complainant into a rat! "And if ye did, I would ate up all the 'prates in your cupboard," was the reply.

A FATAL BALLOON ASCENT has occurred at Nismes in France-the aeronaut, M. Deschamps, was found dead when the balloon

descended.

IRISH EMIGRATION. Not less than £2,972,000 was remitted from Irish emi grants in America to their friends and relatives at home in 1848, '49, '50, and '51. It is estimated that if the remittances have continued at the same rate, upwards of four millions must have been remitted in the last six years.

PROTECTION OF British SUBJECTS.-The annoyances to which many of our countrymen have been exposed when travelling on the continent from petty tyrants, has led to the calling of a public meeting at Freemason's Hall, to demand the protection of the Queen's Government.

THE DUKE OF Wellington, accompanied by the Duchess, is at this time travelling in the Peninsula, to see the scenes of his renowned father's great exploits.

CAPTAIN GUNNISON, the distinguished American civil engineer, is said to have been murdered by a party of Indians whilst surveying the regions bordering on California.

UNIVERSITY REFORM.- It is now af firmed that Government is prepared to introduce a measure for this long talked of, and much-needed, reformation,early next session. A RAILWAY VIADUCT, on the Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford line of railway, just opened, is said to be the largest in the world.

AN AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION up the Murray river has opened a new region of great fertility and promise.

THE DUBLIN EXHIBITION building was formally opened on Thursday, as a winter garden, by the Lord-Lieutenant and the Countess St. Germans.

REVIEW OF THE PAST MONTH. AT HOME. Things continue as they were with little variation; excepting that Lord Palmerston, the Home Secretary, has again withdrawn himself from the Cabinet; but from what cause is not precisely known. Some say that as an old Tory he cannot approve of the new Reform Bill about to be introduced by Lord John Russell. Others affirm that he is not satisfied with the Govern. ment for not taking more active measures in favour of Turkey against Russia. But we must wait until Parliament shall meet, and then, no doubt we shall hear, not only enough, but too much about this matter.

ABROAD.-During the past month rumours of conflicts between the Russians and the Turks have reached us in rapid succesion. It does not appear that any further collision has taken place between the armies ranged on either bank of the Danube; but in Asia the conflicts have been numerous and very destructive of human life. The most serious affair was the destruction of a small Turkish

squadron by a very superior Russian fleet at Sinope, on the Asiatic coast. This catastrophe has excited much indignation throughout Europe, and it is now reported that the English and French squadrons are about to attack the Russian fleet at Sebastopol. Notwithstanding these "untoward events," attempts are yet making by Austria, Prussia, France, and England, to mediate between the adverse powers. Turkey, it is said, is to be first asked on what terms she will agree to negotiate with Russia. But we have little hope that either power will now be willing to come to terms; so exasperating and inflexible is war when it once bursts forth.

Nov. 1, at the baptist chapel, Barton-inthe-Beans, Leicestershire, by Mr. Bott, Mr. G. Marshall, of Appleby, to Miss Martha Osborn, of Shackerstone.

Nov. 15, by licence, at the baptist chapel, Fleet, near Holbeach, by Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. J. Coupland, to Caroline Sophia, third daughter of H. Wrout, Esq. Also, Mr. W. Lamb, to Miss Coupland.

Nov. 21, at White's Row baptist chapel, Portsea, by Mr. Room, Mr. W. Newman, to

Mrs. E. Ashford.

Nov. 26, at John Street chapel, London, by Mr. B. W. Noel, Mr. Josiah Layfayette Bacon, to Miss Ellen Mary Upham.

Nov. 27, at the baptist chapel, Hugglescote, Leicestershire, by Mr. H. C. Smith, Mr. J. Smith, to Miss F. Price, both of Coalville. Nov. 29, at the baptist chapel, Clifton, near Bristol, by Mr. D. Thomas, Mr. Stew. art Williamson, baptist minister, Exeter, to Miss Emma Norris, of Tenby.

Dec. 1, at the baptist chapel, Market Harborough, by Mr. J. J. Goadby, Mr. J. Jarman, to Miss M. Goode, of Lubbenham.

Dec. 7, at Turret Green baptist chapel, Ipswich, by Mr. Lord, A. S. Ridley, Esq., Newgate Street, London, to Fanny Mary, youngest daughter of Stephen Piper, Esq., Ipswich.

Dec. 8, at John Street chapel, London, by Mr. H. Crasswaller, B.A., of Stepney baptist College, assisted by Mr. G. W. Fishbourne, of Stratford, Mr. J. C. Fishbourne, of Thaxted, to Miss Emma Crasswaller, of Cavendish Square.

Dec. 14, at the Tabernacle, Appleby, by Mr. Simons, Mr. J. W. Fairer, son of Mr. K. Y. Fairer, deacon of the baptist church,Asby, to Miss E. Wilson, of Hollygill.

Dec. 22, at Archdeacon Lane baptist chapel, Leicester, by Mr. Stevenson, Mr. F. Webb, to Miss M. A. Ashby.