DIED in Philadelphia, Jan. 25th, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, JAMES S. SMITH, Esq., aged 78 years. Mr. Smith was one of the few prominent Churchmen, who form connecting links between the living of to-day, and the venerable fathers and brethren by whom the foundations of the Church in Pennsylvania were successfully laid. He was baptized, confirmed and admitted to the Holy Communion under the Pastoral as well as Episcopal oversight of the Apostolic Bishop White. Brought actively forward into the service of the Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, he was identified with its support for a long period of years, even from his ripening manhood to declining age. His tastes and principles, one would have naturally thought, would have led him in youth to the selection of the Christian Ministry as his proper vocation. But he appears to have passed that portion of his life before he openly consecrated himself at the Altar of God.

He was admitted to the Bar at a time when the loftiest moral worth, as well as commanding ability, were found in its service, and when to this profession the eyes of the most promising in every community were turned. With companions and associates from his first entrance as a student in a lawyer's office, with whom it was an honor to be connected, he maintained a high and distinguished place, and an incorruptible character. It is sufficient to mention the names of Binney, Sergeant, Chauncey, Meredith and Ingersoll, as his brethren in legal practice. The first and last of this fraternity still survive. The latter is yet welcomed on public occasions to places of public honor and trust; the former, after passing the limits of eighty years, maintains his intellectual strength and his varied attainments undiminished and unimpaired; the calm faith of Religion resting on his age; and the love of the Patriot, the studies of the Christian, and the recollections of the Jurist, successively occupying his time and pen.

Mr. Smith was induced, as early as 1842, on account of declining health, to exchange the labors of the advocate for a more quiet and noiseless employment. But though silent from that time in Halls of Justice, his voice has never ceased to be heard in behalf of the Church.

A Vestryman in the Parish of St. Peter's, Phila., since 1832, a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese from 1826 to 1841, a delegate to the Diocesan Convention from 1835 to the time of his death, chosen a Lay Deputy to the General Convention from 1836 to 1844, a Trustee of the General Theological Seminary for a series of years, a Trustee of the Episcopal Fund of the Diocese, a member of the Acting Committee of the Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Children of Clergymen deceased, and one of the founders of the Society for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania; he was in all these relations a zealous, efficient and successful abettor, and a faithful custodian of the interests entrusted to him. From his legal training he brought to his labors in the Church his habits of accurate, deliberate, and capacious thought; and from his Christian nurture, a conscientious and guileless spirit. His character and ability combined, gave him a widespread influence. He was gifted with a peculiar grace by nature, both of manner and speech. To a most urbane demeanor, springing from an amiable and noble heart and a high moral sentiment, to a pleasing and commanding person, to a winning eye, and gentle tongue, the added contributions of Christian integrity and competency to advise, imparted a charm and a force that it was not easy to resist. On the floor of the Convention he was justly respected and confided in by all, both Clergy and laity. Even those who differed with him felt that he was an hon

est and Christian opponent. His well weighed and judicious opinions, uttered in the "mollissima tempora fandi," found their way to audience if not to conviction. He was entirely free from party asperity, while to conservative principles he gave his firm and unflinching adhesion. He never spoke for effect. He was not an ora tor, though a wise and persuasive speaker. Never betrayed into passion, nor diverted by opposition from the even tenor of his way, entering into debate with slow and cool deliberation, when to be longer silent would cease to be a virtue, he then brought to bear such sobriety of judgment, and such clearness and fullness of information to the point, that to listen to his words was deemed a privilege and a duty, by all within his hearing. And so felicitous, we are told, though unpretending his remarks, that a discriminating auditor once observed: "It seems as if every expression had been selected with care, and then perfumed with grace, before it was allowed to escape his lips."

It was however on Committees, and in offices of important trust, that the subject of this notice was most highly valued. A reference to the Journals of the Diocesan Conventions will show how constantly he was occupied in this department of labor. For the past few years, though he continued in his place in the Convention of the Diocese, he took less and less part in its proceedings and debates. The troubles attendant upon the suspension of Bishop Onderdonk, to whom he was warmly attached, were a severe trial to his spirit. From about that period he ceased to be a member of the Standing Committee, and a Deputy to the General Convention. But his interest was unabated in all that was good.

In the quiet of parochial life and in his domestic walks he passed serenely on unto the day of his death. In the olden walls, within which seventy-one years ago he was brought to the font for Holy Baptism, his hoary head was habitually bowed in acts of worship and devout communion. Beloved of all his Rectors, from the earliest to the latest, cherished and revered by the congregation and Parish so largely indebted to his liberality and zeal, the centre of attraction to his delightful home, a venerated citizen, a friend of the institutions of humanity and learning with which his native city abounds, a benefactor of his kind, "an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile," he has been gathered unto his fathers in a good old age, having the supports of an undoubting faith in Christ, the favor of God and the charity of the world.

TRINITY COLLEGE, Hartford, conn.

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, held on Tuesday, Dec. 18th, Prof. SAMUEL ELIOT, Brownell Professor of History and Political Science at Trinity College, was chosen President of the Institution. He has accepted the appointment, and is to be formally inaugurated on the Monday after the Easter vacation, the eighth day of April. We notice in the Catalogue of this Institution, that seven Prizes are open to competitors-Chemical, Greek, Historical, Rhetorical, German, and others relating to examinations, &c. There are twenty-three Scholarships in this College. The right of nomination to most of them is vested in the founders, and each Scholarship entitles to free tuition. The Church Scholarship Society loans to undergraduates, needing the help and intending to enter the sacred Ministry, the sum of $100 per annum. Besides these Scholarships, there is a beneficiary fund for remitting tuition to necessitous and deserving students, who are Communicants of the Church.

1860.

CHRONOLOGY OF IMPORTANT POLITICAL EVENTS.

Nov. 6.-The election for President and Vice President was held in all

the States, and resulted as follows:

Total number of votes in Southern States,

1,310,907

3,429,075

4,739,982

1,865,840

Vote against Lincoln:-Douglas received, 1,288,043.-Breckenridge 836,801.Bell, 742,747.-Total, 2,867,591. Majority in the Union against Lincoln, 1,001,751. Dec. 20.-State Convention of South Carolina passed an ordinance of secession, to dissolve the connection of that State with the Federal Government. The ordinance was passed by the unanimous vote of 169 members.

1861. Jan. 9th.-The State Convention of Mississippi passed an ordinance for immediate secession, by a vote of 84 to 15.

Jan. 11.-The ordinance of secession passed the State Convention of Alabama, by a vote of 61 ayes to 39 noes.

Jan. 11th.-The Florida State Convention passed the ordinance of secession, by a vote of 62 to 7.

Jan. 19.—The State Convention of Georgia adopted the secession ordinance, by yeas 208, nays 89.

Jan. 26. The secession ordinance of Louisiana passed the State Convention, by a vote of 118 to 17.

Feb. 1.-The Texas Convention passed the ordinance of secession, by a vote of 166 yeas to 7 nays.

Feb. 9.-The Southern Congress, at Montgomery, Ala., elected Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, President, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, Vice President of the Southern Confederacy. The Constitution of the United States, slightly altered, was adopted.

Feb. 12.-The Congress of the United States counted the electoral votes for President and Vice President. The following is the result:

Feb. 27. The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States passed the House of Representatives by a two thirds vote-133 against 65: and the Senate, by 24 to 12:

"That no amendment shall be made to the Constitution which shall authorize or give Congress power to abolish or interfere within any State with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or servitude by the laws of said State."

The official announcement of the Cabinet of President Lincoln, is as follows: Secretary of State, William H. Seward, of New York.

Secretary of Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio.

Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania.
Secretary of Navy, Gideon Welles, of Connecticut.
Secretary of Interior, Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana.
Postmaster-General, Montgomery Blair, of Maryland.
Attorney-General, Edward Bates, of Missouri.

The Cabinet of the Southern Confederacy is as follows:

Secretary of State, Robert Toombs, of Georgia.

Secretary of Treasury, C. L. Memminger, of South Carolina.
Secretary of War, Leroy P. Walker, of Alabama.
Secretary of Navy, S. M. Mallory, of Florida.
Postmaster-General, John H. Reagan, of Texas.
Attorney-General, Judah P. Benjamin, of Louisiana.

CONVERSIONS TO THE CHURCH.

Robert R. Morris, lately a Minister of the Methodist denomination has been received as a Candidate for Priest's Orders in the Diocese of Connecticut.

The Rev. Josiah P. Cannon, lately advanced to the Priesthood by Bishop Otey of Tennessee, was formerly a Baptist Preacher.

The Rev. G. M. Everhart, recently ordained Priest by Bishop Otey, of Tennessee, was formerly a Methodist Preacher.

Mr. S. T. Allen, recently admitted Candidate for Holy Orders in Illinois, was formerly a Congregational Minister.

CHURCH MISSIONS AND VOLUNTARYISM.

The Board of Missions at its October Meeting in New Haven, in a truly Catholic spirit, and to promote unity, harmony and efficiency in the great work of Missions, passed the following Resolution: "Resolved, That the Domestic Committee be instructed to confer with the government of the 'American Church Missionary Society,' with a view to some harmonious adjustment of their various relations." Following their instructions, the Domestic Committee under date of Oct. 30, 1860, addressed a courteous Letter to said Society, to which Letter the Society returned a reply, [Signed] Rev. Henry Anthon, D. D.; Rev. E. H. Canfield, D. D.; Rev. Lot Jones, D. D.; Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, D. D.; Rev. Frederick S. Wiley; Rev. H. Dyer, D. D.; E. W. Dunham, Esq.; Fred. G. Foster, Esq.; Fred. T. Peet, Esq.; Horace Webster, LL. D. That Letter contains this remarkable paragraph. “We perceive but one resolution, viz: the third in your letter, that particularly concerns ourselves in an official relation, and inasmuch as, in our view, our present and actual relations are entirely harmonious, and we are unaware of any point of duty committed to us which requires adjustment in order to render it harmonious with the duty and responsibilities of the Domestic Committee, or the Board of Missions, we have nothing, as a Committee, to suggest, but the cultivation and maintenance of the same friendly feeling, which has prompted the resolutions we have received from you." The only meaning of this language is, that even although the utmost liberty should be extended to this Society in the appropriation of its funds, it ut terly refuses to recognize or to have anything to do with the Church in its capacity as a Missionary Body. This position will be appreciated wherever there is in the Church any sense of Church loyalty a Church responsibility and duty. The whole correspondence is contained in the Spirit of Missions for January, 1861.

NOTE.-Nearly all our Summary of Domestic and Foreign Intelligence is necessarily laid over, notwithstanding our twenty-four extra pages in this Number. So much of it as is worth preserving will appear hereafter.

ART. 1.—THE ULTIMATE GROUNDS OF INFIDELITY.

1. The Historical Evidences of the Truth of the Holy Scripture Records, stated anew with special reference to the doubts and Discoveries of Modern Times, in Eight Lectures, delivered in the Oxford University Pulpit, in the year 1859, on the Bampton Foundation, by GEORGE RAWLINSON, M. A., late Fellow and Tutor of Exeter College, Editor of the History of Herodotus, &c.—from the London Edition, with Notes, translated by Rev. A. N. ARNOLD. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1860. 12mo. pp. 454.

2. The History of Herodotus, A new English Version, edited with copious Notes and Appendices, illustrating the History and Geography of Herodotus, from the most recent sources of information, and embodying the chief results, Historical and Ethnological, which have been obtained in the progress of Cuneiform and Hieroglyphical discovery. By GEORGE RAWLINSON, M. A., late Fellow, &c.-assisted by COL. SIR HENRY RAWLINSON, K. C. B., and SIR J. G. WILKINSON, F. R. S. In four Volumes, with Maps and Illustra