the Doctor has long enjoyed an enviable popularity among his people; but latterly his health has failed somewhat. He has become so corpulent as to be a burden to himself; and, of course, he cannot move about among his people as formerly. His substitute gave us a good sermon from manuscript. I looked to hear some fine specimen of choir singing, but I was happily disappointed. When the officiating clergyman gave out the hymn, a gentleman, seeing that I was a stranger there, brought me a hymn book. A small choir commenced singing that fine old tune, Duke street, the whole congregation joining in with a will; and it was like the "sound of many waters; it was inspiring — so unlike our puerile style of singing in this country, where a score of individuals, who cannot appreciate the beautiful sentiments of the hymns, troll them in tones which are mere exercises in rhythm and harmony, while the congregation, with their backs turned upon the minister, labor to listen, while God's praise is being sung for them. (I may here remark, that I found the same good practice prevailing in all places where I worshipped while on my tour. I sincerely hope the barbarous practice of exclusive choir singing may soon be abolished in our churches.) We had a curiosity to see a specimen of the "Ragged Schools" of England, and a gentleman whom we met in a Methodist chapel kindly offered to be our chaperon. At seven o'clock we accordingly started to find the place of gathering. A short walk brought us to the building in which one of these singular gatherings was found. As we entered the door, we found ourselves in a small hall, filled with rude benches, and almost half full of children, from five or six years to fifteen. A clergyman of the Scotch Church was addressing the school with much energy. He seemed to have secured the attention of the children; for all eyes were on him, only as occasionally some one, unused to restraint, would begin to talk to a sitter-by, when the superintendent would stop, and threaten to turn him out, or go out himself, if he could not have order. And now for the scholars. They were just as they came from the streets, from the ditches, from the docks- unwashed, uncombed, almost undressed. "Black spirits and white, blue spirits and gray, Query Had Shakspeare ever seen a ragged school! He could not have hit it more truthfully. But here was mind; here was immortality; here was work to be done, and work that would pay. Who can tell what splendid genius lies hidden under that coal dust? who can tell whether those rags may not cover mental machinery which shall yet jostle the world? There they may not rise, for the permission is not granted; but here, they may seek these shores; and can you say, that a future judge, or member of Congress, or chief magistrate, even, may not be found among those dirty but bright little fellows? I was really surprised at the ready and correct answers returned by many to the questions proposed. This is a most beneficial movement. A superintendent is hired to take charge of one or more schools. A call is then made upon young persons of both sexes to come in and spend an hour in gratuitous teaching. All children are then invited to come in just as they are; if poor, or ragged, or friendless, or homeless, they are urged in, and taught. The instruction is mainly moral! but I think reading is also taught. This will exert a good influence upon the thousands of vagrant children whose home is in the streets of the great cities of England. But such a system can hardly be brought into successful operation here, as our excellent system of common schools secures to all an opportunity for acquiring an education; while our Sabbath Schools draw in the most of the juvenile population, except the Catholic, and those we cannot reach. Our vagrants are made up of this class. On the whole, I was much pleased with my visit, and said to myself, as I left, success to the "Ragged Schools." LETTER III. BRO. S : WATERLOO HOTEL, LIVERPOOL, AFTER taking rooms at this hotel, we inquired of a waiter for a Methodist chapel, and learning that there was one near by, we soon found it; but no afternoon service was held, the time being devoted to Sabbath School instruction. This we found to be one of the oldest chapels in the city, having been built in 1790-1. Mr. Wesley was to have opened it, but he died just as it was completed, and Dr. Coke came down and performed the service. I had no sooner introduced myself as one of the family, than an aged brother asked, "Do you know Bro. Caughey? Many a good sermon," said he, "has he preached in that pulpit." And here let me say, that in my excursions around in this vicinity, I find the members of the societies still breathing the fragrance of his memory, and expressing a desire to see him again, but not now! The radicals, so called, have circulated the report that he is soon to revisit England. But let him remain at present at home. There is here at present great anxiety, and the approaching session of the Conference, to be held in London on the last day of this month, is anticipated with trembling. I was to-day conversing with one of the circuit preachers in the city of Manchester, and learned that some trouble is anticipated, and the end of the excitement relative to Dr. Dixon "is not yet." He is suspected of cherishing strong sympathy with the reformers. I see, by the Wesleyan Times, that the Doctor has recommended that the Conference sit with open doors, as our general custom now is, and that members have the right of trial by their peers, instead of the "leaders' meeting," and of an appeal to the "district meeting," &c. Now this is not all smoke, though you must not take all the statements of the reformers without abatement. But nothing is more certain than this, that the people here are earnestly looking for redemption and advance, both politically and ecclesiastically. "The hour is come;" you see it, you hear it every where. to us Americans, softly but sternly. the growing family thrown upon the other day, when something was said of a tax on carriage wheels of a certain height. There is a fearful underswell, which, at no distant day, will break up through the rotten crust of a lordly aristocracy, as the billows rend the solid ice in the Arctic regions, sweeping it away with a roar of indignant scorn. So it be peacefully done, let it be quickly done! Men speak of it to us, I mean "That is to support us," said a cab driver |