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ters, in 1759, were 161; in 1797, 161; in 1803, 161.

IX. The Synod of Drente, to which belong three Classes. Its ministers, in 1759, were 40; in 1797, 42; in 1803, 40*,

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To the preceding list of ministers must be added two who reside in the island of Ameland, and belong to no Classis. Besides these, in the year 1797 there were about forty-three ministers in those parts of the East-Indies, including the Cape of Good Hope, which belonged to the Dutch, and nine in their West-India possessions, which were supported by the East and West-India companies.

In addition to the provincial Synods already mentioned, there is a general Synod of the Walloon churches, in the United Provinces. This Synod is the oldest body of the Reformed Church, in the Netherlands. It met as early as the year 1563, but secretly, to escape persecution, in Doorneik and Antwerp. Some years later the Walloon and Low Dutch churches, held a national Synod in Embden. In a general Synod, however, held in Dordrecht, in 1578, it was resolved, that these two churches could not be united in one Synod,, en account of the diversity of their language. This resolution was confirmed in the celebrated Synod of Dort,or Dordrecht, held in 1618, 1619, From that time the Walloon Synod has been held alternately in different cities of the Provinces. To attend. to such matters. as may occur in the intervals between the sessions of this Synod, it directs four or five congregations

From this account it appears, that, in 1759, the number of ministers belonging to these Synods and their Classes, was 1584; in 1797, 1570; in 1803, 1570. Thus, in the space of 44 years, there has been a diminution of 14 ministers in the whole number.

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to appoint delegates, who jointly constitute a Classis. The acts of this Classis are of no force, however, until they are ratified by the following Synod. The Walloon Synod conducts its business as the Low Dutch Synods do, and holds brotherly correspondence with them. It also sends delegates to the national Synod. The students of theology who are desirous of being received as candidates in the Walloon churches, make the request known to a meeting of the Synod; at the meeting following that in which the request is made, they are examined by three ministers and three elders appointed for that purpose. When called to the ministry, they are examined anew more strictly, after which, if their examination is satisfactory, they are ordained by the laying on of the hands of two ministers. The number of Walloon congregations is full fifty, who are served by about ninety ministers and candidates. In the province of Groningen there is but one congregation, which is in the city of Groningen, and which is served by two ministers who have no connexion with the Synod.

In Holland, Zealand, and Utrecht, there are several English Presbyterian congregations, viz. in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Leyden, the Hague, Middleburgh, Flushing, Veere, and Utrecht. In each of these places is one church, excepting Rotterdam, in which there are two; one English, and the other Scotch Presbyterian. The English ministers in Amsterdam, Middleburgh, Flushing, and Utrecht, are members of the Low-Dutch Classes, to which these cities respectively belong. In Amsterdam there is an Episcopal congregation, as also in Rotterdam.

All the provincial Synods of the Reformed Church, as has already been observed, are subordi

nate to a national Synod, composed of delegates from each Synod; to which also foreign churches of similar principles may send delegates. Such a Synod has not been held since that of Dordrecht, in the years 1618, 1619. By the fiftieth article of the rules of government, which that Synod adopted, it was directed that a general Synod should meet every three years; but not without the approbation of the supreme authority of the land. This article, however, has never been carried into effect, either because the magistracy have withheld consent, or the church has not requested it. The original manuscript of the acts of the Synod of Dort being put in the possession of the States General, they, as early as 1625, resolved, that that manuscript should every three years be inspected by delegates from their body, and from the provincial Synods jointly. In the year 1637, a new translation of the Bible, was undertaken by order of their High Mightinesses, and according to a resolution of the Synod of Dort, was finished. A printed copy, examined by the translators and the visitors, and corrected in the margin, was deposited for preservation in the State House, in Leyden. This copy is inspected at the same time with the acts of the Synod of Dort. The ceremony is as follows: Every third year, in the month of May, twenty-one ministers, deputed from the provincial Synods, repair to the Hague. The Walloon Synod also sends one. These two-and-twenty ministers being met in the Klooster Kerk, in the Hague, a prayer is offered up by one of the ministers of the place, who is generally a member of the assembly. After the credentials are read, a president and secretary are chosen, and the acts of the last meeting of this body, which is called the Catus of the Hague, are read. In the mean time the ministers have given

notice of their arrival to the president of the assembly of the States General. A letter is also dispatched to the magistracy of Leyden, informing them of the arrival of the ministers at the Hague.

When formed, the Coetus, with their president and secretary at their head, repair in procession, two by two, to the court. Being introduced to their High Mightinesses, the president delivers a suitable address, in which he recommends to the States, the churches at home and abroad, and requests the inspection of the Synodical acts. The president of their High Mightinesses in reply, praises the zeal of the clergy, and grants the request. After this they return to the church, and register the resolution of their High Mightinesses. The next day, at the appointed time, they repair again to the court, and are led into the Treves chamber, where they are welcomed by two delegates of their High Mightinesses. These place themselves at the upper end of a long table, in armed chairs: the president, secretary, and other ministers, seat themselves also, according to the rank of the provinces to which they belong. One of them offers up a prayer, wherein he thanks God for purifying the Church, through means of the Synod, and prays that the Acts of the same may be found inviolate now, as they were three years before. The chest fitted for the preservation of these Acts, and placed in the Treves chamber, is then opened with eight several keys. The Acts, which are neatly bound up in seventeen volumes, are taken out and shown first to the delegates of their High Mightinesses, and then to the ministers. After this inspection a prayer is again offered up, and the whole ceremony concludes with a dinner, of which the clergy partake together at their own expense. The day after this, the delegates of their High Mightinesses,

and all the ministers, proceed in two government yachts to Leyden, where they go together to the tower. The magistracy, informed of their arrival, send a burgomaster, accompanied with a secretary or pensionary, to welcome them, and conduct them to the State House. The delegates of their High Mightinesses are received in the burgomaster's chamber, and the ministers in the common council chamber. In the last mentioned room, is shown to both the delegates and the ministers, with some of the magistracy of Leyden, the corrected translation of the Bible, the notes concerning the order and manner of said translation, and some acts of the translator's; all of which are kept there in a chest. The secretary of the city, and first Regent of the States College*, open the chest, each with a key. Before and after the inspection, a prayer and thanksgiving are offered up. The whole assembly, after this, are conducted to the tower, and there entertained handsomely, at the expense of their High Mightinesses. Whilst at dinner, a city messenger comes in, who knocks on a silver bason, and afterwards offers to the delegates of the states, in behalf of the city, eight canns of Rhenish wine, this being the remains of an old custom. In place of this gift, the two delegates take, out of respect to the city, each of them fitty guilders, which they however give to the city messengers, and other servants. After the dinner, they all return to the Hague, where the secretary of the Cœtus records, that the inspected articles are sound, uninjured by worms, moth, or mice. The delegates of the states having given an account of their doings, the ministers are thanked for their trouble, and shortly after return home.

• A college at which students for the ministry or schools are educated. (To be continued.)