tending to exclude from the schoolrooms one catechism, had practically introduced as many creeds as the total number of sects to which board teachers belong, he exerted himself, with very limited success, to mitigate the evil by increasing the moral at the expense of the theological instruction. As it is, Mr. Picton, after nine years' hard work on the board, has been compelled, chiefly by the unsatisfactory state of his health, to seek a temporary respite from public duties; and the minds of our children are meantime at the mercy of a motley crew of Romanist, Anglican, Ritualist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Unitarian, and atheist instructors, to make or mar at their good pleasure. The result is easy to predict,—a general sapping of the foundations, both of religion and morals. Birmingham in this matter has fallen low enough; but she has not jet reached the metropolitan depth of degradation.
Some months ago Mr. Picton resigned his pastorate of the St. Thomas's-square congregation, and he is at present enjoying a well-merited rest from his labors. He does not intend to resume ministerial functions. I believe, but possibly to throw his entire energies into literary and political pursuits. The gifted authoress of "The True History of Joshua Davidson" hazards the prediction that if Christ, who "went about doing good," were to re-appear on the earth in our day, it would be in the character of a Radical politician; and, if it is meant simply that the platform and the press are now more powerful agencies for good or evil than the pulpit, it were hard to differ from her. Able, single-minded men like Picton are sadly wanted in Parliament; and the churches will, as a rule, be glad to be rid of persons of such "dangerous tendencies." His political con-
