The High Church confederation for looking after the religion of the heathen, had a meeting at the Mansion House on Wednesday, putting the Lord Mayor in the chair, where his Lordship individually indicated, with his usual condescension, how complete is our education at home. The Archbishop of Canterbury moved the first resolution: —

"That the recent providential openings for the diffusion of Christianity in heathen lands, constitute a call upon the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to extend its improving operations." (Cheers.)

His Grace showed, amiably, that the gospel was turning the sword into the "pruning-hook" in savage lands, —and concluded by asking for some subscriptions.

The Bishop of London ("who was received with applause") supported that suggestion in an eloquent speech; and being, just now, undergoing abuse for Puseyism, he thought it wise to indicate that he had even a greater horror of the Roman Catholic than of the worshipper of Mumbo-Jumbo, as thus: —

"In the Mauritius there were half a million of souls, and only five Church of England clergymen. The Roman Catholics, on the contrary, had a well-appropriated mission, and were labouring earnestly and zealously, and but too successfully."

The Bishop of New Zealand moved the second resolution. Referring to the determination of the Government to discontinue the salary hitherto paid him, the Right Rev. prelate said he did not complain of that decision, and was willing to make the experiment of maintaining a self-supporting episcopate. No one was so well qualified as he was to do so, because twelve years’ residence there had made him acquainted with the best fern roots, the haunts of birds and fishes, and the processes of native cookery. (Laughter and cheers.) They would see, therefore, that he was prepared to return to his diocese, and dig, or beg, or both, while engaged in the duties of his office. He said this in order to remove any doubts as to the course he would take under the circumstances he was placed in. (Cheers) His Lordship seemed to think that every missionary should be a bishop, there being something, in his opinion, peculiarly touching in the air of a bishop—

"Any earnest Christian man going into a heathen land with the authority and graces of a bishop, would be able to create around him an effective native ministry."

Sir George Grey spoke generally, but guardedly, to the effect that a missionary was a good thing, and he illustrated his case like a man of genius; "for," said he, "when you are shipwrecked on a savage island," it is pleasant to find that a missionary has preceded you, and taught a Christian dietary to the barbarians!

The Bishop of Oxford proposed a resolution pledging the Society to support new missions, and confessed that among all his noble and great friends, who, knowing him, must be Christians, he could not get money enough to support a Natal mission.

"The resources of this Society were so crippled, that the other day, when it was found that, in consequence of a misunderstanding as to the amount the society could place at the disposal of the Bishops of Natal and Graham’s Town, they were deficient 300 l, they could not find a single quarter from which that paltry amount could be got. Out of that difficulty had originated that great meeting, and, God willing, not only 300 l, but the 20,000 l for which they asked, should come."

The Bishop of Natal seconded this resolution.

Money was subscribed, and then the archbishop pronounced his benediction—and the company separated for dinner. —From a London Paper.

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THE RUSSIAN PRIESTHOOD. —"The following facts," says the Pays, "will give an idea of the state of degradation into which the lower class of the Muscovite clergy has fallen. A Russian gentleman relates that when passing one day through a village, he saw a number of peasants assembled, and stopped to inquire the cause. ‘Oh,’ replied one of them, ‘it is only the priest, whom we are going to lock up in the barn.’ ‘And why do you do that?’ ‘Because it is Saturday. The priest is a drunkard, and we always lock him up on a Saturday, in order that he may be in a condition to perform Divine service on Sunday. On the Monday he is free to drink as he likes for the other days of the week.’"

Romish priests in papal countries are birds of the same feather.