The annexed letter from the Rev. John Bonar, Convenor of the Colonial Committee of the Free Church of Scotland, to our excellent friend, the Rev. John Tait of Parramatta, New South Wales contains the latest authentic intelligence which we have from the Mother Country. In addition to what it contains, we may state that we have learned through private channels, that the Rev. John Zieglar Huie, who had been invited to remain in charge of a congregation in Scotland, had decided on coming to this country in pursuance of his appointment, and ordination. He was to sail in January last, and may therefore be looked for every day. The following is Mr. Bonar's very interesting letter.

Larbert by Falkirk

November, 1846

MY DEAR SIR - I have received your letter and read it with the deepest interest. Our thoughts had often of late been turned to Australia and we felt anxious as to the course our Brethren in that distant land would pursue. That anxiety is now in part at least, happily relieved. By the good providence of God you have been led to follow what we feel assured is the path of duty, and what we confidently anticipate you will find, as we have done, to be a path of comfort and of usefulness. We rejoice in this. We bid you God speed. We feel now drawn to you by even closer bonds than before, and under deeper obligation to do what in us lies to help you.

The step which by this time you will have taken, we both hope and expect to be one of vast importance to the best interests of the distant land in which you dwell. It is a great thing to live in times when great principles are called into action. It is peculiarly so to live in such times, in a country which is planting at once with its people, and with all its principles, and it is a very serious responsibility which thus lies upon you and on us in respect of Australia, - even to set up there a scriptural Church - and through the instrumentality of that Church to seek the spiritual and eternal good of the thousands of Presbyterians who either have sought, or may yet seek a home in that distant land. To this great work you are called in a most special manner, and we also are called to take our part in it. May you, and may we, be enabled to meet the difficulties - the trials and the duties of such an important crisis in some measure as we ought.

We cannot enter into any particulars definitely till we have further accounts from you; but there are one or two things which even at this stage of proceedings we would venture to mention as appearing to us of vast importance and calling for immediate attention, - and the very first of these is the necessity of faithful men remaining in the country. We do feel that the departure of such would be a great discouragement to those left behind - and of little service to the cause in the way of representation, as the Church at home is now beginning to enquire with all eagerness into the state of Australia. Earnestly therefore do we hope that faithful men will remain at least for some time at their posts. And we are the more anxious about this, because we are now making every effort to organise an efficient deputation, and have very confident hopes of success in these efforts. We are anxious this deputation should sail without delay, and it would greatly mar the usefulness of such a step if any of these were out of the country who could aid by their counsel and exertions those whom we may be able to send.

The next thing which we feel to be of vital importance is the training of young men for the ministry in Australia. For this purpose professors are necessary, and we are already, according to your suggestion often made to us, engaged in seeking a suitable person or persons to undertake this most important work.

There is one thing more which we feel to be of vast importance, in entering on the course which now opens upon you and through you upon us also in Australia - and that is, the uniting, as much as possible, of Presbyterians who truly hold the Head, at least in friendly co-operation, as to the resistance of great and pressing dangers, and the preaching of the Gospel in wide and destitute districts. It appears to us that all possible advantage should be taken of the crisis to which you have come, to unite all those whose heart God has touched, in a great and combined effort to manifest the principles of a true Church, and to do the work of one in supplying gospel ordinances to a destitute land.

To aid in this work we have been earnestly looking out for young men who might either accompany or follow the deputation, and who might be permanently settled in the country, either as missionaries or as ministers over stated congregations, and we are not without hopes of being able to find some devoted men suitable for this great work.

Such are the views and proposals which we have been led to entertain with respect to Australia at present - our next communication we fondly hope will announce the formation of a deputation to you and the time of its departure.