The following statement is submitted to the friends of the late Rev. James Forbes, and all who respect his memory.

Though enjoying both in connexion with the Endowed and the Free Presbyterian Church the decent competence which the minisers of that communion generally possess, Mr. Forbes never had it in his power to make any provision for his wife and family after his decease. When in the receipt of the more ample income appropriated to him as a minister in connexion with the Scottish Establishment, he freely and liberally used what was not required for his own personal support and comfort in promoting the extension and efficiency of his own church and her schools, in contributing to the religions and benevolent institutions of his adopted country, and patronising and encouraging every literary and useful enterprise by which its advancement might be promoted; and at the very time when the necessities of his own household required a greater expenditure than before, he was constrained by principle to surrender the advantages which he enjoyed as a State-supported minister, and embark in the arduous work of rearing another Presbyterian Church in the province, whose position, and relations, and testimony should be in accordance with what he conceived the Word of God and the original constitution of the Scottish Church required.

He was thus at once placed in circumstances in which he needed a larger and had actually a smaller income, and he could not at any time do more than meet his current expenses. In the absence of that wise and benevolent arrangement which obtains, both in the Established and Free Churches of Scotland, by which the widows and children of deceased minsters are provided with an annual allowance, he entertained the idea of insuring his life but having a delicate constitution, and being in feeble health, a much larger annual sum would have been necessary for this purpose than in ordinary cases, and this he could not possibly have spared. There being thus no means within his reach of doing anything in the matter, he disencumbered his mind from any anxiety respecting it, and leaving the future maintenance and comfort of those who were dear to him to his Heavenly Father, he freely devoted himself and his means, as far as they would go, to the great work in which he was engaged. In these circumstances it may be fairly presumed, that he has ensured a provision for his widow and family from the members of that church of which he was such a faithful minister, and which he was mainly instrumental in founding and rearing. And they own the sacred obligation, and are ready to testify their sense of his worth, and his eminent and lasting service to their communion by contributing for this purpose.

But it would not be doing justice to the deceased, nor using the means essential to securing a sufficiency for the maintenance of his family, not to seek the co-operation of the community in general in this good work. Mr. Forbes was a public blessing. The amount of service which he rendered to the colony is not to be estimated merely by his efforts in connection with the Presbyterian Church. The cause of religion and morality generally was greatly promoted by his example and spirit, his ministrations and writings, and it is confidently anticipated that numbers of all classes and communions will sympathise with his own congregation and church, in the loss they have sustained, and unite with them in the proposed testimony to his memory.

It is intended to raise, by public subscription, such an amount as, when judiciously invested, shall yield an annual allowance to Mrs. Forbes, and be divided among the children at her decease, and to provide for this being done in an orderly and becoming manner, the following arrangements have been made: -

That the Rev. John Hume and the Committee of Management in John Knox's Church, should receive contributions from the members and adherents of our communion and others in Melbourne, and that Captain Howey be appointed to receive contributions from the public generally in and around Melbourne.

For Geelong, the Rev. John Tait, the Mayor, John Armstrong, and P. Drummond, Esqrs., and Mr Kerr.

For Buninyong and country around, Rev. Thomas Hastie and Dr. Learmonth.

For the Hopkins, Rev. John Hamilton McLachlan, A. C. Dunlop, Esq.

For Kilmore, Mr. Allen.

For the Goulburn, William Leyden Kerr, Esq., J.P.

For the Wimmera, Messrs. Wilson.

For the Avoca, Messrs. Brock and Reed.

For Sydney, Rev. Alexander Salmon.

For Launceston, Rev. Mr. Lindsay.

For Adelaide, Rev. John Gardner.

For Strathalbyne, Rev. John Anderson.

For Hobart Town, Rev. Mr. Nicholson.

(Signed)

THOMAS HASTIE, Minister.

JOHN TAIT, Minister.