The Reverend the Presbytery of Melbourne met in the Scots' Church, on Tuesday, at noon. Present:- The Rev. Andrew Love, of Geelong, Moderator; the Rev. James Forbes, of Melbourne; the Rev. Thomas Mowbray, of Campbellfield; the Rev. Peter Gunn, of Heidelberg; and Dr. Wilkie, Elder of the Scots' Church, Melbourne.

The meeting having been constituted with prayer by the Moderator, the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

This being the annual meeting of the Presbytery, the Moderator intimated that his tenure of office had expired, and conformably to custom, proposed the Rev. Alexander Laurie, of Belfast, as his successor.

The proposition was unanimously assented to, and Mr. Laurie declared elected accordingly; but not being in attendance the old Moderator retained the chair.

The Rev. James Forbes was unanimously elected Clerk of Presbytery for the ensuing year, in the room of the Rev. Thomas Mowbray, resigned. A vote of thanks to Mr. Mowbray was ordered to be inserted in the minutes.

The Rev. James Forbes handed in a medical certificate from Drs. Wallace and Fullerton, of Sydney, testifying as to the state of his health, rendering his protracted stay in Sydney necessary. The certificate was ordered to be inserted on the minutes, together with an expression of gratification of the Presbytery at the return of Mr. Forbes with renovated health.

The Rev. Mr. Forbes reported that, owing, it was believed, to the loss of the mail from Melbourne to Sydney, the overture to the Synod of Australia asking for the separation of Port Phillip from the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Synod and the erection of a distinct and independent judicature within the province, had never been received, but Mr. Mowbray and himself being in Sydney at the meeting of the Synod, and knowing the wishes of their brethren on the subject, they had overtured the Synod in their own names to a similar effect, and he was happy to state, that the overture had been most cordially received, and the application unanimously assented to, a clause being inserted in the proposed bill for the amendment of the Temporalities Acts, placing the "Synod of Australia Felix" on precisely the same footing as regards the Government and the province of Port Phillip, as is occupied by the Synod in regard to the Middle District.

The Presbytery then proceeded to consider the petition of Mr. James Tydeman, Teacher of the Scots' School, complaining of the treatment he had received from the Kirk-session of the Scots' Church, Melbourne, who had suspended him from church privileges; refusing him the opportunity of clearing himself from the imputations which had been cast upon his character.

Mr. Tydeman having been heard in support of his petition, and Dr. Wilkie on behalf of the Kirk-session, the members delivered their opinion seriatim, unanimously, finding that the fama clamosa warranted the procedure of the session. Against this decision Mr. Tydeman protested and appealed to the Synod of Australia, took instruments in the hands of the clerk and craved extracts, which were granted.

Application had been directed to be made to the government at last meeting of the Presbytery for the issue of a salary of £100 to the Rev. Mr. Gunn, who had become entitled to that allowance under the provisions of the General Church Act of 1836. Application had been made in due course, but no answer being received, enquiry was instituted, and it was found that the document had been sent under cover to the Rev. Mr. Forbes, and not reaching Sydney until after that gentleman's departure on his return to Melbourne, had never come before the government. Under the circumstances it was determined the application should be renewed.

The Rev. Thomas Mowbray laid on the Presbytery a call signed by fifty Presbyterian residents in Sydney, inviting him to undertake the pastoral superintendence of a congregation to be formed in that city. Accompanying the call was an undertaking entered into by a number of the persons signing the call, guaranteeing Mr. Mowbray a salary of £200 for the first year.

Intimation of the proposed translation was directed to be given to the congregation at Campbellfield, and an extraordinary meeting of the Presbytery called for the 18th instant, for the purpose of hearing any objections that may be urged on the part of the congregation against loosing Mr. Mowbray from his present charge.

The Presbytery was then closed with the benediction of the Moderator.