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year, has amounted to £81,735 16s. 4d.; being a diminution on the receipts of the preceding year of £13,688, arising exclusively from a variation in the amount of legacies falling in to the Society during the year. The expenditure of the Society has been £98,409 10s. 9d. The issues of Bibles have been 160,701, and of Testaments, 182,444, which, added to the issues on the Continent, make a total of 583,888, being an increase on the issues of the preceding year of 100,000 copies of the word of God. The total issues of Bibles and Testaments, from the commencement of the Society, have been 7,608,615, and the sum spent in effecting this grand object, £1,878,382 16s. 2d.

The speakers were the BISHOP of CHESTER, the Rev. JOHN CLAYTON, Jun., the BISHOP of CALCUTTA, the Rev. THOMAS GALLAND, the BISHOP OF LICHFIELD and COVENTRY, Sir T. DYKE ACKLAND, the Rev. J. CAMPBELL, the Hon. Rev. GERARD NOEL, the Rev. J. W. CUNNINGHAM, the Rev. J. A. JAMES, the Rev. E. BICKERSTETH, the Rev. Dr. STEINKOPFF, the BISHOP OF SODOR and MAN, and the Rev. J. CLAYTON, Sen.

Among the occurrences of the day, nothing was perhaps more gratifying, than the modest, humble, and self-denying manner in which the Hon. and Rev. Gerard Noel acknowledged his error in having opposed himself, for a time, to the great and good cause. We trust that many misguided friends will follow his example. One of those friends told us, the other day, that he had been grossly deceived by the pretensions and high-sounding orthodoxy of certain parties, but that his eyes were now opened, and he was heartily ashamed of himself for his temporary advocacy of party designs.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

The twenty-seventh annual meeting of this Society was held on Monday, the 7th of May, LORD JOHN RUSSELL in the chair. His lordship called on the Secretary forthwith to read the Report, which commenced with some very enlightened remarks on the necessity of a vigorous effort on the part of the friends of revealed religion to keep pace with the diffusion of general knowledge. During the past year, sixty-two candidates for boys or girls' schools have been admitted; thirtynine have been boarded wholly or in part at the expense of the Society; thirty-eight have been appointed to schools; three have sailed for foreign stations; and nineteen remain on the list. Eight missionaries have attended at the schools to learn the system. The Report adverted, with great effect, to the state of those unhappy beings who crowd our prisons. In September last, there were fifty prisoners in Bedford gaol, but only four could read. In January there were between fifty and sixty in the same gaol awaiting their trial, and

only ten could read. At Wisbeach, out of nineteen prisoners, only six could read and write. In Herefordshire, out of 41,017 individuals visited, only 24,222 were able to read. In and about the metropolis, there are ninety-two schools connected with the Society, in which there is an average attendance of about 14,866. Reports of a favourable kind have been received from sixty-three schools in various parts of the country. In Scotland the cause prospers. In France there are 1100 schools. In Sweden there are between three and four hundred schools; and in other foreign parts the Society is equally prosperous. We trust this noble cause will continue to enjoy the divine blessing. The total receipts of the past year, including £100 from the king, have amounted to £2572 10s. 8d.; and the expenditure has been £2538 4s. 3d.

The meeting, which was numerous, was addressed by W. ALLEN, Esq., the Rev. Dr. BENNETT, the Rev. J. DIXON, the Hon, and Rev. GERARD NOEL, the Rev. Dr. Cox, LORD JOHN RUSSELL, the Rev. J. CAMPBELL, the Rev. ROBERT REDPATH, HENRY POWNALL, Esq., the Rev. D. WAHLIN, the Rev. W. BROADFOOT, and the Rev. G. CLAYTON.

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

The annual meeting of this society, which has been so greatly blessed of God, was held, at Exeter Hall, on Thursday evening, the 3rd of May, Lord Henley in the chair. After prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Jack, of Brixton, the noble chairman addressed the meeting in a very impressive and eloquent manner. He eulogized the Earl of Roden, who was unavoidably detained in his own country. He expressed his warm attachment to the cause of Sunday-school instruction, and to the Sunday-school Union. He referred to the state of our population, and called on the the Established Church, and on the various bodies of Evangelical Dissenters to exert themselves to overthrow the ignorance and vice which prevailed.

MR. LLOYD, the secretary, read the Report, which detailed the foreign and domestic operations of the society. In France eightyeight associations have been established, and are increasing. In Hamburgh, there are hundreds of children receiving instruction in the great principles of Christianity. Among the teachers in that city nine are candidates for the Christian ministry. In Denmark, the agents of the society have been as a light shining in a dark place.

In the Mediterranean the society's operations have been advancing hopefully. A life of Robert Raikes, and a sketch of Sunday-schools, have been translated by Mr. Wilson into Modern Greek, and 1500 copies have been put into circulation. In Mr.

Wilson's school there are fifty children. In Corfu there are six Sunday-schools, comprising at least 300 scholars. Many adults, as well as children, attend the instructions of a deacon of the Greek church, a native of Cyprus. In Van Dieman's Land there are four schools, thirty-one teachers, and 245 scholars. From the Cape of Good Hope Dr. Philip reports that, the cause of Sunday school instruction prospers there; 100 children attend his school, and about from fifty to sixty at the school in Rogge Bay. There is also an infant school, having in it about sixty children, besides several other schools under the care of various missionaries. several parts of South Africa Sunday and Infant schools promise the most extensive benefits to the native population.

In

At the seventh anniversary of the American Sunday-school Union, it was reported that it has 7244 schools, 64,215 teachers, 451,075 scholars. The total number of schools in the United States is estimated at 600,000. A Sunday-school Union has been formed among the Cherokees with six schools, twenty teachers, and 113 scholars. In the West Indies the cause advances. The sum realized to the Union from the Sunday-school Jubilee has been £2257 19s. 8d. Including the Sunday-school Society for Ireland, there are belonging to the Union, 10,897 schools, 115,709 teachers, 1,131,023 scholars; being an increase, during the year, of 735 schools, 8162 teachers, and 78,367 scholars.

The meeting was ably addressed by JOHN BROWN, Esq., of Wareham; RICHARD FOSTER, Esq., of Cambridge; the Rev. J. CAMPBELL, Mr. JONES, THOMAS THOMPSON, Esq., the Rev. E. A. DUNN, and the Rev. THOMAS THOMAS.

CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION SOCIETY.

THE seventh annual meeting of this valuable society was held on Tuesday evening, 1st of May, at Finsbury Chapel, Moorfields, the right hon. LORD HENLEY in the chair, when the whole of that spacious chapel was crowded by an attentive and deeply-interested auditory. The Rev. James Rowlands, of Baldock, having first offered prayer, the noble chairman addressed the meeting in an appropriate and impressive speech; after which the Rev. John Blackburn read the report of the committee, which was of a peculiarly encouraging character. The society, it appears, is favoured by the services of 1200 gratuitous agents, by whose constant and zealous attention more than 32,000 families are brought under the influence of Christian visitation. The design of these domestic visits is not only to lend religious tracts, and to lead the individuals receiving them to serious conversation upon their contents, but quietly to observe where real distress exists, and, if possible, to obtain some

benevolent aid-to notice the ignorant or neglected children of the poor, and to help forward their admission into a Sabbath or some other school; and to inquire whether copies of the sacred Scriptures are possessed, and to promote their circulation amongst them. From the returns made by the visitors of the respective associations, it appears, that 1266 cases of distress have been relieved; 1956 children obtained for Sabbath and other schools; and 528 copies of the Scriptures have been circulated, during the past year, through this benevolent agency. Many striking instances of usefulness in this department have been reported to the committee; some of which were narrated, but which our limits will not allow us to copy. Besides the systematic visitation of the abodes of the poor, it has also been an object with several of the agents to visit manufactories, workhouses, and police stations, situated near the scene of their operations, whose efforts have, in most cases, been very gratefully received. The society has also eighty-four stations in different districts of the metropolis for prayer-meetings, reading the Scriptures, and occasional preaching. The num ber of persons attending these services necessarily varies; but in the more important places, where it exceeds that allowed by law, the apartment or house is registered according to act of parliament. Besides these, the city missionary of the society was occupied, during the summer months-in connection with several respectable ministers of different evangelical denominations, who kindly afforded their assistance-in conducting stated services on the Lord's day, at an early hour, in the public streets; and in the afterternoon and evening, under the tents erected at Bethnal Green, Deptford Road, and Islington, at which stations alone at least 2000 Sabbath-wanderers heard the gospel on each returning Sabbath. The committee feeling that, at a period like the present, when the advocates of infidelity are busily employed in diffusing their anti-social and delusive principles, that the peculiar constitution of this society placed it for " the defence of the gospel," made arrangements to revive those courses of lectures on the evidences of Christianity which were pursued with so much advantage during the first year of its establishment. They obtained, therefore, the use of Tonbridge Chapel, Somers' Town, and Surrey Chapel, Blackfriars Road, for the purpose, those commodious chapels being peculiarly eligible from their proximity to places occupied by the busy propagators of infidel opinions. The able, gratuitous services of twenty-one ministers were kindly afforded for this good work; and the two courses were attended by large and deeplyinterested congregations, that filled those spacious places from week to week. The report, after adverting to other schemes

of benevolence which have been prosecuted during the year, concludes with a reference to operations of a similar nature which have been encouraged or promoted through the assistance of this Society in different parts of the country, and states that the committee have received from various societies, formed anterior to the last annual meeting, communications containing pleasing reports of their progress; that, during the year, they have afforded aid to associations at Gloucester, Long Compton, Milton, and in the northeast part of Cambridgeshire, and have also had the pleasure to assist in the formation of twenty-seven new associations in various parts of the kingdom.

Mr. Pitman next read the cash statement, from which we were sorry to learn that a debt of £230 was due by the society to the treasurer. The several resolutions were then moved and seconded by W. A. Hankey, Esq. Rev. G. Clayton, Rev. John Burnet, Rev. John Dyer, Rev. Dr. Bennett, Josiah Conder, Esq., Thomas Wilson, Esq., and the Rev. J. P. Dobson.

THE TWENTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LONDON HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

On Saturday, the 5th of May, the anniversary of this institution was celebrated at Exeter Hall, the Marquis of CHOLMONDELEY in the chair. The meeting having been opened with prayer, by the Rev. Mr. WEBSTER, the noble chairman briefly and appropriately explained the objects of the society.

The report stated that the past year had been one of great anxiety to the committee. At its commencement, the society was indebted to the treasurer and Irish agents the sum of £1500. During the earlier part of the year, this debt had augmented to the sum of £2040. But, at the making up of the society's accounts, by the liberality of the public, the burden has been reduced to the inconsiderable sum of £580, which would Soon be altogether liquidated by the receipt of certain expected legacies. The number of day, Sunday, and adult schools, in connexion with the society, during the past year, have been 1569, in which 90,085 scholars have been enrolled, being an increase on the returns of the former year of 4330 children and adults. Making allowance for the double enrollment of certain of the pupils in the class-books of the day-schools, and of the Sunday-schools, it appears that no fewer than 73,655 have been in actual attendance, for a longer or shorter period, during the past year, being an increase on the preceding year of 3500. The Roman Catholic pupils, it is calculated, have amounted to 36,000. The day-schools are 692, in which there are 55,750 scholars; 24,490 of whom are Roman Catholics, and 31,260 Protestants. The Sunday schools are 468, containing

23,346 scholars. The adult-schools are 409, containing 10,989. Of these, three schools have been entirely instructed in the Irish language. In the day-schools, there are thirty-four Irish classes, in which 594 children have been taught to read in the Irish tongue. Of the thirty-two counties into which Ireland is divided, twenty-nine are blessed with the schools of this admirable institution.

It was reported that of the 692 dayschools belonging to the society, 347 were under the superintendence of clergymen of the established church of Ireland; forty-five under the ministers of other denominations; 282 under noblemen, ladies, and gentlemen; and eighteen having no local visitors.

The Bibles distributed during the year have been 4712; the English Testaments 12,832; the Irish Testaments, 330; and the Irish Bibles, 69; making a total of, since the commencement of the society, 273,519. During the past year, a grant has been made to the institution by the British and Foreign Bible Society, of 500 Bibles and 16,000 Testaments.

The receipts of the past year have amounted to £9822 15s. 6d.; and the expenditure to £8297 8s. 1d.

The meeting was addressed by Lord MOUNTSANDFORD; the Rev. HORACE TOWNSEND; Lord RADSTOCK; the Hon. and Rev. BAPTIST NOEL; the Rev. Dr. BURTON; the Rev. Mr. ROBINS; the Hon. and Rev. GERARD NOEL; JAMES LEFROY, Esq., M.P.; the Rev. Mr. BRADWITH; the Rev. W. BLOOD; and the Rev. Mr. WEBSTER.

The meeting was upon the whole highly interesting; but the condemnation in the report of the system of education proposed by Lord Grey's administration called forth that measure of disapprobation which might have been expected by any impartial observer of the course of human events. May the society continue to advance in its glorious work!

EIGHTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

THE annual meeting of this valuable and justly popular institution was held at Finsbury Chapel, on Tuesday evening, the 8th of May, THOMAS WALKER, Esq., in the chair. The attendance was large and encouraging.

The CHAIRMAN briefly stated the objects of the society, as embracing the establishment of Sunday and week-day schools, the circulation of the Scriptures, the distribution of religious tracts, and especially the preaching of the everlasting gospel.

The Rev. A. TIDMAN, the Secretary, read a highly-encouraging report, from which it appeared that the society had, during the past year, employed no fewer than fifty-four agents-eleven in Leinster, eleven in Con

naught, seventeen in Ulster, and fifteen in Munster. The account furnished of the labours of these devoted agents, in all the labours of the Christian ministry, was truly creditable to their piety and zeal. A spirit of inquiry has sprung up in their several spheres of exertion, not a few conversions to God have taken place, new churches have been formed, and long established ones have been revived. At the same time, the report bore ample testimony to the great difficulties which still lie in the way of the evangelization of Ireland. From the combined virus of popery and political faction, it is a task of great responsibility to attempt any thing for the real benefit of that much-injured land. In our opinion, the Irish Evangelical Society is pursuing its course with great prudence and energy, and, we rejoice to say, with many substantial tokens of the divine benediction.

The meeting was powerfully addressed by the Rev. J. LEIFCHILD, the Rev. Dr. H. F. BURDER, the Rev. Dr. FLETCHER, the Rev. J. BURNETT, the Rev. H. TOWNLEY, the Rev. NOBLE SHEPHERD, and the CHAIRMAN.

The receipts of the society, during the past year, have been £3003 5s. 6d., and the expenditure £2936 Os. 11d.; leaving a balance in the hands of the treasurer of £66 4s. 7d., who is under acceptance for £326, besides other obligations for the present quarter, amounting to £600. We beg very earnestly to commend this institution to the support of the friends of Evangelical religion both in and out of the national church.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

On the 8th of May, early in the morning, the anniversary of this society was celebrated at the City of London Tavern, W. B. Gurney, Esq. in the chair. After prayer, the chairman briefly explained the objects of the society, and then called on Mr. W. JONES to read the Report. It stated that a grant had been made in China to Leang-a-fă for the printing of tracts written by himself, and circulated from one end of that vast empire to the other. In Siam a tract, printed at the request of one of the native princes, has been largely distributed, and has excited great interest among thousands. At Malacca 10,000 Chinese tracts have been circulated. 17,500 Javanese tracts have been printed, 4000 of which have been furnished at the expence of the Singapore Society. The accounts from Burmah, transmitted by Dr. Judson, are of the most encouraging character. He says the Burmans are an inquiring and reading people, and that the tracts of the society now pervade the whole country, from the frontiers of China to the banks of the Ganges, and from the borders of Cassay to the southermost villages of British Pegu. At the last festival 10,000 tracts were distributed, At

About

Calcutta 72,500 tracts have been printed, and 83,204 circulated. At Serampore 18,000 copies of eleven new tracts have been put in circulation; and in various languages there have been distributed altogether no fewer than 33,050. A grant of 4200 tracts have been sent to Berhampore. 3800 suitable books and tracts have been sent to Chunar. 9000 tracts have been sent to the military stations at Cawnpore and Meerut. During the year 92,000 native tracts have been printed at Madras, including twelve new tracts. In the same period in various languages, 99,305 tracts were circulated, being an increase on the former year of 47,831. The total circulation of the Madras Society has amounted to 461,722 tracts. At Bangalore 15,000 tracts have been printed on the divine attributes. At Nagercoil, 45,000 tracts have been dispersed. At Bombay 25,000 have been printed within the year. At Surat, Mr. Fyvie, Missionary, has distributed 40,000 books and tracts during the year. Other parts of the Report were equally encouraging. Both at home and abroad God is eminently prospering its endeavours to spread the knowledge of divine truth. 8350 tracts have been voted for distribution in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; 150,000 for Ireland; for the the courts and alleys of the metropolis, 99,750; for circulation in reference to the cholera, 72,500; for counteracting Sabbathbreaking and infidelity in the metropolis, 164,000; for hospitals and workhouses, 8000; for country villages and hamlets, 300,000; for horse races, 20,500; for places where scepticism has been making visible progress, 10,700; for the North of England during the prevalence of cholera, 28,000; for soldiers, sailors, watermen, rivermen, bargemen, and canal men, 43,000; for foreigners, 8800. The new publications for the year have been 186. The sum received from auxiliaries has been £1226 7s. lld. The annual subscriptions have been £1336 3s. The donations £495 10s. 4d. The collections by cards, £179 19s. 11d. After sermons £24 10s. 7d. Sums received for stereotyping approved works, £360. Legacies, £313 5s. 5d. The total benevolent income, £3342 10s. 3d. The expenditure has been £3668 13s. 8d. The sums received during the

year for the sale of publications has been £26,949 11s. 8d. The total amount of the Society's receipts has been £31,376 6s. 11d. The publications circulated during the year amount to 11,714,965. The total circulation at home and abroad has amounted to nearly 165,000,000.

The meeting was addressed by THe Rev. W. W. ROBINSON, the REV. J. FLOOD, the REV. J. BURNETT, the REV. MR. JONES, from Madagascar, the REV. MR. ADEY, the REV. DR. STEINKOPFF, and the REV. JOSEPH HUGHES,

K

ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.

On Saturday, the 12th of May, a splendid meeting of the friends of this society was held at Exeter Hall, James Stephen, Esq., the long-tried friend of oppressed Africans, in the chair. Contrary to his usual rule, he had consented to take the chair, and perhaps it might be the last time that he might be permitted to occupy such a post. The Hall

His

was crowded to excess in every corner; and the intense interest felt in the cause of negro emancipation was powerfully marked in every countenance. LORD SUFFIELD moved the first resolution, and, in doing so, expressed his deep regret that, in 1832, and in the present state of public opinion, such a numerous assembly should have occasion to be convened, in Great Britain, for the purpose of annihilating colonial bondage. He observed that there was an apathy, in certain quarters, on the subject of slavery, which filled his mind with utter astonishment. He observed that the object of the Anti-Slavery Society was to hold meetings, to circulate tracts, and to resort to every other lawful expedient, for enlightening the public mind on the real and unalterable character of that dreadful system with which it had to contend. lordship enumerated several of the most revolting features of slavery, both moral and social, and at the same time showed its general tendency, from its extreme oppressiveness, to diminish the population of the slaveislands. He rebutted, with suitable indignation and effect, the odious opinion that English peasants are in a worse condition than West Indian slaves. THOMAS FOWELL BUXTON, Esq., M. P., next addressed the meeting, in a speech most luminous and eloquent, in which he succeeded in throwing all the charm of novelty around a theme which has been discussed a thousand times. He exposed the fallacy of appointing a committee of the House of Lords, at this late period, to furnish evidence on the state of slavery, with a view to guide either the decision of the public, or the course of government, There was no need of committees to determine whether human beings should be treated as beasts or as men. The Rev. J. W. CUNNINGHAM, of Harrow, next addressed the meeting. He maintained that the business of the meeting was not political, but religious; its basis was the gospel of Christ. On mere political grounds slavery ought to cease; but on Christian grounds its destruction was still more loudly demanded. His speech was full of wit, and argument, and honest remonstrance. Dr. LuSHINGTON then came forward, and with his usual zeal and good sense supported the great cause of slave emancipation. He urged the friends of the institution never to relax their efforts till they were crowned with triumph-in the complete freedom of African slaves. He considered the condition of those who trafficked in

human flesh as far more, in one sense, to be pitied than the unhappy sufferers who groaned beneath their oppression. He maintained that political freedom, however dear, was not to be compared with personal freedom. He went the whole length of maintaining that there could be no property in the person of a human being. WILLIAM SMITH, Esq., M.P.; DANIEL O'CONNELL, Esq., M.P.; the Rev. J. BURNETT; WILLIAM EVANS, Esq.; G. STEPHEN, Esq.; and CRAMPTON, Esq., Solicitor-General for Ireland, severally addressed the meeting. Mr. O'Connell's speech was full of admirable appeals, and was managed with great effect. We believe that slave-emancipation is an event which must speedily be realized. God grant that the advocates of slavery may not attempt to uphold a system which must, sooner or later, involve its supporters in ruin and disgrace!

NAVAL AND MILITARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

On the 8th of May, the fifty-second annual meeting of this society was held at Exeter Hall, the Marquis of CHOLMONDELEY, President, in the chair. After prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Davis, the noble chairman briefly introduced the business of the meeting. He congratulated the friends on the numbers assembled, and on the interesting object for which they were convened, viz. to promote the circulation of the Holy Scriptures among the sailors and soldiers of the country.

The SECRETARY read the Report, which contained many encouraging statements of the success of the society in its efforts to supply the troops at home and abroad with the word of God. Military pensioners, also, and seamen, both in the navy and merchant service, have received the constant and assiduous attention of the institution. The total number of Bibles distributed among the army, during the past year, have been 2401. 510 copies have been placed in various regimental schools and hospitals; 300 copies have been sent to the veterans serving in the local militia in Prince Edward's Island, British America; 100 copies have been placed at the disposal of the East India Company's service at Chatham; to the seamen of the merchant service 1238 Bibles and Testaments have been granted. The distributions of the society for the whole year have been 12,432 Bibles and Testaments; and from its commencement, in 1780, 264,560. The total receipts of the society, during the past year, have been £2719 6s.; the expenditure has been £2854 15s. 6d.

The meeting was addressed by Lord MOUNTSANDFORD ; Captain HARCOURT, R. N.; Mr. W. MARSHALL, Surg. of R.N.; Lord MANDEVILLE; Captain CAMPBELL, R. N.; Lieut. SIMMONS, R. N.; the Hon.

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