ments; but they trusted that no such difference would be found as to the desirableness of using all moral means of promoting its religious observance. It was proposed that the first regulation of the Union should be altered, and that, it should for the future stand as follows:-"This Union shall consist of the ministers and teachers of those Sunday-schools within a circle of five miles from the General Post-office, who have subscribed during the preceding year, ending the 31st of March, not less than 4s. per annum, to either of the four Auxiliary Unions in London, or their branches, together with subscribers to this Union of 10s. 6d. per annum and upwards. A donation of ten guineas to this society shall constitute the donor a member for life. Subscribers shall be entitled to purchase books at the reduced prices." The committee recommended to Sunday-school teachers an increased attention to their elder scholars. The subject was adverted to in several of the reports received from the country unions. The following was from the Westbury Union-About two years ago, a number of boys, about 15, became so unruly, that it was thought necessary to expel them all from the school. A friend interposed, and requested they might be formed into a bad boys' class, and he engaged with another friend to take them under their care on the Sabbath. They were taught in the chapel, upon the principle of a Bible class. After some time they became attentive and obedient, and it had only been necessary to expel one for bad conduct; some were now employed as assistants in the school, and, in a general way, the whole of them were the most punctual for attendance, &c., in the school. The total receipts of the society were 2,0181. 38. 2d.; the expenditure 1,3197. 10s. 4d., leaving a balance in hand of 6981. 128, 10d,, subject to the payment of nine grants voted last year in aid of building Sunday-schools, amounting to 3021, but not yet claimed.

Addresses were then delivered, most of which detailed interesting instances of the usefulness of Sunday-schools, by the Rev. Messrs. H. Townley, Roe, Martin, Mirams, Brock, Eckett, and T. Williams; and by D. Nasmith, and W. B. Gurney, Esqrs

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1.BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

Thirty-fifth Anniversary —→May 6th.

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The meeting, which was this year more numerously attended than, we remember to have before witnessed, was favoured with the presence of Viscount Morpeth, as its chairman. During his admirable opening address, he remarked, that he trusted they

would all join both in the profession and exhibition, at home and abroad, of an enlightened and enlarged spirit, remembering, that in mingling their endeavours with every friend of knowledge, of virtue, and of religion, it was possible sometimes in the heat of competition, to be carried away by the engrossing rivalries to which their nature was subject, and thus to become illiberal even in the cause of liberality, and to grow bigoted even in the act of opposing bigotry, He was anxious that all the friends and supporters of an institution in which he so cordially sympathised, should set an example to their countrymen and to the world of Christian charity; to display a temper as Catholic as their system; as expansive as the theatre upon which their operations were carried on. The keystone of this system was the Biblethe theatre of their operations was the world. It was that which would give the keenest rebuke to contemporary intolerance, and hold out the most persuasive invitations to universal co-operation.

The

Mr. Dunn then read the report, which commenced by stating, that since the last anniversary the committee had received an account of the death of Mr. Joseph Lan. caster. The annual examination of the boys in the Borough-road School took place on the 3rd instant, before a large and respectable company. They underwent a most scrutinizing examination, and the results were, in all respects, most satisfactory.49 report of the last year stated, teachers were in training, since then 183 had been admitted, of those 82 had been appointed to boys' schools, and 51 to girls schools, 24 had been agents of missionary societies, 32 had withdrawn, either from illhealth or because 'unsuitable, and 42 were now in training. The general condition of the schools throughout the country, was highly satisfactory, and might well bear comparison with any former period. Upwards of 30 new schools had been opened during the year. Grants of school materials and other assistance had been made to 52 schools. The visits of the school inspector to the London schools had been continued and much valued. On January last, a separate report on the effects of the educational provisions of the Factories Act was presented to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by Mr. Leonard Horner, when the astounding fact came out, that it was not at all an unusual thing to have certificates of the attendance of the children at school presented, subscribed by the teacher with his or her mark. The amount of popular ignorance in England was still fearfully great. The connexion of that ignorance with the growth of crime was illustrated every year in the reports of

prisons and police-offices. The report then referred to the attacks recently made on the society, and to the reply which had been put forth. In reference to home operations, it stated that the sixth parliamentary grant towards the erection of school houses was allotted in October last, when application from thirty-four places for British schools were admitted. The total number of children thus provided for would be 9,630, and the amount granted by the Treasury 5,315. Memorials from 32 other places for 47 additional schools remained undisposed of. It then detailed the foreign operations of the society, and dwelt particularly on the pressing demands which the committee were continually receiving from the West Indies.

The various resolutions were moved and seconded by Lord Howick, and Sir G. Grey; the Bishop of Norwich, and the Rev. G. Clayton, E. Baines, Esq., M.P.4 and Sir H. Verney, Bart., M.P; the Rev. J. Burnett, and the Rev. J. Aldis; W. Evans, Esq., M.P., and J. Rundle, Esq., M.P.; the Rev. F. Martin, and L. Howard, Esq. The meeting was also addressed by W. Allen, Esq., the treasurer, and by Sir C. E. Smith, who occupied the chair after Lord Morpeth had been compelled, by important engagements, to leave it.

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CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION SOCIETY.

Fourteenth Annual Meeting.-April 30th.

tage lectures and prayer-meetings in the immediate neighbourhoods of the poor; 116 such stations were at present occupied, at which more than 10,000 religious services were held during the past year; besides the voluntary services of more than 2,000 visitors, the society had 12 missionaries employed in connexion with associations. It then adverted to the efforts lately made to circulate the scriptures throughout the metropolis, and to the assistance rendered to that object by the agents of this society. Immediately after the last meeting, proceedings were adopted with a view of sending forth itinerants throughout the land, in order to preach the gospel in the open air, in convenient places, not usually employed for public worship. But the society had not yet been able to accomplish its design. At Whitsuntide, 1739, the Rev. George Whitefield commenced preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ in the open fields. It was proposed to celebrate the centenary of that event at the Tabernacle on Whit Tuesday next. The four

tents of the society were placed during the last summer, when the weather permitted, in the White Conduit and Britannia Fields, Islington; at Milbank, Westminster; at Kennington Common; at North Fields, Peckham; and at Tanner's-hill, near the line of the Croydon Railway. Beneath those lowly tabernacles, 15 weekly services were conducted. Fourteen stations for street preaching were also selected, at which discourses were statedly delivered. During the last season, more than 400 religious services were thus conducted, and it was computed that in this way about 5,000 persons every week heard the gospel proclaimed. Four courses of lectures had been delivered by ministers in London to young persons and mechanics. The committee had assisted in the formation or progress of 15 provincial associations in towns and villages in different parts of the nation. The committee had joined with other bodies in a public protest against the opening of her Majesty's Post-office on the Lord'sday, which was believed to be now aban doned; as well as that to which they referred in their last report, the attempt to legalise a race-course at Notting-hill; and it is greatly to the honour of the bishop and clergy of London that they had co-operated most effectively with Christians of different denominations in resisting both those attempts to sacrifice the morals of the people at the shrine of Mammon.

J Pitman, Esq., then read the treasurer's account, from which it appeared that the expenditure during the past year had been 1,4441. Os. 6d., and the receipts were 1,3587. 10s. 10d., leaving a balance in favour of the treasurer of 851. 98. 8d.

The resolutions were moved and seconded by Sir C. E. Smith, and Dr. Patten, of New York; Rev. R. Ainslie, and Rev. A. Wells; Rev. R. W. Overbury, and Rev. J. Edwards; T. Challis, Esq., and the Rev. J. Blackburn.

THE BAPTIST IRISH SOCIETY.

Twenty-fifth Anniversary, April 30.

J. I. Briscoe, Esq., M. P. presided, and after some able and appropriate remarks on the evils of party spirit, especially in connexion with Ireland, called on the Secretary to read the Report. Some extracts from this document were read by the Rev. S. Green.

It furnished several gratifying instances of the success attending the labours of the Scripture readers. The schools had been continued with but little alteration. Many of the school-houses had served as preachingplaces to ministers, when visiting the respective towns and villages in which they were situated. By far the larger number of children were those of Roman Catholic parents, and, but for the means provided by this Society, they would in all probability grow up in ignorance. The committee had to acknowledge several kind donations within this last year. The British and Foreign Bible Society had placed at their disposal 250 Bibles and 1,000 Testaments; and the Religious Tract Society, when applied to, had not been backward in supplying tracts for distribution by their agents.

The Rev. Messrs. Anderson, Winslow, Brock, Bates, Statham, Groser, Girdwood, and Roe; as also the Rev. Dr. Cox, addressed the meeting in proposing, and seconding the resolutions.

THE IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

Twenty-fifth Anniversary-May 7th.

C. Hindley, Esq., M.P. presided. The Rev. J. E. Richards, at the request of the Secretary, read the Report; from which it appeared that the labours of the Society had been eminently successful during the past year. The instances of conversion from Popery to genuine Christianity were very numerous. The Scripture readers were prosecuting their operations with unabated ardour. The committee had to lament the decease of the late T. Walker, Esq., the Treasurer of the Society, who, by his will, testified the deep interest he felt in its welfare.

Thomas Challis, Esq., then presented the cash accounts for the past year. The

receipts amounted to 2,9687. 10s.; the expenditure amounted to 2,9387. 9s. 4d., leaving a balance in hand of 301. Os. 8d.

The crowded assembly was addressed in speeches breathing the purest Christian patriotism and holy zeal, by the Rev. Drs. Stuart, of Dublin, Leifchild, and Fletcher; also by the Rev. Messrs. Young, Knill, and Burnett, by Alderman Kershaw, of Manchester, and T. Challis, Esq.

BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The Forty-second Annual Meeting of this Society was held April 29. Thomas Challis, Esq., in the Chair.

The Rev. C. H. Roe, the Secretary, read the Report, which furnished most interesting details of the Society's operations. It concluded by stating that more money had last year been collected than in any former year of the Society's history. Two new Associations had been formed as auxiliaries to the mission in Warwickshire and Norfolk, with local committees, zealously resolved to take up this work as their own. Many of the large towns had established City Missions, which were in active and efficient operation. Some of the counties had Home Missions independent of this, and vigorously prosecuted the good work. But after all that had been done, there was a fearful mass of evil and unreached depra vity in this country.

The Rev. Dr. Cox, the Rev. Messrs. J. Davis, Stovel, Trestrail, J. Edwards, S. Green, and T. Thompson, Esq., severally addressed the meeting.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS'

SOCIETY.

The sixth annual meeting of this increas ingly efficient and successful institution was held May 6th. Lord Mountsandford occupied the chair.

The Rev. R. Ferguson read the Report, which stated that every department of the Society's operations had succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations. A pow. erful feeling had been extensively awakened, both in the metropolis, and throughout the country, in favour of the sailors' cause. That might be inferred from the improved state of the financial account. Last year the receipts, including the sale of 3001. stock, were 1,8357. 19s. 8d.; this year, including the sale of 450. stock, they amounted to 2,5961. 15s. 6d. ; exhibiting an actual increase of nearly 6001. For much of that pecuniary prosperity the committee felt especially indebted to their various auxiliaries, and to the distribution of "Britannia"-of which an entire im. pression of 5,000 copies was generously

offered by the publishers to the committee at cost price. It appeared that in the prosecution of their duties the two Thames missionaries had boarded 7,915 vessels in the river, and 1,100 in the docks and canals. They had conducted nearly 350 services afloat, and had obtained 791 ships for agents-visited the shipping at Gravesend, Northfleet, and Greenhithe-had circulated about 150,000 tracts and books-had dedicated above 100 vessels to the service of God-and been engaged in various departments of labour on shore. The Society had employed seven stipendiary agents, who, in connexion with the missionaries, held eighteen or twenty meetings in the week for prayer and the exposition of Scripture. That a positive change had taken place in the moral character and habits of seamen, was a fact, attested by those whose predilections were not in favour of religion or religious exertions: temperance was advancing in the several seaports. About fifty loan libraries had been provided for seamen on board the vessels; the services at the Sailors' Chapel were well attended. The Report then referred to the proposed erection of the Metropolitan Seamen's Chapel, and strongly urged contributions towards that important object. The communications received from the Society's agents at the provincial ports were highly satisfactory. The committee had especially turned their attention to continental agencies. In reference to foreign operations, it appeared that the labours of the Rev. J. Peers, the Society's Missionary at the Cape of Good Hope, had been signally successful. The Bethel flag had been introduced into South Australia. Many devoted missionaries had also lent their aid in conducting Bethel meetings. The Report adverted to the American Sailors' Friend Society, of which it gave many interesting particulars.

The resolutions were moved and seconded by the Rev. J. Burnet, and Lieutenant Fabian, R. N.; Sir C. E. Smith, and Dr. Patten; Hon. Captain Waldegrave, and G. F. Angus, Esq.; the Rev. J. Crofts, and Lieutenant Brown, R. N.

COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Third Annual Meeting, May 10.

J. R. Mills, Esq., the Treasurer of the Society, occupied the chair. The Rev. A. Wells, the Secretary, read the Report, from which it appeared that five brethren had been sent out during the past year to labour in Canada and South Australia. It then detailed the operations of the various missionaries, already engaged in those colonies. Though the

late rebellion in Canada had greatly retarded their labours in the disturbed districts, yet upon the whole their efforts had been crowned with great success. From a statistical communication received that morning, it appeared that there were in Upper Canada 420 communicants in the churches of this Society, and more than 3,000 hearers under the ministerial influence of their missionaries. The total number of missionaries employed by the Society was sixteen in Canada, and three in Australia. The demands for additional missionaries were extremely urgent. There were many ready to devote themselves to the work; but such was the state of the Society's funds, that during the ensuing summer it was not anticipated that a single missionary could be sent to Canada.

The Chairman then presented his statement of accounts as Treasurer; from which it appeared that last year the balance in hand was 537. 7s. 6d.; the receipts were 2,3567. 6s. 6d. ; the expenditure amounted to 3,1707. 11s. 04d.; thus leaving a balance against the Society of 7601. 17s. The Society would require, in order to meet its present engagements, an income of from 3,5007. to 4,000l. per annum.

The Rev. T. P. Bull, Dr. Patten, Dr. Raffles, T. Binney, R. Robinson, J. Burnett, Dr. Matheson, T. Keynes, J. Alexander, J. A. James, with J. Trueman, and G. F. Angus, Esqs., severally addressed the meeting. The comprehensive character of the first speech, presenting so forcibly as it does, the claims of this important and rising Society, demands more than the mere record of its having been delivered. Mr. Bull observed, that he had listened to the Report not with unmingled satisfaction: it was like every thing else in life, it had two sides; the one pleasing, the other painful. He rejoiced, however, to know that on the opposite side of the Atlantic, and at their antipodes, among those who were "bone of their bone, and flesh of their flesh," there were many asking for religious aid and instruction, and who asked it from the congregational denomination, to which many of their ancestors formerly belonged. He was glad that this society had been enabled to send out nineteen agents to these distant parts of the world. He was glad to hear of the success which had in many instances attended their efforts, and he greatly rejoiced in the principles on which the Society acted; namely, that of affording assistance to Christian societies without interfering with their internal discipline. It was, however, painful to think that so vast an object as the one presented to their view should be so little supported. He understood that the annual subscriptions to this society were not more

than 4001. per annum, and yet these were the only permanent income on which the society could depend. That was the trifling amount of annual subscriptions to supply the spiritual wants of all the thousands and tens of thousands of their fellow-creatures in Canada and Australia. He did not wish that a single farthing should be deducted from the sums so liberally contributed to missionary exertions among the heathen. Nobody rejoiced more than he did in Exeter-hall yesterday, in seeing one donation after another travelling towards the platform; but whilst they gave on the right hand, they must not forget to do good on the left; and while they remembered the heathen, they should not be unmindful of their Christian brethren. There never was a more zealous promoter of missionary efforts than the great apostle of the Gentiles, yet he, on visiting a city, always entered the synagogue first; he went to his "brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh." Their great master, who said, "Preach the gospel to every creature," also said, "begin at Jerusalem ;" and they were to infer from that that it was their duty to begin first with those who lay nearest to them.

And therefore, of course, they must not be unmindful of those good people in Canada or Australia, who had emigrated from their own country, and were seeking religious aid from this society. These colonies, too, were in an infant state, and required, on that account, peculiar attention; the foundations of Christian churches were about to be laid in those lands, and if the present assembly valued their principles as they ought, it was their duty to labour for the establishment of those principles among that population, who once formed part of themselves. They maintained that these principles were best supported by voluntary aid; they had instructed their brethren abroad not to receive assistance from the government; but they must not tell them, at one moment, not to take the aid offered them, and then, in the next, inform them they must perish for want. He hoped, therefore, that while the London Missionary Society was aiming to raise 100,000. during the ensuing year, the Colonial Missionary Society would not remain at its present income, but would rise in legitimate proportion. It was of vast importance to attend at the present moment to the principles disseminated in those lands. If the pure Gospel was not administered to them, error would make its way. If Protestants neglected to send their missionaries, Rome would send hers. should Roman Catholics be more zealous in the propagation of error than Protestants in the propagation of the truth? Would the descendants of nonconformists and of

And

Puritans stand quietly by, and permit the man of sin to scatter his poison over the face of the earth? He thought it not unlikely that at a future period there would. be a vast population in those colonies; their numbers were fast increasing;

"the course of empire westward tends;" let them, then, endeavour to imbue the minds of the people with what they believed to be religious truth. Let them send them missionaries and bibles, that they might be trained up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." He was deeply impressed with the painful part of the Report, which stated that the population in the colonies was asking for the bread of life; that this society had missionaries at its command to distribute it, but that the deficiency of its funds prevented it from sending them forth. Let wealthy Christians place in one scale the advantages of propagating the gospel, and their money in the other, and they would soon learn which was of the most importance. The time was coming when Christians must act on entirely dif ferent principles from those by which they had been hitherto guided. Whenever the millennial day dawned upon the world, exertions would be seen, far beyond any thing ever before witnessed. It would not then be thought a mighty achievement to raise 100,000l. for the salvation of the heathen world. That amount had been spent in building one single ship of war, for destroying the lives of their fellowcreatures; and yet it was thought a mar vellous thing to devote such a sum to the propagation of the gospel of Christ! He trusted that the next Report of the society would contain more that was pleasing and less that was painful, and that the exertions made by the society would be crowned with more abundant

success.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN MISSION.

The annual meeting of this Society was held on Wednesday, the 8th May. The chair was occupied by T. Thompson, Esq., Treasurer of the Home Missionary Society.

E. J. Carver, Esq., Treasurer of the Mission, read an abstract of the second report. It stated, that the design of the mission was to exert a Christian influence throughout the church of Christ, and to unite those who loved the Lord Jesus in systematic efforts for the benefit of the world. In furtherance of those objects, the secretary had, during the past year, visited 12 towns in England, 14 in North Wales, and one in Ireland. He had addressed about 20,000 persons. Some of the results were, the formation of nine city and town missions; 21 young

men's