calculated to give, as to announce that its details are highly satisfactory and encouraging; and if they be satisfactory, as I have no doubt they will be, to every one who hears them, how much more to those who have connexions, friends, and relatives in distant regions, and whom I could well fancy transporting themselves in imagination to the scenes of the labour of those who, they will hear from that Report, have not laboured in vain! That delight I trust they will feel in perfection to-day; because I do not know any thing more satisfactory to the mind of a friend, than to hear that those who are in distant climes, or inhospitable regions, endeavouring to spread the knowledge of the Gospel of peace, are succeeding in their efforts; for their success is of the greatest importance, and pregnant with the greatest happiness, to those amongst whom they labour, and to whom they are sent. To be sure, it is not at all times that we can look upon the picture exactly in this light. Sometimes the friends of the Missionary are doomed to hear, that he who, they fondly expected, was destined to carry to the dark corners of the earth the light and life of the Gospel, has been unexpectedly and prematurely taken away, and has fallen a sacrifice either to the intensity of his zeal, or the insalubrity of the climate. When this event happens, as rarely (I am happy to say) it does, it is a severe disappointment, unquestionably, to the Society; it is an afflicting bereavement to friends; but it is one, be it remembered, which admits of the highest consolation,the consolation, that He who doeth all things well has thought proper, in his own good time, to take the object of solicitude to the reward of his work of faith, and labour of love. Such a death, when a Missionary thus falls, is unquestionably, and must appear at all times, premature,-premature to the expectation of friends,-premature, when we look at the spiritual necessities of those for whom his ministrations were intended; but it cannot be said that it was premature to him, to whom it has opened the portals of everlasting happiness. O let it be a material part of our business to-day, to compare the little we do in this hallowed cause, with what is done by the labours of those men who, in distant regions, and on inhospitable shores, are spending and being spent, for the purpose of making known to those who are in darkness the knowledge of their Saviour! I cannot figure to myself any encouragement which the zealous and devoted Missionary is not entitled to; and I am happy to take this opportunity of expressing the pleasure with which I contemplate the exertions and plans now carrying into effect for the purpose of securing to your Missionaries those qualifications which

will elevate their character, and which will smooth their difficulties; by giving to them increasing fitness for their important and sacred functions. I am well convinced that the nearer they can approach to the learning of Wesley and of Clarke, the fitter will be their intellectual, without disparagement to their spiritual, qualifications and --(the remainder of the sentence was lost in loud and continued expressions of approbation from all parts of the Hall.) Spiritual fitness is undoubtedly indispensable; but wherever that exists, it is entitled to "all appliances and means to boot," in order to give it energy and effect. The Missionary is unquestionably entitled to our highest admiration; but it would be ungenerous, it would be ungrateful, to forget the admiration called into exercise by the prudence, discretion, and fortitude of her whom he finds to be a "help meet" indeed. I shall never forget the interest with which I listened, last Christmas-day, when presiding over an important Auxiliary of this Society, to the plain, unvarnished, but most striking, statement of Mr. William Shaw, late your Missionary in South Africa, when detailing, with feeling and affection, the courage and constancy with which his wife upheld his spirit. Christian women of England, what do not you owe to those heroines, who have displayed on such occasions, and under such difficulties, a magnanimity which, in spite of the admitted physical weakness of your sex, has vindicated its claim to an equality, if not to a superiority, of moral fortitude and energy, when compared with ours? And you, Christian men of England, are bound to do honour to those females who have gone forth, cheering and consoling the Missionary, and who, at the moment when he might have otherwise drooped and desponded, have, by the mild enthusiasm of their characters, kept up his spirits, and urged him on in his career. This is the cause which calls for your attention to-day; the cause into which, as I perceive, from the scene before me, both men and women enter heart and hand.

The REV. JABEZ BUNTING read an abstract of the Report, which presented a general view of the present state of the Missions, and detailed the recent operations of the Society, both foreign and domestic.

The RIGHT HON. LORD MOUNTSANDFORD then rose, and said, Mr. Chairman, ladies, and gentlemen, I came here, I will not say by accident, for I trust the Lord led me hither, to hear one of the most interesting Reports I have ever heard read. The approbation of that Report is marked in every countenance now before me, and I return to Almighty God my grateful acknowledgments for the opportunity I have thus enjoyed. When I left home this

morning, I did not know that I was coming to this place; but, as I bave said, the Lord has led me hither; and I trust that what I have heard will sink deep into my heart, and bring forth the fruits of a holy and religious life, so that I may be able, for the future, to do all that can be expected of me in my neighbourhood, in my own dear country, Ireland. I will not detain you longer, as there are so many to address you, who will speak to you with more advantage than I possibly can do; but will merely move the Resolution which has been put into my hand, "That the Report, of which an abstract has now been read, be received and printed."

The REV. J. CLAYTON, jun., spoke as follows:-Mr. Chairman, and respected friends, I step forward with cheerful readiness to second the Resolution just moved by the Nobleman who has taken his seat. I feel, Sir, a deep conviction that, "though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal." It is with this sentiment that I am solicitous to carry forward, at the request of your Committee, the interesting transactions of these religions hours. With this sentiment I wish every heart to be imbued; that no elevated rank, no brilliant gifts, no costly sacrifices, no herculean labours, no flaming zeal, can give substantial value to our efforts in the cause of God, if they are not prompted and regulated by a principle of holy love. Unquestionably, its highest exercises must relate to God. A sense of obligation to a divine Saviour will constrain us to live, not unto ourselves, but unto him; will impel us to shrink from no labour, to grudge no sacrifice, to repine at no privation and suffering, if we can but promote the interests and glory of Him who gave himself to sprinkle and redeem many nations. But the subordinate exercises of this Christian virtue will respect our fellowcreatures. It will glow with fervour to those who bear the image of God. It will dictate the unfeigned wish, "Grace be with all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity;" and while its subject will sympathize with them in their cares and sorrows, he will heartily rejoice in the success with which their exertions may have been crowned, in the diffusion of the Gospel through the world. This divine charity, too, will not only cement our attachment to our Christian brethren in general, but, expan sive as the heavens whence it descends, it will reach over the whole family of man. It will not inquire whether the objects of its benign regards belong to this or the other quarter of the world; whether they are of dark or fair complexion; whether they are placed in burning or frozen zones and

circles; whether they are Pagans, Mohammedans, Jews, or Infidels: it breathes good-will to all, and wills that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." It is in this spirit that

I am desirous to sustain the Resolution which has been placed in my hand. I presume that I am chiefly surrounded by members of the Wesleyan community. Will they accept, through you, the assurances of my cordial, my fraternal, regard? Will they receive my assurances, that I am happy to blend my better sympathies with them to-day, and how delighted I have been to hear the Report of their successful Missionary operations during the past year? Is there a person who may by possibility have entered this spacious hall, who is disposed to advance towards me, and say, "Behold, Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp ?" Is there a narrow-minded and envious group who would, if they had the power to do so, suppress or obstruct the efforts of these useful labourers, and bid them cease from their work? To all such, this is my prompt, (I will not say my indignant, but) my warm reply, "Would God that all the Lord's people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!" O my friends, it is when this holy, this catholic, inspiration shall replenish the entire aggregate of the Ministers and disciples of Christ, that we shall see far greater things than we have ever yet beheld; greater triumphs over the selfishness and perverseness of our fallen nature, greater talents, greater successes, greater exertions, and a mightier combination of them, to bring the whole population of the globe under the enlightening and transforming influences of the Gospel of the Son of God. Then, amidst the scenes of light, and liberty, and peace, and joy, which will animate the vast community, there will be seen, indeed, one singular funeral, but without attendant gloom, when bigotry, intolerance, and uncharitableness shall be conveyed to their sepulchre, and not a mourner be left to go about the streets. Then, the pictured representations of ancient prophecy shall be realized in fact, when Ephraim and Judah shall cease to vex and envy one another; when all the evils of man's dire apostasy shall gradually disappear; and this world shall exhibit a fair type of heaven, where knowledge, purity, freedom, and bliss, eternally reign. In immediate reference to the motion now before the Chair, and about to be presented to this crowded Meeting, it is really needless that should say more than a very few words, partly because it has been appropriately referred to by his Lordship who preceded me, and principally because the Report contains so strong a recommenda

tion of itself. I have been marking down with my pencil several points to which I wish to advert, but I know not how to make my selection. I am astonished at its various and ample contents, and dazzled by the blaze of the shining detail. Suffice it to say, that it has touched every quarter of the globe. It has told us, that the Hindoo is breaking his caste; that the African has burst his chains; that the North American savage is losing his wildness, and sitting in calm serenity of mind at the feet of Jesus; and that some even of the superstitious sons of civilized Europe are feeling after God, and beginning to taste that liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free. It has revived us, also, with some domestic intelligence, that the Gospel is producing salutary impressions upon the inhabitants of a sister island-on Ireland,-on whose condition I must not expatiste at this time, and in this place; and in reference to which subject, therefore, I will resolve all my sentiments and feelings into a prayer. May this be the dawn of a brighter day on the inhabitants of that dark, deluded, suffering, but noble, portion of the British empire! So multiplied and exhilarating have been the statements of the Report, (read by one of the veterans in the sacred cause,) that I will not attempt to follow them, but conclude by saying, that there are three exercises of mind which its exhibitions should awaken. First, that of fervent gratitude to God. Be it ours to imitate the first Missionaries sent out by the Saviour, who returned with joy, and said, "Even the devils are subject to us through thy name;" or, to copy the Master himself, who, in the hour of his holy triumph, exclaimed, "I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven." Associated with our thankfulness, let us cherish deep humility. If once we indulge a contrary spirit, and tread in the footsteps of the haughty eastern Monarch, who stalked forth on the walls he had raised, and uttered the soliloquy, "Is not this great Babylon which I have built, for the glory of my majesty?" God can soon send us into the miry swamps, to mortify our pride, and teach us a lesson of dependence. The rains of heaven roll off the summits of lofty mountains, and glide into the lowly vales, which they cover with beautiful verdure and abundant fruitfulness. And then, gratitude and humility should be accompanied and followed by a firm resolution, in dependence on the succours of the Spirit of God, to make more vigorous efforts for the advancement of the Redeemer's canse. The husbandman puts forth fresh strength, when he has gathered many sheaves from the field, and anticipates the speedy completion of the harvest. The racer benda forward with his utmost stretch, when he

has crossed a large part of the course, and expects shortly to gain the prize. Thus, a retrospect and prospect of success should urge us onwards in our career of Missionary zeal, until the crisis arrives, when earth's millions shall roll the rapturous acclamation to the skies, "Now is come the kingdom of God and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever!"

The Resolution was then put from the Chair, and carried unanimously.

SIR ANDREW AGNEW, BART., M.P., in moving the next Resolution, said, Having been requested to do that by which I conceive myself much honoured, to move the second Resolution in this Meeting, I could not possibly decline, however incompetent 1 feel myself to undertake the task. Sir, it has been quite unexpected on my part that I should be permitted to have this honour; and, in the absence of ideas of my own, I will take the liberty of borrowing one of yours. You remarked, Sir, how vast was the difference between the situation which we occupy this day, and that which those admirable persons, the Missionaries of the Society, occupy in foreign lands. Sir, we have met here to enjoy a mental treat, I hope also a spiritual feast. We have met here, according to the annual usage, to rejoice with and to congratulate one another. How different is the situation, how vastly different are the circumstances, in which the excellent men are placed, who carry forward the work of your Society! To us, at least to myself, it is altogether inconceivable, on merely human principles, how men can carry forward, year after year, their vast, their admirable labours, amidst so many difficulties and so many discouragements as they must necessarily meet with. But an explanation can be given of the fact it is, that it can only be because they rest upon the arm of God; it can only be because they are convinced of the truth of the simple Scripture statement, that His strength is made perfect in human weakness. The circumstances in which they are placed must, above all others, be calculated to impress them with the conviction of the universal sovereignty of Almighty God. Your Report, Sir, this day, certainly, is admirably calculated to satisfy us, that we should not despise the day of small things. I would not attempt to add a word to this idea, which has been presented to my mind by the admirable Report, embracing as it does the whole habitable globe, and describing the now extensive operations of a system which originally emanated from one individual, who cherished the benevolent notion of evangelizing the whole world, that individual being John Wesley. The Resolution I am called upon to move is confined to one object,-perhaps

the most interesting which this Society is now called upon to contemplate,-the effects produced in the West Indies by the emancipation of the slaves. Allow me to congratulate you, in doing which perhaps I have a selfish pleasure, (though the part I took was in a much humbler degree than your own,) on the manner in which you exerted your eloquence on that subject in another place. And it surely must give us all very great satisfaction to have heard from the Report, that the Act which was passed for the purpose of elevating the character and condition of the black population has, through the blessing of God, tended immediately to elevate in that country, in many instances, the moral tone and feeling of the white population also, in reference to the great duty of encouraging the religious instruction of the emancipated negroes. I have to move the following Resolution :

bath-question, than to the exertions of the Wesleyan Methodists.

The REV. THEODORE DURY, A. M., VICAR OF KEIGHLEY, in Yorkshire:- Mr. Chairman and Christian friends, The Resolution which I am called to second requires but very little recommendation from any speaker. It relates to the cause of the negroes; and there is one remark which has been,suggested to me, that the emancipation of the negroes has been very principally owing, under God, to the zeal, the perseverance, and the firmness of the Methodist societies in this country. My heart rejoiced when I came to that part of the long tour which I have been taking with you to-day, while listening to the Report, beginning at Stockholm, going through France, Germany, and Spain,to the very antipodes where the people stand feet to feet with us,-through Ceylon, India, New-Zealand, and the Friendly Isles, over to South Africa, touching Western Africa, and going on to the West Indies, where I rejoice to hear you have seventy-six Missionaries; and I pray God that those seventy-six may speedily be a hundred. I must be permitted to mingle my congratulations with yours, and my thanksgivings to Almighty God with yours, that, although the times have been perilous, yet Providence is guiding your Missionaries, and the blessing of God is descending on their labours, on their persons, and on their families. They have been generally protected, they have been invariably blessed, in their most important labours. I do rejoice to hear that you have 48,000 members under the care of your Missionaries. O may God increase them, and make them a hundred times as many more! Indeed, when I consider the numher of persons who attend the preaching of the Gospel by your Missionaries, I think I may say, that above 100,000 persons are benefited by your exertions. Besides, when we recollect the vast number of children that crowd your schools, forming, indeed, a goodly number, (37,000,) there is certainly a call upon you for thanksgiving, and fixed determination to go on and increase in this labour of love. Some little attempts have been made to undermine the Society; but see how God works, even as he did of old. When the children of Israel were coming out of Egypt, their hearts were failing them; as, perhaps, the hearts of some of you, my Christian brethren and sisters, were ready to fail you, when you thought of the recent base and cruel attempt to take away the bread of the Missionaries, who are employed in dispensing the bread of life to perishing sinners. But in the day when the people of the Lord cried out, and their hearts failed

"That this Meeting contemplates with heartfelt satisfaction the important change which has taken place in West Indian society since the last Anniversary; that the peaceful and orderly conduct of the negroes in general, in their transition from bondage to freedom, has afforded evidence that they know how to appreci ate, and are prepared rightly to improve, the inestimable boon which British justice and philanthropy have at length bestowed; and that the gracious influence which has been so extensively exerted upon the minds of the negroes, disposing them to aspire after a higher liberty and nobler privileges than those which are merely temporal, is to be regarded as a proof that Negro Emancipation was accomplished under the special guidance and protection of Divine Providence, and as a pledge that, if vigorously followed up by an application of adequate religious means, this great national measure will lead to the elevation of the negro race into a Christian, civilized, and happy community."

I can only add my prayer: May God of his mercy grant, that through the merits of Christ, and by the influence of his Holy Spirit, such may be the happy results of your labour!

Before I sit down, I will say, that I never regretted more than on the present occasion, my inability to address at length, and in adequate terms, so large and so respectable a Meeting as this. Had I the power, I should feel myself bound in gratitude to do it: that feeling of gratitude brought me here, because, if I ever be at liberty for a moment to digress from the immediate subject of our present Meeting, I would say, that to no part of the community have I, in another place, been more indebted, in reference to the Sab

them, what was the announcement from heaven? "Let them go forward, and the Lord will fight for them." But why are these times of trial permitted? If there were no perils, no dangers, there would not be the same opportunities afforded for courage and perseverance. If there had been

no storm in the Lake of Gennesaret, the disciples would not have waked the Saviour; and they would not have seen his miraculous power in producing the great calm that followed the mighty tempest. And O may the little storm that has been passing over your heads, in a few places, break in blessings upon you! I have lived in a place now for nearly twenty years, in harmony, friendship, fellowship, and Christian love with your society; I have seen the good it has achieved; I know the great benefits it has conferred upon my native land; and I should be, indeed, ungrateful, if I did not bear testimony to the blessings it has secured. Only take the town of Leeds, where, perhaps, you have six or seven thousand members in your society: what a great moral benefit is conferred on that town alone by your religious Connexion! And when I see the benefits you have conferred on society at home, and the blessings you have been the means of scattering, I can only say, May the Lord prosper you: may the Lord go with you, and bless you in your work!

The Resolution was carried unanimously. The REV. JAMES DIXON, of Liverpool, said, Sir, I cannot commence my speech, without very humbly and sincerely thanking this great assembly for their kind sympathy with me, on my appearance before them. I feel that I continue to live at least in the affections of some of my London brethren; and if they could not love me for my own sake, I am quite sure they would esteem me for the cause I this day advocate. I feel almost insurmountable difficulties in standing before you to-day, because I feel how utterly impossible it is for me to stretch my mind to the length of my theme, or to raise my soul to the elevation which it ought to occupy when I speak on a subject the most holy, the most heavenly, and the most sublime in the world. But there are some things which greatly relieve me. I rejoice that we are assisted on this occasion by a Clergyman of the Church of England. I rejoice that we are assisted by an eloquent friend, the Minister of a Dissenting congregation. joice that we are assisted by the noble, disinterested, and patriotic parliamentary leader of the great Sabbath-day question. And in the presence of such a phalanx of friends and advocates of our great cause, I trust and hope I shall be supported whilst I attempt to address you for a very

I re

few moments. Sir, you have announced me as coming from Liverpool. Now, I am glad to inform you, and to acquaint this great assembly, that although our vessel at Liverpool has been overtaken by a storm, yet she still rides securely in the midst of the waves. Sir, at Liverpool we went, about a fortnight ago, at the Anniversary of our Auxiliary, into the great Missionary question. 1, at least, being accustomed to feel timidly in diffcult circumstances, did so with a good deal of trepidation. We, however, came out of our Missionary Meetings with great joy. We never had better Meetings. The Spirit of God, and the spirit of true Christian charity, I trust, never more eminently rested upon our assemblies. And, notwithstanding all the threats we have had on the subject of stopping the supplies, we happen to have raised a greater amount of supply this year than we even did last year. It is a great consolation to religious men, to know that in all states and circumstances, winds and weathers, they have their Christian principles to retire upon; and I trust, and indeed feel greatly confident, that the principles on which our noble institution reposes will sustain her, be the outward circumstances in which she may be placed what they may. What are those principles? Generally, of course, those of Christianity. We give to the distant nations of the world the same Bible we read ourselves. We present to them the same cross we ourselves adhere to for salvation. We exhibit the same mode of acceptance with God, which we ourselves have been taught by the Bible and by our fathers. Whatever Christianity is, and whatever the Methodist form of Christianity is, it is such as we ourselves embrace, and which we believe we fairly, frankly, fully, and without any reservation, give to others. That, Sir, is our leading principle. But there is another. If it is a right principle, to honour and dignify human nature, then we do so; for, instead of spurning any man as a brute, we treat him as a brother. Instead of philosophically judging whether he is fit for the Gospel, by his having woolly or lank hair, a black or a white skin, a Roman or a Negro nose, it is of no consequence to our argument, because whereever we find man, we find mind; where we find mind, we find a religious capacity; and where we find a religious capacity, we desire to give religion, because we hold, that man is to be honoured as man; and I trust and hope that the proceedings of this day, and especially the statements of the beautiful Report that has been read this morning, will, at least, go to prove that we have honoured one class of our fellowcicatures, by assisting this great country