which are so hyperbolical and bombastic, that they must prove equally insulting to the understanding and sickening to the taste, both of those who read and those who are the subjects of them; and such also is the cant of abuse, which is the distinguishing characteristic of Mr. Fellowes' phraseology; which, however, no provocation from the objects of his attacks could authorize, and which no charges

of moral delinquency, howev. er fully substantiated, could justify; but which every man of cultivated manners, liberal edu. cation, and Christian principles, must thoroughly condemn.

In short, these circumstances being considered, we are warranted in dismissing this publi. cation with the declaration, that Mr. F. instead of furnishing us with religion without cant, has given us cant without religion.

EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THE Commitee to which the pastoral letter had been committed, submitted to the Assembly the following resolution, which, being read, was adopted.

Whereas the book of discipline states that children, born within the pale of the visible church and dedicated to God in baptism, are under the inspection and government of the church, and specifies various important particulars, in which that inspection and government should be exercised, as also directs the mode, in which they shall be treated, if they do not perform the duties of church members; and whereas there is reason to apprehend, that many of our congregations neglect to catechise the children that have been admitted to the sealing ordinance of baptism, and do not exercise suitable discipline over them therefore,

Resolved, That the different Presbyteries within our bounds are hereby directed to inquire of the different sessions, whether a proper pastoral care be exercised over baptized children in their congregations, that they learn the principles of religion, and walk in newness of life before God; and that said Presbyteries do direct

all sessions that are delinquent this respect, to attend to it carefully and without delay.

The committee to which was referred the overture in relation to the establishment of a theological school, brought in the following report, which, being read, was adopted, and is as follows.

The committee appointed on the subject of a theological school, overtured from the presbytery of Philadelphia, report,

That three modes of compassing this important object have presented themselves to their consideration.

The first is, to establish one great school, in some convenient place near the centre of the bounds of our church.

The second is, to establish two such schools, in such places as may best accommodate the northern and southern divisions of the church.

The third is, to establish such a school, within the bounds of each of the synods. In this case, your com mittee suggest the propriety of leav ing it to each synod to direct the mode of forming the school, and the place where it shall be established.

The advantages attending the first of the proposed modes are that it would be furnished with larger funds,

and, therefore, with a more extensive library, and a greater number of professors.

The system of education pursued in it, would, therefore, be more extensive and more perfect; the youths educated in it would also become more united in the same views, and contract an early and lasting friendship for each other; circumstances which could not fail of promoting harmony and prosperity in the church. The disadvantages attending this mode would be, principally those derived from the distance of its position from the extremities of the presbyterian bounds.

The advantages attending the second of the proposed modes, and the disadvantages will readily suggest themselves, from a comparison of this with the other two.

The advantages which would attend the third, to wit; the establishment of theological schools, by the respective synods, would be the fol. lowing. The local situation of the respective schools would be peculiarly convenient for the several parts of a country so extensive, as that for the benefit of which they were designed. The inhabitants having the seminaries brought near to them, would feel a peculiar interest in their prosperity, and may be rationally expected to contribute to it much more liberally and generally, than to a single school, or even to two. The sy. nods also, having the immediate care of them, and directing either in person, or by delegation, all their concerns, would feel a similar interest, and would probably be better pleased with a system formed by themselves, and therefore peculiarly suited to the wishes and interests of the several parts of the church immediately under their direction. Greater efforts, therefore, may be expected from ministers and people, to promote the prosperity of these schools, than of any other. The disadvantages of this mode would be, the inferiority of the funds, a smaller number of professors, a smaller library, and a more limited system of education in each. The students also, would, as now, be strangers to each other.

Should the last of these modes be adopted, your committee are of opin

VOL. II. New Series.

ion that every thing pertaining to the erection and conduct of each school, should be left to the direction of the respective synods. If either of the first, the whole should be supject to the control of the General Assembly.

Your committee also suggest, that in the former of these cases, the funds for each school should be raised within the bounds of the synod, within which it was stationed. In the latter they should be collected from the whole body of the church.

Your committee, therefore, submit the following resolution, to wit:

Resolved, That the above plans be submitted to all the presbyteries within the bounds of the General Assembly, for their consideration, and that they be careful to send up to the next Assembly, at their sessions in May, 1810, their opinions on the subject.

The General Assembly have under their jurisdiction, 7 synods, 32 presbyteries, and 1 association.

FIFTH REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH AND FOR EIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

(Concluded from page 91.)

Your Committee will now advert to their proceedings within the United Kingdom.-Since the publication of their last Report, another very considerable edition of the Welsh Testament has been printed at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Several copies, both of the Bible and New Testament, in English, have been sent to the Isle of Man, for sale at the reduced prices, in conformity to an application for them on these terms, for the accommodation of the poor in that Island.

Donations of the Scriptures for the accommodation of persons of various descriptions within the United Kingdom, including prisoners of war and convicts, as usual, have been very considerable this year.

The Naval and Military Bible Society has been accommodated with copies of the Scriptures at the cost

S

prices, to a very considerable amount, in the course of the year; and the Committee anticipate the satisfaction which the Members of the Society will receive, at having had it in their power to assist, in however humble a degree, so laudable an Institution. Large supplies have also been furnished on similar terms, to the Hibernian Bible Society, the Cork Bible Society, and the Wigan Bible Society; the latter of which Institutions has been established for the purpose of distributing the Scriptures at reduced prices, under the patronage of the Bishop of Chester.

The Cork Bible Society, cursorily mentioned above, has laid before your Committee a copy of its First Report, containing very pleasing intelligence of the progress already made by that society, and holding out a prospect of its increasing usefulness in the populous city and County of Cork.

The London Female Penitentiary and some schools have received the assistance of the society. Individuals have also been supplied with them at the cost or reduced prices for the purpose of charitable distribution.

The accommodation of Prisons, Hospitals, and Workhouses, has engaged the particular attention of your Committee; and a Sub-committee has been expressly appointed for collecting information respecting their wants, in order to enable your Committee to proportion the measure of supply. This arrangement has necessarilyled to a correspondence with the sheriffs of the different counties, and the chaplains and gaolers of various Prisons; and it will be satisfactory to the society, to learn that the applications of the Sub-com. mittee have received a gratifying attention from those to whom they were addressed.

It is with sentiments of the sincerest satisfaction your Committee advert to an event, of which, from the notoriety given to it through the public Papers, the Members of the Society can scarcely be ignorant ; your Committee allude to the forma tion of an Auxiliary Bible Society at Reading, in aid of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The zealous

and effectual manner in which the Reading Bible Society has been constituted, the distinguished patronage which it has obtained, (the Bishop of Salisbury, one of your Vice Presidents, having accepted the presidency of it ;) and finally, the liberality and union so unanimously manifested in its support, entitle its promoters and contributors to the respect and gratitude of the parent Institution.

Intelligence has also been very recently received of another Auxiliary Institution having been formed at Nottingham under the designation of "the Bible Society of Nottingham and its Vicinity."

Your Committee are so deeply impressed with the advantage which

must result to the interests and usefulness of the British and Foreig Bible Society from such Establishments in aid of their Funds, that they earnestly recommend the precedents furnished by "the Birming ham Association," "the Reading Auxiliary Bible Society," and "the Bible Society of Nottingham and its Vicinity," to the consideration of such towns throughout the Kingdom, as may be disposed to promote the object of their Institution; leav ing it to be determined by local cir cumstances, which of the prece dents shall be adopted.

With respect to the funds of the Society, your Committee remark, with great pleasure, the accession which has been made to them in the course of the year by the great increase of Annual Subscriptions, as well as by Legacies and Donations.The several Congregations in the connexion of the late Rev. J. Wesley, are entitled to the acknowledgments of the Society, for various collections, amounting in the whole to 12787. 16s. 0 1-2d. and presented, in their names, by the Rev. Dr. Adam Clarke.-The sum of 1,000l. three per cent. Consol. Ann. has been transferred into the names of the Trustees of the British and Foreign Bible Society, being a Donation from Mrs. Ann Scott, relict of the late Rev. Jonathan Scott, of Matlock. The transfer has been acknowledged, and the thanks of the Society have been com

municated, by your committee to Mrs. Scott.

Upwards of 7007. have been received from the Presbytery of Glasgow, through the hands of William Muir, Esq. being the fruits of a Collection made through that Presbytery.

The Reading Auxiliary Bible Society (of which notice has been taken above) has already raised a considerable sum; the particulars of which, when received, will be duly reported. A Society instituted at Greenock, under the denomination of "the "Greenock and Port Glasgow Soci"ety, for the professed object of cir'culating the Holy Scriptures in places where they are most wanted, "and for assisting other Societies who "have the same views," has presented to the British and Foreign Bible Society a Donation of fifty guineas.

A fourth Donation of 907. has been received from the Association established in London for aiding the funds of our Institution. The progressive increase of the Annual Donations from this Association proves the steady and active zeal of its Members. A second Contribution, amounting to upwards of 187. has also been made by the Teachers and Children of the Holborn Sunday School, who have agreed to appropriate a small Weekly Donation in aid of the Funds of the Society. And, lastly, your Committee have the pleasure to notice that various Legacies have been bequeathed to the Society in the course

of the year.

Your Committee have also the satisfaction to report the prospect of further additions to the funds of this Society, by the active zeal of its friends in Scotland. The Rev. the Presbytery of Glasgow, having had laid before them a statement of facts relative to the proceedings of the British and Foreign Bible Society, after solemn deliberation, becoming the magnitude of the subject, unanimously appointed an annual Collection to be made at all the Churches and Chapels within their bounds, on or before the last Sabbath of July each year, till otherwise ordered. Collection for this year has already been made, and the amount of it noticed above. The Rev. Presbytery at Paisley have also unanimously ap.

The

pointed a Collection to be made for the same object, within the bounds of their extensive Presbytery. Your Committee, while they mention, with the sincerest gratification, the liberality which has largely added to the funds of the Society, and the flattering prospect of future augmentation, are at the same time anxious to guard against an impression, that the resources of the Society are more than adequate to its enlarged operations and increasing exigencies. They deem it their duty, therefore, cursorily to state, that a large proportion of the expense which must be incurred in preparing the various editions of the Scriptures,enumerated in the former part of this Report, cannot be re-imbursed; that the completion of the engagements of your Committee with India, from which no pecuniary return can be expected, will absorb a large sum for the three ensuing years; that the annual loss on books supplied by the Society at reduced prices, which has been unavoidably increased in consequence of the enhanced value of paper, cannot be estimated at less than 10007; and, lastly, that the demands upon the benevolence of the Society, for donations in money and books, both at home and abroad, are annually very considerable.

Your Committee take the present opportunity of observing, that, notwithstanding their invariable attention to give every degree of notoriety to the Institution of the British and Foreign Bible Society, they have still reason to believe, that it is far from being so generally known, as it ought to be; and they therefore earnestly request the assistance of every Member of the Society, to second their endeavors for making the establishment known in every part of the United Kingdom, as the most effectual means of procuring additionl support to it.

Your Committee have availed themselves of the privilege with which they are invested, of electing Honorary Members and Governors for Life, in the instances of Professor Bently of Aberdeen, the Rev. T. Charles, B. A. Vicar of Bela, the Rev. Adam Clarke, L L. D. William Muir, Esq. Christopher Sundius,