receipts have arisen, and the specific purposes to which they have been applied. All of which is submitted to your Excellency's consideration. JOHN G. ARMAGH. (Signed) (Seal) RICHARD DUBLIN. EDWARD MEATH. CHARLES Kildare. R. DERRY AND RAPHOE. Board-room, 24, Upper Merrion-street, August 9, 1844. [The total receipts were 135,3447., and the expenditure 119,722., (including 33,2181. paid for the purchase of three per cent. consols ;) leaving a balance in the perpetuity purchase fund of 2,6831., and in the general fund of 12,9381.] INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE ENLARGEMENT, BUILDING, AND REPAIRING OF CHURCHES AND CHAPELS. THE usual monthly meeting of this Society was held at No. 4, St. Martin'splace, on Monday, the 21st of April: the Lord Bishop of Winchester presided. There were also present-the Bishops of Chester, Bangor, Hereford, Worcester, and Lichfield; Sir R. H. Inglis, Bart., M.P.; the Revs. J. Jennings, H. H. Norris, and B. Harrison; Messrs. F. H. Dickinson, M.P., James Cocks, J. Watson, J. S. Salt, N. Connop, H. J. Barchard, W. Davis, &c. Some preliminary business having been transacted, the board proceeded to consider the application which had been referred to them by the sub-committee. Grants were made towards the erection of seven new churches, the rebuilding, with enlargement, of five existing churches, and the enlargement of, or other increase of accommodation in, five other churches. The seventeen parishes assisted contain, together, a population of rather more than half a million, the present churches, one hundred and one in number, contain seats for 83,000 persons, but of this accommodation only 23,000 seats are free. Therefore, deducting from the amount of the population the seats allotted to particular individuals, there is only sitting-room for one-twentieth part of the remaining portion of the inhabitants. To meet in some small degree this great destitution, new churches are about to be erected for the districts of Rainow, in the parish of Prestbury; Homerton, in the parish of Hackney; Ramsbottom, in the parish of Bury; Chapeltown, near Sheffield; Melplaish, near Bridport; Bishop's Sutton, near Bristol; and Bensham, in the parish of Gateshead; towards rebuilding the parish-churches of Wolsingham, near Durham, Woolsthorpe, near Grantham; Fairlight, near Hastings; Great Musgrave, near Brough; and Kingsweare, near Dartmouth; also towards increasing the accommodation, by various means, in the churches at Broughton, near Manchester; Gorleston, near Yarmouth; Nailsea, near Bristol; Brompton Ralph, near Wiveliscombe; and East Knoyle, near Hindon. It is expected that the ecclesiastical commissioners will endow four of the districts in which new churches are to be built, and it will be interesting to supply a few particulars respecting the present state of some of them. Rainow is one of the largest of thirty-two townships in the parish of Prestbury, with nearly 1800 poor inhabitants, engaged in cotton and silk manufactories, in coal mines, and stone quarries: the only place of worship is a ruinous building, neither consecrated nor licensed, and which cannot now be used. Chapeltown contains more than 2,000 inhabitants, occupied in working coal and iron mines, two miles from the nearest church, the people generally so poor, that although they entertain the best feeling towards the establishment of a church among them, they are unable to contribute towards it. The population of Melplaish consists of small farmers and their labourers, but all, whether churchmen or dissenters, have contributed according to their means, but the chief portion of the expense of building a church, parsonage-house, and schools, will be defrayed by a gentleman who has long lamented the wants of the district, situated as it is, two miles from the nearest church. The district of Bishop's Sutton is described as being almost pauperized, and fearfully demoralized; the inhabitants are of the poorest class, and employed in coal-mines. The parish of Gateshead, in which a new church will be built at a hamlet called Bensham, contains 15,000 inhabitants, and the present accommodation is not sufficient for one-seventh of the population. The public services have recently been increased to the full extent of existing available means, but as to all the purposes of a vigilant and adequate pastoral care, a large proportion of the dense mass of human beings is practically as sheep without a shepherd. The effect is manifest in an awful neglect of public ordinances, and in the moral degradation and physical wretchedness usually associated with that neglect. The treasurer reported that the grants voted at this meeting have increased the amount for which the Society have become responsible beyond the means now at their disposal to 4,0491. 2s. 6d. ; the grants which they are pledged to pay amounting to 59,4327., while the sum in hand to meet their liabilities is only 55,382. 178. 6d. NATIONAL SOCIETY. THE meetings of the National Society for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the Established Church, during the last month, have been attended by the Lords Bishops of Bangor, Carlisle, Chester, St. David's, Hereford, Lichfield, Lincoln, Ripon, Salisbury, and Worcester; the Very Rev. the Dean of Chichester; T. D. Ackland, Esq. M.P.; Ven. Archdeacon Sinclair; Rev. H. H. Norris, Rev. H. H. Milman, Rev. John Jennings, Rev. W. Short; G. F. Mathison, Esq., Richard Twining, Esq., and W. Page Wood, Esq. Grants from the Special Fund to the amount of 2,510l., and from the Queen's Letter Fund, to the amount of 1,3307.-total, 3,840%.—have been voted in aid of schools at sixty-six places. Schools in thirty places have been received into union. The Society has placed an organizing master under the Archidiaconal Board of Stafford, and another organizing master is about to be placed under the Derby Archidiaconal Board. The diocese of Lichfield will thus have an organizing master at work in each of its three archdeaconries. In addition to this the Rev. H. Baber has been appointed by the bishop, diocesan inspector of schools. It is to be wished that eventually such a staff may be in operation in every diocese in the kingdom. The case of Betton's Charity has not yet come on in the Rolls' Court, and will probably not be heard this term. The annual general meeting of the Society will take place on the 28th instant. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE annual meeting of this Society was held on Tuesday, the 6th May, in the great room at Exeter Hall, and was most fully attended. On the platform, amongst others, were, the Earl of Chichester, who was in the chair; the Bishops of Chester and Cashel, Lord Ashley, Lord Glenelg, the Worshipful Chancellor Raikes, Sir Robert Inglis, M.P., Lord Sandon, Capt. Hope, R.N., Sir George H. Rose, Sir J. Kennaway, &c. &c. The Rev. R. Davies, one of the secretaries, and the Rev. J. Venn, alternately read parts of the Report, which the Committee said was a satisfactory one; the general state of the Islington Institution during the past year had also been satisfactory. STATE OF THE FINANCES. The receipts of the year stand as follow: General fund, out of which the establishment of the Society at home and abroad are provided for China fund Special funds: Capital fund Fourah Bay's Buildings' fund Disabled Missionaries' fund £2015 16 7 £ s. d. 100,422 10 5 921 12 5 748 14 6 1140 15 8 4826 19 2 Making a total from all sources of £105,249 9 7 The Committee have thus to report that the aggregate receipts of the year have exceeded those of the preceding year by the sum of 9251. 13s. 9d., and they call on the members to unite with them in thanksgiving to God for the gracious manner in which he has been pleased to prosper the home operations of the Society. The expenditure of the year, on the General Fund account, amounted to 89,0937. 148. 9d., including the sum of 9117. 148., received from her Majesty's Government out of the parliamentary grant of 1844 for negro education. The surplus of receipts over expenditure, on account of the General Fund, was therefore 11,3287. 15s. 8d. Out of this sum, 5,0771. 15s. 7d., the amount received in the year for legacies, was transferred to the Capital Fund, in accordance with a resolution to that effect adopted at the commencement of the preceding financial year. The remainder, 6,2517. Os. 1d., was a balance at the bankers, to commence the operations of the year, the claims on the Committee for bills falling due on account of the missions being unusually heavy in the earlier part of it. Under these favourable circumstances, the Committee have considered it to be their duty to fix the maximum of expenditure for the current year at 92,000l., being an increase of 5,000l. on that of the preceding year. Provision is thus made for some enlargement of the operations of the Society in the Western Africa and the Indian missions, as well as to meet certain contingent expenses in some of the missions, especially for buildings, which are likely to be of larger amount than usual in the current year. The various resolutions were moved and seconded by Sir R. H. Inglis, Bart. M.P., the Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, Lord Ashley, Rev. H. Elliott, Lord Glenelg, Professor Scholefield, Rev. H. Stowell, and Rev. H. M'Neil. EDUCATION IN IRELAND. THE following is a copy of the bill to enable her Majesty to endow new colleges for the advancement of learning in Ireland. [Note. The words and clause printed between inverted commas are proposed to be inserted in the committee.] For the better advancement of learning among all classes of her Majesty's subjects in Ireland; be it enacted, by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that in case her Majesty shall be pleased by letters patent, under the Great Seal of Ireland, to found one or more new colleges for the advancement of learning in Ireland, "it shall be lawful for the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury to issue "out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and "Ireland such sum of money as shall be needed by the trustees hereinafter " mentioned, for purchasing or providing lands, tenements, and hereditaments "for the use of such college or colleges, and for the necessary buildings, with "the appurtenances thereof, and for establishing and furnishing the same, not exceeding the sum of thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three "pounds six shillings and eightpence for each such college, and not exceeding "the sum of one hundred thousand pounds in the whole." And be it enacted that the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland for the time being shall be trustees for the purpose of purchasing or providing, as hereinafter mentioned, any buildings, lands, tenements, or hereditaments that may be necessary for the said colleges and the sites thereof, and the premises to be occupied therewith respectively, and for erecting thereon suitable buildings, and for repairing, enlarging and improving the same from time to time, and for upholding and furnishing the same from time to time, for the use of the said colleges respectively. And be it enacted, that for the purposes of this act the said Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland for the time being, and their successors, shall be a corporation by the name or style of The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, and by that name, for the purposes of this act, shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, to be by them made and from time to time altered as they shall think fit, and shall and may sue and be sued, plead or be impleaded, in all courts and before all justices and others, and in that capacity shall be deemed promoters of the undertaking authorised to be executed by this act. And be it enacted, that in order to enable the said Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland to purchase and provide the buildings, lands, tenements, and hereditaments which may be required for the said colleges and the sites thereof, it shall be lawful for the said commissioners, with the approval of the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, to contract and agree with any person or persons, or body or bodies corporate, for the purchase or renting of any buildings, lands, tenements, or hereditaments, required for such colleges, or the sites thereof, and also for the purchase of any subsisting leases, terms, estates, and interests therein, or charges thereon; and the buildings, lands, tenements, or hereditaments so contracted and agreed for shall be conveyed, assigned, or demised to or in trust for her Majesty, her heirs and successors, in such manner and form as the said Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury shall direct. And be it enacted, that the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, shall be incorporated with this act, except the clauses with respect to the purchase and taking of lands otherwise than by agreement. Provided always, that all things by the said act required or authorised to be done by the promoters of the undertaking may be done by any two of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, subject to the approval of the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, in the cases provided by this act. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners of Public Works, if they shall be so directed by the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, to employ the county surveyor, or any other competent surveyor or architect, to make a survey and estimate of any of the said proposed works, and to prepare such plan, section, or specification thereof as may be necessáry, and send the same to the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury for their approval; and if the said Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury shall think fit to authorise the work in any such plan, section, or specification, VOL. XXVII.-June, 1845. 2 Y or any modification thereof which they may think proper to be undertaken, they shall, by warrant under their hands, direct the said Commissioners of Public Works to execute such work at and for any amount not exceeding a sum to be specified in such warrant; and the said Commissioners of Public Works shall, upon the receipt of such warrant, forthwith cause the construction of the work mentioned therein to be proceeded with. And be it enacted, that the said Commissioners of Public Works shall cause detailed accounts in writing of their proceedings under this act, of the several sums received by them as such commissioners for the purposes of this act, and of the sums expended by them for such purposes, and the mode of such expenditure, and the several works made or in progress under this act, to be made up to the 31st day of December in each year and such accounts shall be laid before both houses of parliament within six weeks thereafter, if parliament be then sitting, or if not, then within six weeks after the first meeting of parlia ment subsequent to the 31st day of December; and the said commissioners shall, as often as they shall be required so to do by the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, transmit to the said Commissioners of the Treasury like accounts made up to such period as the said Commissioners of the Treasury shall direct; and it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury to give such directions as they shall think proper, defining the duties of the said Commissioners of Public Works in the execution of this act; and the said Commissioners of Public Works shall observe all such directions as aforesaid which shall from time to time be signified to them by the said Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury. And be it enacted, that the several enactments contained in an act passed in the second year of the reign of his late Majesty, intituled An Act for the Extension and Promotion of Public Works in Ireland, which affect or relate to any action or suit to be commenced against the commissioners for the execution of the last recited act, or their secretary, or any person or persons, for anything done by virtue of or in pursuance of the last-recited act, or any proceedings in any such action or suit, or any limitation of time for the commencing thereof, or any costs thereof, or any evidence to be given therein, or any notice of action or suit or satisfaction or tender thereof, or any action or suit to be commenced by the said commissioners, or any proceedings therein, or the said commissioners suing or being sued in the name of their secretary, or any abatement or discontinuance of any such action or suit, or to the court in which, or to the terms or conditions on which, any such action or suit shall be brought against the said commissioners, collectively or individually, or their secretary, shall be held to apply to and extend to any action or suit to be commenced against the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, or their secretary, or any person or persons for anything done by virtue of or in pursuance of this act, or to any proceedings in any such action or suit, or to the limitation of time for the commencing thereof, or to any costs thereof, or to any notice of any such action or suit, or to any evidence to be given therein, or to any action or suit to be commenced by the said Commissioners of Public Works in the execution of this act, or on account of or in pursuance of this act, or to any proceedings in any such action or suit, or to the said commissioners suing or being sued in the name of their secretary for the time being, or to any abatement or discontinuance of any such action or suit, or to the court in which or to the terms or conditions on which any such action or suit shall be brought against the said Commissioners of Public Works, collectively or individually, or against their secretary. And be it enacted, that it shall not be lawful for any college within the provisions of this act to alien, mortgage, charge, or demise any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, to which it may become entitled, unless with the approval of the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, except by way of |