RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. WEST INDIES. our last Number we stated, That the persecuting act of the Jamaica Legislature had been disalJowed by his Majesty, and a method dopted to prevent the execution, in future, of any restrictive law respecting religion, without the King's concurrence; which, we are persuaded, will never be afforded. We have now the pleasure of laying before our readers the official Report on this subject, and the order made in consequence of it: • At the Council-Chamber, Whitehall, the 23d of May, 1809. By the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council, appointed for the Consideration of all Matters relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations. To the King's most Excellent Ma-Additional Instruction to the Go jesty in Council. May it please your Majesty, Your Majesty having been pleased, by your Order in Council of the 26th ult. to approve of a Report of this Committee, submitting that an act passed by the Legislature of the island of Jamaica in the year 1807, entitled, An Act for the Protection, Subsisting, Clothing, and for the better Order and Government of Slaves, and for other Pur poses,' should be disallowed, as containing a clause contrary to the principles of toleration prevailing in This kingdom, and as being the more objectionable, as an act to the same effect had been disallowed by your Majesty at a former period, and no provision had been made by the Legislature of the island for elergymen of the Established Church. The Lords of the Committee, adverting to the circumstance of this act be ing a second attempt by the Legis lature of the island of Jamaica to pass a law of this nature, and foreseeing the inconvenience that may arise from a recurrence of this prac tice, are humbly of opinion, That an additional instruction should be given to the several governors of your Majesty's islands in the West vernors of his Majesty's Islands in the West Indies. It is our will and pleasure, and we do hereby require and command that you do not, on any pretence whatever, give your assent to any law or laws to be passed concerning religion, until you shall have first transmitted unto us, through one of our principal Secretaries of State, the draught of such bill or bills, and shall have received our royal pleasure thereupon; unless you take care, in the passing such bill or bills, that a clause or clauses be inserted therein, suspending and deferring the execution thereof until our will and pleasure shall be known there upon.' We understand that the Deputies of the Dissenting Congregations in of the Civil Rights of Dissenters, and near London, for the Protection have presented an Address of Thanks to the Lords of the Council, for their wise and liberal conduct in this affair. OTAHEITE. TEE following pleasing event was mentioned at the last Annual Meeting of the Missionary Society: A seaman, on board a trading vessel, called at Otaheite, and, through the blessing of God on the preaching of the Missionaries there, was called to the knowledge of the truth. Afterwards he was removed to a man of war, and became the happy instrument, by his conversa tion and example, of bringing thirteen or fourteen of his companions to a sense of their lost state, and their need of salvation by Jesus Christ. Their conduct for a considerable time past has been such as to afford much hope, that they also have been called by the grace of God. A spelling book and catechism, in the Otaheitan tongue, are now printing by the society, in order to facilitate the instruction of the natives by the Missionaries. NEW SOUTH WALES. PROPOSALS have been circulated for instituting a LENDING LIBRARY, for the general benefit of the inhabitants of New South Wales. In that colony, books of every kind are extremely scarce; it is therefore highly desirable that a public library should be formed, contain ing books suited to the poor settlers employed in agriculture, the soldiers, and the convicts. Those who have a disposition to improve their minds, have, at present, scarcely any opportunity on account of the want of books. Treatises on divi ́nity and morals, history, voyages and travels, agriculture in all its branches, mineralogy, and practical mechanics, would be peculiarly acceptable. Donations for this purpose in money, books, or tracts, will be thankfully received by the Rev. Samuel Marsden, chaplain to the colony, at Mr. William Wilson's, No. 150, Fenchurch Street, London. INDIAN JUBILEE. Protestant Missionaries, in 1706. The happy occasion had been long anticipated, and was marked with demonstrations of joy and gladness. The people, as we are informed, walked in procession to the churches, carrying palms in their hands, and singing the 98th Psalm; and, after offering up praises and thanksgivings to the Most High, they heard a sermon suitable to the day:-"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound." The year 1806 being the hundredth year (or the second fiftieth) since the gospel first visited the peninsula of India, a jublice was celebrated by the Hindoo churches, On the 9th of July, in commemoration of the arrival of the first two METHODISTS NOT COWARDS. Extract of a Letter from u Sailer on board his Majesty's Ship Sea-* Horse, to his Mother, dated Mal~ ta, July 31, 1808. "I shall now relate a circumstance which it concerns you to know, We are refitting in this place, after an engagement with a 540 men, and a corvette, of 24 Turkish frigate, of 52 guns and guns and 2 mortars. The corvette, we believe, was sunk, as she disappeared after the first broadside we gave her. The frigate we took, hours; having shot away her mizen after an engagement of nearly five mast, and fore and main top masts; her killed were 163, the wounded 195; while there were no more than five of our people killed, and eight wounded. may In such an affair as this, you feelings:- then, really I longed for wish to know what were my the action. We were at quarters nearly two hours before the action commenced, during which time I killed or wounded? had many thoughts: Shall I be I felt confidence in God, that he would deal might not see any fall near me, or kindly with me. I prayed that I if they did, that it might not affeet me. My prayer was answered. "I chose the most dangerous sta tion. The question was put, Who shall load the guns?' All were silent till I spoke. A consultation was held, and I took the office apparently unwelcome to others. My reason was, I am called a Methodist, they think us cowards; and I wished to convince them that we are not; and I believe that now host people on board are satisfied on that head." T. C. N. Augsburg, June 22. There has just appeared a royal edict of considerable length, relative to the religion and religious corporations of Bavaria. It declares that an absolute liberty of conscience is guaranteed to all the inhabitants of Bavaria. Every person may chuse and exercise whatever religion he pleases, as soon as he shall have obtained the age of twenty years, without any prejudice to his civil rights. This regulation applies to both sexes. The making of proselytes, either by force or art, is prohibited. If in the contracts of marriage, the parties, being of different religions, have stipulated that in which their children shall be educated, that stipulation shall be legally followed; but if there be no such agreement, the male children shall be brought up in the religion of the father, and the female in that of the mother; foundlings shall be brought up in the religion of him or her who shall be charged with their education. - From the Times, July 11th. LONDON. HOXTON ACADEMY. JUNE 21. A numerous meeting of the supporters of this institution was held in the adjoining Chapel, when three of the students delivered orations on the following subjects: - Mr. Harrison. The Advantages of Christianity to a Nation; Mr. J. Percy, the Chief Hindrances of the Propagation of the Gospel; Mr. Slate, the Subserviency of Divine Providence to the Progress of Divine Truth. Mr. Durant, of Poole, theu read the following report "The undersigned having had the satisfaction of being present at the Examination of the Students in the Hoxton Academy, on Friday, June 16, 1899, beg to express their satisfaction on that occasion. The order of reading was as follows: First class: Chaldee, Dan. iv.; Greek, Sophocles. Second class: Hebrew AL. WAUGH, A. M. Chairman, W. B. COLLYER, D. D. CHESHUNT COLLEGE. On Thursday, the 29th of June, was held at the College the Seventeenth Anniversary of this Iustitution. It was very numerously attended by friends from London and the adjacent villages; and the pro priety, as well as ability, with which the service was conducted, afforded great satisfaction. The chapel, which is a very neat building, and will contain about 500 persons, was of The crowded; and those who could not gain admittance, were accommodated with seats on the outside. For convenience of hearing, the services were performed, as usual on these occasions, near one of the windows, in an erection fitted up for that purpose. Divine worship commenced with a selection from the Common Prayer, with appropriate psalms and lessons. Dr. Draper, the president, then delivered a short introductory address, and called upon three of the senior students to deliver themes, which they did, upon the following subjects: Mr. Keyworth, on The Duty of Propagating the Gospel of Christ;" Mr. Wardle, on The best probable ineans of accomplishing such an important end; and Mr. Howes, onThe probable consequences using proper means for promulgating the Gospel.' The Rev. T. Bennett, of Birmingham, then prayed; after which, the Rev. R. Stodhart, formerly a student at this College, and now minister of PellStreet Chapel, preached a suitable sermon, from 1 Cor. ii. 2. president then reported the result of the last public examination of the students, as it respected their literary attainments, which was highly satisfactory. Dr. Draper proceeded to deliver a most affectionate and impressive charge to Mr. Keyworth, who had been called to the knowledge of the truth under his ministry, and had just closed his academical studies;- - the Rev. John Finley closed the services of the day with prayer, It will be gratifying to the friends of this Institution, which is supported by subscriptions and voluntary contributions, to learn that the List of Annual Subscribers received upon this occasion several additions. Also, that several persons, from a conviction of the utility of such a seminary, made an increase to their former subscriptions: but, though the Trustees have to acknowledge with gratitude the increasing prosperity of the Institution, yet the heavy expences attending such an undertaking, and which have increased with the pressure of the times, call for unremitted exertions XVII. on the friends of the gospel. It is a prominent feature in the plan of this Seminary, that no young man shall be admitted until he has given satisfactory evidence, both of personal religion, and of talents for the ministerial profession. ON Tuesday, July 4, Mr. James Bridgeman and Mr. Thos. Griffiths, late students at Cheshunt College, were publicly set apart to the work of Huntingdon's Chapel, Spa-fields. of the ministry, at the late Countess The Rev. L. Kirkman began the service with prayer; Dr. Draper, President of Cheshunt College, delivered a short Introductory Address, in which he explained the Nature of Ordination, as practised in the Primitive Church; he then called upon the eandidates to relate the particulars of their conversion by divine grace, and of their call to the ministry; also, to declare their assent to the doctrinal Articles of the Church of England, which had been previously read. This part of the service made a great impression, and appeared to give peculiar satisfaction to all present. The Rev. Thomas Bennett, of Birmingham, then offered the ordination prayer; Dr. Draper delivered a short but impressive charge, founded on Acts xx. 28; and the Rev. J. Griffiths concluded the service with prayer. KOMERTON ACADEMY. ON Tuesday, June 27, the Annual Orations were delivered by the three students to whom that service in rotation belonged, at the Rev. B.. Gaffee's Meeting-house, New Broad Street, before a large and most respectable auditory. The subjects of the orations were the following: 1. The Importance of an accurate Study of the Philosophy of the Human Mind, in Promoting the Knowledge of Revealed Religion. By Mr. Fox. 2. The Description and the Blessings of a Devotional Spirit. By Mr. Brackstone. 3. The Portraiture of a Christian Minister. By Mr. Notcult. On the succeeding day the usual Examination was conducted in the 3 C Academy at Homerton. The junior students were examined as to their progress in Classical and Hebrew Literature; and the seniors, with respect to the subjects of the Lectures through the past cession, in Mathematical, Philosophical, Critical, and Theological learning. The Oratio Academica was delivered by Mr. Small, a senior student, on the well-known distich: Ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes Emollit mores, nec sinii esse feros. Strong approbation was generally and very handsomely expressed by the constituents and other friends of this venerable seminary, with regard to both the public and the private exercises of this Anniversary. It may here be proper to contradict a prevalent supposition, that the endowments of the Homerton Academy are adequate to its support. This has never been the case; and, at present, the number of students being 18, with the certainty of a further addition after the vacation, and the other expences of the Institution being very much increased, it is necessary to solicit the aid of the friends of evangelical truth and solid learning; who, it is hoped, will exert themselves in endeavouring to procure, by subscriptions or otherwise, an addition to the means already possessed for its support. Toleration Act. OUR Readers in general, and our Dissenting Readers particularly, have doubtless noticed, with some degree of anxiety, the motion lately made in the House of Peers by Lord Sid, mouth, That a return should be, made of the number of persons who had received licences (as they are called) to become Dissenting Minis ters, during the last 50 years. The professed object of this motion was, to prevent the abuse of the Toleration Act, by improper persons ob, taining (through such licences) an exemption from civil offices and burdens, to which other persons are liable. His Lordship, and others who supported the motion, expressed, at the same time, their regard for the preservation of that religious liberty, which the Toler ation Act secures, and their wish not to trench upon it by the regulations which they judged it neces say to make for the prevention of abuses in future. As the Dissenters are deeply concerned in any alteration which may be made in that great bulwark of their privileges, it is certainly their duty to keep a watchful eye on the progress of this business. A meeting was, therefore, called of the three denominations of Dis Red Cross Street, London, on Thurssenters, at Dr. Williams's library, day, June 15; when a Committee most proper steps to be taken on was appointed to consider of the this occasion. We hope that some wise and calm measures will be adopted, agreeable to all parties. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. DEATH OF MR. CRAN. LETTERS have just been received by the Directors from Mr. Loveless, at Madras, and from Mr. Des Granges, at Vizigapatam, dated Jan. 20 and Feb. 27, 1809. By these letters they have received the very afflicting information of the death of a most worthy and valuable missionary, Mr. GEORGE CRAN. Concerning this mournful event, his colleague, Mr. Des Granges thus writes: - Our dear brother was severely attacked by a bilious fever in November last, which in a few days reduced him to a very weak and low state of body. By the advice of the physician, he undertook a tour to the northward, in company with Major-General Gowdie,' &ft |