to receive spiritual light from others, where the beams of revelation are accumulated and fully displayed. If obedience to this purpose of Heaven be an universal duty, with what peculiar force of obligation does it press upon ourselves! If England has not only been favoured during many hundred years with the Christian religion, but has enjoyed since the days of the Reformers its purest illumination: how powerfully is she required to exert herself in opening every dark corner at home to the light; and in making known to distant nations the glory of Him, in whom all the ends of the earth shall be blessed. If England has been mercifully preserved a survivor of the tempest, which has covered the political ocean with shipwrecks: if she stands not merely a column erect among ruins, but a magnificent edifice, battered indeed, but undefaced, nor shaken to its foundations, amidst the surrounding overthrow of palaces and of temples: how loud is the call upon her to shew her gratitude for this distinguish ing mercy, by communicating to all mankind the best gift with which she is entrusted, the genuine Word of God."

SOCIETY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE

JEWS.

The next lecture to the Jews, at Ely Chapel, Ely Place, Holborn, will be on Thursday evening, May 7, by the Rev. Mr. Gauntlett, of Olney, Bucks. Subject:"Proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus." Service will begin at half past six o'clock.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this Society will be held at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, on Thursday, the 14th of May, at seven o'clock in the morning.

THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S DAY, &c. The annual meeting of this Society will be held on Tuesday, the 12th day of May next, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside, at six o'clock in the evening.

The chair will be taken at half past six precisely.

SOCIETY POR THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE BRITISH DOMI VIONS.

At the Annual General Meeting of this Society, on the 8th day of April, the committee reported, that since the last General Meeting 239 schools had been added to the society's list; and assistance repeated to 92

other schools formerly established, for which and the new schools before stated, they had distributed 26,723 Spelling-books, 5056 TesThat since the taments, and 132 Bibles. commencement of the institution (1785) they had issued 339,695 Spelling-books, 70,537 Testaments, and 8001 Bibles, to 3730 schools, containing upwards of 303,000 scholars. In the course of the past year, numerous testimonies of the utility of this institution have been furnished from various quarters, many instances of which were read by the secretary. Wales appears to have felt the moral influence of Sunday Schools, throughout the principality; and Ireland is making progress by means of them, în civilization and religious light. Applications have also been made to this country for the establishment of Sunday Schools at St.John's, Antigua; St. George's, Barbadoes; the Cape of Good Hope; Sicily; and Gibraltar: in consequence of which, the society resolved to extend their patronage as far as they may be enabled, "throughout the British domi nions," and have designated themselves ac cordingly, on the presumption, that in prosecuting an object that promises such extensive benefit, both moral and political, the liberality of the public will not be found to desert them. So many claims have indeed been made on the public by the nume rous excellent societies which have recently sprung up, and particularly by those which have the education of the poor for their object, that it is feared the interests of the Sunday-school Society may be in danger of becoming impaired. Such a result cannot be too seriously deprecated. The Sundayschool Society provides so effectually for educating those whose time is engrossed in the days of labour by their necessary occupations, and also for recovering them from vagrancy, disorder, and irreligion, and training them up to a due observance of the Sabbath day, that it must be regarded as an institution closely connected with the religious welfare of the country.

WANT OF BIBLES IN THE METROPOLIS.

Some benevolent individuals, who have been actively engaged in alleviating the bodily wants of the poor of Spitalfields, by means of soup-shops and other charitable institutions, have connected with this labour of love, one of a still nobler kiud. They have directed their inquiries to the spirituak state of the objects of their bounty; and the result of those inquiries we may shortly expect will be given to the public in a detached form. In the mean tinie we have it in ous

power to state the general result, as it affects one division of this populous district, namely, the north-west division: and it is as follows, In 611 families, 292 of which are families of weavers, there were found 1072 adults, and 1837 children. Of the adults, there proved to be 457 who could not read, and of the children there were only 340 who had been taught to read. Of the families, 235 stated themselves to be of the communion of the Church of England; 217 to belong to one or other of the various classes of dissenters; 16 to be of the Roman Catholic persuasion; and 115 to be of no religious profession, going, we presume, to no place of worship, and living wholly without God in the world No less than $35 of the 611 families were found to be destitute of a Bible, being more than one half of the whole number. In this one fact, for the correctness of which we pledge ourselves, may be found a decisive reply to those who have objected to the institution of the Bible Society in as far as respects its home purposes. Here are 335 families in one small district in the metropolis of this Christian country, within little more than a mile of the spot where the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge has held its sittings for one hundred and fourteen years, and the Bible Society for eight years, who are yet destitute of the word of life. Is not this a fact calculated to make us forego

our idle and, we must add, sinful jealousies, and to unite us in strenuous efforts to fill the immense void which remains to be supplied with scriptural light and knowledge? We trust that the discovery which has thus been made will lead to important results; and that while the British and Foreign Bible Society is consulting the interests and providing for the wants of the universe, minor societies will be formed on its model, and under its auspices, in every parish or district of the metropolis and its environs, which will watch over, ascertain, and supply local deficiencies, and which will apply to the wealthier members of their district for the means of affording the requisite supply. We say nothing at present on the lamentable ignorance of the first rudiments of knowledge which the above table shews to exist within less than two miles of St. Paul's, notwithstanding all the charity schools that have been esta-, blished. Will any man be found to quarrel with those benevolent persons, whatever be their religious denomination, who, like the good Samaritan, shall stretch forth a helping hand to these neglected individuals, whether their benevolence manifest itself in the œconomy of a soup-shop, in the institution of a free-school, or in the gift of Bibles from the repository of the Bible Society? We are ashamed to think that there should be any necessity for proposing such a question.

SPAIN.

THE important fortress of Badajoz has fallen, after a siege of twenty days. It was invested by Lord Wellington on the 17th of March, and was taken by storm on the night of the 6th of April. The exertions made and the valour displayed by the assailants during the siege were truly wonderful. The defence of the place seems also to have been most ably and bravely conducted. The gallantry of our troops, however, under the Divine blessing, proved to be irresistible, and this key of both Spain and Portugal, with its numerous garrison, is now ours. No less than 172 pieces of heavy brass cannon, besides an immense quantity of military stores and 4000 prisoners, have fallen into our hands. The enemy's loss during the siege, exclusive of those who fell in the assault, amounted to 1200. Our loss was inferior to this up to the moment of the assault. It consisted of 12 officers and 207 men killed, and 43 officers and 799 men wounded, of whom about a fourth part were Portuguese. The carnage, however, on the night of the assault was very great; the number of killed being no less thag 60 officers and 756 non

commissioned officers and privates, and of wounded 263 officers, and 2649 non-commissioned officers and privates, the proportion of Portuguese being still about one fourth. The whole numerical loss during the siege was about 4800 men. It is with sincere satisfaction we observe, in a dispatch duted the 8th of April, that our numerous wounded were doing well, and that the eventual loss to the service is not likely to be great.

It is hardly possible to calculate all the beneficial results which are likely to follow this achievement. Marshal Soult broke up in front of Cadiz on the 23d of March, leaving only 4000 men there, and arrived at Llerena on the 4th of April, with the intention, doubtless, of attempting to raise the siege of Badajoz. The speedy reduction of that fortress has, however, frustrated his purpose. Marmont has made demonstrations of attempting the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo; but as he did not approach it till the 4th instant, it will be impossible for him even to commence the siege before the British army is in a capacity to disturb his operations. A considerable body of Portuguese

troops, under Gens. Trant and Wilson, were watching his motions on the Coa. Two divisions of the allied army, under Generals Graham and Hill, had advanced into Estremadura, with the view of preventing any interruption of the siege of Badajoz. In consequence of this movement, Drouet's corps bad retired on Cordova. As Soult's army, however, approached, our two divisions gradually approximated to the main body. It is expected that the siege of Cadiz will be forthwith raised; and accounts have been received that the army of Baliasteros had entered Seville. The French, and indeed Spain generally, are said to be greatly distressed for want of provisions. Lord Wellington, we are sorry to perceive, complains loudly of the supineness of the civil authorities of the Portuguese province of Alentejo in perform ing their duty and supplying the army with the means of transport. We hope it may be possible to bring these recreants to punish

ment.

We trust that it will not be easy for Bonaparte, under the existing circumstances of Europe, to send any material reinforcements of men into Spain. Still more difficult will it be for him, in the great pressure which the scarcity of corn has produced in France, to furnish his armies with the necessary supplies of provisions. If the new regency of Spain should happily fulfil the expectations which have been formed of its efficiency, and should second as they ought the exertions

of Lord Wellington, we may hope to see the present campaign in that country close with fairer prospects for Spain and for Europe than we have yet dared to entertain. We should feel much more confidence in the Spanish cause, could we witness in their rulers a due measure of that vigour, promptitude, and decision which the present great crisis so peculiarly requires; and at the same time a disposition to abate the power of the inquisition, and to open the door for the admission of moral and religious light among the people.

RUSSIA, SWEDEN, &c.

It is not yet well understood what course affairs will take in the north of Europe. French troops are advancing in large masses towards the Vistula, and efforts appear to be making by Russia to collect armies in the same quarter. A conference is talked of between Bonaparte and his two brother emperors of Russia and Austria. The event of war will probably turn on Alexander's refusal to comply with all Bonaparte's demands. Peace does not appear to be finally concluded between Russia and the Porte.-The conduct of Sweden continues to be somewhat enigmatical. Our envoy, Mr. Thornton, has arrived at Stockholm, where he has had fre quent conferences with Bernadotte and with an ambassador from Russia; but nothing has transpired with respect either to the subject of the negociation or its probable issuce

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

1. THE first great subject of parliamentary discussion to which we shall advert, is what is called the Catholic question. This question had formed a leading feature in a debate which took place in both houses as early as the month of February, and to the issue of which we have already adverted in our number for that month. On the 224 inst. the question was brought more directly forward in the House of Lords by Lord Do. noughmore, and on the 24th in the House of Commons by Mr. Grattan, on a motion for a Committee to consider the state of the laws in respect to the civil disabilities of the Roman Catholics. The tables of both houses had previously been loaded with petitions from the Catholics in all parts of Ireland, and some parts of England, in favour of the Catholic claims. To these were added the prayers of many Protestant petitioners to the same effect. One petition of this description was said, we know not with what truth, to embrace more than one half of the Protest

ant property of Ireland. The counter-petitions were few;-one from either university, speaking, however, by no means, as it would seem, the unanimous voice of those bodies, and two or three others. The divisions which took place on the occasion seemed likewise to indicate a more favourable disposition in the public mind, at least to entertain the consideration of the subject with a view to ascertain what part of the Catholic claims might be safely conceded to them. In the House of Lords the numbers were, in favour of inquiry, 67, proxies 35; against it, 103, proxies 71; being a majority of 72. In the House of Commons, 215 voted for the motion, and 300 against it, being a majority, in a house containing upwards of 500 members, of only 85. In the former house the chief speakers in support of the motion were Lord Donoughmore, the Duke of Sussex, the Earl of Selkirk, the Marquis Wellesley, Lord Byron, Earl Moira, Lord Grenville, and Lord Holland; against it, Lord Redesdale, the Earl of Liverpool, and the Lord Chancellor,

In the House of Commons the Catholic claims were supported by Mr. Grattan, Sir J. C. Hippesley, Lord Binning, Mr.Vernon (son of the Archbishop of York), Mr. Marryatt, Lord Milton, Mr. Elliot, Mr. Broughamn, Mr. Shaw of Dublin, Col. Dillon, Sir S. Romilly, Mr. W. Smith, Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Ponsonby, and Mr. Canning; and opposed by Dr. Duigenan, Mr.W. Bankes, Mr. Owen, Mr. C. Adams, Mr. Bernard, Sir W.Scott, Mr. Yorke, Mr. L. Foster, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Perceval, and Lord Castlereagh.

2. Another great subject, which has ocenpied the attention of Parliament, has been that of the Orders in Council. On this subject, we continue to think, as we have always done, that the Orders in Council were not only just, but necessary; that to a certain, and that a considerable extent, they have served to counteract the operations of Bonaparte's anti-commercial system; and that, however our merchants and manufacturers may now be disposed to complain of the abridgement of our trade, it is owing to our Orders in Council that so large a portion of the trade of the world is still in our hands. Parliament have likewise taken this view of the subject, and have by their votes, no less than by the production of facts and arguments, abundantly proved that these orders have no share in the present distress, but, on the contrary, have prevented its aggravation. We cannot help thinking that no great question was ever so misunderstood, even by the more intelligent part of the community, as this.

The question of the Orders in Council, as it affects America, has undergone a very material change in the course of the present month. A Declaration has been issued by our Government on the subject, which, we trust, will serve to obviate inany of the complaints of that country. This declaration recognizes the official report of the French minister for foreign affairs of the 10th of March (noticed in our last number), wherein the enemy publicly and solemnly declares not only that the Berlin and Milan decrees continue in force, but that they shall be rigidly executed against Great Britain, and against all nations who shall suffer their flag to be what he calls denationalized, until Great Britain shall revoke her Orders in Council of May 1806, of January and November 1807, and of April 1809; and in addition to this, shall consent that neutral ships shall protect hostile property; that hostile ships shall not protect neutral property; that arms and ammunition alone, to the exclusion of all articles of naval equip

ment, shall be regarded as contraband of war; and that no ports shall be considered as law. fully blockaded except such as are actually invested and besieged, and into which a merchaut ship cannot enter without danger. "By these and other demands, the enemy, in fact, requires that Great Britain and all civilized nations shall renounce, at his arbitrary pleasure, the ordinary und indisputable rights of maritime war; that Great Britain, in particular, shall forego the advantages of her naval superiority, and allow the commercial property, as well as the produce and manu factures of France and her confederates, to pass the ocean in security, whilst the subjects of Great Britain are to be, in effect, proscribed from all commercial intercourse with other nations, and the produce and manufactures of these realms are to be excluded from every country in the world to which the arms or the influence of the enemy can extend." Such is the code by which France hopes to render her commerce unassailable by sea, while she proceeds to invade all states that hesitate to adopt this code, by which they are forced to exclude, under the pretext of municipal regulation, whatever is British from their domi nions. A hope is expressed, by our Government, that as soon as the recent declaration of France shall be known in America, the Government of the United States will be disposed to recal those measures of hostile exclusion which they have applied to the commerce and ships of war of Great Britain only. To accelerate this result, his Royal Highness declares, that whenever, by some authentic act of the French Government, the Berlin and Milan decrees shall be repealed, then the Orders in Council, from January 1807 downwards, shall be wholly and absolutely revoked. If, however, the French repeal should prove illusory, or be still practically enforced, then Great Britain, however reluctantly, after reasonable notice, will be obliged to have recourse to such measures of retaliation as may then appear to be just and necessary.

We greatly admire the tone and temper of this state paper. It is clear, moderate, conciliating, and yet firm and decisive. It cannot fail to produce a considerable effect in America, and also on the unreasonable clamourers at home, on the subject of the Orders in Council. Indeed, we see not what more Government can be asked to do either by domestic objectors, or by the United States. The demands of the United States have turned, of late, on the alleged fact, that France had actually repealed the Berlja

and Milan decrees. France has most unequivocally declared that she has not repealed them; that they are still, and ever have been, in full force and vigour. The very ground, therefore, on which America chose to place her pretensions, is taken from beneath her.

3. A third great question, but which has not yet come regularly before Parliament, is that which respects the renewal of the East India Company's Charter. It seems to be an understood point, that a very considerable enlargement of the right of private trade is to take place, and that, in fact, almost the whole of the trade which is carried on by the Company, shall be left open to private adventurers, with the exception of the China trade. A farther restriction is talked of with respect to importations from India, which shall confine those importations to the single port of London, Petitions and delegations have come up from all the trading and manufacturing towns in the kingdom, in order to prevent the imposition of these, as they are deemed, unnecessary and burdensome restrictions, and to obtain for the community at large an unshackled intercourse with the East. The question is undoubtedly extensive and complicated; and it would be impossible for us now to state the reasons which affect our own decision; but certainly, on a full view of all the reasonings which have been employed, with singular ability, by both parties, in this discussion, we incline, and that very strongly, to the more liberal policy which is pleaded for by the petitioners, and resisted by the Company.

But there is another point of view in which we look to the approaching discussions with far more anxiety. When the many millions of British India occur to our minds, we cannot anticipate deliberations, in which their moral destinies are deeply implicated, without a sort of trembling solicitude; and had we not felt a confident hope that their claims on our benevolence, not only as fellow-men, but as our fellowsubjects, and even as our tenants, would meet with due attention from the Government and Parliament of this Christian country, we should long since have begun to excite, in the religious part of the community, an adequate impression of the vast interests which are now at stake. We cannot, however, permit ourselves for one moment to believe, that on the occasion of adopting a new code for the Government of our Indian empire, obstacles to the introduction of Christian light into that country should be continued; obstacles, too, which do not exist in any

other instance. We cannot believe that while the Hindoo, the Mohammedan, and the Roman Catholic, are protected in the exercise of their peculiar modes of worship, aud in their attempts to propagate it, Protestant Christianity alone shall suffer an interdiction; that, while on one side of the Peninsula the bloody and impure rites of Juggernaut draw together, in countless crowds, his infatuated votaries and victims; and, on the other, the relentless inquisition is still permitted to light its fires, or to stretch its wheel of torture; the heralds of the everlasting Gospel shall be debarred from unfurling the peaceful banner of the cross of Christ, and calling the nations of the East to repose and to rejoice in its shadow. This monstrous state of things cannot abide the test of free discussion and inquiry. Neither Government nor Parliament, we are convinced, will any longer tolerate its continuance. Had we formerly had any doubt on this subject, the great numbers connected with both the Government and the Parliament, who have voluntarily joined themselves to the British and Foreign Bible Society, or who are members of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, and who have thus given the public a solemn and deliberate pledge of their attachment to the cause of religion, would have silenced it. The present is an occasion, however, on which it behovest he friends of Christianity to be vigilant, and we trust that no one, who feels the immense magnitude of the interests at which we have glanced, will be found sleeping or slumbering at his post.

4. The subject of corporal punishment in the navy and army has again been brought before the House of Commons, and, although the motion made respecting it was negatived, yet we were most happy to perceive a growing conviction, on both sides of the House, that punishments of this description ought, if possible, to cease.

5. The bill for the total abolition of rever sionary offices was thrown out in the House of Commons. Another bill has since been introduced, for preventing any offices being granted in reversion for the space of two years, to which no opposition has been made. Mr. Bankes has brought in a bill for the abo lition of sinecure offices, and for the substitution of other means of rewarding public merit, which is now under the consideration of Parliament.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

The King remains in much the same state as he has been in for some months past; bis bodily health good, but his mental state as