this part of the country are, I think, upon the whole, in a flourishing condition. They are greatly harassed by the priests, who are becoming every day more active, and decided in their opposition; they seem to be wrought up to some mighty effort; and to the expectation of some decisive event. Next year we are all to be Roman Catholics, and mass is to be performed in all the Protestant churches. So the priests prophesy, and the people love to have it so; but "the Lord reigneth." I have before me a wide field of operation. Oh! that I may be enabled to cultivate it with diligence and success. For several weeks after my return from this inspection of the schools, I was occupied with the affairs of our little church in this place. It is yet in its infancy, and requires more attention, at present, than will be needful when it is more matured.

On the 20th of July, Brother Davis arrived in Cork, and remained here until the last day of the month. He preached the annual sermon for the Society, at our place, on the evening of the 21st, when a collection was made, amounting, I think, to something more than two pounds. During the whole of his stay, we were busily employed in collecting the annual subscriptions. Brother Davis is a man greatly and deservedly beloved. Our acquaintance is very recent, but I feel my heart knit to him, and I trust that our mutual correspondence will be beneficial to ourselves, and subserve the interests of the Baptist Irish Society.

August 10th.-Attended a meeting of the Cork Auxiliary Bible Society, and moved the third resolution. This meeting, which was held to receive a deputation from Dublin, was highly interesting, and the attendance was numerous and respectable.

August 17th.-I left Cork this morning for Shannon Vale, to spend a few days in itinerating in this vicinity, as I had previously engaged; and preached in the evening at Cloughnakilty, to a very numerous, respectable, and attentive congregation.

ity of them have not attended pub-
lic worship for years past.. The
young people, of the age of 18 or 20,,
have not been within a church half a
dozen times in their whole lives. They
are so destitute and neglected, that
they are actually going over to mass,
one after another. They are as sheep
not having a shepherd, and no man
careth for their souls. In the evening
I preached at Dungarvin, one of the
villages referred to. On my arrival, I
found a barn full of people, not at all
less than seventy, to whom I spoke
from John iii. 7. On these occasions,
I may be said rather to talk to the
people, than to observe the formalities
of a methodical discourse. There is no
getting at them but by talking to them
in a familiar manner.

19th.-Having heard that Colonel Tof T- —, would encourage preaching there, we yesterday addressed a note to him, stating my readiness to preach, and requesting his concurrence. He replied by informing us, that he had submitted our note to the clergyman, who would send us a further answer. This morning we rode over to Tand called on the clergyman, but could not see him. On our return, however, we found a note from him, stating, that he could not concede to our proposal, lest the Bishop should be displeased. In the evening I

preached to a good congregation at Shannon Vale, and hope yet to preach without applying for

at T

his lordship's license.

20th. While preparing this morning for an excursion to Ring, a female, with considerable agitation, announced the arrival of two priests in the schoolhouse. I was glad that I happened to, be on the spot at this time, aud, followed by Miss S-, her brother, and several others, I proceeded to the school-house, and was informed by the reverend gentlemen, that they came to make certain inquiries respecting the school, by virtue of his Majesty's commission. An appeal was made to me, as Inspector of the school, whether or not the investigation should be per18th.-Employed the former part of mitted; to which I immediately replied this day in visiting several Protestant in the affirmative, assuring the priests, families in the contiguous villages. that there was not any thing we wished Was powerfully affected at the extreme to conceal. I caused them to repeat ignorance they betrayed; it is, indeed, the questions, sentence by sentence, almost incredible. One very old man, and the school-master to write them and a Protestant too, tottering on the down, and also the answers given to brink of the grave, declared that he them, that we might have such a donever heard, till lately, that he must. cument to refer to, should it ever be be saved by Christ alone, without necessary. After their departure we doing any thing himself. The general-proceeded to Ring, where I preached

in a barn to about forty people, several of whom were papists. This village, I am told, has been without a church, and entirely destitute of the means of religious instruction, for several ages. In the evening I went to Cloughnakilty, with the expectation of preach ing there, according to previous engagement, but was disappointed. A woman in the house where we were to meet, was seized with a dangerous fever, and it was thought most prudent not to assemble a congregation, under such circumstances. But that the opportunity might not be altogether lost, I lectured at a friend's house to a select party. In addition to these efforts, I have preached once a fortnight at Passage, beside my stated engagements at Cork. May it please the Lord to give an abundant increase.

sellor O'Connell, (the Cobbett of Ireland,) and several of the same stamp, were in town, who attended, and interrupted the meetings, by the most unqualified and obscene abuse of England; of her efforts to improve the moral and spiritual condition of Ireland; and of that sacred volume, which different Societies are anxiously distributing. After four hours contest, the meeting was adjourned till eleven o'clock the next day, when the question of the propriety of a general circulation of the scriptures was proposed to be discussed. This meeting lasted nearly eight hours. The Court-house was crowded to excess. Such a meeting I never witnessed before, nor can you possibly form any adequate idea of it. I shall never forget the feeling it excited, nor lose the impression it produced. Oh! there was a spirit abroad there, that would have rekindled the fires of Smithfield, and forged the fetters of the inquisiItion. But I forbear. I send you, by this day's post, the "Cork Advertiser," for Saturday the 11th, and Tuesday the 14th, where you will meet with an account in detail. One circumstance, however, is too remarkable to be overlooked. Counsellor O'Connell, in replying to the speeches of some clergymen of the Established Church, noticed their objections to tradition; and, after several remarks, he triumphantly exclaimed, "Where do you get your Infant Baptism from? Scripture is silent on the subject; and you cannot support it without tradition." This I heard myself, so you may depend on its being authentic.

Our little church and congregation is increasing. On the 25th of July last, I baptized a young man, brother to Mr. Jordan, who is at Bradford; our place was crowded to excess. preached from Matt. xxviii. 18-20: the greatest decorum prevailed. Brother Davis, and Brother Hamilton were present, and it was a solemn and refreshing season to many. We have another, who stands proposed for baptism and fellowship, a female, to whom the Lord has been pleased to bless my ministry. She gives the most satisfac- | tory evidence of a work of grace upon her heart. There is every appearance, at present, of establishing a church of our denomination in this city, which, I think, is of considerable importance to the interests of the Baptist Irish Society in this part of the country. My engagement with the church at Cork terminates with the close of the year. I have received a unanimous invitation to the pastoral office, to which, however, I have not yet replied.

I cannot close, without endeavouring to give you some idea of what occurred in this city during the last week. On Thursday, the 9th instant, a meeting of the Ladies' Auxiliary to the Munster Hibernian Society, was held in the County Court-house, at which were present the Honourable Baptist Noel, and Lieutenant Gordon, R. N. The assizes being just closed, Coun

That the Lord may abundantly bless you, and the Committee, and the Society, and all their agents, and prosper their labours, is the earnest prayer

of

Yours, in the bonds of the gospel,
JOHN PAUL BRISCOE.

P.S. I have not been out of Cork for the last few weeks, being very unwell, and still under the hands of a physician; but I hope soon to make another attack on the kingdom of Satan. Brethren, pray for us.

THE friends of the Society will learn, with painful feelings, of the very severe affliction of their highly esteemed and worthy Treasurer, Mr. BURLS. He was seized with a fit of apoplexy on Thursday, the 14th ult.; and, for se veral days, his life was despaired of: there is, at present, some hopes of his partial recovery. An interest in the prayers of all our friends, for his entire restoration, is most earnestly requested.

Missionary Herald.

BAPTIST MISSION.

Home Proceedings.

Anniversary of the Bath and Bristol

Auxiliary Society.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

Gloucester, Oct. 12, 1824.

MY DEAR SIR,

Through some mistake, I believe, you were not officially acquainted with the particulars of the Annual Meeting of the Gloucester Auxiliary, held last year at Shortwood. A meeting which, as you may well recollect, imparted great pleasure to all who were present, and was distinguished by the liberality of the church and congregation assembling there, and the collections made in the neighbouring churches.

This year, local circumstances have prevented us from holding our Anniversary before the 6th instant, when we met at Ross, in Herefordshire, by special invitation from the friends of the cause who reside in that town.

THE services connected with this Anniversary commenced on Tuesday evening, August 3, with a sermon at Counterslip Meeting-house, by the Rev. Jenkin Thomas, of Cheltenham, from John xiii. 34; "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also Love one another." The Public Meeting was held on Thursday morning, at King-street Chapel, Rev. J. P. Smith, D. D. of Homerton, in the Chair. After The services consisted of a sermön the reading of the Report by the Rev. in the morning, and a public meeting T. S. Crisp, various Resolutions, em- in the evening, held, by special perbracing the different objects included mission, at the Town-hall, which was in the Society's operations, were propo- well filled with a respectable au sed and seconded by the Rev. Dr. Rip-dience. The sermon was preached by pon and Joseph Whittuck, Esq.; Rev. Mr. Trotman, of Tewkesbury, from Jenkin Thomas and Rev. Thomas Win- John iv. 35-38.; who also presided in ter; Rev. G. B. Drayton and Rev. J. the evening. Fry; Rev. Stephen Sutton and Dr. Stock; Rev. Mr. Wooldridge and Rev. Mr. Wood; Rev. Dr. Ryland and Rev. Thomas Roberts. In the evening of the same day, Dr. Smith advocated the cause of the Society at the same chapel, from Isa. xlix. 7; " Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, kings shall see und arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee;" and on Friday morning, the Rev. Robert Hall preached at Broadmead Chapel, from 2 Cor. vi. 13; "Be ye also enlarged " The meetings throughout were highly interesting the collections amounted to upwards of £300; and the whole receipts of the year preceding were £752 158, 11d.

VOL. XVI.

The impressions produced by his discourse, and the addresses of the se veral speakers, there is reason to believe, will not easily be effaced. At all events, we may conclude, that some gratification was experienced, as wish was expressed by many, that they might have such a meeting annually; aud I hope we shall not disappoint them in this respect.

The collections amounted to £13 13s. 10d. exclusive of annual subscriptions, and other contributions.

The gentlemen, for whose assistance we are indebted, and would ac knowledge, were, Nathaniel Morgan, Esq. Messrs. Thomas, Trotter, Smith, and the Rev. Messrs. Fry, of Hatch, Williams, Wright, and others.

Every address may be said to have produced some good effect; but your Annual Reports furnished us with the

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