young men, has been sent to negociate this business; and after having been taken by a French privateer and carried into Spain, obtained his liberty just time enough to reach London at the Missionary Anniversary. This communication excited the most lively interest in the large assembly, and a resolution was unanimously passed, expressive of the bation of the Society, who hailed this event as the commencement of Misapprosionary operations, which, it is hoped will soon spread throughout the United States, and furnish numerous and able Missionaries, as well as ample funds for the extensive spread of the gospel in foreign countries. The time would not permit various other communications from abroad to be read; and the assembly was dismissed after a prayer offered by the Rev. Mr. Slatterie. A Collection was, for the first time on this occasion, made, which amounted to £60. On Thursday evening a very numerous congregation assembled at Tottenham Court Chapel. The prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Huck, well, the Curate; after which, the Rev. Mr. Durant, of Poole, prayed extempore. The Rev. Mr. STEVEN, Minister of the parish of Kilwinning, near Glasgow, then preached from John i. 9. The Introduction was chiefly drawn from the context; which presents a striking contrast be tween Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. The Plan of the discourse was to contemplate, I. The elevated character here given of the Christian Doctrine: it is the true light;'-II. The wide-spreading influence, or the extensive effect which this saving light is destined ultimately to at tain: It lighteth every man that cometh into the world.' After which discussion, the preacher concluded by deducing such reflections as the subject suggested and the occasion required. Under the first head, a striking contrast was exhibited between the just and enlarged views of divine things which Christianity unfolds, and those grossly erroneous and defective notions of them which universally prevail where the gospel is unknown, particularly with regard to the character and government of God, the moral nature and condition of man, the way of salvation, the rule of duty, and the eternal world. Under the second head, after noticing some criticisms respecting the construction of the passage as it lies in the original language, Mr. Steven illustrated the proposition he deduced. from it, as referring to the universal diffusion of this true light, and as implying that this universal diffusion shall be attended with an efficacy and success almost equally extensive. The following reflections were then deduced: 1st, How unreasonable, how cheerless, and how hazardous a system is that of Infidelity, which aims at the extinction of the true light,' which denies its necessity, and would deprive men of all its advantages! 2dly, What lively gratitude is due to the Father of Lights for this good and perfect gift, the glorious gospel, which is able to make us wise unto salvation! 3dly, How tenderly should we commiserate the state of the blinded nations! and how should we employ our utinost ef forts to spread the light and influence of true Christianity amongst them! This discourse was concluded by a pathetic and impressive Address: First to the Directors, and then to the Patrons and Supporters of the Missionary Society, warmly recommending the most generous contributions and persevering zeal in support of this noble Institution. The Rev. Mr. Raffles, of Hammersmith, concluded with prayer. The collection at the doors amounted to £ 208. Is. 6d. 6 The Hymns at these services were read by the Rev. Messrs. Redford, Harrison, Hartley, Tracey, Kerby, Stenner, May, and Gleed. At St. Bride's Church, in Fleet Street, a congregation assembled more numerous, we think, than on any former occasion, at that spacious building. The Rev. Mr. Jones, the Curate of the Parish, read prayers. The Rev. Mr. WILCOx, Minister of Ely Chapel, and Lecturer of St. George's, Southwark, preached from Malachi i. 11, For from the rising of the Sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place, incense shall be offered unta my name and a pure offering; for my name shall be great among the Heathen, saith the Lord of Hosts.' The preacher considered the text as, 1st, Leading to an enquiry into the object of this Institution; 2dly, Shewing the word of God to be our warrant and encouragement in pursuing it; 2dly, That the agitated state of the world is favourable to Missionary exertions. The collections amounted to £ 235. 17s. At the Adjourned Meeting of the Society in the Afternoon, Thanks were voted to the Rev. Ministers who preached at this Anniversary, for their excellent sermons; with a request that they might be printed, for the benefit of the Society. As they will go immediately to press, it is hoped that they may be ready for publication, together with the Report and List of Subscribers, &c. in the course of July. The Thanks of the Meeting were also voted to the Ministers, Churchwardens, and Managers of the several places of worship in which the Society assembled. Sion Chapel was filled at an early hour; and a great number of persons were unable to procure admission. To prevent their total disappointment, the Rev Messrs. Hyatt and Roby gave exhortations to them out of doors. The Rev. Mr. Bogue delivered a short but impressive address to the vast congregation assembled in the Chapel; the Rev. George Townsend offered up the general prayer; the Rev. Rowland Hill, who presided on this occasion, set apart the sacramental elements by solemn prayer and thanksgiving. The Bread was distributed by the Rev. Messrs. Brooksbank, Cobbia, Dobson, Evans, Harrison, Hawkesley, Hunt, C. Hyalt, Jackson, Jones, Kerby, Keikman, Lewis, W. Mather, Pyne, Rales, Sinart, and T. Williams; the Wine by the Rev. Messrs. Clift, Clout, Collison. Davies, Geary, Hockley, Hopkins, Hoppus, Jones, W. Kent, B. Keut, Lloyd, Maslin, Milward, Morrison, Slatterie, Torr, and Waller. During the distribution, appropriate exhortations were given to the communicants by Dr.CoMyer and Mr.J. Townsend; Mr. Kemp of Swansea addressed the spectators, who were seated in the galleries. Suitable hymns were intermingled with the prayers, &c. and were given out by the Rev. Messrs. Gore (of Arundel J. Hyatt, Mark Wilks, jun. and Plati. The Rev. Matthew Wilks concluded the solemnities of the day and of the whole Anniversary, by an impressive address to the vast congregation, and a solemn prayer to the Great God our Saviour.-The concluding collection at this place amounted to € 220. 12s. 6d. Thus concluded the SEVENTEENTH General Meeting of this Society.—a meeting not exceeded in interest or in attendance by any of the former. Indeed, at some of the places the congregations were greater than before, a greater number of young ministers thought to have been present:-a circumstance which affords us much pleasure, as we may hope that when the present set of men who were concerned in the first formation of the Society have left the stage of action, another will come forward with greater ability and zeal to forward the grandest work in which morta's can engage. And if we may forin a judgment of the love and zeal of the people towards the glorious cause, by the very liberal contributions which were made, we may reasonably conclude that a regard to the lnstitution has not diminished, but greatly increased ;- for if the pecuniary circumstances of the lines are duly considered, we cannot but express our adniration at the amount of the collections. That in times of embarrassment like the present Twelve Hundred Pounds should be voluntarily given at the doors, is a proof that the silver and gold which are the Lord's are at his disposal, and that his people fe it a privilege and a pleasure to contri bute them freely when his cause requires it. To Him be the glory of all that has been said, and done, and given on this interesting occasion! and may the recital rouse the zeal of our friends in town and country who could not be prescut, to witness these delightful and profitable solo nities! Society for the Support and Encouragement of SUNDAY SCHOOLS in England, Wales, Ireland, and adjacent islands. The Right Hon. Lord BARHAM, President. Ar the Annual General Meeting of this Society, held at Boston's Coffee House, Cornhill, on Wednesday, the 17th of April, JoHN WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. in the Chair. The Committe reported, That since the last General Meeting, 88 Schools had been added to these which were previously upon the Society's List, and assistance had been repeated to 42 other Schools formerly established; for which, and the new Schools before stated, they had distributed 10,140 Spelling Books, 1916 Testaments, and 105 Bibles. That since the commencement of the Institution they had issued 302,972 Spelling Books, 65,481 Testaments, and 7869 Bibles, to 3491 Schools, containing upwards of 285,000 Children. In addition to which £4179 18s. 57. has been given, in very small sums, to such Schools as were found, from parLicular circumstances, to stand in need of pecuniary aid. The zeal for conveying instruction through the medium of Sunday Schools, appears in no degree abated. That they are attended with the most beneficial effects to the children of the Poor, has long been demonstrated by indisputable evidence, of which the Committee have recently received many pleasing and unequivocal testimonies. The effect of the Society's patronage towards the Pricipality of Wales, begins to display itself in a manner which promises the most extensive and happy results, there now being scarcely a district remaining where its beBeficial influence has not been felt. The accounts from Ireland cannot but gratify every serious mind. That important, but too long benighted, portion of the British Empire, already exhibits an aspect which portends a rapid and general diffusion of religious light, civilization, and moral order, calculated to excite all the energy and draw forth all the resources of Christian benevolence to render such effects general and permanent. in awakening the Country (under the Divine Blessing) to a sense of the advantages derivable from Sunday Schools, the Society had effected a momentous object; and they congratulate the Public at large upon the satisfactory proofs which they are continually receiving of the utility of the Institution. The work of instruction is, however, far from being complete. Multitudes among the poorer classes of our countrymen remain still unable to read those Scriptures, which are able to make them wisɔ unto Salvation. And although few or no applications, which fall within the design of this Institution, are dismissed without some degree of relief, yet that degree is necessarily proportioned to the limited means which the Society possess, when compared with the numerous demands which they have had to supply, or have been invited to assist. It is therefore hoped that such a zeal will be kindled in support of this good cause, as will enable the Society to prosecute their laudable designs in promoting the important objects of religious and social happiness, on a scale so extensive as to meet the wishes of its Members, and the wants of the British Community at large. Subscriptions and Donations will be thankfully received at the following Bankers:-Messrs. Down, Thornton, and Co. Bartholomew Lane; Messrs. Hoare, Hill, and Barnetts, Lombard Street; Messrs. Martin, Stone, and Co. Lombart Street; and at No. 19, Little Moorfields, by T. Sun, Secretary. Ox Wednesday, the 1st of May, THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY held their Seventh Anniversary at the Free Masou's Tavern, Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. The Report was read, as usual, by Lord Teignmouth, the President; and the Thanks to his Lordship were moved in a very impressive Address by the Bishop of Darham. The facts detailed in the Report, and in the Extracts of Correspondence with which it was followed, were peculiarly interesting and satisfactory; and evinced the successful operation of the Society in the pursuit of its object over a large proportion of the world. It appeared, that besides the three great Societies to which this Institution has given birth, on the European Continent, and the Corresponding Committee in British India, it has been instrumental in producing by its example or encouragement, Sixteen similar Societies in the United States of America. It appeared also, that the Society had made considerable progress in the course of the last year, in augmenting both its influence and its funds; not less than Seventeen new Auxiliary Societies in Great Britain, among which is comprehended one in the important town of Liverpool, having been added to its list within that period; but, for particulars, we must refer to the Report itself; which, with very copious Correspondence, List of Subscribers, &c. will be speedily issued from the Society's Depository, No. 169, Flect Street. The attendance at this Anniversary was very numerous, and highly respectable. Among the principal persons present, many of whom took share in the business of the day, were, besides the President, the Bishops of Durham, Salisbury, Norwich, Clone, and Clonfert; Lords Gambier, Headley, and Harrowby; Messrs. Wilberforce, Grant, H. Thornton, Babington, Vansittart, Porcher, &c.; and it was truly gratifying to witness an assembly, consisting of at least eighteen hundred persons of different ranks, and of almost every Christian denomination, evincing the greatest harmony, and the most lively interest in the truly benevolent purpose of sending forth the holy Scriptures, without Note or Comment, to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people!' LONDON FEMALE PENITENTIARY. THE Fourth Annual Meeting of this Institution was held on Tuesday, the 7th of May, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside, at which Thomas Thompson, Esq. M. P. presided; and a greater number of subscribers at tended than on any former occasion. A very interesting Report of the last year's proceedings was presented, from which we learn, That the impediments which have occasioned the delay of erecting additional build. ings, are in a great degree removed; and it is expected the enlargement of the Asylum will be speedily begun, and completed before the end of this year; which, when effected, will supersede the necessity of the Infirmary in John Street, and will be sufficiently spacious to contain nearly double the number of objects. Since May, 1810, 157 Females have applied to be received, the average of ages are 28, most of them being from 25 to 35. Of these several had not lived in open vice: many of them had been well brought up: some were not in necessitous circumstances; and a considerable number appeared to be in indifferent health. The alleged causes of their applications are stated; among which instances have occurred of females applying for admission in consequence of the laudable and compassionate entreaties of those who had left the house, after having themselves been benefitted. Thirty-four have been received during the last year, the greater part of whom were betrayed at a very tender age, under the promises of marriage ; — some, lured by the prospect of better wages and fine clothes, had left the country for London-others, from a vain curiosity to see the metropolis, had been inveigled by bad men, or designing women, into ruin: not a few had fallen by attending fairs and country wakes; and some, from the love of dress, had been led into temptations to dishonesty; and then, having lost their character, into habitual vice. Eight of the women have been reconciled to their friends; included in which number are two who have been reconciled to their husbands; and 13 have been put out to ser vice. Of those placed out in service, previously to the last Anniversary, the Report speaks in general very favourably; three of the women have received the one guinea reward for having lived a year in their places, and one of these the two guineas reward, for having completed her two years of service. One of them, on being presented with the reward, requested to return it to the Committee, expressing herself as follows: I request you will accept of it as a free-will and thankoffering from a happy penitent, whose soul and body have been snatched from destruction, through the means afforded by this Asylum of mercy; and, I hope, every year to send my subscription.' Two of the young women have died within the last year; and an account of their experience is subjoined in the Appendix. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has honoured the Institution with his patronage.. Among other donations, a lady has presented the charity with two several donations of £100 each, in the last and preceding years; and another lady at Cambridge, has, by her own individual exertion, collected £48 12s. 6d. and transmitted it to the Society. Much, however, still remains to be done in the augmenting of the funds, to enable the Committee to accomplish the proposed enlargement. A Penitentiary has been established at Liverpool, that at Hull having been announced at the Annual Meeting in 1810. The Committee conclude their Report by taking a retrospective view of the general good conduct of the penitents admitted into the Asylum from the commence-1 ment of the Institution to the present period; and which, as to industry, decency of deportment, and love to religious duties, far exceeds the most sanguine expectations of both Committees ; contrasting it with their former wretched state, and not hesitating to say, that when the great difficulties attending the management of an institution of this kind are duly weighed, the success with which it has already been crowned, not only affords ground for hope, but presents an earnest to the supporters of it that, by perseverance and the blessing of God on their labours, they shall be instrumental in reclaiming numbers of miserable wanderers from the broad destructive road of sin into the paths of peace and true holiness. The Right Honourable Lord Carrington, through the medium of the Chairman, presented the Institution with a donation of £50. The Chairman gave 25, in addition to a former donation; - added to which were several other sums given by gentlemen present towards the building. 133 48 Now remaining in the House The Ladies, who are Subscribers to this Institution, held their Meeting the same hour, at No. 5, Cateaton Street, at which about 300 attended. Lady Inglis, presided. The Report was read to them; and several donations and subscriptions were made. In the evening a Sermon was preached for the Institution, at St. Lawrence Jewry Church, by the Rev. Melville Horne, A. M. which was very interesting and impressive. We understand it is in the press; and also that XIX. Hh |