of Eagland itself, the first Protestant churen in Christendom, and the main pillar, I may say, of Protestantismi, stands upon the Bible as its foundation; and shall it withhold the contents of that Book, pure and unadulterated, from its members, lest its own existence should be endangered? What inconsistency is this! The Bible is the MagnaCharta of Protestants-it contains all our title deeds, and should be placed in a situation where every one may read its contents."

Many other excellent speeches were delivered on the occasion, but we find it impossible to give even a sketch of them.

Street, for the purpose of forming an Auxiliary Bible Society for the above district, W. Mainwaring, Esq. in the chair. The business was opened by the chairman, in a short address expressing the fullest conviction of the importance and beneficial effects of the British and Foreign Bible Society; after which the Secretaries of the Parent Institution gave a sketch of the object and principles of the Society, and a statement of the want of the holy Scriptures both at home and abroad. The various resolutions were moved and seconded by several magistrates, clergymen, dissenting ministers, and other gentlemen of the district, and adopted unanimously.

The

It appeared from the inquiries that had been made, that nearly three fifths of its poor inhabitants are absolutely destitute of either Bible or Testament. The total number of families visited was 1964, of which only 823 were possessed of any part of the sacred Scriptures. Painful as this statement is, the information obtained from particular parts of the district warrants a representation still more distressing. In one quarter, among 111 families, only eight copies of either the Old or New Testament were found. Marquis of Northampton was chosen president;-Lord Ossulston; George Byng, Esq. M. P.; W. Mellish, Esq. M. P.; S. Whitbread, Esq. M. P.; the Rev. Archdeacon Nares; Rev. Thos. Farmer, M. A.; W. Mainwaring, Esq.; J. Bacon, Esq.; E. Barkly, Esq.; Edw. Boodle, Esq.; R. Capper, Esq.; T. Collins, Esq.; E. Cottrell, Esq.; W. Hood, Esq.; S. Mills, Esq.; W. M. Sellón, Esq.; H. Smith, Esq.; J. C. Tufnell, Esq.; J. Wilson, Esq.; and W. Wilson, Esq.; vicepresidents; G.B. Mainwaring, Esq. treasurer;—and the Rev. T. Sheppard, the Rev. J. Clayton, sen. and Mr. G. Ellerton, secretaries.

HACKNEY AND NEWINGTON AUX-
ILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

A VERY large and respectable meet
CHRIST. OBSERY. APP.

ing of the inhabitants of Hackney,
Newington, and the vicinity, was
held on the 22d instant, for the
purpose of forming a Bible Society.
T. F. Forster, Esq. was called to the
chair. The Secretaries of the Pa-
rent Society explained the nature
and object of the institution. The
on the occasion were,
speakers
W. Alers, Esq.; J. W. Freshfield,
Esq.; Dr.Townley; Rev. J. Clayton;
Rev. T. Burnet; Rev. G. Hodgkins;
Mr. Le Froy; the Rev. H.F. Burder;
the Rev. Mr. Cox; E. Forster, Esq.;
the Rev. Dr. Smith; the Rev. T.
Sheppard; the Rev. S. Palmer; the
Rev. J. Hill; the Rev. C. W. Le
Bas; and the Rev. T. Jones. The
Marquis of Downshire was chosen
president; the Hon. Mr. Baron
Graham; W. Mellish, Esq. M. P.;
George Byng, Esq. M. P.; S. Tys-
son, Esq. lord of the manor of
Hackney; W. Willan, Esq. lord
of the manor of Broadswood; J. Bed-
dington, Esq.; T. F. Forster, Esq.;
E. Forster, Esq.; J. W. Freshfield,
Esq.; J.Heygate, sen. Esq.; J.Smith,
Esq.; J. Stonard, Esq. and C.Town-
ley, Esq. LL. D. vice-presidents ;-
W. Alers, Esq. treasurer;-and the
Rev. T. Burnet, Rev. Dr. Smith,
and Mr. Wenham, jun. secretaries.

--

HIBERNIAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE annual meeting of this Society was held in Dublin, on the 28th of November, 1811, Mr. Shaw, M. P. for the city, in the chair. The Report of the Committee stated, that there existed in the country a great and increasing demand for the Scriptures; and that great efforts of industry had been made use of by some of the lower classes to obtain the means of procuring them. Instances had not been wanting of females in that rank of life, dispensing with the merely ornamental parts of their dress, to lay out the price of them in the purchase of Bibles.

Another fact which the Report stated, must give universal satisfaction, viz. That there is a growing desire for the Scriptures in the sol

5 T

HENLEY AUXILIARY BIBLE SO.
CIETY.

diery in Ireland; and, as a proof of quence, and respectability of the this, it was mentioned that thirty- county. From the Report it appearnine men of one company, belonged that the receipts of the Society ing to a regiment quartered at Island had been 9131. 14s. 2d. of which Bridge, near Dublin, had presented 7001. had been transmitted to the a memorial, accompanied by a re- Parent Society. The number of commendation from their officers, Bibles and Testaments which had praying to be supplied with Bibles been distributed was 2296. Very at the reduced price. To meet these eloquent and animated addresses increasing demands, the Committee, were made to the assembly, by the it was stated, had imported, in the Chairman, the Rev. John Styles, course of the year, more than 20,000 W. Wigney, Esq. Rev. H. Palmer, Bibles and Testaments; and that Mr. Marten, Mr. Glasyer, Mr. there were issued from the reposito- Harrison, the Rev. Joseph Hughes, ry, during the last twelve months, the Rev. J. W. Cunningham (who 6,379 Bibles and 6,405 Testaments; attended on the part of the Rev. J. in all, 12,784 Bibles and Testaments. Owen), the Rev. J. Serjeant, the This Report was received with loud Rev. Mr. Gillard, and C. N. Noel, applauses, and appeared to excite Esq. M. P. the most pleasing sensations in the members and friends of the institution. Several very animating speechés were delivered; Rev. B. W. Mathias and Dr. Thorp, secretaries; Mr. Singer, Rev. Peter Roe, Rev. Robert Shaw, Rev. George Hamilton, &c. severally addressed the meeting; and one determination seemed to pervade the whole, that of never relaxing in exertion till the Bible was put into the hands of every individual in Ireland who can read. In fine, their meeting bore resemblance to that held annually in the metropolis of the empire, when nearly two thousand persons assemble, and engage in the great work of sending the Bible to every quarter of the globe. Various resolutions were passed; by one of which the new Committee is instructed to apply to the clergy, and also to the ministers of dissenting congregations in Dublin, to make collections for the Society, in their respective places of worship.

SUSSEX AUXILIARY BIBLE SO

CIETY.

THE first annual meeting of this society was held on the 27th of August, at Brighton; T. R. Kemp, Esq. M. P. in the chair. The assemblage was numerous, compris ing nearly all the talent, conse

THE friends to the design of forming an Auxiliary Bible Society in Henley, for that town and neighbourhood, and the eastern part of the county of Oxford, met, according to advertisement, in the town-hall, on Friday, October 2, 1812. Colonel Tilson, of Watlington Park, was in the chair, and opened the business in a manner highly honourable to his benevolence and Christian principles. The Rev. Mr. Hughes, after perspicuously and eloquently describing the object and constitution of the British and Foreign Bible Society, proceeded to lay before the assembly much interesting information, respecting what the Parent Society had already accomplished. In the course of his speech, he expressed his admiration of our excellent Liturgy, and his concurrence in the eulogy which had been bestowed upon it by the Rev. Robert Hall. The Rev. Mr. Townshend, the Rev. Mr. Joyce, William Combes, Esq., the Rev. Mr. Fisher, the Rev. William Marsh, the Rev. Mr. Churchill, John Reade, Esq. and the Rev. Mr. Cunningham (who attended on behalf of Mr. Owen), severally addressed the meeting; but it is impossible to do justice to the eloquence which was

displayed on the occasion. The last mentioned gentleman observed, that education was power, and a power that might be abused. It might be like the volcano, which devastates the neighbouring territory; or like the sun, which imparts light and heat to the world. Now a knowledge of the Scriptures would give a right direction to the power which the poor would obtain by being instructed; so that they would become more happy in themselves, and more useful to others. Colonel Tilson was elected president of the society.

THE first annual meeting of this society was held on the 9th of May, the Right Hon. N. Vansittart in the chair. The following is an abstract of the Report made to the meeting on this occasion.

In order to ascertain the want of Bibles among the poor, it had been thought advisable to divide the committee into sub-committees. Their inquiries have not, as yet, been carried to the extent wished by themselves; but they have already found that more than 5000 families are not in possession of the Word of God; and they have actual applications from more than 650 in Deptford; about 750 in Greenwich; 800 in Woolwich; and about 150 in other places. Only 520 Bibles, and

591 Testaments have already been procured; of which 250 have been distributed at Greenwich, 250 at Deptford, 250 at Woolwich, and about 200 in other places within the operations of the Society. In the course of these inquiries, the gentlemen of the respective sub-committees have often been much delighted to witness the solicitude expressed by the poor to possess the Sacred Volume.

The amount of subscriptions and donations already received, is 10087. While they rejoice that this sum has, in so short a time, been contributed, they cannot but earnestly press upon the consideration of their supporters its inadequacy to afford a supply commensurate to the numerous applications they have above described.

Bible associations are forming, agreeably to the 13th Resolution of the General Meeting, and ten such associations are already organized, viz. six at Woolwich, two at Greenwich, and two at Deptford. These associations now comprise about 500 subscribers; and it is already ascertained that they will together produce, by means of weekly and other contributions, at least 1707. But these associations per annum. are still more valuable in displaying the zeal, and exciting the activity of so many individuals, and as instruments by which its influence will be extended into quarters which the exertions of its original members might not be able to reach. Contemplating, on the one hand, what has been effected in the small compass of less than three months; looking, on the other hand, at the great field of operation which lies before them-" they feel the mingled emotions of delight and anxiety;

grateful delight, that through the benevolence of those who are already members of this society, 950 families have had the bread of life put into their hands:-anxiety, lest they should not, for a long time to come, be able to communicate the same precious gift to the hundreds whom