the Institution of this Society moved the Christian world in a more gene ral manner than ever before to the great object, and that he expected that then all Christian people, and especially all Christian ministers, would have discovered the strongest desire to promote it; but he lamented that too many have kept back; and declared his serious belief that individuals, ministers, and churches, who have declined the work, have been sufferers by it, and that they and their congregations have felt less of the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit on themselves, and witnessed less of that influence in the conversion of sinners among them. He expressed his fears that many Managers of chapels, Deacons of churches, and especially many Ministers, were culpable in this respect; and that the people in general would readily come forward to contribute to the great cause, if they were encouraged to do so by their leaders.

Mr. Bogue pleaded that inattention to this work would be injurious to other institutions. He referred, First, to the Tract Society, and shewed, that however extensive were, its operations, they would have comparatively little influence in foreign countries without the aid of preachers: this idea he extended to that very important institution, the British and Foreign Bible Society, whose noble efforts would produce comparatively small effects, unless there are Missionaries in the countries to which their Bibles are sent. This he considered as no theory, but founded on facts, and referred to the state of our own country 60 or 70 years ago, when the Bible was read in every church, and almost in every house; but conversions did not follow until the gospel was more generally preached. The gospel preached is the appointment of Christ, and nothing else can supply its place; for perhaps in the whole of ecclesiastical history we can scarcely find twenty charches formed by the reading of the Scriptures alone; but tens of thousands by the preaching of the everlasting gospel. He applied the same observations to the Society for the conversion of the Jews; observing that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in ;' and as this is far from being the present case, if we do not extend our efforts among the Gentiles, we cannot expect any thing very considerable to be effected among the Jews.

In confirmation of his reasoning, he referred to the case of Hampshire, which had stood forward in support of the Missionary Society; and observed, that ever since, their congregations have been flourishing, and the work of conversion is proceeding in a degree far beyond any thing in the memory of any among them. He was persuaded that those who honour God will be honoured by him; and their posterity will be blessed.

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Mr. Roby seconded the motion; -- referred to the eloquent addresses which had been given from the pulpit on these occasions, and trusted that the exhibition of the character and usefulness of the insitution would be as grateful and as stimulative to their friends as Solomon's eulogium on the virtuous woman must be to the female character. But,' he added, after all, the effects produced by the Society are its best commendation; I rise therefore to second the motion, and would say in behalf of this eldest daughter of the British Churches, let the Report of her conduct during the past year be not only proclained in this place, but be widely circulated; and let her own works praise her in the gates.'

Mr. Fletcher, of Blackburn, in a neat speech, moved the Thanks of the Society to the Directors for their assiduous attention to the concerns of the Institution. Mr. F. paid a handsome compliment to the memory of Dr. Vanderkemp, and a tribute of affection to the Missionaries who still survive. If, said he, we estimate the value of character and the value of success by the sacrifices which are made, by the pains and privations which are endured, by the almost insurmountable difficulties which are overcome, we shall feel how insignificant are the most zealous operations at home, contrasted with the arduous, self denying, and faithful toils of the Missionary abroad; yet we are also under great obligations to the Directors

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for the constant regard which they have paid to the numerous and weighty concerns of the Institution, and particularly for the prompt attention they have given for the purpose of securing the interests of religious liberty in India, so that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glori fied in the immense regions of the East.

Mr. Hillyard, of Bedford, seconded the motion.

Mr. Slatterie, of Chatham, then read the names of the Directors, who, according to rotation, are ineligible to be appointed for the ensuing year: a list also of Directors for that year was then proposed and unani mously received. This list shall appear in a future number, as soon as it is ascertained that the gentlemen nominated have accepted the appointment. Mr. Waugh, in a very elegant speech, moved the Thanks of the Society to Joseph Hardcastle, Esq. their worthy Treasurer, observing, that if he were addressing a company who were strangers to his character, he would gladly enlarge on its excellence; but that this was unnecessary on the present occasion. He therefore invited them to a work which would be inost pleasing to their minds, to concur with him in the following motion, That the warmest Thanks of the Society be given to their highly respected Treasurer, for the important services he has rendered to this Institution, and that he be respectfully requested to continue them.'

This motion was seconded by Mr. Wilks, who took notice of the great balance due to him; and referring to the amiable character drawn of him by Mr. Waugh, he added, he is good-natured, it is true; but there is such a thing as abusing good-nature. As his feelings are certainly deli cate, I wish he could impart a little of his delicacy to us; we should then feel for him, and say, Sir, you shall not be in advance for us any longer.' Now, Mr. Chairman, I have very little to do with money; and I am of course a poor calculator; but I have just been making a calculation. I suppose there may be a thousand congregations in England that hear the gospel: 1 suppose that 50 persons in each might subscribe one half-penny per week;-sir, this would produce almost £ 6000 a year. If this auxili ary plan were adopted, wonders would be performed. I drop the hint, and hope my brethren will bear it in mind, and arrange a plan in all their congregations for this purpose. I would recommend the same method in families. Let the father give a penny per week, the wife a penny, children, and even the servants a half-penny each. It is amazing what a sum might thus be obtained; the loss would never be felt; and not only the Society, but we ourselves would feel its happy effects.

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The vote of Thanks to the Treasurer was then carried with the highest marks of approbation.

In the absence of the Treasurer, Mr. Henry Burder acknowledged the honour done to Mr. Hardcastle, and observed that the praise which had been expressed would be even more gratifying to the friends of Mr. H. than to himself, who was more inclined to lament the unavoidable limits to his exertions, than to regard them with self-complacence. He took the liberty of stating the apprehensions of the Treasurer as to the state of the Society's funds, as he had often intimated in 'conversation his firm conviction either that the scale on which the Society acts must be considerably reduced, or the exertions made to support it, must be greatly augmented. But, said he, No one can hesitate as to the path which the Society ought to pursue in this case. Is any one prepared to propose that missionaries be withdrawn from stations which they now occupy? Is any one prepared to propose that any of the students who are now at the seminary should not be sent out? Is any one prepared to propose that no other suitable persons be admitted as students in that seminary, because the present funds will not support any increased exertions? This would be to go in direct opposition to the tenour of those prayers which are constantly presented to the Father of mercies, that he would raise up and qualify persons to embark in this grand work.'

After mentioning an observation he had heard from the Treasurer,

that he believed more than a thousand pounds might be added to the expenditure of the past year, but which had not yet been drawn for, he concluded with the words of Mr. Love, in his sermon on Wednesday evening:—The embarrassments of the Society, under its present circumstances, are its glory; but, if those embarrassments continue, they will be its disgrace.

Mr. Townsend rose to move the cordial Thanks of the Society to the Secretary, for his unremitted and gratuitous services, and that he be requested to continue the same.' This motion was seconded by Mr. George Townsend; and the resolution passed with unanimous approbation.

Mr. Burder acknowledged with gratitude the honour conferred upon him, and signified his readines to persevere in the labours of his office. He concluded with recommending to the Society Mr. Tracy, as Corresponding Secretary, who was unanimously elected.

Mr. Tracy observed that the diffidence which he expressed at the last annual meeting, to take upon him this office, had increased by a year's experience of the weight, magnitude, and diversity of the Society's concerns; yet he was willing to engage, with all his power, in promoting the important cause.

Mr. Bennet addressed the Society at considerable length, with respect to the assistance afforded by country congregations; and referred especially to those in Hampshire, by which, he thought, a third part of what was collected in all the counties of England was raised; he observed, that if some other counties had occasion for embassies to be sent to them to solicit their aid, there was no need for them in Hampshire, the congre gations would not only blush, but feel a consciousness of guilt, if it were thought necessary to send such an embassy to them; they would ask, said he, What do the persons in that part of the kingdom from which this embassy comes, know more of Jesus Christ than we do? What! know more than we know, that to all the beauties of holiness he adds all the grace of the gospel; that every attribute of his character, and every merit of his work displays infinite love and compassion. If they know no more than this, what have they more to impel them than we have? Do they owe more to the grace of Jesus Christ? There is not a man beneath the skies, they would say, that owes more to redeeming grace than we do! and what motive can they have for consecrating their time, their talents, and their property to the cause of Christ which we have not?' He observed that their churches looked for the collections for the Missionary Society, which are usually made in the spring, as constantly as for the spring itself; and that one of them, notwithstanding they had begun a chapel, which would cost more than £10,000, would not omit the usual collection.

Tie referred to another church, where the minister who had been labouring 40 years, never saw such an abundant blessing on his labours as since they had exerted themselves for the cause of Christ at large.

Mr.B. then noticed the occasional visits of ministers to London, and how desirable it would be that they should meet with the Directors, and take an interest in the affairs before them. He therefore moved, That those ministers in the country, who are annual subscribers, or whose congregatious send an annual collection to the Society, and all presidents or prin cipal officers of country Auxiliary Societies, who may be in London occasionally, shall be Directors pro tempore, and be entitled to meet and vote with the Directors.'

Mr. Ring, of Reading, seconded the motion; and made some observations on the great utility of a public meeting at Reading, for the purpose of forming an Auxiliary Bible Society, recommending it to all the ministers present to exert themselves for a similar purpose in their respective places of residence. This measure was universally approved. Mr. Alers moved, That the cordial Thanks of the Society be given to the several ministers and congregations who have so liberally con

tributed to the Funds of this Society during the last year, and that they be requested to accept those Thanks.' He then read the List of Congregational Collections during that period, and of the contributions of some Auxiliary Societies lately formed; and also an account of sums received from young persons at boarding schools, and from the poor children of several Sunday Schools. This afforded peculiar satisfaction.

The motion of Thanks was seconded by Mr. Hill, who justly observed, that congregations, where the misery occasioned by the failure of manufactures was severely felt, must not be accused of parsimony in the present case. Among several pleasant observations which he made, he noticed how very few female subscribers appeared in the list; and therefore suspected that the gentlemen were not sufficiently liberal to their good ladies; and thought that if some addition were made to their pinmoney, it would certainly occasion some addition to the list of subscribers. He concluded by commending that principle of union among Christians which the Missionary Society was founded upon, and which has since happily been adopted by other societies.

The Secretary then referred to that part of the Report which stated the measures taken by the Directors to procure, if possible, liberty for Missionaries to go to India; and produced a letter from the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, expressing his readiness to receive a députation from the Society on that business. A number of resolutions, previously approved by the Directors, relating to this very important matter, were then read, and cordially adopted by the Society;-but want of room obliges us to defer the insertion of them till the next month.

The Secretary also announced an intended General Meeting of the friends of the Missionary Society at BRISTOL in the month of September. next, agreeably to a proposal, made last year, that there should be an Annual Meeting in the autumn, in one of the principal cities or towns of England. The ancient and benevolent city of Bristol is entitled to take the lead on such an occasion.

Dr. Nicol concluded this interesting meeting with prayer.

At an adjourned Meeting, held at Sion Chapel, in the afternoon of May 15, the following Resolutions were unanimously passed:

That the Thanks of the Society be given to the Rev. Matthew Wilks, the Rev. John Love, the Rev. Alexander Steill, and the Rev. Dr. Gilbee, for their excellent Discourses preached at this Annual Meeting;—and that they be requested to permit them to be printed for the benefit of the Institution.

That the Thanks of the Society be given. to the Rev. R. Hill, Joha Wilson, and Isaac Smith, Esqrs. the Rev. E. J. Jones, of Silver Street, and the Managers of Sion Chapel, and of Tonbridge Chapel, for accommodating the Society with the use of their respective places of worship. Also, to the Rev. Thomas Clare, Vicar, and the Churchwardens, of St. Bride's Church, and to the Rev. Mr. Jones, the Curate thereof, for reading prayers.

[A larger account of the Proceedings of this Meeting, with the Substance of the Speeches delivered, will be printed for the use of the Members of the Society, and circulated among them.]

COLLECTIONS at the several Places in London where the Missionary Meetings were held, May 13, 14, and 15.

WB record with pleasure and thankfulness the liberality which was displayed on this occasion. When the burdens of the country, the decline of trade, the price of provisions, and the increasing number of charitable institutions are considered, we cannot but be highly gratified to find that the Missionary Collections have not fallen off, but amount to a larger sum than in any former year. Is not this a token for good? May it not be hoped that He who has all hearts in his hand, and all property at his disposal, will be pleased to furnish the Society with the

means of increasing the number of their Missionaries, and extending, on a much larger scale, their attempts to evangelize the Heathen world? Great, however, as the sum contributed is, the friends of the Society will perceive that it will do little more than reimburse what was owing to the Treasurer, on the balance of accounts, as above stated. The exertions of all our friends, both in town and country, will still be necessary. At Surry Chapel, including 31. from Castle Green

SOCIETY FOR MISSIONS TO AFRICA AND THE EAST.

THE Anniversary of this Society was held on Whit-Tuesday, when a sermon was preached at Blackfriars Church, by the Rev. Wm. Goode; after which a collection was made, which, with donations, &c. amounted to upward of £300. The Annual Meeting was afterward held at the New London Tavern, which was numerously attended. The Right Hon. Lord Gambier was in the Chair. Lord Calthorpe, Mr. Wilberforce, Sir · Thomas Baring, Bart. Mr. Grant, and other Gentlemen, took a share in the business of this meeting. The Report, which was very interesting, was read by the Secretary, the Rev. Josiah Pratt. One of the Society's Missionaries, from the Rio Pongas, the Rev. L. Butscher, was present, with a native youth from the Society's school in Africa. The Missionary highly gratified the Society by an address of great simplicity, piety, and information. The deputation appointed to confer with the late deeply lamented Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the President of the Board of Controul, on introducing Christianity into India, reported favourably of the sentiments of his Majesty's government on the subject.

PRAYER BOOK AND HOMILY SOCIETY.

MAY 20, a Meeting was held at the Free Masons' Tavern, Lord Valentia in the chair; at which was instituted a Society for distributing gratis, and circulating at reduced prices, throughout the British Empire and its Dependencies, the authorized Formularies of the United Church of England and Ireland, without note or comment, viz. the Book of Common Prayer, including the Thirty-nine Articles, and the Homilies, in separate sermons, or in the entire volume. H. Thornton, Esq. Treasurer; the Rev. H. Budd, Secretary; and Mr. T. Smith (Little Moorfields) Deputy Secretary. The Comniitce to consist of Twentyfour Lay-members; and all Clergymen Members of the Society.

MAY 13, the Annual Meeting of the SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION was held, when the Teachers and Friends of Sunday Schools breakfasted together. This Meeting was numerously attended, and proved highly interesting; amongst much other pleasing intelligence, the accounts of the Hibernian Sunday School Society, and the Nottingham and Hampshire Sunday School Unions, afforded peculiar satisfaction; and it was unanimously resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to Sunday School Teachers in general to form themselves into Sunday School Unions. It was agreed That a similar Meeting to the above should be held annually.