Dr. Buchannan's Christian Researches in India;' which are producing much effect in this country. Two other brethren, beside the first five, offered themselves to the Board at their last session. Several others have the subject under most serious consideration.' MR. MAY, who, with other Missionaries is intended for the East, is obliged to winter in America, has undertaken, for six months, the charge of a new school at Philadelphia, supported by the Evangelical Society of that city. He is also engaged in preaching Monthly Lectures to Children. On Saturday, Oct. 26, he says, There were 600 children present, besides adult persons. The subject was Secret Prayer, or the Good Child's Petition. I received a letter from the managers of the Adelphi School, allowing me to conduct as many of their boys as choose to attend, to the Monthly Lecture. This school, which is on the Lancastrian plan, and contains 220 children, is supported and managed chiefly by the people called Quakers. 6 On Friday, Nov. 1, I began a Weekly Lecture to the children in my own school-room; on which more than 100 attend. The school room has been opened on a Sabbath evening, for the instruction of children in the principles of religion; and 170 names are entered in our books as Sunday scholars. I wish these schools were more genera! in Philadelphia, for children are very numerous, poor, ignorant, and wicked; only one in twelve of my scholars could tell me who made thein.' In the month of September I paid a visit to New York, for the purpose of preaching to the children. On my way to that city I preached at four different places to upwards of 800 children. At New York I had the pleasure of addressing very numerous and crowded congrega, tions, especially of children. In the African church I preached to 300 black children, and twice to 500 children at the Lancastrian Free School. During the last three days of my being in New York, I had the unspeakable pleasure of addressing more than 1000 children each day.' A LETTER has been received from Mr. William Smart, a missionary to Elizabeth Town, in Upper Canada, dated at Quebec, Sept. 14, 1811; where he arrived in safety, after a tedious voyage of ten weeks, on the 23d of August. He was very kindly received by the Rev. Mr. Dick, of Quebec, and his friends; to whom he had a letter of recommendation. He obtained all the information in his power respecting the place of his destination, and the road to it. The mode of travelling is both troublesome and expensive; for, on account of the falls of water in the rivers connecting the great lakes of that country, goods must be taken out of the boats, and carried by porters for several miles, at the rate of 12 or 15s. per day. Mr. Dick's friends, much to their honour, collected a sufficient sum to enable Mr. Smart to prosecute his journey. We wish this apostolic practice of bringing forward the ministers of Christ on their journey, after a godly sort, were more generally adopted. A few pious people in Quebec have, however, set a good example before other churches. Mr. Smart expected to proceed to Montreal on the 18th of September. We hope he would be able to complete his journey before the frosts set in. Mr. Smart embraced every opportunity of affording religious instructions to those who sailed with him; for which particular occasions were offered by the baptism of the child born on the voyage, and afterwards by occasion of its death. This scene,' he observes, was truly solemn; the dangerous state of the mother,--the tears of the father and family,and the surrounding billows of the Atlantic ocean, contributed, with the subject of death (Heb. ix. 27) to render the whole remarkably awful.' He adds, that the good effect of these services was visible during all the rest of the voyage, as it restrained those vices which before prevailed. By a subsequent letter from Mr. Dick, we are happy to hear of the safe arrival of Mr. Cox, who had proceeded to Montreal, on his way to St. Mary's Falls. Instruction of the Negro Slaves in the West Indies, recommended by the present Bishop of Hereford. It is well known that the late Bishop of London (of pious memory) was a warm advocate for the religious instruction of the Negroes., We wish that his Letter to the Governors, Legislators, and Proprietors, of Plantations,' published in 1808, were in the hands of all the gentlemen to whom it was addressed. But when it is considered that, instead of taking active measures, such as that benevolent late proposed, some of the Governors and others have laid severe and cruel restrictions on the attempts actually made by the private bene. volence of British Societies, we cannot but suppose that Dr. Porteus's proposals never met their eye. pre We are glad, however, that the same subject has been resumed by the present Bishop of Hereford. In a sermon preached, in February last, before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the text of which is, Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased,' his Lordship shews that we are loudly called to the duty of propagating the gospel by the existing state of the world, and by the peculiar circumstances of our own country.' Allusion is made to the Abolition of the Slave Trade, the iniquity of which, he observes, is now publicly acknowledged by all parties; and he adds, Our guilt, therefore, in having so long permitted this traffic, requires of us a speedy and vigorous attempt to indemnify, as far as we are able, these injured men.' Much, indeed, is due to them from us, inasmuch as by a national act, we have publicly acknowledged the original injustice of their captivity. If complete emancipation be not possible, we may at least mitigate the severities of servitude; and, what is most important, we have it in our power to recompence them for the loss of the chief advantages of their present life, by giving them well grounded prospects of another.' Should a revision of the Colonial Laws take place, it might become an object worthy of our legislature to recommend, if not to enjoin, that every planter should bring the children of his slaves to the sacred font.' And here the aid of our Society would be well applied in furnishing men well-inclined and duly qualified to employ their time in the humble but most meritorious department of leading negroes to the knowledge and practice of Christianity; and this is more parti cularly necessary, as the parishes in our islands are frequently of so wide extent as to render it impracticable for the Established Clergy to perform this duty, in addition to their customary functions.' His Lordship then recommends the instruction of the negro - children according to the plan of Dr. Bell; and mentions the great benefits in respect of order, industry, and civilized manners which may be expected from it. The planters,' he says, would learn the happy advantages of having their slaves taught and trained to obey their masters according to the flesh, not but in singleness of heart, as fearwith eye-service, as men-pleasers,, ing God.' ed:-'Would the expectation be unAnother pleasing idea, is suggest→ reasonable, that out of these, hereafter may be found select teachers, well fitted for the office of Missionaries to the country from whence their parents came? The natives of Africa would, perhaps, be more inclined to receive a doctrine delivered to them by persons of their own colour, than if it were proposed to them by Europeans, whom they might not unreasonably sus pect of sinister designs. Our commerce with that country has not been hitherto favourable to Christi anity, it being impossible that we should have successfully recommended the gospel to one part of the natives, whilst our object was to enslave the other. With ardent zeal, therefore, should we endeavour to make reparation for the errors of our forefathers, by spreading the light over that unfortunate country, which their conduct has hitherto contributed to keep in darkness." Sermon, p. 14-18, 1 IRELAND. WE are glad to find that schools, on the Lancastrian Plan (so well adapted to the instruction of the Irish peasantry) are established in several parts of Ireland. A school at Belfast contains about 600 children. The Marquis of Sligo has countenanced another, containing 300 children. Another is establish ed at Castlecomer, by Lady Ormond and Ossory. In a word, it is said that · Mr. Lancaster's efforts in Ireland are likely to terminate in the education of sixty thousand children, without proselytism or bigotry.' Ennis Advertiser. goes on as well as I could wish. He visits four villages in rotation, going out on Saturday evenings, and returning about one o'clock on Sunday; so that he is once a month at each. He ex amines the children of the schools in these places, and preaches in the evening and morning to the people. He is gladly entertained and well attended. I hear that upwards of two hundred grown people are his regular hearers, and that as many children receive the benefit of his instructions. His School in this town continues to be well attended; yet I consider that far from being the chief benefit we have from him. This part of Ireland is even in a worse state than that about Mr. indeed, I sometimes think that our mountain Croagh Patrick, called one of the purgatories upon earth, is the very nucleus of superstition. The number of pilgrims who go up that mountain and perform what are called by them stations, cannot be less than 20,000 annually. The great season is about the latter end of September. At that time there are seen for several days, the great roads leading to it, crowded: day and night they proceed, with anxious looks and hasty steps. There is at this time a pattern, or sort of fair, held at its foot, chiefly for food and drink, at which, after the per forinance, the pilgrims indulge in every excess and debauchery. There is a well in the neighbourhood; to go round which several times, either barefooted or on the knees, is part of the stations. In this well there are two trouts, which are called holy, held in the highest veneration; and are literally consulted as oracles. In this way they are invoked; and if they appear, it is an omen of prosperity; if not, the consulter goes away disappointed. Another such resort of the superstitious, is a place called Bual. The name must strike you. I spell it, as it is spelled and pronounced with us. There are the ruins of what was undoubtedly a place of religious worship, manifestly very old and I, for my part, have no doubt but that it was a place where Baal was worshipped; and that it, as many other places in Ireland, derives its name from that; and that the religion now practised there is the same, handed down without alteration to the present day. The names of some things change, but the thing itself is unchanged. Here, on what is called the Great Lady Day, in September, there is an immense assemblage; and here, as in the other place, the most abominable immorality is indulged amidst their devotions. The place is resorted to by fiddlers, pipers, &c.; and drunkenness and lewdness prevail. It is a harvest of gain to the Priest of that place, who raises contributions from the devotees. This meeting lasts about three days. What a scene does it exhibit to the holy Lord God! and should not our spirit be stirred within us, and we be desirous to teach these poor deluded creatures the gospel of Jesus ?' English Prisoners in France. A benevolent friend in Scotland has printed, and circulated among his acquaintance, several letters L from an English Prisoner, dated Arras Citadel, in March 1810 and Feb. 1811; from which we make a short extract. This young man was a native of a sea-port town in Scotland, who grew up in ignorance and vice, mischievous, and apparently on the high road to ruin. About 10 years ago he went to sea. He was taken prisoner, Nov. 26, 1803, carried into Boulogne, and from thence marched to Valenciennes, where he remained for a time a hardened rebel against God. But he was suddenly struck with terror, at a time when he was persecuting some religious people. On the following Lord's Day he heard a minister preach; and the word came to his heart with great power: he im mediately joined the religious society in Valenciennes. He was afterwards led into an acquaintance with the plague of his own heart, obtained clearer views of the gospel, and enabled to believe to the saving of his soul. and Where he is now prisoner, he says Here are about 50 of us who very regularly attend the private means. We are divided into four classes, and meet (besides the Lord's Days) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The one week we hold experience, the next a prayer-meeting. Our speaker is an instrument that the Lord has raised up for our pastor since we have been captives in this country. The Lord has greatly blessed us. We have four rooms that we live in, 16 in each room, and all of us turn out to prayer in the morning, and carry on our means at night, by reading a chapter, and calling upon one to engage in prayer, and then ending in secret prayer.' P. At the different depots in France there are serious persons: at Valenciennes about 50 or 60; at Cambray, about 18; at Givet, a few; at Auxonne, about 70 or 80; and at Besancon, they were all Methodists; but we had an account from them lately of about 60 that are sitting under Calvinistic doc trine.' His letters contain most carnest exhortations to his mother respecting the salvation of her soul; but we have not room for extracts. A remittance of Five Pounds, and a Second of Six Pounds, have been sent to the writer of the above, with a desire that he would send the names of those persons who stand peculiarly in need of assistance among the prisoners known to him at the different depots in France, who appear to be under the influence of the Gospel.-Liberal contributions have very properly been made by the country for the prisoners in general; but these will be judged especially due to the Household of Faith.' Those who choose to give any thing for this purpose, may be assured it will be carefully remitted by the Rev. Greville Ewing, Glasgow; J. F.. Gordon, Esq. Abercrombie Place, Edinburgh; Robert Spear, Esq. Manchester; or Rev. Dr. Winter, Great Ormond Street, London. Provincial Intelligence. In our last we gave a short account of the establishment of an Auxiliary Bible Society at Cambridge, on the 12th day of December last. It was indeed a glorious day! It was the triumph of Piety over Bigotry! The speeches delivered on that occasion were uncommonly interesting; and if our limits would permit, we should most gladly have given them at length; but as this is impossible, we are happy to inform our readers that they have been published, entitled, Proceedings of the Public Meeting held at the Town Hall, Cambridge, Dec. 12, 1811;' — and in town or country. which may be had of any bookseller We observed, in the speech of Professor Farish, a reference to the milions of people, Pagans and Mahometans, under British influence in ludia, who are yet unacquainted with letters. He asks, What has been done for their conversion? and refers to the few missions yet undertaken in their behalf. We may ask the same question with re gard to millions in the vast countries of Africa, without letters, without a preacher. We may ask the same question as to millions of African slaves in the West Indies, now labouring to furnish us with rum, sugar, cotton, and coffee. What has been done for all these millions? Little, very little indeed! Nor can the Bible Society, however ardent their zeal, however capacious their funds, afford them any assistance. Bibles would at present be waste paper to them! They cannot read. If ever they learn the word of life, they must learn it from living Bibles, from zealous preachers of the glorious gospel. Why then are not hundreds, and, if possible, thousands, of missionaries sent forth into every country that is accessible, and a grand effort made by the whole body of British Christians, towards preaching the gospel to ev ry creature? This noble work should proceed hand in hand with the other; it is at least of equal magnitude and importance, and demands the most vigorous exertions of the friends of Christianity, and especially of those who know its power. We hope, therefore, soon to see Auxiliary Missionary Societies rising in every part of the metropolis and its vicinity, and in all the populous cities and towns of the British empire. Mr. Vansittart, much to his honour, wrote an excellent letter to the Rev. Dr. Marsh, of Cambridge, who had addressed a letter to the University against the formation of an Auxiliary Bible Society. A great number of printed copies were circulated previous to the meeting, which had no doubt a powerful effect. We should be glad to transcribe the whole; but we cannot refrain from inserting the closing paragraph: : I see superior advantages in the present constitution of the Bibte Society.' - The co-operation of Churchmen and Dissenters, in religious matters, so far as they can conscientiously co-operate, seems to me one of the most efficacious means of lessening both the political and religious evils of dissent. It dispels prejudices, promotes can dour and good-will, and must pre pare the mind for the reception of that truth which every one perceives to be no less the object of those who differ from him than his own. From such a communication the Church of England has, nothing to fear, and every thing to hope. If we cannot reconcile all opinions, let us endeavour to unile all hearts. I consider my taking a part in the concerns of the Bible Society, not only consistent with, but a proof of the sincerity and warmth of my attachment to the Church of England; and I feel convinced that I shall not repent of it, as I approach that state in which the Churchman and Diss:nter shall; be no more. Buckingham Auxiliary Bible Society. A SOCIETY was formed at Buckingham, on Thursday, Jan. 2. The Marquis of Buckingham, the President, introduced the business by a liberal and energetic speech. The London Secretaries were introduced by the Rev. Mr. Crowe, the Vicar of the town. The Rev. Mr. Scott, the Clergyman of Gaw. cott, and the Rev. Messrs. Scraggs and Aston, Dissenting Ministers of Buckingham, the Rev. Mr. Bull, junior, of Newport Pagnell, and the Rev. Mr. Hinton, of Oxford, spoke with propriety on the occasion. The Meeting was held in the Town Hall, after which a large party of the Clergy, Dissenting Ministers and respectable Laymen of various denominations, dined together at the head inn. Hantingdon Auxiliary Bible Society. On the 31st of December last a numerous Meeting assembled at the Shire Hall. Lord Viscount Hinchinbrook, one of the Members for the County, presided, instead of the Duke of Manchester, who had previously accepted the presidency of the institution, but was necessarily absent. The Secretaries of the Parent Society attended, and delivered, as they always do, appropriate and impressive speeches." The Earl of Carysfort pleaded for the institution in a pious and dig-; nified manner. Several very re |