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· After the expences of this year are defrayed, this little seminary, we hope, will have but comparatively few demands upon the pub. lic, as it is not intended to increase the number of students more than one or two beyond the provision of Mr. E. Hanson's charity; lest it should be thought by any to assume the appearance of competition with other institutions of the same kind, upon a larger scale.

Subscriptions and Donations will be gratefully received by any of the Gentlemen who compose the Committee, viz. Messrs. Clapham, Leeds; Ayden, Shelf; Davy, Hatax also the Rev. J. Cockin, Halifax; E. Parsons, Leeds; A. Hudswell, Bingley, and T. Taylor, Ossett.

THE Half-yearly meeting of the Association of Ministers in HAMPSHIRE, was held at Southampton, October 5. On the preceding even ing Mr. Bogue, of Gosport, delivered a discourse from Luke xxiv.

47.

At seven in the morning, Mr. Bennett, of Romsey, preached from John i. 7; Mr. Cox, of Fareham, discussed the doctrine of the Sab. bath, in the forenoon: after which, the Lord's Supper was celebrated. In the evening, Mr. Robert Winter, of Newport, discoursed from 2 Cor. v. 20. In the course of the service, many of the Ministers, as usual, engaged; and the whole meeting, though numerously at tended, was orderly, harmonious, and profitable. In the interval, and after the conclusion of public worship, the business of diffusing the knowledge of the Gospel in the County, was transacted in a Commmittee; and, it appearing that the

funds were exhausted, new and very liberal contributions were made. It was also stated, that the efforts already made, have been honoured with many tokens of the divine blessing. Since the last annual report, new chapels have been erected and opened at Swanwick and Horingsdown, which are well attended; and the Lord gives evident testimony to the word of his grace at both places.

Early on Thursday, Oct. 6, the Rev. Pierre Dex, a native of the little island of Sark, near Guernsey, whose labours in that and the neighbouring isles have been crowned by the Lord with signal success, was set apart at Southampton to the pastoral office. Mr. Dex not understanding the English, the service was conducted in the French language.. Mr. Perrault prayed and read the Scriptures; Mr. Bogue asked the questions, which were answered in a very serious and satisfactory manner; after which the same minister engaged in the ordination prayer, which was accompanied with imposition of hands; Mr. Bennett delivered the charge; and Mr. Dex concluded the whole with an affectionate and fervent prayer.

The same day a new chapel, for the use of the congregation and church formed at Swanwick, near Bursledon Bridge, was opened for public worship; Mr. Griffin, of Portsea, preached from Is. liii. 10; and Mr. Bogue preached, in the afternoon, from Psalm 1xxxix. 15. Many of the ministers who attended the association on the preceding day were present. Messrs. Mac Arthur, Kingsbury, Skemp, Styles, Frey (the converted Jew) Geo. Clayton, and R. Adams, engaged in prayer. A cottage was first opened by a gentleman in this neighbourhood for preaching, four years ago, when, as it has since ap peared, saving power followed the word, in five instances, which have been increasing ever since, under the ministrations of preachers who have alternately visited this people.

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OCT. 5. The Half-yearly Meeting of the Independent Ministers and congregations of the county of DORSET, was held at the Rev. B. Howell's Meeting, in Bere Regis. Mr. Keynes, of Blandford, introduced the morning service with prayer and reading the Scriptures; Mr. Higgs, of Dorchester, prayed; Mr. Gray, of Stalbridge, preached; and Mr. Field, of Blandford, conluded with prayer. In the afternoon, the ministers transacted the business of the county which came before them. In the evening, Mr. Rogers, of Beaminster, prayed; Mr. Cracknell, of Weymouth, preached; Mr. Sedcole, of Swanage, ended with prayer. Mr. Banister, of Wareham, preached on the Tuesday evening. The next meeting to be held at Lyme, on Easter-Wednesday. The preachers Messrs. Howell and Banister.

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LONDO N.

By Letters lately received at Edinburgh from Petersburgh, it appears that the Missionaries, who left that city last April, had reached Sarepta in safety, the beginning of July. Sarepta is within 350 versts of Astracan; but instead of going round by that city, as they first in tended, they had thoughts of crossing the desart directly to Georgewesk, by which their road will be considerably shortened.

By a Letter from Fulnec, in Yorkshire, the Directors of the Missionary Society have been in formed, that the other Otaheitan youth Oley, who had been baptized by the name of Joseph, departed this life Oct. 13; and was buried Oct. 19.

AUG. 31. The Rev. Mr. Young was set apart to the pastoral care of the Scots Church, London-Wall, late Dr. H. Hunter's. The service was opened by Mr. Smith, of Camberwell, who prayed and read suit. able portions of Scripture. A Sermon was preached by Dr. Rutledge, of Wapping, from 1 Pet. v. 2; and the service was concluded by Mr. Nicoll, of Swallow-street. The

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Members of the Scotch Presbytery attended; and the congregation was numerous and respectable.

SEPT. 10. The Rev. W. Jay, of Bath, preached the Sixth An niversary Sermon, at Cambden Chapel, Peckham, from Ps. cxliv. 12, before a very numerous and respectable auditory, containing, it is supposed, not less than 1500 young persons, for whose instruction it was particularly intended.

Wednesday, Oct. 19, being ap. pointed by Government as a day of humiliation and prayer, on account of the present state of public affairs, was observed, we trust, with more religious attention than such days for some years past. Many excellent discourses were delivered; se. veral of which will, we understand, be printed; and, we hope, the spirit of grace and supplication was poured forth upon many congre gations throughout the United Kingdom.

the prayers appointed for this ocThe following passage, in one of casion, must afford sincere gratifica. who wishes the promotion of brotion to every professor of religion therly love:

And give us all grace to put away from us all rancour of religi ous dissention, that they who agree in the essentials of our most holy faith, and look for pardon through the merits and intercession of the Saviour, may, notwithstanding their differences upon points of doubtful opinion, and in the forms of external worship, still be united in the bonds of Christian charity, and fulfil thy blessed Son's commandment, of loving one another as he hath loved them"

These liberal sentiments certainly do honour to those dignified ecclesiastics from whom they proceel; and, we hope, will diffuse their influence to the inferior orders; among whom some have occasionally discovered a bitter opposition against their brethren who dared to differ in points of doctrine, or forms of worship. Those also who dissent, will, we trust, imitate this condescending example of conciliating candour.

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EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1803.

MEMOIR

OF

CHARLES TOWNSEND, ESQ.

MR. CHARLES TOWNSEND, the fifth son of Mr. Townsend, a reputable clothier at Steanbridge, in Gloucestershire, was born there, on the 26th of January, 1731. Of the earliest part of his life we have no account. His education, like that of others in his condition of life, at a time when a moderate degree of learning was more rare than at present, did not extend beyond the elementary rules of arithmetic. At the usual time, he was apprenticed to a fishmonger, in London; and such was the severity of his service, that it is believed to have produced the asthma, with which he was afterwards so much. afflicted. When his apprenticeship expired, he entered into business; which, after several years, he relinquished, and became a gunpowder merchant. This business he continued until about a year before his death.

There is no reason to believe, that he had had the advantage of a religious education; yet he was very regular in his attendance at his parish-church, and correct in his moral conduct. He acknowledged himself, however, at that time, a stranger to the peace which arises from faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. In this state of mind his brother Samuel, who had gained an earlier acquaintance with the way of salvation, invited him to hear the late Mr. Hart, in Jewin Street. Under his ministry, by divine grace, he felt the depravity of his nature; and was taught to apply to the great Physician of souls for a remedy. "This," said Mr. Townsend," was just the sort of preaching that I wanted." Our readers will not be surprized that he afterward went very regularly to hear Mr. Hart; and ever afterwards retained a strong affection for him. He was soon missed at church; and did not escape the observation and taunts

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