In the support of this institution, the sums collected in various ways, during the preceding year, amounted to £2313. 3s. 6d.; and the total expenditure to £2330. 18s. 4d. The speeches delivered at this meeting displayed much animation, and no small degree of eloquence. An ardent wish to impart instruction to every branch of the human family, and to exalt the cha peared to enliven every bosom. În this sentiment, the Royal Personages present seemed most heartily to concur; and scarcely any thing could exhibit a more pleasing scene, than the unanimity that prevailed. The language of the cottage, and that of the throne, in the support of these benevolent institutions, is the same; and the happy effects which may be expected, baffle all calculation. founded, in which 3,600 children are | observed) his Serene Highness undertaught upon the British system. At stood the English language, he did not Philadelphia, a school has been open- think himself qualified to address that ed for 1,000 girls, beside several assembly; but begged that the Rev. schools in its vicinity, and Joseph Dr. Schwabe might be permitted to Lancaster has been appointed to super- address the meeting on his behalf. intend them. At Halifax and Nova Scotia, schools continue to prosper; and, at the latter place, Government has given a spot of ground to erect a school for children. But no accounts have been more gratifying than that of the establishment of a School Society at Calcutta, in September last, which proposes the improvement of existing schools, the establishment of new ones, and to select pupils of dis-racter of the rising generation, aptinguished talents from the different schools, to receive a superior education, to qualify them to be interpreters to the Missionaries, and for other important services. At Bombay, there is also a School Society formed. At Sierra Leone, in Africa, the schools are in a very flourishing condition. A report has just been received from thence; there are eleven schools, and the number of children educated above 2000. Short accounts were also read from several other stations of a very pleasing nature. At home, the Committee notice, that during the past year their increase has been greater than at any former period; and that the encouraging reports received from every part of the country, leave no doubt that the British system is generally approved; and the Committee have been actively engaged in endeavouring to supply the demand for schoolmasters. Very satisfactory accounts have been received from Ireland; and the last report from the Gae-sister kingdom, 430 schools, which lic schools affords the most encouraging prospect. The Report concluded by stating, that were the present necessity of enlarging the funds of this Society rightly understood, there is no doubt that the Committee would be able to complete their work. But at present, in London alone, there are not fewer than 40,000 children that have not the advantage of Sunday School instruction; and from all parts of the country, applications are continually made for pecuniary assistance for the establishment of schools. When the Report was concluded, the Royal Chairman introduced his illustrious relative, his Serene Highness the Prince of Hesse Philipstall, to second the Report; but though (he THE HIBERNIAN SOCIETY. THE friends of this institution met together on Friday the 14th of May, 1819, at the City of London Tavern, when Charles Grant, sen. Esq. took the chair. The object of this institution is, to disseminate religious knowledge among the Irish poor, by infusing into their minds the blessed truths of the Holy Scriptures. It appeared from the Report which was read, that there are now in the contain 46,976 children. This includes, within the last year, an addition of 88 schools, and 14,460 scholars. Of these schools, 215 are under the superintendence of Protestant Clergymen, nine under that of Dissenting Ministers, 34 under that of Catholic Priests, 118 under the care of some Noblemen and Gentlemen in their vicinity, nine under that of Ladies, while others, from the peculiarity of their situation, are destitute of regular visitors. To the Catholic Clergymen who had engaged in this work, the Report bore an honourable testimony, presuming that they had done it from the best motives, and care had been taken to give them no just ground of jealousy. The object of the Society was to put the Bible into the hands of the children, and to permit them finally to judge for themselves. To promote this work, they have printed during the last year 40,000 Spelling Books, and nearly 3000 Testaments. In addition to this, they have received from the British and Foreign Bible Society, the liberal donation of 1000 Bibles, and 2000 Testaments, in English; besides 500 Testaments in Irish, and 100 in the Celtic character. In Ireland, such is the estimation in which this Society is held, that one gentleman, after having established two schools on his estate, put them under its care, without burdening the funds with any expense. But, notwithstanding these donations, and this assistance, and although £800 had been collected in various ways throughout the kingdom, the institution was stated to be indebted to its treasurer, S. Mills, Esq. the sum of £ 1342. 15s. 2d. At this meeting, the principal speakers, in addition to the Chairman, were the following:-The Right Hon. Lord Calthorpe, Rev. G. Hamilton, Rev. Mr. Matthias, W. Wilberforce, Esq. M. P., Rev. Mr. Wynn, Mr. Sandford, Hon. and Rev. Gerard Noel, Samuel Mills, Esq. Mr. Hillyard, Rev. Henry Foster Burder, Rev. Mr. Richings, W. Blair, Esq. Rev. Mr. Unrick, Mr. Trueman, and Mr. Thomas Stokes. In the various speeches delivered by these gentlemen, the deplorable condition of the Irish peasantry was feelingly pointed out, and the necessity of imparting instruction to them, and particularly to their children, enforced in a masterly manner. To prove the necessity of continued exertion, it was stated, that on some occasions the Catholic Priests were endeavouring to counteract their benevolent efforts. "A poor boy," said Mr. Burder, "had received a Bible. The priest found it out, and persuaded the mother to give it up, under the threatening that he would curse her children." The woman was so terrified, that she complied with his demand, and the poor boy was deprived of his only comfort. In this condition he applied for another, declaring that the priest should never get this, as he had not been happy since he had lost the former. It was also stated by Mr. Matthias, that, prior to the Rebellion, it was a melancholy fact, that the children had been taught to read "Paine's Age of Reason;" that they had been observed going to school with this book in their hands, and when asked what they did with it, they replied, "We read it at school, and our fathers explain it to us when we return at night." Mr. Hamilton also stated, that on one occasion he had been called upon to visit a criminal, who had been a most daring robber, but who then lay under sentence of death. Before Mr. Hamilton arrived, a benevolent lady had conveyed a Bible to the culprit ; who, as soon as Mr. H. entered, thus addressed him, with glistening eyes and a trembling frame, “ Oh, Sir, had I but known this book when a child, my life would have been safe, and I should not now have been here.”—By the statements thus given, in these facts, and correspondent observations, the assembly composing this meeting were so fully satisfied of the necessity of supporting this institution, that about £150 were contributed by them in aid of its funds. CITY OF LONDON NATIONAL SCHOOLS. ON Tuesday, May 15th, 1819, the Lord Mayor, accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and several others of the Lady Patronesses, together with the Bishops of London and St. Asaph, the Recorder, Aldermen Scholey, Rothwell, Domville, &c. entered the room, when an examination of the children took place. The number of the children present amounted to 1630. These, after an appropriate hymn had been sung, and two monitors had repeated some prayers in a singularly impressive manner, all left the room; and being arranged in classes, they again entered in regular order, to undergo an examination. The points upon which they were chiefly examined were, spelling, reading, numeration, an acquaintance with the Catechism, and their knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. In all these, the readiness with which they gave their replies to the various questions proposed, called forth the admiration of a vast concourse, who had assembled on the occasion. The girls exhibited a variety of plain and figured needle-work, which gave much satisfaction. Having thus undergone in succession the regular examination, they were again introduced together, when, on a signal being given, prayers were devoutly said; after which the children arose, and sung, "God save the king." there were annually sent forth into the community about 60,000 persons, instructed according to the principles of the Established Church. During the last year, two natives of the Ionian Isles had been received and instructed, who, after making them The children being dismissed, and the Ladies having retired, a select party of the Gentlemen sat down to dinner, his Lordship in the chair. Adverting to the object of their meet-selves masters of the system, had ing, his Lordship, after pronouncing a warm eulogium on its design, tendency, and beneficial effects, proceeded to state, that it was a great satisfaction to the promoters and supporters of this amiable institution, to find, that among the numerous cases of juvenile depravity, which he, as chief magistrate of the city, was daily witnessing, not one case had occurred in which the culprit had been educated in this school. It was a gratifying reflection for them, to think that they were in some measure the cause of diminishing that lamentable depravity which had lately so predominated among our youth. lately returned to their native country, for the purpose of carrying to their countrymen a knowledge of the principles upon which these schools are conducted. A school also upon an extensive scale, the Report stated, was about to be established at Quebec; and an addition of two had been made to the central school in Bombay. A plan also had been formed for extending the system to Hindostan, but this had not yet been carried into effect. In the course of the evening, Oliver Hatch, Esq. the treasurer, laid before the company a statement of the funds, as also the donations which had been received since the last anniversary; several of which were connected with some very distinguished names. Before the company separated, their subscriptions were again renewed, the aggregate of which, amounting to £714. 8s. far exceeded that of any preceding anniversary. NATIONAL SCHOOL SOCIETY. On the last Thursday in May, the an- The total expenditure during the year, in grants to various branches, besides other disbursements, amounted to £2768. But although the subscriptions and donations considerably exceeded this sum, regret was expressed by the Committee, that the receipts were not equal to their demands. The principal speakers on this occasion were, his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, and Mr. Justice Park. The meeting was very numerously attended, and many persons of distinction honoured it with their presence; among whom, besides those already mentioned, were the Bishops of Ely and Peterborough, Mr. Wilberforce, Lord Kenyon, Sir Robert Peel, &c.; but nothing of importance occurred to render it particularly interesting. LONDON ASSOCIATION IN AID OF THE UNITED BRETHREN, GENERALLY CALLED THE MORAVIANS. THE people who are known by these common appellations, have long been distinguished in the religious world by their unblemished lives, their domestic virtues, their individual piety, their sympathetic feelings towards their fellow-creatures, and their unremitting exertions to carry the Gospel to all heathen nations throughout the world. As an ancient Protestant Episcopal Church, they have been fully recognized by the British Legislature; to all the Christian States in Europe they are well known; and their simplicity and zeal have rarely failed to command respect, even where the cause of humanity, which they plead, failed to procure assistance. Their first mission was established so early as the year 1732, since which time they have continued with unabating ardour to extend their usefulness among the heathen; and so far has God been pleased to crown their pious perseverance with success, that they have established themselves in every quarter of the world. They have now 32 stations, and 155 missionaries. The number among the heathen which they have been made instrumental in reclaiming, is stated to exceed 28,000 souls. The missions connected with this denomination have hitherto been supported chiefly by contributions raised among themselves, assisted occasionally by the voluntary kindness of other Christians. But so severely have they suffered from the ravages of the late war, that in many places they have been reduced to a state of the most deplorable distress. At Moscow, their habitations were consumed in the general conflagration; several of their missionaries have been removed by death, leaving families to be supported by their surviving friends; and others, who through age and infirmities have desisted from labouring, have no other means of subsistence than what they derive from Christian bounty. Through these causes, their funds have been found of late years totally insufficient to meet their expenditure. For some time, a heavy debt, which had been contracted in consequence of the war, pressed with peculiar severity upon the Society; but this, through an unexpected interposition of Divine Providence, has been liquidated. Their prospects, however, of being able to derive support from their own reresources in future, are far from being promising. The same common calamities to which we have adverted, have seriously injured their own means of internal assistance; and it is highly probable, that several years must elapse before they will be able to regain their former state of prosperity. From many of their principal settlements on the Continent, the contributions they have of late been able to raise, have done little more than cover the expenses of supporting the widows and children of their missionaries now in Europe, and meet other incidental | claims. On these accounts they have no prospect of being able to support their missionaries on foreign stations; and their embarrassments are increased by the additional sums required to convey them to the scene of their labours, when the death of any who are abroad renders such an undertaking necessary. Through this cause, they have been compelled to decline many pressing invitations to send missionaries to new places, with which they would otherwise have gladly complied. But notwithstanding all their necessities, such is their aversion to give publicity to their condition, that they have modestly declined to call any public meetings. The Association, therefore, now under consideration, has been formed by their friends, and the friends of missions in general, in order to render them some assistance, without wounding their feelings, or violating their principles. Of this Association, the Rev. John Bull, A. M. of Southampton Place, Euston Square, and the Rev. John Clayton, jun. of Hackney, are the joint secretaries. These and other ministers, affected with their situation, have preached in their behalf. On Sunday the 23d of May, 1819, the Rev. Legh Richmond preached a sermon in their favour at Ely chapel, and by his persuasive eloquence so far interested the feelings of the public, that he raised for them in a collection £42. In this sermon Mr. Richmond described them, "as ever foremost in labour or in danger, but retiring from notice or commendation. Practising self-denial, not only in the sacrifice of ease and comfort, but in refusing the eulogiums they could not fail to attract from all good men. The primitive church was essentially a missionary church. The Apostles were all missionaries; and so in a degree were all its members; and no other church on earth has so closely imitated them in this respect as the Moravians." This venerable Society dates its origin from those faithful confessors of the Protestant church, the Waldenses and Bohemian brethren. They follow the Augsburg confession of faith, and are remarkable for the steadiness and simplicity with which they have adhered to the great fundamental doctrines of the atonement, and salvation by grace. About the year 1732, the missionary spirit began to glow in their bosoms with peculiar ardour; and, as | sufferings and death of Christ. The if ambitious of difficulties and dangers effect was instantaneous. One of the in so good a cause, they planned a heathens cried out, "And is there not mission to the Negroes in the West virtue in that blood to save my soul?" Indies. They were well aware of the He was soon put into the possession of dangers of this undertaking, and of the the blessing which he sought, became difficulties they must encounter in get- a preacher, and a Christian church was ting access to the slaves. But such founded. was their zeal, that their first missionaries went out with a full determination to sell themselves as slaves, if no other expedient should enable them to accomplish their important purpose. Divine Providence, however, gave them a more favourable admission than they had anticipated, and they soon established themselves.in St. Thomas, and shortly after in the other Danish islands. During the following year, they projected another mission among the inhabitants who endure the perpetual ice and the undissolving snows of Greenland, denying themselves all the comforts of European civilization, and conforming to the disgusting habits and modes of life which distinguish a savage people. As time rolled on, they propagated the Gospel among the Indians in North and South America; among the Hottentots in South Africa, the Calmuc Tartars; and among other tribes equally wild and barbarous. Although, in modern years, they have learned much from experience, yet in their early efforts, particularly in Greenland, their patience was put to the severest test; and it is probable, that no instance occurs, in the history of the Gospel or of our species, in which the particular doctrine of Christ crucified has appeared with so much triumph, as it first appeared among the untaught Greenlanders. The missionaries, on their arrival, began their preaching by asserting the being and providence of God, and by urging the duties of moral obligation due from the creature to the Creator. This they thought necessary, as a preliminary step to the introduction of the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel. But they soon found that they were preaching in vain. The Pagans gazed on them with vacant astonishment, and laughed their arguments to scorn. Disheartened with this contempt, one of the Brethren said, "Let us drop these things, and preach the love of God our Saviour." They accordingly adopted this method, and related from the Gospels the history of the In a similar way did they introduce the Gospel among the savages of North America; and of the effect which it produced, an Indian gave the following account, after his conversion to God:-" One preacher came, and attempted to prove the existence of God. And do you think,' exclaimed they, 'that we do not know that? Another said, Do not lie, nor steal, nor get drunk.' Teach these things,' said they, to your own countrymen.' At last came brother Rauch, and sat down by me, saying, 'I come to you in the name of the Lord, who became a man, and shed his blood to save you.' When he had spoken some time, being worn out with fatigue, he laid down to sleep upon a board. I then thought, What kind of man is this? I could kill him, but this gives him no concern. However, I could not forget his words, and Iinterpreted them to the other Indians. Thus, through the grace of God, an awakening took place among us. 1 say therefore, brethren, preach Christ our Saviour, his sufferings and death, if you would have your words gain entrance among the heathens." Nearly fifty years have now elapsed since the Moravians have established a mission among the Esquimaux Indians, on the coast of Labrador; during which period they have annually sent to them a vessel with supplies, and with additional missionaries whenever they have been wanted. And it is a singular circumstance, which seems to mark the superintending Providence of God, that through all the perils attendant on this tedious voyage, and the calamities of war, no instance has yet occurred in which this voyage has been ultimately prevented. This vessel is again on the eve of sailing, and is about to take some additional missionaries to this inhospitable region. One of these has already spent twenty years in Labrador, and ten in Greenland. Surely, when men who thus brave every danger, and go among savages, with their lives apparently in their hands, renouncing all the pleasures of |