ance, patience, and faith; and that I may be found worthy by our Lord and Saviour, to spread his knowledge among the benighted inhabitants of this island, and to gain immortal souls for his heavenly kingdom. guage of the nation; and though many Extract of a Letter from Mr. Robinson to A young man has offered himself for A great part of the inhabitants are Mahometans, and many of them are very well acquainted with the contents of their religion, as there are many priests among them who have been educated in Mecca, and others are continually going thither. For the remainder, they are given up to lying, cheating, and all sorts of evil works. I think it will be almost a miracle if any of these people should be brought to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Perhaps some persons may suppose that these native Christians only change their sentiments relative to baptism when they join us, and that my preaching among them rather promotes the interest of a party, than the general cause of Christianity. This, however, is not the case; for I found these native Christians, as they Sabbath are called, deeply sunk in sin. breaking, drunkenness, gaming, fornication, and (if I may credit report) cons, were common among them, and are common among the generality to this day. Some of them pretend to believe the doctrine of the transmigration of the souls, and others are deeply tinctured with the spirit of deism, through becoming acquainted with the works of Voltaire. Surely such characters are men of the world. THE REFORMATION. Extract of a Letter from a Hanoverian Clergyman; dated Hanover, November 3, 1817. DURING the three last days, the cele bration of the third Jubilee of the Reformation took place in this city: upon the whole it was kept in a very solemn and edifying manner. I was particu larly affected by the administration of the ordinance of the lord's-supper in all the churches. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge set the example. I rejoice, that notwithstanding the awful apostacy of our days, there are still Christians among us who are deeply interested in the momentous concerns of reli My health is improved in some measure, and I hope to improve more in it. I have lately begun to translate a little of Matthew's gospel, but feel my great weakness in the knowledge of the language. I recommend myself particularly to your prayers, that there may he granted unto me the spirit of persever-gion. VOL. X. F 34 Domestic Religious Intelligence. ADDRESS TO THE PRINCE REGENT. ON Monday, Dec. 1, 1817, a very interesting meeting was held in the Town Hall of Derby. It consisted of the ministers and members of the Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist congregations in Derby, and was called "to take into consideration the propriety of presenting an Address to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent on the late melancholy and lamented death of Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales, and of dutiful and loyal attachment to the principles which placed the illustrious Family of His Royal Highness on the throne of these realms." " May it please your Royal Highness, "We, the undersigned, the Ministers of the Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist Denominations of Protestant Dissenters in Derby, on behalf of ourselves and the members of our respective congregations, approach your Royal Highness with feelings of dutiful and loyal attachment and of unfeigned sympathy. "It would be vain to attempt the expression of that sorrow which fills our hearts at the recollection of the irreparable loss which your Royal Highness has been called to sustain. That heavenly Providence which rules over all, and whose wisdom we can neither fathom nor arraign, has removed from the world your illustrious Daughter; and at a time, and under circumstances, which to human apprehension rendered her continuance here the most to be desired. "To dwell on the virtuous and amiable character of Her Royal Highness, would be only to repeat the praises which fall from every tongue; and we fear to dwell on a subject which, in the poignancy of your Royal Highness's affliction, might tend rather to renew your sorrows than to alleviate them. If effectual consolation were in our power, it would be our greatest happiness to open every source of it to your Royal Highness; but He alone can bind up the heart who has broken it, and to the Source of all good, whose ways, though mysterious, are always merciful, our prayers are addressed, that he will grant such portions of his all powerful aid as may support your Royal Highness under this awful dispensation of his power. "We trust, also, that your Royal Highness will derive some alleviation of your grief, from the assurance of the affectionate and loyal attachment which pervades all ranks of people in these United Kingdoms. "We offer it to the consideration of your Royal Highness as a source of no mean satisfaction, that a spirit of union and loyalty exists among the people of these realms which cannot be exceeded, and that every attempt to disturb the tranquillity of the empire has proved abortive. Addressing your Royal Highness from a county which has been represented (unjustly as we believe) to be disaffected to the government of your Royal Highness, we have the highest pleasure in congratulating your Royal Highness on the very decisive testimony which was repeatedly borne by the Judges on the bench during the late trials for high treason, to the steady loyalty of the people at large, a loyalty which no intimidation could for a moment shake. "It was with infinite regret that we observed occasional statements of the transactions which have disturbed our county, in which it was attempted to implicate the Dissenters in the recent outrages. That undeviating fidelity which the Protestant Dissenters have ever exhibited to the illustrious family of your Royal Highness, ought to have been sufficient to secure them as a body from such unfounded insinuations. And on mature inquiry, we have a confident satisfaction in assuring your Royal Highness, that not an individual connected with any religious society of the Three Denominations of Dissenters was in any degree implicated in the disgraceful occurrences so promptly and so happily suppressed. "In veneration of those principles of civil and religious liberty which we have ever been foremost to avow, principles which seated and maintain the family of your Royal Highness on the throne of these United Kingdoms, and in zea lous attachment to the venerated insti- | been appointed. I told this to Col. P. tutions of our country as secured by our invaluable constitution, we trust we shall steadily persevere. "To defend the land of our birth against foreign aggression, its tranquillity against the efforts of faction, its institutions against the encroachments of power, are our duties as patriots; to yield a ready submission to the laws and constituted authorities of the State, is the first lesson which we learn as subjects; to embrace every fit opportunity of expressing our dutiful attachment to our Sovereign and his family, is our privilege as Britons. In these characters we now address your Royal Highness, beseeching your Royal Highness to receive our professions of loyalty and affection, and our assurances that your Royal Highness will ever find us among the most faithful of his Majesty's subjects." We understand, that this Address has been very graciously received by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent. Our readers will perceive, that this loyal and constitutional Address completely removes the unfounded calumny cast upon the Dissenters of Derby, viz. that some of the persons lately tried for high treason belonged to their congregations. BAPTIST IRISH SOCIETY. Extract of a Letter from Mr. W. M. one of the Readers and Expounders of the Irish Testament, to the Secretary, dated October 16, 1817. "DEAR SIR,-I lay before you the state of the schools, which I have lately visited. They are in the highest degree of prosperity that can possibly be expected; and I may add, (what I never expected to see in my day,) that there is not the smallest opposition that I can learn from any of the priests; but on the contrary, many of them are requesting schools for their friends and favourites. An instance of this kind has lately occurred. You know that the parish of B. was the first place in which opposition was made to the schools: during the last two years, two priests have exhausted themselves in their attempts to suppress them. The present priest, who succeeds the other two, has applied to me, requesting a school for his nephew; and promised that he would engage for the propriety of his conduct: this is considered here almost a miracle. I am sorry that his application was too late, as all the additional schools had who related to me the following anecdote of a conversation which he had with the same priest. · The Colonel told the priest that he had heard that he (the priest) had burnt the Bible.' 'No,' said the priest, I give you my word that I never did; and am ready and willing to give you my oath; for let us say what we will, the Scriptures are the Word of God.' The Colonel would not suffer him to swear it, saying, his word was sufficient; and added, that he was sorry that his request for a school could not be complied with. "I have had a great desire, for more than two years past, to go to the west of the county of Mayo, where I lived at the time the French landed in that country. The reason I wished to go was, because I was intimate with many of the people, and there is nothing to be done unless there are some acquaintances; of which I have many from this part to that. I was kindly received every where; but could not remain more than one night in a place, as the fever is raging in every direction: I hope the word will have free course in future in those parts. "In my journey I visited O. G~'s school. Twenty years ago I could not have imagined there would have been either house or inhabitant in this place; and now he has on his list 120 scholars; among whom (a circumstance I never saw before,) there is not one Protestant, nor one reader, that has not less or more committed the scriptures to memory, both in English and Irish. There were ten children who repeated to me twelve chapters each, six in each language; the Irish they spoke fluently, but the English with the tone that might be expected. There was not, however, one verse that was not correctly repeated; and what made it so gratifying to me was, when I considered that they would repeat those chapters at home to their parents, many of whom do not understand a word of English! In my last short letter I mentioned some of the circumstances which have taken place on the mountain called Shrone Cham Crohan, relative to Mary R "What I then wrote was but little of the wonderful work of the Lord; I hope, that through her instrumentality, that a congregation of believers will be collected upon that mountain. She never read or spoke one word of English, and but seldom has heard the scriptures read; yet the Lord has enlightened her understanding, and sealed the truth upon her heart, and given her a great memory and ready utterance; for as soon as the most intricate question is nation!' If you do not promise nei He said, If you take him free from sin, he will be eternal nourishment to you; and if otherwise, eternal damna- I am a I "This has been the happiest journey ever made, though I took a cold which brought on a severe deafness; yet my comfort was greater than my affliction. "W. M." SUGGESTIONS FOR THE Religious Instruction of Merchant MANY of our readers will remember, that an experiment was made by a minister of our denomination, by preaching on board a merchant ship, in the river Thames, whether sailors would gladly hear the word of life. The experiment was repeated, and the notice of a sermon was always productive of numerous and attentive hearers. This result has led to give the subject a greater degree of consideration. A plan is in contemplation to fit up a large vessel as a commodious chapel, to be moored birth for merchant ships in the river in a convenient part of the Pool, (the Thames), to be under the joint patronage of the several bodies of dissenters, and in which the gospel shall be preached twice on every Lord's day to the seamen who may assemble from the vessels in the river. The very nature of sailors formed by habits from early life, prevent their mixsaid she, when this is the only booking with landmen in places for public which tells me how I inay escape dam A term applied to all who read the scriptures by the priests. worship on shore, and there appears to some persons to be, therefore, at least as great a propriety, if not an equal necessity, to send preachers expressly to L them, as to the heathen, or to dark villages, or to the sister kingdom. On the cessation of the war, tens of thousands of seamen were discharged from the navy, and are now out of the reach of the Naval Bible Society; and at this moment have not the peculiar care of any associated body to watch for their spiritual good. Yet Englishmen always speak with rapture of the bravery and unrivalled skill of their tars, and that they owe them very greatly their warmest gratitude. It appears, that it is now the time to shew that gratitude, by treating them as fellow men; by teaching them their greatest duties, and the way to enjoy hereafter the highest felicities. If the preaching of the gospel in harbour could be combined with a Bible Society, on an extensive scale, to supply every ship's company going from the Thames with at least one copy of the scriptures for perusal on the voyage, such means, watered with earnest prayer, might be expected to produce results unspeakably beneficial to our seamen. Some friends to the former, purpose assembling on Thursday, the fifth day of February next, at twelve o'clock at noon, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, to meet such dissenting ministers and laymen, who may be willing to countenance and assist the plan. It is hoped, that the importance of the scheme will induce many to volunteer their services. Any suggestions or communications which may be addressed (post paid) "To the Friends of British Seamen, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgatestreet," will be thankfully received, and will meet due attention. man, emulation. Several heads of families have declared, that they could not now live without the gospel. People come from neighbouring towns and villages to fetch New Testaments: and we confidently hope, that the word of God will, at last, leaven the whole lump. The following anecdote may serve to illustrate its effects: "About three months ago, a whose name is Anthony S. came from a neighbouring parish, on a visit to a family here, when a pious young woman of 20, named Francisca, used to read the New Testament to the rest. Anthony listened also, but laughed, and derided it. After some time, he paid another visit, heard again, but scoffed and blasphemed, particularly at the passage, John. iii. 16. Perceiving that the young reader rose, much grieved, and shut up the book, he said, I beg your pardon, I did not mean to offend you; but I do not believe either in this book, or in the priests: the whole is a lie,' &c. (Isaiah, lix. 20.) Francisca answered, in a solemn tone, You do not offend me, but God; whoever offends this book, offends God himself; for it is the word of God. But that you may not sin still more grievously, I will go away.' Matt. vii. 6. She took the New Testament, went into her closet full of sorrow, wept, and prayed, 'Lord, lay it not to his charge, but graciously open his eyes." Anthony went away, but could not get the New Testament out of his mind, either by day or night. Once, awaking out of a dream, it suddenly struck like lightning into his soul, What have I done? I have uttered blasphemies against the word of God!' His conscience was roused; he had no rest, and determined to return, beg pardon, and recant. This he did the very next Saturday. The first person whom he met was Francisca, whom he asked, whether she still had the New Tes tament? Yes,' answered she, but not for you.' Anthony, the man who had for merly been so hardened, now began, in the most affecting manner, with tears, to ask pardon for his profaneness, and told her how the Lord had convinced him of his sin. Francisca gave him her New Testament, in which he read for days to gether. Soon after, he came as a heavyladen sinner to us; and that very passage which he had ridiculed, became the balm to his wounds, and the solace of his troubled heart." SOUTH WALES AUXILIARY BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. WESTERN DISTRICT. THE annual meeting of this district was held at Haverfordwest, July 15 and 16, |