received 935 applications; that in 577 cases it has voted grants of different magnitudes; and that in 88 instances additions have been made to the original grants, in consequence of proposals of increased accommodation. The whole sum voted at different times, amounts to 119,9677. It must be observed, however, that the actual sum which the Society has either paid, or pledged itself to pay, is only 108,6271. several grants having been relinquished.

There is, at present, no balance remaining in favour of the Society. If all the grants which have been voted, and not formally relinquished, shall be claimed, the whole of the money placed at its disposal will have been expended.

It will be seen, that the number of applications received in the last year, has been exceeded only in two instances in the first year it was 145, and in the sixth 102. There is, therefore, every reason to conclude, if any judgment may be formed from the experience of the last year, that the number of applications for assistance will be increased, rather than diminished; for, it will not surely be supposed, that, in the Churches now in being, to which the Society chiefly direct its attention, all that is necessary to be done for the further accommodation of the people has been already accomplished. It is but too notorious, that the growing population of many parishes, requires a proportionate increase of accommodation for numbers who are now prevented by want of room, and by that alone, from attending the worship of the Established Church.

The Parliamentary grants have done much, towards the building of additional Churches and Chapels in populous districts. It must, however, always be borne in mind, that these grants are applicable only to parishes where the population amounts to 4000 persons. In cases excluded from the benefit of this provision, the Society has contributed to the procuring of a great increase of church-room by various means; by the enlargement of the fabric, by rebuilding with enlargement, by the building of galleries, and, by a new arrangement of pews; and, in some instances, by the erection of an additional place of worship.

In

these different ways it has been instrumental in providing accommodation for 154,680 persons, and, in securing, out of this number, 116,503 free and unappropriated sittings.

In

It appears from the Table, that out of seventy grants voted during the last year, more than one half had for their object an increase of accommodation by internal improvement alone, without any enlargement of the building ; and it appears also, that more accommodation will thus be procured, and at a less expense, than in the preceding year. In 1827 the grants amounted to 9,9051. the sitting to 15,591. 1828 the grants amounted to 9,6721. and the sittings to 15,946. This shews how much may be advantageously effected by improvements in the internal arrangement; and, the inconvenient mode in which many of our Churches are pewed, and the quantity of space that is thus lost, render it highly desirable that these examples should be followed, wherever additional sittings are wanted, and can be obtainin this manner.

During each year of its existence, the Society has been instrumental in providing church-room, upon an average, for more than 16,000 persons,—a fact which speaks for itself, and renders any remarks on the usefulness of the Society wholly superfluous.

The importance of Religion, of the due observance of the Lord's Day, and of a regular attendance on public worship, will not be called in question by any Christian. And the members of the Church of England must feel it to be, in the highest degree, desirable that Her places of worship should afford accommodation to all, who are disposed to join in her pure ritual, and to benefit by her sound instructions.

Considerable approaches have been made towards the attainment of this important object, in consequence of the aid and encouragement which this Society has thus far afforded. Its funds are now exhausted; but the Society still hopes, that new means may be provided to enable it to persevere in the work of piety and benevolence, in which it has been so long, and so successfully engaged.

Society's Office, Parliament Street, May 14, 1828.

7th May, 1828.-Grants.-To Drypool, Hull, conditionally, 50l., or 150%.; St. George's, Leicester, ditto, 50%, or 150.; Darlington, Durham, 100%; Almondbury, York, 301.

In consequence of inquiries recently made by the Committee, several outstanding grants were cancelled; and the schools of the following places were received into union, viz.-Ashted, Warwick; St. Giles's, Durham; Henllam, Denbigh; Horsham, Sussex; and St. George's, Leicester.

NATIONAL SCHOOL SOCIETY.

The Annual Examination of the Children at the Central School of this Society took place on Wednesday the 21st, when a number of visitors unusually great attended, and took the most lively interest in the proceedings. His Grace the Archbishop of York presided in the absence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was prevented from attending by indisposition. There were also present the Bishops of London, Bristol, Chester, Llandaff, Lichfield, Carlisle, Winchester, Gloucester, St. Asaph, Lincoln, the Dean of Carlisle, and other dignitaries of the Church. A number of ladies also attended, and added greatly to the interest of the assembly; more particularly, as to the exertion of the Ladies' Committee was attributed the very great improvement, remarked in the progress of the girls examined, in reading and writing, and in different branches of useful industry. The progress of the boys was in the highest degree satisfactory.

On the following day a General Meeting of the Society was held. The most important details contained in the Report related to the manner in which the money, collected under the King's Letter, in 1823-4, had been appropriated. It appears that no part of it has been spent in support of the Society's concerns, but the whole returned to the public from whom it originally came. 473 School-rooms have been, or now are being permanently established, containing about 55,000 children. The estimated cost of these is 112,000l., in aid of which the Society contributes 28,800%, and the population among which these establishments are formed exceeds 1,300,000 souls. It appeared from the Report, that the number of scholars in these schools, formerly established by the Society, had considerably increased; that the applications for assistance in building new School-rooms were also increasing, and that in the past year several of the new Churches in the manufacturing districts of the kingdom had received grants, in order to erect rooms for Schools, in connexion with those Churches. 104 places had also derived assistance from the Society's establishment in Baldwin's Gardens, either by obtaining teachers already trained, or sending persons of their own selection for instruction.

The Archbishop of York was in the Chair; and the Bishops of London and Chester, Dr. G. Barnes, Rev. I. Merewether, &c. &c., severally addressed the Meeting.

THE PARLIAMENT.-The measures which have occupied the attention of both houses during the last month have included some of the highest national importance. Among these we particularly name the new modification of the corn laws, and the motion of Sir Francis Burdett, the object of which is the removal of the few remaining obstacles opposed to the admission of Papists to offices of power and influence.

The former of these has been the subject of long and tedious discussion

in the committee, supported or opposed by numerous petitions, according as the petitioners were consumers or growers of corn. We shall not fail to report the alterations adopted by the committee, when the bill has undergone its final revision.

Sir Francis Burdett's motion, "That the House resolve itself into a committee to consider the state of the laws affecting his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects in Ireland, with a view to such conciliatory amendments as may be to the general satisfaction of all parties,"

This resolution has been communicated by conference to the House of Peers, who have appointed the ninth of June for its consideration.

This circumstance appears to have excited a feeling of discord in the cabinet, the effects of which appear in the resignation of certain members of it. We can, at the moment we are writing, only speak from report, and of course vaguely; but according to this authority, Messrs. Huskisson and C. Grant, and Lord Palmerston, have resigned; the latter, it is supposed, may resume his official employment, but the retirement of the former is considered as certain.

Amongst the returns of a financial nature laid before the House of Commons since our last, are the following statements of the expenses allowed to the Bank for the management of the dif ferent branches of the national debt; and the advances made by the Bank to Government on various heads of income during the year ending 5th April, 1828. An account of money paid or payable at the Bank of England, for the management of the public debt, in the year 1827, together with an account of all allowances made by the public to the Bank, or charged by the Bank against the public, for transacting any public service in the year 1827: describing the nature of the service, and the amount charged thereon in the said year, and including the sum of 4,000l., under the denomination of house money, or house expenses; and also the sum of 1,8981. 3s. 5d., under the denomination of charges of management on South Sea Stock, and stating the aggregate amount of the whole.

Charge for management £. 8. d.

of the unredeemed
public debt for one
year, ending the 5th
of April, 1828, being
the annual period at
which the accounts are
made up ......................

251,545 15 01

the wool trade, the agricultural interest wishing to revive the tax upon the importation of foreign wools, Merino wool excepted.

The reports from the manufacturing districts are very gratifying, particularly from Manchester and Sheffield, where very extensive foreign orders have been received.

The Agriculture of the country presents a very favourable prospect: the continuance of dry weather and mild temperature has very much improved the wheats every where, and produced a most beneficial effect on all the soils retentive of moisture. The spring fallows work well, and turnip seed, the sowing of which has commenced in the northern counties, never went into the ground more favourably. The artificial and natural grasses have very much improved, and if some mild rain should speedily fall, a very abundant crop of hay may be expected.

FRANCE. The attitude which this country continues to assume is decidedly warlike, yet without any indication of immediate hostilities. There is reason to believe that the expedition against Algiers will not take place, the Dey having made overtures for peace. The French forces in Spain are gradually returning home, yet the army has been increased by a levy of sixty thousand men, a number much greater than is necessary to replace the diminution occasioned by common casualties. A loan has also received the sanction of the Chambers for eighty millions of francs. In a very animated debate on this subject, the ministers supported the measure as one of precaution, from the unsettled state of Europe. The best understanding ap pears to exist between the courts of London and Paris.

SPAIN. The king and queen have visited Saragossa, and performed their public devotions at the church of our Lady of the Pillar, with great pomp and ceremony. From thence they purpose travelling through the northern provinces; a tour which cannot be completed before Autumn. The inhabitants of Madrid have petitioned their Majesties to return there, to which the king is said to be very averse. The Apostolical party is said to be very strong there, and much elated by the recent changes in Portugal. Ferdi

nand has experienced the evils of being in their power, and dreads falling again under their authority, especially when headed by his brother Don Carlos.

PORTUGAL.-Don Miguel proceeds on the course he commenced on his arrival. His intention of usurping the throne no longer concealed, without openly assuming it, every party under the influence of either the Government or the Church, has been actively put in motion to make him King. The birth-day of the Queen Dowager exhibited the denouement of the measures preparing for this purpose. The Senate (corporation) of Lisbon publicly solicited the Regent to declare himself absolute King of Portugal. On their way to the palace, a mob, prepared to the purpose, insisted on the Petition being signed by every person of any distinction or respectability whom they met on their way there. Those who refused were exposed to ill treatment of every kind, and received no protection from the police, the Intendant of which had previously published a proclamation of that sort which gave more encouragement to the turbulent than to the peaceful citizens of the metropolis. The troops, even the 11th Caçadores, which, under other officers, had evinced so strong an attachment to the Constitution, were now induced to cry out for the absolute King. The petition was graciously received, and the Gazette recorded the Regent's answer, couched in terms expressive of the despotic temper of the court.

At the same time letters were addressed, by the military commanders in different parts of the kingdom, to the municipalities in their districts, urging them to proclaim Don Miguel absolute king, whilst small Guerilla parties in many cases passed through the country, raising contributions from, and destroying the property of those who shewed themselves hostile to the proposal. These measures, aided by the influence of the priests, proved sufficient to induce many of the country towns to comply, and to prevent the open display of any opposite feeling.

The only privilege left to the ancient Cortes by the Monarchs of Portugal was the right of legalizing any proposed deviation from the regular succession to the throne. This right Don