and trade, naturally brought wealth and prosperity, notwith standing the untoward effects of disease, famine, desolating fires, and the rebeliions which took place in the years 1715 and 1745.

From 1750 to 1823.-Towards the beginning of this period, the trade and commerce of the town was in the hands of a few enterprising individuals, who had entered deeply into the Virginia trade; these persons were looked up to by their fellow-citizens, as a superior class of beings. This order of things remained till the commencement of the American war, when the trade and wealth of the place began to be more generally diffused, through the medium of the colonies. During the reign of the Virginians, the Glasgow aristocracy had a privileged walk at the Cross, which they trod in long scarlet cloaks and bushy wigs; and such was the state of society at this time, that when a plebeian happened to quarrel with one of the chiefs. it was certain ruin, for the quarrel soon became general. At this period, when any of the most respectable master tradesmen of the city had occasion to speak to a tobacco lord, it was usual to walk to and fro on the opposite side of the street, till he was fortunate enough to meet the eye of his employer, for it would have been presumption to have interrupted him on promenade. Such was the practice of the C―g—s, the S-i-s, the G—f—s, the D-m-s, and others; and from this servility, the Langs, the Ferries, the Martins, the Claytons and others, who, at that time were at the head of their professions, and had done much to improve the mechanical trade of the place, were not exempt.

During the first and middle part of this period, profane swearing was considered as a gentlemanlike qualification, and dissipation at dinner parties was dignified with the appellation of hospitality and friendship; and he who did not send his guest from his house in a state of intoxication, was considered unworthy of genteel society. In the latter part of this division of time, the state of society has undergone a thorough change; the trade and commerce of the town is now diffused over a great proportion of the enterprising inhabitants, and since the opening

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of the public coffee-house in 1781, the great distinction of rank has disappeared, and a rational amalgamation taken its place; wealth is not now the only criterion of respect, for persons in the middle walk of life, who conduct themselves with propriety, and render themselves useful, have a higher place assigned them in the community than at any former period of the history of the town. The mode of conducting entertainments is now greatly improven; every man drinks what he pleases, after which he usually retires to the drawing room; drunkenness and dissipation at dinner parties are now happily unknown, and profane swearing is considered as ungentlemanlike and highly reprehensible; this has been carried so far, that swearing in good society is seldom or never heard. The bible and missionary societies which have been instituted during this period, have done much to break down every thing like distinction among individuals professing different religious opinions.

The inhabitants of this city are justly characterised as charitable and humane, and on all proper occasions, the feelings of compassion and the energies of active benevolence are never awanting. Although this character is general to the population, it is not universal; for in this community there are many persons who act as if they lived only for themselves, and desire to know nothing but what may be conducive to their own particular interest or pecuniary advantage,

The members of the community whose circumstances have placed them above the rank of a labouring artizan, may be classed into three divisions.

The first in order, but last in respect, are those, who, though wealthy, or at least easy in their circumstances, lend a deafear to the tale of woe, and who neither contribute their time nor their means to the relief of the wretched.

The second are those who give none of their time to the pub lic, and whose charities are in a manner extorted through the influence of respectable applicants, or the favour of public opinion; than this class, who may be considered as the drones of society, there are none more ready to find fault with the admi

nistrators of the municipal or charitable concerns of the place, and are ever ready to grasp at that patronage which so justly belongs to those who give so much of their valuable time to the general concerns of the community, without fee or reward.

The third class are those who voluntarily contribute their time and their money to the service of the community, in the various departments of usefulness. Through the providence of God, this class has, of late years, greatly increased in numbers and respectability of character and worldly estate, which, taken in connexion with other circumstances, have tended, in no small degree, to the increase of morality, religion, and active benevolence, in this great community.

As a summary of the whole.-A careful perusal of the foregoing historical scraps, embracing a period of more than five hundred years, will satisfy every unprejudiced reader, that his religious and political privileges are far superior to that of his forefathers. The laws are now equally and mildly administered; every man's house is his castle, property is protected, and liberty of conscience is such, that he may worship God according to the dictates of his own mind, no man to make him afraid the unrestricted possession of these inestimable blessings should tend greatly to prevent discontent, and mitigate sufferings in times of distress.

:

MINISTERS IN AMERICA.

Mr. Bristed's Estimate of the number of Ministers in Ame rica is as follows:

ANNUAL MEETINGS IN LONDON.

(Continued.)

MAY 13.-Sunday- School Union.-This morning, at, six o'clock, the Annual Meeting of this Society was held at the City of London Tavern; Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M. P. in the chair. The Report was read by Mr. W. F. Lloyd, one of the Secretaries.

Movers and Seconders.-Rev. Edward Irving, and Rev. John Clayton, jun-Rev. S. Hillyard, and W. Rust, Esq. Rev. Spedding Curwen, and Mr. Alderman Key-Rev. W. M. Harvard, and Rev. J. Taylor-and Rev. James Upton, and Rev, S. Kilpin.

MAY 14, 15, and 16.-The London Missionary Society.On these days the Annual Meetings of this Society were held in their usual order. The sermons were preached by the Rev. Messrs. John Leifchild, William Chaplin, J. Macdonald of Urquhart, Edwin Sydney, and Joseph Fletcher. In the preceding week two sermons were preached in the Welsh language for the benefit of the Society; the first by the Rev. John' Elias of Anglesea, and the other by the Rev. W. Williams of Wern. The meeting of the Society for business was held on Thursday the 15th of May in the Wesleyan Chapel, Great Queen

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Street. William Alers Hankey, Esq. the Treasurer, having taken the chair, a hymn was sung, and prayer was offered by the Rev. Thomas Young of Margate. An abstract of the Report of the Society's proceedings during the past year, was read by the home Secretary. The Treasurer then presented

the accounts and pleaded for renewed exertion.

"It would argue a culpable insensibility, were we not to com. mence the present Report, with adverting to the unprecedented mortality which has prevailed, during the past year, among the Society's Missionaries, chiefly in the East. Deeply do we lament to state, that, within this short period, no less than ten of our Brethren and Sisters have been, in rapid succession, removed from the present world, and from the scenes of their useful labours. But while we mourn over these, not less mys-、 terious than painful, dispensations of Providence, we would bow in humble and unfeigned submission to the Divine Will. A statement, so melancholy and affecting cannot fail to make a deep and solemn impression on this assembly. It ought not, however, to abate our zeal nor to relax our efforts; still less should it be allowed to damp the fervour of our gratitude to Him, who, during the same period of time, has, in that and other regions of the world, afforded the Society so much to compensate for past exertions, and to animate to future and more extended labours.

"It is peculiarly gratifying to the Directors to be able to an nounce to the present Meeting, that the income of the Society, during the past year, has exceeded that of the former, in the sum of 185 l. 4s. 6d. the total amount of the Receipts being 31,2667. 11s. 11d.; the total amount of the Disbursements, for the same period, being 33,1877. 19s. 31⁄2¿. A deficiency exists, notwithstanding, between the Income and Expenditure, of 19217. 78. 4d. The increase in the direct contributions for the past year, which the Directors are happy in most gratefully acknowledging, is partly to be ascribed to the establishment of additional Auxiliary Societies, and Branch and other