slave trade, for which an act of the legislature was passed in 1807, after a struggle of twenty years, would have tended rapidly to the mitigation, and the gradual extinction of Negro bondage in the British colonies; but that in this hope they have been painfully disappointed; and after a lapse of sixteen years, they have still to deplore the almost undiminished prevalence of the evils which it was one great object of the abolition to remedy. That under these circumstances they feel themselves called upon by the maturest consideration of their duty as Christians, by their best sympathies as men, and by their solicitude to maintain unimpaired the high reputation and the solid prosperity of their country, to exert themselves, in their separate and collective capacities, in furthering this most important object, and in endeavouring by all prudent and lawful means to mitigate and eventually to abolish the slavery existing in our colonial possessions. That an association be now formed, to be called "The London Society for mitigating, and gradually abolishing, the state of Slavery throughout the British dominions;" and that a subscription be entered into for that purpose. With respect to the means of carrying these objects into effect, they must in some measure depend upon circumstances. For such as are more obvious, particularly the obtaining and diffusing of information, considerable funds will be required; and it will therefore be necessary to promote subscriptions, not only in the metropolis, but in all parts of the kingdom.S. Hoare, jun. Esq. (at Hoare, Barnett and Co's. Lombardstreet,) is the Treasurer. On Tuesday, June 17, 1823, was held the Annual Meeting of the Baptist Home Missionary Society, at the City of London' Tavern; E. Phillips, Esq. in the chair. "The objects of this Institution are, to introduce the preaching of the Gospel ;-to promote the circulation of the Scriptures and Religious Tracts;-and to establish Sunday-Schools and Prayer-meetings in all places destitute thereof, whether in F England, Scotland, or the adjacent Islands of Guernsey, Jer sey, Scilly, and Man. In effecting these objects, the Society now employs SEVENTEEN Missionaries, beside affording aid to upwards of EIGHTY stated and occasional preachers of the gospel, whose labours are carried on at about Three hundred and fifty stations. One hundred and eight Sunday-Schools have been established by the agents of this Society, in which many Thousands of poor children have been gratuitously instructed both to read and to understand the Holy Scriptures; some of whom are now, by the grace of God, useful missionaries abroad; and others are employed in shewing the way of salvation to their fellow-countrymen at home. Whilst, in many instances where small churches have long existed, the things that remained, and that were ready to die, have been strengthened: new churches have been formed, chiefly composed of the fruits of missionary labours in former years;' for them pastors and teachers have been provided, and hereby the preaching of the gospel to the poor and ignorant has been happily united with "the edifying of the body of Christ." On the 18th and 19th of June, were held the usual Annual Meetings of the Baptist Missionary Society. On the 18th, two sermons were preached,-thatin the morning at Great Queen-Street Chapel, by the Rev. Dr. Steadman; and that in the evening at Surrey Chapel, by the Rev. G.Barclay of Irvine. On the morning of the 19th, at nine, a prayer-meeting was held at Eagle Street. Immediately after the prayer-meeting, a very large and respecta ble assembly met at the Chapel in Great Queen-Street, to hear the Report of the Committee, and to transact the annual business of the Society. Benjamin Shaw, Esq. Treasurer to the Society, was called to the chair. After the chairman had addressed the assembly, the Report was read by the Junior Secretary, and the various resolutions were moved and seconded by the Rev. J. Kinghorn, and W. C. Wilson, Esq. (M. P.) the Rev. G. Barclay and J. Leifchild; the Rev. E. Irving,. M. A. and J. Butterworth, Esq. E. Phillips, Esq. and Rev. J. H. Hinton; J. Sheppard, Esq. and Rev. J. Arundel; Rev. J. Kilpin, and W.-Giles; Rev. J. Hoby and Jabez Bunting, M. A. &c. &c. The Meeting appeared to be exceedingly interesting, and afforded a rich display of christian sympathy and affection, and of powerful eloquence. JUNE 20.-The ninth Anniversary of the Baptist Society for promoting the Gospel in Ireland, was held at the City of Lon don Tavern; J. Butterworth, Esq. in the chair. After the Report had been read, the meeting was addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Barclay, Hoby and Davis, Lieut. Gordon (R. N.) J. S. Taylor, Esq. &c. &c. Much interest was excited and a very large collection made. “ The number of the Sabbath and Itinerant Irish Readers of the Scriptures is twenty-four. Some idea of the usefulness of the Sabbath Readers may be formed, from the report of the labours of five men in the county of Clare. They have read the scriptures in the Irish language in more than two hundred and fifty distinct cabins. One of them alone has taught fortyseven adults to read the Irish perfectly. "The Committee report that there are ninety-two day schools, and fourteen evening schools for adults, beside several Sunday schools. There are in Tipperary, Cork, Westmeath, Longford, and Kilkenny, eleven; in Clare and Limerick seventeen; and in Sligo, Mayo, and Roscommon, sixty-four. The schools contain about 7500 children: all these belong to Roman Catholic parents, excepting about 500, whose parents are Protestants." We know not how to close our report of these interesting Anniversaries more appropriately, than by subjoining, from the Christian Observer, a statement of the receipts of Religious Charities in 1822–23. It will be seen that in this list are included only those Societies which are of general interest, and -the-centre of whose operations is, therefore, found in London. Many, very many local Institutions are of course omitted, and some even of the same kind as those included, such particularly as the Missionary and School Societies of Scotland, &c. But suppose this were all-what country in the world, except Great Britain, could produce such a list and such an amount as this? no less than £ 351,987 17s. 11d.! British and Foreign Bible Society, Hibernian Bible Society, Naval and Military Bible Society, .... .... £ 97,062 11 9 4,343 0 11 .... Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, Church Missionary Society, .... ...... .... Sunday School Society for Ireland,.... Irish Evangelical Society, .... .... 403 6 7 2,500 0 0 Soc. for promoting Relig. Knowledge among the Poor, 825 15 7 Society for the Conversion of the Jews, Prayer-book and Homily Society, BEDFORDSHIRE PETITION Against the Burning of Hindoo Widows. We are exceedingly happy to see that the question respecting the suppression of Suttees is beginning to be publicly agitated by the British Parliament and the Nation at large. It is not to be expected that immediate success will be obtained: but knowing, as we do, the store of facts which are ready to be brought to bear upon the subject—the fundamental principles of justice and humanity to which the appeal is made-and the character of the people to whom it is addressed, we cannot for a moment doubt, that the desired object will eventually be gained, nor that this new victory of Christian philanthropy will soon be accomplished. In this case, the abolition of the slave trade affords, in many respects, a most encouraging precedent. There is now no room for fear as it regards the manner in which the public mind will be affected. In Great Britain humanity must triumph. The public opinion will be expressed as on former occasions. Parliamentary hesitation and opposition, should it continue long to exist, will be overwhelmed by petitions from the Counties, Cities, and Towns of Britain. We have seen the effect of these not only in different stages of the Slave question, but likewise at the late renewal of the Honorable Company's charter, when an open door was given to missionary exertion in this country. Other cases too might be quoted, were it necessary. The people of Great Britain' have a right to be heard on such occasions, and the British gơvernment rejoice in having a people to rule, who are worthy of their rights. But it must be evident to every one that this struggle ought not to be left to the unaided efforts of philanthropists at home. Much may be done in India, and with perfect propriety. Not indeed by taking any public measure, nor by heaping imputations of blame on the Government-All that will be required, |