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A.M., including the Life of his Brother, the Rev. Charles Wesley, A. M., and Memoirs of their Family; by the Rev. Henry Moore, only surviving Trustee of Mr. Wesley's MSS. 1 vol. 10s. 6d.

Some Account of the Life and Writings of the late Rev. T. Rennell. 8vo. 1s. 6d. The History of Mexico, and the Mexican Mines, &c.; by N. Mills. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Sixth Volume of Prize Essays and Transactions of the Highland Society of Scot

land. 1 vol. 8vo." with eight engravings. 11. 4s.

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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

PRAYER-BOOK AND HOMILY SOCIETY.

IN our last Number we noticed the proceedings of this Society during the past year, in translating and distributing the Formularies of the Church of England in foreign languages: we shall now lay before our readers its operations, as respects the circulation of copies in the vernacular tongue.

A correspondent resident in Turkey writes; "The English Prayer-books are very acceptable indeed to the sailors and other poor persons who come to our chapel; and, anticipating a fresh supply from you, I am already pledged to several. I find that those to whom I give books never fail to attend Divine Service when they again return to this port; and I am glad to hold out any proper inducement to them for this purpose."-In another letter, the same clergyman states; On Sunday last, we had a large congregation of sailors, recently arrived at this port, and among them all there was but one Prayer-book.

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Soon after the Rev. Mr. During, missionary to Africa, left this country for the last time, 1000 Prayer-books were sent to him, to be disposed of in such a manner as circumstances should render, most advisable. It had been hoped by the Christian converts under his care-our fellowsubjects, though not our countrymen that he would have brought these books with him; and, on the very day of his arrival, the general cry was, Master, have you brought plenty of Prayer-books? When the ship came to port, on board of which the case with the Prayer-books was, and the circumstance had been announced, great joy was occasioned; for the want of them had been much felt. In a letter to the Secretary, Mr. Düring observed, "The manner in which the books were purchased is a sufficient proof of the value put upon them. When I had opened the case containing them, more than sixty were sold at full cost price in less than an hour." The conclusion of this letter, especially as written by one who has now entered into rest, is very pleasing. Perhaps, at a future period, I may be enabled to say

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more for your encouragement. At present I conclude with praying, that the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, may be with you, in thus extending the religion of the Bible, and the true worship of Him, who is a Spirit, in a manner so consistent with his revealed word and will.'

The number of bound books-that is, Prayer-books, Psalters, and Homiliesissued by this Society during the last year, is 9245; and of tracts-namely, Homilies, Articles of Religion, and Ordination Services,-102,705; besides 2000 copies of Prayers and Thanksgivings, selected from the Liturgy, in the Irish tongue and character. The measure also was recommended, as furnishing a small tract peculiarly suitable to those who understand Irish only, particularly the prisoners in jails, "Many such have been brought," says a correspondent, by the blessing of God vouchsafed to the exertions of some excellent men, to a certain sense of sin; and it may be hoped that these prayers in their own language will furnish them with that which their understandings may foliow with facility, and which their hearts may feel. None but an Irishman," he says,

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can fully estimate the importance of presenting to the Irish people truly devout and scriptural prayers, and that in the language with which their feelings and prejudices are entwined." This selection of Prayers and Thanksgivings, however, was by no means intended to supersede the distribution of the Prayer-book itself in the Irish tongue and character; and an edition of 1500 copies was being printed for the Society at Dublin. During the year, many copies of the Irish Prayerbook have been distributed in a very judicious manner.

At home, in addition to supplying subscribers with books-which forms by far the most considerable part of the Society's proceedings, they have endeavoured, as far as the funds of the institution would allow, to answer all such applications to the Society as brought before them urgent cases of need which were not likely to be

relieved by other means. One object, which has frequently been submitted to them, they strongly desire to prosecute, if funds at all adequate to demands so extensive could be raised; namely, the supply of Merchant Seamen with Prayerbooks, upon the same or some similar plan to that by means of which they are supplied with Bibles. The Committee were making an experiment of this kind. The following extract from a letter, written by a correspondent in Cornwall, will give an idea of the beneficial effects which might be expected from the more general circulation of Prayer-books and Homilies among seafaring men. “I have disposed of the whole contents of your parcel; and at this moment all the Psalters and Homilies are in houses or ships, where they were greatly needed. I presented an enlarged Psalter to a poor man, and have been informed that it was made very useful in giving consolation to a fishermen on his dying bed. A poor sailor, who had read the Homily On the Misery of Mankind by Sin,' came to my house a week afterwards, and assured me, in his plain way, that it had caused him to think of the value of his soul. I assure you,' said he, that book made me weep. I am a great sin ner: I see that now plain enough.' A shipmaster also met me in the street, and thanked me for the books I had given to one of his men.”

The Committee, in conclusion, earnest ly beseech their friends never to forget that fundamental law of the institution, "It is recommended to every member of the Society to pray to Almighty God for a blessing on its designs, under the full conviction, that, as all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, proceed from Him; so all human exertion is vain, unless He prevent us in all our doings with his most gracious favour, and further us with his continual help."

NATIONAL-SCHOOL SOCIETY. At the last annual meeting of this Society, his Grace the Archbishop, the president, in the chair, a discussion arose, the substance of which we shall report as a reply to an oft repeated but most extraordinary allegation, that the education of the poor tends to increase the mass of youthful criminality. General Thornton, on that occasion, expressed his apprehension, that to the omission of some mode of teaching the children to earn a subsistence after they left the schools, was to be attributed the deplorable increase of juvenile delinquency; and suggested that half the time of both boys and girls should be occupied in some sort of laboour.

The President assured the Meeting, on the authority of those best qualified to ascertain the fact, as having been professionally enabled to pay the strictest attention to the subject, that the National Schools had not only not contributed to the in

crease of crime, but had very materially lessened it among those classes which, without the education therein afforded them, are usually found to be among the most profligate.

The Bishop of Exeter wished to add to this testimony, the fact which had been stated, and remained uncontradicted that not one child educated in a National School had been brought to justice: it had, indeed, happened, that, in a very few instances, children had been committed, who were said to be from National Schools: but it had been ascertained, that these children had either been dismissed as incorrigible; or had been so very short a time in the school, as neither to have imbibed the principles there instilled, nor to have cast off the lawless habits which they had acquired before their admission.

Lord Calthorpe, in moving thanks to the president, adverted, in the following manner, to the question which had been under discussion :

"I cannot be insensible to the dangers to which the rising generation is exposed, in an age of luxury and dissipation. It is a melancholy fact, that, in the calendars of offences and in the prisons, so great a number of juvenile delinquents is to be seen; but, were it not for this institution, I am perfectly persuaded, the number would be far greater. The Church of England would have been unfaithful to her character, and would have acted inconsist ently with the cordial spirit of humanity and Christian zeal which she is wont at all times to display, if she had abstained from using her best endeavours to rescue the rising generation from the danger to which it is exposed. The labours of the institution are to be the more highly appreciat ed, because the schools under its direction are, in general, peculiarly well managed: the instruction which is furnished in them is most judiciously adapted to the age, the mind, and the abilities of the scholars: the improvement is gradual and certain the system tends to cherish no principle of irregular and mischievous exertion, no ungoverned impulse; but rather a sober and chastised principle of action, giving the character, by degrees, a steady, consistent, moral, and religious tone. We may surely anticipate that children, so brought up, will preserve their earliest impressions; and that it will be found that the Society enlists into the service of the Church the operations of their mature judgment, and that their feelings and habits will contribute essentially to its stability and strength. We may, indeed, already observe, that this effect is produced. Besides, the benefit of these schools is not a single one: it is not confined to the first and immediate object; but is diffused on every side, and through various channels: the connexion which the system tends to establish between the clergyman and his flock, in bringing him into contact with the younger members of

it, is of incalculable advantage to both parties. We may therefore look forward, with full assurance, to the benefit to be derived from the establishment of National Schools throughout the kingdom."

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. From the last Report of the American Bible Society we copy the following interesting statements, respecting the increasing circulation of the Scriptures in the Spanish language.

"The issues of Scriptures in the Spanish language have materially increased. The Board have much pleasure in adding, that there are strong reasons to believe, that, in a short time, there will be a far greater demand for the Spanish Scriptures, and more numerous opportunities of diffusing them.

Already, individuals have been found, in many places in South America, and in other quarters, where the Spanish language is spoken-individuals of undoubted discretion and fidelity-who have undertaken to act as agents in receiving and circulating the Scriptures. Already, some, of high standing, holding civil or ecclesiastical offices, have expressed their warm approbation of the design and plans of the Society, and their readiness to co-operate in its foreign transactions. Already, some hundreds of copies of the Scriptures have been confided to such gentlemen, and are in a course of distribution. The Managers have been assured, that, in many parts of the Spanish possessions, the introduction of the Holy Oracles is unattended with difficulty or danger-that the need is very great, even among the ministers of religion -that the desire of possessing the precious volume is manifested to be ardent by multitudes, who are able to read it that the copies sent to several places have been purchased or received, with much alacrity and gladness, by persons of rank in church and state, as well as many others and that numbers, particularly ladies, have been observed reading the Scriptures placed in their hands, with avidity and with fixed attention.

"With such accounts before them, with the prospect of such opportunities of usefulness, and of such assistance from men of respectability, of intelligence, and of piety, the Managers have determined to extend the scale of their labours, as to

those countries where the Spanish language is spoken. The Spanish Bible, in the version approved by the Roman Catholics is preparing; and so soon as the stereotype plates are finished, considerable sums will become requisite to pay for them, and for the publication of editions of the Scriptures from them. The Board feel their hope, expressed in the last Report, very strongly confirmed, that the time is near when the light of Divine truth will have dispelled the darkness in which Spanish America CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 274.

has been so long enveloped, and when the inestimable benefits of religious knowledge will be diffused over that interesting section of the world."

NEW-YORK AFRICAN FREE
SCHOOL.

At a recent examination of the children of the African Free School in New York, the members of the Common Council attended, by invitation of the Trustees of the institution, and were highly gratified with the evidences of improvement exhibited by the pupils. In a printed Report "The answers of of their visit, they say, both boys and girls to questions in arithmetic and geography, especially that of our own country, were prompt and satisfactory: the performances in writing were neat, and in many instances highly ornamental: the behaviour of the children was orderly, and creditable to them and their teachers. The whole together furnished a clear and striking proof of the value of the monitorial system of education, and of the public spirit, and useful labours of those of our fellow-citizens, who have been able to produce such specimens of improvement, in the hitherto neglected and despised descendants of Africa."

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The results have been similar in every part of the world where suitable efforts have been made to instruct these " lected and despised descendants of Africa," whom some would doom to perpetual ignorance and slavery.

BOMBAY NATIVE FREE SCHOOLS.

The following is the present state of the Native Free Schools in Bombay, and its vicinity, under the direction of the American Missionaries. The schools are 26 in number. The number of children belonging to them is 1,454; but their habits, and light esteem for education, render their attendance so irregular that but 1,135 are customarily present at the same time. The children are taught in the Mahratta language only, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, and some of the most simple parts of astronomy, and other scientific and general knowledge. Great pains have been taken, and with very encouraging success, to draw their attention to the art of reading, and to give it that importance in the scale of education which it merits, but of which the natives themselves have no adequate conception. The Christian Scriptures are a principal class-book in all those schools, and such other ethical compendiums as are commonly used in English schools. The elements of Divine revelation are taught in these schools in the most plain and simple manner; and, though the children are not required to yield their assent to them, yet the insensible and ultimate influence of those principles on their youthful minds can hardly be doubtful. These schools contain 136 Jewish children,

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FOREIGN.

FRANCE. The first public act of the new king has been to rescind the censorship of the press, which had been revived only for a temporary purpose. The country presents an aspect of apparent tranquillity; but the spirit of hostility to the diffusion of liberal education and scriptural knowledge has not diminished. The Jesuits, in particular, who are acquiring great influence, are said to be exerting themselves indefatigably to restore the reign of ignorance and bigotry. SPAIN. The temper in which the agents of government conduct their measures for the suppression of the principles of the late Constitution, and their latent fears that those principles are far from being extinct, are strikingly evinced in a recent circular from the general superintendent of the po

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too plainly the abject and degraded state to which this unhappy country is reduced. Undisguised despotism and servile obedience are the avowed principles upon which the existing government is founded; and the mass of the people, except in the commercial towns, seem satisfied that such a state of affairs should continue, or at least are afraid to risk any expression of a contrary opinion.

GREECE.Accounts have arrived, from various quarters, of the signal defeat of the Turkish expedition against Samos. The bravery and success of the Greeks on this occasion are reported to have been very conspicuous.-We deeply regret to find that a misunder, standing had occurred between our governor in the Ionian islands and the Greek authorities. It appears that some European captains had let out their vessels to the Turks for the tran sport of troops, ammunition, and provisions, in their expedition against the Greeks; in consequence of which the Greek Provisional Government issued a proclamation, declaring that vessels and crews thus circumstanced should be considered as not belonging to neutral powers, but be proceeded against as enemies, and as such be attacked, captured, or destroyed. Among those who had thus disgracefully chartered their vessels to the Turks, in this barbarous and anti Christian war, it is to be lamented that some of the subjects of the British government were included; in favour of whom, and on the principle of neutrality, Sir Frederick Adam, our com missioner at the Ionian isles, demanded a revocation of the proclamation, which being refused, instructions were issued to capture all armed ves-> sels equipped under the authority of the Greek Provisional Government. We have no apprehensions, with the warm feelings which happily exist in this country in favour of the oppressed Greeks, that our government will

to all the agents in that depart ment throughout the country. The superintendent complains, that "between the police and the other public bodies there are nothing but odious rivalries and open and scandalous oppositions;" and that a great part of those agents, far from considering themselves paid to defend the throne, serve only to weaken it by their divisions. The superintendent reminds them, that "religion and the king" should be their exclusive motto; and that it is their duty to search out, and utterly to exterminate, all the friends of the late Constitution. Nothing short of this, he affirms, can tranquil lize the kingdom; and in case any of those to whom his circular is addressed shall appear in the slightest degree lukewarm in prosecuting this paramount object, he threatens them that punishment shall burst upon them with the force and celerity of a thunderbolt from a dark cloud. "The sword hangs over the head of all who dare even to think otherwise " than is prescribed in this mandatory circular. Such an official document shews but

be at all inclined to sanction so hostile a proceeding; and indeed already it is reported that an accommodation has taken place; but we regret that even for a moment any misunderstanding should occur, which might tend to damp the energies of a nation contending for life, for liberty, for religion, for all that is dear to the parties themselves, or calculated to excite respect and sympathy in the spectators of the contest. We feel most warmly for the honour of the British flag; but we do not think that it would have been at all tarnished, by refusing its protection to those who prostitute it in so disgraceful a service as that which called forth the Greek Proclamation. The strict principle of neutrality, we conceive, would have required that those who engaged in this service should at least do it at their own risk, even if it was not thought expedient to adopt the more decisive measure of prohibiting their engaging in it at all.

DOMESTIC.

We have now to report the success of the British arms in two quarters, in which we had at first met with some partial reverses. In the East Indies, our troops have taken possession of the town of Rangoon, and are thus masters of the principal harbour of the Burmese empire. The town was evacuated by the enemy without blood shed: the members of the government fled at the approach of our troops, and left in our possession the prisoners whom they had seized at the commencement of hostilities, among whom were Mr. Wade and Mr. Hough, the American Missionaries. The priso ners were found heavily chained, and expecting instant death.-In Africa, the Ashantees are said to have been routed. They had collected in large numbers nearCapeCoastCastle, where, being attacked by the British commander, they appear to have experienced a defeat, and been obliged to retreat. We trust that this event may hasten on the termination of hostili ties with these poor pagans, who, we fear, in too many instances, have cause to consider their more enlightened Christian neighbours as aggressors on their rights and independence, and think themselves justified in prevent-, ing, by whatever means, their further encroachments.

A powerful sensation has been excited throughout the country during the last few weeks by the arrest and commitment of Mr. Fauntleroy, a gentleman moving in a highly respectable rank in life, on several charges of extensive forgery. Till his case has passed under the decision of a jury, we are unwilling to allude to it more pointedly than circumstances so extraordinary seem to require. Mr. Fauntleroy, who was a partner in a banking-house of opulence and credit, is charged with forging several powers of attorney, by means of which he received and applied to his own use very large sums of money. His conduct has led to the bankruptcy of the firm with which he is connected, and to the ruin of numerous individuals for whom he was engaged in pecuniary transactions. The particular manner in which the sums which passed through his hands have been squandered can only be matter of public conjecture; but we should not do justice to the warning which his case holds out to society, if we did not add, that what are generally styled "dissipated habits" are stated to have been the cause of his alleged guilt and misfortunes. How loudly does such an example address persons moving in opulent and public circles to beware of the temptations often incident to their station! They instinctively recoil at the brutal and atrocious crimes of a Thurtell; while perhaps, they indulge, with little consideration of their criminality, in some of those leniently named "dissipations" which, in the instance under consideration, are alleged to have issued in a course of systematic fraud and rapine. Most justly do the sacred Scriptures warn us to "beware of covetousness," to "flee youthful lusts," and to close up every inlet to vice and temptation. The more difficult it seems to account for the conduct charged against Mr. Fauntleroy, or to conjecture motives sufficiently powerful to have induced a person in an easy and affluent station of life thus to expose himself to almost inevitable ignominy and ruin, the stronger will the necessity appear of guarding against the first approaches of temptation, and of keeping at the utmost distance from scenes of vanity and dissipation.

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