CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY.

A MEETING of the friends of the Society was held, a short time since, at the Market-house, in Taunton; the Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Wells, in the chair. In opening the business of the meeting, the Chairman entered into a brief history of the usefulness of this Society. Immediately on its foundation, in the reign of William and Mary, it nobly and successfully asserted the doctrines of the Church of England, against the errors of the Church of Rome; in more recent times it had ably sustained the cause of religion and ́ ́ virtue, on the one hand, against similar errors; and, on the other hand, against the disorganizing principles propagated by the disciples of Socinianism, and the Infidels associated with the French Revolutionists. The pursuits of the Society were divided into five objects; first, the propagation of the Holy Scriptures, according to the Authorised Version ;secondly, the distribution of the Common Prayer Book ;-thirdly, the encouragement of schools and here the Dean strongly inculcated the support of this Society, in conjunction with the National Society for the Education of the Poor, the objects of both being to give support to the Church of England;fourthly, the distribution of books and tracts in the English language on all the leading points of faith and practice ;-and, fifthly, the diffusion of the blessings of Christianity by the establishment and support of Religious Missions, and other expedients necessary to that end. Sir Thomas D. Acland, Bart.-spoke with peculiar animation in favour of the Society, and strongly recommended that it should be supported within the Deaneries of Taunton and Dunster, Se

veral Resolutions were then moved and seconded by the gentlemen present, which were unanimously agreed to..

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Fourteenth Annual Publication of the Society has just appeared. It was delayed by the absence of the Secretary in Ireland, and by the care required in printing the augmented List of Contributors to the funds. In our Number for May we briefly noticed the devout and eloquent Sermon of the Dean of Wells; nor can we too strongly recommend it to public notice.

The Report traces the augmentation of the Re⚫ sources and Influence of the Society, and its various Proceedings, the detail of most of which has been given in our pages.

The Appendix contains Extracts from the Act for renewing the Charter of the East-India Company; together with the Address of Dr. Buchanan to the Society's Missionaries, noticed in our Number for January. We there intimated a probability of our giving this admirable Address a place in our pages; but as it is now published with the Society's Report, and would occupy more room than we can spare, we shall rather refer our Readers to this publication, than injure the Address by abridging it.

Foreign Intelligence.

GEORGIA-KARASS.

Ukase of the Emperor of Russia.

WE have frequently had occasion to call the attention of our readers to the character and conduct of the Emperor Alexander. We have heard, from good authority, that, in common with many other great men, he is under unspeakable obligation to the cares of a pious mother: and, undoubtedly, there is something, in his public and private acts, very far beyond what may be considered as the decent and official religion of a Christian Sovereign.

The following Ukase is one of the most decisive proofs of his regard to the interests of religion, which has ever come to our knowledge. A fortnight after the memorable battle of Leipsic, by the issue of which the Emperor of Russia became one of the great instruments of deliverance to Europe, he issues a Ukase for the protection and encouragement of humble Missionaries at the foot of Mount Caucasus.

Mr. Mitchell, one of the Missionaries of the Edinburgh Missionary Society, reports to the Directors, that a Gentleman was sent to Karass, with instructions to assemble all the inhabitants, and to read to them this Ukase of the Emperor.

A translation follows: the original is in the handwriting of his Imperial Majesty.

To the Commander in Chief of Georgia-Lieut. Gen. Rtscheff.

The Minister of the Interior has informed me of the present state of the Scotch Colony, which, with my approbation, was established at the foot of Caucasus. These

Scotchmen, who originally went at the hazard of their lives to that remote and uncultivated region, moved only by Religion and Christian Love, and who have employed every imaginable means to instruct the inhabitants in that holy Gospel of which till then they were wholly ignorant, have not only been exposed to many obstacles in their laudable endeavours, but suffer constant molestation from the mountain tribes, who kidnap their children and people, and carry off their cattle and other property, committing robbery and murder, and threatening to destroy the whole colony by their frequent attacks; so that the settlers cannot longer remain in such a dangerous and miserable situation.

The great charges which these Colonists have incurred by their establishments in such an inhospitable country, the expense of their various occupations and trade, and the advances which may be required in future, in transmitting the same humane Christian Labours to their successors, have drawn my very particular attention to this Colony.

I therefore have found it necessary to order you, as Commander of that district, to take this Colony and People under your particular care, to secure them from the attacks of the surrounding tribes, and especially from being robbed, and from all danger of it; and to employ 'every measure, suited to their circumstances, which you shall judge proper, in order to render them as happy as possible.

You will not omit to inform the Minister of the Interior, of what is necessary for the benefit of this Colony; and I trust, that, under your own blessed care, it will soon attain the prosperous condition in which I wish it to be.

INDIA.

Journal of a Voyage up the Ganges, from Calcutta to Agra, made by Abdool Messee, one of the Readers supported in India by the Church Missionary Society: written by one of the Chaplains of the Honourable East-India Company.

THE following Journal is the continuation of that which was given in our Number for April. It came

to hand subsequently to the Journal of Proceedings at Agra, and is necessary to complete the series.

January 3, 1813. Sunday.-Our boat staid at Ribbon Gunge. In the afternoon, Abdool went into the Bazar, and preached. At first, the people shewed no attention; but gradually one and another stood, till a crowd collected, and more attention seemed excited than at any place before. After he had finished his discourse, the people gathered round him, and asked many questions about the names which he had mentioned. Three came down to his boat with him, and passed a good deal of the evening in conversation; writing down from his lips what he told them in brief of Christian Truth.

Jan. 7.At Baxar. Early in the morning walked with Abdool toward the European Barracks. On drawing near, some of the Native Wives of the Soldiers recognized me, and several came out and expressed their gladness to see me, and said they should be happy to have public worship. These had been of my congregation at Chunar. Abdool expressed great satisfaction, and observed that this was the first time he had seen Native Christians desire Divine Service. About ten, we had Public Worship with the Europeans, the Commanding Officer attending. About twenty Native Christians, mostly women, assembled in another place with Abdool: after reading prayers, he was led to discourse long on subjects which occurred at the time, and says he never felt his heart so drawn out during any exercise as here. Several also of the congregation were affected even to tears. Jan. 10. Sunday. Rested at Ghazeepore, In the afternoon, Abdool walked into the Native Town. Met with the chief land-owner in the place and neighbourhood; a man of wealth and of great good-nature, and much esteemed among his own people as a holy man. After some conversation he invited Abdool to his house, where about a hundred people were assembled, before whom much discussion took place about religion. The above person shewed more disposition to attend than any of them; and begged to have two copies of St. Matthew, and two of Persian, and that all the translations should be sent him from time to time.

After this, Abdool went into the Bazar, where the shops were shut up in order to celebrate the Mohurrum,