and is without many of the facilities for suppressing revolt which an insular situation affords. The plea of danger, indeed, from the adoption of the measure, isnow, we believe, allowed, by West Indians themselves, to be vain; and during the last year many of the colonial legislatures have professed to meet the wishes of Parliament by adopting it

THEOLOGY.

Sermons by W. Kidd. 2 vols. 8vo. 16s.

Sermons by A. Maclean; with an Account of his Life. Svo. 10s. 6d.

Plurality of Worlds; or, Letters, Notes, and Memoranda, Philosophical and Critical, occasioned by "A Series of Discourses on the Christian Revelation, viewed in Connection with the Modern Astronomy," as published by the Rev. Dr. Chalmers. 5s.

A Visitation Sermon, preached at Oxford, August 29, 1817; by F. Haggitt, D.D. Prebendary of Durham. 1s. 6d.

A Sketch of the Foundation of the Christian Church, according to Holy Scripture; by the Rev. J. L. Girdlestone, A.M. Part I. 3s.

A Sermou preached at Cowbridge, at the primary Visitation of the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Landaff; by the Rev. Scawen Plumptre, A.M.

The Character of St. Paul, as a Minister of the Gospel, shortly stated and applied a Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Rev. the Archdeacon, at Leicester, June 17, 1817, and published at the Request of the Archdeacon and Clergy; by the Rev. E.T.M. Phillips, A.M. Rector of Hathern, Leicester, and Chaplain to the lord Bishop of Glouces ter. 2s.

Sermons on the first Lessons of the Sunday-Morning Service, from the first to the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity. Together with four Sermons on other Subjects; by the Rev. Robert Burrows, D.D. 10s. 6d.

Funeral Sermon for the Princess Charlotte; preached at St. Stephen's Walbrook, and at Ram's Chapel, Homerton, by the Rev. W. B. Williams, M.A.

The two grand Instruments for the Propagation of the Gospel, and the Duty of Christians to uphold them with zeal and energy: a Sermon preached at Aylesbury, by the Rev. BasilWoodd. A Visitation Sermon; by the Rev. George Crabb, LL.B. 1s. 6d.

MISCELLANEOUS.

An Essay on the Nature of Heat, Light, and Electricity; by Charles Carpenter Bombass, Barrister-at-law. 8vo.

78.

An Inquiry into some of the most curious and interesting Subjects of History, Antiquity, and Science; by Thomas Moir, Member of the College of Justice, Edinburgh. 12mo. 4s.

The History and Practice of Vaccination; by James Moore, Esq. Director of the National Vaccine Establishment. 8vo. 9s.

Fairs: the Victims of Pleasure; or scenes in Humble Life: designed to Shew the Evils of Fairs and Sabbath breaking. Is. 6d.

Histoire Critique de l'Inquisition d'Espagne depuis l'Époque de son Etablissement par Ferdinand V. jusqu'au Régne de Ferdinand VII. Tirée des Pièces Originales des Archives du Conseil de la Suprême et de celles de Tribunaux Subalternes du Saint Office. Par D. Jean-Antoine Llorente, Ancien Secrétaire de l'Inquisition de la Cour, &c. tome 1, 8vo. with portrait, 10s.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING

CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. THE Report, for 1816, of this Society has just appeared, and comprises the proceedings of the Society, in connection with diocesan and district committees, and the transactions and concerns of those committees themselves; the proceedings of the Society at large, with

respect to its general designs, including the several departments of education and schools, distribution of books and tracts, benefactions received, and other occurrences at home; lastly, foreign intelligence, and the state of the Society's missions.

We shall extract the principal particulars, under each of these heads.

In the diocese of Canterbury, since the publication of the last Annnal Report, the diocesan committee established there in 1810 have taken very active measures to forward the views of the Society in their important object of obtaining an efficient support throughout the several dioceses of the kingdom. His Grace the Archbishop has been requested to accept the office of president: it has been resolved to establish district committees throughout the diocese, the execution of which resolution is now in great forwardness; a select committee has also been appointed to assist the secretary in transacting the business; and a general meeting of the diocesan committee is to take place on the first Saturday in July every year, at which the charity schools are to be assembled, a report of proceedings is to be made, and after Divine service a sermon to be preached in aid of the Society, in the cathedral church of the city of Canterbury.

The efforts already made for increasing the number of district committees have been attended with much success. The intention of the Society in forming them has been "to add to the funds, both by inducing more persons to become annual subscribers, and by collecting from charitable persons in every rank of life such contributions as they can afford, although much below the sum of one guinea, which is necessary to becoming a member of the Society." The Society consider the district committees as conducting in the country the same concerns of the Society which are conducted in London by the general board. They allow persons who may not be members of the Society to attend the meetings of the district committees for local purposes only; it being left to each committee to admit them under such regulations as they shall think proper as to recommendation, ballot, or other wise; the Society prescribing only that all must be members of the Established Church, and contribute at least 10s. 6d.

The advantages afforded to a member of the Society by the establishment of a district committee in his neighbourhood, are not intended to be of a pecumiary nature to him, by furnishing him with books cheaper than before. But he is enabled to make his remittances with more facility, and also to get such books as are actually wanted for his own individual distribution, with facility and dispatch, on application to the

secretaries of district committees — a circumstance of much importance, as ina distant part of the countryitwill frequently happen that the difficulty now existing on that subject will totally deter from the attempt, and an opportunity of doing good may be wholly lost by the unavoidable delay of communication through the secretary to the board, and afterwards to the booksellers in London.

We cannot of course particularize the various efforts made by the numerous diocesan and district committees at home; but abroad we must notice the dioceses of Nova Scotia and Calcutta.

The Halifax committee have circulated very widely within the last year 167 Bibles, 144 Testaments, 372 Prayer-books, 6570 books and tracts. They have also, with the concurrence and assistance of the rector and churchwardens of St. Paul's in Halifax, established a parochial school; and have promised to assist with a gratuitous supply of appropriate books all other schools in which the Madras system shall be adopted. The attempt has been warmly encouraged by the Parent Society, and an application having also been made to the Society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, by whose benevolence numerous schools in this diocese have been assisted from the first settlement of the province, they have most liberally engaged to grant an adequate salary for any school. master of unexceptionable character and qualifications, who could be induc. ed to take charge of a school in Halifax. The schoolmaster has arrived; seventy scholars have been admitted in the first month; and provision has been made for the accommodation of any number that may apply for admission, and for the gratuitous instruction of as many schoolmasters from every part of the diocese, as may desire to obtain a complete knowledge of the Madras system of education, that the diffusion of its peculiar and important benefits may be as general and extensive as possible.

In the diocese of Calcutta, through the active superintendence and patronage of Bishop Middleton, the designs of the Society, in the establishment of diocesan and district committees, have been carried into full ef fect; namely, at Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, and Columbo.

The Hon. and Rev. Mr. Twisleton, senior chaplain at Columbo, in acknowledging the receipt of the last supply of

books, states, that they had been eagerly sought for, and immediately distributed; and expresses a wish that he may obtain a further supply, which he assures the Society would be most usefully be stowed.

The Book of Common Prayer has been translated into Tamul, by Christian David, formerly a pupil of the Society's venerable and apostolic missionary Swartz, and now Malabar preacher in the island of Ceylon; and a copy of it has just been sent to Calcutta, by his excellency the Governor, to be printed at the Serampore press, entirely at his own private expense. The general board, desirous to give every assistance to the views of this district committee, in their earnest wish to attach to our Established Church the people of the island, who have already shewn a general willingness to conform to our ecclesiastical system, immediately granted a gratuitous supply of books and tracts, to the amount of 2001. in addition to those which the committee had requested.

Whilst the bishop of Calcutta was in the course of his visitation, laying the foundation of these committees, he twice visited the Syrian Christians, and had interviews with the Metropolitan, and at various times with the most learned of the Syrian clergy and laity in Malabar. He inquired very fully into the antiquity of this community, into their doctrine and discipline, their rules, ceremonies, and habits of life. He found them ready both to receive instruction and to impart information; and among other Syriac MSS. he obtained a copy of their formularies and liturgy, made out for him under the immediate inspection of the Metropolitan, from which he will probably be able to obtain additional authentic particulars respecting the actual tenets of this church, and to ascer. tain their purity, and in what degree they are found to symbolize with the Church of England.

The proceedings of the Society at home, with regard to education and schools, are increasing daily in importance. The continued success of the National Society for the education of the poor in the principles of the Established Church, has enabled their committee to report to the members of that Society, that the number of schools now in union is increased to one thousand and nine, and that to the one hundred thousand chil

dren who were last year receiving instruction in the schools then connected with the Society, by this augmentation of the number of schools, fifty-five thousand had been added, making the whole number returned from the schools at present in union, one hundred and fifty. five thousand. Nor does this number include all those who receive instruction on the same plan and principles; for when the number is computed who receive the same education in schools not at present in union, it is estimated that the whole number who benefit by the national system of education, cannot be less than two hundred thousand. Besides providing books for these schools containing so large a number of scholars, (which, in consequence of a resolution of the National Society, the general board undertook to do last year,) their assistance is in every case granted, when their members apply for books on the terms of the Society, for the use of schools with which they are locally or parochially connected.

The statement of the number of Bibles, New Testaments, Common Prayer Books, and other books and tracts, dispersed by the society, during the year ending April 18, 1816, is as follows:Bibles, (exclusive of the So

ciety's Family Bible)......
New Testaments and Psalters
Common Prayers.
Other bound books
Small tracts, &c. half-bound,

24,678 39,986

67,057

55,851

795,637

219,752

the members to the amount of six per cent. in addition to nearly five per cent. last year, making in the whole a reduction of eleven per cent. on the former cost.

The Board have great satisfaction in stating, that there is every prospect of disposing, to advantage, of copies of the Arabic Version (Professor Carlyle's edition) of the holy Scriptures. Through the kind assistance of one of their members, the Rev. A. Hamilton, a channel has been found out for forwarding this good work; and he informs the Board, that at Aleppo, Mr. Barker, the British Consul there, will lend himself most readily to a service of this description; and in Egypt, the Consul General Mr. Salt will be equally disposed to give every facility in the prosecution of so desirable and important an object.

The Society's Family Bible, in two volumes quarto is brought to a conclusion, and nearly 16,000 copies have been sold. A new edition is in a course of publica tion. The general index is intended to be more copious than at first proposed, so that a longer time than was intended must elapse before it can be ready for delivery.

The gross receipts for the former year (ending April 1816) were 50,2261. 10s. 1d.; and for the latter (ending April 1817) 60,2211. 17s. Od.; of which sum the benefactions and legacies dur. ing the former year were 4,7291. 3s. 10d.; and during the latter 5,9687. 17s. 10d.; the subscriptions during those periods respectively, were 8,6551. 38. 10d. and 11,6841. 10s. 3d.

From the statement presented to the members of the Society, by which the account of the receipts and expenditure is brought up to April 25, 1817, it appears that in the first year it was necessary to sell out in addition 50001. 3 per cent. consols, to meet the heavy expenses incurred by the Society's Family Bible. By the great exertions made in collecting accumulated arrears due to the Society, they have now been enabled to replace the sum of 10,000l. 3 per cent. consols, part of the sum of 16,0587. 68. 6d. by which the Society's permanent funds had been diminished: but the demands upon the Society still continue to increase; and though the transactions of the present year so far exceed in amount those of any former one, there is still no balance left in the bands of the treasurers for general

designs, but, on the contrary, a consi derable balance due to the Society's booksellers. A great accession of members has, however, been obtained, and whilst the Society chiefly undertake the charge which an additional distribubution of books and tracts by so many new channels brings upon them, they trust that they shall still continue to obtain an increasing support from the benefactions of those who, having the ability, are anxious for the further advancement and promotion of Christian knowledge.

The following are the principal facts relative to the Society's missionary proceeding in the East:

Letters have been received from Mr. Pæzold, as well as from Mr. Pohle, Mr. Kolhoff, Mr. Holzberg, and from the Danish Missionaries, mentioning the kind attentions which the several Mis

sions connected with the Society had received from the Bishop of Calcutta, in the course of his visitation.

His lordship, in a letter dated at Negaarater, near Tranquebar, the 17th of February, 1816, reports, that in the course of his visitation, through that part of India, in which alone Christianity had made any progress among the Natives, he had availed himself of the vote of credit, granted him by the Society, and referred to in the Society's Report for 1814. Before his arrival at Tranquebar, accounts had reached him of the distresses of the Danish Mission, in consequence of the cession of that settlement, and of the failure of its resources from Denmark. More than one hundred children had been dismissed from school, for want of means to support the teachers. In this state of things, the bishop had thought it right, especially considering the relation that had long subsisted between this Society and the Danish Mission, to grant to the latter, on the part of the Society, the desired aid.

The bishop goes on to observe, that he had examined the state of the Society's Missions with some attention. The Tanjore, and Trichinapolly Missions, from their contiguity and close relation, may be considered as one; and they form together, in a Christian point of view, a noble memorial of British connection with India. To preserve it from decay, he recommends speedy and effectual aid. Mr. Pohle was far advanced in life, and his energies were be

ginning to fail. Mr. Jacobi's death had left him without a successor; and if none were appointed, especially considering the insufficient establishment of country priests, the more distant Christian flocks might be dispersed, and not reclaimed. It is true Mr. Kolhoff would exert himself to the utmost; but no man could be equal to such a charge, considering that the congregations are spread through a district, extending more than two hundred miles. The bishop, therefore, suggested that a new missionary be engaged, as soon as possible; and that Mr. Kolhoff be allowed to employ three native priests, in addition to those already on the establishment.

The bishop having had an interview with the rajah of Tanjore, his highness had assured him, that while the Society sent out such men as Mr. Swartz and Mr. Kolhoff, their missionaries should never want his protection.

person had been selected to make the translation free of expense.

LONDON ASSOCIATION, IN AID OF THE MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

An Association with the above'title has been formed, under the management of a president, treasurer, two secretaries, and a committee, which shall consist of all clergymen and other ministers who are members of the association, together with twelve lay members, to be chosen out of the members of the association; but any of the members to be at liberty to attend the ordinary meetings of the committee. A subscription of one guinea per annum, or a weekly collection of sixpence, shall constitute a member; and a donation of ten guineas and upwards, or a congregational collection of twenty guineas, shall constitute a life-member. The whole of the funds obtained (after deducting incidental expenses) shall be remitted to the conductors of the missions of the United Brethren. Every member of the Association will receive the periodical accounts of the missions.

The Society express with pain, that no satisfactory tidings have yet reached them, of suitable persons to be united with their missionaries in India, in a work that has been long carried on, and, through the blessing of God, has confessedly been productive of much good. The Lutheran churches in Germany, and in Denmark, and particularly the sources there, whence used to issue a supply of well-educated and zealous missionaries, in consequence of the calamitous occurrences that befel those countries during the revolutionary wars, have experienced so much evil, as to unhinge their powers of action, and to occasion difficulties, where none used to be experienced. Correspondence, however, is still entertained with the reputable professors of Halle, in Saxony, and a hope is encouraged of the arrival of two Missionaries, for the Society's establishments in India.

The Report concludes with mentioning the intention of the bishop to have the Book of Common Prayer translated into the Cingalese dialect. A competent

The following is a part of the address of the Committee:

has multiplied into nine and twenty settlements, in which above one hundred and fifty missionaries are employed. In Greenland and Labrador; among the hordes of the Delawares, and other native Indians in North America; the Hottentots of Africa; the Negroes in the West Indies, and on the continent of South America; it has pleased the Almighty to give them ability to labour in preaching the Gospel, and to crown their endeavours with success.

"These extensive missions have been supported by voluntary contributions from their own body, and with some aid from other Christians. But their resources begin to fail-their congregations, always few, and in general poor, (those on the Continent being further impoverished, and their settlements almost ruined, owing to their situation in the very seat of war,) have not been able to contribute as formerly to their support. Their collections have in consequence fallen, of late, so short of their expenditure, that they are upwards of five thousand pounds in debt: and owing to this circumstance, they are not only