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escape, "let us not repine," said his Lordship, "if our motives are misconstrued, and our actions misrepresented; if, in our honest and sincere endeavours to promote the temporal and eternal welfare of others, we become to a few the objects of hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness.' Let us remember the treatment experienced by our Lord himself, and that the servant is not greater than his Master.'"

Considerations such as these, however, should only operate to increase our vigilance, activity, and caution, if we would preserve our pure and apostolical Church against the treachery of false brethren within, and the assaults of her adversaries from without. "After all, indeed," he observed, "our reliance must be upon God alone,- for we know, that except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain;'-but we may assure ourselves, that the Lord will not keep the city, if the watchman slumber upon his post."

His Lordship having strongly pressed all the foregoing topics, in the last place, most earnestly exhorted the Clergy not only to support by their own liberality, but also to take every opportunity of recommending to the attention and bounty of their kindly-disposed laybrethren, those benevolent societies which are engaged in promoting the best interests of mankind, and which are more particularly entitled to the appellation of Church-of-England Societies. He meant the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, which supplies the poor with the Holy Scriptures, and with comments necessary for the right understanding of them, especially with that best of all comments, the Book of Common Prayer, and with Religious and Moral Tracts to guide them in the paths of holiness and virtue ;-the Society for the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church; and that for Promoting the Building and Enlargement of Churches and Chapels. For it is not sufficient, he added, that the poor be instructed in their youth to read and comprehend the Sacred Volume,-it is not sufficient that, when they go forth into the world, they be supplied by means of those excellent institutions, the Parochial Lending Libraries, with books of information and amusement;-they must be still farther secured against temptation; and, that they may not be seduced by the arts of others, or be persuaded by any misconceptions of their own to forsake that Church to which they have been early attached, it is highly necessary that accommodation should be provided for them in their own parish churches.

"I do, therefore, most earnestly exhort you," said his Lordship, "to use the most strenuous exertions in behalf of the Society for Promoting the Building and Enlargement of Churches and Chapels,which Society has already done so much with such slender means, and is still actively and diligently employed in distributing the funds entrusted to it, with that economy, indeed, which the narrow limits of those funds necessarily impose; but, at the same time, with a judicious liberality, so as to afford in cases of real exigency effectual assistance, and in all cases salutary encouragement."

The Bishop then strongly recommended the formation of District Committees in aid of this Society.

Having thus provided for the wants of our Christian brethren at

home, it became our duty, he further observed, to unite with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and to communicate to other less favoured countries the inestimable benefits which the goodness of God had graciously imparted to us; and happy for us would it be, if God should vouchsafe to make us the blessed instruments for effecting that for which we daily pray to Him, beseeching Him that He "would be pleased to make his ways known to all sorts and conditions of men, his saving health unto all nations."

"I cannot conclude," said his Lordship, "without calling your attention to one other charitable institution, in which, unfortunately, too many of the Clergy are personally interested. For there are, indeed, too many whose moderate incomes, barely supplying the common necessaries of life, are inadequate to admit of the smallest provision being made for future contingencies; and who, therefore, after a life of toil and labour, or snatched away by a premature death, leave their families totally destitute. Such cases, I am afraid, must be familiar to all of you; they will, however, enable you duly to appreciate that noble institution in which the orphan children of such Clergymen are clothed and maintained, enjoying every suitable comfort and convenience, and receiving as good an education, in all essential points, as wealth itself can bestow."

After some further impressive exhortations on behalf of the "little orphans," his Lordship thus concluded: "In recommending more particularly to your regard these several institutions which are so closely connected with the Established Church, it is by no means my intention to imply that others should be excluded from it. There are, indeed, many, as well of an extensive as of a more confined and local nature, which have claims upon us for any assistance which we can afford them. And we may be assured, that whatever benefit we may confer upon such institutions, either by our own liberality, or by stimulating the liberality of others, God will not forget our labour of love.

"May his Holy Spirit direct and guide us in the discharge of these and all the important duties of our profession, so that we may be found blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

NOTICES OF THE RELIGIOUS ASPECT OF JAMAICA.

THE following are extracts from some letters of a gentleman attached to the Bishop of Jamaica, and afford information on the interesting subject of the proposed religious instruction of the Negroes in the West Indies.

66

"Kingston. June 22, 1825.

suggests the propriety of instituting infant schools in the several estates. Of this I strongly approve, and had mentioned the subject to the Bishop, who appeared satisfied of the good which must result from such institutions; but I fear we shall find some difficulty in accomplishing the measure. They have universally, and for some years, consented to a mode of instruction here, most tedious (oral), especially with adults. Indeed, it is impossible to express the

Negroes' stupidity. This must be owing to the neglected state in which they are left as children. The mind, for want of early instruction, loses its natural energies, and becomes completely barren. I have observed in the children a degree of shrewdness and observation quite astonishing; the more so, from the apparent stupidity of their parents, who (if I may speak from my own observation) are so dull, as to make even the most zealous person despair of success. We are endeavouring to establish a national school: indeed, till this is effected, I shall not sit down easy. I do not altogether despair. There are some few here most anxious to forward our views. * To-morrow a meeting is to be held in the Town Hall, for the purpose of obtaining means to erect another place of worship; much discussion, for and against, is expected. At present, for a population of 37,000 inhabitants, there is only one church, and this is incapable of containing more than 1800. This meeting would have taken place long before, but from the severe family affliction of our good Diocesan. The school I have made mention of was founded by a person of the name of Walmer, and the funds must be considerable, enabling them to educate 260 children. The misfortune is, no slave children can be admitted. Much credit is due to the person to whose care the children are committed. They are far more forward than any at their age in England. Boys and girls at seven repeat their Catechisms not merely by rote, but will bear the strictest examination. They are nów preparing for the Confirmation, which the Bishop proposes holding in September. Short discourses are delivered to them, explanatory of the Church Catechism, &c. They have received also a small paper to this effect, with Archbishop Secker's Sermon on Confirmation. This last they are permitted to read out of school hours; and it is truly delightful to observe what apparent pleasure they take in this, and their pride when well prepared, One word of approbation seems amply to repay them. I have proposed to the District Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge to provide us with a few books, to be given as prizes, in order to stimulate the boys to exert themselves, by creating some degree of emulation. We have another good institution here, the poor house, in which are received the illegitimate children, who are too often neglected by their barbarous parents. Many of these are well instructed in accomplishments, but I fear that which should be the most essential part of their education is much neglected: I mean, their religious instruction. Would that I could persuade the Trustees of this establishment to pay more attention to this,-I should esteem myself most fortunate."

"Kingston, August 6th, 1825.

"The Bishop was much gratified with the kind and hospitable manner in which he was every where received; his every wish ecclesiastical was met, if not anticipated, by all who had the power to assist us: and I can with truth say, that the planters have been grossly slandered. The condition of the Negroes, so far from being what it is represented to be in England, is really far better than that of the labouring classes with you. What it was some few years ago I will not pretend to deny; but since the abolition of the Slave Trade, the Proprietor, from interested motives (if we should be unwilling to allow

him better), is inclined to treat his dependants with kindness. Their work (believe me, I speak from conviction) is lighter than that of the labourer with you; and should any prove sick, they have medicine and medical assistance immediately for asking. Every estate has its hospital, or what is here termed, hot house. Is it so with you ? With you should any fall sick, to whom is he to apply? Here, on the contrary, they are forced by law to provide for all, young and old. The Negro, on his sick bed, needs have no anxiety as to how his children fare: he knows they are well taken care of. Punishments are now unfrequent, none being allowed except with the consent of the proprietor or manager; and then, according to a law lately passed, these must be entered in the plantation book, as well as the cause for which they have been inflicted. Of their little comforts we had many opportunities of judging: one only will I give you. We were overtaken with heavy rain, and were obliged to stop at a Negro house on the road side for shelter: they received us with much kindness. Their house consisted of three rooms, two bed-rooms, and a good sittingroom. In the centre of the last was a fire, by which they were dressing their dinner, consisting of a dish, common here, called pepper-pot, composed of vegetables, fish and fowl, or goat's flesh. Of this they wished us to partake; on our declining, they offered wine or porter (both of which here bear a very high price). They had one child, whom they said they were anxious to have baptized, and asked if it was true that the Bishop intended to visit the property to which they belonged. "He should much like to have pickaninny baptized by Massa Bishop, but he could not quite yet afford it, having laid out great money on house:" we desired to know what this meant: "he wished to give eat and drink to his friends, and this cost much wine, beer and porter." (I have been present when this was observed.) We parted excellent friends, and the child was baptized, with many others, on the following day, by the Bishop. We are building a chapel here: our subscription amounts already to 4756l. 13s. 4d. Many Negroes, both free and bond, have subscribed, so anxious are they to obtain church-room, and certainly shew a predilection to the established Church of England. We have at present but one place of worship besides the Parish Church, and this will admit of 700. Chapels are now building in many parts of the island, so anxious are all to see our Church regularly established. It is truly gratifying to see all classes and colours striving with each other to promote this most desirable object."

"Kingston, August 16th, 1825. "We have been making a Visitation with the Bishop. We were absent a month, during which time we could visit only three parishes, owing to the intense heat of the weather, the thermometer now standing at 92o in the shade, and 131° in the sun. Every thing relating to Church matters is going on as well as the most sanguine could expect. So far from meeting with opposition, our every wish is even anticipated. The Bishop proposes embarking for the Bermudas, Bahamas, and Honduras (which form a part of his diocese), as soon as the House of Assembly shall close, which will not be before January next. We have lost two of our party, and a third is now lying ill with fever in my

house, but this morning a favourable change has taken place; God grant that he may recover. This is our sickly season, and it requires great caution to escape fever. Our little baby bishop is doing well." "September 9th, 1825.

"The progress we are making in our labours is but slow, but it is to be trusted it will prove in the end highly beneficial, if not to the present, to the next generation. We are very generally assisted by the laity; indeed, without their co-operation, we might turn our faces again to Europe. My friends, as fast as I make them, appear to leave We have already lost three of our party; the poor young Clergyman, whom I mentioned in one of my former letters, as lying sick at my house, died after a few days' illness. I thank God, I have enjoyed good health.”

me.

INQUIRY RESPECTING MR. TODD'S PROMISED WORK ON THE ΕΙΚΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΗ.

ŞIR,

To the Editor of the Christian Remembrancer.

VERY soon after the announcement, and I believe almost at the same time with the publication, of two letters from Dr. Wordsworth to the Archbishop of Canterbury, on the subject of the Icôn Basilikè a third letter on the same subject was promised to the public by Mr. Todd; which, from the previous information that latter gentleman had offered to the public on the subject, as well as the opinions he had expressed, it was natural to infer, was designed to give new strength to the views already entertained by him, and consequently to weaken the arguments advanced by the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. It cannot be doubted, that the effect of this announcement on the part of Mr. Todd, (especially with those who regarded the situation he had filled, the means of research he had enjoyed, and the actual use he had made of these,) must have been that of producing a suspended conviction, at least, in the minds of many, if not most, of the readers of Dr. Wordsworth's book. In proportion, therefore, to the interest excited by "Who wrote EIKON BAZIAIKH," (and this I cannot doubt to have been both deep and general,) must have been the anxiety to see what could be advanced against reasonings and facts, the result of no inconsiderable diligence of research, and of very impartial, if I may not say self-suspecting, investigation. Still, however, the promised "Letter" from Mr. Todd is not before the public, after an interval of nearly or quite a twelvemonth since its first announcement. In the mean time, the question, as answered by Dr. Wordsworth, without any gainsayer produced on the other side, has been considered in some distinguished Reviews; and is, perhaps, on the eve of being farther noticed in others. In this state of things, I hope it will not be deemed improper to put to Mr. Todd, through the medium of your publication, (the best channel of enquiry that occurs to me) the following question; viz. Whether the promised "Third Letter" is forthcoming, or whether it is finally relinquished?'

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