one is now superintending a school, AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. been generously tendered for the occasion | 41 of the scholars have become teachers, by the proprietors. The female schools and teachers, to the number of at least two thousand, entered the garden first, and were seated in the flight of seats in front of the upper terrace of the garden wall. After them came the male schools, which were wheeled alternately to the right and left, on entering the garden, and marched up the stairs to the broad walk upon the walls. This was completely covered, and also the roof of the large saloon which stands on the walls over the gateway. This saloon, and the seats in front, was filled with ladics and gentlemen, as also the rear of the garden below. The broad stairs in front, as you enter the garden, were reserved for the officers of the Society, the clergy, residents and strangers, &c. which, together with every part of the garden, was completely filled. The whole number of people assembled, was from 10 to 12,000; and the appearance of the scholars of both sexes, all being neatly clad, and preserving the utmost order, was highly interesting. It was indeed a delightful spectacle to the philanthropist; for among all our public charities, instituted for the purpose of improving the moral condition of our race, this we hold to be the most important. It strikes at the foundation-where all the labours of mental culture should commence, in order to produce solid and durable effects. If these effects are not so visible upon the present generation as could be wished, still they will produce a full harvest in the next. But we maintain that the salutary influences of these schools are now abundantly visible. Look at the ten thousand poor children taught in our Sunday Schools now, and contrast their appearance and conduct with what both were ten years since; and what a wonderful difference do we behold! How sedate, how orderly, and how cleanly do they appear! But we have not room to pursue our reflections. It appears that the schools connected with this Union have increased to the number of sixty, of which the following general statement is correct : The number of male conductors is 538 774 Of these, 417 are professors of religion, Coloured do. 3096 326 Do. Adults, White girls, Coloured do. Do. Adults, 1325 Total Number of Scholars, As a national institution, affording the promise of great and extensive usefulness, this Society ranks next to the American Bible Society. We have therefore allotted more than the ordinary space to the Report of the proceedings at the celebration of its first Anniversary, which was held on Wednesday, May 10, at the City Hotel. The chair was taken at 10 o'clock, A. M. by the President, the Hon. S. V. S. Wilder, of Massachusetts. The meeting was opened by prayer by the Rev. Mr. Mortimer, of the Moravian church in this city. The President then opened the exercises by an appropriate address, after which the Annual Report was read by the Secretary, Mr. Hallock. The Report was very long, far too long to be read in a popular meeting, but it was written with ability, and contained much information of interest and importance. From this document it appears, that the corner stone of the Society's building was laid on the 10th of May, 1825. It is 80 feet in length, four stories high, and so large that the parts not immediately wanted, are rented for a sum equal to the interest of the money agreed on as the price of the ground and building. During the year, 185 Tracts have been published, which form nearly six volumes of 400 pages each, and, when bound, are sold for $3. The Society are in possession of 2000 stereotype plates, and several editions have already been published of some of the tracts. The number of pages printed by the Society is eight millions and fifty-three thousand, all of which have been sold or distributed. A considerable number of tracts in the Spanish language have been issued by the Society, for Mexico and South America, from received for supplies. The New-York which countries urgent requests have been and South-Carolina State Societies have become Auxiliaries to the National Societys and the whole number of its Auxiliaries amounts to seventy-five. The expenses for the first year were $10,129. The receipts were $10,153 78, about two thousand of which were from Auxiliaries in payment for tracts soldleaving a small balance in the Treasury. 5001 The Society are now under large engage Of these, 2939 can read the Scriptures:ments for paper, printing, binding, &c. and depend on the support of the public. || in foreign languages has been consideraThe remaining expenses of the building bly augmented during the past year. The will in a few years be defrayed by the account is as follows:-Spanish bibles, sums received for rents.-[ib. 2,705'; French, 203; German, 157; Dutch, 1;-3,066. Spanish testaments, 2,681 German, 261; Portuguese, 1;-2,943. Total of both, 6009. TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. The Tenth Aniversary of this National|| Institution, was celebrated on Thursday, May 11th, in the Middle Dutch Church. In the absence of the venerable President of the Society, the honourable JOHN JAY, the Chair was taken by the Hon. JOHN COTTON SMITH, (of Conn.) one of the Vice Presidents. On the left of the Chair sat His Excellency DE WITT CLINTON, Governor of the State of NewYork, and on the right, Judge THOMPSON of the U. States' Court. The Annual Report, containing a history of the proceedings of the Society since the last anniversary, was then read by the Rev. CHARLES G. SOMERS, one of the Society's Secretaries, from whose pen this valuable document is understood to have proceeded. The Managers have availed themselves of all the means in their power to ascertain the wants of our country, and have applied the remedy, so far as their duty required, and their resources permitted. From every section of the United States, however, the calls for the Scriptures have become increasingly loud and importu nate. Various applications having been received from missionaries in the WestIndia islands, for supplies of the scriptures, for their respective congregations who were unable to procure them, small grants were made to individuals during the preceding year; but learning that an active Society existed in the central Island of Antigua, the Board have made a grant to that institution for distribution, of 200 bibles, and 400 testaments. A supply of the scriptures in English and Spanish, has been granted to the Missionaries in the Sandwich Islands, for supplying vessels visiting those places, and to enable them to avail themselves of opportunities of sending Spanish bibles to the opposite coast of Spanish America. Some French and Spanish bibles have also been entrusted to a gentleman for sale in Hayti, where they have been purchased with avidity, and an additional supply solicited. The (Catholic) priest where the gentleman resides, favors their distribution, and recommends their perusal in his sermons. Grants have likewise been made to gentlemen in different parts of South America, who have either offered their assistance, or been recommended as agents, in distributing the Scriptures in those interesting regions. The receipts of the treasury, and the circulation of the Scriptures, have both again exceeded those of the preceding years; the former by $6578 83, and the latter by 3881 bibles and testaments. During the year which has now ended, there have been printed at the Depository, or are now in the press, 28,250 bibles in English, 4000 in Spanish, and 2000 in French; making a total of 34,250.-Of testaments, there have been printed 44, 450 in English, and 2000 in French-46, 750: making a total of both, of 81,000; which, added to the amount stated in the Ninth Report, of 451,902, makes a grand total of 532,902 bibles and testaments, or parts of the latter, printed from the stereotype plates of the Society in New-York, Among the interesting facts upon which and in Lexington, (Ken.) or otherwise ob- grants from the Society have been formed, tained for circulation during the Society's it is mentioned that in one of the Northexistence. Plates for a pocket bible have ern counties of this State, the Auxiliary at length been completed, though after Society, copying the example of the counsome delay, and an edition of 2000 hasty of Monroe, determined by actual inquibeen put to press. ry to ascertain the number of families in The issues from the Depository from the county which were destitute of the the 30th of April, 1825, to the 1st of May, Scriptures, and raise the means of supply1826, have been as follows:-31,154 bi-ing the deficiency. But the results of the bles; 35,927 testaments; 52 Mohawk Gospels, and 1 Delaware Epistle. Total, 67,134. Which, added to 372,913 bibles and testaments, and parts of the latter, issued in former years, make the whole number issued from the commencement of the institution to be 440,047-exclu- | sive of those issued by the Kentucky Bible Society and printed from plates belonging Although so much has been done, the to this Society, and those which have been managers are persuaded that the work of procured by Auxiliary Societies from oth-benevolence has but just commenced er quarters. The issues of the scriptures || The printing and distribution of fifty o investigation proved that the means of the Society were inadequate. Individual donations were then made, and the Secretary of the Society gave 100 dollars himself. Still there was a deficiency; whereupon this Society was applied to, and provision was thus made to plaee the bible in every house in the county. sixty thousand bibles a year, is by no means adequate to the wants of the destitute of our present population. If, there fore, that population were to remain stationary, a far greater number must be provided; but when we consider how rapidly our population increases, affording a prospect that it will be doubled in twenty or thirty years, what a powerful appeal does the prospect make to the benevolent for far greater exertions than have as yet been made! exertions are employed, to disseminate the bible, there will ere long exist in our country, millions of civilized human beings unenlightened by the Oracles of God. The number of Auxiliary Societies recognised by the parent institution during the past year, is fifty-two. The activity and zeal of many of these societies, are acknowledged with peculiar pleasure, while there are others which it seems necessary to arouse from their supineness. The Monroe county Bible Society, mentioned in their last annual report as having determined to ascertain and supply every destitute family in that county, has accomplished the work, and remitted payment for all the bibles purchased. Many of the prisons and penitentiaries of our country have been supplied with Bibles through the medium of Auxiliary Societies, by the Agency of the Rev. Louis Dwight, who voluntarily devoted a portion of the past year to ascertain the spiritual wants of those places. In regard to the destitute situation of various regions of our own country, in addition to facts which have been ascertained and stated in former reports, the managers mention the following particulars-In Illinois, one fourth of the twelve thousand families composing the population of that state, are unsupplied with the Scriptures. In Wayne county, Ohio, the Bible Society reports that 654 families have been found destitute, and five towns remain unexplored. In Brown county, Ohio, 985 families are in a similar condition:-The report of the Bible Society in Scott county, (Ken.) declares that in Through the medium of the Montreal one district of that county, out of 559 Bible Society, in Lower Canada, the dopersons subject to taxation,260 were found nation of 400 copies of the Gospel accorddestitute of the Scriptures; in anothering to St. John, in the Mohawk language, district, 267 out of 400; and in another 327 out of 572. In nine out the thirty six counties of Alabama, the most highly improved parts of the state, 2378 families have been found destitute, while only 2695 || families in the same counties were supplied. It is estimated that 7134 families destitute in the other counties of that state. The Secretary of one of the Societies in Indiana, estimates the number of families in that state at 40,000, not more than one half of which number have an entire copy of the bible. are Many other facts of a similar character might be presented, from other states in the South and West; but the Managers choose rather to turn their attention nearer home, where, within the state of NewYork, facts have been disclosed equally painful to every Christian heart. In Oswego county, one fourth part of the families are destitute. In nine towns of Livingston county, 277 families are destitute. In Tioga county 500 families are in the like situation. In Alleghany county, and some of the adjoining settlements, 1000 families are destitute. The Society in St. Lawrence county, found 716 families in the like situation, and took immediate measures to supply them. These facts have been elicited by the Societies, who have taken pattern after the example set them in Monroe county last year, and they have resolved to persevere in their labors, until it is known that every family is supplied. But with all their efforts, the tide of population rolls on so rapidly from the shores of the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, that the Managers fear that unless greater has been faithfully distributed among the Indians residing at the Lake of the two mountains, and at St. Regis; and also among those of Caughnawa village, who, it is said, received the word of God with expressions of joy and gratitude. As a pleasing instance of the prompt and independent spirit of these children of the forest, it is stated that the Indians at Caughnawa, being members of the Church at Rome, convened a council of their Chiefs, to deliberate upon the propriety of receiving the Scriptures, and they unanimously resolved that all their people should be at liberty to accept of the gospel. Several other parts of the New Testament have been translated into the Mohawk language. The want of competent translators has hitherto imposed difficulties in the way of its accomplishment. The Managers have appointed a standing committee, for the distribution of the Scriptures in foreign languages, whose efforts will be particularly directed to the wants of the newly established republics of the south. The establishment of the National Bible Society at Bogota for the. republic of Colombia, is considered by the managers as among the most auspicious events in the history of the Bible Societies; and they have remitted to it a donation of 800 Spanish Bibles. A letter to the managers, from an American gentleman in Mexico, states that the Scriptures are gladly received by all classes of the community. From Mr. Brigham, an agent of the Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis sions, who has resided for several years || scend from the point of civilization which it has attained, if it were to establish a law of toleration, or to pretend to grant a liberty which the public authority was always obliged to protect; but since the laws that formerly governed render necessary an act to abolish them, and give a solemn guarantec to persons who may wish to live in our society, the government has found no other way to do it with dignity than by the proposed law, which it has the honour to transmit for the consideration of the honourable representatives. This act, which will complete the liberty of the citizens, will not be less glorious than that which solemnly declared the independence of the Republic." in South America, the Managers have received frequent and interesting communications. Mr. B. has visited the Republics of Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico; in each of which he disposed of a number of Spanish Testaments. He remarks that the people in these countries are becoming more enlightened every day. In Peru, Colombia, and Mexico, such was the prevailing anxiety to possess the Scriptures, that he could have sold many thousands more than were entrusted to his care. He expresses the opinion that not more than 2000 Bibles have ever been distributed in Mexico, among a population of 7,000,000 of souls, and that nearly the same distribution prevails in all the other sister Republics. Some of the Spanish clergy are very favourably disposed to the circulation of the Sacred Scriptures. A gentleman in Mexico, writes that a priest from a town 3 or 4 miles in the interior, purchased at cost and charges, the box of Bibles which had been forwarded to the Agent in that city, and expressed a desire for a larger supply. This correspondent assures the Managers that this is not a solitary case. The Board have made several grants of Spanish Bibles and Testaments to various agents in Mexico and South America, to meet the demands in those countries; and several hundred copies of the Spanish Scriptures have been purchased at the Depository in New-York, by merchants and others trading to South America. Bibles purchased at the Depository for a dollar and a half, have been sold in the city of Mexico, in quantities, for five dollars, and retailed as high as seven and a half; such is the demand for the sacred volume in regions so long deprived of this inestimable treasure. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN SOUTH AMERICA. BUENOS AYRES. MEXICO. And even in Mexico, which has been usually considered as more under the influence of the papal power than any continent, the supremacy of the Bishop other Spanish Colony on the Western of Rome is now publicly and solemnly renounced. The constituent Congress of Mexico has just issued a long and spirited address to its constituents, in reply to a circular from the Pope, from which, as being a very important ecclesiastical document, we think it right to copy some of the most material passages. perusal of this document, in connexion We apprehend that our readers, after the with the many other signs of the times," will be of opinion that there is latent, but widely-spread spirit of infiupon the whole far more to fear from a the hierarchy of Rome; though against delity, than from the exploded claims of both evils we ought to be on our guard, and to oppose to them their best remedies, the universal circulation of the Holy Scriptures, the extension of Christian missions, and the promotion of Scriptural education throughout the world. The following are extracts from the The government of Buenos Ayres has "The Congress would do a manifest formally recommended to the House of injury to your religious feelings, and your Representatives of that province, the es- advanced knowledge, if it for a moment tablishment of the liberty of Divine wor- suspected that a document of that kind ship in the broadest and most unrestrict- [the Pope's circular] could affect your aded manner by the adoption of the follow-herence to the religion which you profess, ing simple but comprehensive law: "The or the liberty and independence which you right which every man has to worship the have purchased at the price of your blood, Divinity agreeably to his own conscience, and of twelve years of sacrifices and sufferis inviolable in the territory of the prov- ings. The time has passed when a bull ince." In the note accompanying their forged in Rome could throw into combusproposition, the government say, that the tion empires and nations, and in which term toleration is too tame, and ought not they saw themselves under the necessity to be introduced into any law which shall of breaking off their connexion with the be framed on this subject. "The pro-Roman See, or becoming the puppets of vince," say they, "would appear to de- the intrigues of its courtiers. The mode ration and knowledge of this philosophic || cide on points beyond their competence, dishonour the religion which they preach, by infringing its precepts. Neither the dogmas of Christianity nor its worship, nor the jurisdiction of its ministers, which is purely spiritual, and has nothing of physical power, nor the means of support |