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Parliament and will, by the public avowal of their sentiments, endeavor to excite the attention of the benevolent and the pious, to an object deserving of their best consideration and ardent support.

7. That this Committee cannot but communicate the pleasure with which they perceive, that, stimulated by their former efforts,. varicus other associations displayed, during the last Session of Parliament, considerable solicitude and zeal for the establishment of these invaluble rights and cannot but invite their renovated exertions and continued aid.

8. That those Resolutions be transmitted to the President of the Commissioners for the Affairs of India, and to the Chairman of the East India Company, for the information of the Directors; and be advertised, signed by the Secretaries, in the public papers, and in those periodical publications which most extensively circulate.

THOMAS PELLATT,
JOHN WILKS,

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ANOTHER MEETING OF THE SAME KIND. Yesterday, pursuant to notice, a Meeting was held at the City of London Tavern, to consider of a Petition to Parliament for the introduction of a clause into the New Charter of the East India Company, permitting the access of benevolent and well-disposed persons to India, for the purpose of diffusing the benefits of moral and religious civilization. The room was filled with respectable company, though the notice had been very short.

Lord Gambier, after having been unanimously called to the Chair, shortly stated the object of the Meeting.

Mr. William Smith explained, at some length, the dreadful effects of the superstitions of the Hindoos, which inculcate self-immolation, and cruelties of many sorts; which degrade the female sex into the rank of mere animals; and encourage oppression in civil life, as well as profaneness in morals. He fully shewed the error of supposing, that the present religion of the Hindoos renders them mild, sociable, and amiable in civil life. On the contrary, they are cruel in their private relations, and so deficient of fidelity to their own oaths, in Courts of Justice, that our system of jurisprudence fails of the beneficial ef fects it would otherwise have amongst them. Mr. Smith concluded by moving four resolutions, declaratory of the present state of the Hindoos, as to morals and religion, and of the policy as well as duty of endeavoring to afford them a knowledge of the Gospel of Truth.

Mr. John Thornton seconded the motion, apologizing for his offer. ing himself to the Meeting before others of greater experience and knowledge. The Committee had assigned to him the office of seconding the motion; and duty and conscience had prevented him from shrinking from it.

Mr. Wilberforce stated the favorable disposition which had been shewn by Ministers to the important objects of the Meeting.

Mr. H. Thornton was happy to concur in the same opinion, as to the inclinations of Government.

To a question from a dissenting clergyman, Mr. Wm. Smith declared, that, as a Protestant Dissenter, he was fully satisfied with the spir

it of toleration and liberality in which the whole of the present proceed. ings had been conducted. This point was further illustrated by Mr. H. Thornton, Mr. Wilberforce, the Rev. Mr. Cunningham (Rector of Harrow,) and the Rev. Mr. Townshend, who expressed the resolution of the Committee to apply themselves to the mere object of soliciting from Parliament permission for the access of pious Christians to India, without preference for those of any denomination; in short, that peaceable and crderly demeanor, should constitute a claim to protection. The speech of the Rev. Mr. Cunningham was peculiarly el-. oquent, and had a powerful effect upon the meeting.

The Resolutions were carried unanimously, and the Petition approved. On the motion of Mr. Wilberforce, it will be presented to the House of Lords by Lord Gambier, and to the Commons by Sir T. Bring. The Meeting dissolved, after voting Thanks, with many marks of approbation, to Lord Gambier.

MESSRS. SCHERMERHORN AND MILLS' MISSION.

[Extracted from the Connecticut Evangelical Magazie.]

"South of New Connecticut, few Bibles or religious tracts have been received for distribution among the inhabitants. The Sabbath is greatly profaned; and but few good people can be found in any one place. There are, however, a number of Societies which are wishing to obtain ministers for settlement for a part of the time at least, more commonly for six months in the year. The New Light Societies have been numerous in the western part of Ohio; but are at present fast declining. They had lately, in their connection, seven ordained preachers, and six licentiates. The Baptists are But the Mesomewhat more numerous in certain parts of the state. thodists, according to their own calculation, are far the most numerous religious denomination, in the state of Ohio, south of New-Connecticut, which is in my opinion, far the most desirable part of the state; certainly as respects the moral and religious habits of the people living there. They are far advanced above any portion of country of equal extent and population, west of the mountains. The Shakers have a village 25 miles in a northern direction from Cincinnati. They reckon their number at about 400. I believe they are not increasing at the present time. There are, in the Indiana territory, according to the last census, 24520 inhabitants; and there is but 1 Presbyterian minister, Mr. Scott, living at Vincennes. The Methodists and Baptists are considerably numerous. In the Illinois territory, containing more than 12000 people, there is no Presbyterian or Congregational minister. There are a number of good people in the territory, who are anxious to have such ministers among them. They likewise wish to be remembered by Bible and Religious Tract Societies.

We found the inhabitants in a very destitute state; very ignorant of the doctrines of the gospel; and in many instances without Bibles, or any other religious books. The Methodist preachers pass through this country, in their circuits occasionally; but do very little, I fear,

towards aiding the people in obtaining a true knowledge of the doctrines of the Bible.

"There are in the state of Kentucky, as nearly as we could ascer tain, 33 Presbyterian ministers, 61 churches, and 1200 communicants. There is a Presbytery, called the Cumberland Presbytery, which has detached itself from the synod of Kentucky. Part of this Presbytery is within the limits of Tennessee. There are belonging to it 11 ministers, and about 1000 communicants. The number of churches we did not learn. The Baptists are very numerous in this state. They have 142 preachers, 263 churches, and 21660 communicants. The denomination called New Lights have 15 ministers, 20'churches, and 1000 communicants. There are also 6 Roman Catholic priests, and 12 places of worship. A Roman Catholic church has lately been built in Lexington. The Methodists are less numerous than the Baptists; but there are considerable numbers of them in different parts of the state.

"In the state of Tennessee, there are 22 Presbyterian ministers, and 45 churches. The Methodists are much more numerous; about 80 ordained preachers, 125 licentiates, 13500 whites in society, and 500 blacks. The Baptists have in this state a number of societies.

"There are at present 4 Presbyterian ministers in the Mississippi territory, and 5 or 6 churches. Whole number of communicants 113. The Baptists have 6 ministers and 5 licentiates, about 15 churches, and 494 communicants. The number of Methodists is about equal

to that of the Baptists.

"The greater part of the inhabitants from Natchez to N. Orleans, a distance of 300 miles, are French Catholics, ignorant of almost every thing except what relates to the increase of their property; destitute of schools, Bibles, and religious instruction. In attempting to learn the religious state of these people, we were frequently told, that they had no Bibles, and that the priests did not allow of their distribution among them

"Upon our arrival at New-Orleans, we were soon made acquainted with a few religious people. The number of those posessing this character, in this place, we are constrained to believe is smail. We found here a Bapust minister, who has been in the city a few months, but expects to leave the place soon He is a sensible man, and to appearance a Christian. I doubt not, he has labored faithfully in the service of his master. There is no Protestant church in the city. Attempts have been made to obtain a subscription for building one, but have failed. There is at the present time a Methodist preacher in the place. I believe he expects to leave it soon. The Catholic priests will then be the only professedly religious teachers in the city.

"Soon after our arrival, we introduced the subject of a Bible Society. directly met the wishes of the religious people with whom we had become acquainted. As we had letters of introduction to Gov. Claiborne, we called upon him in company with a friend. The object of our coming to the place was stated to him, and he approved of it. A proposal for a meeting was readily signed by him, and by 12 of the members of the Legislature who were then in session. About

20 more, principally merchants belonging to the city, added their names to the list. At the time appointed for establishing a Society, the greater part of those who subscribed to the proposal met. Previous to the meeting, a Constitution had been formed; and was presented for their approbation, should it meet the wishes of those present. The Constitution was read and considered, article by article, and adopted. It provided that the number of Managers should not be less than 12, nor more than 24. The Managers were to choose the other officers of the Society. After signing the Constitution, the Managers were chosen, about 20, some residing in the country, but the greater part in the city. The Managers proceeded to the choice of officers. General Benjamin Morgan was chosen President, and Dr. Dow, Vice President. The rate paid by those who become members is fixed at 5 dollars, upon signing the paper, and the yearly tax upon each member is 3 dollars. All present appeared much gratified with the opening prospect.

"We find that, in order to have the Bible circulate freely, especially among the Catholics, the consent of those high in office must be obtained. We were frequently told, that the Catholic priests would by no means favor the object. We were referred to Father Antonio, as he is called, who has greater influence with those of his order than even the Bishop, who has lately arrived from Baltimore. If the consent of the former could be obtained, it was allowed by those with whom we conversed, that much might be done towards distributing the scriptures among the French Catholics. We took a convenient opportunity to call upon the Reverend Father. The subject was mentioned to him. He said he should be pleased to have the Bible circulate among those of his order; and that he would approve of the translation distributed by the British and Foreign Bible Society. In addition to this, he said he would aid in the circulation of the scriptures, should an opportunity present. We enquired of him, whether the priests in the different parishes would likewise favor the good work? At this enquiry he seemed surprised, and answered, "How can you doubt it? It is for their interest to circulate the scriptures." Upon this point, our sentiments were hardly in unison. However we felt no disposition to contradict him. We have since called upon the Bishop. He also gave his consent, and said he would contribute in favor of the infant Institution. This disposition in the Catholic priests to favor the circulation of the scriptures has very much surprised all with whom we have conversed on the subject in the city. The priests acknowledge the nakedness of the land. Father Antonio gave it as his opinion, that we should very rarely find a Bible in any of the French or Spanish Catholic families, in any of the parishes. And the Bishop remarked, that he did not believe there were 10 Bibles in the possession of all the Catholic families in the state; and these families constitute three fourths of the population, people of color excepted, as is believed by men of information. When we came to this place, we found a number of French Bibles and Testaments had been sent here for distribution, gratis; and had been on hand some time. They are now all disposed of, and repeated enquiries are made for those books by the Catholics. I happened in at Mr. Stack

house's store a short time since. During my stay, which was short, five or six persons came in, enquiring for the Bible in the French language. The present is certainly a new and interesting era in the history of New-Orleans. Mr. Stackhouse told me, that if he had 30 Bibles, he could dispose of them at once to the Catholics.

Charleston, (S C.) June 3. On Teusday last arrived in this city, from New-Orleans, Mr. Samuel J. Mills, Missionary from New-England.

This gentleman having graduated from the Divinity College in Andover, under the direction and by the appointment of the Missionary Societies of Massachusetts and Connecticut, commenced in July last, a tour through the Western and Southern Sections of the U. States. The particular objects of this undertaking were to obtain correct information of the religious state of the country, and to attempt the establishment of Bible Societies in the several states which were destitute of them.

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Accordingly, he proceeded, together with another Clergyman, his Associate, to Marietta, Ohio, where they had the satisfaction to see their endeavors succeed in the formation of a large and very respectaable Society, for the distribution of the Bible through that state. Similar institutions were formed through their instrumentality, in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi Territory. In February they arrived in New-Orleans, where their exertions were signally blessed. An extensive Bible Society was formed, and leave was obtained by Mr. Mills, of the Catholic Bishop, to distribute a French translation of the Bible, through all the parishes under his care. By this permission a door is opened for the distribution of the precious word of God, among twenty thousand Catholics, in whose possession, in the opinion of their Bishop, ten Bibles cannot now be found.

Since leaving New-Orleans, Mr. Mills has suffered much hardship and fatigue. On account of the disturbances near the coast, he was obliged to take a circuit of nearly 300 miles through the wilderness, exposed to numerous dangers and severe privations. He is now on his return to New England, with much interesting information for the Missionary Societies, and much experience of the Divine good

ness.

During this tour Mr. Mills has distributed seven hundred Bibles, among the destitute. All Christians will greatly rejoice at the suc cess which has attended this important and interesting Mission.

By the formation of these Societies in the interior states, and in Louisiana, Bibles may be given to hundreds of thousands, who are now famishing for the word of eternal life.

Extracted from MR. MILLS' letter to his Father, dated Franklin, Tennessee, January 1, 1813.

I now put up with Rev. Mr. Blackburn. He preaches a part of his time at this place, a part at Nashville. He likewise superintends an academy in this town.

In the Indiana Territory I visited a swiss settlement, containing seventy or eighty souls. These people removed to this country in

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