was very great. The Marquess of Cholmondeley was called to the chair, on the motion of the Bishop of Chester.

From the Report it appeared that the total disposable income for the present year, was £52,922. 1s. 9d. The legacies left to the Society had, during the last year, amounted to £3,700. After the expenditure was deducted, there remained a balance in the hands of the treasurer of £934.

The principal speakers were the Bishop of Winchester, Col. Phipps, the Earl of Chichester, Rev. J. W. Cunningham, J. P. Plumtree, Esq. M.P. the Rev. H. Stowel, the Rev. Professor Scholefield, the Rev. James Haldane Stewart, Sir Oswald Moseley, Bart. and the Rev. E. Bickersteth.

At the conclusion a hymn was sung, and the meeting broke up.

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL
SOCIETY.

THE Twenty-ninth Annual Meeting of this Institution was held at Exeter Hall, on the 12th of May, Lord John Russell, Vice-President, in the chair.

His Lordship, on opening the business, observed, upon the proposal of Parliament to grant a sum of money for the purpose of aiding education. It appeared by a parliamentary paper, that although the grant was only £20,000. yet applications had been made, which shewed that £60,000 were proposed to be raised by individuals, in order to obtain the £20,000. from government. The longer the Society continued in existence, the more was he convinced of the justice of admitting to the benefit of its instruction children belonging to parents of every sect of religion in the country. He had received a letter from the Duke of Bedford, enclosing his annual donation of £100.

From the Report it appeared, that in consequence of the parliamentary vote, 1000 circulars had been issued by the Society, which had been warmly responded to. One hundred and thirty-seven memorials had been sent to the Lords Commissioners, soliciting aid towards erecting two hundred and eleven schools, and stating that £29,383 towards the expense would be cheerfully supplied by the parties. One hundred and sixty-nine schools would be formed, by means of which 30,326 children would be brought under instruction, and a sum of £48,625 expended in building schools, £23,452 of which would be raised by local contributions.

So anxious were parents generally, that at Sheerness, the men working at the Dock-yard had engaged to raise £550; and at Chudleigh in Devonshire, sixty persons had offered to subscribe one penny each per week. By the cash account it appeared, that the total receipts during the year were £4,162. 9s.: the expenditure £3,618. His Majesty had subscribed £100,

and the late Rev. Rowland Hill had bequeathed to the institution £600.

The principal speakers were Lord Morpeth, Lord Mountsandford, the Earl of Chichester, Sir Geo. Strickland, M.P. Dr. Heugh, Josiah Conder, Esq. and J. Buckingham, Esq. M.P. who moved, as an amendment on the second resolution, "That while this meeting acknowledge with gratitude the grant of £20,000 proposed by his Majesty's government, and voted by parliament in aid of general education, it ventures to express an earnest hope, that this aid will be further extended, to meet the increasing demand of public support." On the suggestion of the noble chairman, the amendment was united to the original resolution, and they were both carried as one. The other speakers were Charles Lushington, Esq. the Rev. R. Knill, Mr. Pease, M. P. Henry Meyer, Esq. of Rome, Mr.A.Johnson, M.P. Rev. J. Sibree.

It

The noble Chairman, in making his acknowledgments to a vote of thanks, took notice of the amendment proposed by Mr. Buckingham, and insisted upon the necessity of relying upon the voluntary principle of contribution rather than placing much dependence on parliamentary support. was the spring from which the universal education of the people of this country must proceed. He would be sorry to substitute for popular education, the mechanical principle of government interference. wise would it be to compare the automaton which could play well at a game of chess, and could imitate, in many respects, the motions of man, to the living principle of action, of muscle, and of mind, which God alone could create, as to compare legislative control with that great voluntary principle upon which all their measures had hitherto proceeded. The meeting then separated.

MENDICITY SOCIETY.

As little

THE Sixteenth Anniversary of this Society was held on the 6th of May, at their house in Red Lion Square,-Earl Grosvenor was called to the chair.

By the Report it appeared that the number of registered cases during the past year was 624, that of unregistered cases 10,557. The diminution of applications might be attributed to the mildness of the season, the increase of employment, and to the test of labour enforced by the Society to distinguish real from assumed distress. A mill had been erected, and the women were sent to The number of persons empick oakum.

ployed during the year, were men 5,095 : women 1,171, children 112. The total

receipts of the last year amounted to £4,094, the expenditure to £4,042, balance £52.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. ON the 12th of May a Meeting of the friends of civil and religious liberty was held at

the London Tavern, for the purpose of petitioning the legislature to put an end to the union between Church and State. Joseph Hume, Esq. was called to the chair. There were present numerous members of parliament, and the discussion was conducted by Mr. Hume, the Rev. W. J. Fox, Mr. Buck ingham, the Rev. Dr. Bennett, Mr.W.Howitt, Mr. Were, Rev. C. Stowell, Mr. O'Connell, &c.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING ECCLESIASTICAL KNOWLEDGE.

THE Fifth Anniversary of this Society was held in Finsbury Chapel, Moorfields, on the 7th of May. J. B. Brown was called to the chair.

After a hymn, the Rev. J. H. Hinton, of Reading, offered up a prayer, beseeching the Almighty, in his good providence, speedily to bring about the dissolution of the abominable and adulterous union of the Church with the State."

The Chairman opened the business of the Meeting in a speech of much strength and eloquence. He observed that it was often said to the dissenters, Are you not allowed many great privileges? may you not worship in your own places? Are you not tolerated? Tolerated! every syllable of that word grated

on his ears.

By the Treasurer's account, it appeared that the income of the society had amounted to £301. 18s.

Many gentlemen and ministers addressed the meeting, among whom were J. Brown, Esq. G. Hadfield, Esq. Rev. C. Stowell, Rev. J. Gawthorn, of Derby, Rev. J. Gilbert, of Nottingham, W. Howitt, of Nottingham, &c. &c.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

ON the 13th of May, a large number of respectable persons assembled at 5 o'clock, to celebrate the Thirty-fifth Anniversary of the above Institution; at which hour breakfast was prepared. The chair was taken by Samuel Fletcher, Esq. of Manchester.

From the Report it appeared that interesting accounts of success were furnished from the various agents of the society in all parts of the world. The total number of publications circulated in the whole year amounted to 14,339,197, being an increase of 1,743,956 beyond the preceding year. The total circulation of tracts in about seventy-five languages amounted to nearly 197,000,000 religious publications. Total receipts of the society were £48,299, 8s. 4d. being an increase of £8,298, 13s. 6d.

Among the speakers were Rev. J. Hill, Missionary from Calcutta, Rev. J. G. Pike, from Derby, Rev. D. Abeel, Rev. Amos Sutton, Rev. W. R. Hamilton, Rev. R. Knill, Rev. E. Tottenham, Rev. J. Kelly, Dr. Giustiniani, and the Rev. Mr. Bolland, Vicar of Swineshead, Yorkshire.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' AND SOL

DIERS' BETHEL-FLAG UNION.

On the 15th of May the Anniversary of this Society was held at the City of London Tavern.

The meeting was opened by singing and prayer.

It appeared from the accounts that the receipts, together with the previous balance in hand, amounted to £2,188, 12s. 6d. and the expenditure was nearly the same-but the auditor's account stated that £698. 6s. 11d. is due by the society to various persons.

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

THIS Institution held its Twentieth Anniversary at Finsbury Chapel, on the 13th of May, Thomas Walker, Esq. in the chair. The services commenced with singing and

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Annual Meeting of this institution was held at Exeter Hall, on the 15th of May. The chair was taken by T. F. Buxton, Esq. who, in opening the business of the day, paid an elegant tribute to the memory of the 'late W. Wilberforce, Esq. and entered into some interesting particulars respecting him, and the emancipation of the West Indian negroes.

Mr. William Ellis read an abstract from the Report, by which it appeared that at 239 stations in Asia, America, Africa, and Europe, there were 97 Missionaries, and 179 native teachers. These, with upwards of 400 schoolmasters and assistants, made more than 700 persons. The contributions for the present year amounted to £439. 4s. 5d.

W. A. Hankey, Esq. addressed the meeting at considerable length, in which he took a general and lucid view of missionary labours in various countries.

Dr. Heugh, of Glasgow, spoke next, and he was followed by the Rev. David Abeel, the American missionary, who gave the meeting an interesting account of the progress of Christianity, with the obstacles it had to encounter in China.

The Rev. James Hill, of Calcutta, explained the difficulties which the Christian missionaries had to encounter in India, and shewed how successful their efforts had been. With respect to the translation of the Scriptures, he said, "I may conscientiously assert, before God, that the Bengalee translation, lately issued from the press at Sincapore, is as intelligible to the mass of the natives, as your English Bible is to your population.

It

Edward Baines, Esq., M. P. in moving a resolution, declared the satisfaction he felt at the communications made by the gentlemen who had occupied Missionary stations. was the duty of Englishmen, now they had discharged the negroes from the trammels of slavery, to impart to them the blessings of education. After urging this consideration in strong and pointed terms, Mr. Baines moved the resolution, which cordially approved of the measures adopted to enlarge the operations of the Society in the British colonies.

The Rev. Richard Knill seconded the resolution.

The Chairman afterwards withdrew, and Thomas Wilson, Esq. was called on to preside, while some other gentlemen delivered their sentiments, among whom were the Rev Dr. Burns, of Paisley, the Re". J. A. James, &c. &c.

GLEANINGS.

He

Gray, the Poet.-Is said to have been very apprehensive of fire; and it is related of him, that, while he was at St. Peter's College, Cambridge, he had an iron fixed to his bed room window, which was up two pair of stairs, and a great height, from which he could suspend a rope ladder, and let himself down in case of danger. One night, he was awakened from his sleep by the cry of "Fire!" started from his bed without sufficient consideration, fixed his ladder, and descended; but instead of landing upon terra firma, as he expected, he found himself in a tub of water, placed there by some Cambridge wags, who might have been better employed, The iron to which the rope ladder used in this adventure was fixed, still remains at the window of the room then occupied by Mr. G-, and you may see it from the street any time you walk by Peterhouse, and look to the upper window at the northeast corner of the college. - Accidents of Human Life.

The Cat.-One of the most singular instances of attachment or fancy, in the common cat, took place with one which we have often seen in attendance upon the watchman in St. James's Square, Edinburgh. When the man commenced his rounds, the cat was as regularly at his post, and continued walking with him the whole night. This continued, we helieve, for nearly two years; and when we last saw the man, the cat was in his company. Upon the approach of any person, the cat would run up to the guardian of the night, and rub against his legs until the individual had passed. In quieter hours, towards morning, he ventured to a greater distance; but would always appear at the call or whistle of his protector-Naturalist's Library.

Literary Notices.

Just Published.

Baines's History of Lancashire. Part 41.

Part 14 of a New Edition of the National Portrait Gallery containing Memoirs of Lord Bridport; Viscount Melbourne; and Allan Cunningham.

Part 6 of Fisher's Views in India, China, and the Shores of the Red Sea. From Original Sketches by Commander Robert Elliot, R.N.

Praise and Blame. By the Author of "Art in Nature." 1 Vol. 18mo. By the same author,

The Treasures of the Earth. 1 Vol. 18mo. The Value of Time. By the Author of "Little Lessons for Little Learners." 1 Vol. 18mo.

Modern Fanaticism Unveiled 2nd edition. 1 Vol. 18mo,

Part IV. of the 2nd edition of Billington's Architectural Director.

Part VI. of the Christian Family's Assistant. By the Rev. Henry Lindsay Poppewell.

Labour Prices for Builders, Works, &c. By the Author of the Artificer's Lexicon

The Corner Stone; or, a familiar Illustration of the Principles of Christian Truth. By Jacob Abbott, Author of "The Young Christian. 12mo.

Researches of the Rev. E. Smith, and Rev. H. G. O. Dwight, in Armenia: including a Journey through Asia Minor, and into Georgia and Persia, with a Visit to the Nestorian and Chaldean Christians of Oormiah and Salmas. 8vo.

The Child at Home. By John S. C. Abbott; with a beautifully engraved Frontispiece, from a drawing by Sir Thos. Lawrence. 18mo. (Fisher's edition.) A Memoir of Richard Hatch, late Student of the Baptist College, Bristol. By S. R. Allom.

A Memoir of Mrs. Smith, of Madras, late Miss Marsden, of Southwark; with Extracts from her Diary and Correspondence. By John Smith: with a Recommendatory Preface, by the Rev. A Fletcher, of Finsbury Chapel. 18mo.--The profits of the Work to be devoted to the education of Mrs. Smith's son, now in England.

Female Biography of the New Testament. By Timpson.

Evening Readings. By Mrs. Sigourney.

A Companion for the Closet. By the Rev. J. Jefferson. Common Scenes Improved. By the Rev. J. Smith. (enlarged.)

Statistics of the United States of America, for the Use of Emigrants and Travellers. By T. J. Tredway, of the State of Tennessee.

The Picture of Scotland. By Robert Chambers, Author of "Traditions of Edinburgh," &c. 3rd edit. to which are now added, Directions for Pleasure Excursions, an account of Watering Places, an Itinerary, and Map, with 13 Engravings.

A Companion to the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire, in a Descriptive Account of a Family Tour, and Excursions on Horseback, and on Foot; with a new, copious, and correct Itinerary. By E. Baines, Jun. 3rd edit.

Questions Calmly Considered, concerning the "Church of the Living God," &c. By Indagator. A Practical and Logical Grammar of the English Language. By S. Alexander.

Baxter's Dying Thoughts; with an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. H. Stebbing, M.A.

An Essay on Primitive Preaching. By J. Patherick, Minister of the Gospel.

No. VI. of the British and Foreign Temperance Advocate and Herald, a monthly periodical.

In the Press.

A Treatise on Primary Geology; being an Examination, both Practical and Theoretical, of the Older Formations. 8vo. By Henry S. Boase, M.D. Secre tary to the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall. Dacre; a novel. Edited by the Countess of Morley. 3 Vols. post 8vo. The Rev. B. Brook has issued proposals for publishing by Subscription an improved edition of "The Lives of the most Celebrated Puritan Divines," in two large vols. 8vo.

Dr. Southey is at present engaged in a Life of the poet Cowper, and preparing an edition of the whole works of this amiable writer. An edition from such a hand must be a desirable acquisition to every library. It is to be published in the popular form of Byron, Scott, Edgeworth, &c. in monthly volumes; and, in addition to the usual illustrations, the publishers intend giving Portraits of Cowper's numerous friends and correspondents. The work may extend to ten volumes, and the Engravings are expected to be of the very first order.