ON Thursday, February 9th, a meeting of the members and friends of the society was held in the National SchoolRoom at Wrington, in the diocese of Bath and Wells, for the purpose of forming a New District Association to act in the deanery of Bedminster. The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells presided on the occasion, and was supported by a large assemblage of the Clergy and laity of the district. After the usual preliminary prayers of the Society had been read, the Bishop opened the business of the meeting by giving a perspicuous statement of the objects for which it was assembled. Archdeacon Moysey then rose to move the first resolution, which he prefaced by some appropriate remarks, descriptive of the vital importance of the Society's operations, and breathing the strongest attachment to its cause. The Rev. E. W. Grinfield, Secretary to the Bath District Committee, seconded the Archdeacon's motion. -He expressed his happiness at knowing that a separate district association, similar to those which have effected so much public good in other parts of the diocese, was now about to be established in the Bedminster Deanery; and dwelt forcibly on the necessity of the times, which, he said, loudly called for the strenuous efforts of every friend to the cause of sound religion, and of moral and social order. He particularly roused the sympathies of the meeting by alluding to an Infidel Society, which still, he observed, existed in the city of Bristol, and which," he had heard upon the best authority, had lately performed the abominable ceremony of burning the sacred volume, at one of its midnight orgies, and witnessing with exultation the expiring embers of the book." The next resolution was moved by the Rev. Sir Abraham Elton, Bart., who addressed the meeting shortly. He was seconded by the Rev. Mr. Vaughan, Rector of Wraxall. The Rev. W. B. Whitehead, the dio

cesan Secretary, next addressed the meeting in reference to the resolution which he had been commissioned to move. He expressed the delight which he felt at seeing so powerful a meeting assembled on such an occasion; but reminded all the members of the society present, that, by the active personal agency alone, of each of them, in his respective parish, could its blessings ever be effectually secured. "We may diligently attend (said the Rev. gent.) all its annual and occasional meetings in our respective neighbourhoods, and thereby swell the numbers of its outward retainers, and the parade of its outward patronage, but home must, after all, be the scene of our really useful exertions in its cause." He then dwelt upon the duties, too often misunderstood, of lay members of the society, which he described to be the same as those of clerical members in character and importance; and concluded with an animated vindication of the national Clergy, from what he termed the wanton charge of being enemies to the improvement of the popular mind. "No body of men in the world had, during the last fifteen years, devoted more of their time, their talents, and their property, to the cause of the pure education of the people, than the Clergy of the Church of England. The whole bias of their own education, and the very principle of their Church's existence, necessarily made them advocates of free and rational inquiry, when guided by honest intention, and of every kind of social improvement which could promote the freedom, the dignity, or the happiness of man. But they never had supported, and, he believed, they never would support, any plan of mental improvement which was conducted independently of religion, that only sure guide of human conduct, that only safe security for the permanent existence and unlimited advancement of every thing excellent and elevated in society." The Rev. P.

Guillebaud, Rector of Nailsea, briefly seconded this motion. The other resolutions, necessary on the first formation of District Societies, were shortly moved and seconded by the following gentlemen:- -the Rev. F. Lewis, the Rev. James Phillott, J. Norman, esq. J. Plaister, esq. T. Roworth, esq. the Rev. Messrs. Biddulph, Seymour, Watkins, Hall, J. Turner, Edwards, M. Whish. The Rev. T. T. Biddulph, Rector of Brockley, was elected District Secretary, and S. Baker, esq. of Aldwick Court, Treasurer. A liberal collection was made at the door, and handsome subscriptions entered into on the occasion. Mrs. Hannah More, in her usual benevolent spirit, sent her subscription and her best wishes for the future prosperity of the society. The establishment of a district depo

sitory of books was resolved on, and is about to be established at Bedminster, under the superintendence of the Secretary. The future annual meetings will be held alternately at Wrington and Long-Ashton. In addition to the above-named gentlemen, there were present on the occasion, Bean, esq. J. Baker, esq. the Rev. R. Harkness, the Rev. Mr. Johnson, the Rev. Mr. Williams, -Emery, esq. the Rev. Mr. Biddulph, sen. the Rev. Mr. Sparrow, the Rev. Mr. Arnold, &c.

The above is the Tenth District Association of the Parent Society, established in the diocese of Bath and Wells; and, from the zeal displayed in its commencement, it promises to be one of the most efficient amongst them in its future services.

AMONG the late proceedings of the Board, we are happy to learn, that it was resolved to petition his Majesty's Government for aid towards placing on a more effective footing the munificent bequest of General Codrington. As our readers may not be acquainted with the nature of the bequest, or of the manner in which the Society has discharged the high trust reposed in it by the testator, we subjoin the following account of the Institution, obtained from the early report of the Society's proceedings.

The erection of a College at Barbadoes, the superintendence of which the Society was desirous of placing under Episcopal authority, (Barbadoes being one of the stations selected as the seat of bishopric in the plan of an American Episcopate, formed by the Society in 1713,) was, in pursuance of the will of General Codrington, who bequeathed "his two plantations in the Island of Barbadoes, and part of his Island of Barbuda, to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, directing that the plantations should continue entire, and 300 negroes at least be always kept thereon, and a convenient number of Professors and Scho

lars maintained there, who should be obliged to practise physic and chirurgery as well as divinity: that by the apparent usefulness of the former to all mankind, they may both endear themselves to the people, and have the better opportunity of doing good to men's souls, while they are taking care of their bodies; but the particulars of the constitution he left to the Society, composed of wise and good

men.

Upon the death of Gen. Codrington, in 1709, intelligence first reached the Society of this munificent bequest; but great difficulties were experienced in obtaining possession of the estates, in consequence of a claim made upon it by Lieut.-Col. Codrington, the executor. The perplexity and heavy charge necessarily incurred in the management of this dispute, proved a great hindrance to the cultivation and improvement of the plantations. In addition to which, the French, making a descent upon the small Island of Barbuda, took off all the negroes, with most of the stock, and destroyed the cattle.

The Society, having at length arranged matters with the executor, in order to enter as quickly as possible

upon the discharge of the trust, sent -out to Barbadoes the Rev. Joseph Holt, whose skill in physic and surgery and moral character were properly - attested, as Chaplain and Catechist, charged not only with the ordinary duties of a Missionary, but especially with the office of instructing the negroes and children on the Society's plantations, and with the care of the sick and disabled among them.

In 1712, it was determined to commence the erection of the College upon one of the estates; and to promote the design, several gentlemen, resident in Barbadoes, were authorised to receive contributions in behalf of the Society, as well as to superintend the building. The work, however, was much retarded, from the necessity of sending most of the workmen, as well as the chief part of the materials, from this country;-from the difficulty of procuring fit timber,-and from the uncertain returns of the estate.

The Society was also disappointed in its first Missionary on this founda ́tion, Mr. Holt, who was discharged in consequence of neglect of his duties in 1714. Three others were successively employed in the Mission until 1724, when an Assistant Catechist was sent over, by whose exertions several of the negroes, both adults and children, were duly instructed, and received baptism. Even, however, after the building was completed, the contingencies of the estate contined to absorb so much of the profits, that the design of the founder could not be acted upon to its full extent. From frequent damages, indeed, from hur

ricanes, so far from there being any adequate return, a considerable sum was required to be borrowed upon interest, to preserve the estate from ruin. This sum was at length paid off in 1743, and the Society lost no time in appointing the Rev. Thomas Rotheram, M. A. and the Rev. Joseph Bewsher, B. A. to the offices of first and second master, annexing to the latter the duties of Catechist to the Negroes. Instructions were also forwarded for the admission of twenty youths upon the foundation. In 1744, Mr. William Cattel was sent out as Professor of Surgery and Medicine; and, in the following year, the Rev. Mr. Bryant, of St. John's College, Cambridge, was appointed Professor of Philosophy and Mathematics; who gave public lectures every month, open to all who chose to attend them.Divine Service was regularly performed in the College Chapel.

In 1751, the Society had to regret the death of Mr. Bryant, who had not only ably discharged his office as Professor, but had been very serviceable in the management of the estates. Ill health soon after compelled the others to vacate their appointments, and return to England. Two of the three immediate successors (the Rev. Mr. Hodgson and the Rev. Mr. Falcon) died, and the third (the Rev. John Rotheram, who, from being second master, succeeded to his brother's office,) returned home from ill health; so that the course of instruction was

unavoidably greatly interrupted. After the temporary appointment of the Rev. Mr. Duke, in 1763, the Rev. Mr. Butcher, of St. John's College, Cambridge, a native of Barbadoes, was appointed President of the College, and Mr. Davis, who had been educated at the College, Second Master.

The institution began now to answer, in some measure, the wishes of the Society: but in 1780, the tremendous visitation of a storm, which ravaged the whole Island, destroyed most of the College buildings, and laid waste the plantations. The estates, already involved from previous bad crops, then became seriously encumbered with debt, through repeated failures; and, in consequence of this