hundred and thirteen schoolmasters. Large, however, as this number is, it must not be concealed, that it is by no means adequate to the spiritual wants of a rapidly increasing population. Great, indeed, would have been the satisfaction of the Society, had it been able to comply with those urgent applications for ministers, which have been continually brought under its notice; and to which it has been painfully compelled, by a deficiency of funds, to return unfavourable answers.

There is good reason, however, to believe, that a fairer prospect has begun to open upon us. The people of England appear to be awakened to a sense of the lamentable privations which their fellow-subjects, in the distant dependencies of the realm, sustain, while wanting the regular setting forth of God's true and lively Word, and the due administration of his holy sacraments. This appears from the increased contributions which have of late years been placed at the disposal of the Society, and from the greater degree of interest which is now evidently felt in its proceedings. That this feeling would become still stronger, and these contributions yet more abundant, cannot be doubted, were the public fully aware of the extreme need of spiritual instruction under which the North American emigrants labour; of the anxiety with which that instruction is sought by them; and of the thankfulness with which it is received. Christians by profession, as

these our poor brethren are, who have been compelled to seek the means of subsistence in a distant land, and valuing, as they now for the most part do, the truths and ordinances of religion, they want only the blessing of a regular ministry, to dispense to them the bread of life, and enable them to train up succeeding generations in the faith and practice of the Gospel. Here we would ask, why does not the Address urge the friends of the Society, in all parts of the country to imitate the example of the Parent Society, and hold public meetings; the best means of awakening the people of England.

The Address expresses a wish that the government at home (which alone has the ability to do the work effectually) would take upon itself altogether, as it already has in part, the support of the Church in America; and thus leave the Society at liberty to apply its undivided energies to the propagation of the Gospel among the benighted millions of the East, or wherever else Providence might open a door for it. But till this be done, the Society must go on, according "to its power, yea, and beyond its power," in its unostentatious, but most useful course.

The address here concludes its notice of the labours of the Society in the western world, and proceeds to detail its operations in that most interesting district-India. We shall not now pursue the subject, but hope to return to it in our next.

particulars contained in these Reports; but we rejoice to say, that the different schools are in general described to be in a most efficient state; we rejoice, because we are quite sure there is no other institution by which the welfare of the poorer classes is so effectively served, and the cause of our venerable church is so firmly established in the hearts of the people.

There is one suggestion we beg leave to offer for the consideration of those who conduct such institutionsthat the children should pay a certain sum per week. This, besides the ma

'nifest advantage of making the poor contribute towards the maintenance of their children, induces the parents to set a higher value on the instruction provided for their children, and more careful that they should omit no opportunity of receiving it. In one school in the North of England the children pay two-pence per week ; this perhaps is more than could be afforded by the inhabitants of some districts.

We will now give extracts from some of the Reports, which very perspicuously set forth the advantages of National Schools. The method of obtaining the Reports of Schools, mentioned in the following extract, might be advantageously adopted in other

thought that in this, as in all other cases, a division of labour would lighten the task, and that the account obtained would be more accurate, from the local knowledge and information of the gentlemen employed. The experiment has succeeded quite as well as could be expected upon a first trial: the General Committee received the aggregate returns at their last Quarterly Meeting, and passed an unanimous vote of thanks to the Division Secretaries, and the gentlemen who had so kindly assisted them, for their valuable services; which thanks they now beg leave publicly, and most cordially, to repeat. The returns being thus sent in by Deaneries, it has been determined to print them in the same form; by which means the number of parishes having Schools is easily compared with the whole number in the county; and the Members of the Society will be highly gratified at seeing, in the lists which occupy the following pages of this Report, the record of a fact, perhaps not paralleled in so extensive a district; that, of 382 parishes, 283 have Schools, containing

the large amount of 21,352 children. By reference to the last Report, it will be found that the number of Schools was, then, only 262, and of children 20,460. On the 13th Anniversary of this Institution, therefore, the General Committee have to present an increase in the number of Schools of no less than 21; and in the number of children under education of 902: it is possible that all these Schools may not have been established during the year past; but, if any of them existed before, and the managers of them have been induced, by the new mode of collecting the returns, or by any other motive, now, for the first time, to report them, it is a proof, at least, of a greater attention to the subject, and of an increasing desire to promote one of the great objects of the National Society-the ascertaining the number of children throughout the kingdom in a course of instruction, founded upon the principles of the Established Church: but, in fact, the Committee have every reason to suppose that the numbers just stated are, almost to the full extent, an accession of strength to the great cause they have in hand. Such an increase of the objects of their attention, is a strong claim upon the friends of religious education, for continued and earnest support of a Society, whose direct and sole purpose it is to carry their benevolent intentions into effect. It should always be remembered that this is a work which is "never ending-still beginning." As one set of children leaves the school, another succeeds: generations are continually passing away, and others rising up to take their place and we shall ill discharge our duty to our country, and ill satisfy our own consciences, if we desert a work in which we have so far advanced, and suffer it by possibility to happen, that a portion of knowledge, which we have stood forward to communicate, may be perverted to purposes directly the reverse of those which we intended it to promote.

"Knowlege (it has been said, and truly) is power,' but it is a power which-consill expers, mole ruit suá. It is but the means to an end. Its value consists not in the possession, but in the application of it. On this

subject there is a passage in the last charge of the Bishop of this Diocese to his clergy, which is peculiarly applicable, and will be read with especial interest by the Members of this Society, as conveying the sentiments

earnest

of their venerable and excellent Patron. 'It should never be forgotten, that there is no necessary connexion between knowledge and goodness, between the possession of intellectual power, and a disposition to apply it to its proper ends. Its legitimate use may exalt us to heights of civilization and happiness, as much above our present condition, as that condition excels the state of society at the commencement of the 15th century; its abuse may be fatal to our existing establishments, may demolish the bulwarks of strength and security erected by the wisdom of our ancestors, and consolidated during a succession of ages, by their continued labours. The enemies of religion and order are so well aware of these consequences, that, while they profess an desire to enlighten the people, they encourage that mode of instruction alone, which instils no fixed principles of religion, no preference to any form of worship. It therefore must be our object, on the other hand, to maintain the proportion which should always exist, between the active powers of the public mind, and the controul and direction of their exercise, by the operation of moral causes. And this we must do, not by discouraging the acquisition of knowlege, or the cultivation of understanding, among the lower orders; but by effectual methods to supply their minds with just notions of their duty towards God and man, and place them under the habitual direction of sound principles and good feelings.'

"This is the object, for the attainment of which the National Society was first formed, and in the promotion of which, both itself, and all the Societies connected with it, have incessantly laboured. Through a period of imminent danger, they have protected the rising population of the country, from the intrusion of principles, no less subversive of their present comfort, than dangerous to their eternal welfare; and it is to be hoped that

the Divine blessing, which has hitherto so manifestly assisted their endeavours, will not be withdrawn from their faithful perseverance in a course, which, we have every reason to suppose, will be the means, under Providence, of 'bringing many sons to glory.'

"On referring to the state of the general fund, as it stands at the conclusion of this Report, it appears that the amount of Subscriptions paid in during the last year, is considerably greater than in the preceding; but the General Committee are aware that this apparent increase of pecuniary resources is, in a great measure, owing to the paying up of arrears; and as, at the same time, they have to lament the known secession of some of the old Subscribers, and the death of others, and have some demands upon them, which, from accidental circumstances, have not been liquidated, they cannot flatter themselves that their finances are at all in a more flourishing state, than at the time of their last Report. The Committee, therefore, earnestly intreat those friends who remain firm to their engagements, that they will endeavour to point out to their neighbours, the claims which this Society has upon the public attention, and the need it has of continued support, that it may be enabled to proceed in the career it has so auspiciously begun. In particular, they feel it their duty to advert to the resolution of the last General Meeting, prefixed to the last and to this Report, which they fear has not obtained so much notice as they wished, and respectfully to beg of the Clergy, even if, from particular causes, they are not themselves Subscribers to the Society, to lose no opportunity of recommending it to their parishioners, and of soliciting aid to an Institution, which, they must be convinced, is replete with good; and, it may now, from the experience of thirteen years, not unfairly be presumed, without any mixture of evil." (County of Essex Report.)

We wish particularly to call attention to the following resolution of the County of Essex Society, for we are convinced no Institution, however excellent, can be efficiently maintained without the personal exertions of the clergy.

Report.

"That this Report be distributed, and that the several Clergymen who receive it be particularly requested to recommend it to the attention of such of their parishioners as they may think likely to be interested in the subject, with the view of obtaining their support to the institution."

Extract from the Thirteenth Annual Report of the County of Leicester Society.

"The object of your Committee has ever been, to afford useful and religious instruction to the children of the poor, and to qualify them for those situations in life which they will most likely be called upon to fill. Love to God, duty to parents, respect to superiors, fidelity to masters and mistresses: honesty, sobriety, cleanliness, controul of temper, and civil demeanour towards all-are principles, which are sedulously and instantly impressed upon their minds; and the fruits, which they have in numberless instances produced, prove the great importance of the Institution, not only to the poor themselves, but to all classes of society.

"It is not to be doubted, that an Institution so materially contributing to diffuse habits of good order and the sound Christian principles of the Established Church amongst the poor of this extensive town and neighbourhood, will continue to receive the support of those who interest themselves in their welfare; and will enable your Committee to prosecute their important labours with vigour and effect.

"Of the Central School, established to promote and exemplify the Madras System in this County, your Committee forbear to offer any remark. It is at all times open to the inspection of all, and the inquisition of all is courted. They cannot, however, conclude without impressing upon all, to be unremitting in their exertions to support Institutions, which have for their object to educate in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,' so important a part of the British community as the youth of the poor. They are the heirs of our duties as well as of our

to impress upon them with a profound and abiding sense of the magnitude of the latter, that they, may duly estimate the importance of the former, and be, in their time, the fosterers of those sacred establishments, which our forefathers have reared as a rallying point for the faithful servants of the National Church.

"The cause of National Education is the cause of God and our country. Let our exertions, then, for its extension and support, be proportioned to the magnitude of the evil which it is calculated to avert, and to the importance of the good which it has been proved by experience to effect. It is to train the Infant Poor in the principles of the Established Church, to furnish them with some defence against prevailing errors, to preserve them in that well-doing which will render them faithful subjects to their King-lovers of the Protestant constitution of their country-defenders and supporters of the national church, and respecters of its laws and ordinances."

Extract from the Twelfth Report of the Society in the Archdeaconry of Coventry.

"The Society for educating the Children of the Poor on the plan of the National School Society, has now existed in this Archdeaconry upwards of thirteen years, and it will not be expected that, in this their twelfth annual report, the Committee should be able to bring before the subscribers any new features in recommendation of the system which has been so undeviatingly followed. It will suffice to say, that each revolving year has convinced them more and more of the value of this important discovery, and that those who have neglected or despised the benefits to be derived from it, have shewn but little interest in the welfare of the rising generation. To some men, indeed, the education of the lower orders of people seems altogether to militate against their ultimate advantage, by raising them, as they say, above their sphere in life, and enabling them to tread too closely on the steps of those who have been born to higher stations: but let these

reasoners be asked, what they themselves would have been without education? Of what use would their rank and fortune have been to them? and if they have been overtaken, why have they not kept pace with the times, and by wider intellectual acquirements secured to themselves their proper balance in the scale of society? And, above all, let them be asked how they can reconcile it to the common dictates of humanity to refuse to the most degraded of the human race, the surest means, when coupled with religious instruction, of enlightening his mind, of improving him in the social virtues, and of making him a brighter emblem of his Maker's image.

"Most sincerely do your Committee congratulate the Society, that but little of this degrading principle prevails within the limits of their transactions. In Coventry and its neighbourhood, many splendid monuments exist of Christian and benevolent feelingscarcely is there a parish without its school; many of ancient and permanent institution, an honour to the wisdom and foresight of our ancestors;—and many of more recent date, existing, perhaps, as some might say, on a light and fragile foundation, the mere support of casual charity; but existing, if your Committee may be allowed to be the interpreters, on a foundation not likely to be undermined, viz. on Christian principles and British liberality.

"It is the poor man's happiness in this life, and his immortality in the next, which are the only objects entertained by this Society; and he must be destitute indeed of every feeling honourable to human nature, who can stand by and risk the chance of one soul's perishing, when a trifling sacrifice of some of his own superfluities might save him from perdition: nay, he must be destitute of those heavenly virtues which the religion of Jesus has diffused throughout the world, and he must be devoid of that hope which softens the cares of life and sweetens all her pleasures-the hope, that when the kingdoms of this earth shall be known no more, and all its pageantry shall be passed away, we, amongst assembled angels and men, shall meet again in peace and love."

Extract from the 18th Report of FreeSchool, Gower's Walk, Whitechapel.

The managers of the National Freeschool, Gower's Walk, Whitechapel, express their opinion that children should not be sent to their school till seven or eight years of age;-in that opinion we concur. Before that age they only obstruct the regular business of the school, without deriving much benefit themselves; for the engagements of the master prevent him_paying sufficient attention to them. They, in fact, require the superintendence afforded in an Infant School. The managers also think that a child should not leave school till 14; here too we agree with them: we will give their reason in their own words.-They consider the foundation of every public school ought to be religious, and whatever learning may be given, or works of industry superadded, they all should be made subservient to inculcating the moral and religious principle. The managers feel a conviction that this is most effectually done in the two or three last years of attendance; and therefore they use every worldly device, as well as exhortation, to induce the parents to keep their children here till 14, when they must either go out as apprentices or ser

vants.

We strongly recommend the following practical observations to the consideration of the conductors of National Schools.

The system of teaching is purely Madras. The works of industry, whether carried on by boys or girls, are found to be agreeable to the children, as volunteers are always on the alert to be employed; they like work better than reading, therefore they are never allowed to go to work unless the lesson has been well said.

One of the important instruments of discipline is the fund-book, where, as soon as a boy (or girl) realizes two pence, at the end of the month one penny is placed to his credit, and the other is given to him. With the skill of the children the rewards increase, and it frequently happens, that for the last year a boy will earn four shillings a month; two will be placed to his credit, and two he will take home; the accumulated amount is given