of money expended; viz. 44,035 in all, of which 29,973 are free and unappropriated; numbers considerably exceeding those of any former year.

At the close of the year ending 31st March last, the Society's disposable balance was £4518. But from this sum nearly £3000. have been since granted; and the Society is thus left dependent on future contributions for the continuance of its usefulness.

Twenty years have now elapsed since the Society commenced the good work in which it is still engaged; and it may be well at the present period to look back to its origin, and in some degree to trace its progress. Beginning with a fund not much exceeding £50,000. the Society has been enabled to expend not less than £244,731. from its own resources, and to cause the expenditure of a much larger amount. The total number of places which have received assistance from it is 1485, and the total number of additional sittings obtained is 398,960, of which 292,339 are free and unappropriated; the average cost to the Society on the whole number being 12s. 6d. per sitting, on the free sittings 16s. 10d. In order to form a due estimate of the benefit produced by the Society, it is necessary to take into the account not only the sum which it has itself expended, or induced others to expend in the several places to which it has afforded assistance; but also the influence

exerted by it, in stirring up the zeal of individuals in many other places, which were placed beyond its reach, or did not require its aid.

This was fully contemplated by the founders of this Society, and greatly contributed to encourage them in what was deemed by many almost a hopeless undertaking.

It is not necessary, and would be scarcely possible to ascertain the amount of the money thus expended for the attainment of the Society's object. We shall probably be far below the amount, if we state that not less than a million and a half sterling has been devoted by individuals during the last twenty years to this great and holy cause—a sum not less than the amount of the parliamentary grant to the commissioners for building additional churches.

Whether this be such a sum as becomes the members of a wealthy community, and of a church which Providence has blessed so largely with the knowledge of Christian truth, and the means of diffusing that knowledge, need not now be asked. It presents a striking contrast to the sad neglect which marked the last century; and fully justifies the views and expectations of those zealous men who first set their hands to this good work. Some of those have gone to their rest; but several yet survive to enjoy the privilege of contemplating a scene which they could scarcely have ventured to anticipate.

A STATEMENT has recently been published, announcing the formation of a Society, intended by every lawful means to retain the present Protestant population in Ireland, and to introduce a Protestant tenantry into districts where no Protestants at present exist.

This object is to be effected by providing a registry of lands to be let or sold to Protestant tenants or purchasers, by establishing libraries, promoting the colonization of uncultivated lands in Ireland, securing a parliamentary agency, &c.

Deeply convinced that Popery is the bane of Ireland, destructive at once to the present peace and the everlasting welfare of our Irish fel

low-subjects, we are desirous of encouraging every effort for the support of Protestantism; at the same time, there are strong doubts whether this, or almost any other plan of Protestant colonization will produce the desired end. Small colonies of Protestants, and an insulated Protestant tenantry are at this moment exposed to the most fearful dangers in Ireland. The poorer Protestants, and especially the Protestant agriculturalists under the existing Irish system, hold their lives and their property by so precarious a tenure, as to render emigration a measure of common prudence, in many cases of indispensable necessity. So long as a

Popish Priest can with impunity denounce a particular individual or a particular family, prohibit their employment, debar them from purchasing or obtaining the common necessaries of life, and expose them to the brick-bats or the pitch-forks of savage and enthusiastical desperadoes, the peaceable and the industrious Protestants must withdraw. Thousands of Irish Protestants persecuted in their own country, have fled to another; and this expatriation will continue until the British government affords equal protection to all its subjects, or until the progress of Scriptural education breaks, through the divine blessing, the chains of superstition, with which so many of our fellow-subjects are tied and bound.

We cannot omit the opportunity of here again urging upon every Christian, every Protestant, the

duty of increased efforts for the Scriptural instruction of the Irish. There is no occasion for New Irish Institutions, if the Old were adequately supported. If the London Hibernian Society, the Irish Tract and Book Society, the Scripture Reader's Society, the Bible Society, and the Irish Church Home Mission had adequate funds, all the energies of Maynooth would fail long to perpetuate the existing state of things. We speak of course with reference to the divine blessing. But we speak with confidence when we say, that these five Societies have done more for the downfall of Popery in Ireland, than all the other institutions which have been established. Yet while many withhold support from them, they are ready to contribute, and that largely, to every new and untried scheme which speculators may devise.

THE following interesting Letter of the Rev. GODFREY MASSEY, ahighly respectable resident Irish clergyman, shows the obstacles which are now in many cases interposed to Scriptural education in Ireland. The facts speak for themselves, and need no comment, but at the same time powerfully appeal to the sympathy and liberality of British Protestants.-EDITOR.

'I am reluctantly compelled to entreat the public sympathy and support, in consequence of the following circumstances, the details of which, I trust, will not only prove the justice of my appeal, but also throw some light on the present position of the church in Ireland. On my appointment to this living in the year 1831, being convinced that scriptural education was essential to the permanence and extension of true religion, I determined at any risk to establish a parochial school. I therefore engaged a wellqualified master, and then looked out for a house, which I supposed could be easily obtained in the town; but no such place could be procured, those who were willing and able to do so, professing to be afraid to let me even a room for such a purpose. At length I succeeded in procuring a small cottage

for the master, by inducing a poor and aged Protestant to assign me his interest in it, on the payment of his arrears; and, an application to a neighbouring magistrate, procured the use of an unoccupied room in the Sessions' House for my school. On learning that the power of granting this privilege was vested in the high sheriff for the county, I applied to the highly respectable gentleman who then held the office, who politely and even kindly continued me in the possession-a favour which I thankfully enjoyed until the present month. For seven years I sedulously endeavoured to improve these opportunities, and, by the blessing of God, with such success, that I have been enabled to assist some very respectable young men in obtaining a sound and generally useful education; while of the humbler classes, one has become an excellent inspector, under the London Hibernian School Society-two are diligently performing the duties of parochial schoolmasters in the adjoining counties of Tipperary and Clare-some are acting as clerks in various situations, and others have been bound to trades, each earning his own bread

and all reflecting credit on the establishment in which they were educated. And yet, so unobtrusive