at reduced prices to Hawkers, &c. amounts to nearly Seven Hundred Pounds.

These gratuitous supplies have been furnished to Hospitals; to the Army and Navy; to the Colliers on the Thames; to the crews of the four ships proceeding on the Expedition towards the North Pole; to Convict Ships and to Prisons; including a Vote to the Committee of Ladies laudably employed in instructing the Prisoners in Newgate; to the Committee for the relief of Poor Seamen; to the Guardian Society; and to persons proceeding to various Foreign Stations.

In the Metropolis, the Tracts have excited the attention of many Italians, Spaniards, Frenchmen, and Germans, especially the two former, who manifest great eagerness for them, as well as for the Holy Scriptures in their own tongue.

In New South Wales 3,000 Tracts have been most gladly received; and, in a recent letter from thence, your Committee are informed, "There are living witnesses of the utility and blessedness of these silent preachers of righteousness."

The intelligence from India is peculiarly encouraging. The Rev. J. Hands, Missionary at Bellary, has remitted another sum of £4, from the Tract Society formed at that place.

The increase of pious Clergymen and zealous Missionaries has begun to produce an alteration in the state of society in India. Mr. Hands thus writes; "Europeans, as well as Natives, and many Civil and Military Officers, who were formerly inimical to the cause of Christianity, are beginning warmly to espouse it."

At Madras a considerable number of Religious Tracts have been distributed, and more are called for. The sum of £50, formerly voted by the Committee, for the purpose of printing Tracts in the vernacular languages, will now be appropriated to that important purpose, under the direction of the Rev. Messrs. Loveless and Knill; and a supply of English Tracts has been forwarded to Madras, at the expense of the Missionary Society.

The Rev. W. Milne, at Malacca, by the aid of your Society, continues publishing Tracts for the Chinese, which are sought after by multitudes of that nation; and there is good reason to believe that many are carried to China by those who return thither from the islands.

The late Rev. J. C. Supper, of Batavia, who, shortly after the date of his last letter, was called from this lower world to the mansions of bliss, has left a strong testimony to the utility of the Society's Tracts, which he considered admirably adapted to prepare the minds of the Chinese for reading the Bible, and for the exertions of Missionaries. In that letter he states, that, through the Providence of God, he had been enabled to establish a Reading Society among the Chinese, consisting of sixty persons, who were supplied, monthly, with sixty Religious Tracts, for perusal, which when read, were circulated among their respective friends. "I am ready," he adds, " to devote myself to the Religious Tract Soci

ety, as I have done to the Missionary and Bible Societies; a share "in your noble exertions I consider to be of more value than all "the gold of Ophir, or the riches of India!" Referring to the Grants, voted by this Society, for Chinese Tracts, (which now amount to £900,) he concludes with the following encouraging words, "You indeed did well in so doing, and I hope Eternity will 66 repeat, that you have done very well! If the Religious Tract So"ciety should be forgotten in the annals of this world, I am con"fident she will shine with great lustre in the everlasting annals of "Heaven."

What a powerful confirmation of the propriety of these grants, is the parting testimony of a witness like this! Indeed, it is more than sufficient to silence chilling doubts and surmises, and to inspire gratitude, confidence, and perseverance.

From the Rev. Robert Pinkerton, communications have been received, furnishing an interesting account of the means used in Russia for the extensive circulation of Religious Tracts, together with Extracts of Letters from several Dignitaries of the Russian Church, bearing testimony to their utility, and encouraging a still more enlarged circulation, both by sale and gratuitous distribution. For a more detailed account of these communications, your Committee refer to the Appendix.

A communication from the Rev. Dr. Paterson conveys the pleasing intelligence, that a Religious Tract Society has been formed at Abo in Finland, of which the Archbishop is the Patron. A grant of £30 has been voted by your Committee in aid of this important undertaking.

The Religious Tract Society in Iceland, established through the influence of the Rev. Dr. Henderson, when in that Island, in 1815, has prepared twelve Tracts in that language, six of which are translations from those of this Society. Some are already in circulation, and the others have been sent to Copenhagen, to be printed in that city.

For the very interesting proceedings which have taken place in Sweden, your Committee refer to the Report of the Evangelical Society, at Stockholm; which, together with the Extracts inserted in the Appendix, will be read with the highest degree of interest. One single fact they would, however, notice-that, since the establishment of that Society, in 1808, it has printed no less than 1,203, 750 Religious Tracts, in the Swedish, Finnish, and Laponese languages.

It gives your Committee sincere satisfaction to observe the exertions which are now making in various parts of France, Switzerland, and Italy, for the circulation of Religious Tracts. Several highly respectable Protestant Clergymen have taken an active share in this work of faith and labour of love; and your Committee have felt truly happy in affording them all that encouragement which their limited means would allow.

Nor will it be less gratifying to the Society to learn, that, through

the aid of some highly respectable Correspondents at Malta and Smyrna, measures have been taken to procure translations of several of its most useful tracts into the Modern Greek, which are expected to meet with a very extensive circulation; and your Committee deeming this measure of much importance, have voted £40, to encourage Translations at those places.

From Gibraltar it is stated, that there have been many proofs of the good done by the distribution of Tracts, more especially among the Soldiers, several of whom have been awakened to a sense of the importance of religion by their perusal.

By information received from the Berlin Tract Society, your Committee understand that Branch Societies have been formed at Memel, Grypswald, Görlitz, Magdeburg, Coeslin, &c. and it is expected that translations will soon be made in the Polish and Wendish languages. The funds of that Institution being, however, inadequate to the extent of its operations, your Committee have, during the last year, assisted it with two grants of £20 each; which seasonable aid has been most gratefully acknowledged, accompanied with the pleasing intelligence, that every month from Ten to Twenty Thousand Tracts leave the press.

From a nobleman residing at Bachman, near Memel, your Committee have been informed, that several Tracts of this Socie ty are about to be translated into the Lithuanian language, by some of the clergy, for the instruction of their parishioners; 4,000 copies of The Warning Voice having been already published at Tilsit, in aid of which your Committee have voted the sum of £10.

The total number of Tracts which have been distributed by the Wurtemberg Tract Society, in two years, amounts to no less than 74,000.

A small but active Tract Society has lately been formed at Neuwied upon the Rhine, the operations of which have been aided by a grant of £10.

Many thousands of Religious Tracts continue to be put in circulation, annually, by the Societies at Basle, Zurich, St. Gall, Lausanne, Nurenberg, Frankfort, Cologne, Rotterdam, and other places in Switzerland, Holland, and Germany; in addition to which, several pious Catholic Clergymen are indefatigable in diffusing light and knowledge, through the Publication of Pamphlets, of a smaller and larger size, written in a truly scriptural spirit and

manner.

To the island of St. Domingo the Publications of your Society have been sent by your Committee, as opportunities presented themselves; and one of the persons to whom they were entrusted, writes," It has always been our care to distribute your Tracts so as best to secure their being read. We have distributed a great "number of those in French, in Port-au-Prince and its neighbour"hood, to persons who come to our house to request them :"-and he proceeds to state, that, in these instances, as well as in country

places, the Tracts were received with the utmost joy and gratitude.

The Contributions which several of the Auxiliary Societies have afforded to the Funds of the Parent Institution during the last year, entitle them to the cordial gratitude of the friends of the Institution; and it is extremely desirable that individuals resident in populous districts, who are frequent in their applications for gratuitous supplies, should in each district form an Auxiliary Society; which, if properly conducted, would greatly strengthen the Parent Institution, and, instead of draining its funds, would replenish them by an annual and increasing contribution, while at the same time it would procure a more extensive circulation of the Tracts.

Thus have your Committee laid before their Constituents the principal occurrences of the Nineteenth Year of the Religious Tract Society;-and while "day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge," so year unto year, revolving in rapid succession, and presenting wide fields for renewed exertion, "white already to harvest," proclaims, with an instructive and admonitory voice, "There is yet much land to be possessed-work while it is called to-day-the night cometh when no man can work."

1

Unimpeded by the obstruction which a state of warfare necessarily opposes to the prosecution of the Foreign object in which this society is engaged, your Committee, while they congratulate their Constituents on the continuance of the blessings of peace, unite with them in gratitude to God, who bestows them; and earnestly hope and pray that increasing means of support may keep pace with the gradual improvement of Commerce, in order that the facilities which a state of peace mercifully presents to us, may, under the guidance and blessing of God, be strenuously, wisely, and perseveringly improved for the more extensive diffusion of the knowledge of the Prince of Peace, whom to know is life eternal, until "the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ."

Abstract of the Cash Account, for the year ending March 31st, 1818. Total Net Receipts

Total Net Payments

£ 6132 0 10

6007 0 1

FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

OBITUARY.

The last illness of the late Rev. P. Lowe, Pastor of the Congregations belonging to the Dutch Reformed Church, in Flatbush and Flatlands, Long-Island, in the State of New-York.

Mr. Lowe had laboured, for the two winters preceding his decease, under a severe cold. From the effects of this he never entirely recover

ed. The disease, however, which terminated in his death, had been preying for some time on his constitution, and finally settled in his under lip. When any of his friends spake to him of this appearance he commonly waved the subject; but not with a view of removing fear from his own mind with regard to the issue; for, it was his fixed opinion that it would be the cause of his removal from this world. From the first stages of the complaint he never intimated a hope of final recovery. Notwithstanding, he did not refuse to make use of means. Accordingly he consulted with members of his congregations, and others, respecting the choice of a gentleman of medical skill, and especially one who had been much employed in affections of a cancerous nature. His conduct in this situation displayed that prudence and caution which were prominent features of his character.

In the judgment of man, had it been the will of God to have restored Mr. Lowe to health, his deep experience in the mysteries of godliness would have afforded matter of valuable instruction to his beloved flock. The trials and temptations through which he passed would have been a rich source of comfort to the tried and tempted. He would have fed the lambs and sheep according to his masters command to the Apostle Peter. The clear and impressive views given to him would have enabled him to build up in their most holy faith the church committed to his care.

These gifts, however, were not wholly lost; this light was not put under a bushel.

During his illness he preached the word, he reproved, rebuked, exhorted. He could say, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day."

About a year before his departure he was called to pass through a fiery trial.

He had a clear view of himself in the law of God. Sin appeared exceedingly sinful. He was made to cry out with the great Apostle, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death!" The conflict was trying and distressing. He, who had comforted many, needed the comforts and promises of the gospel to be presented to his own mind by others. He, who had poured out his ardent prayers in behalf of the souls of the tried, now intreated the prayers of christian friends for himself. Finally, he was enabled to say, thanks be to God for the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

After this his heart was opened in prayer; the clouds were dissipated; the promises of God were no longer forbidden meat; grace was given him to embrace anew the Saviour as he is offered in the Gospel, and to bless God for the gift of his Son. Sorrow and sighing fled away; joy and gladness and the song of salvation took their place. He was raised to the mount from which he was never afterwards called into the valley.