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and also the new channels which have been opened for gratuitous distributions, among soldiers, sailors, and prisoners of war.

The extensive operations of the Society could not, however, have been effected, without the most scrupulous economy; and this has been exercised by the Committee, for the purpose of bringing every

branch of its resources to bear on the important objects, of cheapness and general distribution. With this view, the tracts have beeu sold at the net cost prices; and it was hoped that the Subscriptions and Donations to the Society would have provided for the necessary expences of every part of the establishment: but the Commitice are obliged to say, That the very great advance in the price of paper; the additional expences at the Depository, occasioned by the growing business of the Society; the enlarged gratuitous distribution of tracts in the army, navy, and among prisoners of war, have greatly reduced the Funds of the Institution; and have also rendered its usual annual support very insufficient for the continuance of its enlarged and liberal operations.

The Committee feel assured that no Member of the Society will ob ject to the measures which they have adopted; and it is hoped, that their acknowledged importance will prove a stimulus to many benevolent persons, who either have supported the Society by very small subscriptions, or have not yet come forward to assist it, to exert themselves vigorously on its behalf. Should this expectation be disappointed, the Committee will be obliged to raise the price of the Tracts: a measure which will produce great inconve nience, and also a considerable Emitation in the most desirable operations of the Society.

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The roof and the walls of the Scottish Church in Wells Street, Oxford Street, we understand, were in such a safe as to make it necessary to take down and rebuild the same. The congregation, the meanwhile, worship, in the afternoon and evening, in the Swiss chapel, in Moor Street, Seven Dials.

On Sunday, March 12, collections were made at Surry Chapel for the Southwark Sunday-Schools, in which 1830 children are educated; when the sum of £200 was generously contributed for their support.

Distressed Swedes.

THE Committce in London, who have been so laudably engaged in procuring Subscriptions for the distressed Swedes, have already sent over £3000 for their relief. By a paper recently circulated, we find that their miseries are extremely great. An epidemic disorder has raged in their hospitals, to which 12,000 men have fallen victims; and in various parts of the country, hunger and starvation are paving the high road for death. Besides numberless sufferers, there are 7000 widows unprovided for, and at least 14,000 of their children. Many poor creatures have no other bread than that which is made of bones, chaf, and the bark of fir; which they soak in a bason of hot salt and

To prevent this, the Committee earnestly address the Religious Pub-water. lic, and entreat their Assistance, either by Annual Subscriptions or Donations, as shall be most convenient.

On Friday, Feb. 17, a Sermon was preached at Bow Church, before

Any charitable persons disposed to contribute to their relief, may send their donations to Mess. Hardcastle and Reyner, Treasurers; or Mr. Butterworth, 43, Fleet Street; or to the banking-houses of Hankey, Hoare, Down, or Coults.

Provincial Intelligence.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

The following Letter, which exhibits, in a striking manner, the admirable effects of SundaySchools in Wales (and which has appeared in another publication) is here inserted by particular desire and, we doubt not, will prove a stimulus to redoubled exertion, in various parts of England, in the promotion of those most useful Institutions: Beneficial Effects of Sunday-Schools, in a Letter (somewhat abridged) to a Young Lady. Dear Madam,'

In addition to my former letter, giving an account of the success of the Sunday-Schools in Wales, I have now the pleasure of furnishing a few more interesting particulars respecting their progress.

In

All the schools then existing, are still well supported; and all the useful practices of learning chapters out of the Bible, and being catechized publicly, are still continued with as much vigour as ever. many of the schools, the number of teachers and scholars is much increased; the teachers have improv ed themselves considerably; and the schools, of course, bear a proportionate improvement. The increase in the number of schools, especially in South Wales, within these nine months, has been very great; and the progress made in these new schools, in learning to read their own native language, and in acquaintance with the word of God, in so short a time, far exceeds any thing I have hitherto witnessed; and would appear incredible to you without great confidence in my veracity, were I to detail particulars. The spirit of learning has spread with rapidity among young people and children, in large populous districts, where hitherto it was wholly neglected; and the reformation in their morals has been generally evident and satisfactory to all. Their

usual profanation of the Sabbaths, in meetings for play, or in public houses, has been forsaken; and the

Sabbaths are spent together in the schools, or in religious exercises. The attention is engaged with such intenseness, that, in some instances which i have known, the greater part of night after night is spent in learning chapters, or in searching the Scriptures on points given them to be elucidated by Scripture passages. All will easily perceive how rapid the progress in the acquisition of divine knowledge must be, where the mind is so attentively engaged, if assisted by proper instruction. It has been great and rapid. known young people emerge at once, as it were, from a state of idleness, profaneness, and ignorance, to diligence, sobriety, and pleasing attention to divine things. They are delighted with the work; and you may distinguish those who are thus engaged from the idle and ignorant, by the comfort and joy manifested in the cheerful aspect of their countenances.

I have

We have also this year held Associations of different Schools, meeting in some central places, to be publicly catechized together. Three meetings of this nature have been held in South Wales, and three in North Wales. A subject is given to every school, on which they are to be examined; and which they are to elucidate by repeating appropriate passages from the sacred writings. At the appointed time, generally a Sabbath-day, the children of the different schools assemble, accompanied by their teachers. Some of the schools have walked 10 miles by eight o'clock in the moraing. The children being scattered in their different habitations over the country (for they do not dwell together in hamlets, as in England) they all meet at an assigned place, and at the appointed hour, pray and sing a verse of a hymn together; and then march cheerfully and or derly for the place of their destina

tion.

As no place of worship is spacious enough to contain the immense concourse of people which attend on those occasions, we have been obliged to erect stages out of doors, in the fields: one, very large, for the children to stand upon, two or three

schools at a time; and the other for the catechists, opposite to that for the children, at 15 or 18 yards distance: the place between, is for the congregation assembled to stand to hear. We begin the work early in the morning; and the whole day is spent in these examinations. Every opportunity lasts three or four hours; and is generally concluded with an address to the children and congregation. In the short interval between the public opportunities, the children of each school are conducted by the teachers to a room, engaged for the purpose, to partake of a little refreshment; and at the appointed time, they are orderly reconducted again to the place of meeting. We have had on these occasions from 15 to 20 schools assembled together. Hitherto, these associations have been most profitable. The previous preparations give employment for two months to all the youths of both sexes, in large populous districts, in which they engage with great eagerness and delight. The public examinations also, we have reason to conclude, are very profitable to the hearers assembled, from their great attention and feelings on hearing the responses of the children. I have seen great meltings and tears among them. When the work of the day is over, the children are reconducted by their teachers to their respective homes, or, committed to the care of their parents. Every thing has been conducted hitherto with great order and decorum; and the utility of them is ascertained beyond a doubt. The schools assume publicity and importance by these public exhibitions: they animate both teachers and children; bring others in, who have hitherto been negli gent; and powerfully excite the setting up new schools elsewhere.

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In my intercourse with the children, 1 have met with many instances of uncommon quickness of intellect, and strength of memory. I have met with more than one, who, at the age of three years, would learn any common tune in a very short time; others, at the same age, who very soon commit

long chapters to memory, without any apparent difficulty. There is one little girl, only five years and a half old, who can repeat distinctly above 100 chapters; and goes on learning a chapter every week, be sides the Catechism, and searching the Scriptures for passages on dif ferent points in divinity. We have many blind people, who treasure up the word of God in their memory. One blind lad commits a whole chapter to memory on having it read over to him about four times. I have also met with many melancholy instances of very great ignorance among grown peoples which has induced me to press earncstly persons of that description to attend the Sunday-Schools. Such instances shew the necessity of pastors and teachers of all denominations exerting themselves, to spread divine knowledge in the country by catechetical instruction, in addition to public preaching. I find, thro' their ignorance of the holy Scriptures, that the terms which we commonly use in preaching, convey no idea to the bulk of our congre gations. Let any one take the trouble of examining them, he will be soon convinced of the truth of what I here assert.

·

Though the Sunday-Schools have done, and are doing immense good in different parts of our country, yet I find that thousands upon thousands are still perishing for lack of knowledge. Though we have prevailed with many old people to attend these schools, and hundreds have learnt to read at an advanced age,-yet these are but few, compar... ed to the many thousands who continue ignorant and negligent. No minister who wishes to see the suc cess of his ministry, if he knew the satisfaction it would give himself, and the advantage it would be of in preparing his people for eternity, far beyond his mere preaching all his days, but would immediately set about to teach his people to read, and to catechize them, or think of Some belter method of instructing his charge. It is very difficult to teach people knowledge who cannot read, and to teach them to under

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June 1, 1808, the Rev. James Hyde was ordained to the pastoral office over the newly-raised church of Christ at Wivenhoe, near Colchester, Essex. Mr. Hordle, of Harwich, began the service with prayer, &c.; Mr. Stevenson, of Castle Hedingham, discoursed on the Nature of a Church of Christ, &c.; Mr. Ray, of Sudbury, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Cruthera, of Dedham, gave a solemn charge; and Mr. Taylor, of Colchester (who for some time exerted himself in establishing this infant cause) preached to the people.

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AUG. 23, 1808. Mr. John Lewis, late student at Wrexham, was ordained co-pastor with Mr. Thomas, at Bala, Merionethshire. lemnities of the day were thus conducted: - Mr. Jones, of Holywell, prayed; Mr. Lewis, of Llanuwchllyn, delivered an excellent discourse, which is expected to be shortly pubJished (in Welch); Mr. Roberts, of Llanbrynmair, proposed the usual questions, &c.; Mr. Thomas, of Bala, their venerable pastor, offered up the ordination prayer; Mr. Lewis, tutor of the academy, gave a very suitable charge, from Phil, ii. 22; and Mr. Jones, of Idwllheli, preach ed to the people. On the preceding evening, two sermons were preached, and four in the remaining parts of this day, by different ministers.

Sept. 23. A new chapel was opened at Harrold, a market - town in Bedfordshire; when Mr. Sutcliffe, of Olney, and Mr. Hillyard, of Bed

ford, preached in the forenoon; and Mr. Freeman, of Cotton End, in the evening, to a very numerous congregation. This chapel was erected with great economy, is neat and commodious, and well attended. It is opened upon the most catholic plan; and is supplied on a Lord's Day evening, and at other times, by ministers of different denominations.

Jan. 22, 1809. A meeting-house was opened in the Baptist connec tion, at a village on South-Sea Common, near Portsmouth; when two sermons were preached that in the afternoon, by Mr. Miall, of Portsea, from Mark xvi. 15; that in the evening, by Mr. Ivimey, of London, from Acts xiv. 7.

The East Kent Association held their last Half-yearly Meeting in the city of Canterbury, Oct. 5, 1808. Mr. Attwood preached in the morning, from 2 Cor. viii. 23; Mr. White in the evening, from Acts x. 42, Mr. G. Townsend the preceding, from Eph. ii. 8. The next Meeting is to be held at Feversham, April 26: Mr. Gurteen, Mr. Start, and the Ashford Minister is expected to preach.

The Annual Meeting of the Bedfordshire Union of Christians will be held at Bedford, on Wednesday, the 26th of April; when Mr. Winter, of London, and Mr. Hennell, of Woollaston, are expected to preach.

The Second Annual Meeting of the Devon Union, will be held at Mr. Allen's, Exeter, on Wednesday, the 3d of May: Mr. Edmonds, of Exeter, is expected to preach.

We are glad to hear that a Bible Society has been recently established at Wigan, Lancashire, under the patronage of the Bishop of Chester;

in which the Members of the Established Church and the Dissenters are cordially united, for the gratuitous distribution of Bibles and Testaments to poor families, and to the children of the Sunday-Schools, which are there very numerous.

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Stanzas suggested by the Motto on Lord Nelson's Funeral Car: Hoste devicto Requievit!

THE foe destroy'd, with triumph blest,
Victorious NELSON sunk to rest,

Amid the battle's roar !

And Fame to distant times shall tell,
How gallant NELSON Conqu❜ring fell,

To save his native shore !

But, Christian warrior, lift your eyes,
This morn behold your SAVIOUR rise

From the Grave's cold embrace;

Conqueror o'er Sin, o'er Hell, and Death,
He gave his latent mortal breath

To save a guilty race!

Stretch'd on the cross, with briars crown'd,

While scoffing sinners stood around,

And pierc'd his hallow'd side;

'Tis finish'd,' the Redeemer said, Meekly he bow'd his suffering head,

And for those sinners died!

HORATIO

TO THE SNOW - DROP.

ALL hail! lovely snow-drop, thou first in the train
Of beautiful flow'rs that embellish the spring!
Tho' humble thy station (the cause appears plain)
Thy delicate form is unfit to sustain

The shock which a tempest might bring.

Let mortals from thee learn their folly and pride,
Nor dare ever murmur at Heav'n's righteous will;
Tho' dominion and greatness to them be deny'd;
They have none of its troubles, and safest abide,
The humbler the station they fill.

Thy presence with pleasure unfeigned we view,
A pledge that stern Winter shall quickly retire!
While flow'rets, all fragrant and various in hue,
Around the gay path, bounteous Nature will strew,
Continual praise to inspire!

Delighted, we think that ere long at the dawn

Of health-breathing morn, soon as Phoebus shall rise,
Enraptur'd our footsteps shall traverse the lawn,
By a thousand new beauties continually drawn,
That increase shall yield to our joys!

In thee we behold a fresh proof of the care
Jehovah bestows on his creatures below;
The seasons revolving, his wisdom declare;
And while of his bouuty so richly we share,
Our souls shall with gratitude flow!

Birmingham.

Printed by G. AULD, Greville Street, London.

J. C.

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