opinion that it may be most advantageously done by providing means for educating the daughters of Missionaries in an Institution to be designated 'The Pratt Church Missionary Female School.'"

A large fund is of course necessary to carry out such a scheme, which it is intended to complete with some portion of the Jubilee Collection.

The next testimony produced shall be a

Minute adopted by the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

"The devoted friends of the Bible Society have happily been so numerous as to render it impracticable for the Committee, however deeply sensible of their services, to offer a several tribute of affection to the memory of each, as each has passed away from the earthly scene of his labours. Yet they cannot receive intelligence of the death of the late Rev. Josiah Pratt, without making some record of the obligations under which the Society was laid by him, in the earlier stages of its existence, both in the way of active service and valuable counsel. Of the latter, the beneficial effects have been felt during a period of forty years; and will continue to be felt, as long as the Society shall maintain its original constitution and principles.

"For a few weeks after the formation of the Society Mr. Pratt held the office of Secretary, in conjunction with the late Rev. Joseph Hughes. This appointment was accepted by him principally on the suggestion of the late Rev. John Owen, who strongly advised that with Mr. Hughes a Clergyman of the Established Church should be associated, and the Society be thus made to bear a truly Catholic impress. From this office, finding it to be incompatible with his engagements as Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, he soon retired, when Mr.

Owen himself was happily prevailed upon to become his

successor.

"To the judicious counsels of Mr. Pratt the Society owes the present Constitution of its Committee: a Constitution under which, while room is left for the admission of six Foreigners, of the remaining thirty Members fifteen are required to be Members of the Established Church, and fifteen Members of other Denominations of Christians. And the Committee think they may ask, when there has ever existed a more united or a more harmoniously-working Executive. It may be fearlessly said, that experience has proved the wisdom of the arrangement; and of that arrangement the Committee would say, Esto perpetua!

"If, in later years, Mr. Pratt took a less active part in the Society's affairs, the Committee knew that it was not from the want of continued interest in them. Affection—and warm affection too-was shewn to the Society, in the support and countenance which he afforded to it in various localities, and more particularly in connection with the City-of-London Auxiliary.

"The Society is not a little indebted to Mr. Pratt for the prominent share which he always allotted to it in the pages of the Missionary Register,'-a valuable Monthly Periodical, originated, and (till of late) entirely conducted by himself. Intelligence of the Society's proceedings was thus widely, and at the same time gratuitously, circulated through the kingdom, and even beyond its limits; while the selection of matter was judicious and happy.

"The Committee desire to offer to his widow and family an expression of their sincerest sympathy under the loss that they have sustained: but they would mingle with their regrets a lively thankfulness to God, that their late friend was privileged for so long a period to adorn the doctrine of his God and Saviour, by the example of a holy and peaceful life, founded upon the principles of the Gospel; and by his very eminent services to the cause of God, in his day and generation ;—that,

moreover, he has at length finished his course in peace, without protracted suffering, and 'come to his grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.' May his sorrowing friends-may the Committee-may the whole wide circle over which he exercised a salutary influence, follow him as he followed Christ!' Amen."

The following is an able sketch of Mr. Pratt's character from the pen of his relative, the Rev. William Jowett. It is extracted from an Address which he delivered at the National School-room, Islington, on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 1848, when Instructions were given to several Missionaries departing to their Stations. After descriptive notices of three of the Founders of the Church Missionary Society, Mr. Jowett proceeded thus:

"Of the fourth-mentioned, the Rev. Josiah Pratt, it may perhaps be difficult for me, as a brother-in-law, not to speak with some degree of partiality. But as he has not long been removed from among us, there are many able to confirm or to correct my testimony. He was a man all energy-grave, firm, undaunted energy; with a mind comprehensive, sagacious, sound, and practical; a mind always busy, going forth in its excursions throughout the land, and through the compass of the whole earth, ever devising good: yet, with no turn for novelties. Of the many weeds that so often spring up in the religious world, none took root in him. There were no partialities, no bye-paths, no corners in his mind: all was plain, open, and direct; tending to usefulness on the large scale. With these original qualities of the understanding was combined a power of labour truly astonishing. Work was his element there was no Vis inertia about him; and his exertions were all so arranged in method, and pressed on with per

severance, that it seemed natural for us to expect success in whatever he undertook. He knew well how to carry forward the theories of good and able men into practical results. Others might deliberate: he could deliberate and act too. The benefits which he conferred upon this Society, or rather, it should be said, through this Society upon the world at large, were immense. He was capable of moving or arresting the mind of large assemblies; and in our Committee he was well qualified to sway his fellow-labourers, from combining a just confidence in his own judgment with such a genuine modesty, as led him to respect the opinions and even the prejudices of other minds. And this was the more remarkable, as he was by nature vehement; but this temperament was softened down from his attaining, through grace, to an eminent degree of self-knowledge and self-command. When I entered on the office of Secretary, sixteen years ago, the only rule he gave me was, 'Never shew temper:' counsel which was fetched, I doubt not, from the depths of his own experience. Then in the qualities of his heart he was truly large, fervent, and affectionate, as all his friends could testify. He had a remarkably keen discernment, almost instinctive, of the infirmities of human nature; and a most tender compassion for its sinful weaknesses. 'I never knew a man' (Bishop Gobat once said to me) 'like him, able to ask of Missionary Candidates such plain questions without offending.' He was peculiarly reverential, and full of adoring thoughts toward his God; which gave an impressive character to all his duties, and to all his intercourse with the public and with Missionaries. He was a faithful experimental preacher, rich in doctrine, and close in practical application; eminently devout in prayer, both in the family and with his friends. Thus from his closet, his study, his pulpit, and the Committee-room, he helped with others to move the world: and, God prospering them, they did move it in good earnest. In his prayers he was ever wont to make mention of the three Persons of the blessed Trinity. He honoured the person and

work of the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit put honour upon him, by blessing his labours abundantly. Though not, like Mr. Venn, the prime mover in forming this Society, yet in rearing, advancing, and establishing it, he had the chief hand. Moreover, being the youngest, he was spared longer than the other three to promote this blessed work. After the formation of the Society Mr. Scott lived twenty-two years, Mr. Simeon thirty-six, and Mr. Venn but fourteen, while Mr. Pratt survived forty-five;-very near seven times seven years. It was he who laid down this fundamental principle for the Society—' It must be kept in evangelical hands :' and in unison with this, he often, in his venerable age, expressed his alarm lest a new generation should attempt to build the Church with men devoid of spirituality."

We cannot do better than sum up the whole with the following extract from the Bishop of Calcutta's Fourth or Farewell Charge to his Clergy, delivered at Calcutta, May 2, 1845, the day before his Lordship embarked for England:

·

"You will not wonder that I could not receive, without deep emotion, the tidings of the decease of the Rev. Josiah Pratt, though at the mature age of seventy-six, and without great bodily suffering, when I inform you that he was the affectionate tutor who guided my youth, and prepared me for the University in 1798, and had continued my bosom friend from that time to the moment of his death.†

*

An enlarged view of Mr. Pratt's character as a Preacher of the Word, will be found in the Appendix No. V., reprinted from the "Christian Observer" for August 1847.

† I owe indeed, under God, to him and two or three other eminent men, the entire guidance of my mind when I first entered seriously on

the