nexion with noblemen, ladies, and gentlemen; 16 in connexion with Roman-Catholic priests; 14 under the superintendence of Dissenting ministers; and 121 have no regular patrons or visitors. Each of these schools is a centre from which scriptural light is diffused through a widely extended district. The importance of Sunday schools is justly considered very great. Large numbers of the Irish spend their Sabbaths at feasts or fairs; in fighting, wrestling, drinking, and other evil practices. By collecting the rising generation into Sunday schools, they are not only restrained from such deteriorating practices, but are taught to read the Word of God, and habituated, from early years, to keep holy his day. The adult schools are, where practicable, connected with the day schools of the Society; and the peasantry are prevailed upon to attend after the hours of work in the evenings, and on Sundays and holidays.

By the inspectors, a vigilant superintendance is maintained over all the Society's schools; and the communication of scriptural instruction to the children is intimately connected with dispersing and reading the sacred volume amongst the adult population. The Society's two objects, the establishment of schools and the circulation of the Scriptures, are thus simultaneously promoted. Many of the village and Sunday readers have been scholars trained up in their schools. From the most intelligent and active of these readers, the cursory inspectors and travelling readers are appointed; and these, in their turn, are advanced to the office of occasional and general inspectors.

The circulation of the Holy Scriptures in the English and Irish langnages, by means of the readers, inspectors, &c. had proceeded this year with activity, but no specific return had been received.

Instructions have been given in several of the Society's schools, in the Irish language, and various copies of the sacred Scriptures, in that language and character, have been dispersed.

The parliamentary commissioners on education in Ireland, having recommended that the Kildare-Street Society should not assist any school which was in any way connected with other institutions, a letter was addressed by the KildareStreet Committee to all the schools in connexion with the two Societies, requiring that each patron should make his election to which Society the school under his patronage should exclusively belong. It appears that 344 schools received as

sistance, in various degrees, from the London-Hibernian and the Kildare-Place Societies. Of these 117 were connected with the Munster Education Society, and were only indebted to the Hibernian Society for books and inspection. The committee at Cork, by whom the Munster Education Society is conducted, in consequence of a communication from the Kildare-Place Society to their several schools, requiring them to decide with which institution they would be exclusively connected, applied to the London-Hibernian Society, inquiring whether it would undertake to supply the deficiency occasioned by an entire separation from the KildarePlace Society. The committee expressed their readiness to comply with the application, confidently expecting that the public liberality would enable them to advance the additional eight or nine hundred pounds per annum, which such an exclusive connexion would require. They had scarcely concluded this arrangement, when the committee discovered that they did not possess adequate funds to meet the existing demands: they were, therefore, compelled to intimate the difficulties of their situation to the Munster Auxiliary, who, in consequence, engaged in a negociation with the Kildare-Place Society, stipulating for the preservation of the Hibernian Society's plan of inspection, and, at the same time, requesting the committee to allow them to retain two inspectors, with whose character and conduct the Cork committee were well acquainted. The committee observe, that by this regulation, the peculiar features of the London-Hibernian Society's system will still be preserved, and the benefit of Scriptural instruction retained in the county of Cork, though the above 117 schools have now no longer any connexion with their institution. Of the above 344 schools only 146 continue in union with the Hibernian Society, the others having availed themselves of the more liberal offers of the Kildare-Place Society; but the Hibernian-Society's committee are convinced, that very few schools would have withdrawn from their connexion, had their funds enabled them to afford the requisite assistance. The Society's expenditure for the year has been 87771., exceeding the receipts by the sum of 20481. The committee therefore make a most earnest appeal to the public for a large increase of funds, without which not only must they be precluded from forming new schools, but even a large part of those already in operation must be relinquished.

FOREIGN.

FRANCE. There is not much public intelligence from France, to require relation; but the country appears to be advancing in its internal comforts and resources: the finances especially are flourishing; and the government have at length felt the necessity of consulting the commercial interests of its subjects, by sacrificing a portion of its rigid doctrines, relative to the non-intercourse of legitimate governments with the new States of America. Mr. Canning, who has been on a visit, or a mission, to Paris, has been received with the most marked and flattering attentions at court. Ecclesiastical feuds are still prevalent; nor, we fear, do they seem likely soon to terminate. The arm of the civil power seems to be viewed in some quarters, as the only effectual instrument for enforcing religious sanctions; and, in particular instances, it has exerted its authority in a manner little calculated to conciliate the public concurrence or sympathy; so that, in the end, the recoil is far more injurious to the cause of Christianity, than the intended protection can be beneficial. An illustration of this remark occurs in a prosecution which has just closed of a person of the name of Touquet, for publishing what he calls "L'Evangile; Partie morale et historique;" in which he omits all that is miraculous, but without adding any thing of his own, either to disparage the portion omitted, or to pervert that which he has printed. The book consists simply, if we understand the matter aright, of scriptural extracts; garbled certainly, and, it may be, with a latent view of invalidating the Divine authority of the record; but still containing text, and nothing but text, though not the whole text. It does not profess to be an improved version: it is not accompanied by Deistical, or even Socinian, or other erroneous critiques or annotations; and it is given to the public, only as “a part" of the New Testament; the author even professing, however truly, that he was about to print a second part containing the series of passages which were omitted in the first, as not being either ethical or historical. He may add, that he has only done, on a larger scale, what scores of the most pious authors have done before him in their scriptural selections for the use of schools or popular reading; he may affirm, that he both believed the history and admired, the morality of the CHRIST. OBSERV. No.298.

New Testament, and wished to exhibit them in a detached form for the public veneration; he may allege, that if he had given the miracles only, or first, the argument might have been equally turned against him, as if he intended to deny the historical veracity and moral excellence of the Scriptures: in short, whatever may have been his secret object, let it have been as insidious as it might, (for we are by no means defending it, or apologising for his mutilation of the sacred text,) he might at least urge that he had committed no tangible offence, nothing that the civil power could justly take into its judicial cognizance. Yet, in spite of these and similar considerations, a sentence of fine and imprisonment is pronounced against the author by the correctional police, accompanied by a commentary on the character of his offence, which deserves to be transcribed at length as a most singular exposition of the present state of French law in matters affecting religion. Can the public authorities really expect that Christianity will ever be venerated by the people by means of such fatuity of argument as is contained in the following judicial decision?

"The pamphlet, having for its title Evangile, Partie morale et historique, being only a mutilation of the Gospels, the author having suppressed every thing relative to the miracles, and in thus mutilating the Divine book-the basis of the religion of the state--suppressing in the work all the miracles which signalised the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the author has had for his object to deceive uninstructed persons for whom his book is intended, by shewing them Jesus Christ as a man, and not as a God. This is the greatest outrage which can be done to the morality of religion, and to the religion of the state; for it is evidently done with a view of denying the Divinity of the Author of this religion, and, consequently, the religion itself; attacking the morality of the religion by shewing its author as a mere philosopher. It not being for a negative fact, against which the penal laws are impotent, that the present work is prosecuted, but for a positive fact, for the author has presented as a complete Testament a book which is not so; and that, moreover, the author has thought proper, besides suppressing the miraculous facts, to distort several of the facts which he has mentioned, such 4 M

as the birth of Jesus Christ, whom he describes, suppressing the mystery of the incarnation, as born of Joseph and Mary. As far as concerns Touquet, for these reasons, he having declared himself the editor of the accused work, pretending in vain that he had the intention of pub lishing a second part, to complete the Gospels, in which he was to recount all the miracles, which is only an allegation, but which, if it were proved, would not the less make Touquet guilty of outraging religious morality, and the religion of the state, by the publication of the first part of this work; consequently, he has rendered himself guilty of outraging the religion of the state, as provided for by the articles one and eight of the law of May 17, 1819, and that of March 25, 1822; he is sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, and to pay a fine of 100 franks. The seizure of the work is declared lawful, and the copies seized shall be destroyed."

NETHERLANDS. The king has opened the session of the States General with a speech, chiefly of domestic interest; in which he states, that he continues to receive from his allies the strongest assurances of amicable dispositions; that he has entered into commercial conventions, from which he anticipates an extension of traffic with all parts of the world; that negociations have been opened at Rome, to settle the affairs of the Roman-Catholic Church; that an epidemic prevails in some of the provinces of the kingdom; but that the internal improvements, the colonial affairs, and the financial state of the country, are in a flourishing condition. Public instruction, it is added, is every day becoming more adequate to the wants of society. The indigent can every where enjoy it gratuitously. In some towns a beginning has been made with success, to give to the working classes scientific instructions, with a view to increase their technical knowledge.

A commission of national legislation has finished the compilation of the civil code, and is engaged in drawing up the penal code.

His majesty concludes by imploring for his country the blessing of God; upon which, he adds, he founds all his hopes.

RUSSIA. The Russian government has issued a declaration of war against Persia, in an elaborate manifesto; in which it declares its utter inability to divine the cause of the invasion by the Persians on the frontier of the Russian empire. It determines, however, to pursue the war with the greatest vigour, with the hope probably of adding a portion of Persia to its already unwieldy dominions.

DOMESTIC.

The approaching meeting of Parliament will doubtless lead to the consideration of several important subjects of great public interest; but at present there is little intelligence of moment that requires notice. We lament to find, that the revenue for the year has considerably fallen off, though it was what, from the calamities of the country, could not but be anticipated. The deficiency, as compared with the preceding year, is 3,256,1107.; but it must be remembered in extenuation, that several imposts had been diminished, and also that the preceding year was one of far more than average enterprise, and commercial activity.Several public meetings have been held in different parts of the country, on the subject of the corn laws. Of the three parties into which, as respects this question, the country may be divided, the landowners, with considerable exceptions, are, as might be expected, in favour of the present monopoly ; the practical agriculturalists are beginning to be divided on the subject, their interest being clearly distinct from that of the landlord, and not at all benefited in the long run by the restrictions on importation; and the remainder of the public at large, who are decidedly opposed to this most injurious and unreasonable monopoly. We trust that our readers will not fail to offer their fervent prayers to the Author of all mercies for "the high court of Parliament," and especially for the newly elected branch of it, that "he would be pleased to direct their consultations to the advancement of his glory, the good of his church, and the welfare of our sovereign and his dominions;" that " peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations."

Rev. H. Cripps, Stonehouse V. Glouc. Rev. C. Day, Rushmere V. Suffolk. Rev. Dr. Forster, Quarrington R. Line. Rev. C. Coxwell, Dowdeswell R. Glouc Rev. C. H. Grove, Berwick St. Leonard R. with the Chapel of Sedgehill, Wilts.

For the Christian Observer. REV. JOHN RICHARDS, A. M. To many of the readers of the Christian Observer, the name and excellencies of the late Rev. John Richards, of Bath, must doubtless be well known; and to such, an obituary notice cannot fail to prove acceptable. To those who knew him not, the following extracts from two letters written to Mrs. Richards since his decease, the one by the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, the other by Mr. Wilberforce -names second none, in all that adorns and elevates the Christian character, will prove a sufficient introduction. The Bishop remarks, "You know too well the deep interest I take in all that concerned my excellent friend, and all connected with him, to doubt of my desire to aid (if I have it in my power) in the exhibition to the world, for their spiritual benefit, of so very amiable and valuable a character." After

to

mentioning his conscientiousness and disinterestedness, as shewn in his earnest wish to resign a small living which he held, but could not reside upon, and his zeal and liberality in some works of piety and charity connected with it, Bishop Ryder adds: "The recollection of the many happy hours we passed together, in planning and carrying forward these undertakings, is one of the many gratifying (though at the same time painful) subjects of retrospect upon which I have to dwell. As a most agreeable and faithful friend, and as a most able and delightful associate and counsellor in ministerial labours and trials, he will ever hold a high place indeed in my memory."

Mr. Wilberforce remarks: "It is a trite observation, that we seldom estimate our blessings so highly as after we have been deprived of them; and I am almost inclined to conceive myself a verification of the remark, from my own feelings, whenever I reflect on the chasm that the death of your excellent husband has produced in the Bath circle of my friends: yet I can truly declare, that Mr. Richards, when living, occupied as high a place as any man in my esteem; and if I conceive that my value and regard for him might have been greater, if I had enjoyed more and longer opportunities of cultivating his friendship, it can only be because such qualities were found in him as must necessarily produce such an augmentation, in proportion to their being more completely developed, and

more intimately known.-It is by no means my intention to attempt a delineation of Mr. Richards's character, but merely to specify a few of the chief particulars that contributed to render him so highly respected and beloved while living, and so deeply regretted in his death. Taken altogether, there scarcely ever, perhaps, was a man who more clearly illustrated the compendious phrase with which Lord Clarendon closes the description of one of his highly wrought characters-he was an honest Englishman. Thoughout the whole, both of his character and compositions, in his professional services and in his social and domestic manners, the leading characteristic was simplicity. There was not to be detected in him the slightest touch of affectation or vanity: hence, as well as from the clearness of his conceptions, and the wholesome soundness, if I may use the phrase, of his understanding, his public discourses were uncommonly perspicuous. It was probably owing to this natural and dignified simplicity, animated by a solemn and affectionate vehemence, that while his discourses were peculiarly intelligible and grateful to the poorer orders of his hearers, they were also highly acceptable to men of high rank, of cultivated understandings, and great mental refinement. It was not however solely, or even chiefly, to his good sense and classical taste, though Mr. Richards possessed both of these, that the simplicity of his compositions was to be ascribed. It proceeded still more from his deep sense of the supreme importance of the message he had to deliver, and from his earnest wish to be completely understood by the lowest and most uninstructed of his hearers. These, indeed, were to him, as to his Divine Master, the prime objects of attention. That very inferiority of condition which might have caused them to fall below the regards of some men, was of itself a strong recommendation to his notice. He loved to call around him the poor of the flock; he sought out the obscure and the forgotten; he invited the afflicted and heavy laden; he delighted in raising up those who were sinking under a load of guilt and shame, in holding out to them the offers of pardoning mercy and sanctifying grace, and in at length cheering their hearts with the supports and consolations of the Gospel. Hence, as well as from his uncommon liberality, it arose, that,