of its care; by enabling them to communicate with others, to give a spring and activity to their minds unknown before; to fit them to fill Situations, of the duties of which they would otherwise have been utterly incapable; and, above all, to furnish them with the knowledge requisite to prepare them for a bles. sed immortality. Its aim is, not only to confer an incalculable benefit on the individual, but to do good to society-to enable those to earn their own subsistence, who would have been burdensome to their friends for life-and to raise them from a state of useless or mischiev ous seclusion, to that of moral a gents, and of intelligent, useful and respectable members of society."

From this extract we may warrantably say, that we know of no benevolent plan among the many now in operation, that embraces in itself nearly so much of what relates to the best interest of its objects, as that proposed by this Institution. It seems to combine in its exertions the great leading objects of most other societies, whether they respect the present or the future condition of our fellow creatures.

At the time the Report was read, it appears that there were 43 Pupils receiving instruction, and the Committee had, at a subsequent meeting, agreed to receive other eight from different parts of Scotland, and one from Newfoundland; so that ere now there must be 52 Pupils enjoying the unspeakable benefits of the Institution. These we perceive all depend either in whole or in part for support and education on the funds of the Society. This must cause a very heavy annual expenditure, but we are happy to find that the Committee have hitherto been able to meet their demands, although they have not had it in their power to do all the good that they could have wished, having been obliged to deny admission to numerous applicants for want of the means of providing for them.

44 Of the state of the school the Report speaks in flattering terms. The Pupils continue to make the most satisfactory progress in the ordinary branches of education, and their attainments in religious knowledge seem to be such as would do credit to those who enjoy advanta ges of which they, in the all wise providence of God, are deprived.

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"But the progress of the pupils," say the Committee, as well as the merits of their Teacher, will be best judged of by visiting the School, and minutely examining the scholars; when their answers will show the success of the means employed for their instruction; while the intelligence and animation of their coun. tenances, and their general appear ance, will demonstrate the attention and kindness with which they are treated."

In the Appendix to this Report there are some very interesting specimens of Composition by several of the Pupils, who are in various stages of improvement. In these, the gradual opening of the mind is very manifest, and the knowledge which these interesting youths seem to have acquired of written language is to us truly astonishing, particularly when we consider the many obstacles they must have to

encounter.

stitution. Long ago, when I was but a very little girl, about 3 or 4 years old, and my father had many other children besides me, my mother grew very ill, and she died, and I and my poor helpless sisters and brothers lost their loving mother with great grief, and my father was very poor; and as soon as my loving mother was buried, I and my young est sister became ill of the measles, and we had no body to watch over us but our oldest sister, who was about 14 years old, and she became like a mother to us; and as soon as we grew better, our youngest bro. ther grew very ill of the scarlet fever, and I became the same, and I lost my hearing, and that made my poor father in great grief for me, and I remember that my poor father was sitting over my bed watching me, weeping and lamenting over me for my deafness. As soon as we be came better, my father told all this to the kind and benevolent ladies and gentlemen, and they sent me to this Institution with great kindness. I have now understanding, and I know now to thank you and my kind master and mistress. I have now been at this Institution five years and ten months, and I am going to leave it this month, and I thank and love the Lord God for his kindness to me in giving me such kind friends. You have now got a place for me in St James' Square, in Mrs Mitchell, where I am to learn dress making, and to live with her, and I will be very obedient to her; and I am thankful to you for this. I am sorry to part with beloved companions, and with my master and mistress; but I hope I will see them often again with gladness, and I hope the Lord God will bless me and them. I have no more to say. But I remain your much obliged servant,

ISABELLA BRemner.

The religious feeling displayed in the above letter, and indeed in most of the other specimens, affords us much gratification, and convinces

us, that the great truths of our holy religion form a conspicuous place in the system of education adopted by the Teacher. This circumstance gives this Institution an additional claim on all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, on all who feel their obligation to promote his glory, and to imitate his example, who, when he tabernacled on earth, went about doing good, and who was not for getful of the Deaf and Dumb, opening their ears, loosing the strings of their tongues, making them to speak plainly; so that his followers were beyond measure astonished, saying, "He hath done all things well! he maketh both the Deaf to hear, and the Dumb to speak."

Irish School Society.

THURSDAY the third Anniversary of the Society for Educating the poor in Ireland was held in the As sembly Rooms, George Street, Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, Bart. in the chair. The Rev. Mr Grey, Secretary, read to a numerous meeting a very able Report of the state of education in Ireland, and the differ, ent Societies which exist in that country. It appears that nearly 100,000 are now receiving Educa tion from the Sabbath School and the Hibernian and Baptist Societies. The population of Ireland is con sidered to be six millions, and of these four millions are Catholics. Two millions speak Irish. There has been no Irish translation of the Scriptures printed during the space of 120 years, which shows the necessity of the Bible Society supplying the wants of her own much oppress ed and long neglected sister. Her cause was very ably, and at considerable length, advocated by the Rev. Dr Jamieson, Rev. Mr Grey, Rev. Mr. Fisher, Mr Donaldson and Mr M Briar. The chairman, in returning thanks, observed, with great truth, that volumes of philanthropy might be written on these very words, "The Poor of Ireland."

FOREIGN.

Letter from Dr Henderson, to a Friend in Edinburgh, dated Copenhagen, Feb. 19, 1819. My dear Friend,

THAT I have not sooner repli. ed to your favour of the 2d ult. is solely to be ascribed to a journey which I have performed in the southeastern parts of Sweden, with a view to extend to these provinces the same Biblical privileges which have been liberally dispensed to the rest of that country. It had hitherto been impossible, either for Mr P. or myself, to visit these parts, as they lie so much out of the common route; and when travelling through Sweden, we have always had some important ulterior object to accelerate our progress, which prevented us from striking off in that direction. My principal object was to attempt the formation of a Bible So. ciety in Carlscrona. This town is the Portsmouth of Sweden; the depot of nearly twenty ships of the line and besides the rest of the population, contains nearly 8000 souls belonging to the admiralty. After spending several days in the place, and conversing with several of the leading men in the different departments of Government, and others, on the subject, I had the pleasure to see the foundation laid of "The Swedish Naval Bible Society." This auspicious event took place on the 2d instant, in the Town Hall, under the presidency of the Civil Governor, who was supported and assisted by the commanding Admiral. the commandant, and a number of mi. litary, naval, and civil officers. As the marines are very poor, and most of them have families, but few are alle to purchase the Scriptures even when sold at the most moderate price. The contributions which are exproted to he raised by the Society itself will not be considerable; and indeed no steps would have been taken towards the formation of such

an Institution, had I not encouraged it by a conditional promise of L.200 from the British and Foreign Bible Society. This grant, if confirmed by our friends in London, will of

course be remitted to the Treasurer of the Swedish National Bible Society in Stockholm, and copies of the Swedish Scriptures to that amount will be forwarded to the Society in Carlscrona. In Calmar, which lies a day's journey to the N. E. of the former town, I most providentially arrived the evening before the First General Meeting of the Diocesan Bible Society. It has only been about four months in existence, and yet its funds amount in donations and subscriptions to upwards of 1200 Banco Dollars. On the island of Oeland, which lies exactly opposite to the town of Cal mar, the peasants have discovered a most laudable zeal, not only in pro. curing copies of the Scriptures for themselves and their families, but also in contributing to the general purposes of the Society. Two speeches were delivered at the Ge neral Meeting, one of which was by the Bishop. In both, the doctrines of the atonement, and the necessity of the Divine influences, were most strenuously insisted on.

LONDON MISSIONARY

SOCIETY.

OUR readers will recollect a very interesting Letter from Mr Knill, which was inserted in our February Number, p. 74. He has now joined Mr Mead in Travancore.-The following letter, which will be read with equal interest, is addressed by Mr K, to his former tutor and friends at Axminster, dated Cape Comorin, Oct. 27. 1818.

On the 26th August 1816, I landed at Madras; and, after spending two of the most eventful years of my life in it, I was compelled to depart. It was a weeping day. Nature struggled at the separation, but the Lord strengthened us. Several of the missionaries were there.

kneeled down, and prayed with them all, and then we parted, expecting to see each other's faces no more. O blessed Saviour, grant that we may meet in heaven!

Aug. 20. 1818, I began my jour ney, and Sept. 29. I arrived here, after travelling full 500 miles in a palanquin; and though I was weak, and many times exposed to a burning sun, and cold wet nights, yet goodness and mercy followed me all my journey through..

O bless the Lord, my soul,' and you, my dear friends, praise him too, for his unspeakable goodness to assist a poor feeble creature.

At Porto Novo I experienced great kindness from W. Stevenson, Esq. I was a stranger, and he took me in' for eight days, as the waters had overspread the surrounding country, and rendered travelling danger ous. I visited Tranquebar, the ancient seat of the royal Danish mission. Here are two churches: the one in the fort, called Jerusalem, the other in the suburbs, called Bethlehem. Many flourishing schools, a large library, and about 2,000 persons attached to the mission; but alas! I fear there is very little ge nuine religion; and notwithstanding all that has been done, and all that is doing, there never will be any genuine religion, except produced by Him who said, Behold I create all things new.' To Him may our eyes be ever directed for the influence of his Spirit.

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• From Tranquebar I proceeded to Negapatam-once a flourishing town, but now completely fallen into poverty and death. No commerce, no riches, little religion, no minister of the gospel; and we do not look for much religion where the gospel is not. Here is a vast and impor. tant pile, with a noble church, and a fine organ; and who is there among the saints of the Lord who will go forth and cultivate this most inter esting spot? Will no one? At this place I found a scholar of the late Dr John, who acts as clerk, keeps à school, &c. &c. I hope he is a real

Christian. To him I committed a number of books, with which he will form a circulating library for the be nefit of the few people who are there. On leaving such a place as this, my mind naturally went back to happy England; and O, my countrymen, how great, how exalted are your pri vileges! May you improve the day of your mercies, and Christ and his cause be increasingly precious to you.

Next I came to Tanjore. Sa-" cred spot! Here lived and died the illustrious Swartz; and here still lives the excellent Kohloff, whose whole deportment reminded me of the innocence and sweetness of Paradise. This is a huge mission; and> the good man would sink under its numerous cares, were it not for the assistance which he receives from the native priests. Strange that no devoted servant of Christ can be found in Europe, to join the Bartlett's-t buildings' Society, in order to assist this glorious work.

From Tanjore I passed on to Trichinopoly, where the venerable Poble lately died. I preached in the mission church to about thirty persons, and left books also with the clerk to form a little circulating library.

I next came to Palamcottah, where I found the excellent Col. Trotter ready to afford me a hearty welcome. From thence I proceeded to this place, where I found my dear brother Mead, and his little motherless babe, in perfect health, and in the enjoyment of many mer cies. The place is beautiful for situation, cool and healthy, and the prospects of future usefulness are beyond any. thing I have seen or heard of.

I bless God, that every day since my arrival, my health has wonderfully improved, so that now I can attend to my work with ease and pleasure; and I trust many years of active and important service are yet in reserve for me. I shall not think of returning to Madras again, to take up my residence, as it would look like tempting Providence after I had

been repeatedly ordered away by the doctors. This place appears suited to my constitution, and I encourage the hope that the Lord will suit me to the place and the people. "We have no less than ten congregations, old and new, belonging to the mission, with a church and school attached to several of them, and preparations going forward to establish a catechist and schoolmas ter in many of the surrounding vil lages. Since Mr Mead's arrival here, there has been a great stir among the people, and hundreds have re nounced idolatry, and put themselves under his care and instruction. Their penates are thrown out of doors. They attend Christian worship on the Lord's day, and, what is very remarkable, they all voluntarily give a note of-hand declarative of their renunciation of idolatry, and their determination to serve the true God. Query, Does not this illus. trate that charming promise contain ed in Isa. xliv. 5.?

Col. Munro, the British resident at Travancore, is a warm friend of missionary exertions. He is, in deed, an invaluable friend. Through his influence, five thousand rupees, value about 2s. 6d. each, have been given to Mr Mead for enlarging and carrying on our works of love among this people. The Queen has presented a good house, which is a great comfort in this country. No Europeans live in this neighbourhood. We seldom see a white face; only one European has passed since I have been here. All our intercourse is with a people of a strange country and a strange language; but the hope of bringing them acquainted with the adorable Redeemer, turns the wilderness into a pleasant garden, makes the rough places smooth, and every privation becomes as sweet as the honeycomb.

We have just formed a plan, for going about preaching the gospel : we go to one village where there is a congregation, &c. and stop a week, and do all that we possibly can for

the instruction, comfort, and increase of the church: then proceed to the next village, and stop a week there; and so proceed till we have visited them all in order. Pray for us, dear friends, that all our work may begin and end with the glory of our Master, and the happiness of men.

You are not to imagine that out of these ten congregations, amounting to 2,000 people, there are many real Christians. The best idea I can give you is this:-depict to your imagination a large parish, on the forest of Dartmoor, who are called Christians, but had never heard the gospel. A faithful minister goes to reside among them: he finds a very few who appear to be hopeful cha racters-many who have a little knowledge of the Bible-some who can talk pretty fluently about religion-hundreds who can read, but yet the greater part are involved in great darkness. He begins his work by increasing schools-opens places, for prayer, reading the Scriptures, &c.; preaches every day, and is continually going about attempting to do some good among his people. Just such is the state of the people where we dwell, and just such are our labours among them. May Jesus, our blessed Master, help us, that soon we may see we have not laboured in vain.

'We have just set on foot The South Travancore Seminary,' which we intend to consist of thirty boys, selected from the most intelligent of our congregations, to be brought up in our house, and in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. A good English and Tamul education to be given them, and especially a good knowledge of the glorious gospel of the blessed God. May it prove as one of the schools of the prophets. Then will they go forth as scribes, well-instructed, and be the messengers of peace to their own people. In order to secure the dear little fellows a place in the hearts of the Lord's people, we shall call