ness, be turned adrift upon the world, without any provision, or even concern for their future welfare. Mr. M. deprecated harshness and severity toward this useful class of society; and appealed to masters and mistresses themselves, if kind and humane treatment were not the most effectual way to secure the fidelity and obedience of their domestics. The Rev. Gentleman recommended the constant reading of the scriptures in families, as they set before servants their privileges and duties, which he illustrated by the case of Abraham, of whom the Lord said, I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment."-If you would (said Mr. M.) have servants trustworthy, teach them "the way of the Lord." The love and fear of God will make them good servants, and then they will instil good sentiments into the minds of your children, whom bad servants are very likely to corrupt. Here the Rev. Mr. M. related a most affecting anecdote of a female servant of real piety. Her master and mistress were one day complaining that trade was so bad, that if their shop did not soon answer better they must close it. Mary was much concerned, and at night was overheard by her mistress in prayer, as follows: "O thou that directest the foot of the buyer to the shop of the seller, direct customers to my master's house." The prayer was heard: business returned, and her master even grew rich, and Mary was remembered in his will.

accepted and sent out, 22 were Englishmen. Out of 57, who had offered themselves within the year, 18 were accepted, 27 declined, and the rest were under consideration. The Report then reviewed, seriatim, the condition of the several Missions. The first in order was that to the North West Americans, an object which seemed of great importance to the Committee, and which had been strongly recom mended by an able navigator, Captain Franklyn, as the best means of fixing and civilizing the numerous tribes which rove in the immense plains to the West of the United States. The next in consideration was the Mission to the South Sea Islands, and the Committee had to acknowledge, with pain and deep regret, the disappointment which the society had encountered there, They especially pointed attention to the conduct of the chief (Shungee) who had come over from New Zealand was hospitably entertained and instructed by the society, and furnished with ironmongery and other articles of convenience; all of which he exchanged on the way home for arms and ammunition to carry on his wars. The mission to New South Wales was more happy, and occupied seventeen Missionaries. That to West Africa was now in a thriving state, though the difficulties were at one time so great as to induce the society to fear that it must be given up. A letter was read from Mr. Johnston, which conveyed the most encouraging tidings of it. Captain Sabine visited the colony on his way home- remained there six weeks, and affirmed, that for the size of it, there was not so well ordered a community on the face of the earth, as that of Sierra Leone. It is re

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE twenty-third Anniversary of this society was held May 5, at Freemasons' Hall. After an excellent in-markable, that the settlement was troductory speech by the chairman, Admiral Lord Gambier, the Rev. Secretary proceeded to read the Report, of which we shall sketch only a mere outline of the conteuts. It stated the income of the year at about £35,000, being a little more than £1,000 beyond last year. The first thirteen years had averaged an income of £1,700, their total value being £22,000. The last ten years averaged £24,000 a year! There were promising fields of labour opening in different countries, and not half enough husbandmen for the work. Some thousands of zealous clergymen might be advantageously employed. The Committee had not been able to appoint all who offered themselves, some wanting the necessary qualifications. Of 90 Europeans who had been

founded simply on the precepts contained in the word of God, and was governed almost without the aid of human laws. Superstition had taken its flight, and fraud and vice were almost unknown. An affecting instance was given by Mr. Johnston of their primitive and simple manners. Two young men approached the Communion table, and said, that they were afraid to receive the Sacrament, as they had quarrelled, until they had made it up again. This was soon effected, as each accused himself of having done the wrong. A letter was read from Mr. Jowett, who had obtained leave of the local Government to establish a printing press in Malta. The Report went on to the Asiatic Missions, and the state of the Syriaq

The Rev. J. Arundel, after remarking that the whole scriptures have been translated into Chinese, and the greater part printed, and circulated among the natives, said, that there is now a most pressing application for missionaries to South America; and that in one city the monasteries have been put down, and the monks and nuns liberated.

Church, which were afterwards touch- the gospel of the kingdom into all ed on by Major Mackworth. One of lands; and when your Saviour shall the most affecting parts of the Report come again to judge the world, then, 'was the letter of Miss Cook. It will and not before, shall you know all the be recollected that this lady, with good you have been the instruments of great shrewdness, observing how much effecting; then shall you receive the the conversion of the Hindoos was large reward, the plaudit of your Lord, hindered by the want of female edu-"Well done, good and faithful sercation among them, generously re- vant." solved on taking this task in hand herself. Neither the distance or fatigue of the voyage, neither the burning sky, nor the parching winds, nor the scruples of mere worldly prudence, nor the strong barrier of Brahminical superstition could repulse her. She seems actually to have conquered, or at least to have broken in upon their prejudices, which were consider. ed so consecrated and secure by their age, that many English books have been written by philosophers, to prove that the attempt never could succeed. After other able speeches by the Bishop of Gloucester, Lord Calthorpe, Major Mackworth, Earl Gosford, Mr. Wilberforce, the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Powys, the Earl of Rocksavage, the Rev. Basil Woodd, &c. the Meeting broke up, and a considerable collection was made at the doors.

WESLEYAN MISSIONS. AFTER the usual preparatory sermons, which were preached by Dr. Clarke, Rev. W. Jay, and Mr. R. Wood; and after the Annual Meeting of the London District Auxiliary; the Annual Meeting of the Wesleyan Missionary Society was held, May 5, at the City-road Chapel, Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M.P. in the chair.

The Report mentioned the introduction of the scriptures into Spain from Gibraltar, where a good work appears to be going on, as well as in Malta. The prospects in Ceylon also are very encouraging. The readiness of the pegroes in the West-India islands to receive the gospel calls for more assistance. The total receipts are £31,748 the balance due to the Treasurers £2702.

After some other able speakers, W. Wilberforce, Esq. M. P. notwithstanding his age and infirmities, entered into the subject with all his energies. He was glad to see so many assembled in such a cause, a cause in which all christians ought to co-operate. No petty objections should stand in the way of such a work. He himself participated in the triumph of missionaries. Go on, ye missionaries, and fulfil the high command-go, carry

Dr. Clarke stated, that they have lately sent two young men as missionaries to the Shetland Isles, who preach from house to house, without bonnet on their head, or shoes on their feet, and that the inhabitants collect from all parts to hear them.

The total receipts at this Anniversary were £1158.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

BIBLE SOCIETY. FREEMASONS'-HALL, May 7, Lord Teignmouth in the chair. Last year's receipts were £97,052, of which £5000 was a legacy, and £8600 proceeded from Auxiliary Societies. The number of copies of the scriptures circulated, exceeds that of any former year. Since its commencement it amounts to more than three millions. The agents and supporters increase. A friendly and christian feeling is excited in remote regions, and people now read who never read before. India, China, Tartary, Russia, Greece, South America, and Ireland, were particularly dwelt upon. In the latter country Bibles are eagerly demanded. It was universally agreed, that want of education and of religious knowledge, is the grand source of the miseries of that unhappy country. In the north of Ireland, where discontent and disloyalty scarcely exist, the proportion of the population under education is as one to twelve; in the south, the region of murder, and of midnight insurrection, it is as one to 965. It was also agreed, that the Irish must be taught in their own language. More than two millions understand Irish only; and yet Irish Bibles are very rarely to be met with.

In Russia, the bishops, without ons

exception, support the Bible Society. | of Wigton a demand of rate had been

also by the civil tribunal. If this doctrine were established, it would completely nullify the Act of Toleration.

minister who was preaching there, the friends of the rector had had recourse to their dernier resort. They went to the publican at whose house the preach-It was, however, fortunately not in er was remaining, and threatened him that if he did not "reject the methodist," they would refuse to sign for his license at the next sessions. Another person, at whose house the preacher was allowed to speak, was promised a pound note, if he would turn him out of his house. The preaching was accordingly discontinued there, but the man never received his one pound note. In some cases, it seemed by Mr. Dagley of Chapel-end that clauses were introduced, by which Dissenters were excluded from becoming members of benefit societies. He was sure it was only necessary to mention this circumstance, to have the odious restriction removed.

the power of this Chairman to establish his doctrine. He addressed a Jury ; he told them that in the absence of a legal proof of the registration of the chapel, it was impossible that the defendant could be convicted. The Jury exercised their own judgment as to the, guilt or innocence of the defendant, and they found him guilty. Three times the Chairman sent them back, each time addressing them in the language of reproof. Three times the Jury returned firmly into Court, and repeated their verdict. At last a friendly magistrate interposed. He said, he had no doubt the Chairman would agree to the verdict, if the Dissenters would not insist upon punishment. The prosecutor yielded to the suggestion, which doubtless was kind

He would now allude to the riots and disturbances by which dissenting places of worship had been annoyed. Hely meant, and no penalty was inflicted, would first call their attention to the case of Mr. Elias Jackson of Ickford in Oxfordshire, whose life had been put in danger; but in consequence of a prosecution against the offender, which had been settled, he now worshipped in peace. At Corfe Mullen, near Poole, a disturbance had taken place in the meeting house of Mr. Shoveller: and in this case it was his (Mr. W.'s) duty to say, that Mr. Bankes, the member for Corfe Castle, had not acted as he ought. Though the disturbance took place while the congregation were assembled in the place of meeting, yet, because the preacher had not actually commenced preaching, Mr. Bankes, before whom the case was heard, dismissed the complaint, and refused the redress which the law provided. At Bradford, near Bury, and at Canterbury, some circumstances had occurred extremely important. A disturbance was made in the chapel of the Rev. Mr. Sloper of Beccles. A prosecution was commenced and tried at the quarter sessions. There was no doubt either as to the offender or the offence, but the Chairman took a legal objection by which the prosecution was defeated. Though the place of meeting was duly certified in the ecclesiastical courts, yet it was held by the Chairman that it was also necessary that a copy of the certificate should have been transmitted to the clerk of the peace at the county sessions. According to the opinions of this Chairman, the law implied that the place of meeting should be certified not only by the ecclesiastical but

though the verdict was recorded against
the defendant. In the great, ancient,
and populous city of Canterbury there
had been some transactions which even
in these marvellous times partook of
unusual marvel. A place had thera
been registered by a new sect, deno-
minating themselves" Arminian Bible
Christians." He (Mr. W.) cared not
what were the peculiar tenets of this
sect. They were disturbed while as-
sembled for purposes of divine wor-
ship, and the females grossly insulted.
They were determined to appeal to the
protection of the law. They applied
to a magistrate, who told them they
must attend before a bench of justices;
they attended accordingly, when the
first thing done was to call for the pro-
duction of their license. It appeared
that these justices had seen, in some
Suffolk paper, the decision of the Bury
sessions, and on the authority of that
decision, they required proof that the
license had been recorded at the ses-
sions, as well as registered in the ec-
clesiastical tribunal. On failure of
this proof, one of these justices told
the complainants, "You have no right
to redress. You were illegally assem-
bled; and if you assemble again I will
interfere myself, and commit you to
prison." What were the consequences
of this determination?
600 persons inoffensively, if not lauda-
bly assembled, were to be exposed to
the outrages of a disorderly multitude.
If the doctrine of the Bury sessions
were correct, there was not a place in
England duly licensed. They were
required by law to register their places

That 500 or

This

all the windows of the meeting-house,
and would besides do some act that
should astonish and surprise them.
He did not mind going to prison, so as
he had his revenge on the Methodists.
At the next meeting the wife attended,
and her feelings being excited by the
enthusiasm of the preacher, she was
led to exclaim, "Praised be the Lord!"
The husband seized upon her, and be-
gan to drag her out; the woman faint-
ed, and the whole assembly was thrown
into a state of alarm and agitation.
The man meanwhile persevered in his
brutal attempt to drag his wife away,
Her neckerchief was loosened in the
struggle, and she was almost strangled
in the face of the congregation.
man was brought before the quarter-
sessions, and there also the question
occurred, what was the proof of regis-
tration? On this occasion the certifi
cate had been left with the Bishop of
Bangor, and it happened that no book
was kept in the diocese. Though the
original certificate was produced, it was
held by the chairman that a book must
be produced, and in the absence of a
book, the place, in his judgment, was
illegal, and the indictment could not
be sustained. The chairman added,
that it was "an unlawful act against
the law of God and of his country, to
allow a man's wife to become a mem-
ber of a society against the will of her
husband, and that he had a right to
prevent his wife from attending it."
The Jury, however, felt as men, and as
Welchmen too. They acted on their own
judgments and returned a verdict of
guilty. The chairman refused to pass
sentence upon the offender. He was
persuaded the verdict was contrary to
law, and he discharged the defendant
on finding bail to appear hereafter. In
consequence of this decision, a panic
pervaded all the cottages in that
neighbourhood. They had entreated
to know what was the law. They had
begged for some message to cheer their
drooping spirits, and fortify their sink-
ing resolution. The Committee had
prepared a case, and taken the opinion
of eminent counsel, who stated dis-
tinctly that the verdict was correct;
and that on a mandamus the chairman
would be compelled to do his duty of
passing sentence on the defendant.

of meeting, and to hold their meetings open, that under pretence of religion they might not carry on factious designs. It was not in their power to control the registrar or clerk of the peace; and if the law required them to exchange annually, the consequence must be, that for eleven months and three weeks in every year they must not be legally registered. In the opinion of the Solicitor General, who had been consulted, the Dissenters had fulfilled all the law required of them, when they certified their places of meeting in the Ecclesiastical Court, and it followed that the power exercised in the cases at Bury and Canterbury was illegal and unjust. The opinion of the Solicitor General had also been taken as to the outrage at Canterbury. He said, "Upon the facts as stated in the case, I strongly recommend a prosecution. Outrages of this nature ought not to be allowed to pass unpunished." At Canterbury, however, a Jury was returned pretty much to the mind of those who were against the prosecution. The prosecutors attended at the hazard of their lives: stones were thrown at them, and it was evident that the fury of their enemies was such, that if martyrdom had been necessary, it would have been resorted to in support of their right to persecute their fellow-christians for worshipping God after the dictates of their own conscience. A bill of indictment was found against seven of the rioters under circumstances similar to those which have excited the attention of the Legisla ture to our sister island. At Southam, in Warwickshire, there had been another case of disturbance, and there also redress had been refused, but on another pretext; a good woman there thought she could best learn her religious duties by attending a meetinghouse; her husband went after her, violently assaulted her, and dragged her away. In consequence of this disturbance to the congregation, an application was made to a neighbouring Magistrate. The man was summoned, but on hearing the case, the Magistrate dismissed the complaint, on the ground that he had only incidentally disturbed the congregation, and that he had an unquestionable right to prevent his wife He now came to the subject of refrom attending the meeting. At An-fusals to bury and marry. At Swansea, glesea, this doctrine had been carried to a greater extent: a man was indignant that his wife should attend a place of worship of which he did not approve. He declared, therefore, that if she went any more, he would break

Mr. Philip Richard, a Baptist minister, complained of the Rev. H. Williams, curate of Llangevelach, for refusing to bury his child. Such was the law. Lay baptism was not sufficient to entitle its receivers to burial