vigour to the plan by a donation of 1001.; which he soon doubled. In the year 1780, the Society was regularly organized, assuming at first the designation of The Bible Society;' as, at that time, there existed no other institution for the express and sole purpose of distributing the holy Scriptures.

"In 1794, fourteen years after the formation of the Society, the result of its labours exhibited an issue of 22,000 copies of the holy Scriptures, chiefly to the army. In 1804, its designation was changed to that which it now bears, in consequence of the formation of The British and Foreign Bible Society,' which occurred that year: the number of copies of the word of God distributed had increased to 34,000: the subscriptions and donations received that year amounted to 183., and there were only two naval or military officers on the list of contributors. In 1814, the issue of Bibles and Testaments had amounted to 100,000. Collections made in several churches and chapels yielded nearly 30007.: subscriptions and donations reached almost 20007.; and the number of subscribing naval and military officers had increased to 109: his royal highness the Commander-in-chief had become patron; the Duke of Gloucester and Prince Leopold, vice-patrons; the Archbishop of Canterbury, president; the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, and many other prelates, with the Duke of Wellington, the First Lord of the Admiralty, several cabinet ministers, besides many noblemen, admirals, and generals, vice-presidents."

"The correspondence, at that period. was replete with subjects of the highest interest. An officer, commanding a troop of horse artillery, wrote, that the greater part of his men had requested to set apart a portion of their pay for the benefit of the Society. Another officer wrote from on board a frigate at Spithead, that most of the seamen and the whole of the marines had voluntarily subscribed one day's pay for the same purpose: and, on the memorable battle of Waterloo, when all Europe stood more astounded at the Christian forbearance of British troops in the hour of victory, than their undaunted courage in the hour of battle, the Naval and Military Bible Society was not with out the most respectable testimonies, that much of this spirit could only be traced to the influence of that sacred volume which had now been extensively distributed throughout the army.

"In the year ending May 1825, the So

ciety issued 6049 Bibles and Testaments; making a general total, up to that period, of 175,400 copies of the holy Scriptures distributed to sailors and soldiers: the number of naval and military officers contributing as subscribers had increased to 315. In this year, 1825, his royal highness announced to the Society and to the army. that his majesty had been pleased to approve of a code of regulations, recommended by the distinguished prelates aforementioned; the purport of which was, that every soldier who can read shall be furnished with a Bible, &c.; the expense to be borne by the public; and that the chaplain-general of the forces shall procure from the Naval and Military Bible Society, and other sources, such number of Bibles, &c. as may be required; and a further supply to be lodged as a depôt in the orderly-room of each corps, in order that recruits and others may be provided from time to time as necessary. In consequence of this regulation, a communication was entered into with the Very Rev. the Dean of Carlisle, chaplain-general, which has led to the issuing of 16,000 Bibles from the depository of the Naval and Military Bible Society to the army since May 1825. The Society, having consented to supply the Bibles at two shillings per copy less than their prime cost, have, on the recent issue just mentioned, incurred an immediate loss of 1600.; besides the necessary sum wanted to meet the increasing demands from seamen generally, and from the soldiers of the East-India Company."

With regard to the naval department of the Society's operations, we have adduced many testimonies in our pages to the important facts, that religion is greatly on the increase among our seamen of every class, and that its influence is found on board a ship, as every where else, productive of morals, industry, good order, and every other virtue. We copy the following additional testimony from an address of Captain W. E. Parry delivered at the last meeting of the Society.

the most unqualified manner. Having lately had the honour to command seamen under very peculiar and trying circumstances in the Northern Expedition, and receiving, as he did, most implicit and immediate obedience on their part, he was, after due consideration, convinced that the maintenance of such exemplary discipline was owing to the improvement of their moral and religious character. In the schools established on board the ship, the first object was religious instruction; and the result fully satisfied him that the true religion of Christ, so far from being a hindrance to the performance of arduous duties, was in itself a strong motive for exertion; and his honest impression was, that in proportion as sailors received religious instruction, so would they become what England would wish to see them. During the expeditions on which he had been recently engaged, the best sailors—he meant those who were called on on an emergency-were the men who had thought most and seriously on religion.He was far from advocating the diffusion of spiritual knowledge on merely temporal grounds; but his motive for taking this last view of the question was to shew that the two objects not only did not clash, but were, in fact, really united; that the best Christian was invariably the best subject; so that even from a consideration for the interests of our beloved country, we should never relax our exertions, until by the blessing of God, from whom alone all human efforts derived their efficacy, we communicated to every sailor the inestimable benefits of a religious education. Then, and then only, could we send out our fleets under the special protection of God, not trusting in our own strength, but strong in the Lord."

OHIO EPISCOPAL SEMINARY. The Legislature of the State of Ohio has passed an Act to enable the President and Faculty of the Theological Episcopal Seminary to confer collegiate degrees; and every exertion is being made by the bishop to carry into effect the intentions of his British friends. A beautiful set of stereotype plates of the Common Prayer Book, cast expressly for the purpose, had already arrived, and an elegant press, on an improved plan, had been purchased and was ready for being put up. The town to be laid out on the ground belonging to the seminary will be called after Lord Gambier: the college after Lord Kenyon; the chapel after the Countess Dowager of Rosse; and the names of the streets and of

the towns, together with those of the neighbouring streams, &c. will perpetuate the memory of the numerous benefactors of the institution.

CHEROKEE INDIANS.

A committee has been appointed in New York for the purpose of obtaining donations on behalf of the Cherokee Indians, to aid them in procuring a printing press and types. The Committee state some facts and considerations, of high importance, not only in reference to the welfare of the Cherokees, but to the general subject of Indian civilization. The Cherokees present the first instance of an Indian nation having renounced all that was peculiar in their former habits and opinions, and adopting those of civilized and Christian society. The faithful exertions of missionaries, teachers of schools, mechanics, and farmers, sent among them, have been happily instrumental in producing these results. And so strong at present is the current of public opinion throughout the tribe, in favour of whatever may aid their progress in knowledge and civilization, that the heads of their government have appropriated fifteen hundred dollars of the public money towards establishing an academy and a printing press at New Town, the seat of government, and to appoint an agent to solicit donations to make up the amount which may be required for these objects. They say that the establishment of a printing pressamong them will constitute an epoch in the hitherto dark and melancholy history of the Indians: that this great engine of moral and civil influence is indispensable to the success of their plans for the further improvement of their condition.

The progress of civilization among the Indian tribes,and especially the Cherokees, under the system now pursued of preaching the Gospel to them in the English language, teaching that language in their schools, and by instruction and example encouraging agriculture and the mechanical arts, is most favourably noticed in a recent Report from the United States' Department of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of War. After contrasting these features of the present system, with the previous unsuccessful attempts to benefit the Indians, and stating that more than eleven hundred Indian children "are now having imparted to them, and successfully too, the blessings of civilized and Christian life, whilst the other Indians, struck with its transforming effects, are themselves practising, to a very great extent, the lessons which

they receive from their more fortunate offspring;" the Report states, that "the Cherokees on this side the Mississippi are in advance of all the other tribes. They may be considered a civilized people." Their march has been rapid. The first school established there under the present system was in 1817. This Report expresses with confidence the opinion, that should the Indians retain their present location, and the means now employed for their civilization be continued and increased, they will in the course of a very few years become citizens of the States within the limits of which they reside.

A form of alphabetical writing, invented by a Cherokee named George Guyst, who does not speak English, and was never taught to read English books, is attracting great notice among, the people generally. Having become acquainted with the principle, that marks can be made the symbol of sound, this uninstructed man conceived the notion that he could express all the syllables in the Cherokee language by separate marks or characters. On collecting all the syllables, which, after long study and trial, he could recal to his memory, he found the number to be eightytwo. In order to express these, he took the letters of our alphabet for a part of them, and various modifications of our letters, with some characters of his own invention, for the rest. With these symbols he set about writing letters; and very soon a correspondence was actually maintained between the Cherokees in Will's Valley, and their countrymen beyond the Mississippi, 500 miles apart. This was done by individuals who could not speak English, and who had never learned any alphabet, except this syllabic one, which Guyst had invented, taught to others, and introduced into practice. The interest in this matter has been increasing for the last two years; till, at length, young Cherokees travel to a great distance to be instructed in this easy method of writing and reading. In three days, it is stated they are able to commmence letter-writing, and return home to their native villages prepared to teach others. It is the opinion of some of the missionaries, that if the Bible were translated, and printed according to the plan here described, hundreds of adult Cherokees, who will never learn English, would be able to read it in a single month.

Mr. Worcester, who has lately joined

the Cherokee Mission, says :-"A few hours of instruction are sufficient for a Cherokee to learn to read his own language intelligibly. There is no part of the nation, where the new alphabet is not understood. That it will prevail over every other method of writing the language, there is no doubt. If a book were printed in that character, there are those in every part of the nation who could read it at once."

LONDON SOCIETY FOR FEMALE SERVANTS.

At the last anniversary meeting of this Society, the Lord Mayor, the president, in recommending it to public patronage, observed, that among all classes of the community there are none that need so much attention and assistance as female servants; for that few, if any, are so much exposed to danger and temptation; but that there is something so striking to the imagination in the recovery of an offender, that the attention is often more directed to the restoration of the profligate than to the preservation of the innocent and happy from ruin, and encouraging them to persevere in the path of rectitude, piety, and peace. The objects of this Society are to excite and cherish mutual good-will and confidence among the superior and subordinate branches of a family; to induce servants to view their employers as their friends, and to continue as long as possible in the same service; and to prevent female servants entering upon that declining course by which multitudes are rendered wretched through life, and in death!

In their endeavours to promote these objects the Society have distributed among servants at least 40,000 tracts; and 909 Bibles have been given to as many servants, on completing their first year of service in the same situation since their nomination for the Society's rewards, and three thousand two hundred and forty-six pounds have been given in 1923 pecuniary rewards to servants who have lived from one to thirteen years in the same family. Eighty-four have obtained a certificate, and a reward of three guineas each, on completing their seventh year.

During the past year 586 engagements have been made between employers and servants through the medium of the Society's gratuitous Registry at 110, Hatton Garden, and 209 servants have been nominated by subscribers for the rewards of the Society.

FOREIGN.

GREECE. The fortress of Missolonghi, after a most courageous and long-protracted defence, has at length been forced, by the pressure of war and famine, to yield to the besieging army. The Turks sacked the place, destroying such of the inhabitants as were able to bear arms, without mercy, and sparing only the women and children to be sold as slaves. We trust the Christian governments of Europe will at length be induced to unite, even at some sacrifice of their respective jealousies, in some wise and humane plan for preventing the continued effusion of blood in this unhappy contest, and bestowing upon the people of Greece their just rights and privileges as members of our common humanity.

DOMESTIC.

We are much gratified in being at length enabled to report the termination of the Burmese war. This auspicious event had been preceded by a complete victory on the part of the British army over the enemy, whom they put to flight, not however without an enormous sacrifice of human life. The terms of the peace are as follows: That the four provinces of Arracan, and the provinces of Mergui, Tavoy, and Zea, are to be ceded to the East-India Company. The Burmese Government is to pay the Company one crore of rupees. The provinces or kingdoms of Assam, Cachar, Zeatung, and Munnipore, are to be placed under princes to be named by the British Government; and Residents, with an escort of 50 men, are to be placed at each court. British ships are to be admitted into Burmese ports, to land their cargoes free of duty, and Burmese ships are to have the same privilege in British ports. The Siamese nation is to be included in the peace.

We deeply lament to state, that the pressure of the times has been felt with extreme severity throughout the clothing manufacturing districts. The unemployed and famishing workmen, erroneously conceiving that their distress is in a great measure connected with the employment of machinery, have in various places riotously congregated in large numbers to destroy some of these obnoxious implements. The mills have in consequence been obliged to be defended by armed parties, and in various instances by soldiers; and several lives have been

1ost

among the deluded populace concerned in these lawless aggressions. Public liberality, we are happy to add, has been prompt and extensive in assisting the distressed workmen and their families, and subscriptions continue to flow in to the fund raised for this purpose by voluntary contributions. His Majesty, in particular, has sent several considerable donations to the suffering districts from the privy purse. By the prompt measures taken to repress or prevent disturbances, combined with the assistance afforded by the public liberality, the riotous proceedings have been quelled; and a hope of considerably alleviating the distress has further been excited by parliamentary enactments for throwing into the market the foreign grain, amounting to upwards of 500,000 quarters, at present under bond in this country, and for giving the Government a discretional power of opening the ports for the importation of 500,000 quarters more, at a duty of 12s. per quarter, should the circumstances of the country appear to them to require it. These are salutary measures of relief considered in themselves, and with a view merely to their present and temporary effect on the comfort of the labouring part of the population; but they are chiefly important as pointing out the true line of policy for this country in respect to corn; namely, the substitution, for the existing law on that subject, of an unrestricted importation of corn, at a fixed rate of duty, as nearly equivalent as possible to the peculiar burdens which may appear, on full investigation, to attach to agricultural capital, as tythes, &c. A considerable part of the landed interest has strenuously opposed both these expedients, especially that of empowering the Crown, at its discretion, to admit for home consumption the farther quantity of half a million of quarters beyond what is actually under bond. Nevertheless the expediency of that measure has been so strongly felt both by the Government and by the Opposition that it has been sanctioned by considerable majorities of both Houses of Parliament. All parties also seem now to admit that some permanent change in the corn laws has become necessary; and we trust, therefore, that in the next session of Parliament such a change will be effected on sound principles.

The subject not only of slavery, but of the slave trade, has again been brought

before the House of Commons. Mr. Buxton has obtained a Committee to inquire into the conduct of the public authorities at the Mauritius relative to the slave trade, which it is alleged, on apparently strong grounds, has continued to be carried on there to an enormous extent. The facts adduced in support of this allegation were of so decisive a character, that Government have seen fit to assent to the appointment of a committee of inquiry. Mr. Brougham also has brought forward a motion, expressing the deep regret of the house, that the Colonial Legislatures have done nothing effectual for carrying into execution the recommendation of government and parliament for the amelioration of the state of slavery, and pledging the house to proceed to an early consideration of the subject next session, with a view to the adoption of effectual measures for the attainment of the object. The motion was met by the previous question, chiefly on the ground, that government was already expressly pledged to carry the resolutions of parliament into effect, and had recently renewed its urgent representations to the colonial authorities, to proceed forthwith to the adoption of the measures of reform indicated in the Trinidad Order in Council, intimating to them at the same time, that if they did not comply, Parliament would, and must, be appealed to on the subject. But though.

Mr. Brougham's motion has not been carried, his able and luminous statements, in which he exposed the worthless and illusory nature of every thing which any of the Colonial Legislatures had professed to dignify with the name of reform, must have deepened the conviction which is already so generally felt throughout the country, that the Colonists themselves will do nothing towards the extinction of slavery; and that that object is to be effectually accomplished in all the Slave Colonies, only by the same compulsory means which Government was forced to employ in the case of Trinidad.

Parliament is on the very eve of dissolution. Is it unseasonable to remind our readers of the solemn duty which will devolve upon them in consequence of that event? Can they answer it to their own consciences, or to their God, if they neglect the opportunity which is thus afforded them of bearing their strong and unambiguous testimony against the crying iniquity of colonial bondage; and of doing what may be in their power to put a period to its unnumbered evils, by refusing their aid to any candidate who does not heartily and unequivocally pledge himself to promote its extinction; and more especially to any candidate whose pecuniary interests are opposed to those of humanity and justice?

Rev. S. S. Wood, Chaplain to Duke

of York.

Rev. J. Allen, Chaplain to the Earl of Mountnorris.

Rev. A. Foster, Chaplain to Duke of Cambridge.

Rev. J. C. Helme, Chaplain to Earl of Stirling.

Rev. H. J. B. Nicholson, Chaplain to Duke of Clarence.

Rev. J. Taylor, Chaplain to Dowager Duchess of Richmond.