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and political Letters written between the years 1753 and 1790. 1 vol. 4to. The Life of Raphael of Urbino; by the Author of the Life of Michael Angelo, Crown 8vo. 8s. 6d.

Speeches, Memoirs, and Portrait of Sheridan; by a Constitutional Friend. 5 vols. 8vo. 31.

Memoirs of the Right Hon. Richard Brinsley Sheridan; drawn from authentic Documents, and illustrated by original Correspondence, and a Variety of

interesting Anecdotes; to which is prefixed, a Biographical Account of his Family; by John Watkins, LL. D. 4to. 1. 11s. 6d.

The Lives of Dr. Edw. Pocock, the celebrated Orientalist, by Dr. Twells; of Dr.Zachary Pearce, Bishop of Rochester, and of Dr. Newton, Bishop of Bristol, by themselves; and of the Rev. Philip Skelton, by Mr. Burdy. 2 vols. 8vo. il.

An elementary Treatise on Astronomy; by the Rev. A. Mylne, A. M. 8vo. 99.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL SOCIETY FOR and one of the causes which renders its

IRELAND.

THIS Society was formerly called the Hibernian Sunday-School Society, and by that name its proceedings already stand recorded in our pages (vol. for 1814, p.845, and vol. for 1815, p.865). Its Sixth Report, for the year ending April 1816, has recently reached us, and it conveys the gratifying intelligence of increasing prosperity and extended usefulness. Its funds have been aided by various other societies. From the British and Foreign Bible Society it has received 5000 Testaments and 500 Bibles, at half the cost price; and from two sermons preached in Dublin, one by the Rev. Robert M'Ghee, the other by the Rev. James Dunn, it received 4521. The Committee have printed 20,000 Alphabets and 20,000 Spellingbooks No. 1, in the course of the year, They expect to be under the necessity of printing an edition of 30,000 Spellingbooks No. 2. At the beginning of the year, the number of schools deriving aid from the Society was 252, containing 28,598 children. At the close of the year the number is 335 schools, containing 37,690 children. The Committee, in recording, in appropriate terms, their obligations, and the obligations of Ireland, to the conductors and teachers of these schools, who have had many difficulties to contend with, observe"There are upwards of 2000 individuals, who, anxious to promote the happiness of their poor neighbours, devote a part of their valuable time on Sundays to their instruction; and do so without any other reward than that heart-felt satisfaction which ever attends benevolent exertions. Your Committee cannot avoid considering this gratuitous instruction as one of the peculiar advantages of the Sunday-school system, CHEIST, OBSERV, No. 181.

effects so very beneficial. Such teachers feel a parental affection to the children; and this is returned by a filial affection from the children: a strong and bene ficial union is thus formed between the orders of society. Thus are provided a number of sincere friends, who will protect the children in after-life; by whose advice they may be directed; by whose assistance they may be guarded against many evils; whose good opinion they will be anxious to retain, and will be restrained from faults to which those are exposed, who have not so strong an inducement to maintain their character. Nor is it only the children who are benefited by this connexion; the teachers themselves learn how to teach; they be come acquainted with the dispositions of children; they acquire a facility of interesting and instructing them, and become more qualified to educate their own families.

"Your Committee cannot but exult in the progress of a work so franghit with blessings to all engaged in it, so calculated to remedy many of those evils which affect Ireland, and to impart to her peasantry the principles of social order, domestic happiness, and true' religion. While under the conviction that this success of your Society has been the result of a concurrence of several independent causes; of the desire' of the people for instruction; of the zeal and energy of those who have nndertaken to instruct them, and of the patronage and assistance of the public; your Committee would fervently and' gratefully ascribe their prosperity to His blessing, from whom all good counsels and just works do proceed; and would, with humble confidence, com mit their cause to His care, trusting' that He will perfect the same to His own

glory, and the happiness of many of the rising generation of our countrymen."

The Appendix contains no less than seventy-six different letters from the teachers of Sunday Schools to the Committee. Many of them are highly interesting, as marking the progress of instruction, and its beneficial effects. We can only give a few very brief extracts. 1. Derrygonelly." I inclose for the consideration of the Sunday-school Committee, a Report of a school lately established in this parish. It gives a proof that the poor are ready to hear and receive instruction, if there can be any found to concern themselves for them. The harvest is great, and labourers are few.

"The neighbourhood of Derrygonelly, proverbially devoted to every species of folly and idleness on the Lord's day, will now, through the Divine blessing, hear the feeble voice sounding its Maker's praise, and thus correct the grey head of iniquity. No religious distinction has yet prevented the attendance of the teachers and scholars: all co-operate in the same blessed cause; all pray that you may be their successful advocate in obtaining a small grant for building a school-house."

2. Killyscolvan.-" I have been much interested in the fate of one boy who came to us in 1812: he was then sixteen years old, and had never learned his letters. He continued to attend very regularly, (although he lived more than three miles from the school,) both winter and summer, until last month, when he died, after a short illness, brought on, I fear, by over fatigue. He had read through the Testament, and shewed considerable knowledge of the essential truths of the Gospel. He was the oldest of a large and very poor family, and was remarkable for his industry and good conduct, as much as for his strong desire of improvement. Such was Robert R.; and if we may without presumption trust that this school was made a blessing to him, how thankful should we be to that Providence who has made us instrumental to so serious a benefit!"

3. Cookstown." It appears, from our weekly register for the last year, that we have taught 8497 children, and we expect to exceed this number in the present, if spared to see it concluded; and we, with heartfelt gratitude, behold that the good that has arisen from our labour of love has, and is, producing much more than merely to learn the

scholars their letters, to spell, and read; for we see them increasing in cleanliness and order, and, we may add, in the fear of the Lord; and from these views and feelings our hands have been held up thus far. We believe the work to be of God, and to him we look for the blessing."

4. Dromedy." It is upwards of nine years since I collected a few children, chiefly to shew them the evil of profaning the Lord's day, without any view of either order or discipline. In taking a retrospective view of that period, I have cause to thank Almighty God that I engaged in such a work. Many who came to the Dromedy Sunday School since that time, ignorant of God and his word, do make it now the rule of their faith and practice. To God be all the glory given! Our school has been in a thriving state, in every sense, this year; and, although we labour under many inconveniencies, which other schools are relieved from that are more warmly patronized by men of affluence and ability, yet God's word is read, and partly understood, by our scholars; and we hope that our public labours will not prove abortive."

5. Coolkenno." On the whole, I humbly trust, that the work of God is prospering among the poor; and though one might reasonably conclude, that the effects of your exertions would be rather remote in their operation, and that their fruits would not be fully apparent for another generation, yet even now I think you have great reason to be grateful to Him who giveth the increase, that he has already ripened some of your fruits to maturity. I have seen some comfortable testimonies of sick and dying children, that through the means of Sunday-school instruction they have been able to cast anchor within the veil; and some of them, whose parents have been negligent in attending Divine service, have reminded me of my own duty, by requesting that I would speak to their father and mother."

6. Maryborough." It is ten years since the school was first opened. Some of our first scholars have arrived to the age of twenty, and twenty-one; they are now some of our best teachers: some of them are scattered through the kingdom; and we have reason to be thankful that they evidence, by their attachment to the Sunday-school insti tution, that they have not been taught in vain. We have sent from this institution, at different times, teachers into

the different parts of the kingdom; and we are thankful that their moral conduct has not been a reproach to the Gospel of Christ. They are useful members of society; and this we can affirm, that most of the boys taught in our school, who have grown to man's estate, give evidence in their life that they fear and love God. This is the Lord's work, and he shall have all the glory. Our wish is for the spread and increase of such institutions, because ignorance and darkness flee before them."

7. Bangor.-"The improvement of the children in morals, learning, and appearance, has been rapidly progressive; and it is very apparent the utility of the institution is become so evident, that many contribute to its support now, that at first refused that assistance. There is also reason to believe, that the example of the children has had a good effect on the conduct of their parents; as in six months I had no occasion to take a single examination against any inhabitant of Bangor. Formerly they were numerous. It is possible I may err as to the cause (as there are several institutions in Bangor calculated to promote industry and good conduct), but such is the fact; and while other parts of the country suffer nocturnal outrages, this parish is, at present, bless. ed with peace and tranquillity."

"I find that thirteen pence a year for each scholar is, on an average, fully sufficient (the teachers acting gratuitonsly) to supply them with books, and to pay all other expenses.”

ANTIGUA.

In the year 1809, the late Bishop Portens addressed to West-India proprietors and planters, a letter, recommending that the young slaves should be taught to read, and he instructed in the principles of religion,

A printed copy of this letter was sent to Mr. Gilbert, resident at English Harbour, by the Rev. Mr. Curtin. Mrs. Gilbert having been engaged, some years before, in instructing young Negroes, when resident upon her father's estate, felt a strong desire to recommence a practice which appeared to her to promise much for the rising generation: but was discouraged from the attempt, by the consideration that some of the proprietors or their attornies considered teaching slaves to read as an impolitic measure; and it was therefore rather to be expected, that whoever attempted it would be viewed in an unfavourable

light. On this account she hesitated; till, one day, the Rev. Mr. Light, a missionary of the United Brethren, calling upon her, and observing that there was a great field for the instruction of children in English Harbour and its vicinity, his remark kindled in her a fresh desire to attempt their instruction. She accordingly made a beginning, in Oct.1809, aided by her sister Mrs. Thwaites, formerly her coadjutress in the like undertaking in the country, and by another female friend.

The number of children gradually increased; and, in 1812, they amounted to twenty-eight slaves, thirty free Black and Coloured, and four White. A weekly meeting was then commenced, for the religious instruction of the children, by explaining the Church Catechism, and by other methods suited to their capacities and situation. This meeting is conducted by the Superintendant of the Girls' School, and two other female teachers, and is now held on Wednesday mornings.

In the year 1812, a very seasonable supply of Bibles and Testaments, sent out by the Hon. Mrs. (now Lady) Grey, was presented to the schools, and, since that time, her Ladyship has felt much interest in the success of this institution, which she has furnished with books and lessons.

That lady's benevolence has also been exercised in raising a sum of money for the purpose of erecting a school-house; but some circumstances have occurred, which have hitherto frustrated her Ladyship's kind intentions.

The number of children at present belonging to the Girls' School, is, thirty slaves, one hundred and fifteen Free Black and Coloured, and two White. The country schools belonging to the Englishharbour School Society were instituted by Mr. Thwaites, and comprise children from twenty estates, five hundred in number. The Boys' School at English Harbour consists of seventy-two boys, superintended by Mr. Mead. In the Girls' School are twelve Teachers; in the Boys' School, four; and in the Country Schools, twelve.

The situation of the children at English Harbour, especially the females, excites much interest and compassion in those who are engaged for their good. The greater part of them are the illegitimate offspring of White men, principally in the Navy and Army, who have been from time to time on this station. One of these girls is a natural daughter I 2

of the late Lord Falkland, and is still a slave, and likely to suffer all the disadvantages arising from that state, to persons of her description: she is among those whose hearts appear to be touched by Divine Grace, and feels sensibly the evils of her condition. The greater number of these girls live with their mothers; who are, for the most part, sunk in sin, poverty, and wretchedness; and they daily witness scenes, the most improper and shocking that can well be conceived. Some of them are as white as the fairest Europeans; and, enfeebled by hunger and the heat of the climate, are not able to engage in laborious employments. Were they, indeed, ever so willing to work, they would find it difficult, or impossible, to obtain employ ment, as the system of slavery shuts the door against their being employed as housebold-servants. AWhite girl, who belonged to the Sunday School, has, however, obtained a place, and is gone to service.

If these girls determine on leading a virtuous life, they have therefore no other prospect than great poverty and contempt: while a life of unchastity, to which they have constant solicitations after the age of fourteen or fifteen years, holds out to them the advantages of a liberal supply of all their wants. If they are slaves, it opens to them the prospect of emancipation for themselves, and sometimes for their mothers; and, if they are already free, it promises them the accumulation of a small property, and the possession of a handsome wardrobe, together with a flattering degree of respect from their associates. These advantages on the side of vice are often realized, though their duration is always precarious, and in this part of the island peculiarly so; but they almost univer. sally terminate with the decay of personal appearance, or the incumbrance of children.

Notwithstanding the powerful temptations to vice which this striking contrast affords, it is a most encouraging circumstance that seven of the girls in the English-harbour Sunday School, from the age of fourteen to twenty years, have determined" to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."

There are some orphans in the school who live with their relations; and, being free Black and Coloured people, they are not allowed any parochial relief. These relations are wholly dependent upon

their own exertions, which, after all, often prove insufficient for their own support in health; but when sickness occurs, with its attendant increase of expenses and incapacity for labour, some of them are reduced to the greatest possible distress. Unless these people have a strong principle of faith in God, it cannot therefore be expected that they should resist the temptations which surround them, to dispose of those orphans, according to the prevailing custom of the country, as concubines to men who are able to provide them with food and raiment, and to put it in their power to relieve their distressed relations.

Sunday, Oct. 1st, 1815, being the Sixth Anniversary of the English-harbour Sunday Schools, was celebrated as a day of thanksgiving. Notice of the design having been given by the Superintendants, more than 200 children and young persons assembled, between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, attended by their teachers. As president of the institution, Mr. Dawes addressed the children in an affectionate manner; and particularly called their attention to the great blessing vouch safed them, in the establishment of a Sunday School in a neighbourhood where vice and ignorance had so long and so mightily prevailed. He commended several young women who were among the first objects which it embraced; and who, having derived benefit from it themselves, were desirous of imparting it to others, and with this view had become teachers in the school. He expressed a hope that their example would stimulate others- pointed out those things which he thought likely to be injurious to them, and to defeat the good effect of the exertions made in their behalf-strongly recommended reading the Scriptures with prayer, obedience. to parents, and to all the precepts inculcated in the Bible, with the practice of industry, frugality, and chastity. The address was followed by a hymn; after which tickets were distributed. Four Field Negroes received the highest tokens of approbation; and several children under six years of age were rewarded with inferior tickets. A little girl just turned of six received one of the first class. She is a very interesting child, reads prettily in the Bible, and was so anxions to have one of her own, that she eagerly brought to the Superintendant, for the purpose of pur chasing one, various small sums obtain

Intelligence

from her friends at different times. A Bible Association is formed in the school; and the collection, in one month, amounted to 28s. The number of tickets distributed among the girls on this occasion exceeded sixty: the boys had only seventeen among them, they having for some time declined greatly in attendance; though, latterly, they had become more regular. The 100th Psalm was sung after the distribution of the tickets, and the meeting closed with prayer. A plain cake and an orange were given to each child at going away; and, excepting the disappointment experienced by some who had not received tickets, great and general satisfaction seemed to be inspired by this observance of the day.

On the day after the anniversary, a girl, about ten years of age, who is the illegitimate daughter of an officer in the army by a very depraved woman, came to Mrs. Thwaites, earnestly entreating to be permitted to live with her. Her grandmother, mother, and two sisters, are sunk into the lowest depths of disease, poverty, and wretchedness; though two of them are under twenty years of age. She had not even decent clothes to attend the school in, She was so urgent with her mother to give her up, that the unhappy woman came to Mrs. Thwaites, and professed her willingness to do so.

Another girl, much about the same age, is both fatherless and motherless; and lives with an aunt, who is experiencing in her own person such wretched effects of a life of prostitution, that she is desirous of having her niece brought up in habits of chastity and industry; and for this purpose, wished to board her with one of the teachers in the Sunday School. As the poor woman, however, had not the means of paying for the girl's board, or even schooling, and the teacher herself is in indigent circumstances, the girl must be abandoned to the miseries which surround her, if she be not rescued by means of the institution.

These two instances are selected out of many others, as most recent and striking. From a communication just received from Mr. Dawes, by the Committee of the Church Missionary Society, it appears that the schools continue to prosper. The males amount to about 100; the females to 165, although twenty-one of these have left the school with credit within the last six months, several of whom are at service in respectable and

creditable families. Three have been rescued from situations of great moral danger, at their own and their friends' young women of good character, where earnest entreaty; and are placed with they are learning to get a creditable subsistence by the needle. These three are now under the protection of a Female Society, lately formed, called the "Female Refuge."

A paper, describing the nature and purposes of that society, was to be sent to every family in the island which has female inmates; for no male subscriber is to be admitted.

A similar institution was formed in St. John's, on the 25th of September last. The proposal originated with a was so favourably received by other few pious young women of Colour; and respectable women of the same class, mation, and subscribed liberally. The that thirty-two were present at the forably: and the Society promises to be the number has since increased consider. instrument of much good. It is called "The Distressed Females' Friend."

Mr. Dawes having recommended the appointment of Mr. James Bates, as assistant catechist and school-master, his recommendation has been adopted. This worthy man has been long a zealous plan which tended to advance the glory promoter of the schools, and of every of God. His pity was awakened by the many poor Black and Coloured children procure even a rag to cover their nakedof his neighbourhood, who could not ness, and who consequently could not be admitted into the school, though some of them were extremely anxious to learn: it was some time since discovered that he had been in the habit of quietly and privately getting into his and teaching them to read. Having house a few of these children at a time, been discharged, in consequence of the reduction of the establishments, from his office as one of the Store-porters in the neighbourhood, but will now be the Dock-yard, he was about to quit retained in the service of the Society.

Dawes found established before his Beside the Sunday School which Mr. ed an early school, at six o'clock on arrival at English Harbour, he has openSunday morning, for the religious inevening school, for catechising men struction of men and youths-a Monday and youths; and for teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic-and a Thursday evening school, for men only, in which they are catechised, and taught to read.

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