Esq. M. P. and several other gentlemen, addressed the Meeting in a very appropriate and, encouraging manner. The collection at the church was upwards of 380%.; and the whole sum received on the Anniversary, including donations, &c. was about 6ool. The Secretary, the Rev. Josiah Pratt, Doughty Street; and the Deputy Secretary, Mr. Thomas Smith, No. 19, Little Moorfields, will thankfully receive contributions for the Society.

The Annual Meeting of the Surry Mission Society will be held at Tooling, on Wednesday, Aug. 1. Mr. Waugh to preach. Service will begin at Eleven o'clock.

Provincial Intelligence.

SCOTLAND.

The illiterate Condition of many

Scots Highlanders.

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THE British and Foreign Bible Society, agreeable to their generous plas, lately published a new and cor rected edition of the Gaelic Bible and Testament. In distributing these to the Highland people, who come every year south to assist in reaping down the harvest, a minister found that not one out of eight could make any use of them at all. It ap peared from this, and other proofs, that thousands of our brethren in the north are totally incapable of reading the precious book of God; they may take it isto their hand, but, alas! to them it is a sealed book! What a moving consideration! While we, in the Lowlands of Scotland, are almost all able to read the Scriptures, which make us wise uato salvation, multitudes in the north and west parts of our country are perishing through lack of the means of knowledge. The worthy and honourable Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, have done very much in that country; but still something more is needed. What shall be done?

If any means could be used to instruct the people, first, by elementary books, in their own vernacular tongue; and a sum of money raised among ourselves to support a few teachers, who would thus instruct them. This would, un

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der the divine blessing, produce the good end, fitting them to read the Gaelic Bible. I am the more confirmed in my opinion of the success of this means, by an extract from a letter of the worthy Mr. Charles, of Bala, in Wales, on this very subject. Writing to a Scots correspondent, he says, We have had Bibies in the Welch language for above 200 years; yet they were of no real utility to 99 out of 100, as whole districts were perfectly illiterate. No stir was made about learning to read. Now the children and the young people universally attend the Sunday-Schools. Hundreds of grown-up people haye learned to read their Bibles within these two years; and more are coming to the schools continually. One successful school in the Highlands may be the means of creating many more, if its success be blazed abroad. Get some gentlemen who understand the Gaelic, to compose small elementary books, introductory to reading: by using these, more good is likely to he accomplished among the poor illiterate people, than by any other

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means.'

I hope the above truly calamitous case will affect our English friends and our countrymen, both in Scotland and England, particularly those ia the metropolis.

A SCOTS MINISTER.

BUXTON. It will afford pleasure to all the friends of religion, but especially to those who have been in the habit of frequenting this place, to learn, that a suitable chapel, vested in the hands of Trustees, is now erected, in which the glorious gospel will be faithfully and regularly preached Many pious persons, who have visited this watering-place for the benefit of their health, have here spent mournful Sabbaths, lamenting the want of an evangelical ministry. This complaint will no longer be heard. The chapel, where divine worship has been performed for some time past, will be publicly opened early in July. Several respectable ministers in Sheffield aud the neighbourhood, have agreed to supply the place, in rotation, during this season. Yery liberal contribu tions have been made, chiefly at Man

chester, towards defraying the expenses of the building; but a small debt yet remains, which must increase before the chapel is fully completed. To liquidate it, the aid of the wealthy friends of the gospel is earnestly solicited.

The following will, no doubt, give pleasure to the serious of all denominations: At Wilsontown, Carnwath ́parish, North Britain, a Sabbath Evening-School was lately Instituted by the proprietor of the iron works there. Between three and four hundred children (formerly much neglected) attend, and are taught the principles of religion. The proprietor of the works gives all suitable encouragement, waits upon the school, disperses among the scholars Watts's Hymns for Children, and, to excite them to diligence, gives premiums of religious books to those who excel. Besides the minister of the Company's chapel there, other clergymen in the neigh bourhood visit the school, and preach sermons suited to the object of this pious institution. There is every reasou to hope that this good design will be attended with many advantages to the children in the village and neighbourhood; and it is earnestly to be wished, that proprietors of public works in England and Scotland would follow this laudable example; - they would thereby do an essential service to religion, and to the best interests of the families more immediately under their charge.

BARTON MILLS. In 1803, a respectable farmer came to reside at this place, and, finding the neighbourhood destitute of religious instruction, he opened his house for prayer and reading of sermons on Lord's Day evenings. At first, the numbers attending were small; but, at length, they so much increased, that in 1807 they saw the necessity of building a small place of worship for their better accommodation. These persons, who were principally poor, first counted the cost, and, in order to defray the expence of a place of worship, they entered into a subscription of 3d. a week, which has been accumulating to the present time. With this sum, and some small collections in neighbouring cougregations, they have fitted up

a neat place, which will accommodate about 200 persons; and have defrayed the greater part of the expence, and are going on to defray the rest. They now hehoid with pleasure the object of their desires and prayers accomplished, and are blessed with the lahours of the farmer, with some assistance from neighbouring ministers. -This place was opened March 15, 1810; at which time sermons were preached by the Rev. Mr. M'Kenzie, of Isleham; the Rev. Mr Dewhirst, and the Rev. Mr. Cole, of Bury St. Edmund.

ORDINATION, &c.

April 11, was ordained to the work of the ministry at Honley, in the west riding of the county of York, the Rev. Robinson Poole, who witnessed a good confession, and gave a most interesting account of his conversion. The work of the day was introduced by Mr. Vint, from whom Mr. Poole received the finishing part of his education, who delivered a discourse on the Nature of a Gospel Church, &c.; Mr. Moorhouse prayed the ordination prayer; Mr. Blake, under whose ministry Mr. Poole received the knowledge of the truth, gave the charge; and Mr. Cockin, sen. preached to the people, from Psalm cxxxiii. 1.

April 17, was held at the Rev. W. Chaplin's meeting - house, at Bishop Stortford, the Twelfth Anniversary of the Essex Congregational Union, for promoting the Knowledge of the Gospel in that county and its vicinity. Mr. Fielding, of Coggeshall, preached from 2 Thess. iii. 1; Mr. Parker and Mr. Frost prayed. The Report of the Proceedings and Progress of the Society was then read by Mr. Craig, who concluded the services of the day.

RECENT DEATHS.

ON Monday, May 14, died at Full Sutton, Mrs. E. Cobbet, aged 76; and on the next day, suddenly, her brother, Mr. W. Cobbet, while consulting her trustees about her funeral. They were buried together in the same grave, on Friday, the 18th.

On Friday, the 8th ult. died Nathaniel Hillier, Esq of Stoke Park, Surry, in the 70th year of his age.