taxes, who had seized upon the library of the dissenting academy at Idle, had been compelled to refund their levy; and two other similar institutions had been protected from similar demands. Various attempts at rating places of worship to the poor's rates had also been successfully resisted; and in other cases the ministers of the establishment refusing to inter the children of dissenters had been brought to a better sense of their duty. Disturbers of their worship, protected by the legislature, had been punished, or compelled to ask pardon for their offences; and against a variety of petty oppressions, too minute to be detailed, the strong arm of the Society, as the vindicator of our country's laws, had been successfully stretched out, to protect the poor man against the violation of those rights of conscience which it is the privilege of every Briton to enjoy. In the instance of the Seditious Meetings Bill, the representations of its committee to government, always promptly attended to and kindly received, had procured the insertion of a clause in the bill, but for which no meeting of any benevolent society could have been held without leave from the magistrates.

Home Missionary Society. The first annual meeting was held at the City of London Tavern, May 15th, when Sir Thomas Bell presided. The Report stated, that upwards of £700 had been received, and that six missionaries were admitted into the service of the Society, for whom fields of labour were either occupied or designed, in Wilts, bordering on Berks, in Sussex, in Oxfordshire, and in Devon and Cornwall. The amount of donations, &c., during the evening, was £198.

Society for the Suppression of Vice. - Monday, May 29th, a general meeting of the governors of the Society for the Suppression of Vice took place at the Society's House, in Essex Street, Strand, when Lord Kenyon, Mr. Wilberforce, and many other noblemen and gentlemen of the first rank and distinction, assembled for the purpose of hearing the Report of last year, and to discuss matters relative to the Society. Great satisfaction was afforded by the Secretary's Report, which presented to the assembly many instances of the necessity and beneficial effects of such an institution in the restoration of persons to the path of rectitude.

Within the last four years this Society has instituted no less than eightyfive prosecutions, against offenders of various descriptions, whose crimes and practices had a manifest tendency to a further contamination of public morals, all of whom have either been convicted and punished, or have entered into recognizances for their good behaviour, sufficiently heavy to prevent a recurrence of their offences. They have also checked the sale of toys and snuff-boxes with lascivious and abominable devices, which were imported in immense quantities from France and other countries, and found but too ready a mart in our own. By their exertions, the whole stock in trade of some of the most shameless and abandoned traffickers in obscene books and prints, amounting to some thousands, have been seized, and no less than fifty expensive copper-plates destroyed, from which impressions of the latter were from time to time supplied. It was they also who brought to condign punishment that most audacious libeller of every thing that is good, Carlile, with whose blasphemy and infidelity the country was but too long permitted to be inundated with impunity. After having been the instruments of effecting so much good, we cannot but regret, therefore, to learn, that in effecting it the funds of so useful a Society have been greatly exhausted, though we doubt not but that a liberal public, who have been essentially benefited by their past labours, will not suffer their future exertions to be crippled for want of pecuniary support. At its instance, two men, Joseph and Henry Clarke, were lately prosecuted

in the Court of King's Bench, and convicted of selling indecent books and pictures, for which the son was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, and the father to eighteen, and both to find security for their good behaviour for five years to come. On hearing this sentence, Joseph Clarke said, "My Lord, you might as well pass sentence of death upon us." To which Mr. Justice Bailey replied, "Sir, you do not know upon how many persons you have been the means of passing sentence of death."

Bristol Society for the Observance of the Sabbath. It is with pleasure that we call the attention of our readers to the exertions of a society lately instituted in the city of Bristol, which is designated, “The Society for promoting a due Observance of the Sabbath." In an excellent tract, written by the Rev. William Wait, an active and benevolent clergyman of that city, it is stated, that "some zealous persons have lately made it their business to traverse this city on the Lord's day, with a view to ascertain, as far as practicable, the extent to which the breach of the Sabbath, in the instance of shopkeepers buying and selling, has proceeded; when it was found that upwards of SEVEN HUNDRED SHOPS of different descriptions were on that sacred day transacting business.” "The writer," we are told," has witnessed," (and who that knows any thing of the economy of a large town but will readily give entire credence to the statement?) " butchers' shops open, shoes cleaning, public houses frequented by the most abandoned of characters, men and women offering fruit for sale in the public streets, lads tossing their pence, and even gentlemen and ladies converting the day of God into a day of dissipation.' In consequence of the representations of this Society, a notice has been issued by order of the mayor and aldermen, threatening all persons who keep open their shops, and expose articles for sale on the Lord's day, with the infliction of the full penalties for such offences. A circular letter has also been addressed to all the ministers of religion, requesting their co-operation in the objects which the Society wishes to accomplish. "The particular way," it is there stated, “ in which ministers would assist the Society, is by addressing the masters and tradesmen in their respective congregations, respectfully and earnestly entreating them to pay their workmen at such a season, (that is, on Friday evening, or early on Saturday morning,) as will preclude the possibility of their urging NECESSITY as a plea for their profanation of the Sabbath." Having thus briefly noticed the progress of this Society, we should not discharge our duty, did we not direct the public attention to the same important subject in the metropolis, and in all the cities and large towns in the kingdom, where the same profanation of the Lord's day prevails to a very awful extent.

Dartmoor Forest.- A Society has been formed to carry into effect the benevolent act of his Majesty, in appropriating Dartmoor Forest for the employment of the poor of the metropolis, particularly the pauper children; and his Majesty has become the patron of the Society. Some time since, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the right honourable the Lord Mayor, two of the principal members of the Society, waited upon the King at his palace in Pall Mall, to submit, for his Majesty's approbation, the plan suggested for giving permanent employment to pauper children, under the direction of the Society.

Society for promoting the Enlargement and Building of Churches and Chapels. An adjourned General Meeting of the above Society was held the last week in May, at their rooms, in Lincoln's-inn-fields, his Grace the Abp. of Canterbury in the chair. The report of the last year's proceedings stated, that 241 applications had been received; 120 were under consideration; not within consideration, 10; and that 111 grants had been made for en

larging, building, repairing, and giving free seats, amounting to £29,347; and increasing accommodations had been given for 36,557 persons, of which there were 26,336 free sittings. This is the present state of the funds :

Amount of disposable assets

£48,955 15 2

68,548 14 3

....

Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. On Tuesday, the 11th of April, the twenty-seventh anniversary of this valuable institution was held at the City of London Tavern, where His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, its illustrious and zealous patron, presided for the 14th time, never having been once absent since the commencement of his patronage. Two hundred and

seven children are now under tuition; but as many more could easily be taken in, would the funds of the institution permit the providing requisite accommodation and support.

London General Pension Society. - The anniversary of this useful insti tution was held at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate Street, on Thursday, April 20; the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair. The object of the charity is to grant permanent relief, in the way of small pensions, to decayed artisans, mechanics, and their widows. At the last quarterly meeting preceding the anniversary, nine males and four females were added to the pensionary list, which then contained, in the whole, twenty-two males, at £13. per annum, and 13 females, at £7. 15s.

Royal Humane Society. On Wednesday, April 26th, the annual meeting of this society was held at the City of London Tavern; John Blackburne, Esq. M.P. one of the vice-presidents, in the absence of the Duke of Northumberland, the president, in the chair. In the interesting procession, of several persons of all ages and both sexes, who had been saved from death by the application of the means recommended by the society, each of the individuals carried a bible, given by the society, with an inscription from the donors; they amounted in all to about forty, and the greater number of them were children. The report of the last year's proceedings stated, that the number of persons saved under the auspices of the society (since its institution) from imminent danger, had been 20,000; of those resuscitated, the number was 4,889. In the last year alone the number resuscitated had been 160, of whom 34 had been persons who had attempted suicide. It is a gratifying circumstance attending the exertions of the society, that of the persons whom they have saved from attempted suicide, no instances had come to their knowledge of the attempt being renewed. The society have in progress a medallion, to be bestowed on watermen and other persons of the same description, who may exert themselves in saving lives.

Magdalen Hospital. - On Tuesday, the 27th of April, was held the 62d anniversary of this most humane and truly charitable institution; when an excellent sermon was preached on the occasion, in the chapel of the hospital, by the Lord Bishop of Oxford, from Phil. ii. 5.-"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." From the opening of its doors, on the 10th of August, 1758, to the commencement of the present year, 4,829 young women had been admitted; most of them under 20 years of age. Of these wretched outcasts, 3,236 had been restored to their relations and friends, to the community, to health, to virtue, to industry, to a sense of their past errors, and not a few of them, it is to be hoped, to that genuine peace of mind, which is the result of a sense of pardon for past sins, and reconciliaVOL. I.NO. II.

H H

tion with our offended God, through the atonement of a Saviour's blood. The collection after the sermon and after dinner, amounted to more than £370.

Society for the Suppression of Mendicity. The second annual meeting of this society took place on Saturday, April 29th, at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen Street; the Right Hon. Wm. Sturges Bourne, M.P. in the chair. The plan of this institution is, the issue of printed tickets for distribution to street-beggars, which tickets refer them to the society's house, where they are immediately supplied with food, and a statement of the case of each registered. The truth of this statement is afterwards ascertained by personal investigation and inquiry, and the case is then disposed of according to circumstances. In the last year, 4,682 cases have been disposed of in various ways; 114 have been settled in parishes in London; 462 passed to the country; 257 provided with employment; 355 were, on investigation, found to be able to support themselves; impostors, and ordered to be prosecuted, 537; refused parochial relief, 391; provided with situations, and tools for their respective trades, 242; clothed and sent to sea, not having any claim on the Seaman's Society, 24. A great number obtained admission into hospitals, and were otherwise relieved. Of these individuals, 845 belonged to London; 1,305 to the country; there were 224 who did not know where they were born; 1,561 were Irish; 203 Scotch; foreigners, who wanted means to proceed to their own countries, 224. In the course of the year 49,558 meals have been distributed.

The number of street-beggars was much diminished during the last year; though had the contrary been the fact, it would not have been a ground of complaint against the society. During a long protracted winter a great number of bricklayers, paviors, and out-door labourers, were necessarily thrown out of employment, and the street-beggars increased in proportion. The internal system of the society was immediately extended, large quantities of food were given to the poor, and between 200 and 300 men were employed to clear the streets, at eight pence each per day.

The cash received during the year amounted to £721 14s. 4d.

Lord Belgrave moved the present of a piece of plate (not exceeding one hundred guineas in value), as a compliment to the gratuitous secretary, Mr. Bodkin, which was seconded by M. Martin, Esq. Very much, however, to that gentleman's honour, he has declined to accept of any mark of the estimation in which his services are held, which shall be paid for out of the Society's funds, in consequence of which determination, a separate subscription has, we understand, been entered into, to provide the plate voted at the meeting.

Literary Fund. On Thursday, May 4, the anniversary of this excellent institution was celebrated at the Freemasons' Tavern; the Earl of Blessington in the chair, supported by the Earl of Pomfret, Lord Bolton, and many other noble and literary characters. The secretary stated the amount of the permanent fund to be £6,060, and that the late treasurer, Mr. Newton, had bequeathed all his property to the institution. Many other liberal subscriptions and donations were announced.

Scottish Hospital.—The spring anniversary festival of this excellent and useful charity was celebrated on Saturday, May 6, by a dinner at Freemasons' Tavern; His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence in the chair, supported on the right by His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of SaxeCobourg, and on the left by His Grace the Duke of Atholl. Not the least distinguished part of the company were two Mahometans from Hindostan, descendants of Hyder Ali, richly habited in their native costume, who are here on a mission to the East India Direction, and who accompanied Mr. Hume to the dinner, to witness what they would not perhaps see in any

other part of the world-the princes of a great empire presiding at a charitable meeting, and pleading amid the festivities of wealth and luxury the cause of the poor and destitute. They seemed to be very attentive to the proceedings of the evening. The subscriptions in the course of the evening amounted to £900, a sum greater than had ever before been collected at any spring meeting.

Benevolent Society of St. Patrick.-In consequence of the death of his late Majesty, and the dissolution of parliament, the anniversary dinner of this excellent institution, which was usually given on the 17th of March, was postponed until Saturday, May 6, when many of the supporters of the charity met at the City of London Tavern; the Right Hon. G. Canning in the chair. The children were, after dinner, paraded through the room. Their appearance was exceedingly interesting; all of them being clean, healthy, and robust. Several fine young women, who were educated by the society, and who are now earning a comfortable and reputable livelihood, closed the procession. The chairman stated, that having applied to his Majesty, to name a patron for the society, he had heen pleased to name himself (the King), and, as an earnest of that feeling which had shewn itself in his Majesty's early and constant bounty, he was instructed to state, that his Majesty, in adopting the title of patron of the society, had directed him to pay into the hands of the treasurer 100 guineas, in addition to his usual subscription of the same amount. The Earl of Darnley, after a short speech, proposed that the Duke of Wellington and Mr. Canning should be commissioned to convey to his Majesty the thanks of the society for his gracious message. The motion was carried by acclamation; and "The health of their Royal Patron and Benefactor" was drank with enthusiasm. healths of the Duke of Wellington, Lords Hastings and Downshire, were then drank; and the Duke of Wellington was nominated chairman for the ensuing year, which office was handsomely accepted by His Grace. The treasurer then read the list of subscriptions, the total of which, including a bequest of £500. by Captain Morritt, was £1,800.

The

OBITUARY.

THOMAS, EARL OF SELKIRK.-This patriotic nobleman died on the 8th of April, at Pau, in the South of France, where he had spent the winter, labouring under a mortal disease, which has at length, in the 46th year of his age, deprived the circle in which he moved of one of its chief ornaments, and his country of a zealous friend. His lordship was born in the year 1774, being the youngest of the five sons of Dunbar, fourth Earl of Selkirk, who died in 1799. In the latter end of the year 1807, he married Jane, daughter of James Wedderburn Colville, Esq., by whom he has left one son, now Earl of Selkirk, born in 1809, and consequently a minor, and two daughters. Her ladyship accompanied the Earl to America, and afterwards to France, where she continued to the hour of his decease, with painful and unwearied assiduity, to administer those kind and soothing attentions not generally experienced in the higher circles, and which wealth can neither purchase nor reward.

Few men were endowed with higher powers of mind than the late Lord Selkirk, or could apply them with more indefatigable perseverance to any object on which he might choose to fix them. His favourite one was political economy; and in this branch of science, his treatise on Emigration has long