expectations were formed by many in this country respecting its beneficial effects in a religious view. Religious liberty was proclaimed, the Bastile was pulled down, the Convents were demolished, and Roman Catholic churches were converted into Protestant temples. A deputation was afterwards sent to Paris by the London Missionary Society, for the purpose, in the midst of the political ferment that then prevailed, of calling men's attention to the things that belonged to their everlasting peace. The effort, however, thus made, produced no important effect. The devil had at that time found sufficient employment for his votaries in another way, with whom his artifices succeeded the better, from his having convinced them that he had no existence. The hopes which had been cherished, that a religious reformation in France would keep pace with the progress of the revolution, were soon extinguished. On the contrary, a period more gloomy for religion had arrived. The darkness of ignorance, instead of being dissipated, increased; while infidelity, having seized the reins of government, and obtained the supreme authority, soon displayed itself in all its diabolical energy. As far as was possible, Religion was borne down and trampled on. And cruel as the aspect of the former government had been to the servants of Jesus Christ, the little finger of this monster was found to be thicker than its predecessor's loins. It was then that the mouth of every confessor of the truth was stopped. The religious meetings among the Protestants, which had been secretly held, having been connived at by the former government,were now forced to be discontinued; and every protestant minister was compelled to abandon his station. It was when the Goddess of Reason was exalted to be worshipped, that every private library was ransacked and pillaged of its religious books. Every Bible which could be found was burnt; and any of the good writings of the old reformers or distinguished Protestants, that were preserved from the universal destruction, were only saved by being buried in the ground. When the Decades were instituted, the people were compelled to work openly on the Sundays, and punished by law if they did not, in order, if possible, to obliterate every trace that remained of the sanctification of the Sabbath-day! Such was the liberal and tolerating spirit of the infidel philosophy. He (Mr. Haldane) had often heard pious men in France, who witnessed those scenes, describe them with horror, and with evident marks of the deep impression they had produced on their minds. After the internal state of France became more settled, and during the usurped autho

rity of "the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms, and that opened not the house of his prisoners," who is now himself a prisoner-during his reign, a period of tranquillity to the Protestants and of general toleration succeeded. But whatever may have been the case before the revolution, by this time little knowledge of the truth remained. The Bibles and good religious books, as has been observed, were burnt, and the Protestant pastors, who had come forth from their retreats, were but ill qualified to rekindle the flame of piety which had been almost, if not altogether, extinguished. Long before this time Arius and Socinus had usurped the seat of Calvin at Geneva, from whence it may be truly said, the candlestick had been removed out of its place. But it was there that the Protestant pastors of France had received their education. At Geneva they were taught to look with contempt on their pious forefathers, and incessantly to repeat their favourite expression, of the increasing light of the age respecting religion, as well as every branch of science. Were they to go back for information in religion to the beginning of the 16th century? Far less, it may be supposed, to the remote age of the Apostles, when, to use the words of the Emperor Julian, “Honest John plainly declared in his gospel, that Jesus Christ was God." The light of philosophy appeared to them to have dissipated such an error, and the writings of Rousseau, the townsman of the Genevese, and of their near neighbour Voltaire, had a wonderful effect in breaking the fetters of that superstition, in which they were convinced their predecessors had been held.-Mr. Haldane proceeded to give an interesting view of the Protestant churches in France during the reign of Buonaparte, and of the present very low state of religion among them. And as the late persecution at Nismes might appear to contradict this statement, he showed from different proofs and interesting particulars, that it did not in any degree originate from opposition to that truth which so invariably excites the enmity of the world. It was directed against Protestants merely as such, between whom and the Roman Catholics there is so rooted an aversion, that subsequent acts of violence in that part of the country, have only been prevented by the interposition of the Government, which equally protects them both. Mr. Haldane then obviated the objections which have been made by those who fear that the circulation of the Scriptures on the Continent by the Bible Society, may be counteracted by discussions raised among the people by the preaching of the Gospel. This apprehension he showed to be altogether unfounded, both

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from the nature of the thing, and from facts, proving that the missionaries sent out by the Continental Society were so many additional agents for the British and Foreign Bible Society. He also called the attention of the Meeting to a large and populous division of France, where the French language is not spoken or understood by the people in general, into whose language the Scriptures have never been translated, and in which none of the Protestant Ministers preach. Were the millions thus situated to continue to be still neglected? He added, that to these districts, where the Patois is spoken, the So ciety intends to send some of its preachers; and proceeded to point out many inducements to the friends of religion in this country, to turn their attention without delay to the state of the Continent, and to use every effort to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation there, while the present peace, which may soon be interrupted, continues. Among other facilities which the times presented, he reminded the meeting of the happy toleration now existing in France, whose Government throws no obstacles in the way of preachers. He assured the meeting of the co-operation of the good men among the Protestant pastors, which he was convinced, both from his personal knowledge of them, and also from recent communications, would be afforded. After various remarks, Mr. Haldane concluded with entreating that due candour might be exercised towards this lately instituted Society. Its object was not to introduce by its missionaries the tenets of any particular sect or party, but solely to diffuse the knowledge of salvation among multitudes of our fellow creatures and near neighbours, who at present are living without God in the world,' and among whom no adequate means exist for rousing their attention to the most important of all subjects, and affording them necessary instruction.

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and may he deign to enlighten us with the beams of his divine light, that we may avoid the snares spread on every side by the enemy of all good, to induce us to abandon the Lion Shepherd (Lion berger,) who is the true pas tor of our souls. In the hope of these blessings, we should mutually pray for each other, that we may all be children of the promise.

It is impossible to describe the unutter able joy that my heart experienced on the arrival of the box which you sent me. How agreeably was I surprised, at the sight of so many more copies of the New Testament than I had requested, and of the other religious books which you and your friend M →→→ had added; all of them more or less instruc tive and useful! I could not help reading over and over again the letters enclosed, which afford fresh proof of the desire of yourself and your friends to contribute to the advancement of the reign of our divine Redeemer. It is with these sentiments that my family, myself, and all my dear friends, whom I regard as my brethren and sisters in Jesus Christ, request you to accept our humble and sincere thanks for the zeal and eager ness you have manifested, to send us all that might promote our spiritual advancement, and especially for sending the Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ; for all other religious books are but sketches or explanations, more or less extended, of that sacred volume -the book par excellence. We entreat you to assure M of our sincere respect and attachment, and all your friends, whom we esteem as brethren and sisters in Christ, since they expect the final appearance of the Saviour, which seems to be at hand, and the object of which is the conversion and regeneration of the people of the promise. For it is not till after the regeneration of this people, beloved of God, that all the people of the earth shall unite to adore the Redeemer in spirit and in truth at Jerusalem.

Sir, and dear brother in our Lord Jesus, I cannot find words to express the satisfaction I experienced from the present you have made me, of a Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, and which you beg me to accept as a mark of your Christian affection. It was not necessary to have sent this truly religious present to convince me of the love which you feel for all your brethren in Christ; for the day I had the honor and happiness to become acquainted with you, I had unequivocal proofs of your sentiments in that respect. I was the more gratified and edified by this mark of your regard, as it was my intention to have requested in my last letter some copies of the Old Testament; but I dared not execute my design, for fear of abusing your Christian complaisance and charity. The Old and New Testament, properly understood, are but one Testa

ment; snch is the connexion of the sacred books--for the New Testament is the key to the Old, and the Old the same to the New. In innumerable passages of the Old Testament, the birth, death and glory of our divine Redeemer are announced, in terms more or less distinct. In reading the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah, we perceive that those prophets spake of our Saviour as though they had lived with him on the earth. His second coming is also foretold in many passages, especially in the prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel.

To return to the box, which your Christian generosity and charity has sent: it has excited universal joy in the hearts of all our friends in this country. Immediately that they learnt the agreeable news, they flocked to see me, and to have the happiness and advantage of procuring the Testaments of our Redeemer, and in less than five days the box was emptied. I gave copies of the gospel of St. Matthew to those who had not the satisfaction and consolation to procure a complete copy of the Testament. The whole was so soon distributed that many could have nothing; and there are also many who do not yet know of the arrival of the second box. I intend to lend the copy of the Testament, and of the other books, which I have reserved for myself, among our friends in the neighbourhood, who by the grace of God are of our sentiments, and consequently are disposed to make a holy use of them. Several of our friends have the same intentions, in order that the books we have may be as useful as possible.

I believe I may assure you, in the presence of Him who sees the bottom of our hearts, that I have observed, to the letter, your instructions relative to the distribution of the Testaments. You will learn then, that I have disposed of fifteen copies at four francs per copy, and I assure you I was much edified in receiving this money; for all those from whom I received it, gave it with a gaiety of heart which it is impossible to describe; some regretting that they had so often spent their money less profitably, and others desiring that they might always use it as suitably for the future. That which has most edified me is, that almost all our friends in this country subsist by hard labour; for you know that for several years the price of work has considerably diminished. As for the other copies, I have distributed them to persons who could not purchase them, but who, through the mercy of our divine Saviour, hope and intend to make a holy use` of the reading of the sacred book.

As I hope you will do me the honour and the Christian kindness to acknowledge the receipt of this, I request you to inform me

how I can remit you the sixty francs, which I am indebted to you for the fifteen New Testaments. As our brethren and sisters in Jesus Christ, who, by an effect of his grace altogether free and unmerited, look for his second coming to salvation, are delighted and edified by the truly Christian salutation which you have sent through me; they desire me to express their gratitude, and to request you to accept theirs in the same spirit. I unite with them in beseeching you and your respectable friend M — and all your friends, not to forget us in your prayers to the Father of Lights, that he may give us grace to persevere in the same sentiments, and grant us all the mercy to join the general assembly in the heavenly Jeru salem. Amen. Expecting that happy day, I intreat you to believe me Your very hum ble servant and friend in Jesus Christ, The WIDOW

INDIA.

CALCUTTA SCHOOL SOCIETY.

On the 25th of January last, the annual examination of the head pupils of this Institution took place. The examination consisted of two parts: First, of the Hindoo boys educated in the indigenous schools, that is, the schools under native masters, in which the boys pay for their own instruction; and, secondly, those whose education is defrayed by the School Society.

Of the former class there are 86 schools in different parts of Calcutta ; the total number of boys exceeds 2,800. They were di vided into four sections; the first was examined in reading; the second in general geography, &c.; the third in spelling; the fourth in arithmetic. Specimens of their writings were also exhibited.

The elder pupils, educated at the Hindoo College, were next examined in English. The first class in miscellaneous questions in geography, astronomy, and natural philosophy; when the readiness and accuracy of their answers surprised and gratified every one present. The three lower classes were examined in reading, arithmetic, &c. in all which they afforded much satisfaction.

The Meeting was closed by an examination of a number of Bengalee girls, belonging to a school instituted by the Juvenile Society for the establishment and support of Female Bengalee Schools. The knowledge of the difficulties which existed in getting Bengalee girls under instruction, with the presence of so many (upwards of 20,) and the encouraging progress of those who were examined, added much to the interest of the Meeting. The expenditure of the Society far exceeds its income.