and opened the Meeting by a short address full of holy simplicity and fervour. His Lordship read a letter from the Lord Bishop of Gloucester, expressing his regret that the duties of his diocese deprived him of the pleasure of attending the Meeting.

The proceedings of the year had been so multifarious, and the intelligence embraced so wide a circle, that it was found impracticable to bring more than an Abstract of the Report before the Meeting. That Abstract, however, contained so many important details, that it occupied nearly two hours.

The income of the year had been nearly 28,000l., and the expenditure had reached within a few hundred pounds of the income. The income of the eighteenth year, not deducting the expense of the Missionary Registers and Quarterly Papers for the use of the Collectors and Contributors, was nearly 25,000l. An increase of 3000l. had, therefore, taken place in the nineteenth year.

In stating the accounts of the year to the Meeting, the Treasurer, John Thornton, Esq. noticed that, while the increase of the income had been 30007. the increase expenditure in the Department of Missions had been nearly 6000.

The Meeting was characterised by a spirit of Christian Intelligence and Charity. It was a sacred season. The glory was given to Him, to whom alone glory is due.

The following fact was stated by Dr. Hamilton, in his address to the Meeting. A gentleman in his neighbourhood had some plough-irons stolen. He applied to a priest on the subject, who told him not to be uneasy, as they should be restored. On the next Sunday, the priest gave out, from the altar, that he knew who the thieves were; and that if they did not carry back the plough-irons to the place from which they had stolen them, by such a time, they should be turned into goats! The plough-irons were found in the place appointed! Dr. Hamilton, thinking it incredible that the understandings of men in this country could be kept in such bondage, inquired of a convert from Popery whether he thought that such a threat could have been believed by the people. He had no doubt of the fact; and declared, that in his own county, that of Kildare, the lower order of the Roman Catholics universally attributed to the priest the power of metamorphosing them into sheep, 'or oxen, or goats, or any animal that he pleased.

The Assistant Secretary had arrived from Edinburgh on the morning of the Meeting; having attended, on the 23d of April, the Fifth Annual Meeting, in Dublin, of the Hibernian Auxiliary; and, on the 29th of April, the First Anniversary of the Edinburgh Auxiliary and had thus the opportunity in three successive weeks, of witnessing, to his great joy, the Christian spirit which prevailed at the Three Anniversaries held in the Three Capitals of the United Kingdom.

PRAYER-BOOK AND HOMILY SOCIETY.

Seventh Anniversary.--On Thursday, the 6th of May, after a Sermon preached at Christ Church, Newgate-street, by the Rev. Daniel Wilson, from 1 Tim. iii. 14-16, the Seventh Annual Meeting was held at the London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill. The Right Hon. Lord Gambier took the Chair.

The issue of books, during the year, had been as follows:Prayer Books, 10,453; Psalters, 1,117; Articles of Religion, 1,325; Homilies, in Tracts, 28,150; Homilies, in Volumes, 314. The statement of the funds was-Income, 2,141l. 9s. 7d.; Expenditure, 2,1817. 10s. 6d.

To this excess of about 401. of the expenditure above the income, was to be added the sum of 7601. for which the Committee were under engagements.

JEWS' SOCIETY.

Eleventh Anniversary.--On Thursday Evening, May the 6th, the First Anniversary Sermon was preached, by the Rev. Robert Cox, M. A. of Bridgenorth, at the Church of St. Andrew, by the Wardrobe, and St. Anne Blackfriars; and on Friday morning, the 7th, the Second was preached at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, by the Rev. Edward Cooper, M. A. of Hamstall, Ridware, and Yoxall,

At two o'clock on Friday, the Eleventh Annual Meeting took place at Freemasons' Hall. The President, Sir Thomas Baring, Bart. after addressing the Meeting, read a Letter from the Bishop of Gloucester, expressive of regret at his Lordship's unavoidable

absence.

After the Report had been read, the Jewish Children were introduced, as usual.

NAVAL AND MILITARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

Thirty-ninth Anniversary.-On Tuesday, May the 11th, the Annual Meeting was held at the King's Concert room. At one o'clock, his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester took the Chair.

It appeared, from the Report, that the contributions of the year had been upward of 2000l.; but that the disbursements had exceeded the receipts by the sum of 9801., while many requests had been made for Bibles and Testaments which could not be supplied. Among the military, 6500 copies of the Scriptures had been distributed, during the year; and 2600 in the Navy. Testimonies of the happy influence of the Scriptures had been received from many quarters.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

Twentieth Anniversary.-Early in the morning of Thursday, May the 13th, the Twentieth Annual Meeting was held at the City of London Tavern; the Treasurer, J. Reyner, Esq. in the Chair.

Upward of 1000 persons assembled at Breakfast, before the Meeting was opened.

The number of Tracts issued during the last year appeared to be FOUR MILLIONS, FORTY-THREE THOUSAND, THREE HUNdred, AND TWENTY-ONE; of which 150,000 were in the form of broad sheets, for affixing on walls, in manufactorics and cottages, on board ships, &c.-351,000 were Children's books-and upwards of ONE MILLION were of the hawkers' series.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Twenty-fifth Anniversary.-This Anniversary was held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 12th, 13th, and 14th of May. The Sermons were preached-on Wednesday morning, by the Rev. John Angel James, of Birmingham, at Surrey Chapel; in the evening of that day, by the Rev. James Foote, from near Montrose, at the Tabernacle; on Thursday evening, at Tottenham-court Chapel, by the Rev. Thomas Jackson, of Stockwell; and on Friday morning, by the Rev. Robert Cox, of Bridgenorth, at Blackfriars Church.

At the Annual Meeting, held on Thursday, in Queen-street Chapel, the Treasurer, W. A. Hankey, Esq. was called to the Chair.

After the Report had been read, the Meeting was addressedby the Rev. Dr. Bogue, and the Rev. Dr. Collyer; by the Rev. Mr. Orme, of Perth, and Mr. Wilberforce; by the Rev. Mr. Broadfoot, and the Rev. Matthew Wilks; by the Rev. George Clayton, and the Rev. J. A. James; and by the Rev. Jabez Bunting, and Thomas Wilson, Esq.

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

Thirteenth Anniversary.-The Society changed, this year, the former time of its assembling, from the early part of the morning, to one o'clock; at which hour, on Friday, May 14th, a Meeting of the Members was held at the City of London Tavern ; Charles Grant, Esq. in the Chair.

It appeared, from the Report, that the number of Schools supported by the Society is 480, and that they contain 46,976 scholars; being an increase, within the year, of 88 Schools, and of 14,460 scholars.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

Sixteenth Anniversary.-On Saturday, the 15th of May, the Annual Meeting took place at Freemasons' Hall. His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent took the Chair at one o'clock. The Prince of Hesse Philipstall, and Prince Ernest his brother were present.

The Report took a wide survey of the state of Education in various parts of the world, to which the influence of the Society extended, or in which its principles and example had been followed. At home, the efforts were continually increasing; and yet there remains, at this moment, in London alone, 40,000 children without instruction.

The income of the year had been 23137. 3s. 6d. and its expenditure, 2330/. 18s. 4d. The necessary expenses average 1600. per annum, while the certain income amounts but to 800%.

Port of London Society, for promoting Religion among Seamen.

[Although in our last number the success of this Society was noticed, still we are happy to lay before our readers the following extracts from the Society's Report, forwarded with a letter from R. H. Marcin, Esq. the Treasurer, and other documents, to the Corresponding Secretary of "THE PORT OF NEW-YORK SOCIETY, FOR PROMOTING THE GOSPEL AMONG SEAMEN." Whatever advantages a place of worship on the water may possess at London, we are confident, that the plan of the Port of New-York Society, that of erecting a respectable Church, is far better adapted to the situation of Seamen in this port. We sincerely hope the foundation of that edifice will soon be laid: though it may be difficult to command, at the present moment, all the funds requisite, we cannot believe that the most liberal patronage will be withheld from such an Institution.]

Aware of the great importance of a gospel ministry to the moral reformation and religious instruction of mankind, the projectors of this society determined upon making that the chief instrument of their efforts; and supposing it highly probable that Seamen would most readily avail themselves of the privilege in each other's company and upon their own element, it was deemed expedient to commence the Society's operations by fitting up a vessel on the Thames, as a chapel for their constant resort and service.

Since the period of opening the Seamen's Chapel, in May, 1818, sermons have been preached, and public worship has been observed without interruption twice every Sunday, and mostly once in the intermediate parts of the week, by ministers of various denominations, many of whom voluntarily tendered, and all of whom gratuitously performed, their official services to congregations, always considerable, and frequently large as the place

would admit. In these congregations several hundred Seamen have frequently been seen listening with fixed attention to "the words of eternal life;" and there has been no public service performed without the presence of a considerable number, whose deportment has always been highly decorous, and among whom remarks have been heard, which evinced the utmost gratitude for the privilege afforded them, and the strongest desire at every opportunity to avail themselves of it.

That this important undertaking has produced a most favourable impression in the minds of Seamen, and excited among them a very lively and general interest, your Committee have had the best means of ascertaining. Lieutenant Cox, agent of the Merchant Seamen's Auxiliary Bible Society, stationed at Gravesend, goes on board every vessel that leaves the Port of London, to inquire what copies are possessed of the Holy Scriptures, and to supply the deficiency. The following are extracts from his communications, made to the Committee of the Bible Society by which he is employed.

"On board the

the crew appeared all in good order. I was informed that the Captain takes much pains in instructing them. The Sabbath day is strictly observed when the duty of the ship will admit of it. When in the pool the Captain and his crew were sure to attend regularly in the Floating Chapel, and spoke with pleasure of the opportunity. Thus engaged, one said, it was rather an uncommon sight to see a sailor weeping under a sermon; but this sight I have seen repeatedly on board the Floating Chapel.""

"The mate of the said to me, what a blessed thing is the Floating Chapel now in the pool. Surely Seamen are the better for these means: indeed I am sure that they are.' "The mate of the said to me, with what regret did I pass the Floating Chapel last Sabbath day, when warping down the pool. 'Tis a pity there is not an act of parliament to prevent Seamen working on the Lord's day when in port.""

"On board the the village sermons are read by the mate to the crew every Lord's day. The Captain countenances him in the good work. The mate spoke to me of the profitable opportunities he had enjoyed on board the Floating Chapel when lying in the pool."

"Many Officers and Seamen have mentioned to me their having been on board, and how much they were gratified, and ardently wished they were always favoured with such opportunities."

To those ministers in London and its vicinity, who have recommended the support of this institution to their congregations, and made public collections in aid of its funds, your Committee have already voted the thanks of their private meetings, and now invite you, by your approbation of this their report, publicly to