Religious Tracts, Mr. George Clayton stated a remarkable cir cumstance : A Young Man, gay, thoughtless, and dissipated, with a companion like himself, was passing along the street, intending to go to one of the theatres: a little boy ran by his side, and attempted to put a Letter into his hand: he repulsed the boy: but the boy persevered; and when the Young Man's companion attempted to take it, the boy refused him, saying to the other, "It is for you, Sir!" He opened the paper, and read its contents: they were simply these words, "Sir, remember the Day of Judgment is at hand." It pleased God that these words should arrest his attention: he was struck with them: he felt disinclined to proceed, and said he should return home. His companion rallied him; but he took leave of him, and bent his course homeward. On his way, he observed a Place of Worship open; and though he was not accustomed to attend the House of God, he felt inclined to go in, and did so. A venerable and respected Minister, well known to most of you, was about to preach, and was then reading his text: he had chosen these words, This is the finger of God. (Exod. viii. 19.) The extraordinary combination of circumstances (receiving the Letter and hearing these words,) deeply impressed his mind; and, by the blessing of God, what he heard produced an entire change of conduct and feeling: he was led to the Saviour, and to that peace which passeth all understanding. He is now a respected and useful meniber of a Christian Society. 787 16 1 142 7 2 Repayment of Advances...... 322 17 0 Rent, Taxes, Repairs, Fittingup, &c...... Travelling Expenses Salaries, Poundage, Translations, Shipping Charges, Stationery, and Incidentals..... 1057 11 6 Total........ £.9242 0 1 AFRICAN INSTITUTION. SIXTEENTH ANNIVERSARY. WE expressed our hope, in stating the proceedings at the last Anniversary, that the objects of the Institution would be more justly appreciated and its means of exertion increased. A measure has been adopted on the present occasion, which will doubtless lead to this desirable result. The time of the Annual Meeting has been brought within the range of the Anniversaries of other Benevolent Societies while the attendance of all persons of both sexes, interested in the welfare of Africa and the extinction of the Slave Trade, has been invited; and Noblemen and Gentlemen, who have zealously laboured in this humane cause, have forcibly urged its claims upon the Meeting, which completely filled the spacious Hall at Freemasons' Tavern, A satisfactory pledge of increasing funds was given on this occasion, in a Collection which nearly equalled one-third of all the Subscriptions and Donations of the preceding The Collection amounted to 571. year. 13s. 6d. &c.... 5736 16 11 Preparatory to this Meeting a Circular was distributed, which we here copy, as it states, in a short compass, the strong claims of the Institution to the support of all the sincere friends of the African Race: Address to the Friends of Africa. Fifteen years have elapsed since Great Britain, by an Act of the Legislature, prohibited its subjects, under heavy penalties, from taking any part in that Trade which has since been Gratuitous Issues of Tracts, &c. 1065 1 10 described, by the unanimous voice of the great Powers of Europe, assembled in Congress at Vienna, as a scourge 66 which has long desolated Africa, degraded Europe, and afflicted humanity;" and it is now classed by the British Parliament among the foulest crimes. Soon after the passing of that Act, a considerable number of those who had strenuously exerted themselves, through a long series of years, to expose the enormities inseparable from this horrid traffic, and to procure the co-operation of the Friends of Humanity in its Abolition, formed themselves into a Society, under the name of the AFRICAN INSTITUTION, with a view, not only to promote the civilization of much-injured Africa, but also, as essential to this object, to watch most carefully over the conduct of those who might attempt to evade the Abolition Laws. Great Britain had the less difficulty in effecting the abolition of this traffic, by reason of the liberty of her Press and the nature of her Government, which rendered it comparatively easy to convey the necessary information respecting the real character of this Trade to all classes of society. But the case is very different in many of the nations of the Continent. In few, perhaps in none of them, do the same facilities to the diffusion of knowledge and the forming of Societies for the objects of benevolence exist; and, consequently, very erroneous ideas prevail abroad on the subject of the African Slave Trade. The information received from time to time by the African Institution-of the horrid crimes perpetrated in Africa, and on the high seas, by miscreants who make it their business to buy and sell their fellow-creatures, and of the alarming increase of this abominable traffic under the flags of France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands-is of such a nature, as to render it the duty of the Institution to give the utmost publicity to the facts which are constantly coming to their knowledge, and to call the attention of the British Nation, in a very particular manner, to the enormities now practised upon the persons of the helpless children of Africa-enormities never exceeded in the annals of oppression and cruelty. At the present moment, vast numbers of innocent men, women, and children, are languishing in the hands of their tormentors: many are suffering a most cruel and lingering death, by suffocation in the holds of Slave-ships: thousands are on their way to interminable slavery, to which they will infallibly be consigned, unless previously released by death, or rescued by the intervention of some merciful hand, from those dealers in human blood, whom the American Government has declared to be Pirates, and who, instead of being protected and sheltered, ought to be branded by every Civilized State as enemies to the human race. The African Institution is persuaded, that, in France, now most deeply implicated in this cruel traffic, as well as in the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, the public at large are not yet informed of the real nature and vast extent of the crimes daily and hourly pepetrated by the subjects of their respective countries, Trade. who are engaged in the African Slave The Directors have therefore determined, if furnished with means, to publish in various languages the facts which are almost daily communicated to them, in the firm conviction, that, when these facts shall be generally known, the wise and the good of all nations will rise up, and, with the voice as of one man, solicit their respective Governments to abolish a traffic marked in every nation that does not use the every stage with blood, disgraceful to greatest exertions for its utter extinction, and a standing reproach to the Christian Name. The African Institution, therefore, invites the Friends of Humanity and Religion to its Sixteenth Anniversary Meeting, to be holden at the FreeMay; at which Meeting his Royal masons' Hall, on Friday the 10th of Highness the Duke of Gloucester will take the Chair. It is intended, on that occasion, to bring forward certain Resolutions, which will doubtless be supported by several of those Members of Parliament who have so frequently distinguished themselves by pleading for Africa in the great Council of the Nation. His Royal Highness took the Chair at the Meeting, at One o'Clock. The Report having been read by the Secretary, Thomas Harrison, Esq., Resolutions were moved and seconded-by Lord Calthorpe, and the Earl of Nugent-by the Marquis of Lansdown, and Mr. Wilberforce by Henry Brougham, Esq., M. P. and the Rev. J. W. Cunningham— by John Ashley Warre, Esq. M.P. and John Bowring, Esq.-by James Stephen, Esq., and W. Smith, Esq. M. P.-by T. Fowell Buxton, Esq. M. P., and Zachary Macaulay, Esq. by E. Bootle Wilbraham, Esq. M.P., and the Rev. W. Dealtry and by the Right Hon. J. C. Villiers, M. P. and Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bart. M. P. The principal Resolutions here follow. They give a brief view of the present state of the question relative to the Slave Trade: -That this Meeting contemplates with the deepest regret the enormous extent to which the Slave Trade, so long the Scourge of Africa and the Disgrace of Europe, is still carried on; notwithstanding the solemn obligations to suppress it imposed on every Christian State, no less by the Religion which it professes than by a regard to its own National Honour: and does most earnestly implore His Majesty's Government to persevere in their honourable efforts to accomplish this object, until it shall have been completely attained, and especially to use their influence that the Slave Trade shall be declared Piracy by the concur rent sentence of all nations. -That this Meeting views with peculiar satisfaction, not only the desire manifested by the Government and Legislature of the United States of America to co-operate with Great Britain in putting an end to the Slave Trade; but, above all, the bright example which they have recently held forth to all other States, in being the foremost to declare that trade Piracy. -That this Meeting has derived much gratification from the honourable zeal displayed by the Cortes of Spain, to deliver their country from the guilt and pollution of the Slave Trade, by subjecting all concerned in it to severe and infamous punishment. -That this Meeting has been in the highest degree gratified by the illustrious career, which has been pursued by the rising Republics of Southern America: not only in absolutely interdicting, from the moment of their own independence, all trading in the flesh and blood of their fellow-beings, but in striking at the very root of that infamous commerce, by declaring the speedy extinction of Slavery itself, and by abo lishing all those cruel and invidious distinctions, arising from difference of colour, which form one of the worst features of Colonial Bondage. co-operate with all similar Institutions, -That this Institution will rejoice to in all parts of the world, whose object it shall be to promote the complete and final suppression of the Slave Trade. -That the friends of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, in every part of the United Kingdom, be earnestly solicited to aid the funds of the Institution: that it may be enabled to diffuse, in Foreign Countries, a knowledge of the real nature of this destructive traffic; and otherwise to promote, in every possible way, its total abolition, and the improvement and civilization of the African Continent. Mr. Brougham touched on a topic, which demands the serious consideration of all Foreigners who would palliate the continuance of the Trade, on the plea of the subject being new to them. We hope that the information which the Directors are about to diffuse on the Continent, relative to the crimes perpetrated in the pursuit of this Traffic, will be accompanied by a strong appeal in the spirit of the following remarks of Mr. Brougham. It would seem, from the Report, that the history of the chief countries of Europe, since the peace, exhibited nothing but a series of pledges given to be forfeited-opportunities of benefiting mankind afforded, only to be thrown away→ chances held forth to the nations of the world, but cast aside, of recovering themselves, and of gaining imperishable renown. He looked with indignation at the contrast presented to these na tions by the United States of America; and the still greater contrast presented by the subjects of a free country, in the performance where they had not promised so much, to those governments which had promised so much and performed so little. These Governments stood wholly without excuse, and he would press upon them, if they could hear him-he would press upon their people, through whom those Governments must sooner or later hear itthat vain will be their plea of England's example of indifference to this traffie for a series of years, even if that plea were stronger than it can be pretended to be. True it is, that this is the Fortieth Year since the wrongs of Africa first caught the attention of the English ear. At that time, a small Society (principally from among the Society of Friends) six in number, of whom alone George Harrison was the survivor, met in conclave upon this traffic. This Society sought information: they were followed by Thomas Clarkson; and, treading on his heels in the great work, came his Honourable Friend (Mr. Wilberforce), who had rendered his name illustrious by his services in this holy cause. And yet, notwithstanding the great exertions of such men, twenty-five years elapsed, from the beginning to the conclusion of their efforts, so far as the passing of the Abolition Act. lent, and in moral worth, among his countrymen, was firmly united, of the infamous traffic in Slaves. as in England, for the suppression It was gratifying to him to know that Virginia, the land of his sires and the place of his nativity, had, for half a century, affixed a public brand and indelible stigma on this trade, and had put in the claim of the wretched objects of it to the common rights of humanity. The simplicity of Mr. Randolph's appearance and manner, with his easy and unaffected address, greatly attracted the attention of the Meeting. The Collection, including 109%. 18s. 6d. Donations, amounted to 2041. 17s. Receipts. S. d. Subscriptions and Donations.. 645 2 Expenditure. Translating and Printing Tracts 479 0 0 £1124 2 0 £. 404 13 4 196 6 0 Why did he refer to these facts?that they might take to themselves the deep shame of allowing so many years to elapse in the progress of such a ques-, tion; not to vindicate Foreign Powers, or allow their plea of the example of England. When the subject was first taken up in England it was new: its details and atrocities were unknown: the effect of measures was untried. But would it be contended that the powers of the Continent could plead that ignorance? Had they not had the benefit of the progressive experience of England? They might, indeed, have come into the discussion at the eleventh hour; but they did so with all the advantage of hearing the ten hours' previous debate, and acquiring all the experience of the past to regulate their decision. They MERCHANT-SEAMEN'S Bbible society. must start, therefore, with us at the present time; and not flatter themselves with the delusive hope, that either among the wise or the good men of fature times they would stand justified in a delay, which in the case of England was without defence, but which in their case would be utterly without pallia tion. Mr. Randolph, the distinguished American, was present; and, in the unavoidable absence of the American Ambassador, rose to return thanks for the respect paid to his country in one of the preceding Resolutions. He assured the Meeting that all that was exalted in station, in ta 507 4 4 £1108 3 8 FOURTH ANNIVERSARY. THE benefits derived to Merchant-Seamen from this Institution, have been frequently noticed in our Reports of the proceedings of the British and Foreign Bible Society, of which it is an Auxiliary. It was formed in February 1818; and has now begun to hold its Anniversary, in connection with other Societies, in the month of May. At the Fourth Annual Meeting, which took place on Monday the 13th of May, at the City-of-London Tavern, Admiral Viscount Exmouth, G. C. B. the President of the So ciety, was in the Chair. The Movers and Seconders of Resolutions were the Earl of Rocksavage, and Sir C. Hawkins, Bart. M. P.-Mr. Wilberforce, and the Rev. John Brown-the Right Hon. J. C. Villiers, M. P., and Captain Saumarez, R. N.-W. Taylor Money, Esq. M.P., and the Right Hon. C. Grant, M. P.-and the Hon. and Rev. G. T. Noel, and Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart. M. P. It appeared from the Report, that the gratuitous distribution of the Scriptures, by the Society, among Merchant-Seamen, since its formation, had amounted to 3088 Bibles and 7768 Testaments; and that the Sales, in the same period, at half or three-fourths of the cost price, had been 3120 Bibles and 1010 Testaments. Of the number, however, gratuitously distributed in the first instance, 427 Bibles and 1087 Testaments had been since paid for by the Merchants in Lon don. It is an encouraging fact, that, while the gratuitous distribution has gradually lessened, the sales have increased. In the first year, 5773 Bibles or Testaments were distributed-in the fourth, 877: in the first year, 597 were sold-in the fourth, 1118. The Annual Subscriptions of the Society do not amount to more than 1887. 11s. Od. ; but it has been liberally assisted by the Parent Institution. No less a sum, however, than 3854/. 13s. 4d. has been contributed, since the formation of the Society, by the Merchants, Ship Owners, and others who take an interest in the moral and religious welfare of the Merchant-Seamen, for the exclusive purpose of supplying this valuable body of men with the Holy Scriptures. The Society has been assisted, in the last year, by an Association of Ladies, under the patronage of the Duchess of Beaufort, the funds of which are to be equally divided be tween the Naval and Military Bible Society and the Merchant-Seamen's Bible Society. The sum of 102/. 9s. 6d. has been paid to this Institution by the Association. The Collection at the Annual Meeting amounted to 751. 5s. 6d. BRITISH & FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY. ON Wednesday Evening, the 15th nual Meeting took place in FreeOn Thursday the 16th, the Anmasons' Hall; His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex in the Chair. The Rev. G. Clayton, one of the Secretaries, read the Report; after which Resolutions were moved and seconded, respectively, as follows: by T. Spring Rice, Esq. M. P., and the Rev. G. Burder-by Mr. Wilberforce, and the Rev. Rowland Hill-by the Baron de Stael, and the Rev. Mark Wilks-by W. Evans, Esq. M. P., and the Rev. F. G. Cox-by John Randolph, Esq. (Member of the American Congress), and Mr. Joshua Van Oven by Lord Ebrington, and the Rev. Dr. Schwabe-and by the Rev. Dr. Waugh, and the Rev. Nicholas Bull. The Expenses of the year had exceeded the Income by about 450/. The Society is in debt to the amount of nearly 6000l.: this sum the Treasurer, Mr. W. Allen, hoped to be able to raise by benefactions of 100. each: he had already received the names of five Contributors to that amount. Seven of the Madagascar Youths, now under education by the Society at the expense of Government, were present: Mr. Hill bore a strong testimony to their improvement and good conduct. The Collections amounted to 751. 12s. 9d., and the Donations and Subscriptions to 1781. 18s. Od. |