of the people of this quarter. In the higher | rules of the church in that and in all such and more enlightened classes of society, I have often met with liberal sentiments, but as the two persons who took the chief part in the above conversation were of the lower class, it was both new to me and interesting." p. 186-191. matters, as every good Catholic ought to do. I said that I saw the force of what he said, considering what were the principles of his faith. I added, that notwithstanding his reasons, I could not but be sorry to see any opposition to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, a book which God had gra An interview of a somewhat different ciously given to all, and which should, of kind is thus related : "The only person whom I found unfriendly to the circulation of the Scriptures without notes, in the whole of the journey from Lima to Bogota, was the Bishop of Popayan. I have stated his opposition in gentle terms, for truth requires it. I heard, soon after putting up the advertisements for the sale of the New Testaments, that the Bishop had spoken against the reading of them. I called upon him to know whether it was so or not, and to learn what were his objections. I had visited him before, and had a visit from him in return, so that we were, on this second visit, on terms of a friendly intercourse, and we therefore entered freely into the subject of the sale and distribution of the Scriptures. I mentioned to him what I had heard, and inquired whether I had been correctly informed. He then told me the whole of what had occurred upon the subject. He said, a person who had bought one of the New Testaments, brought it to him and asked his opinion as to his using it. The person was a priest, and he named him to me. The Bishop, upon his opinion being asked, rose and brought the Acts of the Council of Trent, and pointed out to the priest the article there, prohibiting the use of the Scriptures without notes. He concluded, however, by telling the priest that he might keep bis New Testament and use it. This, said the Bishop, is all that occurred upon this matter. He said farther, that it was not his intention to oppose the circulation of the New Testaments in any other way. If any person chose to buy them, he would not interfere; but if any one should ask his opinion upon the matter, he would refer him to the same article, as his duty required him to do. I said that I understood the article in question was as he had stated it, but that when I considered how many among all ranks of the catholic clergy made no account of that article, but freely encouraged the circulation of the Scriptures among their flocks, I was inclined to think that the article was qualified by something subsequent to it, or that it was not generally considered as in force. He replied to this, that there was nothing subsequent to alter the force of that article, but rather to strengthen it, and that whatever others did, he considered his duty to be, to follow the course, be studied by all. I observed, also, that I was fully persuaded that very great advantages would arise from a general reading of the word of God, and from these considerations I conceived it to be my duty to put them into the hands of all, and to call upon all to read them with serious attention. Amen," replied the Bishop, "I also am of the same opinion. I am sure that it would be advantageous to all to read the Scriptures, but then let them be read with the necessary directions. If Bibles and New Testaments were to come here with the notes, I would be the first to promote their circulation." Our conversation was extended a good deal further upon this subject, and embraced the usual topics of this question, but which it is unnecessary here to repeat." p. 241-243. INDIA. The late estimable and much lamented Bishop Heber, in a communication dated March 1825, gave the following lively description of his mode of travelling, while on his first and extensive visitation of his vast diocese: "Of the way of performing these long journeys in India, I was myself very imperfectly informed before I came here; and, even then, it was long before I could believe how vast and cumbersome an apparatus of attendance and supplies of every kind was necessary, to travel in any degree of comfort or security. On the river, indeed, so long as that lasted, our progress is easy and pleasant, bating a little heat and a few storms-carried on by a strong south-eastern breeze, in a very roomy and comfortable boat, against the stream of a majestic body of water, with a breadth, during the rainy season, so high up as Patna, or from six to nine miles, and even above Patna, as far as Cawnpore, in no place narrower than the Mersey opposite Liverpool: but it is after leaving the Ganges for the land journey, that, if not the tug, yet no small part of the apparatus, proventus, et commeatus of war, commences. It has been my wish, on many accounts, to travel without unnecessary display. My tents, equipments, and number of servants, are all on the smallest scale which comfort or propriety would admit of: they all fall short of what are usually taken by the collectors of Districts; and in comparison of what the Commander-in-Chief had with him the year before last, I have found people disposed to cry out against them as quite insuflicient: nor have I asked for a single soldier or trooper beyond what the Coinmanding Officers of Districts have themselves offered as necessary and suitable. Yet, for myself and Dr. Smith, the united numbers amount to three elephants, above twenty camels, five horses, besides ponies for our principal servants, twenty-six servants, twenty-six bearers of burdens, fifteen clashees to pitch and remove tents, elephant and camel drivers, I believe, thirteen; and, since we have left the Company's territories and entered Rajapootam, a guard of eighteen irregular horse, and forty-five sipahees on foot, including native officers. Nor is this all for there is a number of petty tradesmen and other poor people, whose road is the same as ours, and who have asked permission to encamp near us and travel under our protection; so that yesterday, when I found it expedient, on account of the scarcity which prevails in these provinces, to order an allowance of flour, by way of Sunday dinner, to every person in camp, the number of heads was returned one hundred and sixty-five. "Of Schwartz and his fifty years' labour among the Heathen, the extraordinary influence and popularity which he acquired, both with Mussulmans, Hindoos, and contending European Governments, I need give you no account, except that my idea of him has been raised since I came into the South of India. I used to suspect, that, with many admirable qualities, there was too great a mixture of intrigue in his character-that he was too much of a political prophet-and that the veneration, which the people paid, and still pay him (and which, indeed, almost regards him as a superior being, putting crowns and burning lights before his statue), was purchased by some unwarrantable compromise with their prejudices. He was I find I was quite mistaken. really one of the most active and fearless (as he was one of the most successful) Missionaries who have appeared since the Apostles. To say that he was disinterested in regard to money, is nothing: he was perfectly careless of power; and renown never seemed to affect him, even so far as to induce an outward show of humility. His temper was perfectly simple, open, and cheerful; and, in his political negociations (employments which he never sought, but which fell in his way), he never pretended to impartiality, but acted as the avowed, though certainly the successful and judicious agent of the Orphan Prince entrusted to his care, and from attempting whose conversion to Christianity he seems to have abstained from a feeling of honour. With all these formidable numbers, you must not, however, suppose that any exorbitant luxury reigns in my tent: our fare is, in fact, as Lomely as any two farmers in England sit down to; and, if it be sometimes exuberant, the fault must be laid on a coun- His other converts were between six and try where we must take a whole sheep or seven thousand, besides those which his prekid, if we would have auimal food at all, decessors and companions in the cause had and where neither sheep nor kid will, when brought over: the number is gradually inkilled, remain eatable more than a day or creasing; and there are now in the South two. The truth is, that where people carry of India about two hundred Protestant conevery thing with them-tent, bed, furniture, gregations, the numbers of which have been wine, beer, and crockery-for six months sometimes vaguely stated at forty thousand. together, no small quantity of beasts of I doubt whether they reach fifteen thousand; burden may well be supposed necessary; but even this, all things considered, is a and, in countries such as those which I have great number. The Roman Catholics are now been traversing, where every man is considerably more numerous, but belong to armed--where every third or fourth man, a a lower class of Indians (for even these few years since, was a thief by profession-Christians retain many prejudices of caste), and where, in spite of English influence and and in point of knowledge and morality are supremacy, the forests, mountains, aud mul- said to be extremely inferior." p. 433, 434. titudes of petty sovereignties, afford all sible for the practical application of Wordsworth's good old rule'- you may believe me, that it is neither pomp nor cowardice which has thus fenced your friend in with spears, shields, and bayonets." pp. 432, 433. scope pos The Bishop's opinion of the Missionary Schwartz will be read with in terest: The following document proves the high value set on education in some parts of Bengal, and the encouragement given to Missionary labours. Schools had been established at Culna, but were about to be relinquished on account of the inadequacy of the funds of the Church Missionary Association for the District. When the people learned this, and that Mr. Deerr the Missionary was about to leave them, a petition was addressed to Archdeacon Corrie in these terms : "Salutation to the Rev. Mr. Corrie. May he live for ever! Respectfully sheweth — That it has given them exceedingly great pleasure that you have established schools among them, by which means their children have enjoyed peculiar advantages. They are, however, now informed by the Rev. Mr. Deerr, that, in consequence of his being engaged in Calcutta, it will be impossible for him to remain longer among them, on which account the schools mast necessarily be closed. EUROPE. Religious Communions.— In a work lately published in France is given the following estimate, said to be compiled from official documents, of the numbers which compose the respective Religious Communions of Europe, Jews excepted. The manner in which the subject is stated, in reference to the United Kingdom, shews that this estimate can be taken, in most cases at least, only as a general approximation to fact: England and Wales, 6,000,000 Church of England, 6,000,000 Dissenters.- Scotland, 1,500,000 Presbyterians, 500,000 other bodies.-Ireland, 500,000 Church of England, 380,000 Dissenters, 5,500,000 Romanists.-France, 30,855,000 Romanists, 659,000 Reformed, 280,000 Lutherans.—— Spain, 11,660,000 Romanists.- Portugal, 3,173,000 Romanists.-Italy, 20,210,000 They acknowledge that they formerly en- Romanists.- Switzerland, 1,167,000 Retertained some slight degree of apprehen- formed, 580,000 Romanists.-Germanic Consion concerning your sacred books; but, in federation, 6,750,000 Protestants, 6,700,000 consequence of the Rev. Mr. Deerr making Romanists-Netherlands, 3,500,000 Romaknown to them these your scriptures, not nists, 1,500,000 Protestants- Denmark, only have their fears entirely vanished, but 1,700,000 Lutherans-Sweden and Norway, they consider that these books are deserving 3,550,000 Lutherans - Prussia, 6,000,000 of the most unqualified reception (most ex- Lutherans, 4,500,000 Romanists, 1,000,000 ceedingly acceptable) and highly beneficial; Reformed, &c.-Austria, 14,000,000 Roand, on this account, they consider them-manists, 2,000,000 Protestants-Hungary, selves equally benefitted; and rejoice as 4,200,000 Romanists, 3,646,000 Reformmuch as a man born blind when he receives ed, Lutherans, &c.— Russia in Europe, his sight. 39,000,000 Greek Church, 8,000,000 RoYour petitioners, therefore, most respect-manists, 2,500,000 Protestants, 1,804,000 fully solicit that you, Reverend Sir, (Avatar of Holiness,) will condescend to allow Mr. Deerr to remain among them. He is an excellent and learned man, and is peaceable towards all. If, therefore, you will grant this request, not only will their children have the advantage of his instruction, but the dawn of knowledge will even begin among themselves. (Signed) Gorachund Gosami, Kalee Dash Sharbobhoum, Mahomedans — Turkey in Europe, 7,500,000 Total-Roman Catholics, 112,878,000; Protestants, 45,632,000; Greek Church, 41,500,000; Mahomedans, 9,304,000, SYRIA. At Beyrout, Messrs. Bird and Goodell, American Missionaries, have some pleasing prospects of success. The agents of the Church Missionary Society thus write respecting them :— "It has pleased God so to bless the labours of the brethren Bird and Goodell, that there are ten or twelve persons whom they consider to be truly converted; while many diligently search the Scriptures, to see if things he so as the Missionaries say. But it is here as it is throughout the world-he that is born after the flesh, persecutes him that is born after the Spirit. The Greeks, in general, receive the Missionaries well: but the Greek Patriarch of Beyrout fulminates against them; under the influence, it is supposed, of the Maronites and other Roman Catholics. Not only are calumnies circulated against the Missionaries, but the Patriarch curses and excom municates those who maintain any intercourse with them, even the poor who receive their alms! The same Roman Patriarch has also seized a Young Convert; and has kept him in prison in the convent, now for more than a year he often causes his victim to be beaten, and compels him to undress and to pass the night in the cold; limiting his sus tenance to the smallest portion of bread and water which will prevent him from dying! He assembles the Monks daily round the prisoner to insult him, and allows him neither to read nor write. But when they smite Asaad on the right cheek, he turns to them the other also; and when they tell him that he has a devil and curse him, be blesses when they interrogate him, he answers by a passage of Scripture, whether they promise or threaten. The Mussulmans are tolerably quiet; but they avail themselves of all opportunities to fill their purses. This is the manner of effecting their purpose: when any one begins to read the Scriptures or to visit the Missionaries, those of his sect go to the Mussulman Judge, doubtless with a present in their bands, and beg him to cause such an one to be punished: the poor man has no apprehension of the mischief, till a Turk meets him in the street and tells him that he is condemned to buy for example 100lb. of soap of the manufacture of the Pacha, at three livres per lb: whereas the just price is but one livre: if he refuses, they put him into prison, and there beat him till he consents to pay. This Roman Patriarch has given the Missionaries and other Christians the name of Biblicals;' a new word, which denotes a in excluding Protestant Dissenters from civil and political advantages, accessible to other classes of his Majesty's subjects, not more loyal, or more zealous and active in the support of the Constitution of the country than themselves; their impolicy in creating divisions amongst Britons, and in depriving the King and country of the services of a large part of the people of these realms; aud their profane tendency, inasmuch as they prostitute a solemn and holy ordinance of our religion to worldly and uncharitable purposes. 2. That we do again petition both Houses of Parliament in the approaching Session, for the repeal of so much of the aforesaid Acts as relates to the Sacramental Test. BRISTOL EDUCATION SOCIETY. The Bristol Education Society was established in the year 1770, for the Education of Baptist Ministers in Theology, Mathematics, and Classical and General Literature. It has been the means of affording, in a certain measure, to four hundred ministers this necessary qualification for the discharge of their office. The greater proportion of these have departed from this world; but many of them are still the valued Pastors of our congregations; some are Missionaries; and some are the Tutors of this and other similar Academies. For many years this was the only Institution for theological instruction in the Baptist denomination. The progress of information and mental activity in the community, the improved education of the youthful part of many of our congregations, and the more generally acknowledged necessity to our Ministers of a stronger intellectual discipline and a more considerable share of literary attainment, induced the Committee, at the commmencement of the last year, to adopt a system of larger requirement in the Academy. In the new plan, a greater measure of labour is exacted from the Students, and a more strict and diversified exercise is prescribed, at once to promote and ascertain their improvement. As nearly as possible, their whole time is made available to the purpose, and accountable to the authority of the Institution. To this may be added, that a careful judgment is exercised, in deciding on the qualifications of candidates to be admitted to support on its funds. And an examination of the Students in the studies of the past year, takes place on the day previous to the annual meeting, and is reported to the Society. There is an urgent necessity for an increase of the permanent income of this Society. There are at present in the house twenty Students, and there are applications for the admission of several others.* The annual expense is about 13501.; while the total annual income, as nearly as can be ascertained, cannot be assumed as more than 10007. suffice to the expenditure. When it is cónsidered how large the amount would be of of even small but numerous Congregational Collections, how entirely they would relieve the Society from difficulty, and how many are the churches whose Pastors have been The Committee can unhesitatingly affirm, educated in this Seminary, the Committee that the utmost attention is given to econo- cannot but feel grieved that the average my in the pecuniary expenditure; and the number of Collections for the last six years arrangements are such, that the annual ex- has been only twelve; and that not more pense of every Studeat, addition to the than six churches make a rule of collecting present number, will not exceed 251. the annually. They need not observe, that, in cost of tuition being fixed, and not propor- recommending such Collections, it is confitioned to the number. dently hoped those individuals in the conThe building has apartments for the ac-gregations who would be able to afford their commodation of thirty Students; and from the estimate just mentioned it is evident that the ten unoccupied studies might be filled at a very moderate expense. But without increased pecuniary assistance, the Committee will not only be unable to enlarge their number, but even to support the present. In venturing, during the last year, to make a considerable addition, notwith-sured that if it can be brought under delistanding the too narrow limitation of resources, to the number as it had stood in some preceding years, they have, in some degree, proceeded on the principle of faithunwilling to entertain a timid distrust of obtaining a greater competence of means, when the circumstances of the Academy, and the exertions to render it more eminently useful, should be fairly and more widely represented. aid in the distinct form of Annual Subscriptions, would be too generons to diminish and sink their proportion of that aid in such smaller contributions as must compose the bulk of those Collections. In these statements, the Committee are. endeavouring to do their utmost to draw a serious attention to the object; being as berate consideration, its claims will be acknowledged by those who are able to render it assistance, both by direct contribution and by an exertion of their influence. They intreat to be allowed to urge the plain questions,-Is it, really, a matter of small importance whether the succession of ministers of religion shall, or shall not, come forth with well disciplined, well farnished minds? Is it not apparent that the intellectual and The Committee, while they trust that, in religious movement among the people is making an earnest solicitation for this as- likely to call, and does already call, for a sistance, they may justly refer back to the greater number ofsuch ministers? Is it not tried and prolonged usefulness of the Insti- a hopeful and delightful sign of a change in tation, are also able with confidence to as- the community that there should be this resure those who are, and those whom they quirement! But how is this demand to be invite to become its supporters, that it is adequately met with the supply?—It is now rendered very materially more efficient evident that the Dissenters must have their to its purpose; and that the reformed sys-chief resource, for this important service, in tem has been acted on with diligence and vigour. They earnestly and respectfully represent these circumstances to those who feel the importance of a well-instructed, as well as pious ministry, soliciting such assistance as they may have it in their power to supply, either by Donations, or by Annual Subscriptions; and they would still more earnestly urge upon ministers and members of churches, that Congregational Collections are a mode of assistance which, while not burdensome to individeals, would, if only so general throughout our denomination as it is quite reasonable to expect they should be, fully * A friend of the Society has generously agreed to pay 751. a year, for the board of three Students for four years from next Midsummer. their Academies. And therefore, to withhold from these a speedy and liberal support, will be to make little benefit of a great occasion, to forego the advantages of an opportune season, and to prosecute their operations for religion in a subordinate manner, and with a limited scope, unworthy of the character of zealous servants of God, and reformers of mankind. But the Committee of the Bristol Education Society trust, that many of those to whom the present statement is addressed, are fully sensible that religion both deserves and needs the best attainable cultivation of mind, in the persons who are to be its teachers and examples; that they are desirous the attachment they feel to the church at large, and to that portion of it with which they are more especially conjoined, may have the best means for being continued onward, and even augmented, in their children and successors; and that they will not suder |