ment of its establishment. His heart was very much engaged in the welfare of this Institution. He took a deep, and permanent, and lively interest in its management and concerns. And it was not till he was completely incapacitated by that malady which brought him to the grave, that he relinquished his post of duty. Nay, more: he did not, even in death, forget his connection with you; for some of the last words which he addressed to his intimate Friend upon the very last visit which he paid him, were to this effect-"I am thankful to God, for having permitted me to take the part which I have taken, in the Societies established in this place, for the promotion of his Kingdom and Glory.' And who was this FRIEND to whom these words were spoken?-Is it possible for the Committee to look round upon the present company, and not recognise his va-, cant place? Is it possible for any of us to forget, who were present on the last Anniversary, the manner in which this friend enlivened and edified the Meeting? Can we very soon forget that talent so peculiarly his own, by which he passed "from grave to gay-from lively to severe?" Do we not remember the prophetic words with which he closed his observations, and warned us to reflect upon the closing year?-Surely the Committee may be pardoned for thus mentioning the name of the Rev. THOMAS SIMPSON :-for with him, too, they had often taken sweet counsel, and his heart too was ever deeply interested in the welfare of this Institution. But the pen has fallen from his hand with which he was inscribing his brother's memorial; and he has followed him to his recent grave; and has left the Committee to deplore the loss of a zealous friend and fellow-helper-a loss which cannot well be supplied, but which it is their privi. lege to alleviate, by the humble confidence that it is to his eternal gain. Home Proceedings. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. BENEFITS TO MERCHANT SEAMEN. THE First Report of the Merchant Seamen's Auxiliary Bible Society, gives a statement of the Proceedings of Lieutenant Cox, the Society's Agent, which clearly demonstrates the importance of that Institution. Lieutenant Cox commenced his opera. tions at Gravesend, on the 26: of February, 1818. During the fifty-one weeks which have elapsed between that date and the 17th of February, 1819, he has supplied with the Holy Scriptures 1681 vessels, having on board 24,765 men, of whom 21,671 are reported able to read. On board this large number of ships, navigated by so many men, were found only 1,475 Bibles, and 725 Testaments; and these were the property of individual officers or seamen, and not intended for general use. Upward of 590 ships, having 6,149 men on board, of whom 5,490 were reported able to read, were absolutely without a single copy of the Bible or Testament; and, but for the seasonable benevolence of this Society, would have proceeded to sea, many of them on distant and dangerous voyages, wholly destitute of this invaluable source of instruction and consolation. To supply the lamentable want of the Holy Scriptures, which was thus ascertained to exist among so large a proportion of our Merchant Seamen, 1,705 Bibles and 4,068 Testaments have been gratuitously furnished to ships proceeding from the Port of London on foreign voyages, for the use of their respective crews; besides which, 390 Bibles and 207 Testaments have been sold to individual seamen at half their cost price, yielding in all a sum of 891. 4s. 10d. A few, and only a very few, cases have occurred, in which the visits of the Society's Agent have not been courteously received. Only in four instances were his offers contumeliously rejected. With these rare exceptions, the appearance of the Agent has in general been welcomed with a gratifying cordiality, and his gift of Bibles accepted with warm expressions of acknowledgment. From Lieutenant Cox's Report we select some highly pleasing facts. Of a Spanish Ship he writes The seamen on board hardly knew how to be thankful enough for the two Testaments which I left for their use; thanking me a thousand times, in Spanish and broken English, not only while I was on board with them, but when I was at some distance in the boat. He says of a Sailor, on board an English Vessel I was pleased with the candid confession of one of the crew, who carried with him an honest countenance. He said aloud, "We sailors have been swearers quite long enough it is now high time that we begin to pray. Let me have a Bible." Of a Sailor Boy, who may well serve as an example to our children, Lieutenant Cox reports A very poor, but clean, and apparently thoughtful boy, came to my office in the evening; said he belonged to a fishing smack, which was, at that time, at sea; that he was about to take his passage by a vessel in the same employ, to join the Victory; and that, before he left the shore, he hoped I would let him have a Testament upon the terms at which they are supplied to seamen, and that he would be for ever obliged to me. Of course, I found great pleasure in complying with his request. The Captains of different vessels discovered a proper sense of the value of the Scriptures to their crews. Of one Captain, Lieutenant Cox reports― He is a very pleasant man. He highly approved of the Society, and their proceedings; and said, "No Owner or Captain ought to receive the Scriptures without contributing to the funds. I intreat you, Sir, to accept of a pound note, toward defraying the expense attending the circulation of Bibles and Testaments among our Seamen. I wish I could do more." Another Captain said "How much better is it, to teach Seamen their duty from the Bible, than by any other means whatever!. It is a good work, Sir, and deserves support. My crew are all fresh hands; but I believe they are all steady lads."-" This is a famous good thing" said the Mate, turning over the leaves of the Testament; "it must do good. Not a Bible or Testament on board!" Of a ship which he had before supplied, Lieut. Cox reports When passing under the stern, I was hailed to go along-side. On going on board, I found the Seamen were receiving their pay, four of whom wished to have a Bible each, that they could call their own. The Captain, who bears an excellent character, was quite delighted on seeing his people so desirous of purchasing the Scriptures. "Come, come, this looks well," said the Captain. "It is rather an uncommon sight, but a very comely one," observed one of the passengers. The Captain of another ship told Lieutenant Cox, that In his last long voyage, he found the benefit of giving suitable instruction to those under his orders. Every Sabbath Morning, it was his practice to assemble his people together, to prayers, and to hear the Scriptures read; and, in the after-part of the day, he observed, it was pleasant to behold the seamen scattered about the ship, under the boats, and in other shady places, reading the Bibles. "Great things, Sir," said he, “can be done, if Owners and Commanders are pleased to put their hands to the good work; which, I hope, they will do, when they see it to be their interest, as well as their duty, to attend to the morals of their people." That Owners and Commanders have full encouragement to put their hands to this work, may be seen in the state of the crews, where due attention is paid to them. Of an English Vessel, Lieut. Cox says and reading the Scriptures are the constant This ship was in high order. Prayer practice, on all proper occasions. The Captain seems to regard his people as his own children. Of a Dutch Ship he writes I found this vessel, carrying twelve men, strictly a religious ship. Here are reading, singing, and prayers, daily: a blessing is solicited before meals; and KING'S LETTER. THE King's Letter "for a General Collection of Charity" in support of the objects of the Society in the East, dated on the Tenth of February, has been forwarded to the greater part of the Dioceses. Our Readers will see, with pleasure and thankfulness, that the "utmost endeavours" of the Society "to diffuse the light of the Gospel" throughout the British Dominions in Asia, are sanctioned by the Royal Authority. We trust that the Members of the Church will liberally answer this call and will afford the Society the means, not only of making a great effort on the strength of the present Collections; but, by their Annual Contributions, will encourage the gradual increase of its exertions. The obligation under which this Empire lies of labouring for the Conversion of its idolatrous and deluded subjects in Asia, will never be discharged but by the united wisdom, the liberal contributions, the ardent charity, the unwearied labours, and the fervent prayers of the whole Christian Community of this highly privileged country. In the Name and on the Behalf of GEORGE, P. R. Most Reverend Father in God, Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Councillor, We greet you well: Whereas the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts have, by their Petition, humbly represented unto Us, That King William the Third, of Glorious Memory, was graciously pleased to erect the said Corporation by Letters Patent, bearing Date the 16th Day of June 1701, for the the Charity of such of His loving Subreceiving, managing, and disposing of jects as should be induced to contribute towards the Maintenance of an Orthodox Clergy, and the making such other Provision as might be necessary for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts: That the very great Expenses necessarily attending that good Work having frequently much exceeded the Income of several Times, to make humble Applithe Society, they have been obliged, at cations to Our Royal Predecessors:-to her Majesty Queen Anne, in the Years 1711 and 1714-to His Majesty King George the First, in the Year 1718-in 1741 and 1751 to His Majesty King George the Second, our Royal Grandfather and to Ourselves in the Year 1779, for Permission to make Public Collections of Charity; which Applications were most graciously received, and Permissions granted for the Purposes aforesaid, by which Means the Society was enabled to carry on the good Designs for which they were incorporated: That during the Period of Forty Years, which have elapsed since their last Apbeen faithfully expended in promoting plication, the Funds of the Society have the Erection of Churches and Schools in dispersing Bibles and Prayer Books, with other Books of Devotion-in supporting and maintaining, within Our Provinces of North America and else where, a constant Succession of Missionaries, Catechists, and Schoolmasters, by whose Means the Comfort and Benefit of Pastoral Care and Instruction, of Public Prayer, and preaching of God's Word, and the due Administration of the Holy Sacraments, have been secured to many of Our Subjects in those Parts, and many Thousands of Indians and Negroes have been instructed and baptized in the true Faith of Christ : That, induced by a variety of favourable Circumstances, the Society are desirous of extending the range of their Labours, and of using their utmost Endeavours to diffuse the Light of the Gospel, and permanently to establish the Christian Faith, in such Parts of the Continent and Islands of Asia as are under. Our Protection and Authority; but that, owing to the state of their Funds, which are altogether unequal to the Expenses of such an Undertaking, they are unable, without further Assistance from our good Subjects, to proceed in the Execution of their Designs: The Society, therefore, confiding in our great Zeal for Our Holy Religion, and our known Affection to all Our Subjects, most humbly pray, That We would be most graciously pleased to grant them Our Royal Letters, directed to the Lords Archbishops of our Kingdom, for a general Collection of Charity within their several Provinces, for the good Uses of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts: We, taking the same into Our Royal Consideration, and being always ready to give the best Encouragement and Countenance to Undertakings which tend so much to the promoting true Piety and our Holy Religion, are graciously pleased to condescend to their Requests; and do hereby direct you, that these Our Letters be communicated to the several Suffragan Bishops within your Province, expressly requiring them to take Care that Publication be made hereof on such Sundays and in such Places within their respective Dioceses, as the said Bishops shall appoint; and that upon this Occasion, the Ministers in each Parish do effectually excite their Parishioners to a liberal Contribution, whose Benevolence towards carrying on the said Charitable Work shall be collected in the Church immediately after Divine Service, and in the course of the Week following, at the Dwellings of the several Inhabitants, by the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor, assisted, as far as may be, by the Minister and such other respectable Inhabitants as may be prevailed upon to attend for that Purpose; and the Miuisters of the several Parishes are to cause the Sums so collected to be paid immediately to the Treasurer or Treasurers for the Time being of the said Society, to be accounted for by him or them to the Society, and applied to the carrying on and promoting the abovementioned good Designs; and so We bid you very heartily farewell. Given at our Court, at Carleton House, the Tenth Day of February 1819, in the Fifty-ninth Year of Our Reign. By the Command of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the Name and Behalf of His Majesty. SIDMOUTH. Archbishop of Canterbury. For a Collection for the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts.. CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY. DESIGNATION OF TWO MISSIONARIES. WE have already noticed (see p. 29) the appointment to India of the Rev. Laurence Peter Haubroe and the Rev. David Rosen; and the Charge delivered to them, on the 29th of January, at the Society's House, by the Rev. Dr. Wordsworth. We shall now abstract the substance of the Charge, and of the Missionaries' Addresses, on that occasion, to the Board. Dr. Wordsworth's Charge to the Rev. Messrs. Haubroe and Rosen. In modest reference to his own feelings of inferiority, while he contemplated the high undertaking of the Missionaries whom he was addressing, Dr. Wordsworth introduces his Charge by alluding to an interesting scene When the first Protestant Bishop in India, in his first progress round his vast Diocese, approached the South of the Peninsula, (I am speaking of recent circumstances, and of one whose name is deservedly held dear in this Assembly,) he visited the Missionary Stations of this Society; and having been accompanied in that part of his route by our excellent our own Privileges, and of the Divine Command. The results of Christian Exertion, so far as they have gone, have been Kolhoff, whom the Bishop designates by highly beneficial. On these results, the high appellation of " another Swartz,' when the time came that they should separate, the Missionary, as the Bishop describes it, "pronounced over me a prayer for my future welfare. Looking at his labours, I could not but feel that the less was blessed of the greater!" Dr. Wordsworth urges the Duty, the Necessity, the Practicability, and the Prudence of propagating Christianity in India. Referring the Missionaries to Archdeacon Pott's Charge to Mr. Sperschneider (see our last Vol. pp.374-379) for "words of Counsel and Guidance, at once wise and beautiful, thoughtful and affectionate, animated and profound," Dr. Wordsworth states his own purpose to be the consideration of our common DUTY of prosecuting the Missionary Cause with vigour and re-animated hopes, in consequence of certain favourable appearances of the times, and important fresh opportunities and means, long wanted, but which, by a gracious Providence, are now put into our hands. Still (he adds) the argument at which I aim, is not one of personal strife and controversy. It is too late a day to be contentious on the side of principles, upon which we have acted for more than a hundred years. But as it is your duty and ours, to be ready always to give a reason of the faith that is in us, and that in the same temper which the Apostle prescribes, of meekness and fear; so is it also special matter of our rejoicing, if therein we can comfort and edify one another; can stir up our own minds by way of remembrance: and matter of a yet more heartfelt joy, if haply our voice, our voice of exhortation or admonition, might reach any of those hearts which most it does concern; that so they may come in and help us, and a temple be reared unto the Lord by many hands in desolate places. The point of Duty is urged on the grounds of Brotherly Love, of Dr. Wordsworth remarks The contemplation of them, as of a light shining in a dark place, is, in no common degree, soothing and consolatory to humanity. "Here," says one Traveller (Buchanan: Christian Researches, p. 79, ed. 1812) speaking of the district of Tanjore, "the Christian Virtues are found in exercise by the feeble-minded Hindoo, in a vigour and purity which will surprise those who have never known the native character but under the greatest disad vantages, as in Bengal. It certainly surprised myself: and, when I reflected on the moral conduct, upright dealing, decent dress, and decorous manners of the Native Christians of Tanjore, I found in my breast a new evidence of the peculiar excellence and benign influence of the Christian Faith." The same venerable authority which I referred to at the commencement, and who says of the Religion of the Country, "it is more shocking than I had conceived, and it is worth while to visit Idolatrous Nations in order to know and to feel the real value of Christianity," speaks in high terms of the Mission at Tanjore; and declares that he met with nothing more interesting in all his journey, than the interviews which he held with the Native Christians of that region. Of the effect of Missionary Exertions at home, and on our peculiar obligation to greater efforts in India, Dr. Wordsworth says The labour of your predecessors has not been in vain abroad: and the effects produced here at home, by our Missionary Efforts, have been hardly less serviceable. According to the benignant dispensation of Providence, the testimony, which, for the sake of others, we have thus borne to the value and importance of Christianity, has served to cast a light around our own path. These very solemnities themselves. have not been without their fruits of blessing. I doubt not, they have, from time. to time, brought home to many bosoms an inward sense of the privileges, happiness,. and duties of our own favoured condition; a sense of sympathy and fellowship with |