one of those unbelieving messengers, and had he been consulted at the time, like them he should have made a bad report of the land. His friend Saffery, however, returned, and be haved more like Caleb and Joshua. He stated the case truly, but in such a manner as encouraged the leaders of Israel to advance. In short, the report which he gave had the effect of originating the society, and so the first step was taken by the English Baptists towards clearing themselves of the reproach of so long neglecting their duty. Ireland, in their very neighbourhood, had been neglected, while they were sending the gospel to the ends of the earth. They had all been verily guilty in this matter, in forgetting their "little sister"-the "lovely isle of the ocean"--leaving it to be blinded by the superstition of popery, and robbed by its rapacity

Bounty of Sligo. Those in the county of Clare are superintended by the Rev. Wm. Thomas, who resides in Limeric; those in the county of Cork, by the Rev. T. C. Keene, who resides in the city of Cork; and those in the middle counties are regularly visited by the Rev. S. Davis of Clonmel, and the Rev. Isaac M'Carthy of Tullamore. "Before the Committee close this part of their report, they would remind the Society of advantages resulting from making the native Irish acquainted with the scriptures, as it relates to the peace and welfare of Ireland. All their agents unite in the following testimony of Mr. Wm. Moore :--Wherever the scriptures are read, or heard, there is loyalty; and I defy the kingdom to produce an instance from the cominencement of our Society, of any person who has attended upon the reading of the scriptures, or has read them himself, having been appre-blinded and robbed to a degree which hended, or charged with any insurrecfionary practices: therefore, if it were only to save great expenses to the government, let the scriptures have free course; and love to England, and loyalty to the government, will be the results.' As a corroboration of this statement, it is gratifying to find, that the late despatches from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, respecting the convulsed state of society, mentions part of the province of Connaught,'" The priest, sir, who lives in James in connection with the province of Ulster, as being perfectly tranquil."

was scarcely credible. He would give them an instance which came to his own knowledge. He was crossing the bridge over the canal near to James-street, Dublin. A boy asked alms. He observed suspended from the neck of the boy, who was 10 or 12 years old, a bit of pasteboard, and inquired, "What have you got here, my good boy?" "It is a gospel, sir." "And who gave you the gospel?"

street." "And wherefore did the priest give you the gospel?" "I was overtaken with a sickness in the night, and the priest gave me the gospel." "And how much did you pay for the gospel?” "I paid five shillings, sir." Five shillings from this poor little boy, who lived by begging, for a bit of parchment ! But for far other pur poses than these, Ireland had now come up in remembrance before God, and he had brought her into the remembrance of this people; and therefore from her mud-wall cabins, from the heights of her hills, and from the bottoms of her mountains, we had

The Rev. Mr. Barclay, of Irvine, in Scotland, stood forward to propose the first resolution. There could be but one opionion upon it-that it was of exceeding great interest, and that it called forth the best exertions of all who heard it. He had visited Ireland repeatedly, first on behalf of the India Missions in 1808. It appeared to him at the time that the country was, in the main, spiritually dead, and at rest. The almost only exception which he generally found was in the labours of the Methodists, which, to their great credit, never were checked," heard songs, even glory to the however hopeless the surrounding prospect; they were, as it had been justly said, All at it, and always at it." He was there again with his excellent friend, now near him (Mr. Saffery) in the year 1813. They were both of them deeply moved at the state of the country. He could not help comparing himself and his friend to the messengers who were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. He must confes that be himself was more like

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RIGHTEOUS." The cause was so just, the protection of it so high, the purposes so great, that the work must prosper. In Scotland they looked with great interest on the labours of their English brethren as to this subject. The history of the society was known beyond the Tweed, and had excited their prayers and anticipation, and engaged for its success. He himself ived nearly opposite to a near point of the Irish coast. The Irish popula

tion of course, frequently visited their prepare the seed for other harvests, shores, and their appearance was nor that they would have to continue striking, and full of distress. A their exertions. The society was female friend of his was sitting at his under engagements for £500 to the window, reading the third report of Treasurer. Christians were too apt, this society, at the time of its publi- however, to despond; they were ever cation, when a company of the Irish, ready to flag in the Redeemer's cause, who had just landed, was passing and to cry out "there is a lion in the up from the harbour to the town in way-we shall be slain in the streets." which he lived. Her mind being Let them prefer the resolution of deeply interested in the accounts of Christian in approaching the house of your labours, and affected with their the Interpreter, and like as with him, miserable appearance, she gave it the difficulties would be found on relief by the following poetic effusion, approaching them, much less than that he repeated to the assembly, and their fears. He remembered hearing which we have procured by the kind of a person, (who he dared to say was attention of a friend. rot a Scotsman, but born and nourished on this side of the Tweed) that in such cases of difficulty, adopted as his motto, the three following letters T-R-Y. He recommended this same motto to the society and its members, and not to be discouraged by dif ficulties, but to TRY and surmount them.

Erin shall rise! the chains that held
Her captive spirit bound,
Methinks I hear already snapt,

And falling to the ground.
Immur'd in worse than Egypt's night,
We saw our sister lie;
And all unmindful of her plight,
Supinely passed by.

Ah! did we stretch the hand of love
Unto each stranger's child;
And heedless suffer'd her to rove,
So miserably wild..

But now that period deathly cold,

To Erin's past away;
The beams of love which now unfold,
Shall gild her future day.

Hail, Erin, hail! thy Conqueror's near;

He comes, he sees thy ills;
E'en now his chariot wheels we hear
Upon thy distant hills.

Awaken hope, with raptur'd eyes,

Her bright'ning form behold;

And see her from her shackles rise,
To liberty and God.

But, oh! let penitence intrude,
And at her feet bemoan,
To God our deep ingratitude,
To her our hearts of stone.

But while they were thus encouraged to exult, they were also called upon to act, and indeed their exultation was a pledge that they were prepared for this action. Though the object was spiritual, the work itself was in a manner an earthly thing, and pecuniary means were necessary to it. They could never cease till "the little green island" should be covered with the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. These annual meetings were pleasant; they were something like the celebration of harvest-home in husbandry. But, like prudent husbandmen, they must not forget to

He concluded by moving, "That this Meeting, from the report now read, feels truly grateful that the blessing of God has attended the labours of the society, in promoting religious knowledge, morality, and loyalty, and therefore resolves that the report, considering the information it contains, be adopted and circulated, as well adapted to increase the friends and supporters of the institution."

Rev. J. Hoby of London seconded the Resolution. He adverted to those general meetings of Christ's disciples, before the name of Christians had su perseded that of Galileans and Nazarenes; and considered that there was a degree of resemblance between those now held by various societies, and some of which we have the records in the Acts of the Apostles. If there was much which might be contrasted with the simplicity of primitive times, there was a happy approximation in the motives which influence the emotions inspired, and the measures adopted. He had no wish to intermeddle with politics, but was reminded of a meeting, lately held in that room, by many points of similarity in the condition of the two countries, Spain and Ireland. The same causes, popery and priestcraft, had produced similar results in both; but "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God" He was struck with the propriety of the terms in the Resolution, "for promoting religious knowledge, morality, and loyalty;" this supposed ignorance, immorality, and insurrec

tion. Not only were the terms proper, stood forward, and was kindly rebut the order of the em was admirable.ceived by the Meeting. He said it For without religious knowledge there could be no pure morality; and without both of these they could not expect true loyalty. Ignorance led directly to vice, and these together to rebellion. In vain would the Government attempt to stop the evil, by simply opposing the arm of power to répress the lawless men. They must be instructed and drawn into union by the bonds of Christian love. Where people were the best taught, and most religious, they were the best and most useful subjects. They must give the Irish other prospects than they now had, of being called to pave our streets, conduct to our house's water and light, and gather in our harvests, and then to be told by advertisements, placarded on our walls, that if they applied to the parish' for relief, they should be sent back to the land of potatoes.

In this Society an attempt is made to do the greatest quantity of good, at the least possible expense, and he believed from his heart, there was not a spot on the globe now visited by Christian benevolence, where 25 or £2600 was more profitably expended than the funds of this Society are in Ireland. He was sorry to hear that the Treasurer was so much as £500 in advance; but he was reminded of the answer given by the father of a large family to the inquiry, how he contrived to provide for so many children; "Easily enough," said he, "we all work for the youngest." They ought to imitate this man in his energy and cheerfulness; so far at least as to do what they could for the most necessitous Society. This idea had suggested to the Auxiliary Missionary Society in his own congregation, the propriety of sending them ten guineas. He concluded by congratulating them on the recovery of their valuable Secretary from his late illness, and his resumption of his very useful labours, and trusted that the assistance of his excellent colleague, would, with the blessing of God, greatly contribute to the prosperity of the Society.

The resolution was then put from the chair, and carried unanimously, as was the case with all the other regolutions.

The Secretary acknowledged the receipt of two sums, one from Edinburgh Bible Society, of £100, and another from the East Lothaine Bible Society of £20, sent by the Rev. Christopher Anderson.

The Rev. S. Davis, of Clonmel, then

was the most gratifying to him to be there. It was several years since he had the pleasure of addressing an assembly like the present. He rose to describe the nature of the arrangements which they had adopted. Their labours were chiefly successful among the descendents of the English and Scotch, who were mixed in a considerable measure with the aborigines of the island in every part of it, and thousands of these were ignorant of the gospel,and some had gone into the bosom of the Roman Catholic communion for want of other spiritual instruction. There were, however, some pleasing instances of the liberality of Roman Catholic priests towards Protestants that might be mentioned. Some Roman Catholics had made a disturbance at a place where there was a preaching. The priest was informed of it, and rebuked them for it on the next Sunday from the altar. He told them that he did not wish them to go to hear the preaching, but if they would go, they must demean themselves properly, or they should experience his displeasure. He was told by a Presbyterian minis. ter of a Catholic priest who used to, invite his flock to the chapel after performing mass, saying, "Now let us go and hear Mr. ; he can preach a better sermon than I can." But it happened that a wrong-headed man, tempted by this conciliation, rashly proceeded to attack the leading tenets of popery. The priest and his congregation were, naturally, affronted, and would come no more. And that was with him a common remark, that if you attack them in an offensive manner, you may do more harm than good. There was a manner of doing things. He would stand as firmly as any man upon the principles of protestantism and the gospel; but they ought not needlessly to offend those to whom they were opposed. The first thing was to get them to embrace the gospel, and then they would freely give up their errors and troublesome and expensive superstitions. They had been greatly successful in the scriptural education of Roman Catholic children: they had in the schools about 7600 of them. In one town they had 300; and it was a delightful sight to see the boys reading, and the girls sewing. A friend who accompanied him wept for joy at the sight. He examined some of the boys, and their progress was astonishing. One of them had 75 chapters by heart. He could not

stop to hear them all repeated, but desired the boy to turn down the leaves, which was done. He then examined him in 20 or 30 chapters at random, and he found sufficient reason to believe that the boy knew the whole 75 chapters. Some could repeat 20, some 30, and some 40 and more chapters. He gave the first boy a Bible; and though he was a Roman Catholic he loved the book, and had At subsequently refused 68. for it. another examination, the chief competitor for the prize was so ragged that he doubted the propriety of trusting him with the new book, lest he should out of absolute necessity dispose of it to buy himself clothes. The poor boy came up to him with tears in his eyes, and said, If you will give me the Bible, Sir, I will not part with it, but I will show it to you every time you come this way. In these delights he had participated, though at a distance from his native home. The spirit of union prevailed among the brethren of all denominations. The Episcopalians, the Methodists, the Independents, the Baptists, the Presbyterians, were into the creasingly attached each others. Their principle was, never to use catechisms in the schools. The children knew nothing of him as a to make Baptist. His object was them proselytes, not to a sect, but to the Bible: and that was the general He disposition of all his brethren. could speak to the accuracy of that part of the Report which stated that those counties were the most peaceable which were the best instructed. But much as was done by ourselves and other societies, much more remained to be done. The Sunday School Society stated that they have 1761 schools, containing 167,000 were 11,628 scholars; and there teachers. But notwithstanding this, it appeared that in the county of Limerie alone, not more than one in 977 received religious instruction.

Lieut. J. E. Gordon, R. N. proposed the second Resolution, viz. "That this Meeting, sincerely desirous of conferring real and permanent benefits upon the sister kingdom, is increasingly satisfied of the correctness of the opinion lately expressed by a noble Earl, viz. that if any thing can be found to allay the terrors, and to heal the wounds of that unhappy country, it is the dissemination of the Gospel of Peace; and that the best mode in which that Gospel can be distributed, and the most likely to overcome the prejudices of the people, is to present it to them in

their own tongue." He presented himself, he said, with considerable reluctance to the meeting, having entered the room without any intention of taking a part in its proceedings. Having, however, visited those parts of Ireland which are deriving benefit from the Baptist Irish Society's exertions, he was unwilling, when so particularly called upon, to hold hack from Ladies and Gentlemen present, the testimony of disinterested He had attended to observation. the operations of every Institution, which is at work upon the ignorance and moral degradation of Ireland; and the variety, as well as the power. of the system, will justify the transfer of a figure, once applied to the militant church. It was varied as an army with banners; and with respect to the superstition and spiritual despotism with which it was tasked, it would ultimately prove "terrible as an army with banners." Speaking of the Baptist Irish Society as a component part of this general system, it was but justice to its plan and its exertions, to state that the schools in connection with it, held a very high rank in the Indeed, he scriptural catalogue. should say, that in point of order, and moral efficiency, they were inferior to none in the country. The plan of the society, comprehensively consi dered, was admirably adapted to the diversity of the ignorance, the super stition, and the determined opposition, which every scheme of religious and moral improvement must expect te encounter in that country; and hav ing said this much of the plan in general, he would offer a few remarks on the principal heads which it presented. Among these, the adaptation of the Society's attentions to the Adult, as well as the Juvenile population, was a just and a necessary application, of its benefits. In a general despair of making an impression upon the present, we had far too exclusively applied our exertions to the improvement of the rising generation; and he considered it a principal recom mendation of the Baptist Society, that it had not abandoned this work of mercy as hopeless. He was satisfied, from experience and extensive observation, that much might be effected in behalf of the adult peasantry; and he would state, for the encourage ment of gentlemen about him, that the London Hibernian Society (an Institution with which he was intimately connected) had brought upwards of 8000 adults under scriptural instr