Malays in that archipelago, but have sometimes been in danger of being blown up by gunpowder; at others, of being murdered by pirates; and at other times, of being run on the rocks and on the sands; and always in great peril of being interrupted by constant hazards and difficulties. The Chinese have a proverb, which they express very appositely in their own tongue: it is, that "the Chinese have paper ships and iron men ; and the English have iron ships and paper men." I do not know how far this may apply; but certainly they have most frail barks, and it is extremely hazardous to embark in them. With regard to availing ourselves of opium vessels, if it ever were found to be impolitic and improper, it is a thousand times more so now, now that more light has been thrown on the subject, and now that the opium-dealers and the Missionaries have come into direct collision with each other, so that the war-whoop has been sounded, and eternal war declared. It will now be impossible to avail ourselves of such opportunities. There are vessels to carry us to China, but none to

carry us along the coast of China. The Americans have sent one; but it was engaged for one year only, and that year has expired, so that our facilities for conveyance are entirely at an end. I leave this to work its own way. And now I cannot depart from you, beloved friends, without entreating an interest in your prayers. I hope when you bow before the throne of grace, and in your best moments look to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I hope you will think of those who are to be engaged in this distant field, in this interesting work, in this hazardous enterprise, and pray with fervour and with earnestness, that God would smile upon the Mission to China. I observed, that I am about to quit my native land; but in so doing, I rejoice to say, that I mean to leave a legacy behind me. I have been engaged in inditing a book to give to the world; it is a book devoted to the interests of the Chinese Mission, calculated, I think, to awaken some interest in its behalf, and certainly ready to impart to you some new information on the subject of China.

V. THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE Annual Meeting of this Society was held at Finsbury chapel, on Thursday, May 3d: C. Lushington, Esq., M. P., in the chair. The speakers were, the Rev. B. Goodwin; the Rev. C. M. Birrell; the Rev. Dr. Hoby; the Rev. J. H. Hinton; the Rev. J. Leifchild; W. B. Gurney, Esq.; the Rev. John Leechman, Missionary from Serampore; the Rev. Joseph Burton, Missionary from Nassau; the Rev. Eustace Carey; and the Rev. Mr. Harris.

It was stated in the Report, which was read by the Rev. John Dyer, that in Calcutta the Mission had been considerably weakened by the necessary absence of the Rev. W. Pearce, and, more recently, by the illness of Messrs. Ellis and George Pearce. At Salkeya, seven persons had been baptized. The Bengali New Testament was finished at the press in the month of April. At the request of the Committee of the Calcutta Bible Society, Mr. Yates had put to press his new version of the Psalms. In the Hindostani an improved version of the New Testament was proceeding. In the Sanscrit language a version of the New Testament, founded on the basis of the Bengali, was in course of execution. The village station at Khari, on account of its distance from Calcutta, had been left

almost entirely to the care of native Assistants. Additions had been made to the churches at Cutwa. In Ceylon the schools attached to the Mission afforded evidence of the divine blessing. The Report next directed attention to the West Indies. By a general statement, presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of the churches in Jamaica, it appeared that the number of churches was thirty; connected with which there were thirtythree smaller stations, where worship was conducted on the Lord's day, or during the week, and the Lord's supper was occasionally administered. There were also sixteen estates on which schools were established. The number of pupils reported was 10,903. Forty-two male and female Teachers were engaged in this important work; besides which between two and three hundred "Leaders " -a class of helpers adapted to the circumstances of the Jamaica populationrendered what aid they could. It then gave an interesting account of the progress of the Mission, in other parts of the island ; and went on to state that a union had been effected between the Serampore Missions and this Society. In the receipts of the Society there had been an increase since the last Report of more than £3,000; the amount, not

with which they had prosecuted their efforts. Certainly success had not kept pace with their meritorious anxiety, but they had laid the foundation of great good, and he trusted that there were reverend gentlemen present who would be enabled to announce numerous instances of conversion through their instrumentality to the Christian faith. He saw, by the last Report of the Society, that its chapels were crowded, and that its seminaries were frequented with eagerness by the young. With respect to the West Indies, he observed that the blessing of God appeared to rest remarkably upon the labours of their Missionaries there. Lord Sligo had stated, that almost all the religious feeling existing among the slaves was derived from the labours of Dissenting Missionaries. It had been too well proved, by evidence lately received, that the restriction of law could not deter, and the frown of Omnipotence did not prevent, men from tyrannizing over their fellow-creatures when they happened to be in their power, and especially if their skins were black. But the voice of indignation had lately arisen with one shout of execration against those atrocities; and if that shout did not convey conviction, stubbornness must at length yield to consternation. They might believe, with confidence, that that

shameful enormity would meet with a prompt, certain, and effectual check. After such a happy consummation, the Negro might attend at the feet of his Christian instructer, and imbibe the lessons of the Gospel, fearless of the lash of the driver, of the scowl of the overseer, or the workhouse treadmill; and the Missionary himself might impart to fresh numbers the truths of that Gospel which he so sincerely believed and so ably inculcated. In future days the stranger, surveying the numerous places of religious worship erected in those islands, and observing that the descendants of the Negroes had all become Christians,-the stranger would inquire, Who caused those churches and chapels to be erected; who enlightened that numerous race? And the reply would be, that the Missionaries were the cause of the erection of those chapels; that it was the Missionaries who imparted to them the blessed truths of revelation; that it was the Missionaries who communicated to them the glorious tidings of the Gospel; and when they looked around, and saw the flourishing state of the country, when they saw that Christianity was the great consideration there among those who had hitherto been so ignorant, they would one and all exclaim, "God bless their labours, and prosper their efforts!"

VI. THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

THE Thirty-ninth Anniversary of this institution was held at Exeter-Hall, on Friday evening, May 4th: Samuel Hoare, Esq., in the chair. The speakers were, the Rev. James Haldane Stewart; the Rev. Dr. Steinkopff; the Rev. Merle D'Aubigné; the Rev. J. Woodward; the Rev. W. H. Medhurst; Chou Tek Long, from China; the Rev. Henry Vachell, from Canada; Yagouba Asaad El Kehaya; the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel; the Rev. Robert Ainslie; the Rev. Robert Newstead; and the Rev. Mr. Vance.

The Report, which was read by the Rev. Mr. Monro, the clerical Secretary, referred to the operations of the Society in China, Malacca, Penang, and Java, and the grants made for the publication of religious tracts. In Burmah, the paper sent out by the Society had been found most useful; but though the Missionaries had three presses continually at work, they could not meet the demands of the natives for religious tracts.

The Society has made a special grant of £1,000 for the publication of books

for native Christians in India, and for supplying with libraries the colleges established by the Calcutta Committee of Public Instruction; in addition to which, £1,678 had been voted to the different Societies labouring in that country.

Upwards of 116,000 publications have been sent to Australia; and the Missions in New-Zealand have been supplied with printing paper. The Rev. John Williams, on his departure for Polynesia, received from the Society 24,000 copies of ten works for young people in the Tahitian and Rarotonga dialects.

The Society has continued its efforts for South Africa, Madagascar, and Spanish America. Upwards of 80,000 tracts have been sent to the West Indies, and 216,632 to the British American colonies. In France a variety of useful works are in progress, particularly a Commentary upon the Scriptures, and translations of Dr. Wardlaw's Lectures on the Socinian Controversy, the Life of the Rev. Henry Venn, and the Reformed Pastor. In Spain and Portugal a considerable number of tracts have been distributed; and

VII. THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.

THE Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting of this institution was held in Exeter-Hall on Thursday evening, May 3d: W. B. Gurney, Esq., the Treasurer, in the chair. The speakers were, the Rev. A. E. Farrar; the Rev. C. Stowell; William Jones, Esq.; the Rev. Dr. Morison; the Rev. T. Archer; the Rev. S. Nicholson; the Rev. C. M. Birrell; the Rev. Peter Jones, from Canada; and the Rev. John Burnet.

It was stated in the Report, which was read by Mr. Watson, that grants had

compelled to tender his resignation of office as Secretary; at the request, however, of the Committee, he continued to hold the office, the other Secretaries engaging to undertake his duties. Twelve grants had been made in aid of the expenses of erecting school-rooms, amounting to £172. The total number of grants made up to the present time was 135, amounting to £2,947. Mr. Wilson, the Travelling Agent, had held his usual Meetings, which had been well attended. The number of grants made to Sundayschool Lending Libraries this year was 201, making the total number of grants 365. Application for libraries still continued. The number of children taught in the schools which had received libraries was 58,139, of whom 29,917 were able to read the Scriptures. Grants of money and other contributions had been made during the year, to the amount of

£149. 6s. 5d.

The sales of publications at the De

pository during the past year had amounted to £10,321. 2s. 24d., being an increase of £1,246. 11s. 1d. over the preceding year.

The Union Tune-book had been completed, and the demand for it continued unabated. Several new works on education had been published during the year. The attention of the Committee had been directed to the exertions making to enable the blind to read. The first classbook had been printed for them, and a considerable number had been sold. Several donations had been received in the

course of the year. The present number of subscribers to the library and readingrooms was 160. Several books had been added to the library; and lectures had been delivered, which were well attended. The total amount of grants made for benevolent purposes during the year ending 31st of March, 1838, was £1,540. 11s. lld.

VIII. THE IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY. THE Twenty-fourth Anniversary of this institution was held on Tuesday evening, May 8th, in Finsbury chapel: T. Walker, Esq., the Treasurer, in the chair. The speakers were, the Rev. Dr. Fletcher; the Rev. T. Binney; the Rev. Dr. Vaughan; the Rev. E. H. Nolan; the Rev. Dr. Morison; and the Rev. John Burnet.

The REV. A. TIDMAN read selections from the Report, which detailed much information as to the social and moral condition of Ireland, and many encouraging proofs of the Society's usefulness.

The TREASURER presented his accounts; from which it appeared that he had a balance in hand last year of £99. Is. 8d. The total receipts during the year were £3,303. 19s. 9d.; the expenditure, £3,212. 5s. ; leaving a balance in favour of the Society of £90. 16s. 5d.

In reference to Ireland MR. NOLAN said,-Alas! the great multitude of her people professed Christ and served Antichrist; added to the merits of the Saviour the merits of men, and to the expiation of the cross the penances and sufferings of the sinner. Their devotions were strangely directed to saints and angels; and, through saints and angels, to God. "Let," said one of their popular publications, "your way to the heart of Jesus be through the heart of Mary." Another encouraged the devotee to pray, "Hail, Mary, hope of the Patriarchs! Hail, Mary, light of the Prophets!

Hail, Mary, teacher of the Apostles! Hail, Mary, mother of the most high God! Take us under your gracious patronage and protection; and especially do we commend to you the hour of our death, that, by your merits and intercession, we may obtain everlasting life." In the notes of the Rhemish Testament, in the old edition, there were masses of corrupt and foolish fables, to encourage the worship of others besides God, and the confidence in others besides Christ. St. Anselm was represented as having seen a vision of two ladders between earth and heaven: upon the top of one, Christ stood, wrapped in a blood-stained robe; and they who essayed to ascend it, fell terrified. Upon the other ladder stood the Virgin Mary, with a white robe; and all who attempted to ascend by that ladder, encouraged by her smiles, reached the summit. "Thus," said the annotator, "those whom the justice of the Son would condemn, the mercy of the mother saves." Accordant with their books of devotion, were there services at places of superstitious resort. At Scariff-bay, on the Shannon, St. Patrick was said to have had an interview with the Virgin Mary, who built him seven churches in one night, and promised indulgences to those who performed penance at their sacred shrines. Such was a fair picture of Ireland's state as to the religion of her multitudes; and how was that kept up? By the fraud and tyranny of the priesthood. At Easky, in the county of Sligo,