dical readers."I have heard of men," says this acute observer," who were marching with every appearance of muscular energy, and with the most decided and soldier-like pace, suddenly complain that a thick veil was covering their eyes: those organs at first, for an instant, haggard, soon became immovable: all the muscular ap. paratus of the neck, and more particularly the sterno-cloido-mastoidean muscles became rigid, and gradually rivetted the bead on the right or left shoulder: this rigidity next extended to the trunk; the lower extremities tottered, and the unhappy victim fell upon the snow, exhibiting, to complete the frightful picture, all the symptoms of catalepsy or epilepsy." ing the North Pole, by means of trainaux. The Urtica Whitlowi, a new species of plant, as a substitute for hemp and flax, has been lately exhibited to a great number of the Members of the House of Commons. It was brought from Canada by Mr. Whitlow. It promises to be of considerable value. In the Wernerian Natural History Society at Edinburgh, has been read, a paper by Mr. Scoresby, containing a plan for visit The subject of the Seatonian Poem, this year, at Cambridge, is "Jonah." A very interesting Memoir of Count Rumford, was read by Cuvier to the French Institute, Jan 9, 1815, and which, for the encouragement of those who need stimulating to perseverance in well-doing, we should be glad to see widely circulated in this kingdom. LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. THEOLOGY. A Sermon preached before the University of Oxford, by Richard Lawrence, L.L. D. Regius Professor of Hebrew. 2s. Sermons chiefly on Devotional Subjects, by Rev. Archibald Bonar. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Letters to the Right Rev. Bishop of London, by Thomas Belsham. 3s. 6d. The Book of Psalms, translated from the Hebrew, with Notes by Samuel Horsely, L. L D late Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. An Account of the Abolition of Female Infanticide, by the Rev. John Cormack, A. M. Minister of Stow. 10s. 6d. A Sermon, being a Sequel to one prea. ched at Oxford, 1790, by the Bishop of St. David's. 1s. Discourses on the Evidences of the Jewish and Christian Revelation, by Sir H. Moncrieff Welwood. 12s. Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Noah Hill, by J Hooper, A. M. 1s. 6d. A Memorial on behalf of the native Irish, with a View to their Improvement through the Medium of their own Language, by C. Anderson, Edin. 2s. 6d. Sermons on the most important Doctrines of the Gospel, by the Rev. J. Thornton, 1 vol. 8vo. 4s. MISCELLANEOUS. Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, in the Year 1805, by Mungo Park, &c.-to which is prefixed a Life of Mr. Park, 4to. 11. 11s. 6d. A Selection of Hebrew Melodies, by Braham-the Poetry, by Lord Byron, No. 1. 21s. A Geological Essay, by J. Kidd, Profes sor of Chemistry in the University of Ox ford, 8vo. 9s The Cambridge University Calendar, 12mo. 5s 6d. Letters from an Officer in the North of Scotland, to his Friend in England, referred to in Waverly, 2 vols. 8vo. 15s. A Grammar of the English Language, by the Rev J Sutcliffe 12mo. 3s. 6d. Eutropius, with English Notes and Questions for the Use of Schools; and also a Series of Exercises, designed as a Guide to Parsing by the Rev C Bradley. The New General Atlas, on a Scale similar to that of D'Anville's. No. 9. 8s. : England at the Beginning of the nine. teenth Century; by M. de Levis, Peer and Duke of France. Vol. I 12s. A practical Guide to the Duties of an Overseer, by William Soone. 8vo. 55. 6d. A Sketch of the New Anatomy of Gale and Spurzheim, by Thomas Forster, F. L. S. 5s. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. ANNIVERSARIES OF RELIGIOUS TIES IN THE METROPOLIS. SOCIE IT would be very difficult indeed, to convey any adequate conception of the degree of religious feeling and benevolence, which have displayed themselves in the anniversaries of the various religious societies, which have been celebrated since we last addressed our. selves to our readers. Nor would it be possible, in our limited space, to give at the present moment, though we hope to do it by degrees, any such account of these meetings as could be at all commensurate, either to the dignity of the subject, or to the desire of our readers. The British and Foreign Bible Society-the Church Mis. sionary Society-the London Society for the Conversion of the Jews-the Homily Society-all celebrated their anniversaries in the first week of May: various Sermons also were preached for these institutions; and in every instance, as far as we had an opportunity of judging, the ardour and the spirit of the various assemblies were such as to afford the strongest reason for gratitude and joy. Indeed we are disposed to think, that the friends of religion had never before such obvious cause for mutual congratulation, and for thankfulness to the Great Author of all good, as on the present occasion. For, in the first place, each of these societies seemed materially to have gained ground: and, secondly, the meetings were distinguished by a peculiar solemnity and spirituality of character. Scarcely the slightest mixture of levity disturbed those deepstoned feelings of gratitude and devotion, which such meetings are calculated to awaken. And wherever the string of controversy was touched, it was with the tenderness of men who rather pitied their opponents than hated them. Our sincere conviction is, that opposition would, in very few instances, survive the attendance upon these anniversaries, and that those who "came to scoff would stay to pray." For the present, we shall not attempt to enter into details upon these points. We will only call upon our readers to unite with us in devout thanks to God, for having lighted up this holy flame upon our own shores, and in supplication, that it may soon light the skies and warm the atmosphere of other countries. There is at the present awful moment a sort of melancholy consolation in remembering the particular period in which these various societies began to exist. All came into being during the late war. They sprang, as it were, full armed out of the head of "the Thunderer." Thus nursed and cradled amidst scenes of contest, we seem to have ground for hoping, that under the Divine blessing, the new war with which we are threatened, may not materially injure their growth and prosperity. It is one of the few mitigations of the horrors of war, that it has a tendency, under God, to produce that seriousness and tenderness of mind which are the parents of all great and manly qualities. The most prosperous are rarely the most benevolent. As it was a poor widow who cast her last mite into the treasury, so nations which are bleeding under the visitations of war often stoop the most readily to bind up the wounds of others. We will freely confess, that even during the short interval of peace, we had begun to discover in some small degree, in the aspect of the nation, the consequences of the removal of that sort of pressure which had so long assisted to keep down the levity of the public mind. It may now perhaps be the design of Provi dence not to intrust us with peace, till we are better qualified for enjoying it. At all events, it is our duty and interest to endeavour to deprive war of a part of its evil, by striving to render it an instrument of moral good. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. The Eleventh Annual Meeting of this So-.. ciety was held at Freemasons Hall, on' Wednesday, the 3d of May. At twelve o'clock, his Lordship, the President, took the chair, and, with the occasional assistance of the Rev. William Dealtry, read to the Meeting the principal parts of the Report; it being found necessary, from the great extension of the Society's exertions during the year, to reserve many of the details for the press. It appeared from the Report, that the issue of copies of the Scriptures from March 31, 1814, to March 31, 1815, had been 126,156 Bibles 123,776 Testaments; I making a total issued from the commencement of the Institution to that period, of 516,479 Bibles 718,778 Testaments; in all, 1,235,257 copies, exclusive of a very considerable number circulated at the charge of the Society abroad. The receipts of the year have been, Annual Subscriptions Forward 3272 10 6 2429 9 11 1406 7 8 7108 8 1 Contributions from Aux. Soci eties Sale of Bibles and Testaments, the greater part of which were purchased by Bible Associations 27,560 6 5 Sale of Reports,&c. 361 13 Total benefits conferred on it by the 61,848 11 9 stated, that nearly all the p mark can read; and that a was wanted to furnish them tures, for the establishment were indebted to the examp ragement of the British and 27,921 7 8 Society. 99,894 15 6 His Royal Highness the I while he thought himself call The expenditure of the year 81,021 12 5 rather to those clergymen wh Obligations of the Society, including orders given for Bibles and Testaments, about 38,000 0 0 The Report having been read, his Lord ship, after stating that the Lord Bishop of Salisbury would have attended, but for ur gent business, and the Lord Bishop of Cloyne but for sickness, addressed the Meeting with his accustomed judgment and piety,-asserting, in strong terms, the elevation of the Society above all interfer-, ence with the politics of the world, and its proposal to all the friends of man, to unite in one common effort of mercy. "Wherever," ,"said his Lordship, "the British and Foreign Bible Society moves, it confers and it receives blessings. It is holy in its object it is pure in its means: and it is charitable in its ends :-for its object is, the glory of God; its means, the Bible; and its end, the temporal and eternal welfare of all mankind." : The Dean of Wells (now Bishop of Gloucester,) in moving the adoption of the Report, took an able survey of the great efforts and the future prospects of the Society; and especially congratulated the Meeting that Britain had communicated to restored Holland the blessing of a sacred zeal for diffusing the Scriptures-a coun try from which she herself had received the restorer of her civil and religious liberties. He feelingly adverted to the President's early and long connection with the East, and the delight with which his Lordship must have read that portion of the Report which stated the successful operations of the Society in India-a_country deeply indebted to his Lordship for much of what it now enjoys. Edward Stackhouse, Esq. one of the Vice-Presidents of the Cornwall Auxiliary Society, having, in a few expressive words, seconded the motion of the Dean of Wells, the Report was unanimously adopted. such pious sentiments as he h from the Rev. Dean, did n rogatory to one who bad the a soldier to say, that the k use of the Bible is the best soldier in the field The mounts the breach with the a ty of meeting death, or which may lead to death, w: with courage, when he fee obeying that book which c steady and faithful discharge and which opens to the Chr tality beyond the grave. Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, pleasing manner seconded Duke's motion of thanks President of the Society. Robert H. Inglis, Esq. in r to the Vice-Presidents, paid a tribute to the memory of the 1 of the Society, Henry Thornt urged the extension of Bible by the consideration, that if bu in thirty could be induced to weekly penny, a sum of 100,0 secured annually to the Socie The Rev. Dr. Collyer, i thanks to the Vice Presidents insinuation that the Members had entered into a conspiracy Establishment and the State: racy, at the head of which,' find their Royal Highnesses th York, of Kent, of Cumberland and of Cambridge;-a conspira I see combined the Right R of Norwich, of St. David's others; a conspiracy in w the liberator of Africa, and cator of America ;-a co which the Opposition and t are agreed;-a conspiracy r overthrown by that mode which is employed against this Institution." The Bishop of Norwich, in proposing thanks to the Royal Dukes for their con tinued patronage, paid a warm tribute of respect to his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent in particular, for his support of many charitable Institutions, and especially of the Bible Society. His Lordship observed; "If we did not but too well know that Prejudice has neither eye nor ear, it would be difficult to conceive how this Institution could find an enemy in this country. Yet we have found an enemy: who, by aid of distorted facts, ill supported by inconclusive reasoning, has succeeded in raising suspicion, in some quarters, against the Society. I am happy to say, that a Reverend Friend near me has within these few days published an answer, which, if it do not make a convert of every man in the king dom, will at least secure us from the attacks of ignorance, prejudice, or malevolence." Rev. Mr. Hawtrey, in seconding the Bishop, gratefully acknowledged his obliga tions to his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, when serving under him at Gibraltar; and feelingly expressed his delight in now beholding him, not only the protector of the widow and the orphan, but the patron of the outcasts of Israel, and the friend of the Bible. When in the army himself, he had been led to the knowledge of a Saviour by the means of the Bible alone, and he could not but heartily congratulate the So ciety on its successful labours. Robert Grant, Esq. traced, in a most forcible and eloquent manner, the impor. tance which the objects of the Society derived from a comparison with the fleeting and changing scenes of the world; and paid a highly affecting tribute to the me mory of departed friends of the Society-of Professor Jowett of the Rev. Thomas Charles-of the Rev. Dr. Buchanan-of the Rev. Dr. Brunnmark-of the Rev. David Brown-of the Rev. Henry Martyn-and of Henry Thornton, Esq. "And as the march of a victorious army," said he, "may be traced by the graves of its heroes, so may the swift progress of the Bible Society be marked by the tombs of these its friends which rise, some of them, in far distant regions of the earth, and which connect this Institution with the remotest regions." The Rev. Dr. Thorpe, as the representative of the Hibernian Bible Society, com. municated much important information respecting the progress of that Institution. Before the establishment of the Society, the Scriptures could be purchased only in a few principal towns of Ireland, at a high price: now the Society has opened depositories for their sale in more than a hundred towns. Dr. Thorpe stated many interesting facts, in proof of the increasing demand for the Scriptures throughout Ireland, and even among the Roman Catholics themselves. Mr. Wilberforce, in moving thanks to the Treasurer, Mr John Thornton, bore also a most affecting testimony to his lamented predecessor. His long friendship revived recollections which almost overwhelmed him. He eloquently traced the delight of such meetings as contrasted with those jarring and tumultuous meet ings which he had often to attend. The Right Hon. Lord Headley having seconded Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. John Thornton, in acknowledging the thanks of the Meeting, expressed himself persuaded that the Society would rejoice to hear that the word of God, which, in the minor as well as the greater concerns of life, had been the guide of his honoured relative, was his support in the hour of death, and is now the consolation of his widow and family. Thanks to the Secretaries being moved by John Thornton, Esq; the Rev. Peter Roe, Minister of St. Mary's, Kilkenny, in seconding the motion, assured the Meeting that a great mural improvement had taken place within a short period in Ireland, chiefly by the circulation of the Scriptures and stated some affecting proofs of the influence of superstition over the minds of multitudes. The Rev C F. A. Steinkopff expressed his gratitude to the Society for the kind notice taken of his labours; but more especially his unfeigned thankfulness to Him, who had deemed him worthy to be employed in so noble a work. The Rev. Joseph Hughes earnestly wished that his claims were but equal to the expression of the thanks of the Meeting. If he could in any manner assist the deliberations of the Committee, or promote by journeying in summer, or in winter, the objects of the Society, he trusted he should eyer remain their willing servant. The Rev. John Owen apologized for the Secretaries occupying but a short portion of the important time of the Meeting; and expressed thanks to the Right Rev. the Bishops who had condescended to watch over the deliberations of this great Religious Assembly. He thanked in particular the Lord Bishop of St. David's, for his Lordship's patronage and protection of the Society. He would himself persevere in his labours, because he considered that he was doing right, and because he was convinced that he was doing good to the never-dying souls of his fellow-men. Baron Anker, from Norway, could not, even upon a superficial view of the proceed ings of the Society, but feel for it great veneration. Very little had yet been done for Norway; as, however, he was returning thither, be offered his services to promote its object in that country. The Bishop of Norwich moved thanks to the Presbyteries in Scotland. Every one who prefers his own views of the Bible must nevertheless rejoice at the blessed effects that have resulted from the union promoted by this Society. ditional evidence of the necessity and im. portance of such an Institution, whose sole object is to benefit mankind by diffusing throughout the habitable globe those sacred Scriptures" which were given by inspira. tion of God, and are profitable for correc tion, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work." CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Fifteenth Anniversary of this Socie ty was held on Tuesday, May 2d. The Rev. E. T. Vaughan of Leicester, preached before the Society, in the morning, at Blackfriar's Church, from 1 John v. 11, 12. and argued, very ably, that the reception of Christ is essential to salvation; thence urg ing the lost condition of the Heathen, and the duty of attempting to enlighten them by the Gospel.-The collection amounted to 219/. 4s. At two o'clock, the Annual Meeting was held at Freemasons' Hall, the Right Hon. Lord Gambier, President, in the Chair. This great room was completely filled by a most respectable assembly of the mem The Rev. Hugh Pearson seconded the bers and friends of the Society. motion. The Rev. William Dealtry, in moving thanks to the Auxiliaries,noticed the increase of 80007. in the contributions of those Societies, during the past year, and also the re. duction in the number of Bibles and Testa. ments drawn in return from the depository of the Parent Institution, as shewing that a larger portion of their funds was left disposeable for foreign purposes. Lord Gambier seconded the motion. Thanks to the President being moved by Baron Anker, were seconded by Rev. John Owen, who read a letter from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, stating, that, notwithstanding previous arrangements, business had unavoidably prevented his attendance at the present Meeting. Thus ended the Eleventh Anniversary Meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society: a Meeting inferior to none that preceded it in general interest, notwithstanding the abridged form in which the Report was necessarily presented; and when the same shall appear at full length, that interest will doubtless be greatly aug. mented, from the immense scope of the Society's operations in every quarter of the globe during the past year; affording ad It appeared from the Report, that the income of the Society had advanced from 11,000/ which was the produce of the 14th year, to 16.0007.; and that the exertions of the Committee were keeping due pace with the augmentation of the funds. The Dean of Wells; Mr. Wilberforce; Mr. Stephen; the Rev. Dr. Thorpe, of Dublin; the Rev Messrs. Simpson and Cowan, of Bristol; the Rev. Mr. Simeon, of Cambridge; the Rev. Mr. Beachcroft, of Blunham; the Rev. Daniel Wilson; the Rev. Basil Woodd; Mr. Lewis Way; and Mr. John Thornton, took a share in the business of the day. Mr. Wilberforce was more than usually elevating and impressive; and Mr. Stephen most powerful and energetic. The spirit of all the speakers appeared to be truly Christian, and to diffuse itself over the whole assembly. The magnitude of the Society's con cerns in Western Africa, and the still greater efforts which it is about to make on that coast, seeming to require more regularity and commodiousness of inter course than has hitherto been attained, a separate fund has been proposed for the establishment and maintenance of |