and feeling as he did the deepest interest in the Royal Family of this country, he thought the thanks of the Meeting ought to be offered to them, not as individuals, but in behalf of the whole people of the country. He concluded with moving the thanks of the Meeting to Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York, Cumberland, Sussex, and Gloucester, for their continued support in forwarding the objects of this Society. Mr. STUART WORTLEY, M.P. rose to second this motion. It was the peculiar pride and boast of this country, that in all excellent Institutions persons of the highest rank were most forward in mixing with their fellowsubjects, in order to promote their success; he therefore most cordially supported the vote of thanks now moved to be given to the Illustrious Individuals in question. His R. H. the Duke of GLOUCESTER considered this vote as a fresh proof of the generous feelings with which they were always ready to acknowledge any trifling services performed by him and his illustrious relatives. He wished to express his thanks to them rather for having laboured so much in the great cause in which they were engaged, than for the mark of favour they had now shown him. The respectable Secretary of the French Bible Society had truly observed that they had all associated as the disciples of Christ, and were the children of one common Father; and he fully participated in that feeling. After the struggles in which all Europe had been so long engaged, it was a satisfaction to him to see its inhabitants no longer contending for earthly territory, but endeavouring to make their fellow-creatures happy, by giving that book which was to prepare them for eternal life, as well as to make them virtuous in this present world. So long then as there remained a spot upon the globe to which a Bible had not yet reached, they ought to increase their efforts in this great cause. The difficulties which had at first been encountered were diminishing every day, and he hoped to see the labours of this Society extended all over the world. He trusted that increased exertions would be made every year towards extending the blessings which had grown out of this Society. In the name of his illustrious relatives he now thanked them all for their kind regards. WM. WILBERFORCE, Esq. M.P. began by congratulating the company on the happy progress which the efforts of the Society had made; and he was delighted to see even in Paris the rapid progress of that blessed truth which would lead men to eternal salvation, and overturn the false philosophy which had too much prevailed in a capital that had so long been renowned for learning and the liberal arts. It was also delightful to see that in almost every part of the habitable globe the Bible was now diffusing its blessings; it was now making its happy progress among the miserable natives of Labrador. The people of the United States of America were also labouring in the same cause with us; and showing to the world that all men were children of the same parents. There was, in fact, a masterly energy of heavenly force at work to accomplish the great objects they all had in view. He was happy to inform the Meeting, that he very lately had a communication. from the Secretary of General Bolivar, President of the Columbian Republic, which stated that Bibles had been brought into Venezuela; that they were eagerly bought up, and rapidly circulated; and there was every reason to hope that Bible Societies would soon be established among all the Catholic inhabitants of the extensive regions of South America. In our own country the happiest effect must arise from these annual celebrations. celebrations. He then moved the thanks of the Meeting to the Right Rev. and the Right Hon. Vice-Presidents of the Society, for their continued support of the Society. Lord SANDON Seconded the motion in a short speech. The Rev. THEO. BLUMHARDT, a Professor of the University of Basle, next rose; he addressed the Meeting in tolerably good English. He began by stating the progress which his countrymen had made in circulating the Bible; and in this work he was happy to say that Catholics and persons of other religions cordially united. - The Earl of GOSFORD addressed the Meeting, but in so low a tone of voice as to be inaudible. He moved thanks to the Secretary and Committee. The Rev. Mr. MORISON said the land that gave him birth (Scotland) had for years been a land of Bibles; there was not a cottage that had not one: and that might account for the excellent habits of the people. There was not a soldier or a sailor, or a shepherd in the Highlands, who had not this great oracle of truth in his possession, and who did not make it his guide; and he would not wish greater happiness to the remote parts of the world, than to see them just as Scotland now is. The existence of such a Society as this carried the Word of God in every direction, and even promoted the objects of literature; but above all, it tended to organize the discordant materials of the Christian world into one mass of brotherly affection. This motion being passed, J. THORNTON, Esq. the Treasurer, expressed his acknowledgements for the honour done him, and those with whom he acted. He assured the company he would use his utmost endeavours to promote the great object they had in view. He hoped every parent would instill the principles of the Society into the minds of their children, pursuant to the noble example set them that day by the President of His Majesty's Council, who presented his eldest son (Lord Sandon) before them. He said the Society was in a most prosperous state; but he hoped that prosperity would not cause any relaxation in the efforts of those who had contributed to it by their subscriptions; for, while there were above eight hundred millions of people among whom the Bible ought to be distributed, it was necessary that their efforts should be continually increasing. The Rev. Mr. HUGHES (one of the Secretaries) next addressed the Meeting, and followed other gentlemen in panegyrizing the Society, and in inculcating the necessity of extending the Word of God through all parts of the world. The Lord Bishop of NORWICH said it was probable that from his advanced age, he should never again have an opportunity of addressing the Society; and therefore he rose to congratulate the company on the happy progress they had made, and the moral improvement they had produced in various parts of the world. The Rt. Hon. C. GRANT expressed the gratification he felt at the liberal sentiments which had just fallen from the Rt. Rev. Prelate, who he hoped would be long spared for the good of this Institution and of his country, of which he was so great an ornament. The Meeting should never forget those to whom it owed the origin of its institution; and every prejudice that had been raised against it should be done away. F. WHITMORE, Esq. M.P. expressed great satisfaction at the Report which had been read that day; and nothing could more fully prove the excellent feeling with which the supporters of this Institution were actuated, than the flou rishing rishing state of its funds, amidst the general distress that pervaded all parts of the country. Sir T. D. ACLAND, Bart., M.P., offered his congratulations on the increased advantages which arose from these successive meetings. He said he was authorized by a foreigner from the shores of Norway to return his best thanks to the Society for the attention they had shown his country in propagating the Scriptures there. He moved the thanks of the Meeting to the Noble President for his conduct in the chair. Lord GAMBIER wanted words to express his admiration of the happy and glorious success which the Society had experienced. He seconded the motion. At the same time he proposed that the thanks should be accompanied by a general cheer, which was done accordingly. Lord TEIGNMOUTH expressed his grateful acknowledgements to the company for this mark of their favour. The assembly then dispersed. MISSIONS. Church Missionary Society; twenty-second Anniversary.-The Annual Sermon was preached, on Monday evening, the 29th of April, at St. Bride's Church, Fleet Street, by the Rev. Marmaduke Thompson, M.A. Chaplain of the Hon. the East-India Company on the Madras Establishment. In applying the subject to the work of Missions, the Preacher drew the following picture of the State of India, of which he had himself been an eye-witness : Look around upon the fields which occupy the cares of the Church Missionary Society. Comprehending a population of many myriads of our fellowcreatures and fellow-subjects, they exhibit to us, every where, through all the shores of the Mediterranean, from Africa to New Zealand, from West to Eastthe most affecting, the most appalling spectacles of sin and wretchedness-of dishonour to God, and of human degradation and perdition. My Brethren, I speak strongly-I speak, let it be remembered, as an eyewitness. For thirteen years, and upward, my lot has lain among the Heathen -among even the most civilized portion of them, in India. What you have shuddered but to hear, I have often shuddered to behold-and the remembrance is indelible. Not, however, to exhaust your time in adding to those tales of horror, of moral turpitude, of abominable idolatries, and devouring superstitions, which are familiar to you through many valuable publications, let me declare to you solemnly, from this sacred place, that scarcely could we frame a record respecting India too piteous-too degrading—too base! There are those, I know, who would persuade you to think differently. Powerfully as these persons have oftentimes been refuted-disproved as their allegations are by many open and notorious facts, especially that of the almost total absence of moral culture in those Native Schools which are under exclusive Native management, by the known wickednesses of their religious fables and rites, and by the complaints and reproaches on these accounts of their own writers-let it suffice me, for the present, to add my own to the many strong and mournful testimonies to the enormities of the Gods, the Worship, the Priests, and the People of India-and, for you, Christians! let no contradic tions of false or misguided Brethren rob us of your sympathy and confidence, which are our comfort in many labours and tribulations. On the encouragements offered by India, Mr. Thompson thus speaks :We will turn, however, from this view. Lift up, then, your eyes; and behold the fields as they appear, not in their own native shades, but in connection with Christian Missionaries. I must not attempt to lead you over the wide survey which we might take with delight: I must still contract your view to a part only that interesting part-the vast and prolific fields of India. There the scene presented to us is distinctly that of a people now brought, from various causes, to a state of mental excitement unknown for ages; and everywhere welcoming instructors. I speak of a fact, evidenced and authenticated by the most sensible alterations in the tone and habits of men of all castes, from the Brahmin to the Parian-by the eager desire of multitudes for instruction-by combinations of the learned and affluent among them with ourselves, in School and School-book Societies-by the writings and numerous disciples of Native Reformers-and by the testimony of the Missionaries of every Society to the respect and attention of willing crowds to the preaching of the Gospel, and the readiness with which parents of every caste commit to them the education of their sons. The Annual Meeting was held on the 30th of April, at 12 o'clock, in Freemasons' Hall, Lord Gambier, the President, in the Chair. The Report was read by the Secretary; and the Meeting was addressed by the Treasurer on the state of the Funds. The Receipts of the year had ex.ceeded those of the year preceding by about 20007.; and the Payments, as will be seen by the following abstract, had nearly equalled the Receipts. Brought forward West Indies. North-West America Remittance, in Dollars, to the South India Mission, for 1822 Maintenance, Education, &c. . Bâsle Institution Disabled Missionaries, Widows, and Families Purchase of Premises at Islington Books . . Publications: Translating and printing the Scriptures and Tracts 198 O Printing 9500 copies of the Twenty-first Annual Publication 1,435 7 10 Printing Quarterly Papers, for the use of the Weekly and Miscellaneous Printing. Sundries-including Advertisements, Postage, Carriage, Rent, Total. 1,005 10 8 531 11 2 70 18 10 2,252 18 4 £32,896 18 - The Resolutions were moved and seconded-by the Earl of Rocksavage; and the Rev. W. Dealtry, of Clapham-by Lord Calthorpe; and the Rev. Theophilus Blumhardt, Inspector of the Missionary Seminary at Bâsle-by W. Wilberforce, Esq. M.P.; and the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, of Harrowby John Herbert Harington, Esq. of Calcutta; and T. Fowell Buxton, Esq. M.P.-and by the Rev. John Langley, Secretary of the Shropshire Church Missionary Association; and the Rev. John Brown, late of Belfast.-A concluding Resolution of Thanks was moved by the Earl of Gosford, and seconded by the Rev. James Haldane Stewart. Rev. WM. DEALTRY spoke to the following effect.-It would be lost labour to offer remarks on all the Stations occupied by the Society; but as I have the honour to second the Motion just made by the Noble Earl, I may allude to two or three circumstances in the Report, in order to show the great necessity for this Institution. One of the most important parts of the world visited by this Society is the East Indies. I will not remark on the statement which we have heard, that spheres for labour are opening faster than Missionaries can be procured-nor on the impressive Letter of the Metropolitan of the Syrian Church to the Society-nor on that of the Rev. Joseph Fenn, so animating in its details and its prospects, in reference to the Syrian Church. But there is another letter, which we have heard, addressed by the Governor-General of India to your Lordship; and, adverting to the statements of that letter, I would ask, What must be the character of a population where no moral principles are inculcated |