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ment for approbation, and shall name a secretary, accountant, and treasurer, either from their own number or otherwise. The object of this institution is to extend, in every direction throughout Chili, the benefits of education; to promote the instruction of all classes, but especially of the poor; to seize all the advantages which this new system of education holds out; and to open us resources by which it may be adapted to the circumstances and necessities of the country. In short, this institution will be considered a good of the greatest magnitude, and whose efficacies will, we trust, in some measure correspond to that great extension of which it is susceptible.

(Signed)

"O'HIGGINS, "Torres. pro Secretary."

II. MISSIONS, BIBLE SOCIETIES, &c.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.-This venerable Society has published a Report of its Proceedings to April 1822. Its concerns, we rejoice to perceive, are in a thriving state, and its exertions re-actively vigorous. The subscribers amount to more than 14,000; its income to nearly 60,000l.; and the distributions to considerably more than a million articles. Its labours extend to the whole of our ecclesiastical establishments in the East, in North America, and the West Indies. At home, in addition to parochial libraries, which it institutes or assists, and a shop lately opened in Fleet Street for the sale of its publications at cost prices, diocesan and district committees are rapidly forming throughout the kingdom, in the manner of the auxiliaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society, with something less of celebration and speechmaking. We shall not suppose this adoption to spring from a spirit of rivalry-emulation is a word better suited to the solemnity of the occasion;-besides, fas est ab hoste doceri. The Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge has at least the merit of having set the example of societies for the distribution of bibles and religious books. But the popular activities of the junior societies have long sunk the worthy parent and her usefulness into comparative insignificance. It is natural for unstimulated industry to slacken its pace, and as natural for laziness to be again pricked into new efforts by the advances of successful competition. This is said to represent pretty correctly the condition of the Bartlett's Buildings Society. Of any union between the conflicting parties, there is neither hope nor prospect; and therefore it is happy that each points its efforts to the same useful object, and differs only in the modus operandi. More is doubtless effected by the operations of each, thus mutually accelerated, than either would singly or spontaneously accomplish; though less, perhaps, than a cordial coalescence might produce with none of the drawbacks of hostility. The breach, which unhappily seems every day widening, adds nothing, by the scandal of contention, to the respectability or the influence of either society; while an intelligent and observing world are closely watching and weighing all their proceedings. Friends and foes respectively exclaim" some out of love and some of conten

tion," we would willingly, but we dare not, take up the phrase, and proceed with "What then? Every way Christ is preached!"

COMPENDIUM OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.-A Compendium, or brief Abstract of the Society's Proceedings is issued annually. We shall here state the chief points of difference between the Compendiums of 1821 and 1822.

Number of Societies. From 270 auxiliaries and 412 branches, making a total of 682, the number is now increased to 291 auxiliaries (including 13 which contribute only a portion of their funds to the Society) and 438 branches, forming a total of 729.

:

The Continental European Societies are 56, with a great number of auxiliaries and branches of these, the Hanover Society has 23, the Prussian 38, the Würtemburg 44, the Paris and the Netherlands each upward of 50, the Sleswig Holstein 118, and the Russian 196.

Issues of the Scriptures.-The Foreign Societies, aided by the British and Foreign Bible Society, have increased their issues, from 739,045 Bibles to 880,955, and from 721,376 Testaments to 861,377 :, these make a total of 1,742,332; and show an increase, in the course of the year, of 141,910 Bibles, and 140,001 Testaments.

An addition of more than 20,000 copies of the German New Testament has been made to the 480,000 copies before issued by two Roman Catholic clergymen on the Continent.

The total number issued on account of the Society, at home and abroad, has increased from 1,307,044 Bibles to 1,433,823; and from 1,963,118 Testaments to 2,130,151—making an increase during the year of 126,779 Bibles and 167,033 Testaments, and a total of 3,563,974 copies.

In addition to the foregoing, the Society has granted about 38,000%. for distributing by societies and confidential agents, in various parts of the Continent, Bibles and Testaments in French, German, Swedish, and Danish, the number of which cannot be ascertained exactly, but may be fairly estimated at upward of 250,000 Bibles and Testaments.

From these data, it will be found that the issues of the year, at home and abroad, in connexion with the Society, have amounted to 610,723 copies; being 268,689 Bibles, and 342,034 Testaments: and that the total issue from the beginning has been no less than six million fiftysix thousand three hundred and six copies.

Total Expenditure. The expenditure of the eighteenth year has been 90,4451. 6s. 4d., and that of the preceding years 908,2481. 10s. 6d.; the total up to the end of the eighteenth has been 998,693l. 16s. 10d.

SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.-The recent intelligence from these islands has been very satisfactory, both in respect to the success of the missionaries in imparting the knowledge of Christianity, as well as the progress which the inhabitants are making in civilization. A deputation from the London Missionary Society have lately visited the islands, and the following extracts are from their letters received in London :

"On the 25th of September, 1821, we reached Tahiti, and landed in safety in Matavia Bay, where we met with a most cordial and affectionate reception, both from the missionaries and the natives. I am exceedingly

delighted

delighted with the islands of Tahiti and Eimeo, both which I have seen. They are novel, romantic, and sublime beyond description. The climate is that of Paradise, though sometimes rather too warm. At noon, in the shade, the thermometer is generally about 84°. I have seen it as high as 890, and in the sun 117. The spontaneous luxuriance of the soil is astonishing. The people are most hospitable and affable. Their persons in general are equal to those of the best-grown English; and the most agreeable of any foreigners, not of English extraction, that I have seen. Wherever we go, we are received with all possible hospitality and friendship. The king and all his chiefs, as well as the people, have showed us every kindness; but the change which has taken place among these people, is what most of all delights me, and fills me with astonishment. What you have read is all true; and far more is true. There are four missionary stations at Tahiti, and one at Eimeo, and three more in the Leeward Islands, about 100 miles distant. All the stations that we have seen are in the most flourishing circumstances. All the congregations are large. The profession of Christianity is universal; scarcely is the individual known who does not attend three times every Lord's day at public worship. Every family in these islands has morning and evening prayer every day. No doubt, much of this profession is nothing but profession; but that there is a great deal of vital piety I doubt not. Yesterday I partook of the Lord's Supper with a church consisting of 106 consistent members. The behaviour of the Tahitian congregations is not excelled by that of any in England. All is solemn, all is apparently devotion. I have not seen every thing yet; but I fear no contradiction when I assert, that it is the most entirely and consistently Christian country on the face of the earth, excepting only the other eleven or twelve islands in these seas, which have embraced Christianity; and which bear, I understand, a strict resemblance to Tahiti; nay, some say that many of them are even superior to it. Civilization is making rapid progress— crimes of all kinds are almost unknown. Encourage missionary exertions. If any are relaxing in these respects, or are unbelievers in the importance of missionary exertions, send them hither. I should not have thought the sufferings and inconvenience of going ten times round the world too much to be endured, for the sake of seeing what God has wrought in these idolatrous countries. We hope to see all the islands, which have embraced Christianity, before we return. Thirteen are known, where the people have abandoned their idols and received the truth. What is astonishing is, that all the people of the islands who do so, tread in the same steps, attend regularly three times on public worship on the Lord's days, adopt the same regulations on other days, and become immediately moral and decent in their behaviour. Other islands are petitioning for missionaries; indeed, if missionaries could be found, there is every reason to hope that all the islands in this vast ocean would immediately embrace the truth. If we are able to obtain a suitable vessel, we intend to visit several of the islands yet heathen, as well as the others which have become Christian. My duties are arduous and responsible. But the affectionate kindness of the missionaries greatly relieves my anxieties. They are men of good talents and of good information. They

are

are zealously devoted to their Master's work, and worthy of that confidence which the Christian world has reposed in them."

"Eimeo, Dec. 3, 1821. A nation of pilferers have become eminently trustworthy. A people formerly universally addicted to lasciviousness in all its forms, have become modest and virtuous; those who a few years ago despised all forms of religion except their own horrid and cruel superstitions, have universally declared their approbation of Christianity; study diligently those parts of the Christian Scriptures which have been translated for them,-ask earnestly for more, and appear conscientiously to regulate themselves by those sacred oracles, under the direction of their kind teachers; whose self-denying zeal and perseverance have been almost as remarkable as their success.

"You have learned, we trust, from letters sent home before we reached Taheite, that the translations and printing are going on well. Matthew and John are printed in the Taheitan language, and are in innumerable hands. The books of Genesis, Joshua, the Psalms, Isaiah, the Acts, the Epistle to the Romans, and the other Epistles, are in course of translation, and are waiting the mutual corrections of the brethren The grammar and dictionary are not in so forward a state; but both these are so important, that we hope to make a more encouraging report of their progress at no distant period.

It is found unadvisable, and, in part, impracticable, to attempt at present any manufactory on a large scale; but the king and chiefs have approved of setting up the little cotton work, and Messrs. Blossom and Armitage are just now getting into their houses, which the chiefs have provided for them, close to the stream in Tahiti, where the mill is immediately to be erected.

"The principal articles in request among the natives are cloth, and clothing of all the lighter descriptions. Cheap printed cottons of showy patterns, as well as whites and blues, are much sought after; and we rejoice in this, because their desire for these articles is, that they may be able to dress in the English mode; and it is truly delightful, on the Lord's days especially, to see so many of the natives with parts of English dresses; almost all the females having bonnets of the English form, made by their own hands and those of them who can obtain a neat slip of printed calico, or a riband to put round their bonnets, are greatly pleased.

"We are gratified in observing, almost every where, many marks of improvement; better houses and chapels having been built, or in preparation for being built, at nearly every station-rapid improvement in reading and writing; European dresses partially superseding the Taheitan, the chiefs ingeniously and diligently building their own boats in European form, with European tools; many cultivating tobacco and sugar, and nearly all manufacturing cocoa-nut oil.—[The people of these islands have sent to London a donation of cocoa-nut oil to the London Missionary Society, which has netted the sum of 18771.]

"Among other marks of improvement, we must mention a road, which is already made to a considerable extent, and which is intended to go round the whole island. This is of very great and obvious importance.

It has been formed by persons who were punished, according to the new laws, for evil-doing; and the intention is, that it shall be completed by persons of that description. It is remarkable that these persons have no need to be superintended in their labour, but they uniformly perform the portion of work allotted to them. Before this, there was no road in any part of the island, except the narrow winding tracks by which the natives found their way from one place to another.

"Huaheine, Dec. 11, 1821.-Every thing around bears the marks of great improvement among the natives, their inclosures, their plastered houses, their manners, and especially their dress, which is as much European as they can obtain, by purchase, the means of making it. Indeed on Sabbath day, in the noble place of worship, (which is well built and plastered, well floored with timber, and of which considerable part is neatly pewed,) the chiefs, and great numbers of the principal people, were dressed quite in the English manner, from head to foot. We spent a delightful Sabbath here;-there were not fewer than 1200 persons present at each of the services, conducted after the English mode, but of course in the Taheitan language. At noon, we had the pleasure to meet 7 or 809 persons in one of the school-rooms; 400 of these were children of the most interesting appearance, of from six years old to fifteen or sixteen; the others consisted of adults, who attend, it seems, with remarkable diligence on the Sabbath-day for religious instruction, and every other day of the week, except Saturday, for instruction in reading and writing, and for instruction also in religion. On Monday, we were invited to meet the King and Queen-the Chiefs-the Communicants— the Baptized and others in the chapel. There were about 1000 persons present; and when each of us had spoken to them, and our kind friends had interpreted our speeches, we were addressed by four of their orators; one of these was the King (Mahine), two other chiefs, and the fourth was a deacon of the church, and a teacher in the schools,—a man of exemplary piety and amiable deportment. Indeed we cannot conceive of countenances expressive of more benevolence, even in our own favoured country, than those of two of these speakers; and they all spoke so evidently from the heart, that we felt moved by their speeches even before they were interpreted to us; and when they were explained, we found, they were highly creditable both to their heads and hearts."

COLONY OF SIERRA LEONE.-Sir Chas. MacCarthy, the governor, arrived at Freetown, on his return from his visit home, on the 28th of November, and resumed without delay his active attention to the Colony, in all its departments. On the Monday after his arrival, he rode to the negro towns of Kissey and Wellington; and on Tuesday, to those of Gloucester, Regent, Bathurst, Leopold, and Charlotte. On these visits many gentlemen of the Colony accompanied the Governor, who was every where received with the warmest affection. Of his reception at Gloucester and at Regent's Town, the following account is given in the Colonial Gazette :

"As the Governor approached Gloucester, the inhabitants, with their rector the Rev. H. During at their head, greeted His Excellency on en

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