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'for propagating the Gospel. event operated there, as it did every where else. The connexion of the church with the state of England, led to the persecution of the flocks, and the dispersion of the shepherds. The destitute congregations were like sickly hot-house plants, which withered under the chilling influences of desertion, poverty, and reproach. In this condition they have continued to preserve a frail and tremulons life, even till the present moment. The first bishop was consecrated in 1815, and there were then barely enough clergymen in the diocese, to constitute the canonical number of electors. Compared with this state of things, the growth of the church, for the last six years, has been rapid, though it has consisted principally in the removation of decayed and destitute congregations.

New York Convention.

The clergy of this diocese consist of the bishop and eighty clergymen, of whom sixty-five are presbyters and fifteen deacons. Of these, four presbyters are without cures, and four presbyters and two deacons are instructors of youth in colleges, academies, and private schools. In the course of the year preceding the convention, the bishop ordained six deacons and four presbyters, instituted one presbyter, consecrated three churches, laid the corner-stone of a new church in the city of New York, and administered confirmation, in various parts of the diocese, to three hundred and sixty-four persons. "The rite of confirmation," he observes," has been so frequently administered in the various congregations, that it is not to be expected the numbers confirmed will be so great as heretofore. It is a circumstance, how ever, gratifying to every friend of our church to know, that in the western district particularly, and at Turin, on the Black River, the persons confirmed, principally of adult age, were, with few exceptions, those who, not educated in our church, had embraced it from a conviction of the soundness of its principles, and of its affording, eminently, the means of spiritual edification, and those apostolic ministrations and ceremonies by which their communion is to be established and maintained with that Redeemer who, through his church, conveys the blessings of his salvation." There are now thirteen candidates for orders; and "nearly as many, at New York and at the academy at Geneva,

are engaged in the preparatory studies, and some of them are ready to apply for admission as candidates for orders." Among the deacons, ordained by the bishop, one is a respectable Coloured man, who officiated in the African church, called St. Philip's, in New York; where, the bishop observes, “ he was collecting a large congregation, who exhibited much order and devotion in the exercise of worship." We speak of these exertions as past, and not present, because we have learned that the church was unhappily destroyed by fire in December last.

From the report of the committee for propagating the Gospe!, of which the bishop, by virtue of his office, is presi dent, it appears that there are thirteen missionaries employed.

The Rev. Amos Pardee, formerly of Massachusetts, and now a missionary at Manlius, Onondaga county, and parts adjacent, speaks thus of his labours: "At Jamesville I have, since December last, officiated every fourth Sunday; and, on more than half of the remaining Sundays, have there held a third service; and on other days have there, as well as in the village of Man lius, often visited the people of the congregation from house to house. Where, a short time since, only one episcopal family resided, there a respectable congregation has now been collected, and a number of persons of the first respect ability, of information, of wealth, and of influence, have, from principle, attacked themselves to the church; many Prayer-books are there seen in use; the responses are made with much propriety and solemnity, and the congregation of worshippers are not only increasing in numbers, but also are apparently grow. ing in grace and in the knowledge of their God and Saviour."

We cannot close these extracts without subjoining the following remarks of the bishop, on the value of missionary labours, which occur in his address to the convention, and which we thought proper to reserve for this place. They well deserve the attention of the friends of the church in every part of our conn. try. "In thus recording,” says the bishop," the advancement of our church, I would beseech you to bear in mind, that but for missionary labours, I should not have had the gratification of winessing, nor you of hearing, these animating events. Our church, in almost every instance, has arisen in the new settle. ments from the smallest beginnings. A

few churchmen, adhering with a zeal which no depression could extinguish, and no difficulties daunt, to the faith, the ministry, and the worship of that church which, as that fold of their Redeemer in which they are to be nurtured for heaven, engrossed their warmest affections, communicated, by conversation, and especially by regular meeting for worship, a portion of their zeal to others; and thus their small assembly gradually augmenting, and cherished by the occasional visits of a missionary, rose at last to a congregation, which by extraordinary exertions erected an edifice for worship. This is the history of the rise of our church, in almost all those many cases in which we see her exhibiting the standard of apostolic truth, and primitive order, in those new settlements of our State, where abound nearly all the variety of sects into which Christians are unhappily divided. And, brethren of the clergy and laity, let me impress deeply upon you, that this might be the history of the rise of our church in innumerable more cases, could we extend the sphere of missionary exertions."

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE. SOCIETY.

We copy the following passages, relative to the domestic proceedings of the British and Foreign Bible Society, from some of the Society's recent “ Monthly Extracts;" reserving an interesting series of quotations from its foreign communications for a future Number.

"From Mr. C. S. Dudley.

"I gratify my own wishes, and I doubt not those of the Committee, by giving you a sketch of the Hackney Ladies' Bible Association. This institution, embracing the villages of Hackney, Homerton, and Clapton, is divided into twenty-three districts, which are placed under fifty-four collectors. Of the zeal and diligence of these ladies, the following results affords conclusive evidence free subscribers, 628; sutscribers for Bibles, 731; Bibles and Testaments distributed, 528. They have voted for the general object of the l'a rent Society (no return required), 5001. These results derive additional value from the prudence and discretion which have in a remarkable manner charac terized this Association."

From the Sume.

"I attended the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Northampton Ladies' Association. Before the establishment of

this Association in 1817, it was asserted that the inhabitants of the town of Northampton were, with only two or three exceptions, supplied with Bibles, and that consequently, so far as regard ed the domestic department, no necessity existed for such an institution. The result, however, has demonstrated alike the fallacy of this opinion and the efficacy of the means adopted. The num ber of copies already distributed exceeds 2000, and more than 200 subscribers remain to be supplied. The total amount collected is 11137.” From the Eleventh Report of the Kingston

upon-Hull Auxiliary Bible Society. "Besides the copies confided to the masters of the fishing ships for sale among their own crews, Bibles and Testaments in foreign languages have, in several instances, been taken on board, to answer any occasions which might arise in the course of the voyage. The history of one of these, an Esquimaux Testament, will be interesting :In May, 1820, (the captain reports) being in South East Bay, we were visited. by several of the inhabitants, both maje and female, who staid on board a considerable time. Having been supplied with some Esquimaux Testaments previous to leaving Hull, I gave one to a leading character among them. He ap peared to know what book it was, and pointed with his finger to the sky, saying, 'Very good!' He then asked me, 'What truck?' or what he must give me in exchange, I endeavoured to make him understand that I gave it him; and he put the book into his bosom. During the time that he remained on board, he wrote several Christian names on a slate, which could be distinctly made out. After some time he pulled off his boots, and gave them into my hand. I asked him, why he did that. He immediately took the book from his bosom, to shew it was for that, that he was ready to part with so essential an article of his dress. I intimated that I could not think of taking them, and endeavoured to make him understand that I had brought out the books on purpose to give freely to such persons as himselt but he threw down the boots on the cabin floor, ran upon deck, and immediately got over the ship's side, along with his companions, who descended with him into their boats; when the whole company gave us three cheers, and returned on shore."

"It cannot but afford pleasure to the Society to have put the New Testament

into the hands of a half civilized stran ger who set so much value upon it; and they will join the Committee in praying that, by the Divine blessing accompanying it, it may prove to him, and many of his countrymen, their guide to everlasting life."

From the Second Report of the Ladies' Branch of the same Society.

"The Commitee bave particular pleasure in noticing the frequent instances of the poor recommencing a Bible subscription. A very poor woman, having finished her subscription for a Bible for herself, is now subscribing for a Testament for each of her seven children, in succession. In one association, five Bible subscribers, having completed their subscriptions, renewed them for Bibles or Testaments for others in their families; and, in another, a poor man, previously without a copy of the Scripture, (except as he borrowed it,) having completed his subscription for a Testament, continued to subscribe for one for each child, saying, with God's bless ing, his children would, in reading it, obtain peace to their hearts, and then they would find their wants in this world to be very few.'"

From the Sixteenth Report of the Hibernian

Bible Society.

"The total number of Bible Institutions of every description now in connexion with your Society throughout the king dom, is, 111, being an addition of thirty

one since your last anniversary. This steady progress towards the occupation of the whole country by these benefi cent institutions, is highly encouraging. Still much remains to be done.. There are yet six counties which possess no institution in connexion with your Society, and eight more in which the Bible establishments are confined to only one town, and its immediate vicinity.

"The sum received in free contributions amounts to 2,6167.; making an ex, cess over that of last year of 1,4371.

"The following fact will prove that poverty is no bar to subscribing for the word of God, and should encourage those who engage in the work to visit every habitation, however apparently wretched. In canvassing one district in the city of Dublin, a person was applied to, of rather decent appearance, who declined subscribing, alleging that he could not afford it. The collec tors asked him if there were any lodgers in the house, to which he replied, "There are several; but they are so miserably poor, that you may save yourselves the trouble of going up to them.' They however went up; and although they found the report not exaggerated, they obtained three subscribers for Bibles. On telling the man below of their success, he said, I am ashamed of myself,' and put his name down as a subscriber."

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

FOREIGN.

FRANCE.-The late elections have turned out in favour of the ultra-royalist party, the party at present in power. We do not augur any thing permanently favourable to the tranquillity of France, from any temporary accessions to a cause so widely unpopular; on the contrary, the probability of a strong reaction is increased by whatever tends to render the ultra-royalists vainly confident of their strength, and heedless of public opinion. Nothing explicit is declared respecting an invasion of Spain. In this measure, many of the military, who are naturally eager for employment, might doubtless willingly concur with the ultraroyalists, however little they may wish success to their object; but at present the reports are favourable to peace. It would seem probable that no decisive determination has ever been formed on the subject; but that the advocates

for the invasion of Spain have trusted in a considerable degree to the chances not only of what might occur in the negociations with England, and with the members of the holy alliance, but of what might transpire respecting the temper of the French people, and also the progress of events in Spain itself. Had the success of either party in Spain been complete, and apparently irreversible, the French government would probably have not been long in making its election. As matters at present staud, its army on the Spanish frontiers chiefly tends to keep up irritation throughout the whole peninsula, and to encourage the anticonstitutionalists to persevering opposition, which, but for this and other foreign countenance, might have died away. It seems doubtful, after all, whether this "army of observation," originally stationed on the borders of Spain, under the pretext of being a

on all hands acknowledged to have borne an honourable part in this Congress, as respects interference with the internal affairs of Spain.

sanitary cordon to prevent the importation of the Barcelona fever, has not in reality been kept up for domestic purposes. But if this be the case, we may confidently predict, that the TURKEY.-The views of the Congoverninent will experience as little gress respecting the affairs of Greece fidelity to its interests in its native and Turkey, are as little known as its standing army, in a contest between determinations relative to Spain. Nor itself and the public, as popularity to are the proceedings of the hostile parits cause from its Swiss supendiaries. ties themselves clearly ascertained. SPAIN. The casualties of the civil war The rumours are, however, generally now raging in this unhappy country, favourable to the Christian cause. appear to have continued in favour of Chourschid Pacha is described as in the Constitutionalists. General Mina the most forlorn condition; and the has obtained some recent successes Albanians are said to have deserted over the desultory bands of the "army the Ottoman standard. The Turks of the faith" in Catalonia, command- themselves, it is added, are indignant ed by the baron d'Erolles; in conse- at their government, on account of quence of which the ultra-royalist its demand of the surrender of their party, which denominates itself the gold and silver into the public trearegency of Urgel, has retired north-sury for the service of the war; and ward to Puycerda, a fortified town at the foot of the Pyrenees, and on the very frontiers of France. The Cortes seem firm to their cause, and are making great exertions to raise troops and to procure loans. The regency of Urgel also has been negociating a loan in Paris: the probability of repayment, in either case, depends upon the contingency of success; as the victor is not likely to recognize the debts of the adverse party. Among the principal rumours respecting the intentions of the congress of Verona towards Spain are the following: that in consequence chiefly, it is alleged, of the strong representations of the duke of Wellington, as to the impolicy and injustice of hostile interference, no such measure will be adopt ed, unless in the event of some such atrocious act as the murder of the king, or an attempt to sow the seeds of sedition and revolution in other countries, as was the case in the French Revolution; but that strong representations are being made, or are to be made,to the ConstitutionalGovernment to modify the more democratical parts of its constitution, so as to render it a safer neighbour and example among the European nations. It has also been rumoured that the Cortes themselves are convinced of the necessity of giving the king a final, instead of only a provisional and temporary, veto on its enactments. These and other rumours seem to be founded rather on what the reporters consider probable or desirable, than on any actual knowledge of the proceedings at Verona, which are conducted with the utmost secrecy. Great Britain, however, is

refuse to comply with the order. The intelligence of the unprovoked and inhuman massacre of the inhabitants of Cyprus, has been confirmed. Men, women, and children perished, like the unhappy people of Scio, in one indiscriminate slaughter; and it is even stated, that the Turks have determined to act upon these precedents, and, fighting, as they urge, in the cause of God and their prophet, to give no quarter to any Christian who falls into their hands. Strongly as we deprecate the principle of international interference, without imperative necessity, we cannot see how Christendom can justifiably look on scenes like these, and not feel itself called upon to impose upon Turkey an observance of the public laws of Europe, and of all civilized countries, which have been grossly outraged in these proceedings. Will not the blood of the Sciotes and Cypriotes call down' for vengeance on their fellow-Christians who refuse to interpose the arm of justice and humanity for their rescue? We need scarcely add, that all accounts represent the internal state of the whole of the provinces and islands involved in these disputes as most miserable; commerce, agricul ture, and inanufactures utterly languishing, and no prospect, should hostilities continue much longer, but of famine and speedy depopulation. How can British Christians be thankful enough that war has not for so many years stained their domestic soil! How can they do enough to lessen the miseries of nations less favoured with liberty, education, and the blessings of" the Gospelof peace?"

OBITUARY.

REV. EDWARD TOWNSHEND. On July the 24th, of the present year, died the Rev. Edward Townshend, thirty-three years Vicarof Bray, Berks, and Rector of Henley-on-Thames thirty-eight years. He was the only

son of the Honourable and Reverend Edward Townshend, Dean of Nor wich, who married Mary, daughter of General Price. Being deprived of his father when young, he was received into the family of his uncle, the Honourable and Most Reverend Dr. Corn

66

wallis, Archbishop of Canterbury, with whom he resided till he went to college. He received his education at the Charter-house, whence he removed to Christ's College, Cambridge, and gained a Tancred Scholarship. The extraordinary elegance of his person and manners, jomed to his high connexions, and a naturally amiable and engaging character, rendered him an object of admiration, or regard, or envy, according to the different dis positions of those with whom he associated. His society was much courted, and he had not only a large acquaint ance, but made many friends-friends who were much attached to him to the end of his life. Yet with all these outward excellencies, Mr. Townshend was proud and irritable. He could seldom bear contradiction, and (as he has often declared to the writer of this meinoir) was vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind" to seek the applause of men far more than the favour of God. The benefits which a merciful Creator had bestowed upon hun only rendered him the more thoughtless of the Fountain whence they owed, and the Giver was forgotten in the selfgratulation caused by the possession of his gifts. In the midst, however, of these worldly distinctions and enjoyments, it pleased God to bring him to a sense of his own sinfulness and debasement, and to shew him that all his natural advantages were of no value except as used to promote the glory of God. This was not, however, accomplished without much inward opposition; for his early habits, his constitutional propensities, and other circumstances, all conspired to render the conflict arduous. But the power of Divine Grace at length triumphed; and those Christian friends

who had hitherto regarded him with affection and admiration for his many attractive qualifications, had now the delight of seeing whatever was amiable in his character brought under the dominion of Christian principle, by the pervading influence of which he was now enabled so to let his light shine that God was glorified.

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It was in the year 1798 that this important change began to take place in his religious character; and it is the more observable as he appeared to want no earthly good, and certainly could have no inducement of a secular kind, but quite the contrary, to take up his cross and follow his Redeemer." So far as this world was concerned, he seemed to possess every thing which could contribute to his happiness, while of his safety with respect to another life he had till now entertained no apprehension. But he had not, till this period, "the true knowledge of God:" he was ignorant of the holy and spiritual requirements of the Divine Law: he was unacquainted with the peculiar blessings of the Gospel; and, to use his own expression respecting himself, he was

"a blind leader of the blind." He confessed, indeed, vaguely that he was a sinner; but he saw nothing of the sinfulness of sin, or of its deserts in the sight of God; and altogether he needed as certainly, though not perhaps as obviously, as if he had been of a less amiable and engaging character, a complete renovation of heart before he could be qualified for the enjoyment of the heavenly world. This change was very gradual. Mr. Wilberforce's "Practical View of Christianity" appears to have been especially useful to him when the subject first dawned on his mind : but there was a sentence in the third chapter of that work which, for a long time, presented peculiar difficulty to his apprehension," Christianity," says Mr. Wilberforec, "is a scheme for reconciling us to God when enemies, and for making the fruits of holiness the effects, and not the cause, of our being justified and reconciled." Mr. Towns

end was long before he could comprehend this statement; till at length, after conversing one evening fully and earnestly with a friend on the point, with a particular reference to the third

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