At a recent sale of autographs, a juvenile translation of a passage of Cicero, by his present Majesty, brought 1. 3s.; a similar exercise by the late Duke of York, brought 11. 2s. The original grant from Edward IV. with the great seal attached, of the lands of the Rutland Family, dated 1467, brought 7. 10s. A letter from Charles I. to the Prince of Orange, sold for four guineas. A letter from Oliver Goldsmith, to Mr. Nourse, the bookseller, offering the copyright of his Denmark, was sold for five guineas. Queen Eliza beth's sign manual brought two guineas and a half. A letter, in the handwriting of Charles I., to his sister, brought 51. Autographs of many other persons were sold at high prices.
ST. HELENA.
The East-India Company having sent out books to form a regimental library for the soldiers in St. Helena, a suitable reading room and book-cases have been provided, and the regimental schoolmaster is appointed librarian. The room is to be furnished with tables and forms, and to be lighted until nine o'clock at night, for the accommodation of such men as are prevented by duty or employment during the day. No man is to be found there in a state of intoxication; smoaking is not allowed; and those who attend must be particularly clean in their dress, and orderly in their behaviour.
individuals, to the extent of 30%., at five per cent. interest. There are 640 subscribers. The governor states, that "it is not merely reading and writing that is taught in these schools; the children are instructed in a still more important matter, namely, their duty to God and man." INDIA.
Dr. Marshman has fully accomplished the object of his mission to Copenhagen, which was to obtain a royal charter of incorporation for the college at Serampore. The college will now possess the power of conferring literary and honorary degrees, and the property is immutably secured for the objects contemplated by its establishment.
Associations of heads of families and others are in progress for the promotion of temperance. The members of these associations, considering that the use of intoxicating liquors is, to persons in health, not only unnecessary but hurtful, and that while it is continued the evils of intemperance can never be done away, agree to abstain from the use of them, except as a medicine, and not to allow the use of them in their families, nor to provide them for the entertainment of friends, or for hired men, or for persons in their employment.
During the late trial of a sailor in Philadelphia for theft, the mayor remarked: "That sailors were not now so frequently brought up for misconduct as formerly, and rarely indeed on so disgraceful a charge as the present;" which change for the better he mainly attributed to the establishment of the mariner's church, and to the exertions of its friends.
Among the effects of inquiries instituted by the Vermont Bible Society, to ascertain what families were destitute of the sacred volume, it was remarked that numbers of persons, hearing that such inquiries were about to be made, immediately supplied themselves with Bibles at their own expense.
The foundation stone of an observatory on Ladder Hill has been laid by the Governor, Brig.-Gen. Walker, in presence of a large assembly. The insular advantages of St. Helena, the clearness of the atmosphere, and its being the resort of mariners between most of the regions of the earth, point it out as a place eminently suited for astronomical observations. St. Helena was selected and visited, for astronomical purposes, by Halley, Cook, and Maskelyne. It was here that Halley, from the moisture that collected on the glasses of his instruments, entered on his experiments on evaporation, from which he formed bis theory on springs. Ladder Hill is a bed of lava 600 feet above the level of the sea. Several other plans of public utility are in progress at St. Helena.-A society has been established for the relief of the free Coloured Population of the island, in sick-priated ness, old age, or distress; they contribute to it at the rate of six shillings per year for each full-grown person, and three shillings per year for each child under fifteen years of age. A portion of the fund is appropriated to the education of their hildren. Loans are likewise made to
Our American friends greatly excel us in the ingenuity and splendour of their advertisements. A dentist gives notice that one half of his receipts, for a certain number of weeks, will be approto aid the Greeks. journal before us a school is notified as an "institute," and the teachers as "professors." The excellence of another is set forth in the shape of a long letter of encomia from the pastor whose ministrations the master and his pupils attend. It is a most fascinating descrip
tion of the master, his female assistant, the studies, the topography, and various other requisites. A third individual advertises the public that he has dis covered" a simple remedy which effectually cures habitual drunkards and tipplers, and renders them totally averse to spirituous potations in any shape. A considerable number who have derived lasting benefit from the medicine offered, stand ready to corroborate, with the most conclusive testimony, what is here publicly averred with regard to the efficacy of the remedy. The remedy will be administered gratis to those who are in indigent circumstances. All orders, post paid, will be promptly attended to." It might really be well if some friend of temperance would import a large stock of this inestimable medicine into Great Britain and Ireland.
The Society of Friends in North Carolina have issued a circular, in which they state, that within the past year 300 People of Colour, under their charge, have been "conveyed to free governments," viz. more than 40 to Liberia, 119 to
Hayti, 11 to Philadelphia, and the remainder to Ohio and Indiana-at an expense of about 3,500 dollars. Nearly 600 still remain under their care.
The Pittsburgh Journal says,-" Not long since, six men called on a bookseller at Pittsburgh, to enter their names as subscribers for as many copies of Henry's Bible, now publishing in six large volumes. The six sets cost 120 dollars. They were all workmen in the Phoenix cotton manufactory at Pittsburgh. This," adds the journalist, "is a specimen of the means, morals, intelligence, and piety, of men employed in American manufacture. Nor is it solitary, though there are but few instances of equal extent at one time. It is well known here, that many of the best members of society, belonging to different religious denominations, are persons, men and women, employed in our manufactures."-A widow woman, it is added, from Washington county, the mother of eleven children, came with one of her sons, and bought eleven sets of Scott's Commentary on the Bible, viz. one for each child, amounting to 187 dollars.
LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Parochial Sermons. By the Rev. C. Bradley. 10s. 6d.
St. Paul's Key to the Types of Genesis xxii., shewing that the Offering and Restoration of Isaac did not prefigure the Sacrifice and Resurrection of Christ. By the Rev. J. Molesworth.
A Sermon preached at the Ordination of his Grace the Archbishop of York. By the Rev. W. Hett.
The reciprocal Duties of Ministers and People; a Sermon on the Death of the Rev. P. Maingy, of Guernsey. By the Rev. G. W. Phillips.
Christian preaching, as exemplified in the Conduct of St. Paul; a Sermon. By the Rev. J. Davies. 2s.
Religious Characteristics. By T. Aird.
Death on the Pale Horse. By the Rev.
J. Bruce. 5s.
The Birth-Day Present. By Mrs. Sher-
wood. Is.
The Parent's Monitor. By the Rev. D. Barker. 4s. 6d.
Sermons preached at Christ Church, Bath, before the National Schools. By the Rev. F. Kilvert, M.A. 1 vol. 5s. 6d. Twelve Sermons preached to a Country Congregation. By the Rev. A. Dallas. M. A.
Twenty-one Discourses delivered in the Parish Church of Wrockwardine in the County of Salop. By the Rev. Joshua Gilpin, Author of "A Monument of Parental Affection to a dear and only Son."
Le Fèvre, a true Narrative. By Mrs. Sherwood. 2s.
A Sermon on the Death of the Duke of York, preached before the second Regi-ment of Life-Guards. By the Rev. Ŵ. Dakins, D.D.
Sermons on the Festivals of the Christian Church. By the Rev. J. B. Sumner. Scripture Stories from the New Testa ment. 12mo. 6s.
The System; a Tale of the West Indies. By Charlotte Elizabeth. 5s. Outalissi, a Tale of Dutch Guiana. 9s. 6d.
An Evening at Home. By the Author of " Pity the Negro.'
Common Sense on Colonial Slavery; a Review of the Chief Objections urged against the Manumission of our British Slaves. 1s. 6d.
Essays on the Perception of an External Universe and other Subjects connected with the Doctrine of Causation. By Lady Mary Shepherd.
A Selection from the Papers of Addison in the Spectator and Guardian, for the use of Young Persons. By the Rev. E. Berens. 4s. 6d.
Idolatry, a Poem. By the Rev. W. Swan.
The Protestant and Catholic, a Poem. By M. Bridges. 2s. 6d.
A Widow's Tale and other Poems. By Bernard Barton. 5s. 6d.
Observations on the Political Claims of
the Roman Catholics. By a Graduate of Christ Church, Oxford. Is. 6d.
The Rise and Progress of the United States of North America till the British Revolution in 1688. By J. Graham. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 8s.
The Expectations formed by the Assyrians that a Great Deliverer would appear about the Time of our Lord's Advent. By the Rev. F. Nolan. 8vo. 10s.
The Young Child's Moralist. By M. Aublay. 18mo. 4s.
The Present System of Education in France. By D. Johnson, M.D. 8vo. 6s. 6d.
Jones on the Greek Article. 12mo. 4s. Mayo's Outline of Physiology. 8vo. 14s.
Crook's Manual of Phrenological Organs. 1s. 6d.
The Georgics of Virgil, edited by W. Sotheby, with Metrical Translations in various languages, in one vol. folio. 51.5s.
Flagellum Parliamentarium; being Notices of nearly 200 Members of the first Parliament after the Restoration, A.D. 1661 to 1678. From a MS. in the British Museum. In small 8vo. 4s.
Sketches of Persian Life and Manners from the Journal of a Traveller in the East. In 2 vols. post 8vo.
Travels in Mesopotamia, including a Journey to the Ur of the Chaldees, and the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon. By J. S. Buckingham. 1 vol. 4to. 31. 13s. 6d.
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
EDINBURGH ITINERATING LI
BRARY SOCIETY.
A SOCIETY has just been instituted for establishing Itinerating Libraries in the city and county of Edinburgh, to be gradually extended, as far as its funds will allow over the whole of Scotland. The value of such an institution is unquestionable. "The tree of knowledge," remarks the Society's address, "bears two manner of fruits:-it is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; and rightly to divide between the one and the other, is not to be expected from the inexperienced and undirected taste of those who are yet new to the perils that lurk among the flowers and the fruits of literature. One of the most beneficial features, therefore, of such an institution as that proposed is, that it puts into the hands of qualified men the ministration of proper knowledge among the mass of the people; and sets them, as it were, at the fountain head of the literature that is henceforward to circulate its influences among the inferior classes of society." "It is not meant, however," continues the address," that the tone or practice of the society should be of a dictatorial character, or that it should attempt, what fortunately the circumstances of the age and social system render impossible, to establish an intellectual despotism over the mind of the people. Any approach to such a spirit, on the part of the association, would be the surest of all means to neutralize its own efficiency."
It is not the principle of the society, that the libraries to be established should
be entirely of a religious character. The object is to promote the general intelligence of the people; and while the utmost care will be taken not to compromise those higher principles to which even the loftiest of mortal ends must be subordinate, the object in view will be sought, not by confining the attention to one unvaried course of reading, but by extending it to as many departments of knowledge as can be presented in a popular form. The society remark, that the experience of the system of Itinerating Libraries, which has been pursued with distinguished success for some years past in the county of East Lothian, will shew the usefulness of their proposal. The expense at which the East-Lothian plan might be carried into complete effect, all over the country, is very small. Supposing that 250l. per annum could be raised by subscriptions or donations, and divisions of fifty volumes lent at the rate of twenty-five shillings per annum, which they would very easily raise, the result would be, that in twenty years there might be 1905 such divisions itinerating through the country; that is, two libraries might be constantly maintained in every parish throughout Scotland. In the first instance, however, the society propose to confine their operations to that district more immediately within their reach; the city of Edinburgh and county of Mid-Lothian; and they doubt not that the public will afford support to an institution which, ⚫at so trivial an expense, promises to effect so vast a benefit.
IRISH EDUCATION SOCIETY. From the last Report of the KildareStreet Education Society, it appears, that education in Ireland is extending to an unprecedented degree. When the society was formed, in 1811, there were in that country only 4,600 schools, with 200,000 scholars ;-in 1824, they had increased to 11,823 schools, and 560,000 scholars-an augmentation, in thirteen years, nearly three-fold. And not only is education advancing, but also a desire for Scriptural knowledge. Out of these 11,823 schools, the Bible is read in no fewer than 6,058, of which 4179 are conducted by teachers, (many of them Catholics) wholly unfettered, and dependent for support on the parents of their pupils, who cannot therefore be opposed to such instruction.
We may take another opportunity of extracting some further details from the Report of this society.
of instruction, which has been so successfully pursued in Ireland for the last few years, by promoting the circulation of religious tracts and books, and by affording every facility for the establishment of depositories for sale and lending libraries throughout this part of the united empire.
The tracts issued from the society's depository during the last nine months, amount to 312,000. Of these upwards of 17,000 have been issued gratuitously to gaols, hospitals, and alms-houses, in different parts of Ireland. The books issued during the same period amount to nearly 54,000, being an increase of nearly 83,000 tracts, and 10,000 books, beyond the corresponding period of the last year. About 15,000 books have been issued gratuitously. The total of tracts issued by the society during the last six years, amounts to upwards of two millions and a half, and the books to upwards of
SUNDAY-SCHOOL SOCIETY FOR 270,000.
In the last Report of the SundaySchool Society for Ireland, we find that the number of schools now in connexion with that society amounts to 1,804, which are attended by 13,255 gratuitous teachers, and 152,391 scholars. Nearly 190,000 copies of the Holy Scriptures have been distributed since the formation of the society. The amount of subscriptions and donations for the support of these schools, last year, was 2,2771.
The commissioners for education have stated as follows their estimate of the value of Sunday Schools:
"It is impossible to witness the proceedings of these schools, even in the most cursory manner, without perceiving their beneficial tendency. The influence on moral character which has already been produced in those parts of Ireland where institutions of this kind have been formed, is attested by undoubted authority. A marked improvement in principle and conduct, an increased respect to moral obligation, a more general observance of relative duties, and a greater deference to the laws, are invariably represented as among the fruits of the education there received; and we entertain no doubt, that it is one of the most powerful instruments for raising the character, and advancing the general welfare of the people."
RELIGIOUS TRACT AND BOOK
SOCIETY FOR IRELAND. The principle on which this society was instituted was to follow up the cause
Many testimonies to the usefulness of the society's publications have been received; from which it appears, that the principles of the religion of Christ have been brought home to the consciences and hearts of many; that the publications of the society have been the means of inducing those to read the word of God who had never before perused its sacred pages; have been made the means of turning the wandering and almost hopeless sinner from the error of his ways to serve God; "have smoothed the pillow of affliction; and cheered the dying hour of many a child of poverty."
There are four Auxiliary Associations in Ireland, besides 150 depositories and lending libraries, which have been established through the instrumentality of the society.
To meet the demand for new publications, the society have published fifteen small books, and sixteen tracts, original and compiled; seventy tracts and books have also been reprinted; and there are now in the press several other publications, making a total of 177 tracts, and seventy-two books, original and compiled, since the formation of the society in 1820. There are, at present, on sale at the depository, 2,000 different kinds of books, and 450 kinds of tracts.
The funds of the society are not only exhausted, but a considerable sum remains due to booksellers and printers for stock now in the depository. The committee have opened an office and depository, for the sale of the society's publications, at
No. 32, Sackville Street, Piccadilly, London, where subscriptions are received, and every information respecting the society may be obtained.
AMERICAN PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
We have received the journal of the proceedings of the forty-first convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, held towards the close of last year; from which we copy a few passages as illustrative of the condition and prospects of our sister, or rather daughter, church, towards which we must ever cherish an affectionate regard, and which, we rejoice to learn, is greatly increasing both in numbers and religious efficiency.
The following are extracts from the address of the Bishop (Dr. Hobart), detailing his proceedings during the year. They shew how laborious are the duties of an American bishop; and our readers must remember that these labours are entirely gratuitous, and are undertaken in addition to the cares of an ordinary pastoral charge.
"I commenced my visitation of the churches of the diocese with those in the city (New York), and in the course of the last spring the ordinance of confirmation was administered as follows." Here follows the list which it is needless for us to copy. It closes with the following gratifying notice :-"I take pleasure in stating that I confirmed at St. Philip's, the church of the People of Colour, under their exemplary pastor, the Rev. Peter Williams, 113; and on this occasion, as on all others when I have officiated there, I witnessed an orderly and devout congregation."
"I had received so urgent a request from the wardens and vestrymen of the respectable congregation of St. Paul's, at Boston, in which Bishop Griswold, of that diocese, united, as well as their rector elect, the Rev. Mr. Potter, to preach at his institution, that I was induced to do so; and I experienced, in all respects, the highest gratification from my visit. I preached at Boston on Sunday, the 27th of August; at St. Paul's in the morning, Trinity in the afternoon, and Christ Church in the evening-the next day at Salem-and the following day, the 29th, again at St. Paul's, at the institution of Mr. Potter, which solemnity was performed by the bishop of the diocese. I left Boston on Friday, the 1st of September, and on Sunday, the 3d, officiated at the Little Falls, on the Mohawk, near 300 miles distant. This journey was rendered CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 303.
unusually difficult by the extraordinary freshets in the Green-Mountains, which had seriously injured the roads, and in some places rendered them almost impassable. On Monday the 4th, I consecrated the church at New-Hartford, four miles west of Utica, and the following morning admitted the Rev. Amos C. Treadway, deacon, the officiating minister there, to the order of priests. In the afternoon 1 officiated at Paris, and confirmed seven persons. The next day, at Manlius, forty; and in the afternoon I officiated at Jamesville."
We must pass over the remainder of this episcopal journey, which proceeds throughout in the same manner. Among the closing details are the following, which we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of quoting.
"The road from Buffalo to the southwest corner of the state on Lake Erie, not admitting of convenient travelling in any other vehicle but a strong stage waggon, I was compelled to travel all the night of Monday in the stage to Fredonia, where I confirmed, on the morning of Tuesday, twelve persons; and the next day, the 27th, at Mayville, twenty-seven. In this village, beautifully situated on Chatauque Lake, the head waters of the Allegany, seven miles distant from Lake Erie, and elevated near 700 feet above it, a new church is erecting by an enterprising congregation, under the faithful services of the clergyman there. On the 28th, I retraced my way to Buffalo; from whence, on the 29th, I proceeded to Rochester, where I arrived on the morning of the 30th, when I consecrated the elegant Gothic stone edifice of St. Luke's Church, in this prosperous village; and the next day I was highly gratified in administering confirmation to seventy-two persons. My course of visitation closing. at this place, I departed for my home, which I reached on the following Thursday, with abundant cause of thankfulness to Almighty God, for my preservation during the labours and fatigues of the journeys of a year past, embracing in the whole between 3 and 4000 miles."
"The whole number confirmed during the past year is 1940.
"To detail minutely the incidents of these journeys, would be too great a trespass on your time and patience; and perhaps would not fall within the design of these addresses to you. Yet there is one incident which I think you will excuse me for mentioning. On my journey from Rochester home, I left the State of New 2 B