port of the Ladies' Branch of this Society.* If it be desirable to extend that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation, and that improvement in moral habits which the precepts and sanctions of the Bible, when applied to the heart, can alone produce; if the amendment be more immediately important to the community in which it is observable; and if, while the universal interests of man should be studiously kept in sight, the greatest energy of benevolence should be exercised towards those with whom we are more immediately connected, then the Ladies' Branch of this society demands the gratitude of those who consider alike the extent of the want which they have undertaken to supply, and the magnitude of the effort by which they have redeemed their pledge.

Were the scene of their labours as unbounded as their benevolence, their present report would doubtless have exhibited statements as remarkable as those of the past year. But the harvest, though great, was limited; and when so much has been already reaped and gathered, it is an abundant proof of unwearied industry, that so rich a gleaning should have remained to reward them. The mower may more easily fill his hand, and he that gather eth up the sheaves his bosom, when he enters upon his labour, than when he draws near to its close. It is no common cause of congratulation, that the wants of the town have been so well supplied: and if we turn to the need of unnumbered millions, whose hands the Bible has never reached, we must rejoice that the Ladies' Branch has been enabled to appropriate to the foreign purposes of the institution a sum which has no parallel in the direct remittances of the Liverpool Auxiliary Society, except in the first year of its institution.

A confirmation of the interest felt by those in power, for the spiritual as well as temporal good of the community, is connected with the proceedings of your committee, and is too gratifying to be omitted.

Among the many emigrants proceeding to seek another country upon the shores of Southern Africa, four vessels, containing above 600 souls, have sailed from hence, three bound under the command and guidance of a naval officer, and one under private superintendence, to the Cape of Good Hope. This agent was instructed to provide every accommodation which could minister to the health or comfort of these families, who were about to separate from all the endearments of their native country, and to carry their language, their customs, and their faith, to a distant and benighted land. He was especially charged by Earl Bathurst to provide them with a supply of the holy scriptures. A communication was received on this most interesting subject from the Parent Society, and an application made by Lieutenant Church, R. N., the agent for transports who accompanied them. • See Christian Herald, Vol. VI. p. 530. and Vol. VII. p. 77.

A sub-committee was accordingly formed to examine their wants, and the inquiry issued in the distribution of 114 Bibles and 123 Testaments among these emigrants, independently of a few among the crew of one of the vessels. These grants have since been made good by the Parent Society, to the extent of 66 Bibles and 106 Testaments. With what eager gratitude they were received, and how highly such a gift was prized at such a moment, will be evident from the following report of the Depositary to the committee, dated January 31.

'On Friday, the 28th of January 1820, the Depositary, by directions of one of the Secretaries, went on board the Albury, transport ship, then in the river, and about to proceed with a party of emigrants to the Cape of Good Hope in order to make inquiries respecting their want of and desire for the Holy Scriptures. He was accompanied thither by Mr. Thomas Calton, the superintendent, who appeared anxious that the people should possess the word of God.

'As soon as the object of the Depositary's visit was made known a number of individuals, men, women, and children, gathered round him, all apparently highly interested and anxious to prefer their respective applications. On inquiry it appeared that though all the adult persons on board, consisting of nearly one hundred, (one or two excepted,) could read, yet only about six copies of the scriptures were in their possession. The desire to possess the divine treasure was universal, and many appeared to regret their inability to contribute towards its purchase. Inquiries were made, by permission, among the crew, almost all of whom could read; it appeared that there were already on board the ship four Bibles and four Testaments, which had been bestowed by a Bible Society for the use of the sailors, to which they had free access.

'On the Monday following, the Depositary went on board a second time, with the very liberal supply directed for distribution among the emigrants. The delight and satisfaction expressed by them on the receipt of the invaluable gift may be more easily conceived than described, several expressed aloud their gratitude to the society. They appeared indeed astonished at the attention which had been paid to their individual wants It was a pleasing circumstance too, that among the number there were several pious individuals who appeared duly to appreciate the value of the sacred book, and that the whole party evinced a great degree of decorum and propriety of conduct. This was still more apparent on going below, whither the greater number had previously retired to their respective births. A scene presented itself here truly gratifying. Already were many of the party intently engaged in reading the Book of God; others were observed carefully covering their books with paper, &c.: satisfaction appeared in every countenance. One exclaimed, "I hope we shall value the books

as we ought:" another, "We ought to be very thankful to the Bible Society;" a third, "I hope, Sir, you will allow us an interest in your prayers, that heaven may prosper us on our voyage," in which he was joined by several others.

'An intention was expressed by some of the party to establish a Sunday School, immediately on their arrival at Africa, for the instruction of the emigrant children.

'The sailors declined purchasing any Bibles, declaring that they could not just then afford to do so, having disposed of all their cash just before for necessaries. Three Bibles and three Testaments were, however, presented for their use to the Captain, who himself expressed an earnest desire to be put in possession of a large print Bible for his own use, which, on payment of half cost price, was accordingly presented. On returning from the ship one of the sailors in the boat inquired, "Pray, Sir, have any Bibles and Testaments been left on board for our use?" On being answered in the affirmative, he apppeared satisfied.

'A few days after, a letter, of which the following is a copy, was received by the Depositary from Henry Holland, one of the party.

"Albury Transport, January 31, 1820. "SIR,-This humbly showeth that, feeling a deep sense of the obligations we owe to the Liverpool Auxiliary Bible Society for their gifts of Bibles, we desire publicly to return our warm acknowledgments and thanks for the same, praying that God may enlighten our minds in those sacred truths; that we may read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest his holy word to the glory of his sacred name, hoping you will in nowise be discouraged in helping on the work of the Lord, always considering what is "given to the poor is lent to the Lord.""

If the nations of the heathen world, when they left the country of their fathers, whether in voluntary search of settlements in distant lands, or driven forward by the strong arm of the invader, held it a point of indispensable obligation to carry with them the gods of their family and country, wood and stone, the work of men's hands, was it fitting that a Christian society should leave the land of the gospel, the institutions of pure religion, the ordinances of God, and the ministrations of his word, without carrying away over the mighty ocean, not only the means of colonial culture, but also the faith of Christ, the mercies of redemption, and the book of life? If Rachel, when she left the house of her father Laban, took away the images of her superstitious reverence, as her safeguard and protection, amidst the perils of the way and of a strange and distant country, was it not well, that they who had to pass the waste of waters, and settle in the deep solitudes of a land where God was for the most part unknown, should carry with them the religion of the gospel, and the book which is able to make men wise unto salvation,

through faith that is in Christ Jesus? If Micah so cherished the Ephod and Teraphim, the molten image, and the graven image of his mistaken reverence, as to cry to the Danites when they removed them from his house, "Ye have taken away my gods. which I made, and my priest, and ye are gone away, and what have I more?" what must be the desolate and bereaved conditions of those who leave the land of the gospel, to colonize a remote and barbarous quarter of the world, if they are deprived of the consolation of their faith, of the book of salvation, and the institutions of religion, and while they seek a melioration of the present life, are destitute and desolate of every provision for the life which shall be eternal? It is to the praise of those with whom this scheme of colonization originated, not to have disregarded the moral and spiritual welfare of the emigrants. They have been laudably anxious to bestow every means of temporal welfare; and they have acted under the high and holy sympathies of religion, by providing their fellow Christians with that book of life, and those ordinances of public worship, which will enable them to have kindred and communion with all that in every place call on the name Jesus Christ, our Lord, both theirs and ours.

UNITED STATES.

A Narrative of the state of religion within the bounds of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church; and of the General Association of Connecticut, New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Proper; and of the General Convention of Vermont, during the last year.

The church is the house of the living God. For this church Christ died in this church God dwells. It was erected to be a lasting monument of the richness of his grace and the greatness of his power. Its preservation is the dearest care of providence, its increase is the riches of the world, and its final consummation shall be the wonder and the praise of heaven. The presence of this church is the best safeguard of nations, and its growth and stability the surest pledge of their prosperity and strength. It has pleased God to place an important section of this his church, in our favoured land; and whether as Christians or as patriots, we have a deep concern in whatever affects its welfare.

Of the church of God in these United States, that portion under the care of the General Assembly constitutes a large, and in every point of view, a highly important part. Extending already over almost every portion of the Union; and going on to increase with a rapidity continually augmenting, it presents to the contemplative mind, a spectacle of the deepest interest; and to the Christian heart, an object of the most solemn and solicitous regard.

From the general view of the state of our church presented to the Assembly at its present meeting, we perceive that the num

bers within its communion are increasing daily. Entire churches, and that in large numbers, are yearly added to those already formed; while, at the same time, these latter have, in some cases, more than doubled the number of their members within a single year. We are gratified to observe a growing attachment to Presbyterian church government; and we rejoice to believe that this has been produced by the benign influence of that form of government on the preservation of order and peace, and its happy adaptation to the genius and habits of the American people. The evidences of ministerial fidelity and zeal exhibited by the state of our congregations generally, afford an encouraging ground of hope for the interests of truth and righteousness throughout our land. But what greatly strengthens that hope, and gives it the aspect of moral certainty, is the deep and general conviction that begins to pervade the church on the subject of ministerial education. Christians are at last awaking to that vital interest of gospel truth, the providing and perpetuating in the church (so far as this belongs to human means) of a well furnished and able ministry. Societies with this design are formed, or forming, in every part of our connexion; the hand of encouragement begins to be extended to youthful piety and ardour; and many a mind of genius and power which would have been utterly lost to the church's service, is now rescued from ignorance and obscurity, and rapidly fitting for the most important stations in her public weal. Our seminary at Princeton has numbered within the past year seventy students, and many more are in training throughout the church with an ultimate view of entering the seminary. That invaluable school of sacred learning exhibits whatever of piety and of promise its most ardent friends could reasonably expect; and the students who have gone forth from it have already proved blessings to the church.-The Education Society in the western Presbyteries of New-York, and the General Board of Education organized under the inspection of the General Assembly, have eminently contributed to the furtherance of this sacred cause: while the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on more than one of our colleges gives cheering evidence that it is a cause which receives the notice and enjoys the smiles of Zion's King. In Union college, from twenty-five to thirty students have within the year become the hopeful subjects of converting grace: In the college of Athens, in Ohio, twelve have been added to the number before pious, making that number upwards of thirty: Hamilton college contains fifty young men, who are supposed by its president to be religiously impressed; and we are happy to learn from our eastern brethren, that Dartmouth college exhibits much seriousness; and that in Williams college more than half of the entire number of its members are preparing to enter on theological studies. Among this extensive corps of the future servants of the cross, let us not forget about thirty students in the mission school at