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shall be considered as free. My endeavours have at last, as you will see by the enclosed papers, been attended with success. I wrote on the 10th of this month a letter (of which No. I. is a copy) upon the subject, to the principal proprietors of slaves at this place who are upon the list of the special jurymen for the province of Colombo, and who are therefore all personally known to me. By the letter (of which No. II. is a copy) you will see that the proposal contained in my letter was well received by them; and that they, at a General Meeting, which they called to take the contents of that letter into consideration, unanimously came to the resolution, that all children born of their slaves after the 12th of August next should be free ;-(the 12th of August was fixed upon by them at my suggestion, as a compliment to the Prince Regent.) They afterwards appointed a committee, from among themselves, to frame certain resolutions, (No. III.,) for the purpose of carrying their benevolent intention into effect. The principal object of these resolutions is, as you will perceive, to secure that the children, born free after the 12th of August next, shall be provided for by the masters of their parents until the age of fourteen; it being supposed that after they have attained that age they will be able to provide for themselves.

"The Dutch special jurymen of this place consist of about 130 of the most respectable Dutch gentlemen of the place; in which number are contained almost all the Dutch who are large proprietors of slaves. Besides these gen

tlemen, there are jurymen of all the different casts among the natives, such as Vellales, fishermen, men of the Mahabadde or Cinnamon department, Chittees, and Mahomedans. The moment the jurymen of these casts heard of the resolutions which had been come to by the Dutch special jurymen, they were so much struck with the example which they had set them, that they also immediately addressed me in the same manner as the Dutch had done; announcing their unanimous acquiescence in the measure which had been adopted by the Dutch, and their unanimous determination to consider as free all children that may be born of their slaves, after the 12th of August.

"No. IV. is a copy of the answer which I sent to the address which was presented to me on the occasion by the Dutch special jurymen; and No. V. a copy of that which I returned to the respective addresses which were sent me by all the jurymen of the different casts of Natives at Colombo.

"The example of the jurymen at Colombo is, I understand, to be immediately followed by all the jurymen on the island. You will, I am sure, be delighted to hear of this event. The state of domestic slavery, which has prevailed in this island for three centuries, may now be considered at an end."

It appears, from the accompanying documents referred to above, that this great change was brought about, in no small degree, by the effect produced on public opinion by the perusal of the Reports of the African Institution, particularly the Eighth and Ninth.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THEOLOGY.

Fifty-seven Sermons, on the Gospels or Epistles of all the Sundays in the Year, Christmas-day, the Circumcision, and Good-Friday; for the use of families and country congregations: together with Observations on Public Reli

gious Instruction; by the Rev. Richard Warner, Curate of St. James's, Bath. 2 vols. 12mo. 16s.

A Plea for Catholic Communion in the Church of God; by J. M. Mason, D. D. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

Sermons; by the late Rev. Charles Wesley, A. M. Student of Christ Church, Oxford, with a Memoir of the Author. 12mo. 7s.

Sermons; by W. N. Darnell, B. D. Prebendary of Durham, and late Fellow of C. C. College, Oxford. 8vo. 9s. A Lay Sermon, addressed to the Higher Classes of Society; by S.T. Coleridge, Esq. 12mo. 4s.

Annotations on the Epistles; being a continuation of Mr. Elsley's Annotations on the Gospels and Acts, and principally designed for the use of Candidates for Holy Orders; by the Rev. James Slade, M. A. 2 vols. 8vo. 16s.

A Century of Christian Prayers, on Faith, Hope, and Charity; with a Morning and Evening Devotion, conducive to the Duties of Belief and Practice. 8vo. 8s.

The Doctrine of Regeneration in the Case of Infant Baptism, stated in Reply to the Dean of Chichester's Apology, addressed to the Rev. G. S. Faber, B.D.; by George Stanley Faber, B. D. Rector of Long Newton. 2s. 6d.

Discourses on the Principles of Religious Belief, as connected with Human Happiness and Improvement; by the Rev. Robert Moonham. 8vo. 10s. 6d. vol. II.

The Consequence resulting from a

Simplification of Public Creeds, a Sermon preached at the Triennial Visitation of the Bishop of Rochester, by Richard Lawrence, LL. D., &c. 1s.

Sermons on the Parables of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; by William Martin Trinder, L. B. at Oxford, and M. D. at Leyden. 8vo. 12s.

Meditations and Prayers selected from the Holy Scriptures, the Liturgy, and Pious Tracts, recommended to the Wayfaring Man, the Invalid, the Soldier, and the Seaman, whensoever unavoidably precluded from the House of Prayer; by the Rev. J. Watts. 3s. 6d.

Sermons, preached at Welbeck Chapel, St. Mary-le-Bone, by the Rev. Thomas White, M. A. Minister of that Chapel. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Translation of the Six Books of Proclus on the Theology of Plato; also a Translation of Proclus's Elements of Theology; by Thomas Taylor. 2 vols. royal 4to. 250 copies only printed. 57.10s. Encyclopedia Britannica.-Supplement, vol. II. part i. 1. 5s.

Fragments on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening; by H. Repton, Esq. assisted by his Son; illustrated by fifty-two plates of views. 61. 6s.

Picturesque Rides and Walks round the Metropolis. No. 7.

The Identity of Junius with a Distinguished Living Character established.

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to the Landed and Agricultural Interests, &c.; by R. Preston, Esq M. P. 2s.

Speech of Thomas Favell Buxton, Esq., at the Mansion-house, London, Nov. 26, 1816, on the Dreadful Distresses in Spitalfields. 6d.

An Inquiry into the Principle of Population; including an exposition of the causes and advantages of a tendency to exuberance of numbers in society, a defence of poor laws, and a critical and historical view of the doctrines and projects of the most celebrated legislators and writers, relative to population, the poor and charitable establishments; by James Grahame, Esq.

A Map of Scriptural and Classical Geography, with an explanatory Treatise; by T. Hething, of Magd. Hall, Oxon. 1. 1s.-on canvass 11. 6s.

The Inquisition Unmasked; being an historical and philosophical account of that tremendous tribunal; founded on authentic documents, and exhibiting the necessity of its suppression, as the means of reform and regeneration; written and published at the time when the national congress of Spain was about to deliberate on this important measure; by D. Antonio Puigblanch. Translated from the author's enlarged copy, by William Walton, Esq. 2 vols. 8vo 17. 10s.

The History of Ceylon, from the earliest period to the year 1815, with characteristic details of the religion, laws, and manners of the people, and a collection of their moral maxims and ancient proverbs; by Philalethes, A. M. Oxon. 4tb. 21. 12s. 6d.

A History of the Jesuits; to which is prefixed a Reply to Mr. Dallas's Defence of the Order. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 4s.

Narrative of a Residence in Ireland

Anne Plumtre. 1 vol. 4to.

Evening Amusements; or, the Beau- during the Years 1814 and 1815; by ties of the Heavens displayed; in which the striking Appearances to be observed in various Evenings during the Year 1817 are described; by William Frend, Esq. M. A. Actuary of the Rock Life Assurance Company, and late Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge. 12mo. 3s.

Jackson's New and Improved System of Mnemonics; or Two Hours' Study in the Art of Memory, applied to Figures, Chronology, Geography, Statistics, &c. &c. 12mo. 5s. 6d.

The Elgin Marbles, from the Temple of Minerva at Athens, engraved on sixty double plates. Imp. 4to. 57. 58.

An Essay on the Origin, Progress, and present State of Galvanism; honoured by the Royal Irish Academy with the prize; by Mr. Donovan. 8vo. 12s. 6d.

Further Observations on the State of the Nation-Means of Employment of Labour-Sinking Fund, and its Applicatien-Pauperism-Protection requisite

Memorandums of a Residence inFrance in the Winter of 1815-16; including remarks on French society and manners, with a description of the Catacombs, and notices of some other objects of curiosity and works of art, not hitherto described. 8vo. 12s.

Travels in Belochistan and Sinde; by Lieut. Henry Pottinger, of the Hon. East India Company's Service. 4to. 21. 5s.

Theoretic Arithmetic, in three books; by Thomas Taylor. 8vo. 14s.

The whole works of the late William Cowper, Esq., consisting of Poems, Letters, and a Translation of Homer. 10 vols. foolscap 8vo. 3. 11s.

Travels above the Cataracts of Egypt; by Thomas Legh, Esq. M. P. With a map. 4to. 1. 1s.

The Private Correspondence of Benj. Franklin, LL. D. F. R. S. &c.; comprehending a Series of familiar, literary,

and Political Letters written between the years 1753 and 1790. 1 vol. 4to. The Life of Raphael of Urbino; by the Author of the Life of Michael Angelo. Crown 8vo. 8s. 6d.

Speeches, Memoirs, and Portrait of Sheridan; by a Constitutional Friend. 5 vols. 8vo. 31.

Memoirs of the Right Hon. Richard Brinsley Sheridan; drawn from authentic Documents, and illustrated by original Correspondence, and a Variety of

interesting Anecdotes; to which is 'prefixed, a Biographical Account of his Family; by John Watkins, LL. D. 4to.

17. 11s. 6d.

The Lives of Dr. Edw. Pocock, the celebrated Orientalist, by Dr. Twells; of Dr. Zachary Pearce, Bishop of Rochester, and of Dr. Newton, Bishop of Bristol, by themselves; and of the Rev. Philip Skelton, by Mr. Burdy. 2 vols. 8vo. 11.

An elementary Treatise on Astronomy; by the Rev. A. Mylne, A. M. 8vo. 9s.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL SOCIETY FOR

IRELAND.

THIS Society was formerly called the Hibernian Sunday-School Society, and by that name its proceedings already stand recorded in our pages. (vol. for 1814, p. 845, and vol. for 1815, p. 865.) Its Sixth Report for the year ending April, 1816, has recently reached us, and it conveys the gratifying intelligence of increasing prosperity and extended usefulness. Its funds have been aided by various other societies. From the British and Foreign Bible Society it has received 5,000 Testaments and 500 Bibles, at half the cost price; and from two sermons preached in Dublin, one by the Rev. Robert M'Ghee, the other by the Rev. James Dunn, it received 4521. The Committee have printed 20,000 Alphabets and 20,000 Spellingbooks No. 1, in the course of the year. They expect to be under the necessity of printing an edition of 30,000 Spellingbooks No. 2. At the beginning of the year, the number of schools deriving aid from the Society was 252, containing 28,598 children. At the close of the year the number is 335 schools, containing 37,590 children. The Committee, in recording, in appropriate terms, their obligations, and the obligations of Ireland, to the conductors and teachers of these schools, who have had many difficulties to contend with, observe

"There are upwards of 2,000 individuals, who, anxious to promote the happiness of their poor neighbours, devote a part of their valuable time on Sundays to their instruction; and do so without any other reward than that heart-felt satisfaction which ever attends benevolent exertions. Your Committee cannot avoid considering this gratuitous instruction as one of the peculiar advantages of the Sunday-school system, CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 181.

and one of the causes which renders its effects so very beneficial. Such teachers feel a parental affection to the children; and this is returned by a filial affection from the children: a strong and beneficial union is thus formed between the orders of society. Thus are provided a number of sincere friends, who will protect the children in after life; by whose advice they may be directed; by whose assistance they may be guarded against many evils; whose good opinion they will be anxious to retain, and will be restrained from faults to which those are exposed, who have not so strong an inducement to maintain their character. Nor is it only the children who are benefited by this connexion; the teachers themselves learn how to teach; they become acquainted with the dispositions of children; they acquire a facility of interesting and instructing them, and become more qualified to educate their own families.

"Your Committee cannot but exult in the progress of a work so fraught with blessings to all engaged in it, so calculated to remedy many of those evils which affect Ireland, and to impart to her peasantry the principles of social order, domestic happiness, and true religion. While under the conviction that this success of your Society has been the result of a concurrence of several independent causes; of the desire of the people for instruction; of the zeal and energy of those who have undertaken to instruct them, and of the patronage and assistance of the public; your Committee would fervently and gratefully ascribe their prosperity to His blessing, from whom all good counsels and just works do proceed; and would, with humble confidence, commit their cause to His care, trusting, that He will perfect the same to His own

glory, and the happiness of many of the rising generation of our countrymen."

The Appendix contains no less than seventy-six different letters from the teachers of Sunday-Schools to the Committee. Many of them are highly interesting, as marking the progress of instruction, and its beneficial effects. We can only give a few very brief extracts.

1. Derrygonelly." I enclose for the consideration of the Sunday-school Committee, a Report of a school lately established in this parish. It gives a proof that the poor are ready to hear and receive instruction, if there can be any found to concern themselves for them. The harvest is great, and labourers are few.

"The neighbourhood of Derrygonelly, proverbially devoted to every species of folly and idleness on the Lord's day, will now, through the Divine blessing, hear the feeble voice sounding its Maker's praise, and thus correct the gray head of iniquity. No religious distinction has yet prevented the attendance of the teachers and scholars: all co-operate in the same blessed cause; all pray that you may be their successful advocate in obtaining a small gra for building a school-house."

2. Killyscolvan." I have been much interested in the fate of one boy who came to us in 1812: he was then sixteen years old, and had never learned his letters. He continued to attend very regularly, (although he lived more than three miles from the school,) both winter and summer, until last month, when he died, after a short illness, brought on, I fear, by over fatigue. He had read through the Testament, and showed considerable knowledge of the essential truths of the Gospel. He was the oldest of a large and very poor family, and was remarkable for his industry and good conduct, as much as for his strong desire of improvement. Such was Robert R.; and if we may, without presumption, trust that this school was made a blessing to him, how thankful should we be to that Providence who has made us instrumental to so serious a benefit!"

3. Cookstown.-"It appears from our weekly register for the last year, that we have taught 8,497 children, and we expect to exceed this number in the present, if spared to see it concluded; and we, with heart-felt gratitude, behold that the good that has arisen from our labour of love has, and is, producing much more than merely to learn the

scholars their letters, to spell, and read; for we see them increasing in cleanliness and order, and, we may add, in the fear of the Lord; and from these views and feelings our hands have been held up thus far. We believe the work to be of God, and to him we look for the blessing."

4. Dromedy.—“ It is upwards of nine years since I collected a few children, chiefly to show them the evil of profaning the Lord's day, without any view of either order or discipline. In taking a retrospective view of that period, I have cause to thank Almighty God that I engaged in such a work. Many who came to the Dromedy Sunday-school since that time, ignorant of God and his word, do make it now the rule of their faith and practice. To God be all the glory given! Our school has been in a thriving state, in every sense, this year; and, although we labour under many inconveniences, which other schools are relieved from that are more warmly patronized by men of affluence and ability, yet God's word is read, and partly understood, by our scholars; and we hope that our public labours will not prove abortive."

5. Coolkenno." On the whole, I humbly trust, that the work of God is prospering among the poor; and though one might reasonably conclude, that the effects of your exertions would be rather remote in their operation, and that their fruits would not be fully apparent for another generation, yet even now I think you have great reason to be grateful to Him who giveth the increase, that He has already ripened some of your fruits to maturity. I have seen some comfortable testimonies of sick and dying children, that through the means of Sunday-school instruction they have been able to cast anchor within the veil; and some of them, whose parents have been negligent in attending Divine service, have reminded me of my own duty, by requesting that I would speak to their father and mother." 6. Maryborough."It is ten years since the school was first opened. Some of our first scholars have arrived to the age of twenty, and twenty-one; they are now some of our best teachers : some of them are scattered through the kingdom; and we have reason to be thankful that they evidence by their attachment to the Sunday-school institution, that they have not been taught in vain. We have sent from this institution, at different times, teachers into

the different parts of the kingdom; and we are thankful that their moral conduct has not been a reproach to the Gospel of Christ. They are useful members of society; and this we can affirm, that most of the boys taught in our school, who have grown to man's estate, give evidence in their life that they fear and love God. This is the Lord's work, and He shall have all the glory. Our wish is for the spread and in increase of such institutions, because ignorance and darkness flee before them."

7. Bangor.-"The improvement of the children in morals, learning, and appearance, has been rapidly progressive'; and it is very apparent the utility of the institution is become so evident, that many contribute to its support now, that at first refused that assistance. There is also reason to believe, that the example of the children has had a good effect on the conduct of their parents; as in six months I had no occasion to take a single examination against any inhabitant of Bangor, Formerly they were numerous. It is possible I may err as to the cause, (as there are several institutions in Bangor calculated to promote industry and good conduct,) but such is the fact; and while other parts of the country suffer nocturnal outrages, this parish is, at present, blessed with peace and tranquillity."

"I find that thirteen pence a year for each scholar is, on an average, fully sufficient (the teachers acting gratuitously) to supply them with books, and to pay all other expenses."

ANTIGUA.

In the year 1809, the late Bishop Porteus addressed to West India proprietors and planters, a letter, recommending that the young slaves should be taught to read, and be instructed in the principles of religion.

A printed copy of this letter was sent to Mr. Gilbert, resident at English Harbour, by the Rev. Mr. Curtin. Mrs. Gilbert having been engaged some years before, in instructing young Negroes, when resident upon her father's estate, felt a strong desire to recommence a practice which appeared to her to promise much for the rising generation; but was discouraged from the attempt, by the consideration that some of the proprietors or their attorneys considered teaching slaves to read, as an impolitic measure; and it was therefore rather to be expected, that whoever attempted it would be viewed in an unfavourable

light. On this account she hesitated; till, one day, the Rev. Mr. Light, a missionary of the United Brethren, calling upon her, and observing that there was a great field for the instruction of children in English Harbour and its vicinity, his remark kindled in her a fresh desire to attempt their instruction. She accordingly made a beginning in Oct. 1809, aided by her sister Mrs. Thwaites, formerly her coadjutress in the like undertaking in the country, and by another female friend.

The number of children gradually increased; and, in 1812, they amounted to twenty-eight slaves, thirty Free Black and Coloured, and four White. A weekly meeting, was then commenced, for the religious instruction of the children, by explaining the Church Catechism, and by other methods suited to their capacities and situation. This meeting is conducted by the Superintendant of the Girls' School, and two other female teachers, and is now held on Wednesday mornings,

In the year 1812, a very seasonable supply of Bibles and Testaments, sent out by the Hon. Mrs. (now Lady) Grey, was presented to the schools, and, since that time, her Ladyship has felt much interest in the success of this institution, which she has furnished with books and lessons. That Lady's benevolence has also been exercised in raising a sum of money for the purpose of erecting a school-house; but some circumstances have occurred, which have hitherto frustrated her Ladyship's kind intentions.

The number of children at present belonging to the Girls' School, is, thirty slaves, one hundred and fifteen Free Black and Coloured, and two White. The country schools belonging to the English Harbour School Society were instituted by Mr. Thwaites, and comprise children from twenty estates, five hundred in number. The Boys' School at English Harbour consists of seventy-two boys, superintended by Mr. Mead. In the Girls' School are twelve Teachers; in the Boys' School four; and in the Country Schools, twelve.

The situation of the children at English Harbour, especially the females, excites much interest and compassion in those who are engaged for their good. The greater part of them are the illegitimate offspring of White men, principally in the Navy and Army, who have been from time to time on this station. One of these girls is a natural daughter

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