time should be lost in translating the Solemn Review into French and German. We ought to try to get correspondents in those countries. I intend to try what can be done in my journey through France."

"The British and Foreign School Society continues to flourish, and the system is spreading all over the world. This is one of the great features of the present day; for we shall in vain multiply Bibles, if we do not give the great mass of the people the means of reading them. As the poor in every country form the great majority, the happiness of every individual in a state is involved in the degree of morality and virtue which exists in that class. If they were sufficiently enlightened, where could soldiers be procured for the carrying on of war? Deeply impressed with this subject, I have ever since the year 1808, devoted a large portion of my time and attention to the promotion of the British system of education for the poor."

66

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FRAGMENT SOCIETY."

AMONG the many societies which exist at the present day, the Fragment Society, from the real good it produces, is worthy a conspicuous place. Although its duties frequently require great sacrifice of personal ease and Convenience in discovering the abodes of want and sickness, in administering comfort to the afflicted, and a supply to the needy, we are fully compensated in the belief, that our labours are not in vain. We have had the satis, faction not only to see the naked cloth. ed and the sick made comfortable but we have evidence to believe, that our ministrations have given not only temporal relief, but have also been attended with spiritual good; and a. mong the rewards we experience, we by no means lightly estimate those expressions of gratitude we sometimes witness, which are the overflowing of a heart too full for utterance. Besides distributing the annual subscriptions, the society has been a channel through which many private charities have reached the distressed.

Among the many donations of the last year, the receipts of which we gratefully acknowledge, we cannot but particularly mention a number of

valuable blankets from one source, and several whole pieces of cotton cloth from others; which have enabled us to enlarge the sphere of our labours. With our sincere thanks for past favours, we may be allowed at least to anticipate a continuance of good offices from former benefactors; and to hope their charities will emulate others to follow their good examples.

"Be not weary in well doing, for in due time you shall reap if you faint not."

At the last annual meeting a vote was taken that an act of incorporation should be solicited which was obtained.

Balance in Treasury last year $29 64 Amount of subscriptions re

calamities have been limited by sovereign mercy to a very small number of our towns, compared with the whole. In speaking of the country generally, we may say, This year has been crowned with the goodness of God in respect to the lives, the health and the happiness of the people of this land.

It is true that in the course of the year many valuable members of society have been removed by death, and many families have been dressed in mourning; but this is but the ordinary course of providence, and what is to be expected from year to year, till all who are now living shall be numbered with the dead. It is also to be remembered that the many who have died in the course of the year, are few compared with the number who survive; and every survivor has reason to adore the distinguishing goodness of God to him, and to all the living.

The goodness of God has crowned this year in a remarkable manner with peace and public tranquillity-in the diminution of party spirit and sectarian animosity, and in producing more candid and charitable feelings between those who have entertained different opinions in politics and religion. It is believed that there has been no other time in the course of the last twenty years in which there was so little of party bitterness and raneour apparent in our country, as in the present year. Natural and secondary causes have doubtless had influence in producing this favourable state of things; but we should never forget that all

secondary causes are under the direction of HIM whose goodness crowns the year.

In former years the state of society in this favoured land was in some respects deplorable. Men of each of the different parties in politics and religion, were so prepossessed and bewildered, as scarcely to believe it possible, that good men should entertain opinions opposite to their own; and a spirit of censure and reviling prevailed, which was not only incompatible with love and peace, but a reproach to any people." As the tempest has subsided, it behoves partizans of all denominations now to reflect on their past inconsistency, to adore the goodness of God which has said to the passions, "Peace be still," and to resolve that, in future, they will conduct with more meekness and prudence, avoiding those measures which may tend to interrupt the apparent harmony that now prevails.

If any are yet so blind as not to see, that amity, friendship and candour are better than discord, hatred and censure, they are surely objects of compassion rather than envy. There are, perhaps, but a few who wish to revive the former state of things, except those who are aware that their own popularity depends on a tempest-that it rises in the storm and sinks in the calm. But the time, we believe, is hastening when such a reputation will sink to rise no more. Men will not always be so duped as to esteem those as their best friends who feed on mischief and spend their days in scattering firebrands, arrows and death.

This year has also been distinguished by the goodness of God, in the general peace and prosperity, not only of this country, but of most of the countries of the world. In some provin ces of South America, and in some parts of India, the sword has continued to devour. The nations of Europe, however, and most of the nations, from whom intelligence has been received, have been at peace one with another. Some of them have indeed suffered by internal commotions and a scarcity of bread. These were probably consequences of the late distressing wars, and the coldness of the preceding year. The favourable harvests of this year have, we may hope, relieved their distresses and abated their tumults

The situation of our brethren in South America demands a particular share of our sympathy. Their sufferings have been great and of long continuance; nor does their termination seem to be near. They wish to be free and independent; but it is to be feared that there is not intelligence and virtue enough among them to preserve freedom, even if the blessing should be granted. In those regions God seems to be "visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children." The fathers, who conquered that country and subdued the natives, were perhaps as bloody and cruel a race of beings as ever burdened the earth. The barbarity with which they treated the natives must shock every mind which becomes acquainted with their history. The bloody character of that generation was naturally

entailed to their posterity by edacation; and the present unhappy descendants are reaping. the fruits of their father's barbarity, in being left to display a

similar disposition in destroying one another. In some way similar to this, it is believed, that God usually visits the iniquities of the fathers upon the children. Those parents who, by their own example, train up their children to be bloodyminded, may reasonably expect that their posterity will have blood to drink.

To relieve the mind which may have been burdened by the gloomy picture of South America, we may introduce a more pleasing topic. The goodness of God has this year been wonderfully displayed in continuing and in multiplying those benevolent institutions which have for their object the melioration of the condition of the human family, and the improvement of the human character. Many such institutions under various names, had been formed in Great Britain, on the continent of Europe. in Asia, and in this country prior to the present year. But the benevolence of this age is remarkable for invention and activity. Many new societies have been formed this years and perhaps of all which have been formed in this year, or in preceding years, there is not one whose officers have not occasion to report progress; and to say, "God hath smiled on our efforts ; he has increased our numbers and our means, and given effect to our endeavours to do good.”

Nor is there one of these institutions, so far as we are acquainted, to which the benevo

lent mind may not wish success. Some of them may have been too much under the influence of party or sectarian prepossessions, both in their origin and in their progress: Still it is believed, that good effects will result, the minds and hearts of many will be improved, and the condition of society elevated. All human institutions will partake of the imperfections of their founders; but these imperfections may be gradually corrected by the progress of light and benevolence. There is a never failing connection between doing good and getting good. Hence "it is more blessed to give than to receive." He that giveth liberally, lendeth to the Lord, and he will repay him. Though the agent may be under some misapprehension, yet God loveth the cheerful giver, and will make all things work together for his good. By the practice of liberality, and by associating with benevolent men, his own mind may be enlarged, his party feel ings diminished or eradicated; and thus the objects of his conplacency and the sources of his comfort will be multiplied.

It would require a volume of considerable size to describe all the various institutions which have been formed in Great Britain and this country within 30 years, for diffusing useful knowledge, for relieving sufferers or preventing human misery, for promoting civilization and christianity, for reforming the morals of various descriptions of people and saving men from the snares of vice and death, for emancipating the millions held in slavery, for cor

recting public opinion and extending the blessings of a peaceful religion to all mankind. But all these institutions may be regarded as so many branches or departments of the same family, occupied in different ways, but co-operating for the increase of a common stock and the welfare of the whole.

The refreshing streams which flow from these numerous foun tains will swell the ocean of public felicity, and make glad the city of God. Should these societies be multiplied for a century to come, in the ratio of the last five years, and should they be accompanied with the blessing of God, in proportion to the increase of their numbers, they will produce such a change in the state of the world as probably has not yet entered the mind of man. If as much time and property as have been expended within a century past, in support of war and vice, should, in a century to come, be piously and judiciously expended in improving the character and condition of the human family, this world will be, in comparison with its present state, a paradise of knowledge and love, peace and joy.

It has cost so much to supply the wants which have originated from barbarous customs and vicious habits, that a vast majority of the human race have hitherto been suffered to live and die in ignorance and poverty. Let these enormous channels of public and private expenditure be dried up or obstructed, and the same amount of expences be caused to flow in the proper chaunels of benevolence; then a new and happy