its banks catching fire and burning like tinder. The mountain was already invaded by the devouring element, and two wings of flame spread out from the main stream, which, roaring along the bottom with the speed of a race-horse, licked the mountain side, extending its long line as it advanced. The dry pines and cedars hissed and cracked as the flame, reaching them, ran up their trunks, and spread amongst the limbs, whilst the long waving grass underneath was a sea of fire. From the rapidity with which the fire advanced, I feared that it would already have reached my animals, and hurried at once to the spot as fast I could run. The prairie itself was as yet untouched, but the surrounding ridges were clothed in fire, and the mules, with stretched ropes, were trembling with fear. Throwing the saddle on my horse, and the pack on the steadiest mule, I quickly mounted, leaving on the ground a pile of meat, which I had not time to carry with me. The fire had already gained the prairie, and its long dry grass was soon a sheet of flame; but, worse than all, the gap through which I had to retreat was burning, Setting spurs into Panchito's sides, I dashed him at the burning brush, and though his mane and tail were singed in the attempt, he gallantly charged through it. Looking back, I saw the mules huddled together on the other side, and evidently fearing to pass the blazing barrier. As, however, to stop would have been fatal, I dashed on, but before I had proceeded twenty yards, my old hunting mule, singed and smoking, was at my side, and the others close behind her. On all sides I was surrounded by fire. The whole scenery was illuminated, the peaks and distant ridges being as plainly visible as at noonday. The bottom was a roaring mass of flame, but on the other side, the prairie being more bare of cedar-bushes, the fire was less fierce, and presented the only way of escape. To reach it, however, the creek had to be crossed, and the bushes on the banks were burning fiercely, which rendered it no easy matter; moreover, the edges were coated above the water with thick ice, which rendered it still more difficult. I succeeded in pushing Panchito into the stream, but in attempting to climb the opposite bank, a blaze of fire was puffed into his face, which caused him to rear on end, and his hind feet flying away from him at the same moment on the ice, he fell backward into the middle of the stream, and rolled over me in the deepest water. Panchito rose on his legs, and stood trembling with affright in the middle of the stream, whilst I dived and groped for my rifle, which had slipped from my hands, and of course sunk to the bottom. After a search of some minutes I found it, and again mounting, made another attempt to cross a little farther down, in which I succeeded, and followed by the mules, dashed through the fire, and got safely through the line of blazing brush." 66 Upwards of 100,000 buffalo robes find their way into the United States and Canada every year; and besides those killed by the Indians, innumerable carcases left to rot untouched on the trail, attest the wanton brutality of the crowds of emigrants to California, Columbia, and else where. Still the numbers of these animals are countless; and it will probably be many years before the reckless whites accomplish the feat of stripping the boundless prairies of their ornament and pride, and depriving the traveller of a meal. EMIGRATION.-CIRCULAR. In prosecuting the duties which devolve on us, as Directors of the Philadelphia Emigrants' Friend Society, we are impressed with the conviction that the moral and religious, no less than the secular interests of emigrants ought to engage our attention. The class of foreigners seeking a settlement in this country, to whom especially we desire to extend our sympathy and aid, is not any one religious sect, but the industrious, moral and religious of all. We shall probably be instrumental in directing hither many to whom religious privileges are even more dear than worldly advantages, and we should violate their wishes, as much as neglect their true interests, were we to scatter them through our wide country, and leave them as sheep having no shepherd. The possession of religious privileges, and the unre strained liberty to enjoy them, as every man's conscience may dictate, is the glory of our country, and our desire is, that our brethren from foreign lands should, to the fullest extent, make them their own. We wish to see them as they arrive, gathered into their respective ecclesiasti cal folds, so that in things relating to religious faith and observances, they may hold sweet counsel together, and walk to the house of God in company. Our recommendation to emigrants generally is, not to settle, on the one hand, as isolated fami lies, nor on the other, to form extensive colonies; both these modes being, in our view, liable to objections; but we advise them to settle in small companies, say of from ten to thirty families of the same religious denomination, and thus we wish to place them within the limits of their re spective churches, and commit them into the hands of Christian friends, whose fellowship they will claim, and on whose sympathy and aid they may rely. The greater number of these emigrants will be agriculturists, and those tradesmen and mechanics whom an agricultural community sus tains. It should be remarked also, that the sec tion of country that we deem most eligible for foreigners is the southern part of the State of New York, the States of New Jersey, Pennsyl vania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. It is probable also that cleared lands, and where price is an object, exhausted farms, will be preferred. With a view, therefore, to obtain the neces- about 136,000,000, making sary information, we beg to make the following 156,000,000. inquiries; and we wish that every church of your denomination, within the geographical limits above mentioned, should consider itself individually addressed. 1st. Are there within your bounds, or in your vicinity, lands for sale, such as you can conscientiously recommend, in all respects, to emigrants? 2d. What number of acres are there in the same tract? 3d. What distance from the usual market? 4th. What facilities of conveyance of produce? 5th. What is the usual price of produce? 6th. What is the nature of the soil and sub-soil? 7th. Is the surface level, or rolling? 8th. What portion of it is cleared? 9th. What is the kind of timber, and is it first or second growth? 10th. Has the land been long under cultivation? 11th. Has it ever been limed, and how long since? 12th. How many bushels of corn per acre will it produce without manure? 13th. Is it near to lime, marl, peat, or muck? 14th. How near to grist and saw mill, or site for one? 15th. What sum would be necessary to purchase implements and stock for a farm, say of fifty acres? 16th. What are mechanics' wages? farm hands? 17th. What is the lowest cash price of the land? 18th. What terms of credit can be obtained? 19th. What opening is there at present for mechanical and other employments? In answering these questions, it will not be necessary to write the questions, only to put the number before the answer. Should you be prepared to welcome the description of emigrants mentioned, you will materially aid the object by constituting your church a society auxiliary to the Philadelphia Emigrants' Friend Societynot to contribute funds, but to act for us in the purchase of land, examining its title, surveying it, &c., and in making all the necessary arrangements for the reception of its future occupants. Yours, respectfully, J. THOMASON, L. HERBERT, D. R. THOMASON, Persons wishing to obtain the services of emigrants, male or female, are requested to apply, if by letter, post paid, at the Society's Office, 95 South Front Street. Office hours from 9 to 1 o'clock. No charge made. POPULATION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. The inhabitants of the United Kingdom, according to the returns made in 1845, numbered about 20,000,000. The colonists, subjects and tributaries, in the colonies and settlements belonging to the British Empire, amount to together about There are only three European states with a population more numerous: Russia, with 63 millions; Austria, with 37 millions; and France, with 35 millions. But taking the whole British, Empire, it is certain that no other state in the world is peopled so extensively, excepting the Chinese; but that is doubtful, because Chinese statistics are not to be depended upon. The British Empire is more than double the size of all Europe, and it is more than four times as populous as France-twice and a half as large as Russia; and amounts alone to as much as the population of Russia, Austria, France, Prussia, Spain and Holland. The whole human race is estimated at 800,000,000; the British Empire at 156,000,000; so that its population comprises nearly one-fifth of the human race. The population tributary or subject to the British people, numbers more than six times its own amount.-Mass. Spy. THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF Read at the Annual Meeting, held on the evening There have been issued from the Depository for the year ending Fourth month 1st, 1848,4428 Bibles, 3992 Testaments, and 354 Testaments and Psalms, of which 565 Bibles, 420 Testaments, and 102 Testaments and Psalms were sold to Auxiliaries. 1314 Bibles, 1727 Testaments, and 105 Testaments and Psalms have been gratuitously disposed of. Of this number 1020 Bibles, 1531 Testaments, and 50 Testaments and Psalms were furnished to Auxiliaries for gratuitous distribution, or for sale at a reduction from the list prices, to such as might not be able to pay the full price. From the above account, it appears there has been an increase of issues from the Depository over the previous year, of 2096 Bibles, 1232 Testaments, and 231 Testaments and Psalms. Since last Report, 2000 Reference Bibles, 2000 School Bibles, 2000 12mo. Testaments, and 3000 24mo. Testaments have been printed. The stereotype plates of the Reference Bible have been thoroughly repaired and corrected by a competent workman. We have received information (since last Report) of the establishment of an Auxiliary, at New Garden, Indiana, and of the revival of one which had suspendud its operations for several years past. It is very desirable that the number of these Associations should be increased, and the Managers would again call the attention of Friends within the limits of Quarterly Meetings, where none have yet been formed, to the sub- | many Bibles and Testaments sent here the past ject, in the hope that efforts may be made to promote their establishment. Reports have been received from sixteen Auxiliaries, viz.: Vassalborough, Maine; Fairfield, Flushing, and Centre, Ohio; Blue River, White Water, White Lick, New Garden, Central, Westfield, Spiceland, Hamilton, and Springfield, Indiana; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Adrian, Michigan; Burlington, New Jersey; and Salem, Iowa. Satisfactory accounts have also been received from several individuals, to whom the distribution and sale of Bibles and Testaments had been entrusted, and we hope for an increase in the number of Friends, who may feel a willingness to promote the objects of the Association, by making inquiry in their respective neighbourhoods, as to the wants of Friends, and forwarding the result to the Managers. Where Auxiliaries cannot be formed, it may still be found desirable occasionally to avail ourselves of the services of suitably qualified friends, in promoting the sale and distribution of our Bibles. summer, by other Bible Societies, and sold at very low prices or given away, which has supplied the demand to some extent, although many prefer our books, as being neater and better executed." Another remarks, "We believe much good has arisen through our feeble endeavours to circulate the Holy Scriptures. In addition to what our Auxiliary has done, we acknowledge with thankfulness the valuable donations of the parent Association, which have afforded ability gratuitously to furnish many who were not well able to furnish themselves. We feel encouraged to continue our exertions to promote the objects of the Association in furnishing each member of our Society, who is capable of reading the Holy Scriptures, with a good and durable copy." Another reports, "Although our operations the past year have not been large, yet they have probably been as useful as in any previous year. We believe there is an increasing interest felt in assisting to furnish all our members with a copy of the Holy Scriptures." From the Reports of a number of the Auxili- Another informs, "We have during the past aries which have been received, it appears that year had a committee appointed, who have made they have been diligently engaged during the inquiry and supplied each member of our repast year in ascertaining the wants of Friends ligious Society capable of reading, who was within their limits, and supplying them with destitute of a copy and unable to purchase it, so Bibles and Testaments, so far as their means far as they have been able to find [such cases;] have enabled them. One Auxiliary states in its and we think that we shall be able to keep such Report, that "though the number of Friends un-deficiency supplied as may occur during the supplied with complete copies of the Holy ensuing year.' Scriptures is not much reduced, we can recur to many aged Friends who have been through your benevolence supplied with good reference Bibles, who before had small school Bibles; and many newly married Friends, as well as other individuals, just beginning, as it were, in this comparatively [uncleared] country, now nicely, and we have cause to believe, gratefully supplied with complete copies." Thus, while the object of the parent Association is faithfully carried out, "that of supplying the destitute with good legible copies of the Holy Scriptures, and encouraging the frequent and serious perusal of them," we cannot doubt that they will prove, as they declare themselves, able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Jesus Christ, and that the blessing recorded in them, respect ing those that seek out the cause of the poor and needy, will in proportion to their faith rest upon them. Another Auxiliary observes, "We hope that by means of the very liberal donation received of you, and the patient and persevering endeavours of a few of our own members, all the members of our Monthly Meeting will eventually be furnished with full copies of the Holy Scriptures, and we shall be glad to do all we can to effect the same desirable result within the limits of our Quarterly Meeting." Another states, "There have been a great Another Auxiliary states, that from the report of the committee of correspondence and of the Female Branch, it appeared that during the past year, 46 Bibles and 5 Testaments have been distributed; in which service our Female Branch has been very helpful to us. Application being made to the committee of correspondence by a coloured first-day school for a supply of Bibles, and the committee to whom the subject was referred believing that a donation of Bibles would be usefully appropriated, twenty-four small Bibles were accordingly furnished, and are included in the number above specified. Although it is believed that very few, if any, Friends within our limits are destitute of the Holy Scriptures, cases are occasionally brought to our notice which show the propriety of continuing our organization. From the Report of one of our distant Auxili aries we extract the following: "In again pre senting to you our Annual Report, we feel con strained to acknowledge our feelings of gratitude to the Parent Association for its very liberal donations, by which we have been enabled to furnish many Friends with a copy of the Holy Scriptures, who otherwise would in all proba bility not have had a copy. We also think it right to inform you, that the recipients have generally manifested a lively interest in the pe rusal of them, which has afforded us much saus faction, and has encouraged us to persevere in the good work. In looking over the wide field of labour which has fallen to our lot since the establishment of our Auxiliary, we feel that a very great degree of responsibility is resting upon us; and in order that you may in some degree appreciate the difficulties which we have to encounter in rendering our account to the Parent Association, we believe it right to inform you that the number of members belonging to the two Monthly Meetings [within our limits] is about two thousand five hundred, and they are scattered over an extent of territory more than 300 miles in circumference. We have, however, taken care that copies of the Holy Scriptures should be distributed in many of these remote sections, and many have been in this inanner furnished, who could not have furnished themselves. In these remote settlements Friends are generally not in circumstances to be able to purchase suitable copies of the Bible, and therefore those distributed in such places, are generally donations which much curtail the amount which we otherwise might send you for the sale of Bibles. But notwithstanding this, we believe it is the design of the Parent Association that such should be supplied, and therefore we have furnished them accordingly. We wish further to add, that we feel encouraged, notwithstanding the many difficulties we have to encounter, from the increasing interest manifested by Friends on the subject, and the gratefulness of recipients." Another Auxiliary mentions, "We have gratefally to acknowledge the receipt of a valuable donation in Bibles and Testaments, many of which have been disposed of; some by sales and some gratuitously; and we may add that it afforded us satisfaction to be the instruments in dispensing your liberality to the needy, and often to hear the expression of gratitude from the lips of the glad recipients." Another Auxiliary states: "Those reported as having been gratuitously distributed, were received by the individuals to whom they were given with feelings of lively gratitude, demonstrating the interest they felt in the gift. Another informs: "We have the satisfaction of informing you, that we have still continued our labours in the cause the past year, believing they have been satisfactory and useful, especially to a portion of our members, who in settling new lands have many difficulties to encounter.' Another Auxiliary thus concludes its Report: "We are aware that it is but little this Association can effect towards extending the circulation, of the Holy Scriptures. Our aim is not to accomplish great things, but in the ability afforded to do whatsoever our hands find to do; trusting that He whose cause we are endeavouring to promote, will at times bless our feeble efforts. And should the perusal of these inspired pages be instrumental to cheer a few sorrowing pilgrims on their journey Zionward, to stir up the pure mind by way of remembrance in others, or to induce one wanderer from the true fold, to seek Him of whom they testify, we shall not have done the little that we have done in vain." We could have desired that all of the Auxiliaries might have forwarded reports of their proceedings during the past year. By those received, and from information derived from other sources, the Managers are encouraged to believe that the Association continues, to a considerable extent, to fulfil the design of its founders, by supplying Friends with good copies of the Holy Scriptures, and promoting the frequent and serious perusal of them. Much yet remains to be done, particularly in the more remote settlements, where the supply of Bibles and Testaments is still quite inadequate, and the Managers are very desirous that Friends in all parts of our widely extended country may embrace every suitable opportunity to promote the important objects of the Association. Signed on behalf and by direction of the Board of Managers. WILLIAM BETTLE, Secretary. Philadelphia, Fourth month 15th, 1848. OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. Secretary-Charles Ellis. "We feel in this Auxiliary very much encouraged, partly by the beneficent donation of the Parent Association (which we gratefully acknowledge) and which has enabled us to widen our sphere of action, by reducing the Managers-George Williams, Jeremiah price sufficiently low to enable many young Hacker, John Elliott, Joseph Rakestraw, John Friends in very moderate circumstances to pur-Carter, Townsend Sharpless, George G. Wilchase Bibles or Testaments for themselves, but more especially because we see a more lively interest in the cause manifested by our elderly Friends, both in attending the meetings of the Auxiliary more regularly, and imparting wise counsel and advice to the younger members, strengthening their weak hands and faltering steps. We are fully persuaded this is a good cause, liams, Samuel Bettle, Jr., John Lippincott, Things right in themselves are more likely to be hindered than advanced by an injudicious zeal in promoting them.-Dillwyn. For Friends' Review. ENGLAND. welfare of those who congregated together under No little excitement prevailed in this community during the last week, in consequence of the announcement of occurrences seeming to portend a great revolutionary movement in Great Britain. The Chartist meeting in London, it was said, was to number half a million of British subjects; parliament was to be overa wed, its doors besieged, and the constitution changed at an hour's notice; the government had forbidden these proceedings-the Queen had fled to the Isle of Wight-and the metropolis, bristling with bayonets, was about to become the scene of carnage, or another Paris. We have reason to believe that these rumours greatly affected busi-hand of reform applied freely and impartially. ness operations here; men hesitated to consign We would have the work of restoration to their property to places from which the ægis of first principles and original intentions, proceed the law might be found to be withdrawn; bills steadily and unhesitatingly, but let this be done, could not be sold which might be present- and it will be done, and is doing, by the safe, ed in the midst of universal bankruptcy; and cautious modes which inquiry points out, and the ruin which threatened England was felt to solid judgment justifies; not at the dictation of be too near our own doors to allow us to breathe a knowledgeless mob, inflamed by ignorant defreely. The close of the week relieved us from claimers, or interested demagogues." "This this suspense-it did much more, it gave us the day," said one merchant to another, has cost assurance that the tide of revolution had been London £100,000, in loss of work and busistayed that the moral sense of a people, among ness." "It is worth a million," was the reply, whom, with all their faults, religious influence" in the additional confidence in the stability of still retained its place, had checked the progress our institutions which it has inspired." It is of anarchy, and secured a refuge for constitu- stated that the British Ministers are supported tional freedom. The great Chartist meeting in their efforts to maintain peace and order, which was estimated by hundreds of thousands, by larger majorities in Parliament, than ever dwindled down under this influence, to 15 or 20,000 people, met together without a common object, and separating without disturbance. The government had made some military preparations, but it was not the soldiery that rendered the demonstration harmless. It was the settled conviction in the minds of the great mass, that the evils under which the community suffered, were to be redressed by peaceable and law ful means-and the determination evinced by 150,000 citizens of London, who volunteered as a constabulary force, to discountenance any attempt to seek a remedy other than that which the constitution provided, that have saved England from revolution. It is stated that scarcely a soldier was permitted to be seen-merchants, bankers, tradesmen, and all the grades of middle life, and many of the lower ones, filled the places which were supposed to be liable to attack, "to watch," as George Fox has termed it, against anarchy. "It was," says the correspondent of the National Intelligencer, "a proud day for London. It spoke in language which could not be misunderstood, of the devotion of her citizens to the institutions of their native land of the unwavering loyality of London, the very heart of the Kingdom, to the government which the wisdom of by-gone times has established, and which the experience of succeeding ones has confirmed, as one eminently qualified to promote the real before voted with any minister. The accounts from Ireland are upon the whole, pacific, although variously represented by different writers. The failure of this movement, upon which so much reliance had been placed, is supposed to have given the finishing blow to Chartism, and has probably prepared the way for those reforms which many good men in England deem essential to the well being of society there. Forty members of Parliament, amongst whom we notice John Bright, the Quaker member from Manchester, have signed a call for a meeting in which the initiatory steps are to be taken for promoting a further reform in the representa tion in Parliament; extension of suffrage; more equal taxation, &c. We cannot but think that there is much reason to rejoice in these movements in England; the days of violence have, we trust passed by; that true civilization which is one of the fruits of Christianity, is dawning upon the world. It was meet that its effects should be first seen among that people who have so long enjoyed the blessings of the reformed faith, and whose freedom has been secured by a constitution of wonderful elasticity, and thus capable of adapt ing itself to that social progress which is a re sult and a characteristic of the religion which we profess. May the morals which they teach |