Burder, and the Rev. Samuel Greatheed, soon published a number of tracts, under the denomination of Village Tracts. By the success of this measure, the importance of this branch of benevolent exertion was deeply felt, and at the suggestion of Mr. Burder, a number of friends united with him in forming the Religious Tract Society, cn the broad principle of circulating those simple evangelical truths, in which all, of every denomination, "who are looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus, unto eternal life," may unite with pleasure as in one common cause. Soon after its establishment, it commenced the translation of tracts into other Languages; and in August 1805, moved by the overwhelming influence, which a flood of infidel publications was exerting upon the lower orders of Society, issued a distinct series of Tracts, adapted to counteract the mischievous effect of those publications. In less than ten months, about 300,000 of the profane and immoral books, commonly sold to Hawkers, were known to have been kept out of cir culation, by this series of tracts having been purchased, instead of them. In order to promote the circulation of this series, effectual measures were early adopted to enlist beggars and vagrants in the work. In 1814, this Society commenced the publication of Tracts on Broad Sheets, to be affixed to the walls of colleges, public-houses, ships, &c. It has also published several series of Children's Books, a Tract Magazine, the Child's Companion, &c. The following Table will give a genera view of the progress, and usefulness of the Society. Year. Tr. circ. Year. Tr. circ. 1,100,000 1801 600,000 1817 3,500,000 3,510,005 1819 4,043,321 1820 5,526,674 1806 600,000 1822 1807 1,400,000 1823 1808 1,450,000 5,222,470 5,711,000 1824 10,012,760 1825 10,500,000 1826 10,100,000 1827 10,000,000 1828 9,649,507 1829 10,113,463 1809 1,550,000 In its tenth year, the Religious Tract Society published 15 different works; in its twentieth, 381, and in its thirtieth 1000. In its tenth year it had circulated 7,000,000 of tracts; in its twentieth 40,000,000; in its thirtieth 130,000,000, and in 48 different Languages. Asia. Dr. Morrison is about to write several tracts in Chinese. The London Soc. have, since 1816, remitted £2000 to China. Singapore. The missionaries at this place have found a very great demand for tracts. Java. In 1827, 10,000 copies of various religious tracts, has recently published editions of several were printed at Java. Calcutta. A Society tracts in the Bengalee and Armenian Languages. Serampore. The Serampore mis sionaries have now several tracts in the press, in the Bengalee, Burman, and Hindee Languages. Benares. The Committee of the London Society have granted to the Tract Society of Benares, 48 reams of paper, 7,300 English Tracts, &c. Surat. of the Scripture have been given away near Since Oct. 1826,35,000 Tracts, and portions this place. Bombay. A new Society of various denominations has lately been formed. Bellary. 55,000 tracts in five languagdras. The society at this place, has issued, es were issued during the year past. Masince its formation, in 1818, 262,000 tracts72,800 during the last year. Jaffna. This Society has distributed about 70,800 since its formation.-Several societies in the islands of the Pacific, and in Southern and Western Africa, are in active operation. Spanish America. The London Society, during the past year, have printed five new Spanish tracts, and sixteen children's books; and nearly 50,000 of these publications have been forwarded to different parts of Spanish America. Europe. Poland. Nearly 10,000 German and Polish tracts have been circulated during the year. Saxony. The Leipzig Society are publishing important works for the benefit of students, such as Erskine on Faith, Scott's Force of Truth, &c. Norway. The Religious Tract Society at Christiana have been authorized to print eight new tracts, and editions of 5,000 each. Count Von Bulow has visited the dangerous coast of NorThe London Religious Tract Society held way, and has made known the Gospel to its late anniversary under circumstances of many destitute people. Denmark. Since great interest. The Rev. William Jowett, 1820, the Society at Copenhagen has printfrom Malta, suggested the importance of a ed 198,000 copies of 42 different tracts. separate fund for printing Tracts and Books Hamburgh. During the year the Hamburgh for Greece. He wanted £3,000 for that Society has circulated 142,187 publications, object. Within the last five years 60,000 being an increase of nearly 50,000 beyond books and Tracts in Italian, modern Greek, the preceding year. France. The Paris Armenian, and other languages, had been Tract Society have issued, during the year, circulated in the countries around the Med-300,000 tracts. Lausanne. In different parts iterranean. of one Canton, eighteen depositories have been established. England. 600,000 tracts | and handbills have been circulated gratuitously in England, and 118,000 in Ireland. UNITED STATES. Baptist General Tract Soc. at Philadelphia. This Society was formed in 1824. It has 136 active auxiliaries, besides three Branch Societies-one at Rochester, N. Y.; one at Utica, N. Y., and one at Charleston, S. C., The first considerable Society, known to which have their own auxiliaries. That at have been formed in the United States to Rochester extends over 16 counties, and promote the circulation of Tracts, is the has 61 auxiliaries. This Society has pubMassachusetts Society for promoting Chris-lished a series of 62 Tracts, in all 804 pag tian Knowledge, instituted in Boston, in 1814 1816 70,000 1817 120,000 1818 180,000 1819 181,000 1822 41,008 Total 1,561,744 It is now united with the American Tract Society. The Religious Tract Society of Philadelphia, formed in 1815, had circulated in 1824, the time, that it was merged in the Amer. Sunday School Union, 750,000 tracts. The Religious Tract Society of Baltimore, formed in 1816, circulated in nine years 330,000 tracts. The New York Methodist Tract Society was instituted in 1817. During the last year, the Methodists have formed Bible, Sabbath School, and Tract Societies, in connexion with the Book concern. The Methodist Society have lately undertaken to raise by donations of $10 each, the sum of 50,000 dollars to aid the operations of their Bible, Sunday School, and Tract Societies. Several thousand dollars were contributed in a few weeks. es. The following table will give a brief view of the Society's progress. Years. receipts. Tr. publish. pages. 1824 $373,80 85,000 696,000 1825 636,53 1829,6mo. 2,441,18 1827 Total $12,666,42 American Tract Society, Boston. This Society originated in a little meeting of half a dozen individuals, assembled to enjoy the advantages of Christian intercourse, and to consult upon the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom. A circumstance in itself unimportant, had suggested to one of them the thought, that a few choice tracts, printed in large editions, might be afforded to individuals in the neighborhood, at a much less expense, than the little books, which they were frequently purchasing for gratuitous distribution. This led to a proposition to form a small Tract Society. The measure was carried into effect in May 1814. Previous to this, however, 50 tracts had been printed, composing two volumes of the Society's Publications, and amounting to about 300,000 pages. This Society advanced, with great regularity in its career of usefulness. In 1824, it had published nearly half as many as all the Tract Societies in the United States. The following table will give a general view of its operations. Receipts, Expenditures, &c. of the New-Eng. Tract Soc. afterwards the Am. Tr. Soc. Boston. .American Tract Society, New York. |lowing table shows the number of copies In 1825, the Society at Boston became | printed, and the number of editions : auxiliary to the American Tract Society at New York. The connexion was formed with the utmost harmony. The establishment of the Society at New York has been productive of great and most beneficial results, as the following tables will show. Editions. Copies. 1821 1 14,000 1822 1 40,000 1823 3 45,500 1824 5 50,000 1825 50,000 pp. circul. 8,053,500 24,768,232 46,321,784 48,895,262 128,038,778 Total 5,111,606 The series of Tracts, which the Society has published, amounts to 227, making 7 volumes; sixteen have been published in French; 37 in Spanish; and a small series of 20 Children's Tracts in English. Four Broad Sheets, and 30 Handbills have been published. Of the American Tract Magazine, 5000 copies are published, monthly. | The Christian Almanac was commenced by the Tract Society in Boston. The fol Number of Branches and Auxiliaries now connected with the Society 630. A special effort has been recently made to establish a Branch of the Tract system in the Mississippi valley. That valley now embraces more than 4,000,000 of inhabitants, and in 20 years it will probably contain 12,000,000 of inhabitants. The Rev. Ornan Eastman is now laboring as a permanent agent in the valley, with 5 assistants. During the last year, $5,528 were remitted by auxiliaries in that country, for tracts at cost; 800, 000 pages were distributed gratuitously, and 11,000,000 of pages were forwarded into the country. Several hundreds of instances of hopeful conversion are recorded in the four Reports, which the American Society has printed. AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY. This Society was established at Washington city in 1817. "The object to which its attention is to be exclusively directed, is to promote and execute a plan for colonizing (with their own consent) the free people of color residing in our own country, in Africa, or such other place as Congress shall deem most expedient." [2d Art. of Const.] Among the founders of this Society were men of enlarged views and expanded benevolence. They have steadily pursued their object amid numerous difficulties; they have, from year to year, gained friends, and the subject is now exciting a very general interest in all sections of the country, and among the various denominations of Christians. A Colony has been planted, which, in "the space of five years from its actual commencement, has attained a strength and extent, such as the first settlement of Virginia did not reach in the fourth of a century." The influence of the Society upon the slave population, in our own country, is salutary. "Hundreds of humane masters hold their fellow-men in bondage, because they are convinced they can do no better. Without an asylum for the emancipated slave, the master is convinced that, if he withdraws his protection, the slave will become a vagabond and a felon. One hundred and sixty-five slaves, the past year, have been offered to the Society; and for more than two hundred is a passage now (Jan. 1829) sought to the African Colony. (12th Report.) Within two years, about one thousand slaves have been set free, and many of them transported to Africa. The establishment of colonies on the coast of Africa is indispensable to put an end to the slave trade. All the coast in the vicinity of Sierra Leone has been cleared of slave factories and slave vessels. The American Colony has broken up the trade for more than one hundred and forty miles. The colony affords the best facilities for missionary efforts. The number of the colonists, in 1823, was 140-present number exceeds 1,400-533 men sent out in 1827. Commerce is carried on by the colonists, in rice, palm oil, ivory, tortoise shell, dye woods, gold, hides, wax, and coffee. Several individuals have acquired property to the amount of several thousand dollars each. During the first six months of 1826, fifteen vessels touched at the Colony, and purchased produce to the value of $43,980. Schools are in operation; and every child of the Colony enjoys the benefit of their instructions. The soil of the Colony is fertile, and capable of sustaining as dense a population as any country on the globe. SOCIETIES IN ENGLAND FOR THE BENEFIT OF African Institution. This Society was formed about twenty three years since. Its great object is to procure throughout the world the total and final abolition of the slave trade. Through its influence the British government have, at various times, taken decisive measures, to induce other governments to abandon the dreadful traffic. It has labored most indefatigably in ascertaining and exposing the horrors of the trade. Anti Slavery Society. The object of this Society is to promote the gradual mitigation and final abolition of slavery throughout the British Dominions. It is urging upon the attention of Parliament, with increasing earnestness every year, the great subject of the extinction of West Indian Slavery. That system continues to be upheld and fostered by laws, which protect the produce of slave labor against the competition of the produce of free labor, at a heavy annual expense to the people of Great Britain. Messrs. Brougham, Wilberforce, Denman, Mackintosh, Buxton, &c. are most vigorous supporters of this Society. About 1,000,000 copies of various publications have been issued by the society. Slave Conversion Society. The object of this Society is indicated by its name. It is to provide religious instruction for the slaves in the West Indies, by building chapels, by employing catechists, and school teachers, by abolishing Sunday markets, and removing all those hindrances which prevent the slave from enjoying the rest of the Sabbath. It employs about forty teachers. As is remarked in a Report, "It stands forth as almoners of the public bounty, earnestly imploring Christians, not to suffer nearly a million of souls, for whom Christ died, to perish for lack of knowledge.' Negro Children Education Society. This is a Ladies' Society. It is engaged in providing school masters, and school mistresses, in erecting buildings for schools, in cooperating with Proprietors in furnish * In each of these States there is a State Auxiliary Society. There have been reported, besides these, 97 County and Town Auxiliaries. Slavery is now abolished in the State of Mew-York. The Legislature of Maryland have appropriated $1,000 per annum for ten years, for aiding in the transportation of free blacks to Liberia. ing them with teachers for their plantations, in providing houses of refuge for destitute children, in introducing infant schools, and schools of industry, &c. It has expended since its formation, four years since, about £2,000. Ladies' Negro Slave Relief Societies. There are twenty or thirty Societies of Ladies in England, formed to aid in the emancipation, particularly of female slaves, of whom there are 360,000 in the Colonies. "That the slaves may go with their young and with their old, with their sons and with their daughters, and that their little ones may go with them." TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF many This Institution is a striking instance of the power of combined action when applied to moral subjects. Intemperance had not attained its frightful prevalence in our land, without calling forth many a note of remonstrance, and individual efforts, to oppose its progress. But it was not, till recently, that virtuous zeal and solicitude led to the adoption of the plan of alliance for the purpose of total abstinence. The friends of morality now felt that the full time was come to concentrate their efforts, to deliver the land of a curse that was blasting every thing fair, and scattering woe, want, crime, and death. The American Temperance Society was instituted at Boston, Feb. 13, 1826. In the two first years of its operations, agencies were performed by Drs. Edwards and Woodbridge, and by Rev. Mr. Hewit, Morton, Axtell, and Leavitt. On the first of January, 1828, Mr. Hewit commenced his labors as General Agent of the Society for the term of three years. About the time of the origin of the Society, Beecher's Sermons, which have gone through ten editions, and Kittredge's Address, which is multiplied beyond calculation, came to help on the mighty work. Besides these, about fifty publications, most of them from men of acknowledged worth and talents in the three learned professions, have followed in the same career. These publications, whose influence is widely and deeply felt, generally owe their origin to Temperance Associations, for whose celebrations they were prepared. The Parent Institution publishes an excellent and extensively circulated weekly paper, under the title of "Journal of Humanity, and Herald of the American Temperance Society," devoted to this object; and the cause has gen erally been advocated by the periodical press. This righteous enterprise has been warmly befriended by executive, legislative, and judicial officers of several States. Among them are the Governors of Connecticut, Alabama and Ohio; the Legislatures of New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania; Chancellor Wal worth of N. Y., Judge Thompson of the U. S. Court, and Chief Justice Parker of Mass. The Medical Societies of N. Hampshire, N. York, Vermont, and Connecticut have passed resolutions in accordance with the views and objects of the American Temperance Societies. The clergy, of all denominations, have made this cause their own, and are zealously opposing this gi gantic evil, which has so long "defied the armies of the living God." The evils with which intemperance has deluged the country, are hideous and immense. We may attain some idea of them from the enormous EXPENSE to which it has put the nation. 1. Expense of capital. The quantity of ardent spirit consumed in 1828 is calculated at 56,000,000 gallons, costing $28,000,000. Had no alteration taken place, the people of the U. States would have consumed their whole valuation in forty years from 1790. Add to this the loss which the commerce and manufactures of the country have sustained by the perversion of a large amount of capital employed in the making of this great alcoholic ocean. 2. Expense of time. In 1828, our fellowcitizens, by swallowing such myriads of gallons of intoxicating liquor, lost 1,344, 000,000 hours, which, at 4 cents an hour, comes to $53,760,000; thus they spent an aggregate of more than 153,000 years.* 3. Expense of pauperism. Examination has shown, that three-fourths of the pauperism of the land is owing to intempe The whole number of paupers is rance. 200,000, and the maintenance of that part of them who are thrown upon the public for support, requires $7,500,000 a year. 4. Expense of morals. This prime minister of depravity has caused three-fourths of all the crime in the land. Nearly every have sprung from this source; and of 20 case of felony Mr. Maxwell of N.Y.states to cases of murder, which, as a public officer, he had prosecuted, intemperance was concerned in them all. This is the testimony of many of the Judges in our criminal courts. It may be safely estimated that there are in the United States 60,000 persons who live by vice and crime. * Christian Almanac, 1829. "The |