that he will compassionate their necessities, and send forth Labourers into his

harvest.

NATIONAL-EDUCATION SOCIETY. NINETEENTH REPORT.

Total Scholars in Schools in Union,

led to a result which may be considered, on the whole, of a very satisfactory nature, it must not be concealed, that a necessity has appeared for withdrawing the Schools of above 200 Places from the list. These formed a portion of that large number which was reported last year as not

Committee have not been enabled to speak with greater EXACTNESS as to the condition of the Schools; and the following statement will shew, that there never has been ground for speaking of them in more favourable terms. It appears that 2609 places have Schools directly or indirectly connected with the NATIONAL SOCIETY; of which 2595 are Daily and Sunday, and 1083 Sunday Schools, for children of either sex. Of these, the places which have made Returns within the last two years amount to 2571; and it is only necessary to add a proportionate number of children for the extremely small remainder from which no account has been obtained, in order to shew the total number of children receiving instruction in schools so connected. By this mode of computation it appears that there are 123,182 Boys and 93,389 Girls receiving DAILY instruction, and 67,101 Boys and 62,106 Girls taught on Sundays ONLY; making a total of 345,778

Children educated in National Schools. The same Returns also shew, that while in some places there has been an increase, of amounting altogether to 5968 Scholars, in others there has been a decrease 2589; leaving, on the whole, an increase of 3379 Children during the last year, in the old-established Schools.

The value of this summary may be estimated by a comparison with the results presented to the public in former years. In 1813 (two years after the for mation of the Society) there were 230 Schools in Union, containing 40,484 Children. In 1817 (when the Society was incorporated) the statement made was-Schools 725, Scholars 117,000: and in 1820 (the period at which the last account was published, previous to that from which this corrected estimate was formed) there were 1614 Schools, and rather more than 200,000 Scholars. These totals are now carried up to 2609 Places, containing about 3670 Schools, with about 346,000 Scholars.

Increase of Schools. Although the inquiries which have been instituted by the Committee have thus

siderable period. That the Society, however, has prospered, notwithstanding this reduction, will be perceived, when it is stated that the Report for 1828 specified 2512 Schools, whereas the list for 1830 enumerates 2609, shewing an increase, on the whole, of nearly 100 Places. State and Prospects of the Central Schools.

The average number of Boys on the books during the last year has been 356, and of Girls 195: the average attendance of the Boys has been 311, and of the Girls 166: it appears, also, that, since the last Report, 232 Boys and 121 Girls have left the School.

Fifteen Masters and sixteen Mistresses have been admitted for instruction from

Schools in the country: 34 Schools have been provided with permanent Masters

or Mistresses, and 21 with Assistants and Monitors for a limited period; making a total of Eighty-six Schools which have derived advantage from the Central Masters who has received a permanent apSchool during the past year. One of the pointment was brought up in the School:

three of the Masters and two Mistresses were admitted for instruction from the Newfoundland-School Society.

Pecuniary Grants.

The Committee have contributed toward the establishment of Schools on the same scale as in former years: and 57651. have been voted, in sums of very different amount, to 72 Places; the largest grants being four of 2001. each, and one of 300%. Wolverhampton is the place to which this last has been assigned ;

Martin's-in-the-Fields in London, St. Paul's in Preston, and Holmfirth in Yorkshire, have obtained those of the second class... Of the rest, twenty applications received are from places with a population of above 3000 souls, and seventeen from villages whose population is below 1000. On the whole, it is hoped that 113 New School-rooms will be built by aid of the Grants, and additional provision made for the education of above 11,000 Children.

and the Parishes of Clerkenwell and St.

State of the Funds.

The Income of the Year, from

been abundantly realized; nothing more need be said to establish the powerful claims of that Society upon a Christian Public for assistance and support.

General View.

Under these circumstances, the Committee.contemplate, with unmixed satisfaction, the substantial and solid advantages, which our Nation is deriving from this wide diffusion of a sound Christian Education among the lower orders. Complaints, indeed, are made of the increase of crime at the present day, and of instances in which children have been made the instruments of committing it: it is not for the Committee to inquire into the grounds of these complaints, or into the causes which may have produced the evil; but they affirm, with the most unhesitating confidence, that the National System of Education, as now diffused through every part of the kingdom, furnishes the most powerful means of counteracting the operation of those causes, and of limiting and restraining their effects. "Though a pious education is not universally successful in bringing children into a truly religious state, yet the opinion of the Committee remains unshaken, that "it is undoubtedly appointed by GOD for this end, and is, perhaps, more frequently attended with success than any other Means of Grace."

JEWS SOCIETY.

Society's Operations are to proceed, or to remain suspended under the greatest encouragement to continue them.

After a brief sketch of the Operations of the Society, the Committee proceed:

A great door and effectual has thus been opened to the labours of the Society: peculiar encouragements have been afforded: real Christians in other Countries, but especially in our own, have been roused to a sense of their obligations to the Jew: the Jews have eagerly and earnestly met our feeble efforts; and, however individuals might oppose, there has been a cry from the Nation

Come, and help us!" They manifest an earnest desire for the Word of God, and listen with attention to the Gospel delivered to them by the faithful Missionary. Their numbers, their wretchedness, the mistaking efforts of the world to raise them from their degraded state, their own growing sense of the absurdity and folly of their present religious wormation, and the awful spread of infidelity ship, their consequent attempts at refor

among the better-educated classes and among the youth of all classes-these are circumstances daily pressed upon our observation, and which increase the responsibility of Christians tenfold; and, as it respects the Christians of England in particular, we must add the fact, that the

Appeal in behalf of the Society.

It may be proper to offer some explanation of the circumstances under which the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews is now about to make an extraordinary Appeal to its friends and the religious public at large. The prospects of the Society, as far as regards the objects of its exertion, are most encouraging; and it never had greater reason to proceed in its labour with redoubled activity, than at the present moment. It lies, however, under a pledge to the public, never again so to involve itself in debt, as on a former occasion. Yet such is the present state of its funds, that either its operations must be suspend ed, or a heavy debt, in all probability, incurred. It has already become necessary, indeed, to adopt the former alternative: a suspension has taken place.

It now rests with the friends, to whom this Appeal is made, to say whether the

fare of the Jews has been remarkably conferred on this favoured Country. We are called to it by the most marked openings of Providence-by our commercial facilities of intercourse with the world at large-by our national influence-by our unequalled resources-by the privileges (in some instances exclusive) granted to our Mission by Foreign Powers-and, above all, by our astonishing religious advantages. If such decided calls of duty are neglected, may we not tremble under the declaration, I was wroth with my people: I have polluted mine inheritance: I have given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy ?-Isaiah xlvii. 6.

The Committee have been compelled to suspend their efforts for want of adequate funds. Their exertions have increased, while their pecuniary means have diminished; and they had to commence the present year with a deficiency of about 11007., arising from a diminution of the receipts of the preceding year, and an extension of the labours of

the Society, which naturally caused an increase of expenditure during the same period. They were, therefore, under the necessity of resolving to receive no more children into their Schools in London-to refuse the urgent applications for the establishment of additional Schools abroad -to decline receiving Candidates for Missionary Work-to suspend the publication of Scriptures and Tracts—and, in general, to put a painful and injurious restriction on the work at large. But they also resolved to make an urgent Appeal to their Christian Friends, and especially to the Clergy, in behalf of the Cause of Israel. Much of the difficulty has arisen from want of sufficient aid in pleading this cause and in diffusing information. They now ask for the special prayers and exertions of all who seek the good of Israel. They would suggest the measure, of EACH CONTRIBUTOR ADDING TO HIS USUAL SUM A DONATION TO MEET THE PRESSING DIFFICULTY.

Having stated their necessities, they commend this Cause to the hearts and affections of all Christian People. There is nothing in the present deficiency, which may not easily be more than repaired, with the Lord's blessing. If we shrink from the work, the loss will be our own; and it may surely be said to each, If thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place. Let Christians remember the promise of God to Israel, and to those who love Israel; and, as they have received a free salvation, let them freely give, for those by whose hands the blessing came, and WHOSE DEBTORS WE ARE.

eagerness of some of the transports, of both sexes, to get Tracts to carry out with them; and they promised me to take great care of them. I have had much conversation with juvenile offenders, who are classed by themselves, and they greatly corrupt one another. The debtors confined here are numerous; and, in general, very immoral: I avail myself of the opportunity of exhorting them to be wise, and consider their latter end: the turnkeys inform me that they have seen them attentively reading the Tracts which I have put in their hands. There are some here for duelling, that I have had much conversation with, in my constant visits; begging them to look up to Christ, to pour out His Spirit to convince them of sin, and to shed His everlasting love abroad in their hearts, that they may be enabled to bear with one another: the one who gave the other the mortal wound appears dejected: they feel the accommodations of the gloomy prison as degrading, trying, and vexatious: they have received the Tracts readily, as well as other books which I have given them; and they appear very desirous of conversation on religious topics. I consider these feeble efforts calculated to promote the endeavours of the Chaplain, through a Divine Blessing.

I

King's-Bench Prison-There are between 500 and 600 prisoners, who are very depraved. I have distributed many Tracts and Handbills this quarter, in my constant visits through this prison; with much converse of a religious nature. meet with some determined opposers of Religion, but there are many others who seem friendly to these things. In this prison these attempts are very much needed, as iniquity greatly abounds.

Marshalsea Prison-The numbers vary

much-from 120 to 150. There is great

depravity among the prisoners: any means that can be used for its counteraction are most important. I have conversed with some, as opportunity offered, and observed that they listened very attentively. I consider it as planting and watering barren and parched ground, with humble hope and prayer that God may give the increase.

I met with a man, some time since, who had been discharged from Horsemonger-lane Jail; who told me that he had been anxious to see me, to thank me for the means which I had used for his spiritual welfare, which had proved beneficial to his soul; for he had been led to 3 Q

feel the sinfulness of sin, and to avoid those places and companies that lead to it, and to attend a Place of Divine Worship, and to associate with religious men that he may be edified by their conversation: he informed me where he lived, and wished me to call upon him: I had further converse with him, which he felt grateful for, and gave him a fresh supply of Tracts.

Workhouses-I have visited four this quarter; namely, St. George's in the East, St. Saviour's, Greenwich, and Deptford. I proceed in my usual way, by reading a Chapter in the Bible, with a short Exhortation, beginning and concluding with Prayer. I visit about sixteen wards, which contain aged and infirm persons, and some blind, from twenty to forty in each ward: the numbers vary, as some come from other wards. I have great reason to believe that the Lord is making these feeble attempts useful; and they feel disappointed if at any time they are neglected through my indisposition, or being hindered by distributing Tracts at Fairs. There are in these houses inmates, who receive the Lord's Messenger with as much joy and gladness as if he were an Angel sent from heaven: there are others, whose hearts are hardened in sin, who come out from the vilest parts of London, and need to be reproved, rebuked, and exhorted to repent and to believe the Gospel: there are also those who are broken-hearted mourners, who need the wine and oil of the Gospel to be poured into the festering wounds that sin has made in their souls, and also these wounds to be bound up and healed through the consolation which the Gospel affords; and there are many in a dying state, who wish to be prayed with, and to receive spiritual counsel. There are also a great many children, who need religious instruction to make them useful members of society; and, without it, they are likely to become a pest, and a curse to the Country to which they belong.

From the same report we add an account of the

Distribution of Tracts at Fairs near London.

Croydon Fair-Friday: I distributed a great many Tracts among the cattledealers, which were, in general, well received, with some few exceptions among the horse-dealers; but their rudeness was checked by one of the police-officers.

Saturday: I distributed Tracts among the booth and stall-keepers, which were

designed to counteract Sabbath-breaking. The persons who were walking about the Fair received the Tracts readily. Monday: the company were numerous. The Bill, Eight Reasons against going to the Fair, and another Bill, Beware of Thieves and Robbers, caused much conversation: a few individuals refused them; but, in general, they were received willingly, and will be widely circulated in the neighbouring villages.

Greenwich Fair - The holiday folks were very numerous, and particularly toward the evenings: the Tracts were received willingly, with some few exceptions. As I was going to the Fair, I met a Young Man to whom I gave a Tract: he informed me that I had given him one, almost six years ago, at Deptford Fair; that he had perused it carefully, and it had distressed his mind very much, until he came to this decisionthe Tract was right, and he was wrong; and from that time he was led to attend regularly a Place of Worship, and became a member soon after: he told me that he had been wishing to see me, to congratulate me that my labour was not in vain.

Fairlop Fair I took a place in a coach, and was the first passenger. I prepared my Tracts all ready for giving out; and all the persons who received them turned from the coach and went away, and the coachman could not get a passenger. I went on for some time, till he begged that I would get out of his coach, and go away; for he said he should never get a fare as long as I stopped there so I departed from his coach, to preserve peace; and had a very difficult task to get another. When I arrived at the Fair, there was a man who said that such as I and my books were the cause of keeping the misery in the Country: he seemed to be quite an infidel, and wanted to raise a mob to assault me, but failed in his attempt. I told him that I differed from him; and believed that the misery which was existing in the Country was caused by the apostacy of man from God, and following his own inclinations. I proceeded round the Fair; and found three presses on the spot where the Old Oak formerly stood, printing an account of the origin of the Fair, with corrupt songs there were equestrian feats, such as standing on horses' backs, &c.: this kind of gentlemen were very averse to my Tracts, and cast contempt on all that I could say. The people in the Fair and Booths received the Tracts with readi