rians of Boston will generally become members of the Association.

The thoughts of the Committee have been turned to their brethren in other lands. A correspondence has been opened with Unitarians in England, and the coincidence is worthy of notice, that the British and Foreign Unitarian Association and the American Unitarian Association were organized on the same day, for the same objects, and without the least previous concert. Our good wishes have been reciprocated by the directors of the British Society. Letters received from gentlemen, who have recently visited England, speak of the interest which our brethren in that country feel for us, and of their desire to strengthen the bonds of union. A constant communication will be preserved between the two Associations, and your committee believe it will have a beneficial effect, by making us better acquainted with one another, by introducing the publications of each country into the other, by the influence which we shall mutually exert, and by the strength which will be given to our separate, or it may be, to our united efforts for the spread of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour. Letters have also been forwarded to Unitarians in India, although your Committee did not consider this Association instituted for the diffusion of Christianity in foreign lands, and have only requested that a friendly correspondence might ensue, which would enable them to communicate intelligence interesting to Unitarian Christians in this country. With the same views they are taking measures to open a correspondence with Unitarians on the continent of Europe, and are especially desirous to establish friendly relations with their brethren in France, Switzer

a

land, and Transylvania, of whom they hope to obtain more accurate information than they now possess, from gentleman, whose return to his people may be expected in a few weeks.

Having thus spoken of the means employed to extend the knowledge and influence of the Association, and to secure for it friends and resources, your Committee will state what has been done towards accomplishing the particular objects of this Society. The publication of tracts received their earliest attention, and arrangements were made for furnishing a succession of such as should contain an exposition and defence of Unitarian Christianity. Some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining tracts, which should at once be unexceptionable in doctrine and in spirit, and be suited to the peculiar wants of the community. Four tracts have been published by the Committee. One of these was written for the Association; the substance of another was taken from an old Unitarian writer; the copy-right of a third was purchased of the author, who had printed one edition; and the fourth was a reprint of a sermon delivered some years since in England. These have all been well received, of which the best proof was seen in the speedy call for a second edition of each of the three first. Of The Faith once Delivered to the Saints," 5000 copies have been printed, and only 2000 remain at the depository; of the “One Hundred Scriptural Arguments" 5000 also have been printed, only 1200 of which are unsold; of "Sewall's Sermon on Human Depravity," an edition of 2000 was soon exhausted, and another has just been issued; of 'Hutton's Sermon on the Attribute of Cniscience,”

2000 copies were published, 1800 of which have been taken from the depository. Of these four tracts 17,000 copies have therefore been published by the Association. The Executive Committee have also obtained the copy right of the valuable tract entitled the "Unitarian's Answer," and of that which has been so deservedly popular, entitled, "Objections to Unitarian Christianity Considered." As soon as former editions are sold, these will be printed in a style similar to that of the other tracts of the Association. The Committee have been disappointed in their expectations of receiving original tracts for publication, and they have met with little success in their search after those, which they might reprint. It has been difficult to find such as were both short and comprehensive, suited for popular reading, and at the same time adapted to enlightened minds. It was the intention of the Committee to publish two tracts in every month, and this they still hope may be done. They believe that when the greatness of the demand is known, and the advantages which this Association offers for introducing any work into circulation, Unitarian writers will be induced to give us the fruits of their study. They can take no course more certain of diffusing their opinions throughout the country, none more sure of influencing the public mind. The Committee take pleasure in announcing, that a friend has committed to them an original tract, which will be immediately put to press, and that another has been promised them by a distinguished clergyman. They are desirous to publish practical tracts Those which have been printed necessarily bear a doctrinal character; but the Committee have endeavoured

to obtain others which should enforce the duties of piety and morality. They believe that it should be a primary object with this Association, to promote a spirit of devotion, and to inculcate the observance of christian duties among Unitarians; and they therefore hope, that a series of tracts, explaining the spirit and obligations of religion, will receive as great a share of attention, as those which illustrate and defend the principles of our faith. A system, which should bring their tracts into immediate and general use, was early made a topic of discussion by the Committee. The plan first adopted has been proved to be perplexing and insufficient for the purpose. Another has been substituted, which, it is hoped, will meet the wishes of every member of the Association. A general depository is established in this city, at which the tracts of the Association will always be found. They are printed in a uniform manner, in a handsome style, yet at a very low price, and bear double numbers on the pages, that they may be bound in volumes. A copy of each tract will be sent to every subscriber, through his minister or the agent in his town; and in the shire-towns, county depositories have been, or will be established, at which the publications of the Association may be obtained at the same price, as at the general agency. To agents, and to auxiliary associations, it is proposed to sell the tracts at a large discount. We believe that this method will be found both simple and effectual. The Committee will only add on this point, that the demand has greatly exceeded their anticipations, and has shown the importance of this branch of the Society's operations.

In connexion with the publication of tracts, the Committee considered the subject of a Unitarian weekly paper. Being satisfied that it might be an instrument of great good, they were anxious that the "Christian Register" should be conducted in such a manner as would en

title it to a liberal patronage. The multiplied engagements of the editor prevented his giving it a due share of his attention, and after several attempts at an arrangement, which should be favourable both to the proprietor and the Association, the Executive Committee undertook the conduct of the paper at the commencement of the present year, in the hope that they should soon find some person, to whom the editorial department might be intrusted. This hope was not realized, and they have continued the management of the paper until this time, without any expense to the Association. The arrangement made with Mr Reed has thrown on them a labour, which neither he nor they expected would be borne by the Committee; and the paper could not therefore be conducted under the most favourable circumstances. These remarks are made in explanation of the line, which has for some months appeared on the front of the Register, stating that it was published by the American Unitarian Association. The Committee have the satisfaction of announcing that an arrangement is nearly completed, by which a gentleman, in every respect suited to render the paper a valuable auxiliary to the cause of truth and piety, will be the sole editor, and they shall joyfully relinquish a service, which more pressing duties have prevented them from discharging with the fidelity, which its importance demands.