And shall not a Cause so holy and so animating, go on and prosper? Shall not our efforts, which were directed to the high and interesting object of uniting mankind more closely in the bonds of brotherhood, when success was problematical and uncertain-when we had little encouragement from any attempts which had preceded ours-and less from the melancholy history of warring man-shall not our efforts be more strongly excited, now that we see friends and protectors rising around us in every direction, bodies of individuals proclaiming the great truths for which we contend, and the general state of society peculiarly fitted for the reception of the important principles we would fain inculcate?

The present moment is in fact one which brings home most emphatically the solemn inquiry to our bosoms, whether, as the children of one Almighty Parent, the disciples of a common Master, the equal heirs of a divine inheritance, we have not been too long insensible to the lessons which we should have learnt from the merciful character of our Heavenly Father, from the benevolent spirit of the Christian code, and from the circumstances of social communion in which we are placed? It is one of the most striking and satisfactory characteristics of the passing day, that the violence of national antipathies seems gradually subsiding. We have been privileged to witness not only the union of individuals, not only the accordance of widely differing sects, but the harmonious and eager co-operation of rival nations, too long and absurdly deemed natural opponents, in the great cause of religious knowledge. And why may not this union be permanent? Why may not the influence of the friendly feeling extend, until it becomes too deeply fixed to be eradicated by the malevolence of ambition, or the selfishness of commercial avarice? What have nations gained by the long and brutal struggles which deface the pages of their history? Are they wiser, or better, or happier? Alas! wisdom, and holiness, and happiness, follow not in the train of war. What victories of fleets or armies can be compared to the silent triumphs of truth and benevolence? The former glare

amidst the darkness of desolation and death; the latter shine forth in the display of all the benignant virtues, the sympathies of friend and brother, the exercises of piety and charity.

We belong to a Nation, whose moral and political influence is felt in every quarter of the globe. Privileged greatly beyond numbers of our fellow men, it becomes us to give an example worthy of the station we hold. To ENGLAND have mankind been accustomed to look for lessons of freedom and of virtue; and if she unite to the power she holds, or has held, over public opinion, the example of forbearance, the practical lessons of peace and wisdom,—what may not be expected from her ascendancy, an ascendancy founded on the diffusion of the mild genius of Christianity, and guaranteed by its close connexion with the wellbeing of universal man! Thus indeed might our country occupy a station of commanding influence. Her high example of forbearance and true dignity would compel the recognition and the permanent establishment of pacific principles. That example (and let all our energies be exerted to enforce it!) would produce the most consolatory changes in the state of society. Under her authoritative sanction, mutual jealousies would cease; the rivalry, the hatred, which have been fed by the victims sacrificed to the Moloch of war, would soon be subdued. A nation would become a larger family, and separate states would blend as a greater people. There would then be sympathies for their mutual calamities, joy in their common prosperity. Is this the dream of enthusiasm? O no! it is the voice of prophecythe promise of God!

What a heart-invigorating prospect, to see our country's preeminence dependent, not on the blood-stained records of successful war, but on the substantial glory of being first and foremost in the ranks of Christian philanthropy-a magnificent column of moral majesty, rising above the vicissitudes of time!

We know with what we have to contend-the listlessness of the unenquiring, the passions of the violent, the interests of some,

and the prejudices of almost all. But he who has marked the sure, though silent progress of truth, even in the midst of discouragement and difficulty, will find no cause for despair. If the principles we advocate be indeed what we conceive them to be, and contend they are, we may be sure of their final prevalence. The question we have now to ask ourselves is, Shall we be instrumental in their promotion? And if any should be disheartened because they can take no prominent, no influential part in promoting the holy cause, let them not be cast down; no virtuous effort is lost. The seeds of truth that are scattered, cannot be scattered in vain; the labour of the lowliest servant of benevolence must finally have its reward.

In connexion with our own efforts, it is to us a subject of the most complacent feeling, that among the great people so closely allied to us by common ancestry, by common language, and in so many respects by common institutions, there are numerous societies cordially co-operating with us in the promotion of our high and important objects. We have already slightly adverted to this, and we cannot refrain on this occasion from wafting across the Atlantic our sincerest and warmest congratulations to our American brethren, with our prayers for their continued, their rapidly increasing success.

During the past year we have received considerable encouragement from the correspondence of our continental friends. Though the restraints upon public meetings in some countries, and the poverty of others, added to those Revolutions which have agitated many of them,-though these and other circumstances have prevented the establishment of Foreign Auxiliary Societies, yet we are persuaded that our cause is prospering. Its progress, its peaceful progress, disturbs not the superficies of things, and may not, in consequence, be discerned by the careless observer; but a great change is manifestly going on in the hearts of men, and beneath the frozen surface of seeming indifference mighty principles are at work, and will sooner or later exhibit themselves in their benign influence.

One new Tract, No. 6, consisting of extracts from a sermon by Dr. Bogue, has been published by permission of the author; also editions of Nos. 2, 3, and 4; No. 2 in Dutch, and the Third Annual Report, have been printed, in all, 54,000 copies; making a total of 207,000 that have been printed since the formation of the Society. The sales and distributions this year are about 30,000. Tract No. 3, has been translated into Spanish, and an edition is in preparation. The amount of Subscriptions and Donations received this year is £413. 88. 1d. which the Committee lament to say falls considerably below the receipts of the previous year: and as a very extended field of labour is now open to them, the Committee earnestly solicit the attention of their friends to the collection of additional Subscriptions, without which they will be unable to meet the demands on them, particularly for the translation of tracts and documents into foreign languages. They trust the exertions of their advocates will be stimulated by this appeal, and that while no opportunity is lost for circulating the tracts of the Society, they will be provided with the means of availing themselves of those encouraging circumstances which they hail as giving the promise that their great object may be finally accomplished. Several of the Auxiliaries are prosperously engaged in promoting the views of the Society. The Committee cannot, however, state accurately the number of Subscribers, from the want of returns. New Auxiliaries have been established at BATH, BRISTOL, SOUTHAMPTON, PLYMOUTH, and STOCKTON.

The Committee of the Swansea and Neath Auxiliaries have selected from the different Publications of the Society a Tract adapted for circulation in Wales, which, being approved by the Committee, has been translated into Welsh, and will soon be ready for distribution.

Of the proceedings of the Societies at New York and at Glasgow, your Committee have obtained no recent intelligence. From that of Massachusetts they have received frequent communications, also their Fourth Report, extracts from which will be found in the Appendix.

Copies of the Tracts have been transmitted by a member of your Committee, when on the Continent, to the Kings of France and Spain, through the regular channels of communication. Much attention has been excited to the subject in Paris, and your Committee hope that some measures will soon be taken in that capital to promote the cause. Opportunities have been embraced for forwarding Tracts to different parts of the world; and from the seed thus sown in the British dependencies and in different nations, may we not reasonably look for some fruit?

But however flattering to our hopes be these details, whatever confidence we may feel in the ultimate triumph of truth-let us not deceive ourselves, the fearful stormy spirit of discord is loose in the world. We live not yet in a calm which promises permanent security from the tempest. When the Angel of Peace shall descend-when the holy principles we seek to diffuse, shall mingle in all the cares, and all the concerns, and direct all the great purposes of society,-then, the Kingdom of the Redeemer being established in the heart and affections of man, we may reposeour eyes will have seen the salvation of the Lord,-the visions of Divine prophecy will receive their consummation,—and Earth become a prototype of Heaven.