asked if the Spaniards were satisfied with their New Testament, observed, that "they could not be Christians who were not." The following is the annual report of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, incorporated by King William the Third, and the efforts of which are directed to the British provinces in North America. The receipts of the year, from contributions and dividends on stock, have been 5,2081. 7s. 2d. In addition to this sum, Parliament has granted, in aid of the expences of the society in the North American Colonies, the sum of 7860/., making the disposable receipts of the year 13,0681. 7s. 2d. Of this amount, the sum of 12,147. 18s. 9d. has been expended in salaries and gratuities to Missionaries, Catechists, school-masters, and in exhibitions to scholars at the College in Nova Scotia. MISSIONARIES. In Newfoundland, the society has five Missionaries at annual salaries of 2001. each; and eight school-masters at salaries amounting together to 1152. In Nova Scotia-one Missionary at 400l. and fifteen at 2001. each, with four stations vacant; nineteen school. masters, whose salaries together amount to 290l. and five school-mistresses, whose stipends amount to 451. In New Brunswick-eight Missionaries at 2007. each, with one station vacant; nine school-masters, whose salaries make 115. with two vacancies, and one school-mistress at 10. per annum. In Cape Breton-one missionary at 2001. per annum. In Upper Canada-one Missionary at 2651.; two at 220 each; five at 2001. each; and one at 1007; with a school-master to the Mohawks at 201. and a Catechist at 10%. The Missionary at Kingston, the Rev. George Okill Stuart, is also Missionary to the Mohawk Indians; and the Rev. Robert Addison, Missionary at Niagara, is also appointed to visit the Indians. In Lower Canada-one Missionary at 2157., and 4 at 2001. each. The different classes of Protestants were not alone animated with this zeal to extend the circulation of the Gospel. In the Greek church of Russia, a Bible Society was formed and patronised by the Emperor, as well as the principal nobility and clergy. By a report published during the present year, it appears, that from the establishment of the society to the present time, its Committee have either published, or are engaged in publishing, no fewer than forty-three editions of the sacred Sciptures, in seventeen different languages, forming a grand total of 196,000 copies. In the course of 1816, the Committee have completed, Slavonian Bibles .................................................. 10,000 10,000 5,000 5,000 pel of St Luke, (extra copies,) 2,000; Psalms, 2,000; and Calmuc Gospel, 2,000. The number of Bibles and Testaments, issued in the course of the year, amounts to 19,431 copies, which is only about 500 copies fewer than were issued the three former years put together. The expenditures are nearly in the same proportion. During the three years, 1813, 1814, 1815, the expenditure amounted to 297,642 roubles, 47 copecs; in 1816, alone, 227,770 rubles, 73 copecs. Besides the above, preparations are making for stereotype editions of the Scriptures, in five different languages; they are in a course of translation into the Common Russian, Tartar, and Carelian languages; and measures are adopting for procuring translations into Turkish Armenian and Burat Mongolian. Amid this general zeal, the head of the Catholic church alone appeared actuated by the illiberal maxims of a former age. On occasion of a Bible Society being about to be established in Poland, he issued a bull against Bible Societies in general. In this document the important design of circulating the Holy Scriptures is characterized as "an abominable device, by which the very foundation of religion is undermined." It is declared to be the duty and object of the See of Rome, "to employ all means for the purpose of detecting and rooting out such a pestilence in every way." The Catholic Primate of Po land, to whom this modern anathema is addressed, is highly commended in it for his " zeal and activity under circumstances so threatening to Christi anity, in having denounced to the Apostolic See, this defilement of the faith, tending to the imminent peril of souls; and he is earnestly exhorted to execute daily whatever he can achieve by his power, promote by his councils, or effect by his authority, in defeating the plans which the enemies of the Catholic religion" are represented to have "prepared for its destruction.” It is farther declared to be "the especial duty of the Episcopal office to expose the wickedness of such an abominable scheme, by shewing, in obedience to the precepts of the Catholic church, that the Bible printed by heretics is to be numbered among other prohibited books of the Index.” After which it is expressly asserted, that "experience has proved that the Holy Scriptures, when circulated in the vulgar tongue, have, through the temerity of men, been productive of more injury than advantage." For this cause it is declared to be "necessary to adhere to the salutary decree of the 13th June 1757, which prohibits all versions of the Scriptures in the vernacular tongues, except such as are approved by the Apostolic See, and are published with annotations from the writings of the Holy Fathers." The Emperor of Germany followed up this measure, by prohibiting the establishment of Bible Societies in his dominions. The French church received this year its final organization. The Episcopal sees which, before the Revolution, depended upon foreign metropolitans, were now placed under French metropolitans. Fifty-seven dioceses were formed, divided according to the boundaries of the departments within which they were situated. The budget of 1817, allowed an increase of 6,100,000 franks (nearly 150,000l.) to the revenue of the clergy. In consequence of this, the salary of the archbishops was raised to 25,000 franks, (10407.), that of the bishops to 15,000 franks, (6204.), and that of the desservans, or officiating clergy, to 700 franks, (291.) The provinces in the north of Ger many exerted themselves during this year with great zeal in forming an union between the different Protestant churches, particularly the Lutheran and Calvinist. This union was completely effected in the principality of Nassau, by a general synod of both communions, when the following articles were agreed to. 1. The united Communions shall bear the name of the Evangelical Christian Church. 2. The general superintendance over all the clergy shall be divided between the two superintendants, according to a geographic line, and shall finally be united in him who shall survive the other. 3. The districts of inspection shall be, &c. 4. In the places where the two confessions shall be intermixed, the respective property of the two churches shall form one and the same fund, and shall belong to the church for the ne cessary expences. 5. The central property of the two churches shall be united into one fund, and shall serve for paying the expences of organizing the seminary of Herborn, for the candidates of theology. 6. In the places where there shall happen to be two clergymen of the different confessions, they shall remain there provisionally, and shall officiate together at the same altar. 7. The Palatine liturgy is provisionally adopted. In the distribution of the communion, a large host shall be regularly provided, expressly for the purpose, and shall be broken into several parts. This mode shall be followed by all the communicants who shall be confirmed, for the future. The more aged persons shall be permitted to receive the communion in the accustomed manner, but in private, and after having explained their reasons to the clergyman. A desire to accomplish the same object was manifested by the King of Prussia, prior to the celebration of the centenary of the Reformation. A circular letter was then addressed by the minister of the interior to the Evange lical clergy of both confessions in the Prussian dominions, intimating the king's desire that the words Protes tant, Lutheran, or any other denomi nations which designate particular sects of the reformed religion, should cease to be used, and that they should be superseded by the word Evangelical. The object of this communication is to corect those feelings of asperity in which sectarians too generally indulge, and by removing all nominal distinctions, to cultivate a spirit of general harmony and mutual indulgence. The authority of Luther himself was adduced to sanction this interference of the Government, for the father of the Reformation is represented as being displeased to find the supporters of his opinions distinguished by his name. The denominations of Evangelic Church and Evangelic Christians belong equally to both confessions, and imply the source whence they equally derive the purity of their doc trine. The following are the most impor tant proceedings of the General As sembly of the Scottish church. A petition was presented from Dr James Bryce, Presbyterian minister of Calcutta, praying the Assembly to remove the injunction laid on their chaplains in India by the Rev. the Presbytery of Edinburgh, dated 27th March 1816, and to favour the petitioner with such other advice or instruction as to them in their great wisdom might seem meet; as also a petition from Dr Thomas M'Knight, clerk of that Presbytery.-Both these petitions having been read, together with an extract from the minutes of the Presbytery on the subject of Dr Bryce's petition, and Francis Jeffrey, Esq advocate, being heard in support of Dr Bryce's petition, and Dr Inglis, a member of the Presbytery, in support of their procedure, the Assembly find, that no blame whatever can be imputed to the Presbytery of Edinburgh, who have acted according to the best of their judgment, in circumstances of peculiar difficulty and delicacy; but see no reason why Dr Bryce should not be permitted to solemnize marriages, when called upon to do so in the ordinary exercise of his ministerial duty; and therefore do remove the injunction of the Presbytery of Edinburgh upon that subject, satisfied that in this, and every question connected with civil rights, he will conduct himself, as he is hereby required to do, with that perfect respect and deference toward the local authorities to which they are entitled, and which are in a particular manner due to the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings, the Governor-General of India, for the countenance and protection offered by his Excellency to this branch of the church of Scotland; and the Assembly farther resolve to appoint a committee to draw up a respectful memorial to the Honourable the Court of Directors of the East India Company, and to correspond with that Honourable Court on this important subject. A letter from Lord Hardwick to the Moderator was laid before the Assembly, requesting that Venerable House to afford him all the information they could furnish as a collective body in regard to the poor laws and the management of the poor in Scotland. After some observations by Sir G. S. Mackenzie, Dr Nicol, and Sir H. Moncrieff, this subject was referred to a committee. The report of the committee on the Earl of Hardwick's letter having been read, the Assembly highly approved of the diligence of their committee, and directed the Moderator to transmit the same as his answer to the Right Honourable the Earl of Hardwick; and the Moderator having communicated a letter he had that day received from the Right Honourable Mr Sturges Bourne, chairman of the committee of the House of Commons, requesting the same information, the Assembly directed the Moderator to transmit a copy of the Report as his answer. PUBLIC WORKS, AND LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS. THE pressure of the times, and the public distress, did not altogether damp that spirit of enterprize, which is characteristic of Britons. This year was distinguished by the com mencement and completion of several important public works. On the 18th of June, Waterloobridge was opened for the accommodation of the public. This magnifi cent erection, by which a communication is formed between the Strand and the Borough, about midway between the two distant points of Blackfriars and Westminster Bridges, does the highest honour to the enterprize of those who planned, as well as to the ability of Mr Rennie, the distinguished engineer, who conducted it. Somewhat more than a million, we believe, was expended on this great national work, the materials being partly composed of granite, brought from Cornwall and Aberdeen. The following are its dimensions: The length of the stone bridge within the abutments Length of the road supported on brick arches on the Surrey side of the river Length of the road supported on brick arches on the Lon. don side Total length from the Strand, where the building begins, to the spot in Lambeth where it falls to the level of the road Width of the bridge within the balustrades Width of pavement or foot way, on each side Width of road for horses and carriages............ Span of each arch ......................................... Number of ditto on the London side Feet. of the Southwark Iron Bridge, to communicate from the city to the Borough, between Blackfriars and London bridges. It was carried on under the management of the same eminent engineer. Considerable progress was made during this year in the magnificent new street, reaching northward from Carlton House. An elegant new church was completed for the parish of Mary-le-bone, 100 feet long, 60 wide, and 42 high, with a portico of 6 Corinthian columns, and capable of containing 2,000 persons. It was adorned with a very fine picture by Mr West, representing the angel ap pearing to the shepherds. It scarcely equalled, however, the splendour of a chapel built for the Wesleyan Methodists, which much surpasses any chapel built for the purposes of the established church. It is lighted with gas 400 during evening service, and is capable of containing 5000 souls. Considerable improvements were also made this year in the neighbourhood of Whitehall. 1,242 1,250 There are 320 piles driven into the bed of the river under each pier; the length of each pile from 19 to 22 feet, and the diameter about thirteen inches. There is one pile to every yard square. Soon after was laid the foundation A more extensive plan was that of a canal between Newcastle and Carlisle, by which the two seas were to be connected. Meetings were held for this purpose at both these cities, and a sufficient sum of money was subscribed for making the preliminary investigations. During this year a cast-iron bridge |