grating to our new Colonies, every thing connected with the civil or ecclesiastical history of these dependancies cannot fail to be more or less interesting. The question of education and religion is especially one of paramount importance. It involves the higher interests of man, and must affect generations yet unborn. If this be not placed on a broad and comprehensive basis,-if it be not left unclogged and uncontrolled by secular power, not only the prosperity, but the very existence of our Colonies becomes endangered.

To this ticklish question, in some of its bearings, the volume before us is devoted. It is divided into the seven following chapters :

I. Progress of religion from the settlement of the Colony to the year 1833. II. Account of the Church and School corporation. III. Proceedings of the Government and of the Church of England, on the dissolution of the Church and School corporation, relative to Religion. IV. Proceedings of the government on the dissolution of the Church and School corporation, relative to Education. V. Progress of the Church of England, the Presbyterians, and Roman Catholics, from 1933 to 1836. VI. Present state of Religion and Education in New South Wales. VII. Summary of the state of Religion and Education, and Religious Wants.

To those who are not familiar with these points, as they have occupied public attention in that distant region, among all parties and all professions, the volume offers a large fund of information. It is well written, and, we think, the author treats his subject with candour and christian charity.

THE UNIVERSAL TENDENCY TO ASSOCIATION IN MANKIND, ANALYSED AND ILLUSTRATED. With Practical and Historical Notices of the Bonds of Society as regards Individuals and Communities. By JOHN DUNLOP, Esq. Author of the Philosophy of Drinking Usages in the United Kingdom. 12mo. pp. 242,

London --- Houlston and Stoneman, 65, Paternoster-row.

This is rather a novel volume. It unfolds the principle which leads man to associate with his fellow-man, and the endless variety of circumstances which may conduct to the practical operation of the principle. The tendency of association is in itself a positive good. The great Creator has designed and qualified us for social existence. It is one of the elements of our present happiness; but that the association may be good, the mind must possess qualities of a higher order. It is when mind is drawn to mind by the power and attraction of intelligence, and when heart blends with heart by the influence of pure and refined virtue, that the connexions and associations of life are truly interesting and good.

Into this interesting subject, in a great number of its ramifications, Mr. Dunlop enters with minute analysis, and supplies an endless variety of illustrations. The work is the result of extensive information, and will be found equally entertaining and instructive.

Monthly Chronicle.

ANNIVERSARY OT THE SWANSEA AUXILIARY.

THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF THE ABOVE AUXILIARY, WAS HELD IN TRINITY CHAPEL, SWANSEA, ON TUESDAY EVENING, 16TH MAY.

L. LL. DELWYN, ESQ., IN THE CHAIR.

Than this, perhaps, there is no local Association which can be regarded as in a state of more healthy action, or that promises to exert a wider and more powerful influence. It has drawn into its direction and more active management, men of sterling worth and devotedness. And to the results of their efforts we look with glad expectation. Would that every port were so favoured!

After a hymn had been sung, and the blessing of God implored on the engagements of the evening, the Secretary then laid before the assembly, the following statement of the proceedings of the Committee during the year :

FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT.

The committee of the Swansea Sailors' Society, beg to lay before their friends a brief account of the charge with which they have been entrusted during the past year. It is with feelings of delight, they witness an increasing interest in the minds of many in the prosperity of the institution. The interests of seamen

have hitherto had but little attention from the christian world, but it is hoped from the statements in the report of the parent Society, at the recent great annual meeting in London, that christians are at last becoming concerned for their everlasting welfare.

This is the fifth year of the existence of the institution, and the second of its union with the parent Society in London. It is not confined to any particular denomination of christians, but comprehends all who hold the essential doctrines of the protestant faith. It therefore presents itself with peculiar interest, and with urgent appeals to all who are interested in the moral and spiritual improvement of seamen. The committee know nothing of sect or party in this hallowed undertaking, all that they are anxious to accomplish, is, to make the sailor a christian

R

man-to teach him, instead of swearing, to pray-instead of being intoxicated to be sober-instead of singing obscene songs, to praise his Maker—and instead of desecrating the christian sabbath, to keep holy that sacred day.

It is too well known that hitherto seamen have generally been ready to enter into the basest crimes, and to appear far below their fellow-men in the scale of morality. But experience shows that they may be reclaimed from the paths of vice, and brought into the ways of virtue. There are instances even in your own port, where the most abandoned have been reclaimed during the past year; and now, instead of singing the song of the drunkard, they sing the praises of God-instead of spending the sabbath in the public-house, they are seated in the temple of the Most High-instead of bowing before the intoxicating cup, they bow around the table of the Lord.

The committee are anxious to keep before the public mind, the means employed by the parent Society for accomplishing their wished for design. These include preaching on board ship, or any other convenient place-visiting seamen on their arrival in coast-establishing Day and Sunday Schools for their childrenfurnishing vessels bound to foreign ports with loan libraries—providing agents in the large ports of Great Britain and Ireland-co-operating with the friends of seamen throughout the world, especially the American Seamen's Friend Society.

During the past year, in the port of Swansea, the ships have been visited by Messrs. Clutton, W. Russer, and P. Rogers; including port Tennant, by Mr. Rob. Twelve thousand tracts have been distributed, by means of which, the gospel of Christ has been sent to various parts of the habitable globe. The tracts which are thus distributed, every Sunday morning, are generally most gratefully received; and the committee of the Religious Tract Society, in London, have recently kindly made us a grant of tracts to the value of £5 on the payment of half that sum, viz.:-£2 10s. Several hundreds of tracts were sent to Cuba, but owing to the strict laws of the island, they were not allowed to be taken on shore, consequently they were distributed by the captain among the sailors who were then in port.

Not only have tracts been distributed, but there has been a considerable demand at the Seamen's Depository for the Holy Scriptures. About eighty testaments, sixty bibles, and nineteen prayer-books, have been purchased by seamen themselves, and the committee have great pleasure in informing their friends, that through the kindness of their esteemed friend, Henry Bath, Esq., they will be in possession of such a supply of bibles, as will enable them to present a copy, gratuitously, to every ship in Swansea, Neath, Mumbles; Ports Talbot, Cawl, and Aberavan, expressly for the use of the crew. The bibles will be those which are sold for three shillings and three-pence.

The committee are contemplating adopting the method, so successfully carried out by the parent society, of keeping a set of loan libraries of religious and interesting books, to be supplied on board ships bound for ports foreign and domestic. It appears by the report of the annual meeting in London, held last month, that on this system, about 1500 volumes have been furnished to vessels trading to all parts of the world. At present only one ship has been supplied from Swansea, viz.—the Helena Hardy, which sailed for Cuba a few weeks since.

Since the last annual meeting, a large room has been opened near the Steam packet Office, as a Sailors' chapel. The committee refer with great pleasure to its apparent success. On every returning sabbath, since it was opened, it is filled with a congregation of attentive hearers, great numbers of whom are sailors; and frequently it is found too small to accommodate all who wish to attend. The ministers of different denominations in the town, gratuitously officiate every Sunday afternoon Every Friday evening, a meeting for prayer is held, which is generally conducted. by the sailors themselves. The average attendance is small compared with the congregation on the Sunday; but it is delightful to hear the fervent prayers presented by the sons of the ocean, in behalf of their brethren-the seamen.

The sub-committee, Messrs. H. Bath, Jun., John Davies, and V. Clutton, have been indefatigable in their efforts during the past year to obtain ground for building a Sailors' chapel, but hitherto have been unsuccessful. At present they have two spots in view; should they succeed, application will immediately be made to the corporation of Swansea, for a building lease, which they have reason to believe will at once be granted.

With regard to the funds of the Institution, there is great cause for thankfulness to the Father of mercies, who has inclined the hearts of his people to feel more deeply in behalf of the long-neglected mariner. The increase has been between £34 and £40 above any preceding year. The committee, however, have only been able to remit £5 to the parent Society, owing to the expence attending the fitting up the room which has been opened as a Sailors' chapel. There are two subscriptions connected with the funds, which are worthy of being noticed. The one is a donation of a sovereign from a poor hard-working sailor ;—the second is the sum of £3. 4s. 4d., which has been received in a box placed at the door of the Sailors' chapel, during the last few months.

The following are the receipts of the Institution during the year, (including a balance of nearly £8.) in hand, £53 12s.; and the expenditure, including a grant of £5 to the parent Society, £43 3s.

The committee also state with great pleasure, that the following gentlemen have accepted the office of Vice-presidents to the Institution :-L. LI. Delwyn, Esq., H. Bath, Esq., Elias Jenkins, Esq., and J. Grove, Esq.

The following resolutions were then submitted by the various speakers to the meeting, and passed unanimously :—

Moved by the Rev. C. THOMPSON of Swansea,

Seconded by the Rev. D. D. EVANS, of Pontrydyryn,—

I. That this Meeting feels grateful to Almighty God, for the success which has attended this Institution in evangelizing seamen.

Moved by Rev. R. FERGUSON, Secretary to the parent Society,
Seconded by Rev. P. Orchard, Swansea,―

II. That this Meeting being convinced that the prosperity of the Saviour's cause generally, is connected with the improvement of our seamen, pledges itself to renewed and persevering efforts for their welfare.

Moved by Lieut. KEMBALL, R. N., of the Seamen's Society, Bristol,

Seconded by Rev. H. CROWTHER, English Lecturer of St. John's, Swansea,—

III. That this Meeting invites christians of all denominations to co-operate with this Society, and to give it that liberal support to which it is justly entitled.

IV. That the thanks of this Meeting be presented to the Committee for their services, and request their continuance for the present year; and to L. LI. Delwyn, Esq., for his kindness in presiding on the present occasion.

AGENTS' MEETING :-HELD ON THURSDAY EVENING, 4th JUNE.

This monthly conference was greatly heightened in interest by the circumstance, that it was specially convened to commend Mr. Adams, the recently appointed Chaplain to Cronstadt, to the protection and benediction of the great Head of the church; since which Mr. A. has embarked, and is now, we trust, engaged in his solemn duties.

AGENTS' REPORTS.