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have taken two children of the native Catholics. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have tak en a little Mahratta girl, and three children of superannuated soldiers, the latter being placed under their entire control until they shall be 18 years of age.

The letter concludes with a renewed appeal in behalf of a Native Mission Col lege, but our limits will allow us no more than the following extract.

When we consider the great expense, at which we have been educated and sent hither; the expense that is absolutely necessary to our support; the difficulties of acquiring accurately a foreign pronunciation; the time that is spent in doing this; the peculiar uncertainty of our lives;-all these, and many other considerations, lead us ardently to wish, that a provision might be made for the instruction of missionaries in this country. There are many boys, who might be obtained and educated. The language of the people is their language; the country is their country. They are attached to no community; have no high expectations in regard to pecuniary emolument; and have no false systems of faith to shake off. They will not be regarded with that jealousy by government, with which foreigners are; nor will they be liable to be sent away from the country. We do not mention this subject as a new one, either to ourselves, or our patrons; but we cannot forbear repeating its importance. From what Christian country, or countries, we ask, are missionaries to come, who will be adequate to the wants of this people? From what treasury are they to be supported? It must never be forgotten, that a capital object of missionary exertion is, to put the heathen into a way of teaching themselves.

UNITED STATES.-
-NEW-YORK RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.
View of the Tenth Annual Report, presented in April, 1822.

Rev. GARDINER SPRING, D. D. President.
Mr. JOHN R. HURD, Corresponding Secretary.
Mr. KNOWLES TAYLOR, 216 Pearl-street, Treasurer.
Mr. D. H. WICKHAM, 59 Fulton-street, Depositary.`

THE operations of the Society during the last year have been more encouraging than in former periods. A loan of $500 granted to the Managers for that purpose, have enabled them to adopt the plan of stereotyping their principal Tracts, from which very great advantages may confidently be expected. In our last num. ber we made a misstatement of the number of Tracts distributed, which we now correct.

The whole number of Tracts sold and distributed the past year, is 131,331 English, 7,150 French, and 5,350 Spanish. Of these, 25,141 English have been drawn out by members, on account of their subscriptions; 76,128 have been sold from the Depository. There are now on hand 124,397 English, 47,526 French, 33,214 Spanish Tracts.

The whole number of Tracts printed by the Society, since its formation, is 1,135,594, exclusive of a considerable number in the press, which will, in a short time, be ready for delivery.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that the amount of Tracts drawn out

by subscribers, and gratuitously distributed, is nearly equal to the whole amouut sold from the Depository.

The following very sensible remarks claim the particular notice of Tract dis tributors:

Many of those, who are friendly to the object of the Society, appear to be unmindful of the expediency of promoting the sale, as well as the distribution, of tracts. If the publications of the Society are sold the proceeds afford the ability of republishing, and if again sold the benefit may be thus greatly increased. But, if the person who wishes to distribute, obtains a donation for the purpose, the aid he lends the cause is but of an imperfect nature. The liberality of the Society would be abused if the facility of obtaining donations prove a means of preventing sales. A gratuitous supply should never be requested by individuals until some effort had been made to obtain the ability of purchasing. A pious individual, for instance, travelling to the westward, may apply for a donation of tracts to distribute on his journey. His motives being duly appreciated, the request is granted; but would it not be far better if this same individual, supposing him to be unable to purchase himself, were to make a little collection amongst his friends, or to apply to some one or two of his richer acquaintance for the means necessary to purchase the quantity required. In the former case, he does well, it is true; but he gives away what has cost him nothing, while the Society only is embarrassed by his benevolence: in the latter instance, while with one hand he administers to the wants of those who hunger and thirst for the instruction disseminated, with the other he waters the plant destined to afford the same spiritual nourishment to thousands equally destitute.

The Managers have added to the Society's list the following Tracts, received from the London Tract Society, viz:

No. CLIII. Fifth Part of the Boatswain's Mate. CLIV. Sixth Part of ditto. CLV. Seventh Part of ditto. CLVI. Thomas Brown. CLVII. Contemplations, on Eternity. CLVIII. The worth of the Soul. And No. CXLVIII. "A Plea for Missions," written by a member of the Princeton Theological Seminary. This we are sorry to say, is the only original Tract which the Managers have procured this year.

How unhappily true was the remark in the last report of the Managers, that "It has been difficult to draw the attention of our able and pious writers to this subject." If what they seemed to anticipate be true, that there exists an opinion that the object is not of sufficient importance to deserve the effort, we would ask the great number of those who are competent to write, to look over the annals of the Tract Societies, to visit the cabins of our poor, to listen to the testimony of the Sunday scholars, to hear the story of the restored Sailor, who thanks "his stars" and "thanks his God, that GEORGE CHARLES SMITH was ever born, that he ever wrote the Boatswain's Mate."

The names of Richmond, and More, and Smith, and many others, will be handed down to posterity as benefactors of mankind, and will be blessed by thousands in eternity for writing religious Tracts. Surely there cannot be wanting a motive. Neither can there be wanting ability and leisure. Why have not our clergymen and laymen as much ability and leisure as those who write the English Tracts? We know no reason unless it be that most of these have acquired ability and leisure

by long and patient labour in larger publications from the press. Those have most leisure and ability who do the most. Neither is there wanting a necessity. We approve and admire English literature, and especially English religious literature, but we need in every department, and especially in our Tracts, local scenery and local adaptation. Half the tracts from England, when reprinted here, want adaptedness. English broadcloths and cutlery, answer a very good purpose here, for those that can purchase; but English Tracts are a manufacture so nicely suited to their own sphere, as to be rather an incitement than a soporific to our ingenuity. Surely there are scenes and subjects for most interesting Tracts among ourselves. But it is time we returned to the Report.

By the Treasurer's Account it will appear that the balance in the treasury, at the close of the last year, was $70 18, against which was an amount of debts due from the Society, of about $1,360. Since that time the amount accruing from the sale of Tracts has been $542 49, which, with the whole amount of subscriptions, donations, and contributions, $1,241 92, makes the sum total of receipts $1,784 41, besides the loan of $500-placed with the Printing Committee for a specific purpose-and $26 60, the surplus funds of the Oliverstreet Auxiliary Society, which came to hand too late to appear in the Treasurer's Account for the present year. The payments from the treasury have amounted to $1,708 3, of which $1,588 50, have been appropriated to the liquidation of the debt due the former printer of the Society, Mr. Jonathan Seymour, to whose liberality and patience in waiting the convenience of this body, many thanks are due. It will be perceived, likewise, that Mr. Seymour has generously granted the Society, in the settlement of his accounts, a donation of $38 59. (To be concluded.)

UNITED DOMESTIC MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

WE hail the formation of this institution as a most auspicious event, as a notable era in the history of American Home Missions. Our present limits oblige us to reserve further observations and lay before our readers the

Proceedings of a Convention of Delegates for the formation of a Domestic Missionary Society.

THE Convention met in the city of New-York, on the 10 of May, 1822.

PRESENT,

Rev. ALEXANDER PROUDFIT, D. D. from the Northern Missionary Society. Rev. DAVID PORTER, D. D. from the Missionary Society of the Middle District. Rev. WILLIAM R. WEEKS and Rev. JAMES SOUTHWORTH, from the Eastern Division of the Youth's Missionary Society of the Western District. Rev. DIRCK C. LANSING and Rev. BENJAMIN STOCKTON, from the Middle Division of ditto.

Rev. STEPHEN PORTER, from the Western Division of ditto.

Rev. ELIHU W. BALDWIN, and Mr. ELEAZAR LORD, from the New-York Evangelical Missionary Society.

Rev. JAMES M. MATHEWS and Mr. JOHN D. KEESE, from the Young Men's Missionary Society of New-York.

Rev. ELISHA YALE and Rev. WILLIAM CHESTER, from the Presbytery of Albany. Rev. HENRY DWIGHT, and Mr. ABRAHAM B. HALL, from the Genessee Mission

ary Society.

Rev. JOHN SMITH and Rev. JOHN TRUAIR, from the Union Society for Domestic and Foreign Missions.

A number of gentlemen, from different parts of the country, not expressly commissioned as delegates, attended the Convention, and took part in its deliberations. Rev. Dr. PROUDFIT was appointed President, and Mr. J. D. KEESE, Secretary. The meeting having been opened with prayer; it was stated that the Convention had been called for the purpose of forming a Missionary Society, on such a plan as to unite the friends and patrons of domestic missions, and concentrate, as far as possible, the efforts of societies now in operation; and the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That it is expedient to form a Domestic Missionary Society.

The Convention then proceeded to consider the general principles upon which the institution should be established, and having agreed on all the important articles of association, they appointed a committee to arrange them in the form of a Constitution. This committee, consisting of the Rev. Dr. PROUDFIT, Rev. Dr. PORTER and Rev. Mr. LANSING, reported a Constitution, which, after being amended, was unanimously adopted and signed by the members of the Convention.

The Officers and Directors, contemplated in the Constitution, were then chosen; some of them, however, from the multiplicity of their previous engagements, resigned, and the vacancies were filled at the first meeting of the Board.

It being understood that the Young Men's Missionary Society, and the Evangelical Missionary Society in this city, were disposed to unite in the institution now formed, the following resolutions were ananimously adopted:

Resolved, That this Convention affectionately invite the two Domestic Missionary Societies in this city to become members of this instiution.

Resolved, That it be recommended that the relations which the members of those societies sustain to their respective institutions, be transferred to this Society. Resolved, That in the event of the above recommendation being carried into effect, existing engagements to those societies respectively, shall be fulfilled by this Society.

The Board of Directors were instructed to meet for the purpose of appointing the executive committee, and taking measures for publishing the proceedings of the Convention, and fulfilling the design of the institution; and the Convention was then dissolved, and the meeting closed with prayer.

(To be concluded.)

SUMMARY.

C

Ordination. The Reverend Presbytery of New-York, at their Sessions in April, ordained the Rev. SAMHEL E. CORNISH (a man of colour) to the work of an evangelist. The exercises took place in the Presbyterian Church in Vandewater-street, on Thursday evening the 18th ult. The Rev. Robert M'Cartee engaged in prayer, the Rev. Ward Stafford preached the Sermon from John, iv. 35, and the Rev. Samuel H. Cox, delivered the charge. The whole exercises were conducted in the most solemn and appropriate manner. The Sermon and Charge were highly interesting and impressive: we regret our limits do not allow us to notice them further.

Mr. Cornish is a pious, respectable, intelligent man, and an acceptable preacher. He commends himself to all who know him, by his unassuming manners, and by the zeal with which he labours for poor and oppressed Africans. He is in the employ of the Evangelical Missionary Society, and preaches to a church (recently constituted) and congregation worshipping in Rose-street.

Thanksgiving.-Tuesday, the 7th of May, was according to appointment of the Presbytery of New-York, observed as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the manifestations of his Spirit with which he has so eminently blessed some of the Churches within their bounds. The Congregations of the Wall-street, Cedar-street, and Brick Churches, united in the morning in the Cedar-street Church, and in the afternoon in the Brick Church.

The Rev. Dr. SPRING preached in the morning from Sol. Songs, viii. 5. "Whe is this that cometh up from the wilderness leaning upon ber beloved."

The Rev. Dr. ROMEYN preached the sermon in the afternoon, from Solomon's Songs, ii. 10-13.

General Assemby.-The meeting was opened on Thursday, the 16th May, in Philadelphia, with a sermon by the Rev. W. Hill, D. D. of Virginia. The Rev. Obadiah Jennings, of Ohio, was chosen Moderator. The accounts of the state of religion in the several Presbyteries were communicated, and condensed into a general narrative. We did not receive this document in time for this number. The Assembly's Missionary Sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Jennings, on Monday the 20th.

Sunday School Union.-The Sunday and Adult Union of Philadelphia, held their anniversary on Tuesday the 21st May. The Rev. Mr. Van Vleck, of the Moravian Church, opened the meeting with prayer. The Rev. Dr. Staughton read the report, and the Rev. Messrs. Boyd and Bedell, of the Episcopal Church, and Beman, of the Presbyterian Church, (Georgia,) and D. Bethune, Esq. of this city, delivered appropriate addresses. The exercises were concluded with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Woodhull.

The union of the Synod of the Associate Reformed Church, and the General Assembly, which was contemplated last year, was on Tuesday 21st consummated; and the members of the former judicatory took their seats as members of the latter.

On Monday 20th. the Rev. James Arbuckle was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry, and installed Pastor of the Associate Reformed Church in Sprucestreet, Philadelphia.

CIVIL RETROSPECT.

FOREIGN.

THE situation of affairs on the continent of Europe has not materially changed since our last article. The war expected between Russia and Turkey is not yet commenced, and a thousand contradictory reports are daily heard, and conjectures made as to the ultimate turn which this controversy will take. In the mean time it is certain that both those countries are busy in warlike preparations. The Russians, animated (the body of the people we mean) with the hopes of punishing a cruel enemy of the faith of themselves and their forefathers, evincing its hostility by acts the most inhuman and cruel, and with a sympathy for a neighbouring, friendly nation, professing the same religious tenets: and the Turks, enraged at the idea of a restraint in their despotism over their tributary provinces, and driven to desperation by the prospect of the utter annihilation of their power in Europe, on which depends, to so great a degree, their wealth and influence as a commercial and maritime people, and consequently their ability to preserve even the form of unity among the disciples of their false prophet. Thus influenced, each party is, in its preparations, putting forth uncommon exertions. The season for activity in war is close at hand: the Turkish divan have rejected the terms of Russia: the European powers, who were considered jealous of the increased power which Russia would probably acquire by a Turkish war, have declared their intention to view the contest as mere spectators; and the plain interests and manifest feelings of Russia, and the obstinate pertinacity of Turkey, all combine to persuade us that war will not be avoided. Its issue, in all probability, will be not less important to the world than was the fall of the Roman empire.

The other parts of Europe remain in the same condition as at the date of our last article. In France, the new ministry seem to be pursuing an arbitrary course, and to be adopting measures little conducive

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